Honors Cause permits these tears More than a Lover loves his Soul endeares Then Albianus this fam'd Captain takes To his embrace and thus obliging speaks Thou Father of our Armes and more than all Honor does most renown'd in Mortals call Repine not 't is thy glorious fate to be With Fortune thus at virtuous enmity Or think past Trophies thou from Rome hast got While Brittain bears a name can be forgot My Warlike Sire Great Arthur ost did name Martianus with his Chiefes of Noblest same Telling what acts were by thy valour done In all those famous Battels he had won And to his Son thou shalt be still as dear While I thy Counsels and thy Dangers share Hoping to see thy Armes Romes yet subdue And to thy aged Garlands add more new Till then repine not thou hast lost a Field Alass thou didst but to more numbers yield Which Great Bonduca will her self confess Charging fate onely with thy ill success While for her sake our force shall soon contend Who did with aid Favonius to her send By whose great Prowess Rome and Gaul declin'd Their dreadful Onsets against London joyn'd And more a Comfort in thy Heart impress That these must fight us now or yield success Unto our Armes which in Bonduca's Cause Must out-doe wonder and to Rome give Lawes No less Martianus Vortiger endears Calling his Conduct Soul of Brittish Wars And next recounts those mighty deeds h 'ad done When late from Scots and Picts they Battels won Then Martianus with this grace o'rcome Feeles noble Passion gives his speech no room But to express a glorious wish to dye If his life may promote their victory And now the Princes view his harrass'd force Which had through roughest dangers fought their course His stately Ensignes with fierce Arrowes tore As scarce a mark remain'd of what they bore Then in their Battel these embody'd are Where their great Chief a high Command does bear Resolv'd their Valours shall set London free With its fair Queen from Roman Tyranny Soon had the wary Ennius perceiv'd This City by Favonius was releiv'd And that thus near the Princes Battels drew Highly resolv'd to assail their Powers too He therefore swiftly had his Army drawn By dreadful Bodies in this spacious Lawn The Brittain Forces for their Station took And thus with furious eyes on each now look Glad were the Brittish Heroes to perceive The time was come their Foes would Battel give Whose Valours did occasion so embrace As if their Souls were wing'd in Honors Race While thus to Royal Vortiger does speak Great Albianus May we happy make This day Lov'd Prince in which we see Romes power Spread their Battallions here this welcome hour That Courts our Armes such Honor to atcheive As may this antient City now relieve If Heaven to Brittain glory does decree We shall Bonduca aid successfully And teach her foes the Guilt of their bold sin Who thought their force enough her soul to win How has her virtues these unshaken stood When Ennius forc'd his way by Flames and Blood And fierce Alvatrix did that dread improve Threatning to Crown by force his burning love But e'r that Gaul shall boast so fair a Prize Let us resolve to fall her Sacrifice And dye this Plain with Blood if that can be A meritorious cause of Victory Then sprightly Vortiger at this darts beams That spoke the vigour of his Martial Flames Which at Bonduca's Name his breast inspires As lightning breakes from Clouds imbosom'd fires And thus to Albianus does express I 'l welcome Death if fate denyes success Nor shall my Soul be in this Body borne A living Witness and this Island mourn This day if lost 't is just that Princes fall When their sad Countrey keeps its funeral Nor shall Bonduca's vertues e'r reprove My valour to want merit for her Love Since in her cause if I make Death my own My end shall then add Glory to my Throne Then Arthur's Son a Supreme station takes Whence to his Militants and Cheifs thus speaks Fellows in Armes the wish'd for time is come To end this Islands long-made-War with Rome And needless 't were to tell you of the cause Since Rome and Gaul by th' Sword would give us laws Or thence infer how your rich Countrey may With Wives and Daughters soon become their prey This were from fear to bid you now to fight When Native Valour does enough excite Our Brittish blood which though 't is bred so near The Northern Pole was ne'r yet chill'd by fear Let Romans then their Oratories spend To raise their duller Legions to contend Enough we see the Foes that we must fight And not from words our hearts to Armes invite At this loud shouts of Joy do fill the Plain Which shake the Earth where Roman Powers Campain The usual Custom of this Martial-Isle When they embrace Wars most renowned toyl No less the Consul Ennius does take care To make this day the Glory of his VVar His force with Romes best Conduct now array'd That oft had Monarchs their great Captives made Then in Magnan'mous words the use of Rome T'incite their Militants to overcome He thus begins Lov'd Souldiers if that we Deserve by arms the worlds Sov'ráignity Since our Renowned City Deify'd Her Scepter'd Romulus for deeds atchiev'd By glorious Arms whose Capitol yet stands Fill'd with our Trophies won from Conquer'd Lands Where Mars is Templ'd with his fellow Gods Pleas'd to convert our Swords into their Rods And next to their Divinity allow The Earths Dominion to our vertue due Let not this day then our fam'd power beguile That oft has harrass'd this so potent Isle Though Nature joyn'd with Mighty Neptunes hand To sever't from the world Romes wide Command Yet could not our Renowned Julius stay Who sought on t Conquest wheresoe'r it lay And by our prowess ages since maintain'd The Noble Relicks here his valour gain'd We have the Legions still from him were nam'd The Tenth most lov'd with all the rest as fam'd They were but Romans then as we are now If we their virtues but inherit too How will the world our warlike Eagles dread If still this Isle remains unconquered When to our shames it shall recorded be One dayes Pharsalia forc'd Romes liberty Nor are their Conducts worthy of our fears Though Albianus joyns with Vortigers Infants in Arms while I their Fathers fought And thence great triumphs to our Empire brought You saw to us Martianus Powers gave way Think that a sign of a more signal day Since he the aged Captain of their Hoast Has prov'd how dear our Conflicts with him cost While London that our fierce assaults withstood Will then be yours without expence of blood And with its riches pay your Martial toyls Yielding their matchless Queen to grace our spoyls Thus speaks great Ennius while the Prince of Gaul Does on his Chiefs with furious vigour call Letting them know what honor will accrue To Rome and Gaul if Britains they subdue
raging winds do make Next force Favonius Bodies to retreat Whose Conduct did their dreadful Powers defeat When Londons Glories with its Beauteous Queen Might else a Triumph for this Foe have been And for her Royal Guard this day commands The trusty'st of the Britains warlike Bands Now full of wounds and forc'd to quit his Horse Fights thus distress'd her Foes prevailing Force What Soul inspir'd with numbers can reherse This Battels terrors but must weep his verse Though Fame lest too much blood her Records stain Kindly forgets the sum of Hero 's slain No less distress'd the Princes had assayl'd All dangers till their matchless Arms prevail'd Which now holds Fate at such a glorious bay As her black Scepters Pow'r she fears this day Thus these great Cheifs with Forces swiftly speed To aid the Queen in such a dang'rous need While for her sake they mingle griefs and tears As oyl to valours flames from Loves soft fears And here Fame layes the most Heroick Scene That e'r twixt mighty Chiefs before had been Where these great Foes in Love and Empire try Single by Arms to ravish victory Thus Albianus does encounter here With Ennius Glory of Romes Arms and War While warlike Vortiger assaileth now Alvatrix who as bravely fought him too Then does the worlds choice blood that warms their veins Profusely die the Earth with crimson stains Which as their Valours Epitaph some say Leaves on this soil a sanguine Dye this day Sprightly the Charges were Albianus gave This Roman Cheif and his returns so brave That all the Prowess summ'd of Antient Name Scarce does in Story second mention claim In wounds they equal fought as Fate would guide Their Courage now 'twixt them not to decide Or had delight such Hero's still to see In Love and Empire thus at Enmity While to supply the wonder of their Arms Their Steeds now sympathize their Valours charms That with their furious mouths each grasping tear And to the ground their mighty Riders bear Whence Albianus briskly takes his seet And both these warlike Foes on foot now meet Guiding their Spears a dext'rous bloody strife Till this Great Hero's takes the Consuls life Who death did so far respite to express Since here my fall is by thy Arms success Heroick Brittain let Bonduca know Thy valour 's fit to win her virtue too But Vortiger whose courage had taught Fate Like a bold Handmaid on his Armes to wait Praecipitates her black decrees this day As he does singly fierce Alvatrix slay While to the wonder of all future deeds Forcing his Spear his Foe to death so speeds That piercing through strong ribs of Steel his breast Its fury seem'd unwillingly to rest Whose soul enrag'd by death a flight did take Like some fierce wind a dying blast does make Leaving the air disturbless felt before The dreadful Rage of Its Tempestuous power Thus fell these mighty Chiefs midst heaps of slain While all the state their breathless mem'ries gain Serves but as Pendants to the pride of Fame That wears life's Jewels to adorne her Name Now as their deaths were to their Armies known Which soon Fames Trump had in Elogiums blown Each Militant in vigour does impair And sanguine Roman cheeks grow pale with fear While Martianus who in Kent besieg'd Romes Power and Gauls until by Truce releiv'd Had there from faithful Spies allarums took How these by Arms Wars sacred Laws had broke And he with eager toyls so speeds his way That he the Princes brave extremes this day Arrives to ayd and next their valours fame Give to his own a matchless Victors Name Some veterane Legions that disdain'd to fly In warlike order by death marshall'd lye When greater numbers cast their Arms away And for their lives loud supplications pay Charging the sin and faithless breach of Truce Upon their Chiefs whose high commands excuse Their fierce attempts who but Wars Laws obey In fighting Foes when such do lead their way But if they can a mercy now implore Call heav'n to witness that they 'll never more Molest the Britains but returning home Will live in just Precincts of Gaul and Rome While the fair Queen that had with tears beheld The bloody issue of this dreadful field Passes Romes conquer'd Hoast on her bold Steed And thus expresses having stay'd his speed Most warlike Britains since your Arms have won This Battel that our stories must renown Which as your mighty Princes here did lead Their valours so admir'd with yours succeed That by their single Arms you saw this day How Ennius and Alvatrix breathless lay A losse so great proud Rome can ne'r repair Or Gaul find Prince dares hence with Britains warre But to their supplyant Legions let us yield Mercy may yet more dignifie this field While the less guilty you from death reprieve And such Foes most subdue you grant shall live This Speech the Britains bloody rage restrains And from the Princes such complyance gains That they to Gaul and Romes remaining Hoast Admit a Convoy to the Kentish Coast. Whence they 'r embark'd bound for the Gallick shore Vowing by war t' invade this Isse no more While to this grace the Princes leave dispence Their Chiefs dead Corps with them to bear from hence That Ennius and Alvatrix may receive Such Fun'ral Rites as Gauls and Romans give Which being done to London guide their way Soone full of Joyes for this victorious day The end of the third Canto The Fourth Canto POwer the lov'd Child of Greatness born from toils Of virtue or fond Fortunes prosp'rous smiles Yet men in each vicissitude may find No long entails of Rule in humane kind Thus Infant Empire first has rising state Then glor'ous Mediums next a final fate Whence fierce Ambiton storms the world to have But space on Earth to make their wider Grave And Rome that did by Arms so proudly claim The World to bear from her a vanquish'd Name No more possesses of that mighty head Than Trophies from her Epitaphs are read While Noble Britains first shook oft her yoak Before the warring World their Fetters broke Which from this glor'ous President was taught To conquer Roman Armes its thraldome brought Whose bold Remains to Gaul now wafted o'r Thence with repinings view the British Shoar Where they perceive their mighty Camps to shroud Their heads like mountains half hid in a cloud And next behold the fertile Woods and Plains Their Colonies and Cities proud Remains With Aquae-ducts made wondrous for delight And Baths could ease and heal wounds got in Fight Recounting their past Ages bloody toyl Since mighty Julius did invade this Isle Whence now instead of Triumph they return Their Consuls fatal loss with tears to mourn No less the Gauls Alvatrix death bewail'd Pitty'ng his love and valour so prevail'd That he by Arms on British ground shall fall And more incense their antient hate of Gaul But e'r these Corps dead in the Bed of Fame Have Fun'ral Rites Apollo's sacred Name They
supplies By beaming softer Language from her eyes While each as Love does this Expression use Have equal hopes and fears which Prince she 'll chuse Who now could wish some other Princess were Her Rival made in virtue and more fair By Heaven to one of these devoted too That she may seem to neithers love untrue And thus perceiving these Heroick hearts Felt with her own Loves equal wounding darts Fears that his flames though gently fann'd may raise Excess of passions rage and fury blaze Then chides her heart that did admit Loves spies To keep discover'd watches in her eyes While she might inward burn and yet conceal The flames her love too rashly does reveal Who knows alass she must not both enjoy Yet cannot either by neglect destroy But hopeless fears a Lover to remain Of both these Princes and yet neither gain And now delay ev'n wisdoms cold despair Does beg of Heav'n to ease this mighty care Which though Times slow and silent feet it use Meets Lovers hearts oft with decrees they 'd chuse And as she had Loves high concern declin'd With thoughts of Empire seems to fill her mind Hnd how of Monarchs they most happy raign While all their Crowns one friendly Power maintain Next stately Pastimes in her Court prepares Thus to delude their anxious hopes and fears With those most fam'd diversions Brittains boast Were then their Courts magnificence and cost But these great Heroes who from Love did bear Too jealous eyes as deeply pierce her care Grieving with theirs her virtues did conspire To wound her Breast with a divided fire Disdaining thus in one despair to live Since death to both or either cure might give And what becomes their Souls and Greatness too Relief upon the Queens Extremes bestow And now some Nights had sad companions spent Weighing fit means to perfect this intent That to the Queen may accidental seem Or as Fate did this Act in kindness deem Yet hope that Heav'n from death will one reprieve Lest dying both the Queen should cease to live And Love a glorious Triumph loose in her That can't else one unto her heart prefer While they as if no stormy passions brought Their souls to shipwrack on these rocks of thought Like bravest Pilots unconcern'd appear And in their looks the calms of Summer wear Thus as they meet in presence of the Queen In strict Endearments and Embrace are seen And as Love slept in Cradles of her eyes Mention no accent his soft rest surprise While she did both their passions weight endure To Heav'n and Time remits her hearts high cure Though love when hope as sparing diet needs Scarce cools the Fever but his flame more feeds And thus with gracious Eloquence does speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Princes since my Court you make A Scene where you wore happy victors Bayes Must flourish should Time feel the age of dayes Who now to give his Calends glory calls For warlike Arthurs high Memorials Who fell the last of Brittains Royal Line And with our Foes did fifty Battels joyn For which Fames Trump does an Attendant wait This said In great magnificence and state To Fortitudes admired Fane repair His dust intomb'd with Princes great in warr And where for wonder their vast Spears were plac'd Bold Picts pursu'd or hardy Romans chac'd With Bowes no other might like theirs e'r drew And Armour that Men now would Dwarfish show While Choristers in stately measures sing The Martial Glory of each mighty King With Arthur's Deeds scarce Stories this day blaze That by Times Guilt lose wonders of his Praise Which done to Honor Fortitudes high Name With these brave Relicks Heroes past did Fame In solemne state Devote unto this Fane Their Mighty Spears had fierce Alvatrix slain And warlike Ennius which in Shrines they place That from the Queens Gift Precious Gems did Grace And next to spacious Fields a Progress lead VVere kept devoted to these Glories dead In which they use of Armes and Pastimes held Brittains so far all Nations else excell'd Where they behold how some for Garlands run Swift as Time made them Footmen to the Sun With nimble Wrestlers that most useful show How strengths rough force to skil should conduct owe. And here the Bowmen shoot with dext'rous aimes Whence Ages past this Isle such Prowess claimes Whose force in Guns black use though now laid by Gave Deaths where their fierce Thunders useless fly Some next the Race on Brittish Coursers take More swift than those Epyrus Glories speak Or such the Barbes neat kind at this Day Fame Or the Arabick generous Horse can claime Of these the Victors Browes with Palmes are spread Pleas'd with the Glory to be Conqu'rors led And lest Fames Trump should not their Praises bear Exulting Neigh shrill Joyes find wings of Ayre And thus for wonder some on backs of Steeds They here enforce unto their utmost speeds Pierce Marks with Arrows or as Chariots glide Their swift Carreers as happy Shafts do guide To whom the Queen does Silver Quivers give And that the use of Bowes more fam'd might live Invites the Princes with her self to try Which Shaft of theirs with happy'st Aime shall fly And thus a Jewel from her Breast she takes For their Bright Marke at which her Arrow makes Such dext'rous wing as it the Ring of Gold Pierces this object to their aimes did hold Which done these mighty Heroes Shafts take Flight Dubious which to the Gemm most near does light But Albianus's did chance to rest Nearest the Queens Loves measure judgeth best Which the Great Vortiger resenteth so As Love with theirs had bent his Partial Bow Scarcely concealing those resolves of Fate Their Hearts in this high Cause decreed so late But Fate that had occasion duely chose Gives to his Flames an outward seem'd repose And as the Queen a grievous Part must bear Makes her spectator of Loves danger here Who with a longing Glory to behold The stately Tournments Brittains held of old Gladly the Princes with their Chiefs does see Renowning thus Great Arthur's Memory While in a Marble Throne her Person 's plac'd That with his Mighty Warlike Figure 's grac'd Beneath whom these in costly Arms sit round Tables like those in Arthur's Court were found When his bold Knights and Heroes Triumphs made For Conquests or such stately Pastimes had Or else in Honor of Fam'd George held Feasts To entertain such valiant Brittains Guests And hence in shining Armes the Princes rise To lead the way to these Solemnities While after they had strict Embracings past The Queen nor any thought were meant their last Albianus does to Vortiger convey This fatal Whisper If both fall this day 'T is but Loves Justice or if one survive May then Loves Mercy him Bonduca give At which great Vortigers stout heart does melt That Wars deep wounds had unconcern'd still felt And now his Eyes permits to shed some Tears Wishing his Death may end this Princes Cares Thus Mounted with their Chiefs and Brittish Knights Select
the most approv'd in these brave Rites Such as great Arthur in his Life did Fame For Glorious Tournments and Wars daring Flame Of whom Albianus does Darander take With stout Androgeus Lists did famous make And bold Clarinus expert as the rest With twenty Knights on each side skill'd the best To whom great Vortiger his Chiefs does add Corynus Troylus Torringer all glad Their Launces with their Martial Prince to weild Whom Foes could ne'r resist when Fought in Field Who for their Judges fam'd Martianus chuse With brave Favonius could to wonder use Their Armes in Turn'ments and from Rome had won Trophies their Valours highly did Renown And from the Queen had Garlands to bestow With Silver Shields must happy Victors show That here most dext'rously their Launces guide And best command their furious Steeds bold Pride From whom the Signal Given on Coursers meet Might challenge Windes to match their speedy Feet While from their Hoofes the Ground does seem to shake As it did now an Earthquakes Ague take And in these Glorious Pastimes here to show How much their Prowess against Foes could doe Their mighty Launces though tough Limbs of Oake Are with their onsets into shivers broke Rebounding from their Armed Breasts so high As if they did from Battering Engins fly Which these upon their Steeds unmov'd abide Might level Towers Assaults of War defy'd While these great Princes that submitted here Their Lives and Loves to Fates regardless care Had slightest Armours with design put on Their Launces Pierce and in their Bodies run From whence blood issues out with so much haste As now their lives must but few minutes last That even their souls were taking wing to sly To Deaths Pale seates frail Natures Ignomy And thus fall from their Steeds imbru'd in Gore While all here Present doe from Heaven Implore Their hopeless Lives which how shall Brittains mourn Or Gaules and Romanes hence despair returne But more than all the beauteous Queen opprest With griefe and Love each storming now her Breast A while wants Power to lift to Heaven her eyes Or speak with Tears her tender hearts surprize Then calls for help from such best skill'd in Cure But finds their Arts cannot her Fears secure And even Heaven blames that Love allow'd such charmes Should be no Medicine to heal their harmes Yet as Loves Cordials layes her lips to theirs Mingling of kisses with the Balme of Tears While such deep simpathy her heart does feel As thence her tender life begins to steal Whose Rose and Lilly Cheeks now turn to pale That even her beauties shine but through deaths vaile Her Pulse scarce beating Natures utmost strife While Virgin-Palmes her Temples Chafe for life A midst whose Armes she 's in a Chariot laid And gently towards her Court is thus convey'd Next whom the Princes are in Litters borne This glorious Presence sad Attendants mourn Invoking Heaven with Teares and loudest Griefe To yield their Lives in these extreames Reliefe Yet more then their deep Cures the Queens despair That in her breast the wounds of Love did bear In this distress some Sages present move They should Merlinus skill before all prove Who had such wondrous Cures for Brittains wrought By Remedies no Art save his e'r taught To whom all yield and make Merlinus know What high concernes require his Presence now While Queen and Princes mournfully they bear To Beds of ease scarce breathing lifes last ayre The End of the Fifth Canto The Sixth Canto BEfore these Tydings to Merlinus speed His swifter Science knew the fatal need Of Queen and Princes who in Natures Book For all events did most Assiduous look Nor could her Causes and Effects create The World a Providence or Mankind Fate But as her aptest Schollar him had taught Which other Mortals as vain Empericks sought Who no less weighs her humble ease and power In every tender Hearb and smiling Flower Then in those prouder Blessings she conveys From Sun or Stars stupend'ous course and Rayes And now Merlinus at the Court appears The Queen and Princes dangers fill'd with cares Who but in his deep skill their hope repose Since Fate their lives so dreadful did oppose Where he beholds the beauteous Ladies Mourn As if to Statues Niob like they 'd turne Or that the Queens soft life so farr were fled His Art must now recall her from the Dead While with their Prayers and Blessings he arrives Unto her Presence viewing how life strives For weak Possession in that beaut'ous frame Death as his fairest Captive hopes to claim Next feels her Pulse with all his subtle Art But finds its strength retyr'd to ayde the Heart Which as Loves Region has a right to be The last surrender'd to Deaths Victory Then takes a Cordial made of purest Gold No man before did Potable behold With Dewes infus'd the Diamond Rocks distil And Pearles rich Soul extracted by his skill To these an Essence adds more precious too Chymists th' Elixar call but since none show That would this work in costly Limbecks breed And coldly live their Arts vain Fires to feed While of this Liquor whose least drop might be Valu'd above all Indian-Treasury Through the Queens Lips conveys a gentle draught Whence Life even fled away is back soon brought And now her Pulse begins lifes March to beate While Death's pale Flags her Rosie Cheeks defeat And next does open Windowes of her Eyes That seem like Stars new kindled in the skies Merlinus joy'd his Cordial thus succeeds To th' wounded Princes next his Person speeds Griev'd that he could not all at once supply And weeps to see in what extreames they lie Then takes a Balme of this Elixar made Which to their griefs with tender hand convey'd Their drooping hearts to wonder does restore And shows their wounds must not have Mortal power Nor had the Sun two dayes bright Circles shin'd But their great Lives their Pristine vigours find Which more to Joy the Queen as speedy mends And all but Loves soft wounds from his Cure ends Whence common Artists that make life endure A tedious Diet and loath'd Physicks Cure Wonder'd Disease so soon surpriz'd should be By his sublimer skill and remedy And now that rumor swiftly might convey Through Brittain Joyes for this most happy day The Princes visit the most beaut'ous Queen Who for their sakes had thus afflicted been And at her feet with tears now prostate lie Imploring pardon they design'd to dye Since she their lives esteem'd at that high price As to resign her own Deaths Sacrifice Grieving that Love should so much oblige Fate And from her wounds their sins recriminate Who for Loves sake chose death themselves to give That she more happy by their falls might live To whom with gracious words she thus replyes Belov'd of Men and Joy of Brittish Eyes Who ne'r like this shall Register an hour Though their bright Records mention Roman Power Defeated by your Prowess and Gaul brought To rue that time when you
conjoyn'd they fought For which the Sun shall ne'r consume a Day But I devoted thankes to Heaven will pay That can no Merit great enough allow To you as Princes and as Lovers too For which 't is my unhappiness to live Except at once I had two Souls to give Yet must your Passions blame that did decree A Death of both or either without me That could have been contented first to dye And Pay Loves Debt with my sad destiny Then to each Prince a gentle hand does give Which humbly kiss'd they on their knees receive Whose Lilly-white best Orient-Pearl did stain And out-shin'd Saphyrs blew in every vein Thus leads them with her to a Royal seat Where soon Merlinus did attend to Greet The happy Cures his wondrous art had done Which they with highest thanks and presents own 〈◊〉 to his Person great endearments give Admiring his deep meanes by which they live Whence they in such short time o'rcame their griefs And Nature furnish'd with such strange reliefes To whom Merlinus thus does humbly speak Since Nature her bright handmaid Art did make Few of her Counsels and admir'd effects But profound Science wondrously Inspects Else her large Providence that guides things here Must prove to Mortals but a niggard Care If she producing Creatures by her Power Did fail of meanes their Glories might restore Hence through the Universe her healthful Lawes With every being show a Divine cause While Stars no more her operations cost Than Plants and Herbs that humbly spring may boast Nor does this Mistress of the World deny To disclose secrets in her bosome lie If Mans frail Sense she does sublimely teach Can the deep Process of her wonders reach Hence Med'cins sets apart and joyes the Cure That makes her Individuals long endure Which in her most lov'd sympathies consist Or such Antipathies Disease resist Thus by my skill and fervent Prayers I sought That Soul to Inform'd matter first she brought Which has from Elements distinct essence Yet is of all things one best Quintessence And this our Lives Infirmities Restores Beyond the aid of Natures common Powers Assisting life with life the self same way That first in Bodies she did Souls convey This said a Vial of a substance too His Art next precious to th' Elixar knew Presents the Queen and Princes which contain'd This sublime worke by his deep Science gain'd At Natures richest cost whose value could Purchase the World and next transmute to Gold All kind of mettals that if Treasure fail This endless wealth might Brittains Foes assaile And here admiring they a while it view Which does in colour far more beaut'ous show Than Iris various Arch and seemes like beames Of Sun and Stars or more Coelestial Flames And to Merlinus with one voice reply Most mighty Bard since in thy skill doth lie Such sublime knowledge ne'r to Man was known May future Ages ever it Renown Not suffering time whose hand doth often raze His choicest glories ever thine deface Or from forgotten truth make Fictions Fame The bold oblivion of thy sacred Name Which said resolve this matchless work shall be Preserv'd as Natures highest Mystery And in that Temple kept where Brittains pay Devotion to her mighty Power each day And now the Queen whose mind unusual cares Did apprehend in her late sad despaires Acquaints him how her Soul a Voyage took In that deep Trance as it lifes Fetters broke Whence to her seem'd that warlike Nations spread Banners throughout this Isle with horror led Whose manners they before did never know With Images beheld of Princes too That should mix blood with Brittains Royal Line And thence succeeding Ages fruitful shine Changing Complexion of our Lawes and Speech Say wond'rous Bard if thy deep Science reach To future things What do these Visions speak Or are they but such Fantasmes vain Dreams make To which this Learned Sage does thus express Illustrious Queen though 't is most hard to guess Succeeding Acts of Time wrapt in the Lawes Of Providence the Worlds great hidden cause While in our Bodies Souls commix with Sence That does obstruct their Divine Praescience Else might their Vision without sensual eyes Take highest Prospect of her Mysteries Since Nature to the World and all things live In different Bodies a-like Soul does give And is diffus'd from her Internal mind Where every cause does actual fore-sight find Which since our Souls cannot in Bodies reach By glorious Mediums she our Sence does teach Nor must we think the Orbes and Starry-Sphaere But as Nights Tapers Heaven has kindled there Or that Ecclipses of the Sun and Moon Defects of Nature show and not our own Though it must dazel Humane sence to read The Text of Heaven in such bright causes spread Hence oft Mutations follow Crowns and States Which ignorant minds allot to Chance and Fates While nothing to us Mortals 〈◊〉 insues But she in some Prophetick Cause foreshewes And what the restless studies of my Art To you great Queen and Princes can impart I humbly offer in this hour to show That strikes my Soul with some amazement too Craving this Royal Presence a short space Some learned Products of his skill to grace And may for Brittains sake be useful seen Which said the Princes with the beauteous Queen Remove in State and thus by him are brought To an Appartment vast and wond'rous wrought From Archytects taught by his deep survey Which none but he e'r enter'd to this day Wherein this Sage long Contemplation took T' instruct the World in Natures profound Book Or else the Muses sublime Raptures writ That Poets call Heavens best inspired wit A Science graces all yet taught by none In Schooles Pedantick Tearmes and Precepts known Where Faith could not it self from Tutors free While this remains untaught Divinity And Natures best Exchequer has for store Spending profusely thence yet never Poor Though oft like virtue meets Inglorious Fate Since more than Human Soul its worth must rate Nor did that Age the Muses less esteem Than Sacred Raptures Men Prophetick deeme From whence the wise Castalian Cliffs aspir'd And with Heavens zeal this Divine gift admir'd The End of the Sixth Canto The Seventh Canto ANd now this Royal Presence duely plac'd Wonder to see how this Appartment's grac'd Whose Globulous roofe seems like a moving Sphaere Where Stars in Aspects shine as Heaven was there Nor were the Walls and Pillars less bright fam'd By his great skill of hardn'd Chrystal fram'd That none e'r malleable had made before And which all shapes of Creatures figur'd bore Then entertains their Royal Eares and sight With Bodies wond'rous organ'd for delight While some in Birdlike shapes best Musick sing And thus about this Roofe are seen to wing Next which in various Postures did appear Gygantick figur'd-Men and what 's as rare The shapes of Pigmyes Natures Dwarfish crew That Dialogue speak and make strangè exits too A Crystal wall then severs whence to sight A Scene appeares than Evenings Sky more
dearly Brittains cost VVhat though our Wings now imp'd with Gauls do fly That cann't from Romans learn to stand and dye Let not your Eagles their Example take VVhile here your Armes may such a Quarry make And now these Bodies do so closely meet That arme with arme encounters feet with feet Scarce having space their wounding swords to sway As both sides seem fierce wrastlers for the Day Here Chief with Chief by wond'rous deeds contend Which shall receive from each a blody end There num'rous Militants their force imploy Who most heroick shall a Foe destroy Then Albianus with stupend'ous might Forces this strong Battal'ons dreadful fight As from the North a mighty whirlwind blowes Breaking defences its high rage oppose Some by his Steed are trampled to the ground Others his stately Spear gives deaths last wound Or on its point does toss them out his way And thus kills such his arme disdains to slay While this high act his bolder Troops pursue As waves in crowds through narrow breaches flow Until the Seas swift pow'r more room does gain And leads its battail'd billows o'r the Plain To wide this entrance Brittish Chariots speed Which bold Corinus did to wonder lead Whose furious motions Roman Pow'rs confound And seem like thunder rowl'd in clouds to sound VVhose furious speed no strength of Foes could stay ' Not if the Grecian Phalanx their swift way Had with Romes Powers oppos'd or Punick Might Whose Rankes with Elephants were lin'd in fight Fix'd to their Axes mighty Sithes that Mow Their way through Legions nor by them a Foe Entirely dies some limbes from limbes divide Others Men sever who in halfes here dy'd No less the Cavalry their fight annoys VVhose Horse as variously their Force destroyes Amazing Foes with their strange way of fight Sometimes out-driving Winds or in their Flight Quick as a Thought Amongst their Foes could stay ' And thence make Glorious Sallies for the day Which being done as nimbly they retreat And on their loaded Teams in order meet Whence as they drive they each way Arrows send Missing no mark their dextrous aims intend This way of fight if we may credit Fame With Trojan Heroes to this Isle first came By which their Prowess wonders had atchiev'd Though scarce so great as this day Brittains did And thus amaz'd the Romans had beheld Their mighty Pow'rs by these fierce drifts o'rwhelm'd While Albianus in each on-set won Such fam'd success as their best Legions run Yet now Heroick grief does wound his breast To see Foes dye thus bravely did resist And Princely mourns the Price this Day had cost As he beholds such warlike Brittains lost How will the harmless Tillager complain In after Ages of this dismal Plain VVhen limbs of Heroes shall affright his toyles And his encrease enricht from bloody spoyles VVhile Romans hence record a fatal Day As when they bled at lost Pharsalia Or left Great Crassus for a Parthian Boast VVith all the Glories of his yielding Hoast More to encrease their terrors does appear The bold Favonius whom Bonduca here Had sent with stout Reserves of London Horse Who their broke Pow'rs with renew'd slaughters force And Royal Vortiger does now return VVith warlike Martianus whose hearts burn To finish Conquest on the Body too As they did gloriously the Wings pursue VVhile Phoebus Radiant Chariot had possest The setting Evening Glories of the VVest And nights black Curtain vail'd the guilded sky As Brittish Armes determin'd Victory This Instant well the subtle Ennius knew Must something aid his past misfortune too Who now his broken Pow'rs retreating fights And to his Camp in Kent conducts their flights Like to some Lion that too bold did prey Fears next his courage might himself betray And weary'd with his furious toyles does then Retiring seek his advantageous Den. The End of the Fourth Canto The Fifth Canto NOw Fate that waited on this Bloody Day Sees cloudy night new tragick Scenes display Whose fierce confusions ev'n my Muse affright That like some Virgin fears sad Tales of night Such dreadful dangers we may well suppose Befel her much-lov'd Britains from their Foes Who beaten thus unconquer'd seem to flie And deaths return as they retreating dye While Stars in haste their several stations take And in their Sphaeres new Trepidations make Fearing removes for every Heroes fall And thus disorder'd their bright Councils call The wandring Glories to the Ecliptick run There to advise without their Lord the Sun In whose bright stead refulgent Mars does shine His Rayes inthron'd on heavens Meridian line Who thus begins To me you Planets know Belongs the fate of Martial Powers below Nor will our Soveraign Light his beams convey In Wars Decrees but lets my influence sway Not though the world is quickned by his rayes And time supported in its aged dayes Whence Mortals live and tell their happy hours But own their greater Glories from my Powers Nor do those Regions Phaebus Tracts confine Betwixt the Tropicks and more burning Line Heroes produce to execute my flame So oft as where rough Boreas sounds his Name Of these my Aspects have fierce Romans fam'd Who but this Isle the warring VVorld have tam'd Giving their Stories leave to boast that I Begot their first Heroick Majesty And shall to these now British Armes give Law Or I their God ador'd my beams withdraw And not assist their Conduct while I see Their brave Retreat deserves yet victory This said the rest their brighter sense convey From orb to orb by mingling each a ray VVhich Venus craves she may to Mars express And thus begins to him her soft Address Great Star of Glory if my Gentler shine Or those lov'd Aspects I have had with thine Oblige thy influence let it befriend These British VVorthies with Great Romes contend Nor can it be but glory to thy Name To crown success where virtue makes such claim And let not Mortals think they merit more Than we repay or justly they implore Enough have Romans a bold havock made Five bloody Ages since they did invade This Isle where Nature breeds such souls for warr And women that our lusters may compare For whose fair sakes behold I often sought With trembling beams to thee as these still fought VVhile Cynthia did as now her visage shrowd And but by Peeps beheld thee from a cloud Vowing by her best influence that she In no Eclipse felt such extremity As when she late beheld Bonduca's woe For which she wears some spots unseen till now This said Great Mars salutes her with a beame And thus replies Thou Star of Loves soft flame Think not thy Intercession I 'll despise Who art the brightest Glory of our skies A higher Providence than our Decrees Has hitherto led Roman Victories I know full well our Aspects but incline Though of great Natures Causes most divine Nor shall my Rayes to Britains partial prove Whose valour equal with thy Beams I love To Gemini my Orb shall wander now Thy lov'd
party make VVho from her own excesses frailties take Or that Heav'n should to us no pity give That with the seeds of vice are born and live And here the Bards Prophetick Order's shown Whom Brittish Stories less than Fames Renown Clad like the Druids but they Badges wear VVhich only Natures Prophets here must bear These from the Sun and Moon and Starry Sky Or blazing Comets some tell move as high Predict effects that Mortals dread below And thence Aerial Meteors Causes show VVith these Merlinus fam'd above the rest Appears his head with Lawrel Chaplets drest Who gave Philosophy a sublime Fame And from the Muses had a sacred Name Whose Leaves than Sybils more admir'd were kept Within this Temple till Times hand had swept This Frame to Rubbage that his works seem now But fictions wonders his false Copies show And here he dedicates a wond'rous Sphaeres That Archymedes fam'd could not compare In which the Sun his lov'd Ecliptick shines With every Planets Orb and various Lines And as these rowl within a starry Sky A space transparent entertains the eye The Sphaere of Atoms call'd Natures first seed Which scatter'd hence some think the world did breed And these like cinders glomer in a flame Figur'd more bright than all the starry Frame In which this mighty Artist had confin'd By mystick marks the worlds eternal mind The Queen and Princes having thus beheld How great Merlinus Art all known excell'd With bended knees this sacred Frame adore Copy'd from Natures providence and pow'r To whose high Name they glor'ous Off'rings spread On Altars rais'd to express their souls high Dread With Trophies that from Rome and Gaul were won The Bards and Diuids having Praises sung This mighty temple then in state thy leave And Peoples joyes through spacious streets receive While Londons roofs laid waste by foes and fire With stately Edifices now aspire By num'rous hands and Artists wond'rous powers Thick as in Summer Bees returne from flowers Their waxen Cells in busie Swarms to raise Or as the Ant provides for winter dayes But more than happy they that live to see London repair her late calamity Whose structures flames without Foes aid consum'd Yet like the Phaenix in her dust intomb'd May she spring from her ashes and renew Her antient splendors with far greater too And if my Muse can true Praesages give Her Name from Fate shall yet more famous live And thus to Court this Royal State repairs Where Joy a glor'ous face of greatness bears The dayes remains in sumptuous mirth to spend And thus this vast Magnificence does end The End of the First Canto The second Canto NOw as the Queen the Princes entertains With all the splendor her great Court contains And thus does add a Glory to the Night While Stars as dimmer Tapers lend their light Though willing now to give Nights hours delay That slow Bootes tardy drift might stay And Ariadne with her starry Crown By a lov'd leasure on this Court look down Wishing the Queens bright Rival she might be And give her love celestial dignity If Albianus worth produce that flame Or Vortigers so much renown'd by Fame But long these Princes think each hours repose Till Phaebus had from Thetis bosom rose And saw the Queen his Morning glories grace Design'd with them to hunt the Harts swift Chace Who with great Troops of Noble Brittains wait And num'rous Guards attending their high State While noise of Trumpets and the shriller Horn Salute the Queen with tydings of the morn And she from Loves soft Fever of the Breast Or cares of rule had early broke her rest The Thorns that in such high Plantations grow Whence Subjects learn how much they Princes owe. And with a Troop of Beauties now appears Where each a glorious Zone and Quiver bears While from her sholder hangs a pretious Bow Whose use the Brittish Virgins then did know In such a nimph-like presence Poets place The fam'd Diana when she takes the Chace Or does her Chorus eminently lead By some transparent stream or flowry Mead. And now her steed she takes that champing stands Pleas'd with the Bit which curbs him from her hands As if he did all other rein despise Or only would be guided from her eyes To Eppin Forrest now they lead their way Fam'd for the Chace and hunting of this day Though both concludes with fierce attempts of fate From whence my Muse records a bloody date Soon had the Huntsmen watchful spies of Game Discover'd where a Stag to harbor came Of such prodigious growth as if he liv'd For Natures wonder purposely repriev'd His years most antient Woodmen sought in vain That Ages o'r the horny Heard did raign And like times fatal Monster liv'd to see The death of all his lasting progeny No Oak his mighty shade but first he knew A tender slip and saw its with'ring too While num'rous Ravens so long-liv'd Men tell From the aspiring top before him fell And now insults o'r death as if that he Could live to see times own Mortality And like Narcissus pleas'd does view such Brooks That bright reflect his comely head and looks The heard him Monarch own and quit their claims To all their Females yielding to his flames Where Virgin-Hinds from his hot seasons fly Least by his mighty love and strength they dye And Age the Worlds Experience made him wise That he declines us'd Pathes by Forrest-spies Frequenting shades more dark than cloudy night And scarce does feed or live by dayes broad light But now to crop some pleasing ears of corn Had took too long repast this fatal morn And having drunk of the adjoyning Flood Swam thence discern'd to harbor in a wood Which as this Royal presence now surrounds The Woodmen throw off Packs of their stancht hounds Dogs on whose smels their Masters sense relies That equal trust their Noses with their Eyes And these whose subtle nostrils grateful find To chace the greatest of this horny kind Swiftly pursue the Slots of this huge Deer And rouze him from his mighty Layer here While he that oft his wary eyes had clos'd In these thick shades to ease and sleep repos'd Where Nightingales did charming requiems sing Now hears the furious Hounds loud clamors ring Who first to give some respite to his sear Hopes 't was but thunder wounds his watchful ear But when he knows they 'r Hounds prepares to fly And if that fail no Stag like him shall dye His mighty limbs then stretches out in state Hoping his seet are nimbler wing'd than fate And through the wood with wondrous swiftness breaks While oaks he with his springs like whirlwinds shakes Thus to th'adjoyning Lawn does take his flight Where the fair Queen and Princes wait his sight On whom he looks with a Majestick view That they him Monarch of his Race might know Then to the Herd he makes to try if they Will let their Sov'raign be to Dogs a prey Minding them of their piercing Horns defence And