Argalus and Parthenia

7

'.

PRINCETON, N. J.

Collection of Puritan Literature.

Division

Section
Number

tM

,

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013

http://archive.org/details/argaluspOOquar

,

ARGALUS

AND

PARTHENIA

. ^

Written by Fra. Quarks.
The laft Edition Corre&ed, Amended,

AND

ILLUSTRATED with 30. FIGURES
Relating to the

STORY.

LOND ON,

Printed by J. Gain, for M. Rooks ; and are to be
Sold by the Bookfellers of LONDON
and WEST tolNSl ER,
MDCLXXXIV.

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The Mind of the Frontiipiecc.

REader, behind this filken front* ff ice lies
The Argument of our Book : which to your Eyes
Our Mufe ( for ftrious tiaujes, and beft known
Unto her f elf J commands jhould be unfhown :
And therefore, to that end/he hath thought fit
To draw this Curt tin* twixt your eye andit*

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T O T H E

READER.

Reader,

Prefent thee here with a Hifiory of Argalus and
Parthenia, the fruits of broken hours. It was
a Ciens taken out of the Orchard of sir Philip
Sidney, of precious memory, which I have lately
grafted, upon a Crab-flock y in mine own. It hath brought
forth many leaves, and promifes pleating fruit, if malevolent
eyes blaji it not in the bud. This Book differs from my former y
as a Courtier jfrom a churchman: But if any think it unfit for
one to play both parts, I have prefidentsfor it : And let fuch
know, that I have taken but one Play-day in fix : However, I
fijou/d befijrew that hand that binds them all together to make
one Volume. In this difrourfe, I have not affected to fetthy
under faniing on the Rack^ by the tyranny of strong Linesp
which {as they faluloufly report of China difhes)are made for
the third generation to make ufe of, and are the meer itch of
wit ; under the colour of which, many have venturedltrujling
to the Oedipean conceit of their ingenious Kexder)to write
non-fence, and felloniou fly father the created expo fit ions ofo-
ther men^nct unlike fiome Painter sjvho frfl make the picture^
then y from the opinion of better judgments , conclude whom it
refembles. Thefe lines are ftrong enough for my purpose : if
not for thine, yet read them, and yet undcrjl..ndin?s may bs

magnified.

To the Reader,

magnified by their weaknefs. Reader ,thoujhalt in the pr ogre Js
of this Story, meet with adeeming Solcecifm-, which is this •
Demagoras his fo foul a deed perpetrated upon the fair Par-
thenia, U fully exprejl . and yet ; the revenge thereof patt o-
ver in filenee*, wherein ( as 1 conceive ) 1 have not dealt tm-
jufily. when Prometheus (tote fire from Heaven to animate
and quicken his artificial bodies, thi fever er gods for punifb-
ment offo high afacriledjgjflruck him not deaiwithafudden
Thunder-bolt, but (to be more deeply avenge d)let him livey to
be tormented with Vultures ^continually gnawing on his Liver*
The fame kind of torture had Ixion • fo A^Sifyphus ; fr
had Tantalus ; Did then Demagoras/b/J equal ( if not ex-
ce-ed ) theirs, andffjould his punifhment be lejs ? Had my fen
delivered him dead in your hands, what could you have had
more?. His dec ur fed memory had foon rotted with his bafer
name, and there hxd been an end of him : In which refpetf, I
have fuffcred hhnto live, that he may Jl and like a Jack a
Leather a Shroving Cockj for every one to fpend a Cudgil aty
to the worlds end. Ladies, {for in your fill: en laps I know this
Book will chu-Ce to liejvhich being far~fetchedjf the Stationer
beivij'e, will be mofl fit for you)my fuit is, That you would be
pleaj id to give the fair Parthenia/w noble entertainment :
She hath croft the Seas for your acquaintance, and is come to
live and die with you -} to who fc gentle hands I recommend hery
and kifs them.

"^Mit4' •«. CARLES.

I<52I,

Ar;ali<4

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦&♦♦♦$♦♦♦ ♦♦♦^♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦^

ARGALUS

AND

PARTHENIA.

—
THE FIRST BOOK.

Ilthin the limits of tK Arcadian Land,
I Whofe grateful bounty hath inricht the hand
I Or many a Shepherd Swain,whofe rural Art
'( Untaught to gloze, or with a double heart
jTo vow diifembled Love ) did build to Fame
Eternal Trophies of aPaftoral name :
That fweet Arcadia ; which, in antick days,
Was wont to warble out her well-tun'd lays
To all the World ; and, with her Oaten Reed,
Did (ing her love whilft her proud flocks did feed :
Arcadia^, whofe defarts did claim to be
As great a (harer in the Daphnean Tree,

As

I %tgaitig and ff artflenfou Book i.

As his, whofe louder i/Enead proudly fings
Heroick conquefts of victorious Kings :
There ( if th'exuberance of a word may fwell
So high, that Angels may be faid to dwell)
There dwelt that Virgin> that Arcadian glory,
Whofe rare compofure did abftraft the ftory
Of true Perfe&ion, modellizing forth
The height of beauty, and admired worth;
Her n ame Pwthenia^ whofe unnam'd defcent,
Can fervebut as a needlefs complement,
To gild Perfedion : She (hall boaft, alone,
What bounteous Art, and Nature makes her own.

Her Mother was a Lady, whom deep age
More fill'd with honor, then difeafes $ fage,
A modeft Matron, ftrid, referv'd, auftere,
Sparing in Speech, but lib'ral of her Ear •
Fierce to her foes, and violent where (he likes 5
Wedded to what her own opinion ftrikes ;
Frequent in Alms, and charitable Deeds,
Of mighty fpirit, conftant to her Beads,
Wifely fufpicious • but what need we other
Then this ? She was the fair Partheniaes Mother,
That rare Parthenu, in whofe Heavenly eye
Sits Maiden mildnefs, mixt with Majefty ;
Whofe fecret power hath a double skill,
By frowns or fmiles to make alive, or kill ;
Her Cheeks are like to Banks of faireft Flowers,
Inricht with fweetnefs from the Twilight (hQwe«*s,
Whereon thofe jars, which were fo often bred,
Compofed were, betwixt the white and red :
Her Hair wrought down beneath her I very Knees,
As if thatKature, to fo rare a piece

Had

sook l fltgalttg and ffattfrenfa, 3

Had meant a fhadow 5 laboring to (how,
And boaft the utmoft that her hand could do :
Like fmalleft Flax appeared her Nymph-like Hair,
But onely Flax was not fo fmall, fo fair ;
Her Lips like Rubies, and you'd think, within,
[n ftead of Teeth, that orient Pearls had been :
The whitenefs of her dainty Neck you know,
If ever you beheld the new- fain Snore •
Her Swan-like Brefts were like two little Spbears,
Wherein, each azure line in view appears,
Which, were they obvious but to every eye,
All liberal Arts would turn Agronomy :
Her flender wafte, her Lilly-hands, her Arms
I dare not fet to view ; becaufe nil Charms
Forbidden are : my bafliful Mufe defcends
No lower ftep : Here her Commiffion ends,
And by another Virtue doth enjoyn
My Pen to treat Perfection more divine.
The chafte Diana, and her Virgin crew
Was but a Tyfe of one that fhould enfue
In after-ages, which we find expreft,
And here fulfill'd in chafte Parthenias Breft •
True vertue was the objeft of her will $
She could no-ill, becaufe (lie knew no ill ;
Her thoughts were noble, and her words not lavifli
Yet free, bftt wifely weigh'd • more apt to ravifh,
Then to entice 5 lefs beautified with Art,
Then natural fweetnefs : In her gentle Heart
Judgment tranfeended •, from her milder Bred
^aflion was not exiled, but repreft :
\ct voice cxcel'd 5 nay, had you heard her voice
But warble forth, you might have had the choice,
li? To

4 attgaipg and ffattpenfou boqu.

To take her for fome fmooth-fac'd cherubin,

Orelfe fome glorious Angel, that had been

A treble fharer in th'eternal joys,

Such was her voice, fuch was her heavenly voice :

Merry, yetmodeft* witty, and yet wife 5

Not apt to toy, and yet not too too nice 5

Quick, but not raft ; Courteous, and yet not common ;

Not too familiar, and yet (corning no man :

In brief, who would relate her praifes well,

Mttft firft bethink himfelf, what \ is t' excel.

When thefe Perfedions had enhaunc'd the name
OixMsParthenia, nimble-winged Fame
Grew great with honor, fpreads her hafty Wings,
Advanc'd her Trumpet, and away flie fprings,
And with her full-mouth'd blaft flie doth proclaim
Th'unmated glory of Parthenias name :
Who now but fair ParthenU ? Whatreport
Can find admittance in th* Arcaditn Court
But fair ParihenUjisi Every folemn Fcaft
Muft now be fweetned, honor'd, andpoffeft
With high difcourfes of Partbeniacs glory,
And every mouth muft breath Parfheniaes ftqry*
The poet fummons now his amorous Quill,
And fcorns affiftance from the Sacred Hill :
The fweet-lipt Orator takes in hand to raife
His prouder ftile, to fpeak PartheniaesipTaift*
The curious Painter wifely dothdifplace
Fair Venus, fets ParthenU in her place.
The pleader burns his Books, difdains the Law,
And falls in love with whom his eyes ne*r faw<
Healths to the fair Partheniafty about
At every board, whilst others, more devout,

Bui

Book i. Ersalus and #attl)ente*

Build Idols to her, and adore the fame,
And Parrets learn to prate Parthemaes name :
Some truft to fame, ibme fecretly difprize
Her worth ^ fome emulates, and fome envies :
Some doubt, fome fear left lavifh Fame belie her,
And all that dare believe report, admire her.

Upon the borders of the Arcadian Land
Dwelt a Laconian Lord : Of proud command,
Lord of much people, youthful, and of fame,
More great than good, Dsmagoras his name :
Of ftature tall, his body fpare and meager >
Thick fhouldred, hollow cheek'd, and vifage eag^r,
His gafhful countenance fwarthy, long and thin,
And down each fide of his reverted Chin
A lock of black neglefted Hair ( befriended
With Warts too ugly to be feen ) defcended ;
His rouling eyes were deeply funk, and hiew'd
Like fire : 'Tis faid, they bliiter'd where they view'd,
Upon his (houldersfrom his fruitful Crown,
A rugged crop of Elf-locks dangled down :
His hide all hairy ^ garifh his attire,
And his Complexion meerly Earth and Fire ;
Pcrverfe to all •, extenuating what
Another did, becaufehediditnot:
Maligning all mens anions but his own,
Not loving aay and belov'd of none :
Revengeful, envious, defperately ftaut,
And in a word, to paint him fully out,
That had the Monopoly, to fulfil
All vice, the Hieroglyphick of all ill.
He view'd fartheniaes face. As from above,
Fire-balls of Lightning huri'd by angry J&e,

C

6 Sftgalug and ff attflenfo. Booki.

Confound th* unarm'd beholder at a blow,
And leave him ruin'd in the place ; Even fo
The Peerlefs Beauty of Partheniaes eyes,
At the firft fight did conquer and furprize
The lavifh thoughts of this amazed lover,
Who void of ftrength to hide, or to difcover
The tyrannous fcorching of his fecret fires,
Prompted by Paffion, with himfelf confpires :

Accursed Demagoras ! Into what a leaver
Hath one look ftruck thy foul < O never > never
To be recur d j if] had done amifsy
Hath Heaven no e after Plagues inftore, but this ?
Prometheus paints are not fijharp as thefe,
Our fins yet labor d both of one difeafe -
Our faults are equal: Bothfiole pre from He avert}
Our faults alike y why are our Plagues uneven ?
Be juft, O make notjuch unequal ods
Of equal (ins: Bejujr, or el fe no gods :
why fend ye downfuch Angels to the Earthy
To mock poor mortals ? or of mortal birth
iffuch a Heaven-like Paragon may be,
why do ye not wound her as well as me ?
But why do I implore your aids in vain,
That arc the highefi Agents in my pain ?
Poor wretch ! what hope of help can ye ajfure me,
when onelyfhe that made the wound) can cure me ?
Divine Parthenia, Earths unvalued Jewel:
Would thou hadfl been lefs glorious, or lefs cruel :
when fir ft thine eyes did to the[e eyes appear,
I read the hiffory of my ruin there ^
Myneceffaryruine : Heaven, nor Hell
Canfalve my fores ? by help of Prayer or Spell 5

Geds

Book i. ^fgatus and 0artDenfa<

Gu&i *rc unjufi 5 andif with charms, J haunt her,

lier eyes are Counter-charms, , to inchant th' enchanter :

why do I thus exulcerare my difeafe ?

By adding torments, hope Itofndeeafel

is not her cruelty enough, alone

But mMff 1 bring frejb torments of my own ?

Chear up Demagoras : 'Tis a wife mans fart

jsiot to lofe ally if his unpraflisd art

Serves not to gain : A Gamejler may not chufe

Bis chance: It is [ome conqueft, not to lofe.

Look to thyjelf: Let no injurious blajl

Ofcolddefpair chill thy green wounds toofaji

for time to cure : O, hope for no remijfion

Ofpain, till Cupid fend thee a Phyfttian.

She is a woman ; if a woman, then

My title* s good : Women were made for men.

She is a woman, though her heavenly brow

Write Angel, and may /loop, although not now.

Women, by looks, will not be understood

Until their hearts advife withflejh and blood.

She is a Woman, There s no reafon why,

But (he ( perchance ) may burn as well as 1.

Move then, Demagoras, /^Parthenia/vw**

Theflrength of her own beauty, in thy wo :

Fear not, what thou adorft ; begin to move,

Chris-crofs foreruns the Alphabet of love.

Tis halfperfecled, what is once begun -

9 She is a woman, and /he mufl be won.

Like as a Swain, whole hands have made a vow.
And fworn alleageance to the peaceful Plow,
Preft out for lervice in the Martial Camp,
At firft ( unentred ) findes a livelefs damp,

BelcagVing

* SftsataS and #attBenfe* Booki.

Beleag'ring every joynt, as often fwounds
As here he views his Sword, or thinks of wounds,
At length ( not finding any means for flying,
Switcht and fpur'd on with defp'rate fear of dying )
He hews, he hacks, andinthemidfthe goes,
And freflily deals about his frantick blows 5
Even fo Demagoras, whofe unbred fafhion
Had never yet fubfcrib'd to loves fweet pafliort,
Being call'd a Combatant to Cupids field,
Trembles, and fecretly refolves to yield
The day without a parley, till at length,
Fiercely tranfported by th'untutor'd ftrength
Of his own paflion, he himfelf affures,
That defp'rate torments muft have defp'rate cures :
And thus to the divine Partheniaes ears
Applies his Speech, devoid of doubts and fears.

Fairejl of Creatures, if my ruder Tongue,
To right it fe If , (houlddoyour patience wrong.
And lawlefs paffion makes it too too free,

0 blame your heavenly beauty and not me : -
It was thofe eyes, thofe precious eyes that firjl
Enforced my Tongue to fpeak, or Heart to burft :
From thofe dear eyes ifrjl received that wound,
which feeksfor cure, and cannot be made [oundj
But by the hand that Jlruck ; To you alone,

1 fue for help, that elfe mufl hepe for none :
Then crown my joys, thou Antidote of defpair,
And be as merciful as thou art fair ;

Naturf,

Book i. Sirgalus and $>&u\)mi<i w

Nature*, (the bounty of \vho\c liberal hand

Made thee the Jewel of the Arcadian Land)

Intended info rare a prize, to boaji

Her wafer-piece : Hid Jewels are but If «

Shine then, and rob not Nature of her duez

But honor her, asffje hath honor d you.

Let not the befl of all her works lie dead

In the nice Casket of a Maidenhead :

jvhatjhe would have reveal* d, O do not fn other ^

Tf/art ?nade in vain, unlefs thou make another •

Give me thy heart, and for that gift of thine,

Left thcuf/jouldf want a be a rt, id give thee mine\

As richly fraught with lovey and lifting duty,

As thou with virtue, or thine eyes with beauty*

tti)y dof thou frown ? why does that Heavenly brow,

Not made for wrinkles, few a wrinkle now 1

Send forth thy brighter Sun-Jhine, and the while ?

O lend me but the twilight of a fmile :

Give me one amor om glance • why ft and! ft thou mitt: $

Difclofe tho[e rttby Lips, and grant myfuit :

Speak ( love, ) or if thy doubtful mind be bent

To file nee, let that file nee be co?ifent :

Nor beg I love of alms, although in part,

My words may J e em f empleadmy own defert.

Dtfdain me not, although my thoughts defend

Below the mfe Ives, t* enjoy (o fair a friend,

I) that have oft with tears been fought t^, fue •

And Queens have been his [ervants, that fervesyctt i

The beauties ofallGtcczz have been at f rife

To win the name of great Demagoras wife.

And been defy? sd, not worthy to obtain

$o high an honor 3 what they fought ( in vai

B i I

i* ^tgaius and #attl)ente, boai.

I here p re Cent thee with, as thine own due^

jt being an honor jit for none but you :

Speak then ( my love ) and let my Lips make known

That I am either thine, or not mine own.

Have you beheld when frefh Auroras eye
Sends forth her early beams, and by and by
Withdraws the glory of her face, and ftrowds
Her cheeks behind a ruddy Mask of Clouds,
Which, who believe in Err a Pater fay,
Prelages wind, and bluftry ftorms that day.
Such were Vartheniaes looks : In whofe fair face
Rofes and Lillies, late had equal place,
But now, *twixt Maiden baflifulnefs, andfpleeii,
Rofes appear 'd, and Lillies were not feen :
She pam'd a while, till at thelajft, fhe breaks
Her long-kept angry filence, thus, andipeafcs.

My Lord,
Had your fir ong Oratory hut the art-,
Te make me confciom of fo great defert,
As you per [wade, Jlhould be bound in duty
To praifc your Rhefrick xs yon fraije my beauty i
Or if the frailty of my judgment could
Flatter my thoughts fo grojly, as to hold
Tour words for currant, you might boldly dare
Count me as foolijhy as you term me fair.
if yon -vie CoMtjhip fortune knows that I
Hive not fo flrong a game, to fee the vie :
Alas, m y skill du-rft nez er undertake
To play the game, where hearts be jet atfiake :
Needs mull the lo[s be great, when fuch have bin
Seldom [<bUrv'dtofar them fellies that win :

Book i. aygalus *ni ffanftcnta. **

You crave my Hearty my Lord, you cra< e withaL

Too great a mifihiefi My poor heart's too [mil*

To Jill the concave of fo great a brefl,

ivhofe thoughts can f corn the amorous re que ft

Of love- (ick Queens 7 and can requite the vdin^

Andfacliou6 ju/ts of Ladles with dijdain :

Stoop notfo low beneath your Self {great Lord)

To love Parthenia : Shall fo poor a word

Stain your fair lips^ whofe merits do proclaim

A more transcendent Fortune, than that name

C An give ? Call down Jove's winged Purfuivant,

And give his tongue the power to inch ant

Some eafe Goddeft in your namey and treat

A marriage ft ting fo fob lime, jo great

A mind its yours, and fill the fruitful Earth

with Heroes, fprung fromfo divine a birth :

Partheniaes heart could never jet aspire

So high : Her home-bred thoughts durft neyr defire

So fond an honor matcht with fo great pride,

To hope for that, which Queens have been denyd*

Be wife, my Lord • vouchfxfe not to repeat

S * unfit a fuit : Be wife as you are great :

Advance your neble thoughts, hazard no more

To wrack your fortunes on fo fleet a (bore,

That to the wifer world, it may be known,

The lefs y are mine-, the more you are your own*

Like as a guilty prifbner, upon whom
Offended Juftice lately pafther doom,
Stands trembling by, and hopelefs to prevail,
Bauls not for mercy : but to the loath'd Jail
Drags his fad Irons, and from thence commends
A hafty fuit to his felcfted friend:^

B z Th

*4 ^tgalus and |^art!)enta. Booki.

That by the virtue of a quick Reprieve,

The wretch might have fome few days more to live :

Even fo Vemagoras^ whofe rewounded heart

Had newly felt the unexpected irnart

And fecret burthen of a defperate doom,

Replies not, takes no leave, but quits the room^

Andinhisdiicontented minde, revolves

Ten thojuiaria thoughts, and at the laft refolyes

What courfe to run, relying on no other

B.ut the afliftance oiParthemaes Mother.

rthwith his fierce mifguided pailion drove
His vandring fteps to the next neighboring grove,
A keen Steletto in his trembling hand

j rudely grip*d • upon his Lips did Hand
A milk-white froth -, his eyes like flames ^ fometimes
H < urfes Heaven . himfelf h and then the times -7
H aite ar the proud par the ma ; raves ; defpairs t
>d fire rri his head rends off his tangled hairs •
rfes the womb that bare him • bans the Fates,
.! drunk with Spleen, he thus deliberates :
7 dyft thou mtz Demagoras^ when as death
hen&s thee a weapon ? Can the whining breath
ntents and p.-: :Zo /z, {end, relief
difira&itin') or* (rw age thy grief?
' jl thou not the gods' ? ory rat her ', why
i i not contemn^ and (corn their power y and die £
But fay ! Of whom dofl thou complain ? A woman.
To whom (fond man) do ft hot* complain i' A woman.
And ft ball a womans frowns have power to grieve thee f.
Or fh all a woman s wanton [mile relieve thee ?
F/cs fity Degniagor3S) (hall a ipomans eye
Prevail, to make the font 'O'cv^ gora s die >

And

Book i. Slrgalttg and $attljenfa» *?

And, leave to after times an entred name
Ittf Calender of fools 1 Rouze up forjhame
Thy wafted fpirits • whet thy fpleen9 and live
Toberevengd: she, /be? that would not give
Admittance to thy proffer d love, mufl drink
The potion of thy hate: Stir then the fink
Of all thypaffion ; where thou canfl not gain
By fairer language, Tarquin like conftrain.
But hold thy handy Demagoras, andadvije*
Art gives advantage oft where force denies :
Sufpend thy fury : Make Partheniaes Mother
The means : One Adamant will cut another :
Sweeten thy Lips with amorous Oratory 5
Affect her tender heart with the fad story
Of thy dear love : Extol Partheniaes beauty :
But mofl of ally urge that dejerved duty
Thou ow'ft her virtue, and make that the ground
Of thy fir ft love, that gave thy heart the wound :
Mingle thy words with ftghs ; and it is meet;
if thou can ft force a tear, to let her Jee9t,
Againft thy will. Let thyfalje tongue forbear
No vows, and though thou be eft for [worn > yet [wear:
if ere thy barren Lips Jfjall chance to paufe,
For want of words . Parthenia is the cauje,
vho hath benumd thy heart • if ere they <ro
beyond their lifts, Parthenia made them Jo :
withal, be Jure, when ere thou jh alt advance
The daughters virtues, let the glory glance
(pon the prudent Mother : Women care not
To heir too much of virtue, iftfteyjhare not.
vhen thus thou haft pr e par d her melting ear
To Joft attention^ cUJely, in the rear

B 4 of

n

g %tgalms and ^artpenta, boqU.

Of thy difcourfe, prefer thy fad Petition
Th it (he would pie aje to favor the condition
Of a difi reffed lover 5 and afford
In thy behalf^ a Mothers timely word •
So (halt thou wreak thy vengeance by a wile,
And make the Mother Baud to her own child.

He paufed not - but like a rafh Proje&oic
(Whole frantick Paflion was fupream Director)
Fixt his firft thoughts, impatient of the fecond,
Which might been bettered by advfce, and reckoned
All time but loft, which he beftowed not
On th'execution of his hopeful plot :
Forthwith his nimble paces he divided
Towards the Summer-Pakce^ where refided
The fair Fartheniaes Mother 5 boldly enters.
And after mutual complement adventers
To break the Ice of his diffembled grief:
Thus he complains, and thus he begs relief.

<o

Madam^
The hopeful thriving ofmyfuit depends
2 Ipon your geodnefs, and it recommends
It fe If unto your favor, from ivhofe hand
ft mnfl have fentence, or to faRy or ft and :
Thrice Three times hath the Sovereign of the nighty
Repair d hcr: empty horns with borrowed light y
Since theft fad eye*, thc[e beauty'Mafted eyes,
were (tricke-n by a light that did arife

Prom

Book i. ^salus and |&artl)ettfo» ^

Fromyour blefi womb, whofc unajfw aged [mart

Hath piercd my Soul, and wounded my poor Fie art :

It is the fair Parthenia, whofe divine

And glorious virtue led the fe eyes of mine

To their own ruin : Like a wanton Flic,

I dallied with the flame of her i right eyey

Till I have burn amy wings. O, if to love

Be held a [my the guilty gods above

( Beingfellow-fwners with w, and commit

The fe If fame crimes ) may eaaly far don it.

Q thrice divine Parthenia, that hafl got

A [acred priviledg which the Gods have not,

if thou hafl doomd that J [hall be bereaven

of my loath' d life, yet let me die forgiven ;

And welcome death that with one happy blow

Gives me more eafe, than life could ever do.

Madam, to whomfhould my fad words appeal

But yon 1 Alas to whomfhould I reveal

My dying thoughts , but unto you that gave

Being to hery that hath the power to fave

My wafted life • the language of a Mother

Moves more than tears, that trickle from another.

With that a well-diffemtted drop did jlide

From his falfe eyes. The Lady thus reply 'd 5

My Honorable Lord,
if my untimely an fiver hath prevented
Tome farther words, your paffion would have vented^
Pard / my hafle: which in a ruder faffjion
Sought oncly to divide you from your pxfjion :
The lore you bear Parthenia, muft claim
The privilcdgc of mine ear, and in her name^

(Though

20 Sfrgalttg and tyatttymfa. Book I

( Though from an abfent mind, as yet unknown )

Return I thanks with interefl of mine own*

The little judgment i that the gods have lent

Her downy years ( though in a [mall extent )

Does challenge the whole freedom of her choice^

In the refignment of a Mothers voice :

Thejprigbtly fancies of a Virgins mind

Enter themf elves y and hate to be confnd :

The hidden Embers of a lovers fire

Ttefre no bellows y but their own defire ;

And like to Dedalus his Forge ; if blown.

Burns dim and dies ^ blazes, if let alone :

Lovers affect without advifement, that

which being mojlperfuadedio, they hate.

My Lord, adjourn your pajfion, and refer

The fortune of your fuit to time, and her.

Like to a V in ace is a lovers mind,

The fail his fane ie is ; a [iorm of wind

His uncontrolled Pajjion - The St ears

His Reafon - Rocks and Sands, are doubts and fears:

your form being great, like a wife Pilot bear

But little Sail, andfoutly plie the St ear :

Leave then the violence of your thoughts to me%

My Lord, too hajly gamejlers over fee.

Go, move Parthenia -, and Juno's blefjing

Attend your hopeful fuit, in the fupprcffi/ig

Loves common evils ; and if her warm defire

Shew but afpark, leave me to blow the pre.

Go, lofe- no time : Lovers mufl be laborious •

My Lord, go prosperous, and return victorious.

With that; Vemagoras, ( proftrate on the ground,
A- if his ears had heard that biefled found,

Where-

Book i. strgalus and #artl)cma.

Wherewith the VelphLtn Oracle acquites
The accepted facrifice ) performs the Rites
Of quick devotion, to that heavenly voice,
Which fed his Souf with the malignant joys
Of vow 'd revenge, up from the floor he ftarts,
Bleffes the tongue that bled him, and departs.

By this time, had the Heaven-furrounding Steeds
Queli'd their proud courage, turn'd their fainting heads
Into the lower Hemifphere, to cool
Their flaming Noftrils in the Weftern Pool,
When as the dainty and mollitious Air
Had bid the Lady of the Palace, fhare
In her refined pleafures, and invited
Her gentle ftepts, fully to be delighted
In thofe fweet w7alks, where Floras liberal hand
Had given more freely^ than to all the Land.
There walked (lie ; and in her varioA mind,
Projects and cafts about which wTay to find
The progrefs of the young PartbenUes heart ;
Likes this way : Then a fecond thought does thwart
The firft ; likes that way $ then a third the fecond :
One while fhe likes the match, and then /he reckoad.
Demagoras virtues ; Now her fear entices
Her thoughts to alter • then fhe counts his vices :
Sometimes fhe calls his vows and oaths to mind %
Another while5thinks oaths and words but wind.
She likes.diflikes-, her doubtful thoughts do vary;
Refolves, and then refolvcs the quite contrary.
One while fhe fears that his malign afpec't
Will give the Virgin caufe todifaficct :
And then propounds to her ambitious thoughts
His wealth, the Golden cover of all faulxs :

Ao3

22

SltgalttS and #attl)enfau Booki.

And, from the chaos of her doubt, digefts

Her fears $ creates a word of wealth 5 and refts.

With that, fhe ftrait unfixt her faftned eyes

From off the ground 3 and looking up, efpies

The fair Parthenia, in a lonely bowre,

Spending thetreafure of an Evening hour :

There fate fhe, reading the fweet fad difcourfes

Of CaricleaslovQ ; theentercourfes

Of vvhofe mixt fortunes taught her tender heart

To feel the felf-fame joy, the felf fame fmart ;

She read, fhe wept- and,as fhe wept,fhe fmii'd,

As if her equal eyes had reconciled

Th' extreams of joy and grief: She clos'd the Book>

Then open'd it, and with a milder look,

She pities lovers 5 mufing then a while,

She teaches fmites jp weep, and tears to fmile :

At length,her broken thoughts fhe thus difcovers,

Vnconftantjtateofpor di ;Jt 're (fed lovers !
Is all extr earn in love ? No mem at all i
No draughts indiff rent* Either Honey or Gall i
Hath Cupids univerfe no temfrate Zone ?
Either a torrid, or a frozen one 1
Alas, alas, poor Lovers f As fhe fpake
Thofe words from her difclofed Lips, there brake
A gentle figh ; and after that another
With that, fteps in her unexpe&ed Mother.

Have ye beheld, when Titans luftful head
Hath newly div'd into the Sea-green Bed
OiThetisy how7 the bafhful Horizon
( Enforced to fee what fhould be ken by none )
Looks red for fliamc, and blufhes to difcovef
Th'inceftuous pleafures of the Heaven-born lover i

Book i. SttgalttS and ^arttjenfau n

^ 1 ■ — i ■ — • ii na*wM9»>

So look'd Parthenia, when the fuddqn eye
Of her unwelcome Mother did defciy
Her fecret paflion : The Mothers fmile
Brought forth the Daughters blu/h,and level coyl
They f mil'd and bluflit 5 one fmile begat another :
The Daughter bluflit, becaufe the jealous Mother
Smil'd on ner - and the filent Mother finil'd.
To fee the confcious blufhing of her child :
At length grown great with words, fhe did awake
Her forced filence, and- (he thus befpake.

Blufb not, myfairefl Daughter ; 'tis nofbamc
To -pity lovers, or Ument that flame \
which worth and beauty kindles in the breft ;
*Ti$ charity to fuccor the distreft.
The difpofltion of a generous heart
Mak's every grief her own ; at lea/l, bears part,
what Marble^ ah what Adamantine ear
E're heard the flames of T toy ^ without a tear ?
Much more the fcorching of a lovers fire,
( whofe defperatefewel is his own defire )
May boldly challenge every gentle heart
To be joynt -tenant in his fecret [mart,
why daft thou bluff j f why did t ho fe pearly tears
Slide down 1 Fear not : This arbor hath no ears :
Here's none but we ; Jpeak then : It is nofhamt
To (bed a tear • thy Mother did the fame :
Say, hath the winged wanton, with his dar t3
Sent ere a meffage to thy wcunded heart <
Speak \in the name of Hymen^/ conjure thee*
iffo, I have a baljamffjallrecure thee7
/ fear ,/ fear jhe young Laconian Lord
Hath lately left fome indigested word

• ■*! ■'

*4 avsaitts and #att&ema. booh.

In thy coUjlomAck - ithich, for want of art

I doubt, I doubt 7 lies heavy at thy heart*

jfthat be all, revealing brings relief*

Silence in love, but multiplies a grief \

Hid Sorrow s defperate, not to be endurd,

which being but difclos'd, is easly curd :

Ter chance thou lov'Jl DemagoraS, and wouldft fmother

Thy cloje affection from thy angry Mother,

And reap the dainty fruits of love unfeen t

I did the like, or thou hadji \ never been.

Sto/n goods arefweete/t. if it be thy mind

To love in jeer et, I mil be as blind

As he that wounded thee • or if thou dare

Acquaint thy Mother, then a Mothers care

Shall be redoubled, till thy thoughts acquire

The fweet fruition of thy choice defire :

Thou lov9fl Demagoras : If thy Lips deny,

Thy confeious Heart muftgive thy Lips the lie :

And if thy liking countermand my will,

Thy punifhment (hall be to love him fi ill :

Then love him fill, and let his hopes inherit

The crown belonging to [of air a merit ;

His thoughts are noble, and his fame appears

To [peak, at leaf, an age above his years :

The blood of his increasing honor springs

From the high flock of the Arcadian Kings.

The gods have blejl him with a liberal hand,

Enricht him with the prime of all the Land :

Honor and wealth attend his Gates, and what

Can he command that he poffeffe'j not t

All which, and more, {if Mothers can divinf)

The fortune of thy beauty hath made thine 3

lie

Book e atygaUiS and jftavtfjenfo. 2j

£te /V /-/^ C apt he, and thy conquering ties
Have took him prisoner ; he fubmits, and lies
At thy dear mercy, hoping tier to be
Random a from death, by any price ^ bat the?:
Wrong not thyje/f in being too too nice,
And what{perchance)may not be prefer d twice ^
Accent at first : It is a fool if: mind
To be too coy : OccallonV bald bc-hlnd.
Tis not the common work of every day
T* afford \u:h offer s-, take them while you ma 'fa
Times alter: Youth and Beauty are but bUfis*
life then thy time \avhilf youth and beauty lafisi
For if that loath3 dan dm famous reproach
Ofafald Maid, but ofer to inctoalh
Upon opinion, th'art in eflrmatton,
Like garments kept till they be oat cffaffjhn ;
Thy worth,thy wit, thy virtues all muff fland
Like 'roods at out- cries, pri^'d at fecund hand .

O ' J I P

Refolze thee then, t enlarge thy Virgin-life
with tl/ honorable freedom of a wife :
And let the fruits of that bleft marriage be
A living ple'dge betwixt my child and me.

So (aid; the {mParthenia (in whole heart
Her ftrong affection yet had got die ftart
Of her obedience ) makes a Hidden pade,
Strives with her thoughts \ objects the biiiding laws
Of filial duty to her beft aflc&ian,
Sometimes rabmits unto her o\1 1: election.
Sometimes unto her Mothers : thns divided
In her diftra&ed fancy, fornetirnes guided
By one defire, and fometirnes by another,
i>fie thus reply'd to her attentive Mothtr :

C M*damD

2 6 ^rgalttg and ftaytpenfc Booki.

Madamy

Think not Varthcnh^under a pretence

Offilence, Jludies disobedience :

Or by the crafty flownefs of reply ;

Borrows a quick advantage to deny :

It lies not in your power Jo command

Beyond my will . unto your tender hand

J here furrender up that little All

Yon gave me >, freely to difpofe wit hall:

The gods forbid } Panhtnh/Jjould refijl

what you command, command you what you lift :

Bat pardon me, the young Laconian Lord

Hath made afjaujt, but never yet could board

This heart of mine : I wept, I wept indeed,

But my mii'conll rued fir earns did ne'r proceed

From Cupids firing: This blubber d Book makes known

who fe griefs I wept-, I wept mt-fer mine own^

My lowly thoughts durfi never yet affire

The lea /!' degree towards the proud defirf

Of fo. great honor, to be caltd his wife,

For whom ambitious Queens have been at fir if e •-

He fudfor lo ve, and fir on ^ ly did importune

My hearty more pleaded with a meaner fortune :

Aiy breafl wa<s marble, and my heart for not

Mlfittyy for indeed, llovdhim not:

But Madam y you, to whfe more wife directions

I bend the flout ejt of my rafh affections,

Tou have, commanded) and your will fjj all he

The fquare of my uuc ven de fires, and me :

fie p ra ctije dut y, a nd m y deed (hall (Jjo w it :

tie praclife love, though Cupid never know it,

WIkii

Book i. ^rgalttjS and ffattftewfc *

When great Bafiliusfa whole Princely hand
Nourifht long peace in the Arcadian Land )
With triumph brought to hissxnounedCourc
His new efpoufed Queen, was great reibrt
Of Foreign States, and Princes, to behold
Thctruthjthat unbeliev'd report hath told
Of fair Gynecia's worth : Thither repaired
The Cyprian Nobles, richly all prepar'd
In warlike furniture, and well addreft,
With folemn Joufts to glorifie the Feaft
Of Marriage Royal, lately pad between
TK Arcadian King, and his thrice noble Queen^
The fair Gynecia> in whofe face and breft,

Nature, and curious art had done their beft,

To fum that rare perfe&ion, which (in brief)

Tran (tends the power of a ftrong belief:

Her Syre was the Cyprian King, whofe fame

Receiv'd more honor from her honor'd name,

Than if he had with his vi^orious hand,

Unfceptred half the Princes in the Land :

To tell the glory of this Royal Feaft,

The Bridegrooms (late, and how the Bride was drcft ;

The princely fervice, and the rare delights ;

The feveral names and worth of Lords and Knights 5

JThe quainttf»^f*jVs, their devifeful (hows ^
I heir Martial (ports, their oft redoubled blows 3

The courage of this Lord, or that proud Hotfe^

Who ran, who got the better, who theworfe.

Is not my task > not lies it in my way,

To make relation pf it : Heraulds may :

Yet fame and honor have felefted one

From that illuftrious crue 5 and him alone

C 2 Hare

7

*8 XtQtilM and $mtyni&. BookL

Have recommended to my careful Quill,
Forbidding that his honor fhould lie ftill
Among the reft,whom fortune and his fpirit
That day,had crowned with a vigor's merit :
His name was Argdus, in Cyprus born :
And ( if what is not ours, may adorn
Our proper fortunes ) his Blood Royal fprings
From thancient ftock of the great Cyprian Kings
His out-fide had enough to fatisfie
The expectation of a curious eye :
Nature was too too prodigal of her beauty,
To make him half fo fair, whom fame and duty
He ought to honor, calf d fo often forth,
T'approve the excellence of his manly worth:
His mind, was richful furnifht with the treafure
Of Moral knowledge,in fo liberal meafure,
Not to be proud : So valiant and fo ftrong
Of noble courage, not to dare a wrong :
Friendly to all menanward but with few-
Fail to his old friends, and unapt fotf new :
Lord of his word,and mafter of his paflion,
Serious in bufinefs, choice in recreation:
Not too miftruftful, and yet wifely wary •
Hard to refolve, and then as hard to vary :
And to conclude, the world could hardly find
So rare a body with fo rare a mind.

Thrice

Book i. ^rsaltts and 0attDenta. 31

(3)

Thrice had the bright furveyer of the Heaven

Divided out the days and nights by even

And equal hours, fince this child of fame

( Invited by the glory of her name, )

Firft view a Parthenias face,whofe mutual eye

Shot equal flames, and with the iecret tye

Of undifclos'd affedion, joyn'd together

Their yielding hearts, their loves unknown to either-:

Both dearly lov'd ; the more they ftrove to hide

Their love, affedion they the more defcry'd.

It lies beyond, the power of art to f mother

Affection^ where one virtue findes another ._

One was their thoughts, and their defires one,

And yet both lov'd,unknown; belov'd,unknown:

One was the Dart, that at the felf-fame time

Was fent, that wounded her,that wounded him,

Bothhop'd, both fear'd alike, both joy \J, bothgriev'd-

Yet, where they both could help, was none reliev'd !

Two lov'd, and two beloved were, yet none

But two in all, and yet that all but one,

By this time had their barren Lips bjtray'd

Their timorous filence • now they had difplay'd

Loves fanguine colours, whilft the winded Child

Sate in a Tree, andclapt his bands, and imil'd

To fee the combat of two wounded friends.

He ftrikes and wounds himfelf, while ihe defends

That would be wounded, for her pain proceeds,

And flows from his, and from his wound ihe bleeds-

C 4 She

3* fltgains ^d ^artt)cnfa, BookL

She plays at him, and aiming at his breft,
Pierc'd her own heart : And when his hand addreft
The blow to her fair bofom5 there it found
His own dear heart, and gave that heart the wound :
At length both conquer'd^and yet both did yield.
Both loft the day, and yet both won the field :
And as the warfare of their tongues did ceafe,
Their Lips gave earned of a joyful peace.

But O the hideous chances that attend
A lovers progress to hisjournies end !
How many defprate nibs^ and dangers wait
Each minute on his miserable (late !
His hopes do huild^ what fir aight his fears dejlroy :
Sometimes be forfeits with excefsofjoy :
Sometimes de f pairing ere to find relief
He roars beneath the tyranny of grief ;
And when loves current runs with greatest force <>
Seme obvious mifchief ftill difiurbs the course ;
For lo, no fooner the difcovered flame
Of thefe new parted lovers did proclaim
Loves facred Jubilee^but the Virgin Mother
(The pofture of whofe vifagedid difcover
Some ferious matter, harb'ring in her breft )
Enters the room : Half angry, half in jeft,
She thus began: My de are ft child ^ this night j
when as the file nt darknefs did invite

Mine

Book i. argalus and $att&ettfa» 35

(4)

Mine eyes tojlumber, fundry thoughts pojfefl
My troubled mind, androbb'd me of my refi 5
/ (left not, till the early Bugle-horn
d/Chaunticlere hadfummond in the morn
T attend the light ^ and nurfe the new born Day.
At /aft, when Morpheus, with his Leaden Key
Had lock'd myfenjes, and inlargd the power
Of my Heav'n guided fancy, jfr an hour
1 flumbred • and before my (lumbring eyes,
One, and the [elf fame dream presented thrice ;

I wak'd • and being frighted at the Vifion,
Perceivd the gods hid made an Apparition.

My dream was this : Me thought I faw thee fitting

J) refi like a Princely Bride, with Robes befitting

The St Ate ofMajefiy • thy Nymph-like Hair

Loe/ly dijbevela, and thy Brows did bear

A Cyprefs wreath • and ( thrice three moneths expird )

Thy pregnant womb grew heavy y and required

LucinaV aid • with that me thought I faw

A team ofharnefi Peacocks fiercely draw

A fiery Chariot from the flit ing skie,

jrherein there fat the glorious Majefly

Of great Saturnia, on whofe train attended

A hoft ofgoddeffes - Juno descended

From out the faming Chariot y and blefl

Thy painful womb • Thy pains a while increaft?

At length flje Lad her gentle palms upon

Thy fruitful 'flank ? and there was born a Con.

She

3* ^rgalas and ^attgema.

She made thee Mother of a fmilingBoy,
And after y hlefl thee "with a Mothers joy ',
She ktfi the Babey whofe fortune foe foretold*
For on his he ad (he fet a crown of gold 5
Forthwith, as if the Heavens had cloven in\ run&eY ',
Me thought 1 heard the horrid noife of thunder :
The hail for md down, and yet the skie was clear,
Some Hailjlones that defcended did appear,
As Orient Pearls, fome like refined Gold,
whereat the goddess turnd, andfaid, Behold,
Great Jove hath fent a gift • goforthy andtake't \
Thus having (poke, fhe vanijbt, and I wak9d :
iwak'd, and waking trembled • for I knew
They were no idle paff ages, that grew
From my diflempered thoughts ; 'twas not a vam
Delufion roving from a troubled hrain.
It was a vifion> and the gods fore [pake
Vaxtkzmzts for tune ? Gods cannot miflake.
llik'd the dream, wherein the Heavens foretold
Thy joyful Marriage, andthefhower of Gold
Betokened wealth : The Infants Golden Crown,
Enfu'tng honor : Juno's coming down,
Afafe deliverance • and the fmiling Boy
Sumd up the total of a Mothers joy ;
But what the wreath OfCypxe(s{that was fet
Upon thy nuptial Brows ) pre fag3 d, as yet
The gods keep from me : if that fe ere t do
Fort end and evil, He av 'n keep it from thee too,
Advife Parthenia : Seek not to withftand
The plot wherein the gods vouch fafe a hand :
Submit thy will to theirs ^ what they injoyn,
ftluft be • nor lies it in my power, or thine

Book i. atgatasund ^t taenia. 37

To contradict : Endeavor to fulfil

what elfe muft come to pafs again ft thy will :

Now by the filial duty thou doe [I bear

The gods and me^ or if ought elfe more dear

Can force obedience - as thou hop' ft to [peed

At the gods hands ^ ingreatejl time of need -

By Heaven, by Hell, by all the powers above \

I here conjure Parthenia to remove

All fond conceit sy that labor to disjoyn

what, Heaven hath knit, Demagoras heart and thine •

The gods are faithful • and their wifdoms know

what's better for m mortals, than we do :

Doubt notirny child) the gods cannot deceive,

what Heaven does offer, fear not to receive

With thankful hands ^ pafs not (o flight ly over

The dear affection offo true a lover :

Pity his flames , relieve his torturd breft,

That findes abroad no joy, at home no refi :

But, like a wounded Hart before the Hounds,

That flies with Cupid's javelin in his wounds :

Stir up thy rak'd up embers of de fire •

The gods will bring in fewet andhlow the Hre\

Be gentle • let thy cordial f miles revive

His wafted [pints, that onely cares to live

To do thee honor : It was Cupid'/ will,

The Dart he fent, fhould on eh wound, not kill ;

field then : and let the engagd *od$ pour down

Their promh'd bleffing i on th ) hi ad, and croivn

Thy youth with joys • and maifl thou after be

As ble/f in thine, us I am bleft. in th-je.

So laid 3 the fair Parthenia, to whofc heart
Her fact deflrcs had taught th'unwiiling Art

33 SltflaittS! and i&attljenfou Booki.

Of difobedience, calls her judgment in,
And, of two evils, determines it a fin
More venial, by a refolute denial,
To prove undutiful, than be difloyal
To him, whofe heart a facred Vow had tied
So faft to hers 5 and ( weeping ) thus replied.

Madam^
The angry gods have late confpird to fhow
The utmojt their inraged hands could do ,
And having laid a fide all mercy , jl retch
Their power ', to make one miserable wretch ,
whofe curfl and tortur d \oul mufl onely he
The fubjefi of their wrath • and I am (he.
Hard is the cafe / My dear de fires muflfail^
My vows mufl crack, my flighted faith befrail^
Or elfe affeBion mujl be fo exifd
A Mothers hearty that [he renounce her child.

And as (lie fpake that word, a flowing tide
Oftearsgufhtout, whole violence deny'd
Th' intended paffage of her doubling tongue *
She ftopt a while, then on the floor flie flung
Her proftrate body, while her hands did tear
( Not knowing what they did ) her dainty hair :
Sometimes (he ftruck the ground, fometimes her breft 3
Began fome words, and then wept out the reft :
At laft, her livelefs hands did, by degrees,
Raife her caft body on her feeble knees,
And humbly rearing her fad eyes upon
Her Mothers frowning vifage, thus went on.

Upon thefe knees^ thefe knees that ne'r were bent,
To you in vain • that never did pre fen?

Their

Book i. 3Ugalug and ff art pente* 39

Their unrewarded duty : never rofe
Without a Mothers blejfng ; upon thofe ^
Upon thofe naked knees 1 recommend
To your dear thoughts , thofe torments that attend
Your poor Parthenia, rvhoje unknown difirefs
Craves rather deaths than language to express.
# rhatfhall I do ? Demagoras and death
Sound both alike to thefe fad ears ; that breath
That names the one, does nominate the other :
No, no, I cannot love him ^ my dear Mother.
Command Parthenia now to undergo

irh.it death you pleafe, and thefe quick hands fhallfiotP

The fealofmy obedience in my heart :

The gods them f elves, that have a fecret art

To force affection, cannot violate

The Law of Nature ^ nor the courfe of Fate.

Can Earth forget her burthen, and afcend £

Or can ttiafpiring flames be taught to tend

To the Earth'*, ff fire defc end, and Earth afpire,

Earth were no longer Earth, nor Fire, Fire :

Even Jo , by Nature, 'tis all one tome,

To love Demagoras and not to be :

No, no, the Heavens can do no act that's oreater^

Than {having made fo) to preferve their creature :

And think yon that the righteous Gods will fill me

if'ithfuchfalfejoys, as ( tfinjoyd ) would kill me ?

I know that they are merciful^ what they

Command, they give a power to obey :
, The joyful n fun that ypur (lumbring eyes

Of late beheld, did pro wife and ' comprife

A fairer fortune, than the Heavens can fh are

the poor Partheniaes/HW/ ; whomdejpair

Math

v> %rgaiqg and ffaytflenfou &**!,

Jlath fwaflow'd : Tour prophet ick dream defer/ d

A Royal Marriage ; pointed out the Bride :

Her fafe deliverance ; and her failing fon »

Honor and wealth $ and after all was done,

There wants a Bridegroom : Him, th* Heavens have feaCi

Within my BreH, by me, to be reveaPd 5

which if your patience jhall vouch fafe to hear,

My Lips fhall recommend unto your ear,

when as Bafilius ( may whofe royal hand
Long (way the Scepter <>/>// Arcadian Land )
From Cyprus brought his more than Princely Bride,
The fair Gynecia5 ( whom as Greece denyd
An equal • fo the world acknowledged none
As her fuperior in perfection ;)
Upon this Ladies royal train, and flat e
A great concourfe of Nobles did await,
And Cyprian Princes, with their Princely port,
To fee her crown d in the Arcadian Court :
llluftriom Princes were they • but, as far
As midnight Phoebe outshines a twinkling far ;
So far, among ft this rout of Princes, one
Surpafl the refly in honor and renown :
whofe perfect virtue findes more admiration
In the Arcadian Court, than imitation ;
In th9 ex lie nee of his outward Parts, and feature,
The world conceives, the curious hand of Nature
Out -went it [elf ; which being richly fraught
Andfurnifht with iranfeendent worth, is thought
To be the chofen fortrefs for protection
Of all the Arts, and ftorc-houfe of Perfection :
The Cyprus flock did ner,till now, bring forth
So rare a Branch^ whofe undervalued worth

Brings

Book i. ajcgaUis and teattftenta* 4*

— ' ******

Brings greater glory to the Arcadian Land,

Than can the dull Arcadians under Jland :

His name is Argalus;

He ( Madam ) was that Cyprefs wreath, that crown &

My nuptial brows . And now the Bridegrooms fount

Cloathyd in the myftry of that Cyprefs wreath •

which, fnce the better gods havepleaj'dto breath

Into my foul \ O may I ceafe to bee

/fought but death fart Argalus and me:

Tet does myjafe obedience not withjland

what yon deftre, or what the gods command :

For what the gods command is your defire

Vanhcnixfljould obey, and not refpire

Again (I their [acred counsels, or withjland

The plot, wherein they have vouch jaf'd a hand :

We mustfubmit our wills ; what they enjoy n

Musi- be • nor lies it in your power or mine^

To crofs : We mujl endeavor to fulfil

what el[e mujl come to pafs again ft our will*
My vows are pajl, andfecond Heavens decree,
Nothing [hall part my Argalus and me.

So faid •, tlVimpatient Mothers kindled eye
( Half clofed with a murtherous frown ) let flie
A fcorching Fire-ball, from whence was fhed
Some drops of choler • fternly (hakes her head •
With trembling hands unlocks the door, and flees,
Leaving Parthenia on her aking knees :
And as (lie fled, her fury thus began
To open, And is Argalus the man <
But there fhe flops, and driving to exprefs
What rage had prompted, could do nothing lefs.

D All

4» atgalug and $attj)enfo* Booki.

All you who fe dear affections have been tojl
In Cupids Blanket, andunjuftly croji
By wilful Parents, rvhofe extream command
Hath made you, groan beneath their tyrannous hand,
That take a furious pleasure to divorce
Tour fouls from your befi thoughts, ( nay, what is worfe
Than torture ) force your fancies to refpetf,
And dearly love, whom mo ft you dij affect ;
D raw near, and comfort the diftrejfed heart
Of poor Parthenia 5 let your eyes impart
One drop at leaf : And who\oer thou be
That read' ft thefe Lines y may thy defires fee
The like fuccejs, if reading, thou forbear.
To wet this very Paper with a tear. ,

Behold ( poor Lady ) how an hours time
Hath pluck'd her faded Rofes from their prime,
W ho like an unregarded ruine, lies,
With deaths untimely image in her eyes :
She, {he, whom hopeful thoughts had newly crown'd
With promis'd joys, lies grov'ling on the ground •,
Her weary hand fuftains her drooping head 5
( Too foft a Pillow for fo hard a Bed )
Her eyes fwoln up, as loth to fee the light,
That would difcover fo forlorn a fight :
The flaxen wreath of her negleded hairs
Stick faft to her pale Cheeks with dried tears •
Andatfirftblufii, fhefeems, as if it were
Some curious ftatue on a Sepulchre :
Sometimes her briny Lips would whifper thus5

My Argalus, My dear eft Ar galas :
And then they clos'd again, as if the one
Had kid the other, for that fervice done.

In

Book i. Sltsalus and ffattpcnftu 43

In naming Ar<zAlus : Sometimes oppreft

With a deep iigh, Hie gave her fainting breft

A fudden ftroke ; and after that another,

Crying, Hard fortune^ Qhard-ht&rted Mother \

And fiek with her own thoughts, her paffion ftrove

Betwixt the two extreams of grief and love :

The more (he griev'd, the more her love abounded :

The more flie lov'd, the more her heart was wounded

With defp'rate grief : at length, the tyrannous force

Of love and grief, fent forth this felf difcourfe.

How art thou changd ( Parthenia ) how hath paffion

Put all thy thoughts andjenjes out of faff j ion ?

Exil'd thy little judgement^ and betray d thee

To thine own felf? How nothing hnth tt made thee

How is thy weather-beaten \oul oppreft

with It or ms and tempers blown from the North-eaft

Of cold de fp air ? which y long ere this^ had found

Eternal reft 5 had been overwhelmed and drown d

In the deepgulfofall my mi\eriesy

Had I not pumpt this water from mine eyes 5

My Argalus 5 O where^ O where art thou i

Thou little thinkft thy poor Parthenia now

Is torturdfor thy fake • alas, ( dear heart / )

Thou knoweft not th'unfuffcrable Jmart

J undergo for thee : Thou do ft not keep

A Regifter ofthofefad tears J weep^

JVo, no^ thou do ft not.

Well^ well 5 from henceforth^ Fortune, do not f pare

To do the rvorft thy active mifchiefdare ^

Devife new torments y or repeat the old^

Until thou bur (i , or I complain: Behold y

As bitter 5 idifdainthyrage, thy power 5

D 2 who

44 $rs&Ut£f and ^attftenfa* BookL

wbos level' d with the Earth, can fall no lower 5

Do •, fpit thy venome forth \ and temper all

Thy pit died actions with the fpirit of gal I :

Thy practised malice can no charm device

Too fur e for Argalus to exercije t

His love /hall fweeten deaths and make torture

My fpoftful pajfime, to make hours fo or ter :

His 'love fh all fill my hearty and leave no room

wherein your rage may practice Martyrdom.

But ere that word could uflier out another*

The tender Virgins marble- hearted mother,

Enters the Chamber $ w ith a chang'd afpeift

Beholds Parthenia • with a new reiped:

Salutes her child, and ( having clos'd the door )

Her helpful arm removes her from the floor

Whereon (he lay, and being fet together,

In gentle terms, ihe thus did commune with her 1

Perverfe Parthenia, is thy heart forworn
To Argalus his love, that it muft fcorn
Demag'ras f are your fouls enjoynd fo clo[ey
That my entreaty may not interpose i
if JO) what help f yet let a Mothers care
Be not contemn d> that bids her child beware,
ihe Sickle that's too early, cannot reap
A fruitful Harvefi ; look before you leap.
Adjourn your thoughts^ and make a wife delay,
You cannot me a fur e Virtue in a day •
Virtues appear, but Vices balk the light •
'Tis hard to read a vice at the fir fl fight.
Falfe are thofejoys that are not mixt with doubt)
Fire eafly kindled, will not eafily out :

Divide

Book i. %tgams and laartijenia, 45

Divide that love, which thou beflowd on one,

Twixt two • try bothy then take the bejl or none :

Confult with time $ for time bewrays, di (covers :

The faith y the lovey the con ft amy of lovers.

Acts done in haft, by leifure are repented,

And things y f'oon pafty are oft too late lamented.

With that Parthenia rifing from her place,

And bowing with incomparable grace,

Made this reply : Madam y each Jeveral day

Since fir ft yon gave this body bein^, may

ivrite a large volume of your tender carey

ivhofe hourly goo dnef's, if it (ho// Id c ompare

with my dejerts, alas, the world would J how

Too great a f/tm for one poor heart to owe,

J muft confefs my heart is not fo fvcrn

To Argalus his merit y m to (com

Demagoras •, nor yet fo loo fly tide ,'

That 1 can flip the knot, andfo divide
Entire affection, which muji "not be feve/d^
Nor ever can be ( but in vain ) endeavored :
My heart is one, and by one power oy/ided :
One is no number y cannot be divided :
And Cupids learned Schoolmen have refolvdy
That love divided, is but love diffnlvd :
But yet, what plighted faith and honor may
Not mw undo y your counfel (hall delay.
Madam^ Partheniaes hand u not fo greedy,
To reap her corn, before her com he ready :
Her unadvifed fickle foal I not thrujl
Into her hopeful Harvefl, ere needs mufl :
To yours, Parthenia (ball fubmit her skill,
rrhjfejcafonjha/l be (eafcndhy your will:

46 ^rgalus and 0attl)snfa» booh.

Her time cfHarveftfaall admit no me afar e^
But oncly what's -proportioned by your pie a fare*
So ended (he ; but till that darknefs got
The maft'ry of the light, they parted not :
The Mother pleads ior the Laconian Lord ;
The daughter ( whole impatience had abhorr'd
His very name, had not her Mother fpok't )
She pleads her vow, v hich cannot be revok't :
Yet ftill the Mother pleads, and does omit
No way untry'd, that a hard-hearted wit
Knows to devxfe : perfwadcs^ allures, intreats,
Mingles her words with fmilcs, with tears, with threa
Commands, conjures, tries one way, tries another.
Does th* utmofi that a marb!e-brcfted Mother
Can do - and yet tlie more flie did apply,
The more (\':q t:\up;ht PaytherJa to deny •
The more (he did allault, the more contend,
The mure (he taught the Virgin to defend :
At laft, defpairing ( for her words did iind
More hopes ro move a Mountain than her mind )
She fpake no more : but from her chair (lie ftarted>
And (pit thefe words, Go peevifb GirK and parted I
Awjy (he flings, and finding no fuccefs
In her loft words, her fury did addrefs
Her raging thoughts to a new ftudied plot :
Actions mail now enforce, what words could not.
Treafon is in her thoughts : her furious breath
Can whifper now no language under death :
Poor ArgdiM muft die, and his remove
Muff make the paiTage to Demagoras love:
And till that bar be broken, or put by,
No hope to fpeed : Foot Argahu mult die.

Book i. strgatus and jaattljcnta. 49

(5)

Demagoras is call'd tocounfel now,
Confiilts, confents, and after mutual vow,
Refolving on the aftj they both confpire
Which way to execute their clofe defire :
Drawing his keen Steletto from his fide,
Madam ( faid he ) this medicine well apply d
To Argalus his bofom, will give reft
To him and me: the judder* way is heft.
My Lord : your trembling hand ( faid (he ) may mifs
The mark) and then your fe If in danger is
Of out-cry • or perchance his own refiftance :
Attempts are dangerous y at fo [mall a diftance :
A Drug'/ the better weapon, which does breath
Deaths fecret err and y carries fudden death
Closd up injweetnefs : Come, a Drugftrikes fure.
And works our ends, and yet we fleep fecure :
My Lord) bethink no other : fet your reft
Upon thefe Cards : the fur eft way is be ft :
Leave me to manage ourfuccefsful plot,
Andiftfcfeftudious brows contrive it not
Too fur e for art 0/Magick to prevent,
Ne'r truft a womans wit when fully bent
To take revenge : Be gone, my Lord, Repofe
The truft in me 1 Onelybewife, be clofe.

That night, when as the univerfal fliade
Of the unfpangled Heaven and Earth, had made
An utter darknefs 5 ( darknefs apt to further
The horrid enterprife of rapes and murther )

She,

5° Sttgaitts and ^attDenta* b*&i

She, (lie, that now lacks nothing to procure

A full revenge, (lie calls AthleU to her,

( partheniaes handmaid ) whom (lie thus befpake:

Athleia, dare thy private thoughts partake
With mine? Canfl thou be fecret ? Has thy heart
A lock 7 that none can pick by theevifh art,
Or break by forced tell me ; canft thou digefl
A fecret, trujled to thy faithful Br eft ?

Madam ( iaid (lie ) Let me never be true
To my own thoughts, if ever falfe to you :
Speak what you pleafe • Athleia/^// conceal 5
Torments may make me roar, but ner reveal.

Reply'd the Lady then : Athleia knows
How muchy how much my dear affection ows
Partheniaes heart, whofe welfare is the crown
Of all my joys, which now is overthrown^
And deeply burie din forgotten duft^
if thou betray the fecret ofmytrujl •
It lieth in thy power to remove
Approaching evils : Parthenia is in love :
Her wafledfpirits languifb in her brefl
And nought, hut look* d for death, can give her reft :
*Tu Avgzlusflje loves ; who with difdain
Requites her love, not loving her again ;
He flights her tears ; the more that he neglects :-
The more entirely (he ( poor foul ) affects.
She groans beneath the burthen ofdefpairy
Ana with her ftghsfbe cloys the idle air :
Thou art acquainted with her private fears^
And you^ fo oft exchanging tongues and tears,
Muft know too much, for one poor heart i* endure ;
But del per ate s the wound admits no cure :

It

Book i. flrgaltta and ffartfrenteu s*

// //>/ /# //^ /<? be If : Athleia/*/,
w '77/ thou affift me, if 1 find the way t

Madam^ my forced ignorance (hall be
Sufficient earneftfor myfecrecy :
Tour Lips have utter d nothing that is new
To Athleia'j ears • al<ts^ it is too true \*
Long, long ere this, your (erv ant bad reveatd
The fame to you , had not theje Lips bcenfeal'd :
But if my be ft endeavors may extend
To bring my Ladies (or rows to an end,
Let alltti enraged Deities allot

o

To me tvorfe torment ', if J do it not :
My life's too foor to hazard for her eafe •
Madam, fll do't, Command me what you pleaff.
So faid : the treacherous Lady ftept afide.
Into her ferious clofet ; and applied
Herhafty, and perfidious hands, to frame
Tins forged Letter, in Partheniaes name.

To her faithful Argalw*

Although the malice of a Mother
Does yet enforce my tongue to [mother
Whit my defire is (Jjould flame •
Tel PartheniaV the fame*

Although my fire be hid a while }
Y/.c but fire /Ilk' d with oyl :
Jse fore [even Suns [hall rife and fall \
Itjballbur*; and blaze withal.

What

5* afrflaitts and $m$mia. Book i.

what I fend thee, drink with [peed.

El\e let my Argalus take heed ?

Unlefs thy providence with ft and,

There is treason near at hand :
Drink as thou lovftme, and it fhall fecure thee
from future dangers, orfrompaft, recwethee.

Thy conftant Partbenia.

This done, and feal'd, fhe op'd her private door,
Call'din Athleia, andfaid, lor every fore
The gods provide afalve ; force mujl prevail,
where ftghs and tears, and deep entreaties fail*

Forthwith

Book i. argains and ^arttjcnfa* 5 s

(6)

Forthwith, from out her Cabinet (lie took
A little glafs, and laid, Athleia- look,
within t he fe fender walls , t he fe glazed lifls,
Partheniaei" happinejs, and life conffts :
It is Nepenthe ; which the factious Gods
Bo ufe to drinks when ere they be at ods ;
whofe fecret virtue ( fo tnfusd by Jove )
Does turn deep hatred, into dearejl lore ;
It makes the proudef lover whine and haul.
And fttch to dote, as never lovd at all :
Here, take this glafs, and recommend the fame
To Argalus in his Partheniaes name,
And to his hand, to his own hand commit
This Letter ; between Argalus and it
Let no Eye come : Be fttre thy /peed prevent
The rififlg Sun 5 andfo heavens crown th 'event \
By this, the feathered Belman of the night
Sent forthJus midnight funimons, to invite
All eyes to (lumber : when they both addreft
Their thoughtful mindes, to take a doubtful reft.
O Heave ns, and yon, O you ccleflial powers,

That nez er (lumber, but implo y all hours

In mans protection • fill preserving) keeping

Our fuls from obvious dangers, wakings Jleeping.

O, can your all d/fcern/ng eyes behold

Such impious actions pro [per uncontrolled?

O can your hearts, your tender hearts endure

To Jee your fervant ( that now bleeps fecure,

. nar'rnd,

56 SfrgalttS and ftattUentiu Eooki-

Unarm Ay nnwarnd, and having no defence,

But your protection, and his innocence )

Betray d and murtherd, drawing at one breath

His own prep ar d deft ruction, his own death 1

And will ye puffer 9t 1 he that is the' crown

Of prized virtue, honor and renown^

The flower of Arts ; the Cyprian living ftory :

Arcadia5.* Garland, and great GvcQCts glory 5

The Earths new wonder, and the Worlds example,

Muft die betray d ^ Treason and Death muft trample

Upon his life ; and in the dujl mujl lie

As much admird perfection, as can die.

No, Argalus, the coward hand of death,

Bur ft ne r ajfault thee, if not underneath

The mask of love : Thou art above the reach

Of open wrongs • mans force could ne'r make breach

Into thy life : No, Death could rie*r uncafe

Thy foul, had/he appeared face to face.

Dream, Argalus, and let thy thoughts be troubled

With murthers, treasons, let thy dreams be doubled :

And what thy fright ed fancy foall perceive,

Be wifely fuperftitiom, and believe.

O, that my lines could wdke thee now, and fever

7hofe eye- lids, that ere long muft fie ep for ever :

wake now or never Argalus, andwithftand

Thy danger : Wake, the Murtherefs is at hand :

Parthenia, o Parthenia, who Jhall weep

Thy world of tears t Canftthou, O can ft thoufteeyi

Will thy dull Genius give thee leave to (lumber ?

Does nothing trouble thee t no dream incumber

Thy frighted thoughts, avdhxgAusfo near

His latest hour : AW one dreaming tear i

Sleep

Book i. %jcgalttg *iv»i ffattl)cni'a^_, £z

5/^/> 0# •' ^^ n'/^/? thy flittering (lumber s pa/ly
Perchance y thine eyes null learn ix> weep as paft :
His death is plotted. • and this fnornirfg tight
Mujljend him down^ into eternal 'night :
Nay, what is ivorfe than wcrjl ^ his dying breath
Will cenj are thee, as Agent to his death.

By this, the broad-tlic'd Quirifter of night
Surceas'd her fcreeehing note, and too!: her flight
To the next neighboring Ivy : Birds and Beaks
Forfake the warm protection of their Nelrs,
And nightly Dens, w hilfl dnrkhefs did dlfplay
Her (able Curtains to let in flic day ;
When fed Athletic dream had linbenighred
Her flumbring eies, her bufie thoughts were frighted $
Sherofc, and trembled \ and being Iwfi diftratfelit
With her proplieftick feafsj Ihethus! bght
what ails the god* thus to disturb my re ,
And make fuch Earth- quakes in my troubled brefl i
Nothing but death., and mur't hers J. Gravis and Belli y
Frightning my fancy, ivith their hourly Knels i
Twos nothing but a dream • and dreamy they
Expound t hern- ches the clean contrary way :
The Riddle's read ♦, and now I Hnderftand
My dreams intent : Some marriage is at hand :
For Death interpreted is nothing el(e
But Marriaoc .- and the mc! ant hilly Bells
Js mirth &n dm uftck : By the Grai ;\ /; n ; i
The joyful, joyful \ joyfol Marriage bed :
75 it is plain : and no\\\ me thinks^ Vw
That my prophetic!: dream foretold (hould die*
If this he death, Death e xertife thy powet\
And let Athleia Ait within this hour :

58 %tgaltlg and jtotflenfo* Book I

Doy dothyworfi^ Athleia^ faithful breath
shall pray fir nothing more than fuddeu death.
Butfiay^ Athleia, the too forward day
Begins to gild the Eaft ; away^ away*

So having faid> the nimble-fingered Lafs
Took the forg'd Letter, and the amorous glafs :
And to her early progreis flie applies her ;
Departs, and towards Argalus (lie hies her 9
But every ftep fhe took, her mindenforc'd
New thoughts, and with her felf Ihe thus difcours'd :

HowfraiCs the nature of a womans will !
How crofs I The thing that's mojl forbidden, JIM
They more defire 5 and leaf inclind to do}
what they are mo ft ofallferfwadedto :
Had not ( a I as ) my Lady bound thefe hands ^
Athleia nc'r had fhugled with her bands 1
1 mufi not talte it ! Hadflje not injoynd
Srfy Up from tafiing it, Athleia'j" mini
Had never thought ont ; now methinks I long ;
De fires, if once con fin d^ become toojlrong
For womans conquer d reajon to refiji :
A womans redjpns meafnr'dby her lift.
1 long to taste - yet was there nothing did
Move my defirey but that I was forbid.

With

Book I. atgalttS and #attt)Cnfo* 61

(7)

With that {lie (laid her weary fteps, and hafted
T' unty the glafs ; lift up her arm, and tafted :
That done (and having now attain'd, almoft,
Her journeys end ) the little time flie loft,
New f peed regains: The nimble ground (he traces
With double haft, and quick redoubled paces,
All on a fudden (he begins to faint :
Her bowels gripe, her breath begins to taint :
Herbliftred tongue grows hot, her liver glows:
Her veins do boil, her colour comes and goes,
She ftaggers, falls, and on the ground fhe lies :
Swells like a bladder, roars, andburfts, and dies.

Thus from her ruine Argdus derives
His longer life, and by her death he lives 5
Live Argdw, and let the gods allot
Such morning-draughts^ to thofe that love thee not*
Live long, and let the righteous Powers above.
That hath preferv'd thee for Ptrtheniaes love,
Crown all thy hopes, and fortunes with event
Too fure, for fecond treafons to prevent.

Ey this time, did the lavifli breath of Fame
Give language to her Trumpet, and proclaim
Atbleiaes death, the current of which news
Truth's warrant-, had forbidden to abufe
Deceived ears. : Which when the lady heard
Whofe treacherous heart was greedily prepar'd
To entertain a murther, fhe arofe
And with rude violence dcfperatclv throws

E 3 Her

si ^rgalus and ^attDenttu_Book i.

'- ' .i ■ — — — __— — — — — __ ™— __ __«^

Her trembling body on the naked floor,
But what fhe laid, and did, I will deplore,
Not utter ; but with forced filence (mother,
Becaufe (he was the fair Partheniaes Mother:
May it fuffice, that the extreams of fhame,
And unrefifted forrow overcame
Her difappointed malice, lefs lamenting
Thetreafon, thanfuccefs^ and more repenting
Of what fhe fail'd to do, than what fhe did,
Her fallen foul defpairs 5 her thoughts forbid
What reafbn wants the power to perfwade •
And griefs being grown too deep for her to wade 7
She finks | and with a hollow figh fhe cried,
tvelcome thou eafer of all evils, and died.

Now tongues begin to walk • and every ear
Hath got the Saturyafis to hear
This tragick Scene : the breath of Fame grows bold,
Fears no repulfe, and fcorns to be control'd :
Whilft loud report (whofe tender Lips, before,
Durft onely whifper) now begins to roar ;
The letter found in dead Athleiaes breft.
Bewray 5d the plot, and what ( before ) was gueft>
Is now Confirmed and clear'd : for all men knew
Whofe hand it was, and whence the malice grew*

But have we loft Parthenia ? In what Ijle
Of endle[s forrcwjurh fhe all this while ?
Sweet Reader j urge me not to tell, for fear
Thy heart dijfclve, . and melt into" a tear :
Excufe my fdence i if my lines fhouldfpeak,
Such marble hearts, • as couldwotmelt^ would break,
No,-: leave her te her felft, it is not fit
To write, .what; being read, youd wifb unwrit :

Book i. atflalus and ffactpenta, 63

■ i i i i ii ■ .

I leave this task to thofe, that take delight ,

To fee poor Ladies torturd in defpight

Of all remorfe 5 whofe hearts arefiillatftrife

To paint a torment to the very life ;

/leave that task to [why as have theporvr

To weep, andfmile again within an hour :

To thofe wbofe flinty hearts are more contented

To Urn a grief, than pity the tormented :

Let it fuffice, that had not Heaven protected

Jftr Argalus, the joy whereof corrected

That furious grief which paffion recommended

To her fad thoughts, herjlory here had ended.

When time the enemy of Fame had clos'd

Her babling Lips, and gently had compos'd

Partheniaes fbrrows, raifing from the ground

Her body (pent with grief, and almoft drown'd

In her own tears, a long expe&ed Scean

Of better fortune enters in, to drcan

Her marifh eyes : her ftormy ni^uc ot tears

Being paft, a welcome day of joy appears.

The Rock's remov'd, and loves wide Ocean now

Gives room enough ; looks with a milder brow.

Reader, forget thy forrows : Let thine ear

Welcome the tidings thou fo long'ft to hear :

A lovers diet's fweet commixt with fowre ;

His Hell and Heaven oft times divides an hour.

Now

*4 atgaUts and idattljenfa* Book*

(8)

Now Argdiu can find a fair acccfe
To his Parthenia : Now fears nothing lefs
Than ears and eyes 5 and now Parthenkes heart
Can give her tongue the freedom to impart
His louder welcome,, whilft her greedy eye
Can look her fill, and fear no ftander by :
She's not Partheni^ he not prefent with her ;
And he not Argalus,- if not together :
Their cheeks are fill'd with fmiles- their tongues withchatj
Now, this they make their fubjed: 5 and now that;
One while they laugh, and laughing, wrangle too.
And jar, as jealous lovers ufe to do:
And then a kifs muft make them friends again :
Faith, one's too little • Lovers muft have twain i
Two brings in ten, Ten multiplies to twenty :
That, to a h undred : then becaufe the plenty
Grows troublefom to count, and does incumber
Their Lips, their Lips gave kiffes without number :
Their thoughts run back to former times : they told
Of all loves paffages they had of old :
Of this thing done, the time, the place, and why:
The manner how, and who were prefent by':
The Mothers craft, her undeceive! fufpicion.
Her baited words, her marble difpofition:
His pining thought!?, :and her projecting fears :
His folildquies, and her fecret tears :
Where firil they met, th' occafion of their meeting :
Their complement} the manner of their greeting ;

His

Book i. araaUts and f&art&enfou 6i

His danger, his deliverance, andthereafon

That firtt induc'dthe Agents to the Treafon.

Thus by the priviledge of time and leaftire

Their fweet difcourfes ( Crown'd with mutual pleafure

Commixt with grief) they equal with the light.

And after, grumble at the envious night.

Which bids them part too foon : what day deny'd

In words, in thoughts the tedious night fupply'd,

Which blam'd the Fates for doing Lovers wrong,

To make the day fo (hort, the night fo long.

But now the little winged-god repented
That he had laugh'd fo much, his heart relented,
His very foul grew fad, his blinded eye
Began to weep at his own tyranny :
Laments their forrows : findes a fecret way.
To make the night as pieafing as the day :
Calls Hymen in, and in his eardifcovers
The lingring torments of thele wounded Lovers :
Gives him a charge, no longer to defer,
T'ingrofs their names within his Regifter.
And now Ptrthemaes harveft draweth near :
( The dearly purchased price of many a tear )
Her joy flrill reap, what a world of grief hath fown r
The time's appointed, and the day's let down,
Wherein fweet Hymen^ with his nuptial bands,
Shall joyn together their efpoufed hands.

Here ftop my Mule : retire thy (elf and (lay,
To gather breath t^imR. theMarr/age-day.

Reader^ the joyful Eride fa/utes ye all.

In her behalf if any have let fM
A tender tear, to ibifejbe makes reqtteft,

ylt be pleas' d to vtace her Marriaae tea rt*

AraaltM

^RGALUS

AND

PARTHENIA.

T/^ Second Part*

SAil gentle Pinnace : Now the Heavens are clear,
The Winds blow fair : Behold the Harbor's near
Tridented Neptune hath forgot to frown,
The Rocks are pad : The ftorm is over-blown.
Up weather-beaten Voyagers, and rouze ye,
Forfake your loathed Cabbins : Up and louze ye
Upon the open Decks, and fmell the Land :
Chear up, the welcome Shore is nigh at hand :
Sail gentle Pinnace, with a profperous gale,
To th* Jfle of Pe ace: Sail, gentle Pinnace, fail:
Fortune condudl thee / Let thy keel divide
The Silver ftreams, that thou maid (afely Aide
Into the bofome of thy quiet Key,
And quit thee fairly of th'injurious Sea.

Great Sea-born Queen, thy birth -right gives thee power
T' ajfljl poor fuppliants y grant one happy hour :
O, let thefe wounded Lovers he po\fejly
At lengthy of their fo long de fired reft.
Now, now the joyful nwmge-day draws on :
The Bride is bu&3 and the Bridegroom's £onc

To

Book ii. %tgaiug and jftattpenta, *?

To call his fellow Princes to the feaft :
The Garland's made : The Bridal Chamber's dreft :
The Mufes have confulted with the Graces,
To crown the day, and honor their embraces
With fliadow'd Epitbalms : their warbling tongues
'Are perfevS in their new made Lyrick fongs :
Hymen begins to grumble at delay,
And Bacchus laughs to think upon the day ;
The virgin-tapers, and what other rights
Do appertain to Nuptial delights
Are all prepar'd, whereby may be expreft
The joyful triumph of this marriage-feaft.
But ftay ! who lends me now an Iron Pen,
T' engrave within the Marble-hearts of Men

A Tragick Scene ? Which whofoer fhallread,
His eyes may lpare to weep, and learn to bleed
Carnatian tears : If time fliall not allow
His death-prevented eyes to weep enow,

Then let his dying language recommend

What's left to his pofterity to end.
Thoufaddejl ofallmufesy come, afford

Thyftudicm help, that each confounding word

May rend a heart ( at leaji ) that every Line

May pickle up a Kingdom in the Brine

Of her own tears : O teach me how t' extract

7 he Jpirit of grief y ivhofe virtue may diffraf}

Thofe breafls, which [or row knows not how to kill :

Jnfpire, O, infpire my melting quill ;

And,, like /^Niobe, let every one

That cannot melt, he turnd into a fione :

Teach me to paint an oft-repeatedf^h

So to the lifez that wbofier he nigh.

May

7° 3ttgalUS and gggfjgjjjg BookH.

May hear it breathy and learn to do the like
By imitation^ till true paffionftrike
Their bleeding hearts : Let fuch as /ball rehear fe
This (lory, houllike Irifh at a Hearfe.

Tn event ftill crowns the aft : Let no man fay^
Before the evening's come, *tis a fair day :

For when the Kalends of this Bridal feaft
Were entred in, and every longing breaft
Waxt great with expectation, and all eyes
( Prepar'd for entertaining novelties )
Were grown impatient now, to be fufficd
With that, which Art and Honor had devis'd
T adorn the times withal, and to difplay
Their bounty, and the glory of that day :
The rare Parthenia^ taking fweet occafion
To blefs her bufie thoughts, with contemplation
Of abfent Argalus^ whofe too long ftay
Made minutes feem as days, and every day
A meafur'd age, wto her fecret bower
Betook her weary fteps, where every hour
Her greedy ears expeft to hear the fum
Of all her hopes, that Argalus is come.
She hopes, fhe fears at once ^ and ftill fhe mufes
What makes him ftay fo long ; fhe chides, excufes j
She queftions, anfwers, and (he makes reply,
And talks, as if her Argalu* were by :
why com ft thou not j Can Arg&lusforget
His Unguijhing Parthenia ? what not yet i
But as fhe [pake that word, fhe heard a noile^
Which feem'd, as if it were the whifp'ring voice
Of dole confpiracy : She began to fear
She knew not what, till her deceived ear

(Mrufted

Book ii. argalns ** •<* ^atffcenta. «;

( Inftrufted by her hopes ) had fingled out

The voice of Ar galas from all the rout 5

Whofe fteps ( as ihe fuppofed) did prepare,

By ftealth to feize upon her unaware :

She gave advantage to the thriving plot,

Hearing the noife, as if fhe heard it not :

Like as young Doves, ( which ne'r had yet forfaken

The warm prote&on of their neft, or taken

Upon themfelves, a felf-providing care,

To fhiftfor food-, but with paternal fare

Grow fat and plump)think every noife they hear,

Their full cropt-parents are at hand to chear

Their craving ftomacks ; whilft th'impatient fift

Of the falle Cater, rifling where it lift,

In every hole, furprifes them, andfheds

Their guiltlefs blood, and parts their gafping heads

From their vain ftrugling bodies ; fo, even to,

Our poor deceiv'd Parthenia^ (that did owe

Too much to her own hopes) the whilft her eyes

Were fet to welcome the unvalued prize

Of all her joys, her deareft Argalus>

Stept in Demagoras^ and falutes her thus :

Bafe Trull\ Demagoras come s to let thee fee 7
How much he [corns thy painted face, and thee :
Foul Sorcerefs ! could thy prosperous aft ions tfonk
To'fcape revenge, because the gods did wink
At thy defigns ? Think* ft thou thy Mothers blood
Crycs in a language, not to be under flood *
Had/} thou no cloler (Iratagem, to further
Thy pamper d lufty but by the fa vage murther
Of thine own aged parent, rrhofe fad death
Aluftgive a freedom to the jvhtfp'nng breath

of

7g ftgflalqg and ffattftenfo, &*& n.

Of thy enjoy d Adulterer < who {they fay)

Will cloak thy whoredom with a mar ri Age day ;

JSTayftrUggle not, here's none that can reprieve

Such founded be aft s : It is in vain toftrive^

Or roar for help 5 why dofl not rather weep

That 1 may laugh ? perchance, if thou wilt creep

Upon thy wanton Belly \ and confefs

Thy [elf a true repentant Murtherefs,

Myfinful Page may play the fool, and gather

Thy early fruit into his Barn, and father

The new-got Cyprian Baftard, if that he

Be halffo wifey that got it, but to fee :

Hah I dofl thou weep f or dofalfe mifls but mock

Abused eyes f from ft obdure a Rock

Can water flow < Weeping will make thee fair 5

weep till thy marriage-day $ that who repair

To grace thy feaft, may fall a weeping too,

And, in a mirror, fee what tears can do.

Vile Strumpet ! did thy flattering thoughts e'er wrong

Thy judgment fo • to think, Demagoras tongue

Could ft defile his honor, as tofue

For ferious love t fo bafe a thing as you

(Methinks)fbould r-ather fix your wanton eyes

Upon fome eafie Groom, that hopes to rife

Into his M offer's favor for your fake :

I, this had been preferment y like to make

A hopeful fortune : Thou prejumptuous trajh I

what was my courtfhip, but the minutes dafb

Of youthful paff ion, to allay the duft

Of my defiresy and cxubcroits lujl <

J fcorn thee to the foul, and here ifland

Bound for revenue } whereto I \rt m\ hand,

With

Book ii. ^jcgalus ^d t&arti)enta* 7s

(?)

With that3 be grip'd her rudely by the fair
And bounteous treafure of her Nymph-like hair;
And, by it, drag'd her on the dully floor :
He flopt her mouth, for fear (he fliould implore
An aid from Heaven : flie fwouningin theplace*
His falvage hands befmear'd her livelefs face
With horrid poyfon, thinking (lie was dead,
He left her brcathlefs, and away he fled.
Come, come ye Furies, ym malign Ant fpirits,
Infernal Harpies, or what el[e inherits.
The Land of darkness 5 you that [till converge
With damned folds • you, you that can rehear fa
The horrid fails of -villains, and can tell
Huw every Hellhound looks that roars in Hell,
Survey them all ; and, then inform my Pen^
To draw in one, the monster of all Men :
Teach me to limb a villain, and to paint,
With dextrous art, the bafejl Sycophant
That ere the month cf info lent difdain
Vouch f if d to [pit upon : The putrid Blain
Of all dijeafed humor sy ft for none
But Dogs to lift their hafly legs upon :
So clear mens eyes, that wbofo'er (ball fee
The type ofbafenefsj may cry, this is he I
Let his reproach be a perpetual blot
/;; Honors Book : Let his remembrance ret
In all good mindes : Let none but villains call
His Bug-bear name to memory, where tvithafi

$ 2 Tt

?g %tgalug and $attj)ema, Bookii,

To fright their hauling Baflards : Let no fpe/l
Be found more potent-^ to prevail in He/l,
Than the nine Letters of his charm-like name :
which ^ let our bajfjful chris-croj's-row difclaim
To the worlds end^ not worthy to hefet
In any hut the Jewish Alphabet.

But hark i Am I deceiv'd: Or do I hear
The voice oiArg'lm founding in mine ear?
He calls Parthenia : No, that tongue can be
No counterfeit : He's come : 'Tis he, 'tis he.
Welcome too late, that are now come too foon :
Hadft thou been here, this deed had ne're been done
Alas ! when lovers linger, and out-go
Their promis'd Date,they know not what they do:
Men fondly fay, That women are too fond
At parting $ to require fo (Iricfl a Bond
For quick return : Poor fouls !' Tis they endure
Oft-times the danger of the forfeiture :
I blame them not : For mifchief ftill attends
Upon the too long abfence of true friends.

Well j Argalm is come, and feeks about
In every room to find Tarthenia out :
He asks, inquires, but all Lips fcrefparing
To be the Authors of ill news, hot daring
To fpeak the truth : they all amazed ftand :
And now my Lord's as fearful to demand 5
Dares not enquire her health, left his fad ear
Should hear fuch words, as he's afraid to hear :
All lips are bolted with a Linnen Bar,
And every eye does, like a Blazing-Star,
Portend fome evil • no Language findes a Leak ;
The lefs they (peak, die more he fears to fpeak.

Faces

.

Book II. aTfjalU* and J&totljetlfa.

77

Faces grow lick and every private ear

Is turn d a Clofet for the whifperer ;

He walks the room •, and like an unknown ftranger,

They eye him: from each eye, he picks a danger.

At laft his Lins not daring ^importune

What none dare tell him, unexpected Fortune

Leads his rafli fteps into a darkened room^

A place more black than night : Nofooner come,

But he was welcom'd with a figh, as deep,

As a (peat heart can give : He heard one weep,

And by the noife of groans and fobs, was led

( Having no other guide ) to the fad Bed.

who ist ( laid he ) that calls untimely night
To hide thofe grief s that thus abjure the light ?
With that, as if her heart had rent in two3
She pad a figh, and (aid, O ask not who \
Urge not my tongue to make afore & Reply
To your demand ! Alas ! It is not I.

Not I ( faid he ? ) what Laniuafe do I hear t
Darknefs may slop mine eye, but not mine ear :
It is my dear Partheniaes voice, Ah me !
Andean Parthenia, notVmhenh.be <
what -means this word, ( Alas I It is not I ? )
what fudden ill hath taught thee to deny
Thy (elf< or what can Argalus then claim >
If his Parthenia be not the fame
She was i Airs, it feems to me all one
To fay, Thou art not hers, that's not her own :
Can hills forget their pudrom bulk, and flic
Like rvandring Atoms \ in the empty skie t
Or can the Heavens ( grown idle ) not fulfill
Their certain revolutions* but iLi-idfi'l,

F J And

73 %tgalttg and $&ttl)mia. Book II.

And leave their conftant motion for the wink
T* inherit i Can Parthenia change her mind?
He&v n fooner flj&ll ftandjlill) and Earth remove,
Hey my Parthenia/i//?yfr her love :
Unfold thy riddle then ; and tell me, why
Thofe Lips [hould fay y ( Alas ! It is not I ! )

Whereto (he thus reply'd : O do not thou
So wrong thy noble thought sy as once fallow.
That curled n&me a room within thy breft,
Let not Jo foul a prodigy be bleft,
With thy loft breath : Let it be held aftn,
Too great for pardon*, e*er to n.nne't agen z
Let darknefs hide it in eternal night :
JMay it be clad with horror to affright
A de [prate con fie nee : He that knows not how
To mouth a curje} O let him praclife now
Ufon this name : Let him that would contract
The body ofallmifchief or extract
The quint' fence ofajorrow, oncly claim
Afecretpriviledge to ufe that name :
Tar be it from thy language, to commit
So foul a fin, as once to mention it :
Live happy Arglus ; do not thou partake
Jn thefe my miferies : Q forbear to make
My burden greater, by thy tender for row :
Alas, my heart is frong, and needs not borrow
Thy needle fs help : O be thou not fo cruet \
To feed my flapning ft res with thy fuel :
why do ft thoufgh ? O wherefore [hould thy heart
UJ'urp myftage^ and aft Parthenia's part ?
ft is my proper task : what, doft thou mean%
without my Licence, to intrude mv Scene i

Book ir. ^raalus and ffattpenta, ^

Alas \ thy for rows cafe not my diftrefs 5

God knows ;, I weep not one poor tear the lefs :

My Patent s figrid and pafi, whereby appears

That I have opt the Monopoly of tears,

In me let each mans torment find an end :

Jam that Sea, to which all Rivers tend :

Let all [pent mourners, that can weep no more}

Take tears on trufl, andfet them on my [core.

And as /he fpake that word, his heart not able

To bear a language fo unfufferable.

But being fwoln fo big, muft either break,

Or vent- his conquer'd reafon grew to weak

T oppoie his quickned paffion ( like a man

Tranfported from himfelf ) he thus began :

Ac cur fed darknefs ! Thou fad type of death \
Infernal Hag, who fe dwelling is beneath \
what means thy boldnefs to ufurp this room,
And force a nighty before the night be come :
Get> get thee down, and keep within thy lijis :
Go revel there • and hurl thy hideous mifls
Before thofe cur fed eyes, that take delight
In utter darknefs, and abhor the light •
Return thee to thy Dungeon, whence thou camey
And hide thofe faces, who fe infernal fame
Calls for more darknefs, and whofe tor turd fouls
Crave the protection of th^obfeuref holes,
To f cape fome lafhes, and avoid thofe ftriB
And horrid plagues, the Furies do inflict :
But if thou needs muft ramble here, aboie,
Go to fome other climate, and remove
Thy ugly pre fence from our darkned eyes,
That hate thy tyranny : Go exerafc

F 4

8o SltgaUts and f^artfjenfou Book n.

Thy power in Groves, and folitary fprings,

where Bats are fubjefts, andwhere Orvli are Kings :

Go to the Graves, and pi thofe empty rooms,

That fuch a£ flumber in their [lie nt tombs

May blefs thy welcome [hades, and lie pojfeft

Ofundifiurbed and eternal rejl :

Or if thy more ambitious fogs defire

To haunt the living, haft thee, and retire

Into Come Cloy ft er^ and there ft and between

The light, and thofe that fain would fin, unfeen

Affift them there - and let thy ugly fhap.es y

Countenance tlofe treafons, and inceftuous rapes :

Benight thofe rooms ; and aid all fitch as fear

The Eye of Heaven : Go, clofe thy Curtains there ^

We need thee not, ( foul witch) away y away ;

Thou hid* ft more beauty than the noon of day

Can give • O thou, that ha(i fo rudely hurCd

On this dark bed the glory of the world.

So faid, abruptly he the room departs
His cheeks look pale, his culled hair upftarts
Like quills of Porcupines, and from his eye
Quick flafhes like the flames of Lightning flie '
He calls for light - the light no fooner come,
But his own hand conveys it to the room
From whence he came, and as heentred in
He bleft himfelf- he bleft himfelf again,
Xhrice did he blefs himfelf, and after faid,

Foul witch be gone, and let thy difmal fhadey
For fake this place : Let thy dark fogs obey
Great Vulcans charge . /# Vulcans #4w?3 away:
Or if thy flout rebellion fh all dif claim
H'r, foveraignty, in my Parthenia's name

I \

Book ii. %rgaing and ff attljeitfa* 8*

/ chirm thee hence. And as that word flew out.
He rtept to that fad bed, where round about,
Clos'd were the Curtains, as if darknefs did
Command that fuch a Jewel fhould be hid.

His left hand held the taper, and his right
Enforc'd the Curtains, to abfolve the light :
Which done, appeared before his wrond'ring eye
The trueft portrait of deformity,
As ere the Sun beheld : that lovely face
That was of late the model of all grace
And peerlefs beauty, whofe imperious eyes
Ravifht where ere they lookt, and did furprize
The very fouls of men, fhe, fhe, of whom
Nature her felf was proud, is now become
Soloath'danobjecT:, fodeform'd, difguis'd,
As darknefs, for mans fake, wras welladvis'd
To cloath in mifts, left any wrere incited
To fee that face, and fo depart affrighted.

; All this when Arg&lm beheld, and found

! It was no dream, he fell upon the ground,
Andrav'd, and rofe again, flood ftill, andgaz'dj

| At firft he ftartled, then he flood amaz'd :
Looks now upon the light, and now on her,
One while his tired fancy does refer
His thoughts to filence ; as his thoughts increafe.
His paffion (hives for vent, and breaks that peace
Which conquer'd Reafon had of late concluded,
And thus began : Are the[efal[e eyes deluded f

Or

84 %tgaittg and $attg)enftu Book n.

Or have inch Anted, miftsfiept in between
My abufed eyes ? and what my eyes have feen i
Noy mi f chief cannot act [of air a part,
T* affright infefl 5 it goes beyond the art
Of all black Books, to mask with fuch difguife
So fweet a fAce : / know that thefe are eyes,
And this a light : FaCfe mijls could never be
Betwixt my poor Parthenia, and me.

Accursed Taper \ what infernal fpright
Breath* d in thy face { what fury gave thee light ?
Thou imp ^Phlegeton $ who let thee in
To force a day, before the day begin i
who brought thee hither i K d?dl< From whom]
what lcan~chapt Fury did I [natch thee from i
when as this curfedhanddidgo about
To bring thee in, why went not thefe eyes out {
Be all fuch Tapers cur fed for thy fake -
Ne*rfhine, but at fome Vigil, or jadv/ake ;
Be never feen, but when as [or row calls
Thy needful help to nightly funerals ;
Be as a May -game for th3 amazed Bat
To [port about • and Owls to wonder at :
Still haunt the chancels at a midnight-knell^
To fright the Sexton from hispafjlng Bell:
Give light to none but treasons, and be hid
In their dark lanthoms : Let all mirth forbid
Thy treacherous. fames the room : and if that nc:ie
Shall daign to put thee out^ go out alone :
Attend fome Mifers table, and then wafte
Toofion.} that he may curfe thee for thy hxfe 5
Burn dim for ever : Let th it flattering light
Thou feed' f, tynftfme thy fed: : be banifht efqite

From

Book ii. attgalus and ffattfrenta. 8s

From Cupids Court : when Lovers go about

Their ftolen pleafnres^ let your flames go out :

Henceforth be ufeful to no other end^

But onely to burn day-light^ or attend

The midnight Cups offuch as (hall reftgn

With n[ury their undigefted wine :

why do si thou burn fo clear < Alas ! tbefe eyes

Vijcem too much ; thy wanton blaze doth rife

Too high a pitch :thou burn ft too bright for [neb

As fee no comfort : O thou [bin ft too much :

why doB thou vex me i Is thy flame [o (lent

T9 endure my breath : this breath [hall puff thee out :

Thus, thm my joys are quite extinguifht^ never*.

To Le revivd : Thus gone, thm gone for ever.

With that, tranfported with a furious hafte.
He blew it out : but mark, that very blaft
( As if it meant on purpofe, to difclaim
His defp'rate thoughts ) reviv'd th' extinguifht flame.'
Heftandsamaz'd- and, having mus'd a while.
Beholds the Taper, and begins to fmile.

Andean the gods themfelves ( (aid he ) contrive
A way for hope < Can my pa ft joys revive^ •
Like this rekindled fire 5 if they do,
fie enrfe my lips ( bright Lamp )for curfingyoU,
Eternal Fates ! deal fairly 5 dally not :
if jour hid bounties have refervda lot
Beyond :ny weaned hope, be it exprefl
In even view 3 make hafte^ and do your be ft :
But ifyoiirjujlicc he determined [0
To excercije your vengeance on my wo.
Strengthen not what at length yon mean to bur
Strike home betimes 3 difpatch^ and do your

Thai

se %tflaUtg and ffatti)enfo> Book n.

That burthen is too great for him to bear^
That's evenly poi fed betwixt hope and fear.

And there he flopt ; as fearing to moled
The filent peace of her diffembled reft.
He gaz'd upon her $ flood as in a trance :
Sometimes her livelefs hand he would advance
To his fad Lips • then Ileal it down agen :
Sometimes^ a tear would fall upon % and then
A figh muft dry it • every kifs did bear
A figh, and every figh begat a tear :
Hekifl, hefigh'd, he wept, and, forafpace,
He fixt his eye upon her wounded face,
And in a whifpering language,* he disburs'd
His various thoughts 5 thus, withhimfelf difcours'd.

And were the Sun-beams ofthofe eies too fierce
Tor mortal view < Or did thofe fires difperfe
Flames too confirming for tb'amazd beholder ?
Or did thy youth make treafon e'er the bolder
To (lain that brow • and by a midnight theft ^
Toflealmore beauty than the day had left {

Or did that blind, that childifh god defer y
A kind of twilight from that heavenly eie7
which) over-brhht^ he fought to make more dim
By blurring that, which el\e had blafced him 1

Or did the Sea-born go ddef's Queen repine
To fee her star out-JJjonefi much by thine i
And fiTd with rage^ and envious defpight,
Sent down a cloud? eclipfe fifair a light i

Or did the wifcr Deities fore fee
This likely dinger ; that when menfhould fee
So bright a Lamp • fearing they fljoidd commit
$uch fweet idolatry^ be nig hted it $

Of

Book ii. argalttg and ffattfrenfa* s7

Or did the too too careful gods confpire
A good for man, transcending mans defire,
And knowing fuch an eie too bright for any,
Gave it a wound, left itjhould wound too many i
jffo they meant ', they might have been more kind
To fave that beautie, and have fi ruck us blind.

Before the found of his laft breath was gone
(Her fpeech being marfhal'd with a powerful groan
Through the rude confluence^nd amazed throng
Or her diftra&ed thoughts ) her feeble tongue
Wept forth thele words; Thus fleet, thus tranfitorj
Js mans delight, and aH that painted glory,
Poor Earth can give : Nor wealthy nor blood, nor beautie]
Can quit the debt, that neceffary dutie
They ow to Change and Time • but like aflowr>
They flour ifh now, and fade within an hour :
The world's composed of change, there's nothing flaies
At the fame point • all alters, alldecaies:
The world is like a Play, where every age
Concludes her Scene , and fo departs the JJ age 5
And when Times hafiy hour-glafs is run,
Change ft lr ikes tbeEpi\ogue,andallthe Playisdone.
who acts the King to day, by chance of lot,
Perchance to morrow begs, andblujhes not :
whofe heautie was adord o'er night, next morning
May find a face, like mine, not worth the f corning :
Look where we UJi, there's nothing to the eie
Seems truly conflant, but Inconftancy.
Mofi dear Parthenia, ( Argalus refit* A )
" Had thy deceived eie but ftept a fide,

Andlookt upon thy Argalus his bresi ;
I I know, I knew, thy language had profs fi

An<

88 airgaittg and ffattftenfau booui.

Another faith : Thy Lips had ner letflie,

At unawares ; fo great an Herefie :

*Tis not the change of favor, that can change

My heart - nor Time, nor Fortune can ejlrange

My heft affections, Jo for ever fixtr

On thee, nothing but death can come betwixt

My foul and thine : ifl had lovd thy face ,

Thy face alone ; my fane ie had given place.

Ere this, tofrejb deflres, and attended

Upon new fortunes ; and the old had ended.

if I had lovd thee for thy heavenly eye,

1 might have courted the bright Majefiy

O/Titan : if thy curious Lips hadfnard

My lickrifh thoughts, I miqht have foon prepared

A blufhing Corral, or fome full ripe Cherry,

And pie as* d my Lips, until my Lips were weary *

Or if the fmoothnefs of thy whiter brow

Had charm d mine eyes, and made my fane ie bow

To outward objects, polifht Marble might

Have given as much content, as much delimit -

In brief, had Argalus his flatter d eye

Been pie ^*d with beauties bare Epitomy,

Thy curious picture might have then fupplid

My wants , more full, than all the world be fide :

No, no • 'Twos neither brow, nor lip^ nor eye,

Not any outward ex'lcnce urgd me, why

To love Parthenia; *twasthy better part ',

i [which mi fchief could not wrong,) fur pr is *d my heart?

Thy beauty was but like a chryftat cafe,

Through which, the Jewel of admired grace

Tran [parent was, who fe hidden worth did make

Me love the Casket for the Jewels fake :

No,

Book ii. Sltgaiug and j&attijema. 89

A7o, no , my well ' advifed eye pierft in
Beyond the film \ funk deeper than the skin ;

Elfe had I now been changd, and that firm duty

I owe my 'Vows ■, had faded with thy beauty :

Nay j weep not my Parthenia ; Ut thofe tears

Ne'r wail that lofs which a few after years

Had claimed as due ; c hear up, thou haft for faken

But that, which ficknefs would (perchance) have taken j

With greater dif advantage ; or elfe age.

That common evil, which art cannot ajj wage ;

Beauty"** but bare opinion ; White and Red

Have no more priviledge than what i* bred

By humane fancy, which was ne*re confined

To certain bounds, but varies like the wind :

What one man likes, another difrefpefl s ,

And what a third mo ft hates, a fourth affects :

The Negro**" eye thinks black beyond compare,

And what will fright m mojl,thei count mo ft fair c

If then opinion be the touch, whereby

All beauty* s tried ; Parthenia in myeyey

Out-jhines fair Helen, or who elfe (he be

That is more rich in beauty s wealth than {he.

C hear up : the f over aignty of thy worth inf ranches:

Thy captive beauty ; and thy vertue blanches

Thefe pains of fortune : come, it matters not

What others think : a letters but abht

lofuch as cannot read ; but, who have skilly

Can know the fair imprejfion of a qu.il,

From grofs and heedlefs blurs \ andfuch can think

No paper foul, that* s fairly writ with Ink :

What others hold a blemish in thy face.

My skilful eyes read charaffors of grace *

1 -GJ* Wh*t

9o S&tgalttg and ^fttttjeuia. Book 11.

What hinders then, but that without delay,
Triumph may celebrate our nuptial day ?
She that hath only verttte to her guide,
J hough wanting beauty is thefairejl bride.

A Bride ! (laid fhe) fab Brides as I, can have
No fitter bridal chamber then a Grave :
Death is my Bridegroome ; and to welcom Death,
My loyal heart fball plight afecond Faith :
And when that day {ball come, that joyful day
Wherein tranfcendantpkafures fball allay
The heat of * all my for rows, andconjoyn
My pale-fac'd Bridegroom's lingring hand with mine,
Ihefe Ceremonies andthefe Triumphs/hall
Attend the day to grace that day wit ball.

Time with his empty Hour-glafs fball lead
The triumph on, his winged hoof pall tread
Slow paces ; After himtherefballenfue
The chaft Diana with her Virgin crew,
All crowned with Cyprefs garlands : after whom
Jn rank, tip impartial Deftinies fball come :
Then in a fable Chariot faintly drawn
With harntft Virgins vaiPd with pur eft lawn,
The Bride fball fit \ Difpair and Grief fball (land
Like heart lej > Bridemaids upon either hand ;
Vponthe Chariot top, there fball be placed
7 he little winged god with arm unbraced,
And Bow unbent : his drooping wings mufl hide:
His nakedknees, his Quiver by his fide
Mufl be unarmed, and either hand mufl hold
A Banner, wherewith Characters of gold
Shall be decipher* d (fit for every eye
To read that runs ) Faith, Love, WConftancy.

AText

Book ii. ^tgalttf and ^attljema 9

Next after ) hope, in a d/fcoloured weed
Shall fadly march alone : A fender Reed
Slut 11 guide herfetble fleps, an d in her hand
A broken Anchor aJlbefmear^d with (and.
And after all, theBtidegroomfljall appear
Like Joves Liuetenant, and bring up the rear i
He (ball be mounted on a Coal-black Steed,
His hand jbaU hold a Dart, on which {hall bleed
A pierced heart, wherein a former wound
WhichQ\x$\ds Javelin entered, {hall be found*
When as the Triumphs ftj all adorn ourfeaft^
Let Argulus he my invited gueft^
And let him bid me nuptial Joy, from whom
I once expetted allmyjoysfhonld come*

With that, as if hiscount'nancehad thought good
To wear death colours, or as if his blood
Had been imployed to condole the fmart
And torment of his poor affli&ed heart,
He thus belpake : Vnhappitftofallmen,
Why do Hive ? is Death my Rival then f
Unequal chance ! Had it beenfltfjj and blood
I could have grapled, and ( per chance)with flood
Some fl out incounters : had an armed ho/i
Of mortal Rivzlsventur'dto have crcjt
My befldeftres ; ^/Partheniaese^e
Had given mt power to make that army fly
Like frighted Lambs before the Wolfe ; but thou
Before whofe prtfence all muff ft oof ad bow
Their fervile necks, what weapons /hall 1 he! a
Again [I thy hand that will not be com roup d ?
Great enemy t whofe KjngdornS tn the dufi
And darkfome Caves : I know that thou artjuft^

G * &;>

92 3itgalu$ and ^arttyema. BookiL

Elfe bad tbc Gods ne*re trufled to thy band
So gnat a privi ledge , Jo large command
JndjurifdicJion ore the lives of men ,
1 o kill andfave even whom they pleafe, and when :
Oj/uffer 'not Parthenia's tempting tears
To move thy heart ; let thy hard-hearted ears
Be deaf to all her f nits:, if {he frofefs
Jfftction to thee, believe nothing lefs :
She's my betrothed Spoufe, and Hymen's bands
Have firmly joy n*d our hearts , though not our hands ;
Where plighted Faith, and Sacro-ian£Hous vow
Hath given pofftjficn, difpojjefs not thou :
Be jujt ; and though her briny lips bewail
Her grief with tears, let not thofe tears prevail.
Whom Heavens havejoyrfd, thy bands maynotdisjoyn9
Jam PartheniaV, and Parthenia'.? *#/V?e ;
*Alas ! we are but one ; then thoumufi either
Refufe us both \ or elfe, take both together.
My dear Parthenia, let no cloudy pajpon
Ofdul defpair moleft thee ; or unfaffion
Thy better thoughts, to make thy troubled mind
Either forgetful, or thy felf unkind \
Starve not my pining hopes with longer flay :
My hove hath wings, and brooks no long delay j
It hovers up and down,- nnd cannot reft
Until it light, and perch upon thy bre ft.
Torment not him within t he fe lingringfires?
That's racket already on his own de fires :
Seal and deliver as thy deed, that band.
Whereto thypromi ^d faith hathfet her hand i
Jndwhat our plighted hearts and mutual vow
Havefb long fmce begun, 0 finifh now ;

That

Book II. 3lrgalug and ^attlmua.

That our i?nperfect, and half plea funs may
Receive perfection by a marriage day.

Whereto, (he thus : Had the pleas'! Gods above
Forgiven my faults, and made me fit for Jove
To blefs at large ; bad all the powers ofht a i
( To boafl the utmofl of their bounty} given
As great addition to my (lender fortune
As they could give, or covetous mind importune:,
J vow to heave;;, and all thofe heavenly powers,
They Jhould no longer be made mine, but yours ;
Nay, had my fortunes fay 'd but at the rate
They were ; had I remained in that (I Ate
I was (although at fir [I unworthy far
Offuch a peer lef s bleffing as you are)
My dear acceptance fjjould have fll'd my heart:
As full of joy s as now it is of f mart.

But, asl am, let angry Jove then vent
On me his plagues, till all his plagues be fpent :
And when I roar, let heaven my pains deride,
When I match Argalus to fuch a Bride :
Live happy Argalus, let thy foul receive
What blejfwgs poor Parthenia cannot have :
Live happy : may thy joys be never done,
But let one bleffing draw another on :
0 may thy better Angel watch uni ward
Thy foul, and pitch an t ~vc r la (ling guard
About the Portals of thy tender heart
And fhower down bkffngs where fa' 'ere thou art I
Let all thy Joys be as the Month of May,
And all thy da ys be as a Mary tag e d:i.y ;
Let forrow,fchnefs, and a troubled mind
Bef}ran?ersto theey let them never find

G 3 * ^ 1

94 3ltgaiujS and #attijetua. BookH.

Ihy heart at home : let Fortune jllU allot
Suchlaivlefsguejls toth&fe that love thee not :
And let thoje bleffings, which jh all \t anting be
To fuch as merit none, alight on thee.

I hat mutual faith betwixt us, that of late
Hath pa/}, I give thee freedom to tr an fate
Vpon the merits offome fitter Spoufe ;
J give thee leave, and freely quit thy vews :
/ call the Gods to witnefs, nothing jhall
More blefsmyfoul, no comfort can befall
More truly welcome to me, than to fee
My Argalus (what ere become of me)
Solw\?t in wedlock, as fj all mo (I augment
His greater honour, and his true content.

With that, a liidden and tempeftuous tyde
Of tears orewhelm'd her language, anddeny'd
ApafTage; but when pafflons flood was (pent,
She thus proceeds : Tou Gods, if you are bent
To act my Tragedy, why do you wrong

Our patience fo, to make the Play fo long ?

Tour Scenes are tedious ; ^gainft the Rules of drt^

Ton dwell too long, too long upon one part.

Be brief, and take advantage of your odds,

Oneftmple Maid amongft fo many Gods,

And not be conquer* dyet ? con joy n your mighty

And [end her Soul into eternal Night,

1 hat lives too long a day : Pll not reffl ;

Provided you ft r ike home, (I r ike where ye lifi :

Accurfed be that day, wherein thefe eyes

fir ft f aw the light ; let ckfp 'rate fouls devife

A curfe [uffisient for it : let the Sun

Nert fhine upon it ; and what ere7s begun

Ufffn

Book II. ^tgatUgi and ^attljenta, 95

Upon that fatal day, let heaven forbid it
Succefs ; if not ftnfnare the hand to at did it.
Why was I born ? Orbiting born, 0 why
Did not ?ny fonder Nurfes Lullaby
( Even whiT ft ?ny Lips were banging on her br

luting her poor Babe to ever la (ling rejv ?
then my Infant foul had never known
this world of grief, beneath whofe weight I grown :
no, no., it had not ; he that dies it?$ prime,
eds a long bufmefs in a little time.
But Argaltu, ( whole more extrcam defirc,

LDwp pt to yield, like water- fprinkled fire,

Did blaze the more ) impatient of denial,

Gain thus an on-fet to a further tryal :

Lift of my foul ; by whom, next heaven, I breath :

Excepting whom, I have no friend but Death :

How can thy wifljes eafe my grief or J} and

Mymifery in Bead, when as thy hand,

And nothing but thy helping hand can give me

Relief and yet refufes to relieve me ?

Strange kind of charity, when being afflicted^

1 'fiidbejt wifhes, yet am interdicted

Ofthofe best wijhes, andmuji be removed

from loves injoyment ; why ? becaufe beloved.

Alts ! alas ! how can my wi(hes be

A bleffmg to me, ifunblest in thee ?

Thy beauty9 s gone, (thou f if (I) why, let it go ;

He loves but ill, that loves but for a (how ',

T hy beauty is fupplf din my affection,

That never yet wasflave to a complexion.

Shall every day, wherein the earth doth lack

The Sun's reflex, Pexpe/Pd the Almanack ?

G 4 Or

96 3ftgaittg and l^attljeuta. Book II.

Or {hall thy over-curiom fiefs forbear
A Garden ^caufe there are no Rofes there ?
Or (hall the Sun-fet c/Parthenia's beauty
Enforce my "Judgment to neglect that duty,
The which my befi advised affection ows
Her /acred vertue, and myfolemn vows ?
No, no ; it lies not in the power 0/Tate
To make Parthenia too unfortunate
For Argulus to love.

It is as eafie for Parfhenia's heart
To prove lefs vertuous, as for me to ft art
irom my firm faith ; the flame that honours breath
Hath blown, nothing hah power to quench but deati
Thougav*ft me leave to chofe a fitter Spoufe9
And freedom to recall, to quit thofe vows
I took : who gave thee licenfe to difpenfe
With fuch falfe tongues as offer violence
To plighted faith? alas ! thou can* ft Hot free
Thy f elf , much lefs had (I power to lie en feme.
Vows can admit no change, they ft ill per fever
Againft all change ; they bind for ever :
Avowfs ^holy thing, no common } breath :
The limits of avow is Heaven and Death :
A vow that 9s p aft, is like a bird that* s flown
From out thy hand, can be recalled by none ;
It dies not, like a time-beguifaig Jeft,
As foon as vented', lives not in thy br eft, .
When uttered once, but is a facred word
Straight entred in the ftrici and clofe Record
Of Heaven ; it is not like a JuglerV knot.
Or f aft j or loofe^ atpkafes tu or not.

Since

Book H. attgalug and ^attijema. 101

( 1 1) Of all advifers, Sorrow and Difpalr )
Relblves to take th' advantage of that night,
To ftealaway, and feek for death by flight :
A Pilgrim's weed her livelefslimbs addreft
Fromhead to foot : a thong of leather bleft
Her wafted loyns ', her feeble feet were fhod
With fandals : In her hand a Pilgrims rod.
When as th' illuftrious Soveraign of the day
Had now begun his circuit to furvey
His lower Kingdom, having newly lent
The upper world toCynthtfs Government,
Forth went Parthenia, and begins t'attend
The progrefs now, which only death can end.

Go haplefs Virgin ! Fortune be thy guidey
And thy own vertues ; and what elfe befide,
That may be profperous ; may thy merits find
More happinefs than thy diftreffed mind
Can hope : Live, and to after ages prove
The great example of true Faith and Love :
Gone, gone fhe is ; but whither flic is gone,

[ he Gods and Fortune can refblve alone :

Dardon my Quill, that isinforc'ttoftray ;

;rom a poor Lady in an unknown way.
To number forth her weary fteps, or tell

Thofe obvious dangers that fo oft befell

Our poor Partknia in her pilgrimage,

Or bring her miferies on the open ftage,

Her broken (lumbers, her diftra&ed care :

Her hourly fears and frights, her hungry fare ;

Her day ly perils, and her nightly 'fcapes

From ravenous beafts, and trom attempted rapes,

io2 ^rgalugf and ^attijema. Bookri.

Is not my task ; who care not to incite
My Readers patfion to an appetite.
We leave Parthema now ; and our difcourfc
Muft caft an eye, and bend her fettled courfe
To Arg&lus. When Argdm ( returning
To vifit his Pmhtina the next morning)
Perceived fhe was fled, not knowing whither,
He makes no ftay ; confults not with the Weather ;
Stays not to thick, but claps his hafty knees
To his fleet Courier, and away he flees ;
His hafte enquires no way, ( he needs not fear
To lofe the Road,that goes he knows not where : )
One while he pricks upon the fruitful plains ;
And now he gently flacks his prouder reins
And climbs the barren hills : with frefh careers
He tries the right hand way ; and when he veres
His courfe upon the left : One while he likes
This path, when by and by his fancy ftrikes
Upon another track. Sometime he roves
Among the Springs and fblitary Groves,
Where, on the tender barks of fundry trees,
H'engraves Partbema*s name with his, then flees
Tothewildchampian: his proud Steed removes
The hopeful fallows, with his horned hooves :
He haulks no way, rides over Rock and Mountain,
When led by Fortune to Diana's Fountain,

(12) He ftraight difmpunts his Steed, begins to
His thirfty lips ; and after that,to drench (quench
His fainting limbs, in that fweet ftream, wherein
Pdrthcnia9* dainty fingers oft had been.

The

io4 3[tgaiU£ and ^attljetua. Book II,

The Fountain was upon a fteep defcent

Whole gliding current nature gave a vent

Through a firm rock, which art (to make it known

To after ages) wall'd and roof t with ftone :

Above the Chryftal Fountain's head was plac'd

Diana's Image ( though of late defaced : )

Beneath, a rocky Ciftern did retain

The water, Aiding through the Cocks of Cane,

Whofe curious current the world's greater eye

Ne're view'd, but in his mid-day Majefly :

It was that Fountain, were in elder times

Poor Cory don composed his rural rimes.

And left them clofely hid, for his unkind

And marble hearted Phillida to find.

All rites performed, he re-amounts his Steed,

Redeems hislofle of time with a new fpeed :

And with a frefh fupply , his ftrength renews

His progrefs, God knows whether i He purfues

His vow'd adventure, brooking no delay,

And (with a mind as doubtful as the way)

He journeys on ; he left no courle unthought :

No traveller unaskt ; no place unfbught.

To make a Journal of each circumftance ;
His change of fortunes, or each obvious chance
Befel his tedious travel : to relate
The brave attempt of this exploit, or that ;
His rare atchievements, and their fair fuccefs ;
His noble courage, in extream diftrefs ;
His defp'rate dangers, his deliverance :
His high efteem with men, which did enhance
His meaneft actions to the throne of Jove :
And whathefuffer'd iovParthema^slov^

WouM

Book ii. 3trijaiu$ and ^attljema. 105

Would make our Volume end!efTe,apt to trie

The utmoft patience of a ftudious eye :

All which the bounty of a free conceit

May (boner reach to, then my pen relate.

But till bright CynthUes head had three times thrice

Repaired her empty horns, and fill'd the eyes

Of gazing mortals, with her globe of light,

This reftleffe Lover ceas'd not, day and night

To wander, in a fblitary queft

For her, whole love had taught him to digefl:

The dregs of forrow, and to count all joyes

But follies (wheigh'd with her) ac Ieaft, buttoyeSs

It hapned now, that twice fix moneths had run
Since wandring hrg&lus had firft begun
His toilfbme progrefs ; who, in vain had (pent
An year of hours, and yet no event,
When fortune brought him to a goodly feat,
( Wall'd round about with hills) yet not ih great
As pleafant ; and lefs curious to the fight,
Then ftrong, yet yeilding even as much delight
As ftrength : whole only out-fide did declare
The Matters judgment, and the builders care*
Around the Caftle7 Nature had laid out
The bounty of her treafure ; round about
Well fenced Meadows (fillM with Summers pride )
Promis'd provifion for the Winter tide :
Near which the neighboring hills ( well ftocfct St ftorM
With milk-white flocks) did feverally afford
Their fruitful bleflings, and deferv'd increafi
To painful Husbandry, the child of Peace :
It was K/ttandcrs feat, who was the brother
Of loft Parthemas late deceafed Mother.

H He

Book il 3rgaiu£ and ^attljcnia. 107

He was a Gentleman, whom vain ambition
Ne'r taught to undervalue the condition
Of private Gentry ; who prefer r'd the love
Of his reflected neighbours, far above
The apilh Congies of th' unconftant Court :
Ambitous of a good, not great report :
Beloved of his Prince, yet not depending
Upon his favours fo, as to be tending
Upon his Perfbn : and, in brief, too ftrong
Within himfelf, for fortune's hand to wrong i

in)

Thither ca ttie wandring drgalus, 8r received
As great content, as one that was bereavM
Of all his joyes, could take ; or who would ftrive
T' expreiTe a welcom to the life, could give.
His richly furnifht Table more expreft
A common bounty, then a curious feaft ;
Whereat the choice of precious wines were prorTe'rd
In liberal fort ; not urg'd but freely offer'd :
The careful fervants did attend the room :
No need to bid them either go or come :
Each knew his place, his office, and could fpie
His Matters pleafure in his Mafters eye.
But what can relifh pleafing to a taft
That is diftemperM ? Can a fweet repaft
Pleafe a fick palate ? No, there's no content
, Can enter Jrgalus, whole foul is bent
To tire on his own thoughts : KjiLnkrs love
(That other times would ravifh ) cannot move
That fixed heart, which paflion now incites
T* abjure all plcafures, and forfwear delights.-

H a It

10S 3lrgaiug and ^arttjenia. Bookii.

It fortun'd, on a day, that dinner ending,
Kjlander and his noble guefts intending
T ' exchange their pleafures in the open air,
A MefFenger came in, and did repair
Unto Kjilander, told him, that the end
Of his imployment, was to recommend
A noble Lady to him ( near alli'd
To fair Qeen Hellen ) whofe unskilful guide
Had fo mil-led, that fhe does make requeft,
This Night to be his bold and unknown gueft :
And by his help to be inform'd the way,
To find tomorrow, what fhe loft to day :
Kjilandar ( the extent of whole ambition
Was to exprefs the bounteous difpofition
Of a free heart, as glad of fuch occafion
To entertain) returned the falutation
Of an unknown Servant ; and withal profeft
A promisM welcome to ib fair a gueft.
Forthwith KjiUnd.tr and his noble friends,
( All but poor Argalm^ who recommends
His thoughts to private ufes, and confines
His fecret fancy to his own defigns )
Mounting their praunfing Steeds, to give a meeting
To his fair gueft : they met, but at firft greeting.

(i4)

Kjlander flood amaz'd, (for he fuppos'd
It was Parthenia) and thus his thoughts difclos'd :

Madam ( faid he ) if thefemine aged eyes
Retain that wonted ftrength, which age denies
To many of my years Ijhonld be bold
( In viewing yott, J to f ay } I do behold My

no ^Itljaittg and ^attljetua, Bookll.

My Neece Parthenia's face ; Nor can I be
Perfwaded ( by your leave ) but you are foe ,

Thrice noble Sir ( fhe thus reply'd ) ^r tongue
(Perchance) hath done the fair Parthenia wrongs
In your mi flake , and too much honoured me,
That (in my judgment) was more ft to be
Her foil than pet uye ; yet hath many an eye
Given the likefentence, (he not being by ',
Nay, more : / have been told, that my own mother
faiP.d often to diflinguifh * tone from ''tot her.

Said then Kjilandtr : If my rafh conceit
Hath made a fault, mine er r our fh all await
U yon your gratious pardon : / alone
Was not deceived \ for never any one

1 hat viewed Parthenia's vifage, but would make
As great an err our by as great m\ flake.

But (Madam) for her fake, and for your own ^
(Whofe worth may challavge to it [elf alone,
Morefervice than Kalander canexprefs )

2 • are truly welcome : enter and poffefs

1 his Caftle as your own ; which can be blefi
In nothing more than info fair a Guefl.

Whereto the Lady ( entring;) thusrepli'd : j
let everlaflingjoys be multfli d
Within thefe gent legate s^ and let them fl and
As lafling monuments in tip Arcadian Land.,
Of rare and bounteous hoffitality
Jo after times. Let fir anger spafflng by
Blefs their fucceeding heirs as jhall dtfeend
Trim fuch a Lord., from fuch a r;oble Friend.

When as a little refpite had repaired
Her weary Limbs, which Travel had impair'd,
The freenefs of occafion did prefent New

Book ii. aitgaluja; and ^atttyetua. u*

New fubje&s to difcourie ; wherein they (pent
No little time : among the reft befel
KjiUnd.tr (often ftopt with tears) to tell
()i Argalus and loft Parthenia^s love,
Whole undiiTembled paffion did move
A general grief ; the more that they attended
To his lad tale, the more they wifht it ended.

Madam ( laid he ) although your v if age he
Like hers j yet may your fortunes dif agree ;
Poor Girl : and as he fpake that word, his eyes
Let fall a tear. The Lady thus replies.

My Soul doth fuffer for Parthenia's/^e :
But tell me* Sir, Did Argalus for fake
His poor Parthenia whom he lov d jo dear ?
How hath he J pent his days ere f nee, and where ?

Madam ( laid he ) when as their marriage- day
Drew near ; mif chief, that now was bent to play
Upon the Jl age, her fludied mafler -prize,
With ugly le pro fie did fo dijguife
Her beauteous face, thatfbe became a terror
7o her own Jeff : But Argalus the mirror
Of true/} confijtncy, (whofe loyal heart,
Not guided by his eyes, difdaind toflart
From his pa ft vows) did in defpight of fortune 9
Purfuehufixt de fires, and importune
7* intended marriage ne'rthelefs ; but /he
Whom reafon now had taught to dif agree
With her di/lr acted thoughts, ft ands deaf and mutey
And at the laft, t* avoid his further fute ;
Not making any private to her fight,
She quits the houfe, andfteals away by night \
But Madam, when us Argalus^erce/V^
That {he wasfted,and being quite bereaved Of

1 1 2 ^itgalUg and ^arttyetUa Book H-#-

Ofhis loft hope, poor Lover, he affays

By toilfome Pilgrimage to end his days,

Or find her out : Now twice fix months have run

Their tedious courfes,fince he fir ft begun

His fruit lefts Journey, ranging far and near,

Suffering as many Sorrows as a year

Could j end, and made by tlP extr earns of weather 9

Unapt for Travel ; fortune brought him hither f

Where he as yet remains, till time [hall make

His wafied body fit to undertake

His difcontinuedprogrefs, and renew

His great inquefi for her, who at fir ft view,

Madam youJeem*d to be.

So (aid, the Lady, from whofe tender eyes
Some drops did Aide, whofe heart did fympathize
With both their fbrrows; laid, And is there then
Such unexpected con fancy in men ? C Moft Noble Sir ; 3
If the too rafh de fires of a fir anger
May de difpens d withal -with out the danger
Of too great boldnefs, Ifhouldmake requeft
To fee this noble Lord, in whofe rare breft
(By your report) more honour doth refide
Than in all Greece ; nay, all the World be fide :
I have a meffage to him, and am loath
To do it, were I not ingagd by Oath,
Whereat Kjilander not in breath, buta£tionf
Applies himfelf to give a fatisfaction
To her propounded wifh : protraftion waftes
No time, but up to Argahis he haftes :

05)

^Arglus comes down, and after falutation
Given and received, flie accofts him on this fafhion :

My

H4 attgalUg and ^attljetua. Fook IJ.

My Noble Lord,
Whereas the loud refounding trump of fame
Hath noised your worth, and gloried jour name
Above all others, let your goodntfs now
Make good that fair report ; that I may know
By true experience, what my joyful tar
Had but as yet the happinefs to hear,
And if the frailty of a Woman's wit
Should change i* offend ; be noble, and remit.
Then know (mofi noble Lord) my native place
Is Corinth ; ofthefelffamt blood and race
With fair Queen Hellcn, in whofeprirxely Court
I had my birth, my breeding ; tobefhort,
Thither, not many days ago, there came
Disguised and changd in all things but her name
The rare Parthenia, fo infhape transformed,
In feature altered, and in face defornzd,
T hat (in my judgment ) all this Region could
Not (hew a thing more ugly to behold.
Long was it ere her oft repeated Vows
Andfolemn Protections could rouze
CMy over dull belief : till at the lafl,
Some pajfages that heretofore had pajl
Infecret rtwixt Parthenia and me,
Gave fullajfurance V could be none but fhe ;
Abundant welcome, (as afoul fo fad
As mine, and hers, could give or take) (be had :
So like we were in face, in fpeech, in growth^
That whofoeverfaw the one, faw both ;
Tet were we not alike in our Complexions
So much as in our Loves, in our affections ;
One for row Jerv*d us bsth, and one relief

Zoutt

Book ii airgalugt and ^atttjenta. 115

pojildtajt us hotfooting partners in one grit f:

Much private time wtjoyntly /pent; and neither

Could find a true content ■, if not together,

1 he Jlrange occurr^ntsof her dire mis fort tie

•She oft di/coursJt, which (I rongly did import tint

A world of tears from thefefujfufed eyes.

The true Partakt rs of her miferies.

And asfjje [pake, tie accent of her for y

Would always point upon the eter?ial glory

Of your rare conflancy, which wbofoere

In after ages fj all pre fume to hear

And not admire, let him be proclaimed

A rebel to all virtue, and (defarnd

In his befl actions) let his leprous Name-

Or die difhonour*d, or furvive with fhame.

But ah ! what Simples can the hand of art

Find out to flanch a Lovtrs bleeding heart ?

Or what (alas ! ) can humane skiU apply ,

ToturntheCourfe ofLov*s Phlebotomy ?

Love is afecret fire, infpir^d and blown

By fate, which wanting hopes to feed upcny

Works on the very foul, and does torment

1 he univerfe of man : which being f pent

And wafted in the conflict, of ten fhr inks

Beneath the burthen : and fo conquered, (inks :

All which your poor Parthenia knew too well,

Whofe bed-rid, hopes not having power to quell

Th* imperious fury of extream difpa/'r,

She languiftft : not being able to com r aire. '"yCVj

7 he will of her victorious paffion ; cryed, ~

My dear eft Argalus far ewe I, and died :

My Lord, not long before her latefl breath

Hud

-w

n6 aitgatag and jdattljetua. Bookii.

Had freely paid the full arrears to death ,
She calld rn° to her ; in her dying hand
She (trained mine, whiFfl in her eyes did (land
AJhower of tears unwept, and in mine ear
She wifper*d(o, as all the Room might hear :

Sifler (faid (he) (that title pajt between uty
Not undiferv*d, for all that ere hadfeen m
Mi/look usfo, at leap) the latefl fand
Of my f pent hour-glafs is now at hand :
7hoJe joys which heaven appointed out for me,
I here bequeath to bepoffeft by thee ;
And whenfweet death jh all clarifie my thought s,
And drain them from the dregs of all my faults.
Enjoy them thou, wherewith (being fo refined
From all their drofs) full fraught thy constant mind t
And let thy prof parous voyage be addreft
To the fair port ^Argalus hisbrefi,
As whom the eye of Noon didne*r difcover
So loyal,fo renown* d, fo rare a Lover ;
Cafi anchor there ; for by this dying breath ,
Nothing c an pleafe my foul more, after death y
And make my Joys more perfect, than to fee
A Marriage *twixt my Argalus and thee ;
This Ring, the pledge betwixt his heart and mine %
As freely at 'he gave m?,l make thine:
With it unto thy faithful heart I tender
My [acred vows, with it I here furrender
AH Right and title that I had, or have
In fuch a bleffing as I now muft leave ;
Go to him, and conjure him in my namey
What love he bare to me, the very fame,
OCbat he transfer on thee Make no denial,

Which

Book II. atrgalug and ^atttyenia. 117

Which granted^ live thw happy, conflant, loyal ;
And as jbefpake that word, her voice did alter,
Her breath grew cold, herfpeech btgan to filter \
Fain would (be utttr more, but her fpe?it tongue.
( Aot ablt to go further) faifd and clung
To her dry roof : a while, as tn a trance
She lay, and on afudden did advance
Her forced language to the height, and crytdy
Farewel, my deareft Argalus ; and dyed.

And now, my Lord, although this offct be
linfuitable to my Sex, and dtf agree
loo much, per chance, with the too mean condition
Of my poor fl ate, more like to find deri (ion
lhau fat is fact ion ', yet, my gr at ions Lordy
Extraordinary merits do afford
Extraordinary means, andean excufe
The breach ofCuJiome, or the common ufe :
Wherefore incited by the dear directions
0/^e4^Parthenia> by my own affections 9
And by the exflenceof your high defer t,
I hereprejent youwith a faithful heart \
A heart to you devoted, which ajfures
It fe If no bappmefs but in being yours.
Pardon my boldnefs, they that fhall reprove
7 his as a fault, reprove a fault in love :
And why jbould Cufiome do our Sex that wrong
To take away the privi ledge of our tongut ?
If nature give us freedom to affect ,
Why thenfbonld Cufiome bar us, to detect
1 he gift of nature t /be that is inpainy
Hath afnfficient warrant to complain.
1 hen give mt leave^ ( ?ny Lord ) to re-infoni

*i8 3ttgaiug and ^atti}enia. Bookii

A Virgins fait, and (thinking n£t the worfe
Of proffered love) let my dt fires thrive ,
And freely accept what 1 fo freely give.

So ending, tilence did enlarge her ear,
(Prepared with quick attention) to hear
His gratious words : But Argalus, whofe Paflion
Had put his amorous Courtfhip out of fafhion,
Returned no anfwer, till his trickling eyes
Had given an earned of fuch Obfequies,
As his adjourned Sorrow had intended
To do at full, and therefore recommended
To privacy ; true grief abhors the Light ,
Who grieves without a witnefs, grieves aright.

His paflion thus fufpended for a while,
(And yet not ib, but that it did recoil
Strong fighs) he wipM his tear- bedewed eyes?
And turning ro the Lady, thus replies ;

Madam,
Tour no lefs rare than noble favours fbo>v
How much you merit, and how ?nuch I owe
Tour great defert , which claims more t hank fuinefs
Than fuch a dearth of Language can exprefs :
But mofl of all, Iflandfor ever bound
To that your Goodnefs, my Parthenia found
In her diflrefs, for which refpeel (in duty
As I am ty d) poor Arg'lus (hall repute ye
The flower of noble courtefie, and proclaim
Tour high defer vings. Lady, as lam ,
A poor unhappy wretch, the very f corn
Of all profperity, diflrefs, forlorn,
Vnworthy the leafi favour yoti can give,
I amyojfflave^your Beedfman will I live ;

Bui

Eook II. Sdrgahig and tytatymin. n?

Bin for this weighty matter you propound,
Although I jet how much it would redound
To my great happinefs, yet heaven knows
(Aloft excltent Lady) I cannot difpofe
Of my own thoughts , nor have 1 power to do,
What elft you needed not perfwade i?ie to;
For truft me, were this heart of mine my owny
To carve according to my pleafure,none
But you ftjould challenge it ; but while 1 live y
h is Parthenia's, and not mine to give.
Whereto flie thus replies : Mo/t noble Sir,
Death that hath made divorce ^twixtyou and her,
Hath now returned yon your heart again,
Di[Jo/v7d your Vows, di/link't that [acred chain,
Which ty^d your fouls : nay more, her dying breath
Bequeathed your heart to ?ne ; which by her death
Is grown a debt that you are bound to pay :
Then know (my Lord ) the longer you delay y
The longer time her foul is difpojfefl
( And by your means) of her de fired reft.

Whereto the poor diftrefled Argalus,
Pauling a while, returned his anfwer thus :

Incomparable Lady,
When fir (I of all, by heaven? s divine directions y
We lov*d, we lilfu, we linPt our dear affections y
And with the foltmn power of an Oath,
In pre fence of the better Gods, we both
Exchanged our hearts : in witnefs of which thingy
1 gave, and fhe received that dear Ring,
Which now you wear : by which fhe didrefigne
Her heart to me ; for which, I gave her mine*
Now, Madam, by a mutual commerce %

i2o StgalllS and ^att^enia. Book 11

Mine exchanged heart is not my own, but hers :

VVhich if it had the power tofurvive,

She being dead, what heart have I to give ?

Or if that heart expired in her death,

What heart had Jhe (poor Lady ! ) to bequeath ?

Madam, in her began my dear affection ;

In her it liv*d, in her it had perfection ;

In her it joy* d, although but ill befriended

By fate ; in her begun, in her it ended.

IfIhadlovJd,ifIhadonlylov'd

Parthenia's beauty, I hadfoon been mov'd

To moderate myforrows, and to place

That Love on you, that have Parthenia's face :

But ^twas Par then ia's felfl lov'd, and love ;

VVhich as no time hath power to remove

From mvfixt heart, fo nothing can diminish,

No fortune can diffolve, no death can finifh.

With mingled Frowns and Smiles fhe thus reply 'd

Half in a rage, And muft I be deny*d ?

•Arethefethe noble favours I expected ?

1o find dif grace, and go away rejected ?

Mofi noble Lady, if my words ( faid he ) .
Sate not your expectation, let them be
Imputed to the mifery of my ft ate,
VVhich makes my lips tofpeak they know tot what I
Mi [take not him, that only ftudies how
VVith moft advantage fi ill to honour you .
Alas ! what joys I ever did receive
From Fortune fs buryed in Parthenia's Grave ;
With whom, ere long (nor Are my hopes in'vain)
I hope to meet', and never part again*

The

Book ir. 3irgaltt^ and 0atHjema. 12

(16)

So faid, with more than Eagle-winged halte
She flew into Ins bofbme, and imbracM
[ In her cros'd arms, his fbrrow wafted was. ]
Surcharged with Joy, fhe wept, not having power
To fpeak* Have you beheld an April (Lower
Send down her hafty bubbles, and then ftops,
Then ftorms afrefh, through whole tranfparent drops
The unobfcured Lamp of Heaven conveys
The brighter glory of his refulgent rays :
Even fo, with her blufhing cheeks refided
Amixtaipe£t, 'twixt fmilesand tears divided :
So even divided, no man could fay, whether
She wept, or fmil'd, fhe finil'd and wept together £
She held him faft, and like a fainting Lover,
Whole paflion now hadlicenfe to dilcover
Some words : Since then thy heart is not for mt :
Take, take thy own Part hen ia ((aid fhe)
Chtar up ! my Argalus, theft words of mint
Are thy PartheniaV, as PdYthcni^s thine ;
Relieve it ( Love) thefe are not falfc alarms 9
Thou haft thy own Parthenia in thy arms.

Like as a man, whole hourly wants implore
Eacli meals relief, trudging from door to door,
That hears no dialect from churlifh lips,
Bur news of 'Beadles, and their torturing whips,
Takes up (perchance) fbmc unexpected treafure5
New loft ; departs, and joyful beyond meafure,
Is fo tranfported, that he fcarce believes
So great a truth; and what his eye perceives,

I 2 Not

j 24 Sfrgalujat and ^atttyema. BookiL

Nor during truft, but fears it is fbme vifion,
Or flattering dream, dcferving but derifion ',
So Argalus amazed at the news
Fain uvuld believe, bur daring not abufe
His eane idith toofoon ; for fear his heart
Should forfeit on conceit, he did impart
The truth unto his fancy by degrees :
Where ftop'tby pailion, falling on his knees,
He thus began ; 0 you eternal power s,
7 hat hive the guidance of theje fouls of ours y
Who h\ your jujt Prerogative can do
Wh.:t is a (in, for man to dive into :
\\ ' hojt undif covered actions are too high
For thought : too deep for man ^inquire \ why ?
Delude not thefe mint eyes with the falfefhow
Of fuel) a joy, as Imufl never know
■ But in a dream ; or if a dream it bey
0 let me never wakeagaine, to fee
Myfelfe deceived, that am ordain dt* erf oy
A realgreif) and hut a drtamingjoy.
Much more he fpaketo this etfeft, which ended,
He blefthimfelf, and ( with a figh) unbended
His aking knees, and rifing from the ground,
He eaft his rouling eyes about, and found
The room avoided, andhimlelf alone
The door half clos'd, and his Parthenia gone,
His new diftemperM paffions grew extream :
1 knew , / knew, ( faid he ) 'twas but a dream \
j4 minutes joy, a flajb, a flattering bubble ;
Blown by the f ancy, full of p leafing trouble ;
Which waking breaks, and empties into airey
And breaths into my foul a freflj defpair.

Book II. 3tti$alU$ and ^atttjettta. 125

J knew ^twds nothing but i golden Dream,
Which (waking ) make i n t s t be more cxt ream ;

1 knew* twos nothing but a ZJ°*i

A blifs whh h (\ vaktng) I fbould joy,

My dear Parthenia , nil • -e , 0 wj

Art thou that fo dt/uaji mine eye, mine ta f ?
Oth At my weakened fancy had the might
To re prefect unto my rtal fight
What my deceived eyes beheld, that I
Might fur ft with excefs of Joy9 and d)
With that the fair Parthenia ( whole -
Was all this while, by fire,todrav irej

And by a well advifed Courie to finotl
The fury of one paffion with another)
Stept in, and (aid, I hen Argatus take them
Thy true Parthenia : thou dream? :t not now ;
Behold thisR\ng,whofe Mtitto doesimpa*?
7 'he conjiancy of our divided heart :
Behold thsfe eyes, that for thy fake have
A world $f tears, unpitted^ttnlamtnted :
Behold this face, that had of
To enrfe all beauty, yet it Mi
Witnejs that Ta por3 wboft frvpheth
Was omtedand revived with one pxff :
And that my words ; t thy duli(>eikfy

rlwaslthat roivPd beneath the $ .
When than didjl curfe the d
My face ; and then the Taper
So foul a face ; *twat 1, t
Wit ry flood deaf \ and

To all thy *rg7d perfwafhns :

trefoht

126 3Itgaltl£ and ^attijetlta. Bookll

Awandring Pilgrim, tr lifting to be led

By fortune, to my Death ; and therefore ft d.

But fee ! the powers above can work their ends,

In fpight of mortals \ and what man intends.

The JTeavens difpofe, and order the event :

for when my thoughts were defperately bept

To mine own mine, I was led by fate

( Through dangers, now, too tedious to relate )

To fair Queen Hellenes Court, not knowing whither

My unadvifed fleps were guided. Thither

My Genius brought me ; where unknown to any,

I mourned in file nee, though obferv'd by many :

Relieved by none ; at length they did acquaint

The fair Queen Hellen with myfiranpe complaint :

Whofe noble heart did truely fympathize

With mine, partaking hi my miferics \

Who fill 'd with ptty, firongly did importune

7 he wofulcaufe of my difaflrous fortune,

Jni never refted till /he did enforce

7 be fe lips tJ acquaint her with the whole difcourfe )

Which done : her gracious pleafure did cormnand

Her own Chirurgeon, to whofe skilful hand

She left my foul di fed fe, who in the fpace

Of twice ten dap, reflcr'dme to this face I

7 he cure perfected, flraight fhefent about

( Without my knowledge ) to enquire out

That Party, for whofe fake I was contented

7' } endure fuch grief with patience, unrcpented ;

Hoping ( ftnee by her means , and help of art

My face was cufd ) evenfo to cure my heart.

But when the welcome Meffenger returned

7 he place of thy abodcy 0 how myfpirit burrfd

Jo

Book ir. Sltjattta! and ^atttyema. 127

To kifs her bands, andfo to leave the Court :

B<itjbey ( wh ofe favors did tran cm d report :

As much, as they exceeded my defer t )

Detain d me for a while, as loath top irt

With her poor handmaid ; t{ll at Unpretending

A I vers haft, and freely apprehending

So )((l a canfe of fpetd ; Jhe foon befriended

Ah heft defirt s, and fent me thus attended :

Where {under afalfe mask ) I laid this Ploty

To fee howfoon my An**lu$ had forgot

His dead Parthenia ; "hut my blejjed ear

Hath heard, what few or none m:tft b*pe to bear :

Now farewel for row, and let old dej pair

Go feek newhrefrs : let mif chief ever dare

Attempt our hearts : let Argalus enjoy

J-fvtru? Parthenia ; /e/ Parthenia^ joy

Revive in him ; let eachbeblefl in either,

AndbUfl be Heaven, that brought us both together.

With that the well-nigh broken hearted Lover9
RavilhM with over joy, didchusdifcover
His long p^nt words : And do the fe eyes onct more
Behold what their extream difpair oaveore
To hope for ? Do thefe wretched eyes attain
Jhebappinefstofee this face again ?
And is there fo ntnoh bap pine fs yet left
For a broke heart, a heart that was bereft
Of power t*enjoy\ whtt Heaven hath pov^r to vive ?
Breaths my Parthenia ? Does Parthenia live ?

Whomever (aw thePole-alfe&ing (lone/
By hidden power, ( a power as yet unknown
Toofir confinM and darkned reafbn ) draw
Tne neighbouring fteel, which by the mutual law

I 4 Of

123 . atgaltijS and ^flfcttjetrta. Book II,

Of natures fecret working, drives as much
To be attracted, till they joyn and touch
Even 16 thefe greedy lovers meet, and charms
Each other ftroiigly: in eacho hers arms ;
Even fb they meet, and viith unbounded meafi
Or true content, and time beguiling pleafure
Enjoy each other with a world of kifles,
Seding the Patent of true u orldly bliffes ;
Where for a while I leave them to receive
What pleafures new-met Lovers ufe to have.

Readers forbear, and let no wanton eye
Abu !e our Scene, let not the ftan.ter by
Corrupt our lines, or make an obfeean glofs
Upon our iober text, and mix his drofs
With our refined Gold, extracting fowre
From fweet ; and poyfon from fo fair a flower.
Correct your wandring thought's, a nd do not fear
To think the bell ; Here is no larqmn here,
No luftful, noinfatiate Mejpttine,
Who thought it gain furficient to refign
An age of honour, for a Night of pleafure ;
Whole ftrength to endure lull, was thejuift meafure
Of her aduft defire : Ye need not fear
Our private Lovers, who efteem lefs dear
Their Lives, than honours, daring not to do
Bur what unfhanYd, the Sun may pry into.

If any itching ears defire to know
What fecret conference pa ft: betwrixt thefe two9
Tothemmy MufethusariCwers : 'When your cafe
' Shall pro v£ the like, fhci wills you to embrace
? True lonouf , as thefe noble Lovers did,

1 And you ihall know j till then, you are forbid

cTo

Book ii. ^frgalug: and ^atttynia. 129

STo enquire fu h i : Onl) this'fbej
e you (land, thai [o\ e'-> diieales

I by their meeting, they

Havfc 0 in t . i1 a v^ a; riage day ;

Which that i might lucceed a 1 h fairer fortune,
iters, flie riiov cs y< urpleafures toimpoi tune

The better I /o is, T^f thtjwouUpleafe Sappay

7 htit griefs with joy ', dndjmiU upon that day.

ARG ALUS

AND

PART H E N I A-

77^ Third Book.

WHen fturdy Marcos ftorms are overblown,
And 4prii\ gentle fhowrs are fliden down,
To clofe the wind-chapt Earth, fucceeding My,
Eniers her month, whofe early breaking day
Calls Ladies from their eafie beds, to view
Sweet Ma/a^s pride, and the difcoulour'd hiew
Of dewy-brefted Flora, in her bower, .
Where every hand hath le-ivetopick the flower
Her fancy tikes; wherewith to be polTeft,
Until it fade, and whither in her breft.
Now fmooth-facM Neptune , with his gladder (miles
Vifits the banks or his beloved Ilts ;
Eolw calls in the winds, and bids them hold (Their

x$o airgalug and ^attljema. Book in.

Tneirtuil-mouctiMblatts, LhacbrearhiefVarecoacrurd.
Each one retires, and fh rinks into his feat,
And Sea green Jritcn founds a fhnll retreat ;
And thus at length, our Pinaee is pail ore
The bar, and rides before the Maiden tower.

Up, now in earned (Voyagers) and (land ye.
On your faint legs. Our Long boat ftraight (hall land
Forget your travels now ,and lead your eyes ( ye.
From your part dangers to your prelent prize :
You rrafticknot lor toys, the Gods have fee
No other price to tilings of price, but five at.
Chearup; call home your hearts, and bead visM,
Goods eas'ly purchased, are as easily prizAl :
You tra flick not for trifles, and your travel
Was nor tocompais the almighty gravel
Of th* Indian A//*ej,roha!lalty6ureftaces;
*Twas not fo t bla'ls of Honour, whofepoor dates
Depend on regal fmiles, and have no meafdres,
Bu: \lonarch% wills,expiring with their pkafiires :
*Twas not to conquer Kingdoms, or obtain
The dangerous title of a Soyeraign :
Thefeare poor things: if is hut fatfe difcretion
To toy 1, where hopes are tweeter than polTelTion ;
No, we are bound upon more brave adventures,
True Honour, Beauty, Vertue, are the Centers
To which we point, whereto our thoughts do tend ;
And heaven hath brought our Voyage to an end.
Hail, noble ArSlus ; now tb^ Cockboat ftands
Secure, ftep forth ; fpread forth thy widened hands,
And take thy faireft Bride into thy arms :
Strike up (brave Spirit) Cupids frefh alarms
Upon her melting lips : take Toll, before
Thou fet her dainty foot upon the fhore ; So

>k in. 3ltgalug and ^attljenta. 131

So let her Aide upon thy gentle breft,

And feel the ground ; then lead her to her reft.

Go Imps of honour, let the morning Sun

Gild your delights, and fpend his beams upon

Your marriage Triumphs ; let his Weftern light

Decline apace, and make an early night.

Go,7 *r/Zej,go,let trebble jo\ s betide

The faithful Bridegroom, and his faireft bride :

Let your own vertues light you to your reft ;

To morrow come we to your nuptial feaft.

By this, the curl'd pate Waggoner of heaven
Had finifh't his diurnal courfe, and driven
His panting Steeds a down the weftern /;///,
When filver Cynthia rifing to fulfil
Her nightly courfe, lets falls an evening tear,
To fee. her brother leave the Hemifphere,
Which by the air difpersYI, is early found
(And call'd a pearly dew ) upon the ground :
Still as the night, no language did moleft
The waking ear ; all mortals were at reft :
No breath of wind had power to provoke
The Afpine-lcaf, or urge the th1 afpiring fmoke ;
Sweet was the air, and clear ; no ftar was hid j
No envious cloud was ftirring, to forbid
The wild Aftronomer to gaze and look
Into the fecrets of hisfpangled book ;
Whil'ft round about, in each refbunding grove,
(As if the Chorifiers of night had ftrove
T'excel) the warbling Philomel compares
And vies by turns, hzrPolypbolian airs.
And now the horn-mouthM Bellman of the night
Had fent his midnight fummons to invite

Nights

I J2 3tgattt# and ^attljema, Book III.

Nights ravenous rebels from their fecret holds

To rome and viiit the (ecurer Folds ;

Wnil'itdrouzv Morpheus with his leaden key s>

Locks up the Shepherds eye-lids, and betrays

The fcatter'd flocks ; which lie like faenfic

Expe&ingfirv7 when the Min god rlfes.

By this the pale fae'd Emprefe of the Night

Had re-furrendred up her borrowed light.

And to the lower world fhe now retires,

Attended with her train of leffer fires,

And early H [per fhoots his golden head,

To ufher Titan from his purple bed ;

The gray-ey9d Janitor does now begin

To ope his Eaftern portals, and let in

The new born day ; who having lately hurPd

The fhades of night into the lower world,

The dewy-cheek't Aurora does unfold

Her purple curtains, all befringed with Gold ;

And from the pillow of his Cr ocean bed,

Don Phoebus rouzes his refulgent head ;

That with his all-difcerning eye forvays'

And gilds the mountains with his morning rays.

Nowyiow9 the wakeful Erfdegrooom (wrhofelaft night

Had made her fhades too long) fahites the light,

Salutes the welcome li *htt which now, at length,

Shall crown his heart with joys^eyond theftreogth

Of mortal language* whofe religious fires

Shall light thofe Lovers to their fefires*

\3pArgal?4sy and d*on thy .Nuptial weeds,
T^enioy that joy from whence all py pre : •

Enter thofe joys, fi om x py proceeds :

Up Argduty and 'doa th y i . . , . e ds.

Book in ^itcjalus a. id ^attljetua. mj

And thou fair Briie^ more beauteous then the day,
Thy day isiome,and Hymen calls away ;

Aw ike and x^\xuz thee from thy downy flumber :
Thy Day is come : O may thy joys out number
1 hy minutes that are part, and doeniue;
Arife, and bid thy Maiden bed adieu ;
Put on thy Nuptial robes, time cails away ;
O may ihy after days be like this day.

(17)

By this, bright Vhtbus with redoubled glory,
Had halfway mounted to the hightett itory
Of his Olimptck Patace : there to fee
This* long expe&ed dayes iblemnity :
When all on fjdden, there was heard (around
From every Quarter) the jV.ajeftick found
Cfmany Trumpets :ali, in confort running
Cne point of War, tranfeending far the cunning
Of mortal blaiis ; and, what did feem more Grange,
The fhriliru uih'd Mufckdidas ludden change
To Doruk rtrains, to fweet mollitiousairs,
To Lyirick ion^s, and voices like to theirs
1 hat diarm'd Vlyjjts : whilft th'a mazed ear
Stoo i taviihtat theie changes, it might hear
1 hole voices, ( by begrees ) transformed to Lutes,
*Io <Sb<ilms, deep throated Sackbuts, and to Flutes,
Andeccho forcing Corntts ; which furpaft
The art of man: this Harmony did lart
Vntil the Bridtgroom came : but all men wondred
To hear the nolle : Some thought the Heavens had
To a new tunef and fome more wifer ears (< hundred

Concevid'

Book hi. 3tgalug and ^attfjenia i $6

Conceiv'd ir was the Mufickofthe Sphea-<s :

All wondred, all men gaz'd, and allcculd hear ;

Bat none knew whence the Nl.fick was, or where,

Forthwith, as if a fecond Sun had rofe,

And ftrove with greater brightnefs, toderole

The glory of the rn ft, the Bridegroom came,

UfherM along wich Eagle- winged fame.

Whole twice rive hundred mouthsdidatoneblaft

Infpire a choi land Trumpets, as he pail :

His Nuptial vefture \\ asot Scai lee diey

So deep, as it would daz!e a weak eye

To gazeupon't ; to which, the curious Art

Of the laborious Meed le did impart

So great a glory, that you might behold

Arifihg&i?, imboft v* ith purelf Gold :

From whence ten thou (and t miles of gold came down

In waving points, like Sun beams from the Sun :

Thu> from his chamber 'midil the vulgar Croud

(Like Titan breaking through a gloomy cloud)

The long t xpefted Bridegroom came, and pall

Th'amazed multitude ; till, at the 1 aft,

H's Herald brought him to the hall of (late.

Where all tW Arcadian Nobles did await

To welcome his approach, and to dilcharge

The lower volley of their joyes at large :

The Hall was fpatious, lighcfbme, and beftrowM

With Flora's wealth, ( a bounty that fhe ow'd

This glorious feaft ) the walls were richly clad

With curious Tap* (fry, ( fuch as Greece ne'r had

Before that day ) wherein you might behold,

Wrought to the life, in coloured filfe and Gold,

This

Book in. 3ttgalu£ and ^atttjema. 137

This prefent ltory of thefe pecrlefi Lovers,

Which like a filent Chronicle, difcovers

Thefeveral paffages that did beta I

7 Twixt their fifft meeting, and their Nuptial ;

Dcvis'd and Wrought by Virgins born in Greece,

Prefented to this Triumph, as a Puce

Devoted to the memory and fame

QfJrgalus, and his Parthemaes name ;

No fooner was the Ceremony ended

( Wherein each noble Spirit more contended

T'exprefsarlection, then a lie £t theexpreffioa

Of courtly i^/V/<;£,inabare profsflioti

Of airy friendfhip ) but a iiidden fhout

Of rudely mingled voices flew throughout

The fpatious c*flky which confusMJy cry'd,

Joy to Parthtma, to theftirejt Bride.

Forthwith ( as if that heaven had broken loofe,

And Dieties had meant to enterpofe

Their heavenly bodies, with the mortal tribe

Of men ; or elle, intending toafcribe

Their personal honor to this Nuptial)

In more then princely ftate, enters the baM

A glorious fhew of Ladies, allarray'd

In rare and coftly robes, and richly laid

With Gems unvalued ; and each Lady wore

A fcarfe upon her arm, embroidred ore

With Gold and Pearl ; thus hand in hand they pad

Into the H^U, bwt oft their eyes did caft

A backward look, as if their thoughts did mind,

Some greater glory, comming on behind :

Next after them came in the Virgin Crew
In tnilke white robes (Virgins that never knew

K^ The

I'iH 38tgalttg and ^artijCUia. Book in.

T he iacred myit'ncs ot the man iage bed,
N-sjr, finding trouble in a Maidenhead
": 'en« a thought to nuptial joyes till now )
is p.ift thefe buds of nature, two by two,
Their long difhevelled treffes dangled down
With carelefs Art, and on each head a crown
Of Golden Lawrel ftood : their faces fhrowded
Beneath a vail, feem'd as the ftars were clouded.

Have ye beheld in frofty Winters even,
When all the leffer twinkling Lamps of Heaven
Are fully kindled, how the ruddy iace
Of nfing Cynthia looks ? with what a grace
She views the throne of darknefs, and afpires
TlfOfympick brow, amidft the fmaller fires ?
So after all theiefparh of beauty came
(They were but (parks to fuch a glorious flame )
The fair Parthenia : Thus the role -cheek'd Bride
Enters the room ; a milk-white^// did hide
Her bhuhing face, which ne'rthelefs difclofes
Some glimps of red, like Latvn ore-fpreading Rofes ;
Thus entrcd file. The Garments that fhe wore
Were made of purple filk, befpangled ore
With Stars of pure ft Gold, and round about
Each feveral Star went, winding in and out,
A trail of Orient Pearly fo rarely wrought,
That as the garments mov'd,you would have thought
The Stars had twinkled ; her diflhcvelled hair
Hung down behind, as if the only care
Had been to reconcile mgleft and art ,
Hung loofely down ; and vail'd the backer part
Ofthefc her Sky-relembling Robes ; but lb,
That every breath would wave it too and fro,

Like

lk)ok in. 3rgiiiu$ and ^artijenia. 139

Like flying clouds, through which you might discover

Sometimes one glim'rirtg vy^r,fometimes another :

Thus on flic went ; her ample train lupported

By thrice three Virgins, evenly hz'dand ibrted

In purple robes : forthwith, the Bridegroom riles

From or his chair ; bows down and lacrifices

The peaceful offering of a morning kifs

Upon her lips : TofttcbaS&int as this,

0, rvhat rebellious heart could chit ft hut boiVy

And offer freely the perpttuall vow

Of choice obedience ?

With' that,cach Noble moves him from his place3
And with a pofture, full of princely grace,
Salutes the worthy brid?,whh words, expreiTmg
The joyful! model of a Kingdom's bleifing.
But hark ! The Hymenean Trumpet fends
Her lateft fummons forth : Hrw;?attends
The noble pair, and is prepared to yoke
Their promisM hands : the (acred Altars fmoke
With Myrrh and Frankinanfe, the ways are If row'cl
With Flora's pride, and the expefting crowd
Have throng5 d the ft rests, and every greedy eye
Attends to (ee the Iriumfh pa fling by.-

At length the gaces flew open : on this fafhioa
Began the triumph : firft a Proclamation
Was made, with a loud voice : // any be
Or Lord, or Kjtight, or xvhatjoer degree.
Prof effing Arms cr Honor in the Land,
That at this time can challenge' or pretend
A title toV&xlXwmtfsheart , or claim
A right, or inter eft in her love or name :
Let him come forth in Per [on, or appear
By nohle Proxy j if not pre fent here :

K 2 And

140 Srgaittg and l&avttyeilia Book III,

And by the ex? lent honor of a Jynight ,
H? {hall recievef itch honorable right
As thejujlfrvord can give ; let him now come
Jndjpeak, orelje^for ever more be dumb.

Thrice was it read ; which done, forthwith there
True honors Eagle winged Herald,Fame ; ( came
Sounding a filver Trump ; and asfhe paft
She fhook the earths foundation, with her blaft :

Next after whom in undiffembled ftate
The Bridegroom came : on his right hand did wait
The god of war in martial robes of green,
All ftainM with bleeding hearts, as they had been
But newly wounded, and from every wound
Frefh blood did feem to trickle on the ground :
And as the garments mov'd, each dying heart
Would feem to pant a while, and then depart :
Upon the Bridegrooms left hand there attended
Heavens Purfivant, whofe brawny arms extended
A winged Caduce : he had fcarce the might
To curb his feet : his feet were wingM for flight :
Above his head their hands did joyntly hold
A Crimfbn Canopy emboli with Gold.
Next them twice twenty famous Nobles fbllow'd,
Brave men at arms, whofe names the world had hal-
For rare exploits and twice as many Knights,(low'd
Whofe bloods had ranfom'd, & redeem'd the rights
Of wronged LadyesrThefe were all array'd
In robes of Needle-work, fo rarely made,
That he which fees them, thinks he doth behold
Armours offteel,fair filletted with Gold :
And as tkey marcht, their Squires did advance
Bcforeeach Knisht hiswarlick&WeWand Lance.

Andf

Book III. 31tgailtg and ^attijenia. 14*

* • ' . I . ... ■ ■- -

And after thefe, the Princely Virgin Bride
On whom all eyes were faftned, did divide
Her gentle paces, being lead between
Two Goddejfes, theonearray'd ingreen,
On which the curious needle undertook
To make a forreft : here a bubltng brook
Divide two thickets : through the which doth flie
The fingleD^r, before the deep mouthM cry
Thatclofely follows : there th'aftrighted Herd
Stands trembling at the Mufick, and afearM
Of every fhadow, gazes to and fro,
Not knowing where to ftay, or where to go :
Where, in a Landskip, you may fee the Faunes
Following their crying mothers ore the Lawns :
The other was in robes, the purer die
Whereof did reprefent the mid-day skie
Fu\lofb/ack c/oHds',through \vhich,the glorious beams
Of the victorious «$//# appears, and feems
As 'twere to feattcr, and at length to fhed
His brighter glory, on a fruitful bed
Of noifbme weeds,from whence you might difcern
A thoufand painful bees extraft and earn
Their fweet provifion : and, with laden thighs
To bear the waxy burthens : On this wife
The princely bride was led betwixt thefe two,
The firft, was fhe, that on Atteons brow
Reveng'd her naked Chaftity : the other ( tlicr
Was fhc, to whom Joves pregnant brain was mo-
Through Vulcans help, and thefe did joy ntly hold
Upon her head a Coronet of Gold :
Whole train Diana's Virgin crew, all crown'd
With Golden wreaths, fupported from the ground.

K 5 Next

i4*2 2ltgalu£ and parttyenia. Bookii

Next after her, upon the triumph waited

An order, by Diana new created,

And fty I'd , The Ladies of the Madienhead,

In white, wrought here and there with (pots of red,

An J every fpot appeared asaftain

Of Lovers blood, whom their coy hearts had (lain ;

Kankt three and three, and on each head a Crown

Of Primer ofes,an.dRo/es not yet blown.

Next whom, the Beauties of tW Arcadian Court
March'd two and t wo, whole glory came not fhort
Of what th'unlimited and ftudied art
Of glory-vying Ladiescould impart
To fuch (blemniries, where every one
Strove to excel, and to b'excell'd of none.

Thus came they to the Temple, where attended
The facred Vriefls, whofe voices recommended
The days fuccefi to heaven, and did divide
A bleiling 'twixt the Bridegroom and the Bride ;
Which done, and after low obeifance made,
The firft ( while all the reft kept filence ) laid :

Welcome to Juno's facred Courts : Draw near ;
Vnfpotted Lovers, welcome : do not fear
To touch this holy ground ; pafs onfecure ;
Our gates {land open to fuch guefts as you are :
OurgratiousGoddtCsgranteth your d* fires ,
And hath accepted ofthofe holy fires
IV e offered in your name, and takes apleafurc
Tofmell our Incenfe, info great a meafure
Of true delight, that me are bold to fay,
She cro'Vf/s your vows, and [miles upon this day.

So laid they bowed to the ground, andbleft
Thcmlclves : that done, they Tingled from the reft

The

Book Hi. aitgaiujS and ptettyeuui. 143

The noble Bridegroom, and his Princely Bride,
And (aid, OurgrAtious Qoddefs be our guide,
As tve are yours : Ana as they fpake chat word,
Their well tunM voices fweetly did accord
With mufick from the Altar : as a long
They paft, they gently warbled out this Song ;

]Hhs in Pomp And Priejlly pride,
Jo glorious Juno's Altar go we ;
Thus to JuhoV Altar (how we ;
The noble Bridegroom and his Bride :
Let Juno' j hourly blefjings fend ye
As much joy as cm at ten dye.

Ma? thefe Lovers never wAnt

True joys, nor ever beg in vAin

Their choice de fires : but obtain
WhAt they can wtfh, And (he can grant ;

Let Juno\f hourly bltfftngfendye

As much joy as cah attend ye.

FromfAtiety,fromJlrife,

from JeAlouJie, domeftich jArs,

From thofe blows thAt leAvs no f cays,
Jnno protect your marriage life :

Let JunoV hourly blefjingfendye

A* much joy as can attend ye.

1 hits to Hymen's [acred bands,

We commend your chaft deferts,

That as Juno linkytyour hearts,
So /he would pleafe to joy n your hands ;

And let both their bleffingsfendyt

As much joy as can attend ye,

K 4 No

144 3itgaiU$ and ^arti)Ctlia. Book in.

No fooner was this Nuptial Card ended,

But bowing to the ground, they recommended

This princely pair ( both proftrate on the floor)

And with their hands prefented them before

The facred Altar, whereunto they brought

Two milk-white Turtles ; and with Prayers befought

That Juno^s laiting favours would defcend,

And make their pleafures, pleafiires without end.

With that a horrid crack of dreadful thunder,
Poffeft each trembling heart with fear and wonder ;
The rafters of the holy Temples (hook,
As if accurfed Archimagos book
( That curled Legion ) had been newly rezd ;
The ground did tremble, and a mift ore-fpread
The darkened Altar.

At length deep filence did pofTefs and fill
Thefpatious Temple, all waswhiftand ftill.
When from the cloudy Altar brake the found
Of heavenly M*//dr,fuch as would confound
With death, or ravifhment, the earth-bred ear,
Had not the Goddefs given it ftrength to bear
So ftrong a rapture. As the Mufick ended,
The mift on fudden vanilli't and afcended
From whence it came. The Altar did appear,
And Allies lying where the Turtles were : -
Near which, great Hymen flood, not feen before ;
His purple mantle was imbroidrcd ore (behold

With Crowns of Thorn, 'mongft which you might
Some, here and there, ( but very few,) of gold ;
Upon each little fpace, that did divide
The ieveral Crowns, a Gordian knot was tide ;
And turning to the Erie/l, he thus began : •

What

Book in. 3ltgalug and ^attljema. 147

IV bat mean thefe fumes ? Say, what hath mortal man
To do with m ? What great requejl ? what fuit
Does now attend m, that they thus faltite
Our noflrils, with [itch acceptable favors ?
1 ell us j w her in they do implore the favors
Of the pleased Gods? for by the eternal throne
AndMa]efiy of Heaven, tt {hall be done.

Whereto, with bended knees, they thus replied;
Great God, this noble Bridegroom, and this Bride
Whom we, mofl humbly, here pre fent before
Great Juno's facred Altar, do implore
Tour gr at ions aid ; that with your nuptial bands
Tour grace would pleafe to tie their promised hands.

(18)

With that he ftraight defcends the holy ftair^
And with his widened arms divides and fhares
An equal blcfling 'twixt them both, and laid ;

NObleTouth-y and lovely Maid j
Heaven accepts your plcafing fires,
And hath granted your defires ;
By the my fiery of our power ,
Firfi we confecrate this hour
To Juno* s name, thatjhervouldble.fi
Our pr of parous actions with fuccefs*
With this oyl ( which we appoint
Tor holy ufes ) rve anoint
Tour temples, and with nuptial bands
Thus we firmly joynyottr hands ;

Be

148 ^tgalttg and jSattijema. Book III

Bejoytfdfor ever : and let none
Prefumefundo what we have done
Bejoyrfd till law lefs Death/A "all fever
Both hands and hearts be joy 11 d for ever :
Eternal cnrfes we allot
To thofe ,t ill then Jh all loofe this knot.
So faid, he bleft them both in Juno's name,
And from their fight he vanifht in a flame :
That done, they rofe, and with new fumes faluted
The fmoaking Altar : thrice they proftituted
Their bended bodies on the holy ground,
Where, fending forth the well accepted found
Of thanks and vows, from their divided heart,
They kifs the (acred Jltar} and depart ;
And with the felf-fame Triumph as they came,
ReturnM ; whil'ft the louder Trump of Fame
With a full blaft, fends forth a fhrill retreat,
And re-condu£fcs them to the Hall of State,
Whole richly furnifht table would invite
A bed-rid ftomackto an appetite,
And make the waftful glut ton , that does eat
His unearned dyet with his dayly (weat,
Behold his heaven in a more ample meafure,
Than he had hopes to purchafe with the treafurc
Of his beft faith ; fuch were the dainties, fuch
The viands , that I dare not think too much
To term it Paradife, where all things did
Offer themfelves, and nothing was forbid :
Soon.as the Marjhalof this princely feaft
Had in his rightful feat placed every gueft,
A fbft harmonious rapture did confine
AH tongues with wonder, as a thing divine.

(19) Forth'

Book in airgaltist and $att$etits. is«

(19)

Forthwith, with joyned hands and fmiling faces
With habits more unequal than their paces
A jolly pair drew near the table ; th'one
In green : his pamper'd body had out-grown
His feam-ript garments, all imbroider d ore
With fpreading Vines, whole fruitful leaves did covet
With f welling Clufters ; his out-ftrutting eyes
StarM in his head : his dropfie fwollen thighs
Quagg'd as he went ; his purple coloured fhout
Was deeply furnifh't and inrich't about
With Carbuncles ; around his brows did twine
Full laden clufters, ravifht from the Vine.

The other was a Lady, whom the Sun
With his bright rays, had too much gaz'd upon,
The colour of her filken mantle was
'Twixt^ree/zand yellow, like the fading grafs :
On which were wrought inclofed Fields of Corn,
Some reap'r,fome bound in fheaves,and fbme unlhorm
VVell favoured was her countenance, plump & round ;
Her golden trelTes dangled to the ground :
Her temples bound with full ripe ears of Wheat,
VVreath'd like a Garland: frequent drops of fweat
Down from her fwarthy brows did flily trickle
And in her Sun-burnt hand {he bare a fickle,
Thus ufher'd, with a Bag-fipe to the table,
They both ftood mute, : Bacchus as yet unable
Tochallange language from his breathlefs tongue^
Til! fmiling Ceres thus began the fong.

Wekomt

w

*<j2 3ttgalug and parttjenia. Bookin.

' Elcome fair eft Virgin Bride,
Welcome to our jolly feaft :
7 aft what Ceres did provide
For fo fair, fofair ague ft :
Bacch. laft what Bacchus did provide
For fo fair , fofair a gheft :
Welcome faireft Virgin Bride,
Welcome to our jolly feaft*
Chor. Our conjoyned bounties do

Make Marsfmile, and Venus too.
Ceres. Welcome noble Bridegroom hither.
Worlds of blifs, and joy attend ye.
Freely welcome both together,
See what Ceres bounty fends ye.
Bacch. Freely welcome both together,

See what Bacchus bounty fends ye.
Welcome noble Bridegroom hither ;
Worlds of blifs, and joy at ten dye.
Chor. Our conjoyned bounties do

Make Mars fmile, andVznustoo.
Ceres. Here is that, whofefveet variety
Gives you pleafure and delight ;
Makes you full without fatiety ;
Waftes the day, and haftes the flight.
facch. This willrouz the man of war

When the drum fball beat in vain,
When hUfprits drooping are,
'I his will makt them rife again.
Chor. You thatjoyntty do inherit

Venus beauty, Mars hisfpirit,
Freely tafl our bounty : fo
Mars fall (mile, and Venus too.

BookiiL 3BtgaIug and ^attljema. 155

The Song thus ended, joyning hands together,

They bowM andvanifht, none knew how, nor whi-

To make relation of each quaint devife ( therv

That art prefented their unwearied eyes :

The nature of their mirth, of their difcourfe i

The dainties of the firft, the fecond courfe :

The fecret glances of the Bridegrooms eye

On his fair Bride ; how oft flie blufhr, and why,

Were but to rob the Bridegroome of his right,

Who counts each hour a Summers day till night*

Methinks it grieves me, that my Pen ihould wrong

Poor Lovers difappointed hopes (b long :

And it repents me fo, that oftentimes

Methinks I could be angry with my Rimes,

And for the cruel fins that I commit

In being tedious, fbme I wi/hunwrit:

Let it fuffice, what glory, what delight,

What Hate, or what to pleafe the appetite,

The eye, the ear, the fancy : In a word,

What joy fb fhort a feafon could afford

To well prepared hearts, was here expreft

In this our Nuptial, this our princely feafh

Thus "when the board was voided, and the Stives
Had now refign'd his office with the Ewer,
The curious linen gone ; and all the rights
Performed, that 'long to feftival delights :
The light-foot Hermes enters in the Hall,
Holds forth the Caduce^ and adjures them all
To depth of filence ; tells them, 'tis his task
To let them know, the Gods intend a Mask,
To grace thefe Nuptials ; and with that he fpted
His air-dividing pinions and fled,

l wm

154 3tegaitt£ and ^artljCUta. Book III-

When ftlence thus had charmed every ear
The tifosk, With wonder, and attention, they might hear
** The winged Quirifters of night, about

In every corner,, fveetly warbling out
Their Philomelian airs, and wilder note,
Which nature taught them to divide, by rote \
So that the hall did feem afhady Grove
Wherein by turns, t // 'ambitious Quire firove
1 ' 'excel tbewfelves.

White thus their ear s were feeding with delight
Upon thofe fir ains, the Goddeis of the night
Enters the Scene : Her body was confined
Within a coal black Mantle, thorow Urfd
With (able Furs : her Ireffes were of blew
hike Ebony, on with a. Pearly dew
Hung, likeafpiders Web ; her face didfljrowd
Afwarth Complexion, underneath a cloud
Of black cur Id Cyprefs : On her head (he wore
J Crown ofburnifjt Gold, befjjaded ore
With Frogs and Rory mift : her hand did bear
A Scepter and a fable Hemifphere :
She (lemlyfhook her dewy locks , and brake
kA melancholy/#2/7e, and thus brfpake ;

Drive on, drive on, ( dull Waggoner ) let flip
Your loofer reins, and u(e thine idle whip,
Thy pamper'd Steeds are purfie, drive away,
The lower world thinks long to fee the day :
Darknefs befits us beft ; and our delight
Will relifh far morefweeter in the night :
Approach ( ye blefled Shadows ) and extend
Your early jurisdiction, and befriend
Our nightly fports : Approach, make no delay,
It is our Queen, your loveraign calls away. With

Book irr. airgalusf and 0artljema. 155

With that, afudden darknefs fill1 a the Hall :
1 he tig ht was bantfht, and the windows all

So neerly closed th:ir eye-lids round about,
'that day conld not get in, 7ior darknejs out ;
Thus while the steath-reftmblixg (hades ofn>ght
Had drawn their mi fly Curtains itwixt the lioht
And every darknad eye, which was denied
Jo fee , but t hat , which darknefs could not hide :
'[he jealous God, fearing he knows not whom,
( Indeed whom fears he not ? ) enters the room,
And with his club-foot groping in thejhade
Of night, he muttered forth tbefe words, andfaid

Where is this wanton Harlot now become ? Vukant
Is light fo odious to her ? or is home **•

So homely in her wandring eyes, that fhe
Mult ftill be rambling, where unknown to me
Can nothing be concluded, nothing done,
But intermedlingJ/e#/wmuft be one ?
Is't not enough that Phxbus does applaud
Her lufts, but muft Nights Goddefs be her Baud ?
Darknefs be gone, thou Patronefs to luft :
If fair means may not rid thee, fouler mud,
Away ; my power fhall out-charm thy charms,
I'll find her panting in her Lovers arms,
Enter you Lamp lets of terreftrial fire,
And let your golden heads ( at leaft ) confpire
To counrerfeit a day, aud on the night
Revenge the wrongs of Phtbus, with your light,

So f aid, the darkmd hall was garni/Jjt round
With lighted Tapers ; Every Obje ci found
An eye to own if, and each eye was filled

' L 2 Vtith

i 56 3ttgaili£ and ^att^OTta. Book III.

IV it b plea fare in the object it beheld.

As theft devifefd changes did incite
Their quickned fancies with a frejjj delight,
Morpheus came in ; his dreaming pace was fo,
That none could fay he mov^d, he mov'dfo flow :
His folded arms, athwart his breafl, did knit
A [laggards knot, his nodding chin did hit
Again jl his -panting bofome, as hep aft :
And oftentimes his eyes were clofedfaft \
He wore a Crown of Poppy on his head ;
And in his hand he bore a mace ^Lead :
He yawned thrice, and after homage done
To Nights black Soveraigny he thus begun :

Mcrfbeu* Great Emprefs of the World : To whom I owe
s?eec * My felf, my fervice, my perpetual vow :

Before the footftool of whole dreadful throne
The Princes of this lower world lay down
Their Crowns and Scepters ; whole victorious hand
In twice tw7elve hours did conquer and command
This globe of earth, yourfervant (whofe dependance
Quickens his power) comes to give attendance
Upon the earthly fhadows, and to feize
Upon thefe wearied mortals when you pleafe
T'appoint ; till then yourfervant is at hand
To put in execution your command'

Towhomthefmiling Goddefs thus replied.
7k GoJ- Morpheus, our pleafure is to let afide

Jmksbe ^lis ™§'lt: t0 mirt^h & time-beguiling (ports ;
speech. Our fleep-reftraining bufinefi much imports

Your welcome abfence, whiPft our ears fhall
1\\s flying hoursywx mirth admits no flumber {number

The

Book IIL ~~3~tgalU0 and ^attijCUtil. 157

The word J caret' ended, but the Queen cfLove

Dtfcendedfrom her unfetnfeat, above ;
In her fair hand jjje led her winged Son,
And like a fit ll-mouth* d tempefl , thus begun :

Difloyal Sycophant ^Death's baftard brother, Venn kr~
Accurfed fpaun,caft from as curs'd a mother: ^11%^
That with thy bafe impoftures rifleft man
Of half his days, of half thatlittkfpan
Nature hath lent his life, that with thy wiles
Hugg'ft him to death, betray'ft him with thy fmiles :
What mak'ft thou here, and to ufurp my right,
Perfidious Cai'tijfe ? Venus day is night :
Go to the frozen world, where man's defire
Is made of Ice, and melts before the fire,
Yet neV the warmer : Go, and vifit fools,
Or Phlegmatick old age, whofe fpirit cools
As quickly as their breath : Go, what have we
To do ( dull Morpheus ) with thy Mace, or thee,
As leaden as thy Mace ? Th'ar t made for nought,
But to ftill Children, or to eafe the thought
Of brain fickFranticks ; or with joys -to flatter
Poor (lumbering fouls, which wTak'c, find no fuch mat-
Go fiiccour thole that venl by quick retail, (te|
Their wits upon dear penny-worths of Ale:
Ormarrow'd Eunuchs, whofe aduft defire
Wants means to flack the fury of their fire:
O that I were a Bafilisk, that I
Might dart my venome, or elle venom'd die*

Boy, bend thy bow, and with thy forked dart
Drawn to the head, thrill, thrill him to the heart :
Let fly Death's arrow, or i£ thou hi ft none,
la Death's name fend an arrow. of thy own :

L ? Wc

158 ^itgaiug and ^attijenia. Book in.

We are both wrong'd, and in the fame degree :
Shoot then, at once, revenge thy felf and me .

With that the little angry God did bend
His ft eel bow, and in Deaths Name did [end
His winged Meffenger, whofe faithful hafte
Diftatcht Iris ireful errand, andftuckfafl
Within his pierced Liver, and did hide
His finging Feathers in his wounded fide.
Morpheus fell down as dead, and on the ground
Lay for a little feafon in a fvourid,
Gafping for breath. And lovers dreams (they fay)
Have evermore been wanton fince that day.
Venus was pleas d: The Goddefs of the night
Grew angry \{be would needs resign her right
OfGovernment, and in afpleen threw down
Her Hemiiphere, her Scepter, and her Crown :
And with a duftyfogfbe did befmear
7 he face of Ycnus, [oil* d her golden hair
With her black [hades, and with foul terms reviPd
Both her, her cuckold mate, and baflard child :
Whereat the God of War being much offended,
Forfook both feat and patience, and defended : £5h

jjndtothe World he proffered to make good
Fair Venus honour, with his dearejl blood :
To whom poor Vulcan (puffing in a rage,
To hear his well known fortune on the ft age)
ScalPd many a thank, and with his crouching Kj*ee%
Profeft true Love to/uch true friends as he.
And ever fince, experience lets us know,
Cuckolds are kind tofuch as make them fb.

By this god Morpheus waking from hisfwounds
tyegtn to grown 0 and from hualing wound

Drew

Book II. airgalug and f&atfljenia. i 5?

, 1 » r

Drew /<?r//; theburyedfhaft ; fotf Mars f ir/w/i? nw^

Admits ?w other feccnd but hufvord )

U»fbtatl?d his furious brondiron, and let fly

A blow at Morpheus head , «?/;/VA had well nigh

Clove him in twain, had not the Queen of night

HurPd hafiy miffs before his darkned fight ;

S& that the Sword, by a fa/fe guided aim

Strxk Vulcan7s foot : which ever fince was lame :

At lafl the Gods came down, and thought it good

To nip this early quarrel in the bud ;

Who fearing uproars, with a friendly Cup

0/#/ey? Nepenthe, took the quarrel up :

Arid for tlP 0 fence committed did proclaim

Thisfentence in offended Juno's name,

Morpheus from hence is banifht for this night, &*

And not t'approach before the morning light: $£tm

Mars is exilM forever, as a Gueft

Adjudged unfitting for a Marriage-feaft.

Cupid is doom'd to rome and rove about

To the World's end, and both his eyes put out,

Venus iscenfur'd to perpetual Night,

And not (unlefsby ftealth, to fee the Light :

Her chiefeft joy to be but pleafing folly,

Perform'd with mad nefs, dogg'dwith melancholly

And here the Mufick did invite their paces
To meafure time, and by exchange of places
To lead the curious beholders eye
A willing captive to variety.

Thus, with the fweet vtciffitude of mirth
They f pent the time, <*s if that Heaven and Earth
Hadfiudied topleafe man, wfuch a mtafwe,

Th.it

i6o ^tgaiug : and $>attt)etiia Book Hi,

Y hat art could not do more f augment their pkafure.
And fo they vanffit.

Now Ceres Evening bounty re-invites
Her noble guefts to her renew'd delights :
And frolick Bacchus, to refrefh their fouls
With a full hand, prefentshis (welling Bowls.
Wine came un wifh't, like water from a fcource ;
And Dilicates were mingled wkhdifcourfe :
What art could do to make a welcome gueft,
Was liberally prefented atthatFeaft.

(20)

It was no fooner ended, but appears
An old grey pilgrim, deeply ftruck in years,
Intatter'd garments : in his wrinkled hand
An hour-glafs labouring with her lateft fand ;
Beneath hisarm, a buffen Knapfack hung
Stuft full of writings in an unknown tongue,
Chronologies, out-dated Almanacks,
And Patents that had long furviv'd their wax ;
Upon his Shouldiers Eagle- wings were joyn'd :
His head ill thatcht before, but bald behind :
And leaning on his crooked Sythe, he made
A little pauie, and after that, he laid :

Mortals, ''tis out, my Glafs is run.

And with it the day is done :
Darkjbadows have expelPd the Lig ht^

And my Gla/s is turned for night.

The

Book in 3!tgalug and $attljciua, i6j

The Quten of darkn'fs bids me fay,

Mirth is fitter for thz day :
Upon the day fuch joys attend \

With the day fuch joys muft end.
Think not darknefs goes about,

Like Death, to puff your plea fur es out ;
No, no, [he'll lend you new delights,
She hath plefures for the Nights.
When as her fhadows fhall btnight ye,
She hath what JballfMl delight ye :
Aged timefball make it known,

She hath dainties of her oyvn :
'7 is very late, away, away,

Let day [ports expire with day :
For this time we adjourn your Feajl :

7 he Bridegroom fain would be at reft .
And if the night paftimes difpleafe ye,
Day will quickly come and eafe ye.
With that a fweet vermilian tin£ture ftain'd
The Brides fair cheeks : the more that fhe reftrain d
Her blulh, the more her difbbedient blood
Did overflow, as if a fecond flood
Had meant to rife, and, for a little fpace,
To drown that world of beauty in her face :
She blufht ( but knew not why ) and like the Moon,
She look't moft red upon her going down.
But fee : The liniling Ladies do begin
To joyn their whiFpering heads, as there had been
A plot of treafbn : till at length unfpi'd,
They ftole away tlAinwilling-willing Bride :
Their bufie hands unrob'd her, and fo led
The timorous Virgin to heNuptial-bed

By

1 64 SKrgaitig and $attyenia. Book in.

(21)

By this, the Nobles having recommended
Their tongues to filence, their difcourfe being ended,
They Iook't about, and thinking to have done
Their Service to the Bride, the Bride was gone :
And now the Bridegroom, (unto whom delay
Seem'd worfe than Death) could broke no longer ftay:
Attended with his noble Guefts, he enters
That room, where enterchangible Indentures
Of deareft love lay ready to be feal'd
With mutual Pleafures not to be reveal'd.

His garments grew too tedious, and their weight
(Not able to be born) do over-fraight
His weary fhoulders : Atla* never ftoop't
Beneath a greater burthen, and not droop't :
No help was wanting, for he did receive
What fudden aid he could expeft or have
From fpeedy hands, from hands that did not wafte
The time; unlefs (perchance) by over-hafte :
Mean while, a dainty warbling breft, not ftrong
Asfweet, prefentsthis Epithalmion Song.

Man of War, march bravely on,
The Field's not eajie to be won :
Therms no danger in that War,
Where Lip both Swords and Bucklers are.
Here's no cold to chill thee,

A Bed of 'Down* s thy Field:
litre's no [word to kill thee,

Unlefs thou fleafe to yield. Here

.an

%66 3ltg&Itt£ and ^fttttjetua. Book III

Here is nothing will incumber,
Here will be no J cars to number*
Thefe be Wars of Cupid's ^making*
Tbefe be Wars will keep you wakiug,
7 ill the early breaking day
Calls your forces hence away.

Thefe be Wars that make no ffoil,

Death btre (boots his (bafts in vain 3
1 hough the Son tidier gets a foil,

Hewillrouze and fight again.
Thefe be Wars that never ceafe,
But conclude a mutual Peace*
Let benign and prof per out flars
Breath fuccefs upon thefe Wars,
And when thrice three months be run7
Be thou father of a Son :

A fon that may derive from thee

The honour of true merit ,
And may to ages yet to be^

Convey thy blood, thy Spirit j
Making the glory of hit fame
Perpetuate, and crown thy Nams^
And give it life in f pit e of death,
When fame (hall want both Trump, and Breath*
Have you beheld in a fair Summers Even
The Golden headed Charioter of Heaven,
With what a fpeed his prouder reins do bend
His pasting Horfes to their Journies end ?
How red he looks, with what a fwifc career
He hurries to the lower Hemifphere,
And in a moment fhoots his golden head
Upon the pillow of blufhing Thetis bed i

Even

Book in. 3rpht£ and ^attljenia. i67

■ — ■ »• - - - — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — _ — — — — _ __ ___^

Even fb the Bridegroom, (whole delire had wings
More fwift than time,fwitcht on with plea fare) fprings
Into his Nuptial bed; and look how faft
The {looping Faulcon clips, and with what hafle
Her talons (eize upon the timerous prey,
Even fohis Arms, (impatient of Delay)
His circling Arms imbracd his blufhing Bride,
While (lie ( poor (bul ) lay trembling by his fide-

The Bridegroom now grows weary of his guefts,
What mirth of late was pleafing, now molefts
His tired patience : Too muchlweet offends :
Sometimes to be forfaken of our Friends,
In Cupid1 s Morals, is oblerv'd to be
The fruits of Friendfhip in the bell degree-
And thus at laft the Curtains being closed,
They left thtm each in others Arms repos'd.

And here my Mule bids draw our Curtains too,
'7 is unfit to/eervhat private Lovers do.
Reader, It t not thy thoughts grow ever-rank ,
But vail thy under ft andtng with a blank ;
Think not on what thou think'jl : and, if thou canft:,
Tet under Jl and not what thou under ft and? ft.
Sow not thy fruitful heart with fo poor feeds :
Or if perchance {unfown) they fpring like weeds ,
Z)fe them like weeds, thou knowejl not how to kill
Slight them^ and let the?n thrive againft thy will :
View them like evils, that Art cannot prevent,
But fee thou take no pleafure in their f cent :
And one thing more : when as the morning light
Shall bring the bafbful Bride into thy fight.
Be not too cruel : let no wanton eye
Difturb and wrong her confeious mode ft y :
And iffhe blufh, examine not for what : Nay

168 aitgaltiS and ^attljenta. Book III.

Nay, though thoujee it (Readtr) fee it not.
And fhall our ftory difcontinue here ?
Or want a period till another year ?
Shall we befriend thefe Lovers with the night,
And leave them burycd in their own delight,
And fo conclude ? No, it fhall ne'r be fed
That marriage joys end in the Marriage bed :
Fond and adulterate is that love which founds
Her happinefs on fiich unliable grounds :
And, like a fudden blaze, it never lafts,
But as the pleafure waxes cold, it waftes.

Now Argdm awakes, and now the light
Is even as welcome to him as the night :
His eyes are fixt upon his lovely Bride,
While fhe lies fweetly (lumbering by his fide :
She lleeps, he views her : thrice his mind was bent
?£ o call Farther? a, zn& thrice it did repent :
Sometimes his lips, with a ftoln kifs would greet
Her guiltlefs lips : (I hey fay , (loin goods arefrveet )
At length (lie wakes, and hides her blufhing cheeks
In his warm bofbme, where fhe fafely fecks
Tor Sanctuary, whereunto fhould fly
The guilt of her protected Modefty :
He fmiles and wifpers in her deafned ear ;
(Women can under ft and, and yet not hear )
He fpeaks, but fhe (even whil'ft his lips were breaking
Their words) with hers did flop his lips from fpeaking.
When thrice three Suns had now almoft out-worn
The rare folemnities that did adorn
Thefe Princely Nuptials , and had made report
Grow fomething fparing in t)f Arcadian Court,

The

Book in. 31 tgaiug and #attt)enia. 1 69

The Bridegroom, whole endeavours were addreft,
To pra&ife what may pleafe his fair Bride beft,
Refblv'd to leave KjUnd.tr s houfe, and crowi*
Parthema ible Comrrtandrefs of her own :
Long was it ere KjUvdtf* liberal ear
Could be unlockt ; it had no power to hear
The word farewell : Still Argalus intrcated,
And framM excufes ; which he (bon defeated.
But as the flout Alcides did cafhire
One rifmg head, another would appear :
Even fb, whiPft his ingenious love did (mother
One caufe of parting, he would find another.

KjUndcr thus at laft ( being over- wrought
With words, which importunity had taught;
Inexorable Argalus) was fain
To yield what he fb long gain-faid in vain,
* Tis now concluded, Argalus muft go,
But yet KjUnder muft not le^ve them fo :
There is no parting, till the aged Sire
Shall warm his fingers by Parthema7s fire.
Parthenia fues, KjUndtr muft not reft,
Till he become Parthenia1^ promised gueft.
The morrow next, when Titans early ray
Had given fair earneft of a fairer day :
And with his trembling beams had repoflefl:
The eyes of mortals, newly rouz'd from reft,
They left Kjl*ni*i*s Caftle ; and that night
Arriv'd they at the Palace of delight :
( Fcr fo 'twas called ) it was a goodly feat,
Well chozen , not capacious, as neat :
Yet was it large enough to entertain
A potent Prince, with all his Princely traia :

M tt

170 3itgalus and f&atfljenia. Book III-

Ir Jeem'd a Center to a Park, well llor'd

With Deer, whole well thriven bounty did afford

Continual plea fare and delight ; nay, what

Thar Earth calls good, this Seat afforded not ?

Th'impatient Faulkner here may learn to fay

Forgotten Prayers, and blefs him every day.

The patient Angler here may tire his wifh,

And (ifhepleafe) may fwear, and yet catch fifli.

The fneaking Fowler may go boldly on,

And ne*r want fport untill his Powder's done :

And to conclude, there was no ftint, no meafare

To th'old man's profit, or the young man's pleafure :

Thither this night the Nuptial Troop is gone :

And now P asthenics welcome to her own :

But would you hear what entertainment part ?

Conceive it rather ; for my Quill would wafle .

Th'unthriving flock of my befpoken time,

While fach free bounty cannot Hand with rime :

But that which moll, did feafon and imbellilli

Their choice delights, and gave the trueft reliih

To their beft mirth and pleafures, was, to fee

With what a fweet conjugal Harmony

All things werecarryed ; every word did prove

To add Ibme acquisition to their Love ;

So one they were, that none could juftly fay,

Which of them rul'd, or whether did obey :

HeruFdjbecaufe jlie would obey ; and fhe9

In thus obeying, rul'd as well as he :

What pleafed hirn^ would need no other cauk

To pleafe her too, but only his applaufe ;

A happy pair, whofe double life but one :

Made one life double, and thefingle, none,

Thus

Book nr. 3lrgaiu£ and 0attljenta. 171

Thus when th' unconftant Lady of the night
Had chang'd her horns for an Orb of Light :
I\alandtr (whole occafions grew too ftrong,
And may not be difpsns'd withal too long )
Takes leave, and ( being equal heavy hearted
With fad Parthenia for his ha lie departed !
But Argdus (who never yet could own
Himfelf with more advantage than alone)
And fair Parthenia (whole well pleas'd defire
Hopes nothing elfe ; if Argdus be by her)
Needs not the help of any toaugment
The better joys of their retir'd content:
Sometimes the curious garden would invite
Their gentle paces to her proud delight : (pleafiire,
Sometimes the well-ftor'd Park would change their
And tender to her view their light-foot treafiire :
Where th'unmolefted Herd would feem to ftand,
And crave a death at fair Parthenia^s hand :
Sometimes her fteps would climb th'ambitious Tower >
From whole afpiring top they might difcover
A little Commonwealth of Land, which none
But Argalus durft. challenge as his own :
Sometimes, ( for change of pleafure he would read
Selected Stories, whil'ft her ears would feed
Upon thefe lips, and now and then aKifs
Would interpofe like a Parenthefis,
Between their femicircled arms inclos'd :
(0 what dull [fir its could be indijpos'd
To re ad fitch Lines ! ) and whil'ft upon the book
His eyes were fix'd, her pleafed eyes would look
Upon the graceful Reader, and efpy
A ftory, far more pleafing in his eye.

M 3 Upon

Book iii. airgalujaf and ^arttyenia. 17/

( 22)

Vpon a day as they were clofely fcated
Her ears attending, whilft his lips repeated
A ftory, treating the renown'd adventures
And famous a£is of great Alcides ; enters
AMejfenger, whofe countenance did bcwrav
A hail too ferious to admit delay ;
His hand prefents him Letters, which did brin^
Their iealed errand from t\t Arcadian King ;
Whereat Panhenia role, and ftept afide :
Her thoughts were troubled ; ever as (lie ey'd
The Meflenger , her colour comes and goes :
Partheniakaxs ; and yet Parthenia knows
Not what to fear : Her jealous heart knows how
To fear an evil, becaufe it fears to know :
And as he read the lines, her eye was fixt
Upon his eye, which feem'd to ftrive betwixt
A thou (and thwarting paffions : Once he call
His eyes on her, and finding hers fo faft
On his, he blufht, fhe blufht, both blufht together,
Becaufe they blufht for what, unknown to either.
The Letter being read ( and having kift
Bafilius name ) he fpeedily difmift
The Meflenger, with promife to obey
Bafilius juft commands without delay :
That done he took Tarthenia by the hand,
His dear Parthenia, by the trembling hand :
And to her greedy eye he ftraight prefents
The Paper ballac'd with its fad contents:

M l Parthenia

174 3!r<J&iU0 and ^atttyetua. Book III.

Parthenia with a fearful flownefs took it,
And with a fearful hafte did over-look it :
Her face being blanched with the pallid fignes
Of what fhe fear'd too fbon, (lie read thele lines.
Bafilius Rex,

WHereas the famous and victorious name
Of great Amphialus, mxke the Irump offxm*

Breath nothing but his Conquefts and Renown :

Whofe lawlejs anions fortune ft rives to crown

(In fpightofjuftice) with a Victors merit ,

Respecting more the greatnefs\of his Spirit ,

Thenjujtnefs of his caufe ; to the difbonour

Ofvertue, and all f itch as wait upon her.

J nd furthermore, whereas his power is known

J } oppugn the welfare of our State and C rown?

With fir ong Rebellion, to the high advancement

Of his difloyal glory, and inhancement

Of his perfidious. Name, the great increafe

Of factions, and disturbance of our Peace :

Ttkewife, whereas his high prevailing hand

( Again ft the force whereof no fifh can f and )

Could ne^r be equaPd yet, much lefs orecorm :

But with loud Triumph fill doth carry home

Thefpoils of our loft honour, to the fame

Of his rebellious glory, andourftjame :

We therefore in our princely care perpending

Iheferious premifes, and much depending

On your known Courage, havefeleUedyou

70/^avrChampion-Iloyal, andrenew

Our wafed honour with your Sword and Lance

In equaal Dueil : Thus you (hall advance

The glorious pitch of your renowned Name

With the brave pur chafe of eternal Fame \ In

Book if. 3rgaiu^ and ^artljenia. 17s

In this you (ball revive our dying glvry.
And live the fubjecJ of theft Ages (lory,
(Which (hill be read till time f hall have an end)
And tie Baiilius your perpetual Friend.

To our right trufly and noble

Kjnfmxn, Argalus. .

But as fhe read, her tears did trickle down
Upon the Lines, as if they meant to drown
Th'unwelcome meiTage, and at length (lie (aid.

Ahm-: (my Argalus) was' V this you made
Such hajie to an fiver ? did that anfver n~ed
To be retumedivithfo ^reat a/peed ?
Can you, 0 can you be jo quickly won
To leave your poor Parthenia, and begone ?

To whom refolved Argalus (whoih, eye
Was fixt upon his Honour) made reply,
jl/j'^fe^Parthenia, were it to obtain
The unjumrrid wealth ofVhit.0 ; or to gain
The foveraignty oftl? earth without expence
Of blood: or fveat, without the leaf: pretence
Of danger, my ambition would dtfpife
The eajie Conquef of fo great a prize ,
If par chased by thy dif content^ or by
I he poor eft tear that trickles from thine ey c ,
But to recall my pro?mfe, or for f ike
That refolution honour bids me make
in this behalf, or to betray that trufi
Reposed in me, the Gods would bennjufl
(And notthemfelves) if they ihouldbnt command^
Or urn erne with an over fwaying hand :

M 4 My

ty6 atgaittg and ^att^Cnia Book III.

My dear Parthenia : letnofalfefuggeflidn

Abufe thy pajfion ; or prefume to quejlion

My deareft love, though honour bids us party

Yet honour cannot r oh thee of my heart :

Honour that calls me with her loud alarms

Will bring me back with Triumph to thy arms.

So faid, the fad Parthenia ( whofe tears

Areturn'd Lieutenants to her tongue) forbears

To tempt her language : Griefs that are but fmail

Can fpeak, when great ones cannot vent at alL

But tender hearted Argalus, (to whom

Such filence fpeaks too loud ) forfook the Room i

And with a breft as full of penfive care,

As honour, gave direftions to prepare

His Warlike Steed, his Martial attire,

And all things fuch Imployment doth require.

And hear ,0 thou, thou great fupream Proteclrefs
Of bolder Spirits, andthefole Direct refs
Of lofty flying OuiUs, which Jhal! derive
To after-times, what glorious Swords atchieve :
And mak'fi the actions of heroick Spirits
Perpetuate, and crown their names, their merits e
Illufirious Clio, aid me and Infpire
My raged Rimes with thy diviner fire :
Teach me to raife my flyle, and to attain
A pitch that may tranfeend the vulgar fir ai» :
Reach me a quill tent from an Eagles wing : ■
And let my Ink be blood : that I may fmg
Death to the life : Let him that reads, expound,
"Each dafh a Sword, and every word a wound.

By this, the Champion-Royal had put on
His Martial Weeds : but ha ft ing to be gone,

The

Book in aftgahw! and ffattfrcnia. 179

The poor Partbenta, whole cold fit is paft
( Like thofe in agues ) now does burn as faft :
She leaves the lonely room, and coming out
She finds her Argalm inclos'd about
With glittering walls of fteel : apparrelfd round
In his bright arms ( whom fhe had rather found
Lockt up in hers ) and wanting nothing now
But what her lips could not ( poor foul ) allow
Without a fea of tears, her laft farewel,

(23)

She ran unto him, wept, and weeping fell
Upon her knees, fhe clalpt him by the arm,
And looking up, fhe thus began to charm :

My Argalus, my Argalus, my Dear
And wilt thou go and leave Parthenia here ?
Wilt thou for fake me then ? and can thefe tears
Not intercede betwixt thy deafned ears
And my fad fuit ? • Can ft thou^ 0 can ft thou go
And leave thy poor diftreft Parthenia/0 ?
Parthenia/#e.f, Parthenia does implore,
Parthenia begs, that never beg*d before :
Remember, 0 remember you are, now
Under the power of a f acred vow :
Honor muft [loop to vows, which once being cracks
Tou cannot do on honorable act.
I have a right unto you ; you are mine :
J have that Intreft which lie ne*r reftgnc
7 ill death ; lie never hazard to forgo

My

180 aitgaius and ^att^enia. Book in.

My whole eft ate of hapfintfs, at one throw ;

NoynOy I will not, I will hold thee f a ft

In f fight of honour y And her nine days blajl ;

Tour former atts have given fuffic lent froof

To the wide World ; your valour1* known enough

Without a farther tryal ; there* s enough

To lofe their Lives (lefs worthy) be fides you :

^T was then a time for Arms, when y w had none y

None other left to venture but your own :

Excufe me then, that only do endeavour

To hold my own, which now Imufty or never :

CMiney mine you are, and you can undertake

No danger ', but Parthenia mufl far take z

Shall your Parthenia be endangered then ?

Parthenia jW/ befrefent, even when

The firoakesfall thickefl ; and Parthenia [hall

Suffer what ere to Argalus may befall :

Parthenia in your great efi fainfhallj 'mart ;

Tour blood fh all trickle from Parthenia^ heart.

Canfrayers obtain no f lace ? by this dear handy

T he f acred fledge of our conjugal band.

By all the f leaf ures of our dearefl love ;

By heaven, and all the heavenly fower s above :

Or ifthofe Motives cannot find a room,

Tet by the tender fruit that in my Womb

Begins to bud ; or if ought elfe affear

To thy befi thoughts , more fret iousy or more dear.

By that for Jake me noty although the re/i

Prevail noty Grant this fir fly this I aft Reqtteft.

To whom the broken hearted Argalus ,
Wcaried?but not o'reom^made anlwer thus :

My

Book in. Sttgaluja; and ^atttjenia. 181

My clear Parthenia ; Thy defirts never
Gainfaid my mil, tiIlno<v \ Do not perf ever
To crave that boon 1 cannot grant : forbear
To urge me : Refolution hath no ear ;
Wetp not , (my joy) let not theft drops of thine,
J hat trickle jrom Jo fair an eyey divine
A foulfuccefs : Chear up ; a fmile or two
Would make me half a Conquer our ere I go :
Shine forth* andltt no envious cloud benight
7 he glorious luff re of fo fair a light :
Doubt ?jot my life, the jujlnefs of my Canfe,
'That brings me on, will quit me rvith applaufe :
Fear not that fuch a bhjfing, fuob a Wife,
Was ere intended for fofhort a life :
Expeci my f aft return ; as quick, as glor torn ;
My genious tells me, I (ball live victor ions.

So (aid, as if that' paflion bad forgot
Her mother tongue, her tongue replied not :
But, like to one, new ftricken with the thunder,
She ftood betwixt amazement, fear and wonder :
His lips took leave, and as his arms (unrounded
Her feeble wafte, flic ftrait fell down and fwouqded :
But Argaliu transported with the tide
And tyranny of honour, could abide
No longer ft.ay ; he trufts her to the guard
Of her own Woman ; left her and repaired
Unto the Camp ; wherein he (pent fome days,
In parley with Amphialus', and affays
By all per(wafive means, to make him yield
To juft demands, and not to (lain the Field
With needlefs blood : but finding him unapt

Tor

1 82 3ttgalu£ and ^atttjenia. Bookiii

— — — : ■""■" : — -n

For peaceful counfel ( being ftrongly rapt
With his own fame ) and fcorning to afford
His ear to any language, but the fword,
HeeeasM to advife him ; and (enforced to try
A rougher Dialect ) wrote him this defie :

Renown'd Amphiatus,
If ftrongperfwafwns,backt withreafons, could
Been honored with your ear, your wifdom would
In yielding to fo fair a peace, have won
As ample glory, as your fword hath done
Toujhouldhave conquered fouls ,where norvatmojl.
Ton canf ubdue but bodies^ that have lift
Thepowe, torefifl: But fmcemy fuit,
Sown onfo barren foil, can find no fruit ; \
Receive a mortal challenge, from a hand,
Whofejujlice takes a glory to with (I and
Sofoulacaufe, and labours to [ubdue,
tour heedlefs errors, whilfi it honors you i
Compofe you then, to make a preparation,
According to your noble wonted fafhion :
And think not flight of ne!r fo weak an arm
1 hat (Irikes, when juflice (tr ikes up her alarm.

Argalus

No fboner had he read it, but is Pen,
With noble fpeed, returned thefe lines agen :

Much more renowned Argalus,
Your faithful ferv ant, whofe victorious brow
Was never daunted yet, is daunted now
By your brave curtefie, being ftricken dumb

With

Book in. 3lrgaUt£ and ^arttjenia. i8j

With ) our rare m rtby and fairly overcome :
Tet doubting not the jit fine fs of my Caufe
(J hat* s over ruled by the J acred laws
Of At are ft lovej will give my f word tht power
Evtn to maintain it to the late ft hour \
I fljall tx feet your coming in the 7/e,
Where with a heart (notpotforfd with the biU
Or gall of malice) with my deareft bloody

lour Servant fjjall be ready to make good

JJisjuft defigns : ajjnredofno le/s

7 ban treble fame, if crowned with fuccefs :

If not, therms no dtfoonour can accrew

In being conquered, andorecome by you,

Amphialus.

Soon after Argalus (whofe blood did boil

To be in a&ion) comes into the lie,

Clad in white Armour, gilt and ftrangely dreft

With knots of women's hair, which from his creft

Hung dangling down,& with their bounteous treaflire

Orefpread his Corflet in a liberal meafure :

His curious furniture was fafhion'd out,

Like to a flying Eagle round about

Befet with plumes, whofe crooked beek (being call

Into a coftly Jewel ) was made faft

To th'faddle bow : her fpreading Train did cover

His crooper, whil'ft the trappers feem to hover

Like wings, that to the fixt beholders eye,

As the horfe prancM, the Eagle feemM to fly ;

Uponhisarm (histhreatning arm) he wore

A fleeve. all curioufly imbroider'd ore

With

1 84 ^tgaiUg and pattljetua. Book III.

With bleeding hearts, which fair Parthenia made

{ In thole crofs times, when fortune fb betraid

Their fecret Love, and with a fmiling frown

Dafht their falle hopes) as copies of her own.

Upon his fhield (for his devife ) he let

Two neighboring Palms, whole budding branches met

And twinM together ; the oblcure Impreli

Imported thus : Thus fiorifoing, astheje :

His Horfe was of a fiery Sorrel, black

His Main, his Feet, his Tail : on his proud back

A coal black Lift : his noftrils open wide,

BreathM War, before his fparkling eye defcridq

An Enemy to encounter ; up by turns,

He lifts his hafty hoofs, as if he fcorns

The earth, or if his tabring feet had found

A way, to goe, and yet neV change the ground

By this, AmfhUlm ( who all this while
Thought minutes years ) was landed in the He,
In all refpefts provided, to afford
As bounteous entertainment as the Sword
And launce could give : and at the Trumpets found,
The Steeds (that needed not a prick to wound
Their bleeding flanks) both ftart,and with fmooth run-
Their fta ves,declining with unfhaken cunning, ( ing
Perform'd their Mafters will, with angry fpeed :
But Argalus his well inftru&ed Steed
( Being hot, and full of courage, fiercely lead
By his own pride) preftiuhis prouder head :
The which when ftout Amf hiatus efpide
Well knowing it un(afe to give his fide)
Preft likewife in, Co that bpth men and Horfe,
Shoudring each other with a double fores

Fell

Book in. 3rgahi£ and ^atttyeuia. 185

Fell to the ground : hue by accuftom'd skill,
And help of portun's hand, that fiiccours ftill
Bold Spirits, fhunM die danger of the Fall,
And had (lelsfear'd than hurt) no harm at all :
They rod, drew forth their Swords,which now begun
To do what their left ftaves had left undone.
Have ye behejd a Leaguer ? In what fort
The deep-moudVd Cannon plays upon the Fort,
And how by piece-meals it doth batter down
The yielding Walls of the befieged Town ?
Even lb their Swords, (whofe oft repeated blows
Could find no patience yet toenterpofe
A breathing refpite) with redoubled ftrength
So hew'd their prooflefs armours, that at length
Their failing truft began to prove unfbund,
And piece by piece they dropt upon the ground,
Trufting their bodies to the bare defence
Of vertue and unarmed Innocence :
Such deadly blows were dealt, and fuch requited,
That Mars himldi flood ravifht and affrighted
To fee the cruel Combat ; every blow
Did a£t two parts : both ftruck and guarded too
At felf famelnftant. So incomparable
Their skilful quicknefs was, that none was able
l To fay (although their wTatchful eyes attended
Theftroaks) who made the blow, or who defended :
Long was it ere their equal skill and force
Of arms could (hew a better, or a worfe :
Neither prevailM as yet ; yet both excell'd
In not prevailing. Never eye beheld
More equal odds : No wound as yet could Ihow
A drop of wafted blood, yet everv blow

N Was

1 86 3ttjalUg and |&airti}CUia BooklH.

Was full of death : When skillful Gameftersplay,
The Cbriflmas box gams often more than they.

At length the iword of Argalus (that never
Thirfted 16 long in vain till now ; nor ever
Made victorious doubtful for lb long a fpace)
Faftned a wound on the difarmed face
Of the renown'd Amphialus, wherein
Had not his faithful fhield born part, and been
An equal fharer, his unequal foe
No doubt, had lumm'd his conqueft in that blow *
With that the ftout A?nphialus, whole harm
Gave fprightly quicknels to his wounded Arm,
Upheav'd his thirfty Brondyron, and let fly
A downright blow ; but with a falfifie
Reverft the ftroak, and left a gaping wound
In his right arm : But Argalus, that found
A'lofs of blood, exchang'd his open play,
And for his more advantage, clofely lay
Upon a lower guard; withal expecting
A hop'd revenge, which was not long effecting :
For whiPft Amphialusy ( whole hopes inflam'd
His tyrannous thoughts with conqueft, and proclaim'd
Undoubted Viftory) heap'd his ftroaks fb faft,
As if each blow had fcornM to be the laft.
The watchful Argalus (whole nimble eye
Difpos'd his time in only putting by)
Put home a thruft (his right foot coming in)
And pierc't his Navel, that the wound had been
No lels than Death, if Fortune (that can turn
Amifchief to advantage) had forborn
to fhew a miracle ; for with that blow
Amphiahts laft made, his arm had fo

Orcftrucfc

iookiiL 3tgalu£ and ^attfjenia. 187

Oreftruck it felf ; that fideward to the ground

j [e fell; and falling, he receiv'd that wound,

Which ( had he Hood ) had enter'd in point blank,

But falling, only graz'd upon his flank :

iking down ; brave Argalus his threatning fword

Bids yield : Amphialus anfwering not a word

(As one whofe mighty fpirit did difdain

A life of alms) but ftriving to regain

His legs and honour, Argalus let drive,

With all the ftrength a wounded arm could give,

Upon his head ; but his hurt arms ( not able

To do him prefent Service, anfwerable

Tohisdcfires) let his weapon fall,

With that Amphialus ( though daz'd withal )

Arofe, but Argalus run in and grafp't

(Being clos'd together) with him, were both clasp't

And gripM each in th/unfriendly arms of either,

A while they grapled, grapling, fell together,

A nd on the ground with equal fortune ftrove :

Sometimes Amphialus was got above,

And fometimes Argalus. Both joyntly vow'd

Revenge ; both wallow'd in their mingled blood,

Both bleeding frefh : now Argalus bids yield;

And now Amphialus : both would win the Field,

Yet neither could ; at laft, by freeconfent

They rofe ; and to their breathed fwords they went :

The Combat's now renewed, both laying on,

As if the fight had been but new begun :

New wounds aflwage the fmarting of the old,

And warm blood intermingles with the cold :

But Argalus (whole wounded arm had loft

More blood than all his body could almoft

N 2 Supply

1 88 aitgalUg and ^attfjettW. Book Ill-
Supply ; and like an Unthrift, that expends
So long as he hath either ftock or friends)
Bled more than his fpent Fountains could make good ;
His fpirit could give Courage, but not blood.
As when to wealthy Clients, that wax old
In fuit (whole learned Counfel can uphold,
And gloze the Caufe alike on either fide )
During the time their termly golden tide
Shall flow alike from both, 'tis hard to fay
Who profpers beft, or who fhall get the Day.
But he whole water firft iliall ceafe to flow,
And ebb fo long, till it fhall ebb too low,
His Caufe (though richly laden to the brink
With right) fhall ftrike upon the bar, and fink,
And then an eafie Counfel may unfold
The doubt ; the queftion's ended with the Gold :
Even fo our Combatants, the whim their blood
Was equal fpilt ; the Caule feemM equal good,
The Vi&ory equal, equal was their arms,
Their hopes were equal ; equal was their harms,
But when poor Argalus his wafting blood
Ebb'd in his Veins ( although it made a flood,
A precious flood in the ungrateful Field,
His caufe, his ftrength, but not his heart muft yield :
Thus wounded Argdus the more he faifd,
The more the proud Amphialus prevailed :
With that Amfhiatus ( whole noble ftrife
Was put to purchafe Honour, and not Life)
Perceiving what advantage in the fight
He gained, and the valour of the Knight,
Became his fuitor, that himfelf would pleafe
To pity himfelf, and let the Combac ceafe :

Whick

Book III. 3tegaiUg and ^attI)ClUa. 191

Which noble Ar galas ( that never us'd

In honour to part Rakes) with thanks refus'd ;

( Like to a lucklefs Gamefter ; who, the more

He looics, is lefs willing to give ore)

And filling up his empty veins with ipite,

Begins to Run his forces, and unite

The broken ftrength ; (and like a Lamp that makes

The greateft blaze at going out, he takes

His iword in both his hands, and at a blow

Cleft armour, Shield, and arm almoft in two :

But now inrag'd Amphialas forgets

All pity ; and trufting to his Cards ; he fets

That Hock of Courage, treafiir'din hisbreft,

Making his whole eftate of ftrength, his Reft :

And vies fuch blows,as %Ar£hu could not fee

Without his lols of life : fo thundred he

Upon his wounded body, that each wound

Seem'd like an op^n fluce of blood, that found

( 24 )

No hand to ftop it, till the doleful cry
Of a moft beauteous Lady (who well nigh
Had run her felf to death ) reftrain'd his arm
( Perchance too late) from doing further harm ;
It was the fair Partbenia, who that night
Had dream'd (lie (aw her Husband in the plight
She now had found him : fear and love together
Gave her no reft till they had brought her thither :
The nature of her fear did now begin
T'expel the fear of Nature ; ftepping in

N4 Between

192 3[rgaiu# and ^att^enia. .^ookiiL

Between iheir pointing (words (he profirate lay
Before their blood-bedabled feet, to fay
She knew not what ; for as her lips would ftrive
To be deliver'd, a deep figh would drive
Th'abortive iffue of her language forth,
Which, born untimely, perifht in the birth ;
And if her fighs would give her leave to vent it,
O then a tear would trickle and prevent it ;
But when the wind of her loud fighs had laid
The fhower of her tears, fhefbb'd, and laid ;
0 wretched eyes of mine! 0 wailful fight !
0 day ofdarkntjs ! 0 eternal night \
And there fhe ftopt ; her eyes being fixt upon
Amphialas^ file figh'd, and thus went on ;

My Lord,
^Tisflaidyou love ; then by that J acred power
Of love , as you'd find mercy in an hour
Of greafeft miferyy leave off, and /heath
Tour bloody [word : or elfle, if noug ht but death
M&y flack your anger, 0 let mine, let mine
Be a fluff c lent offering at the Shrine
Of your appeafed thoughts ; or, if thou thirft
For Argalus his lift, then take mine firfl :
Or, if for noble blood you fleek, if flo.
Accept of mine ; my blood is noble too,
And worth the [pilling : Even for her dear fake ■,
Tour tender floul affects, awake, awake ■
Tour noble mercy. Grant I care not whether :
Let me die firfl ; or kill us both together.

With that Jmphialus was about to (peak,
But Arrays (whole heart did almoft break

Book in 3itgaius and patttyema. 19?

To hear Parthtnia^s words) made this reply.

Parthenia, ah Parthenia, Thenmttjt I
Be bought and fold for tears ? // my condition
So poor, I cannot //vey but by petition ?
So laid ; he ftept afide, ( for fear, by chance,
The fury of fbme mifguided blow may glance
And touch Parthenia) and fill'd with high ditclain,
Would have begun the Combat frefh again :

But now^w^/W//j'wascharm'd ; his hand
Had not fufficient warrant to withftand
Partbenta1s fuit, from whofe fair eyes there came
Such precious tears in fb belov'd a name :
His eyes grew tender, and his melting heart
Was overcome; his very foul did fmart :
He ftirred not, but kept him at a diftance :
And ( putting by fbme blows) made no refinance.

But what can long endure ? Lamps wanting oyl,
Muft out at lad, although they blaze a while :
Trees wanting fap, mult wither : ftrength and beauty
Can claim no priviledge to quit that duty
They owe to lime and Change ; but like a Vine
(The unfound Supporters falling) muft decline:
Poor Argalus grew faint, and muft give ore
To ftrike ; his feeble arms can ftrike no more :
And natures pale-fac'd Bayly nowdiftrains
His blood, for that fmall debt that yet remains
Unpaid : His arm that cannot ufe the point,
Now leans upon thepomel ; every jovnt
Difclaims their idle finews ; and his eye
Begins to double every Objeft by;
Nothing appears the fame it was ; the ground
And all thereon doth feem to dance the round :

His

1 94 Stgaitlg and ^attljema. Book III.

His legs grew faint, and thinking to fit down,
He milt his chair, and fell into a iwound.

With that Amphialus and Partbenia ran,
Ran in with haRe, Amphialus began
Toloofe his Helmet, whil'ft her bu fie palm
ChaPd his cold Temples, and (diftilling Balm
Into his wounds) her haftv finders tore
Her linnen fleeves, and partlet that fhe wore,
To wipe the tear-mixt blood away, and wrap
His wounds withal : upon her panting lap
She laid his livelefs head, and (wanting bands
To bind his bloody cloaths) her nimble hands
(As if it were ordained for that end,
And therefore made fo long) did freely rend
Her dainty hair by handfuls from her head,
But as fhe wrapt the wounds, her eyes would fhed
And wet the ragsfo much, that fhe was fain
With fighs and fobs, to dry it up again :
Thus half di-ft rafted with her griefs and fears,
Thefe words fhe intermingles with her tears.

D//?r£/?;/Parthenia / Into what afiate
Hath fortune j and the direful hand of Fate
Driven thy perplexed foul ? 0 thou, 0 thou,
That wert the prtfidtnt of all joys but now,
Now turns the example of all mifery
For torment sw or fe than death, topractife by !
How lefs than nothing art thou ? and bow more, .
Than miferable ! Thou that wert before
All Ladies of the earth for happinefs
But very now ( ah me ! ) now, nothing lefs :
0 angry Heavens, what hath Parthenia done.

To

Book in. 3trgalit!9t and ^artljenia. 195

To be thus plagued ? or why not plagued alone,

If guilty, what jha.Il poor Parthenia do f

Jo whom f ball f he complain ? aLu ! or who

Shall give relief? Nay, who can give relief

To her that hopes for fuccour from her grief !

0 death ! mufl we be parted then for ever :

And never meet again, what, never, Heist r ?

Orjhall Parthenia now be fo unkind,

lo leave her Argalus, And flay behind ?

No, no, my dear eft Argalus, make room,

(1 berths room enough in Heaven) I come, I come.

Whoever faw a dying Coal of fire
Lurk in warm embers ( till fbme breath infpirc
A forc't revival) howobfcure it lies,
And being blown, glimmers a while, and dies*
So Argal its, to whom Parthenia's breath
Giving new life, (a life in Ipight of death)
Recall'd him from his death-refembling trance,
Who from a panting pillow did advance
His feeble head, and looking up, he made
Hardihifttoforcea language, and thus (aid'

My dear Parthenia, now my glajs is run,
The Taper tells me, that the play is done,
My days arefummd, Death feizes M ?m heart ;
Alas ! the time is come, And we mnfl part :
Tet by my better hopes, grim death doth bri?ig
No grief to Argalus, no other fling
But this, thatlmujl leave thee even before
My grateful aEtions can crofs the f core
Of thy dear merits.

But fnce it pleAfes him, who ft Wifdom if ill
Diftofes all things by his better Wilt,

Depend

ig6 aitgalttg and $Mtty\\i*. Book III.

Depend upon his goodnefs, and rely
Upon his pleafure, not enquiring why,
And, iruft that one day wejhall meet, and then
Enjoy each other, n£r to part agen :
Mean while live happy : Let Parthenia make
No doubt, Imtblefjed Arg'lus jh a 11 partake
In all her joys on earth, which fljall increafe
His joys in Heaven, and fouls eternal peace ;
Love well the dear remembrance of thy true
And faithful Arg'lus ; let no thought renew
My la ft dif grace : Think not the hand of fate
Made me unworthy, thou unfortunate :

And as he (pake that word, his lips did vent
A figh, whofe violence had well-nigh rent
His heart in twain ; and when a parting kifs
Had given him earneft of approaching blifs,
He fhatch'd his fword into his hand, and cry'd,
O Death \ thou art a Conquerour ; and dy'd.
With that Parthenia, whofe livelihood was founded
Upon his life, bow'd down her head and fwounded
But grief, that ( like a Lion) loves to play
Before it kills, gave death a longer day,
Elfe had Parthenia dy'd, fince death deprived
Him of his life, in whofe dear life Ihe lived.

But ah ! Parthenia's forrow was too deep ;
Too too unruly to be lull'd afleep
By ought but death : flie ftartles from her fwound,
And nimbly rifing from the loathed ground,
Kneels down, and lays her trembling hand upon
His luke-warm lips, but finding his breath gone,
Grief plays the Tyrant, fierce diftra&ions drive her
She knows not where, unbounded rage deprives her

Of

coo SdtgaiUg and ^Sttt)Cnta. BooklH

Offence and language, here and there file goes,
Not knowing what to do, nor what fhe does :
Sometimes her fair mifguided arm will tear
Her beautious face, fbmetimes her beauteous hair ;
As if their u(e could (land her in no ftead,
Since her beloved Argalus was dead.

But now Amfhidus (that all this (pace
Stood like an Idol faftned to his place ;
Wherewith a w7orld of tears he did bemoan
The deed that his unluckly hands had done )
Well knowing that his words would aggravate,
Not eafe the mifery ofherwoful ftate,
Spake not, butcaus'd her woman that came with her
To urge her to the ttrryy where together

With her dead Argalus fhe 'mbarkt ; from whom

She would not part : No fboner was fhe come

To t'other fhore, but all the funeral ftate

Of Military Difeipline did wait

Upon the Corps, whil'ft troops of trickling eyes

Fore-ran the well -performed Solemnities :

The Marfhal Trumpet breath'd her doleful found,

Whil'ft others trail'd their Enfigns on the ground ;

(26)

Thus was the molt lamented Corps convey 'd

Upon a Chariot lin'd, and over- laid

■ l With

Book III. ^itgaitig and &%tttynia. 201

With (able, to his houfe, a houfe, than night
More black, -no more the Palace of Delight ;
Where now we leave him to receive the Crown
Prepared for vertue, and defervM renown :
Where now we leave him to be full pofTeft
Of endlefs Peace, and everlallingReft.

But who fhall comfort poor Parthenia now ?
What Oratory can prevail ? or how
Can Counfelchoofebut blufh to undergo
J:>o vain a task, and be condemned too ?
May reafbn move a heart, whole beft relief
Confifts in defpVate yielding to a grief ?
Or what advife can relilh in her ears
That weeps, and takes a pleafure in her tears ?
Readers, forbear, for rows that are lamented^
Are but exulcerated, but augmented :
Forbear attempt, where there is no prevailing^
A dejf rate grief grows fironger by bewailing,
Leave htr to time and for tune : let jour eyes
No longer pry into her miferies :
True Mourners love to be beheld of none,
Who truly grieves, defires to grieve alone.

But now our Blood-houndM//e muft draw,and track
Ampbialm, and bring the murtherer back
To a new Combat : Where, if Fortune pleafe
To crown your Tragick Scene, and to appeafe
The crying blood of Argalus with blood ;
Our becter rclifh ftory (making good
Ypur hopeful expectations) fliall befriend
The tears of our Parthenia, an end.

Soon as the flout Amphialns had out-worft
The danger of his wounds, and made return

O 3n$©

Book in. 3!i*gaUt£ and jBatttyema. 20?

Into the Martial Camp, there to maintain
His niw got honour, and to entertain
Aggrieved Challangers, that lhall demand
Or leek for fitisfa&ion from his hand ;
An armed Knight camenraunfins; ore the Plain,

CIO t

Denouncing War, and breathing for Difdain :

Four Damlcls ufherM liim in iable weeds ;

And four came after all on mourning Steeds :

His curious Armour was (b painted over

With lively fhadovvs, that ye might dilcover

The Image of a gaping Sepulchre :

About the which were icattered here and there

Some dead men's Bones •* his Horfe was black as Jet

His Furniture was round about befet

With branches, flipt from the (ad Cyprefs Tree,

His bafes (reaching far below the Knee)

Embroider'd ore with worms : upon his Shield,

For hislmprefs he had a beauteous Child,

Whole body had two heads, whereof the t'on

Appear'd quite dead ; t'other (drawing on)

Did leem to gafp for breath, and underneath

Ihis.Motto was fubferib'd, From Deatby by death :

ThusarmM to point, he lent his bolddefie

"VAmphialttSy who lent as quick reply.

(27)

Forthwith being fummon'd by the Trumpets found,
Theyftart; but brave Amphulus, that found,
The Knight had mift his Reft, (as yet not met)
Scorning to take advantage, would not let

O 2 His

204 :$£gaiug and ^attljenia. Book in

HisLauncedeicend, nor ( bravely pauing by )
Encounter his befriended Enemy.

Whereat the angry Knight ( not apt to brook
Such u nfuppor table mifhap) forlook
His whice-mouth'd Steed, throwing his Launceafidct
(Which too too partial Fortune hath deny'd
A fair fuccefs) drew forth his glittering Sword;
Whereat Amphialus lighted, whoabhor'd
A Conqueft meerly by advantage gain'd,
Efteeming it but robbed, and not obtain'd)
Drew forth his Sword, and for a little fpace
Their {troaks contended with an equal pace,
And fiercenefs : he herein did more dilcover
A bravery than anger, vvhiPft the other
Be wray'd more {plecn, than either skill or ftrength
To manage it : Amphialus at length,
With more than wonted eafe, did batter fo
His ill defended armour, that each blow
Open'd a door for Death to enter in :
And now the noble Conquerour does begin
To hate fb poor a Conqueft, and difdain'd
To take a life Co eafily obtained,
Andmov'd with pity,ftepping back, hefUid
His unrefifted Violence, and faid,
Sir Kjiight, conteft no more ; but take the peace
Of your own pajjion : Let the Combat ceafe9
Seek not jour cau/lefs mine ; turn your arm
(Better implofd ) y gain ft fitch as wijh your harm i
Husband your Life before it be too latey
Ft H not by him that ne^r dejerv* d your hate.
To whom the Knight returned thefe words again,

Thou tyj} falfe Tr&ytQr}and I hire difdatn Both

Book III. aitgailtg and ^attljema. 205

Both words and mercy ^ And n ith a bafe defie,

And to thy thro At my Stvordjh. ill turn the lye.

To whom A.nvhirdus replied, Uncivil Kjiight,

(Jouragiotts in nothing but in f fight ^

And b.ife difcourtefie, thou foon fbalt know

Whether thy tongue betrays thy heart or no.

And as hefpake, he gave himfuch a wound

Upon the Neck, as ftruck him to the grcuad :

And with the fall, his Sword (that now deny 'J

Ail mercy) fiercely tilts into his fide :

That done ; he loosM his Helmet wirh intent

To make his over-la vifh tongue repent

Of thefe bafe words he had fobafely laid,

Or elfe to crop him fhorter by the head.

Who ever faw th'illuftrious eye of Noon
( New broken from a gloomy cloud) fend down
His earth-rejoycing glory, and difplay
His golden Beams upon the Sons of Day :
Even fb the Helmet being gone, a fair
And coftly Treafiireofunbraided Hair
Orefpread the fhoulders of the vanquifht Knight,
Whole now difcoverM vifage ( in defpight
Of neighb'ring death) did witneis and proclaim
A fbveraign beauty in Partbenia's Name,
And fhe it was indeed, fee how fhc lies
Smiling on death, as if her bleffed eyes
(Bleft in their beftdefires) had efpied
His face already, for whofe fake Hie died :
TheLilliesandtheRofes (that while ere
Strove in her Cheeks,till they compounded there,
Have broke their truce,and frefhly fain to blows,
Behold the Lilly hath orecome the Rofe :

0 5 Her

|c6 SfltgaiUg and ^attljettia. Book III.

Her Alabafter neck (that did out-go)
TheDov's in whitenefs, or the new-fall'nSnow)
Was ftain'd with blood, as if the red did feek
Prote&ion there, being banifh't from her Cheek :
So full of fweetnefs was her dying face,
That Death had not the power to difplace
Her native beauty ; only by tranflation,
Moulded and cloathed in a newer fafhion.

( 28)

But now Jmphialus (in whom grief and fliame
Of this unlucky Viftory, did claim
An equal Intereft) proftrate on the earth,
AccursM his fword, his arm, his hour of birth ;
Cafting his Helmet, and his Gauntlet by,
His undifTemhling tears did teftifie
What words could not: but finding her Eftate
More apt for help than grief ( though both too late)
Crept on his Knees, and begging pardon of her,
His hands ( his often curfed hands) did proffer
Their need lei's help, and with his Life to fhow
What honour a devoted heart could do :
Whereto Partknia (whole expiring breath
Gave fpeedy figns of a defired death )
Turning her fixt ( but ofc recalled ) eyes
Upon Jmphia/us, faintly thus replies.

Sir, you have done enough. And I require
JVo more : Tour hand have done what I defirey
Whtfl exjtetf : and if ' again ft your mtly

The

.

jBookifl. 3trgaW ahd ^attljcnia. 209

The better ; /a I wifb jonr favours (till :

Tet one thing more, (if Enemas may fue)
I crave, which is, to be untouch' 7 by you;
And as for honour, all that I demand,
Is, not to pur chafe honour from your hand :
No, no, 'twas no fuck Bargain made, J hat be
IVhofe hands had killed my Ar^lus,fhould help me:
Tour hands have done enough, I crave no more ',
And for the deed?s fake, I forgive the Doer.

What then remains, but that I go to rejl

With Argaius, and to be repojfcjl

Ofh:m, with him for ever to abide,

Ere (uxe who ft death I have foiften r'i*d.

And' there fhe fainted (even asiftheClocfc

Of Death had given a warning ere it (truck)

But foon returning to her felf again :

Welcome frveet death, (aid (he, who fe minutes pain

Shall crown this foul with ever Lifting pleafure :

Delay me not : 0 dome not that wrong,

My Argaius will chide, I flay fo long ;

0 now IfeeltheGordian-knotted bands

Of life untied ; 0 heavens ! Into y.our hands

1 recommend my bttter part, with truft
1o findyou much more merciful thanjufl,

( Tet truly jufl withal ) 0 Life ! 0 Death !
J call you to a Witnefs, thai this breath
Ne'r drew a blafl of Comfort fince that hour
My Arg'lus died : 0 thou eternal power,
Shroud all my faults behind the milk-white Vail
Of thy dear mercy \ and when this tongue fo all fail

To

, 4 -

sio 3ttgaltig and^art^enis. Book in

Toffenk : 0 then.

Andasfhefpake(0 then) Othen fhe left
Tofpeak ; and being fiiddenly bereft
Of words, the fatal Sifter did divide
Her {lender twine of Life, and fb (lie di'd.
Sodi'd P&rthenid, in whofeclofedeyes
The World of beauty and perfection lies
Lockt up by Angels, (as a thing divine)
From mortal eyes, the whii'ft her vertues fhine
In perfecl glory, in the throne of glorv,
Leaving the world no relique but the ftory
Of earth's Perfection; for the mouth of Fame
To confederate to her eternal Name,
Which fhall fiirvive (if Mules can divine)
( Though not in theft poor Monuments of mine)
To th'endof dais, and by the loofer rimes,
Shall be deliver W to fucceeding times ;
So longpas Beauty fhall but find a friend,
Parthema's lafting fame fhall never end :
Till, to be truly vertuous, to be chaft,
Be held a Sin, Partheni^s Name fhall laft.

Thus when Amfhialus had put out this Lamp,
This Lamp of honour, he forfook the Camp,
And like a willing Prifoner, was confin'd
To the ftrift limits of a troubled mind :
No Jury need b'impaneird or agreed
Upon the Verdift, none to atteftthe deed ;
None to give fentence in the Judgment- Hall ;
HimfelfwasWitnefs, Jury, Judge, and all ;
Where now we leave him, whil'ft we turn our eyes
Upon Panhema's Women, whole fierce cryes
Inforce a helplefs Audience : It is (aid,

Whn

Book in 3rgalttjs and ^attljetiia. 211

■ W 1 — — • —

When Troy was taken, fuch a Cry was made.

One fnatcht PartheniJs fword, refolvM to die

Partben'uCs death : Another raving by,

Strove for the weapon ; through which eager flrife,

They bodi were hundred, and each fav'd a Life.

Others, whom wifer pallions had taught how

To grieve at eafier rates, did rudely throw

Their carelefs Bodies on the purple floor :

Where fprinkling duffc upon their heads, they tore

Their tangled hair, and garments drench't inteans,

And cry'd,asif Parthemah blefled ears

Could hear the Voice of grief, fuch griefs as would

Return her from her glory, if they could :

Each heart was turnMa VVardrobeoftrue paffion,

VVhere griefs were clothed in a feveralfafhion,

Sometimes their forrow would recall to view

Her Vertue, Chaflnefs, Sweetnefs, and renew

Their waited paflions,and oft-times they bann'd

Themfelves for obeying her unjuft Command.

And now by this the mournful Trump of Fame

( Grown hoarfe with very fbrrow) did proclaim

And ipread her doleful tydings, whil'ft all ears

And eyes were fill'd with death and Aiding tears :

Pity and forrow,mixt with Admiration,

Became the threefold fubje&s of all paffion :

Grief went her progrefs through all hearts, or none,

From the poor Cottage to the Princely Throne :

Could one a thought, whpfe beft advice could borrow

The fmalleft refpite from th'extreamsof forrow.

But all this while, Bajtl/'us Princely breft,
As it commanded, foout-grievM thereit :
Hisfhare was treble : Hearts of Kings are deep

And

2t2 SttgalUg and ^att^CUia Book III.

And clofe ; what once they entertain, they keep
With Violence : the violence of his paflion
Admits no means, as yet, no moderation :

(=9)

But ibon as grief had done her private Rights
And Dues to Honour : Honour (that delights
In publick Service, and can make the breath
Of fighs and fobs to triumph over Death)
Call'd in Solemnity, with all her train
And Military Pomp, to entertain
Our welcome Mourners, whole flow paces tread
The paths of death ; and with fad Triumph lead
The (lumbering body to that bed of reft,
Where nothing c^n difquiet, or moleft
Her facred Afhes ; there intombed lay
The valliant Argaks ; and there they fay,
Ere fince that time, t\?ArcadUns once a year,
Vifit the Ruines of their Sepulchre ;
And in memorial of their faithful Loves,
There built an Altar, where two milk-white Doves
They yearly offer to the hallowed Fame
Of ArgdtiSy and his Parthenias Name,

Hof

214 3ttgaitt0 and 4&a?tt)etua. Book III

Hfis ego Verficulos.

Like to the Damask Rofe you fee ,
1 Or like the Blojjom on a Treey
Or like the dainty Flower of May,
Or like the Morning to the day.
Or like the Sun, or like the (hade,
Or like the Gourd that Jonas had :
Evenfuch is man, whofe thread is fpu#9
Drawn out, and cut, and jo is done.

The Rofe withers, the Blojfom blajteth,
The Flower fades, the morning hajleth,
The Sunfets, thejhadow flies,
T he Gourd conjumes, and man he dies,

Like to the blaze of fond delight ;
Or like a mornipg clear and bright,
Or like a Froft, or like a [bower,
Or like the Pride of Babel's Tower,
Or like the hour that guides the time?
Or like to Beauty in her Prime :

Evenfuch is man, whoje glory lends

His life a blaze or two, and ends.

Delights vmijh, the morn ore-cafleth,
The Frojl breaks, the jhower hajleth,
The Tower falls, the hourfpends7
The beauty fades , and Man*slije ends.

Fr. Quarles,

215 3HrgalujS and ^arttjeuia. Book in
The Author's Dream.

MTSins are like the hairs upon my bead,
And raife their Audit to as high a [core *
In this they differ : Theft do daylyjhed ;
But ah ! ?n_y Sins grow doyly more and more.
If by my hairs thou numbir out my fins ;
Heaven make me bald before the day begins

My Sins are lite the Sands uf on thejbore,
Which every ebb lays open to the eye :
In this they differ : Ihefe are covered ore
With every lide ; my fins ft ill open lye.
If thou wilt make my head a Sea of Tears5
0 they will hide the fins of all my years.

3

My Sins are like the Stars within the Skies,
In view, in number, even as bright, as great :
In this they differ : Ihefedofetandri/e;
But ah ! my fins do rtfe, but heverjet.
Shine Sun of glory, and my fins are gone ^
hike twinkling Stars before the rifing Sim.

Fr. Quarles

FINIS.

I

JeWi

r