invites you to devour And a submission gives you ease to feed 41. To fighting Fields send all your honour back To Courts your dang'rous Tongue and civil shape That Country Maids may Men no more mistake Nor seek dark Death that they may Love escape 42. Now soon to Heav'n her Soul had found the way For there it oâ—t had been in pray'r and praise But that his vows did life with loudness stay And life's warm help did soon her Body raise 43. And now he gently leads her for no more He lets th'unhallow'd Ground a falâ— Flow'â— wear Sweeter than Nature's Bosom ever wore And now these vows sends kindly to her Eâ—r 44. If Birtha I am false think none too blame For thinking Truth by which the Soul subsists No farther to be found than in the name Think humane kind betraid ev'n by their Priests 45. Think all my Sex so vile that you may chide Those Maids who to your Mothers Nuptials ran And praise your Mother who so early dy'd Remembring whom she marry'd was a Man 46. This great Court miracle you strait receive From Orgo and your faith the whole allows Why since you Orgo's words so soon believe Will you less civilly suspect my vows 47. My Vows which want the Temples seal will bind Though private kept surer than publick Laws For Laws but sorce the Body but my Mind Your Virtue Counsels whilst your beauty draws 48. Thus spake he but his mourning looks did more Attest his grief and fear does hers renew Now losing were he lost more than before For then she fear'd him false now thinks him true 49. As sick Physicians seldom their own Art Dare trust to cure their own disease so these Were to themselves quite useless when apart Yet by consult each can the other ease 50. But from themselves they now diverted stood For Orgo's News which need not borrow wings Since Orgo for his Lord believ'd it good To Astragon the joyfull Houshold brings 51. But Astragon with a judicious thought This days glad news took in the dire portent A day which mourning Nights to Birtha brought And with that fear in search of Birtha went 52. And here he finds her in her Lovers Eyes And him in hers both more afflicted grown At his approach for each his sorrow spies Who thus would counsel theirs and hide his own 53. Though much this fatal joy to anger moves Yet reason's aids shall anger's force subdue I will not chide you for your hasty Loves Nor ever doubt great Prince that yours is true 54. In chiding Love because he hasty was Or urging errours which his swiftness brings I find effects but dare not tax the cause For Poets were inspir'd who gave him wings 55. When low I dig where desart-Rivers run Dive deep in Seas through Forrests follow winds Or reach with Optick Tubes the ragged Moon My sight no cause of Love's swift motion finds 56. Love's fatal haste in yours I will not blame Because I know not why his wings were giv'n Nor doubt him true not knowing whence he came Nor Birtha chide who thought you came from Heav'n 57. If you lay snares we erre when we escape Since evil practise learns Men to suspect Where falshood is and in your noble shape We should by finding it our skill detect 58. Yet both your griefs I 'le chide as ignorance Call you unthankfull for your great griefs show That Heav'n has never us'd you to mischance Yet rudely you repine to feel it now 59. If your contextures be so weak and nice Weep that this windy world you ever knew You are not in those Calms of Paradice Where slender Flow'rs as safe as Cedars grew 60. This which your Youth calls grief was frowardness In flatter'd Infancy and as you bear Unkindly now amidst Youth's joys distress So then unless still rock'd you froward were 61. Griefs conflicts gave these Hairs their silver shine Torn Ensigns which victorious Age adorn Youth is a Dress too garish and too fine To be in foul tempestuous weather worn 62. Grief's want of use does dang'rous weakness make But we by use of Burdens are made strong And in our practis'd Age can calmly take Those sorrows which like Feavers vex the young 63. When you in Love's fair Books which Poets keep Read what they hide his Tragick History You will rejoyce that half your time is sleep And smile at Love when Nature bids you die 64. Learn then that Love's diseases common are Do not in sickness known though new to you Whilst vital hear does last of cure despair Love's vital heat does last whilst Love is true 65. Thus spake the kind and prudent Astragon And much their kind impatience he appeas'd For of his griefs which heavier than their own Were born by both their duteous fears are eas'd 66. She begs that he would pardon her distress Thought that even sin which did her sorrows move And then with all her Mothers lowliness His pardon craves for asking leave to love 67. The Duke who saw fair Truth so undisguis'd And love in all but love so unconcern'd Pity'd the studious world and all despis'd Who did not here unlearn what they had learn'd 68. I am reform'd said he not that before I wanted love or that my love was ill But I have learnt to perfect Nature more By giving innocence a little skill 69. For 't is some skill in innocence to bear With temper the distempers of our Stars Not doubting griefs already come by fear Of more for fears but hasten threat'ned Wars 70. But we will bravely suffer to inure Our strength to weights against the new are laid That when 't is known how much we can endure Our sufferings may make our Foes afraid 71. This Comet Glory shines but in portent Which from the Court does send her threatning Beams And looks as if it were by malice meant To hasten Oswald's Faction to extreams 72. Since Hurgonil who just fore-ran the Boy Could not instruct us we as much may know Of the first Light as of these fires of joy Which is that both did out of darkness grow 73. Yet this the King might hide in Kingly skill Wisely to make his bounty more his own Kings stoop for Counsel who impart their will His Acts like Heav'ns make not their Causes known 74. Yet with as plain a heart as love untaught In Birtha wears I here to Birtha make A vow that Rhodalind I never sought Nor now would with her love her greatness take 75. Love's bonds are for her greatness made too straight And me Ambition's pleasures cannot please Ev'n Priests who on the higher Altar wait Think a continu'd rev'rence loss of ease 76. Let us with secrecy our love protect Hiding such precious wealth from publick view The proffer'd glory I will first suspect As false and shun it when I find it true 77. They now retire because they Goltho saw Who hither came to watch with Ulfinore If much the Duke 's woo'd Mistress did him aw
beauty wrought The pale appearance of a killing Frost And carefull Orgo when she started thought She had her Pledge the precions Emrauld lost 91. But that kind Heart as constant as her own She did not miss 't was from a suddain sence Lest in her Lover's heart some change was grown And it grew pale with that intelligence 92. Soon from her bosom she this Emrauld took If now said she my Lord my Heart deceives This Stone will by dead paleness make me look Pale as the Snowy skin of Lilly Leaves 93. But such a chearfull green the Gem did sling Where she oppos'd the Rays as if she had Been dy'd in the complexion of the Spring Or were by Nimphs of Brittain Valleys clad 94. Soon she with earnest passion kist the Stone Which ne'r till then had suffer'd an eclips But then the Rays retir'd as if it shone In vain so near the Rubies of her Lips 95. Yet thence remov'd with publick glory shines She Orgo blest who had this Relique brought And kept it like those Reliques lock'd in shrines By which the latest Miracles were wrought 96. For soon respect was up to rev'rence grown Which fear to Superstition would sublime But that her Father took Fear 's Ladder down Lose steps by which distress to Heav'n would climbe 97. He knew when Fear shapes Heav'nly Pow'r so just And terrible parts of that shape drawn true It vails Heav'n's beauty Love which when we trust Our courage honours him to whom we sue CANTO the Fifth The ARGUMENT The deep Designs of BIRTHA in distress Her Emrauld's virtue shews her Love's success Wise ASTRAGON with reason cures despair And the Afflicted chides for partial Pray'r With grief the secret Rivals take their leave And but dark hope for hidden love receive 1. TO shew the Morn her passage to the East Now Birtha's dawn the Lover's Day appears So soon Love beats Revellies in her Breast And like the Dewy Morn she rose in tears 2. So much she did her jealous dreams dislike Her Maids straight kindle by her light their Eyes Which when to hers compar'd Poets would strike Such sparks to light their Lamps ere Day does rise 3. But O vain Jealousie why dost thou haste To find those evils which too soon are brought Love's frantick Valour which so rashly fast Seeks dangers as if none would come unsought 4. As often fairest Moâ—â—s soon cover'd be So she with dark'ning thoughts is clouded now Looks so as weaker Eyes small objects see Or studious States-men who contract the Brow 5. Or like some thinking Sybill that would find The sence of mystick words by Angels giv'n And this fair Politick bred in her mind Restless as Seas a deep designe on Heav'n 6. To Pray'rs plain Temple she does hast unseen Which though not grac'd with curious cost for show Was nicely kept and now must be as clean As Tears make those who thence forgiven go 7. For her own Hands by which best Painter drew The Hands of Innocence will make it shine Penance which newly from her terrors grew And was alas part of her deep designe 8. And when this holy huswifry was past Her vows she sends to Heav'n which thither fly Intire not broken by unthinking hast Like Sinners Sparks that in ascending dye 9. Thence she departs but at this Temple Gate A needy Crowd call'd by her Summons there With such assurance for her bounty waite As if ne'r failing Heav'n their Debtor were 10. To these she store of Antique Treasure gave For she no Money knew Medals of Gold Which curious Gath'rers did in travell save And at high worth were to her Mother sold. 11. Figures of fighting Chiefs born to orecome Those who without their leave would all destroy Chiefs who had brought renown to Athens Rome To Carthage Tyre and to lamented Troy 12. Such was her wealth her Mothers Legacy And well she knew it was of special price But she has begg'd what Heav'n must not deny So would not make a common Sacrifice 13. To the black Temple she her Sorrow bears Where she out-begg'd the tardy begging Thief Made weeping Magdaline but poor in Tears Yet Silent as their Pictures was her Grief 14. Her purpos'd penance she did here fulfill Those Pictures dress'd and the spent Lamp reliev'd With fragrant Oyls dropp'd from her Silver Still And now for those that there sat mourning griev'd 15. Those Penitients who knew her innocence Wonder what Parents sin she did bemoan And venture though they go unpardon'd thence More sighs for her redress than for their own 16. Now jealousie no more benights her face Her courage beauteous grows and grief decays And with such joy as shipwrack'd Men imbrace The Shore she hastens to the House of Praise 17. And there the Gem she from her bosom took With which till now she trembled to advise So far from pale that Gondibert would look Pale if he saw how it out-shin'd her Eyes 18. These Rays she to a Miracle prefers And lustre that such beauty so defies Had Poets seen Love's partial Jewellers Who count nought precious but their Mistress Eyes 19. They would with grief a miracle confess She enters straight to pay her gratitude And could not think her beauty in distress Whilst to her Love her Lord is still subdu'd 20. The Altar she with Imag'ry array'd Where Needles boldly as a Pencil wrought The Story of that humble Syrian Mayd Who Pitchers bore yet Kings to Juda brought 21. And there she of that precious Linnen spreds Which in the consecrated Moneth is spun By Lombard Brides for whom in empty Beds Their Bridegrooms sigh till the succeeding Moon 22. 'T is in that Moon bleach'd by her fuller Light And wash'd in Suds of Amber till it grow Clean as this spreaders Hands and those were white As rising Lilies or as falling Snow 23. The voluntary Quire of Birds she feeds Which oft had here the Virgin-Consort fill'd She diets them with Aromatick seeds And quench'd their Thirst with Rainbowe-Dew distill'd 24. Lord Astragon whose tender care did wait Her progress since her Morn so cloudy broke Arrests her passage at this Temple Gate And thus he with a Father's license spoke 25. Why art thou now who hast so joyfull liv'd Ere love thou knewst become with Love so sad If thou hast lost fair Virtue then be griev'd Else shew thou know'st her worth by being glad 26. Thy love 's high soaring cannot be a crime Nor can we if a Spinster loves a King Say that her love ambitiously does climb Love seeks no honour but does honour bring 27. Mounts others value and her own lets fall Kings honour is but little till made much By Subjects Tongues Elixar-Love turns all To pow'rfull Gold where it does onely touch 28. Thou lov'st a Prince above thine own degree Degree is Monarch's Art Love Nature's Law In Love's free State all Pow'rs so levell'd be That there affection governs more than aw 29. But thou dost love where Rhodalind does love And thence
we are in there are none of those indiscretions to be found that tended to subversion or disturbance of the Common-wealths wherein they lived But why a Christian should think it an ornament to his Poem either to profane the true God or invoke a false one I can imagin no cause but a reasonless imitation of Custom of a foolish custom by which a man enabled to speak wisely from the principles of nature and his own meditation loves rather to be thought to speak by inspiration like a Bag-pipe Time and Education begets Experience Experience begets Memorie Memorie begets Judgement and Fancie Judgement begets the Strength and Structure and Fancie begets the Ornaments of a Poem The Ancients therefore fabled not absurdly in making Memorie the Mother of the Muses For Memorie is the World though not really yet so as in a Looking-glass in which the Judgement the severer Sister busieth her self in a grave and rigid examination of all the parts of Nature and in registering by Letters their order causes uses differences and resemblances Whereby the Fancie when any work of Art is to be performed finding her materials at hand and prepared for use and needs no more than a swift motion over them that what she wants and is there to be had may not lie too long unespied So that when she seemeth to fly from one Indies to the other and from Heaven to Earth and to penetrate into the hardest matter and obscurest places into the future and into her self and all this in a point of time the voyage is not very great her self being all she seeks and her wonderfull celeritie consisteth not so much in motion as in copious Imagerie discreetly ordered and perfectly registered in the Memorie which most men under the name of Philosophie have a glimpss of and is pretended to by many that grosly mistaking her embrace contention in her place But so far forth as the Fancie of man has traced the ways of true Philosophie so far it hath produced very marvellous effects to the benefit of mankind All that is beautifull or defensible in building or marvellous in Engines and Instruments of motion whatsoever commoditie men receive from the observations of the Heavens from the description of the Earth from the account of Time from walking on the Seas and whatsoever distinguisheth the Civilitie of Europe from the Barbaritie of the American savages is the workmanship of Fancy but guided by the Precepts of true Philosophie But where these precepts fail as they have hitherto failed in the doctrine of moral Virtue there the Architect Fancy must take the Philosophers part upon her self He therefore that undertakes an Heroick Poem which is to exhibit a venerable and amiable Image of Heroick virtue must not onely be the Poet to place and connect but also the Philosopher to furnish and square his matter that is to make both Body and Soul colour and shadow of his Poem out of his own Store Which how well you have performed I am now considering Observing how few the persons be you introduce in the beginning and how in the course of the actions of these the number increasing after several confluences they run all at last into the two principal streams of your Poem Gondibert and Oswald me thinks the Fable is not much unlike the Theater For so from several and far distant Sources do the lesser Brooks of Lombardy flowing into one another fall all at last into the two main Rivers the Po and the Adite It hath the same resemblance also with a mans veins which proceeding from different parts after the like concourse insert themselves at last into the two principal veins of the body But when I considered that also the actions of men which singly are inconsiderable after many conjunctures grow at last either into one great protecting power or into destroying factions I could not but approve the structure of your Poem which ought to be no other than such as an imitation of humane life requireth In the Streams themselves I find nothing but setled Valour clean Honour calm Counsel learned Diversion and pure Love save onely a torrent or two of Ambition which though a fault has somewhat Heroick in it and therefore must have place in an Heroick Poem To shew the Reader in what place he shall find every excellent picture of Virtue you have drawn is too long And to shew him one is to prejudice the rest yet I cannot forbear to point him to the Description of Love in the person of Birtha in the seventh Canto of the second Book There has nothing been said of that Subject neither by the Ancient nor Modern Poets comparable to it Poets are painters I would fain see another painter draw so true perfect and natural a Love to the Life and make use of nothing but pure Lines without the help of any the least uncomely shadow as you have done But let it be read as a piece by it self for in the almost equal height of the whole the eminence of parts is Lost. There are some that are not pleased with fiction unless it be bold not onely to exceed the work but also the possibility of Nature they would have impenetrable Armours Inchanted Castles Invulnerable Bodies Iron Men Flying Horses and a thousand other such things which are easily feigned by them that dare Against such I defend you without assenting to those that condemn either Homer or Virgil by dissenting onely from those that think the Beauty of a Poem consisteth in the exorbitancy of the fiction For as truth is the bound of Historical so the Resemblance of truth is the utmost limit of Poetical Liberty In old time amongst the Heathen such strange fictions and Metamorphoses were not so remoâ—e from the Articles of their Faith as they are now from ours and therefore were not so unpleasant Beyond the actual works of Nature a Poet may now go but beyond the conceived possibility of Nature never I can allow a Geographer to make in the Sea a Fish or a Ship which by the scale of his Map would be two or three hundred mile long and think it done for ornament because it is done without the precincts of his undertaking but when he paints an Elephant so I presently apprehend it as ignorance and a plain confession of Terra incognita As the description of Great Men and Great Actions is the constant design of a Poet so the descriptions of worthy circumstances are necessary accessions to a Poem and being well performed are the Jewels and most precious ornaments of Poesie Such in Virgil are the Funeral games of Anchises The duel of Aeneas and Turnus c. and such in yours are The Hunting The Battel The Citie Mourning The Funeral The House of Astragon The Library and the Temple equal to his or those of Homer whom he imitated There remains now no more to be considered but the Expression in which consisteth the countenance and colour of a beautifull Muse and is
much the Lombards to his conduct ow And this preserv'd him for the very Crowd Felt Honour here and did to valour bow 7. Vain Wrath Deform'd unquiet Child of Pride Which in a few the People madness call But when by Number they grew dignify'd What 's rage in one is liberty in all 8. Through dangers of this lawless liberty He like authentick Pow'r does boldly pass And with a quiet and experienc'd Eye Through Death's foul Vizard does despise his face 9. At Hubert's Tent alights where Hubert now With Gartha of this Torrent does advise Which he believes does at the highest flow And must like Tides sink when it cannot rise 10. When Hermegild he saw he did disperse Those cares assembled in his looks and strove Though to his Master and the Court perverse To shew him all the civil signs of Love 11. For him in stormy war he glorious knew Nor in calm Counsels was he less renown'd And held him now to Oswald's Faction true As by his love the world's first Tenure bound 12. For he though wasted in the ebb of blood When Man's Meridian tow'rds his Evening turns Makes against Nature's Law Lov 's Charter good And as in raging Youth for Gartha burns 13. Who did his suit not onely disapprove Because the summer of his life was past And she fresh blown but that even highest love Grows tasteless to Ambition's higher taste 14. Yet now in such a great and single cause With nice Ambition nicer Loves complies And she since to revenge he usefull was Perswades his hope with Rhet'rick of her Eyes 15. A closs division of the Tent they straight By outward Guards secure from all resort Then Hermegild does thus the cause relate Which to the Camp dispatch'd him from the Court. 16. Important Prince who justly dost succeed To Oswald's hopes and all my loyal aid Virtue as much in all thy wounds does bleed As love in me since wounded by that Maid 17. Long have I sayl'd through Times vexatious sea And first set out with all that Youth is worth The Tropicks pass'd of bloods hot bravery With all the Sayls gay Flags and Streamers forth 18. But as in hotter voyages Ships most Decay their trim yet then they chiefly gain By inward stowage what is outward lost So Men decays of youth repair in brain 19. If I experience boast when youth decays Such vanity may Gartha's pitie move Since so I seek your service by self-praise Rather than seem unusefull where I love 20. And never will I though by Time supply'd With such discretion as does Man improve To shew discretion wiser Nature hide By seeming now asham'd to say I love 21. For Love his pow'r has in grey Senates shown Where he as to green Courts does freely come And though loud youth his visits makes more known With graver Age he 's poivately at home 22. Scarce Oreece or greater Rome a Victor shows Whom more victorious Love did not subdue Then blame not me who am so weak to those Whilst Gartha all exceeds that ere they knew 23. Hope Love's first food I ne'r till now did know Which Love as yet but temp'rately devours And claims not love for love since Gartha so For Autumn Leaves should barter Summer Flowers 24. I dare not vainly wish her to be kind Till for her love my Arâ—s and Pow'r bestow The Crown on thee â—dorâ—'d with Rhodalind Which yet for Gartha is a price too low 25. This said he paws'd and now the hectick heat Of Oswald's blood doubled their Pulâ—es pace Which high as if they would be heard did beat And hot Ambition shin'd in eithers face 26. For Hermegild they knew could much out-doe His words and did possess great Aribert Not in the Courts cheap Glass of civil show But by a study'd Tenure of the heart 27. Whilst this try'd truth does make their wishes sure Hubert on Gartha looks with suing Eyes For Hermegild whose love she will endure And make Ambition yield what Youth denies 28. Yet in this bargain of her self she knows Not how to treat but all her chief desires Bids Hubert as the Twins of his dispose To glory and revenge and then retires 29. But with such blushes Hermegild she leaves As the unclouded Evening's Face adorn Nor much he for her parting glory grieves Since such an Evening bodes a happy Morn 30. Now Hermegild by vows does Hubert binde Vows by their fate in Lombard Story known He Gartha makes the price of Rhodalind And Aribert his Tenant to the Crown 31. He bids him now the Armies rage allay By rage said he onely they Masters are Of those they chuse when temp'rate to obay Against themselves th'impatient chiefly war 32. We are the Peoples Pilots they our winds To change by Nature prone but Art Laveers And rules them till they rise with Stormy Minds Then Art with danger against Nature Steers 33. Where calms have first amuz'd Storms most prevail Close first with calms the Courts suspicious Eyes That whilst with all their â—rim they sleeping sail A sudden Gust may wrack them by surprize 34. Your Army will though high in all esteem That ever rev'renc'd Age to action gave But a small Party to Verona seem Which yearly to such Numbers yields a Grave 35. Nor is our vast Metropolis like those Tame Towns which peace has soft'ned into fears But Death deform'd in all his Dangers knows Dangers which he like frightfull Vizards wears 36. From many Camps who forreign winters felt Verona has her conqu'ring Dwellers ta'ne In War's great Trade with richest Nations dealt And did their Gold and Fame with Iron gain 37. Yet to the mighty Aribert it bows A King out-doing all the Lombards Line Whose Court in Iron clad by courseness shows A growing pow'r which fades when Courts grow fine 38. Scorn not the Youthfull Camp at Bergamo For they are Victors though in years but young The war does them they it by action know And have obedient Minds in bodies strong 39. Be slow and stay for aids which haste forsakes For though Occasion still does Sloth out-go The rash who run from help she ne'r ore-takes Whose haste thinks Time the Post of Nature slow 40. This is a cause which our Ambition fills A cause in which our strength we should not waste Vainly like Giants who did heave at Hills 'T is too unwildy for the force of haste 41. A cause for graver Minds that learned are In mistick Man a cause which we must gain By surer methods than depend on war And respite Valour to employ the brain 42. In the King's Scale your merits are too light Who with the Duke weighs his own partial heart Make then the gift of Empire publick right And get in Rhodalind the Peoples part 43. But this rough side the meeting Multitude If we oppose we make our voyage long Yet when we with it row it is subdu'd And we are wise where Men in vain are strong 44. Then to the People sue but hide your force For they
thy griefs of jealousie begin A cause which does thy sorrow vainly move Since 't is thy noble fate and not thy Sin 30. This vain and voluntary Load of grief For Fate sent Love thy will does sorrow bear Thou to the Temple carry'st for relief And so to Heav'n art guided by thy fear 31. Wild Fear Which has a Common-wealth devis'd In Heav'n's old Realm and Saints in Senates fram'd Such as by which were Beasts well civilliz'd They would suspect their Tamer Man untam'd 32. Wild Fear Which has the Indian worship made Where each unletter'd Priest the Godhead draws In such a form as makes himself afraid Disguising Mercy 's shape in Teeth and Claws 33. This false Guide Fear which does thy Reason sway And turns thy valiant virtue to despair Has brought thee here to offer and to pray But Temples were not built for Cowards pray'r 34. For when by Fear thy noble Reason's led Reason not Shape gives us so great degree Above our Subjects Beasts then Beasts may plead A right in Temples helps as well as we 35. And here with absent Reason thou dost weep To beg success in love that Rhodalind May lose what she as much does beg to keep And may at least an equal audience find 36. Mark Birtha this unrighteous war of prayer Like wrangling States you ask a Monarch's aid When you are weak that you may better dare Lay claim to what your passion would invade 37. Long has th' ambitious World rudely preferr'd Their quarrels which they call their pray'rs to Heav'n And thought that Heav'n would like themselves have err'd Depriving some of what 's to others giv'n 38. Thence Modern Faith becomes so weak and blind Thinks Heav'n in ruling other Worlds employ'd And is not mindfull of our abject Kind Because all Sutes are not by all enjoy'd 39. How firm was Faith when humbly Sutes for need Not choice were made then free from all despair As mod'rate Birds who sing for daily seed Like Birds our Songs of praise included pray'r 40. Thy Hopes are by thy Rivals virtue aw'd Thy Rival Rhodalind whose virtue shines On Hills when brightest Planets are abroad Thine privately like Miners Lamps in Mines 41. The Court where single Patterns are disgrac'd Where glorious Vice weak Eyes admire And Virtue 's plainness is by Art out-fac'd She makes a Temple by her Vestal Fire 42. Though there Vice sweetly dress'd does tempt like bliss Even Cautious Saints and single Virtue seem Fantastick where brave Vice in fashion is Yet she has brought plain Virtue in esteem 43. Yours is a virtue of inferiour rate Herein the dark a Pattern where 't is barr'd From all your Sex that should her imitate And of that pomp which should her Foes reward 44. Retir'd as weak Monasticks flie from care Or devout Cowards steal to Forts their Cells From pleasures which the worlds chief dangers are Hers passes yours as Valour Fear excels 45. This is your Rival in your suit to Heav'n But Heav'n is partial if it give to you What to her bolder Virtue should be giv'n Since yours pomps Virtue 's dangers never knew 46. Your suit would have your love with love repay'd To which Arts conquests when all science flows Compar'd are Students dreams and triumphs made By glorious Courts and Camps but painted shows 47. Even Art 's Dictators who give Laws to Schools Are but dead Heads States-men who Empire move But prosp'rous Spies and Victors fighting Fools When they their Trophies rank with those of Love 48. And when against your fears I thus declame Yet make your danger more whilst I decry Your worth to hers then wisely fear I blame For fears are hurtfull'st when attempts are high 49. And you should think your noble dangers less When most my praise does her renown prefer For that takes off your hasty hope 's excess And when we little hope we nothing fear 50. Now you are taught your sickness learn your cure You shall to Court and there serve Rhodalind Trie if her virtue's force you can endure In the same Sphear without eclipse of mind 51. Your Lord may there your Souls compare for we Though Souls like stars make not their greatnes known May find which greater than the other be The Stars are measur'd by Comparison 52. Your plighted Lord shall you ere long prefer To near attendance on this royal Maid Quit then officious Fear The Jealous fear They are not fearfull when to death afraid 53. These words he clos'd with kindness and retir'd In which her quick Ey'd Hope three blessings spy'd With joy of being near her Lord inspir'd With seeing Courts ' and having Virtue try'd 54. She now with jealous questions utter'd fast Fils Orgo's Ear which there unmark'd are gon As Throngs through guarded Gates when all make haste Not giving Warders time t' examine one 55. She ask'd if Fame had render'd Rhodalind With favour or in Truth 's impartial shape If Orna were to humble Virtue kind And beauty could from Gartha's envy scape 56. If Laura whose faire Eyes those but invites Who to her wit ascribe the Victory In conquest of a speechless Mayd delights And ere to this prompt Orgo could reply 57. She ask'd in what consist the Charms of Court Whether those pleasures so resistless were As common Country Travailers report And such as innocence had cause to fear 58. What kind of Angels shape young Fav'rites take And being Angels how they can be bad Or why delight so cruelly to make Fair Country Mayds return from Court so sad 59. More had she ask'd for study warm'd her brow With thinking how her love might prosp'rous be But that young ulfinore approach'd her now And Goltho warmer with designe than she 60. Though Goltho's hope in Indian Feathers clad Was light and gay as if he meant to flie Yet he no farther than his Rival had Advanc'd in promise from her Tongue or Eye 61. When distant talk'd as if he plighted were For hope in Love like Cowards in the War Talks bravely till the enterprise be near But then discretion dares not venture far 62. He never durst approch her watchfull Eye With studious gazing nor with sighs her Ear But still seem'd frolick like a States-man's Spie As if his thoughtfull bus'ness were not there 63. Still Superstitious Lovers Beauty paint Thinking themselves but Devils so divine As if the thing belov'd were all a Saint And ev'ry place she enter'd were a Shrine 64. And though last Night were the auspitious time When they resolv'd to quit their bashfull fears Yet soon as to the Sun when Eaglets climbe They stoop'd And quench'd their daring Eyes in tears 65. And now for Hope that formal Câ—ntry stands All Winds and Showrs though there but vainly plac'd They to Verona beg her dear commands And look to be with parting kindness grac'd 66. Both dayly journies meant 'twixt this and Court For taking leave is twice Love's sweet Repast In being sweet and then in being short Like Manna ready still but