Vortiger remain VVhose Armes unconquer'd Brittain will maintain And thus this Herauld back again is sent From whom first Ennius sounds the Queens intent And then unto Alvatrix loud does Cry This VVoman's worth our Arms and Victory That has a Soul which Fortune dares Contemn And in a Brittain does a Roman seem Admire thou then the wonders of her Face I 'l give her worth within my Heart a place But e'r we Cool let us again fall on That Rome may triumph for this City won And fair Bonduca which will add to fame A Story lasting as our Caesars Name This Speech Alvatrix highly did inflame To finish Conquest and his Loves bold Claime VVhose Soul each word Bonduca nam'd had fir'd Not deeming Love the Consuls heart Inspir'd VVith its soft Passion whil'st they now renew Their fierce assaults this City to subdue And angry fortune had their way far wrought Where Brittains for their Queen ev'n hopeless fought VVho with a deep Concern had soon beheld How Rage and Blood her Subjects Arms compell'd VVhile she her presence guides where Darts most fly In hope some one will swiftly bid her dye Though asking Heav'n Pardon if now she dares Above her blushing Sexes gentle fears That else she apprehends may stubborn prove And yield her up a Prey to hated Love But Providence that swayes the course of things Unlook'd-for-succour to Bonduca brings Which Vortiger and Albianus speed By bold Favonius at this fatal Need Swift as Numidian Horse these Troops had run To aid the Queen and London almost won And with their bloody toyls had forc'd a way VVhere Gauls and Romans heap'd in dust now lay Recruiting thus her Citties drooping force Like to some Bay that stayes the Ocean's course VVhile Waves against it with vain fury beat And as they rage their swelling power defeat Mean while Favonius to the Queen appeares VVho like a Dewy Flower had bath'd in tears Letting her know the Princes soon will come VVith potent force to fight the Powers of Rome VVhom she then graces with her Royal hand Granting her safety does obliged stand To his great Conduct that could thus relieve Her fainting Arms and City succors give VVho since Martianus was inforc'd to fly Despair'd that Armes could check Romes Victory That with such rage against her did conspire As London soon had made but one great Fire And for the Princes gently does express She can't but fear their vertues great excess May henceforth claime a gratitude so high That but in will she must ingrateful dye The End of the Second Canto The Third Canto ANd now this Night that frown'd too long on day Morning-beams usher the Suns bright way VVho blush'd to see how bold her houres had been T' afflict so fair and virtuous a Queen But more than grievous did appear this Night Unto the Princes that her Cause must Fight VVho thought each minute of their March too slow As if that time had onely loyter'd now And thus with fam'd Celerity they drew Their Arms where London's Towers salute their view Plac'd full of eyes that greedily descry This welcome Terror to the Enemy Nor did e'r City with more Merit Claime Eternal Records from the Tongue of Fame Than this which had unshaken stood extreams Of Romes and Gauls conspiring force and flames VVhich speaks the brave Allegeance of those times Unpractic'd in our late Rebellious Crimes VVhile Power nor Faction could Division sow But gladly Brittains fight their Countreys Foe And thus resolv'd the Princes Powers Campaign VVhere London did denominate a Plain That bore the marks of dreadful Battels fought Since first proud Rome this Isles great Conquest sought Here under heaps of Earth did Heroes lie The braver Foes or Friends of Brittany VVhose memories want now Records from Fame To shew Death can obscure the greatest Name And tells how vainly Humane Powers contend That can inherit nothing but their end Proving Deaths Scepter juster than our life Since it divided Mortals keeps from strife Nor did the Earths vast surface ever bear VVorthies like these or Pow'rs more fam'd in VVar VVhose shining fronts the generous Brittains fill'd Captain'd by Nobles in VVars Conduct skill'd By these embody'd burnisht Chariots stand VVith dext'rous Guides who their swift force Command And as these glorious Chiefs do each array Phoebus thinks his less bright that rules the day Then thus to Vortiger Albianus speaks Before our Battel further progress makes Let 's well the Conduct of our Armes Consult And next proceed to act its brave Result To whom replies Couragious Vortiger Since we Great Prince must for Bonduca VVar 'T were sin to spend a minute more in words But what may add a vigour to our Swords Then on a rising place the Princes stand Inviron'd by the Chiefs of their Command Attentive leaning each upon his Spear VVhich shews how great those Antient Counsels were With these the Princes severally debate How best their Armes may serve the Brittain-State And what 's more dear th' afflicted Queen supply At once with wish'd relief and victory But as they thus Consult the Aire they view Obscur'd with Clouds of Dust which mounted shew Like Lybia's Sands windes toss unto the sky Or as there moving Armies Men descry When their fierce motions raise the fleeting Mold And day seemes ended e'r they night behold Thus here through Clouds of Smoake does break the sound Of moving Armes which ecchoe from the ground Their mighty hast Nor do the Princes know Whether this swift approach did speak a Foe Until their trusty Scouts did them declare Brittains that did with Martianus War Who to the Princes moves before the rest Though now his Visage scarce himself exprest His aged face and hairs disguis'd with blood Whose Valour had so bravely Foes withstood That fame for ever must his worth display Surviving with this glory a Lost-day No sooner he salutes the Princes fights But each with him streight from his Steed alights And with their hasty steps embraces give Rejoyc'd to see him unexpected live To whom with due obeysance he replies Fam'd Princes What are now our destimes Since froward fate does thus our Armes oppose To gratifie our proud insulting Foes Happy had I been if by Roman power I 'd dy'd in my youths warmest heat and flower When under your great Fathers first I knew To weild bright Arms and Wars great Deeds pursue Then in my age the Mock of Ennius be Whom I in Kent besieg'd successfully Or What 's more grievous see Alvatrix boast His fencing Gauls o'recame a Brittish Hoast Though while I these did for Bonduca War Hop'd with my Conduct a propitious Star And not her Banners thus successless lead Beholding Romes before her City spread But e'r they yet shall perfect their success Admit this utmost duty I 'l express First to attempt her Aid through all extreames Or dye her Sacrifice in London's Flames This having said with a Pathetick Grace A stream of Tears falls down his Aged Face Who but in
Best pleas'd to Glory in variety In Vortiger her Compositions were Adorn'd with Graces and a Soul of War In on-sets fierce as Courage can express Quickn'd by Virtue and its own Excess But Albianus youthful heates less sway Whose sage Resolves still guide brave Honors way Though in their Execution Lightnings fly Too slow to keep his fierce Darts company While he with Warlike Vortiger Revolves The Martial Conduct of their high Resolves Fates swift Decree which does even time surprise And oft prevents the Councels of the wise Unlook'd for Tidings to these Princes speeds Nor shall Favonius thy great Name and Deeds Be less Renown'd though to the pride of fate Thou didst Inglorious Deeds of it relate Who does so variously Decrees dispence That Fortune seemes the sport of Providence Swift had he Run through Plains and Pathless woods And almost breathless swam Thames silver floods To scape pursuers Like the Hart that tries Most uncouth Tracts when from the Chace he flies Thus he arrives unto these Heroes sight His Vesture pierc'd with Piles as oft in fight He did such glorious markes Receive from foes Nor did his flight his safety less expose Passing through showers of Piles Romes Legion threw Whom as these Princes did with wonder view Unto their anxious thoughts a Respite take Before their Souls could give them leave to speak Too sadly Judging that he now did come T' express some fatal Loss by Powers of Rome To whom Favonius panting did express Great is the Cause Fam'd Princes my access Does now surprise you nor can fate decree A peril I 'l not joy my Destiny If in Bouduca's cause my death it give Though fame now tell I flying her Foes live Heav'n witness and you Stars who late did see Romes stoutest Eagles by my Conduct flye Thrice e'r the Sun did his Meridian gain But I speak Conquest past Alass in vain Since great Bonduca's high Concern and aid Requir'd this dang'rous flight I now have made Of whom I Crav'd that mighty trust to bear Unto you Princes which your Warlike Care Must soon imploy But happy had I fell By Gaules and Romans e'r these Tydings tell Or from my Lips an Accent witness be Of this most famous Queens Calamity Whose Armes though Warlike Martianns led Then whom no Brittish Chief gave Rome more dread In vain their Legions fought R'enforc'd from Gaul Who soon alass her Person may enthral Witness this day when with its early dawn I saw our num'rous Foes 'bout London drawn Who did like thickest Woods at distance show While gentle Thames in fear did seem to flow His Stream beset and every Pass possest Which Londons danger sadly have increast O! think brave Princes what must be the Fate Of this Black Day or What may Night compleat Approaching now If in her dismal houres Our Foes assault this City with their Powers And thus its Queen and Glories should possess To grace Rome's Triumph and Gaules hop'd success Whil'st but to Heaven and to your Warlike Power Onely remaines their safeties to Restore Thus he Relates But Who can judge the fire That did these Hero's noble hearts inspire To aid this beaut'ous Queen whose Person they Fear with her Kingdom may become a Prey And to Favonius make this brave Reply 'T is time to Fight if Martianus fly And thou so great a Cheife inforc'd to come Thus to relate success of Gaul and Rome But while the name of Brittain shall endure With its choice Deeds Fame shall thy worth secure Since for Bonduca's cause thou yield'st to live That we her Armes distress'd relief might give Then Albianus does on him bestow A stately Vest and Richest Armour too While Vortiger presents him with a Steed Swift as the Wind stout as the North did breed Next Arthur's Son does his choice Captains call Corinus Torringer Androgeus all Fam'd in his Syres great Camp for Wonders done And glory now to serve his Warlike Son But Vortiger who thought each minute slow Time now does wing until he fights this Foe Commands his Warlike Cheifs a March to speed Of his brave Powers Whom most approv'd did Lead Clarinus Troylus with Darander prais'd For Deeds in War Fame with Renown had blaz'd These soon Campaign a Num'rous Warlike Power Of Troops and Chariots guided by the Flower Of Brittish-Nobles in which glorious Sphear The Princes like Auspicious Stars appear And now their Armies March shrill Trumpets sound That Ecchoe o'r th' Horizons utmost bound Which being done they lead their Martial way And view great London the succeeding day The End of the First Canto The Second Canto FAme soon prepar'd her num'rous tongues and eyes To blaze this March the Worlds industrious spies Who for her Glory Mighty Deeds proclaime Nor is there Humane wonder exceeds fame With Men She lives yet to Mankind unknown Though all Her Voices from his Breath are blown Sometimes as loud as Vulgar Clamors speaks As soon from Whispers busie Rumors makes Various in Tongue as Mankind is in thought Whose Secrets to her bold dispose are brought Watches she sets on Kings and Peoples Deeds Nor blushes when inlarg'd their Acts she spreads Falsehood and Truth she mingles in a breath And claimes Prerogative o'r Time and Death A mighty Prodigy her self creates And by her Power as soon annihilates The Worlds Deceiver and its glory too Vertue can Raise and it depress as low Too pronely Evil whence she beares the name Of that far-spreading mischief Men call Fame Thus does my Muse in this her story find Fames highest Glories with fates evils joyn'd While fate Bonduca's Vertues did oppose In Gaule and Romes success her mighty Foes By Warlike Ennius and Alvatrix led Who round great London had their Ensignes spread Whose furious Expedition thither came As it surpriz'd the hasty flight of Fame Having Martianus Powers enforc'd to flight As he their Legions over-power'd did fight Until his stoutest numbers breathless lye T' oppose the Course of this stern Enemy And thus through Lanes of dead had led their pow'rs Resolv'd t' assault great London when nights houres Should Midnight Count and to both Poles extend Her Sable Curtain whose dark throne attend Stars that like Ushers move to light her way While in the East as if too early day Had now surpriz'd her or the Mornings Sphear By Phoebus into flames converted were In which he 'd rise to threaten this bold Night When there prodigiously apear'd to sight Vast Armies moving on the smooth-fac'd-Skye Where flaming-Darts did seem from Foes to fly And brandisht Spears against Spears Fight maintain But What 's Heavens Sign Can Warring Powers restrain Dr furious Mens Ambition All things dare Who Heaven too distant think for them to fear Dr that the strong had right enough to take What could not be defended by the weak Which mighty evil Antient Mankind saw Before they had acknowledg'd Rule or Law But what the stronger to the weak would give When every Man to Man a Foe did live Till their Disorder'd
Safety did dispose Men to submit to Governments they chose Whose Rulers soon taught them they sought in vain To curb themselves and not their power restrain Who Nation against Nation could oppose Uniting Mankind to be stronger Foes Thus Gaul and Rome this Islands Conquest sought Whom now to London their success had brought Which by their Powers this night must be opprest In the most usual hour of Humane Rest When to indulge the dayes preceding care The tender Husbands their soft Wives endear While Cynthia did her palest Visage weare As if the Queen concern'd sh 'ad shin'd in fear And for her stately City like to be The saddest Scene of Infelicity Nor in great London many eyes had slept Till Foes Assaulted such bold Guards it kept And with a Bloody entrance seiz'd each Port As none knew where 't was safest to resort Or like to Men whom hideous Dreames awake Think all at first but fancies rude mistake And in Amazement hurry here and there Till nobler Sence does overcome their Fear Then as from Sleep surprized Trojans rose Boldly to Combat their successful Foes So here the Brittains are enrag'd to Fight And soon out-doe the Stories of that Night What Heart can Judge or Tongue the rage express That they oppose against their Foes success Least all that 's dear be made Romes lustful Prey Or Gauls far more libidinous than they Sometimes their Consorts Loves inspire their Armes Or else their Virgin-Daughters beauteous Charms The Wonder of the World and Natures Race Which in their Sex this Isle does chiefly grace Then with what Armes this hasty time supplies They find the thickest of their Enemies Where some on naked Breasts their Darts receive Others want Arms that wound for wound might give Yet still their num'rous Powers so assail As Fortune fears this Vertue may prevail While boldest Troops of Romans now retire And Gauls had well-nigh spent their onset Fire But as the Sea that rallies Wave on Wave Till through some noble Fence its Billows rave And then insults upon some glorious Plain Next made the Conquest of the dreadful Main Thus are the Brittains overwhelm'd with power In this so boyst'rous and surprizing houre While now of Fortune all they seem'd to crave Is that their Armes their beaut'ous Queen may save To whose reliefe the worthi'st lead the rest Before her Guards by num'rous Foes opprest Which to effect convenient stations take Resolv'd their Bodies shall her Bulwarks make Highly did Ennius his fierce Powers Conjure To make their furious On-sets more secure Letting them know how they 'l oblige Great Rome To see this City and her Queen o'rcome While with his Gaules Alvatrix does Conspire To act Hostilities by Rage and Fire Hoping these terrors will Bonduca shake Or else by force her long'd enjoyment take What hearts bùt Brittains thus assail'd by Foes Could them and such extremities oppose Who scorn'd all these their Valour should defeat Daring in ' midst of Flames their Foes to meet And in the dismal Ruines of this Flame Speaks antient hate of Gauls to Brittains Name Whose more Heroick Manners did deride The Formes and Dress of their Effeminate Pride And now the Queen from her Pavilion rose Allarum'd by these dreadful Acts of Foes And with a deep Concern does hear the Cries Of her lamented Subjects miseries Like some distrustful Shepheard that does view A Troop of Wolves his harmless Flock pursue And their distressed Lives cannot relieve Except some more than Mortal aid it give To Heaven her Prayers devoutly does address Imploring Stars to frown on their success Hoping they hold no Councel to destroy This City Peopled from Renowned Troy But if it must like that to Ashes turne Then She does beg it may be made her Urn And not in her the Blood of Brute inthral To guild the Triumphs of proud Rome or Gaul And next reflects on Natures fonder care VVhich made her thus Illustrious Great and Fair VVishing She saw with far less beaming eyes Than did Alvatrix fatally surprise Or that her Cheeks did in pale furrows lie VVhich stain'd the Glories of the Evening-Skie Least this great City more unhappy be From the bright Charmes of her Sov'raignity Thus she laments and what is her despair Since now to live is made her saddest fear Discerning well Alvatrix raging will Nor knows she how far Ennius may act ill VVho covertly Bonduca did decree The Prize and Garland of his Victory But from Alvatrix artfully does hide The mock he means to all his rage and pride And thus cajoles him Thou Great Prince of Gauls Yet more than Monarch since Romes power thee calls Her honour'd Armes associate to subdue Brittain with her and more Bonduca too Whose tender heart will force her to resign All that thy burning wishes can design If but now challeng'd while our Armes we see Thus ready to compleat bold Victory Though it must lessen Cleopatra's fame While Rome dates triumph from this Womans Name Whose beauties had but great Augustus seen His mighty Soul had with thee Captive been To which Alvatrix eagerly consents In hopes to Crown his furious Loves Intents Like some fierce Beast that does his Rage allay With expectation of his long'd-for Prey And thus a Summons to Bonduca speed That now was mounted on her graceful Steed And with her Glorious Presence vigor Charmes Into her fainting Brittains Hearts and Armes VVho from her Eyes no Mournful drops must see That but now stream'd for their Calamity Like beaming Morn that had dispell'd Nights tears Her injur'd brightness with more lustre wears Then a bold Herauld from great Ennius comes VVhose dreadful Badge declar'd him to be Romes And to the Queens bright Presence had access VVho in these tearms his Message does express Great Queen of Brittain Know that I am come To bid thee yield unto the Power of Rome Least this Fam'd City by a Raging Flame Consume to Ashes with thy ruin'd Name VVhile Pity makes Great Ennius so far thine As he could wish he might his Armes decline And by a gentle Truce soon make thee know Thou yield'st to Conquer such a Mighty Foe VVho does that value for thy Vertue own That his success he 'd with Loves Triumph Crown This he delivers while a brave disdain Adds to Bonduca's Cheeks a Noble stain As Virgin-Honor kindles at the Name Of some unwelcome and inglorious Flame And to this bold Demand makes this return Rather let me and this Lov'd-City burn And like another Carthage fall to dust If by Romes Power Heaven has decreed it must Than e'r Bonduca so degenerate prove As fear shall fright her Soul to welcome Love If that the Consul covertly intends Or fierce Alvatrix with his rage contends But whensoe'r my Nuptials I bestow I 'l not Court Rome to take a Husband-foe Or by that tye unite my self to Gaul VVhose antient hate would Brittain more inthral What though this fury does assault me now Yet your great Master may have more to do VVhile Arthur's Son and
the most approv'd in these brave Rites Such as great Arthur in his Life did Fame For Glorious Tournments and Wars daring Flame Of whom Albianus does Darander take With stout Androgeus Lists did famous make And bold Clarinus expert as the rest With twenty Knights on each side skill'd the best To whom great Vortiger his Chiefs does add Corynus Troylus Torringer all glad Their Launces with their Martial Prince to weild Whom Foes could ne'r resist when Fought in Field Who for their Judges fam'd Martianus chuse With brave Favonius could to wonder use Their Armes in Turn'ments and from Rome had won Trophies their Valours highly did Renown And from the Queen had Garlands to bestow With Silver Shields must happy Victors show That here most dext'rously their Launces guide And best command their furious Steeds bold Pride From whom the Signal Given on Coursers meet Might challenge Windes to match their speedy Feet While from their Hoofes the Ground does seem to shake As it did now an Earthquakes Ague take And in these Glorious Pastimes here to show How much their Prowess against Foes could doe Their mighty Launces though tough Limbs of Oake Are with their onsets into shivers broke Rebounding from their Armed Breasts so high As if they did from Battering Engins fly Which these upon their Steeds unmov'd abide Might level Towers Assaults of War defy'd While these great Princes that submitted here Their Lives and Loves to Fates regardless care Had slightest Armours with design put on Their Launces Pierce and in their Bodies run From whence blood issues out with so much haste As now their lives must but few minutes last That even their souls were taking wing to sly To Deaths Pale seates frail Natures Ignomy And thus fall from their Steeds imbru'd in Gore While all here Present doe from Heaven Implore Their hopeless Lives which how shall Brittains mourn Or Gaules and Romanes hence despair returne But more than all the beauteous Queen opprest With griefe and Love each storming now her Breast A while wants Power to lift to Heaven her eyes Or speak with Tears her tender hearts surprize Then calls for help from such best skill'd in Cure But finds their Arts cannot her Fears secure And even Heaven blames that Love allow'd such charmes Should be no Medicine to heal their harmes Yet as Loves Cordials layes her lips to theirs Mingling of kisses with the Balme of Tears While such deep simpathy her heart does feel As thence her tender life begins to steal Whose Rose and Lilly Cheeks now turn to pale That even her beauties shine but through deaths vaile Her Pulse scarce beating Natures utmost strife While Virgin-Palmes her Temples Chafe for life A midst whose Armes she 's in a Chariot laid And gently towards her Court is thus convey'd Next whom the Princes are in Litters borne This glorious Presence sad Attendants mourn Invoking Heaven with Teares and loudest Griefe To yield their Lives in these extreames Reliefe Yet more then their deep Cures the Queens despair That in her breast the wounds of Love did bear In this distress some Sages present move They should Merlinus skill before all prove Who had such wondrous Cures for Brittains wrought By Remedies no Art save his e'r taught To whom all yield and make Merlinus know What high concernes require his Presence now While Queen and Princes mournfully they bear To Beds of ease scarce breathing lifes last ayre The End of the Fifth Canto The Sixth Canto BEfore these Tydings to Merlinus speed His swifter Science knew the fatal need Of Queen and Princes who in Natures Book For all events did most Assiduous look Nor could her Causes and Effects create The World a Providence or Mankind Fate But as her aptest Schollar him had taught Which other Mortals as vain Empericks sought Who no less weighs her humble ease and power In every tender Hearb and smiling Flower Then in those prouder Blessings she conveys From Sun or Stars stupend'ous course and Rayes And now Merlinus at the Court appears The Queen and Princes dangers fill'd with cares Who but in his deep skill their hope repose Since Fate their lives so dreadful did oppose Where he beholds the beauteous Ladies Mourn As if to Statues Niob like they 'd turne Or that the Queens soft life so farr were fled His Art must now recall her from the Dead While with their Prayers and Blessings he arrives Unto her Presence viewing how life strives For weak Possession in that beaut'ous frame Death as his fairest Captive hopes to claim Next feels her Pulse with all his subtle Art But finds its strength retyr'd to ayde the Heart Which as Loves Region has a right to be The last surrender'd to Deaths Victory Then takes a Cordial made of purest Gold No man before did Potable behold With Dewes infus'd the Diamond Rocks distil And Pearles rich Soul extracted by his skill To these an Essence adds more precious too Chymists th' Elixar call but since none show That would this work in costly Limbecks breed And coldly live their Arts vain Fires to feed While of this Liquor whose least drop might be Valu'd above all Indian-Treasury Through the Queens Lips conveys a gentle draught Whence Life even fled away is back soon brought And now her Pulse begins lifes March to beate While Death's pale Flags her Rosie Cheeks defeat And next does open Windowes of her Eyes That seem like Stars new kindled in the skies Merlinus joy'd his Cordial thus succeeds To th' wounded Princes next his Person speeds Griev'd that he could not all at once supply And weeps to see in what extreames they lie Then takes a Balme of this Elixar made Which to their griefs with tender hand convey'd Their drooping hearts to wonder does restore And shows their wounds must not have Mortal power Nor had the Sun two dayes bright Circles shin'd But their great Lives their Pristine vigours find Which more to Joy the Queen as speedy mends And all but Loves soft wounds from his Cure ends Whence common Artists that make life endure A tedious Diet and loath'd Physicks Cure Wonder'd Disease so soon surpriz'd should be By his sublimer skill and remedy And now that rumor swiftly might convey Through Brittain Joyes for this most happy day The Princes visit the most beaut'ous Queen Who for their sakes had thus afflicted been And at her feet with tears now prostate lie Imploring pardon they design'd to dye Since she their lives esteem'd at that high price As to resign her own Deaths Sacrifice Grieving that Love should so much oblige Fate And from her wounds their sins recriminate Who for Loves sake chose death themselves to give That she more happy by their falls might live To whom with gracious words she thus replyes Belov'd of Men and Joy of Brittish Eyes Who ne'r like this shall Register an hour Though their bright Records mention Roman Power Defeated by your Prowess and Gaul brought To rue that time when you
conjoyn'd they fought For which the Sun shall ne'r consume a Day But I devoted thankes to Heaven will pay That can no Merit great enough allow To you as Princes and as Lovers too For which 't is my unhappiness to live Except at once I had two Souls to give Yet must your Passions blame that did decree A Death of both or either without me That could have been contented first to dye And Pay Loves Debt with my sad destiny Then to each Prince a gentle hand does give Which humbly kiss'd they on their knees receive Whose Lilly-white best Orient-Pearl did stain And out-shin'd Saphyrs blew in every vein Thus leads them with her to a Royal seat Where soon Merlinus did attend to Greet The happy Cures his wondrous art had done Which they with highest thanks and presents own 〈◊〉 to his Person great endearments give Admiring his deep meanes by which they live Whence they in such short time o'rcame their griefs And Nature furnish'd with such strange reliefes To whom Merlinus thus does humbly speak Since Nature her bright handmaid Art did make Few of her Counsels and admir'd effects But profound Science wondrously Inspects Else her large Providence that guides things here Must prove to Mortals but a niggard Care If she producing Creatures by her Power Did fail of meanes their Glories might restore Hence through the Universe her healthful Lawes With every being show a Divine cause While Stars no more her operations cost Than Plants and Herbs that humbly spring may boast Nor does this Mistress of the World deny To disclose secrets in her bosome lie If Mans frail Sense she does sublimely teach Can the deep Process of her wonders reach Hence Med'cins sets apart and joyes the Cure That makes her Individuals long endure Which in her most lov'd sympathies consist Or such Antipathies Disease resist Thus by my skill and fervent Prayers I sought That Soul to Inform'd matter first she brought Which has from Elements distinct essence Yet is of all things one best Quintessence And this our Lives Infirmities Restores Beyond the aid of Natures common Powers Assisting life with life the self same way That first in Bodies she did Souls convey This said a Vial of a substance too His Art next precious to th' Elixar knew Presents the Queen and Princes which contain'd This sublime worke by his deep Science gain'd At Natures richest cost whose value could Purchase the World and next transmute to Gold All kind of mettals that if Treasure fail This endless wealth might Brittains Foes assaile And here admiring they a while it view Which does in colour far more beaut'ous show Than Iris various Arch and seemes like beames Of Sun and Stars or more Coelestial Flames And to Merlinus with one voice reply Most mighty Bard since in thy skill doth lie Such sublime knowledge ne'r to Man was known May future Ages ever it Renown Not suffering time whose hand doth often raze His choicest glories ever thine deface Or from forgotten truth make Fictions Fame The bold oblivion of thy sacred Name Which said resolve this matchless work shall be Preserv'd as Natures highest Mystery And in that Temple kept where Brittains pay Devotion to her mighty Power each day And now the Queen whose mind unusual cares Did apprehend in her late sad despaires Acquaints him how her Soul a Voyage took In that deep Trance as it lifes Fetters broke Whence to her seem'd that warlike Nations spread Banners throughout this Isle with horror led Whose manners they before did never know With Images beheld of Princes too That should mix blood with Brittains Royal Line And thence succeeding Ages fruitful shine Changing Complexion of our Lawes and Speech Say wond'rous Bard if thy deep Science reach To future things What do these Visions speak Or are they but such Fantasmes vain Dreams make To which this Learned Sage does thus express Illustrious Queen though 't is most hard to guess Succeeding Acts of Time wrapt in the Lawes Of Providence the Worlds great hidden cause While in our Bodies Souls commix with Sence That does obstruct their Divine Praescience Else might their Vision without sensual eyes Take highest Prospect of her Mysteries Since Nature to the World and all things live In different Bodies a-like Soul does give And is diffus'd from her Internal mind Where every cause does actual fore-sight find Which since our Souls cannot in Bodies reach By glorious Mediums she our Sence does teach Nor must we think the Orbes and Starry-Sphaere But as Nights Tapers Heaven has kindled there Or that Ecclipses of the Sun and Moon Defects of Nature show and not our own Though it must dazel Humane sence to read The Text of Heaven in such bright causes spread Hence oft Mutations follow Crowns and States Which ignorant minds allot to Chance and Fates While nothing to us Mortals 〈◊〉 insues But she in some Prophetick Cause foreshewes And what the restless studies of my Art To you great Queen and Princes can impart I humbly offer in this hour to show That strikes my Soul with some amazement too Craving this Royal Presence a short space Some learned Products of his skill to grace And may for Brittains sake be useful seen Which said the Princes with the beauteous Queen Remove in State and thus by him are brought To an Appartment vast and wond'rous wrought From Archytects taught by his deep survey Which none but he e'r enter'd to this day Wherein this Sage long Contemplation took T' instruct the World in Natures profound Book Or else the Muses sublime Raptures writ That Poets call Heavens best inspired wit A Science graces all yet taught by none In Schooles Pedantick Tearmes and Precepts known Where Faith could not it self from Tutors free While this remains untaught Divinity And Natures best Exchequer has for store Spending profusely thence yet never Poor Though oft like virtue meets Inglorious Fate Since more than Human Soul its worth must rate Nor did that Age the Muses less esteem Than Sacred Raptures Men Prophetick deeme From whence the wise Castalian Cliffs aspir'd And with Heavens zeal this Divine gift admir'd The End of the Sixth Canto The Seventh Canto ANd now this Royal Presence duely plac'd Wonder to see how this Appartment's grac'd Whose Globulous roofe seems like a moving Sphaere Where Stars in Aspects shine as Heaven was there Nor were the Walls and Pillars less bright fam'd By his great skill of hardn'd Chrystal fram'd That none e'r malleable had made before And which all shapes of Creatures figur'd bore Then entertains their Royal Eares and sight With Bodies wond'rous organ'd for delight While some in Birdlike shapes best Musick sing And thus about this Roofe are seen to wing Next which in various Postures did appear Gygantick figur'd-Men and what 's as rare The shapes of Pigmyes Natures Dwarfish crew That Dialogue speak and make strangè exits too A Crystal wall then severs whence to sight A Scene appeares than Evenings Sky more