each distrusts his art For Hope and Doubt came and return'd apace In chang'd Complexion from th' uncertain heart Like frighted Scowts for Tidings to the Face 57. His Eie seem'd most imploy'd on Rhodalind Whose love above her bashful caution sways For naming Gondibert he soon did find Her secret Soul shew'd pleasure at his praise 58. Yet when she found her comforts did not last And that as Oracles the future taught He hid Truth 's Face and darkned what was past Thus Truth through all her mourning Vails she sought 59. Why in these Ladies do you lengthen pain By giving them Grief 's common med'cin Doubt Ease those with death whose Lovers now are slain Life's fire a Feaver is when Love's is out 60. Yet think not that my cares peculiar are Perhaps I from religious pitie learn'd In Virtue 's publick loss to take some share For there all but the vicious are concern'd 61. Your Prudence Royal Maid he straight replies More than your birth may claim the Lombards Crown Who'ere in conquest of your favour dies For life's lost Inch shall find a long renown 62. Then happy Oswald who is sure to gain Even by Ambition that undoes the wise Great was th' attempt for which he 's nobly slain And gets him praise though he has mist the Prize 63. But happier Gondibert who does survive To beg your Mercy that he thus hath dar'd To own that cause for which the world might strive And conq'ring takes his wounds for his reward 64. Be Hurgonil long distant from his Grave Whose life was so important in this cause Who for each wound he took a wider gave And liveâ—t ' enjoy the pleasure of applause 65. To say how Hugo and Lord Arnold strove For victory and mention their event Were to provide such fun'ral rites for Love As Death would be closs Mourner and repent 66. Now Laura's blood back to her livâ—â— fled True Beautie 's Mint For by her Heart Lâ—ve's Throne Beautie 's call'd in like Coyn when Kings are dead As if not currant now her Lover's gone 67. And like her beauty she had darkned life But that with sprinkled water they restore By sudden cold with sudden heat aâ—strife Her spirits to those walks they us'd before 68. She Arnold calls then lost that â—â—â—e again Which Rhodalind and Orna's tears â—eâ—one Who busily would her spent strength sustain Though Hope has scarcely yet brought back their own 69. Now they her Temples chaf'd and straight prepare Hot Eastern Fumes to reach her Brains cool'd sence With Wine 's â—â—erce spirits these extracted are Which warm but slowly though of swift expence 70. Yet now again she breath'd Lord Arnold's name Which her apt Tongue through custom best exprest Then to stay Life that so unwilling came With Cordial Epithems they bath'd her breast 71. Th' attendant Maids by Tyhalt's ready aid To stop her Mourners tears convey her now Where she may ease in her own Curtain 's shade Her weary heart and grief more Tongue allow 72. No sooner was this pity'd Laura gone But Oswald's sister Gartha the renown'd Enters as if the world were overthrown Or in the tears of the afflicted drown'd 73. Unconquer'd as her beauty was her mind Which wanted not a spark of Oswald's fire Ambition lov'd but ne'r to Love was kind Vex'd Thrones did more than quiet shades desire 74. Her Garments now in loose neglect she wore As sured to her wild dis-shevell'd hair Men in her shape might Nature's work adore Yet ask why Art 's nice dress was absent there 75. But soon they found what made this change appear For meeting Truth which slowly follows Fame Rage would not give her leasure for a Tear To quench ere he thus spake her passions flame 76. Blasted be all your beauties Rhodalind Till you a shame and terrour be to light Unwing'd be Love and slow as he is blind Who with your Looks poyson'd my Brothers sight 77. Low and neglected be your Father's Throne Which like your beauty Oswald did ore-rate Let luckless war take Lands from his light Crown Till those high cares he want that give it weight 78. Let Pow'rs consumption be his long disease Heav'ns vexing curb which makes wild Monarchs â—am And be he forc'd in froward age to please His Favour 's Monster who devours his Fame 79. May you soon feel though secret in your love As if your love were Sin the publick scorn May Gondibert who is your glory move Your pitie when none else but you shall mourn 80. To the dark Inn where weary Valour free From thankless dangers rests brave Oswald's gone But Hubert may though vanquish'd live to see Your Victor with his victory undone 81. This said she mounts with a tempestuous Brow The Chariot her Calabrian Coursers drew Lifted by Slaves who still about her bow As if with wings of swift Revenge she flew 82. To Brescia's Camp her course she had design'd And bids her Tuscan Chaâ—â—ioter drive on As if his Steeds were dieted with wind Slow seems their speed whose thoughts before them 〈◊〉 83. The pav'd Streets kindle with her Chariot wheels The Omen of wars fire the Citie spies Which with those sparks struck by her Coursers heels Shine not so much as rage does in her Eyes 84. Those that observ'd her anger grief and haste With ancient Roman melancholy mourn She seem'd their Cities Genius as she pass'd Who by their Sins expell'd would ne'r return 85. The gentle Ladies she has left in tears Who no example need nor cause to melt For soon even grief's Alarms our foremost tears Kill those whose pain by Love's quick sence is felt 86. And Rhodalind her fatal love does blame Because she finds it now by Gartha spy'd And does lament Love's fire which bashfull shame Cannotreveal nor her discretion hide 87. She would not have it waste nor publick grow But last conceal'd like that in Tullia's Urn Or that which prosp'rous Chymists nicely show Which as it thrives must more in private burn 88. Yet straight grown valiant with her Victors fate She would have Hymen hold his Torches high And Love's fire priz'd as Vestals theirs did rate Which none durst quench though free to ev'ry eye 89. Resolves her love whilst this new valour lasts Shall undisguis'd her Father's sight endure And Orna now to her dear Lover hastes Whose outward wounds stay for her inward cure 90. But here a wonder may arrest our thought Why Tybalt of his usual pity void To such sost Ears these direfull sorrows brought Since to the King he onely was employ'd 91. But these are Ridles of mysterious Love Tybalt in private long for Laura pin'd And try'd how Arnold would her passion move In death who living ever fill'd her mind 92. And by this trial how she Arnold us'd He gravely meant to urge or stay his heart But much by Love the Cautions are abus'd Who his wild Ridles would reduce to Art CANTO the Third The ARGUMENT Dead OSWALD to his Camp by HUBERT brought The Camp
The Heroique Poem Dramatique is Tragedie The Scommatique Narrative is Satyre Dramatique is Comedie The Pastoral Narrative is called simply Pastoral anciently Bucolique the same Dramatique Pastoral Comedie The Figure therefore of an Epique Poem and of a Tragedie ought to be the same for they differ no more but in that they are pronounced by one or many persons Which I insert to iustifie the figure of yours consisting of five books divided into Songs or Cantoes as five Acts divided into Scenes has ever been the approved figure of a Tragedie They that take for Poesie whatsoever is writ in Verse will think this Division imperfect and call in Sonets Epigrams Eclogues and the like pieces which are but Essayes and parts of an entire Poem and reckon Empedocies and Lucretius natural Philosophers for Poets and the moral precepts of Phocâ—lides Theognis and the Quatrains of Pybrach and the Historie of Lucan and others of that kind amongst Poems bestowing on such Writers for honour the name of Poets rather than of Historians or Philosophers But the subject of a Poem is the manners of men not natural causes manners presented not dictated and manners feigned as the name of Poesie imports not found in men They that give enterance to Fictions writ in Prose erre not so much but they erre For Prose requiteth delightfulness not onely of fiction but of stile in which if Prose contend with Verse it is with disadvantage and as it were on foot against the strength and wings of Pegasus For Verse amongst the Greeks was appropriated anciently to the service of their Gods and was the Holy stile the stile of the Oracles the stile of the Laws and the stile of Men that publickly recommended to their Gods the vows and thanks of the people which was done in their holy songs called Hymns and the composers of them were called Prophets and Priests before the name of Poet was known When afterwards the majestie of that stile was observed The Poets chose it as best becoming their high invention And for the Antiquitie of Verse it is greater than the antiquitie of Letters For it is certain Cadmus was the first that from Phoenicia a Countrey that neighboureth Judea brought the use of Letters into Greece But the service of the Gods and the Laws which by measured Sounds were easily committed to the memorie had been long time in use before the arrival of Cadmus there There is besides the grace of stile another cause why the ancient Poets chose to write in measured language which is this There Poems were made at first with intention to have them sung as well Epick as Dramatick which custom hath been long time laid aside but began to be revived in part of late years in Italie and could not be made commensurable to the Voice or Instruments in Prose the ways and motions whereof are so uncertain and undistinguished like the way and motion of a Ship in the Sea as not onely to discompose the best Composers but also to disapoint sometimes the most attentive Reader and put him to hunt counter for the sense It was therefore necessarie for Poets in those times to write in Verse The Verse which the Greeks and Latines considering the nature of their own languages found by experience most grave and for an Epique Poem most decent was their Hexameter a Verse limited not onely in the length of the line but also in the quantitie of the syllables In stead of which we use the line of ten Syllables recompensing the neglect of their quantitie with the diligence of Rime And this measure is so proper for an Heroique Poem as without some loss of gravitie and dignitie it was never changed A longer is not far from ill Prose and a shorter is a kind of whisking you know like the unlacing rather than the singing of a Muse. In an Epigram or a Sonnet a man may vary his measures and seek glorie from a needless difficultie as he that contrived Verses into the form of an Organ a Hatchet an Egg an Altar and a pair of Wings but in so great and noble a work as is an Epique Poem for a man to obstruct his own way with unprofitable difficulties is great imprudence So likewise to chuse a needless and difficult correspondence of Rime is but a difficult toy and forces a man sometimes for the stopping of a chink to say somewhat he did never think I cannot therefore but very much approve your Stanza wherein the syllables in every Verse are ten and the Rime Alternate For the choice of your Subject you have sufficiently justified your self in your Preface But because I have observed in Virgil that the Honour done to Aeneas and his companions has so bright a reflection upon Augustus Caesar and other great Romans of that time as a man may suspect him not constantly possessed with the noble spirit of those his Heroes and believe you are not acquainted with any great man of the race of Gondibert I adde to your Justification the puritie of your purpose in having no other motive of your labour but to adorn Virtue and procure her Lovers than which there cannot be a worthier design and more becoming noble Poesie In that you make so small account of the example of almost all the approved Poets ancient and modern who thought fit in the beginning and sometimes also in the progress of their Poems to invoke a Muse or some other Deitie that should dictate to them or assist them in their writings they that take not the laws of Art from any reason of their own but from the fashion of precedent times will perhaps accuse your singularitie For my part I neither subscribe to their accusation nor yet condemn that Heathen custom otherwise than as accessarie to their false Religion For their Poets were their Divines had the name of Prophets Exercised amongst the People a kind of spiritual Authoritie would be thought to speak by a Divine spirit have their works which they writ in Verse the Divine stile pass for the Word of God and not of man and to be hearkened to with reverence Do not our Divines excepting the stile do the same and by us that are of the same Religion cannot justly be reprehended for it Besides in the use of the spiritual calling of Divines there is danger sometimes to be feared from want of skill such as is reported of unskilfull Conjurers that mistaking the rites and ceremonious points of their art call up such spirits as they cannot at their pleasure allay again by whom storms are raised that overthrow buildings and are the cause of miserable wracks at Sea Unskilfull Divines do oftentimes the like For when they call unseasonably for Zeal there appears a spirit of Cruelty and by the like â—â—roun instead of Truth they raise Discord instead of Wisdom Eraud instead of Reformation Tumult and Controversie instead of Religion Whereas in the Heathen Poets at least in those whose works have lasted to the time
we are in there are none of those indiscretions to be found that tended to subversion or disturbance of the Common-wealths wherein they lived But why a Christian should think it an ornament to his Poem either to profane the true God or invoke a false one I can imagin no cause but a reasonless imitation of Custom of a foolish custom by which a man enabled to speak wisely from the principles of nature and his own meditation loves rather to be thought to speak by inspiration like a Bag-pipe Time and Education begets Experience Experience begets Memorie Memorie begets Judgement and Fancie Judgement begets the Strength and Structure and Fancie begets the Ornaments of a Poem The Ancients therefore fabled not absurdly in making Memorie the Mother of the Muses For Memorie is the World though not really yet so as in a Looking-glass in which the Judgement the severer Sister busieth her self in a grave and rigid examination of all the parts of Nature and in registering by Letters their order causes uses differences and resemblances Whereby the Fancie when any work of Art is to be performed finding her materials at hand and prepared for use and needs no more than a swift motion over them that what she wants and is there to be had may not lie too long unespied So that when she seemeth to fly from one Indies to the other and from Heaven to Earth and to penetrate into the hardest matter and obscurest places into the future and into her self and all this in a point of time the voyage is not very great her self being all she seeks and her wonderfull celeritie consisteth not so much in motion as in copious Imagerie discreetly ordered and perfectly registered in the Memorie which most men under the name of Philosophie have a glimpss of and is pretended to by many that grosly mistaking her embrace contention in her place But so far forth as the Fancie of man has traced the ways of true Philosophie so far it hath produced very marvellous effects to the benefit of mankind All that is beautifull or defensible in building or marvellous in Engines and Instruments of motion whatsoever commoditie men receive from the observations of the Heavens from the description of the Earth from the account of Time from walking on the Seas and whatsoever distinguisheth the Civilitie of Europe from the Barbaritie of the American savages is the workmanship of Fancy but guided by the Precepts of true Philosophie But where these precepts fail as they have hitherto failed in the doctrine of moral Virtue there the Architect Fancy must take the Philosophers part upon her self He therefore that undertakes an Heroick Poem which is to exhibit a venerable and amiable Image of Heroick virtue must not onely be the Poet to place and connect but also the Philosopher to furnish and square his matter that is to make both Body and Soul colour and shadow of his Poem out of his own Store Which how well you have performed I am now considering Observing how few the persons be you introduce in the beginning and how in the course of the actions of these the number increasing after several confluences they run all at last into the two principal streams of your Poem Gondibert and Oswald me thinks the Fable is not much unlike the Theater For so from several and far distant Sources do the lesser Brooks of Lombardy flowing into one another fall all at last into the two main Rivers the Po and the Adite It hath the same resemblance also with a mans veins which proceeding from different parts after the like concourse insert themselves at last into the two principal veins of the body But when I considered that also the actions of men which singly are inconsiderable after many conjunctures grow at last either into one great protecting power or into destroying factions I could not but approve the structure of your Poem which ought to be no other than such as an imitation of humane life requireth In the Streams themselves I find nothing but setled Valour clean Honour calm Counsel learned Diversion and pure Love save onely a torrent or two of Ambition which though a fault has somewhat Heroick in it and therefore must have place in an Heroick Poem To shew the Reader in what place he shall find every excellent picture of Virtue you have drawn is too long And to shew him one is to prejudice the rest yet I cannot forbear to point him to the Description of Love in the person of Birtha in the seventh Canto of the second Book There has nothing been said of that Subject neither by the Ancient nor Modern Poets comparable to it Poets are painters I would fain see another painter draw so true perfect and natural a Love to the Life and make use of nothing but pure Lines without the help of any the least uncomely shadow as you have done But let it be read as a piece by it self for in the almost equal height of the whole the eminence of parts is Lost. There are some that are not pleased with fiction unless it be bold not onely to exceed the work but also the possibility of Nature they would have impenetrable Armours Inchanted Castles Invulnerable Bodies Iron Men Flying Horses and a thousand other such things which are easily feigned by them that dare Against such I defend you without assenting to those that condemn either Homer or Virgil by dissenting onely from those that think the Beauty of a Poem consisteth in the exorbitancy of the fiction For as truth is the bound of Historical so the Resemblance of truth is the utmost limit of Poetical Liberty In old time amongst the Heathen such strange fictions and Metamorphoses were not so remoâ—e from the Articles of their Faith as they are now from ours and therefore were not so unpleasant Beyond the actual works of Nature a Poet may now go but beyond the conceived possibility of Nature never I can allow a Geographer to make in the Sea a Fish or a Ship which by the scale of his Map would be two or three hundred mile long and think it done for ornament because it is done without the precincts of his undertaking but when he paints an Elephant so I presently apprehend it as ignorance and a plain confession of Terra incognita As the description of Great Men and Great Actions is the constant design of a Poet so the descriptions of worthy circumstances are necessary accessions to a Poem and being well performed are the Jewels and most precious ornaments of Poesie Such in Virgil are the Funeral games of Anchises The duel of Aeneas and Turnus c. and such in yours are The Hunting The Battel The Citie Mourning The Funeral The House of Astragon The Library and the Temple equal to his or those of Homer whom he imitated There remains now no more to be considered but the Expression in which consisteth the countenance and colour of a beautifull Muse and is
And like stirr'd fire in sparkles upward flies Rage which the Duke thus practis'd to reclaim 30. Though you design'd your ruin by surprise Though much in usefull Arms you us exceed And in your number some advantage lies Yet you may find you such advantage need 31. If I am vallu'd as th' impediment Which hinders your adoption to the Crown Let your revenge onely on me be spent And hazard not my Party nor your own 32. Ambition else would up to Godhead grow When so profanely we our anger prise That to appease it we the bloud allow Of whole offenceless Herds for sacrifice 33. Oswald who Honour 's publick pattern was Till vain ambition led his heart aside More temp'rate grew in manage of his cause And thus to noble Gondibert reply'd 34. I wish it were not needfull to be great That Heavens unenvy'd pow'r might Men so aw As we should need no Armies for defeat Nor for protection be at charge of Law 35. But more than Heav'ns Men Mans authoritie Though envy'd use because more understood For but for that Life's Utensils would be In Markets as in Camps the price of blood 36. Since the Worlds safety we in greatness find And pow'r divided is from greatness gone Save we the World though to our selves unkind By both endang'ring to establish one 37. Nor these who kindle with my wrongs their rage Nor those bold Youth who warmly you attend Our distant Camps by action shall ingage But we our own great cause will singly end 38. Back to your noble Hunters strait retire And I to those who would those Hunters chace Let us perswade their fury to expire And give obediently our anger place 39. Like unconcern'd Spectatours let them stand And be by sacred vow to distance bound Whilst their lov'd Leaders by our strict command As patient witnesses approach this ground 40. Where with no more defensive Arms than was By Nature ment us who ordain'd Men Friends We will on foot determine our great cause On which the Lombards doubtfull peace depends 41. The Duke full low did bow and soon obay Confess'd his honour he transcendent finds Said he their persons might a meaner way With ods have aw'd but this subdues their Minds 42. Now wing'd with hope they to their Troops return Oswald his old grave Brescians makes retire Lest if too near though like slow Match they burn The Dukes rash Youth like Powder might take fire 43. First with their noble Chiefs they treat aside Plead it humanity to bleed alone And term it needless cruelty and pride With others Sacrifice to grace their own 44. Then to their Troops gave their resolv'd command Not to assist through anger nor remorse Who seem'd more willing patiently to stand Because each side presum'd their Champions force 45. Now near that ground ordain'd by them and Fate To be the last where one or both must tread Their chosen Judges they appoint to wait Who thither were like griev'd Spectatours led 46. These from the distant Troops far sever'd are And near their Chiefs divided Stations take Who strait uncloath and for such deeds prepare By which strip'd Souls their fleshy Robes forsake 47. But Hubert now advanc'd and cry'd aloud I will not trust uncertain Destinie Which may obscurely kill me in a Crowd That here have pow'r in publick view to die 48. Oswald my Brother is If any dare Think Gondibert's great name more Kingly sounds Let him alight and he shall leave the care Of chusing Monarchs to attend his wounds 49. This Hurgonil receiv'd with greedy Ear Told him his summons boldly did express That he had little judgement whom to fear And in the choice of Kings his skill was less 50. With equal haste they then alight and met Where both their Chiefs in preparation stood Whilst Paradine and furious Dargonet Cry'd out we are of Oswald's Princely blood 51. Are there not yet two more so fond of same So true to Gondibert or Love's commands As to esteem it an unpleasant shame With idle eyes to look on busie hands 52. Such haste makes Beauty when it Youth forsakes And day from Travellers when it does set As Arnold to proud Paradine now makes And little Hugo to tall Dargonet 53. The bloudy Borgio who with anguish stay'd And check'd his rage till these of Oswald's Race By wish'd example their brave Challenge made Now like his curb'd Steed foaming shifts his place 54. And thus with haste and choler hoarse he spake Who e're amongst you thinks we destin'd are To serve that King your Courtly Camp shall make Falsly he loves nor is his Lady fair 55. This scarce could urge the temp'rate Tybalts fire Who said When Fate shall Aribert remove As ill then wilt thou judge who should aspire As who is fair that art too rude to love 56. But scarce had this reply reach'd Borgio's Ear When Goltho louder cry'd what ere he be Dares think her foul who hath a Lover here Though Love I never knew shall now know me 57. Grave Tybalt who had laid an early'r claim To this defiance much distemper'd grows And Goltho's forward Youth would sharply blame But that old Vasco thus did interpose 58. That Boy who makes such haste to meet his fate And fears he may as if he knew it good Through others pride of danger come too late Shall read it strait ill written in his blood 59. Let Empire fall when we must Monarchs choose By what unpractis'd Childhood shall approve And in tame peace let us our Manhood loose When Boys yet wet with milk discourse of Love 60. As bashfull Maids blush as if justly blam'd When forc'd to suffer some indecent Tongue So Goltho blush'd whom Vasco made asham'd As if he could offend by being young 61. But instantly offended bashfulness Does to a brave and beauteous anger turn Which he in younger flames did so express That scarce old Vasco's Embers seem'd to burn 62. The Princes knew in this new kindled rage Opinion might which like unlucky wind Sate right to make it spread their Troops engage And therefore Oswald thus proclaim'd his-mind 63. Seem we already dead that to our words As to the last requests men dying make Your love but Mourners short respect affords And ere interr'd you our commands forsake 64. We chose you Judges of our needfull strife Such whom the world grown faithless might esteem As weighty witnesses of parting life But you are those we dying must condemn 65. Are we become such worthless sacrifice As cannot to the Lombards Heav'n atone Unless your added blood make up the price As if you thought it worthier than our own 66. Our fame which should survive before us die And let since in our presence disobay d Renown of pow'r like that of beauty flie From knowledge rather than be known decay'd 67. This when with rev'rence heard it would have made Old Armies melt to mark at what a rate They spent their Hearts and Eyes kindly afraid To be omitted in their Gen'rals fate
your cause did nobly strive Whence of his bloud these veins so much have brought As makes me blush that I am still alive 48. Gone is your fighting Youth whom you have bred From milkie Childhood to the years of bloud By whom you joy'd so often to be led Where firm as now your Trophies then you stood 49. Gon is he now who still with low regard Bow'd to your age your wounds as beautie kist Knew Age was of your temp'rance the reward And Courts in beauty by your skars subsist 50. Yet was he not for mean pretensions slain Who for your int'rest not his own has fought Vex'd that the Empire which your wounds did gain Was by a young unwounded Army sought 41. For Gondibert to whom the Court must bow Now War is with your Fav'rite overthrown Will by his Camp of Boys at Bergamo Wed her who to your Valour ows the Crown 42. Blame not your Chief for his ambitious fire Who was but temp'rate when he understood He might the Empire in your right require The scant reward of your exhausted bloud 43. Thus Hubert spake but now so fierce they grow That Borgio strove to quench whom Hubert warm'd To Bergamo they cry'd to Bergamo And as they soon were vex'd as soon are arm'd 44. For to distinct and spacions Tents they hie Where quick as Vests of Persia shifted are Their Arms which there in cleanly order lie They take from moving Ward-robes of the War 45. Arm'd soon as Porquipins as if like those Their very rage them with defence supplies As born with it and must have winged Foes That stoop from Heav'n to harm them by surprise 46. With Ensigns now display'd there Force they draw To hastie order and begin to move But are amus'd by something that they saw Which look'd like all that ere they heard of Love 47. Unusual to their Camp such objects were Yet this no ill effect from wonder wrought For it appeas'd them by approching near And satisfi'd their Eyes in all they sought 48. And this was Gartha in her Chari'ot drawn Who through the swarthie Region of the Night Drove from the Court and as a second dawn Breaks on them like the Morns Reserve of Light 49. Through all the Camp she moves with Fun'ral pace And still bows meekly down to all she saw Her grief gave speaking beautie to her Face Which lowly look'd that it might pitie draw 50. When by her Slaves her name they understood Her Lines of feature heedfully they view In her complexion track their Gen'ral's bloud And find her more than what by fame they knew 51. They humbly her to that Pavilion guide Where Hubert his bold Chiefs with furie fir'd But his ambition when he Gartha spy'd To give his sorrow place a while retyr'd 52. With his respectfull help she does descend Where they with dear imbraces mingle Tears But now her Male Revenge would grief suspend Revenge through Grief too feminine appears 53. But when her dear Allies dead Paradine And Dargonet she saw that Manliness Which her weak Sex assum'd she does decline As bred too soft to mannage griefs excess 54. Then soon return'd as loth to shew her Eyes No more of Oswald than she must forsake But sorrow's moisture heat of anger dries And mounted in her Chariot thus she spake 55. If you are those of whom I oft have heard My Father boast and that have Oswald bred Ah where is now that rage our Tyrant fear'd Whose Darling is alive though yours be dead 56. The Court shines out at Rhodalind's commands To me your drooping Flowre no beam can spare Where Oswald's name new planted by your hands Withers as if it lost the planters care 57. From Rhodalind I thus disorder'd flie Lest she should say thy Fate unpity'd comes Go sing where now thy Fathers Fighters lie Thy Brothers Requiem to their conqu'ring Drums 58. The happy Fields by those grave Warriours fought Which from the Dictates of thy aged Syre Oswald in high Victorious Numbers wrote Thou shalt no more sing to thy silenc'd Lyre 59. Such scorns pow'r on unlucky virtue throws When Courts with prosp'rous vices wanton are Who your Authentick age dispise for those Who are to you but Infants of the war 60. Thus though she spake her looks did more perswade Like virtuous anger did her colour rise As if th' injurious world it would invade Whilst tears of rage not pitie drown her Eyes 61. The sun did thus to threatned Nature show His anger red whilst guilt look'd pale in all When Clouds of Flouds did hang about his Brow And then shrunk back to let that anger fall 62. And so she turn'd her Face not as to grieve At ruin but to lisence what she rais'd Whilst they like common Throngs all Tongues believe When Courts are tax'd but none when they are prais'd 63. Like Commets Courts afflict the Vulgar Eye And when they largest in their glory blaze People through ignorance think plagâ—es are nigh And till they waste with mourning wonder gaze 64. These scorn the Courts dissertion for their age The Active ease impos'd like pain endure For though calm rest does Ages pains asswage Yet few the sickness own to get the cure 65. To Heav'n they lift their looks whose Sun ne'r saw Rage so agreed as now he does behold Their shining swords all at an instant draw And bade him judge next day if they were old 66. And of Verona wish'd him take his leave Which ere his third return they will destroy Till none shall guess by ruins where to grieve No more than Phrygians where to weep for Troy 67. Thus Bergamo is soon forgot whilst all Aloud Verona cry Verona must That reach'd the Clouds low as her Quaries fall They Court they 'l bury in the Cities dust CANTO the Fourth The ARGUMENT At OSWALD'S Camp arrives wise HER MEGILD Whose presence does a new diversion yield In Councel he reveals his secret Breast Would mingle Love with Empires interest From rash revenge 〈◊〉 â—â—â—câ— the Camp invites Who OSWALD'S Fun'ral grace with Roman Rites 1. IN this distemper whilst the humours strive T' assemble they again diverted are For tow'rds their Trenches Twentie Chariots drive Swiftly as Syrians when they charge in war 2. They Hermegild with Court attendants spy'd Whose haste to Hubert does advice intend To warn him that just Fate can ne'r provide For rash beginnings a succesfull end 3. But fate for Hermegild provided well This Story else which him the wise does call Would here his private ruin sadly tell In hastning to prevent the publick Fall 4. His noble bloud obscurely had been shed His undistinguish'd Limbs torn and unknown As is the dust of Victors long since dead Which March in April's watry Eyes has blown 5. Such was their rage when on Verona's way With his rich Train they saw from Court he came Till some did their impetuous furie stay And gave his life protection for his fame 6. Told them his Valour had been long allow'd That
first divide Whilst place scarce distant gives them diff'rent stiles Rivers whose breadth Inhabiâ—ants may stride Parts them as much as Continents and Isles 33. On equal smooth and undistinguish'd Ground The lust of pow'r does liberty impair And limits by a border and a bound What was before as passable as Air. 34. Whilst change of Languages oft breeds a war A change which Fashion does as oft obtrude As womens dress and oft Complexions are And diff'rent names no less a cause of fouâ— 35. Since Men so causelesly themselves devour And hast'ning still their else too hasty Fates Act but continu'd Massacres for pow'r My Father meant to chastise Kings and States 36. To overcome the world till but one Crown And universal Neighbourhood he saw Till all were rich by that alliance grown And want no more should be the cause of Law 37. One family the world was first design'd And though some fighting Kings so sever'd are That they must meet by help of Seas and wind Yet when they fight 't is but a civil war 38. Nor could Religions heat if one rul'd all To bloody war the unconcern'd allure And hasten us from Earth ere Age does call Who are alas of Heav'n so little sure 39. Religion ne'r till divers Monarchies Taught that almighty Heav'n needs Armies aid But with contentious Kings she now complies Who seem for their own cause of God's afraid 40. To joyn all sever'd Pow'rs which is to end The cause of War my Father onward fought By war the Lombard Scepter to extend Till peace were forc'd where it was slowly sought 41. He lost in this attempt his last dear blood And I whom no remoteness can deterre If what seems difficult be great and good Thought his Example could not make me erre 42. No place I merit in the Book of Fame Whose leaves are by the Greeks and Romans fill'd Yet I presume to boast she knows my name And she has heard to whom the Hunns did yield 43. But let not what so needfully was done Though still pursu'd make you ambition fear For could I force all Monarchies to one That Universal Crown I would not wear 44. He who does blindly â—oar at Rhodalind Mounts like feel'd Doves still higher from his ease And in the lust of Empire he may find High Hope does better than Fruition please 45. The Victor's solid recompence is rest And 't is unjust that Chiefs who pleasure shun Toyling in Youth should be in Age opprest With greater Toyls by ruling what they won 46. Here all reward of conquest I would find Leave shining Thrones for Birtha in a shade With Nature's quiet wonders fill my mind And praise her most because she Birtha made 47. Now Astragon with joy suffic'd perceiv'd How nobly Heav'n for Birtha did provide Oâ—t had he for her vanish'd Mother griev'd â—ut â—an this joy less than that sorrow hide 48. With tears bids Gondibert to Heav'ns Eye make All good within as to the World he seems And in gain'd Birtha then from Hymen take All youth can wish and all his age esteems 49. Straight to his lov'd Philosophers he hies Who now at Nature's Counsel busie are To trace new Lights which some old Gazer spies Whilst the Duke seeks more busily his Star 50. But in her search he is by Goltho stay'd Who in a closs dark Covert folds his Arms His Eyes with thought grow darker than that shade Such thought as brow and breast with study warms 51. Fix'd to unheeded object is his Eye His sences he calls in as if t' improve By outward absence inward extasie Such as makes Prophets or is made by Love 52. Awake said Gondibert for now in vain Thou dream'st of sov'reignty and War's success Hope nought has left which Worth should wish to gain And all Ambition is but Hope's excess 53. Bid all our Worthies to unarm and rest For they have nought to conquer worth their care I have a Father's right in Birtha's breast And that 's the peace for which the wise make war 54. At this starts Goltho like some Armie 's Chief Whom unintrench'd a midnight Larum wakes By pawse then gave disorder'd sence relief And this reply with kindled passion makes 55. What means my Prince to learn so low a boast Whose merit may aspire to Rhodalind For who could Birtha miss if she were lost That shall by worth the others treasure find 56. When your high blood and conquests shall submit To such mean joys in this unminded shade Let Courts without Heav'ns Lamps in darkness sit And war become the lowly Shepheard's Trade 57. Birtha a harmless Cottage Ornament May be his Bride that 's born himself to serve But you must pay that blood your Anny spent And wed that Empire which our wounds deserve 58. This brought the Dukes swiâ—t anger to his Eyes Which his consid'rate Heart rebuk'd as fast He Goltho chid in that he nought replies Leaves him and Birtha seeks with Lovers haste 59. Now Goltho mourns yet not that Birtha's fair Or that the Duke shuns Empire for a Bride But that himself must joyn love to despair Himself who loves her and his love must hide 60. He curs'd that him the wounded hither brought From Oswald's field where though he wounds did scape In tempting Death and here no danger sought Yet here met worse than Death in Beauty's shape 61. He was unus'd to love as bred in wars And not till now for beâ—uty leasure had Yet bore Love's load as Youth beaâ—s other Câ—res Till now despair makes Love's old weight too â—ad 62. But Ulfinore does hither aptly come His second breast in whom his griefs excess He may ebb out when they ore-flow at home Such griefs as thus in Throngs for utt'rance press 63. Forgive me that so falsly am thy Friend No more our Hearts for kindness shall contest Since mine I hourly on another spend And now imbrace thee with an empty brest 64. Yet pard'ning me you cancel Nature's fault Who walks with her first force in Birtha's shape And when she spreads the Net to have us caught It were in youth presumption to escape 65. When Birtha's grief so comly did appear Whilst she beheld our wounded Duke's distress Then first my alter'd Heart began to fear Lest too much Love should friendship dispossess 66. But this whilst Ulfinore with sorrow hears Him Goltho's busier sorrow little heeds And though he could reply in sighs and tears Yet governs both and Goltho thus proceeds 67. To Love's new dangers I have gone unarm'd I lack'd experience why to be afraid Was too unlearn'd to read how Love had harm'd But have his will as Nature's law obay'd 68. Th'obedient and defenceless sure no law Afflicts for law is their defence and pow'r Yet me Loves sheep whom rigour needs not aw Wolf-Love because defenceless does devour 69. Gives me not time to perish by degrees But with despair does me at once destroy For none who Gondibert a Lover sees Thinks he would love but where he may enjoy