speechless And she almost yet still with signes That seem'd expressions of more trouble For leaving her then all the world Within her arms he died she but stayed To be assur'd that he was dead Then with a haste That shew'd a willingnesse to follow him She drew a Viall from her bosom And drank it off before that we could hinder her Whose violence on an enfeebled heart By so much grief with unbelieved haste Wrought Execution Prin. Poor Princesse 't was her hard fate to love She had been else no more concern'd Than those that now survive Mir. And she perhaps as unconcern'd to dye Nothing but a deserving Love Could have taught her a way so glorious To end all cares She now enjoys him too Or else insensible that e're she lost him Prin. Did that young Prince command that day the Army Mir. Yes and as we learnt he was the Heir To the Tartarian Empire Prin. 'T is nothing but a Prince Could have been so unhappy to lose at once His Love his Life his Empire Enter hastily Hyppâ—sus Lysander Hyppasus takes Mironault aside Hyp. My Lord Mir. Ha Hyp. Let not the Princesse see it The Castle is surrounded by a Troop of Souldiers Commanded by Phylanter I fear you are their aim Mir. I Hyp. You may guesse the causes Jealousie and Baseness Think or you 'r lost Mir. Ha 't is very happy Pys. I don't understand that Mir. I 'le presse them nobly Are they many Hyp. They are divided as we guesse The gates are yet kept shut Pys. I 'le go view and inâ—â—antly return Exit Mir. The Devill on the mischief if their aim Be towards me it must be for my life A Parly cannot save me I am resolv'd To sell it Phil. Upon my life Madam there 's some disorder View but the eyes of Mironault Prin. My Lord why are you mov'd Mir. I Madam Prin. Pray Sir let me entreat of you the cause Hyp. Nothing that ought to give you trouble Madam There 's something that requires The presence of my Lord without Prin. If there be any that would speak with him They shall be here dispatcht Hyp. That cannot be Madam Prin. Come my Lord. There 's something I can guesse at if I be not deceiv'd That does assure me I may command you What business breeds this alteration Mir. I dare not disobey you The Castle is surrounded by Phylanter With Troops of Soldiers and as we guesse My life 's their aim Prin. The Castle surrounded and your life their aim It is impossible they dare not think it I will go see their rudenesse Mir. Not for the world they know that you are here And their intents they 'l act unto their power Prin. Is there a better way Mir. Yes any rather than dye tamely Pysa For heaven's sake Sir resolve Phylanter's now Enter Pysander Forcing the gates being denied entrance For all his Souldiers who loudly now Call you A Traitor Upon one side Which I 'le conduct you to it is most probable You may escape Prin. Ah me Mir. May I believe fair wonder of your Sex That though your cruelty designes my fate Yet you 're displeas'd that these should be The Executioners I shall then dare To oppose all their â—uries that my Life May be Love's sacrifice alone forgive me too If I dare own that Love you frown upon You need not scruple to grant this To any that must aske no more And may that peace you give my dying thoughts For ever live with yours Prin. Pray say no more think of your safety Mir. See she weeps With pitty ever dwells forgivenesse too My wishes then are crown'd and I can have No greatâ—r unlesse that it were possible I might hope more and live Prin. O Mironault So much confusion mingles with my thoughts I know not what to say and yet I wish That you might live and cannot be displeas'd Though hope should be the cause Mir. So Saylers in a sinking vessell May see a calm begin This treacherous world Never wants mischiefs to prevent The greatest blessings that are near-approaching To crown man's greedy wishes But I mistake to doubt that Life Which you have given leave I should enjoy Who only have the power of it This shall witnesse Draw How much I covet to preserve What you wish safety to nor is it possible That I should unsuccessfull prove That have no other use for life but love Exeunt Prin. The gods protect and guide you O Phylena What 's to be done Phy. Collect your self dear Madam all may be well Let 's to a window that o're-looks that side Where they intended to break forth Prin. I dare not see him fall Phy. Fear not Madam Heaven will preserve So fair a Life that has your prayers too Prin. Hark they are ingag'd le ts see if it be possible A noise of fighting To give him more assistance than our wishes Exeunt ACT 1. SCEN 5. Enter Mironault wounded A noise Mir. STay hasty drops not to preserve The life that does pursue you But the blest shrine where Mirramente dwells See 't is not my wishes stayes the purple current Man's still most near to dye when he would live And live when he would dye calamity And the more dangerous extream prosperity Commits this violence upon mens wishes Yet since the gods denied for either cause To destroy life or to protect In stead of Choice we should oppose Neglect Hark the noise increases still Noise sure they are lost They fought it nobly though if my ears Deceive me not I hear some comming Enter Hyppasus and Pysander Ha Hyppasus and Pysander Then I am happy in spight of all misfortunes Hyp. Dear Sir you cut your way so nobly We should have reach'd you sooner else Pys. And so we had Sir but two or three good-fellows Still staid us upon conference Mir. Well here 's no staying we must forward But whither Heaven knows 't was an unworthy action Pys. For the honorable part of the story Wee 'l if you please comment upon it hereafter In the mean time 't is more needfull to observe What a condition we are in to help one another Hyppasus would make dainty whistles My bones are already rattles The best house of receipt I know would be an Hospitall A noise again On good Sir Hyp. The most by-ways must guide us Mir. Heaven direct us Pys. O what a speech could I now make Of this frail world But however I 'le not stay now to do it Exeunt ACT 1. SCEN. 6. Enter Princesse Philena Prin. HE cannot sure escape Phy. Rather believe he must there is a bettâ—r fate Reserv'd for so much worth Our hopes are now The policy as well as justice of our hearts You know we did discern how o're the plain Some hasted single and Pylander said they were divided At first you saw how fast he made his way Triumph and Danger waiting on his Sword The villains too like dull opposing clowds Gave way to the fair Sun And then Phylanter
in the dust But for my new design ha 't is odd To throw my self into the power of them As if 't were meannesse or something poorer fear Yet let it dye Studies Enter Amione Hyp. Pys. Ha she comes A Persian's cold devotion thus Receives new warmness from the rising Sun It must be so He that would hide Love kindled once within Rakes but his fire up to keep it in Hyp. We take our leaves now Madam for we see There 's one attends you from the Lord Phylanter Exe. Hip. Pysan Phyl. Madam my Lord Phylanter sent me hither In his own language to present you Safety Great as you merit Amio. I thank you Sir he has obliged me nobly Had he forgot his crimes I should forget He were an enemy Phyl. He bid me tell you farther That he had waited on you here himself But that he fear'd to injure your fair eyes That should be onely pleas'd with welcom objects Amio. Ha perish you easie thoughts that start aside At hearing of that name yet when you think of him I may forgive you if you then Frighten your selves And yet it may be Love ruines of Love And lightning are alike For what would willingly resist They both consume I shall attend you Sir If you please to lead the way Exeunt ACT 5. SCEN. 4. Enter Albertus Lycespes Albert. COntinue still worthy Lycespes To let him know repentance needs no blushes Or that 't is necessary for Fate or us To persue cruell actions yet with a gentle hand That no distraction mingle with his nature For he is young and youth's unsetled furie Is ready still to act Lyc. I have Sir with a gentle hand Toucht all the storie of this madnesse And find him too like an experienc't gamster Asham'd to have been cheated but resolv'd Wisely no more to venture at that game Our whole designs must needs therefore now Aime but to bring us off and yet prepare Not to want courage in the meanest Fortune Albert. 'T is all that can be said in our Conditions In order therefore to our sad affairs Wee 'le instantly dispatch a Trumpet To offer fair conditions or any thing That may not sound like mercy from another That 's an unworthy way to adde To other's fames in ruining our own And yet our whole desires shall be low Indeed they must for the extremity Of every unresisted Fate makes poor Their thoughts that were as rich before Exeunt ACT. 5. SCEN. 5. Enter Phylanter Amione Amio. YOu have now Sir performed that civill part That alwies shall enforce me to esteem The Lord Phylanter and may this Sir Tell you my thanks She offers him money Phyl. Madam reward can not be due To this small service though I may do What may perhaps seem to deserve Something of that nature but I must first Desire you to prepare for to believe Not ill of him that thinks your wrongs Deserve devotions greater than his trust Amio. What mean you Sir Phyl. Would it not be worth a reward at least That you might have within your power The ease of all your hard misfortunes Amio. Certainly 't were the sound bears greater joy Than possibility Phyl. I know sometimes that Treason seems But ugly in the justest cause Though I believe that never yet A power like yours commanded it Amio. Still I understand you not pray to the matter Phyl. To be short then know Phylanter loves you Your seeming kindnesse will have power To draw him where you please for to my breast He has committed all his thoughts And bid me judge when I should see you Whether he had not cause for all his passions Indeed he has so much his crimes are greater Nor is it more injustice to his trust Than due to you to tell you if you please That I may bear some feigned kindnesse from you I 'me sure 't will bring him any where That you may easily surprise him Amio. But do you think he has lost his reason so To trust himself without his guards And his surprisall then will not be easie Phyla Alas his reason 's like an helplesse friend Left and forsaken and nothing but your name Must be forgiven that would attempt to lessen His thoughts from what he has done you need not fear He can be over-wise that loves so much Nor will his reason tell him that 't is due To all his kindnesse Amio. Nor is it sure Phyl. But to his former storie 't is and present actions For though repentance onely at your name Has power in his thoughts yet he contemns To have that Virtue on a meaner score His crimes to all the world besides continue Amio. And they may better be the punishers Phyl. I grant you were it in their power As 't is in yours and they would then Do sure as much for you 'T is but the least command from you My life on 't I bring him where you think best He may be with moâ—t case surpris'd Amio. But should not you consider That though this punishment be due from me The treacherie's unjust in you aside How much it is the businesse of mankind To make a bargain for their honesty Whilest she turns away and speaks he throws off his disguise and â—ays his sword drawn with the hilt towards her And yet not think how little that will yield To others which they make so cheap Man 's like a barren and ingratefull soil That seldom pays the labour of manuring How has Philanter injured him or I obliged him That I could at first upon a lesser score Share with his crimes and on a meaner now Basely dislike as if his choice were just Whose equall ease accepts and forfeits trust I 'le tell him too 't is base how fain would Love Tell his own story through a nobler cause And blushes sure as well as I. It should be for Phylanter Ha! Deceive me not fond eyes it cannot be she turns and sees him I owe amazement now so much It must arrest me Phyl. Wonder not fair Amione nor fear I 'le beg your pitty that contemn my own And yet for many reasons think I love you Though I believe my time will hardly give Me leave to reckon them Onely consider That I durst here avow it I could have faln It s true as nobly with my fellows But much more happier here I would have weigh'd it too More leisurely in reason's scales till a thought Of you broke in and ended the dispute I have at my own rate procured my happinesse Nor have I done lesse sure for you 't is the first service And likely too to be the last I e're shall do you Amio. O Phylanter you should not trust Revenge and all your crimes at once In any power though I perhaps Shall fear to be a murtherer so to make My self as bad as you Phyl. Why I confesse I willingly Would be as good as you but that 's a lesson Hardly to be learn'd and yet it looks Much like the way to
saith were open places and calleth them Proseuchas Of which Juvenal Sat. 3. 296. In quaâ—e quaero proseucha On which words the Scholiast and Lubine say Proseucha signifieth a place where Beggars use to inhâ—biâ— For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Orare to beg or pray Yet the Scholiast immediately addeth Est Proseucha locus Iudaeorum ubi orant Mr. Mede also citeth a place of Philo Iudaeus in his de legat ad Caâ—um where he commendeth the exceeding clemency of Augustus Caesar in allowing the Jewes their Proseucha's But he denieth not but that under that name Philo comprehendeth Synagogues also Politian Miscell cap. 30. saith the word is used pro Templo Synagoga Judaeorum Some held the Jewes had no Synagogues before the Captivity and their reason perhaps is the silence of the Scripture which mentioneth them not till the Jewes were returned from Babylon This Mr. Mede taketh notice of and letteth it passe for currant But as for Proseucha or consecrated Groves he proveth them to be near as antient as Joshuah shewing the Oak of Shechem to have been such an one and not a single Tree as the common interpretation rendreth it That Trees were in these Proseucha's may be gathered from another place of Philo cited by the same wâ—â—thy Author where relating the outrage of the Gentiles at Alexandria against the Jewes there dwelling in the time of Caius he saith Of â—â—me of the Proseucha's they cut down the Trees others they demolished to the very foundations This also is implied by that of Juvenal Sat. 6. 542. Arcanam Iudaea tremens mendicat ad aurem Interpres legum Solymarum magna sacerdos Arboris And Sat. 3. 12. he complaineth that the Jews had leave to live in the wood which had been sacred to the Mâ—ses Whence this joyning of Trees and Jews together but from their having their Proseucha's ordinarily set with them I could set down many Texts of Scripture which directly distinguisheth between these Groves and Temples as Psal. 74. 7. though not rendred so in the Vulgar Translation So Gen. 13. 4. it is said that Abraham went unto the place of the altar which he had made at first and there called on the name of the Lord. Which is explained by Gen. 21. 33. a place expresse to our purpose And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord the everlasting God Luk 6. 12. we meet with one of these praying-places There it is said of Jesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He went out into a mountain to pray and continued there all night praying to God So Beza rendreth the place Abiit in monâ—em ad precandum pernoctavit illic precans Deum which certainly will not seem a just interpretation to any eyes but it would be much more genuinely translated in proseucha Dei than taking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Genitive case of the Object in precatione ad Deum And in this sense withoâ—t doubt the word is to be understood Act. 16. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—untibus nobis ad proseucham or locum orationis Beza here also translateth it ad precationem But v 13. it is said that Paul and his company went on the Sabbath day out of the city Philippi by a river side where prayer was wont to be made If the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be here taken for prayer neverthelesse it importeth a place where it was used and that by a river's side And it could not be a Temple because they went out of the city to it and Temples always stood in Cities Therefore I judge the word most properly to be taken for a place that is a Proseucha or grove These Daemons taught the Gentiles in imitation of the Jews to use such places of devotion Hâ—rein abominable ceremonies were practiseâ— as frequently appeareth in Scriptuâ—e and therefore were they forbidden See Isa. 57. 5. Hos. 4. 13. Ezek 6. 13. Thus much of Groves Now for â—acchus and his rites I â—â—all first set down the Fable which hath more reflexion on the truth than is generally conceived The Poets say that Semele desiring to embrace Iupiter as Iuno was wont and being burnt for her ambitioâ—s appetite Iupiter caught his little imperfect Infant fâ—om within her and having sewed it up within his own thigh kept it there till the time was compleat that it should have lien in the womb Then issuing forth he was bred up by Nymphs and became the inventer of Wine Of which see Eusebius de prâ—eparat Evang. lib. 2. cap. 2. who there speaketh of another Bacchus the son Iupiter and Proserpine much antienter than the son of Semele But this is rather from others fancies than from proofs either of his own or theirs As little will it be necessary to take notice of the endeavouts of Macrobius to make Bacchus all one with Apollo Sat. l. 1. c. â—8 Which opinion is condemned by Eâ—sebius de praepar Evang. l. 3. c. 13. It will be onely in some small manner convenient to take some sleight notice of some Physicall applications of the Fable Bacchus they say was feigned to proceed from his father's thigh because Vines prosper best in a warm soil His lips were anointed with Hony by the daughter of Aristaeus for the Antients held Wine a friend to Eloquence He continueth still young for Wine preserveth the heart from cares which are a greater cause of wrinckles and gray hairs than age Hence also was he called Liber Other reasons of which name see in Plutarch Quâ—st Roman qu. 25. Many other appellations of his see in Ovid Metam l. 4. Aelian Vâ—r. hist. l. 3. c. 41. Alex. ab Alex. l. 6. c. 4. Natal Com. l. 5. c. 13. Pier. Hieroglyph l. 27. Gyrald Syntaâ—m 8. All which having no relation to the truth I forbear to meddle with For declaring who Bacchus was and what his rites and ceremonies were I hold it reqâ—isite to shew who Saturn the â—ather of Iove was by whom Bacchus was begotten and herâ—iâ— I shall wholly follow learned Bochartus Saturn he accurately proveth to be Noah Foâ— as the Scripture styleth a Souldier a man of war Josh. 5. 4. a murderer a man of blood 2 Sam. 16. 7. c. so it styleth Noah onely a man of the earth that is an Husbandman Which title Saturn had and was as Noah believed the first planter of Vineyards Therefore to him they attribute the use of the Reap-hook and picture him with one Plutarch Quaest. Rom. 42. Macrob. Saturn l. 1. c. 7 10. And as if Noah by his being a man of tâ—e earth had indeed married the eaâ—th Saturn was said to 〈…〉 huâ—band of Rhea which seemeth to be derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to flow an â— signified the earth which is the seat of moisture For according to antient Philosophers all Rivers are generated and have their courses under-ground This Virgil sheweth Georgâ— 4. who saith That when Aristaeus was admitted into his
Abas that kept watch had told before Of strangers though all Grecians on the shore Like Wolves the Heroes went who although prone To ease their young ones hunger and their owne Yet on they slily creep dissembling want Lest dogs should make their Masters vigilant So slow they took the nearest way that bent Towards the gates discoursing as they wâ—nt Tydides first began How we should find This truth is alway running in my mind Why were these Thyrsi and these Timbrels bought Why Mitres Drums and gilded Stags-skins brought Hither with us Must these soft things employ And arm Achilles for the War of Troy To him Ulysses smiling said To thee Let this suffice If that Achilles be Under a Virgin 's habit here conceal'd By these fond Toyes thou 'lt see the Youth reveal'd In these attempts let this alone be thine To bring the things when 't is a fitting time And joyn to these the fairest painted shield On which the Gold doth radiant lustre yield This shall suffice But let Agyrtes too His Trumpet bring to help what we must do Then seeing to the Gates the King was come Shewing an Olive branch he thus begun I do believe that Fame hath fill'd your ears Best Prince with Europe's and with Asia's fears Preparing war If you our names would know On whom great Agamemnon did bestow This trust Hee 's Diomed who hath giv'n Fame The bravest tales Ulysses is my name To tell the cause I come I need not fear Since you 're a Greek in friendship too so clear 'T is that in safety we may still employ Our ships this way against injurious Troy The King thus stops his speech May ye still find In all ye do the Gods and Fortune kind But now let me be honour'd by your stay Within my Court. This said he leads the way The Tables straight were spread the Beds laid out In the mean time Ulysses sought about If any Virgin of too large a size Might give suspition to his doubting eyes Thus roam'd he round the house So every way Through fields the Huntsman his undoubted prey Trails with Molossian hounds till in the shade He finds the Beast his head on cool Turfs laid By this the news was to the Virgins got How that a Ship had Grecian Princes brought They all expresse their sexes fears besides Aeacides who scarce his new joy hides Greedy to see the Greeks The room with guests Was fill'd who on rich Beds receiv'd their feasts The Princesses came sent for by the King Like those fair Amazonians that did bring Their Tropheys with them by Maeotis round With Scythian and with Gâ—tan conquests crown'd Whose ruin'd walls in their own ashes lie Now seated at their feasts their Armes laid by Then straight Ulysses with his busie eyes Observ'd them all But night that great disguise Deni'd the Heros should be quite reveal'd Whom lying on the bed the boord conceal'd Yet to his friend he shew'd his wandering eye How unconfin'd by Laws of modesty For had not kind Deidamia's care compell'd His temper and his arms from moving held And with his veil his mighty shoulders hid And naked breast the full bowls too forbid And on his head settled his tottering Crown Achilles then had to the Greeks been known Three courses now had satiated their souls When thus inviting them to crowned bowls The King began The glory of your deeds I do confesse in my breast envy breeds I wish I were now with that Youth inflan'd Wherewith the Dolopes on these shores I tam'd As tokens of which victory their torn And shattered ships do still our walls adorn Had but kind Nature made my children men To serve you now my joyes had perfect been You see old age's witnesse on mine head And these soft pledges of my marriage-bed When shall the wish'd-for issues from these come Ulysses catching at these words begun Thy wish is just For who would not have fled To see such swarms by troops of Princes led Th' united strength that Europe now affords All sworn to just revenge upon their swords Cities are empti'd mountains naked show Sails without number on the Ocean throw A darkning shade Fathers deliver arms To the inflamed Youths who rush in swarms Fame for attempting-spirits ne're did yield So fair an object in so just a field Whilst thus he spake he saw how the Youth's â—ars Drank up his words the rest expressing fears Then thus proceeds Who'ere proud in the name Of Ancestors or in his Nation 's fame Who manageth his Horse or else can throw His dart with fatall aim or use his bow Here all their aemulating deeds are paid Virgiâ—s and fearfull women scarce are staid But that base wretch who this brave action fears Hated by Heav'n shall spend his fruitlesse years At this how the Youth mov'd Deidamia's eyes Soon found and gave her sisters signes to rise Leading him forth Yet he departed last And still his eyes upon Ulysses cast Who having paus'd a little thus again Assum'd his spâ—ech May you best King remain In peace providing marriage-beds for these Whose lâ—eav'nly beauties equall Deities How much their looks amaze in which doth shine Mingled with beauty something masculine The King replies If now their looks invites What would it do at Bacchanalian rites Or circling Pallas shrines This shall appear If the kind crossing winds detain you here At this new hope their silent wishes bless'd With haste accepting it The Court in rest Was now laid free from cares only the night To wise Ulysses seem'd too slow of flight The morning scarce appear'd when Diomed Bringing the gifts with him Agyrtes led The Scyrian Virgins too rose with the day Unto their guests the promis'd rites to pay Before the rest Achilles with the Queen Appears Pallas and Cynthia so were scen With the Elysian King 's lov'd Proserpine By Aetna's rocks among the Nymphs to shine Now they began to move in measur'd time And from th'Ismenian pipe they took the signe Four times the stroakes on Rhea's brasse â—ebound As many times the Evian Timbrâ—ls sound Four times their measures chang'd at once they threw Their spears all up which fell together too Now they like the Curetes all advance Then they present the Samothracian dance Now all do side like Amazons then all Into Lacaenian circling figures fall Achilles now most plain appears and stands Neglecting the just time of joyning hands Scorns the soft measures and to be so dress'd Forgets his part disturbing all the rest Afflicted Thebes saw Pentheus thus despise His mother's tymbrels and the sacrifice The praised Chorus from their sacred sport Were now dismiss'd and all return'd to th' Court Whither the gifts Tydides had convey'd And all before their eyes in order laid With these they seem their welcome to requite And every one unto her choice invite The King consents too innocent to find The Greeks and what Ulysses had design'd They by their nature to such choice apply'd The Thyrsus took or else the
POEMS ON Several Occasions Written by the Honourable Sir ROBERT HOWARD LONDON Printed for Francis Saunders at the Blue Anchor in the New Exchange in the Strand 1696. TO THE READER IT has been the usuall custom of Epistles to give the Reader an account of the causes that brought those writings into publick that were onely intended for a private Closet and commonly it has been at the request of friends perhaps with mingled truth and designe to prae-engage the judgments of many by telling the opinion of some so to preserve their modesty as much in the pretence as they could have done in the concealment of their Writings Though I cannot pretend such a cause as this I can yet free my self from that vanity that others would avoid by assuring the Reader I had not stock of confidence enough to shew these things privately to many friends much lesse to be furnish'd with enough to make them publick to all indifferent persons had not the desires of the Book-seller prevail'd with me to whose civilities I believ'd my self so far engag'd as to deny him nothing that he thought a kindnesse which could not be severely prejudiciall to my self Yet I doubted not but that I should receive the censures of many which upon the granted principle of prejudice appear'd not a reasonable argument to prevail with me to deny his request since the same should as well perswade me not to live for life and conversation render man in Print more than letters can do and is made more publick by that way than he can be by this His life is mingled more with his defects and passions than probably his writings are and whether they are equall or exceed others need not trouble him that writes He may be satisfied the production of retir'd hours are the best of himself I had no great reason then to deny his request that imagin'd he ask'd his own advantage when he desired nothing that I believed contrary to mine Yet I wish that it may so far give satisfaction to all that they may as little repent the râ—ading as I did the writing whilst in these gentle studies I found a diversion from greater follies and by that comparison they received obliging natures Perhaps there 's few that read them may not as well be conscious to themselves to have spent some time not so innocently and for that cause forgive that which for its own sake they cannot admire For the severall subjects which here make one bundle there is not any of them that have not layn by me these many years two or three copies of Verses onely excepted and had been wholly perhaps laid aside but for the reasons given applying my self now to more serious studies according to the severall sâ—asons of â—â—creasing age as the â—arth produces various fruits to the different seasons of the year By this short account of time the Reader may discern in what clowdy days my Muse sprâ—ad her wings as little contributing to her flying a noble heighth as to shew a just subject He that most deserv'd it was most deni'd it as he was indeed his right in all things either from private fear or publick powâ—r though I equall not the crime of faint thoughts in passive submission to the guilt of bold profâ—ssion in publick action 'T is now to be hop'd that the praises of our Prince who so much merits it may be received willingly by all since nothing can be said of him that has not been done by him and man's largest invention has been exâ—â—ll'd by His actions there being nothing capable 〈◊〉 make him appear more excellent than himself â—nlesse it had been our want of him when by experience we found his miseries were ours and all that we inflicted on him returned in double measures on our selves lâ—ke â—â—ones madly tost into the air and forc'd from their proper câ—nter that fall back with encreas'd weight upon their heads that flung them We are now presented that in him which this world sparingly produces in one composure an object for our Confâ—â—â—nces and Interest in whose preservation our Tâ—mpâ—rall and Eternall states have equall shares Yet I should a little be dissatisfied with my self to appear publick in his praise just when he was visibly restoring to power did not the reading of the Panegyrick vindicate the writing of it and besides my affirmation assure the Reader It was written when the King deserved thâ— Praise as much as now but separated farther from the Power which was about three years since when I was Prisoner in Windsor-Casâ—le being the best diversion I could then find for my own condition to think how great his Vertues were for whom I suffered though in so small a measure compar'd to his own that I rather blush at it than believe it mâ—ritorious For the other Verses and Songs I must profâ—sse they were never directed to any particular Beauty which may to the Amorous Reader at least be a just excuse if they want Perfection to remember I wanted Passion and had onely my own warmth unassisted by the influence of a Mistresse Nor shall I envy him that writes better by being much in love if he must purchase the advantage of Wit by the losse of Freedom For the Translations the Authors have already received those Characters from the world that they need none of mine especially Virgil of whose works I have onely publish'd this one Book that lay finished by me not judging it convenient to perfect those other Books of his Aeneid's which I have rudely gone through having long since laid aside all designes of that nature and this little of it rather grew publick from accident than designe the Mingle it had with my private Papers was the greatest cause that it received its share in the publick Impression For Statius he had received commendations enough had he been alone commended by Iuvenal in his 7 Satyr but Alexand. ab Alex. also lib. 6 ch 14 relates that he thrice received the Victor's Lawrell in the publick reading of his Verses and was once vanquish'd as unjustly perhaps as Menander was jâ—dged to be overcome by Philemon whose faction was greater though his wit lesse insomuch that meeting him afterwards Menander desired him to confesse ingenuously if he did not blush when he vanquish'd him For this piece of his I confesse I chose it as most pleasing to me I wish it may be so to the Reader though there wants not ingenious men who preferr'd it before his other Poems The Annotations may in some places perhaps be judged too large yet had I omitted any thing it is probable that the same persons would have censur'd me for ignorance so that being equally sensible of these extreams I judg'd it the testimony of the greatest modesty By omitting little to shew my self not at all secure in the world's opinion I have thus ingenuous Reader given you a clear and true account of my Self and Writings not opprest with apprehension nor rais'd by
smiles His fame most presseth his declining state And former glories add unto the weight Too hasty now his early fame he found And blames those wreaths with which his Youth was crown'd Of Pontick or Corycian Victories Now when he thinks his flaming blushes rise Thus greatest minds consuming Age destroys And Life survives our Empires and our Joys Unlesse life with those joys together flow And a swift fate prevent ensuing woe To Fortune Shame succeeds In the best state Let none conâ—ide unlesse prepar'd for Fate Another instance of the mutability of Fortune was that great Souldier Hannibal whose prophetick spirit was sensible of this almost fatall necessity as we may see in that incomparable speech which Livy maketh him speak to Scipio advising not to trust the gods and Fortune too farre telling him that what Scipio was then himself had been after the battels at Trasâ—emene and Cannae and that Fortune had never yet deceived him Thus he spake to move his enemy to accept peace conceiving no argument of more force then the consideration of the vicissitude of human affairs And his words though then flighted Scipio himselfe afterwards found true and had sad experience both of the inconstancy of Fortune and of the ingratitude of his Country To these I might adde the examples of Marius Caesar and infinite others out of the stories of former â—imes with more prodigious ones of our own age Habet has vices conditio mortalium saith Pliny in his excellent Panegyrick ut adversa ex secundis ex adversis secunda nascantur Occultat utrorumque semina Deus plerunque bâ—norum malorumque causae sub diversa specie latent The condition of mortalls hath these changes that adversity should spring out of prosperity and prosperity out of adversity The sâ—eds of both God concealeth and for the most part the causes of good and evill things lie hid under a different species Herodotus relateth how Amasis King of Aegypt counselled his friâ—â—â— Polycrates King of Samos That he should interrupt the course of his â—elicity by casting quite away something that he held most dear and the losse wherèof would most afflict him Plutarch De consol ad Apollonium telleth us that Theramenes one of the thirty Tyrants at Athens being at Supper with many friends the house where they were suddenly fell down and he onely escaped Many upon this gave him the name of Happy But he crying out asked For what sadder death Fortune had reserved him And indeed the Torments he endured before his end added him to the nâ—mber of those examples which serve to admonish prosperous persons of the uncertainty of their Estate Seneca Troad act 2. Violenta nemo imperia continuit diu Moderata durant Quóque forâ—una altiâ—s Evexit ac levavit human as opes Hâ—c se mag â—s supprimere felicem decet Variósque casus tremere metuentem Deos Nimiùm faventes None violent Empires long enjoy secure They 're moderate conditions that endurâ— When Fortune raiseth to the greatest height The happy man should most suppresse his state Expecting still a change of things to find And fearing when the gods appear too kind It is an excellent Character that Macrobius giveth of Fortitude Tolerare fortiter vel adversa vel prospera To bear with courage either adverse or prosperous Fortune in Somn. Scipionis l. 1. c. 8. And perhaps it may aime at our sense In the best condition without distemper to exspect the worst This dreading invidiam Numinis was the cause why that mighty Emperour Augustus used once a year cavam manum asses porrigentibus praebere as Suâ—tonius in his Life relateth c. 91. To beg with his open or hollow hand the most opprobrious way of begging On which place see learned Casâ—ubon giving reasons from the generally received opinion thus elegantly expressed by Erasmus in his Philodoxus Saepe mecum admirari soleo seu Fortunae seu Naturae e invidentiam quae nihil omnino commodi largitur mortalibus quod non aliquo temperet incommodo i. e. I have often wondred with my self at the envy either of Fortune or Nature who never dispense things convenient to mankind which are not tempered with some inconvenience For this Philip of Macedon kept a Youth whose office was every Morning thrice to salute him thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philip thou artâ—a man Aelian var. hist. l. 8. c. 15. I will end all with a passage of Diodorus Siculus Biblioth hist. lib. 3. Thus rendered by Merick Casaubâ—n in his Cause of evils Neverthelesse God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath not afforded unto men any entire happinesse without some blemish or envy but to these his blessings he hath annexed somewhat that is hurtfull which might serve to admonish them who through continuance of worldly blessings are wont to grow into a contempt of the Gods Whether our Poet had an eye to this opinion I cannot say Certainly his words seem to look that way and so my discourse is excused from impert inency 195. Pholoe A woody mountain of Arcadia having a Town of its own name Plin. l. 4. c. 6. 207. So tired Castor Statius here compareth Achilles to Castor whose beauty he maketh as bright as his own starre He and Pollux were the sons of Tyndarus and Leda And their amity was so great that they never differed either in matter of Power or Counsell For which Hyginus saith Iove translated them into Stars Servius in Aeneid 6. saith that Helen and Pollux were begotten by Iupiter in the shape of a Swan and from him drew immortality but that Castor was the son of Tyndarus and so mortall but by the extream kindnesse of his brother and the concession of Iupiter mortalitv and immortality was equally divided betwixt them Virgil Aen. 6. Sic fratrem Pollux alterna morte redemit The fable arose from the Stars one whereof ever riseth at the setting of the other as if the fare and fall of one redeemed his fellow That these brethren were ever watchfull for the Roman Common-wealth Valerius Maximus proveth by many examples lib 1. c. 8. Also Pluâ—arch in the Life of Paulus Aemylius relateth their meeting of L. Domitius and how they gave him in charge to make known to the Senate and people of Rome that they were victorious which as yet they were uncertain of And then as Suetonius in the beginning of Nero's life writeth though Plutarch mentioneth it not to evidence their Divinity they changed his hair fâ—om Black to Red. And thence came the name of Aenobarbus which continued to one of the greatest families in Rome 216. Sings the acts of Heroes Maturantius saith it was a custom among the Greeks to sing the actions of famous persons to the end that others might be inflamed to a generous imitation of them So Scipio was excited to great aâ—chievements by gazing on Statues erected to the memory of renowed men Musick was ever much honoured Epaminondas among other things was famous for it Iacobus Crucius in lib.
Annot. relateth out of Polybius that the Arcadians generally instructed their youths in Musick and saith It was a custom among the Grecians to sing the praises of their Genii Heroes and Gods So Alexander ab Alexand o l. 4. c. 17. saith They were wont to sing the praises of their gods while the sacrifice was in eating And lib. 2. c. 25. having reckoned up many famous men that were excellent Musicians he addeth that among the Greeks Musici Vates and Sapientes were in equall estimation And that after Supper the Harp was wont to be played on Which when Themistocles refused to take in hand he was for that very cause held the lesse learned He there also affirmeth that the Ancienrs used to chant out the Encomiums of renowned persons Thus our Poet setteth forth Achilles to have been instructed by Chiron and now to give his Mother the usuall entertainment after their Feast And Homer telleth us that he oft practiced this art at the siege of Troy Thus also Dido entertaineth her guests Aeneas Virg. Aen. 1. Cithara crinitus Iopas Personat aurata docuit quae maximus Atlas Hic canit errantem â—unam solisque labores Vnde hominum genus pecudes unde imber ignes Arcturum pluviásque Hyadas geminósque Triones Quid tantum Oceano properent se tingere soles Hiberni vel quae tardis mora noctibus obstet Hairy Iopas then begun And on his Harp what Atlas taught he sung The Moon 's unconstant ways and how the Sun Performs his course whence men and beasts first sprung The Bears the Hyades and Arcturus sings The cause of showers and why heav'n lightning slâ—ngs Why to the waves the Sun should take his flight Sooner in Winter and prolong the night 219. The victories of Pollux The weapon by which Pollux was victorious was much used by the Antients called Caestus whose description I. C. Scaliger thus giveth At first saith he the Greeks used to fight with naked fists Pugnis addita lora ad inunimenâ—um propterea quòd nudi cùm ferirent saepe plus damni acciperent quà m facerent Ea lora Graeco vocabulo CESTUS dicta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enim cingulum Brâ—via initio mox nè excussa exuerentur in ictibus tuâ— cubito tum humero alligabantur Poâ—â—remó ferrum plumbumque assutum est saevissimo spectaculo Cerebrum enim guttur facillimè elidebant Idcirco aurium munimenta induebant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus he describeth the Caestus to be a piece of a Leather foâ— the safeguard of the hand which when naked received oftentimes more damage by a blow than it gave Lest this Caestus should be shaken off by striking it was fastned not to the arm onely but also to the shoulder At the end of it was sewed a mass of Iron or Lead which rendred the combat a most cruell spectacle Their very brains were oft dashed out for preventioâ— whereof they covered both their â—ars with defences This character Fabricius also confirmeth relating that the form of this Caestuâ— was to be seen in the house of Peter â—embus when he lived at Paduâ— Fuerunt coria bubula saith he quibus plumbum ferrumque inâ—uâ—um est articuâ—s manûs in volam flexae circundata ut pondus suâ—â—inere ferientium manus valerent brachiis alligata And hence he believeth the antiâ—nt Germans took the use of the Gantlet which they wore in war The reason Fabricius giveth why the Caestus were fastned to the arm is in my opinion better then Scaliger's That â—o the hand might be strengthned to bear the weight the better This Fabricius writeth on the Combat between Entellus and Dares Aen. 5. This Exercise as Scaliger saith was at first onely used with bare fists and prizes propounded for it in the Olympick Games Thucyd lib. 1. The invention of Caestus is ascribed to Amycus Clem. Alex. lib. 1. Strom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amycus the Bebrycian King first found out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lora pugilum that is the Caestus Which very words with others of â—lemens Eusebius useth De praep Evang. l. 10. c. 5. Hence Statius here crudo quo Bebryca caestu Obruerit Pollux i. e. Amycus so called from the place where he reigned Bebrycia which had its name from Bebryx a King in the Pyrenaean Mountains Sil. Ital. l. 3. Siâ—ce it was called Mygdonia after that Bithynia from Bithynius a King there Strabo l. 7. 12. Arianus giveth one of the daughters of Danaus this name who as well as her sister Hypermnestra spared her husband contrary to her father's command and flying with him into this Country gave name to it till fresher merits destroyed the memory of hers There is a Village called Bebryacum by Suetonius in Othone and by Tacitus Annal. 18. seated between Verona and Cremona In the Lipswick Edition it is called Bedriacum by Iosephus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But by reason of the authority of Tacitus and Orosius Ioseph Scaliger saith Ea nihil aliud sunt quám unum nomen multifarià m depravatum At this place Otho was ove come by Vitellius statim saith Suetonius moriendi impetum cepit Yet then had he a reserved Army competent enough to have attempted in another Battle the recovery of his Fortune but he chose rather to let that be the certain advantage of his friends to procure peace from Vitellius than by hazarding them to pull on all their ruines together For which cause Tacitus justly saith Many enjoyed Empires longer but none left them bravelier 220. The monstrous Minoâ—aur fam'd-Theseus slew The Fable is thus The Adultery of Mars and Venus being discern'd by the Sun 's all seeing eye and by him discovered to Vulcan in a Net that he had made for the purpose he caught the Lovers in their embraces Hereat Venus being enraged ever after pursued the race of Phoebus with revenge infecting them with prodigious passions The first that suffered was Pasiphae the wife of Minos she being in love with a Bull was by Daedalus his art inclosed in a Cow of wood and so received the horrid satisfaction of her beastly Lover And from that loathsome embrace came the Minotaur By this Queen Minos had three children Andrâ—geos Ariadne and Phaedra Androgeos after many noble Victories was at last slain by the Athâ—nians and Megarians In revenge of his death Minos having vanqâ—ished the Athenians at Sea imposâ—d on them this punishment that seven Youths and as many Virgins should every year be delivered to be devoured by the Minotaur But Eusebius de praepar Evang l. 5. c. 19. layeth their death to Apollo's charge whose Oracle directed the Athenians to send the Youths to be killed by Minos that the plague might be averted from them which they suffered for the death of Androgeos In the third year of this imposition Theseus son of Aegeus was sent He no less powerfull in person then in forces first obtained a conquest of the