dead She was my Soul's delight in her I view'd The pure and Celestial Beatitude But were I sure the Soul that never dyes Should never meet nor Bodies never rise By Resurrection yet sure those are blest That pass this life and in the Grave do rest Then said the Duke his Father to his Son What ever comes Son Heaven's will be done But since you are resolv'd and needs will dye I in the Grave will keep you company The young Prince said I cannot you disswade Since none are happy but those Death hath made The Day of Execution drawing nigh Of the young Prince his Father too would dye Then the young Prince askt leave and leave he had That he like to a Soldier might be clad When he was brought to dye and on that day Death he did meet in Soldierly array Instead of Mourning-Garments he had on A Suit of Buff embroidered thick upon And a Rich Scarf that was of Watchet-dye Set thick with Pearls instead of strings to tye It close together were rich Diamonds so As like a Ring or Garter it did show Of but one entire Diamond this did bind The Scarf so firm as an united Mind A Scarlet Coat embroidered thick with Gold And Hangers like to it his Sword did hold And in his Hat a Plume of Feathers were In falling-folds which hung below his Hair He being thus accouter'd Death to meet In Gallantry yet gently friendly sweet He would embrace it and so gladly yeeld Yet would he dye as Soldiers in the Field For gallant valiant men do court Death so As amorous courtly men a wooing go His Father all in Mourning-Garments clad Not griev'd to dye but for his Son was sad Millions of People throng'd about to see This gallant Mourning Prince's Tragedy But in the time these Preparations were The Queen sent to th' young Lady to prepare Her self to dye when she the news did hear Joy in her Countenance did then appear Then she her self did dress like to a Bride And in a Rich and Gilded Coach did ride Thus triumphing as on her Wedding-day To meet her Bridegroom Death but in the way The people all did weep that she should dye And Youth and Beauty in Death's arms should lye But she did smile her Countenance was glad And in her Eyes such lively Spirits had As the quick-darting Rays the Sun out-shin'd And all she look'd on for a time were blind But when the Queen and Nobles all were set And the Condemned on the Scaffold met Where when the Lovers they each other spy'd Their Eye-strings seem'd as if together ty'd So firmly they were fix'd and did so gaze And with each other struck in such a maze As if with wonder they were turn'd to stone And that their feet unto the ground were grown They could not stir but at the last mov'd he In a slow pace amazed went to see That Heav'nly Object for thought he it may An Angel be my Soul to take away Her Limbs did shake like shiv'ring Agues cold For Fear upon her Spirits had got hold When she did see him move for she had thought He was a Statue and by Carvers wrought And by the Queen's Command was thither brought When he came near he kneeled down to pray And thus unto her sofrly he did say My Sense my Spirits surprise thy Spirit my Mind And great disturbance in my Thoughts I find My Reason's misty Understanding blind Tell me whether thou art of Mortal Kind Said she That Question I would ask of you For I do doubt my Senses are not true Intelligencers are you the Prince I see Or are you a Spirit that thus speaks to me With that the Queen did come their doubts to clear It was my Plot said she to bring you here And why I crost your Loves I will forbear To tell you now but afterwards declare Then did she cause a Priest to join their hands Which he devoutly ty'd in Wedlock-bands Then did the Queen unto her Nobles say That she a Debt to Gratitude must pay And to the Prince's Father straight she went Here Sir said she I do my self present To be your Wife for by your Counsel I Have Rul'd and Reign'd in great Felicity He kneeling kist her Hand and both agree That in few days the Wedding kept should be Such joys of acclamation loud of wonder Echo'd the air louder than is Jove's Thunder Her Princely Neece so Noble was that then For joy she modestly threw up her Fan Since to a High-born Prince she well knew she In glorions Nuptials soon should joined be The Marriage-Song WEre all the Joys that ever yet were known Were all those Joys met and put into one They 'd be than these two Lovers Joys far less Our Lovers height of Joys none can express They 've made another Cupid I am told And buri'd the blind Boy that was so old Hymen is proud since Laurel crowns his Brow He never made his Triumphs until now The Marriage-Song for the Old Duke and the Old Queen's Marriage NOW the Old Cupid he is fled Unto the Queen she to her Bed Brought the Old Duke so ends all harms In Love's Embraces in their Arms. This Elder Wedlock more than ripe Was of the Younger but a Type What wants of Cupid Hymen's Cup Ceres and Bacchus make it up A Marriage-Song of the Queen's Neece SEE the Old Queen's Beloved Neece For Beauty Favour such a Piece As Love could feign not hope to see Just such a Miracle was she She doth congratulate and 's eas'd To see these Noble Lovers pleas'd Above repining The Fates since Are just and gave her a brave Prince A SONG HYMEN triumph in joy Since overcom'd Love's Boy Each Age each Sex and Place The Wedlock-Laws embrace The looser sort can bind Monarch of what 's Mankind All things do fall so pat In this Triumvirat Which now in Wedlock mix Now Three though once were Six A Lady said Such Constant Love was dead And all Fidelity to Heaven fled Another Lady said She fain would know When Marri'd if they did continue so O said a Man such Love as this was sure Doth never in a Married Pair endure But Lovers cross'd use not to end so well Which for to shew a Tale I mean to tell The Description of the Violence of Love THere was a Lady Virtuous Young and Fair Unto her Father only Child and Heir In her Behaviour modest sweet and civil So innocent knew only Good from Evil Yet in her Garb had a Majestick Grace And affable and pleasant was her Face Another Gentleman whose House did stand Hard by her Father's and was rich in Land He had a Son whom Beauty did adorn As some might think of Venus he was born His Spirit Noble Generous and Great By Nature Valiant Dispositions sweet His Wit ingenious and his Breeding such That his Sci'nces did not Pedantry t'uch This Noble Gentleman in love did fall With this fair Lady who was pleas'd withall He Courted her
on Yet they are Curious built with Art and Care Like Lovers who build Castles in the Air Which ev'ry puff of Wind is apt to break As Imaginations when Reason's weak They said His Tale was short He Answer made I 'le piece it out And thus he said THE Silk-worm digs her Grave as she doth spin And makes her Winding-sheet to lap her in And from her Bowels takes a heap of Silk Which on her Body as a Tomb is built Out of her ashes do her young ones rise Having bequeath'd her Life to them she dyes They only take that Life to spin a Death For as they wind up Silk they wind out Breath Thus rather than do nought or idle be They 'l work and spin out Life's small Thread we see When all their work is done ready to dye Their Wings are grown for Life away to flye The Silk-worm is first a small Seed then turneth into a Worm at last grows to have Wings like a Flye but lives not to make use of them As soon as she is big enough she spins a Ball of Silk all about her self wherein being grown to be a Fly she makes a hole to come out to leave Seed for the generation of her young ones After which she immediately dyes The Women said the Men made quick dispatch In telling Tales like Dogs that Bones do snatch But howsoe're a Woman did begin To tell a Tale and thus she entred in A Description of the Passion of Love misplaced A Lady on the Ground a mourning lay Complaining to the Gods and thus did say You Gods said she why do you me torment Why give you Life without the Mind's content Why do you Passions in a Mind create Then leave it all to Destiny and Fate With knot and snarls they spin the Thread of Life Then weave it cross and make a Web of strife Come Death though Fates are cross yet thou' rt a Friend And in the Grave dost peace quiet send It chanc'd a Gentleman that way came by And seeing there a weeping Beauty lye Alas dear Lady why do you so weep Unless your Tears you mean the Gods shall keep Jove will present those Tears to Juno fair For Pendants and for Neck-laces to wear And so present that Breath to Juno fair That she may always move in perfum'd air Forbear forbear make not the World so poor Send not such Riches for the Gods have store I 'm one said she to whom Fortune's a Foe Crossing my Love working my overthrow A Man which to Narcissus might compare For Youth and Beauty and the Graces fair Do him adorn on him my love is plac'd But his neglect doth make my life to wast My Soul doth mourn my Thoughts no rest can take He by his scorn doth me unhappy make With that she cry'd O Death said she come quick And in my heart thy Leaden Arrow stick Take comfort Lady grieve and weep no more For Nature handsome Men hath more in store Besides dear Lady Beauty will decay And with that Beauty love will flee away If you take time this heat of Love will wast Because 't is only on a Beauty plac'd But if your Love did from his Virtue spring You might have lov'd though not so fond have been The love of Virtue is for to admire The Soul and not the Body to desire That 's a gross Love which only dull Beasts use But Noble Man to love the Soul will chuse Because the Soul is like a Deity Therein pure Love will live eternally O Sir but Nature hath the Soul so fix'd Unto the Body and such Passions mix'd That nothing can divide or dis-unite Unless that Death will separate them quite For when the Senses in Delights agree They bind the Soul make it a Slave to be He Answered If that the Soul in Man should give consent In every thing the Senses to content No Peace but War amongst Mankind would be And Desolation would have Victory No Man could tell or challenge what 's his own He would be Master that is strongest grown Lady love Virtue and let Beauty dye And in the Grave of Ruins let it lye With that she rose and with great joy said she Farewell fond Love and foolish Vanity The Men condemn'd the Tale because said they None but a Fool would preach so Wise men pray But Ladies hear me did another say TO love but one is a great fault For Nature otherwise is taught She caus'd Varieties for us to taste And other Appetites in us she plac'd And caus'd dislike in us to rise To surfeit when we gormandise For of one Dish we glut our Palat Although it be but of a Salat When Solomon the Wise did try Of all things underneath the Sky Although he found it Vanitie Yet by it Nature made us free For by the change her Works do live By several Forms that she doth give So that Inconstancy is Nature's play And we her various Works must her obey A Woman said that Men were foolish Lovers And whining Passions Love oft discovers They 're full of Thoughts said she yet never pleas'd Always complaining and yet never eas'd They 'l sigh they mourn they groan they make great moan They 'l sit cross-legg'd with folded arms alone Sometimes their Dress is careless with despair With hopes rais'd up 't is costly rich and rare Setting their Looks and Faces in a frame Their Garb's affected by their Mistress Name Flattering their Loves forswearing then each boasts What Valiant Deedsh ' has done in Forreign Coasts Through what great dangers his adventures run Such acts as Hercules had never done That every one that hears doth fear his Name And every Tongue that speaks sounds forth his fame And thus their Tongues extravagantly move Caus'd by vain-glorious foolish amorous Love Which only those of his own Sex approve But when their Rallery was past The Tale upon a Man was cast Then crying peace to all that talking were They were bid hold their Tongues and lend an Ear. The Man more than the rest was somewhat old They said to him Your Tale you have not told Alas said he my Memory is bad And I have none so good as you have had He musing a short time thus did begin I hope said he my Tale may credit win A Description of Civil-Warrs A Kingdom which long time had liv'd in Peace Her People rich with Plenty fat with Ease With Pride were haughty grown Pride Envy bred From Envy Factions grew then Mischief spread And Libels every where were strew'd about Which after into Civil-Warr broke out Some for the Commons fought some for the King And great Disorder was in ev'ry thing Battels were won and lost on either side Where Fortune ebb'd and flow'd like to a Tide At last the Commons won and then astride Fierce Tyranny on Noble Necks did ride All Monuments pull'd down that stood long time And Ornaments were then thought a great Crime No Law was pleaded but the Martial Law The
Weakness as two Ambassadors to present her Affection but Life would not give them audience Whereupon Death sent Pain who had such a perswasive power that made Life yeeld to Death's embracements And after they were agreed the Wedding-day was set and Guests invited Life invited the Five Senses and all the Passions and Affections with Beauty Pleasure Youth Wit Prosperity and also Virtue and the Graces But Health Strength Cordials and Charms refused to come which troubled Life much None that Death invited refused to come they were Old Father Time Weakness Sickness all sorts of Pains and all sorts of Diseases and killing-Instruments as also Sighs Tears and Groans Numbness and Paleness But when Life and Death met Death took Life by the Hand then Peace married them and Rest made their Bed of Oblivion wherein Life lay in the cold Arms of Death Yet Death got numerous Issues and ever since whatsoever is produced from Life dyes Whereas before this Marriage there was no such thing as dying for Death and Life were single like Batchelors and Maids But Life proved not so good a Wife as Death a Husband for Death is sober staid grave discreet patient dwelling silently and solitary whereas Life is wild various unconstant and runs about shunning her Husband Death's company But he as a loving and fond Husband follows her and when he embraces her she grows big and soon produces young Lives But all the Off-spring of Death and Life are divided half dwelling with Life and half with Death At this Wedding old Father Time which looked the youngest although he was the oldest in the Company and danced the nimblest and best making several changes in his Dances he trod so gently and moved so smoothly that none could perceive how he did turn and wind and lead about And being wiser than all the rest with long Experience he behaved himself so handsomely insinuated so subtilly courted so civilly that he got all the Ladies Affections and being dextrous got Favours from every one of them and some extraordinary ones for he devirginated Youth Beauty Pleasure Prosperity and all the Five Sences but could not corrupt Wit Virtue nor the Graces But Nature hearing of the abuse of her Maids was very angry and forced him to marry them all But they although they were inamoured of him before they were married yet now they do as most other Wives not care for him nay they hate him rail and exclaim against him that what with his peevish froward and cross Wives and with the jealousie he hath of Sickness Pains and Mischances that ofen ravish them he is become full of wrinkles and his Hair is turned all gray But Virtue and Wit which are his sworn Friends and sweet Companions recreate him with their pleasant free honest and honourable Societies Of the Indispositions of the Mind THE Mind was very sick and sent for Physicians and the first that came were Divines who disputed so long and contradicted one another so much that they could conclude of nothing One advising the Mind to take a Scruple of Calvin's Institutions others a Dram of Luther's Doctrine some two Drams of the Romish Treacle or Opinions some of the Anabaptists Water others to take some of the Brownists Spirits But there were some quite from these Opinions and would advise the Mind to lay some of Mahomet's Pigeons at the feet cutting them with the Turkish Scimitar then bind it up with his Alcaron others would have the Mind bind the Head with the Talmud of the Jews But the Mind grew sicker and sicker insomuch that it was almost at the last gasp whereupon the Mind desired them to depart for said he your Controversies will kill me sooner than your Doctrine will cure me The Mind being very sick sent for other Sects of Physicians who were Moral Philosophers who being come set round a Table and there began to discourse and dispute of the Diseases of the Mind One said Grief is a Lethargie No said another Stupidity is a Lethargie for Grief rather weeps than sleeps O but said another there are dry Griefs that sweat no Tears Pray Gentlemen dispatch said the Mind for I am in great pain One says Hate is an Apoplexy for it is dead to it self though it lives to the Beloved No said he but Hate is a Dead-Palsie No said the other Ignorance is a Dead-Palsie but Hate is an Apoplexie caused by the stopping of the Spirits either Animal or Vital the Vital Spirits being Compassion the Animal Spirits Generosity You are most strangely mistaken said another for all the Spirits are composed of Fortitude the Vital Spirits are active the Animal are passive But they disputed so long upon this point that they had almost fallen out and the Mind prayed them not to quarrel for wrangling noise did disturb him much Then one said That Spight and Envy were Cancers the one caused by sharp Humours the other by salt Another said That Spight was not a Cancer but a Fistula that broke out in many several places and that Envy was the Scurvy that speckled the whole Body of the Mind like Flea-bites The Mind prayed them to go no further in that dispute Then one of them said That Anger was a Hot Burning Fever Nay by your favour said another Anger is an Epilepsie that soams at the Mouth and beats its Breast strugling and striving and will be often in Cold-Sweats and as pale as Death Then another said That an Ague in the Mind was Doubt and Hope the Cold Fit being Doubt and the Hot Fit Hope A second answered That Agues were Fear which caused Shaking-Fits A third said That Jealousie was an Ague that had Cold and Hot Fits Nay said a fourth Jealousie is an Hectick Fever that is an extraordinary Heat got into the Arteries which inflames the Spirit of Action drinks up the Blood of Tranquillity and at last wasts and consumes the Body of Love A fifth said Jealousie is the Gout which is a burning beating pain never letting the Mind be at rest Said a sixth Jealousie is a Head-ake caused from an ill affected Friend But there grew such a Dispute upon this as whether it was the Head Heart or Arteries that the Mind was forced to threaten them they should have no Fees if they did dispute so much As for the Wind-cholick in the Mind some said It was an overflow of Imaginations and Conceptions others That it was strange Opinions others said It was wild Fancies others That it was the over-dilating of the Thoughts and many more several Judgments were given whereupon they were ready to fight To which the Mind replied That it is impossible you should prescribe effectual Medicines if you cannot agree about the Disease Then another said Slander was the Spotted-Fever Another said A Spotted-Fever was Malice Says another A Spotted-Fever and the Plague have near relation but the Plague said he is Discontent that is caused by Envy Slander Malice and the like This Plague of Discontent breaks out
my Soul is yours there is nothing I can own that is not so And since you must and will go from this place let me go with you to set your Triumphs out and lead me as your Slave Sir answered she I have not been so ill treated nor am I so ungrateful to go away and leave no thanks behind me Wherefore I will stay until there is such a Peace made as you may receive as much Profit and as little Losses thereby as I. Wherefore in order thereunto I desire that the General of my Forces and some of my Council may come hither and so confer both with my self and you The King gave order that the Gates of the City might be set open but the Queen sent a Messenger to the Army that none of the Forces should enter into it but keep themselves where they were without only the General and the Council and some of the chiefest Commanders to come unto her But when they were ready to wait upon the Queen the old Man fell very sick and sent to his Son the young General to come unto him to take his leave of him before he dyed who went with a sorrowful heart and sad countenance and when he came close to his Bed the old Man spake Son said he My Lease of Life is expired and Death the Landlord of my Body knocks at my old and ruinated Cottage sending out my Soul to seek another Habitation which Soul intends to travel through the Airy Skies unto the Mansion of the Gods where it shall pray for your success and happy days on Earth O Father said Travelia Must you go and leave me here behind Why will the Gods so cruelly oppress An innocent Youth to leave it in distress You were my good Angel to guard me from those Evils that Fortune sets about me you were my Guide which did direct my simple Youth to just and honest ways What will become of me when you are gone Or who will rescue me from those that seek my ruin The old Man said The Gods the Gods my Son they will reward your Virtue Farewel farewell then turned his head and dyed After he had lamented and mourned over his lifeless Corps he sent to the Queen to give him leave to interr his Father's ashes The King hearing thereof sent to the General inviting him to bring his Father's Body into the City and there to be interr'd in his chief Temple which Honour he accepted Whereupon all the Army brought the Hearse unto the Gates and then returned unto their Trenches But the Chief Commanders did bear it unto the Grave the young General came into the Temple being clad all in Mourning only his Face seen which appeared like the Sun when it breaks through a dark and spungy Cloud whose Beams did shine on those watry drops that fell upon her Cheeks as Banks where Roses and Lillies grow and standing on a mounted Pillar he said I come not here to flatter or be-lye the dead but to speak the truth as far as my knowledg is informed He was aged in years not old for those are only old whose Memories and Understanding are grown defective by the length of time He was Wise by Experience not led with Self-opinion He was learned in the Art of Navigation and not ignorant of Land-Service or Command although few that dwell on Seas and profess that Art know more of Land than the Ports where they take harbour to shelter themselves from furious storms or to take fresh Victuals in or to be deboist with Wine and Women But he was most temperate not only in moderating his Passions but also his Appetites with Reason Honour and Religion In his Behaviour he was affable and free not formal nor constrain'd by vain and self-conceit His Disposition gentle sweet and kind He was in his Nature compassionate to all that were in distress He was Industrious to all good Effects and had a nimble and ingenious Wit and 〈◊〉 a superfluity of Courage as did not only banish fear in himself but begot spirit in others He was bred in the Schools of Honour where he had learnt Vertuous Principles and Heroick Actions He had all the Ingredients that goeth to the making of an Honest and Gallant Man And he was not only Morally Honest but most Pious and Devout He offered not Sacrifice to the Gods for Worldly Prosperity but out of Pure Love and Adoration to the Gods He was a Pattern for all others to take Example by His Soul was as the Breath of the Gods and his Animal Part as the best of Nature's Extraction But Nature makes nothing to last in one Form long for what she creates she dissolves again With that her Tears fell so fast from her Eyes as stopt her mouth for a time but at last she sighing said Although my Tears are useless to him since it is not in their power to alter the Decrees of Fate nor can perswade the Gods to give perpetual Life here in this World yet Natural Affections are forced through my Eyes Then bowing down her Head over the Corps which was placed underneath said These as satisfaction may asswage my grief to think my new-born Fears the issues of my Love shall be buried and lye intombed with his cold Ashes which is the only way to mingle Souls when Death hath parted Bodies But if Fate had had the power to twist the Thread of of my Life with his then Death had struck me too and so eased my grief But since it is not so his Memory shall lye entombed in my Heart until I dye After he had spoke this Funeral-speech he descended from the Pillar and helping to lay the Corps upon the Funeral-Pile did with a flaming-Torch set the Fuel on fire and gathering up the Ashes put them in the Urn and placed it in a Tomb. Having thus executed those Ceremonies belonging to the dead he changed his Mourning-Robes and clothed himself fit for the Court or Camp again Then he and the Council and the chief Commanders went unto the Palace of the King where after some discourse he was brought to the Queen who joyed more to see her Travelia than for the Victories they had won and after she had condoled with him for the loss of his Father she congratulated with him for the good success he had in the Warrs aud withal told him She must set at liberty his Prisoner the Prince for she had given him back unto the King Whereupon he presently gave order for the Prince to repair to the Court and after she had heard the relations of all their several Actions and Accidents and pleased her self with the variety of other Discourses she told them She would sit in Council to consider what was to be done as concerning the Peace and so dismist them for that time only she stayed Travelia loving his company so well she could not so easily part with him But the King perceiving her Affections as being never pleased but when
be dead So in two or three days all Contracts were confirmed and the Match was concluded with the approbation of all Friends of either side married they were and in a short time after he carried her to his House there made her Mistress of his Estate and whilst he governed his outward Affairs she governed the Family at home where they lived plentifully pleasantly and peaceably not extravagantly vain-gloriously and luxuriously they lived neat and cleanly they loved passionately thrived moderately and happily they lived and piously dyed The She-Anchoret THERE was a Widower who had but one Child and she a Daughter which Daughter he bred with Pious Devotions Moral Instructions and Wise Advertisements but he falling sick to death called his Daugher unto him and thus spake to her Farewell my dearest Child for dye I must My Soul must flye my Body turn to dust My only care is that I leave thee young To wander in the World Mankind among Few of them charitable are or kind Nor bear they in their Breast a Noble Mind To help the Fatherless or pity Youth Protect the Innocent maintain the Truth But all their time 's spent with laborious toil For to pervert to ruin and to spoil Flatter thy Beauty and thy Youth betray To give thy Heart and Virgin-flower away They will profess love vow to be thy Friend Marriage will promise yet they will pretend Their Friends will angry be or else they 'l say Their Land 's engag'd they first their Debts must pay Or else that they during some time of life Have made a Vow Not yet to take a Wife And twenty such Excuses they will find For to deceive the simple Female-Kind And if you marry Troubles you will find Pains Griefs and Cares to vex a quiet Mind But here I charge you lying in Death's Arms That you do stop your Ears against their Charms Live chast and holy serve the Gods above They will protect thee for thy zealous Love Daughter I will obey whatever you command Although you dye your will shall fixed stand Father Next I do charge thee Not to grieve nor mourn Since no redress will from the Grave return Daughter O do not so said she But give Grief leave to flow out of my Eyes For if it be supprest the Body dyes Whilst now you live great wrong y'uld think you have If I should sit and laugh upon your Grave Or with neglect should I your Grave pass by And ne're take notice where your Ashes lye Father You cannot hinder Destiny's Decree Daughter O no! but Nature Nature still will be Nature created Love within the Mind The Object dead the Passion still is kind Had I as many Lives as Nature make I 'de lay them on Death's Altar for your sake That single one I have O Heavens me hear Exchange it for my Father's Life so dear But when her Father found that Death drew on He bid her lay her Hand his Eyes upon Father Close up my Eyes said he and then receive Upon thy Lips my last Breath let me breathe When he was dead sh' amaz'd long time sate still At last bethought her of her Father's Will Then up she rose his Body did entomb And how she spent her Life rehearse I 'le soon The Description of her Life in Prose AFTER she had interred her Father's Corps although she had rich honourable and importunate Suiters yet she resolved to live like a kind of an Anchoret's Life living encloistered by her self alone vowing Chastity and a Single-life but gave leave for any to speak to her through a Grate When she went first into her solitary Habitation she thus spake Virtues are several Pathes which lead to Heaven And they which tread these Pathes have Graces given Repentant tears allay the Dust of Pride And pious Sighs doth blow vain Thoughts aside Sorrow and Grief which in the Heart doth lye Doth cloud the Mind as Thunder doth the Skie But when in Thundring-groans it breaketh out The Mind grows clear the Sun of Joy peeps out This pious Life I now resolve to lead Will in my Soul both Joy and Comfort breed She had not been long enclosed but she grew as famous as Diogenes in his Tub all sorts of people resorted to her to hear her speak and not only to hear her speak but to get knowledg and to learn wisdom for she argued rationally instructed judiciously admonished prudently and perswaded piously applying and directing her Discourse according to the several Studies Professions Grandeurs Ages and Humours of her Auditory The first that came to her were Natural Philosophers who asked her Opinion of Man's Soul of which she discoursed in this manner She said Man hath three different Natures or Faculties A Sensitive Body Animal Spirits and a Soul This Soul is a kind of Deity in it self to direct and guide those things that are far above it and to create by Invention and though it hath not an absolute Power over it self yet it is an harmonious and absolute thing in it self and though the Sensitive Body hath a relation to it yet no other ways than Jove's Mansion hath unto Jove for the Body is only the residing-place and the Animal Spirits are as the Angels of the Soul which are Messengers and Intelligencers All Animal Creatures have not this Soul but only Man for Beasts have none nor every Man for most Men are Beasts and have only a Sensitive Body and Animal Spirits as Beasts have but none know when this Soul is out or in the Body but the Gods and not only other Bodies and Spirits cannot know but the Body where it resides and the attending-spirits are ignorant thereof for this Soul is as invisible to the Body and the Animal Spirits as the Gods to Men for though this kind of Soul knows and hath intelligence by the Senses and by the Animal Spirits yet the Senses nor Animal Spirits have none from the Soul for as Gods know Men but Men know not Gods so this Soul knows the Senses and Animal Spirits but the Senses nor Animal Spirits know not this Soul Then they asked her Whether Souls were Immortal She answered That only the Life was Immortal from whence all Souls are derived Then they asked her What Deities she thought there were She answered She thought but one which was the Father of all Creatures and Nature the Mother he being the Life and Nature the only Matter which Life and Matter produceth Motion and Figure various Successions Creations and Dissolutions Then they asked her What she thought Time was She said Time was only the Variation and Alteration of Nature for Time is only in respect to Creations Alterations and Dissolutions Then they asked her What Eternal was She answered An endless Succession Then they asked her What Infinite was She said A Numberless Succession but said she Eternal is in respect to Infinite as Infinite to Eternal Then they asked her Whether she thought there were fixt Decrees or all were governed by
Fair By Pleasures to the world invited are Bury not all your Youth and Beauty here Which like the Sun may to all Eyes appear O Sir said she the Sun that gave me light Death hath eclips'd and taken from my sight In Melancholy Shades my Soul doth lie And grieves my Body which will not yet die My Spirits long to wander in the air Hoping to find its loving Partner there Though Fates my Life have power to prolong Yet they have none my constant Mind to wrong But when I did perceive no Rhetorick could Perswade her to take comfort grieve she would Then taking my leave for to go away With adoration thus to her did say Farewell thou Angel of a Heavenly Breed For sure thou com'st not from a Mortal Seed Thou art so constant unto Virtue fair Which very few of either Sexes are And after a short time I heard she dy'd Her Tomb was built close by her Husband's side After the Man a Woman did begin To tell her Tale and thus she entred in A Description of Diverted Grief A Man had once a Young and Handsom Wife Whose Virtue was unspotted all her life Her words were smooth which from her Tongue did slide All her Discourse was wittily appli'd Her Actions modest her Behaviour so As when she mov'd the Graces seem'd to go Whatever Ill she chanc'd to see or hear Yet still her Thoughts as pure as Angels were Her Husband 's Love seem'd such as no Delight Nor Joy could take him out of his Wife's sight It chanc'd this virtuous Wife fell sick to death And to her Husband spake with dying-breath Farewell my dearest Husband dye I must Yet do not you forget me in the Dust Because my Soul would grieve if it should see Another in my room your LOVE to be My Ghost would mourn lament that never dyes Though Bodies do pure Loves eternalize You Gods said he that order Death and Life O strike me dead unless you spare my Wife If your Decree be fix'd nor alter can But she must dye O miserable Man Here do I vow Great Gods all witness be That I will have no other Wife but thee No Friendship will I make converse with none But live an Anchoret my self alone Thy Spirits sweet my Thoughts shall entertain And in my Mind thy Memory remain Farewell said she for now my Soul 's at peace And all the Blessings of the Gods encrease Upon thy Soul but I pray do not give Away that Love I had whilst I did live Turning her Head as if to sleep she lay In a soft Sigh her Spirits flew away VVhen she was dead great Mourning he did make VVould neither eat nor drink nor rest could take Kissing her cold pale Lips her Cheeks each Eye Cursing his Fate he lives and cannot dye Tears fell so fast as if his Sorrows meant To lay her in a watry Monument But when her Corps upon the Hearse was laid No Tongue can tell what mournful Cries he made Thus did he pass his time a week or two In sad commplaints and melancholy wo At last he was perswaded for to take Some air abroad ev'n for his own healths sake But first unto the Grave he went to pray Kissing that Earth wherein her Body lay After a Month or two his Grief to ease Some Recreations sought himself to please And calling for his Horses and his Hounds He went to hunt upon the Champian grounds His Thoughts by these Pastimes diverted are Pass'd by the Grave and never dropt a Tear At last he chanc'd a Company to meet Of Virgins young and fresh as Flowers sweet Their Cloathing fine their Humours pleasant gay And with each other they did sport and play Giving his Eyes a liberty to view VVith interchanging Looks in Love he grew One Maid amongst the rest most fair and young VVho had a ready wit and pleasant tongue He Courtship made to her he did address Cast off his Mourning Love for to express Rich Clothes he made and wondrous fine they were He barb'd and curl'd and powder'd sweet his Hair Rich Gifts unto his Mistress did present And every day to visit her he went They like each other well they both agree That in all haste they straight must married be To Church they went for joy the Bells did ring When married were he home the Bride did bring But when he married was some half a year He Curtain-Lectures from his VVife did hear For whatsoe're he did she did with spight And scorn dislike and all his kindness slight Cross every word she would that he did say Seem'd very sick complaining every day Unless she went abroad then she would be In humour good in other Company Then he would sigh and call into his Mind His dear dead Wife that was so wondrous kind He jealous grew and was so discontent And of his later Marriage did repent With Melancholy Thoughts fell sick and dy'd His VVife soon after was another's Bride VVhen she had done the Men aloud did cry Said she had quit her Tale most spitefully Another Man to answer what she told Began to tell and did his Tale unfold The Feminine Description A Man a walking did a Lady spy To her he went and when he came hard by Fair Lady said he why walk you alone Because said she my Thoughts are then my own For in a Company my Thoughts do throng And follow every foolish babling Tongue Your Thoughts said he 't were boldnessfor to ask To tell said she it were too great a task But yet to satisfie your Mind said she I 'le tell you how our Thoughts run commonly Sometimes they mount up to the Heavens high Then straight fall down and on the Earth will lye Then circling run to compass all they may And then sometimes they all in heaps do stay At other times they run from place to place As if they had each other in a Chace Sometimes they run as Phansie doth them guide And then they swim as in a flowing-Tide But if the Mind be discontent they flow Against the Tide their Motion 's dull and slow Said he I travel now to satisfie my Mind Whether I can a Constant VVoman find O Sir said she it 's Labour without end VVe cannot Constant be to any Friend VVe seem to love to death but 't is not so Because our Passions still move to and fro They are not fix'd but do run all about Every new Object thrusts the former out Yet we are fond and for a time so kind As nothing in the world should change our Mind But if Misfortune come we weary grow Then former Fondness we away straight throw Although the Object alter not yet may Time alter our fond Minds another way We love and like and hate and cry VVithout a Cause or Reason why Wherefore go back for you shall never find Any VVoman to have a Constant Mind The best that is shall hold but for a time Wav'ring like wind which Women hold no Crime A Woman
melancholy words all hopes do vail As Golden dust on written lines strewn were Your written lines seem sprinkled with a Tear As by the Heat of Passion spread about For fear that Cruelty should blot it out But let me tell you That my love is such As never Lover loved half so much And with so fervent Zeal and purest Flame Nay something above Love that wants a Name For to express it like to Gods on high For who can comprehend a Deity And though I honour all your Sex yet my Having another Mistress I deny Besides your self and though I do obey To visit the fair Princess nothing say Concerning Love nor yet Professions make As common Lovers promise for her sake Wonders and yet my Life to her will give To do her service but whilst I do live My Heart and Soul is yours and when I dye Still will my Soul keep yours in company Though by Honour my active life is bound Unto your Sex you only will be found Within my Heart and only Love to be From whence my Brain doth Copies take of thee On which my Soul doth view with much delight Because the Soul sees not with vulgar sight For Souls do see not as the Senses do But as transparent Glass the Minds quite through Or rather as the Gods see all that 's past Present or what 's to come or the World vast Or what can be all unto them is known And so are Souls to one another shown And if our Souls do equally agree Our Thoughts and Passions to each known will be But after this Letter they both did get An opportunity by which they met No Complemental-wooing they did use True Love all flattering words it doth refuse But they agreed and both did think it fit Their love to hide not to discover it At last the Queen and Father did agree The Prince and Princess straight should married be Ne're made a question for they doubted not But Youth and Beauty had each other shot With Amorous Loves But when the Prince made known How that his heart was now none of his own His Father seem'd with trouble discontent But the enraged Queen with malice bent Did strive all ways she could for to disgrace The sweet young Lady oft disprais'd her Face Her Person Dress Behaviour and her Wit And for to match with such a Prince not fit The Prince's love so firm no words could break Impatiently did hear but little speak But the Princess heard the Prince to be A Lover to another then did she Tear rail and rave as if she frantick were And of her Rival words she would not spare One day a Company of Nobles met And in a Room they were together set The Prince and his Fair Mistress she did spy And often at them cast a spightful Eye At last her Malice set a-work her Tongue And at the Prince she evil words out flung Which he receiv'd with a submissive face Turning those scorns as favours of her grace But when she had with Scorns his Patience try'd She for to vent her Spleen in Passion cry'd Some of the Company there jesting by The other Lady ask'd if she would cry She answer made she had not the like cause Nor had she broke the Modest Civil Laws But if her Passion had misled her Tongue She would have wept to water or else flung Her self to dust for want of moisture dye Unless her life could issue through her eye But when the Prince perceiv'd such storms to rise And showring tears to fall from beauteous eyes He did absent himself and shun'd to be A trouble to the Princess Company But when the Queen had try'd all means she could To alter his affections nothing would She then their Marriage strove for to prevent And to the Army she the Prince soon sent Then order gave Not to return again But with the Army there for to remain He to his Mistress went his leave to take Perswading her a Journey she would make Unto the Army and there to agree When they should meet straight-way married be At last she did resolve to leave the Court And privately with great speed to transport Her Person to the Prince where he was gone For ne're till then she found her self alone When the Army began for to retire To Winter-Quarters he did there desire His Mistress Company and then did write To those he had entrusted how they might Convey her safely but by some mistake The Queen had means this his Letter to take Which when she read all in a rage she grew And then his Letter into the fire she threw Which when sh' had told her Neece they both did strive And both in Council sate for to contrive To hinder her wish'd-meeting wherefore they Did think it best the Lady to convey Unto some private place and then give out That she was dead which soon was spread about And every one in censuring spent some breath And most did judg she dy'd a violent death But the Queen's anger only would destroy Their Loves because her Neece then should enjoy The Prince on whom her heart in love was set And us'd all means she could his love to get But though at first they thought the Prince might mourn Yet when his grief had been by time out-worn He then might take the Princess for his Wife Concealing the young Lady all her life And though they did not murther her yet they Did strive to grieve and cross her every way Wherefore they did agree that some should tell Her that the Prince in Battel fell The report of her death spread far and near And at last came unto the Prince his ear The news struck him so hard as it did make His strength grow weak and all his limbs to shake But when his strength return'd his mind sad grew And from all company himself withdrew No Orders he would give but left the care Of all the Army to an Officer And from th' Army without the Queen's consent He did return and to his Father went And told him he all worldly things did wave Had buri'd them all in his Mistress Grave And the remainder of his days would spend In holy Devotion his Prayers would send Unto the Gods and my dear Saint said he Will be a Mediator there for me His Father did disswade him all he could But all in vain a Hermit be he would Instead of Palaces he chose a Cell Left Courts and Camps did solitary dwell Instead of Clothes that rich and costly were He wore a Garment made of Camel's hair Instead of Arms a Hermit's Habit took And for a Sword he us'd a Prayer-book Instead of treading Measures in a dance And wanton Eyes that oft would side-ways glance His knees upon hard stone did bowing bend And his sad Eyes unto the Earth descend Instead of flattering words to tempt Maids fair No words did speak but what were us'd in Prayer All wild wandring thoughts were now compos'd And the dead
object of his Mistress clos'd Like Multitudes that gather in a Ring To view some curious or some wondrous thing Or like a devout Congregation met Will strive about the Altar near to set So did his Thoughts near her Idea get Which as a Goddess in his Soul did set Then he an Altar built of Marble white And Waxen Tapers round about did light Her Picture on this Altar plac'd was high There to be seen with an up-lifted Eye She was his Saint and he there every day Did offer Tears and Sighs to her did pray And her implore she would the Gods request To take his Soul his Body lay to rest In th' mean time his Mistress's made believe That he was kill'd for which she much did grieve For when she at the first the news did hear Her Face turn'd pale like Death it did appear Then gently sinking she fell to the ground Grief seiz'd her heart and put her in a swound At last life got the better and then wept And wisht to Heaven that she in death had slept But Melancholy her whole Soul possest And of all pleasing Thoughts it self divest All objects shuns that pleasing were and fair And all such sounds as were of a leight air The splendrous Light and glorious Sun shut out And all her Chamber hung with black about No other light but blinking Lamps would have Some Earth and Turf therein like to a Grave The which she often view'd or sate close by Imagining the Prince therein did lye And on that Grave her Tears like show'rs of rain Keep fresh the Turf on the green Grass remain As pearled dew before the Sun doth rise Or as refreshing show'rs from Cloudy Skies And often this supposed Grave doth dress With such significant Flow'rs as did express His Virtues and his Dispositions sweet More than those Flowers when in Posies meet His various Virtues known to all so well More fragrant than those Flowers were for smell But first she set a Lawrel-Garland green To shew that he a Victor once had been And in the midst a copious Branch did place For to express he dyed in the chace Of his fierce Enemies his Courage was so true That after a long fight away they flew Thus Melancholy past her time away Besides sad solemn Musick ' twice a day For ev'ry Sense with Melancholy fill'd And always dropping-tears from thence distill'd With which her Melancholy Soul did feed And Melancholy Thoughts her Mind did breed Then on the ground her Head aside-ways hung Would lye along whilst these sad Songs were sung A SONG TITAN I banish all thy joys of Light Turning thy glorious Rays to darker Night Clothing my Chamber with sad Black each part Thus suitable unto my mournful heart Only a dimn Wax Taper there shall wait On me to shew my sad unhappy Fate With mournful Thoughts my Head shall furnisht be And all my Breath sad Sighs for love of thee My Groans to sadder Notes be set with skill And sung in Tears and Melancholy still Languishing-Musick to fill up each Voice With Palsied trembling Strings is all my choice A SONG SInce he is gone Oh then Salt Tears Drown both mine Eyes and stop mine Ears With Grief my Grief it is so much It locks my Smell up Taste and Touch. In me remains but little breath Which quickly take away Oh Death A SONG WHY should I live But who doth know The way to him or where to go Death's ignorant the Dead they have No sense of Grief when in the Grave Forgetful and Unthankful Death Hast thou no love when gone's our Breath No Gratitude but there dost lye In dark Oblivion for to dye No sense of Love or Honour there Then Death I prethee me forbear Thousands of years in sorrow I Would live in Grief and never dye A SONG MY Bed of Sorrow 's made since no relief And all my Pillows shall be stuff'd with Grief My Winding-sheets are those whereon I lye My Curtains drawn with sad Melancholy Watching shall be my Food Weeping my Drink Sighing my Breath and Groaning what I think Trembling and shaking all my Exercise Disquiet and disorder'd Thoughts now rise Wringing of hands with folded arms lamenting Is all the joy is left me of contenting For he is gone that was my joy my life I 'm left his Widow who ne'er was his Wife But all the while the Queen was angry bent Against the Prince because away he went And left the Army without a General For which she Rebel Traytor him did call But she another General did make Which of the Army all the Charge did take Yet his Success in Warrs proved but bad For afterward the Queen great Losses had And all the Soldiers they were discontent Whereat the Queen another General sent But he no better Fortune there could meet The Enemy did force him to retreat Then did the Enemy so pow'rful grow The Forces of the Queen they overthrow In every Fight and Skirmish which they had For which the Queen and Kingdom did grow sad At last the Queen the Prince did flatter and Entreated him again for to Command But he deny'd the Queen would not obey Said Earthly Power to Gods they must give way At last she sent him word she would not spare His life and therefore bid him to prepare Himself for death for dye he should For Disobedience and Revenge she would Have on him Then his Father to him went For to perswade him and there did present Show'rs of Tears which sadly pouring fell Upon his only Son his grief to tell He round about his Neck one arm did wind The other arm embrac'd his Body kind His Cheeks his Son did joyn to his And often he his Lips did kiss O pity me my Son and thy Life spare Thou art my only Child and only Heir Th' art my sole Joy in thee I pleasure take And wish to live but only for thy sake The Prince his Father answer'd and said he I am not worth those Tears you shed for me But why do you thus weep and thus lament For my death now When to the Warrs I went You did encourage me to fight in field For Victory or else my Life to yeeld I willingly obey'd and joy'd to find My Father's Sympathy unto my Mind Besides it shew'd a greater love to me Than Parents self-lov'd fondness us'd to be For to prefer my Honour and my Fame Before the perpetu'ty of your Name And as you priz'd my Honour and Renown So I a Heavenly not an Earthly Crown And give me leave the better choice to make To quit all troubles and sweet Peace to take I ne'er more willing nor more fit can dye For Heaven and the Gods pure company For had I dy'd in Warrs my Soul had been Stained with Blood and spotted o're with Sin But now my Mistress is a Saint in Heaven Hath intercession made my sins forgiven And since she 's gone all Joys with her are fled And I shall never happy be till
in secret guise Courting her privately for fear of Spies He strove to win her unto his embraces Muffle the Faults he would and the Disgraces Said he Why may not we our Senses all delight Our Senses and our Souls Heaven unite That we call Honour only Man creates For it was never destin'd by the Fates It is a word Nature ne're taught us nay It is a Precept she forbids t' obey Then follow Nature for that follows God And not the Arts of Men they 're vain and odd Let every Sense lye steep not drown'd in pleasure Let us keep up their height in balanc'd measure First let our Eyes all Beauteous Objects view Our Ears all Sounds which Notes and Times keep true Then Scent all Odours to refresh the Brain With Tastes delicious Palates entertain Touch things most pleasing that all Parts may feel Expansion of the Soul from Head to Heel Thus we shall use what Nature to us gave For by restraint in Life we dig our Grave And in the Grave our Senses useless lye Just so is Life if Pleasures we deny Thus Heav'n that gave us Sense may take it ill If we refuse what 's offered to us still Then let our Sense and Souls take all delight Not to surfeit but feed each Appetite Come Pleasure Circle me within thy Arms Inchant my Soul with thy delightful Charms Said she It is not always in our Power To feed Delight nor Pleasure to devour Man no free Power hath of any thing Only himself can to destruction bring Can kill his Body and his Soul can damn Although he cannot alienate the same Nor can he make them always to remain Nor turn them to what they were first again Thus can we cross and vex our selves with pain But being sick cannot be well again We can Disturb great Nature's work at will But to Restore and Make is past our skill But he did plead so hard such Vows did make Such large Professions and such Oaths did take That he would constant be and that his Bride He would her make when that his Father dy'd She young and innocent knew no deceits Nor thought that Words and Vows were us'd as baits So yeelded she to all he did desire Thinking his Vows as much as Laws require But they so oft did meet till it befell She sick did grow her Body big did swell Which she took care to hide and would not be As she was wont in other Company But to her Parents she would often cry And said she swell'd so with a Tympany They did believe her and did make great moan Their only Child was now so sickly grown His Father old the Marriage to prevent Now in all haste his Son to travel sent Gave him no time nor warning to be gone Nor till he saw him ship'd left him alone But he to ease his Mistress of her fear For to return he only now took care But she no sooner heard that he was gone But in her Chamber lock'd her self alone Complain'd against her Destiny and Fate And all her Love to him was turn'd to Hate You Gods said she my Fault 's no wilful sin For I did think his Vows had Marriage been But by his stealth so privately to leave me I find my Crime and that he did deceive me For which said she you Gods torment him more Than ever any Man on Earth before With that she rose about her Neck she flung A Silken String and in that String she hung Her Parents to her Chamber did repair Calling her forth to take the fresh sweet air Supposing it might do her Health some good And at her Chamber door long time they stood But when they call'd and knock'd no answer made She being sick they ' gan to be afraid Their Limbs did shake with age Nerves being slack't Those Nervous Strings with fear were now contract At last though much a-do they had to speak They Servants call'd to open or to break The Lock No sooner done but with great fear They entred in and after they were there The horrid sight no sooner struck their Eyes But it congeal'd their Hearts and straight both dyes The Fame of their sad Fates all round was spread The Lover heard his Mistress then was dead His Clothes his Hair he tore his Breast did beat His Spirits issu'd out in a cold Sweat Said he O cursed Death come kill me quick And in my Heart thy Spear or Arrow stick Because my Love in thy cold Arms doth lye I now desire nay am resolv'd to dye But O! Love is a powerless God in vain He strives with 's Flame to melt Death's Icy Chain For though with Love my Heart so hot doth burn Yet cannot melt I fear Death's Icy Urn. Then he all in a rage to the Earth fell And there invoking up the Devils of Hell Saith he Ye Powerful Terrors me assist For to command or force Death when I list That by your help and pow'r my Love may rise From the dark Vault or Grave wherein she lies Or else by Death's cold hand alone Convert me into Marble-stone Then running as distracted in and out By Fancies Visions strange saw all about And crying loud My Mistress she is there He seem'd to catch but grasp'd nought else but air See see her Ghost how it doth slide away Her Soul is pure and shines as glorious Day But my foul Soul which is as black as Night Doth shadows cast upon the Soul that 's bright Which makes her walk as in a gloomy shade Like Shadows which the Silver Moon hath made Hark how my Love sings sweetly in the Skye Her Soul is mounted up to Heavens high And there it shall be made a Deity And I a Devil in Hell tormented lye His spirit being spent fell to the ground And lying there a while as in a swound At last he rose and with a sober pace He bent his steps as to her burying-place And with his Cloak he muffled him about His Hatpull'd o're his Brows his Eyes look't out To guide his way but far he had not gone That straight he saw the Funerals coming on Three Hearses all were born as on a breast Black cover'd two with white the third was drest A Silver Crown upon that Hearse did stand And Myrtle-boughs young Virgins bore in hand The graver sort did Cypress-branches bear The mournful Parents death for to declare With solemn Musick to the Grave them brought With Tears in-urn'd their Ashes in a Vault But he before the People did return Did make great haste to get close to the Urn His Hat pulls off then bows le ts loose his Cloak With dropping Eyes countenance sad thus spoke You charitable Friends whoe're you be To see the Dead thus buri'd solemnly The like to me your Favour I do crave Stay all and see me buri'd in this Grave Giving himself a private wound there fell Into the Grave and dying there did tell Of his sad Love but now said he Our Souls nor
Virtuous Fair and Bright A Disposition suitable and kind No more Obedience Man in VVife could find She did esteem him so and priz'd him such Of Merit she thought no Man had so much And lov'd him more than Life lov'd perfect Health Or Princes for to rule a Commonwealth But such the Natures of most Husbands be That they love Change and seek Variety Or else like Fools or Children eas'ly caught With pleasing looks or flatt'ring tongues are brought From Virtues side in wicked ways to run And seldom back with Virtue do return But Misery may drive them back again Or else with Vices they do still remain It chanc'd this Lord a Lady fair did meet Her Countenance was pleasing Speech was sweet And from her Eyes such wanton Glances went As from her Heart Love-Messages had sent Whereby this Lord was catch'd in Cupid's Snare How to address he only now takes care But he straight had access and Courtships makes The Lady in his Courtships pleasure takes And Pride she takes that she could so allure A Husband from a Wife that was so pure As Heaven's Light and had the Praise and Fame Of being the most Fair and Virtuous Dame At last this Lady by her wanton Charms Inchanted had this Lord till in his arms He might embrace her in an amorous way His Thoughts were restless working Night and Day To compass his Designs nor did he care To lose his Wife's affection but did fear His Mistress to desplease and as her Slave Obey'd her will in all that she would have But she was subtil and of Nature bad A crafty Wit in making Quarrels had For which she seemed to be Coy and Nice And sets her Beauty at so great a price That she would never yeeld unless that he From his Chast Wife would soon divorced be Straight he to please her from his Wife did part For which his VVife was grieved at the Heart And sought her self obscurely for to hide And in a solitary House did ' bide As if she had a grievous Criminal been Or Causer was of his adulterous Sin And for a Penance she did strictly live But she was Chast and no offence did give Yet she in sorrow liv'd no rest could find Sad melancholy thoughts mov'd in her Mind Most of her time in Prayers she did spend Which as sweet Incense did to Heav'ns ascend Did often for her Husband Mercy crave That they would pardon all his Faults and save Him from Destruction and that they would give Him Happy Days as long as he should live But after he his Mistress had enjoy'd And that his Amorous Appetite was cloy'd Then on his Virtuous Wife his Thoughts did run The later Lady he did strive to shun For often they did quarrel and fall out He gladly would be rid of her no doubt At last he was resolv'd his VVife to see And to be Friends if that she would agree But when he saw his VVife his Heart did ake As being guilty all his Limbs did shake The terror of his Conscience did present To him her wrongs but yet to her he went She being set near to a Fountain low Her Tears did make the Stream to overflow Thither he came and on the Earth did kneel But in his Soul such passions did he feel Of Shame Fear Sorrow as he could not speak At last his Passion through his Lips did break Begging her Pardon and great Vows did make Of Reformation and that for her sake He would all Pain or Punishment endure And that no Husband should to Wife be truer Which when she heard she sighing did reply You come too late my Destiny is over-fraught My Bark of Life with Grief is over-fraught And ready is to sink with its own weight For show'rs of Tears and stormy Sighs do blow Me to the Ports of Death and Shades below He being affrighted at the word she spake In haste he rose her in his arms did take Wherewith she pleas'd and smiling turn'd her Eye Upon his Face so in his arms did dye And being dead he laid her on the ground He in the Fountain and her Tears was drown'd Impatiently in a high discontent There dy'd so had a watry Monument Another Lady said Such Men I hate That wrong their Wives and then repent too late But all Adulterers I wish might have A Violent Death and an Untimely Grave The next Man's turn to speak was one that in The Warrs was bred and thus be did begin A Description of Natural Affection THere were two Potent Princes whose great Fames For Actions in the Warrs got mighty Names It chanc'd these Potent Princes both did greet And were resolv'd in open Warrs to meet Their Courages to try their Strengths and Pow'r Their prudent Conducts or their fatal Hour In short these Armies meet a Battel fight VVhere one Side beaten was by Fortune's spight The Battel won that Army routed ran And for to save his Life strove every Man And their Artillery they left behind Each for himself a shelter hop'd to find VVhen from pursuit the Victors did come back The Solidiers for to plunder were not slack And every Tent they search'd and sought about To see if they some Treasure could find out To th'Prince's Tent did some Commanders go VVhere they did find an Object of much wo. That Prince being dead upon the ground was laid And by him sate a fair and sweet young Maid Her Beauty was so splendrous and so bright Through Clouds of Grief it shone like Heavens light VVhich the Commanders saw then straight did go To let their General of this Beauty know VVho when he came amazed was in mind Such Beauty for to see and Grief to find For this fair Princess by her Father set Her Eyes being fixt her Tears his Cheeks did wet She leaning o're his Head her Eyes down bend From whence her Tears upon his Face descend Upon his Mouth such deep-fetch'd sighs did breathe As if therein her Soul she would bequeathe For which this General did her admire Her Tears quench'd not but kindle did Love's Fire With that he did command the Solidiers there The Dead to take the Body up to bear But then she spake For pity have remorse Remove not from me my dead Father's Corpse For had not Fortune which he never trust With any business but what needs he must Conspir'd with Death to work his overthrow His wisdom crossing her she grew his Foe But all her Spight could never do him harm For he with Prudence still himself did arm But when that Death assisted her Design She struck him dead when Battels were to join His Solidiers forc'd to fight when that their Mind Was press'd with grief which fast th' Spirits did bind It was his Death that made him lose the Day And made you Victors that now wear the Bay But look said she his Hands now strengthless lye In fight which made his Enemies to flye His Eyes now shut by Death in Life gave light Unto his
Soldiers in the Warrs to fight His Tongue that silenc'd is by Death's cold Hand In Life mov'd wisely and could well command It Knowledg gave to those that little knew And did instruct what was the best to do His Heart lyes still no Motion doth remain Ceas'd are the Thoughts in his well-temper'd Brain Where in his Heart all Virtues did abide And in his Brain strong Reason did reside But all is vanquish'd now and Life doth seem No better than a Shadow or a Dream 'T is strange in Nature to observe and see The unproportion'd Links in Destinie For Man's the wisest Creature Nature makes And best Extracts to form his Figure takes And yet so short a Life to him she gives He 's almost dead before he knows he lives Yet she from Man receives the greatest praise He doth admire all her curious ways With wonder he her sev'ral VVorks doth see And studies all her Laws and each Decree Doth travel sev'ral ways within his Mind His Thoughts are restless her Effects to find But in his Travels Death cuts him off short And leads him into dark Oblivion's Court. Thus Nature is unjust Heaven unkind Which strikes the Best the Worst do favour find My Father's Merits might have challeng'd still A longer Life had it been Heavens will But he is dead and I am left behind Which is a torture to my troubled Mind If Soldiers pity have grant my desire Here strike me dead and let my Breath expire Said the Victorious Prince Heaven forbid all horrid Acts we shun For in the Field the purest Honour 's won We stake our Lives for Lives and justly play A Game of Honour on a Fighting-Day Perchance some Cheats may be among the Rout But if they 're found the Noblest throw them out But since you cannot alter Destiny Nor none that live but have some Misery Raise up your Spirits unto Heaven submit And do not here in Grief and Sorrow sit Your Father was a Soldier of great Fame His Valiant Deeds did get an Honoured Name And for his sake judg us which Soldiers be To have Human'ty and Civility Your Father he shall safely be convey'd That he may be by his Ancestors laid But you must stay yet not as Prisoner You shall Command and Rule our Peace and War She answered not in words her Tears did plead That she with her dead Father might be freed But her clear Advocates could not obtain Their humble Suit but there she must remain With the Victorious Prince but he deny'd As Victor in a Triumph for to ride For though the Battel I have won he said Yet I am Prisoner to this Beauteous Maid She is the Conqueress therefore 't is fit I walk as Prisoner she Triumphant sit Then all with great Respects to her did bow So doth the Prince and plead protest and vow To be her Servant and to yeeld his Life To Death's sad strokes unless she 'ld be his Wife But she still weeps his Suit no favour gains Of Fates and Destiny she still complains Why said the Prince should you my Suit deny Since I was not your Father's Enemy Soldiers are Friends though they each blood do spill 'T is not for Spight nor any Malice ill But Honour to maintain and Power to get And that they may in Fame's House higher set For those of greatest Pow'r to Gods draw near For nought but Pow'r makes Men like Gods appear But had I kill'd your Father in the Field Unto my Suit in Justice you might yeeld But I was not the Cause your Father dy'd For Victory doth still with him abide And though that Death stid strike him to the heart Yet his great Name and Fame will never part Men will suppose the Loss is loss of Life And had he liv'd there would be greater strife Between our Armies but if you 'l be mine Our Kingdoms in a Friendly Peace shall join Then she began to listen and give ear She of her Countrey in distress took care And in short time they were both Man and Wife Long did they live and had a happy Life The next a Virgin 's turn her Tale to tell Her Youth and Modesty did fit it well The Surprisal of DEATH A Company of Virgins young did meet Their Pastime was to gather Flowers sweet They white Straw-Hats upon their Heads did wear And falling-Feathers which wav'd with the air Fanning their Faces like a Zephyrus Wind Shadowing the Sun that strove their Eyes to blind And in their Hands they each a Basket held Which Baskets they with Fruits or Flowers fill'd But one amongst the rest such Beauty had That Venus for to change might well be glad Her Shape exact her Skin was smooth and fair Her Teeth white even set a long curl'd Hair Her Nature modest her Behaviour so As when she mov'd the Graces seem'd to go Her Wit was quick and pleasing to the Ear That all who heard her speak straight Lovers were But yet her Words such Chast Love did create That all Impurity they did abate And every heart or head where wild Thoughts live She did convert and wise Instructions give For her Discourse such heavenly Seeds did sow That where she strew'd there Virtues up did grow These Virgins all were in a Garden set And each did strive the finest Flowers to get But this fair Lady on a Bank did lye Of most choice Flowers which did court her Eye And every one did bend their heads full low Bowing their Stalks which from the Roots did grow And when her hands did touch their tender Leaves Each seem'd to kiss and to her Fingers cleaves But she as if in Nature 't were a Crime VVas loath to crop their Stalks in their full prime But with her Face close to those Flowers lay That through her Nostrils those Sweets might find way Not for to rob them for her head was full Of Flow'ry Phansies which her wit did pull And Posies made the World for to present VVith a more lasting and a sweeter Sent. But as she lay upon this pleasant Bank For which those Flowers did great Nature thank Death envious grew she such delight did take And with his Dart a deadly wound did make A sudden Cold did seize her every Limb With which her Pulse beat slow and Eyes grew dim Some that sate by observ'd her pale to be But thought it some false Light yet went to see And when they came she turn'd her Eyes aside Spread forth her arms then stretch'd and sigh'd and dy'd The frighted Virgins ran with panting-breath To tell the sadder story of her death The whilst the Flowers to her rescue bend And all their Med'cinable Virtues send But all in vain their Power 's too weak each Head Then droop'd seeing they could not help the Dead Their fresher Colours did no longer stay But faded straight and wither'd all away For Tears they dropp'd their Leaves and thought it meet To strew her with them as a Winding-Sheet The Airy Choristers hover'd above And
House and Goods on fire Where her rich Furniture did soon expire Then Envy sought all ways to pull her down And tax'd her Land as due unto the Crown And in that Suit great Sums of Money vast Lawyers ingross'd which made those Sums to wast And when those Lawyers got all that she had They cast her Suit as if her Cause was bad By which her Lands she lost then only left Her rich with Beauty but of Lands bereft In which she pleasure took although but poor Of Fortune's Goods of Nature's Giftssh ' had store But when the Gods did see her still content At last they to her Body Sickness sent She patient was her Beauty still did last But when that they their Judgment on that cast Making a Grave to bury Beauty in Which Beauty once did tempt the Saints to sin Because her Face so full of Pock-holes were That none could judg that Beauty once dwelt there Then did she sit and weep turn'd day to Night Asham'd she was to shew her Face the light Time an Ingraver cuts the Seal of Truth And as a Painter draws both age and youth His Colours mix'd with Oyl of Health lays on The plump smooth Youth he pencils thereupon Shadows of Age he placeth with much skill Making the hollow places darkest still But Time is slow and leisure he doth take No price will hasten him his Works to make But accidental Chance who oft doth jarr With aged Time and then some Works doth marr But when her wealth was gon and state was down Then did her Friends and Servants on her frown So far now from professing Slavery As they did use her most uncivilly Would rail against her spightful words throw out Or had she been but guilty would no doubt Betray her life such natures have Mankind That those in Misery no Friends can find For Fortune's Favours only Friendships make But few are Friends only for Virtue 's sake In Fortune's Frowns Man will not only be A Neuter but a deadly Enemy Nay ev'n a Devil to torment the Mind If he no mischief ' gainst the body find But after she had mourn'd Three hundred days Consid'ring Nature's Fortune's various ways She did repent weeping for what was past Imploring Gods to pity her at last Good Gods forgive my Vanity and Pride Let not my Soul with sinful spots be dy'd Let your great Mercies scour those spots off clean That by your Justice no spots may be seen Consider Lord the Works that Nature makes The Matter Motion and the Form she takes The Grounds and Principles on which she builds The Life and Death in all things she distills Is various still in what she doth compose Nothing but wild Inconstancy she shows Nor is it only the substantial part That is compos'd thus by her Curious Art But what we call Immortal as the Soul Doth various passions appetites controul And as all bodies that are young want strength And wait for Time to give them breadth and length So doth the Soul want Understanding too And knows not what is best to think or do Wherefore great Jove I never shall despair Of thy sweet Mercy nor yet Devils fear To punish Ignorance Youth rash ways runs Which Age by long-experienc'd knowledg shuns But Age oft time 's as faulty as Youths be Corrupted with bad Principles we see That length of Time and Custom makes them shew As if in Man they naturally grew But to conclude the time she had to live She heartily unto the Gods did give Though young into a Nunnery she went Her Vows unto the Gods she did present Her Days not being long she soon there dy'd And now her Soul with Angels doth reside For with her Penance Tears and Contrite Spirit She wash'd away her sins and Heav'n did merit The next Tale when you read it will discover The fortunate or the unfortunate Lover A Mock-Tale of the Lord Duke of Newcastle which his Grace was pleased to say out of his great Civility That it would serve for Shadows to set off the rest He loving Truth so well that he was never good at telling Tales A Young and Lusty Cheshire-Lad did move In Venus Sphere and was so fill'd with Love When first he saw a lovely Lass at Chester Whose badg of Christianity was Hester So beautiful and fair she did appear Fresh as the welcome Spring to the New Year And Odoriferous as Flower 's birth As fair as new-born Lillies from the Earth This set the young Man's heart in Love's Flame Fire Struck dumb in Love turn'd all now to admire At last Love found a Tongue which did not fail To burst out violently and thus to rail Cursing now partial Nature that did give More beauty to her than elsewhere doth live Bankrupt in Beauty since her store is gone Mankind condemn'd to foul ones now or none Was Nature lavish or else made the Thest Upon her self since she hath nothing left Of what is handsom so I now do find He enjoys thee enjoys all Womankind For Beauty Favour and what 's height of Pleasure Since thou art Nature's Store-house her Treasure O love me then since all my hopes are crost If I enjoy you not I 'm wholly lost For what I can call Happiness nay worse My Life then to me 's but a fatal Curse But if you yeeld I 'le bless Dame Nature's Gift And Bounty to you since 't was all her drist To make her Master-piece in you and vex The envious Females angring all your Sex And if her bounty to you you give me I shall be Deifi'd in love by thee Here on my knees I beg thy Love thus low Until I have it my Knees here shall grow Therefore be kind She answer'd with sweet Eyes Which spoke not speaking for to bid him rise And then discours'd with modest blushes so As that did tell him all her heart did know Trembling and shaking with Love's Palsi'd Tung With broken Sighs and half Words it was strung Love's Comma's Full-Points and Parenthesis And this Love's Rhetorick Oratory is With Love's pale-difficulty then afraid She softly said O I 'm a tender Maid And never heard such language you 'l deceive me And now I wish I could wish you would leave me Why d' ye inchant a silly Maid alas I never saw such beauty in my Glass And yet I 've heard of flatt'ring Glasses too But nothing flatters like you Men that woo Your Tongue 's Love's Conjuration without doubt Circles me here in Love cannot get out By your Love 's Magick whispering Then did yield And said You 've conquer'd and have won the field Such Joy between them such new Passions rais'd Which made the God of Love himself amaz'd Since by no Tongue or Pen can be exprest Cupid and Hymen ne're hop'd such a Feast But see the Fate of business which doth move So cross For Business hath no sense of Love O thou dull Bus'ness Yet some States-men pry Into Love's Secrets with a glancing Eye But here
marrie her No said the Duke I love her too well to leave a possibility of her marrying you I will sooner die than set my hand to this said the Vice-Roy If you do not you shall die a violent death by Heaven answered he and more than that you shall set your hand never to complain against me to the King Will you do it or will you not for I am desperate said the Duke The Vice-Roy said You strike the King in striking me No disputing says he set your hand presently or I will kill you Do you say You are desperate Yes answered he Then I must do a desperate Act to set my hand to a Bond I mean to break Use your own discretion to that Come said he I will set my hand before I read it for whatsoever it is it must be done After he set his hand he read Here I do vow to Heaven Never to woo the Lady Delicia nor to take her to Wife Whereunto I set my hand To this Paper too said the Duke Here I do vow to Heaven Never to take Revenge nor to complain of the Duke to the King my Master Whereunto I set my hand The Duke said I take my leave rest you in peace Sir And the Devil torment you said the Vice-Roy O Fortune I could curse thee with thy Companions the Fates not only in cutting off my Happiness in the enjoying of so rare a Beauty but in stopping the passages to a sweet Revenge And though I were sure there were both Gods and Devils yet I would break my Vow for the one are pacified by Prayers and Praises and the other terrified with Threats But O! the Disgrace from our Fellow-Creatures Mankind sets closer to the Life than the Skin to the Flesh for if the Skin be flea'd off a new one will grow again making the Body appear younger than before But if a Man be flea'd once of his Reputation he shall never regain it and his Life will be always bare and raw and Malice and Envy will torment it with the Stings of ill Tongues which to avoid I must close with this Duke in a seeming-friendship and not defie him as an open Enemy lest he should divulge my base Acts done by my Cowardly Fear but they are Fools that would not venture their Reputations to save their Life rather than to dye an Honourable Death as they call it which is to dye to gain a good Opinion and what shall it avail them A few Praises it will be said He was a Valiant Man And what doth the Valiant get Is he ever the better No he is tumbled into the Grave and his Body rots and turns to dust all the clear distinguishing Senses the bright flaming Appetites are quenched out but if they were not there is no Fuel in the Grave to feed their Fire for Death is cold and the Grave barren besides there is no remembrance in the Grave all is forgotten they cannot rejoice at their past gallant Actions or remember their glorious Triumphs but the only happiness is that as there is no Pleasure in the Grave so there is no Pain but to give up Life before Nature requires it is to pay a Subsidy before we are tax'd or to yeeld up our Liberties before we are Prisoners and who are wise that shall do so No let Fools run head-long to Death I will live as long as I can and not only live but live easily freely and as pleasantly as I can Wherefore to avoid this Man's Mischiefs which lyes to entrap my Life I will agree with him and I had rather lose the Pleasures of one Woman than all other Pleasures with my Life but from a secret Mischief he shall not escape if I can prevail for I perceive this Duke since he can have but one Wife intends to set up a Seraglio of young Wenches and by my troth he begins with a fair one and whilst he courts his Mistress I mean to woo his Wife for he hath not sworn me from that So that my Revenge shall be To make him a Cuckold So the Vice-Roy went to the Duchess and after he had made his Complemental-Addresses they began to talk more seriously Madam said he How do you like the rare Beauty which your Husband doth admire so much that he is jealous of all that look on her and would extinguish the sight of all Mens Eyes but his own and challenges all that make Love to her and threatens Ruin and Murther to those that pretend to marry her She answered If he be so enamoured I shall not wonder now that my Beauty is thought dead my Embraces cold my Discourse dull my Company troublesome to him since his Delight is abroad But said she I am well served I was weary of my old Husband and wished him dead that I might marry a young one I abhorred his old Age that was wise and experienced despised his gray Hairs that should have been reverenced with respect O what happiness I rejected that I might have enjoyed For he admired my Beauty praised my Wit gave me my Will observed my Humour sought me Pleasures took care of my Health desired my Love proud of my Favours my Mirth was his Musick my Smiles were his Heaven my Frowns were his Hell whenas this Man thinks me a Chain that enslaves him a Shipwrack wherein all his Happiness is drown'd a Famine to his Hopes a Plague to his Desires a Hell to his Designs and a Devil to damn his Fruitions Nay certainly said he that Woman is the happiest that marries an ancient Man for he adores her Virtue more than her Beauty and his Love continues though her Beauty be gone he sets a price of Worth upon the Honour and Reputation of his Wife uses her civilly and gives her Respect as Gallant Men ought to do to a tender Sex which makes others to do the like when a Young Man thinks it a Gallantry and a Manly Action to use his Wife rudely and worse than his Lacquey to command imperiously to neglect despisingly making her the Drudg in his Family flinging words of disgrace upon her making her with scorn the mirth and pastime in his idle and foolish discourse amongst his vain and base Companions when an ancient Man makes his Wife the Queen of his Family his Mistress in his Courtship his Goddess in his Discourse giving her Praise applauding her Actions magnifying her Nature her Safety is the God of his Courage her Honour the World to his Ambition her Pleasure his only Industry her Maintenance the Mark for his Prudence her Delights are the Compass by which he sails her Love his Voyage her Advice his Oracle And doing this he doth Honour to himself by setting a considerable value upon what is his own when Youth regards not the temper of her Dispotion slights her Noble Nature grows weary of her Person condemns her Counsels and is afraid his Neighbour should think his Wife wiser than himself which is the Mark of a
into a great Passion and great Controversies she had with her self whether she should lose her Honour and live or save her Honour and dye Dishonour she hated and Death she feared the one she blusht at the other she trembled at But at last with much strugling she got out of that Conflict resolving to dye for in Death said she there is no Pain nor in a dishonourable Life any Content But though Death says she is common to all yet when it comes not in the ordinary ways of Nature there must be used violence by Artificial Instruments and in my Condition there must be used Expedition And considering what ways to take she bethought of a Maid-servant that used to make clean the Rooms and such kind of works to whom she had often talked as she was about her Employments and had gotten much of her Affections Her she called and told her that a Wife Wizard had advised her That ever on her Birth-day she should shoot off a Pistol and in so doing she should be happy so long as she used the same Custom but if she neglected she should be unfortunate for by the shooting thereof said she I shall kill a whole Year of Evil from doing me hurt but she told her withall That it must be that day and it must be a small one for fear of making a great noise and done privately for fear her Mistress should know of it or any Body else for it will be of no effect if above one know of it besides my self The simple Wench easily believing what she said was industrious to supply her wants and in a short time brought her desires which when she had got her dejected Spirits rose with an overflowing joy and setting down with a quiet Mind since before she could not stand nor set still for her troubled and rough Thoughts drove her from one end of the Room to the other like a Ship at Sea that is not anchored nor ballasted or with storm tost from Point to Point so was she but now with a constant Wind of Resolution she sailed evenly although she knew not to what Coast she should be driven But after some expectation in came the old Bawd and the Prince who was so struck with her Beauty as he stood some time to behold her At last coming near her earnestly viewing her and asking her some leight Questions to which she answered briefly and wittily which took him so much as he had scarce patience to bargain with the old Bawd for her But when they were agreed the wicked Bawd left them to themselves where he turning to the young Lady told her That of all the Women that ever he met with his Senses were never so much delighted for they had wedded his Soul to Admirations She answered That if his Senses or his Person did betray her to his Lust she wished them all annihilated or at least buried in Dust but I hope said she by your Noble and Civil Usage you will give me cause to pray for you and not to wish you Evil for Why should you rob me of that which Nature freely gave And it is an Injustice to take the Goods from the right Owners without their consents and an Injustice is an Act that all Noble Minds hate and all Noble Minds usually dwell in Honourable Persons such as you seem to be and none but base or cruel Tyrants will lay unreasonable Commands or require wicked things from the Powerless or Vertuous Wherefore most Noble Sir said she Shew your self a Master of Passion a King of Clemency a God of Pity and Compassion and prove not your self a Beast to Appetite a Tyrant to Innocents a Devil to Chastity Virtue and Piety and with that Tears did flow from her Eyes as humble Petitioners to beg her release from his Barbarous Intention But he by those Tears like Drink to those that are poyson'd grows more dry and his Passions more violent He told her No Rhetorick could alter his Affections Which when she heard and he ready to seize on her she drew forth the Pistol which she had concealed bending her Brows with a resolute Spirit told him She would stand upon her Guard for why said she it is no sin to defend my self against an Obstinate and Cruel Enemy and know said she I am no ways to be found by wicked Persons but in Death for whilst I live I will live in Honour or when I kill or be kill'd I will kill or dye for security He for a time stood in a maze to see her in that posture and to hear her high defiance but considering with himself that her words might be more than her intentions and that it was a shame to be out-dared by a Woman with a smiling-countenance said You threaten more Evil than you dare perform besides Honour will be buried with you in the Grave when by your Life you may build Palaces of Pleasure and Felicity With that he went towards her to take away the Pistol from her Stay stay said she I will first build me a Temple of Fame upon your Grave where all young Virgins shall come and offer at my Shrine and in the midst of these words shot him With that he fell to the ground and the old Bawd hearing a Pistol came running in where seeing the Prince lye all smeared in blood and the young Lady as a Marble Statue standing by as if she had been fixt to that place looking stedfastly upon her own Act she running about the Room called out Murther Murther Help Help not knowing what to do fear had so possest her At last she drew her Knife thinking to stab her but the Prince forbid her saying He hoped he should live to give her her due desert which if the Gods grant said he I shall ask no more So desiring to be laid upon the Bed until the Chirurgeons came to dress his Wounds stenching the blood as well as they could the mean time But after the Chirurgeons had search'd his Wounds he ask'd them Whether they were mortal They told him They were dangerous and might prove so but their hopes were not quite cut off with despair of his recovery But after his Wounds were drest he gave order for the young Lady to be lockt up close that none might know there was such a Creature in the House nor to disclose how or by what means he came hurt Then being put in his Litter he was carried into his own House which was a stately Palace in the City The noise of his being wounded was spread abroad and every one enquiring how he came so making several Tales and Reports as they fancied but none knew the truth thereof After some days his Wounds began to mend but his Mind grew more distemper'd with the love of the fair Lady yet loath he was to force that from her she so valiantly had guarded and kept and to enjoy her lawfully he could not because he was a married Man and had been so
After which the King and all the People rising up bowed their Heads down low as in humble obedience to the Commands he had receiv'd praying to him as a God to divert the Punishments intended to them and in sorrow lamenting their Fault went home each to his House sealing up their Lips for such a time from receiving Meat or sending forth Words In the mean time the old Man and he had leisure to bethink themselves what to do having at that time the Temple as a Palace to live in none to disturb them nor to hinder their Thoughts from working out their advantage and sitting in Counsel a long time disputing with each other what was best to do at last resolved That the old Man should go to the King as sent from the Gods to bid him send a Command to all his People to eat such Herbs for Sallads and drink their Water without mixture just before they came for else said the old Man their Hunger will make them impatient or so dull as it may stop their Ears by the faintness of their Spirits caused by their empty Stomacks and too much said he makes them furious sending up Malignant Vapours to their Brains which may cause our Ruins But after he had been with the King he returned back to the Temple again and the King obeyed his Desire as a Command from the Gods and brought the People all to the Temple where after they were all gathered together Travelia advanced himself so much higher than rest as they might hear him round about Then thus spake PIOUS Friends for so I may call you being willing to please the Gods though your Ignorance hath led you wrong ways But the Gods seeing your Zeal though through a false Devotion pitying your Ignorance have by their Wisdom found means to appease the Wrath of their Justice for every Attribute of the Gods must have a satisfaction for Right is their Kingdom and Truth is their Scepter wherewith they govern all their Works but the Gods have strowed Lots amongst Mankind of movable things which Chance gathers up and Chance being blind mistakes both in the gathering and distributing Now the Gods made this Chance by their Providence when they made Man for Man hath no more knowledg of the transitory things of the World than what Fortune gives them who is an unjust Distributer for all External Gifts come from her hand and for want of sight she gives oft-times the Beggar 's Lot to the King the Servants to the Master the Master 's to the Servant and for the Internal Gifts which the Gods have bestowed on Men they are different as the External are transitory for some are nearer to perfection some farther off yet none have perfect knowledg for the Gods mix Man's nature with such an aspiring Ambition that if they had a perfect knowledg of the glory of the Gods and a perfect knowledg of the first Cause and of the Effects produced therefrom they would have warr'd with the Gods and have strove to usurp their Authority So busie and vain-glorious hath the Gods made the Minds of Men Wherefore the Gods govern the World by Ignorance and though the goodness of the Gods is great yet it is bound in with their Justice which is attended with Terrors to punish the Crimes of Men and even to punish the innocent Errors that proceed from that Ignorance which they have muzled Man withall But as their Power made the World their Wisdom rules the World their Justice punishes the World so their Mercy keeps the World from destruction and their Love not only saves Man but preferrs Man to a glorious Happiness And some of this Love the Gods have sent to you although by your Ignorance you had almost cast it from you And since the Gods have sent you Knowledg by us take hold of it and do not wilfully fall in your superstitious Errors although it is a difficult pains even for the Gods themselves to perswade Man who is of a cross suspitious inquisitive and murmuring nature accusing the Gods of Partiality saying They prefer or cast out whom they please not as Man deserves Thus they judg of the Gods by their own Passions but the Gods by Variation are pleased to continue the World and by Contradiction to govern it by Sympathy delight it for Delight lives not altogether in the power of Chance being created in the Essence and Soul of Man for though Chance can present those things with Antipathies or Sympathies to the Senses which present them to the Soul yet it hath not the power to rule it for the Soul is a kind of God in it self to direct and guide those things that are inferior to it to perceive and descry into those things that are far above it to create by Invention and to delight in Contemplations and though it hath not an absolute power over it self yet it is a harmonious and absolute thing in it self and though it is not a God from all Eternity yet it is a kind of Deity to all Eternity for it shall never dye and though the Body hath a relation to it yet no otherwise than the Mansion of Jove hath unto Jove The Body is only the residing-place and the Sensitive Spirits are as the Soul's Angels or Messengers and Intelligencers So the Souls of Men are to the Gods as the Sensitive Spirits to the Soul And will you dislodg the Sensitive Spirits of the Gods by destroying and unbuilding each other's Body by violent Deaths before it be the Gods Pleasure to dissolve that Body and so remove the Soul to a new Mansion And though it is not every Creature that hath that Soul but only Man for Beasts have none nor every Man for most Men are Beasts only the Sensitive Spirits and the Shape may be but not the Soul yet none know when the Soul is out or in but the Gods and not only other Bodies may not know it but the same Body is ignorant thereof The Soul is as invisible to the Sensitive Spirits as the Gods to men for though the Soul knows and hath intelligence by the Sensitive Spirits yet the Sensitive have none from the Soul for as Gods know Men but Men know not Gods so the Soul knoweth the Senses but the Senses know not the Soul Wherefore you must seek all the ways to preserve one another as Temples of the Gods not to destroy and pull them down for whosoever doth so commits Sacriledg against the Gods Wherefore none must dye but those that kill or would kill others Death must be repaid with Death saith Jove and only Death is in the power of Man to call when they please but Life is in the power of the Gods and those that displease the Gods shall have a miserable Life not only in the bodily part which is sensible of pain and may be tormented out of one shape into another and be perpetually dying or killing with all manner of Torments and yet never dye in the
he thought they might despise him as seeming unconstant yet stay he could not wherefore calling them together he spake in this manner My Friends said he We have here a pleasant Island altogether unhabited but what is possest by our selves and certainly we might become a famous People had we Women to get Posterity and make a Commonwealth but as we are all men we can only build us Houses to live and dye in but not have Children to survive us Wherefore my Counsel is That some of us that are most employed may take the new Ship and go a Pyracing for Women making some adventure on the next Kingdom which may be done by a sudden surprisal which Prizes if we get any will bring us more comfort pleasure and profit than any other Goods for what contentment can Riches bring us if we have not Posterity to leave it to They all applauded so well of his Advice that they were impatient of stay striving who should go along with him and so pleased they were with the imagination of the Female Sex that those whose Lot was to stay who seldom or never pray'd before prayed for the others good success But the Prince's intention was only to find that Female he lost caring not to seek for those he never saw But setting out with great expedition and hopes of a good return sailed with a fair Wind three or four days at last saw Land part of the Kingdom of Amity No sooner landed but they were beset with Multitudes of Countrey-people who flocked together being affrighted with the arrival of strangers and being more in numbers than they were over-power'd them and took them Prisoners They were examined for what they came They answered For fresh Water But they believed them not for said they it is not likely you would come in a Troop so armed for fresh Water So they bound them and sent them to the King to examine them farther And being carried to the chief City where the King was who was advertised of all sent for them into his Presence to view them And being brought unto them the Prince who was of a comely and graceful Presence and a handsome man bowing his Head down low in a submissive stile thus spake Great King We poor Watry-Pilgrims travelling through the vast Ocean to search the Curiosities of Nature that we may offer our Prayers of Admiration on her Altar of New Discoveries have met with cruel Fortune who always strives to persecute and hath forced us to your Coast for the relief of fresh Water for we came not here to rob nor to surprise but to relieve our feeble Strength that was almost lost with thirst not that we were afraid to dye but loath to live in Pain nor would we willingly yeeld up our Lives unless great Honour lay at stake but if the Fates decree our death what way soever it comes with patience we will submit But if great King your Generosity dares trust our Faiths so far as to employ us in your Service we may prove such by our Courage that our Acts may beg a Pardon for those necessitated Faults we have committed and if we dye in Warrs we dye like Gallant Men but to dye shackled Prisoners we dye like Slaves which all Noble Natures abhor The King when he had heard him speak thus answered the Prince as their accustomed manner was in Verse Your Faith I 'le trust and Courages will try Then let us see how bravely you dare dye The Prince Poetically answered again as he perceived it an usual Custom to speak Our Lives said he wee 'l quit before we yeeld Wee 'l win your Battels or dye in the field For the King at that time was newly entred into a Warr with the Queen of Amity the chief cause was for denying him Marriage he being a Batchelor and she a Maid and their Kingdoms joining both together but he nearer to her by his Affection being much in Love with her But she was averse and deaf to his Suit and besides her People was loath for fear of being made a subordinate Kingdom Wherefore he sought to get her by force And the King liking the Prince's Demeanour demanded who he was and from whence he came The Prince told him truly who he was from whence he came how he was taken by the Pyrates and how long he had lived with them concealing the cause of his journey But by his Discourse and Behaviour he insinuated himself so far into the King's Favour and got such Affections in his Court that he became very powerful insomuch as he was chosen the Chief Commander to lead out the Army believing him as he was nobly born and observing him to be honourably bred and they being a People given to ease and delighting in Effeminate Pleasures shunned the Warrs sending out only the most Vulgar People who were rather Slaves than Subjects All meeting together produced the chusing of the Prince who ordered and directed their setting out so well and prudently as gave them great hopes of a good Success In the mean while the Queen was not ignorant of their Intentions nor slack in her Preparations sending forth an Army to meet them But the Queen her self had a Warr in her Mind as great as that in the Field where Love as the General lead her Thoughts but fear and doubt of Times made great disorder and especially at that time for Travelia on whom she doted was then sick in which Sickness she took more care to recover him than to guard her self and Kingdom But the Army she sent out was led by one of her Chief Noble Men who marched on until he had a view of the other Army and being both met they set their Armies in Battel-array When they were ready to fight the Prince thus spake in the most general Language Noble Friends YOU being all Strangers to me makes me ignorant both of your Natures and Customs and I being a Stranger to you may cause a mistrust both of my Fidelity and Conduct As for my Experience I am not altogether ignorant of the Discipline of Warr having been a Commander in my own Countrey Neither need you doubt of my Zeal and Loyalty to your King's Service by reason I owe my Life to him for it was in his power to have taken it away Neither can I have more Honour bestowed on me from any Nation than from this were I never so ambitious or basely covetous to bribe out my Fidelity Wherefore if I lose as I am perswaded I shall win the Day yet it will not be out of my Neglect Falshood or want of Skill but either it must be through Fortune's Displeasure or by your Distracted Fears which I cannot believe will possess any Spirit here being so full of Alacrity Chearfulness and Readiness to meet the Enemy and may the Thoughts of Honour maintain that Heat and Fire not only until it hath consumed this Army you see but all that shall ever oppose you After he
they neither enjoy the Lawrel Olive or Cypress but go to the Grave unregarded or forgotten or live in shame despised But those that are industrious and valiant may they sit high in Honour's Throne and Fame blow their Praises so loud and far that no time can stop the Sound Then the two Armies being set in Battel-array the Prince to save the effusion of blood finding his Army not full of alacrity sent the young Geral a Challenge who although he knew himself unfit for a single Duel accepted it being afraid of the dishonour of denying it but the two Armies would not consent to look on whilst they fought for in the Encounter both Armies joined in cruel fight But she having no skill in the art and use of the Sword nor strength either to assault or resist was wounded and her Wound bled so fast that she fainted and fell down to the ground But the Prince who was of a Noble nature perceiving by her shape that she was but a Stripling run to unty her Head-piece and viewing her Face straight knew her and was so astonished thereat that he had not power to stir for the present but stopping the Wound as well as he could brought life again yet so faint she was that she could not speak neither had he power to go away but sate by until he was found in that posture In the mean time the Army being left to chance having not their General to direct them Fortune play'd a part of Civility and Courtship giving victory to the Ladies so the Queen's Army had the day and some of the common Soldiers seeking for Spoil found them he sitting by holding her in his Arms from whence they took her and put her in a Litter and he also in the same as a Prisoner to carry them to the body of the Army and as she went having recovered her Spirits again thus complaining she said I have heard of Pleasure ne're could it obtain For what we Pleasure call still lives in Pain Then Life is Pain and Pain is only Life Which is a Motion Motion all is strife As forward backward up or down or so Side-ways or in a Circle round doth go Then who would live or would not wish to dye Since in the Grave there is no Misery O let me dye strive not my Life to save Death happy is and Peace lies in the Grave The Prince told her She preached to her self a false Doctrine for said he Life is a blessing which the Gods do give And nothing shews them Gods but that they live They 're the Original of Life the Spring Life the beginning is of every thing And Motion is from all Eternity Eternal Motions make the Gods to be To wish no Life we wish no Gods and then No Resurrection to the Souls of Men In Resurrection we as Gods become To be none would refuse a Martyrdome The very Being pleaseth Nature well Were she to live always in pains of Hell Nature nothing is more horrid to her Than Annibilation that quite undoes her Thus Gods and Nature you do wish to spoil Because a little pain endures a while Devils had rather Devils be than nought at all But you like Angels that did never fall Thus they discoursed as they went but he strove to conceal himself from her knowledg until such time as he thought he might make his peace with her for fear she should run away again out of hate and dislike to him But the Army when they miss'd their young General grew so sad that they took no pleasure in their Victory for they were all as one dumb man no noise was heard all Eyes were full of Tears But when they saw the Litter as supposing she was dead they raised a Cry that rent the Air and made the thicker Clouds to move Which when she heard and saw them running to her she shook her hand to shew them she did live Then sent they shouts of Joy to Heaven high And ev'ry Countenance sad look'd merrily But when they came so near as to view her Face and saw her pale and weak they grew into such a rage that they would have killed the Prince hearing he wounded her but she entreated for his life and begg'd him for her Prisoner No sooner ask'd but granted and she gave the charge of him to her Father Being brought into her Tent the Army watch'd by turns whilst she was under the Chirurgeons hands for cure Nor would they take any of the Spoils but what she did divide unto them nor any Direction but what she gave Nor would they stir until her Health permitted her to travel but being indifferently well she gave order to march on But the King had raised another Army in the time of her sickness and sent it out to meet them She although weak went about to order and encourage her Soldiers who loved her better than their life which Affections made them fight so well that they overcame their Enemies and before the King could raise another Army they got unto the City Where as soon as she came near she gave order to her Soldiers to entrench about it and to cast at every corner of the City a Mount of Earth on which she placed her Cannon to batter down the Walls then she did build Forts about to place her Men to shoot and cast Granadoes in and by their several assaults they battered the City and killed many of their Men by sundry and sudden assaults at last she resolved to storm it But the King perceiving his weakness and that he could not hold out long sent to the young General desiring a Treaty and withall a Cessation of Arms. In the mean time the Queen being weary of her Imprisonment longing for the coming of her Beloved in a melancholy Humour thus spake O what a Hell is it to love and not be loved again Nay not only to love but to love a Slave and he regards me not Do I say Slave No he is none that hath no Slavish Passion Then he is free And I am only bound to Slavery First to my Passions then to his Tyranny What shall I do you Gods above You punish me and yet you make me love Do you delight still in a tortur'd Mind Make you no sympathy in Human Kind Must all your Works consist in contradiction Or do we all enjoy nothing but Fiction The Mind is nothing but meer Apprehension 'T is not a Thing unless it hath Dimension But O you Powerful Gods by your Decree You can of Nothing Something make to be Then make me Something grant me my Delight Give me my Lover or destroy me quite Thus leaving her in a Melancholy Posture and Humour we return to the Armies The Cessation being near expired the young General called a Council and thus spake to them Right Noble and Valiant Heroes THE King hath sent to treat of Peace but in my opinion there can be no honourable Agreement next to the setting the Queen
apt to sigh She said Sighs were the Minds Pulse and when the Mind was sick the Pulse beats strong fast and unevenly which made Lovers sigh softly smutheringly and sometimes deeply and strongly Then they asked her VVhat made Lovers groan She said Groans were the Mind's Voice and when it felt pains it complained as finding no ease Then they asked her VVhat made Lovers extravagant She said That Extravagantness was a distemper in the Mind which distemper was caused by the Pain it felt Then they asked her If there were no Cure She said Yes Time was a good Physician and Change the only Remedy unless said she the Object of Love be unalterable and then it is dangerous But said she the Mind would be well and free from such pains if it were not for the Appetites which are never pleased but are restless run after Excess and hunt after Variety for they are always in pain either in desiring and not enjoying or else with surfeiting of what they have fed upon for the period of the Appetites is Excess and Excess is Surfeit and Surfeit is Sickness and Desire is Travelling and Travelling is Restless and Restlesness is Wearisome and Wearisomness is Painful insomuch as before we get to our desired End we are tired or dead Seldom do Lovers weep sigh groan or tremble But to make love or rather to dissemble For some can forge those Passions by the dozen And act them all poor Women for to cozen The sixteenth sort of Visiters were Poets Who asked her Why Poets were most commonly Poor She said Poets are employed with Contemplations that they have no time for Fruition for Poets said she had rather have Fancies in their Heads than Money in their Purse and take more pleasure in expressing the one than in spending the other which makes their Imaginations their chiefest Possessions being careless of Fortune's Goods despising her Service regarding neither her Frowns nor her Favours being entertained by Nature whom they most industriously serve and diligently attend Then they asked her Who were most in Nature's favour Poets or Philosophers She answered There was no doubt to be made but that she esteemed and loved Poets the best for said she Natural Philosophers tire Nature with Enquiries trouble her with searching and seeking about anger her with their Erroneous Opinions tedious Disputations and sensless Arguments and make her outragious with their cruel Extractions Substractions and Dissections As for Moral Philosophers said she they restrain enclose and tye Nature as one that is mad tormenting her beyond all reason but sometimes said she with strugling and striving she breaks out but cannot get so far but they straight get hold of her again which makes them always at variance But Poets saith she never cross nor anger her nor torment her they please her all they can and humour her every way they sooth her Passions feed her Appetites delight her Senses praise her Wit admire her Beauty adorn her Person and advance her Fame Then they asked her What the Muses were She said That the Muses were Nature's Dressers and Poet's Mistresses to whom they made Love and several Courtships Then they asked her What Poets were She said Poets were Nature's Painters which drew her to the life yet some do flatter her said she and some do her wrong but those that flatter her she favours most as all great Ladies do Then they asked her What was the ground of Poetry She said Distinguishing and Similizing which is said she Judgment and Fancy as for Numbers Rhyme and Rhetorick they are but the several Accoutrements but no part of the Body of Poetry Then they asked her What was the Effect of Poetry She said To move Passions to describe Humours to express Actions to correct Errors to condemn Follies to persecute Vice to crown Virtue to adorn the Graces to entertain Time to animate Youth to refresh Age to encourage Noble Endeavours to quicken the Spirits to please the Senses to delight the Mind to recreate the Thoughts to encrease Knowledg to instruct the Understanding to preserve the Memory to refine Language to praise Heaven to enflame Zeal to register Life to in-urn Death to pencil Nature and raise Fame Then the Poets asked her If Wit might not be gotten by Industry She said Yes for though it is Nature's Work to make a Brain strong and well-temper'd or put it in tune yet it is Learned Practice and Skill that must play therewith like a Lute although it should be well strung and justly tuned yet if there were no hands or other things to set it in motion it would become useless and unless it were tried it would not be known whether it could sound or no and one that was not practised and learnt in the Art of that Instrument might jangle but hardly play a composed Tune or make any Harmony therewith So a Brain becomes dull for want of use stupid for want of subject and barren for want of learning unless Nature doth play on the Instruments she makes without the help of Art which she can do and doth sometimes but so seldom that it is a wonder But although she doth not always make use of Art she never but doth make use of Time for Time is her chief Instrument with which she works and produceth all things I perceive said she that few profit by reading over or repeating of their own Wit for it is like the Breath of Water-Divers who have two Bags one filled with Air the other to put in Breath that issues out and that Breath that goes out can never be drawn back for use for the life of the Body must be fed with fresh Air or else it is smuthered out so the life of Wit must be fed with new Subjects or else it becomes idle or panting dyes The Seventh sort that visited her were Aged Persons They asked her What made Age so dull She said That most commonly Aged Bodies had Melancholy Minds their Thoughts as their Bodies were always travelling towards death unless said she it be the Irrational sort who live only to their Appetites and dye like Beasts for although old Father Time preches Death to them every minute they sensually or being accustomed to his Doctrine regard him not but follow their Senses as long as they can until they become as insensible as before irrational Then they asked her What made Mankind afraid to dye She said Pain and Oblivion but said she all Creatures are afraid of the one but none but Mankind are afraid of the other Then they asked her What Age endured the most violent Pangs of Death She said Middle-age and perfect growth as being strongest Bodies for perfect growth with middle-age is like a well-built House throughly seasoned and strongly setled which makes Death take the greater pains to pull it down But Infacy and Age said she are like to Houses newly wrought or rotten with long time which the least puff of Wind lays level with the ground Then
Lady and the Lord I went As a respect I told them my intent The Lady my Design she well approv'd He nothing said but seem'd with passion mov'd But afterwards when I my leave did take He did rejoice as if 't were for my sake And so it was but not unto my good For he with Treachery my ways withstood For as I travell'd he beset me round And forc'd me from my Servants which he found To be not many when he had great store For to assault but my defence was poor Yet were they all disguis'd no Face was shown Such unjust acts desire to be unknown VVhen I was in their power Help help said I You Gods above and hear a VVretch's Cry But no assistance from Heav'n did I find All seem'd as Cruel as the mad Mankind Then he unto the Castle me convey'd The Lord himself discovering thus said Cruellest of thy Sex since no remorse Can soften thy hard heart I 'le use my force Unless your heart doth burn with equal fire Or condescend to what I shall desire I for my own defence 'gainst this abuse Soft flattering words was forced for to use Gently entreating his Patience that I A time might have my heavy heart to try That by perswasions it might entertain Not only Love but return Love again He seem'd well-pleas'd his temper calm did grow VVhich by his smiling-countenance he did show He said If in your Favour I may live A greater blessing Heaven cannot give Then to a VVoman old he gave the charge For to attend but not for to enlarge My Liberty with rules my Life did bind Nothing was free but Thoughts within my Mind Thus did I live some half a year and more And all this while the Gods on high implore For still he woo'd and still I did deny At last h'impatient grew and swore that I Deluded him and that no longer would He be denied but yeeld to him I should With much entreaty I pacifi'd his Mind With words and countenance that seemed kind But Prayers to Heav'n more earnestly I sent With tears and sighs that they would still prevent By their great power his Evil Design Or take away this loathed life of mine Although at first they seem'd to be all deaf Yet now at last they sent me some relief The whilst the Champion Knight with his fair Prize Was struck with Love by her quick-darting Eyes Yet mov'd they so as Modesty did guide Not turning wantonly or leer'd aside Nor did they stern or proudly pierce But gentle soft with sweet commerce And when those Eyes were fill'd with watry streams Seem'd like a Brook gilded with the Sun-beams At last perswading-Love prevail'd so far As to present his Suit unto her care Fair Maid I love thee and my Love so pure That no corrupted thoughts it can endure My Love is honest my Request is just For one Man's fault do not all Men mistrust I am a Batchelor and you a Maid For which we lawfully may love he said Wherefore dear Saint cast not my Suit aside Chuse me your Husband and be you my Bride I am a Gentleman and have been bred As to my Quality my Father dead Me his Possessions left which are not small Nor yet so great to make me vain withall My Life is yet with an unspotted Fame Nor so obscure not to be known by Name Amongst the best and most within this Land Favours receiv'd yet none like your Command She stood a time as in a musing-thought At last she spake Sir said she you have brought My Honour out of danger and civilly Have entertain'd me with your company For which I owe my life much more my love Should I refuse I should ungrateful prove 'T is not for Wealth that I would marry to Nor outward Honours that my Love can woo But it is Virtue and a Heroick Mind A Disposition sweet noble and kind And such a one I judg you for to be Wherefore I 'le not refuse if you chuse me When they were thus agreed they did repair Unto his House and went to marry there The whilst the Lord the Kingdom all about He privately had sent to search her out At last news came with whom and where she dwelt With that much grief within his heart he felt That any Man should have her in his power He like a Devil could his Soul devour But when he heard the Messenger to say There 's preparation gainst her Wedding-day He grew outragious cursed Heaven and Earth The Marriage of his Parents and his Birth At last he did resolve what e're befell That he would have her though he sank to Hell When he had got a Company together Such as he fed that would go any whither No act they would refuse that he desired Obey'd most desperately what he required Unto his House they went in a disguise Intending then the Lady to surprise But be'ng upon her Wedding-day were there A Company of Guests that merry were This Lord desir'd to part them if he might 'Cause lye together they should not that Night So in they went the Servants all did think Them Maskerades and made them all to drink But when they went into an inward Room Where all were dancing Bride and the Bridegroom The Bride acquainted with that Maskard-sight She ran away as in an extream fright The Bridegroom soon imagin'd what they were And though unarm'd his Courage knew no fear Their Swords they drew aim'd only at his life That done they thought to get away his Wife His Hat and Cloak Arms of Defence did make The Tongs for to assault he up did take The Women scriecht Murther Murther cry'd out The Men flung all the Chairs and Stools about With which they did resist and did oppose For some short time the Fury of his Foes It chanc'd a Sword out of a hand did fall The Bridegroom straight took 't up fought withall So well did manage it and with such skill He many of his Enemies did kill Yet he was wounded sore and out of breath But heat of Courage kept out dull cold Death At last his Friends got Arms to take his part VVho did th' oppression of his Foes divert The Vizzard of the Lord fell off at length VVhich when the Bridegroom saw with vigorous strength He ran upon him with such force that he Struck many down to make his passage free The trembling Bride was almost dead with fear Yet for her Husband had a listening ear At last the noise of Murther did arrive O is he dead said she and I alive With that she run with all her power and might Into the Room her Husband then in fight With her great Enemy and where they stood The Ground was like a foaming Sea of Blood Wounded they were yet was each other's heart So hot with Passion that they felt no smart The Bride did pass and re-pass by their Swords As quick as flashing Lightning and her words Cryed out Desist desist and let me dye
It is decreed by the great Gods on high Which nothing can prevent then let my fall Be an Atonement to make Friends withall But Death and Courage being long at strife About her Husband's Honour and his Life They both did fall and on the ground did lye But honoured Courage receiv'd Fame thereby When Death had turned out his Life it went Into his Fame and built a Monument The Bride when that she saw her Husband faint She weeping mourn'd and made a sad complaint O Gods said she grant me but this Request That I may dye here on my Husband's breast With that she fell and on his Lips did lye Suckt out each other's breath and so did dye When that the Lover saw her Soul was fled And that her body was cold pale and dead Then he impatient grew his Life to hold With desperate Fury then both fierce and bold He gave himself a mortal wound and so Fell to the ground and sick did grow Then did he speak to all the Company I do entreat you all for Charity To lay me by my Mistress in a Grave That my free Soul may rest and quiet have With that a Voice heard in the air to say My Noble Friends you ought to disobey His dying-words for if you do not so From our dead ashes jealousie will grow But howsoe're their Friends did so agree That they did put them in a Grave all three And ever since fierce Jealousie doth rage Throughout the World and shall from age to age A Batchelor that spightful was and old Unto the Company his Tale he told WOmen care not nor seek for Noble Praise All their delight runs to Romantick ways To be in love and be belov'd agen And to be fought-for by the youngest men Not for their Vertue but their Beauty fair Intangling men within their amorous snare And turning up their Eyes not for to pray Unless it be to see their Love that day With whining Voice and foolish words implore The Gods for what unless to hold the dore And what is their desire if I should guess I straight should judg it tends to wantonness Perchance they 'l say It is for Conversation But those Conversations bring Temptation What Youth 's in love with Age where wisdom dwells That all the follies of wild Youth still tells But Youth will shun grave Age's Company And from them flye as from an Enemy Say they Their wit is all decay'd and gone And that their wit is out of fashion grown Say they are peevish froward and displeas'd And full of pain and weak and oft diseas'd But that is fond excuse to plead for Youth For Age is Valiant Prudent full of truth And Sickness often on the Young takes hold Making them feeble weak before they 're old If Women love let it be for the sake Of Noble Virtue and the wiser take Else Virtue is depress'd forsaken quite For she allows no Revellers of Night This Sex doth strive by all the art they can To draw away each other's Courtly-Man And all the allurements that they can devise They put in execution for the prise Their Eyes are quick and sparkling like the Sun Yet always after Mankind do they run Their words are smooth their faces in smiles drest Their heart is by their countenance exprest But in their older age they spightful grow And then they scorns upon their youngers throw Industrious are a false Report to make Lord Lord what poor Employments Women take To carry Tales on Tongues from Ear to Ear VVhich faster run than Dromedaries far In heat with speed and haste they run about From House to House to find their Comrades out And when they meet so earnest they are bent As if the Fate 's Decrees they could prevent The best is Rubbish they their Minds do load With several Dresses and what is the Mode But if they spightful are they straight defame Those that most Virtue have or honoured Name Or else about their Carriage they find fault And say their Dancing-Masters were stark naught But for their several Dressings thus will say How strangely such a one was drest to day And if a Lady dress or chance to wear A Gown to please her self or curl her Hair If not according as the Fashion runs Lord how it sets a-work their Eyes and Tongues Straight she 's fantastical they all do cry Yet they will imitate her presently And for what they did laugh at her in scorn VVith it think good themselves for to adorn Thus each of them doth into other pry Not for to mend but to find fault thereby VVith that the VVomen rose and angry were And said they would not stay such Tales to hear But all the Men upon their Knees did fall Begging his Pardon and their stay withall And Women's Natures being easie free Did soon consent to keep them company The Tale to tell Unto a Woman's turn befell And when their rusling twatling Silks did cease Their creaking Chairs and Whisperings held their peace The Lady did a Tragick Tale unfold Forcing their Eyes to weep whilst she it told The Description of the Fondness of Parents and the Credulity of Youth A Gentleman had liv'd long and was old A Wife he had which Fifty years had told Their Love was such as Time could not decay Devout they were and to the Gods did pray Yet Children they had none to bless their Life She happy in a Husband h'in a Wife But Nature in the World her Power to show From an old Stock caus'd a young Branch to grow At length this aged Dame a Daughter bore Got by her Husband when Threescore and more They are so joy'd they Nature's Bounty praise And thank the Gods that did the Issue raise They were so fond that none this Child must t'uch Only themselves their pains they thought not much She gave it suck and dress'd it on her Lap The whilst he warm'd the Clouts then cool'd the Pap. They when it slept did by the Child abide Both sitting near the Cradle on each side But when it cry'd he danc'd it on his Arm The whilst she sung its Passion for to charm Thus did they strive to please it all they could And for its good yeeld up their Lives they would VVith pains and care they Nurs'd their Daughter well And with her Years her Beauty did excel But when she came to Sixteen years of age Her Youth and Life by Love she did engage Unto a Gentleman that liv'd hard-by Close to her Father's House who seem'd to dye If he enjoy'd her not yet did he dread His Father's Curse to light upon his Head His Father to his Passion being cruel Although he was his only Son and Jewel Charging upon his blessing not to marry This fairest Maid nor Servants for to carry Letters or Tokens Messages by stealth Despising her because of no great VVealth Yet she was Nobly born not very poor But had not VVealth to equal his great store But he did woo his Love
call nay think him Valiant Honest and Wife Sir said he to the Duke Pray flatter Fortune and offer some Prayers and Praises to her Deity in my behalf though it be but for your own sake for he that hath not a feeling interest in the business can never pray with a strong devotion for a good success but their Prayers will be so sickly and weak that they can never travel up far but fall back as it were in a swoun without sense In the mean time the Vice-Roy and the Unkle had drawn up Articles and had concluded of the Match without the young Lady's consent but the Unkle told her afterwards She must prepare her self to be the Vice-Roy's Bride and said he if you consent not never come near me more for I will disclaim all the interest of an Unkle and become your Enemy His words were like so many Daggers that were struck to her heart for her grief was too great for tears But her Maid who had ventured her Lady's Anger for Gold had conveyed the Duke into such a place as to go into her Chamber when he pleased He seeing her stand as it were without life or sense but as a Statue carved in a Stone went to her which Object brought her out of a muse but struck her with such a maze as she fixt her Eyes upon him as on some Wonder and standing both silent for a time at last she spake Sir said she this is not civilly done to come without my leave or my Unkle's knowledg nor honourably done to come like a Thief in the night to surprise me Madam said he Love that is in danger to lose what he most adores will never consider Persons Time Place nor Difficulty but runs to strengthen and secure his side fights and assaults all that doth oppose him and I hear you are to be married to the Vice-Roy but if you do marry him I will strive to make you a Widow the first hour cutting your Vows asunder and your Husband instead of his Bride shall embrace Death and his Grave shall become his Wedding-bed or I will lye there my self shrowded in my Winding-sheet from the hated-sight of seeing or knowing you to be anothers But if Knowledg lives in the Grave think not your self secure when I am dead for if Ghosts as some imagine can rise from the Earth mine shall visit you and fright you from delights and never leave you until you become a Subject in Death's Kingdom But if you are cruel and take delight to have your Bridal-Health drunk in Blood marry him where perchance we may be both dead-drunk with that warm red Liquor Sir answered she It is an unheard-of malice to me or an impudent and vain-glorious pride in you neither to own me your self nor let another but would have me wander that the World may take notice and say This is your forsaken Maid and I live to be scorned and become friendless for my Unkle will never own me which will prove as a Proclamation to proclaim me a Traitor to Gratitude and Natural Affection by committing the Treason of Disobedience The Duke said You cannot want an Owner whilst I live for I had nor have more power to resign the Interest I have in you than Kings to resign their Crowns that come by Succession for the Right lies in the Crown not in the Man and though I have played the Tyrant and deserved to be uncrowned yet none ought to take it off my Head but Death nor have I power to throw it from my self Death only must make way for a Successor Then said she I must dye that your Duchess may have Right and a free Possession Nay said he You must claim your own just Interest and place your self where you should be What is that said she Go to Law for you Yes said he If I be cast said she it will be a double shame You cannot plead and be condemned said he if Justice hears your Cause and though most of the Actions of my Life have been irregular yet they were not so much corrupted or misruled by Nature as for want of good Education and through the Ignorance of my Youth But Time hath made me see my Errors And though your Beauty is very excellent and is able to enamour the dullest Sense yet it is not that alone disturbs the peace of my Mind but the being conscious of my Fault which unless you pardon and restore me to your Favour I shall never be at rest I wish there were no greater obstacle said she than my Pardon to your Rest for I should absolve you soon and sleep should not be more gentle and soft on your Eyes than Peace to your Mind if I could give it but my Unkle's dislike may prove as fearful Dreams to disturb it though indeed if his Anger were like Dreams it would vanish away but I doubt it is of too thick a Body for a Vision The Duke said We will both kneel to your Unkle and plead at the Barr of either Ear I will confess my Fault at one Ear whilst you ask Pardon for me at the other And though his Heart were Steel your Words will dissolve it into compassion whilst my Tears mix the Ingredients My Unkle said she hath agreed with the Vice-Roy and his Word hath sealed the Bond which he will never break The Duke said I will make the Vice-Roy to break the Bargain himself and then your Unkle is set free besides you are mine and not your Unkle's unless you will prove my Enemy to deny me and I will plead for my Right Heaven direct you for the best said she it is late Good-night You will give me leave said he to kiss your Hand I cannot deny my Hand said she to him that hath my Heart The next day the Duke went to the Vice-Roy and desired to have a private hearing about a business that concerned him And when he had him alone he shut the door and drew his Sword which when the Vice-Roy saw he began to call for help Call not nor make a noise if you do Hell take me said the Duke I 'le run you through What mean you said the Vice-Roy to give me such a dreadful Visit I come said the Duke to ask you a Question to forbid you an Act and to have you grant me my Demand The Vice-Roy said The Question must be resolvable the Act just the Demand possible They are so said the Duke My Question is Whether you resolve to be married to the Lady Delicia Yes answered he The Act forbidden is You must not marry her Why said the Vice-Roy Because said he she is my Wife and I have been married to her almost nine years Why said he you cannot have two Wives No said he I will have but one and that shall be she And what is your Demand My Demand is That you will never marry her How says the Vice-Roy Put the case you should die you will then give me leave to
or rather resolution for Love is obstinate and if it finds not a like return but a neglect grows spightful rather wishing evil to what they love than another should enjoy what they would have and hate themselves out of a displeasure in not having what they desire So did he and was impatient until he was shipt and gone who steered his course towards the Kingdom of Riches as believing she was sailed towards her own Countrey and resolved he was to find her out or to end his days in the search his Life being a burthen to him without her company Thus Love sailing in the Ship of Imagination on the Ocean of the Mind toss'd on the troubled Waves of discontented Thoughts whilst his Body sailed in the Ship on the Sea cutting the salt Waves they were set on by Pyrates and taken Prisoners so that he was doubly captivated his Soul before now his Body At first they used him but roughly according to their barbarous natures but by degrees his noble Disposition and affable Behaviour got indifferent entertainment It chanced some time after in the sharing of those Prizes they got with him and some others they had got before they fell out and from rude words they fell to ruder blows The Prince apprehending the danger that might befall to himself strove to pacifie them giving them such Reasons in elegant words that it charmed their Ears and softned their Hearts and ended the strife amongst them and begot from them such love and respect that they made him their Albitrator and Divider of the Spoils which he performed with that Justice and Discretion to each one that they made him their Governour and chief Ruler over them which Power he used with that Clemency and Wisdom that he was 〈◊〉 father as their God than their Captain giving him all Ceremonious Obedience And thus reigning in his Watry Kingdom with his three-forked Trident we leave him for a time and visit the old Man and adopted Son who now began to grow weary of their Divine Honours and like wise Men that seek a retired and secured life from the Pomp of dangerous Glories bethought themselves how they might get away and to return into their own Countreys again for an humble and mean Cottage is better beloved by the Owner than the bravest and stateliest Palace if it be another's Thus putting their Designs in execution they invited the King and People to a solemn Meeting in the Temple where Travelia standing in his usual place thus spake THE Gods said he will have us to return from whence we came and to you Great King their Command is To love your People and to distribute Justice amongst them guarding the Innocent punishing the Offendor and not to use any cruel Ceremony to destroy your own Kind but to instruct them in the Right and to lead them into the ways of Truth as being their High-Priest amongst them Also To make as Warrs against your Neighbouring Kingdoms but as a defence and guard to your own for in Peace lives Happiness when Warrs bring Ruin and Destruction and in doing this Tranquillity shall be as a Bed of Ease for Life to sleep on and Length of Days as a Chariot for Life to ride in to Heaven where your Souls shall dwell in the height of Bliss And in this World Fame shall Crown your Deeds and your Posterity shall glory in your Name And to you beloved People the Gods command Piety in your Devotion Obedience to your King Love to your Neighbour Mercy to your Enemies Constancy to your Friends Liberty to your Slaves Care and Industry for your Children Duty to your Parents and in doing this Plenty shall flow in amongst you Mirth shall dance about you Pleasures shall invite you Delight shall entertain you Peace shall keep you safe till the Gods call you to partake of the Glories of Heaven and my Prayers shall always be That Jove may preserve you all Then going off from the place where he stood they went to the King to take their leaves whereat the King and People wept and wish'd the Gods had given them leave to dwell amongst them But since they could not have their desire therein they travelled to the River-side in attendance on them offering them great Riches to carry with them But they desired nor took they any more with them than they thought would defray their charges in a time of necessity Neither did they build a new Ship to sail in but went in the same Boat they came which had been kept as a Relick safe for the old Man considered with himself that a bigger Vessel would be more dangerous without Sea-men than the small Boat which they could manage themselves And so with great sorrow of either side the one to lose their Angels as they thought them to be the others for the dangers they were to run through And thus they parted from the Kingdom of Fancy putting forth their Boat from the shore the old Man who was very skilful at Sea observing what Angle they came in returned the same way where after six days they were upon the Main Sea the Winds being fair and the Waters smooth the Boat went as swift as an Arrow out of a Parthian's Bow and as even as if it meant to hit a Mark but if by a fresh Gale the Waves did chance to rise the Boat would as nimbly skip each ridg as a young Kid over a green Hillock being as leight as Mercury's winged Heels So Joy filled their Hearts with Hopes as Winds filled their Sails But various Fortune causing several changes in the World did raise such Storms of Fears as drowned all their Joys for a Ship fraughted with Pyrates like a great Whale seized on them Pyrates let nothing escape which they can get to make advantage of so ravenous is their covetous Appetite But finding not such a Prize as they did expect but such as might rather prove a burthen consulted to put the old Man into the Boat again and to keep only the young Youth whom being very handsom they might sell for a Slave and get a Sum of Money But when the old Man was to depart Travelia clasped about him so close that his Tears and the Tears of the old Man mix'd and joined and flowed as Waters through a Channel swell'd with several Brooks But when he was forced to leave his hold down on his kness he fell begging he might go or keep his Father there Pity said he my Father's Age Cast him not out alone to sail on the wide and dangerous Sea for though my Help is weak yet I am a Stay and Staff for his decayed Life to lean upon and I hope the Gods have destin'd me to that end but if no pity can move your Hearts for Him O let it do it for Me Cut me not from the Root though old and dry For then poor Branch I wither shall and dye Nay said he I will dye when I can no longer help him
for Death is in my power though Life is not But the Prince who was their Commander hearing a noise came on the Deck who no sooner saw him but was struck with Compassion raised by a resemblance of his Mistress appearing in the Face of the Youth and going to him bid him dry his Eyes and cease his Sorrow for they both should live together so long as he could keep them Heaven bless you said he and may you never part from that you most do love But when Travelia's Tears were stopped and sight got a passage through her Eyes again and looking up to view that Man from whom his Obligations came no sooner saw his Face but Terror struck his Heart and trembling seized her Limbs as if she had seen some hideous and prodigious thing The Prince observing her in that Agony asking him as supposing her a Boy What made him shake and tremble so In quivering Words she answered As Fear before had shrunk his Sinews short so now Joy had extended them too far The Prince then stroaking his Head promised they should both be well used and so returned into his Cabin Thus travelling on the Sea as on a great Champain the Ship like a Horse went several paces according as the Waves did rise and fall But at last this Ship became like a Horse diseased with Spavins which broke out and sprung a leak which they stopt as well as they could for the time but doubting it could not long hold out grew very sad some weeping some praying some murmuring some raving according as their Fear and Hopes were But the Prince who was valiant by nature expected Death with as much patience as they with fear did apprehend it neither was he struck with terror but yeelded to the Fates and was willing to dye But in the midst of their Afflictions at last they espied an Island at which sight they all shouted for joy Thus in the life of Man many several accidents pass about and it chances many times that out of the midst of Grief and Sorrow rises up Objects of Comfort so was it here and setting up all their Sails made haste to it but before they could come close to it although they were not far from it the Leak broke out again and likewise their Fears for the Ship grew sick of a lingring Disease that it could swim no farther but perished by little and little which perceiving they hoist out their Boat where the Prince gave order That those which were most afraid should go first he himself was the last that went therein though the Boat did go and unload and return'd many times insomuch that not only the Passengers were saved but all their Goods which no sooner were out but the Ship sunk and dyed of that Incurable Dropsie But in these Dangers the Prince forgot not Travelia for why the Prince was more fond of him than Travelia was of himself for her fears of being known gave her no rest But being all safely arrived in the Island they began to consider what to do the Prince counselled them to chuse out some of the Company to build up Hutts to lay their Goods in and also to cut down some Trees there being great store of Wood chusing that which was most proper and fit to build a new Ship whilst the rest of the Company went to seek Food and to discover the place This being agreed upon they divided themselves and those that travelled up into the Island found it very small as being not above thirty miles long and twenty broad and unpeopled but great store of Fish and Fowl few Beasts but those that were were of a gentle Kind fine Meadows full of Grass and sweet Flowers refreshing and shady Woods wherein ran clear Springs and bubling Brooks Thus though it were little it was very pleasant the greatest Inconvenience they found there was want of Houses for they found the ground somewhat damp with Dews which being an Island it was subject to but the Air was ferene and clear the Climate a little more than temperately hot But the time that the Ship was a building the Prince had a little House or thing like an Arbour built in the midst of the Island to lodg in and the rest made Hutts for themselves and several Recreations they found to pass away the time Being in so solitary a place the Prince who was melancholy for the loss of his Mistress grew full of Thoughts and having her Picture in his Mind drawn to the life comparing it to Travelia's Face which he often looked upon began to reason with himself why that might not be she considering her private escape and the little acquaintance she had in that Countrey and seeming of a better breeding than a Ship-Master's Son could have it did almost confirm his hopes But discoursing one day with the old Man of several accidents telling their Misfortunes and good hap of both sides and being both of one Countrey the old Man thinking no harm discovered by his talking that Travelia was none of his Son begotten from his Loins but adopted through Compassion and Affection and then telling the Story how he came into his Ship unknown or without his leave by the circumstances of Time Place and Manner found that it was she whereat being transported with joy he could scarce conceal his Passion but dissembled his knowledg as well as he could for the present yet after that time sought an occasion to get her alone where he did usually go a Birding and did command Travelia to carry his Bags of Shot after him who loved the Service though she feared the Lord and when they were gone some distance from the rest of the Company and being in a shady Wood the Prince feigned himself weary and setting down to rest commanded him to do the like and at last discovered to him how he came to know her She finding her self discovered turned as pale as Death and in that passion of Fear prayed him to kill her or otherwise she should find a way to do it her self But the Prince told her He would satisfie himself first unless she would consent to live with him as his Wife in that Island wherein said he we may live free and secure without any Disturbance She musing with her self what to do believing he was not grown the Chaster with living amongst rude and barbarous People thought it best to dissemble and give a seeming-consent Whereat the Prince's Thoughts being more elevated than if he had been Master of the whole World they return'd to the rest of the Company the one with an over-joyed Mind the other sad and full of perplexed Thoughts But when she came to a place where she might be alone sitting down in a melancholy posture without uttering Words or shedding Tears for Grief and Amazement had congealed the one and stopt the other yet at last her smuthered sorrow broke out into Complaint You Gods said she Who will offer Sacrifice to your Deities since