Greatness is the Centre Of all happiness and felicity Like our Lands at first is ty'd to the Crown Kings comes near unto the Gods and are like them Both in power and pleasure do command all Enjoy all are miserable onely in having Of too much and wanting what to wish for Theirs is the dazling happyness 'T is idle Therefore to prefer Private joyes before The Crown-pleasures The King may throw by his Greatness when he please and be poorly happy But the Begger will nere sigh unto a Scepter King Why I Polyander ther 's some life in this A little heaven even in the apprehension Aratus art not thou of this opinion Ara. Not I Sir nor of my Lord the Fools there Kings are more miserable than they seem Happy flatter'd by themselves and others Into a joy that is not and what they feel They rather do imagine than find so Yet I grant too a King may be happy But not then as a King Felicity Is a Purchase and no Inheritance Nor has the Prerogative more than one life In 't ever it dyes still with the Buyer Troubles are the good Kings profession In the Wars the first Dart is thrown at him Where oft times his happyness is in a Glorious death or perhaps his God-like Raies Are pluck'd from him by some accursed hand And so falls less happy being after Vainly wish'd so by a poor revenge he Knows not Com. Very Grave and unseasonable Thus your Lord-ship gets the reputation Of Singularity which the Vulgar Suspect to be Wisdom Ara. Sir you see How this place and my freenes are injur'd King Mirth onely mirth Aratus He means Thy speech would better have become a Councel Than a Banquet Timeus welcome Nay Keep your seats Would thou had'st been partaker Enter Timeus Of our Mirth Time Sir when my actions or my age Shall make me worthy of your ease and pleasures I shall be a thankfull sharer but till then Your Troubles will become me better than Your Sports and Cares will sit more lovely on My Brow than Roses Sir those that are about you Seek to drown your Vertues Ara. Your Highnesse meanes None here Time I name none here my Lord King Nay Timeus Thou nere look'st friendly on our pleasures Time I must confesse Sir I had rather see you Bloudy than thus Wet nor are my Wishes Impious Polyander Poly. My Lord Time How basely that Smile became thee I had Rather thou had'st answer'd me with a Blow Than such a Look I thought to have ask't thee Something but I see thou art unworthy Of a brave Demand Thy Skill lies onely In the Curiosity of a Meal To say at the first touch o' th' tongue this is A Chian this a Falernian Wine Streight by the colour of the flesh to know Whether the foul were cram'd or whether fed Prethee Polyander how sat the Wind When this Bore was slain Were not these Apples Pull'd the Moon Encreasing Degenerate I have seen thee put thy face into a Frown And were 't so constant in that look as if Thou had'st no other Poly Sir when you shall find Or make a cause I 'le put them on again Here they 'l but sour the Entertainment Com. You see my Lord they are not drownd they live Still under water Time Like thine Beast King Prethee Timeus let us enjoy our Mirth While the Gods give it the time will come That we shall wish for it and not have it On my Conscience thou could'st be content To have Enemies onely that thou might'st cut 'em off Time I am sorry Sir if I have offended Against your Mirth it was not my intent I came to bring you News King News What is 't Good Time 'T is as you shall esteem of 't Sir There 's A Stranger Prince ariv'd King Hither Time Yes Sir His Visit 's forc't by a Storm as he pretends King What ere the Occasion is he shall be Welcome The time 's far spent Aratus it Shall be thy Employment From us fairly Salute the Prince and tell him though the Seas Have been Unfriendly the Land shall Court him Ara. Great Sir you highly Honour me Phro So now we have time to speak What think'st thou Exeunt all but Aratus Phronimus and Eurylochus Aratus of these passages Arat. Well bravely well Eury. Your speech strook desperately at the King He will not swallow it without some touch of jealousie Ara. 'T is no matter He cannot crosse us now We have not tan'e so many yeares to build A Work up and then to have it ruin'd With a push No he that will shake 't must first Overthrow a Kingdome a Prince a Law so large The Extents are Nere did Plot thrive like it It has infected with the Holy Sore The greatest part o' th' Realm and catches daily Like some Unheard of New Opinions Streightned at first and prison'd in the brests Of two or three gain strength by Time and Eares And daily fed by curiosity Thrust out at last the Old and most Receiv'd And grow the whole Religion of the Place When we have call'd our Party forth the Work Will seem done the thin Numbers that are left Not deserving the Name of Enemies The Tyrant then will see himself no more A King but onely the Wretched Cause of Warre His Power being ravisht from him Phr. While the fruit 's thus ripe why doe we let it grow Eury. And spoil perhaps Arat. We will no longer onely A little Ceremony detaines us To Crown our King that past our actions With our thoughts shall then contend in swiftnesse Phro How sped your visit to the young Prince Arat. Most happily O had you seen with me The Dear Cause of this our Danger how Cheap Would you have thought the Greatest for his Sake And stood contemning Life thinking your bloud Ill-stored within your veines when that his service Call'd it sure 't was some such Shape and Sweetness Which first slav'd men and gain'd a Rule before there was A Kingdome Eury. You forget your Message to the Prince Arat. 'T is true pray bear me Company we may get thankes For our Complement another day Exeunt Omnes Enter Harpastes Harp Devill whether wilt thou hurle me The Ship Sunk under so much Ill nor can the Earth Bear us both together the greatest Hills Presse not her face with half that Load one thought Of Goodnesse made me lighter than the Waves And in an instant taught me how to swim Enter Melampus to him Melampus Melam Harpastes Harp Are we onely scap't Melam I hope so Harp Then the Storm has plaid the Hangman And sav'd us Innocent Melam Innocent What 's that It has sav'd us so much labour and a broken head perhaps Harp The Wrack was great and full of horror Melam How the rogues pray'd and roar'd above the Waves Vow'd whole heards of Off rings for their safety But Neptune sav'd 'em Charges and took the Verier Beasts Harp We scapt miraculously Melam I hope you 'l burn no Bullocks to the
you 'd rather Have in Chaines than all the list of Traitors I have nam'd Sir commit the Uucasing Him to me and suffer me to proceed With Aratus as I shall see cause Exeunt all but Timeus Aratus and the Guard King Take your way I 'll leave him to you Time My Lord with the perswasion of your Innocence I have procur'd your Freedom Of my Father and do desire in Return Of this kindness if it be such to let Me see the face of this my Enemy Once more if your Acquaintance as appears By your words be not too late to know his Abode My Lord I shall receive him otherwise Than you expect The Relation you have Made of him and what my self was witness of Have turn'd my Hate into Admiration Of him and if I can move his Love as I have done his Anger I shall be happy In his Valour 'T is not the first time that The Brav'ry of Enemies have made them Friends And that Wounds have been the first Seals of Love I do consider how much I injur'd him And that on such provocation he could not Have done less At the first sight I call'd him Dog And without more Circumstance commanded To have him kill'd Ara. Now Sir I must kneel to you You have the goodness of a Prince He shall Submit for his Offence or suffer for it And if you find not that Noble Spirit In him I have told you of in the most Dangerous Business you shall imploy him Let him be punish'd for this his Ill-plac'd-Valour Time My Lord I 'll take no other Surety But your Word ever oblige me thus Exit Timeus and Guard Ara. But my Lord though I can Answer I cannot give Credit to your smooth Tongue This last Accident might have lost all I 'll Hazard no more by my Delayes And seeing They know not their time to strike I 'll teach em Both the How and When to do it Before To morrow this time I 'll ring their Dull Security such an Alarm Enter Haimantus disguis'd like a Saylor Haim My Lord Prince Clearchus Salutes you Ara. Ha! Prince Clearchus Said'st thou Come nearer friend Haim Do you not know me My Lord Ara. My Lord Haimantus I crave your Pardon How fares the Prince Haim Well and both He And my Lord Pallantus who happily made His Escape to our Ships from his Pursuers Have sent me in this Disguise to let you know The Block-house is privately surrender'd To 'em in which they now are with three hundred Of our Selectest Men and undertake With this strength to rescue the Princess Hianthe This Even if the state of your other Affairs Will suffer it Our Navy besides rides Clear And disengag'd near to the Block-house Where they can land what greater Force they please Ara. Hum. The Gallant Prince and bold Pallantus safe The Block-house surrender'd and the Ships at hand Both for a Reserve and a Retreat Why should They not attempt it My Lord tell 'em Their Design is Noble and like Themselves Full of Youth of Fire of Bravery of Justice That where such Spirits as theirs move in any Action all Designs ought to Follow and Not Lead they make the Period and the Poynts Of Business Say I do not onely approve Of this their Purpose but will Assist 'em In their Retreat and at the same time give A Divertisement by some hundreds of Great shot pour'd into the City Come my Lord I 'll direct you a way to return less Hazardous than that you came in hither Exeunt Omnes Enter Hianthe The time of their great Plot is now compleat The hours are finish'd O let it not You Which look down which favourablylook down Upon this Isle want your Power which first Did strengthen it let the same Hand that bid Disclose it too Shame not at so Glorious An Off-spring when it is Heavenly and doth Confess the Father when none but Gods dare Call it theirs nor without Blasphemy can Own it Ye were kind Parents at the first Shew your selves still so and Rear the Child ye Have Gotten Where Humane strength shall fail there Hold it up and make that Want the Strongest Enter Mellssa Mel. Madam I now met my Lord Ara us Who intreats your Highness to keep within Your Lodgings this Night and to fear nothing What euer Embroylments you hear abroad Or near you Enter Timeus Time Madam I come to tell you The Infection which caus'd this your Retirement Is now clear'd up and vanish'd and abroad You may safely bless us with your Presence The Court has for these dayes suffer'd an Eclipse But when it shall again shew forth its Beams Your Beautyes it will look more Glorious By its short Obscuring Enter the King Comastes Minetius King Weil said Timeus Now I like thee here thy Cares and Services Are bent the right way would I could see thee Once look pale in these Can a young Man when He may have leave to breath in such a Paradise As this draw a common Ayre an Ayre o' th' People I am loath to change thy present thoughts but The business I have to tell thee will bring Thee peace and more leasure for them The suspition Thou had'st of a Treason was not Vain since It hath broke out but 't is already supprest The two Chief of 'em are taken in their passage As they went to Head their Forces And I Have commanded they be set so High As to enjoy a Large View of that Land they Were Ambitious of and then to strangle 'em At that Height Time Are there but two Sir of Note That you have taken Flatter not your self Had they been thousands they had left more behind Your Majesty counts that a Victory Which they scorn to account a Loss and think Y' are safe when they are not indangered Is Aratus Phronimus or Eurylochus Among them Is Pallantus one of the two Are taken King Pallantus Thou dream'st of the Dead And the Ages past Time Sir he 's Living And if my Aimes deceive me not he has Lately Walk'd among us and makes up the Knot Of Traitors Ha! King What can this mean Look out A vollie of Great Shot interrupts their discourse and they stand amaz'd Enter Polyander Poly. Sir arme speedily put your self within Your Strength or y' are lost The Block-house Is revolted Prince Clearchus poures Men In Swarmes upon the Shore Aratus has Seiz'd both the Gate and Fort that lead unto Great Shot still The Haven and thunders as you hear Upon the City Time These were the Evills I was a Prophet of I saw them when They were Disguis'd Sir 't is no time now to Stand But Doe King Madam we intreat your Pardon That thus we have offended 'gainst your peace And made you the first partaker of our Troubles That ought to have Known them Last Hian. Sir your Trouble Is too sad to be excus'd Mel. How likes your Hignesse the Serenade of this fair Evening Exeunt all but Hian. Meliss Hian. I like it
Innocence or Pietie Or both though you stood for many Yeares So Great a Person in the State Kept you From looking in this Mysterie And if You doubt the truth of what I have said Or can suspect your Enemies Cause is pleaded By me ask of the most Zealous to your House And Name and you will find I have not onely Declar'd a Veritie but restrain'd by Manners And by Duty conceal'd a Storie of the horrid'st Crueltie that any Age or time can Parallel Eud. If this be true our Sinnes are mightier Than our Suff'rings and had we a greater Debt Than Life we ought to pay it My Miseries Are due to me I was a Partie and Enjoy'd my Fathers Violence and Treason Rod You are as Innocent as at that Time Your Age was and onely doe offend in these Your Teares and too much Sorrow which on this Occasion shew'd excessively is not To Grieve but to Repine The King was Old And taking his Latest Leave and 't is hard To say whether he were First opprest with Yeares Or Vengeance My Lord Time us 't is true Was Young but waigeing so seaslesse and perverse A Warre 'gainst Vertue and 'gainst Justice What wonder if at last he sunk in such A Quarrell Eud. How ill these Words become thee To speak and me to hear 'em Think'st thou the Shame And Vices of our House can bring a Comfort To me Rod I think their Shame and Vices Madam Ought not to oppresse your Innocence Eud. As the Glories so the Dishonours of A Familie reflect upon the Rest Of Kin Rod 'T is the Error of the Blind Mistaking World that placeth either where They are not deserv'd Eud. Can any shift off With Honour from themselves the Sad Calamitie That O're-whelmes their House Rod If that Calamitie Be the punishment of Particular Crimes To dote on the Calamitie is to Allow The Crimes Eud. None can be suspected to allow A Crime that punish even their Innocence For their Alliance to the Vitious Rod Nor none can be admired for Justice more That punish Innocence on any Score Enter Lady to 'em Lady There 's one of the Adverse party that seems Of Note desires admittance to your Highnesse Eud. See Rodia who it is Rodia goes out as to see and returnes again Who is it Rod Madam I Know not nor did I e'er see Any like him His Grace and Forme admit No Paralell He speaks like the Souldier That first broke in upon us but him It cannot be He was the Terror This the Delight And Wonder of those that look upon him Eud. Whether will thy Unseemly Admiration Carry thee In Men Beauty 's the Least Part. Rod Madam it appears so in him Yet where Such Excellence of Form is seen the Beauties Of the Mind are seldome Common He craves Admittance to your Highnesse and will not Take it before that it be granted Eud. Admit him It will not become our State To deny Commands much lesse when they Intreat Rodia goes out and returns again with Pallantus richly habited Pal. The Kingdome owes a Sacrifice for your Life All will joy to hear of it which had it falid Would have pul'd more Guilt upon us then the Sinns Of a whole Age Eud. It is my shame you tell me of And a great Share of my Grief that thus I stay To Grieve Pal. My Offensive Tongue can utter Nothing pleasing to you so great are your Misfortuues and your Honour so tender To you Yet if my Bloud could Cure the Wounds I have given you I would not stick to make A Balsome with it Eud. Thou art not He Which gave'em me Pal. If my Repentance can make Me Clear I am not Otherwise t was I Who blinded with the beauty of a Rash Revenge tore from you all your Joyes and with it Lost my Owne Eud. Th' art strangly Alterd If thou bee'st he Pal. Nothing so strangely As my Hopes are Which first appeared to me In a shape most Heavenly and told me All should be as Blessed as their Form That if I would strike one Noble Blow I should remove the Numerous Wrongs and Evils Of a Nation But treacherously hid it From my sight that with the same stroke I should Produce One Evill out-weighing all the rest That I had Remedied Eud. Why dost thou Colour thus Thy Cruelty with Outward shew of Justice And Compassion Thou hadst no Cause for that Which thou hast done The Wrongs were General Thou Urgest so and of a Publique Nature And came not in the Compasse of thy Private Vengance but that thou hadst a Hand was ever prest And ready to act a Cruelty Pal. Yet I had A Cause pardon me that I say so and being That I saw not You before I did it A Just One I lost a Soveraigne as near To me in Bloud as Love And if this Cause Seeme Remote I had a Father Murdered Whose Death it became me to Right with Vengeance As it becomes you to mourn ore yours with Teares My self the First Prince of all this Isle Was drove a Fugitive to other Countrys My Wrongs and Innocence were my onely Guilt Nor did my Persecutors here give ore They thought too Much was Left me in my Life So Poore at that time so Orewhelmd with Miseries T was hardly from a Death to be distinguish't Their Injuries put a New One in me And blew the Sparke unto a Flame Consumd'em Look on this It may bring you Comfort He gives her the Letter he found at the beginning in the Villaines pocket that should have kil'd him With making you Out-of-love with the Subject Of your Grief Eud. Pallantus are you Pallantus Pal. This is the first Day I have dared to be so Eud. And to all the Treason and Injustice named Here 's signd Timeus Couldst thou be so Cruell So foully Impious Degenerate Brother This hath made a Mercy of all that hath Befallen thee Nay thou dost deserve To have thy Punishments out-Live thee To have this Blasting Character engraved upon Thy Tombe to all Posterity Here lies The Bloudy Treacherous and to make thee Monstrous to have thy Age joynd to it The Young Timeus that was subtle in His Youth What remaines for me That Happinesse The most Wretched do enjoy is taken From me A Worthy Cause of Sorrow Now I can neither Live or Dye without a Staine Pal. Can you find yet a Resemblance but of Justice Inmy Actions Eud. I Know not how to Answer you The Tongue that can defend such Impious Deeds Must be as Wicked as the Will that did Commit'em Had Equity poynted all Your Actions out given you Rules to work by Told you how much how farre you must have gon You could not have done more Justly There wants Not any thing to Crown your Judgment but My Death the onely Surviving Issue Of that Sinful Race I have a long time Loathd my Life and now I loath My Self too I find I know not how a Guiltinesse Possesse me my Fathers Crimes flow like his
and Haimantus Cler. Have you commanded all the Mariners Aboard each Captain to his charge bid the Souldiers fill the Decks with their full numbers And display their Colours left nothing wanting That may add to the Glory of the Navy Haim Sir all things are in their Pride and height The Captains Bravery seems to lend brightness To the day and like the Sun throwes raies and light About 'em Nor lookstheir Gold less awful Than the Souldiers Steel On the Ships appear The Joy and Riches of a Conquest and yet they Keep the Order of a joyning-battel There wants nothing to make a War-like Princely And well-commanded Navy but your Presence Sir Clear I would not have them think us such Poor Men That we are drove to seek for their Relief To sue for Bread and Water but rather That we come like Noble Woers full of Rewards and Presents able to return All favours we receive and equally To honour Them that honour Us as Great As they It shall appear that he that is Master of such a Fleet may style himself Prince though Lord of nothing else Haim The people Flock upon the shore and with one Voyce say You come to fetch their Princess Sir you have More than their Consents already you have Their wishes too Clear I marry Haimantus Such a Jewel would make the rest look dim There are two Ladies in this Isle if fame Say true the wonders of the World When Nature Made them she summon'd her whole God-head And unwearied wrought till she had done Form'd each limb as if she had begun there She seem'd to practise on the World till then And what like beautiful she fram'd before Were but Degrees to this Height these the Ascent From which she now must fall They made her Older Than the labour of a thousand years Enter a Servant Serv. Ther 's a great train it seems from Court coming To your Highness Clear Come le ts meet 'em As Clearchus is going out Arats Phronimus Eurylochus and Pallantus meet him Ara. Sir the King congratulates your safety And is glad of your Arrival though the Cause Were dangerous You would have Oblig'd him Much Sir if you had been bound for Creet Clear The King is Royal and chides me kindly He binds a Stranger ever to his Service Ara. His Majesty expects you 'll honour him With your Presence this night at Court Clear My Lord I shall wait upon him But I must fist Entreat you 'l favour me with your Company A ship-board I shall not need to excuse A Souldiers Entertainment I doubt not But your Lordships knows it well Coursnesse and Plainnesse are the Praise of it Arat. Sir you are The Envy of your Neighbour Princes you So farre exceed them in a Brave Command I nere was happy in the like sight before And my Lord they that can boast the strangest Have not seen one so Common and so Rare Your Navy lookes as if she wore the Spoiles Of a whole Land or came to purchase 'em Clea. My Lord you 'l make me proud Your presence yet Will adde unto its Glory Enter Timeus and Coracinus Exeunt Omner Time Found dead upon the shore Cor. I my Lord Thrown into a Cliffe Time Were they drown'd Cora. 'T is believ'd not my Lord for many fresh Wounds Were found upon their bodies and yet their Clothes Were wet Time 'T is strange Were there but two Cor. No my Lord Time That 's stranger yet Reward the Men that found them And bid'm make no farther enquiry After their Deaths nor speak of it Let it Exit Coraos Die with you too doe you hear The Villaines Have rob'd at their return and got their deaths That way I nere could spare 'em worse the State Stands in greater need of theirs than of the Sword of Justice Rodia Rod My Lord He calls Rodia and she Entern Time Is your Lady to be spoke with Rod Alwayes My Lord by you But now she 's coming forth Enter Endora Time Save you sweet Sister End O y' are welcome Sir Time Sure Eudora Venus and the Graces Had their hands to day about you You look Fairer than your self and move in the Sphear Of Love and Beauty Cupid has taken His Stand up in your Eyes and shootes at all That come before him Pray Venus he misse me Eud. When doe you grow serious Time These are the Fair Lookâ— Must captivate the Stranger Prince in a Free Country And this the Dresse that must inchant him ha Eud. There is no Charm in 't certainly it pleas'd Me the least of Many No 't is your Fair Mistresse that beares those Love-Nets about her If the Stranger'scape her he 's safe Time ' Had better Kill his Father and then gaze upon the Spectacle than look upon her with the Eyes of Love Eud. Nay then you are unjust Would you have him stronger than your self was If he for that be guilty the same Doom Must belong to both alike Time But I have Prevail'd so far that he shall be free both From the danger of Love and seeing Nor must You make up his entertainment Eud. I was Commanded to be ready and Attend there Time But now the Commissions alter'd And runs in the Other Sence Eud. I shall be Content to obey either May I not Know the cause Time You may We would not feed The Prince here with hopes to get a Wife This Was the Storm that drove him in Nor must you Onely for this time forbear his presence But while he staies He 's unworthy of you Eud. If you know him so I shall then without Excuse denie his Visits But I think This businuesse may be borne a Nobler Way Nor will the End Fail though the Meanes be Fair Leave it to me If he Sue with Honour He will take an Honourable Answer Though he gain none from me I 'le get his Love And send him home no lesse a Friend than if He were a Husband By my Restraint you 'l Onely procure unto your self the markes Of Jealousie and Rudenesse and fouler Staines If that the Crime were nam'd to the desert Besides it does proclaim in Me too such A Weaknesse as I am much asham'd of Had he a Face adorn'd with the Graces Of both Sexes Beauty and Manlinesse And these after the Custome of the Roman Princes in their Statues Engrafted on On the body of some God I could look on Converse I and neglect him too when I Have reason for it Fear not me then Time I doe not I know thee strong the Honour Of a Kingdome may lean with safety on Thee But he will linger here too long besot The State with Feastings and in this Jollity Give Opportunity to Treacherous Practises He must be us'd Ill there are Reasons for it Eud. Is there then a Policie In Rudenesse Why doe you not rather send A Defiance to him Proclaim him Enemie This were Nobler far than to receive him In your armes and then Affront him say Health And wish Poyson in
Retirement Nor yet the Flame conceiv'd from Her fair Eyes VVere meerly Casual but things of a Deeper And Diviner working Love who art Ruler Of the Destinies themselves if Youth And Greatness powerfully do invoke thee If a Vertuous Mind a Spirit bold Affections pure And Constant Faith are Oblations gratefull To thy Altar favour my Present Hopes All these I offer to thee And proudly Do exchange my peace and Quiet for the Troubles and perturbations of a passion Crown but the End and let all the Doubts The Suff'rings and the Dangers that ever rackt A Lovers Soul be made my Portion possesse me then with the Fulnesse of thy Deity let not thy Shades and Flourie Bankes Withhold thee make Paphos but thy Refuge The Heart 's thy Native Soyl thy Mothers Lap 's A Banishment to it But idely I invoke The God while favourably he beckons me To Recieve my Vowes and the Happinesse I Sue for does Attend me The houre 's already past That Calls me to the Princesse Exit Enter Hianthe Aratus Mclissa two Ladies Haimantus and Pallantus Hian. May I ever hope to see such Happinesse Arat. To injoy it long Madam and know no End Ofit Hian. Can I be no way assistant To the Businesse Ara. Onely in your Prayers 'T is our Task to Subdue the Men but the Gods Who must with piety be conquer'd we 'l leave Unto your Goodnesse And yet Madam me thinks The present Opportunitie prompts us With a Meanes to adde both Strength and Reputation To our Affaires This Gallant Prince whose Visit You expect is not I find a Stranger To the Interests of Crete nor lightly resents The Tyranny it groanes under The power You seem to have ore him may improve This Compassion into a Zeal to re-instate us In the Libertie we have Lost. Hian. My Lord I 'le use my best Endeavours if I find him fit To be Engag'd Leave this particular to me Enter Clearchus who puts off his Disguise with the help of Haimantus Ara. Madam he 's now ariv'd That 's he in the disguise Hian. So fell the Cloud from off the Trojan Lord Not able to Contain the Raies it held But being pierc't dissolv'd at Once to Air Exposing to the Worlds Astonisht Eye A Lusture rivalling the Mid-day Sunnes Clear Sure I was Rude and Barbarous before This Nobler Fire did touch my Heart and from The Wild Inhabitants of the Wood Differ'd in Passion onely and not Reason That without more Amaze I could behold Such Brightnesse and with a Readie Speech Excuse The Fault my Error had committed I cannot now find out a Word to sute With my Desires nor does the whole Store Afford me One but what must prejudice Her Excellence and my Estimation of it Pardon Madam that like the Ascendants To the Altar by Degrees I thus approach you Pausing at each Step and bowing to that Nearnesse Rashnesse was my Crime before and should I Throw that Blot a second time upon my Actions Rudenesse might be justly thought my Nature And Barbaritie my best Knowledge Hian. My Lord that which you call your Crime was the Incivilitie of the Court that left A Stranger to commit an Error So unhappy to himself I dare not Undertake to Patronize the Act Nor yet to Excuse it I shall believe I have Obtain'd much If I may be thought wholy To Disclaim it Clear Madam allow me then To beg your Pardon for the Presumption With which I made this Visit that I thought it A Hard Nay Injurious Treatment to be forc'd To Quit this Isle before I had the Honour To look upon you for since I have beheld Those Wonders of Beauty you are Mistresse of I find my Voyage was too Short my Hazards Too Slight and Few to be rewarded with so High A Favour Hian. My Lord had you directed Your Words to my Misfortunes I should have Acknowledg'd then you had seen a Raritie One in the perfection and Excellence Of Misery but I have no pretence No Title unto ought besides my Troubles Please you my Lord to with-draw unto a place That admits not so publique an Accesse Your Visit to me is not without all Danger Exeunt Clearchus Hianthe Melissa and the Ladies Ara. If I would set a Spectacle to the World It should be such a Close Where Vertue Ador'd Vertue and Greatnesse bow'd to Greatnesse Me thinks the Heavens doe open and the Clouds Are spun into a Thread to let down some God Unto this Meeting Let us withdraw The Power is now descended and all within Is Sacred and Mysterious and if we prie Into these Secrets our Curiositie Will be punisht Exeunt Omnes Chorms VVHile this Old Poppy thus doth sleep And doth in Vice as Age grow deep Benumming all the Plants are nigh Into a Drowsie Lethargie Behold a Nobler Branch appeares As farre from 's Manners as his Yeares O shed Thou then thy Influence And we 'l resume fresh Beauties thence The Fiercer Sweetnesse of his Face Presents a Rigour mixt with Grace And though there were a Want of Bloud His Worth would make his Title Good Vertues so Grown in so Few Yeares Make Him even Such become their Feares On then and cause the Scepter bee Thought but Reserv'd not Snatcht from Thee ACTUS 3. SCENA 1. Enter Aratus Phronimus Eurylochus Pallantus Aratus ARe all things ready for the Ceremony The Crown and Robes Phro They are there 's nothing wanting If the Prince were come Eury He 's now come Enter Clearchus and Haimantus Ara. Your Highness is welcom but I fear it may Appear to a strange Place and Persons What Do you think my Lord Are you not fallen Into the Company of so many Traitrous and lost Men Clear Say not so Sir You have not Warrant though you rank your self Within the Number The Place and Persons Rather appear to me as if some Holy Rite Or piece of Sacred Worship were intended Ara. My Lord you understand it right 't is a Piece Of Holy Worship and Devotion that is Intended by us And I may truly say That this our private Meeting and close Counsel Is more Just and Glorious than the loudest Deed In Court that all our publick Acts Edicts And Forms of Law are dark and impious Compar'd to it Nay that this Time and Place Made holy by our Purposes hath the Gods More manifest and present than the Altars And the Temples long since made Void and Empty Of a Deity by those which sue for Favours and requests for Him who justly Heard deserves their Horrid'st Vengeance We are not met here to Plot a general Ruin For a private Injury we know and teach That the Greatest done by the King unto The Subject cannot give him Cause to throw off His Faith Kings are petty Gods and may tempt us Nor is it Want or desire of Innovation That thus stirreth us we are in the Best Ill-State already Nor Ambition To strike at that Lawrel which the Thunder Spares no we Reverence it and know that As Men are the works
of Nature so Kings Of Jove But 't is our Oath the Sacrament We took which still holds us though our Lord be dead Until his Successor release us from it By taking of a New One We are not Subjects but Slaves to Him we now Obey And therefore as Slaves we ought to hate our Master He was born less than We and hides The Private Man under the Publick Gown The Purple which he wears was dipt deep in The blood of Innocents to colour 't so But I vainly waste my self in Words here Are no Minds to be perswaded nor Ears To be instructed The sins we are to punish VVe all know and the gods remember Our strength then is all we are to speak of VVhich is more than three parts o' th' Isle sixteen Years Undisturb'd Provision so carelesly VVas that secur'd which was got by Blood There 's but one Lord-ship small in respect Of others the Tyrants Own Possession That will be Cordial for him but they are So besotted with their Fortunes that their Greatest Aid will be but in their VVills to Do him Service They may offer up their Lives Like so many Sacrifices for his sake But not like Souldiers they are Unworthy Of that Name They may Dye but never Conquer VVar was never talk'd of but in their Banquets Nor dare they Fight beyond a Brawl Phro And if we would count part of our Strength In their VVeakness we have no Opposition In the City where They and their Vices Are daily seen nothing is so Contemptible And in Remoter Parts where Majesty Is more reverenc'd being known onely By the Power and Lawes and where the name of King Hears like the Name of God even there those sonns O' th' Earth as I may call 'em dare menace him And pile hills on hills to set their Bodyes Equal to their Hates Eury. Here we are thee my Lord Can each of raise such Forces which though They fail'd to effect it yet could make The Kingdome fear a Conquest Pall Your Highness Is a Souldier and though but Young perhaps Have seen already what others whole Lives Have not shewn them yet wee 'l play a Game VVe dare invite You to though you were Accompani'd with all the Ancient Heroes VVho had they leave but in their Aery shapes To set on a Tribunal Spectators Of the VVar this their second Leaving of The Earth should be more grievous to them than Their former Deaths and they would wish this Isle Might be their Elizium Ara. You see my Lord How each can bring his Forces in and prompt The other Those which have none on Earth Can bring them down from Heaven in stead of Men Bring Manly Spirits VVords and Looks confirming More than Armies Clear M Lords I must confess with no small pleasure I have heard the Justice the Strength the Courage Of your Cause And for the first of which although I never doubted or from the other two Meant ever to withdraw my Aid however VVeak yet I am glad to see the Enterprize So hopeful For though most greedily I Should imbrace all Hazards for two such Mistresses As Justice and the Excellent Princess Yet where their Interests are Disputed I cannot wish to see a Danger what Ever weight of Glory I might purchase By it My Lords the small Force I am Master of Either in my Person or those Commanded by me Reckon on till you see us Conquer or lye Upon the ground Ara. Our Designs are then succesful Above our wishes Phronimus introduct. The Priest we are now ready for him Though Exit Phronimus We need nothing to strengthen our Resolutions Yet we 'l take an Oath 't is good to have the Gods Along with us A Sacrament is the Tie No lesse of Loyaltie than of Treason Here let us all before this Sacred Witnesse Phronimus returnes with a Plamen bearing in his hand an Image Of Faith and Perjurie make a Holy Vow Of Loyalty to Our Selves and Cause And as we draw near to so Divine an Essence consider that 't is not Gold or Marble That we touch but a Moddle of a Sensible And Living Power which has Vouchsaft to be Imbrac'd by One Hand when the Vastnesse of Our Thoughts could not comprehend it Here they all seeâ— to take an Oath by Kissing of the Image Exit Eurylochus Now we are ready for the Prince Eurylochus Conduct him in Your Grace shall see a Stronger Perswasion than any you have yet heard The lively Image of Her you so much Serve He Knowes not yet his Fortunes but I dare Warrant He 'l bear them bravely He has read The Lives of Kings though he never acted Any and you shall perceive he 's Princely-Born Though not bred in Court Eurylochus returns with Cleander Royall Sir y' are welcome Start not at the Name it is your Due You Were born to the Title and I doubt not Though you never heard it thus appli'd before 'T is not altogether Strange unto you There was a Spark which in the first Womb After a Speciall Manner was infus'd Into you and is another Soul Within you as the One Informes your Body So this Informes your Soul we may call 't The Difference of a King That will tell you We are all here your Subjects and this No Strange Philosophie I teach And though This Rich Perfume hath hitherto been wrapt In this Disguise of Learning and defended From the air o' th Court 't is not decai'd But grown stronger by such keeping which when It shall be open'd will cast a fragrant Smell ore all the Kingdome and cure the Infections Of the Former Age To open it we Are met it is a Medicine we too long Have languisht for And Sir though it be a short Warning to so Great a Matter you must Presently resolve to be a King We Have no time now to instruct you in Your Right and how you lost it It was Yeares In doing and will require Yeares to relate it In the mean time let what you see perswade you Our Serious Lookes Respects and the Presence Of these Holy Rites Clean I need not excuse My want of Answer there 's nothing fit for me To say Which way so e're I shall declare My self to this Purpose will appear Foolish Whether I Refuse or Grant both are alike Ridiculous 'T is not with Me as with Elder Yeares They may refuse Offers like these And be admir'd for such their Moderation Or accept them and for that Magnanimitie Be honour'd But should I assume an Action So many Yeares above my Age I must Expose my self a Pagent to the Beholders Scorn and Laughter My Lord That which I have To say is onely this My Yeares are yet in Non-Age My Actions not my Own to Others Wills I am wholly Subject you may Command me Even to Wear a Crown and to submit to Accept the Highest Honours Set me if You please on the Throne you speak of and when You see a time again remove me Yet My Lord I 'd have you
It were a justice to leave you to the Worrying Enter Coracinus and Argestes they assauit Pak but he worsts 'em till Time assists 'em and makes him retire they all pursue him off of the Stage Within Treason treason save the Prince treason Timeus Coracinus Argestes return bloody Time He was a Devil The Power of Hell was in His Arme Night threw her shades about him To defend him He could not thus have scap'd Unless he had vanishâ—d Is he o'er-taken yet Enter a Servant Serv. No my Lord But 't is impossible he should Pass the Court Sure he has taken Covert In some Lodgings there-abouts Time Let search be made And give Command That when he appears again He that first meets him without more Circumstance Do ki'l him Promise a Reward to him That brings his Head Exit Servant Enter Clearchus and Aratus to the rest with their Swords drawn Clear How do you my Lord Time Well Ara. Is your Higness hurt Time And may be again if I look not warily Would your Lordships Sword were sheath'd Ara. Sir 't was drawn In your Defence and if y' are Jealons of it You wrong a Ready-hand to doe you Service Clear Sir is not the Traitor known that did it Time No doubt he is Clear My Lord you speak Very doubtfully I hope you doe not think But I am sorry for the Accident Time I know not what to think Your Disposition 's As great a Stranger to me as your Person Clear I see my Lord you know to throw Injuries Though to conferre no Civilities on A Stranger Time Injuries are deserv'dly plac't On an Intruding Guest Clear Y' are Unworthy They both draw and are held as under And though I am incompast with all the Dangers I may Justly fear from so Barbarous A Place which dares doe any thing it Lusts unto Without regard of Lawes or Hospitalitie I 'd tell you so And were you from this Dunghill That you stalk on 't is no better I 'd pull down That Unmanner'd Pride within you Time Let me goe Nothing shall priviledge him to talk thus Clear They hold you in your safety Nor is the Distance 'Twixt your Life and Death longer than this Space ' That parts us If you dare follow me I 'le stay you out a Dayes Sail at Sea I Challenge you to a Princely Combate Where come with all your power that I may Destroy so many Brute-Beasts from off the Earth Exit Clearchus Time Shall I be tyed while I am bated I 'le send those tha shall o'retake you and cut You off before your Shipping yet Argestes Haste unto the Port presentlie and in My Fathers Name Command all speedy Power Be rais'd to stop the Prince Bid 'em fire his Ships i'th'Haven Ara. O my Lord consider A little more before you lay a Blot Upon the Nation which Future Ages Cannot wipe off No Story can parallel Such a Fact Your Highnesse mov'd him much And gave him Cause of choller Time Does he help Your Lordship with Ships that thus you plead his Cause Shall I be Tutor'd by a Traitor Ara. Sir y' are happy if you can find a Tutor When you thus much need one And for your other Language when I understand it I 'le return you An Answer in the mean time you must take it Home to you as you gave it Time 'T is well Sir I shall find other wayes than Words to Answer you Enter the King Polyander Menetius Comastes and a Guard King How now Timeus What bloudy Time No more Than you see Sir The Sword rather left it On me than drew it out King Who is the Traitor That durst commit such Outrage Time He 's 'scapt unknown King Unknown that cannot be when he has past Thus far i' th' Court some must take notice of him Can you describe him Time He was habited Like a Souldier but his Lookes had more of Devill than of Man King Upon my Life I saw him but 't is two dayes since He must Be known in all this time Enquire who brought in Any such Man or was seen with him Com. This can be No body but my Hob-goblin And 't please Your Highnesse was he not in a Buffe-Coat And had his Face all bedabl'd with Patches Time Yes he had so Com. Then doe I know him He belongs to my Lord Aratus there No body durst speak to him but he He shew'd his teeth at every body else He had like to have bit me once King Aratus Doe you hear They say he that committed Aratus stands in a study after his heat with Timeus and minds not what 's said This Villanie belongs to you Ara. To me Sir He wrongs me that thinks so I maintain none That dare attempt such Insolence Poly. My Lord I saw him with you Ara. Who pray make me know The Man Poly. A black stern Souldier that follow'd you Ara. I fear I understand you now aside There is such a One that followes me but I never discovered any Disloyall Spirit in him His Out-Side 't is true was As you describe not moulded after the Common Frame of Men but threaten'd more than Any I have seen Yet 't was but his Out-Side That threaten'd so Within he was Gentle All a Courtier to be wound and turn'd by The least Civilitie I must confesse When he was Injur'd then he was High and Lordly Stormes rose in 's lookes and Thunder Was in his Voyce King And you knowing this How durst you turn such a Wild Beast loose into The Court Whom had I met and chanc't to have Anger'd my fortune had been the same Lay hands on him You shall find that such a Spirit The Guard lay hold of Aratus Dwells in my Brest too and when 't is stirr'd Will raise tempests as great We shall find Other particulars beside to examine you of Ara. Then the Gods send their aid or all is lost aside Yet Sir hear me speak The Jealousies you Have of me I shall not perhaps be able At this present to Clear and indeed I Know not so much as what they are But Sir To shew you in this last Accident how much I am Innocent I will relate unto you How first I met the Actor of it 'T was on that Day I was imploy'd on an Honourable Message from your Majestie to the Stranger Prince On the Shore I found him having lately 'Scapt a Ship-wrack and as great a Danger On the Land for he had been assaulted By two Villaines that were in the same Voyage With him the cause of whose hate he could not tell Having no acquaintance with them but in The Ship but as he had before the Waves So in this Tempest too as I may call it He bore himself above In the instant While he was yet hot in his Anger And their Bloud we came upon him Time Pray Sir let me speak to you There 's a Wonder Discovered to me by this Relation And under this Monster he hath Spoke of A greater doth lie hid One that
nere Committed Clean Whither does this Sad beginning tend Pal. To this Sir As we have slain with all Religion A bloudy Tyrant and Usurper one That was Greater in his Sins than in the Kingdome he purchas't by them So too we have Unjustly slain the Father of a Lady That knew not so much Guilt as to satisfie her Why she lost him And for want of his Life She now Contemns her Own a Jewell Of Jnestimable Valew to all the World But to her self Sir you cannot call Her An Enemy though her Goodnesse stood against You So Many Years and preserv'd her Father In despite of all his Sinns It became her To withstand the greatest Piety what ere If it were an Enemy to her Owne Hian. Her Cause of Grief is Mighty and if Care Be not taken as their Faults have done the Rest Her Goodnesse will destroy her We that beheld The past Deformities can bear Witnesse Of her Vertues She was the onely Mine Of Honour and when we had been wearied In seeking one Grain else where in Her We could find a Treasure Nor was this a Beauty In her set off onely with the Blemishes Of Others And Foyl'd by Generall Vices But t was a Reall and a Native Excellence Which as it could not be obscur'd by Thickest Darknesse so neither could it be out-shined By the most Radiant Brightnesse King Her Grief Concerns us all and ought to be provided for Before our Feasts and Triumphs Returne In our Name to Her and tell Her be the Advantages Nere so Eminent we have receiv'd by 'em We truly Mourn for whatever Losses may be Called Hers Say too in Person we had come to Comfort her But that we thought a Visit in the Freshnesse Of her Sufferings too much Violence VVhat ever there remaines that can bring a Joy To Her shall carefully be sought out And offered to her Her Brother with many Of her Friends are fled into the Fort And are there shut up VVould I could give 'em Life VVhat say you my Lord May I do this VVill not Mercy in this place be Madnesse Ara. Sir t' will be so in no place You may do this Or any thing you have a mind too Even in your Suddain'st Uncousidered Thoughts There is a Secret Counsell and Depth of VVisdome And seeing all your Actions Nay all your Pleasures Are in some Exercise of Vertue we VVill not crosse you in 'em but make 't Our greater Care to see you no time Suffer By your Goodnesse or that your Mercy prove A Cruelty to Your self Clean You have given me Resolution Haste then in the first place Unto the Fort 'T was their desire this Morning To have Conference with one of Note And if you finde 'em fit for Mercy Or to be made fit offer 't to 'em Exeunt Omnes Enter at one doore Polyander Menetius Comastes and the Captain of the Guard Timeus to them at the other Time No Answer yet return'd Poly. Not yet Sir Time One look out again Polyander I remember Exit Captain I heard thee once say when I condemnd thee For thy smiles That if there were a Cause thou Couldst Frown VVhy look'st thou Sadly at this Time then Our Fortunes ought rather to stir our Indignation Than our Grief Poly. Sir were they my Own Misfortunes I were under and not yours the Heaviest Pressures should not move a Passion in me Unlesse it were some Glory but when I look On you a Fellow-Sufferer with me Remember the State from which y' are fallen Though in my Own Miseries I had a Heart Of Flint and Rock In yours I could desolv't Into a Stream of Teares Cap. Sir ther 's now one arriv'd Enter Captain Has certainly brought an Answer Time Letus Seat our selves before he Enters that he They all sit down about a Table that has a Cup of poyson on it May see on what strength our Demands are made Every Man put on a Face of Mirth and Resolution and fancie to himself He 's at a Banquet that will refresh him After all his Toyle VVho 's this Do any Enter Paliantus Of you Know him Poly. Not I my Lord Men Nor I Time Sir Y' are VVelcome But we Invite you onely To look on The Liquor this Goblet holds Though it be Brisk and of a Luâ—ty Operation VVe cannot Commend so much for Purity Or help to Good Digestion The Gods Give not Life more Certain than this gives Death Do you think you can behold the Drinking Of it VVould Aratus himself were here That once he might be Glutted with A Spectacle of Death You look Pale on t is Already Fly Sir while you may for certainly Your Enemys have a Plot upon you And sent you hither to take your Death in By your Eyes Had they none to send us To behold our Resolutions but such a Trifle Pal. What Shape can I put on and thou not Injure Me in 't I never yet appeard to thee In any Form but Either I found thy Scorn Or Hatred in it At first I was thy Fear As all that were Innocent did Fright thee And because Thou wert Guilty I was Banisht Not to remove me neither but my Death VVhich standing firme 'gainst any Stroke of Law By Treachery thou would'st have reach't it Am when by Miracle I scapt thy Plotted Mischiefs by Chance thou would'st have slain me A Stranger and Unknown to thee My Disguise VVrongd thee not nor couldest thou pretend a Quarrel To it more than to him that in the remotest India drawes his breath Timeus starts from the Table and draws his Sword the rest doe the like Time I know thee now Thou need'st not further declare thy self And thou art Come past all my Wishes To Satisfie my Regenge Pallantus Knocks and a Guard rushes in Pall Hold I came To bring Peace and not Destruction Doe you Perceive yet how vain is all your Malice Time If thou art that man thou would'st seem to be And Equallie with Me do'st honour a Dead Father yet setting by these Seconds Let us Singlie trie our Hatred The Grant Of This will please me more then a Consession Of all the Articles proposed by me I had rather see thee Dead or by this Meanes Not see thee Live then again be Master Of the Fortunes I have Lost. I am unfit For Life And shall but curse the Givers of it Pall If I thought so I 'd grant to your Request And Kill you I could doe it I have Strength And Justice enough to make me Able But you are not so Bad as you suppose These are Despairing not Malitious Thoughts Yet ere I gooe rest assured one way or other I 'le give you Satisfaction I came For that Intent Shew me your Articles Here one gives him the Articles which he seems to run over with his Eye and reads the last aloud And last That thus attended we may depart The Isle How poor are these Conditions Without more Commission I dare grant you Better Why these are demands within
the Power of Faith THough Men by Nature born to fear and to avoid what may seem hurtful yet that fear by Grace and Faith may be converted into divine Valour of the highest kind as is evident by the Three Children in the fiery Furnace and by Daniel in the Lion's Den which with other the like Examples should invite such Men as trust in God not to fear what he only can prevent if he thinks fit and though a fearful Man cannot remove a Mole-hill for want of Faith much less Mountains how little Faith then have we when the noise only of Ill News does affright our unsetled Souls with dismal apprehensions of what may never happen more than the ill event brings with it if it do unto such pious men as live prepar'd to bear afflictions for few moments here with faithful joyful Thoughts of their eternal Happiness in Heaven So that we see the Power of Faith will remove the greatest terrour and work Miracles when Men dare trust in God Lord give me grace to live as I do write And as thy holy Spirit shall indite To manifest thy mighty Mercy shown To such a Reprobate as must own Christ's Doctrine to suffer CHrist's Doctrine is with patience to inure Our selves to suffer what he did endure On Earth from that malicious cursed Crew Who scorn'd his Miracles and boldly slew Their bless'd Messiah who did then submit To die because his Father did think fit That we redeemed by his precious Blood Might trust in him who dy'd to do us good And now may sighing sing and weeping pray Our death may prove our highest Holy-day When we with Christ in Paradise appear And shine amongst those blessed Angels there On the Power of Love to God TO love and fear God is what every good Christian doth own and what most Men think they do but very few I fear do understand what it is to love and fear Him as we ought with all our Heart Soul and Mind above all other Objects whatever which is a Lesson of great use to bring Men to Heaven who know that we are dying every moment that we live and cannot wish more pleasure here than we shall find by serving God thus For those who can love him with all their Heart and Mind will worship and adore him with the same Zeal and will obey praise thank pray and trust in him with the like fervent affection in all their divine addresses with their utmost endeavours to be with him in Heaven which God never will reject nor can eternal Bliss be purchased at a lower rate of Love Thus God exposes Heaven to entice Good Men to purchase at the Market-price When Love with all its Perquisites comply To six a blessed Immortality On such exalted Souls as take delight To mediate on his beatick sight When their enlightned Faith does bring them there Enrich'd with love they 'll bid adieu to fear And leave no arguments to justifie Such timorous Men as dare not think to die Though their eternal joy will then be such That none will have too little or too much And those who truly love will surely find Their happiness by God is predesign'd Who sees the heart and thoughts of every Man That loves and serves him to the best they can On Faith WHen Faith grows strong our Fancies will soar high To search the secrets of Eternity Which to our Souls are of so near concern That no man can a greater Lesson Learn Nor have a more serene celestial Bliss Than he 'll enjoy by practising of this Great step which by degrees will lead him on To the sacred Seat of his Adoption Where Faith 'bove all the Gifts of Grace will shine With Love in Bliss and Glory most divine On God's Mercy OUr God from us his Glory keeps conceal'd Because it would destroy us if reveal'd His Essence we can never understand 'T is well if we obey his just Command For God to mortal Man will never teach Such great Secrets because what we can reach By Nature cloys as soon as had or known He therefore lets us live by Faith alone Still subject to so many hopes and fears That our prime Joys are damp'd by frequent tears Which daily do our sorrows multiply Until death comes to tell us we must die The only remedy ordain'd to cure All sorts of evils that we here endure Yet God in mercy makes amends at last To free us from all miseries are past By raising them to bliss who do their best To gain a share in his eternal rest Which belt in God's esteem is to do all Was done by bless'd St. Stephen and St. Paul On true Valour HAppy are they who in these latter days Are fill'd with love with gratitude and praise To God whose joyful Souls do ever fly With highest thoughts of their Eternity And by the actions of their lives declare That Faith in Christ has conquer'd their despair For all past Crimes and now with Death has made Strict Friendship never more to be afraid Of his most sick alarms in disguise Nor of his quickest Summons by surprize And thus the greatest Cowards in the Land For Valour may in competition stand With any Hero's of the former age Or those who now in a just cause engage When Courage is a Vertue to be brave And sets a Crown on such a Soldier's grave On Relapsed Man in Paradise WHen Youth with strength wealth and beauty flourish Some short joys our wanton hearts may nourish But when old age is much decrepid grown We ought with sighs and tears great Sorrows own For idle hours that we have vainly spent Without the sense of shame or punishment And if we die in that unhappy state All hopes of mercy then will come too late So that if age revive and propagate Past sins till they do greater Crimes create 'T will turn old Age's Blessings into hate Then let no mortal man presume to think He cannot see when he is pleas'd to wink For no Man yet was ever such a Sot That Age his former Crimes had so forgot That on his Crutches thinks 't is boldly brave Loaden with Crimes to creep into the Grave Much worse than Youth when cross'd in his desire In a mad fit dares leap into the fire Which shows that all our Ages here ne'er can Retrieve the Curses of relapsed Man Till faith in Christ create a brighter flame Impow'ring men to have a surer claim To Heaven at our blessed Saviour's cost Than that which Adam's disobedience lost By which we the intrinsick Treasure find Of future joys in a Seraphick mind On the Power of Faith IF all Men did our Christian Graces understand That like good Heraulds we might rank them according to their antiquity and merit Faith may claim the highest dignity and place as of just right to be the most fixed foundation on the blessed Rock of our Salvation which will unmov'd withstand the greatest Storms when lofty Structures built on Sand are with Wind