And back again reflect with greater pride The râ—yes it gathers out again it flings Like one maine River from a thousand springs 16. This deadly glasse the Suns united raies Sends back again with such an ardent ire That it inflames the aire dryes up the waies Consumes the woods and sets the fields on fire Now what can souldiers do in such a case Oâ— who can free them when they help require Weapons cannot defence serves not the turn The fire flyes alwaies out and all doth burn 17. The lightnings which the cruell glasse sends out Strikes on the Romans as they lye in hold And where it strikes no Grecian is so stout Or yet Italian but his heart grows cold The flames spare no man so disperc't about The trenches are grown empty to behold The vally is so wasted with the stroke That part in flames and part remains in smoke 18. Caesar his tyred souldiers doth perswade To stop the currant of that raging fire Which quencht in one place doth the rest invade As Gersan turns the glasse or his desire Sometimes the men themselves his mark are made Sometimes the hand which brings the water nyer The very vessels as each other thing Return with fire though they the water bring 19. The Emperor like a Mariner of skill That guides a naked and distressed ship Through stormy seas and winds that whistle shrill With broken ribs and in a dropsie fit Yet stands it out ' gainst windes and billowes still And in a case of death shrinks not a whit Or howsoe're with waves and crosse-winds tost Will never yeeld till life and all be lost 20. So he to animate his weary men Boldly through the thickest flames doth wade And makes the severall breaches up again Which in the rampiers side the fire had made His souldiers through suspition look as when A man is desperate or clean dismaid Both hope and fear have given their hearts one blow But this they cannot that they will not know 21. Eliza sees the flames and looking pale Creeps silently to her deare husbands side As in a sudden showr of rain or haile The loving Turtle useth to abide She clings to him that death it self might faile To part her life from his or them divide The fire growes neer her and from her faire brest She sends a sigh and cals up on Alcest 22. My deare the fatall hour is come saies she Of our lives date it troubles me the lesse Since heav'n is pleas'd I should dye with thee Or rather in thy bosome as I guesse I know our soules can never severed be And though our bodies suffer this distresse I hope that heat which kept them living will Preserve them after death united still 23. And reason 't is since heaven hath preordain'd That we should meet in this extremity That they whose lives Loves-fire hath still maintain'd Should dye by fire conjoyn'd as lovingly And happy we if this for us remain'd When we are dead I hope it verily That some sweet ayre will on our ashes blow And mingling them in one unite them so 24. The loving husband faine would have repli'd But sorrow stopt his breath he could not speake He forc't himselfe but inward griefe deni'd All but a sigh the rest was all too weake At last his face grew cleere his tongue unti'd As lightning on a clowd is seen to breake And turning to his faire and lovely Bride He kindely look't and thus to her replide 25. Lend me thy bow for I will thither goe Whence that old Sire consumes and burns so fast And taking equall distance for my blow Will with an arrow breake that fatall glasse I hope I shall return as quickly too But say I dye whose life can better passe Who more contented who with greater gaine When I may save thy life by being slain 26. The Dam'sell answer'd him without delaies In gesture loving mixt with some disdaine When was my life so deare to me she saies What sign therof hath hitherto been tane That thou should'st thus desire to change thy daies For mine so vile and so unworthy gaine Eliza is not no her heart can tell Like other women if thou mark'st her well 27. I speake it not to brag but if 't be true That I have felt a thousand deaths for thee In four years space when farre without thy view In desert woods I sought my misery How can I now endure thou should'st pursue An action of such danger without me And shall not I that loath'd have challeng'd thee Spur'd on by Love now beare thee company 28. Is this thy minde and cannot all the proves Given heretofore when lest I could affuie Perswade thee that Eliza's one that loves But she must stay and thou must goe and dye Alceste this my onely glory proves That in the chains which our affections tye The link wherein I am is not so weake But first the knot of this my life will breake 29. But why delay we time my bow and I Will goe with thee this expert hand doth know A neerer way to ' th marke then thine can spie Strikes farther of and gives a greater blow And well thou know'st if Love have made me die The field in bloud if warlike yea or no To shew how much she dares how little feares That in her bosome amorous fire beares 30. This said she stai'd and when Alceste had In vaine perswaded her to change her minde They both agreed and soon in armour clad The knight related what they had design'd The Emperor to heare it was right glad His royall armes about their necks he twin'd And said Goe then and let your fortunes be Such as your vertues are well known to me 31. And if reward may any vantage bring To that desire which vertue doth incense Vertue which seems to aske no other thing But takes it selfe alone for recompence Leave this enclosed ground not tarrying To hinder that which gives us such offence For I will not be wanting unto you Either in honour or reward I vow 32. They undertake the charge and take their leaves With constant minds and well-assured faces Whereat the Emperour good hope conceives And comforts them with Fatherly imbraces Their wide attempt a narrow passage craves Delaies be dangerous in desprat cases But now these vent'rous wights their horses take And mounted streight the burning Sconce forsake 33. Vpon two coursers never liter were Bred of the rases in Arabia That fire within them snow without them beare Wings at their heeles whereon the wind doth play They issue forth and short thin garments weare To shunne the fury of that glasses ray Prais'd and lamented of a thousand Knights Depart this generous paire of loving wights 34. Cleantus staies to guard a secret way Whereby they may find safe retreat at need If adverse Fortune do not say them nay Or that their bold attempt should well succeed Their horses run as in a cloudy day A flash of lightning flyes such is their speed Anon
would say heavens rebels ceast their war For this short time more then they use to do In pitty of those teares but that I know Hell hath no mercy divels no pitty show 45. But those fell spirits and unjust meane while Deny the comfort of their short delay And now return to give her new turmoyle Leaving her rest but little time of stay Her voyce is chang'd her colour doth recoyle She howles and bawles like any dog at bay And here and there she runs with fury prest Cryes madly out and strikes her guiltlesse brest 46. 'T is strange I tell you sometimes she will rise Above the earth and as some fowles are found Of swifter wing then others so she flies And to the tops of highest trees doth bound And sometimes like a wrigling snake she lies Trailing her brest alongst the mossie ground This way and that way up and downe she straies And comes and goes the very selfesame waies 47. At length return'd from wandring to and fro Where late before she left Alceste dead It seems to her the infernall furies so Abuse her senses and her sight mislead A monstrous Boare with bristles fierce in show Too neerly lodg'd she thought too deerly fed And she that never laid her bow aside Now thought it long untill her skill were tride 48. And all her arrowes she had quickly sent To wait upon her metamorphos'd Lord Which as before his death her aime was bent Still at his heart flew thither from the cord Happy Alceste that he did prevent This sight by dying on anothers sword At least to see that he had scap't the hell To have her murther him he lov'd so well 49. Now whilst this folly rambled in her brains Certain old Shepheards chanc't to come that way Driving their flocks to pasture on the plains Who spide her madnesse where her husband lay And with their horns assembling other Swaines Sought all they could her frantick course to stay They held her fast and then with tender twigs First bound her hands and after that her legs 50. And causing her together with her knight To be conveid for buriall to their cote Performing every part of humane right And not omitting any thing of note They laid his body under marble white Though not so rich and smooth yet cleanly wrought And o're his tombe a noble trophy dight Of Arms hang'd up unto that warlike wight He comes to this tale againe in the 28 booke as you may see in the following leafe 4 Digression And here againe my Author breakes his thread To weave some other stuffe upon his loome To say the truth 't is time when one is dead The other buried in a living tombe To leave them to their rest but I am led By stricter taske to shew what is become Of poore Eliza whom at last I finde As you may reade distracted still in minde Lib. 28. p. 567. 1 THe honest shepheards that in marble pure Had caus'd Alceste to be buried Now taking care of faire Eliza's cure Still with foule spirits vext and wearied That her disease which was not very sure By mortall hand might be recovered Unto the Isle of Saro brought her bound Where they the holy man Niceto found 2. The mournfull widowe being thither led Full of intestine smart and hellish rage Pale afflicted and all over spred With staines and badges of hels vassalage Whil'st Satan seem'd a little quieted And spar'd a while her body to out-rage Her bitter sorrow drew from her faire eyes Streames of complaint and thus to him she cryes 3. Behold here poor Eliza at thy feet Who had the title both of faith and love And durst in combat with her husband meet That so her death might her affection prove Behold in what a miserable plite Shee 's now brought to thee let her sight thee move Behold her made by this impetuous storm Of love and fortune now the very scorn 4. To thee I come beseeching thee if ever Mortals sorrow mov'd thee to compassion To cure my soule of this intestine fever Of extreame torment and infernall passion Or shew at least how I by death may sever My life and griefe in any honest fashion For better 't were at once to feele deaths power Then thus to dye a thousand times an houre 5. And here the faire and comfortlesse lets fall Her teares in greater plenty from her eyes Which seeme as fountains overflowing all So fast they gush so full their streams arise Her extreame weeping doth Niceto call To take compassion of her miseries He comforts her and to prepare her faith For heavenly graces thus unto her saith 6. Superfluous love my daughter is a fault And dotage our Creator much offends Because the creature enters by default On that which is his due and it mispends No mervaile then if in this lower vault We feele his hand when his just wrath descends Whil'st we in earth love any mortall thing With that high love belongs to heavens high King 7. And thov that had'st the bloudy minde to kill Thy self with thine own hands so desperately Because thy husband dy'd against thy will And that thou lov'dst him so immoderately Deserv'st no favour but that all this ill For penance of thy fault should light on thee The knife and fire thou know'st must then be us'd When juyce of hearbs and liquors are refus'd 8. The guilty widow heard with humble show All that he said and list'ned unto it And falling downe before the Hermit low Confest and sorrow'd for her love-sicke fit Renounc't the pleasures that bewitcht her so And curst the fancies that bereft her wit Each error she so sorrow'd and lamented As never any sorrow'd or repented 9. Niceto lifting up his sacred hands Untyde her soule and that unbound adrest More lovely faire then ever 't was in bands To God that he would grant her sad request But now againe began those hellish brands To move afresh and muster in her brest She changes gesture colour shape and speech Distorts her eyes and gnasheth with her teeth 10. Whereat Gods servant after he had sent His winged praiers to the King of heaven His pitty on the woman wholy bent That hell to such extremity had driven And calling on the name omnipotent Which makes each Ghost to tremble in Avern He breathes cleere light and utters purest fire In thundring notes his conjuring words aspire 11. By that great God that governs heaven and raigns By that great love that nail'd him to the Crosse By that great pain wherewith he heal'd the pains Of those lost sheep that else had suffer'd losse By that great power which measures and restraines Each living thing to the Tartarian Foss By that great Lord whose all-supernall might Laies chains on hell and governs heaven aright 12. By him I charge you uncleane spirits heare Heare wicked angels what I say to you Depart I say from out those members faire And get you to your lothsome vaulted stow Come out you unclean beasts
his sword to give the fatall blow At that like Phoebus in a showre of raine Her beauties thorough her watry glasses show Come on quoth she obey my Lord and thine If such his pleasure be even such is mine 57. For him not for my selfe my life was sweet For him I loth it that doth it despise Love made it his at first and his t 's yet On him it rests for him it lives and dies And though my death with some displeasure meet Because it parts me from the thing I prize Yet his contentmet is so deare to mee T' will sweeten every torment thou shalt see 58. But one thing rests which I must intreate As the last service thou canst do for me That when thou seest my Lord thou wilt repeate These words which dying hardly uttered be Thy late Eliz whose faithfull love as yet Hath never wrong'd thee dies as true to thee And here she turn'd to God then did expose Her faire brest naked to his cruell blowes 59. But he that was before so arm'd with rage That neither teares nor praiers had prevail'd The greatnes of ones hart ones constant cariage Prisoner and bound who would beleeve it quail'd His sword was up to lop her tender age Put pity had so charm'd him that it fail'd Vnable now to strike or fetch a blow His arme grew weake his hand his sword let go 60. Which made him leave the worke and turning to her More mildly then before these words he spake I would thy death were not within my power Or that I could remit it for thy sake But thou art wife unto that Lord of our I but his servant that this undertake Yet if thou wilt accept of what I 'le give Instead of death thou shalt in exile live 61. If thou wilt promise on thy faith before To get thee gon and ner'e returne againe I 'le set thee yonder on that rusticke shore And say I drown'd thee in the Ocean From whence thou mai'st by travell more and more Absent thy selfe and these our coasts refraine But sware thou wilt not stay in any place Where newes may come of his Eliza's case 62. She answer'd Friend dispatch strike through this brest Why would'st thou have me live since I forgo That cruell one who such yet I protest Is my Lives Life Let fall that deadly blow Let fall that hand that hand to death addrest Let me not live against his will to go For such a life would be a death to me And any death for him will pleasing be 63. Thus she intreats for that life parting blow To shew the duty of a loving wife But now hee 'l not consent it should be so That heretofore would have deni'd her life A strange dissention here is seene to grow Betwixt these parties and a noble strife An innocent young Woman begs to dy Which he that was to kill her doth deny 64. But after that Eliza had somewhile Begg'd death of that her murtherer in vaine And by intreating in an unuis'd stile Had shew'd a noble courage to remaine In hope her innocence to reconcile At better leasure if she were not slaine Commands her selfe at last to be content And to a loathed life doth give consent 56. And both her cheekes bedewed with her teares Like untouch't Roses in a mornings frost To lead her bani'sht feete to him she sweares Amongst strange people in a foraine cost Her vaile she leaves and cuts her golden haires And all that may disguise her beauties most She sadly throwes her purple robe aside And in a servile habit doth abide 66. He lends it her and on a desart place He leaves her weeping steales himselfe from thence She or'e the mountaines all-alone doth trace Tasts little foode but what her sorrow vents Studies to seeme uncivile rude and base As if she had beene bred to give offence Like those rude people that she met with ever Yet doth her study and her art deceive her 67. In vaine she strives to hide the gentle aire Of her aspect her fashion or her gate Her courtlike carriage will not rude appeare Nor yet her eyes their lovelines abate Her faire hands shew too white her skin too faire In all she does they marke too great a state As when a cloud doth over-spread the sunne With her blacke curtaines yet the dai's not done 68. Now when sh 'had wandred up and down 10. moones A forlorne stranger in an unknown land And with her scalding sights and inward groanes Had made the woods resound that were at-hand A curteous Shepheard that had heard her mones Receiv'd her home into his houshold band Where taken for a Boy shee 's set to keepe Sometimes great cattell sometimes flockes of sheepe 69. And with a sheephooke and a Shepheards accents Accents too sweet for such a meane profession She drives her flockes unto the hills ascents To feede or fold them as she sees dicretion The woods attentive to her sad laments She makes compassionate beyond expression The rivers and the groves by turnes condole The lamentations of her vexed soule 70. Where standing sadly on a time she spi'd A mountaine-goat come running towards the wood She kept her close and striking at his side The steele devour'd his life and suckt his blood His one horne to the other then she tide And made thereof a Bow both strong and good Wherewith she quickly such an Archer grew As Parthia or Persia never knew 71. With this she scour'd the woods and when t' was night Came richly laden home wards with her pray And where the thickest trees most hindred light There all alone she spent the weary day Breathing those passions out which still invite The usuall tribute which her eyes did pay And after all her weeping all her paine The aire in sighs the grasse in teares remaine 72. Long she continued in this bitter plight Which had the blossome of her beauty blasted Her glad sad Aprill would afford no light For in obscurity it ever lasted Vntill by chance a certaine ventrous Knight Most deadly wounded towards this Cottage hasted Where shortly after he his life forsooke Whose horse and armour this Virago tooke 73. With these she ment and presently assai'd To prove her selfe a Knight amongst the best She thought her death was long-enogh delai'd Or that her sorrow liv'd too long at least And though the hard and sturdy armour lai'd Too sore a burthen on her tender brest Yet still she bore it and I know not whether The steele grew softer or her body harder 74. Meane while the servant unto whose great care Her death was left return'd unto his Lord And told him how he drag'd her by the haire And having kil'd her cast her overbord Well then quoth he take thou that money there But get thee gone he now so much abhord The act and fear'd the name of homicide He could no more the actors sight abide 75. Away he goes But now more doubts then one The credulous husband hammers in
wanders here and there The woods alone that heare her make her moane Can lend no comfort though they lend an eare Their boughes are silent silent are their leaves The aire no answere to her sorrow gives 7. At last she backe returnes and doth unclasp The sturdy Helmet from his frozen head And laies it gently in her hollow lap Vpon a pillow of her garments spread Then stoop't to kisse it when it was her hap To kisse those lippes that were already dead And now shee 's faine to take a kisse by stealth Which he was wont to give her of himselfe 8. With that her cheekes beperled with her teares Like damaske Roses with a mornings Ice She leaves him lying to disgorge her cares Fixing mean-while her faire eyes on the skies Alas quoth she and were not all their speares Able to pierce this brest that naked lies Can nothing kill me that unarmed go And must Alceste dy that 's armed so 9. Base steele it was thy treason lost Alcest What strokes are those that use to harden thee If when with blowes thy temper should prove best Thou changest nature and becomest free Alas this single garment sav'd my brest That sturdy armour would not safe-guard thee For thee I shall accompt all steele as glasse And he that trusts in armour but an asse 10. Betraid by it from me thou do'st depart And where alas where cruell leav'st thou me Distrest alone in such an uncouth part As nought but trees and stones there are to see Or what availes that free'd from fire thou wert Since to thy death thou ran'st as speedily And carrying death along with thee for hire Mett'st with the sword where thou escap'st the fire 11. Ay-mee thou dyest hath then Elizas fate Kept her alive to see this misery Why was her life preserv'd at sea alate Was that too faire a death for her to dy And must her husband in this dolefull state First dy within her armes sans remedy And she that neither fire nor sword can kill Must she live griefs mortall monster still 12. It shall not be And in that desperat plight Vnto her deare Alcestes sword she flies She sets the point against her left side right Where to the heart the readiest passage lies But now it chanc't the pale discoulered Knight Before his wife fell on his sword revives He strives to speake at last brings out her name And praies her dying to forbeare the same 13. Whether it were that as a candle showes A little blase before it go quite out His light now ready to extinguish rose To some more show then formerly it mought Or that of wonders this is one of those That Love alone as soveraigne brings about And he that can do all and none does more Thus made his last words heard not heard before 14. Eliza live and love me still quoth he In thy faire besome now our loves must dwell Remember thou hast often said to me Thy heart was mine for my sake use it well And I if heaven permit it so to be And that those powers do not my suite repell Do promise for thy comfort to love thee As much as after death thou canst do me 15. But first I looke that thou should'st living show The like to me that so I may depart The more content And here as wind doth blow A candle out a chilnesse seis'd each part His hand and arme lift up so feeble grow They fall like lead upon his fainting heart Eliza sees it and with drowned eyes In floods of teares to him she thus replyes 16. Thou bidst me live I must not disobey If he forbid it not that is of power I then of Fortune and of Love will stay To be the fatall marke now griefe no more And whilst she weeping stood and thus did say He look't more cheerefull then he did before But heaving up his heavy eyes towards heaven His soule forsooke him and the stroke was given 17. Now when she saw him perfect earth appeare Because on earth she ne're should see him more She rent her face and tore her golden haire Her guiltlesse eyes the badge of fury bore And so excessive was her griefe and feare Her heart could not containe it as before Her soule burst out and left her so awhile To shew how death can any paine beguile 18. The Sun mean-while into the sea was got And silent night had darkned all the cost Yet still her swouning held and left her not Thus had Eliza all her sences lost When lo an ugly old ill-favour'd Trot With gastly lookes and locks about her tost Came flying thither on a winged Goat The aire devided gave a fearefull noat 19. This Beldame chiefe at every wanton match Gads Moon by moon at dreadfull time of night And is prefer'd at each lascivious watch For doing that wherein the worst delight And when fate shall the loathsome life dispatch Of that proud tyrant prone to all despight She hopes with thousand other witches fell To make her selfe one day the Queen of hell 20. Altea she is call'd who with foule jawes Comes from Avernus to disturb our rest Each minister of hels infernall lawes Not only answers but obeys her hest This woman bore Armene on the waves Of Thessalie nurst him at her brest He whom Alceste kild as he did passe In so much haste to breake the fatall glasse 21. In which respect inflam'd with deep disdain The angry mother nightly runs about To be reveng'd on him that had him slain And gall and woormwood from her eyes doth shoot And now she comes to seek him but in vaine She findes him dead before her spight breakes out And like a Kite that thinks he spies his prey Returns unfed and cryes such is her stay 22. And thus unto her self Though death forbid That I should wreck me where I most desire It shall not hinder me that in his stead This woman feele the rigour of mine ire And my designs shall so far forth proceed To interrupt his peace in heavens high quire Whilst from above with anguish he shall see Her that he loves so dearly plagu'd by me 23. This said Altea with disheveled haire In hideous manner scatter'd to the wind First shakes her rod wherewith she keeps in feare The furies that have heads with Adders twind Then strikes the ground and by their names doth reare Th' infernall spirits up to harm enclin'd When loe at iteration of her divellish charm The uncleane squadron quickly thither swarm 24. Th' implacable Megera hasts to tell What she would have them do at her request Nay she commands the damned crue of hell To take possession of Eliza's brest And as within their own Tartarian cell This wicked rabble there take up their nest Committing like unhospitable guesse On her faire body outrage and excesse 25. This done th' inhabitants of darke Avern Cry out exclaim and threaten all at once She with her cudgell conjur'd up the stern And lasie hell-hounds from their
his heart He doubts th' occasion may be small or none And now repents him of so rash a part Comes to Citera takes the Nurse alone He fiercely lookes she as she would depart At last he questions her too late growne wise With sword in hand and fire in both his eyes 76. Come-on thou Quean quoth he For I will know The truth of all who was it that thou brought'st To wrong my wife and me dispatch and show For thou art she that my dishonor wrought'st The aged devill at such a fearefull blow Fell trembling downe her heart was wholy lost And craving pardon told in what degree Her selfe was guilty but Eliza free 77. O'recome my Lord with gold I must confesse I heark'ned to a loving fooles desire Who came well stor'd with lust with wit the lesse To crave my helpe his heart was so on fire But I that knew t' was time but lost to presse Your chast Eliza never once would try her My wits I tri'd and by another moine Contented him with fraud my selfe with coine 78. Terea I perswaded to receive The foolish Lover in Eliza's roome For Terea's age and stature would deceive They are so like your wives a wiser groome The asse or'e-joy'd with what he did conceive I brought unto your very marriage roome For I had made your ignorant wife by art Remove that night into an other part 79. I left the gallant there awhile who stai'd Full of desire expecting my returne At last I came and brought with me the maid Wrapt in my Mistresse gowne to fit his turne A light scarce giving light in that darke shade I suddainly put-out it should not burne And in your chamber and your very bed They tooke their pleasures and their pleasures fed 80. And I before the light from-out the east Should shew it selfe or what he might would hide Importun'd him to leave his restlesse rest And steale away before he were discride And he whose hot desire as then he gest Was satisfi'd at full went out unspide And here the Beldam staid Alceste stood Vnmov'd at first then rage enflam'd his blood 81. Thou damned wretch quoth he through thee have I Then slaine my loving chast and loyall wife Or rather life and that too wrongfully Thy fault shall never passe without thy life He was about to strike when suddainly The basenes of the object stai'd his knife He runnes from her to Terea to know Whether the quean had told him true or no. 82. He finds it so and t' was no easie wound That arrow made for through his heart it wrought An extreame sorrow had his wits so drown'd That to revenge it on himselfe he thought And sure his soule had quickly been unbound To follow hers a naked ghost now brought But that his Friends the resolution spy And teach him soone a better way to dy 83. Perswaded by them not to make his death The dire occasion of his endlesse woe Hee 's come to Asia where he undergoeth The greatest dangers that a man can know But howsoe're he seeks to spend his breath Ventring a thousand waies to end it so His fate reserves him for a better story And where he seeks his death he findes his glory 84. When this distressed Knight had full foure yeares Continued constant in this mournefull plight Acknowledging his error with his teares And never finding comfort or delight A wandring Knight before the trench appears And calls Alceste to a single fight His name unknown he still maintain'd the place And kept his bever down to hide his head 85. The strange defiance which this stranger made Came quickly to Alcestes eares by many He arm'd with speed and on his Courser staid The opening of the gate then took the vally His visage and his carriage well bewraid He was of courage to have answered any He takes his Lance and fits himselfe to run But first unto the Knight he thus begun 86. I am the same Alceste you have sought To fight withall yet give no reason why Thought that be reasonlesse me thinks you might Reveale your name before we battaile try Thou see'st I am a Knight if that be ought Take that quoth he and make no more reply I beare thee no ill will yet am this day The greatest foe thou hast 't is all I le say 87. And here their horses spur'd together went The stranger stoop't his lance as well 't was seen He did it warily Alceste lent A blow upon his shield it split againe And yet it fell farre better than he ment For now his Lance more kinde than he had been Flying in pieces made no other wound But left the adverse party on the ground 88. Alceste lites and runs unto his foe To seaze his armes when taking off his crest Afrighted starts to see Eliza so The face was hers he knew that he lov'd best His gentle wife he thought dead long agoe Onely maintain'd alive within his brest He stands amaz'd and unremov'd like one Depriv'd of life sence speech and motion 89. And there had di'ed his wandring soule forsooke And fled for suddain joy so from his heart But that it was deprest with griefe he tooke For his past error in his nobler part From whence in floods of death his life and looke Now went now came yet life would not depart Sorrow or joy might each have wrought their will But both conjoyn'd could not Alceste kill 90. His living wife lookt on him stedfastly And seeing him forbeare to use his brand She sent a silent speech from out her eye Which he that loves or none can understand Cruell quoth she thine anger satisfie Who rescues me who saves me from thy hand Eliza's come into thy hands that she Obeying them may only dy by thee 91. I know too well Alceste t is thy will Not to offend thee with the name of husband I should not be thy wife or living still Eliza will not live lest she offend I meane to dy but o do thou distill The blood out of these vaines and ther 's an end Why staist ' thou do it glut thy sefe at last Only beleeve I never was unchast 92. If through thy servants pitty unto me Some foure yeares since I was not slaughtered Repent it not for though I living be The shady woods have held me buried Now to be kild againe I come to thee That so our wills may not be severed For I by thee a double death shall dy And thou by that a double pleasure try 93. Alceste at these speeches fell a shaking Like to a reed that on the sea-banke growes A flood of teares his sorrows overtaking Showes his repentance and from whence it flowes Or'ecome with kindnesse and his foule mistaking Hee 's often dumb and by his silence showes All that his tongue locks up and more reveales One looke of his then want of speech conceales 94. But after he his fault had fully showne And season'd his requests with bitter moane Bitter to him
restlesse rest Till all the kennell were driven out and yern To dominere within her tender brest And then she mounted on her Goat againe Swifter then any of the winged traine 26. When she departed thence the night did mourne In blackest houres farthest from the day Equally distant to the lights return As to the time wherein it went away And now the Damsell underneath the thorn That in a swoune by her lost-lover lay Revives but not as erst for now she bid More pain and woe then ever woman did 27. She feeles a silent horrour overflow Her brest yet knowes not what the cause should be She little thinks her alterations grow From divels which torter her so cruelly Meane while those spirits all their poyson blow Into her organs and they make her see Or rather think she sees such are her feares Both Lyons Panthers Tygers Woolfes and Beares 28. 'T was midnight then and heaven as dark as pitch No Moon appear'd nor could one see or heare Ought in that desert place to stir or quitch So mute the world was and so dark the sphere And yet the power was such of that damn'd Witch What with transparent poyson and such geare That this poor damsell did both heare and see And when 't was midnight thought it noon to be 29. She turn'd about and saw a sudden fire Rise in a medow out of broken stones And by that kindling which was soon grown higher A winde to rise from out their flinty bones It blew amaine and that breath did inspire A flame which up to heaven did clime at once And in that flame deceased mortals cast By those infernall ghosts we spake of last 30. And when those divels had gather'd up as fast The ashes of their burned flesh againe They sprinkled them with teares and made a paste Wherewith they shap't anew the bodies slaine Which reincarnate and patch't up in haste Consume afresh in never dying paine The flames doe bellow and the horrid sound Of Ghosts tormented endlesly resound 31. Now whil'st Eliza this strange torment ey'd A cold ran to her heart through every veine A crue of hell-hounds ready there she spy'd To drag her husband to that scorching flame The wretched knight exclaim'd complain'd and cry'd Vpon Eliza and her Love did blame But she that saw him thus in spight of hell Would not abandon him she lov'd so well 32. Till feare at last so much possest her brain That cold and trembling like a leafe i' th winde She was no longer able to refrain Her fearfull foot but more afrighted minde She runs away and heares Alceste plaine Speaking and groning at her back behind He cals upon her and intreats her back And makes her challenge that she loves him nat 33. And thereupon she stayes afrighted sore And feeles her heart still stricken with the sound She hardly breathes yet running more and more Flyes from that sad report which now she found More fear'd in death then deer in life before The noyse afflicts her still with fierce resound And still she runs to finde a safer place Through thickest woods that rend her haire and face 34. O're highest mountains and the broken horns Of steepest rocks and craggy cliffes she strayes And where 't is overgrown with bush and thornes There findes she out impenitrable wayes And yet the fearfull noyse where ere she turnes Pursues her still at heels and never stayes She looks with eyes distorted gastly fierce Neither in colour nor in shape as erst 35. She speakes in divers tongues and doth at full Pronounce each Countries accents though remote Neighs like a Horse and bellowes like a Bull Bleats like a Sheep and stammers like a Goat Of many sounds makes one confus'd and dull The Adders hissing and the Panthers note The woolfs hoarse howling and the whistling sound Of hollow vaults and crannies under-ground 36. The poor soule flyes and strikes her weary brest Her ivory palms she beats and wrings for woe She teares her haire and gives her cheeks no rest That to a palenesse turn their untoucht snow A thick deep panting shakes her sides opprest With violence of her heart that strikes them so Now whil'st this torment lasts the liquid night Gives way unto the daies succeeding light 37. And she her sad lights turning towards the East And viewing there the new approching Sun Suppos'd a fire to rise from out the dust Which burning every mortall thing did run With that she ran more eagerly then erst And call'd with her each thing the fire to shun Away ye groves she cryes ye fields away The fire will catch you if you longer stay 38. And at an instant with her tender hands O wondrous force of power demoniack She pluckt up ancient trees like little wands Stript off their boughs and made their bodies crack The wood gives way on heaps and quaking stands Where that infernall fury drives it back An angry eastern wind did never blow To waste a Forrest or consume it so 39. But when those lothsome fiends themselves withdrew And gave a little respit to her flight And that her eyes had lost their bloudy hue Her haire grown smooth that stood before upright She rightly found from whence her error grew She sees but Firres and Mirtels in her sight Ther 's no Alceste now she heares no cryes The fire is quencht and Phoebus mounts the skies 40. Whereby poor thing she well perceiv'd at last That she with unclean spirits was possest And that their fury carried her so fast O re hils and dales without one minutes rest Frozen and dumb amazed and agast She mus'd a while and then with griefe opprest Fixing on heaven her sad and watry eyes She cals on God in this most humble wise 41. O God! if for her sinnes Eliza still Must be tormented with such cruelty That neither wounds nor griefe will serve to kill Because no death should end her misery Defend her yet if 't be thy blessed will That she may shew therein her constancy And that no power infernall may prevaile To tyrannize her soule though weake and fraile 13. 'T is true my soule hath err'd for so great love Should not be plac'd in sensuality And so it err'd tht foolishly it strove To leave its native seat as desperately But who can moderate much lesse remove The fire that in a Lovers heart doth lye O let thy mercies and my slender faith Purchase forgivenesse at thy hands she saith 43. And then proceeds teares running downe her face O what a mischiefe am I brought unto By cruell fate that though it be my case By death and love to be afflicted so When Land and Sea lacks torment and disgrace Sorrow and losse for me to undergoe The world being weary of tormenting me Hell should rise up to work my misery 44. With saying this her one and other star Declining towards the ground and weeping too Are now made fairer by her sorrowes far And sorrow lovely by her weeping so And I