Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A57178
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The flovver of fidelity relating exactly the various adventures of three foraign princes, intermixed with variety of letters and pleasant sonnets / by John Reynolds ... author of that excellent historie entituled, God's revenge against murther.
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Reynolds, John, fl. 1621-1650.
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1654
(1654)
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Wing R1305; ESTC R13721
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91,438
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200
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THE FLOVVER OF FIDELITY· Relating exactly The various Adventures of Three Foraign PRINCES Intermixed with variety of Letters and pleasant Sonnets BY IOHN REYNOLDS of Exon Merchant Author of that Excellent HISTORIE Entituled God 's Revenge against Murther LONDON Printed by T. Mabb for George Badger and are to be sold at his Shop in St. Dunstanâ— Church-yard in Fleet-street 1654. TO The Right Worshipful his loving father-in-Law Richard Waltham Esquire and Justice of Peace and Quorum in the County of Devon JOHN REYNOLDS your obedient Sonne wisheth as much prosperity as the Gods can distribute or You desire IF the Golden Axioms Right Worshipful of Grave Pythagoras be authentical I am then by the influence of his flourishing precepts induc'd to believe that courtesies once received ought to be repaied with thanks which harmonical Nectar-sentence penetrating the Daedalian cittadel of my adrupt Muse as also presenting th'Idaea of your kindnesse before the Theater of my contemplations I could in conceit reap no Ambrosian applause of my capacity untill although in Baucis homely dish I had presented you with the first April-fruits of my cerebrosities extraction by vertue of which audacious resolution arming my Muse with obedience and my Pen with submissive humility I have presum'd to present you this my unpolished Pamphlet or rather to betake my FLOWER OF FIDELITIE under the benigne wings of your worthy patronage the material effect whereof albeit deriv'd from the Index of Cytherea I have so overvailed with the maske of chaste modesty that I hope not onely the apparition of scandalising method is abolished but also the Physnomy of superfluous amorous terms which may not correspond with the climate of your complexion utterly raz'd out Accept therefore worthily Worshipful this my peevish Pamphlet as the pledge of my zealous affection and grace my FLOWER OF FIDELITIE with this happinesse to be established in the fragrant Garden of your flourishing Library so shall I esteem my Labours coroniz'd with the Laurel of content my Muse invested with the exquisite Trophies of applause and my selfe smooth'd up in the Terrestial Eden of fortunate delectation Your obedient son and devoted servant JOHN REYNOLDS A Sonnet sent by the Author to all Beauteous and Vertuous Gentlewomen YOu Soveraigne Nymphs whose Crimson-chrystal Dye Obscures the taint of Juno's Lovely face You which for sumptuous Princely Modesty Like fair Diana through the streets do trace Come leave your taskes and with a gracious looke Peruse the method of my Pamphlet-Booke Therein doth no Lascivious phrase remaine But onely sparkes of chaste FIDELITIE Wherefore sweet Nymphs let me this Boone obtain That midst your triumphs in May's jollity Together with your Diapred Nosegayes fair You will vouchsafe my faithful FLOWER to wear I. R. The Preface THe generality of ingenious Philosophers within whose industrious capacities Discretion sitteth triumphant do in the sympathie of their resolutions confesse that there is no Love comparable to that which is built upon the Rock of Vertue divine experience doth by sacred examples daily demonstrate us that desires which exceed the limits of Honour arâ— alwayes in the prime of their hopes meritoriously crost by some prejudicial misfortune whereas on the contrary Love grounded upon a sacred determination doth not only most flourishingly live in fortunate prosperity but likewise dieth in most blisful assured felicity God at all times hateth a disloyal heart and with the events of contentation coronizeth that Love whose effects tend to unfained fidelity The rage of Loves passions are great and so great that in a manner all esteeme Venus powerful for first she as mother predestinateth and then Cupid as her obedient son striketh whom she commands By Nature all men are made of one essential substance yet being produc'd under divers Planets Love with her intricate authority doth more torment some then others for beauty hath such power and her power such vertue that in a manner all Mortals are some times scorcht with the ardent flames of her tirannical recognisance as well Potentates as Impotents fight under the banner of Beauty and Cupid the Paphian Archer being blind as soone strikes Robes as Rags Art can never displace the impression which Nature hath imprinted nor Dignities ever avoid that which Divinity setteth down for a period All men are subject to Love therefore no marvel if Love so seize the top of Princes conceits that they build their external felicity upon enjoying their Mistris favour and lay their sacred supposed foundation of hope in being inrolled a servant upon the memorial of their Saints contemplations Youthful fancies very often run at randome yet being once in the field of love vanquished by the prospect of some excelling beauty they so render themselves captives to the Circes inchantments of partial complexions that they will not onely ingage their constancy for the obtaining of their hearts desire but also pawn their lives yea fidelities for the establishing of their breasts contentation as by the sequel of this ensuing History shall most manifestly appeare THE FLOWER OF FIDELITY IN the thrice renowned Island of Cycilia which being situated in the Center of the Mediteranean sea is most gallantly embelished with the Treasure of Ceres and Flora before ever the inhumane pride of tyrannizing Spain domineered in these Quarters there sometimes reigned a vertuous and valorous King named Druyno whose skill in Martial exploits and knowledge in industrious Sciences did no lesse daunt the courage of his professed enemies abroad than with content satisfie the expectation of his loyal Subjects at home Who having lived a long time with his beautifull Queen and wife Gratiana without Issue being daughter to Polydor King of Barbaria had at last in his old declining age when Reason would have induc'd men to believe that his hoary white hairs as the Avant Coureurs of Thanatos betokened a speedy death A very gallant young Son to the no little applause of his aged Father and no lesse rejoycing of his more than joyful Subjects who in stellification of their young Prince his Nativity so sumptuously solemnized his Birth with Heroical triumphs that all forein travellers being spectators of their voluntary Bountifulnes might condignly conjencture them I mean the generality of true-hearted Cicilians to be exactly ravished in an extasie of celestial contentation Which Princely Bâ—be being baptised with such pompous magnificent solemnity as was correspondent to his Noble extraction was in fine by the King his Father with the consent of his honorable Parents named Thalmeno Who being nurst with care and disciplinated by the most expert Martiaâ—ists of Europa At the age of seven years had so well profited in the couragious School of Bellona that the Physnomy of his face as true Almanacks of future Qualities did perfectly prognosticate that his Princely self would at the age of reason undoubtedly merit to be triumphantly crowned with the superlative Laurel garland of Olimpian dignifiâ—d fame Beautiful he was of complexion more curiously resembling Adonis than Paris Courteous he was
Love and altar of your absence I not only thank thee for the râ—-establishing of my liberty but also for the restoring of my life Which benign nay blisâ—ul Courtesie my sense in this world shall be alwais mindfull to requite and my soule in the Celestial paradise to come never forgetfâ—l to congratulate The fervency of my faithful love and the Idea of your fair perfections doth hathe my Muse in the streams of distempered contemplations Therefore what I omit with silence countervaile with a favourable censure or let â—asse unpolished rectifie with a smiling conceit So shall my Muse have a meritorious subject to acknowledge your benigniâ—y my self a deserved instance to eternize your courtesie and both a delectable motive unfainedly to remain Yours now and ever THALMO Athelia perceiving by this Letter that he had for that time made the Bark of his courage double the point of death being thereof exceedingly glad could find no rest in the Chaos of her joyful conceits untill she had fix'd her eyes upon the desired Object of his Personage within whose incirculets remained her chiefest solace So that at last finding a fit opportunity when both the King and Queen her Parents were absent taking with her onely Levina she hyed her to the Lodge where she was advertised Thalmo was resident and so being by the Lady of the house conducted to his Chamber she very modestly opening the door entred Which Thalmo being pensively there alone walking having his Arm bound up with a Lavender-scarf betokening hope no sooner espied but he forthwith as doubting whether waking or in a dream went and imbraced her where upon her Coral-lips the sympathy of thâ—ir affection was of each part so celestially united that their eyes attractiuely reflecting piercing aspects upon each others sight did as ambassadours of Love in the Closet of their breast seek to confirm a mutual alliance the contemplation whereof forced their breath to bereave their tongues of the use of parlying till at last when an amorous blush had given Conge to that so pleasing encounter Athelia the tears standing in her eyes began in this sort AH Thalmo The news of thy misfortune hath invited me hither and therefore marvel not at my unexpected arrival I am now of purpose come to display before thine eys the model of my love and to make thy sight a prospector of my chast fidelity which albeit the appearance thereof hath been hitherto hidden under the mask of secresie yet know dear Thalmo thaâ— thy forcible Vertue hath long since made breach of my maiden affections and as the Avant Coureur of Cupid hath built his Tent in the proudest situation of my amorous breast Thalmo having his ears repleated with this blisful news and perceiving by the fervency of her method that she spake no more than Love did enduce her very instantly as being ravished with overmuch joy giving her the impression of a second kisse and softly straining her by her Lilyhand very kindly returned her this courteous Answer AH fair Athelia thy divine speeches hath breathed life in my despairful personage and likewise caused my breast to triumph over my sicknesse which I heretofore conjectured would not onely have conquered my conceits but also with Atropos cut off the vital threed of my life Therefore welcome sweet Athelia to thy sorrowful Thalmo and millions of thanks to gracious Fortune for inuesting mine Eyes with the sweet Object of your dainty Personage But gazing on the rarity of your Beauty whither wander my conceits to erect Trophies in the Air or Piramids in the Sky that I forget my self so much as not to gratiâ—â—e your Love with reciprocall affection but pardon me sweet Athelia and attribute the defects of my capacity to the distempered contemplations of my imbecility and Athelia resolve that I will both now and ever honour you as the immortall Saint of my Fortunacy adore you as the ternal goddesse of my prosperity and esteem of you as the sacred image of my felicity Athelia being ravished with the sweeâ— cadence of these his sugar'd speeches in lieu of his courtesiâ— returned him this kind reply WHy Princely Thalmo where there is no offence committed the excuse ensueth of custome therefore thy actions having cleared thee from imputation fear not for thy pardon â—s already granted in respect wherereof advance in Love and I will prosecute in Affâ—ction proceed in Amity and I will correspond in Friendship The which to appâ—ove take here my heart and hand as the stedfast seal of my immortal constancy vowing before the Imperial throne of Heaven to establish onely Thalmo as husband within the youthful garden of my tender juvenility Thalmo esteeming himself exceeding fortunate by the receit of this angelical reply In congratulation of her protested Amity returned her this joyful Answer THe gift sweet Princesse of your siâ—cere affection doth with blisful applause so repleat the influence of my capacity that in recompence thereof I vow not onely to dedicate my zealous devotions to the shrine of your bright excellency but also to finish my terrestial Pilgrimage in enrolling my self a loyal Servant upon the marble-Statue of your maiden contemplations Thus with many amorous ceremonies they firmly each to other contracted themselves and in such affectionate sort that neither the frowns of Fortune the treachery of time or the Sugar of insinuation should either blast the blossome of their flourishing friendship or once daunt the appearance of their immovable fidelity and the more deliâ—iously to manifest their merriment they ratified their resolutions with many heavenly kisses So that having brought this lovely Couple to a sacred attonement we will for a whiles leave them to the Paradise of their contemplations and a little discourse of the strange accidents which befâ—ll the Lady Florina FLorina as you have before heard living very sorrowful in her desolate Castle was at last by Agenor the King her Father commanded to return to the Court all delay to the contrary set apart wherat being exceedingly discontented in respect the effecting thereof would prejudice her devotions due to her Dear Maedor she very peremptorily as being a faithful Amator of his perfection utterly refused thereunto to condescend King Agenor her father being advertised of her stubborn resolution instantly sent forth Pursevants perforce to bring her to the Court but she being before by some of the Nobility her friends therwith acquainted assummoned her wits to a parley how she might avoid her Fathers indignation at last knowing there was no other means for her to escape than to shroud her self under some Peasants Cottage forgetting both her Princely birth and flourishing dignity she instantly maugre all contrary oppositions thereunto addrest her self so that reaping an exceeding delight to see the homely Shepheards lead their milk-white flocks to the fragrant fields as also to hear divers quires of harmonious Birds at the sight of Titan to carol forth their madrigals shâ— a long time there remained as well contented as a Damsel in