Then crowne my ioyes thou Antidote of despaire And be as mercifull as thou art faire Nature the bounty of whose liberall hand Made thee the iewell of the Arcadian land Intended in so rare a prize to boast Her masterpeece Hid Iewells are but lost shine then and rob not nature of her due But honour her as she hath honour'd you Let not the best of all her workes lye dead In the nice Casket of a Maydâ—…nhead What she would haue reueal'd O doe not smother Th' art made in vaine vnlesse thou make another Giue me thy heart and for that gift of thine Lest thou shouldst want a heart I le giue thee mine As richly fraught with loue and lasting duty As thou with vertue or thine eyes with beauty Why dost thou frowne why does that heauenly brow Not made for wrinkles show a wrinkle now Send forth thy brighter sun-shine and the while O lend me but the twilight of a smile Giue me one amorous glance why standst thou mute Disclose those ruby lips and grant my suite Speake loue or if thy doubtfull minde be bent To silence let that silence be consent Nor begge I loue of almes although in part My words may seeme tâ—…implead my owne desert Disdaine me not although my thoughts descend Below themselues t' enioy so faire a friend 〈◊〉 that haue oâ—…t with teares bin sought to sue And Queens haue bin his seruants that serues you The beauties of all Grâ—…ece haue bin at strife To winne the name of great Demagoras wife And bin despis'd not worthy to obtaine So high an honour What they sought in vaine I here present thee with as thine owne due It being an honour fit for none but you Speake then my loue and let thy lips make knowne That I am either thine or not mine owne Haue you beheld when fâ—…esh Auroras eye Sends forth her early beames and by and by Withdrawes the glory of her face and shrowds Her checkes behind a ruddy mâ—…ske of clouds Which who beleeue in Erra Pater say Presages winde and blustry stormes that day Such were Partheniaes lookes in whose faire face Roses and Lillies late had equall place But now twixt mayden bash fulnesse and spleene Roses appear'd and Lillies were not seene Sâ—…e paus'd a while till at the last she breakes Her long kept angry silence thus and speakes My Lord Had your strong Oratory but the Art To make me conscious of so great desert As you perswade I should be bound in duty To praise your Rhet'ricke as you prize my beauty Or if the frailty of my iudgement could Flatter my thoughts so grosly as to hold Your words for currant you might boldly dare Count me as soolish as you terme me faire If you vye Courtship fortune knowes that I Haue not so strong a Game to see the vye Alas my skill durst neuer vndertake To play the game where hearts be set at stake Needs must the losse be great when such haue bin Seldome obseru'd to saue themselues that win You craue my heart My Lord you craue withall Too great a mischiese My poore heart 's too small To fill the concaue of so great a brest Whose thoughts can scorne the amorous request Of loue sicke Queenes and can requite the vaine And factious suits of Ladies with disdaine Stoope not so low beneath your selfe great Lord To loue Parthenia Shall so poore a word Staine your faire lips whose merits doe proclaime A more transcendent fortune then that name Can giue Call downe Ioues winged Pursuiuant Aâ—…d giue his tongue the power to enchant Some easie Goddesse in your name and treat A mariage fitting so sublime so great A mind as yours and fill the fruitfull earth With Heroes sprung from so diuine a birth Partheniaes heart could neuer yet aspire So high Her homebred thoughts durst ne're desire So fond an honour matcht with so great pride To hope for that which Queenes haue beene denyde Be wise my Lord vouchsafe not to repeat S'vnfit a suit Be wise as you are great Aduance your noble thoughts hazard no more To wrack your fortunes on so fleet a shore That to the wiser world it may be knowne The lesse y' are mine the more you are your owne Like as a guilty prisner vpon whom Offended Iustice lately past her doome Stands trembling by and hopelesse to preuaile Bâ—…ules not for mercy but to the loath'd Iaile Dâ—…agges his sad yrons and from thence commends A hâ—…sty suite to his selected friends That by the vertue of a quicke Reprieâ—…e The wretch might haue some few daies more to liue Euen so Demagoras whose rewounded heart Had newly felt the vnexpected smart And secret burthen of a desp'rate doome Replies not takes no leaue but quits the roome And in his discontented mind reuolues Ten thousand thoughts and at the last resolues What course to runne relying on no other But the assistance of Partheniaes mother Forthwith his fierce misguided passion droue His wandring steps to the next neighboring groue A keene Steeletto in his trembling hand He rudely grip'd vpon his lips did stand A milke white froth his eyes like flames sometimes He curses heauen himselfe and then the times Railes at the proud Parthenia raues despaires And from his head rends off his tangled hayres Curs s the wombe that bare him bans the Fates And drunke with spleene he thus deliberates Why dyest thou not Demagoras when as death Lends thee a weapon Can the whining breath Of discontent and passion send reliefe To thy distraction or asswage thy griefe Why moou'st thou not the Gods Or rather why Do'st not contemne and scorne their power and dye But stay Of whom dost thou complaine A woman To whom fond man dost thou complaine A woman And shall a womans frownes haue power to grieue thee Or shall a womans wanton smile relieue thee Fye fie Demagoâ—…as shall a womans eye Preâ—…aile to make the stout Demagorâ—…s dye And leaue to after times an entred name 〈◊〉 Callender of fooles Rouze vp for shame Thy wasted spirits whet thy spleene and liue To be reueng'd She she that would not giue Admittance to thy proferd loue must drinke The potion of thy hate stirre then the sinke Of all thy passion where thou canst not gaine By fairer lauguage Tarquin-like constraine But hold thy band Demâ—…goras and aduise Art giues adâ—…antage oft where force denyes Suspend thy fury Make Partheniaâ—…s mother Thy meanes One Adamant will cut another Sweeten thy lips with amorous Oratorie Affect her tender heart with the sad story Of thy deare loue Extoll Parthâ—…niaes beauty But most of all vrge that deserued duty Thou ow'st her vertue and make that the ground Of thy first loue that gaue thy heart the wound Mingle thy words with sighes and it is meet If thou canst force a teare to let her see 't Against thy will Let thy false tongue forbeare No vowes and though thou beest forsworne yet sweare If ere thy barren lips shall chance to pause For want of words Parthenia
and yet we sleepe secure My Lord bethinke no other Set your rest Vpon these Câ—…rds The surest way is best Leaue me to manage our successfull plot And if these studious browes contriue it not Too sure for art of Mâ—…gicke to preuent Ne're trust a womans wit wâ—…en fully bent To take reuenge Begone my Lord repose The trust in me Onely be wise be close That night when as the vniuersall shâ—…de Of the vnspangled heauen and earth had made An vâ—…ter darknesse darknesse apt to further The horrid enterprise of rapes and mâ—…her She she that now lacks nothing to procuâ—…e A full reuenge she calls Athleia to her Partheniaes handmaid whom shâ—… thus â—…espake Athleia dare thy priuate thoughts partake With mine Canst thou be secret Has thy heart A locke that none can pick by theevish art Or brake by force Tell me Canst thou digest A secret trusted to thy faithfull brest Madam said shâ—… Lâ—…t me bee neuer true To my owne thoughts if euer false to you Speake what you please Athleia shall conceale Torments may make me roare but ne're reâ—…eale Replyde the Lady then Athleia knows How much how much my deare affection owes Partheniaes heart whose welfare is the crowne Of all my ioyes which now is ouerthrowne And deeply buried in forgotten dust If thou betray the secret of my trust It lyeth in thy power to remoue Approaching euills Parthenia is in loue Her wasted spirits languish in her brest And nought but look'd for death can giue her rest T is Argalus she loues who with disdaine Requites her loue not louing her againe He sleights her teares The more that he neglects The more entirely she poore soule affects She groanes beneath the burden of despaire And with her sighes she cloyes the idle ayre Thou art acquainted with her priuate teares And you so oft exchanging tongues and eares Must know too much for one poore heart t' endure But desperate's the wound admits no Cure It lies in thee to helpe Athleia say Wilt thou assist me if I find the way Madam my forced ignorance shall be Sufficient earnest of my secresie Your lips haue vtter'd nothing that is new To Athleias eares Alas it is too true Long long ere this your seruant had reueal'd The same to you bad not my lips biâ—… seal'd But if my best endeauors may extend To bring my Mistresse sorrowes to an end Let all the enraged Dâ—…ties aâ—…ot To me worse torment if I doe it not My life 's too poore to hazard for her ease Madam I le doâ—… Command me what you please So said The treacherous Lady steps aside Inâ—…o her serious closeâ—… and applide Her hasty and perfidious hands to frame This foâ—…ged letter in Partheniaes name Constant Parthenia to her faithfull Argalus ALthough the malice of a mother Does yet enforce my tongue to smother What my desire is should flame yet Parthenia is the same Although my fire be hid a while T is but fire slak'd with oyle Before seuen Suns shall rise and fall It shall burne and blaze withall What I send thee drinke with speed Else let my Argalus take heed Vnlesse thy prouidence withstand there is treason ne're at hand Drinke as thou lou'st me and it shall secure thee From future dangers or from past recure thee This done and seal'd she op'd her priâ—…te doore Call'd in Athleia and said For euery sore The gods prouide a salue Force must preuaile Where sighes and teares and deepe entreaties faile Forthwith from out her Cabinet she tooke A little glasse and said Athleia looke Within these slender walls these glazed lists Partheâ—…aes happinesse and life consists It is Nepenthe which the factious gods Doe vse to drinke when ere they be at ods Whose secret vertue so infus'd by loue Does turne deep hatred into dearest loue It makes the proudest louer whine and baule And such to dote as neuer lou'd at all Here take this glasse and recommend the same To Aâ—…galus in his Pâ—…theniaes name And to his hand to his owne hand commit This letter Betweene Aâ—…galus and it Let no eye come Be sure thy speeâ—… preuent The rising Sun and so heauens crowne th' euent By this the feather'd Bellman of the night Sent forth his midnight summons to inuiâ—…e All eyes to slâ—…mber when they both addrest Their thoughtfull minds to take a doubtfull rest O heauens and you O you celestiall powers That neuer slumber but imploy all houres In mans prorection still preseruing keeping Our soules from obuious dangers waking sleeping O can your all-descerning eyes behold Such impious actions prosper vncontroll'd O can your hearts your tender hearts endure To see your seruant that now sleepes secure Vnarm'd vnwarn'd and hauing no defence But your protection and his innocence Betray'd and murther'd drawing at one breath His owne prepar'd destruction his owne death And will ye 〈◊〉 He that is the crowne Of prized vertue honour and renowne The flowre of Arts the Cyprian liuing story Arcadias Girland and great Graeces glory The earths new wonder and the worlds example Must dye betraid Treason and death must trample Vpon his life and in the dust must lye As much admit'd perfection as can dye No Argalus the coward hand of death Durst ne're assault thee if not vnderneath The Maske of loue Thou art aboue the reach Of open wrongs Mans force could ne're make breach Into thy life no Death could ne're vncase Thy soule had she appeared face to face Dreame Argalus and let thy thoughts be troubled With murthers treasons Let thy dreams be doubled And what thy frighted fancy shall perceiue Be wisely superstitious and beleeue O that my lines could wake thee now and seuer Those eyelids that ere long must sleepe for euer Wake now or neuer Argalus and withstand Thy danger Wake the murtheresse is at hand Parthenia oh Parthenia who shall weepe Thy world of teares Canst thou O canst thou sleep Will thy dull Genius giue thee leaue to slumber Does nothing trouble thee no dreame incumber Thy frighted thoughts and Argalus so neere His latest houre Not one dreaming teare Sleepe on and when thy flattring slumber's past Perchance thine eyes will learne to weepe as fast His death is plotted And this morning light Must send him downe into eternall night Nay what is worse then worst His dying breath Will censure thee as Agent in his death By this the broadfac'd Quirister of night Surceas'd her screeching note and tooke her flight To the next neighbring Ivy Brids and beasts Forsake the warme protection of their nests And nightly 〈◊〉 whilst darknesse did display Her sable curtaines to let in the day When sad Athleia's dreame had vnbenighted Her slumbring eies her busie thoughts were frighted She rose and trembled and being halfe distraught With her prophetick feares she thus bethought What ayle the Gods thus to disturbe my rest And make such earthquakes in my troubled brest Nothing but death and murthers Graues and Bells Frighting my fancy with their hourely knells T was
if you are bent To act my Tragedy why doe you wrong Our patience so to make the play so long Your Sceanes are tedious Gainst the rules of Art You dwell too long too long vpon one part Be briefe and take aduantage of your odds One simple mayde against so many gods And not be conquer'd yet Conioyne your might And send her soule into eternall night That liues too long a day I le not resist Prouided you strike home strike where ye list Accursed be that Day wherein these eyes First saw the light Let desp'rate soules deuise A curse sufficient for it Let the Sun Ne're shine vpon it and what ere 's begun Vpon that fatall day let heauen forbid it Successe if not to ensnare the hand that did it Why was I borne Or being borne O why Did not my fonder nurses Lullaby Euen whilst my lips were hanging on her brest Sing her poore Babe to euerlasting rest O then my infant soule had neuer knowne This world of griefe beneath whose weight Igroane No no it had not He that dyes in 's prime Speeds a long businesse in a little time But Argalus whose more extreame desire Vnapt to yeeld like water-sprinkled fire Did blaze the more impatient of denyall Gaue thus an onset to a further tryall Life of my Soule By whom next heauen I breath Excepting whom I haue no friend but Death How can thy wishes ease my griefe or stand My miserie in stead when as thy hand And nothing but thy helping hand can giue me Reliefe and yet refuses to relieue me Strange kinde of Charity when being afflicted I finde best wishes yet am interdicted Of those best wishes and must be remou'd From loues enioyment why Because belou'd Alas alas How can thy wishes be A blessing to me if vnblest in thee Thy beauty 's gone thou saist why let it goe He loues but ill that loues but for a show Thy beauty is supply'd in my affection That neuer yet was slaue to a complexion Shall euery day wherein the earth does lacke The Suns reflex b'expell'd the Almanacke Or shall thy ouer-curious steps for beare A garden 'cause there be no Roses there Or shall the sunset of Parthenia's beauty Enforce my iâ—…dgement to neglect that duty The which my best aduis'd affection owes Her sacred vertue and my solemne vowes No no it lyes not in the power of Fate To make Parthenia too vnfortunate For Argalus to loue It is as easie for Parthenia's heart To proue lesse vertuous as for me to start From my firme faith The flame that honours breath Hath blowne nothing hath powre to quench but death Thou giu'st me leaue to chuse a fitter spouse And freedome to recall to quit those vowes I tooke VVho gaue thee license to dispense VVith such false tongues as offer violence To plighted faith Alas thou canst not free Thy selfe much lesse hast power to license me Vowes can admit no change They still perseuer Against all chance they binde they binde for euer A vow 's a holy thing no common breath The limits of a vow is heauen and death A vow that 's past is like a bird that 's flowne From out thy hand can be recall'd by none It dies not like a time beguiling Iâ—…st As soone as vented liues not in thy brest VVhen vtterd once but is a sacred word Straight enterd in the strict and close record Of heauen It is not like a Iuglers knot Or fast or loose as pleases vs or not since then thy vowes can finde no dispensation And may not be recall'd recall thy passion Performe performe what now it is too late T' vnwish againe too soone to violate Seeke not to quit what heauen denies to free Performe thy vowes to heauen thy vowes to me Thrice dearer then my soule she thus râ—…plide Mad my owne pamper'd fancy beene the guide To my affection I had condescended Ere this to your request which had befriended My best desiers too I lou'd not thee For my owne pleasure in that base degree As gluttons doe their diet who dispense With vnwash'd hands lest they should giue offence To their grip'd stomackes when a minutes stay Will make them curse occasion all the day I lou'd not so My first desires did spring From thy owne worth and as a sacred thing I alwaies view'd thee whom my zeale commands Me not prophane with these desiled hands T is true Performance is a debt we owe To Vowes and nothing's dearer then a Vow Yet when the gods doe rauish from our hand The meanes to keepe it ' â—…is a countermand He that hath vow'd to sacrifice each day At Iuno's Altar's bound and must obey But if being vnder vow the gods doe please To strike him with a leperous disease Or foule infection which is better now Prophane the Alâ—…ar or to breake the vow The case is mine where then the gods dispense We may be bold yet tender no offence Admit it were an euill 't is our beâ—…est Of necessary ills to choose the least The gods are good The strickt recognisance Of vowes is onely taken to aduance The good of man Now if that good proue ill We may refuse our vowes entire still I vow a mariage why because I doe Entirely affect that man my vowes are to But if some foule disease should interpose Betwixt our promis'd mariage and our vowes The strict performance of these vowes must proue I wrong and therefore loue not whom I loue Then vrge no more Let my deny all be A pledge sufficient twixt my loue and thee So ended slâ—…e 〈◊〉 vehement desire That câ—…n be quencht with No no more then fire With oyle and can submit to no condition Lends him new breath Loue makes a Rethoritian He speaks she answers He afresh replyes He stoutly sues As stoutly she denyes He begs in vaine and she denics in vainâ—… For she denies agaiâ—…e He begs againâ—… At last both weary â—…e his suite adiournes For louers dayes are good and bad by turnes He bids farewell As if the heart of either Gaue but one motion they both sigh'd together She bids farewel ' and yet she bids it so As if her farewell ended if he goe He bids farewel ' buâ—… so as if delay Had promis'd better farewells to his stay She bids farewell but holds his hand so fast As if that farewell should not be the last Both sigh'd both wept and both being heauy harted She bids farewell He bids farewell and parted So parted they Now Argalus is gone And now Parthenia's weeping all alone And like the widowed Turtle she bewailes The absence of her mate Passion preuailes Aboue her strength Now her poore heart can tell What 's heauen by wanting heauen and what is hell By her owne torments Sorrow now does play The Tyrants part Affection must obey And like a weathercocke her various minde Is chang'd and turn'd with euery blast of winde In desp'rate language she deplores her state She faine would wish but then she knowes not
failing must decline Poore Argalus growes 〈◊〉 and must giue o're To strike his feeble arme can strike no more And natures 〈◊〉 ' d Bayly now destraines His blood for that small debt that yet remaines 〈◊〉 His arme that cannot vse the poynt Now 〈◊〉 vpon the pomell euery ioynt Disclaimes their idle sinews and his eye Begins to double euery obiect by Nothing appeares the same it was the ground And all thereon does seeme to daunce the round His legs grow faint and thinking to sit downe He mist his Chaire and 〈◊〉 into a swoune With that Amphialus and Parthenia ran Ran in with hast Amphialus 〈◊〉 To loose his Helmet whil'st her busie palme Chaf'd his cold Temples and distilling Balme Into his wounds her hasty fingers tore Her linnen sleeues and Partlet that she wore No wipe the teare mixt blood away and wrap His wounds withall vpon her panting lappe She laide his liuelesse head and wanting bands To binde the bloody cloathes her nimble hands As if it were ordained for that end And therefore made so long did freely rend Her dainty haire by handfuls from her head But as she wrapt the wounds her eyes would shed And wet the rags so much that she was faine 〈◊〉 sighs and sobs to drie it vp againe Thus halfe distracted with her griefes and feares These words she enter mingles with her teares Distrest Parthenia Into what estate Hath fortune and the direfull hand of Fate Driuen thy perplexed soule O thou O thou That wert the president of all ioyes but now Now turn'd th' example of all misery For torments worse then death to practise by How lesse then nothing art thou and how more Then miserable Thou that wert before All Ladies of the earth for happinesse But very now ah me now nothing lesse O angry heauens what hath Parthenia done To be thus plagu'd or why not plagu'd alone If guilty what shall poore Parthenia doe To whom shall she complaine alas or who Shall giue reliefe nay who can giue reliefe To her that hopes for succour from her griefe O death Must we be parted then for euer And neuer meet againe what neuer neuer Or shall Parthenia now be so vnkinde Te leaue her Argalus and stay behind No no my dearest Argalus make roome There 's roome enough in heauen I come I come Who euer saw a dying coale of fire Lurke in warme embers till some breath inspire A forc'd reuiuall how obscure it lies And being blowne glimmers a while and dies So Argalus to whom Parthenia's breath Giuing new life a life in spite of death Recall'd him from his death-resembling traunce Who from his panting Pillow did aduance His feeble head and looking vp he made Hard shift to sorce a language and thus said My deare Parthenia Now my glasse is runne The Tapours tell me that the Play is done My dayes are summ'd Death seizes on my heart Alas the time is come and we must part Yet by my better hopes grimme death does bring No griefe to Argalus no other sting But this that I must leaue thee euen before My gratefull actions can crosse the score Of thy deare merits But since it pleases him whose wisedome still Disposes all things by his better will Depend vpon his goodnesse and relye Vpon his pleasure not inquiring why And trust that one day we shall meet and then Enioy each other ne're to part agen Meane while liue happy Let Parthenia make No doubt but bessed Argalus shall partake In all her ioyes on earth which shall encrease His ioyes in heauen and soules eternall Peace Loue well the deare remembrance of thy true And faithfull Argalus let no thought renew My last disgrace thinke not the hand of Fate Made me vnworthy though vnfortunate And as he spake that word his lips did vent A sigh whose vio'lence hâ—…d well nigh rent His heart in twaine and when a paâ—…ting kisse Hâ—…d giuen him earnest of appoaching blisse He snatch his sword into his hand and cryed O death thou art the Conquerour and dyed With that Parthenia whose liuelihood was founded Vpon his life bow'd downe her head and swounded But griefe that like a Lyon loues to play Before it kils gaue death a longer day Else had Parthenia dy'd since death depriued Him of his life in whose deare life she liued But ah Parthenia's sorrow was too deepe Too too vnruly to be lull'd asleepe By ought but Death She startles from her swound And nimbly rising from the loathed ground Kneeles downe and layes her trembling hand vpon His lukewarme lips but finding his breath gone Griefe playes the Tyrant fierce distruction driues her She knowes not where vnbounded 〈◊〉 depriucs her Of sense and language here and there she goes Not knowing what to doe nor what she does Somtimes her faire misguided hand would teare Her beautious face sometimes her bountious haire As if their vse could stand her in no stead Since her beloued Argalus was dead But now Amphialus that all this space Stood like an Idol fastned to his place Where with a world of teares he did bemoane The deed that his vnlucky hands had done Well knowing that his words would aggrauate Not ease the miserie of her woefull state Spake not but caus'd her women that came with her To vrge her to the Ferrie where together With her dead Argalus she ' embrackt from whom She would not part no sooner was she come To t'other shore but all the funerall state Of militarie discipline did waite Vpon the Corps whil'st troopes of trickling eyes Fore-ran the well perform'd solemnities The Martiall Trumpet breath'd her dolefull sound Whil'st others traild their Ensignes on the ground Thus was the most lamented Corpes conuaid Vpon a Chariot lin'd and ouerlaid With Sables to his house a house then night More black no more the Palace of Delight Where now we leaue him to receiue the Crowne Prepar'd for vertue and deseru'd renowne Where now we leaue him to be full possest Of endlesse peace and euerlasting Rest. But who shall comfort poore Parthenia now What Oratory can preuaile or how Can counsell chuse but blush to vndergoe So vaine taske and be contemned too May Counsell mooue a heart whose best 〈◊〉 Consists in desperate yeelding to a griefe O what aduice can rellish in her eares That weepes and takes a pleasure in her teares Readers forbeare sorrowes that are lamented Are but exulcerated but augmented Forbeare attempt where there is no preuayling A desperate griefe growes stronger by bewaying Leaue her to time and fortune let your eyes No longer prye into her miseries True mourners loue to be beheld of none Who truly grieues desire to grieue alone But now our bloodhound Muse must draw and track Amphialus and bring the Murtherer backe To a new Combate Where if fortune please To crowne our Tragick Sceane and to appease The crying blood of Argalus with blood Our better rellisht story making good Your hopefull expectations shall besriend The teares of our Parthenia and end
nothing but a dreame and dreames they say Expound themselues the cleane contrary way The Riddle 's read and now I vnderstand My dreames intents Some mariage is at hand For death interpreted is nothing else But mariage And the melancholly Bells Is mirth and musicke By the graue is read The ioyfullioy full ioyfull mariage bed I I t is plaine And now me thinks 't was I That my prophetick dreame foretold should dye If this be death Death exercise thy power And let Athleia dye within this houre Doe doe thy worst Athleia's faithfull breath Shall pray for nothing more then sudden death But stay Athleia the too forward day Begins to gild the East away away So hauing said The nimble fingerd Lasse Tooke the forg'd letter and the amorous glasse And to her early progresse she applies her D parts and toward Argalus she hies her But euery step she tooke her mind enforc'd New thoughts and with her selfe she thus discours'd How fraile's the nature of a womans will How crosse The thing that 's most forbidden still They more desire and least inclinde to doe What they are most of all perswaded too Had not alas my Lady bound these hands Athlâ—…ia ne're had struggled with her bands I must not tast it Had she not enioyn'd My lips from tasting it Athleia's mind Had neuer thought on 't now me thinkss I long Desires if once confinde become too strong For womans conquer'd reason to resist A womans reason 's measur'd by her list I long to tast yet was there nothing did Mooue my desires but that I was forbid With that she stayd her weary steps and hasted T'vntye the Glasse lift vp her arme and tasted That done and hauing now attain'd almost Her iourneyes end the little time she lost New speed regaines The nimble ground she traces With double hast and quicke redoubled paces All on a sudden she begins to faint Her bowells gripe her breath begins to taint Her blistred tongue growes hot her liuer glowes Her vaines doe boile her colour comes and goes She staggers falls and on the ground she lyes Swels like a bladder roares and bursts and dyes Thus from her ruine Argalus deriues His longer life and by her death he liues Liue Argalus and let the gods allot Such morning draughts to those that loue thee not Liue long and let the righteous powers aboue That haue preseru'd thee for Parthenia's loue Crowne all thy hopes and fortunes with euent Too sure for second treasons to preuent By this time did the lauish breath of Fame Giue language to her Trumpet and proclaime Athleias death the current of which newes Truths warrant had forbidden to abuse Deceiued eares which when the Lady heard Whose trecherous heart was greedily prepar'd To entertaine a murther she arose And with rude violence desperately throwes Hâ—…r trembling body on the naked floore But what she said and did I will deplore Not vtter but with forced silence smother Because she was the faire Parthenia's mother May it suffice that the extreames of shame And vnresisted sorrow ouercame Her disappointed malice lesse lamenting The treason then successe and more repenting Of what she fail'd to doe then what she did Her sullen soule dispaires her thoughts forbid What reason wants the power to perswade Her griefes bâ—…ing growne too deepe for her to wade She sinks and with a hollow sigh she cryed Welcome thou easer of all euills and dyed Now tongues begin to walke and euery eare Hath got the Saturyasis to heare This tragicke sceane The breath of Fame grows bold Feares no repulse and scornes to be controlld Whilst lowd report whose tender lips before Durst onely whisper now begins to roare The letter found in dead Athleias brest Bewray'd the plot and what before was guest Is now confirm'd and clear'd for all men knew Whose hand it was and whence the malice grew But haue we lost Parthenia In what Isle Of endlesse sorrow lurks she all this while Sweet Reader vrge me not to tell for feare Thy heart dissolue and melt into a teare Excuse my silence If my lines should speake Such marble hearts as could not melt would break No leaue her to her selfe It is not fit To write what being read you 'd wish vnwrit I leaue the taske to those that take delight To see poore Ladyes tortur'd in despight Of all remorse whose hearts are still at strife To pâ—…int a torment to the very life I leaue that taske to such as haue the powre To weepe and smile againe within an houre To those whose flinty hearts are more contentâ—…d To limme a griefe then pitty the tormented Let it suffice that had not heauen protected Her Argalus the ioy whereof corrected That 〈◊〉 griefe which passion recommended To her sad thoughts her story here had ended When Time the enemy of Fame had clos'd Her babling lips and gently had compos'd Partheniaes sorrowes raising from the ground Her body spent with griefe and almost drownd In her owne teares a long expected Sceane Of better fortune enters in to dreane His marish eyes Her stormy night of teares Being past a welcome day of ioy appeares The rocke's remou'd and loues wide Ocean now Giues roome enough lookes with a milder brow Reader forget thy sorrowes Let thine eare Welcome the tydings thou so longst to heare A louers diet 's sweet commixt with sower His hell and heauen oft-time diuides an houre Now Argalus can finde a faire accesse To his Parthenia now feares nothing lesse Then eares and eyes and now Partheniaes heart Can giue her tongue the freedome to impart His louder welcome whilst her greedy eye Can looke her fill and feare no stander by She 's not Parthenia he not present with her And he not Argalus if not together Their cheeks are fill'd with smiles their tongues with chat Now this they make their subiect and now that One while they laugh and laughing wrangle too And iarre as iealous louers vse to doe And then a kisse must make them friends againe Faith one's too little Louers must haue twaine Two brings in ten ten multiplyes to twenty That to a hundred then because the plenty Growes troublesome to count and does incumber Their lips their lips gaue â—…isses without number Their thoughts run backe to former times they told Of all loues passages they had of old ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA The Second Booke SAyle gentle Pinace Now the heauens are cleare The winds blow faire Behold the harbour's neere Trydented Neptune hath forgot to frowne The rocks are past The storme is ouerblowne Vp wetherbeaten voyagers and rouze yee Forsake your loathed Cabbiâ—…s vp and louze ye Vpon the open decks and smell the land Cheare vp the welcome shoare is nigh at hand Sayle gentle Pinace with a prosperous gale To th' Isle of peace Sâ—…ile gentle Pinace saile Fortune conduct thee Let thy keele diuide The siluer streames that thou mast safely slide Into the bosome of thy quiet Key And quite thee fairely of th'iniurious Sea Great
reproach be a perpetuall blot In Honours booke Let his remembrance rot In all good mindes Let none but villaines call His bugbeare name to memory wherewithall To fright their bauling bastards Let no spell Be found more potent to preuaile in hell Then the nine letters of his charme like name Which let our bashfull Chriscrosse row disclaime To the worlds end not fitting to be set As mutes within the Iewish Alphabet But harke Am I deceiu'd or doe I heare The voice of Arg'lus sounding in mine eare He calls Parthenia No that tongue can be No counterfeit He 's come 't is he 't is he Welcome too laâ—… that art now come too soone Hadst thou bin here this deed had ne're bin done Alas when louers linger and outgoe Their promis'd date they know not what they doe Men fondly say that women are too fond At parting to require so strict a bond For quicke returne Poore soules 't is they endure Oft times the danger of the forfeiture I blame them not for mischiefe still attends Vpon the too long absence of true friends Well Argalus is come and seekes about In euery roome to finde Parthenia out He askes enquiers but all lips are sparing To be the authors of ill newes not daring To speake the truth they all amazed stand And now my Lord 's as fearfull to demand Dares not enquire her health lest his sad eare Should heare such words as he 's afraid to heare All lips are boulted with a linnen barre And euery eye does like a blâ—…zing star Portend some euill no language findes a leake The lesse they speake the more he feares to speake Faces grow sad and euery priuate eare Is turn'd a Closet for the whisperer He walkes the roome and like an vnknowne stranger They eye him from each eye he picks a danger At last his lips not dâ—…ting to importune What none dare tell him vnexpected fortune Leads his rash steps into a darkned roome A place more black then night No sooner come Bâ—…t he was welcom'd with a sigh as deepe As a spent heart could giue he heard one weepe And by the noise of groanes and sobs was led Hâ—…uing none other guide to the sad bed Who is 't said he that calls vntimely night To hide those griefes that thus abiure the light With that as if her heart had rent in two She past a sigh and said O aske not who Vrge not my tongue to make a forc'd reply To your demand Alas it is not I Not I said he what language doe I heare Darknesse may stop mine eye but not mine eare It is my deare Parthenia's voice ah me And can Parthenia not Parthenia be What meanes this word Alas it is not I What sudden ill hath taught thee to deny Thy selfe or what can Argalus then claime If his Parthenia be not the same She was alas it seemes to me all one To say Thou art not hers that 's not her owne Can hills forget their pondrous bulk and flye Like wandring Atomes in the empty sky Or can the heauens growne idle not fulfill Their certaine reuolutions but stand still And leaue their constant motion for the winde T' inherit Can Parthenia change her minde Heauen sooner shall stand still and earth remâ—…e E're my Parthenia 〈◊〉 her loue Vnfold thy Riddle then and tell me why Those lips should say Alas it is not I. Whereto she thus reply'd O doe not thou So wrong thy noble thoughts as once t' allow That cursed name a roome within thy brest Let not so foule a prodigy be blest With thy lost breath Let it be held a sin Too great for pardon e're to name 't agen Let darknesse hide it in eternall night May it be clad with horror to affright A desp'rate conscience He that knowes not â—…ow To mouthe a curse O let him practise now Vpon this name Let him that would contract The body of all mischiefe or extract The quint'ssence of all sorrowes onely claime A secret priuiledge to vse that name Far be it from thy language to commit So soule a sin as once to mention it Liue happy Arg'lus doe not thou partake In these my miseries O forbeare to make My burthen greater by thy tender sorrow Alas my heart is strong and needs not borrow Thy needlesse helpe O be not thou so cruell To feed my â—…aming fiers with thy fuell Why dost thou sigh O wherefore should thy heart Vsurpe my stage and act Parthenia's part It is my proper taske what dost thou meane Without my licence to intrude my Sceane Alas thy sorrowes ease not my distresse God knowes I weepe not one pocre teare the lesse My patent's sign'd and past whereby appeares That I haue got the Monopoly of teares In me let each mans torment finde an end I am that Sea to which all Riuers tend Let all spent mourners that can weepe no more Take teares on trust and set them on my score And as she spake that word his heart not able To beare a language so vnsufferable But being swolne so big must either breake Or vent his darkned reason grew too weake T' oppose his quickned passion like a man Transported from himselfe he thus began Accursed darknesse Thou sad type of death Infernall Hagge whose dwelling is beneath What meanes thy boldnesse to vsurpe this roome And force a night before the night be come Get get â—…hee downe and keepe within thy lifts Goe reuell there and burle thy hideous mists Before those cursed eyes that take delight In vtter darkenesse and abhorre the light Returne thee to thy dungeon whence thou came And hide those faces whose infernall flame Câ—…ls for more darknesse and whose tortur'd soules Craue the protection of th' obscurest holes To scape some lashes and auoid those strict And horrid plagues the furies doe inflict But if thou needs must ramble here abouâ—… Goe to some other Clymate and remoue Thy vgly presence from our darkned eyes That hate thy Tyranny Goe exercise Thy power in Groues and solitary springs Where Bats are subiects and where Owles are kings Goe to the granes and fill those empty voomes That such as slumber in their silent Toombs May blesse thy welcome shades and lie possest Of vndiâ—…rbed and eternall rest Or if thy more ambitious fogs desire To haunt the liuing hast thee and retire Into some Cloyster and there stand bâ—…ene The light and those that faine would sin vnseene Assist them there and 〈◊〉 thy vgly shapes Count ' nance close treasons and incestuous rapes Benight those roomes and ayd all such as feare The eye of heauen Goe close thy curtaines there We need thee â—…ot foule witch away away Thou hid'st more beauty then the noone of day Can giue O thou that hast so rudely hurl'd On this darke bed the glory of the world So said Abruptly he the roome departs His cheeks looke pale his curled hayre 〈◊〉 Lâ—…ke quills of Porcupines and from his eye Qâ—…icke flashes like the flames of lightning flye He calls
be That is more rich in beauties wealth then she Cheare vp The soueraignty of thy worth enfranches Thy captiâ—…e beautâ—… and thy vertue blanches These staines of fortune Come it matters not What others thinke a letter 's but a blot To such as cannot reade but who haue skill Can know the faire impression of a Quill From grosse and heedlâ—…sse blurres and such can thinke No paper foule that 's fairely writ with â—…nke VVhat others hold a blemish in thy face My skilfull eyes reade Characters of grace VVhat hinders then but that without delay Triumph may celebrate our nuptiall day She that hath onely vertue to her guide Though wanting beautie is the fairest Bride A Bride said she such Brides as I can haue No fitter bridall Chamber then a Graâ—…e Death is my bridegroome and to welcome Death My loyall heart shall plight a second faith And when that day shall come that â—…oyfull day Wherein transcendent pleasures shall allay The heat of all my sorrowes and conioyne My palefac'd Bridegrooms lingring hand with mine These Ceremonies and these Triumphs shall Attend the day to grace that Day with all Time with his empty Howreglasse shall lead The Triumph on His winged hoofes shall tread Slow paces After him there shall ensue The chast Diana with her Virgin crew All crown'd with Cypresse girlands After whom In ranke th' impartiall Destinies shall come Then in a sable Chariot faintly drawne With harnast Virgins vail'd with purest lawne The Bride shall sit Despaire and Griefe shall stand Like heartlesse bridemâ—…ids vpon either hand Vpon the Chariot top there shall be plac'd The little winged god with arme vnbrac'd And bow vnbent his drooping wings must hide His naked knees his Qâ—…iuer by his side Must be vnarm'd and either hand must hold A bannâ—…r where with Charâ—…cters of gold Shall be decipher'd fit for euery eye To read that runs Faith Loue and Constancy Next after Hope in a discoloured weed Shall sadly march alone A slender reed Shall guide her feeble steps and in her hand A broken Anchor all besmear'd with sand And after all the Bridegroome shall appeare Like Ioues Lieuâ—…enant and bring vp the Reare He shall be mounted on a Coaâ—…e-black steed His hand shall hold a Dart on which shall bleed A pierced heart wherein a former wound Which Cupids lauelin entred shall be found When as these Triumphes shall adorne our feast Let Argalus be my inuited guest And let him bid me nuptiall Ioy from whom I once expected all my ioyes should come With that as if his count'nance had thought good To weare Death's colours or as if his blood Had beene imployed to condole the smart And tormâ—…nt of his poore afflicted heart He thus bespake Vnhappiest of all men Why doe I liue Is Death my Riuall then Vnequall chance Had it bin flesh and blood I could â—…aue grapled and perchance withstood Some stout encounters Had an armed host Of mort all riualls ventur'd to haue crost My blest desires my Partheniaes eye Had giuen me power to make that army fly Like frighted Lambs before the Wolfe But thou Before whose presence all must stoope and bow Their seruile necks what weapon shall I hold Against thy hand that will not be controll'd Great enemie whose kingdome 's in the dust And darkesome Caues I know that thou art iust Else had the gods ne're trusted to thy hand So great a priuiledge so large command And iurisdiction o're the liues of men To kill or saue euen whom thou please and when O suffer not Partheniaes tempting teares To moue thy heart Let thy hard hearted eares Be deafe to all her suits If she professâ—… Affection to thee beleeue nothing lesse She 's my betrothed spouse and Hymens bands Haue firmely ioyn'd our hearts though not our hands Where plighted faith and sacro-sanctius vowe Hath giuen possession dispossesse not thou Be iust and though her briny lips bewaile Her griese with teares let not those teares preuaile Whom heauens haue ioyn'd thy hands may not disioyne I am 〈◊〉 and Partheniaes mine Alas we are but one Then thou must either Refuse vs both or else take both together My deare Parthenia let no cloudy passion Of dull despaire molest thee or vnfashion Thy better thoughts to make thy troubled mind Either forgetfull or thy selfe vnkind Starue not my pining hopes with longer stay My loue hath wings and brookes no long delay It houers vp and downe and cannot rest Vntill it light and perch vpon thy brest Torment not him within these lingring fires That 's rackâ—… already on his owne desires Seale and deliuer as thy deed that band Whereto thy promist faith hath set her hand And what our plighted hearts and mutuall vew Haue so long since begun O finish now That our imperfect and halfe pleasures may Receiue perfection by a mariage day Whâ—…reto she thus Had the pleas'd God aboue Forgiuen my faults and made me fit for Ioue To blesse at large Had all the powers of heauen To boast the vtmost of their bounty giuen As great addition to my slender fortune As they could giue or couetous mind importune I vow to heauen and all those heauenly powers They should no sooner beene made mine but yours Nay had my fortunes staid but at the rate They were had I remained in that state I was although at best vnworthy farre Of such a peeâ—…lesse lesse blessing as you are My deare acceptance should haue fill'd my heart As full of ioyes as now it is of smart But as I am let angry Ioue then vent On me his plagues till all his plagues be spent And when I roare let heauen my paines derâ—…de When I match Argilus to such a Bride Liue happy Aâ—…galus let thy soule receiue What blessings poore Parthenia cannot haue Liue happy May thy ioyes be neuer done But let one blessing araw another on O may thy better Angell watch and ward Thy soule and pitch an euerlasting guard About the portals of thy tender heart And showre downe blessings wheresoere thou art Let all thy ioyes be as the month of May And all thy dayes be as a mariage day Let sorrow sicknesse and a troubled minde Be strangers to thee Let them neuer finde Thy heart at home Let Fortune still alot Such lawlesse guests to those that loue thee not And let those blessings which shall wanting be To such as merit none alight on thee That mutuall faith betwixt vs that of late Hath past I giue thee freedome to translate Vpon the merits of some fitter spouse I giue thee leaue and freely quit thy vowes I call the gods to witnesse nothing shall More blesse my soule no comfort can befall More truely welcome to me then to see My Argalus what ere become of me So linckt in wedlocke as shall most augment His greater honour and his true content With that a sudden and tempestuous tyde Of teares orewhelm'd her language and denyde A passage but when passions flood was spent She thus proceeds You gods
what Resolues of this of that and then of neither She faine would â—…lee but then she knows not whither At length consulting with the heartlesse paire Of ill aduisers Sorrow and Despaire Resolues to take th' aduantage of that night To steale away and seeke for death by flight A Pilgrims weed her liuelesse limmes addrest From hand to foot A thong of leather blest Her wasted loynes Her feeble feet were shod With Sandalls In her hand a Pilgrims rod. When as th' illustrious Soueraigne of the Day Had now begun his Circuit to suruay His lower kingdome hauing newly lent The vpper world to Cynthiaes gouernment Forth went Parthenia and begins t' attend The progresse now which only Death can end Goe haplesse virgin Fortune be thy guide And thine owne vertues and what else beside That may be prosperous may thy merits find More happinesse then thy distressed mind Can hope Liue and to after ages proue The great example of true Faith and Loue Gone gone she is but whither she is gone The gods and fortune can resolue alone Pardon my Quill that is enforc'd to stray From a poore Lady in an vnknowne way To number forth her weary steps or tell Those obvious dangers that so oft befell Our poore Parthenia in her pilgrimage Or bring her miseries on the open stâ—…ge Her broken slumbers her distracted care Her hourely feares and srights her hungry fare Her daily peâ—…ils and her nightly scapes From rauenous beasts and from aâ—…tempted rapâ—…s Is not my taske who care not to incite My Râ—…aders pâ—…ssion to an appetite We leaue Parthenia now and our discourse Must cast an â—…ye and bend a settled course To Argalus When Argalus returniâ—…g To vâ—…sit his Parthenia the nâ—…xt morning Pâ—…rceiued she was fled not knowing whither He makes no stay Consults not with the weather Stayes not to thiâ—…ke but claps his hasty knees To his fleet Courser and away he flees His haste enquires no way he needs not feare To lose the roade that goes he knowes not where One wâ—…ile he pricks vpâ—… the fruitfull plaines And now he gently sâ—…ks his prouder reines And climbes the barren hills with fresh Câ—…reers He tryes the right hand way and then he verâ—…s His course vpon the left One while he likes This path when by and by his fancy strikes Vpon another tract Sometimes he rouâ—…s Among the Springs and solitary Groues Where on the tender barkes of sundry trees H'engraues Parthenia's name with his then flees To the wild Champian his proud Steâ—…d remoures The hopefull fallowes with his horned 〈◊〉 He baulkes no way rides ouer rocke and mountaine When led by fortune to Diana's Fountaite He straight dismounts his steed begins to quench His thirsty lippes and after that to drench His fainting limmes in that sweet streame wherein Parthenia's dainty fingers ofâ—… had bin The Fountaine was vpon a steepe descent Whose gliding current nature gaue a vent Through a firme rock which Art to make it known To after ages wall'd and roof'd with stone Aboue the Christall fountaines head was plac'd Diana's Image though of late defac'd Beneath a rocky Cysterne did retaine The water sâ—…ding through the Cocks of Cane Whose curious Current the worlds greater eye Ne're viewed but in his mid-day Mâ—…jestie It was that Fountaine where in elder times Poore Corydon compos'd his rurall rimes And left them closely hid for his vnkinde And marble hearted Phyllida to finde All rites perform'd he re-amounts his Steed Redeemes his losse of time with a new speed And with a fresh supply his strength renewes His progresse God knowes whither He pursues His vow'd aduenture brooking no delay And with a minde as doubtfull as the way He iournies on he left no course vnthought No traueller vnask'd no place vnsought To make a Iournall of each Circumstance His change of fortunes or each obuious chance Befell his tedious trauell to relate The braue attempt of this exploit or that His rare atchieuements and their faire successe His noble courage in extreame distresse His desp'rate dangers his deliuerance His high esteeme with men which did enhanse His meanest actions to the throne of Iâ—…ue And what he sufferd for Partheniaes loue Would make our volume endlesse apt to try The vtmost patience of a studious eye All which the bounty of a free conceit May sooner reach too then my pen relate But till bright Cynthiaes head had three times thrise Repayr'd her empty hornes and fill'd the eyes Of gazing mortalls with her globe of light This reâ—…lesse louer ceas'd not day and night To wander in a sollitarie Quest For her whose loue had taught him to digest The dregges of sorrow and to count all ioyes But follyes weigh'd with her at least but toyes It hapned now that twise six months had run Since wandring Argalus had first begun His toylesome progresse who in vaine had spent A yeare of houres and yet no euent When fortune brought him to a goodly Seat Wall'd round about with Hills yet not so great As pleasant and lesse curious to the fight Then strong yet yeelding euen as much delight As strength whose onely outside did declare The masters Iudgement and the builders care Arround the Castle nature had laid out The bounty of her treasure round about Well fenced meadowes fill'd with summers pride Promis'd prouision for the winter tide Neere which the neighb'ring hills well stockt and stor'd With milke white flocks did seuerally afford Their fruitfull blessings and deseru'd encrease To painfull husbandry the childe of peace It was Kalanders seat who was the brother Of lost Parthenia's late deceased mother He was a Gentleman whom vaine ambition Nere taught to vnderualue the condition Of priuate Gentry who preferr'd the loue Of his respected neighbours farre aboue The apish congies of th'vnconstant Court Ambitious of a good not great report Beloued of his Prince yet not depending Vpon his sauours so as to be tending Vpon his person and in briefe too strong Within himselfe for fortunes hand to wrong Thither came wandring Argalus and receiu'd As great content as one that was bereau'd Of all his ioyes could take or who would striue T' expresse a welcome to the life could giue His richly furnisht table more exprest A common bounty then a curious feast Whereaâ—… the choice of precious wines were profer'd In liberall sort not vrg'd but freely offer'd The carefull seruants did attend the roome No need to bid them either goe or come Each knew his place his office and could spy His masters pleasure in his masters eye But what can rellish pleasing to a taste That is distemper'd Can a sweet repast Please a sicke pallate no there 's no content Can enter Argalus whose soule is bent To tyre on his owne thoughts Kalanders loue That other times would rauish cannot moue That fixed heart which passion now incites T' abiure all pleasures and forsweare delights It fortun'd on a day that dinner ending Kalander and his noble guests intending T' exchange their pleasures in
suffused eyes The true partakers of her miseries And as she spake the accent of her story Would alwaies point vpon th' eternall glory Of your rare constancy which whosoere In after-ages shall presume to heare And not admire let him be proclaim'd Arebell to all vertue and defam'd In his best actions let his leprous name Or die dâ—…shonour'd or suruiue with shame But ah what simples can the hand of art Finde out to stanch a louers bleeding heart Or what alas can humane skill apply To turne the course of loues Phlebotomie Loue is a secret sire inspir'd and blowne By fate which wanting hopes to feed vpon Workes on 〈◊〉 very soule and does torment The vniuerse of man which being spent And wasted in the Conflict often shrinkes Beneath the burthen and soconquerd sinkes All which your poore Parthenia knew too well VVhose bed rid hopes not hauing power to quell Th' imperious fury of extreame despaire She languisht and not able to contraire The will of her victorious passion cryed My dearest Argalus farewell and dyed My Lord not long before her latest breath Had freely paid the full arrears to death She cald me to her In her dying hand She strained mine whilst in her eyes did stand A showre of teares vnwept and in mine eare She whisperd so as all the roome might heare Sister said she That title past betweene vs Not vndeseru'd for all that ere had scene vs Mistooke vs so at least The latâ—…st sand Of my spent 〈◊〉 is now at hand Those ioyes which heauen appointed out for me I here bequeath to be possest by thee And when sweet death shall clarifie my thoughts And draine them from the dregs of all my faults Enioy them thou wherewith being so refinde From all their drosse â—…ull fraught thy constant minde And let thy prosprous voyage be addrest To the faire port of Argalus his brest As whom the eye of noone did ne'er discouer So loyall so renownd so rare a louer Cast anchor there for by this dying breath Nothing can please my soule more after death And make my ioyes more perfect them to see A mariage twixt my Argalus and thee This Ring the pledge betwixt his heart and mine Aâ—… freely as he gaue me I make thine With it vnto thy faithfull heart I tender My sacred vowes with it I here surrender All right and title that I had or haue In such a blessing as I now must leaue Goe to him and coniure him in my name What loue he bare to me the very same That he transferre on thee take no deniall VVhich granted liue thou happy constant loy all And as she spake that word her voice did alter Her breath grew cold her specch began to faulter Faine would she vtter more but her spent tongue Not able to gos further faild and clung To ber dry roofe A while as in a trance She lay and on a sudden did aduance Her forced language to the height and cryed Farewell my dearest Argalus and died And now my Lord although this office be Vnsutable to my sex and disagree Tâ—…o much perchance with the too mean condition Of my estate more like to finde dirision Then satisfaction yet my gratious Lord Extr'ordinary merits doe afford Extr'ordinary meanes and can excuse The breach of custome or the common vse VVherefore inciteâ—… 〈◊〉 the deare directions Of dead Partherâ—… 〈◊〉 mine owne affections And by the exc'lence of your high desert I here present you with a faithfull heart A heart to you deuoted which assures It selfe no happinesse but in being yours Pardon my boldnesse They that shall reproue This as a fault reproue a fault in loue And why should custome doe our sex that wrong To take away the priuiledge of our tongue If nature giue vs freedome to affect Why then should custome barre vs to dâ—…tect The gifts of nature She that is in paine Hath a sufficient warrant to complaine Then giue me leaue my Lord to reinforce A virgins suit thinking ne're the worse Of proferd loue let my desiers thriue And freely ' accept what I so freely giue So ending silence did enlaâ—…ge her eare Prepar'd with qâ—…icke attention to heare His gracious words But Argalus whose passion Had put his amorous Courtship out of fashion Return'd no answer till his trickling eies Had giuen an earnest of such obsequies As his adiourned sorrow had entended To doe at full and therefore recommended To priuacy True griefe abhorres the light Who grieues without a witnesse grieues aright His passion thus suspended for a while And yet not so but that it did recoyle Strong sighes he wip'd his teare-bedewed eyâ—…s And turning to the Lady thus replyes Madam Your no lesse rare then noble fauours show How much you merit and how much I owe Your great desert which claimes more thankfulnesse Then such a dearth of language can expresse But most of all I stand for euer bound To that your goodnesse my Parthenia found In her distresse for which respect in duty As I am tyed poore Argalus shall repute ye The flowre of noble courtesie and proclaime Your high deseruings Lady as I am A poore vnhappy wretch the very scorne Of all prosperitie distrest forlorne Vnworthy the least fauour you can giue I am your flaue your Beadsman will I liue But for this weighty matter you propound Although I see how much it would redound To my great happinesse yet heauen knowes Most exc'llent Lady I cannot dispose Of my owne thoughts nor haue I power to doe What else you needed not perswade me to For trust me were this heart of mine mine owne To carue according to my pleasure none But you should challenge it but while I liue It is Parthenia's and not mine to giue Whereto she thus replies Most noble Sir Death that hath made diuorse 'twixt you and her Hath now returned you your heart againe Dissolu'd your vowes dislink'd that sacred chaine Which tide your soules nay more her dying breath Bequeath'd your heart to me which by her death Is growne a debt that you are bound to pay Then know my Lord the longer you delay The longer time her soule is dispossest And by your meanes of her desired rest Whereto the poore distressed Argalus Pausing a while return'd his answere thus Incomparable Lady When first of all by heauens diuine directions VVe lou'd we lik'd we linkt our deare affections And with the solemne power of an oath In presence of the better gods we both Exchang'd our hearts in witnesse of which thing I gaue and she receiued this deare Ring Which now you weare by which she did resigne Her heart to me for which I gaue her mine Now Maddam by a mutuall commerce My exchang'd heart is not my owne but hers Which if it had the power to suruiue She being dead what heart haue I to giue Or if that heart expired in her death VVhat heart had shee poore Lady to bequeath Maddam in her began my deare affection In her it liu'd in her