into his heart He was but young scarce did the Hair begin In shadows to write man upon his Chin Tall and well-set his Hair a Chesnut brown His looks Majestick 'twixt a smile and frown Yet smear'd with blood and all bedew'd with sweat One could not know him by this time the heat Was well-nigh slak'd and Sol's unwearied Team Hies to refresh them in the briny Stream The stranger â—y'd her earnestly and she As earnestly desir'd that she might see His perfect Visage To the River side She toles him on still he Thealma ey'd But not a word he spake which she desir'd The more he look'd the more his heart was fir'd Down both together fate and while he wash'd She drest his wound which the Boar lately gash'd And having wip'd he kist her for her care When as a blush begot 'twixt joy and fear Made her seem what he took her for his Love And this invention he had to prove Whether she was Clarinda ay or no For so his Mistress hight Did not you know The Prince Anaxus now Thealma knew Not whether it were best speak false or true She knew he was Anaxus and her Brother And from a Child she took him for no other Yet knew she not what danger might ensue If she disclos'd her self her telling true Perhaps might work her ruine and a lie Might rend her from his heart worse than to die But she being unwilling to be known Answer'd his Quere with this Question Did not you know Thealma at the name Amaz'd he started What then lovely Dame Suppose I did would I could say I do With that the wept she fell a melting too And with a flood of tears she thanks her Brother No danger can a true affection smother He wipes her eyes she weeps again afresh And sheds more tears t' enrich her thankfulness Sorrow had ty'd up both their tongues so fast Love found no vent but through their eyes at last Anaxus blushing at his childish tears Rous'd up himself and the sad Virgin chears And knew you that Thealma sweet said he I did reply'd Thealma I am she Look well upon me sorrow 's not so ' nkind So to transform me but your eye may find A Sisters stamp upon me Lovely Maid How fain I would believe thee the Youth said But she was long since drown'd in the proud Deep She and her bold Clearchus sweetly sleep In those soft Beds of darkness and in Dreams Embrace each other spight of churlish streams The very name Clearchus chill'd her Veins And like an unmov'd Statue she remains Pale as Death's self till with a warm love kiss He thaw'd her icy coldness such power is In the sweet touch of love Sweet soul said he Be comforted the sorrow 'longs to me Why should the sad relation of a woe You have no interest in make you grieve so No interest said she Yes Anaxus know I am a greater sharer in 't than you Have you forgot your Sister I am she The hapless poor Thealma and to me Belongs the sorrow you but grieve in vain If 't be for her since she is found again Are you not then Clarinda said the Youth 'T were cruelty to mock me with untruth Your Speech is hers and in your Looks I read Her lovely Character sweet Virgin lead Me from this Labyrinth of Doubts what e're You are there is in you so much of her That I both love and honor you Fair Sir Answered Thealma smiling why of her Make you so strict enquiry is your eye So dazel'd with her beauty that poor I Must lose the name of Sister Say you love her Can your love make you cease to be a Brother Whereat from forth her Bosom next the Heart She pluckt a little Tablet whereon Art Had wrought her skill and opening it said she Do you not know this Picture let that be The witness of the truth which I have told With that Anaxus could no longer hold But falling on her neck with joy he kist her Saying Thanks Heaven liv'st thou then my dear Sister My lov'd Thealma wert not thou cast away What happy hand hath sav'd thee But the day Was then far spent 't was time to think on home And her Caretta all amaz'd was come And waited her commands the fiery Sun Went blushing down at the short race he run The Marigold shuts up her golden Flowers And the sweet Song birds hy'd unto their Bowers Night-swaying Morpheus clothes the East in black And Cynthia following her Brothers track With new and brighter Rayes her self adorns Lighting the starry Tapers at her Horns Homeward Anaxus and Thealma wend Where we must leave them for a while to end The story of their Sorrows Night being come A time when all repair unto some home Save the poor Fisherman that still abides Out-watching care in tending on the Tides Rhotus was yet at Sea and as his Ketch Tackt to and fro the scanty wind to snatch He spyed a Frigat and as night gave leave Through Cynthia's brightness he might well perceive It was of Lemnos and as it drew near From the becalmed Bark he well might hear A Voice that hail'd him asking 〈◊〉 was He answer'd from Arcadia In that place Were many little Islands call'd of old Rupillas from the many Rocks they hold A most frequented place for Fish in vain They trimm'd their flagging Sails to stem the Main But scarce a breath of Wind was stirring when The Master hail'd the Fisherman agen And letting fall an Anchor beckon'd him To come aboard Rhotus delay'd no time But makes unto the Ship he soon got thither Using his Oars to out-do the Weather His Ketch he hooks unto the Frigats Stern And up the Ship he climbs he might discern At his first entry such a sad aspect In all the Passengers he might collect Out of their looks that some misfortune had Lately befaln them they were all so sad One 'mongst the rest there was a grave old man To whom they all stood bare that thus began Welcome kind friend nay sit what Bark with Fish Canst thou afford for Lemnian Coin a Dish Yes Master that I can a good Dish too And as they like you pay me I will go And fetch them straight He did so and was paid To his content the Fish were ready made And down they sate the better sort and worse Far'd all alike it was their constant course Four to a Mess and to augment their Fare Their second Courses good Discourses were Amongst the various talk the grave old Lord For so he was that hal'd the Ketch aboard Thus question'd Rhotus Honest Fisher tell What news affords Arcadia thou knowest well Who rules that Free-born State under what Laws Or Civil Government remain they what 's the cause Of their late falling out Rhotus replies And as he spake the tears stood in his eyes As well as grief will let me worthy Sir Though I shall prove but a bad Chronicler Of State Affairs yet with your gentle leave
might perceive such changes in the King As hath th' inconstant wellkin in the Spring Now a fair day anon a Dropsie cloud Puts out the Sun and in a Sable Shrowd The day seems buried when the Clouds are o're The glorious Sun shines brighter than before But long it lasts not so Alexis far'd His Sun-like Majesty was not impair'd So much by sorrow but that now and then It would break forth into a smile agen At last Sylvanus leaves him for a space And he was going to seek out a place To vent his griefs in private e're he went He ask'd if one for Memnon was yet sent With that he spies old Rhotus him he meets And Cleon with him both he kindly greets They kneeling kiss his hand he bids them rise And still Alexis noble Cleon eyes Whence are you Father said he what 's your name Cleon reply'd from Lemnos Sir I came My name is Cleon and full well the King Knew he was so yet he kept close the thing He list not let his Nobles know so much What e're the matter was his grace was such To the old men as rich in worth as years He leads them in and welcomes them with tears The thoughts of what had pass'd wrung from his eyes And with the King in Tears they sympathize O Rhotus said he 't was thy charity That rais'd me to this greatness else had I Fal'n lower than the Grave and in the Womb Of the salt Ocean wept me out a Tomb. Thy timely help preserv'd me so it pleas'd The all-disposing Fates There the King ceas'd His sad discourse he sighs and weeps afresh And rings old Rhotus hand in thankfulness Sorrow had tongue-ty'd all and now they speak Their minds in sighs and tears nor could they check These embrio's of passion reason knows No way to counsel passion that o'reflows Yet like to one that falls into a swoon In whom we can discern no motion No life nor feeling not a gasp of breath So like the bodies faintings are to death By little and by little Life steals in At last he comes unto himself agen Life was but fled unto the heart for fear And thronging in it well-nigh stifles there Till by its strugling Fear that chill'd the heart Meeting with warmth is forc'd for to depart And 's Life is loose agen so sorrow wrought Upon these three that any would have thought Them weeping Statues Reason at the length Strugling with passions recover'd strength And forc'd a way for speech Rhotus was first That brake this silence there 's none better durst He knew his cause of sorrow and was sure The gladsom news he brought had power to cure A Death-strook Heart yet in his wisdom he Thought it not best what e're his strength might be To let in joy too soon too sudden joy Instead of comforting doth oft destroy Experience had taught him so 't might be Nor would old Rhotus venture 't wherefore he By some ambigual discourses thought It best to let him know the news he brought So lowly bowing Rhotus thus begins Dread Sovereign how ill it suits with Kings Whose Office 't is to govern men that they Should be their passions laws self-Reason may Or should instruct you Pardon gracious Sir My boldness Virtue brooks no flatterer Nor dare I be so you have conquer'd men And rul'd a Kingdom shall your passions then Unking Alexis be your self agen And curb those home-bred rebel thoughts that have No pow'r of themselves but what you gave In suff'ring them so long had you not nurs'd Those Serpents in your bosom but had crush'd Them in the egg you then had had your health He rules the best that best can rule himself And here he paus'd Alexis willing ear Was chain'd to his discourse when with a tear He sigh'd out this reply I know it well I would I could do so but tears 'gan swell Rais'd by a storm of sighs he soon had done Which Rhotus noting boldly thus went on Most Royal Sir be comforted I fear My rude Reproofs affect not you soft Ear Which if they have I 'm sorry gracious Sir I ask your pardon if my Judgment err I came to cure your sorrows not to add Unto their heavy weight that makes you sad To cure me Rhotus said Alexis no Good man thou canst not do 't didst thou but know The sad cause whence they spring Perhaps I do Reply'd old Rhotus and can name it too If you 'l with patience hear me chear up then After these show'rs it may be fair agen As I remember when the Heavens were pleas'd To make me your Preserver you my Guest And happy was I that it fell out so Amongst the many fierce assaults of woe That then oppress'd your spirit this was one When you were private as to be alone You most affected I have often heard You sigh out one Thealma nor have spar'd To curse the Fates for her what might she be And what 's become of her if I may be So bold to question it tell us your grieâ— The hearts unlading hastens on relief When sorrows pent up closely in the breast Destroy unseen and render such unrest To the Souls wearied faculties that Art Despairs to cure them pluck up a good heart And cast out those corroding thoughts that will In time undo you and untimely lay Your honor in the dust The speechless King Wept out an Answer to his counselling For speak he could not sighs and sobs so throng'd From his sad heart they had him quite untongu'd Will it not be said Rhotus then I see Alexis is unthankful not that He That once I took him for but I have done When first I found you on the Rock as one Left by stern Fate to ruine well-nigh drown'd And starv'd with cold yet Heaven found E'en in that hopeless exigent a way To raise you to a Crown and will you pay Heav'ns providence with frowns for ought you know She that you sorrow for so much may owe As much to Heav'n as you do and may live To make the Joy complete which you conceive In your despairing thoughts impossible I say who knows but she may be as well As you nay better more in health and free From head-strong passion Can I hope to be So happy Rhotus answer'd the said King No she is drown'd these eyes beheld her sink Beneath the Mountain Waves and shall I think Their cruelty so merciful to save Her their ambition strove for to ingrave Why not reply'd old Cleon who till then Had held his peace The Gods work not like men When Reason's self despairs and help there 's none Finding no ground for hope to anchor on Then is their time to work This you have known And Heaven was pleas'd to mark you out for one It meant thus to preserve 't is for some end A good one too I hope and Heav'n may send This happy seed-time such a joyful crop As will weigh down your sorrows kill not hope Before its time and let it raise your spirit To bear your sorrows nobly never fear it Thealma lives And here the Author dy'd and I hope the Reader will be sorry FINIS
drew near As she was singing and t' enrich their ear They made a stand behind the hedg to hear Her sweet soul-melting accents that so won Their best attention that when she had done The Voice had ravish'd so the good old men They wisht in vain she would begin agen And now they long to see what Goddess 't was That own'd so sweet a voice and with such grace Chid her sad Woes away The cause that drew Rhotus to Court was this after a view Made by the victor King of all his Peers And well deserving men that force or fears Had banish'd from their own and Peace begun To smile upon Arcadia to shun The future cavils that his Subjects might Make to recover their usurped right He made enquiry what each man possest During Lysander's Reign to re-invest Them in their honor'd places and such Lands As Tyranny had wrung out of his hands And minding now to gratifie his Friends Like a good Prince he for old Rhotus sends As he to whom he ow'd his Life and all The Honor he had rose to at his call Old Rhotus quickly comes leaving his trade To an old Servant whom long custom had Wedded to that vocation so that he Aim'd at no higher honor than to be A Master-fisher Cleon who of late As you have heard came from the Lemnian State In search of one whose name he yet kept close With Rhotus his kind Host to Court he goes And with him his Son Dorus in the way As you have heard Thealma made them stay And not contented to content their ear With her sweet Musick tow'rd her they drew near And wond'ring at her bravery and her beauty They thought to greet her with a common duty Would ill become them humbly on their knee They tender'd their respect and Prince-like she Thank'd them with nodds her high thoughts still aspire And their low lootings lift them a step higher Old Cleon ey'd her with such curious heed He thought she might be what she prov'd indeed Thealma her rich Gems confirm'd the same For some he knew yet durst not ask her name Caretta viewing Rhotus loving wench As if instinct had taught her confidence Runs from her Mistris contradicts all fears And asks him Blessing speaking in her tears Lives then Caretta said he Yes quoth she I am Caretta if you 'l Father me Then Heaven hath heard my Prayers or thine rather It is thy goodness makes me still a Father A thousand times he kiss'd the Girl whilst she Receives them as his Blessings on her knee At length he took her up and to her Dame With thanks return'd her saying If a blame Be due unto your Hand-maids fond neglect To do you service let your Frown reflect On her poor Father She as Children use Is over joy'd to find the thing they lose There needs no such apology kind Sir Answer'd Thealma duty bindeth her More strictly to th' obedience of a Father Than of a Mistris I commend her rather For tend'ring what she ow'd so willingly Believ 't I love her for it she and I Have drank sufficiently of sorrows cup And were content sometimes to Dine and Sup With the sad story of our woes poor cates To feed on yet we bought them at dear rates Many a tear they cost us you are blest In finding of a Daughter and the best Though you may think I flatter that e're liv'd To glad a Father as with her I griev'd For his supposed loss so being found I cannot but rejoyce with her the wound Which you have cur'd in her gives ease to mine And I find comfort in her Medicine I had a Father but I lost him too And wilfully my Girl so didst not thou Nor can I hope to find him but in wrath I lost his love in keeping of my Faith She would have spoken more but sighs and tears Brake from their prison to revive her fears Cleon altho he knew her by her speech And by some Jewels which she wore too rich For any Shepherdess to wear forbare To interrupt her he so lov'd to hear Her speak whom he so oft had heard was drown'd And still good man he kneel'd upon the ground And wept for joy Why do you kneel said she Am I a Saint what do you see in me To merit such respects pray rise 't is I That own a reverence to such gravity That kneeling better would become I know No worth in me to worl you down so low Yes gracious Madam what I pay is due To none for ought I know so much as you Is not your name Thealma hath your eye Ne're seen this face at Lemnos I can spy Ev'n through those clouds of grief the stamp of him That once I call'd my Sovereign age and time Hath brought him to his Grave that bed of dust Where when our night is come sleep we all must Yet in despight of Death his honor'd name Lives and will ever in the vote of Fame Death works but on corruption things Divine Cleans'd from the dross about them brighter shine So doth his Virtues What was earth is gone His heavenly part is left to crown his Son If I could find him You may well conceive At his sad tale what cause she had to grieve Reply she could not but in sighs and tears Yet to his killing language lent her ears And had not grief enforc'd him make a pause She had been silent still she had most cause To wail her Fathers loss Oh unkind Fate Reply'd Thealma it is now too late To wish I 'd not offended cruel love To force me to offend and not to prove So kind to let him live to punish her Whose fault I fear me was his murtherer O my Clearchus 't was through thee I fell From a Childs duty yet I do not well To blame thee for it sweetly may'st thou sleep Thou and thy faults lie buried in the deep And I 'll not rake them up ye partial powers To number out to me so many hours And punish him so soon why do I live Can there be hope that Spirits can forgive Yes gracious Madam his departing Soul Seal'd up your Pardon with a Prayer t'enroul Amongst his honor'd Acts left you his Blessing And call'd it love which you do stile transgressing Left you a Dowry worthy a lov'd Child With whom he willingly was reconcil'd Take comfort then Kings are but men and they As well as poor men must return to Clay With that she op't the flood-gates of her eyes And offer'd up a wealthy sacrifice Of thankful tears to expiate her crimes And drown their memory lest after times Might blab them to the world Rhotus gave ear To all that past and lent her many a tear The Alms that sweet compassion bestows On a poor heart that wants to cure its woes Caretta melted too though she had found What her poor Mistris griev'd at all drank round Of the same briny cup. Rhotus at last 'Gan thus to comfort her Madam tho hast
Betwixt the Curtains nearer then she creeps And to her Spirit whispers her command With that the Spirit seem'd to kiss his hand Which stew'd him into sweat a cloth she wants To wipe his face and his enflam'd heart pants Beyond its usual temper for some air To cool the passions that lay boiling there Out of his Bosom where his Nosegay was He draws a Napkin so it came to pass In plucking of it out the Nosegay fell Upon her face when with a countenance fell She started from him curst him and with threats Leap'd from the Bed Orandra stamps and frets And bit her lip she knew the cause full well Why her Charms fail'd her but yet could not tell With all her art how she might get from him That Sovereign Herb for touch it she durst not And at this time Anaxus had forgot The virtue of it as in a maze he lay At her soon starting from him Cast away Said she that stinking Nosegay with that he Bethinks of it but it was well that she Put him in mind on 't it had else been lost He little knew how much that Nosegay cost He seeks for 't finds it smells to 't and by it Turns out his lust and reassumes his wit No Hag said he if this do vex thee so I 'l make thee glad to smell to 't e're I go With that he leaps unto her cursing ripe And with his Herb the Witches face did wipe Whereat she fell to th' earth the lights went out And darkness hung the Chamber roâ—â—d about A hellish yelling noise was each wheâ—e heard Sounds that would make ev'n Valors self afeard A stifling scent of Brimstone he might smell Such as the damned Souls suck in in Hell He kept his powerful Herb still at his Nose And tow'rd the entry of the Room he goes For tho 't was more than midnight dark yet he Found the way out again Orrandra she Threw curses after him and he might hear Her often say I 'll fit you for this gear At the Caves mouth he found his careless man Wrapt in the Witches charms do what he can He could not wake him such sweet lullabies Pleasure sang to him till he rub'd his eyes With his rare Herb then starting up he leaps For joy to see his Master that accepts His love with thanks from thence they make no haste Yet where they were they knew not at the last They came into a Plain where a small Brook Did Snake-like creep with many a winding nook And by it here and there a Shepherds Cot Was lowly built to one of them they got T' enquire the way to Court now night drew on It was a good old man they lighted on Height Eubolus of no mean Parentage But courtly educated wife and sage Able to teach yet willing to enrich His knowledge with discourses smooth in speech Yet not of many words he entertains Them with desire nor spares for any pains To amplifie a welcome with their Host A while we leave them now my muse must post Unto Alexis Court lend me I pray Yonr gentle aid to guide her on the way Alexis after many civil broils Against his Rebel Subjects rich in spoils Being setled in his Throne in restful peace The Laws establish'd and his peoples ease Proclaim'd he 'gan to call into his mind The fore-past times and soon his thoughts did find Matter to work on First Thealma now Came to remembrance where and when and how He won and lost her this sad thought did so Afflict his mind that he was soon brought low Into so deep a melancholy that He minded nothing else nor car'd he what Became of State Affairs and tho a King With pleasure he enjoy'd not any thing His Sleep goes from him Meats and Drinks he loaths And to his sadder Thoughts he suits his Cloaths Mirth seem'd a Disease good counsel Folly Unless it serv'd to humor Melancholy All his delight if one may may call 't delight Was to find Turtles that both day and night Mourn'd up and down his Chamber and with groans His Heart consented to their hollow moans Then with his Tears the briny Drink they drank He would bedew them while his love to thank They nestle in his Bosom where poor Birds With piteous mournful tones instead of words They seem'd to moan their Master thus did he Spend his sad hours and what the cause might be His Nobles could not guess nor would he tell For Turtle-like he lov'd his griefs too well To let them leave his Breast he kept them in And inwardly they spake to none but him Thus was it with him more than half a year Till a new bus'ness had set ope his ear To entertain advice the first that brake The matter to him or that durst to speak Unto the King was bold Anaxocles One that bent all his study for the peace And safety of his Country the right hand Of the Arcadian State to whose command Was given the Cities Citadel a place Of chiefest trust and this the bus'ness was The Rebels as you heard being driven hence Despairing e're to expiate their offence By a too late submission sled to Sea In such poor Barks as they could get where they Rom'd up and down which way the winds did please Without or Chard or Compass the rough Seas Enrag'd with such a load of wickedness Grew big with Billows great was their distress Yet was their courage greater desperate men Grow valianter by suff'ring in their ken Was a small Island thitherward they steer Their weather-beaten Barks each plies his geer Some Row some Pump some trim the ragged Sails All were employ'd and industry prevails They reach the Land at length their Food grew scant And now they purvey to supply their want The Island was but small yet full of Fruits That sprang by Nature as Potato-Roots Rice Figs and Almonds with a many more Till now unpeopled on this happy Shore With joy they bring their Barks of which the best They Rig anew with Tackling from the rest Some six or seven they serviceable made They stand not long to study where to Trade Revenge prompts that unto them Piracy Was the first thing they thought on and their Eye Was chiefly on the Arcadian Shore that lay But three Leagues off their Theft is not by day So much as night unless some stragling Ship Lights in their trap by chance closely they keep Themselves in Rocky Creeks till Sun be down And all abed then steal they to some Town Or scatt'ring Village which they fire and take What Spoils they find then to their Ship they make And none knew who did harm them many a night Had they us'd this free-booting many a fright And great hearts-grieving loss the unarm'd poor Were night'ly put to and to cure this sore The old man rous'd the King Alexis chid His needless sorrow told him that he did Not like a man much less like one whose health Strengthens the Sinews of a Common-wealth He
I 'l tell you all I know nor will I weave Any untruths in my discourse or raise By flattering mine own Countrymen a praise Their worth were merited what I shall tell Is nothing but the truth then mark me well Then quiet silence shut up their discourse Scarce was a whisper heard Such a strange force Hath novelty it makes us swift to hear And to the speaker chains the greedy ear Arcadia was of old said he a State Subject to none but their own Laws and Fate Superior there was none but what old age And hoary hairs had rais'd the wise and sage Whose gravity when they were rich in years Begat a civil reverence more than fears In the well manner'd people at that day All was in common every man bare sway O're his own Family the jars that rose Were soon appeas'd by such grave men as those This mine and thine that we so cavil for Was then not heard of he that was most poor Was rich in his content and liv'd as free As they whose flocks were greatest nor did he Envy his great abundance nor the other Disdain the low condition of his Brother But lent him from his store to mend his state And with his love he quits him thanks his fate And taught by his example seeks out such As want his help that he may do as much Their Laws e'en from their childhood rich and poor Had written in their hearts by conning o're The Legacies of good old men whose memories Out-live their Monuments the grave advice They left behind in writing this was that That made Arcadia then so blest a State Their wholesome Laws had â—inkt them so in one They liv'd in peace and sweet communion Peace brought forth plenty plenty bred content And that crown'd all their pains with merriment They had no foe secure they liv'd in Tents All was their own they had they paid no rents Their Sheep found cloathing Earth provided food And Labour drest them as their wills thought good On unbought Delicates their Hunger fed And for their Drink the swelling Clusters bled The Vallies rang with their delicious strains And pleasure revel'd on those happy Plains Content and Labour gave them length of days And Peace serv'd in delight a thousand ways The golden Age before Deucalion's Flood Was not more happy nor the folk more good But time that eats the Children he begets And is less satisfied the more he eats Led on by Fate that terminates all things Ruin'd our State by sending of us Kings Ambition Sins first-born the bane of State Stole into men puffing them up with hate And emulous desires Love waxen cold And into Iron freeze the age of Gold The Laws contempt made cruelty step in And stead of curbing animated Sin The Rich man tramples on the Poor man's back Raising his Fortunes by his Brothers wrack The wronged Poor necessity 'gan teach To live by Rapine stealing from the Rich. The Temples which Devotion had erected In honor of the Gods were now neglected No Altar-smoaks with sacrificed Beasts No Incense offer'd no Love-strength'ning Feasts Mens greedy Avarice made Gods of Clay Their Gold and Silver Field to Field they lay And House to House no matter how 't was got The hand of Justice they regarded not Like a distemper'd Body Fever-shaken When with combustion every Limb is taken The Head wants ease the heavy Eyes want sleep The beating Pulse no just proportion keep The Tongue talks idly reason cannot rule it And the Heart fires the Air drawn in to cool it The Palat relisheth no meat the Ears But ill affected with the sweets it hears The Hands deny their aid to help him up And fall as to his lips they lift the cup. The Legs and Feet disjoynted and useless Shrinking beneath the burden of the Flesh. Such was Arcadia then till Clitus reign'd The first and best of Kings that e're obtain'd Th' Arcadian Scepter he piec'd up the State And made it somewhat like to fortunate He dying without Issue on the suddain Heav'n nipt their growing glory in the budding They choose Philemon one of Clitus Race To sway the Scepter a brave Youth he was As Wise as Valiant had he been as Chast Arcadia had been happy but his Lust Level'd Arcadia's Glory with the Dust. There was a noble Shepherd Stremon height As good as great whose Virtues had of right Better deserv'd a Crown had severe Fate But pleas'd to smile so then upon our State He had one only Daughter young and fair Most richly qualitied and which was rare In that same looser age divinely chast Though su'd to by no mean ones yet at last Her Father match'd her to a Shepherds Son Equal in Birth and Fortune such a one As merited the double Dower she brought Both of her Wealth and Virtue Heav'n had wrought Their minds so both alike His noble Sire Was Clitus named to whose Thracian Lire The Shepherds wont to tune their Pipes and frame Their curious Madrigals The Virgins name Was Castabella Clitus his brave Son Lysander hight The Nuptials being done To which the King came willingly a Guess Each one repair'd unto their business The charge of their own Flocks the nobler sort Accompanied the King unto the Court The meaner rout of Shepherds and their Swains With Hook and Scrip went jogging to the Plains Scarce had the Sun that then at Cancer in'd Twice measured the Earth when Love strook blind The lustful King whose amorous desires Grew into lawless passions and strange fires That none but Castabella would serve turn To quench his Flames though she had made them burn He had the choice of many fair ones too And well descended Kings need not to wooe The very name will bring a Nun to bed Ambition values not a Maiden-head But he likes none none but the new-wed Wife Must be the Umpire to decide the strife He casts about to get what he desir'd The more he plots the more his heart is fir'd He knew her chast and virtuous no weak bars T' oppose the strongest Soldier in Loves Wars He knew her Father powerful well-beloved Both for his Wisdom and good Deeds approved Among the giddy rout as for his Son His own demerit spake him such a one As durst revenge nor could he want for friends To second his attempts in noble ends Still the King burns and still his working brain Plots and displots thinks and unthinks again At length his will resolv'd him in this sort Stremon and Clitus both were yet at Court Busi'd in State-Affairs Lysander he Was where a Husband lately wed should be At home a weaning of his Wives desires From her old Sire to warm her at his fires As hapless hap would have it it fell out That at that time a rude uncivil rout Of out-law'd Mutineers had gather'd head Upon the Frontiers as their fury led Burning and spoiling all the Council sit Advising to suppress them 't was thought fit Some strength should go against them all this