sad Lady known When first performd did with a louder voice Proclaim her there and having first made choice Of a more civil Companvt ' oppose Th' uncivil Clowns rescues her and then shews How neer their heedless rage had cast away The glorious Prize of that victorious day From fainting slumbers raisd the Princess now Secure in their discovery taught them how To turn her Fury into Zeal and show By serving her the Allegiance that they ow Her royal Father To the Palace come Rewarding all she there commands that some Stay for her Guard but soon that Order grew A troublesome obedience none would to His Cottage whilst that any stayed within The Palace Gates but long they had not been Thus burthensomly diligent ere on A new design each struggles to be gone From 's former Charge a Messenger is sought Who to the Court must post but each one thought Himself of most ability so all Or none must go yet ere the difference fall Into a neer approaching quarrel he Who rescu'd her the Princess chose to be Her Messenger Euriolus for so The Youth was cald disdaining to be slow Where such Commands gave Wings with speed unto The Court was come but busie Fame out-flew His eager hast and ere 's Arrival spread Some scatterd fragments of the news which bred Suspition of that doubt full truth from whence His Message leads to doleful Confidence The end of the first Canto PHARONNIDA The second Book CANTO THE SECOND The ARGUMENT III. Freâ—â— from suspition by a Cause that tells His injur'd Prince Almanzors guilt exceedâ— His great'st mistrust from thence just anger swells Till for that Feaver the whole Nation bleeds IV. Armies united in a dreadfull hast From distant places sad Spectators bring To see by Fortune Justice so defac'd The Subjects here pursue a Conquer'd King MOrea's prudent Prince whose scars had bin Before this Message but like truths wrapt in Dark Oracles now with a sence inlarg'd Beyond imperfect doubts no longer charg'd His Judgment with Dilemma's but in all The hast indulgent Love when by the call Of danger frighted could procure without Staying to let slow Counsel urge a doubt Which might but seem a Remora unto His fixt desires having together drew His Guard was marching when in such a hast As breathless speed fore-shewd they had been chac'd By some approaching danger such as were Too full of truth and loyalty to bear Rebellion longer then their thoughts could be Eas'd of the burthen by discoverie Arrive at th' Court with this sad news that by Almanzor who forgetting Loyalty Had seiz'd Alcithiu's Castle they were drove To fly their Country since that there he strove To raise an Army by whose strength he might To the Swords power subject the Scepters right By this sad news startl'd out of his late Fixt resolutions the vext Prince whose Fate Had not through all the progress of his Reign Darted so many Plagues to entertain Them now with strength unballast cals in hast His late neglected Counsel and embrac'd This sudden but mature advice that he Should with such Forces as could soonest be Prepar'd for service having only seen Pharonnida possess that streight between The Castle and the Mountains from whose rude Inhabitants which Nature did include Within those Rocks Rebellion soonest might Grow to a dangerous tumour the dim light Of scarce discerned Majesty so far Being from them remov'd that least a War Inforc'd him to command their aide they nere Heard of his Mandates being more fit to bear The weight of Armour on their bodies then Of Taxes on Estates so smal that when With all the art of Industry improv'd For want were kept but not for ease belov'd Through paths that no Vestigia shewed to these As being retaind or lost with greatest ease Since naturally unconstant comes the King Not much too late Majestick Rayes did bring Props to their wavering Faith that yet remaind Unclad in lawless Armes some being gaind Unto Almanzor whose revolt had brought That freedome those whose subtile plots long sought For Innovations wisht the sickly State In sad Eruptions such as future Fate From sacred truths speaks deadly symptomes in Relaxes all that order which had been Till now her Cement the soft harmony Of peaceful Contracts sadly silenc'd by That discord in whose flames the Kingdome burnd Had all their Measures into Marches turnd Throughout his Dominions speedy Orders flow For raising Troops whilst with such hast as new Shorn Meadows when approaching stormes are nigh Tir'd Labourers huddle up both parties try To levy Armies The sad Scholar throws His Books aside and now in practice shews His studied Theoricks the stiff Labourer leaves i th' half-shorn fields the uncollected sheaves To female Taskers and exchangd his hook Into a Sword each busie Trade that took Pains in the nicer Ornaments of peace Sit idle till Want forc't them to encrease The new raisd Troops that Ornament o th' Hall Old Armours which had nothing but a Wall Of long time sav'd from the invading dust From Cobwebs swept though its Enamel rust Stick close and on th' unpractic'd Soldier put Forth of their breasts nor fear nor danger shut Yet with an Army of this temper in Hast huddl'd up the wandring Prince had been Inforc'd to fight had not his just Cause brought Some loyal Gentry such whose Vertue sought Truth for reward unto his side with which He now advances more compleatly rich In noble Valour then 's rebellious Foes In numerous Troops no Enemies oppose His speedy March till being now come near Alcithius Fort Almanzors timely fear Hurries him thence his better Fate depends On larger hopes unto such constant friends As equal guilt by sympathy secur'd To him he leaves the Castle and assur'd Them of relief with what convenient speed Those of his Faction which did only need His presence to confirm rebellion by An injur'd power could draw their Armies nigh As hence he marches each succesful hour Augments his strength till the unlawful power Trebl'd his injur'd Princes but as they Who carry guilt about them do betray Her by her Sister fear so these whose Crimes Dâ—tected durst not in more peaceful times Look Justice in the face and therefore now Stood vail'd in Armes against her fearing how She might prevail ' gainst power march not till A greater strength their empty bosomes fill With hope a tumor which doth oft dilate The narrow Souls of Cowords till their Fare Flatter them into ruine then forsakes Them in an Earthquake whose pale terror shakes Base Souls to flight whilst noble valor dies Adorn'd with Wounds Fames bleeding Sacrifice Almanzors doubtful Army since that here The threatning storm at distance did appear Lockt in a Calme possest with confidence Slowly their Squadrons move but had from thence Not a daies journey marcht before the sad News of Alcithiu's desperate danger had Pal'd o're their Camp which whilst the Leaders strove To animâ—te Almanzor faster drove On those designs which prospering might prevent It
in private to Their camp Argalia comes a camp which knew Him by the fair-wrought characters of fame So well that now he needs no more then name Himself to merit welcom all mistrust Being clear'd by them which left as too unjust To be obey'd the false Epirotsâ—ide â—ide When by his loss made subject to the pride Of stranger Chiefs these for their vertue prais'd For number fear'd to such a height had rais'd Applauding truths of him that Zarrobrin Conjoyn'd to one he trembl'd at whilst seen In opposition slights what did of late Appear a dreadfull precipice of fate Lest poor imployments might make favor shew Like faint mistrust he doth at first bestow On the brave stranger the supream command Of some choise horse selected to withstand The fierce Epirot's march whose Army ere The slow Aetolians could their strength prepare Fit to resist if not by him withstood With case had gain'd a dangerous neighborhood But he whose angers thunderbolts could stay Though hurl'd from clouds of rage if the allay Of judgement interpos'd here finding nought More safe then haste ere his secure foes thought Of opposition strongly had possest A strait in which small troops had oft distrest Large bodied Armies until brought so low Those they contemn'd did liberty bestow Whilst stop'd by this unlook'd for remora The baffl'd Army oft had strove to draw Argalia from his safe retreats but found His art of more advantage then his ground In the dead Age of unsuccesful night A forward party which had learn'd to fight From honors dictates not commands being by Youths hasty guide rash valor brought so night Argalia's troops that in a storm which cost Some lives they many noble Captives lost Amongst which number as if thither sent By such a fate as shew'd Heavens close intent Pointed at good Eâ—riolus appears First a sad captive but those common fears Soon whilst in conflict with his passions rest On the wish'd object of his long inquest Admir'd Argalia to whose joy he brings As much of honor as elected Kings Meet in those votes which so auspicious prove They light to honor with the rayes of love Having from him in full relation heard Pharonnida yet liv'd whom long he fear'd Beyond redemption lost they thence proceed To councels whose mature results might breed Their heedleâ—s foes confusion which since they That now were captives bore the greatest sway In the opposing Army proves a task So free from danger death did scarce unmask The face of horror in a charge before Argalia's name eccho'd in praises ore The rallied troops summons from thence so large A party that the valor of a charge In those that stood were madness which to shun Base Cowards taught brave Fighters how to run This easie conquest gain'd ere Zarrobrin Was with his slower Army drawn within The noise o' th' battel to such vast extent Of fame high vertues spreading ornament Had rais'd Argalia's merits that the pride Of his Commander wisely laid aside For such advantage to let honor stand On her own basis the supream command Of all the strangers in his Camp to him He freely gives a power which soon would dim His if ere by some harsh distemper plac'd In opposition but his thoughts imbrac'd In all suspitions darkest cells no fiend So pale as fear fixt on the sudden end Of high designs he looks on this success As the strait rode to future happiness With such a speed as prosperous victors go To see and conquer when the vanquish'd foe Retreats from honor the Aetolian had Follow'd success till that fair hand unclad The sunk Epirot of his strength and now Secur'd from forrein ills was studying how To cure domestick dangers which since he The weak foundation of his Tyrannie Had fixt in sand but onely cemented With loyal blood such just contempt had bred I' th' Ages deep discerning judgements that Th' unsettl'd herd ere scarcely lightned at Those sober flames like ill mixt vapors break In blustring murmurs forth which though too weak To force his fortune on the rocks of hate With terror shook the structure of his fate Like wise Physitians which when call'd to cure Infectious ills with Antidotes make sure Themselves from danger since hypocrisie Could steal no entrance to affection he Leads part of 's Army for his guard that they Where mines did fail by storm might force a way But since he doubts constrain'd domesticks though Abroad obedient might when come to know From burthen'd friends their cause of grief forsake Unjust commands his wiser care did take Argalia and his stranger troops as those Which unconcern'd he freely might dispose To winde up all the engines of his brain So guilt were gilded with the hopes of gain By hasty marches being arriv'd with these Within Aetolia where his frowns appease Those bubbles that their Neptune absent would Have swell'd to waves ere his hot spirits cool'd Were with relaxing rest he visits him The weak reflex of whose light crown looks dim To th' burnish'd splendor of his blade that set Him onely there to be the cabinet Of that usurped diadem which he Whose subtile arts in clouded brows could see The hearts intended storms beheld without His unstrain'd reach until the peoples doubt Which yet liv'd in the dawn of hope he saw Oreshadow'd with the forms of injur'd Law Though time that fatal enemy to truth Had not alone rob'd the fresh thoughts of youth O' th' knowledge of their long lost Prince but been Even unto those that had ador'd him in His throne oblivions handmaid yet lest by Some power occult that in captivity Forsakes not injur'd Monarchs there remain'd In most some passions which first entertain'd At pities cost at length by reason try'd Grew so much lov'd that onely power deny'd Them to support his sinking cause which seen By Zorabrin whose tyranny had been At first their fear and now their hate he brings His Army an Elixar which to Kings Transforms Plebeians by the strength of that To binde those hands that else had strugl'd at Their heads offence which wanting power to cure They now with griefs convulsions must endure A Court conven'd of such whose killing trade The rigid Law so flexible had made That their keen Votes had forc'd the bloodiest field To the deep tincture of the Scaffold yeild Forth of his uncouth prison summon'd by The rude commands of wrong'd Authority An object which succeeding Ages when But spoke of weep because they blush'd not then The Prince appears a guarded captive in That City where his morning Star had bin Beheld in honors Zenith slowly by Inferior slaves which nere on Majesty Whilst uneclips'd durst look being led to prove Who blush'd with anger or look'd pale with love By these being to a mock-tribunal brought Where damn'd rebellion for disguise had sought The veil of justice but so thinly spread Each stroke their envy levell'd at his head Betray'd black treasons hand couch'd in that Vote Which struck with Law to cut
we Sleeping i' th' bed of soft securitie Were with alarums wakened Faction had To shew neglects deformities unclad That gawdy monster whose first dress had bin The night-peec'd works of their unriper sin And those that in contracted fortunes dwelt Calmly in favors shadow having felt The glorious burthen of their honor grown Too large for all that fortune call'd their own Like fishes which the lesser frie devour Pride having join'd oppression to their power Prey'd on the subject till their load outgrew Their loyalty and forc'd even those that knew Once only to obey in sullen rage To mutter threats whose horror did presage That blood must in domestick jars be spilt To cure their envy and the peoples guilt These seeds of discord which began to rise To active growth by th' honorable Spies Of other Princes seen had soon betraid Our States obscure disease and call'd to aid Ambitious subjects forein powers whose strength First but as physick us'd was grown at length Our worst disease which whilst we hop'd for cure Turn'd our slow Hectique to a Calenture A Syracusian army that had bin Against our strength often victorious in A haughty Rebels quarrel being by Success taught how to ravish victory Without his aid which only useful prov'd When treason first for novelty was lov'd Seising on all that in 's pretended cause Had stoop'd to conquest what th' infeebled laws In vain attempted soon perform and give The traitor death from what made treason live This done whilst their victorious ensigns were Fann'd by fames breath they their bold standards bear Near to our last of hopes an army which Like oft try'd Oare disasters made more rich In loyal valor then vast numbers and By shaking fixt those roots on which did stand Their well-elected principles which here Opprest with number only did appeare In bravely dying when their righteous cause Condemn'd by fates inevitable laws Let its religion vertue valor all That heaven calls just beneath rebellion fall Near to the end of this black day when none Was left that durst protect his injur'd throne VVhen loyal valor having lost the day Bleeding within the bed of honor lay Thy wounded father when his acts had shewn As high a spirit as did ever groan Beneath misfortune is inforc'd to leave The fields wild fury and some rest receive In faithful Enna where his springs of blood VVere hardly stopt before a harsher slood Assails his eyes Thy royal mother then More blooming then earths ful-blown beauties when VVarm'd in the Ides of May her fruitful womb Pregnant with thee to an untimely tomb Her fainting spirits in that horrid fright Losing the paths of life from time from light And grief steals down yet ere she had discharg'd Her debts to death protecting heaven enlarg'd Thy narrow lodging and that life which she Lost in thy fatal birth bestow'd on thee On thee in whom those joys thy father priz'd More then lov'd empire are epitomiz'd And now as if the arms of adverse fate Had all conspir'd our ills to aggravate Above the strength of patience we are by Victorious foes before our fear could flie To a remoter refuge clos'd within Unhappy Enna which before they win Though storm'd with fierce assaults the restless sun His annual progress through-the heavens had run But then tir'd with disasters which attend A slow-pac'd siege unable to defend Their numbers from resistless famine they With an unwilling loyaltie obey The next harsh summons and so prostrate lie To th' rage or mercy of their enemie But ere the Cities fortune was unto This last black stage arriv'd safely withdrew To th' Castles strength thy father was where he Though far from safety finds the time to be Inform'd by sober councel how to steer Through this black storm love loyalty and fear Had often varied judgments but at last Into this form their full resolves were cast To cool hot action and to bathe in rest More peaceful places darkness dispossest The days soveraignity to usher whom Into her sable throne a clouds full womb Congeal'd by frigid air as if that then The elements had warr'd as well as men In a white vail came hovering down to hide The Coral pavements but forbid by th' pride o th' Conquerors triumphs and expell'd from thence As that which too much emblem'd innocence Since that the City no safe harbor yields It takes its lodging in the neighboring fields Which mantled in those spotless robes invite The Prince through them to take his secret flight In sad distress leaving his Nobles to Swallow such harsh conditions as the view Of danger candi'd ore from treacherous eyes Obscur'd in a Plebeians poor disguise His glorious train shrunk to desertless I The sad companion of his misery He now departing thee his infant son Heir to his crown and cares ordain'd to run This dangerous hazard of thy life before Time taught thee how thy fortune to deplore When ventring on this precipice of fate We slowly sallied forth 't was cold and late The drowsie guard asleep the Centries hid Close in their huds did shivering stand and chid The whistling winds with chatring teeth when now A leave as solemn as haste would allow Of all our friends our mourning friends being took We like the earth vail'd all in white forsook Our salliport whilst slowly marching ore The new faln snow thee in his arms he bore Whilst this imposture made the scar'd guards when They saw us move then make a stand agen Either to think that dallying winds had plaid With flakes of snow or that their sight betraid Their fancy into errors we were past The reach of danger and in triumph cast Off with our fears what had us safety lent When strength refus'd to save the innocent The eager lover hugs himself not in Such roseal beds of joy when what hath bin His sickly wishes is possest as we Through watchfull foes arriv'd to libertie Imbrace the welcom blessing first we stear Our course tow'rds Siracuse whose confines near The mountain stood upon whose cloudy brow Poor Enna did beneath her ruins bow The Stars cloath'd in the pride of light had sent Their sharp beams from the spangled firmament To silver ore the Earth which being embost With hills seem'd now enamel'd ore with frost The keen winds whistle in the justling trees And cloath'd their naked limbs in hoary frees When having pac'd some miles of crusted earth Whose labor warm'd our blood before the birth O' th' sluggish morning from his bed had drawn The early Villager the sober dawn Lending our eyes the slow salutes of light We are encountred with the welcom sight Of some poor scatter'd Cottages that stood In the dark shadow of a spacious wood That fring'd an humble valley toward those Whilst the still morn knew nought to discompose Her sleepy infancy we went and now Being come so near we might discover how The unstir'd smoke stream'd from the Cottage tops A glim'ring light from a low window stops Our further
discourses are Distastefull grown but what to sudden war Incites his rage which humor though it needs No greater fire then what his envy feeds Besides those Court-Tarantula's whose breath Stings easie Princes till they dance to death At the delightfull sound of flattery there Were deeper wits such whom a subtile care Not servile fear taught how to aggravate His angers flame till their own eager hate Though burning with a mortal fury might Pass unobserv'd since near a greater light Amongst those few whose love did not depend So much on fortune but the name of friend Was still preserv'd the faithfull Cyprian Prince Durst onely strive by reason to convince Their wilder passions but each Argument With which affection strugl'd to prevent A swift destruction onely seem'd to prove His friendship more effectual then his love From which mistake such as did strive to please The angry Princes passionate disease With what might seed the sickly humors draw A consequence that proves Pharonnida A blessing which was to his merits due Who most oppos'd the bold aspirer to That throne of Beauty which before possest Whole Armies must dispute their interest The slighted Cyprian since their fear could trust None but confederates from their Councils thrust Those swift conclusions which before to stay Their violence had Reason's cool allay Hurry'd to action strict commands are sent From fierce Zoranza through each Regiment Which stoop'd their Ensignes to his power that by Such marches as they 'd follow victory They reach Aetolia ere its new-crown'd King Warn'd by report had liberty to bring Opposing strengths a task too hard to be Perform'd with ease in powers minoritie Nor fails this Council for their Army draws No sooner near but such as in the cause Of unsuccessful Rebels late had been Expos'd to danger seek for refuge in A fresh revolt and since their ulcerous guilt Was so malignant that even mercy spilt Its balm in vain their injur'd Prince forsake To strengthen his proud Enemies who make Those Poisons up in Cordials and compound Them with their Army which being thus grown sound Whereas it lately fainted durst provoke Unto the trial of another stroke His late victorious forces which though yet Faint with the blood lost in the last great fit Of Honors fever when the Crisis prov'd The cures prognostick had with ease remov'd The proud invaders had Morea bin As heretofore a hurtful Neuter in That war which now since double strengths oppose Brave fortitude like base oppression shews So long both parties with varietie Of fortune fought that fearing whose might be The sad success that old Cleander in Such speed as if his Crown engag'd had bin Raises an Army whose command since he Base flattery takes for brave fidelitie Waving those Peers to whose known faith he owes The most of trust in hoodwink'd hope bestowes On false Almanzor who by power advanc'd Near to those hopes at which Ambition glanc'd But like weak eyes upon the dazeling sun From that last â—atal sâ—age his plots begun Mischiefs dark course which ere concluded shall Crush the Epirot in Morea's fall In this the hot distemper of their state Aâ—indâ— whom the Destinies of late To double-die his Honors purple-thred Robb'd of a father most disquieted Their secret councels since they knew the love He bore Argalia propt with power might prove A sad obstruction to their plots if he Urg'd by distastes shook their confederacie Off to assist his friend which to oppose With slattery fleeting as the gourd that rose But to discover his just wrath that made The plant to cover when it could not shade They all attempt though he engage not in Their party yet his easie youth to win By honors moths by times betrayers soft And smooth delights those serpents which too oft Strangle Herculean vertues But they here In Ages April find a wit appear Of such full growth that by his judgment they Are undermin'd who studied to betray Being thus secur'd from forein fears they now Imploy that rage whose speed could scarce allow Advice from Councel to extirpate those New planted Laurels vict'rie did compose To crown Argalia But before they go To ravish Conquest from so cheap a Foe Whose valor by orewhelming power was barr'd From lying safe at a defensive guard Till old Cleander that their league might be Assur'd by bonds whose firm stabilitie Death only could divorce intends though she With such aversion as their destinie Wretches condemn'd would shun attempt to fly The storm of fate yet countmanded by His power the fair Pharonnida although He not to love but duty seem'd to owe For such a blessing should Zoranza's be Confirm'd by Hymen's high solemnitie This resolution whose self-ends must blame Her fathers love once registred by fame Submits to censure whilst Pharennida Laments her fate some prompted by the law Of love and nature are to entertain So much of freedom as they prove in vain Her advocates Others whose cautious fear Dares only pity in that dress appear Silent and sad only Almanzor in This State-distemper by that subtile sin Dissimulation so disguises all His black intentions that whilst truth did call Him Treasons agent its reflected light Appearance spoke him Vertues proselyte So much a Convert as if all those hot Crimes of his youth ambition had begot Discreeter age had either cool'd or by Repentance chang'd to zeal and loyalty Whilst thus i' th' Court the most judicious eyes Deluded were by factions false disguise By rumors heavy as the damps of death When they flie laden with the dying breath Of new-departed souls this fatal news Assaults the Princess which whilst reason views With sad resentments to support her in This storm of fate Amindor who had bin In all her griefs her best adviser now Enters to tell her fainting sorrows how They'd yet a refuge left from whom she might Reap hopes of safety The first welcom sight Of such a friend whose former actions had â—nhanc'd his worth encountring with her sad And serious thoughts so rarifies that cloud Of grief that ere dissolving tears allow'd A vocal utterance as intended words Something contain'd too doleful for records Both sigh'd both wept at length the Princess broke Silence and thus lier dismal passions spoke Dare you my Lord approach so near unto A factious grief in this black storm to view Distrest Pharonnida have either I Or my Argalia's slighted memorie Yet in Morea a remaining friend Whose vertue dares by its own strength contend Against this torrent of Court-factions Now Now Royal Sir that doom which will allow My soul no more refreshing slumbers by My father's past my father Sir whom I Must disobey with all the curses due To black rebellion or else prove untrue Those vows those oft repeated vows which in Our Loves full growth hath to Argalia bin Seal'd in the sight of heaven About to speak Her passions fuller sorrow here did break The sad theme off and to proclaim her fears Except th'oreflowing language of her tears