invites you to devour And a submission gives you ease to feed 41. To fighting Fields send all your honour back To Courts your dang'rous Tongue and civil shape That Country Maids may Men no more mistake Nor seek dark Death that they may Love escape 42. Now soon to Heav'n her Soul had found the way For there it oâ—t had been in pray'r and praise But that his vows did life with loudness stay And life's warm help did soon her Body raise 43. And now he gently leads her for no more He lets th'unhallow'd Ground a falâ— Flow'â— wear Sweeter than Nature's Bosom ever wore And now these vows sends kindly to her Eâ—r 44. If Birtha I am false think none too blame For thinking Truth by which the Soul subsists No farther to be found than in the name Think humane kind betraid ev'n by their Priests 45. Think all my Sex so vile that you may chide Those Maids who to your Mothers Nuptials ran And praise your Mother who so early dy'd Remembring whom she marry'd was a Man 46. This great Court miracle you strait receive From Orgo and your faith the whole allows Why since you Orgo's words so soon believe Will you less civilly suspect my vows 47. My Vows which want the Temples seal will bind Though private kept surer than publick Laws For Laws but sorce the Body but my Mind Your Virtue Counsels whilst your beauty draws 48. Thus spake he but his mourning looks did more Attest his grief and fear does hers renew Now losing were he lost more than before For then she fear'd him false now thinks him true 49. As sick Physicians seldom their own Art Dare trust to cure their own disease so these Were to themselves quite useless when apart Yet by consult each can the other ease 50. But from themselves they now diverted stood For Orgo's News which need not borrow wings Since Orgo for his Lord believ'd it good To Astragon the joyfull Houshold brings 51. But Astragon with a judicious thought This days glad news took in the dire portent A day which mourning Nights to Birtha brought And with that fear in search of Birtha went 52. And here he finds her in her Lovers Eyes And him in hers both more afflicted grown At his approach for each his sorrow spies Who thus would counsel theirs and hide his own 53. Though much this fatal joy to anger moves Yet reason's aids shall anger's force subdue I will not chide you for your hasty Loves Nor ever doubt great Prince that yours is true 54. In chiding Love because he hasty was Or urging errours which his swiftness brings I find effects but dare not tax the cause For Poets were inspir'd who gave him wings 55. When low I dig where desart-Rivers run Dive deep in Seas through Forrests follow winds Or reach with Optick Tubes the ragged Moon My sight no cause of Love's swift motion finds 56. Love's fatal haste in yours I will not blame Because I know not why his wings were giv'n Nor doubt him true not knowing whence he came Nor Birtha chide who thought you came from Heav'n 57. If you lay snares we erre when we escape Since evil practise learns Men to suspect Where falshood is and in your noble shape We should by finding it our skill detect 58. Yet both your griefs I 'le chide as ignorance Call you unthankfull for your great griefs show That Heav'n has never us'd you to mischance Yet rudely you repine to feel it now 59. If your contextures be so weak and nice Weep that this windy world you ever knew You are not in those Calms of Paradice Where slender Flow'rs as safe as Cedars grew 60. This which your Youth calls grief was frowardness In flatter'd Infancy and as you bear Unkindly now amidst Youth's joys distress So then unless still rock'd you froward were 61. Griefs conflicts gave these Hairs their silver shine Torn Ensigns which victorious Age adorn Youth is a Dress too garish and too fine To be in foul tempestuous weather worn 62. Grief's want of use does dang'rous weakness make But we by use of Burdens are made strong And in our practis'd Age can calmly take Those sorrows which like Feavers vex the young 63. When you in Love's fair Books which Poets keep Read what they hide his Tragick History You will rejoyce that half your time is sleep And smile at Love when Nature bids you die 64. Learn then that Love's diseases common are Do not in sickness known though new to you Whilst vital hear does last of cure despair Love's vital heat does last whilst Love is true 65. Thus spake the kind and prudent Astragon And much their kind impatience he appeas'd For of his griefs which heavier than their own Were born by both their duteous fears are eas'd 66. She begs that he would pardon her distress Thought that even sin which did her sorrows move And then with all her Mothers lowliness His pardon craves for asking leave to love 67. The Duke who saw fair Truth so undisguis'd And love in all but love so unconcern'd Pity'd the studious world and all despis'd Who did not here unlearn what they had learn'd 68. I am reform'd said he not that before I wanted love or that my love was ill But I have learnt to perfect Nature more By giving innocence a little skill 69. For 't is some skill in innocence to bear With temper the distempers of our Stars Not doubting griefs already come by fear Of more for fears but hasten threat'ned Wars 70. But we will bravely suffer to inure Our strength to weights against the new are laid That when 't is known how much we can endure Our sufferings may make our Foes afraid 71. This Comet Glory shines but in portent Which from the Court does send her threatning Beams And looks as if it were by malice meant To hasten Oswald's Faction to extreams 72. Since Hurgonil who just fore-ran the Boy Could not instruct us we as much may know Of the first Light as of these fires of joy Which is that both did out of darkness grow 73. Yet this the King might hide in Kingly skill Wisely to make his bounty more his own Kings stoop for Counsel who impart their will His Acts like Heav'ns make not their Causes known 74. Yet with as plain a heart as love untaught In Birtha wears I here to Birtha make A vow that Rhodalind I never sought Nor now would with her love her greatness take 75. Love's bonds are for her greatness made too straight And me Ambition's pleasures cannot please Ev'n Priests who on the higher Altar wait Think a continu'd rev'rence loss of ease 76. Let us with secrecy our love protect Hiding such precious wealth from publick view The proffer'd glory I will first suspect As false and shun it when I find it true 77. They now retire because they Goltho saw Who hither came to watch with Ulfinore If much the Duke 's woo'd Mistress did him aw
There from sick mirth neglectful Feasters â—eel Who cares of want in wine's false Lâ—the sleep There anxious empty Gamsters homeward steal And fear to wake ere they begin to sleep 20. Here stooping Lab'rers slowly moving are Beasts to the Rich whose strength grows rude with case And would usurp did not their Rulers care With toile and tax their furious strength appease 21. There th' Aged walk whose needless carefulness Infects them past the Mindes best med'cin sleep There some to Temples early vows address And for th'ore busie world most wisely weep 22. To this vast Inn where Tydes of strangers flow The Morn and Hurgonil together came The Morn whose Dewy wings appear'd but slow When Men the motion mark'd of swifter Fame 23. For Fame whose journeys are through waies unknown Trâ—celess and swift and changing as the wind The Morn and Hurgonil had much out-gone Whilst temp'rate Truth mov'd patiently behind 24 For some the Combat to a Batail grown Did apprehend in such prodigious shape As if their living to the Dead were gone And onely Fame did by her Wings escape 25. Some said this Hunting falsely was design'd That by pretence both Factions might prepare Their Armies to contest for Rhodalind The Crown 's chief Jewel and Reward of War 26. And some report so far they range from Truth Who for intelligence must follow Fame That then from Bergamo th'encamped Youth With Gondibert to this dire Hunting came 27. And some that Oswald had enlarg'd his Train With the old Troops by his bold Father led And that of these the nobler half were slain The rest were to their Camp at Brescia fled 28. And as dire Thunder rowling ore Heav'ns vault By murmure threatens ere it kills aloud So was this fatal news in whisper brought Which menac'd ere it struck the list'ning Croud 29. But Rumour soon to high extreams does move For first it Oswald nam'd with dreadfull voice Then said that Death had widow'd Truth and Love By making Gondibert the second choice 30. And to all hearts so dear was Gondibert So much did Pitie Oswald's Valour prise That strait their early bus'ness they desert And fix on wounded Hurgonil their Eyes 31. Him when by perfect day they sadly knew Through hiddeÌ„ wounds whose blood his beauty stain'd Even from the Temples Angels soon withdrew So sawcely th' afflicted there complain'd 32. The People straight united clamour gave Shriek'd loud like Sea-men split on a strange Coast As if those Pow'rs were deaf who should them save And Pray'rs no louder than the winds were lost 33. Now with impatience urg'd he does declare Whom he so mournfully in Fun'ral brought The publick losses of a private war Who living love and valour dying taught 34. For he does Hugo and Arnoldo name To these said he Verâ—ra Cradles gave And since in forreign Fields they rais'd her Fame They challenge here though much too soon a Grave 35. Bring sprinklings Lamps and th'Altar's precious breath All Rites which Priests have prudently devis'd Who gratefully a rev'rence teach to death Because they most by dying men are pris'd 36. But though our loss we justly may complain Though even by Priests authority we grieve Yet Heav'n's first bounty Life let none disdain Since Gondibert our chief Delight does live 37. Thâ—â—eard as Sea-men near a Shore unknown Who their North Guide lose in a Stormy night His absence with distracted silence moan And loudly welcome his return to sight 38. So when their great Conductor seem'd to be Retir'd to endless shades amongst the slain With silent grief they seem'd as dead as he But with new life welcom'd his life again 39. And now that cold remainder Valour left Of these whom Love had lost and Fate forsook The Two that were of all but Fame berefr From Hurgonil the weeping People took 40. Whilst of them both sad Hurgonil takes leave Till th' universal meeting Faith provides The Day when all shall publickly receave Those Bodies Death does not destroy but Hides 41. Then to his Palace he retires by stealth His wounds from his lov'd Mistress to conceal On whose dear joys so much depends his health The wounds her Tears should touch would never heal 42. To the chief Temple straight the People bear The valiant Rivals who for love were slain Whom all he peacefull Priests behold with fear And griev'd such Guests they durst not entertain 43. For soon the Prior of their Brotherhood Who long serv'd Heav'n with praise the world with pray'r Cry'd out this holy House is shut to blood To all that die in combat or despair 44. These by their bloody marks in Compar dy'd Through anger the disease of Beasts untam'd Whose wrath is hunger but in Men 't is pride Yet theirs is cruelty ours courage nam'd 45. Here the neglected Lord of peace does live Who taught the wrangling world the rules of love Should we his dwelling to the wrathfull give Our Sainted Dead would rise and he remove 46. Well by his precepts may we punish strife Whose pitie knew that Famine Plague and Time Are Enemies enough to humane life None need ore-charge Death's Quiver with a crime 47. To unfrequented Fields bear then your slain Where neither Dirge nor Requiem shall be giv'n To those who by usurp'd Revenge disdain To take from Men neglects they put on Heav'n 48. But now the People's passions run too far Their untaught love artless extreams does wed Of times they like the past and since they are Opprest still by the living love the Dead 49. And now resolve these Rivals shall not lose The Rites of Sprinkling Incense Lights and Song Then as the voice of all their Minds they chuse An Oratour of rude but ready Tongue 50. Who at the Temple Gate thus pleads aloud We know though Priests are Pensioners of Heav'n Your Flock which yields best rent is this dull Croud The learn'd examine why their Fleece is giv'n 51. Though by the Rich first shorn to you they bear A second tribute and by zeal support Temples which Kings for glory raise and where The Rich for fame the Learn'd as Spies resort 52. Temples are yours not God's lov'd Palaces Where Off'rings make not his but your own Feasts Where you most wisely live because at ease And entertain your Founders as your Guests 53. With ease you take what we provide with care And we who your Legation must maintain Find all your Tribe in the Commission are And none but Heav'n could send so large a Train 54. But being all Ambassadours from thence The growing charge will soon exceed our rent Unless you please to treat at his expence Who sent you not at ours where you are sent 55. The ancient Laws liv'd in the Peoples voice Rites you from Custom not from Canon draw They are but fashions of a graver choice Which yield to Laws and now our voice is Law 56. This Tybalt heard with sorrow and disdain Who here with Hurgonil a Mourner came And strait the peacefull Fathers strives to
believe the strong are still unjust Never to armed Sutors yield remorse And where they see the pow'r the right distrust 45. Assault their pitie as the weakest part Which the first Plaintiff never fails to move They search but in the face to find the heart And grief in Princes more than triumph love 46. And to prepare their pitie Gartha now Should in her sorrows height with me return For since their Eyes at all distresses flow How will they at afflicted beauty mourn 47. Much such a pledge of Peace will with the King Urg'd by my int'rest here my pow'r improve And much my power will to your int'rest bring If from the watchfull Court you hide my Love 48. If Gartha deigns to love our love must grow Unseen like Mandrakes weeded under ground That I still seeming unconcern'd may know The Kings new depths which length of trust may sound 49. Thus Hermegild his study'd thoughts declar'd Whilst Hubert who believ'd discover'd love A solid Pledge for hidden faith prepar'd To stay the Camp so furious to remove 50. And now their rage by correspondence spred Borgio allays that else like sparks of fire Which drops at first might drown by matter fed At last to quench the flame may seas require 51. As with the Sun they rose in wrath their wrath So with his heat increas'd but now he hastes Down Heav'ns steep Hill to his Atlantick Bath Where he refreshes till his Feaver wastes 52. With his by Borgin's help their heat declin'd So soon lov'd Eloquence does Throngs fubdue The common Mistress to each private Mind Painted and dress'd to all to no Man true 53. To Court his Gartha Hermegild attends And with old Lovers vain poetick Eyes Marks how her beauty when the Sun descends His pity'd Evening poverty supplies 54. The Army now to Neighb'ring Brescia bear With dismal pomp the slain In hallow'd ground They Paradine and Dargonet interr And Vasco much in painfull war renown'd 55. To Oswald whose illustrious Roman mind Shin'd out in life though now in dying hid Hubert these Roman fun'ral rites assign'd Which yet the world's last law had not forbid 56. Thrice is his Body clean by bathing made And when with Victor's Oyl anointed ore 'T is in the Palace Gate devoutly laid Clad in that Vest which he in Battel wore 57. Whilst seven succeeding Suns pass sadly by The Palace seems all hid in Cypress Boughs From ancient Lore of Man's mortalitie The Type for where 't is lopp'd it never grows 58. The publick fun'ral voice till these expire Cries out Here greatness tir'd with honour rests Come see what Bodies are when Souls retire And visit death ere you become his Guests 59. Now on a purple Bed the Corps they raise Whilst Trumpets summon all the common Quire In tune to mourn him and disperse his praise And then move slowly tow'rds the Fun'ral fire 60. They bear before him Spoils they gain'd in war And his great Ancestours in Sculpture wrought And now arrive where Hubert does declare How oft and well he for the Lombards fought 61. Here in an Altar's form a Pile is made Of Unctious Fir and Sleepers fatal Yew On which the Body is by Mourners laid Who there sweet Gums their last kind Tribute threw 62. Hubert his Arm Westward aversly stretch'd Whilst to the hopefull East his Eyes were turn'd And with a hallow'd Torch the Pyle he reach'd VVhich seen they all with utmost clamour mourn'd 63. VVhilst the full Flame aspires Oswald they crie Farewell we follow swiftly as the Hours For with Time's wings tow'rds Death even Cripples flie This said the hungrie Flame its food devours 64. Now Priests with VVine the Ashes quench and hide The Rev'renc'd Reliques in a Marble Urn. The old dismissive Ilicet is cry'd By the Town voice and all to Feasts return 65. Thus Urns may Bodies shew but the fled Mind The Learn'd seek vainly for whose Quest we pay VVith such success as cosen'd Shepherds find VVho seek to VVizards when their Cattel stray CANTO the Fifth The ARGUMENT The house of ASTRAGON where in distress Of Nature GONDIBERT for Art's redress Was by old ULFIN brought where Arts hard strife In studying Nature for the ayd of Life Is by full wealth and conduct easie made And Truth much visited though in her shade 1. FRom Brescia swiftly ore the bord'ring Plain Return we to the House of Astragon Where Gondibert and his succesfull Train Kindly lament the Victorie they won 2. But though I Fame's great Book shall open now Expect a while till she that Decad reads Which does this Dukes eternal Story show And aged Ulfin cites for special deeds 3. Where Friendship is renown'd in Ulfinore Where th' ancient musick of delightfull verse Does it no less in Goltho's Breast adore And th' union of their equal hearts rehearse 4. These wearie Victors the descending Sun Led hither where swift Night did them surprise And where for vatiant toils wise Astragon With sweet rewards of sleep did fill their Eyes 5. When to the needâ—e World Day did appear And freely op'd her Treasurie of light His house where Art and Nature Tenants were The pleasure grew and bus'ness of their sight 6. Where Ulfin who an old Domestick seems And rules as Master in the Owners Breast Leads Goltho to admire what he esteems And thus what he had long observ'd exprest 7. Here Art by such a diligence is serv'd As does th' unwearied Planets imitate Whose motion life of Nature has preserv'd The world which God vouchsaf'd but to create 8. Those heights which else Dwarf-life could never reach Here by the wings of Diligence they climb Truth skar'd with Terms froÌ„ Canting Schools they teach And buy it with their best sav'd Treasure Time 9. Here all Men seem Recov'rers of time past As busie as intentive Emmets are As alarm'd Armies that intrench in haste Or Cities whom unlook'd-for Sieges skare 10. Much it delights the wise observers Eye That all these toils direct to sev'ral skils Some from the Mine to the hot Fornace hie And some from flowrie Fields to weeping Stils. 11. The first to hopefull Chymicks matter bring Where Med'cine they extract for instant cure These bear the sweeter burthens of the Spring Whose virtues longer known though slow are sure 12. See there wet Divers from Fossone sent Who of the Seas deep Dwellers knowledge give Which more unquiet than their Element By hungrie war upon each other live 13. Pearl to their Lord and Cordial Coral these Present which must in sharpest liquids melt He with Nigella cures that dull disease They get who long with stupid Fish have dwelt 14. Others through Quarries dig deeply below Where Desart Rivers cold and private run Where Bodies conservation best they know And Mines long growth and how their veins begun 15. He shews them now Tow'rs of prodigious height Where Nature's Friends Philosophers remain To censure Meteors in their cause and flight And watch the Wind 's authoritie on Rain 16. Others with
Optick Tubes the Moons scant sace Vast Tubes which like long Cedars mounted lie Attract through Glasses to so near a space As if they came not to survey but prie 17. Nine hastie Centuries are now fulfill'd Since Opticks first were known to Astragon By whom the Moderns are become so skill'd They dream of seeing to the Maker's Throne 18. And wisely Astragon thus busie grew To seek the Stars remote societies And judge the walks of th' old by finding new For Nature's law in correspondence lies 19. Man's pride grown to Religion he abates By moving our lov'd Earth which we think fix'd Think all to it and it to none relates With others motion scorn to have it mix'd 20. As if 't were great and stately to stand still Whilst other Orbs dance on or else think all Those vast bright Globes to shew God's needless skill Were made but to attend our little Ball. 21. Now near a sever'd Building they discern'd Which seem'd as in a pleasant shade retir'd A Throng by whose glad diligence they learn'd They came frome Toils which their own choice desir'd 22. This they approch and as they enter it Their Eyes were stay'd by reading ore the Gate Great Natures Office in large letters writ And next they mark'd who there in office saâ—â— 23. Old busie Men yet much for wisdom fam'd Hastie to know though not by haste beguild These fitly Natures Registers were nam'd The Throng were their Intelligencers styl'd 24. Who stop by snares and by their chace oretake All hidden Beasts the closser Forrest yields All that by secret sence their rescue make Or trust their force or swiftness in the Fields 25. And of this Throng some their imployment have In fleeting Rivers some fixed Lakes beset Where Nature's self by shifts can nothing save From trifling Angles or the swall'wing Net 26. Some in the spacious Ayr their Prey oretake Cos'ning with hunger Faulcons of their wings Whilst all their patient observations make Which each to Natures Office duely brings 27. And there of ev'ry Fish and Foul and Beast The wilâ—s those learned Registers record Courage and fears their motion and their rest Which they prepare for their more learned Lord. 28. From hence to Nature's Nurserie they go Where seems to grow all that in Eden grew And more if Art her mingled Species show Thaâ— th'Hebrew King Nature's Historian knew 29. Impatient Simplers climb for Blossoms here When Dews Heav'n's secret milk in unseen showrs First feed the early Childhood of the year And in ripe Summer stoop for Hearbs and Flowers 30. In Autumn Seed and Berries they provide Where Nature a remaining force preserves In Winter dig for Roots where she does hide That stock which if consum'd the next Spring stervs 31. From hence fresh Nature's flowrishing Estate They to her wither'd Receptacle come Where she appears the loathsome Slave of Fate For here her various Dead possess the Room 32. This dismall Gall'ry lofty long and wide Was hung with Sâ—â—litons of ev'ry kind Humane and all that learned humane pride Thinks made t' obey Man's high immortal Mind 33. Yet on that Wall hangs he too who so thought And she dry'd by him whom that He obay'd By her an El'phant that with Heards had fought Of which the smallest Beast made her afraid 34. Next it a Whale is high in Cables ty'd VVhose strength might Herds of Elephants controul Then all in payres of ev'ry kind they spyd VVhich Death's wrack leaves of Fishes Beasts Fowl 35. These Astragon to watch with curious Eie The diff'rent Tenements of living breath Collects with what far Travailers supplie And this was call'd The Cabinet of Death 36. VVhich some the Monument of Bodies name The Ark which saves from Graves all dying kinds This to a structure led long known to Fame And call'd The Monument of vanish'd Minds 37. VVhere when they thought they saw in well sought Books Th' assembled souls of all that Men held wise It bred such awful rev'rence in their looks As if they saw the buryd writers rise 38. Such heaps of written thoughts Gold of the Dead VVhich Time does still disperse but not devour Made them presume all was from Deluge free'd Which long-liv'd Authours writ ere Noah's Showr 39. They saw Egyptian Roles which vastly great Did like faln Pillars lie and did display The tale of Natures life from her first hear Till by the Flood o're-cool'd she felt decay 40. And large as these for Pens were Pencils then Others that Egypts chiefest Science show'd VVhose River forc'd Geometry on Men VVhich did distinguish what the Nyle o're-flow'd 41. Near them in Piles Chaldean Cos'ners lie Who the hid bus'ness of the Stars relate Who make a Trade of worshipp'd Prophesie And seem to pick the Cabinet of Fate 42. There Persian Magi stand for wisdom prais'd Long since wise States-men now Magicians thought Altars and Arts are sooâ— to fiction rais'd And both would have that miracles are wrought 43. In a dark Text these States-men left their Minds For well they knew that Monarch's Misterie Like that of Priests but little rev'rence finds When they the Curtain ope to ev'ry Eye 44. Behind this Throng the talking Greeks had place Who Nature turn'd to Art and Truth disguise As skill does native beautie oft deface With Terms they charm the weak and pose the wise 45. Now they the Hebrew Greek and Roman spie Who for the Peoples ease yoak'd them with Law Whom else ungovern'd lusts would drive awrie And each his own way frowardly would draw 46. In little Tomes these grave first Lawyers lie In Volumes their Interpreters below Who first made Law an Art than Misterie So clearest springs when troubled cloudie grow 47. But here the Souls chief Book did all precede Our Map tow'rds heav'n to common Crowds deny'd VVho proudly aym to teach ere they can read And all must stray where each will be a Guide 48. About this sacred little Book did stand Unwieldy Volumes and in number great And long it was since any Readers hand Had reach'd them from their unfrequented Seat 49. For a deep Dust which Time does softly shed Where onely Time does come their Covers bear On which grave Spiders streets of webs have spred Subtle and slight as the grave Writers were 50. In these Heav'ns holy fire does vainly burn Nor warms nor lights but is in sparkles spent Where froward Authours with disputes have torn The Garment seamless as the Firmament 51. These are the old Polemicks long since read And shut by Astragon who thought it just They like the Authours Truth 's Tormentors dead Should lie unvisited and lost in dust 52. Here the Arabian's Gospel open lay Men injure Truth who Fiction nicely hide Where they the Monk's audacious stealth survay From the World's first and greater second Guide 53. The Curious much perus'd this then new Book As if some secret ways to Heav'n it taught For straying from the old men newer look And prise the found not finding those they sought