conjoyn'd they fought For which the Sun shall ne'r consume a Day But I devoted thankes to Heaven will pay That can no Merit great enough allow To you as Princes and as Lovers too For which 't is my unhappiness to live Except at once I had two Souls to give Yet must your Passions blame that did decree A Death of both or either without me That could have been contented first to dye And Pay Loves Debt with my sad destiny Then to each Prince a gentle hand does give Which humbly kiss'd they on their knees receive Whose Lilly-white best Orient-Pearl did stain And out-shin'd Saphyrs blew in every vein Thus leads them with her to a Royal seat Where soon Merlinus did attend to Greet The happy Cures his wondrous art had done Which they with highest thanks and presents own 〈◊〉 to his Person great endearments give Admiring his deep meanes by which they live Whence they in such short time o'rcame their griefs And Nature furnish'd with such strange reliefes To whom Merlinus thus does humbly speak Since Nature her bright handmaid Art did make Few of her Counsels and admir'd effects But profound Science wondrously Inspects Else her large Providence that guides things here Must prove to Mortals but a niggard Care If she producing Creatures by her Power Did fail of meanes their Glories might restore Hence through the Universe her healthful Lawes With every being show a Divine cause While Stars no more her operations cost Than Plants and Herbs that humbly spring may boast Nor does this Mistress of the World deny To disclose secrets in her bosome lie If Mans frail Sense she does sublimely teach Can the deep Process of her wonders reach Hence Med'cins sets apart and joyes the Cure That makes her Individuals long endure Which in her most lov'd sympathies consist Or such Antipathies Disease resist Thus by my skill and fervent Prayers I sought That Soul to Inform'd matter first she brought Which has from Elements distinct essence Yet is of all things one best Quintessence And this our Lives Infirmities Restores Beyond the aid of Natures common Powers Assisting life with life the self same way That first in Bodies she did Souls convey This said a Vial of a substance too His Art next precious to th' Elixar knew Presents the Queen and Princes which contain'd This sublime worke by his deep Science gain'd At Natures richest cost whose value could Purchase the World and next transmute to Gold All kind of mettals that if Treasure fail This endless wealth might Brittains Foes assaile And here admiring they a while it view Which does in colour far more beaut'ous show Than Iris various Arch and seemes like beames Of Sun and Stars or more Coelestial Flames And to Merlinus with one voice reply Most mighty Bard since in thy skill doth lie Such sublime knowledge ne'r to Man was known May future Ages ever it Renown Not suffering time whose hand doth often raze His choicest glories ever thine deface Or from forgotten truth make Fictions Fame The bold oblivion of thy sacred Name Which said resolve this matchless work shall be Preserv'd as Natures highest Mystery And in that Temple kept where Brittains pay Devotion to her mighty Power each day And now the Queen whose mind unusual cares Did apprehend in her late sad despaires Acquaints him how her Soul a Voyage took In that deep Trance as it lifes Fetters broke Whence to her seem'd that warlike Nations spread Banners throughout this Isle with horror led Whose manners they before did never know With Images beheld of Princes too That should mix blood with Brittains Royal Line And thence succeeding Ages fruitful shine Changing Complexion of our Lawes and Speech Say wond'rous Bard if thy deep Science reach To future things What do these Visions speak Or are they but such Fantasmes vain Dreams make To which this Learned Sage does thus express Illustrious Queen though 't is most hard to guess Succeeding Acts of Time wrapt in the Lawes Of Providence the Worlds great hidden cause While in our Bodies Souls commix with Sence That does obstruct their Divine Praescience Else might their Vision without sensual eyes Take highest Prospect of her Mysteries Since Nature to the World and all things live In different Bodies a-like Soul does give And is diffus'd from her Internal mind Where every cause does actual fore-sight find Which since our Souls cannot in Bodies reach By glorious Mediums she our Sence does teach Nor must we think the Orbes and Starry-Sphaere But as Nights Tapers Heaven has kindled there Or that Ecclipses of the Sun and Moon Defects of Nature show and not our own Though it must dazel Humane sence to read The Text of Heaven in such bright causes spread Hence oft Mutations follow Crowns and States Which ignorant minds allot to Chance and Fates While nothing to us Mortals 〈◊〉 insues But she in some Prophetick Cause foreshewes And what the restless studies of my Art To you great Queen and Princes can impart I humbly offer in this hour to show That strikes my Soul with some amazement too Craving this Royal Presence a short space Some learned Products of his skill to grace And may for Brittains sake be useful seen Which said the Princes with the beauteous Queen Remove in State and thus by him are brought To an Appartment vast and wond'rous wrought From Archytects taught by his deep survey Which none but he e'r enter'd to this day Wherein this Sage long Contemplation took T' instruct the World in Natures profound Book Or else the Muses sublime Raptures writ That Poets call Heavens best inspired wit A Science graces all yet taught by none In Schooles Pedantick Tearmes and Precepts known Where Faith could not it self from Tutors free While this remains untaught Divinity And Natures best Exchequer has for store Spending profusely thence yet never Poor Though oft like virtue meets Inglorious Fate Since more than Human Soul its worth must rate Nor did that Age the Muses less esteem Than Sacred Raptures Men Prophetick deeme From whence the wise Castalian Cliffs aspir'd And with Heavens zeal this Divine gift admir'd The End of the Sixth Canto The Seventh Canto ANd now this Royal Presence duely plac'd Wonder to see how this Appartment's grac'd Whose Globulous roofe seems like a moving Sphaere Where Stars in Aspects shine as Heaven was there Nor were the Walls and Pillars less bright fam'd By his great skill of hardn'd Chrystal fram'd That none e'r malleable had made before And which all shapes of Creatures figur'd bore Then entertains their Royal Eares and sight With Bodies wond'rous organ'd for delight While some in Birdlike shapes best Musick sing And thus about this Roofe are seen to wing Next which in various Postures did appear Gygantick figur'd-Men and what 's as rare The shapes of Pigmyes Natures Dwarfish crew That Dialogue speak and make strangè exits too A Crystal wall then severs whence to sight A Scene appeares than Evenings Sky more
Honors Cause permits these tears More than a Lover loves his Soul endeares Then Albianus this fam'd Captain takes To his embrace and thus obliging speaks Thou Father of our Armes and more than all Honor does most renown'd in Mortals call Repine not 't is thy glorious fate to be With Fortune thus at virtuous enmity Or think past Trophies thou from Rome hast got While Brittain bears a name can be forgot My Warlike Sire Great Arthur ost did name Martianus with his Chiefes of Noblest same Telling what acts were by thy valour done In all those famous Battels he had won And to his Son thou shalt be still as dear While I thy Counsels and thy Dangers share Hoping to see thy Armes Romes yet subdue And to thy aged Garlands add more new Till then repine not thou hast lost a Field Alass thou didst but to more numbers yield Which Great Bonduca will her self confess Charging fate onely with thy ill success While for her sake our force shall soon contend Who did with aid Favonius to her send By whose great Prowess Rome and Gaul declin'd Their dreadful Onsets against London joyn'd And more a Comfort in thy Heart impress That these must fight us now or yield success Unto our Armes which in Bonduca's Cause Must out-doe wonder and to Rome give Lawes No less Martianus Vortiger endears Calling his Conduct Soul of Brittish Wars And next recounts those mighty deeds h 'ad done When late from Scots and Picts they Battels won Then Martianus with this grace o'rcome Feeles noble Passion gives his speech no room But to express a glorious wish to dye If his life may promote their victory And now the Princes view his harrass'd force Which had through roughest dangers fought their course His stately Ensignes with fierce Arrowes tore As scarce a mark remain'd of what they bore Then in their Battel these embody'd are Where their great Chief a high Command does bear Resolv'd their Valours shall set London free With its fair Queen from Roman Tyranny Soon had the wary Ennius perceiv'd This City by Favonius was releiv'd And that thus near the Princes Battels drew Highly resolv'd to assail their Powers too He therefore swiftly had his Army drawn By dreadful Bodies in this spacious Lawn The Brittain Forces for their Station took And thus with furious eyes on each now look Glad were the Brittish Heroes to perceive The time was come their Foes would Battel give Whose Valours did occasion so embrace As if their Souls were wing'd in Honors Race While thus to Royal Vortiger does speak Great Albianus May we happy make This day Lov'd Prince in which we see Romes power Spread their Battallions here this welcome hour That Courts our Armes such Honor to atcheive As may this antient City now relieve If Heaven to Brittain glory does decree We shall Bonduca aid successfully And teach her foes the Guilt of their bold sin Who thought their force enough her soul to win How has her virtues these unshaken stood When Ennius forc'd his way by Flames and Blood And fierce Alvatrix did that dread improve Threatning to Crown by force his burning love But e'r that Gaul shall boast so fair a Prize Let us resolve to fall her Sacrifice And dye this Plain with Blood if that can be A meritorious cause of Victory Then sprightly Vortiger at this darts beams That spoke the vigour of his Martial Flames Which at Bonduca's Name his breast inspires As lightning breakes from Clouds imbosom'd fires And thus to Albianus does express I 'l welcome Death if fate denyes success Nor shall my Soul be in this Body borne A living Witness and this Island mourn This day if lost 't is just that Princes fall When their sad Countrey keeps its funeral Nor shall Bonduca's vertues e'r reprove My valour to want merit for her Love Since in her cause if I make Death my own My end shall then add Glory to my Throne Then Arthur's Son a Supreme station takes Whence to his Militants and Cheifs thus speaks Fellows in Armes the wish'd for time is come To end this Islands long-made-War with Rome And needless 't were to tell you of the cause Since Rome and Gaul by th' Sword would give us laws Or thence infer how your rich Countrey may With Wives and Daughters soon become their prey This were from fear to bid you now to fight When Native Valour does enough excite Our Brittish blood which though 't is bred so near The Northern Pole was ne'r yet chill'd by fear Let Romans then their Oratories spend To raise their duller Legions to contend Enough we see the Foes that we must fight And not from words our hearts to Armes invite At this loud shouts of Joy do fill the Plain Which shake the Earth where Roman Powers Campain The usual Custom of this Martial-Isle When they embrace Wars most renowned toyl No less the Consul Ennius does take care To make this day the Glory of his VVar His force with Romes best Conduct now array'd That oft had Monarchs their great Captives made Then in Magnan'mous words the use of Rome T'incite their Militants to overcome He thus begins Lov'd Souldiers if that we Deserve by arms the worlds Sov'ráignity Since our Renowned City Deify'd Her Scepter'd Romulus for deeds atchiev'd By glorious Arms whose Capitol yet stands Fill'd with our Trophies won from Conquer'd Lands Where Mars is Templ'd with his fellow Gods Pleas'd to convert our Swords into their Rods And next to their Divinity allow The Earths Dominion to our vertue due Let not this day then our fam'd power beguile That oft has harrass'd this so potent Isle Though Nature joyn'd with Mighty Neptunes hand To sever't from the world Romes wide Command Yet could not our Renowned Julius stay Who sought on t Conquest wheresoe'r it lay And by our prowess ages since maintain'd The Noble Relicks here his valour gain'd We have the Legions still from him were nam'd The Tenth most lov'd with all the rest as fam'd They were but Romans then as we are now If we their virtues but inherit too How will the world our warlike Eagles dread If still this Isle remains unconquered When to our shames it shall recorded be One dayes Pharsalia forc'd Romes liberty Nor are their Conducts worthy of our fears Though Albianus joyns with Vortigers Infants in Arms while I their Fathers fought And thence great triumphs to our Empire brought You saw to us Martianus Powers gave way Think that a sign of a more signal day Since he the aged Captain of their Hoast Has prov'd how dear our Conflicts with him cost While London that our fierce assaults withstood Will then be yours without expence of blood And with its riches pay your Martial toyls Yielding their matchless Queen to grace our spoyls Thus speaks great Ennius while the Prince of Gaul Does on his Chiefs with furious vigour call Letting them know what honor will accrue To Rome and Gaul if Britains they subdue
Ascendant and this Islands too This done the rest to happy Aspects glyde By Tracts till this stupendous night untry'd While Venus does her soft Conjunction joyn With Mars his Sphaere to court his gentle shine Oft had the Romans with enraged sense Invok'd Heav'ns more auspicious influence Wondring that it should lend a glimmering eye T'inlighten Britains while their Powers do fly Then does fierce Ennius bid his Soothsayers waite What they can gather from decrees of Fate Or where no ominous Raven croaks this night That Romans now their bold Retreatings fight His Brandisht Spear then upward does extend Whence great refulgent Mars his beams does send Asking whe'r hee 'l a shining witness be Whilst British Arms force Roman Pow'rs to flye Or if bright Venus shall oblige thy Beams Acquaint her that I yield to Loves soft flames And though I Britains fight Bonduca love If that her kinder influence may improve Now had Alvatrix rally'd from their flight Great Troups of Gauls to ayd the Consuls fight Who now would seem to banish their swift fear And with new eager fury Britains dare Hoping the days past toyls would faint their Powers Or fate oppose them with nights dismal hours Thus does this Chief inflame their hearts and arms Not judging Ennius felt Bonduca's charms Or as his Rival now fights Loves cause more Than to triumph for Romes victorious Power Though from this Gaul he subt'ly does conceal What time or prosp'rous leasure best reveal Closely their foes pursu'd had Britains fought As their retreats to bloody halts are brought While Romes great Chief by bold degrees does fly Leaving the Earth behind a crimson die Whose ripen'd Harvest with rude hoofs they tread That Ceres mourns the blessings she had bred And thinks that Nature vainly does provide To nourish men so full of hostile pride Or that the world so largely by her blest Should not have room for humane Pow'rs to rest Who like the foes of Nature still must be Contending to usurp her Monarchy Thus Heav'n incens'd does cloud this dreadful night While Stars as dimmer Tapers lend their light Whence fierce Confusions to each side accrue And as they seek out Foes their friends pursue The British Ensignes mixt with Romans stay And thus in bloody Mingles both sides slay Experienc'd Chiefs not knowing where to guide While ev'n their ranks their fighting foes divide Each generous Steed that did undaunted bear His Heroes burthen tramples now in fear Lest on some Masters friend his steps should tread And thus by wary snorts discern the dead While some that had their valiant burthens lost Charge wild revenges on each mighty Hoast Whose nimble Fury does the wind out-flye And where Spears thickest range Assailants dye Others from noble sense that Nature gives This Creature which for Man so usefull lives Find out their Owners Corps and lick them o're In hope their balmy breaths may life restore Wishing their burthens they might bear again And in their eager mouths rejoyce their Rain That foes might death receive from their bold Seates And thus their mournful sense laments their fates No less disorder'd from these dark mistakes Each British Chariot dreadful conduct makes Whose Guides to unknown Tracts commit their way As Pilots steer an unacquainted sea While these like vessels furious winds annoy With boistrous meetings do themselves destroy And tackl'd thus to one another glide Till their rough speed does rent them side from side Some from their warlike seats their guides hurle down And thus to many fatal ends are known While others their bold fury to restrain Are drag'd to deaths as they still grasp their rain More to encrease the terrors of this night The British Princes had pursu'd the fight So bravely home as many in their Hoast Conclude them in these clouds of danger lost Yet in these perils such wise conduct show As thence their soes receive their greatest blow While Albianus Armes bravely relieve Undaunted on-sets Vortigers do give Nor do these toyls their pretious bodies bear Detain the Expedition of their care Who think it sin a bleeding wound to stay Until by victory they win delay Esteeming blood where life it self does stream Too cool a vent for warrs high feavers flame Which man must spend as Natures noblest Purge VVhen Honour the Souls Crisis does it urge Sometimes their Steeds declin'd on foot they lead To make their Foes the Infantry more dread As soon the Cavalry with ayd supply Or else with these to them in succours fly Thus dismal errors they repair of night Heading their Britains with successful fight VVhile now they seem to want no other star Since these Illustrious Guides their Conducts are But Albianus that with grief had weigh'd How nights mistakes the dayes past conquest stay'd Although the Britains with couragious toyls Ravisht from Fortune her unwilling smiles Like some great Chief that would his conduct make Above what it or daring Foes can shake With warlike Vortiger consults the State Of their success and Romes approaching fate From whom the British Chiefs Commands receive Which their bold onsets a wise respite give Whose Bodies rally'd they embattail'd stand To force the glory of their joynt Command Mean while the wary Consul led his Flight In scatter'd Bodies aided by the night Whose cloudy vail does expedite their way Imploring Phaebus to hold back the day Lest British Powers should now behold they fly And not like Romans boldly stand and dye Which Vann of fear the wav'ring Gauls now lead As Wolves their fury spent to covert speed Oft had Great Ennius's undaunted Soul Try'd how his valour might their fears controul Wishing that he could look his Forces dead Who palely yield to quit their warlike head Revolving next How he for love had fought And in Bonduca Roman glory sought Charging injustice on his Fate to doom His Arms defeat and not his Love o'recome While by an open voice and impious flame Alvatrix curses Stars and Heaven's great Name Wishing that they might ne'r more glory own But as close Mourners to the world be shown That yield no Beam which does success bestow Rendring Bonduca's Conquest hopeless too Whom as a Prize of War he hop'd to win And make his Sword the Champion of his sin He raging thus the Consul strives to make His furious heat some temp'rate thoughts partake Letting him know that if with Rome 〈◊〉 He must unmov'd the strokes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or else from Roman Heroes learn to die Who Fate o'rcame in spight of Victory Letting Gods see how they frail life despise That with their hands themselves could sacrifice Nor shalt thou want example in me too When brave Despair shall bid me Fate subdue Thy heart is smitten with Bonduca's Beams And I both pity and admire thy flames But we may yet this fatal loss repair While Rome and Gaul has warlike Succours near Which by my conduct and some wise delay Shall Brittish Arms with greater loss repay This said their Powers disorder'd flight they guide
the most approv'd in these brave Rites Such as great Arthur in his Life did Fame For Glorious Tournments and Wars daring Flame Of whom Albianus does Darander take With stout Androgeus Lists did famous make And bold Clarinus expert as the rest With twenty Knights on each side skill'd the best To whom great Vortiger his Chiefs does add Corynus Troylus Torringer all glad Their Launces with their Martial Prince to weild Whom Foes could ne'r resist when Fought in Field Who for their Judges fam'd Martianus chuse With brave Favonius could to wonder use Their Armes in Turn'ments and from Rome had won Trophies their Valours highly did Renown And from the Queen had Garlands to bestow With Silver Shields must happy Victors show That here most dext'rously their Launces guide And best command their furious Steeds bold Pride From whom the Signal Given on Coursers meet Might challenge Windes to match their speedy Feet While from their Hoofes the Ground does seem to shake As it did now an Earthquakes Ague take And in these Glorious Pastimes here to show How much their Prowess against Foes could doe Their mighty Launces though tough Limbs of Oake Are with their onsets into shivers broke Rebounding from their Armed Breasts so high As if they did from Battering Engins fly Which these upon their Steeds unmov'd abide Might level Towers Assaults of War defy'd While these great Princes that submitted here Their Lives and Loves to Fates regardless care Had slightest Armours with design put on Their Launces Pierce and in their Bodies run From whence blood issues out with so much haste As now their lives must but few minutes last That even their souls were taking wing to sly To Deaths Pale seates frail Natures Ignomy And thus fall from their Steeds imbru'd in Gore While all here Present doe from Heaven Implore Their hopeless Lives which how shall Brittains mourn Or Gaules and Romanes hence despair returne But more than all the beauteous Queen opprest With griefe and Love each storming now her Breast A while wants Power to lift to Heaven her eyes Or speak with Tears her tender hearts surprize Then calls for help from such best skill'd in Cure But finds their Arts cannot her Fears secure And even Heaven blames that Love allow'd such charmes Should be no Medicine to heal their harmes Yet as Loves Cordials layes her lips to theirs Mingling of kisses with the Balme of Tears While such deep simpathy her heart does feel As thence her tender life begins to steal Whose Rose and Lilly Cheeks now turn to pale That even her beauties shine but through deaths vaile Her Pulse scarce beating Natures utmost strife While Virgin-Palmes her Temples Chafe for life A midst whose Armes she 's in a Chariot laid And gently towards her Court is thus convey'd Next whom the Princes are in Litters borne This glorious Presence sad Attendants mourn Invoking Heaven with Teares and loudest Griefe To yield their Lives in these extreames Reliefe Yet more then their deep Cures the Queens despair That in her breast the wounds of Love did bear In this distress some Sages present move They should Merlinus skill before all prove Who had such wondrous Cures for Brittains wrought By Remedies no Art save his e'r taught To whom all yield and make Merlinus know What high concernes require his Presence now While Queen and Princes mournfully they bear To Beds of ease scarce breathing lifes last ayre The End of the Fifth Canto The Sixth Canto BEfore these Tydings to Merlinus speed His swifter Science knew the fatal need Of Queen and Princes who in Natures Book For all events did most Assiduous look Nor could her Causes and Effects create The World a Providence or Mankind Fate But as her aptest Schollar him had taught Which other Mortals as vain Empericks sought Who no less weighs her humble ease and power In every tender Hearb and smiling Flower Then in those prouder Blessings she conveys From Sun or Stars stupend'ous course and Rayes And now Merlinus at the Court appears The Queen and Princes dangers fill'd with cares Who but in his deep skill their hope repose Since Fate their lives so dreadful did oppose Where he beholds the beauteous Ladies Mourn As if to Statues Niob like they 'd turne Or that the Queens soft life so farr were fled His Art must now recall her from the Dead While with their Prayers and Blessings he arrives Unto her Presence viewing how life strives For weak Possession in that beaut'ous frame Death as his fairest Captive hopes to claim Next feels her Pulse with all his subtle Art But finds its strength retyr'd to ayde the Heart Which as Loves Region has a right to be The last surrender'd to Deaths Victory Then takes a Cordial made of purest Gold No man before did Potable behold With Dewes infus'd the Diamond Rocks distil And Pearles rich Soul extracted by his skill To these an Essence adds more precious too Chymists th' Elixar call but since none show That would this work in costly Limbecks breed And coldly live their Arts vain Fires to feed While of this Liquor whose least drop might be Valu'd above all Indian-Treasury Through the Queens Lips conveys a gentle draught Whence Life even fled away is back soon brought And now her Pulse begins lifes March to beate While Death's pale Flags her Rosie Cheeks defeat And next does open Windowes of her Eyes That seem like Stars new kindled in the skies Merlinus joy'd his Cordial thus succeeds To th' wounded Princes next his Person speeds Griev'd that he could not all at once supply And weeps to see in what extreames they lie Then takes a Balme of this Elixar made Which to their griefs with tender hand convey'd Their drooping hearts to wonder does restore And shows their wounds must not have Mortal power Nor had the Sun two dayes bright Circles shin'd But their great Lives their Pristine vigours find Which more to Joy the Queen as speedy mends And all but Loves soft wounds from his Cure ends Whence common Artists that make life endure A tedious Diet and loath'd Physicks Cure Wonder'd Disease so soon surpriz'd should be By his sublimer skill and remedy And now that rumor swiftly might convey Through Brittain Joyes for this most happy day The Princes visit the most beaut'ous Queen Who for their sakes had thus afflicted been And at her feet with tears now prostate lie Imploring pardon they design'd to dye Since she their lives esteem'd at that high price As to resign her own Deaths Sacrifice Grieving that Love should so much oblige Fate And from her wounds their sins recriminate Who for Loves sake chose death themselves to give That she more happy by their falls might live To whom with gracious words she thus replyes Belov'd of Men and Joy of Brittish Eyes Who ne'r like this shall Register an hour Though their bright Records mention Roman Power Defeated by your Prowess and Gaul brought To rue that time when you