threatning people sent a hideous noise Vnto our ears now to our eys their arms With glittring shields foretell our following harms Vnweapon'd we for battels are refus'd On wedding days and other weapons us'd So that the easier they our necks did bend Vnto their yoke now had they took my friend The yong Arcadius and his lovely bride The onely prize they waited for and hy'd Them on their way born by the heat of love ' Twards th' one ' twards th' other hate their speed did move When I ô ne're till then unfortunate Saw Tyranny and malice at debate Who first should steal away the spotless life Of my Arcadius at last a knife His unstain'd bosome pierc'd who dying cry'd Let Sepha live and I am satisfied You ravishers said I of others blood By this discern if Traytors ends are good And with a sword snatch'd from anothers arm Cleft one and said be sharer in his harm With that a second and a third I slew And so a fourth till such a tumult grew That after divers blows away they fled And left me as they well might think for dead Mean while Campanian Sepha took her flight Into a Wood born there by horrid fright Where long she could not stay by carefull heed Drawn forth to know how her known love did speed And now she finds what nere she wisht to find With his dear bloud the blushing flowers lin'd She sayes not much lest helplesse words should stay Her soul too long but kneeling down doth pray Then took the knife by his own blood made foul And falling down upon 't advanc't her soul Awak'd from out my sound I saw how Fate Had plaid the wanton and expir'd their date I took their bodies and them both did burn I put them both together in one Vrn Strait both their ashes Male and Female grew And from the same admired Phaenix flew From whence I Prophesie it shall revive By death for t is their fame shall keep 't alive Which growing old towards the Sun shall flie And till the Heavens dissolve shall never dye Here Epimenides his story ceast And bending down his panting bosome dyes Whose death the Ladies former griefs increast They sent his Soule to Elizium with their cryes Vpon whose shrine they wrot his death to show From Heaven he came to Heaven he needs must go FINIS Hinc Lachrimae OR THE AVTHOR TO AVRORA 1 WHy should my pen aspire so high a strain A verse to guide to guide a verse unfit Are they the fittest voices to complain Admit they be they 're for a riper wit Yet you who these unpolisht lines shall read Deride them not they from distraction came Let that suffice my love alone shall plead For their defect and shall excuse the same Excuse the same for what from love doth spring To lovers only resolution bring 2 Caelums faire daughter hath bereft my heart Of those sweet hopes to lovers only due Vnwilling she those pleasures to impart Lest too much joy should make me cease to rue Lest her fair eyes should work that gracious hap Which she would not permit I should enjoy While I lye lull'd in Fates unconstant lap With grief converse and still with sorrow toy For such a gentle pain she doth me send As if she would not wish my life nor end 3 Yet such it is that I will not exchange My life with those whom Fortune kind intreats And since it is her arrow that doth range My tender heart I kisse the rod that beats I laugh at Cupid who is overjoy'd With fond conceit that he hath wrought this fire But let him be with self-conceit destroy'd 'T was not his power t was my own desire Though Venus hood-wink'd son doth bear the name Azile's vertue 't was did me inflame 4 'T was thee Azile of whose loves I sang 'Tween thee and me among the gentle Gothes Something it was when all the valleys rang Too true the breach of thy beplighted oaths I little thought my willing warbling quill With her shrill notes did miss to sing the truth But now I finde through too dear gotten skill Thou art despiser of my blooming youth What there I said how much thy soul rely'd Vpon thy faith these Poems say I ly'd 5 Else why should I complain of this mischance Had it not been contrary to thy vowes With tears thou mad'st them and what furtherance Of siâ—â—â—es were more Heavn's ruler onely knows Heav'n knows my faith how I have loyall been And have not broke the smallest string of love To see my constance will augment thy sin How loyall I how wav'ring thou dost prove But t was thy will that I thy favour mist I 'm thine and thou maist use me as thou list 6 Even as thou list Azile I 'l rejoyce And tremble at thy eyes when e're they move Command thy will I will obey thy voice Vnless thou bidst me cease to owe thee love There pardon me dear love for such a root It hath obtain'd in my triangle heart That since thou first didst thereon place thy foot The pain increas'd and still I feel the smart No pain at all since it from thee ensues And Love thou maist command them as thy duesâ—… 7 Even as thy dues and what I can procure More from my heart to thee shall be presented Yet hadst thou but the tenth part I endure I 'm sure thy last neglect should be repented Thou wouldst be sorry that I have mispent My time in sighs for prayers only free But pray'rs are killd through too much discontent For he that loves can never zealous be T is thee alone must be my gracious Saint Gainst thee and to thee onely 's my complaint 8 How oft have I been subject of thy scorn How often kill'd by thy impetuous eyes How oft have I the warlike Ensign born Of thy fierce heart enur'd to cruelty So oft hast thou after the tyde was past Of disrespect my heavy soul repriev'd From that dejected state so oft thou hast Witnest with vowes if vows may be beleev'd O that I could thy former love descry To reassume thy late humanity 9 Wouldst thou but think with what intire delight My soul was carried to those joyes and whither Wouldst thou but think how strong we did unite Into one bond our mutuall loves together Wouldst thou but reconcile thy wandring sense And cease t' afflict with thy impartiall eyes Wouldst thou but hear the prayer which I commence One shour might cherish yet the root which dyes But thou art wise and canst thy worth refine Yet use me gently 'cause thou knowst I 'm thine 10 What though thy birth require a higher place Than my low heart is able to bestow Admit it doe yet count it no disgrace 'T is my humility that makes me low And since I have aspir'd so high a favour Which once I had but now I cann't obtain I 'l spend my dayes even with as sad behaviour And study most how most I may
unconstant course Bequeath'd her harme and Seâ—…ha with amaze Tript o're the plains towards that sacred place Casperia nam'd and as she thus did hie Trust me Arcadius came riding by He look't on Sepha oh what good it wrought To her who with her earnest eyes besought One ravisht word to ope those lips but they Lurkâ—… still in glorieâ—… garden as they lay At this she sigh'd ô how she sigh'd at this Farwell said she and if I needs must miss Of these fair hopes yet shall my tender mind Accuse thee not thy horse did prove unkind To carry thee so fast thuâ—… with this thought And such like meditations she was brought Vnto the Temple now with Roses strew'd Then to the altar with sweet balm bedew'dâ—… Where when the Rites and Ceremonies done She read this superscription was thereon Those that Idalia's wanton garments wear No Sacrifices for me must prepare To me no quav'ring string they move Nor yet Alphaean musick love There 's no perfume Delights the room From sacred hands My Altar stands Void and defac't While I disgrac't With angry eyes Revenge the cryes Of you who to my Altar hast And in my lawes take your repast Pursue it still the chief of my pretence And happiness shall be your innocence After sh' had read what vile reproach and stain Her Queen indur'd what just cause to complain Hung on her brest by an aspersion thrown Vpon her Damsells glories and her own She sighes and through enough and too much sorrow Disdaines to live for true love hates to borrow Art to bewail mishap and as she fainted Alas too much unfit and unacquainted With grief she sighing said with swelling eye The root depriv'd of heat the branches dye Then gan her sense to play the Tragick part Of Fate and Atropos joy'd in her art Each thing she saw as all were proud t' advance Themselves to her fair eyes now seem'd to dance And turning round the Temple where she stood To her wet eyes presented a pale flood While she with scrambling hands seeking to take Hold lest she fell fell down into that Lake Where strugling still with many pretty dint Her curious hand did give the earth a print For Sepha's sake which print the earth still keeps Of which wee 'l speak a while while Sepha sleeps A foolish Prince not wise because he vow'd Virginity to dwell within a cloud And so much honor to her did ascribe Many had thought he had receiv'd a Bribe To vaunt her praise and Laurellize her name His mouth and he were Trumpets to her fame I say a Maiden Prince was lately there Whose custome was twice five times ev'ry year Cloth'd all in white and stain'd with spots of black A yellow ribond ty'd along his back To offer Turtle doves with silver plumes And strew the place with AromaÌ„tick fumes He was a Prince born of a royall blood And being nobly born was nobly good Nor onely good he was but stout and wise Save that this fond opinion vail'd his eyes Else he in ev'ry action was upright And free from vice as sorrow from delight Of Courage good for valour oft had bound His Temples up and them with Laurell crown'd Beauty lay lurking in his Magick face Worthy of praise since it chose such a place Those ruddy lips those cheeks so heav'nly fair Where Love did play the wantou with his hair Did witnesse it and witnesse this his line I found ingraven ore his golden shrine By some beloved hand whose pen doth speak Though willingly his praise alas to weak â—…o here he lies inshrind with his own sâ—â—e Whose virtuâ—…'s gone abroad to tell his name This Prince returning home by those dim lights After he had perform'd the sacred rites Of his pure zeal for night came peeping on Whose sable face had thruâ—… the weary Sun Beyond the Northern Pole whether it was To hide her fault and bring his end to passe Or whether t was to view his sacrifice She stealing came or t' keep him from the eyes Of those destroyers thaâ—… about did gather To steal his life or hast distruction rather To me t is not reveal'd but sure it is To sure alas Conspicuous fate was his Could Heaven permit the deed or give consent Who should be just to the accomplishment Of this nefarious act could Phaebus eye Be dazled so or yield a sympathy To this rebellious inhumanity Better had he renounc't the vowes he made And spent his days under some gloomy shade Better had he in flowry fields abide And lead his flock by purling Rivers side Better had he bestrid the fomy waves Where Pactolus his weary body laves Yea better far he nere had been allide To Dian's Laws far better had he dy'd And die he did did death commit a sinne No yet when first his arrows doe begin Vntimely death to force t is often said His sulphur breath hath the sweet spring decaid He was but young the girdle of the year By which our humane actions do appear And so we live and dye had nere imbrac't Thrice three times twice his young and tender wast Scarce could he stand upon the joyfull ground And crop those blushing cherries which he found Vpon their infant trees yet envious eye Conspir'd to end his perpetuity And thus it was as young Eramio came From Dians temple for so was his name Amissa who had oft desir'd to free Her brest of that hell-knawing jealousie By her conceiv'd for this Amissa had Bin with the beauty of Eramio clad In a supreme desire towards his love Oft with her letters did she strive to move With Cupids lawes him to retain alliance Till he who scorn'd obedience gave deâ—…iance This could not cool that heaâ—… which had inspir'd A longing hopes to that which he desir'd She sighs and weeps she sighs and laughs she cryes And in a rage doth heave towards the skyes Her feeble hands she studies how to tempt Him to her lure lovers are oft exempt Of modesty and in a rage doth go Towards her inke as lovers use to doe And frames this letter which I chanc'd to meet Ah me t was young Eramio's winding sheet Amissa to Eramio I Heard how elder times enjoy'd the bliss Of uncouth love Fame the Historian is Men whose heroick spirits scorn to bend Their gallant necks to any servile hand Whose beauty could command as noble eyes I and as many as these Azure skies E're shew'd thy face to view with a desire Their glorious parts and viewing to admire Yet these in whom each God have placâ—…d an eye To make a shrill and pleasant harmony Of all their glories in one sound alone Yet these so far have their affection shown With sword and lance to make their faith approv'd Though as thy self not half so well belov'd How canst thou then disdain this humble â—…ute Of a pure love how can thy pen be mute Many detesting loveâ—… and scorn his name Yet with their pens will certifie the same By answer
while I in faith involv'd Fluentus doe by this make thee resolv'd Eramio to Fluentus REports of Gratulations to retain Me for your vowed servant are but vain For prosperous gales may drive me more your debtor Through Neptunes fomie floods to love you better For this pretext Epithalamium like The mirror of which influence doth strike That Epithesis to my humid sense That young Leander like I banish hence Foolish dispaire when such an easy price Favour'd by love may win a merchandise Richer than Cholchos pride such power and force Have your Platonick lines to make a course That once seem'd tedious when it was begun Pleasant and short to those that needs must run Thus far my thanks your counsell being had Kindly and seriously of one as glad As may be when he finds a friend will say And botch his lines to make an hower a day Trust me the winds are not so false as fleet Nor amorous nor kiss they all they meet Without exception those be foolish winds Which Boreâ—…s like blusters on all it finds There is indeed a breath that takes delight With his obdurate busses to affright Chaldei met come from Lavinium dales In love's disgrace but these are not the gales My Muse reports of t is a pleasing aire Which only sits and nestles in the haire Of my dear love which like a feth'red rain Circuits the Globe and thither comes again Witness the heads of those Aeolin streams Whose bubling currents murmur forth the dreams Of Nymphs and Satyres which acount the groves The ardent Salopia for their loves Ardent Narcissus mist the love he sought Yet foolish boy what ere he wisht he caught He lov'd himself and when himself he misses The eccho's mock him for his foolish wishes Amidst such Hero and such â—…hisban choices Thrusting him farther with their wanton voices To deeper griefs mounted on th' highest tops Dispair could grant those clear and silver drops Which only lingred time to kiss she sweet The innocent the purâ—… and heavenly feet Of my faire love amaz'd him to behold For what they touch't they straitway turn'd to gold For shame Queen Flora daigns not to appeare Abash't to seâ—… a fairer Flora here Nor Cynthia did more chastity embrace Than she nor Venus a more lovely face Whose radient eyes that kindle Cupids fire Are Cos amoris whetstones of desire Then strive not this intire knot to undoe For I can love thee and Amissa too Eramio This by the one wrot by the other read Stopt Letters mouthes and sudden Parly bred In which dispute Eramio did haste To publish proofs but in his proofs was cast O dear Fluentus said Eramio In whom my soul revives by this I know Thou art upright so will I be upright No more the wicked boy shall taint my sight With his deluding parables I hate His idle lawes and at as high a rate Esteem Diana's worship as before I ever did and her alone adore And will you then neglect that lovely chase Fluentus said you so much did imbrace I will said he and if Eramio live No more I will my youth and honour give To foolish love Idalia's son I bid Thy laws adue and so indeed he did Which when his love the faire Amissa knew How all her wished joys abortive grew She watch't a time even as Eramio came From sweet Casperia Dian's sacred flame And there by force love conquering did move her By force to make Eramio her lover Eramio starts mistrusting even as reason Her self would do some new intended treason What cause said he hath urg'd you to this plot Against my life ye men I know ye not About to strike the faire Amissa cryes O â—…old thy blow for if thou strik'st she dies Whose death thou seek'st And came the cause from thee Eramio said let this thy glory be Thou worst of Women that thou hast receiv'd Thy death from him whose hand hath thee bereav'â—… Of a polluted soul when thou shalt come 'Fore Rhâ—…damanth there to receive thy doom For this last act lament thy self and houl In that thou hast been tainted with so foul An ignominious stain could thy base hearâ—… Permit fruition to this dev'â—…ish art Of base conspiracy O hel-bred evill Hatch't by infernall potions of that Devill Father to thee and thine had I suppos'd So faire a frame as thine could have inclo'd Such hatefull guess within or had I thought Thy often flatt'ring messages had wrought By that black art from which this harm proceeds Or such faire beauty could have mask'd such deeds Long since thy soule to that black Cave had fled Of envious night and I snatch'd from thy head Those glorious Anadems thou us'd to wear Chaplets of curious flowers I did prepare For thy bewitching browes O how I hate My wicked star my too too envious fate I hate the time that did induce desire Of love I hate the fewel caus'd the fire I hate my eyes too credulous and kind To thy false heart that strikes thy beauty blind And which more honour from thy brest discovers To give example to young foolish lovers I vow by heaven and all the powers there be Therein I hate my self for loving thee His words half spoke Cyandus daughter cryes Is this the meed of zealous love and dyes For young Eramio in this plot deceav'd Vp from the ground the massie stone had heav'd Borne by the fury of a Tyrannous spite And as his present anger did invite Hurl'd it amongst them heard you not the sounds Of strugling vialls powring from their wounds Consumed oyle Amissa's feeble heart Paying untimely death for his wish't dart Its purest streams but lo a sudden change Wrought by inspired miracles doth range There deep amased eares amidst the throngs Of their shrill cryes were heard Elisian songs Like those when Iove his Ganimed had stolâ—… Grâ—…nting a pleasant convoy to her soul Her soul and body gon those Heav'ns to grace As too too worthy for this sordid place Her heart to manifest the cleer complection Of her upright of her unstain'd affection Was metamorphos'd to a Diamont Which so th' afflicted lover did affront With visions dreams and such like signs to move A good conceit of her unspotted love Hold hold said he let my revenge alone The Gods have wayes enowe if once but shown The time will come when Vâ—â—us will inspire Into each scornfull brest tormenting fire By nought to be extinguisht for I know If Poets can divine it must be so It must be so and those who now deride Her holy laws and have too much reli'd Vpon the foolish worships of the Queen Of Chastity whose power is still unseen Ev'n as I am so will I alwayes pray Shall be perplext a thousand times a day This hand curst be this hand and every hand That rescu'd me and helpt me to withstand That glorious yoke my neck should daily move Vnder Amissa's too respective love This hand no more shall sprinkle the persume Of Frankinsence in Dian's
Traitors that debarr'd Wendenlands Crown from righteous Phaon's browe These cause the Gods had quit them of the vowes They made to work his death with open cries Proclam'd their thanks and sent them to the skies But Venus who in constant love delights And ev'ry perfect amity requites Exil'd their joy each one perceives their arms To branches grow each one partakes the harms Of their deserts b a tree there is which bears His summer hue and it in winter wears To this she turns them that continuall green Might manifest their never pard'ned sinne This done I saw a Knight of courage bold Cloth'd all in argent armor strip'd with gold Who vow'd the death of one of us should pay For her mishap to crown the heavy day With Anadems from his victorious hand I too too over forward did demand What was the cause discourteous Knight he said Dost not repent thee that thou hast betraid That honor'd Lady while I ignorant Of what he meant he said t is not the want Of Launce shall keep thee safe till I have shown Thy just revenge so threw away his own But with his sword he taught me what to doe And I my self had sword and armor too Ready to answer him the fight was long And had been longer too till I too strong With an unlucky blow ô wer 't ungiven Betraid his life and sent his soul to Heaven T was â—…lphitheon who of long had lov'd Sappho now dead whose sute I oft had mov'd In his behalf now hearing of her fate Either increast in him suspitious hate T'wards me or furious else did frantick strike Amaz'd unkind to every one alike Dying he knew me and bewaild his losse My friend Arcadius said he the crosse Of this my present state ought not to be A blot to stain our former amitie I die let my remembrance have a place In thy just heart it shall be no disgrace Though envy stole my sense ô 't is no blot No fault at all was mine I knew thee not When here I met thee first My dearest friend I die love the remembrance of my end So said he went away while I distraught For grief of this inhumane wicked fault Vow'd never more to move a Ladies heart Nor for my self nor for anothers part Arcaâ—…ius ceast and Seâ—…ha's turn was now Who said belov'd and worthy Knight that vow You eas'ly may infringe and yet be blest A rash conceit was never held the best You say it may be and it shall be so Arcadius said chiefly for that I know When virtue beauty and intire delight Our nere dissolv'd affection doe unite The fault appears the less the glorious eyes Of the All-seeing power do despise Continuall grief a and â—…ove himself erst whiâ—…e Carousing bouls of wine is seen to smile Fair Lady know as yet to me unknown Your beauty and your virtues have oreslown My willing yeelding sense a secret fire Continually increasing through desire To honor your admired parts doth move By nought to be extinguisht but your love b Love is a thing full of suspitious care By every churlish winde blown to dispair Silent Canius dy'd for love not known To her who did his pure affection own I therefore ope my heart before your eyes Not doubting but you 'r kinde as well as wise Not doubting but you 'r wise as well as kinde Fair Sepha said your worth I know may find Far better Ladies that may more content Your love than I and then you will repent You of your deed which still will you moleâ—…t A rash conceit was never held the best Though all the beauties in the world were one Said he and I by right might seize upon The same yet would I for thy vertues sake Aspire no better fortune than to make Thee my beloved wife * where ere thou art What ere thou dost the Graces grace impart To thy sweet self this hair this lovely hair If loose as thou dost often use to wear Ostends thy freer beauty or if knit It shews rare wisdome is inclos'd in it In fine they are the chains that link desire In ev'ry brest and kindle Cupids fire For which soever way thou dost them wear They fetch thee honour and thy honour bear To me she said you please to speak the best O thought you of me so I should be blest Not that my fond conceit desires to bee Linkt with each pleasing object that I see But of a long retain'd affection I Desire the bonds of perfect amity And since you please to honor me so well With common friendship that in all should dwell Tell me the name of that thrice blessed place Injoyes your presence and from what blest race You draw your line me Arathea claims Said he my much unhappy Parents names Were Capaneus and Evadne they Of good report and noble progeny My Father led by just revenge was chief Of those that wrought distressed Thebes grief Who having wed my Mother then but young And of a pleasant face whose Parents sprung From Iuno's brests unto those wars was call'd Where after many skirmishes befall'd To him this sad mishap when various fights Had clos'd up many with eternall nights He furious and impatient of delay Resolv'd a quick dispatch and with that day To end the wars a Ladder he devises Of cords compos'd by which he enterprizes Apparent means to scale the walls but lo About to clime some wicked hand doth throw A stone upon him yet I 'l clime he said But while his soldiers câ—â—e unto his aid For all their hopes upon his worth reli'd He gave directions for the wars and dy'd My Mother too too heavy for his harm Did help his wounded body to unarm When all his friends to honor him the more Were present and his ruine did deplore a But while the fire consumes with greedy flame His â—…lesh my Mother runs into the same To shew when virtue shrines an uprâ—…ght heart Death never can united honor part In this Campania where my Castle stands I was instructed by the carefull hands Of Callias till understanding bad Revenge be done for wrongs my Parents had I mov'd the wars afresh what means I made With all-perswading reasons to perswade The soldiers aid is this O You said I belov'd for upright wayes And fear'd of all for valour that obeys Your conqu'ring arms I purpose not to add Words to your virtues nor my speech to cladd With flattring robes my just revenge shall cause A triumph for that never scorn'd applause Of your victorious fame which daily mov'd Towards your names O you so well belov'd Your noble friend my Father to whose shrine You pay your yearly tears is now divine He sorry for that harm which would betide Your never conquered arms iâ—… that he dy'd Dy'd loth to leave you now there is a time To heap revenge against them for that crime Those Coward traytors acted when they slew Your noble friend my Father let us view The
cause that moves us to display our war O is 't not meritorious and far Beyond the price of their despised blood Your wisdome knowes your losse our cause is good Too good alas for them I know your love Still still remains alive which makes me move Those valâ—…ant hearts which alwayes you injoy'd To seek revenge 'gainst those that have destroyd Your noble friend my Father This o this Makes me require your help nor greater bliss Can to your dying tombes more honour gather Than to revenge your noble friend my Father O you so well belov'd I need not show The slothâ—…ull Thebans fearfulness you know The manner and the matter of their war How through disorder and discord they jar Amongst themselves your swords their Towers shake At the remembrance of your names they quake When in the skirmage you your valour send To court their necks and shew their lives their end Bethink you for whose sake you fight and let His wonted valor and remembrance whet Your all-commanding swords what greater gain Than their subjection can you obtain Honor from thence will spring their wealth glorieâ—… By you enjoy'd will fill your famous stories With never-dying fame and for your merit Your Sons shall everlasting praise inherit We for revenge renown and amity Our wars display they but for liberty When we have girt their City with the choice Of Martiall men then shall we hear their voice Come creeping to us but our ears are stopt From Traytors mouths till we have overtopt For justice sake on which we have reli'd Their weighty sins and high aspiring pride O you belov'd of all t is not a cause Of little worth nor only for applause I move you to this War survey your hearts There see his tomb his wounds and his deserts Ever to be admir'd your noble freind My Father whose too too unhappy end Requires their bloodâ—… desires no greater bliss Than to present his joyfull soul with this These and such words I us'd with me they swore To fetch the glory which the Thebans wore And plac't upon my Fathers tombe to crown Him with Heroick conquests and renown With me they went with me they overcame The Thebans pride and brought with them their fame Detain'd at wars I saw you not till late Returning home my ever happy fate Blest me to hear your voice My nimble Steed To gratulate my labour with the deed So well belov'd as if he knew my mind Lost me that you fair Lady might me find At this she smiles while his lov'd tale goes on Now since it is your chance to light upon What was ordain'd your own debar me not That service from which is my own by lot While I infolded in your love declare Those sweet contents in Venus pleasures are a For who with more delight can live What are Those joyes that may with these delights compare She blusht and said for e're she spake she blusht Then from her sweet but angry lips there rusht This angry speech beloved Sir I owe More inward zeal than yet I will bestow On your lascivious love and being near Her Talmos flung away and would not hear His quick-prepar'd excuse who over-waid With death-tormenting grief look'd up and said Shall these contempts ore-rule thy virtuous will O Sepha knowest thou whom thy scorns do kill Well she goes on nor looks behind to see The fruits of her disdain his Amitie But hasted home by fond suspition led So Arethusa from Alphaeus fled Till to her chamber come she unawares Beginning now to be perplext with cares Look'd from a window from a window spy'd Her fair Arcadius dead even then she cry'd Her nimble feet had not such power to bear Her half so fast awayâ—… as now her fear Returns her to him ready to complain Vpon her fate her tender eyes doe strain Balm to bedew his cheeks till a sweet kiss It seems beloved better than that blisse The Heav'ns bestow'd recall'd his sleepy eyes Who opening first straight shut again and lyes Clos'd in her arms as if nought more could grace him With greater joyes than when her arms imbrace him At length remembrance usherd by a grone Proclaim'd his life and am I left alone He said then op't his eyes whose fixed sight Not yet from deaths imbracings free did light Vpon her face about his voice to raise Soft kisses stop his speech those past he sayes Yee Gods whose too too hasty shafts have strook Beguiling joyes into my eyes and took My heavy soule from that thrice blessed place Where Sepha dwells who must Elisium grace What yeelds this Heav'n O would I still might live Her presence yeelds more joyes than Heav'n can give Invest me with all pleasures that you please In Heav'n to have with Canticles of ease That follow pious soules they nought will yield To me but grief while o're th' Elisian field And gloomy shades continuall steps I take For her safe wastage or'e the Stygian lake These words he spake taking her face for Heaven In whom the Powers all powerfull grace had given Where still he thought he was while Sepha griev'd With cordiall water from her eyes reviv'd His not yet living sense with greedy eyes He views her face who with this speech replyes To me 't is strange that you within whose brest Such rare undaunted strength and wit doth rest Through foolish grief should yeeld your sacred soul To Charons boat who shall your death condole So slightly caus'd shall I beleeve me no I 'le rather seek some noble means to show How much you strive with faint tormenting mind To raise that heart wherein you lie inshrind Should men dispair for once or twice refusall Few men would speed for to our Sex t is usual And often words outstep the carelesse lip Which past repent that e're they let them slip Now let this message in thy bosome light Arcadius thou art the sole delight Of this my wretched life for thee I live To live with thee to thee my love I give Preserve it then so worthy to be lov'd That of thee alwayes I may be belov'd Let no lascivious thought pollute the same Which may increase a scandall to my name But with unstain'd desires let me be led By Hymens rites unspotted to thy bed Have you not heard young lambs with wailing cries Lament their dams departure who still lies Vnder the sheerers hands with discontent Thinking them dead their sudden death lament While they to hinder the bemoning notes Get up and pay their ransome with their coats Even so Arcadius with attentiveâ—… care Observ'd each word her heav'nly lips did spare Still fearing lest some various conclusion Should draw his life to sable nights confusion But when he heard the full Ladies I know You can conceive what streams of joy did slow In his still honor'd brest he nimbly rose Conjur'd the Air to keep her message close From babling Ecchoes to her self he vows An amrous kiss and she his kiss allows He
crav'd remission for his faulty words Now askt and straight remission she affords And binds him to the limits of unstain'd Desire and with her golden tresses chain'd His heart from all deceit with such pure grace As ought in ev'ry lover to have place To Talmos she proud of her prize him ledd For know fair Sepha's parents both were dead Where entertain'd with many royall sips He drunk full boules of Nectar from her lips Time hasty to produce the marriage day Of these impatient lovers hy'd his way And Sepha after many sweet imbraces Fraught with conceit and stuft with interlaces Of their ensuing pleasure did permit Arcadius departure who unfit For any service but the winged God To Arathea went and as he rode Oft blam'd orehasty time their joy t' undo But prais'd him for the sports that should ensue Now was it when the fraction of the day From sable night had made Aurora way When a I ambiguous of succeding fate Forsook my native countrey for the hate 'Gainst me conceiv'd me a Minos Country bred Whose hundred Cities with amazement led Each eye to view their pride My Father old And I a pretty stripling did uphold The staffe of his declining age with care I cherisht him and did the burthen bear Of his domestick ployments now it was When all his businesse through my hands did pass That once he sent me to attend the sheep Where Woods sweet chanters summon'd me to sleep Within a Cave of Parâ—…an stone compos'd I laid me down I laid me down and clos'd My duskish eyes sure some inchantments kept The same with Magick spells for there I slept Whole seventeen years away awak'd at last I got me up and to my home did haste Not knowing so much time away was sled I call'd my friends but â—…o my friends were dead This known I left b Minoia and spent My dayes in Rome not caring where I went Nor what I did nor there I long remaind Cause more mishap was to my life ordain'd c Mugiona stands pointing to a way Call'd d Appia through which my journey lay Nor many dayes were spent before I came Vnto that Town which e Sora hath to name And there a while I staid a while I strove To kill those griefs which never ceas'd to move A desp'rate end for that unwisht mischance Still gnawing on my soul about t' advance My sword towards my end ô stay a while A voice bespake let not thy wrath beguile Thee of succeding joyes amaz'd I stood Not knowing why to save or spill my blood My eyes could shew me nothing but my ears Granted a convoy for the sob'd-forth tears Of a distressed Lady what mishap Hath Fortune more said she than to intrap Our joyes and cut them off the voice did guide Me to a little grove wherein I spi'd A wretched Lady with torn hair discover O're the dead corps of her beloved lover Th' irreparable loss and hatefull breath She did sustain through his untimely death Agast she trembled and with liquid eyes Sent with her lovers soul into the skyes Prayes that her end may with his end appear Or here to have him or to have him there A while I stood either with fear o'regon Or else with grief not able to go on Till she with sword tug'd from his wounded brest Made passage for her souls eternall rest I hi'd me to her but my steps were lost The wound was given saith she since we are crostâ—… Of Terrene pleasures and those joyes do miss Our soules shall wed in Heav'ns eternall bliss I striv'd to stop her blood but she deny'd That any favour should to her betide Since she was cross'd in all designes and said If the entreaties of a dying maid Sir Knight may move you grant this last request With your own sword give period to the rest Of him who did my Delithason slay O're yon ambitious hill he took his way I vow'd their deaths revenge withall desir'd Since she would die before her life expir'd Its glorious date t' acquaint my pitying ears With her sad story while whole shours of tears Imbalm the body dead alas said she You cause me to renew the grief must be My pasport to his foul then faintly rais'd Her weary head For ever be ye prais'd Ye Powrs that grant me liberty t' unfold Our Tragick ends and then this story told The Story of Delithason and Verista Not far remote there are four little lands Rul'd by that a God who girts them with his hands b Statinae call'd in these my Father dwelt Whose alwayes scraping but nere fill'd hand felt A mean of Fortunes good whether by Fate Or fore-ordained to expire the date Of my distressed life to meâ—…t's unknown But wealth with which those Isles have ever flown Heap'd to his hands a still encreasing croud Of gilded pills those riches made him proud Amongst the other fortunes that he had O whether shall I term it good or bad The Heav'ns assign'd him me Verista nam'd Who yet but young a false report had fam'd Rare beauty of me this ô this declar'd Draw'd many Princes that the same had heard To try the judgment of their eyes which fame By some confirm'd this Delithason came Not like a Prince as like a Prince he might Because he was a Prince but like a Knight With Sword and Lance but first I 'd have you know My Father amongst many had a foe Of Gyants race whose heart enur'd to wrong To rapes and base oppressions had long Appli'd his strength and now to torture more My Fathers brest that life might give him o're This quarrell pick'd he came and did demand Me for his wife and cause we did withstand His wish with kindled rage from Pluto's Cell He shakes his dangling locks and down to Hell A journey takes a Erinnis he implor'd And all the Furies which he there ador'd T' assist his new found plot nor yet in vain They adde their help with fire they rent in twain A Town my Father own'd the dwellers there Affraid of death t' abolish quite their fear Plastred the walls with brains their limbs bestrew'd The blushing streets with streams of blood bedew'd To this he adds a mischief worse and throwes Blasphemous oaths on which he did repose Vp to b Saturnus son c the sacred stones On which the people laid oblations He hurls about the Temple from the posts The gold he tears and in his mischief boasts By this my brother guided by the cryes Of conquer'd sounds came staring in and spies The honors of Celestiall Gods defac't A sling he had and from that sling did cast The over hastie stone and though he well Could use his sling yet did his art excell In managing his sword now heav'd aloft Threatning the Gyants death said he how oft Shall I be vext with too too partiall eye Of thy outrage perish with this and dye His speech scarce clos'd d Marfilos