Optick Tubes the Moons scant sace Vast Tubes which like long Cedars mounted lie Attract through Glasses to so near a space As if they came not to survey but prie 17. Nine hastie Centuries are now fulfill'd Since Opticks first were known to Astragon By whom the Moderns are become so skill'd They dream of seeing to the Maker's Throne 18. And wisely Astragon thus busie grew To seek the Stars remote societies And judge the walks of th' old by finding new For Nature's law in correspondence lies 19. Man's pride grown to Religion he abates By moving our lov'd Earth which we think fix'd Think all to it and it to none relates With others motion scorn to have it mix'd 20. As if 't were great and stately to stand still Whilst other Orbs dance on or else think all Those vast bright Globes to shew God's needless skill Were made but to attend our little Ball. 21. Now near a sever'd Building they discern'd Which seem'd as in a pleasant shade retir'd A Throng by whose glad diligence they learn'd They came frome Toils which their own choice desir'd 22. This they approch and as they enter it Their Eyes were stay'd by reading ore the Gate Great Natures Office in large letters writ And next they mark'd who there in office saâ—â— 23. Old busie Men yet much for wisdom fam'd Hastie to know though not by haste beguild These fitly Natures Registers were nam'd The Throng were their Intelligencers styl'd 24. Who stop by snares and by their chace oretake All hidden Beasts the closser Forrest yields All that by secret sence their rescue make Or trust their force or swiftness in the Fields 25. And of this Throng some their imployment have In fleeting Rivers some fixed Lakes beset Where Nature's self by shifts can nothing save From trifling Angles or the swall'wing Net 26. Some in the spacious Ayr their Prey oretake Cos'ning with hunger Faulcons of their wings Whilst all their patient observations make Which each to Natures Office duely brings 27. And there of ev'ry Fish and Foul and Beast The wilâ—s those learned Registers record Courage and fears their motion and their rest Which they prepare for their more learned Lord. 28. From hence to Nature's Nurserie they go Where seems to grow all that in Eden grew And more if Art her mingled Species show Thaâ— th'Hebrew King Nature's Historian knew 29. Impatient Simplers climb for Blossoms here When Dews Heav'n's secret milk in unseen showrs First feed the early Childhood of the year And in ripe Summer stoop for Hearbs and Flowers 30. In Autumn Seed and Berries they provide Where Nature a remaining force preserves In Winter dig for Roots where she does hide That stock which if consum'd the next Spring stervs 31. From hence fresh Nature's flowrishing Estate They to her wither'd Receptacle come Where she appears the loathsome Slave of Fate For here her various Dead possess the Room 32. This dismall Gall'ry lofty long and wide Was hung with Sâ—â—litons of ev'ry kind Humane and all that learned humane pride Thinks made t' obey Man's high immortal Mind 33. Yet on that Wall hangs he too who so thought And she dry'd by him whom that He obay'd By her an El'phant that with Heards had fought Of which the smallest Beast made her afraid 34. Next it a Whale is high in Cables ty'd VVhose strength might Herds of Elephants controul Then all in payres of ev'ry kind they spyd VVhich Death's wrack leaves of Fishes Beasts Fowl 35. These Astragon to watch with curious Eie The diff'rent Tenements of living breath Collects with what far Travailers supplie And this was call'd The Cabinet of Death 36. VVhich some the Monument of Bodies name The Ark which saves from Graves all dying kinds This to a structure led long known to Fame And call'd The Monument of vanish'd Minds 37. VVhere when they thought they saw in well sought Books Th' assembled souls of all that Men held wise It bred such awful rev'rence in their looks As if they saw the buryd writers rise 38. Such heaps of written thoughts Gold of the Dead VVhich Time does still disperse but not devour Made them presume all was from Deluge free'd Which long-liv'd Authours writ ere Noah's Showr 39. They saw Egyptian Roles which vastly great Did like faln Pillars lie and did display The tale of Natures life from her first hear Till by the Flood o're-cool'd she felt decay 40. And large as these for Pens were Pencils then Others that Egypts chiefest Science show'd VVhose River forc'd Geometry on Men VVhich did distinguish what the Nyle o're-flow'd 41. Near them in Piles Chaldean Cos'ners lie Who the hid bus'ness of the Stars relate Who make a Trade of worshipp'd Prophesie And seem to pick the Cabinet of Fate 42. There Persian Magi stand for wisdom prais'd Long since wise States-men now Magicians thought Altars and Arts are sooâ— to fiction rais'd And both would have that miracles are wrought 43. In a dark Text these States-men left their Minds For well they knew that Monarch's Misterie Like that of Priests but little rev'rence finds When they the Curtain ope to ev'ry Eye 44. Behind this Throng the talking Greeks had place Who Nature turn'd to Art and Truth disguise As skill does native beautie oft deface With Terms they charm the weak and pose the wise 45. Now they the Hebrew Greek and Roman spie Who for the Peoples ease yoak'd them with Law Whom else ungovern'd lusts would drive awrie And each his own way frowardly would draw 46. In little Tomes these grave first Lawyers lie In Volumes their Interpreters below Who first made Law an Art than Misterie So clearest springs when troubled cloudie grow 47. But here the Souls chief Book did all precede Our Map tow'rds heav'n to common Crowds deny'd VVho proudly aym to teach ere they can read And all must stray where each will be a Guide 48. About this sacred little Book did stand Unwieldy Volumes and in number great And long it was since any Readers hand Had reach'd them from their unfrequented Seat 49. For a deep Dust which Time does softly shed Where onely Time does come their Covers bear On which grave Spiders streets of webs have spred Subtle and slight as the grave Writers were 50. In these Heav'ns holy fire does vainly burn Nor warms nor lights but is in sparkles spent Where froward Authours with disputes have torn The Garment seamless as the Firmament 51. These are the old Polemicks long since read And shut by Astragon who thought it just They like the Authours Truth 's Tormentors dead Should lie unvisited and lost in dust 52. Here the Arabian's Gospel open lay Men injure Truth who Fiction nicely hide Where they the Monk's audacious stealth survay From the World's first and greater second Guide 53. The Curious much perus'd this then new Book As if some secret ways to Heav'n it taught For straying from the old men newer look And prise the found not finding those they sought
54. We in Tradition Heav'ns dark Map descrie Heav'n worse than ancient Maps far Indian show Therefore in new we search where Heav'n does lie The Minds sought Ophir which we long to know 55. Or as a Planter though good Land he spies Seeks new and when no more so good he finds Doubly esteems the first so Truth men prise Truth the discov'ry made by trav'ling Minds 56. And this false Book till truly understood By Astragon was openly display'd As counterfeit false Princes rather shou'd Be shewn abroad than in closs Prison laid 57. Now to the old Philosophers they come Who follow'd Nature with such just despair As some do Kings far off and when at home Like Courtiers boast that they deep secret share 58. Near them are grave dull Moralists who give Counsel to such as still in publick dwell At seâ— at Courts in Camps and Cities live And scorn experience from th'unpractis'd Cell 59. Aesop with these stands high and they below His pleasant wisdom mocks their gravitie Who Virtue like a tedious Matron show He dresses Nature to invite the Eye 60. High skill their Ethicks seems whilst he stoops down To make the People wise their learned pride Makes all obscure that Men may prise the Gown With ease lie teaches what with pain they hide 61. And next as if their bus'ness rul'd Mankind Historians stand big as their living looks Who thought swift Time they could in fetters bind Till his Confessions they had ta'ne in books 62. But Time oft scap'd them in the shades of Night And was in Princes Closets oft conceal'd And hid in Battels smoke so what they write Of Courts and Camps is oft by guess reveal'd 63. Near these Physitians stood who but reprieve Life like a Judge whom greater pow'r doeâ— aw And cannot an Almighty pardon give So much yields Subject Art to Nature's Law 64. And not weak Art but Nature we upbraid When our frail essence proudly we take ill Think we are rob'd when first we are decay'd And those were murder'd whom her law did kill 65. Now they refresh after this long survay With pleasant Poets who the Soul sublime Fame's Her auids in whose Triumphs they make way And place all those whom Honour helps to climb 66. And he who seem'd to lead this ravish'd Race Was Heav'ns lov'd Laâ—reat that in Jewry writ Whose Harp approach'd Gods Ear though none his Face Durst see and first made inspiration wit 67. And his Attendants such blest Poets are As make unblemish'd Love Courts best delight And sing the prosp'rous Battels of just War By these the loving Love and valiant fight 68. O hireless Science and of all alone The liberal Meanly the rest each State In pension treats but this depends on none Whose worth they rev'rendly forbear to rate CANTO the Sixth The ARGUMENT How ASTRAGON to Heav'n his duty pays In Pray'r and Penitence but most in Praise To these he sev'ral Temples dedicates And ULFIN their distinguish'd use relates Religion's Rites seem here in Reasons sway Though Reason must Religion's Laws obay 1. THe noble Youths reclaim'd by what they saw Would here unquiet war as pride for sake And study quiet Nature's pleasant Law Which Schools through pride by Art uneasie make 2. But now a sudden Shout their thoughts diverts So chearfull general and loud it was As pass'd through all their Ears and fill'd their Hearts Which lik'd the joy before they knew the cause 3. This Ulfin by his long Domestick skill Does thus explain The Wise I here observe Are wise tow'rds God in whose great service still More than in that of Kings themselves they serve 4. He who this Building 's Builder did create As an Apartment here Triangular Where Astragon Three Fanes did dedicate To days of Praise of Penitence and Pray'r 5. To these from diff'rent motives all proceed For when discov'ries they on Nature gain They praise high Heav'n which makes their work succe 〈…〉 But when it falls in Penitence complain 6. â—f after Praise new blessings are not giv'n Nor mourning Penitence can ills repair Like practis'd Beggers they solicite Heav'n And will prevail by violence of Pray'r 7. The Temple built for Pray'r can neither boast The Builder's curious Art nor does declare By choice Materials he intended cost To shew that nought should need to tempt to Pray'r 8. No Bells are here Unhing'd are all the Gates Since craving in distress is natural All lies so ope that none for ent'rance waits And those whom Faith invites can need no call 9. The Great have by distinction here no name For all so cover'd come in grave disguise To shew none come for decency or fame That all are strangers to each others Eyes 10. But Penitence appears unnatural For we repent what Nature did perswade And we lamenting Men's continu'd fall Accuse what Nature necessary made 11. Since the requir'd extream of Penitence Seems so severe this Temple was design'd â—olemn and strange without to catch the sense And dismal shew'd within to aw the mind 12. Of sad black Marble was the outward Frame A mourning Monument to distant sight â—ut by the largeness when you near it came It seem'd the Palace of Eternal Night 13. Black beauty which black Meroens had prais'd Above their own gravely adorn'd each part In Stone from Nyle's head Quarries slowly rais'd And slowlyer polish'd by Numidi an Art 14. Hither a loud Bells tole rather commands Than seems t' invite the persecured Ear A summons Nature hardly understands For few and flow are those who enter here 15. Within a dismal Majesty they find All gloomy great all silent does appear As Chaos was ere th' Elements were design'd Man 's evil fate seems hid and fashion'd here 16. Here all the Ornament is rev'rend black Here the check'd Sun his universal Face Stops bashfully and will no enterance make As if he spy'd Night naked through the Glass 17. Black Curtains hide the Glass whilst from on high A winking Lamp still threatens all the Room As if the lazy flame just now would die Such will the Sun's last light appear at Doom 18. This Lamp was all that here inform'd all Eyes And by refléx did on a Picture gain Some few false Beams that thence from Sodom rise Where Pencils seign the fire which Heav'n did rain 19. This on another Tablet did reflect Where twice was drawn the am'rous Magdaline Whilst beauty was her care then her neglect And brightest through her Tears she seem'd to shine 20. Near her seem'd crncifi'd that lucky Thief In Heav'ns dark Lot'ry prosp'rous more than wife Who groap'd at last by chance for Heav'ns relief And Throngs undoes with Hope by one drawn Prize 21. In many Figures by reflex were sent Through this black Vault instructive to the mind That early and this tardy Penitent For with Obsidian stone 't was chiefly lin'd 22. The Seats were made of Ethiops swarthy wood Abstersive Ebony but thinly fill'd For none this place by nature understood And practise when
discover the difficulties and greatness of such a work For when Solomon made use of his Neighbours towards his Building he lost no reputation nor by demanding those aids was thought a lesser Prince but rather publish'd his Wisdom in rightly understanding the vast extent of his enterprise Who likewise with as much glorie made use of Fellers of Wood and Hewers of Stone as of learned Architects Nor have I refrain'd to be oblig'd to men of any Science as well mechanical as liberal Nor when Memorie from that various and plentifull stock with which all observers are furnish'd that have had diversitie of life presented me by chance with any figure did I lay it aside as useless because at that instant I was not skilfull to manage it artfully but I have staid and recorded such objects till by consulting with right Masters I have dispos'd of them without mistake It being no more shame to get Learning at that very time and from the same Text when and by which we instruct others than for a froward Scout discovering the Enemie to save his own life at a pass where he then teaches his Partie to escape In remembring mine own helps I have consider'd those which others in the same necessitie have taken and find that Writers contrarie to my inclination are apter to be beholding to Books than to Men not onely as the first are more in their possessions being more constant Companions than dearest friends but because they commonly make such use of treasure found in Books as of other treasure belonging to the Dead and hidden under ground for they dispose of both with great secrecie defacing the shape or images of the one as much as of the other through fear of having the original of their stealth or abundance discover'd And the next cause why Writers are more in Libraries than in company is that Books are easily open'd and learned men are usually shut up by a froward or envious humour of retention or else unfold themselves so as we may read more of their weakness and vanitie than Wisdom imitating the Holy-day-custom in great Cities where the shops of Chaundrie and slight wares are familiarly open but those of solid and staple merchandise are proudly lock'd up Nor indeed can it be expected that all great Doctors are of so benign a nature as to take pains in gaining treasure of which Knowledge is the greatest with intent to inrich others so easily as if they stood every where with their Pockets spred ready to be pickt nor can we read of any Father who so far and secretly adopted his Son to a Book of his own writing as that his Son might be thought Authour of that written Wit as much as his Father was Authour of him Nor of any Husband that to his darling Wife would so far surrender his Wisdom as that in publique he could endure to let her use his Dictates as if she would have others think her wiser than himself By this rememberance of that usual parsimony in owners of Wit towards such as would make use of their plenty I lament the fortune of others and may wish the Reader to congratulate mine For I have found Friends as ready as Books to regulate my conceptions or make them more correct easie and apparent But though I am become so wise by knowing my self as to believe the thoughts of divers transcend the best which I have written yet I have admitted from no man any change of my Design nor very seldom of my sense For I resolv'd to have this Poem subsist and continue throughout with the same complexion and spirit though it appear but like a plain Family of a neighbourly alliance who marry into the same moderate quality and garb and are fearfull of introducing strangers of greater rank lest the shining presence of such might seem to upbraid and put all about them out of countenance And now Sir that the Reader may whom Writers are â—ain to court draw in and keep with artifice so shy men grow of Books believe me worthy of him I cannot forbear to thank you in publick for examining correcting and allowing this Poem in parcels ere it arriv'd at the contexture by which you have perform'd the just degrees of proceeding with Poets who during the gayety and wantonness of the Muse are but as children to Philosophers though of some Giant race whose first thoughts wilde and roaming far off must be brought home watch'd and interâ—ogated and after they are made more regular be encourag'd and prais'd for doing well that they may delight in aiming at perfection By such a Method the Muse is taught to become Master of her own and others strength and who is he so learn'd how proud soever with being cherish'd in the bosom of Fame that can hope when through the several ways of Science he seeks Nature in her hidden walks to make his Journey short unless he call you to be his Guide and who so guided can suspect his safety even when he travels through the Enemie's Countrey for such is the vast field of Learning where the Learned though not numerous enough to be an Army lye as small Parties maliciously in Ambush to destroy all new Men that look into their Quarters And from such you and those you lead are secure because you move not by common Maps but have painfully made your own Prospect and travel now like the Sun not to inform your self but enlighten the world And likewise when by the strict survey and Government that hath been had over this Poem I shall think to govern the Reader who though he be noble may perhaps judge of supream Power like a very Commoner and rather approve authority when it is in many than in one I must acquaint him that you had not alone the trouble of establishing and destroying but enjoy'd your intervals and ease by Two Colleagues Two that are worthy to follow you into the Closets of Princes if the knowledge of Men past of whom Books are the remaining minds or of the present of whom Conversation is the usefull and lawfull Spie may make up such greatness as is fit for great Courts or if the rays that proceed from the Poetick Planet be not a little too strong for the sight of modern Monarchs who now are too seldom taught in their youth like Eaglets to fortifie their eyes by often soaring near the Sun And though this be here but my testimony it is too late for any of you to disclaim it for since you have made it valid by giving yours of GONDIBERT under your hands you must be content to be us'd by me as Princes are by their preferr'd Subjects who in the very act of taking honour return it to the Giver as benefits receiv'd by the creature manifest the power and redound to the glory of the Creator I am now Sir to your great comfort that have been thus ill and long diverted arriv'd at my last consideration which is to satisfie those
The Heroique Poem Dramatique is Tragedie The Scommatique Narrative is Satyre Dramatique is Comedie The Pastoral Narrative is called simply Pastoral anciently Bucolique the same Dramatique Pastoral Comedie The Figure therefore of an Epique Poem and of a Tragedie ought to be the same for they differ no more but in that they are pronounced by one or many persons Which I insert to iustifie the figure of yours consisting of five books divided into Songs or Cantoes as five Acts divided into Scenes has ever been the approved figure of a Tragedie They that take for Poesie whatsoever is writ in Verse will think this Division imperfect and call in Sonets Epigrams Eclogues and the like pieces which are but Essayes and parts of an entire Poem and reckon Empedocies and Lucretius natural Philosophers for Poets and the moral precepts of Phocâ—lides Theognis and the Quatrains of Pybrach and the Historie of Lucan and others of that kind amongst Poems bestowing on such Writers for honour the name of Poets rather than of Historians or Philosophers But the subject of a Poem is the manners of men not natural causes manners presented not dictated and manners feigned as the name of Poesie imports not found in men They that give enterance to Fictions writ in Prose erre not so much but they erre For Prose requiteth delightfulness not onely of fiction but of stile in which if Prose contend with Verse it is with disadvantage and as it were on foot against the strength and wings of Pegasus For Verse amongst the Greeks was appropriated anciently to the service of their Gods and was the Holy stile the stile of the Oracles the stile of the Laws and the stile of Men that publickly recommended to their Gods the vows and thanks of the people which was done in their holy songs called Hymns and the composers of them were called Prophets and Priests before the name of Poet was known When afterwards the majestie of that stile was observed The Poets chose it as best becoming their high invention And for the Antiquitie of Verse it is greater than the antiquitie of Letters For it is certain Cadmus was the first that from Phoenicia a Countrey that neighboureth Judea brought the use of Letters into Greece But the service of the Gods and the Laws which by measured Sounds were easily committed to the memorie had been long time in use before the arrival of Cadmus there There is besides the grace of stile another cause why the ancient Poets chose to write in measured language which is this There Poems were made at first with intention to have them sung as well Epick as Dramatick which custom hath been long time laid aside but began to be revived in part of late years in Italie and could not be made commensurable to the Voice or Instruments in Prose the ways and motions whereof are so uncertain and undistinguished like the way and motion of a Ship in the Sea as not onely to discompose the best Composers but also to disapoint sometimes the most attentive Reader and put him to hunt counter for the sense It was therefore necessarie for Poets in those times to write in Verse The Verse which the Greeks and Latines considering the nature of their own languages found by experience most grave and for an Epique Poem most decent was their Hexameter a Verse limited not onely in the length of the line but also in the quantitie of the syllables In stead of which we use the line of ten Syllables recompensing the neglect of their quantitie with the diligence of Rime And this measure is so proper for an Heroique Poem as without some loss of gravitie and dignitie it was never changed A longer is not far from ill Prose and a shorter is a kind of whisking you know like the unlacing rather than the singing of a Muse. In an Epigram or a Sonnet a man may vary his measures and seek glorie from a needless difficultie as he that contrived Verses into the form of an Organ a Hatchet an Egg an Altar and a pair of Wings but in so great and noble a work as is an Epique Poem for a man to obstruct his own way with unprofitable difficulties is great imprudence So likewise to chuse a needless and difficult correspondence of Rime is but a difficult toy and forces a man sometimes for the stopping of a chink to say somewhat he did never think I cannot therefore but very much approve your Stanza wherein the syllables in every Verse are ten and the Rime Alternate For the choice of your Subject you have sufficiently justified your self in your Preface But because I have observed in Virgil that the Honour done to Aeneas and his companions has so bright a reflection upon Augustus Caesar and other great Romans of that time as a man may suspect him not constantly possessed with the noble spirit of those his Heroes and believe you are not acquainted with any great man of the race of Gondibert I adde to your Justification the puritie of your purpose in having no other motive of your labour but to adorn Virtue and procure her Lovers than which there cannot be a worthier design and more becoming noble Poesie In that you make so small account of the example of almost all the approved Poets ancient and modern who thought fit in the beginning and sometimes also in the progress of their Poems to invoke a Muse or some other Deitie that should dictate to them or assist them in their writings they that take not the laws of Art from any reason of their own but from the fashion of precedent times will perhaps accuse your singularitie For my part I neither subscribe to their accusation nor yet condemn that Heathen custom otherwise than as accessarie to their false Religion For their Poets were their Divines had the name of Prophets Exercised amongst the People a kind of spiritual Authoritie would be thought to speak by a Divine spirit have their works which they writ in Verse the Divine stile pass for the Word of God and not of man and to be hearkened to with reverence Do not our Divines excepting the stile do the same and by us that are of the same Religion cannot justly be reprehended for it Besides in the use of the spiritual calling of Divines there is danger sometimes to be feared from want of skill such as is reported of unskilfull Conjurers that mistaking the rites and ceremonious points of their art call up such spirits as they cannot at their pleasure allay again by whom storms are raised that overthrow buildings and are the cause of miserable wracks at Sea Unskilfull Divines do oftentimes the like For when they call unseasonably for Zeal there appears a spirit of Cruelty and by the like â—â—roun instead of Truth they raise Discord instead of Wisdom Eraud instead of Reformation Tumult and Controversie instead of Religion Whereas in the Heathen Poets at least in those whose works have lasted to the time
children weary of the controulment of their parents masters and other admonitours Secondly the dotage and childishness they ascribe to Age is never the effect of Time but sometimes of the excesses of youth and not a returning to but a continual stay with childhood For they that wanting the curiosity of furnishing their memories with the rarities of Nature in their youth and pass their time in making provision onely for their ease and sensual delight are children still at what years soever as they that coming into a populous Citie never going out of their Inn are strangers still how long soever they have been there Thirdly there is no reason for any man to think himself wiser to day than yesterday which does not equally convince he shall be wiser tomorrow than today Fourthly you will be forced to change your opinion hereafter when you are old and in the mean time you discredit all I have said before in your commendation because I am old already But no more of this I believe Sir you have seen a curious kind of perspective where he that looks through a short hollow pipe upon a picture containing divers figures sees none of those that are there painted but some one person made up of their parts conveyed to the eye by the artificial cutting of a glass I find in my imagination an effect not unlike it from your Poem The virtues you distribute there amongst so many noble persons represent in the reading the image but of one mans virtue to my fancy which is your own and that so deeply imprinted as to stay for ever there and govern all the rest of my thoughts and affections in the way of honouring and serving you to the utmost of my power that am Paris January 10. 1650. SIR Your most humble and obedient Servant THO. HOBS TO S r WILL. D'AVENANT Upon his two first Books of GONDIBERT Finish'd before his Voyage to AMERICA THus the wise Nightingale that leaves her home Her native Wood when Storms and Winter come Pursuing constantly the chearfull Spring To forreign Groves does her old Musick bring The drooping Hebrews banish'd Harps unstrung At Babylon upon the Willows hung Yours sounds aloud and tells us you excell No less in Courage than in Singing well Whilst unconcern'd you let your Countrey know They have impov'rished themselves not you Who with the Muses help can mock those Fates Which threaten Kingdoms and disorder States So Ovid when from Caesar's rage he fled The Roman Muse to Pontus with him led Where he so sung that We through Pitie's Glass See Nero milder than Augustus was Hereafter such in thy behalf shall be Th'indulgent censure of Posteritie To banish those who with such art can sing Is a rude crime which its own Curse does bring Ages to come shall ne'r know how they fought Nor how to Love their present Youth be taught This to thyself Now to thy matchless Book Wherein those few that can with Judgement look May find old Love in pure fresh Language told Like new stampt Coyn made out of Angel gold Such truth in Love as th'antique world did know In such a style as Courts may boast of now Which no bold tales of Gods or Monsters swell But humane Passions such as with us dwell Man is thy theam his Virtue or his Rage Drawn to the life in each elaborate Page Mars nor Bellona are not named here But such a Gondibert as both might fear Venus had here and Hebe been out-shin'd By thy bright Birtha and thy Rhodalind Such is thy happy skill and such the odds Betwixt thy Worthies and the Grecian Gods Whose Deities in vain had here come down Where Mortal Beautie wears the Sovereign Crown Such as of flesh compos'd by flesh and bloud Though not resisted may be understood ED. WALLER TO Sr WIL. D'AVENANT Upon his two first Books of GONDIBERT Finish'd before his Voyage to AMERICA ME thinks Heroick Poesie till now Like some fantastick Fairy-land did show Gods Devils Nymphs Witches and Giants race And all but Man in Mans best Work had place Thou like some worthy Knight with sacred Arms Dost drive the Monsters thence and end the Charms In stead of those dost Men and Manners plant The things which that rich Soyl did chiefly want But even thy Mortals do their Gods excell Taught by thy Muse to Fight and Love so well By fatal hands whilest present Empires fall Thine from the grave past Monarchies recal So much more thanks from humane kind does merit The Poets fury than the Zelots Spirit And from the grave thou mak'st this Empire rise Not like some dreadfull Ghost t' affright our Eyes But with more beauty and triumphant state Than when it crown'd at proud Verona sate So will our God re-build Mans perish'd frame And raise him up much better yet the same So God-like Pâ—eâ—s do past things rehearse Not change but heighten Nature with their Verse With shame me thinks great Italie must see Her Conqu'rors call'd to life again by thee Call'd by such powerfull Arts that ancient Rome May blush â—o less to see her Wit orecome Some men their Fancies like their Faiths derive And count all ill but that which Rome does give The marks of Old and Catholick would find To the same Chair would Truth and Fiction bind Thou in these beaten paths disdain'st to tread And scorn'st to live by robbing of the Dead Since Time does all things change thou think'st not fit This latter Age should see all new but Wit Thy Fancie like a Flame her way does make And leaves bright tracks for following Pens to take Sure 't was this noble boldness of the Muse Did thy desire to seek new Worlds infuse And ne'r did Heaven so much a Voyage bless If thou canst Plant but there with like success AB COWLEY GONDIBERT The First Book CANTO the First The ARGUMENT Old ARIBERT'S great race and greater mind Is sung with the renown of RHODALIND Prince OSWALD is compar'd to GONDIBERT And justly each distinguish'd by desert Whose Armies are in Fame's fair Field drawn forth To shew by discipline their Leaders worth 1. OF all the Lombards by their Trophies known Who sought Fame soon and had her favour long King Aribert best seem'd to fill the Throne And bred most bus'ness for Heroick Song 2. From early Childhoods promising estate Up to performing Manhood till he grew To failing Age he Agent was to Fate And did to Nations Peace or War renew 3. War was his studi'd Art War which the bad Condemn because even then it does them aw When with their number lin'd and purple clad And to the good more needfull is than Law 4. To conquer Tumult Nature's suddain force War Arts delib'rate strength was first devis'd Cruel to those whose rage has no remorse Lest civil pow'r should be by Throngs surpris'd 5. The feeble Law rescues but doubtfully From the Oppressours single Arm our right Till to its pow'r the wise wars help apply Which soberly does Mans loose
aid of action he obedience taught And silent patience for afflictions cure He prais'd my courage when I boldly fought But said They conquer most that most endure 25. The toyls of diligence as much approv'd As Valour 's self or th' Arts her practise gains The care of Men more than of glory lov'd Success rewarded and successless pains 26. To joyfull Victors quenching water sent Delightfull wine to their lamenting slaves For Feasts have more brave lives than Famine spent And Temp'rance more than Trench or Armour saves 27. Valour his Mistress Caution was his Friend Both to their diff'rent seasons he appli'd The first he lov'd on th' other did depend The first made worth uneasie by her pride 28. He to submiss devotion more was given After a battel gain'd than ere 't was fought As if it nobler were to thank high Heav'n For favours past than bow for bounty sought 29. And thus through smarting heat and aking cold Till Heav'ns perpetual Traveller had more Than thirty journeys through the Zodiack told I serv'd thy Grandsire whom I now adore 30. For Heav'n in his too ripe and weary age Call'd him where peacefully he rules a Star Free'd from the lower El'ments ceaseless rage Which last like Monarchs pow'r by needfull war 31. Strait thy lamented Father did succeed To his high place by Aribert's consent Our Ensigns through remoter Lands to lead Him too I follow'd till he upward went 32. Till that black day on which the Hunns may boast Their own defeat and we our conquest hide For though we gain'd and they the battel lost Yet then thy brave victorious Father dy'd 33. And I am stay'd unwillingly behind Not caught with wealth Life's most intangling snare Though both my Masters were in giving kind As joyfull Victors after Battel are 34. Whilst thus this aged Leader does express His and their Story whom this bounty feeds His hands the Duke 's worst order'd wounds undress And gently bind then strait he thus proceeds 35. West from those Hills till you Cremona reach With an unmingled right I gather rent By their great Gift who did such precepts teach In giving as their wealth is ne'r misspent 36. For as their plenteous pity fills my thought So their example was not read in vain A Thousand who for them in battel fought And now distress'd with Maims I entertain 37. Not giving like to those whose gifts though scant Pain them as if they gave with gowty hand Such vex themselves and ease not others want But we alike enjoy a like command 38. Most spaciously we dwell where we possess All smless pleasures Nature did ordain And who that all may have yet will have less Wiser than Nature thinks her kindness vain 39. A sad resolve which is a wise-mans vow From Cities noise and Couâ—â—s unpity'd care Did so divorce me it would scarce allow I ere should take one League of distâ—â—â— aiâ— 40. But that Alarms from each adjacent part Which borders my abode disturb'd my rest With dreadfull news that gracious Gondibert By Oswald's Faction was in fight opprest 41. Then it had given your wonder cause to last To see the vex'd mistakes this summons wrought In all my Maim'd Domesticks by their haste For some tie on the Limbs which others sought 42. Just such mistakes audacious Ethnicks say Will happen where the Righteous busie are Through glad and earnest haste in the last day Whilst others slowly to their doom prepare 43. And this had Anger anger noise had bred And Noise the Enemy of usefull Thought Had them to more mistakes than blindness led But that our awfull Camps had silence taught 44. Silence did Mem'ry Mem'ry order make Order to each did his mist wood restore For some who once were stedfast Fooâ— mistake And snatch those limbs which onely Horse-men wore 45. Like swift Pursuers on Arabian Horse These with their needfull Instruments of hold Which give their strange adapted weapons force I mounted strait Five Hundred fully told 46. These from the Lombards highly have deserv'd In Conquests where thy Father did command Whom they for Science and affection serv'd And lost their Limbs to gain our Scepter Land 47. Which yet are noble though unsightly signs That each in active courage much abounds And many a widow'd Mother now repines They cannot shew the Men who gave those wounds 48. For dearly did the Huns for honour pay When they deform'd them in a fatal fight Since though they strongly struggled for the day Yet all they got was everlasting Night 49. And Oswald's Friends were they not timely gone Though all the Faction in one Army were Should mourn this act against their Gen'ral's Son Who was to Souldiers more than Triumph dear 50. For these to Conquest us'd Retreats dislike Thy beauty want to others Beauty's cost With envious rage still at the Face they strike And punish Youth for what in youth they lost 51. Thus though the Duke's amazement be remov'd It now returns gladly on him to gaze Who feeds those Fighters whom his Father lov'd A gratitude would Virtue 's self amaze 52. Thou art said he then melted whilst he spake So ripe in what nice Heav'n does dearly love That Heav'ns remorse for Earth we should mistake To think it will forbear thee long above 53. As if thy sent for Soul already were Upon her Wings so much I give thee gon And wish thee left in some Successor here That might receive the kindness thou hast shown 54. Old Ulfin now but meltingly as he T' inrich him gives the Jewell of his sight For strait with Father's grave authoritie He bids his son young Ulfinor alight 55. Take him said he whose duty I release In whom all Heav'ns rewards included are For all my Justice in corrupted peace And for my mercy in revengeful war 56. The fruit Heav'ns sent me by my loyal wife In age the gloomy Eve of endless night Which eas'd in me the pain of latter life And frustrates death by fresh succession's sight 57. The Duke with passion did this Youth embrace Then luckie Goltho he call'd forth in view Who was this day in Fortun 's special grace For though no blood he lost yet much he drew 58. Him he with Ulfinor does strait unite Bids neither strive the other to precede Unless when danger doth them both invite But be even in nice Rivalship agreed 59. Bids both their Breasts be eithers open book Where nought is writ too hard for sodain Eies But â—ought's plain Text grows easie by a look Study breeds doubt where reading should suffice 60. But these to joyn Nature no Counsel needs Whom Sympathy her secret Priest does wed Much fam'd will be their loves and Martial Deeds Which fill all Books that are of Lombards read 61. With gracious Eyes and Bodie loâ—ly bent The Duke his Fathers rev'rend Troops salutes To Bergamo He holds his first intent Which to oppose old Ulfin thus disputes 62. Thou seest my Prince the faint decays of Light How hastily the
forbear To shew her where my Marble Coâ—â—in lies Her Virgin Garlands she will offer there 6. Confess that reading me she learnt to Love That all the good behaviour of her heart Even tow'rds thy self my doctrine did improve Where Love by Nature is forewarn'd of Art 7. She will confess that to her Maiden state This Storie shew'd such Patterns of great Life As though she then could those but imitate They an Example make her now a Wife 8. And thy lif 's fire could she a while out-live Which were though lawfull neither kind nor good Then even her sorrows would examples give And shine to others through dark widowhood 9. And she will boast how spite of Cynick Age Of bus'ness which does Pow'r uncivil make Of ruder Cells where they Love's Fire asswage By studying Death and Fear for Virtue take 10. And spite of Courts where loving now is made An Art as dying is in Cells my Laws Did teach her how by Nature to perswade And hold by virtue whom her beautie draws 11. Thus when by knowing me thou know'st to whom Love ows his Eyes who has too long been blind Then in the Temple leave my Bodies Tomb To seek this Book the Mon'ment of my Mind 12. Where thou may'st read who with impatient Eyes For Orgo on the guilded Tarras stay Which high and golden shews and open lies As the Morn's Window when she lets out Day 13. Whose heighth Two rising Forrests over-looks And on Pine-tops the Eye-sight downward cast Where distant Rivers seem bestrided Brooks Churches but Anchor'd Ships their Steeples Masts 14. Hence by his little Regian Courser brought Orgo they spie with diligence indu'd As if he would oretake fore-running Thought And he by many swiftly seem'd pursu'd 15. But his light speed left those awhile behind Whilst with rais'd Dust their swiftness hide the way Yet Birtha will too soon by Orgo find What she by distance lost in this survay 16. Orgo a precious Casket did present To his dear Lord of Podian Saphyr wrought For which unknown to Birtha he was sent And a more precious Pledge was in it brought 17. Then thus proclaim'd his joy Long may I live Sent still with blessings from the Heav'nly Powers And may their bounties shew what they can give And full as fast as long expected Showers 18. Behold the King with such a shining Train As dazles sight yet can inform the Blind But there the Rich and Beauteous shine in vain Unless they dâ—stance keep from Rhodalind 19. Mâ— thinks they through the Middle Region come Their Chariots hid in Clouds of Dust below And ore their Heads their Coursers scatter'd Fome Does seem to cover them like falling Snow 20. This Birtha heard and she on Orgo cast A pitious look for she no anger knew But griev d he knows not that he brings too fast Such joys as fain she faster would eschew 21. So Gondibert this Gust of glorie took As Men whose Sayls are full more weather take And she so gaz'd on him as Sea-men look On long sought shore when Tempests drive them back 22. But now these glories more apparent be And justly all their observation claim'd Great as in greatest Courts less Princes see When entertain'd to be eclips'd and sham'd 23. West from Verona's Road through pleasant Meads Their Chariots cross and to the Palace steer And Aribert this winged triumph leads Which like the Planets Progress did appear 24. So shin'd they and so noiseless seem'd their speed Like Spartans touching but the silken Reins Was all the conduct which their Coursers need And proudly to sit still was all their pains 25. With Aribert sat royal Rhodalind Calm Orna by the Count by Hermegild Silver'd with time the Golden Gartha shin'd And Tybalt's Eyes were full by Laura fill'd 26. The lesser Beauties numberless as Stars Shew'd â—ickly and far off to this Noon-day And lagg'd like Baggage Treasure in the Wars Or onely seem'd another Milkie-way 27. The Duke perceiv'd the King design'd to make This visit more familiar by surprise And with Court art he would no notice take Of that which Kings are willing to disguise 28. But as in heedless sleep the House shall seem New wak'd with this Alarm and Vlfin strait Whose â—ame was precious in the Courts esteem Must as with casual sight their entrance wait 29. To Astragon he doubles all his Vows To Birtha through his Eies his Heart reveal'd And by some civil jealousies he shows Her beauty from the Court must be conceal'd 30. Prays her from Envy's danger to retire The Palace war which there can never cease Till Beauty's force in age or death expire A War disguis'd in civil shapes of Peace 31. Still he the precious Pledge kept from her view Who guess'd not by the Casket his intent And was so willing not to fear him true That she did fear to question what it ment 32. Now hasts she to be hid and being gon Her Lover thinks the Planet of the day So leaves the mourning World to give the Moon Whose Train is mark'd but for their number way 33. And entring in her Closet which took light Full in the Palace Front she finds her Maids Gather'd to see this gay unusuall sight Which Commet-like their wondring Eyes invades 34. Where Thula would by climbing highest be Though ancient grown and was in Stature short Yet did protest she came not there to see But to be hid from dangers of the Court. 35. Their curious longing Birtha durst not blame Boldness which but to seeing did aspire Since she her self provok'd with Courts great Fame Would fain a little see what all admire 36. Then through the Casement ventur'd so much Face As Kings depos'd shew when through Grates they peep To see Deposers in their Crowding pass But strait shrink back and at the triumph weep 37. Soon so her Eyes did too much glory find For ev'n the first she saw was all for she No more would view since that was Rhodalind And so much beauty could none others be 38. Which with her Virtue weigh'd no less renown'd Afflicts her that such worth must fatal prove And be in tears of the Possessor drown'd Or she depose her Lover by her love 39. But Thula wildly earnest in the view Of such gay sights as she did ne'r behold Mark'd not when Birtha her sad Eyes withdrew But dreamt the world was turn'd again to Gold 40. Each Lady most till more appear'd ador'd Then with rude liking prais'd them all aloud Yet thought them foul and course to ev'ry Lord And civilly to ev'ry Page she bow'd 41. The objects past out-sigh'd ev'n those that woo And strait her Mistris at the Window mist Then finding her in grief out-sigh'd her too And her fair Hands with parting passion kist 42. Did with a Servants usual art profess That all she saw was to her beauty black Confess'd their Maids well bred and knew to dress But said those Courts are poor which painting lack 43. Thy praise said Birtha poyson'd