of Necessity Take what he gives since to rebel is vain The Bad grows better which we well sustain And cou'd we chuse the Time and chuse aright T is best to die our Honour at the height ' When we have done our Ancestors no Shame But serv'd our Friends and well secur'd our Fame Then should we wish our happy Life to close And leave no more for Fortune to dispose So should we make our Death a glad Relief From future Shame from Sickness and from Grief Enjoying while we live the present Hour And dying in our Excellence and Flow'r Then round our Death-bed ev'ry Friend shou'd run And joy us of our Conquest early won While the malicious World with envious Tears Shou'd grudge our happy End and wish it Theirs Since then our Arcite is with Honour dead Why shou'd we mourn that he so soon is freed Or call untimely what the Gods decreed With Grief as just a Friend may be deplor'd From a foul Prison to free Air restor'd Ought he to thank his Kinsman or his Wife Cou'd Tears recall him into wretched Life Their Sorrow hurts themselves on him is lost And worse than both offends his happy Ghost What then remains but after past Annoy To take the good Vicissitude of Joy To thank the gracious Gods for what they give Possess our Souls and while we live to live Ordain we then two Sorrows to combine And in one Point th' Extremes of Grief to join That thence resulting Joy may be renew'd As jarring Notes in Harmony conclude Then I propose that Palamon shall be In Marriage join'd with beauteous Emily For which already I have gain'd th' Assent Of my free People in full Parliament Long Love to her has born the faithful Knight And well deserv'd had Fortune done him Right 'T is time to mend her Fault since Emily By Arcite's Death from former Vows is free If you Fair Sister ratifie th' Accord And take him for your Husband and your Lord. 'T is no Dishonour to confer your Grace On one descended from a Royal Race And were he less yet Years of Service past From grateful Souls exact Reward at last Pity is Heav'ns and yours Nor can she find A Throne so soft as in a Womans Mind He said she blush'd and as o'eraw'd by Might Seem'd to give Theseus what she gave the Knight Then turning to the Theban thus he said Small Arguments are needful to persuade Your Temper to comply with my Command And speaking thus he gave Emilia's Hand Smil'd Venus to behold her own true Knight Obtain the Conquest though he lost the Fight And bless'd with Nuptial Bliss the sweet laborious Night Eros and Anteros on either Side One fir'd the Bridegroom and one warm'd the Bride And long-attending Hymen from above Showr'd on the Bed the whole Idalian Grove All of a Tenour was their After-Life No Day discolour'd with Domestick Strife No Jealousie but mutual Truth believ'd Secure Repose and Kindness undeceiv'd Thus Heavn beyond the Compass of his Thought Sent him the Blessing he so dearly bought So may the Queen of Love long Duty bless And all true Lovers find the same Success The End of the Third Book TO MY Honour'd Kinsman JOHN DRIDEN OF CHESTERTON IN THE COUNTY OF HUNTINGDON ESQUIRE TO My Honour'd Kinsman JOHN DRIDEN OF CHESTERTON IN THE COUNTY of HUNTINGDON ESQUIRE HOW Bless'd is He who leads a Country Life Unvex'd with anxious Cares and void of Strife Who studying Peace and shunning Civil Rage Enjoy'd his Youth and now enjoys his Age All who deserve his Love he makes his own And to be lov'd himself needs only to be known Just Good and Wise contending Neighbours come From your Award to wait their final Doom And Foes before return in Friendship home Without their Cost you terminate the Cause And save th' Expence of long Litigious Laws Where Suits are travers'd and so little won That he who conquers is but last undone Such are not your Decrees but so design'd The Sanction leaves a lasting Peace behind Like your own Soul Serene a Pattern of your Mind Promoting Concord and composing Strife Lord of your self uncumber'd with a Wife Where for a Year a Month perhaps a Night Long Penitence succeeds a short Delight Minds are so hardly match'd that ev'n the first Though pair'd by Heav'n in Paradise were curs'd For Man and Woman though in one they grow Yet first or last return again to Two He to God's Image She to His was made So farther from the Fount the Stream at random stray'd How cou'd He stand when put to double Pain He must a Weaker than himself sustain Each might have stood perhaps but each alone Two Wrestlers help to pull each other down Not that my Verse wou'd blemish all the Fair But yet if some be Bad 't is Wisdom to beware And better shun the Bait than struggle in the Snare Thus have you shunn'd and shun the married State Trusting as little as you can to Fate No Porter guards the Passage of your Door T' admit the Wealthy and exclude the Poor For God who gave the Riches gave the Heart To sanctifie the Whole by giving Part Heav'n who foresaw the Will the Means has wrought And to the Second Son a Blessing brought The First-begotten had his Father's Share But you like Jacob are Rebecca's Heir So may your Stores and fruitful Fields increase And ever be you bless'd who live to bless As Ceres sow'd where e'er her Chariot flew As Heav'n in Desarts rain'd the Bread of Dew So free to Many to Relations most You feed with Manna your own Israel-Host With Crowds attended of your ancient Race You seek the Champian-Sports or Sylvan-Chace With well-breath'd Beagles you surround the Wood Ev'n then industrious of the Common Good And often have you brought the wily Fox To suffer for the Firstlings of the Flocks Chas'd ev'n amid the Folds and made to bleed Like Felons where they did the murd'rous Deed. This fiery Game your active Youth maintain'd Not yet by Years extinguish'd though restrain'd You season still with Sports your serious Hours For Age but tastes of Pleasures Youth devours The Hare in Pastures or in Plains is found Emblem of Humane Life who runs the Round And after all his wand'ring Ways are done His Circle fills and ends where he begun Just as the Setting meets the Rising Sun Thus Princes ease their Cares But happier he Who seeks not Pleasure thro' Necessity Than such as once on slipp'ry Thrones were plac'd And chasing sigh to think themselves are chas'd So liv'd our Sires e'er Doctors learn'd to kill And multiply'd with theirs the Weekly Bill The first Physicians by Debauch were made Excess began and Sloth sustains the Trade Pity the gen'rous Kind their Cares bestow To search forbidden Truths a Sin to know To which if Humane Science cou'd attain The Doom of Death pronounc'd by God were vain In vain the Leech wou'd interpose Delay Fate fastens first and vindicates the Prey What Help from
Assumes the God Affects to nod And seems to shake the Spheres III. The Praise of Bacchus then the sweet Musician sung Of Bacchus ever Fair and ever Young The jolly God in Triumph comes Sound the Trumpets beat the Drums Flush'd with a purple Grace He shews his honest Face Now gives the Hautboys breath He comes He comes Bacchus ever Fair and Young Drinking Joys did first ordain Bacchus Blessings are a Treasure Drinking is the Soldiers Pleasure Rich the Treasure Sweet the Pleasure Sweet is Pleasure after Pain CHORUS Bacchus Blessings are a Treasure Drinking is the Soldier 's Pleasure Rich the Treasure Sweet the Pleasure Sweet is Pleasure after Pain IV. Sooth'd with the Sound the King grew vain Fought all his Battails o'er again And thrice He routed all his Foes and thrice he slew the slain The Master saw the Madness rise His glowing Cheeks his ardent Eyes And while He Heav'n and Earth defy'd Chang'd his Hand and check'd his Pride He chose a Mournful Muse Soft Pity to infuse He sung Darius Great and Good By too severe a Fate Fallen fallen fallen fallen Fallen from his high Estate And weltring in his Blood Deserted at his utmost Need By those his former Bounty fed On the bare Earth expos'd He lies With not a Friend to close his Eyes With down-cast Looks the joyless Victor sate Revolving in his alter'd Soul The various Turns of Chance below And now and then a Sigh he stole And Tears began to flow CHORUS Revolving in his alter'd Soul The various Turns of Chance below And now and then a Sigh he stole And Tears began to flow V. The Mighty Master smil'd to see That Love was in the next Degree 'T was but a Kindred-Sound to move For Pity melts the Mind to Love Softly sweet in Lydian Measures Soon he sooth'd his Soul to Pleasures War he sung is Toil and Trouble Honour but an empty Bubble Never ending still beginning Fighting still and still destroying If the World be worth thy Winning Think O think it worth Enjoying Lovely Thais sits besides thee Take the Good the Gods provide thee The Many rend the Skies with loud Applause So Love was Crown'd but Musique won the Cause The Prince unable to conceal his Pain Gaz'd on the Fair Who caus'd his Care And sigh'd and look'd sigh'd and look'd Sigh'd and look'd and sigh'd again At length with Love and Wine at once oppress'd The vanquish'd Victor sunk upon her Breast CHORUS The Prince unable to conceal his Pain Gaz'd on the Fair Who caus'd his Care And sigh'd and look'd sigh'd and look'd Sigh'd and look'd and sigh'd again At length with Love and Wine at once oppress'd The vanquish'd Victor sunk upon her Breast VI. Now strike the Golden Lyre again A lowder yet and yet a lowder Strain Break his Bands of Sleep asunder And rouze him like a rattling Peal of Thunder Hark hark the horrid Sound Has rais'd up his Head As awak'd from the Dead And amaz'd he stares around Revenge Revenge Timotheus cries See the Furies arise See the Snakes that they rear How they hiss in their Hair And the Sparkles that flash from their Eyes Behold a ghastly Band Each a Torch in his Hand Those are Grecian Ghosts that in Battail were slain And unbury'd remain Inglorious on the Plain Give the Vengeance due To the Valiant Crew Behold how they toss their Torches on high How they point to the Persian Abodes And glitt'ring Temples of their Hostile Gods The Princes applaud with a furious Joy And the King seiz'd a Flambeau with Zeal to destroy Thais led the Way To light him to his Prey And like another Hellen fir'd another Troy CHORUS And the King seiz'd a Flambeau with Zeal to destroy Thais led the Way To light him to his Prey And like another Hellen fir'd another Troy VII Thus long ago ' Ere heaving Bellows learn'd to blow While Organs yet were mute Timotheus to his breathing Flute And sounding Lyre Cou'd swell the Soul to rage or kindle soft Desire At last Divine Cecilia came Inventress of the Vocal Frame The sweet Enthusiast from her Sacred Store Enlarg'd the former narrow Bounds And added Length to solemn Sounds With Nature's Mother-Wit and Arts unknown before Let old Timotheus yield the Prize Or both divide the Crown He rais'd a Mortal to the Skies She drew an Angel down Grand CHORUS At last Divine Cecilia came Inventress of the Vocal Frame The sweet Enthusiast from her Sacred Store Enlarg'd the former narrow Bounds And added Length to solemn Sounds With Nature's Mother-Wit and Arts unknown before Let old Timotheus yield the Prize Or both divide the Crown He rais'd a Mortal to the Skies She drew an Angel down THE Twelfth BOOK OF OVID HIS METAMORPHOSES Wholly Translated THE Twelfth Book OF THE METAMORPHOSES Wholly Translated Connection to the End of the Eleventh Book AEsacus the Son of Priam loving a Country-Life forsakes the Court Living obscurely he falls in Love with a Nymph who flying from him was kill'd by a Serpent for Grief of this he wou'd have drown'd himself but by the pity of the Gods is turn'd into a Cormorant Priam not hearing of AEsacus believes him to be dead and raises a Tomb to preserve his Memory By this Transition which is one of the finest in all Ovid the Poet naturally falls into the Story of the Trojan War which is summ'd up in the present Book but so very briefly in many Places that Ovid seems more short than Virgil contrary to his usual Style Yet the House of Fame which is here describ'd is one of the most beautiful Pieces in the whole Metamorphoses The Fight of Achilles and Cygnus and the Fray betwixt the Lapythae and Centaurs yield to no other part of this Poet And particularly the Loves and Death of Cyllarus and Hylonome the Male and Female Centaur are wonderfully moving PRiam to whom the Story was unknown As dead deplor'd his Metamorphos'd Son A Cenotaph his Name and Title kept And Hector round the Tomb with all his Brothers wept This pious Office Paris did not share Absent alone and Author of the War Which for the Spartan Queen the Grecians drew T' avenge the Rape and Asia to subdue A thousand Ships were man'd to sail the Sea Nor had their just Resentments found delay Had not the Winds and Waves oppos'd their way At Aulis with United Pow'rs they meet But there Cross-winds or Calms detain'd the Fleet. Now while they raise an Altar on the Shore And Jove with solemn Sacrifice adore A boding Sign the Priests and People see A Snake of size immense ascends a Tree And in the leavy Summet spy'd a Neast Which o'er her Callow young a Sparrow press'd Eight were the Birds unfledg'd their Mother flew And hover'd round her Care but still in view Till the fierce Reptile first devour'd the Brood Then siez'd the flutt'ring Dam and drunk her Blood This dire Ostent the fearful People view Calchas alone by Phoebus taught foreknew What Heav'n decreed
Reason scan'd And lik'd an error of the better Hand Excus'd th' excess of Passion in his Mind By Flames too fierce perhaps too much refin'd So Cymon since his Sire indulg'd his Will Impetuous lov'd and would be Cymon still Galesus he disown'd and chose to bear The Name of Fool confirm'd and Bishop'd by the Fair. To Cipseus by his Friends his Sute he mov'd Cipseus the Father of the Fair he lov'd But he was pre-ingag'd by former Ties While Cymon was endeav'ring to be wise And Iphigene oblig'd by former Vows Had giv'n her Faith to wed a Foreign Spouse Her Sire and She to Rhodian Pasimond Tho'both repenting were by Promise bound Nor could retract and thus as Fate decreed Tho'better lov'd he spoke too late to speed The Doom was past the Ship already sent Did all his tardy Diligence prevent Sigh'd to herself the fair unhappy Maid While stormy Cymon thus in secret said The time is come for Iphigene to find The Miracle she wrought upon my Mind Her Charms have made me Man her ravish'd Love In rank shall place me with the Bless'd above For mine by Love by Force she shall be mine Or Death if Force should fail shall finish my Design Resolv'd he said And rigg'd with speedy Care A Vessel strong and well equipp'd for War The secret Ship with chosen Friends he stor'd And bent to die or conquer went aboard Ambush'd he lay behind the Cyprian Shore Waiting the Sail that all his Wishes bore Nor long expected for the following Tide Sent out the hostile Ship and beauteous Bride To Rhodes the Rival Bark directly steer'd When Cymon sudden at her Back appear'd And stop'd her Flight Then standing on his Prow In haughty Terms he thus defy'd the Foe Or strike your Sails at Summons or prepare To prove the last Extremities of War Thus warn'd the Rhodians for the Fight provide Already were the Vessels Side by Side These obstinate to save and those to seize the Bride But Cymon soon his crooked Grapples cast Which with tenacious hold his Foes embrac'd And arm'd with Sword and Shield amid the Press he pass'd Fierce was the Fight but hast'ning to his Prey By force the furious Lover freed his way Himself alone dispers'd the Rhodian Crew The Weak disdain'd the Valiant overthrew Cheap Conquest for his following Friends remain'd He reap'd the Field and they but only glean'd His Victory confess'd the Foes retreat And cast their Weapons at the Victor's Feet Whom thus he chear'd O Rhodian Youth I fought For Love alone nor other Booty sought Your Lives are safe your Vessel I resign Yours be your own restoring what is mine In Iphigene I claim my rightful Due Rob'd by my Rival and detain'd by you Your Pasimond a lawless Bargain drove The Parent could not sell the Daughters Love Or if he cou'd my Love disdains the Laws And like a King by Conquest gains his Cause Where Arms take place all other Pleas are vain Love taught me Force and Force shall Love maintain You what by Strength you could not keep release And at an easy Ransom buy your Peace Fear on the conquer'd Side soon sign'd th' Accord And Iphigene to Cymon was restor'd While to his Arms the blushing Bride he took To seeming Sadness she compos'd her Look As if by Force subjected to his Will Tho' pleas'd dissembling and a Woman still And for she wept he wip'd her falling Tears And pray'd her to dismiss her empty Fears For yours I am he said and have deserv'd Your Love much better whom so long I serv'd Than he to whom your formal Father ty'd Your Vows and sold a Slave not sent a Bride Thus while he spoke he seiz'd the willing Prey As Paris bore the Spartan Spouse away Faintly she scream'd and ev'n her Eyes confess'd She rather would be thought than was Distress'd Who now exults but Cymon in his Mind Vain hopes and empty Joys of human Kind Proud of the present to the future blind Secure of Fate while Cymon plows the Sea And steers to Candy with his conquer'd Prey Scarce the third Glass of measur'd Hours was run When like a fiery Meteor sunk the Sun The Promise of a Storm the shifting Gales Forsake by Fits and fill the flagging Sails Hoarse Murmurs of the Main from far were heard And Night came on not by degrees prepar'd But all at once at once the Winds arise The Thunders roul the forky Lightning flies In vain the Master issues out Commands In vain the trembling Sailors ply their Hands The Tempest unforeseen prevents their Care And from the first they labour in despair The giddy Ship betwixt the Winds and Tides Forc'd back and forwards in a Circle rides Stun'd with the diff'rent Blows then shoots amain Till counterbuff'd she stops and sleeps again Not more aghast the proud Archangel fell Plung'd from the height of Heav'n to deepest Hell Than stood the Lover of his Love possess'd Now curs'd the more the more he had been bless'd More anxious for her Danger than his own Death he defies but would be lost alone Sad Iphigene to Womanish Complaints Adds pious Pray'rs and wearies all the Saints Ev'n if she could her Love she would repent But since she cannot dreads the Punishment Her forfeit Faith and Pasimond betray'd Are ever present and her Crime upbraid She blames herself nor blames her Lover less Augments her Anger as her Fears increase From her own Back the Burden would remove And lays the Load on his ungovern'd Love Which interposing durst in Heav'n's despight Invade and violate another's Right The Pow'rs incens'd awhile deferr'd his Pain And made him Master of his Vows in vain But soon they punish'd his presumptuous Pride That for his daring Enterprize she dy'd Who rather not resisted than comply'd Then impotent of Mind with alter'd Sense She hugg'd th' Offender and forgave th' Offence Sex to the last Mean time with Sails declin'd The wand'ring Vessel drove before the Wind Toss'd and retoss'd alost and then alow Nor Port they seek nor certain Course they know But ev'ry moment wait the coming Blow Thus blindly driv'n by breaking Day they view'd The Land before 'em and their Fears renew'd The Land was welcome but the Tempest bore The threaten'd Ship against a rocky Shore A winding Bay was near to this they bent And just escap'd their Force already spent Secure from Storms and panting from the Sea The Land unknown at leisure they survey And saw but soon their sickly Sight withdrew The rising Tow'rs of Rhodes at distant view And curs'd the hostile Shoar of Pasimond Sav'd from the Seas and shipwreck'd on the Ground The frighted Sailors try'd their Strength in vain To turn the Stern and tempt the stormy Main But the stiff Wind withstood the lab'ring Oar And forc'd them forward on the fatal Shoar The crooked Keel now bites the Rhodian Strand And the Ship moor'd constrains the Crew to land Yet still they might be safe because unknown But as ill Fortune seldom comes alone The
Act arose And thus bespoke Pelides Care of Jove Favour'd of all th' Immortal Pow'rs above Wou'dst thou the Seeds deep sown of Mischief know And why provok'd Apollo bends his Bow Plight first thy Faith inviolably true To save me from those Ills that may ensue For I shall tell ungrateful Truths to those Whose boundless Pow'r of Life and Death dispose And Sov'reigns ever jealous of their State Forgive not those whom once they mark for Hate Ev'n tho' th' Offence they seemingly digest Revenge like Embers rak'd within their Breast Bursts forth in Flames whose unresisted Pow'r Will seize th' unwary Wretch and soon devour Such and no less is he on whom depends The sum of Things and whom my Tongue of force offends Secure me then from his foreseen Intent That what his Wrath may doom thy Valour may prevent To this the stern Achilles made Reply Be bold and on my plighted Faith rely To speak what Phoebus has inspir'd thy Soul For common Good and speak without controul His Godhead I invoke by him I swear That while my Nostrils draw this vital Air None shall presume to violate those Bands Or touch thy Person with unhallow'd Hands Ev'n not the King of Men that all commands At this resuming Heart the Prophet said Nor Hecatombs unslain nor Vows unpaid On Greeks accurs'd this dire Contagion bring Or call for Vengeance from the Bowyer King But he the Tyrant whom none dares resist Affronts the Godhead in his injur'd Priest He keeps the Damsel Captive in his Chain And Presents are refus'd and Pray'rs preferr'd in vain For this th' avenging Pow'r employs his Darts And empties all his Quiver in our Hearts Thus will persist relentless in his Ire Till the fair Slave be render'd to her Syre And Ransom-free restor'd to his Abode With Sacrifice to reconcile the God Then he perhaps atton'd by Pray'r mav cease His Vengeance justly vow'd and give the Peace Thus having said he sate Thus answer'd then Upstarting from his Throne the King of Men His Breast with Fury fill'd his Eyes with Fire Which rowling round he shot in Sparkles on the Sire Augur of Ill whose Tongue was never found Without a Priestly Curse or boding Sound For not one bless'd Event foretold to me Pass'd through that Mouth or pass'd unwillingly And now thou dost with Lies the Throne invade By Practice harden'd in thy sland'ring Trade Obtending Heav'n for what e'er Ills befal And sputtring under specious Names thy Gall. Now Phoebus is provok'd his Rites and Laws Are in his Priest profan'd and I the Cause Since I detain a Slave my Sov'reign Prize And sacred Gold your Idol-God despise I love her well And well her Merits claim To stand preferr'd before my Grecian Dame Not Clytemnestra's self in Beauties Bloom More charm'd or better ply'd the various Loom Mine is the Maid and brought in happy Hour With every Houshold-grace adorn'd to bless my Nuptial Bow'r Yet shall she be restor'd since publick Good For private Int'rest ought not be withstood To save th' Effusion of my People's Blood But Right requires if I resign my own I shou'd not suffer for your sakes alone Alone excluded from the Prize I gain'd And by your common Suffrage have obtain'd The Slave without a Ransom shall be sent It rests for you to make th' Equivalent To this the fierce Thessalian Prince reply'd O first in Pow'r but passing all in Pride Griping and still tenacious of thy Hold Would'st thou the Grecian Chiefs though largely Sould Shou'd give the Prizes they had gain'd before And with their Loss thy Sacrilege restore Whate'er by force of Arms the Soldier got Is each his own by dividend of Lot Which to resume were both unjust and base Not to be born but by a servile Race But this we can If Saturn's Son bestows The Sack of Troy which he by Promise owes Then shall the conquering Greeks thy Loss restore And with large Int'rest make th' advantage more To this Atrides answer'd Though thy Boast Assumes the foremost Name of all our Host Pretend not mighty Man that what is mine Controll'd by thee I tamely shou'd resign Shall I release the Prize I gain'd by Right In taken Towns and many a bloody Fight While thou detain'st Briseis in thy Bands By priestly glossing on the God's Commands Resolve on this a short Alternative Quit mine or in exchange another give Else I assure thy Soul by Sov'reign Right Will seize thy Captive in thy own Despight Or from stout Ajax or Ulysses bear What other Prize my Fancy shall prefer Then softly murmur or aloud complain Rage as you please you shall resist in vain But more of this in proper Time and Place To Things of greater moment let us pass A Ship to fail the sacred Seas prepare Proud in her Trim and put on board the Fair With Sacrifice and Gifts and all the pomp of Pray'r The Crew well chosen the Command shall be In Ajax or if other I decree In Creta's King or Ithacus or if I please in Thee Most fit thy self to see perform'd th' intent For which my Pris'ner from my Sight is sent Thanks to thy pious Care that Phoebus may relent At this Achilles roul'd his furious Eyes Fix'd on the King askant and thus replies O Impudent regardful of thy own Whose Thoughts are center'd on thy self alone Advanc'd to Sovereign Sway for better Ends Than thus like abject Slaves to treat thy Friends What Greek is he that urg'd by thy Command Against the Trojan Troops will lift his Hand Not I Nor such inforc'd Respect I owe Nor Pergamus I hate nor Priam is my Foe What Wrong from Troy remote cou'd I sustain To leave my fruitful Soil and happy Reign And plough the Surges of the stormy Main Thee frontless Man we follow'd from afar Thy Instruments of Death and Tools of War Thine is the Triumph ours the Toil alone We bear thee on our Backs and mount thee on the Throne For thee we fall in Fight for thee redress Thy baffled Brother not the Wrongs of Greece And now thou threaten'st with unjust Decree To punish thy affronting Heav'n on me To seize the Prize which I so dearly bought By common Suffrage giv'n confirm'd by Lot Mean Match to thine For still above the rest Thy hook'd rapacious Hands usurp the best Though mine are first in Fight to force the Prey And last sustain the Labours of the Day Nor grudge I thee the much the Grecians give Nor murm'ring take the little I receive Yet ev'n this little thou who woud'st ingross The whole Insatiate envy'st as thy Loss Know then for Phthya fix'd is my return Better at home my ill-paid Pains to mourn Than from an Equal here sustain the publick Scorn The King whose Brows with shining Gold were bound Who saw his Throne with scepter'd Slaves incompass'd round Thus answer'd stern Go at thy Pleasure go We need not such a Friend nor fear we such a Foe There will not want to follow me in Fight Jove
think it was to give consent But struggling with his own Desires he went With large Expence and with a pompous Train Provided as to visit France or Spain Or for some distant Voyage o'er the Main But Love had clipp'd his Wings and cut him short Confin'd within the purlieus of his Court Three Miles he went nor farther could retreat His Travels ended at his Country-Seat To Chassis pleasing Plains he took his way There pitch'd his Tents and there resolv'd to stay The Spring was in the Prime the neighb'ring Grove Supply'd with Birds the Choristers of Love Musick unbought that minister'd Delight To Morning-walks and lull'd his Cares by Night There he discharg'd his Friends but not th' Expence Of frequent Treats and proud Magnificence He liv'd as Kings retire though more at large From publick Business yet with equal Charge With House and Heart still open to receive As well content as Love would give him leave He would have liv'd more free but many a Guest Who could forsake the Friend pursu'd the Feast It happ'd one Morning as his Fancy led Before his usual Hour he left his Bed To walk within a lonely Lawn that stood On ev'ry side surrounded by the Wood Alone he walk'd to please his pensive Mind And sought the deepest Solitude to find 'T was in a Grove of spreading Pines he stray'd The Winds within the quiv'ring Branches plaid And Dancing-Trees a mournful Musick made The Place it self was suiting to his Care Uncouth and Salvage as the cruel Fair. He wander'd on unknowing where he went Lost in the Wood and all on Love intent The Day already half his Race had run And summon'd him to due Repast at Noon But Love could feel no Hunger but his own While list'ning to the murm'ring Leaves he stood More than a Mile immers'd within the Wood At once the Wind was laid the whisp'ring sound Was dumb a rising Earthquake rock'd the Ground With deeper Brown the Grove was overspred A suddain Horror seiz'd his giddy Head And his Ears tinckled and his Colour fled Nature was in alarm some Danger nigh Seem'd threaten'd though unseen to mortal Eye Unus'd to fear he summon'd all his Soul And stood collected in himself and whole Not long For soon a Whirlwind rose around And from afar he heard a screaming sound As of a Dame distress'd who cry'd for Aid And fill'd with loud Laments the secret Shade A Thicket close beside the Grove there stood With Breers and Brambles choak'd and dwarfish Wood From thence the Noise Which now approaching near With more distinguish'd Notes invades his Ear He rais'd his Head and saw a beauteous Maid With Hair dishevell'd issuing through the Shade Stripp'd of her Cloaths and e'en those Parts reveal'd Which modest Nature keeps from Sight conceal'd Her Face her Hands her naked Limbs were torn With passing through the Brakes and prickly Thorn Two Mastiffs gaunt and grim her Flight pursu'd And oft their fasten'd Fangs in Blood embru'd Oft they came up and pinch'd her tender Side Mercy O Mercy Heav'n she ran and cry'd When Heav'n was nam'd they loos'd their Hold again Then sprung she forth they follow'd her amain Not far behind a Knight of swarthy Face High on a Coal-black Steed pursu'd the Chace With flashing Flames his ardent Eyes were fill'd And in his Hands a naked Sword he held He chear'd the Dogs to follow her who fled And vow'd Revenge on her devoted Head As Theodore was born of noble Kind The brutal Action rowz'd his manly Mind Mov'd with unworthy Usage of the Maid He though unarm'd resolv'd to give her Aid A Saplin Pine he wrench'd from out the Ground The readiest Weapon that his Fury found Thus furnish'd for Offence he cross'd the way Betwixt the graceless Villain and his Prey The Knight came thund'ring on but from afar Thus in imperious Tone forbad the War Cease Theodore to proffer vain Relief Nor stop the vengeance of so just a Grief But give me leave to seize my destin'd Prey And let eternal Justice take the way I but revenge my Fate disdain'd betray'd And suff'ring Death for this ungrateful Maid He say'd at once dismounting from the Steed For now the Hell-hounds with superiour Speed Had reach'd the Dame and fast'ning on her Side The Ground with issuing Streams of Purple dy'd Stood Theodore surpriz'd in deadly Fright With chatt'ring Teeth and bristling Hair upright Yet arm'd with inborn Worth What e'er said he Thou art who know'st me better than I thee Or prove thy rightful Cause or be defy'd The Spectre fiercely staring thus reply'd Know Theodore thy Ancestry I claim And Guido Cavalcanti was my Name One common Sire our Fathers did beget My Name and Story some remember yet Thee then a Boy within my Arms I laid When for my Sins I lov'd this haughty Maid Not less ador'd in Life nor serv'd by Me Than proud Honoria now is lov'd by Thee What did I not her stubborn Heart to gain But all my Vows were answer'd with Disdain She scorn'd my Sorrows and despis'd my Pain Long time I dragg'd my Days in fruitless Care Then loathing Life and plung'd in deep Despair To finish my unhappy Life I fell On this sharp Sword and now am damn'd in Hell Short was her Joy for soon th' insulting Maid By Heav'n's Decree in the cold Grave was laid And as in unrepenting Sin she dy'd Doom'd to the same bad Place is punish'd for her Pride Because she deem'd I well deserv'd to die And made a Merit of her Cruelty There then we met both try'd and both were cast And this irrevocable Sentence pass'd That she whom I so long pursu'd in vain Should suffer from my Hands a lingring Pain Renew'd to Life that she might daily die I daily doom'd to follow she to fly No more a Lover but a mortal Foe I seek her Life for Love is none below As often as my Dogs with better speed Arrest her Flight is she to Death decreed Then with this fatal Sword on which I dy'd I pierce her open'd Back or tender Side And tear that harden'd Heart from out her Breast Which with her Entrails makes my hungry Hounds a Feast Nor lies she long but as her Fates ordain Springs up to Life and fresh to second Pain Is sav'd to Day to Morrow to be slain This vers'd in Death th' infernal Knight relates And then for Proof fulfill'd their common Fates Her Heart and Bowels through her Back he drew And fed the Hounds that help'd him to pursue Stern'd look'd the Fiend as frustrate of his Will Not half suffic'd and greedy yet to kill And now the Soul expiring through the Wound Had left the Body breathless on the Ground When thus the grisly Spectre spoke again Behold the Fruit of ill-rewarded Pain As many Months as I sustain'd her Hate So many Years is she condemn'd by Fate To daily Death and ev'ry several Place Conscious of her Disdain and my Disgrace Must witness her just Punishment and be A Scene of
my Spear And after cur'd To me the Thebans owe Lesbos and Tenedos their overthrow Syros and Cylla Not on all to dwell By me Lyrnesus and strong Chrysa fell And since I sent the Man who Hector slew To me the noble Hector's Death is due Those Arms I put into his living Hand Those Arms Pelides dead I now demand When Greece was injur'd in the Spartan Prince And met at Aulis to revenge th' Offence 'T was a dead Calm or adverse Blasts that reign'd And in the Port the Wind-bound Fleet detain'd Bad Signs were seen and Oracles severe Were daily thunder'd in our General 's Ear That by his Daughter's Blood we must appease Diana's kindled Wrath and free the Seas Affection Int'rest Fame his Heart assail'd But soon the Father o'er the King prevail'd Bold on himself he took the pious Crime As angry with the Gods as they with him No Subject cou'd sustain their Sov'raign's Look Till this hard Enterprize I undertook I only durst th' Imperial Pow'r controul And undermin'd the Parent in his Soul Forc'd him t' exert the King for common Good And pay our Ransom with his Daughters Blood Never was Cause more difficult to plead Than where the Judge against himself decreed Yet this I won by dint of Argument The Wrongs his injur'd Brother underwent And his own Office sham'd him to consent 'T was harder yet to move the Mother's Mind And to this heavy Task was I design'd Reasons against her Love I knew were vain I circumvented whom I could not gain Had Ajax been employ'd our slacken'd Sails Had still at Aulis waited happy Gales Arriv'd at Troy your choice was fix'd on me A fearless Envoy fit for a bold Embassy Secure I enter'd through the hostile Court Glitt'ring with Steel and crowded with Resort There in the midst of Arms I plead our Cause Urge the foul Rape and violated Laws Accuse the Foes as Authors of the Strife Reproach the Ravisher demand the Wife Priam Antenor and the wiser few I mov'd but Paris and his lawless Crew Scarce held their Hands and lifted Swords But stood In Act to quench their impious Thirst of Blood This Menelaus knows expos'd to share With me the rough Preludium of the War Endless it were to tell what I have done In Arms or Council since the Siege begun The first Encounter 's past the Foe repell'd They skulk'd within the Town we kept the Field War seem'd asleep for nine long Years at length Both Sides resolv'd to push we try'd our Strength Now what did Ajax while our Arms took Breath Vers'd only in the gross mechanick Trade of Death If you require my Deeds with ambush'd Arms I trap'd the Foe or tir'd with false Alarms Secur'd the Ships drew Lines along the Plain The Fainting chear'd chastis'd the Rebel-train Provided Forage our spent Arms renew'd Employ'd at home or sent abroad the common Cause pursu'd The King deluded in a Dream by Jove Despair'd to take the Town and order'd to remove What Subject durst arraign the Pow'r supreme Producing Jove to justify his Dream Ajax might wish the Soldiers to retain From shameful Flight but Wishes were in vain As wanting of effect had been his Words Such as of course his thundring Tongue affords But did this Boaster threaten did he pray Or by his own Example urge their stay None none of these but ran himself away I saw him run and was asham'd to see Who ply'd his Feet so fast to get aboard as He Then speeding through the Place I made a stand And loudly cry'd O base degenerate Band To leave a Town already in your Hand After so long expence of Blood for Fame To bring home nothing but perpetual Shame These Words or what I have forgotten since For Grief inspir'd me then with Eloquence Reduc'd their Minds they leave the crowded Port And to their late forsaken Camp resort Dismay'd the Council met This Man was there But mute and not recover'd of his Fear Thersites tax'd the King and loudly rail'd But his wide opening Mouth with Blows I seal'd Then rising I excite their Souls to Fame And kindle sleeping Virtue into Flame From thence whatever he perform'd in Fight Is justly mine who drew him back from Flight Which of the Grecian Chiefs consorts with Thee But Diomede desires my Company And still communicates his Praise with me As guided by a God secure he goes Arm'd with my Fellowship amid the Foes And sure no little Merit I may boast Whom such a Man selects from such an Hoast Unforc'd by Lots I went without affright To dare with him the Dangers of the Night On the same Errand sent we met the Spy Of Hector double-tongu'd and us'd to lie Him I dispatch'd but not till undermin'd I drew him first to tell what treacherous Troy design'd My Task perform'd with Praise I had retir'd But not content with this to greater Praise aspir'd Invaded Rhoesus and his Thracian Crew And him and his in their own Strength I slew Return'd a Victor all my Vows compleat With the King's Chariot in his Royal Seat Refuse me now his Arms whose fiery Steeds Were promis'd to the Spy for his Nocturnal Deeds And let dull Ajax bear away my Right When all his Days out-ballance this one Night Nor fought I Darkling still The Sun beheld With slaughter'd Lycians when I strew'd the Field You saw and counted as I pass'd along Alastor Cromyus Ceranos the Strong Alcander Prytanis and Halius Noemon Charopes and Ennomus Choon Chersidamas and five beside Men of obscure Descent but Courage try'd All these this Hand laid breathless on the Ground Nor want I Proofs of many a manly Wound All honest all before Believe not me Words may deceive but credit what you see At this he bar'd his Breast and show'd his Scars As of a furrow'd Field well plough'd with Wars Nor is this Part unexercis'd said he That Gyant-bulk of his from Wounds is free Safe in his Shield he fears no Foe to try And better manages his Blood than I But this avails me not our Boaster strove Not with our Foes alone but partial Jove To save the Fleet This I confefs is true Nor will I take from any Man his due But thus assuming all he robs from you Some part of Honour to your share will fall He did the best indeed but did not all Patroclus in Achilles Arms and thought The Chief he seem'd with equal Ardour fought Preserv'd the Fleet repell'd the raging Fire And forc'd the fearful Trojans to retire But Ajax boasts that he was only thought A Match for Hector who the Combat sought Sure he forgets the King the Chiefs and Me All were as eager for the Fight as He He but the ninth and not by publick Voice Or ours preferr'd was only Fortunes choice They fought nor can our Hero boast the Event For Hector from the Field unwounded went Why am I forc'd to name that fatal Day That snatch'd the Prop and Pride of Greece away I saw Pelides sink With
well for that 's our darling Sin But long Attendance and a duteous Mind Will work ev'n with the wisest of the Kind One thought the Sexes prime Felicity Was from the Bonds of Wedlock to be free Their Pleasures Hours and Actions all their own And uncontroll'd to give Account to none Some wish a Husband-Fool but such are curst For Fools perverse of Husbands are the worst All Women wou'd be counted Chast and Wise Nor should our Spouses see but with our Eyes For Fools will prate and tho' they want the Wit To find close Faults yet open Blots will hit Tho' better for their Ease to hold their Tongue For Womankind was never in the Wrong So Noise ensues and Quarrels last for Life The Wife abhors the Fool the Fool the Wife And some Men say that great Delight have we To be for Truth extoll'd and Secrecy And constant in one Purpose still to dwell And not our Husband's Counsels to reveal But that 's a Fable for our Sex is frail Inventing rather than not tell a Tale. Like leaky Sives no Secrets we can hold Witness the famous Tale that Ovid told Midas the King as in his Book appears By Phoebus was endow'd with Asses Ears Which under his long Locks he well conceal'd As Monarch's Vices must not be reveal'd For fear the People have 'em in the Wind Who long ago were neither Dumb nor Blind Nor apt to think from Heav'n their Title springs Since Jove and Mars left off begetting Kings This Midas knew and durst communicate To none but to his Wife his Ears of State One must be trusted and he thought her fit As passing prudent and a parlous Wit To this sagacious Confessor he went And told her what a Gift the Gods had sent Bur told it under Matrimonial Seal With strict Injunction never to reveal The Secret heard she plighted him her Troth And sacred sure is every Woman's Oath The royal Malady should rest unknown Both for her Husband's Honour and her own But ne'ertheless she pin'd with Discontent The Counsel rumbled till it found a vent The Thing she knew she was oblig'd to hide By Int'rest and by Oath the Wife was ty'd But if she told it not the Woman dy'd Loath to betray a Husband and a Prince But she must burst or blab and no pretence Of Honour ty'd her Tongue from Self-defence A marshy Ground commodiously was near Thither she ran and held her Breath for fear Lest if a Word she spoke of any Thing That Word might be the Secret of the King Thus full of Counsel to the Fen she went Grip'd all the way and longing for a vent Arriv'd by pure Necessity compell'd On her majestick mary-bones she kneel'd Then to the Waters-brink she laid her Head And as a Bittour bumps within a Reed To thee alone O Lake she said I tell And as thy Queen command thee to conceal Beneath his Locks the King my Husband wears A goodly Royal pair of Asses Ears Now I have eas'd my Bosom of the Pain Till the next longing Fit return again Thus through a Woman was the Secret known Tell us and in effect you tell the Town But to my Tale The Knight with heavy Cheer Wandring in vain had now consum'd the Year One Day was only left to solve the Doubt Yet knew no more than when he first set out But home he must And as th' Award had been Yield up his Body Captive to the Queen In this despairing State he hap'd to ride As Fortune led him by a Forest-side Lonely the Vale and full of Horror stood Brown with the shade of a religious Wood When full before him at the Noon of night The Moon was up and shot a gleamy Light He saw a Quire of Ladies in a round That featly footing seem'd to skim the Ground Thus dancing Hand in Hand so light they were He knew not where they trod on Earth or Air. At speed he drove and came a suddain Guest In hope where many Women were at least Some one by chance might answer his Request But faster than his Horse the Ladies flew And in a trice were vanish'd out of view One only Hag remain'd But fowler far Than Grandame Apes in Indian Forests are Against a wither'd Oak she lean'd her weight Prop'd on her trusty Staff not half upright And drop'd an awkard Court'sy to the Knight Then said What make you Sir so late abtoad Without a Guide and this no beaten Road Or want you ought that here you hope to find Or travel for some Trouble in your Mind The last I guess and if I read aright Those of our Sex are bound to serve a Knight Perhaps good Counsel may your Grief aflwage Then tell your Pain For Wisdom is in Age. To this the Knight Good Mother wou'd you know The secret Cause and Spring of all my Woe My Life must with to Morrow's Light expire Unless I tell what Women most desire Now cou'd you help me at this hard Essay Or for your inborn Goodness or for Pay Yours is my Life redeem'd by your Advice Ask what you please and I will pay the Price The proudest Kerchief of the Court shall rest Well satisfy'd of what they love the best Plight me thy Faith quoth she That what I ask Thy Danger over and perform'd the Task That shalt thou give for Hire of thy Demand Here take thy Oath and seal it on my Hand I warrant thee on Peril of my Life Thy Words shall please both Widow Maid and Wife More Words there needed not to move the Knight To take her Offer and his Truth to plight With that she spread her Mantle on the Gronnd And first enquiring whether he was bound Bade him not fear tho' long and rough the Way At Court he should arrive e'er break of Day His Horse should find the way without a Guide She said With Fury they began to ride He on the midst the Beldam at his Side The Horse what Devil drove I cannot tell But only this they sped their Journey well And all the way the Crone inform'd the Knight How he should answer the Demand aright To Court they came The News was quickly spread Of his returning to redeem his Head The Female Senate was assembled soon With all the Mob of Women in the Town The Queen sate Lord Chief Justice of the Hall And bad the Cryer cite the Criminal The Knight appear'd and Silence they proclaim Then first the Culprit answer'd to his Name And after Forms of Laws was last requir'd To name the Thing that Women most desir'd Th' Offender taught his Lesson by the way And by his Counsel order'd what to say Thus bold began My Lady Liege said he What all your Sex desire is Soveraignty The Wife affects her Husband to command All must be hers both Mony House and Land The Maids are Mistresses ev'n in their Name And of their Servants full Dominion claim This at the Peril of my Head I say A blunt plain Truth the