and yet we sleepe secure My Lord bethinke no other Set your rest Vpon these Câ—…rds The surest way is best Leaue me to manage our successfull plot And if these studious browes contriue it not Too sure for art of Mâ—…gicke to preuent Ne're trust a womans wit wâ—…en fully bent To take reuenge Begone my Lord repose The trust in me Onely be wise be close That night when as the vniuersall shâ—…de Of the vnspangled heauen and earth had made An vâ—…ter darknesse darknesse apt to further The horrid enterprise of rapes and mâ—…her She she that now lacks nothing to procuâ—…e A full reuenge she calls Athleia to her Partheniaes handmaid whom shâ—… thus â—…espake Athleia dare thy priuate thoughts partake With mine Canst thou be secret Has thy heart A locke that none can pick by theevish art Or brake by force Tell me Canst thou digest A secret trusted to thy faithfull brest Madam said shâ—… Lâ—…t me bee neuer true To my owne thoughts if euer false to you Speake what you please Athleia shall conceale Torments may make me roare but ne're reâ—…eale Replyde the Lady then Athleia knows How much how much my deare affection owes Partheniaes heart whose welfare is the crowne Of all my ioyes which now is ouerthrowne And deeply buried in forgotten dust If thou betray the secret of my trust It lyeth in thy power to remoue Approaching euills Parthenia is in loue Her wasted spirits languish in her brest And nought but look'd for death can giue her rest T is Argalus she loues who with disdaine Requites her loue not louing her againe He sleights her teares The more that he neglects The more entirely she poore soule affects She groanes beneath the burden of despaire And with her sighes she cloyes the idle ayre Thou art acquainted with her priuate teares And you so oft exchanging tongues and eares Must know too much for one poore heart t' endure But desperate's the wound admits no Cure It lies in thee to helpe Athleia say Wilt thou assist me if I find the way Madam my forced ignorance shall be Sufficient earnest of my secresie Your lips haue vtter'd nothing that is new To Athleias eares Alas it is too true Long long ere this your seruant had reueal'd The same to you bad not my lips biâ—… seal'd But if my best endeauors may extend To bring my Mistresse sorrowes to an end Let all the enraged Dâ—…ties aâ—…ot To me worse torment if I doe it not My life 's too poore to hazard for her ease Madam I le doâ—… Command me what you please So said The treacherous Lady steps aside Inâ—…o her serious closeâ—… and applide Her hasty and perfidious hands to frame This foâ—…ged letter in Partheniaes name Constant Parthenia to her faithfull Argalus ALthough the malice of a mother Does yet enforce my tongue to smother What my desire is should flame yet Parthenia is the same Although my fire be hid a while T is but fire slak'd with oyle Before seuen Suns shall rise and fall It shall burne and blaze withall What I send thee drinke with speed Else let my Argalus take heed Vnlesse thy prouidence withstand there is treason ne're at hand Drinke as thou lou'st me and it shall secure thee From future dangers or from past recure thee This done and seal'd she op'd her priâ—…te doore Call'd in Athleia and said For euery sore The gods prouide a salue Force must preuaile Where sighes and teares and deepe entreaties faile Forthwith from out her Cabinet she tooke A little glasse and said Athleia looke Within these slender walls these glazed lists Partheâ—…aes happinesse and life consists It is Nepenthe which the factious gods Doe vse to drinke when ere they be at ods Whose secret vertue so infus'd by loue Does turne deep hatred into dearest loue It makes the proudest louer whine and baule And such to dote as neuer lou'd at all Here take this glasse and recommend the same To Aâ—…galus in his Pâ—…theniaes name And to his hand to his owne hand commit This letter Betweene Aâ—…galus and it Let no eye come Be sure thy speeâ—… preuent The rising Sun and so heauens crowne th' euent By this the feather'd Bellman of the night Sent forth his midnight summons to inuiâ—…e All eyes to slâ—…mber when they both addrest Their thoughtfull minds to take a doubtfull rest O heauens and you O you celestiall powers That neuer slumber but imploy all houres In mans prorection still preseruing keeping Our soules from obuious dangers waking sleeping O can your all-descerning eyes behold Such impious actions prosper vncontroll'd O can your hearts your tender hearts endure To see your seruant that now sleepes secure Vnarm'd vnwarn'd and hauing no defence But your protection and his innocence Betray'd and murther'd drawing at one breath His owne prepar'd destruction his owne death And will ye 〈◊〉 He that is the crowne Of prized vertue honour and renowne The flowre of Arts the Cyprian liuing story Arcadias Girland and great Graeces glory The earths new wonder and the worlds example Must dye betraid Treason and death must trample Vpon his life and in the dust must lye As much admit'd perfection as can dye No Argalus the coward hand of death Durst ne're assault thee if not vnderneath The Maske of loue Thou art aboue the reach Of open wrongs Mans force could ne're make breach Into thy life no Death could ne're vncase Thy soule had she appeared face to face Dreame Argalus and let thy thoughts be troubled With murthers treasons Let thy dreams be doubled And what thy frighted fancy shall perceiue Be wisely superstitious and beleeue O that my lines could wake thee now and seuer Those eyelids that ere long must sleepe for euer Wake now or neuer Argalus and withstand Thy danger Wake the murtheresse is at hand Parthenia oh Parthenia who shall weepe Thy world of teares Canst thou O canst thou sleep Will thy dull Genius giue thee leaue to slumber Does nothing trouble thee no dreame incumber Thy frighted thoughts and Argalus so neere His latest houre Not one dreaming teare Sleepe on and when thy flattring slumber's past Perchance thine eyes will learne to weepe as fast His death is plotted And this morning light Must send him downe into eternall night Nay what is worse then worst His dying breath Will censure thee as Agent in his death By this the broadfac'd Quirister of night Surceas'd her screeching note and tooke her flight To the next neighbring Ivy Brids and beasts Forsake the warme protection of their nests And nightly 〈◊〉 whilst darknesse did display Her sable curtaines to let in the day When sad Athleia's dreame had vnbenighted Her slumbring eies her busie thoughts were frighted She rose and trembled and being halfe distraught With her prophetick feares she thus bethought What ayle the Gods thus to disturbe my rest And make such earthquakes in my troubled brest Nothing but death and murthers Graues and Bells Frighting my fancy with their hourely knells T was
nothing but a dreame and dreames they say Expound themselues the cleane contrary way The Riddle 's read and now I vnderstand My dreames intents Some mariage is at hand For death interpreted is nothing else But mariage And the melancholly Bells Is mirth and musicke By the graue is read The ioyfullioy full ioyfull mariage bed I I t is plaine And now me thinks 't was I That my prophetick dreame foretold should dye If this be death Death exercise thy power And let Athleia dye within this houre Doe doe thy worst Athleia's faithfull breath Shall pray for nothing more then sudden death But stay Athleia the too forward day Begins to gild the East away away So hauing said The nimble fingerd Lasse Tooke the forg'd letter and the amorous glasse And to her early progresse she applies her D parts and toward Argalus she hies her But euery step she tooke her mind enforc'd New thoughts and with her selfe she thus discours'd How fraile's the nature of a womans will How crosse The thing that 's most forbidden still They more desire and least inclinde to doe What they are most of all perswaded too Had not alas my Lady bound these hands Athlâ—…ia ne're had struggled with her bands I must not tast it Had she not enioyn'd My lips from tasting it Athleia's mind Had neuer thought on 't now me thinkss I long Desires if once confinde become too strong For womans conquer'd reason to resist A womans reason 's measur'd by her list I long to tast yet was there nothing did Mooue my desires but that I was forbid With that she stayd her weary steps and hasted T'vntye the Glasse lift vp her arme and tasted That done and hauing now attain'd almost Her iourneyes end the little time she lost New speed regaines The nimble ground she traces With double hast and quicke redoubled paces All on a sudden she begins to faint Her bowells gripe her breath begins to taint Her blistred tongue growes hot her liuer glowes Her vaines doe boile her colour comes and goes She staggers falls and on the ground she lyes Swels like a bladder roares and bursts and dyes Thus from her ruine Argalus deriues His longer life and by her death he liues Liue Argalus and let the gods allot Such morning draughts to those that loue thee not Liue long and let the righteous powers aboue That haue preseru'd thee for Parthenia's loue Crowne all thy hopes and fortunes with euent Too sure for second treasons to preuent By this time did the lauish breath of Fame Giue language to her Trumpet and proclaime Athleias death the current of which newes Truths warrant had forbidden to abuse Deceiued eares which when the Lady heard Whose trecherous heart was greedily prepar'd To entertaine a murther she arose And with rude violence desperately throwes Hâ—…r trembling body on the naked floore But what she said and did I will deplore Not vtter but with forced silence smother Because she was the faire Parthenia's mother May it suffice that the extreames of shame And vnresisted sorrow ouercame Her disappointed malice lesse lamenting The treason then successe and more repenting Of what she fail'd to doe then what she did Her sullen soule dispaires her thoughts forbid What reason wants the power to perswade Her griefes bâ—…ing growne too deepe for her to wade She sinks and with a hollow sigh she cryed Welcome thou easer of all euills and dyed Now tongues begin to walke and euery eare Hath got the Saturyasis to heare This tragicke sceane The breath of Fame grows bold Feares no repulse and scornes to be controlld Whilst lowd report whose tender lips before Durst onely whisper now begins to roare The letter found in dead Athleias brest Bewray'd the plot and what before was guest Is now confirm'd and clear'd for all men knew Whose hand it was and whence the malice grew But haue we lost Parthenia In what Isle Of endlesse sorrow lurks she all this while Sweet Reader vrge me not to tell for feare Thy heart dissolue and melt into a teare Excuse my silence If my lines should speake Such marble hearts as could not melt would break No leaue her to her selfe It is not fit To write what being read you 'd wish vnwrit I leaue the taske to those that take delight To see poore Ladyes tortur'd in despight Of all remorse whose hearts are still at strife To pâ—…int a torment to the very life I leaue that taske to such as haue the powre To weepe and smile againe within an houre To those whose flinty hearts are more contentâ—…d To limme a griefe then pitty the tormented Let it suffice that had not heauen protected Her Argalus the ioy whereof corrected That 〈◊〉 griefe which passion recommended To her sad thoughts her story here had ended When Time the enemy of Fame had clos'd Her babling lips and gently had compos'd Partheniaes sorrowes raising from the ground Her body spent with griefe and almost drownd In her owne teares a long expected Sceane Of better fortune enters in to dreane His marish eyes Her stormy night of teares Being past a welcome day of ioy appeares The rocke's remou'd and loues wide Ocean now Giues roome enough lookes with a milder brow Reader forget thy sorrowes Let thine eare Welcome the tydings thou so longst to heare A louers diet 's sweet commixt with sower His hell and heauen oft-time diuides an houre Now Argalus can finde a faire accesse To his Parthenia now feares nothing lesse Then eares and eyes and now Partheniaes heart Can giue her tongue the freedome to impart His louder welcome whilst her greedy eye Can looke her fill and feare no stander by She 's not Parthenia he not present with her And he not Argalus if not together Their cheeks are fill'd with smiles their tongues with chat Now this they make their subiect and now that One while they laugh and laughing wrangle too And iarre as iealous louers vse to doe And then a kisse must make them friends againe Faith one's too little Louers must haue twaine Two brings in ten ten multiplyes to twenty That to a hundred then because the plenty Growes troublesome to count and does incumber Their lips their lips gaue â—…isses without number Their thoughts run backe to former times they told Of all loues passages they had of old ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA The Second Booke SAyle gentle Pinace Now the heauens are cleare The winds blow faire Behold the harbour's neere Trydented Neptune hath forgot to frowne The rocks are past The storme is ouerblowne Vp wetherbeaten voyagers and rouze yee Forsake your loathed Cabbiâ—…s vp and louze ye Vpon the open decks and smell the land Cheare vp the welcome shoare is nigh at hand Sayle gentle Pinace with a prosperous gale To th' Isle of peace Sâ—…ile gentle Pinace saile Fortune conduct thee Let thy keele diuide The siluer streames that thou mast safely slide Into the bosome of thy quiet Key And quite thee fairely of th'iniurious Sea Great
reuenge which was not long effecting For whilst Amphialus whose hopes inflam'd His tyrannous thoughts with conquest proclaim'd Vndoubted victory heapt his strokes so fast As if each blow had scorn'd to be the last The watchfull Argalus whose nimble eye Dispos'd his time in onely putting by Put home a thrust his right foot comming in And pierc'd his Nauell that the wound had bin No lesse then death if Fortune that can turne A mischiefe to aduantage had for borne To show a miracle for with that blow Amphialus last made his arme had so O estrucke it selfe that sideward to the ground He fell and falling he receiu'd that wound Which had he stood had enter'd in point blancke But falling only graz'd vpon his flancke Being downe braue Argalus his threatning sword Bids yeeld Amphialus answering not a word As one whose mighty spirit did disdaine A life of almes but striuing to regaine His legs and honour Argalus let driue With all the strength a wounded arme could giue Vpon his head but his hurt arme not able To doe him present seruice answerable To his desires let his weapon fall With that Amphialus though daz'd withall Arose but Argalus ran in and graspt 〈◊〉 clos'd together with him where both claspt And grip'd each in th'unfriendly armes of either A while they grappled grappling fell together And on the ground with equall fortune stroue Some time 〈◊〉 was got aboue And sometimes Argalus Both ioyntly vow'd 〈◊〉 Both wallowed in their mingled blood Both bleeding fresh Now Argalus bids yeeld And now Amphialus Both would win the field Yet neither could At last by free consent They rose and to their breathed swords they went The Combat's now renew'd both laying on As if the fight had beene but new begon New wounds asswage the smarting of the old And warme blood entermingles with the cold But Argalus whose wounded arme had lost More blood then all his body could almost Supply and like an 〈◊〉 that expends So long as he hath either stocke or friends Bled more then his spent Fountains could make good His spirit could giue courage but not blood As when two wealthy Clyents that waxe old In suit whose learned councell can vphold And glaze the cause alike on either side During the time their tearmly golden tide Shall flow alike from both 't is hard to say Who prospers best or who shall get the Day 〈◊〉 he whose water first shall cease to flow And ebbe so long till it shall ebbe too low His cause though richly laden to the brincke With right shall strike vpon the barre and sincke And then 〈◊〉 easie Councell may vnfold The doubt The question 's ended with the gold Euen so our Combatants the 〈◊〉 their blood Was equall 〈◊〉 the Cause seem'd equall good The Victory equall equall was their armes Their Hopes were equall 〈◊〉 was their harmes But when poore Argalus his wasting blood Ebb'd in his veines although it made a flood A 〈◊〉 flood in the vngratefull field His cause his strength but not his heart must yeeld Thus wounded Argalus the more he fail'd The more the proud Amphialus preuail'd With that Amphialus whose noble strife Was but to purchase honour and not life Perceiuing what aduantage in the fight He gained and the valour of the Knight Became his suitor that himselfe would please To pitty himselfe and let the Combat cease Which noble Argalus that neuer vs'd In honour to part stakes with thankes refus'd Like to a lucklesse gamester who the more He loses is 〈◊〉 willing to giue o' 〈◊〉 And filling vp his empty veines with spite Begins to summe his forces and vnite His broken strength and like a Lampe that makes The greatest blaze at going out he takes His sword in both his hands and at a blow Cleft armour shield and arme 〈◊〉 in two But now enrag'd Amphialus forgets All pitty and trusting to his Cards he sets That stock of courage treasur'd in his brest Making his whole estate of 〈◊〉 his Rest And vies such blowes as Arg'lus could not see Without his losse of life so thundred he Vpon his wounded body that each wound Seem'd like an open Sluce of blood that found No hand to stop it till the dolefull cry Of a most beautious Lady who well nie Had run her selfe to death restrain'd his arme Perchance too late from doing further harme It was the faire Parthenia who that night Had dream'd she saw her husband in that plight She now had found him Feare and loue together Gaue her no rest till they had brought her hither The nature of her feare did now begin T' expell the feare of Nature stepping in Betweene their pointing swords she prostrate lay Before their blood-bed abbled feet to say She knew not what for as her lips would striue To be deliuer'd a deepe sigh would driue The abortiue issue of her language forth Which borne vntimely perisht in the birth And if her sighes would giue her 〈◊〉 to vent it O then a teare would trickle and preuent it But 〈◊〉 the winde of her loud sighes had laid The 〈◊〉 of her teares she sobb'd and said O wretched eyes of mine O wailfull sight O day of darknesse O eternall night And there 〈◊〉 stopt her eyes being fixt vpon Amphialus she sigh'd and thus went on My Lord 'T is said you loue Then by that sacred power Of loue as you 'd 〈◊〉 mercy in the houre Of greatest misery leaue off and sheathe Your bloody sword or else if nought but death May slake your anger O let mine let mine Be a sufficient offring at the Shrine Of your appeased thoughts or if you thirst For Argalus 〈◊〉 life then take mine first Or if for noble blood you seeke if so Accept of mine my blood is noble too And worth the spilling Euen for her deare sake Your tender soule affects awake awake Your noble mercy Grant I care not whether Let me dye first or kill vs both together With that Amphialus was about 〈◊〉 speake 〈◊〉 Argalus whose heart 〈◊〉 almost 〈◊〉 To heare Partheniaes words 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ah Parthenia Then must I 〈◊〉 bought and sold for teares Is my condition So poore I cannot 〈◊〉 but by petition So said He 〈◊〉 aside for feare by chance The fury of some misguided blow may 〈◊〉 And touch Parthenia and fill'd with high 〈◊〉 Would haue 〈◊〉 the Combat fresh againe But now Amphialus was charm'd his hand 〈◊〉 no sufficient warrant to withstand Parthenia's suit from whose faire eyes there came Such precious teares in so belou'd a name His eyes grew tender and his melting heart Was ouercome his very soule did smart He 〈◊〉 not but kept him at a distance And putting by some blowes made no resistance But what can long endure Lamps wanting oyle Must out at last although they blaze a while Trees wanting Sap must wither strength and beauty Can claime no priuiledge to quit that duty They owe to Time and Change but like a Vine The vnsound supporters
failing must decline Poore Argalus growes 〈◊〉 and must giue o're To strike his feeble arme can strike no more And natures 〈◊〉 ' d Bayly now destraines His blood for that small debt that yet remaines 〈◊〉 His arme that cannot vse the poynt Now 〈◊〉 vpon the pomell euery ioynt Disclaimes their idle sinews and his eye Begins to double euery obiect by Nothing appeares the same it was the ground And all thereon does seeme to daunce the round His legs grow faint and thinking to sit downe He mist his Chaire and 〈◊〉 into a swoune With that Amphialus and Parthenia ran Ran in with hast Amphialus 〈◊〉 To loose his Helmet whil'st her busie palme Chaf'd his cold Temples and distilling Balme Into his wounds her hasty fingers tore Her linnen sleeues and Partlet that she wore No wipe the teare mixt blood away and wrap His wounds withall vpon her panting lappe She laide his liuelesse head and wanting bands To binde the bloody cloathes her nimble hands As if it were ordained for that end And therefore made so long did freely rend Her dainty haire by handfuls from her head But as she wrapt the wounds her eyes would shed And wet the rags so much that she was faine 〈◊〉 sighs and sobs to drie it vp againe Thus halfe distracted with her griefes and feares These words she enter mingles with her teares Distrest Parthenia Into what estate Hath fortune and the direfull hand of Fate Driuen thy perplexed soule O thou O thou That wert the president of all ioyes but now Now turn'd th' example of all misery For torments worse then death to practise by How lesse then nothing art thou and how more Then miserable Thou that wert before All Ladies of the earth for happinesse But very now ah me now nothing lesse O angry heauens what hath Parthenia done To be thus plagu'd or why not plagu'd alone If guilty what shall poore Parthenia doe To whom shall she complaine alas or who Shall giue reliefe nay who can giue reliefe To her that hopes for succour from her griefe O death Must we be parted then for euer And neuer meet againe what neuer neuer Or shall Parthenia now be so vnkinde Te leaue her Argalus and stay behind No no my dearest Argalus make roome There 's roome enough in heauen I come I come Who euer saw a dying coale of fire Lurke in warme embers till some breath inspire A forc'd reuiuall how obscure it lies And being blowne glimmers a while and dies So Argalus to whom Parthenia's breath Giuing new life a life in spite of death Recall'd him from his death-resembling traunce Who from his panting Pillow did aduance His feeble head and looking vp he made Hard shift to sorce a language and thus said My deare Parthenia Now my glasse is runne The Tapours tell me that the Play is done My dayes are summ'd Death seizes on my heart Alas the time is come and we must part Yet by my better hopes grimme death does bring No griefe to Argalus no other sting But this that I must leaue thee euen before My gratefull actions can crosse the score Of thy deare merits But since it pleases him whose wisedome still Disposes all things by his better will Depend vpon his goodnesse and relye Vpon his pleasure not inquiring why And trust that one day we shall meet and then Enioy each other ne're to part agen Meane while liue happy Let Parthenia make No doubt but bessed Argalus shall partake In all her ioyes on earth which shall encrease His ioyes in heauen and soules eternall Peace Loue well the deare remembrance of thy true And faithfull Argalus let no thought renew My last disgrace thinke not the hand of Fate Made me vnworthy though vnfortunate And as he spake that word his lips did vent A sigh whose vio'lence hâ—…d well nigh rent His heart in twaine and when a paâ—…ting kisse Hâ—…d giuen him earnest of appoaching blisse He snatch his sword into his hand and cryed O death thou art the Conquerour and dyed With that Parthenia whose liuelihood was founded Vpon his life bow'd downe her head and swounded But griefe that like a Lyon loues to play Before it kils gaue death a longer day Else had Parthenia dy'd since death depriued Him of his life in whose deare life she liued But ah Parthenia's sorrow was too deepe Too too vnruly to be lull'd asleepe By ought but Death She startles from her swound And nimbly rising from the loathed ground Kneeles downe and layes her trembling hand vpon His lukewarme lips but finding his breath gone Griefe playes the Tyrant fierce distruction driues her She knowes not where vnbounded 〈◊〉 depriucs her Of sense and language here and there she goes Not knowing what to doe nor what she does Somtimes her faire misguided hand would teare Her beautious face sometimes her bountious haire As if their vse could stand her in no stead Since her beloued Argalus was dead But now Amphialus that all this space Stood like an Idol fastned to his place Where with a world of teares he did bemoane The deed that his vnlucky hands had done Well knowing that his words would aggrauate Not ease the miserie of her woefull state Spake not but caus'd her women that came with her To vrge her to the Ferrie where together With her dead Argalus she ' embrackt from whom She would not part no sooner was she come To t'other shore but all the funerall state Of militarie discipline did waite Vpon the Corps whil'st troopes of trickling eyes Fore-ran the well perform'd solemnities The Martiall Trumpet breath'd her dolefull sound Whil'st others traild their Ensignes on the ground Thus was the most lamented Corpes conuaid Vpon a Chariot lin'd and ouerlaid With Sables to his house a house then night More black no more the Palace of Delight Where now we leaue him to receiue the Crowne Prepar'd for vertue and deseru'd renowne Where now we leaue him to be full possest Of endlesse peace and euerlasting Rest. But who shall comfort poore Parthenia now What Oratory can preuaile or how Can counsell chuse but blush to vndergoe So vaine taske and be contemned too May Counsell mooue a heart whose best 〈◊〉 Consists in desperate yeelding to a griefe O what aduice can rellish in her eares That weepes and takes a pleasure in her teares Readers forbeare sorrowes that are lamented Are but exulcerated but augmented Forbeare attempt where there is no preuayling A desperate griefe growes stronger by bewaying Leaue her to time and fortune let your eyes No longer prye into her miseries True mourners loue to be beheld of none Who truly grieues desire to grieue alone But now our bloodhound Muse must draw and track Amphialus and bring the Murtherer backe To a new Combate Where if fortune please To crowne our Tragick Sceane and to appease The crying blood of Argalus with blood Our better rellisht story making good Your hopefull expectations shall besriend The teares of our Parthenia and end
is the cause Who hath benumm'd thy heart If e're they goe Beyond their lists Parthenia made them so Withall be sure when ere thou shalt aduance The daughters vertues let the glory glance Vpon the prudent mother Women care not To heare too much of vertue if they share not When thus thou hast prepar'd her melting eare To soft attention closely in the reare Of thy discourse preferre thy sad petition That she would please to fauour the condition Of a distressed louer and afford In thy behalfe a mothers timely word So shalt thou wreck thy vengeance by a wilde And make the mother bawd to her owne childe He paused not but like a rash proiector Whose franticke passion was supreme director Fixt his first thoughts impatient of the second Which might bin betterd by aduise and reckon'd All time but lost which he bestowed not On th' execution of his hopefull plot Forthwith his nimble paces he diuided Towards the Summer Pallace where resided The faire Partheniaes mother boldly enters And after mutuâ—…ll complement aduenters To breake the yce of his dissembled griefe Thus he complaines and thus he begs reliefe Madam The hopefull thriuing of my suit depends Vpon your goodnesse and it recommends It selfe vnto your sauour from whose hand It must haue sentence or to fall or stand Thirce three times hath the Soueraigne of the night Repaird her empty hornes with borrowed light Since these sad eyes these beauty blasted eyes Were stricken by a light that did arise From your blest wombe whose vnasswaged smart Hath peirc'd my soule and wounded my poore heart It is the faire Parthenia whose diuine And glorious vertue led these eyes of mine To their owne ruine Like a wanton fly I dallied with the flames of her bright eye Till I haue burn'd my wings O if to loue Be held a sinne the guilty gods aboue Being fellow-sinners with vs and commit The selfe same crimes may eas'ly pardon it O thrice diuine Partheniâ—… that hast got A sacred priuiledge which the gods haue not If thou hast doom'd that I shall be bereauen Of my loath'd life yet let me dye for giuen And welcome death that with one happy blow Giues me more ease then life could euer doe Madam to whom should my sad words appeale But you Alâ—… to whom should I reueale My dying thoughts but vnto you that gaue Being to her that hath the power to saue My wasted life The language of a mother Moues more then teares that trickle from another With that a well dissembled drop did slide From his false eyes The Lady thus replyde My Honorable Lord If my vntimely answer hath preuented Some further words your passion would haue vented Pardon my haste which in a ruder fashion Sought onely to diuide you from your passion The loue you beare Parthenia must claime The priuiledge of mine eare and in her name Though from an absent mind as yet vnknowne Returne I thankes with intrest of my owne The little iudgement that the gods haue lent Her downy yeares though in a small extent Does challenge the whole freedome of her choyce In the resignement of a mothers voice The sprightly fancies of a virgins mind Enter themselues and hate to be confinde The hidden Embers of a louers fire Desire no bellowes but their owne desire And like to Dedalus his forge if blowne Burnes dimme and dyes blazes if let alone Louers affect without aduisement that Which being most perswaded to they hate My Lord adiourne your passion and refer The fortune of your suite to time and her Like to a Pinace is a louers minde The Saile his fancy is A storme of winde His vncontrouled passion the Steaâ—…'s His reason Rocks and Sinds are doubts and feares Your storme being great like a wise Pilot beare But little Saile and stoutly ply the Steare Leaue then the violence of your thoughts to me My Lord too hasty Gamesters ouersee Goe moue Parthenia and let Iuno's blessing Attend your hopefull suite in the suppressing Loues common euills and if her warme desire Show but a sparke leaue me to blow the fire Goe lose no time Louers must be laborious My Lord goe prosperous aud returne victorious With that Demagoras prostrate on the ground As if his eares had heard that blessed sound Wherewith the Delphian oracle acquites The accepted sacrifice performes the rites Of quicke deuotion to that heauenly voice Which fed his soule with the malignant ioyes Of vow'd reuenge vp from the floore he starts Blesses the tongue that blesâ—… him and departs By this time had the heauen-surrounding Steeds Quell'd their proud courage turn'd their fainting head Into the lower Hemispheare to coole Their flaming nostrills in the Westerne poole When as the dainty and mollitious ayre Had bid the Lady of the Pallace share In her refined pleasures and inuited Her gentle steps fully to be delighted In those sweet walkes where Flora's liberall hand Had giuen more freely then to all the land There walked she and in her vaâ—…ious minde Proiects and casts about which way to finde The progresse of the yong Partheniaes heart Likes this way then a second thought does thwart The first Likes that way then a third the second One while she likes the match and then she reckon'd Demagoras vertues now her feare entices Hâ—…r thoughts to alter then she counts his vices Sometimes she cals his vowes and oathes to minde Another while thinkes oathes and words but winde She likes dislikes Her doubtfull thoughts doe vary Resolues and then resolues the quite contrary One while she feares that his maligne aspect Will giue the virgin cause to disaffect And then propounds to her ambitious thoughts His wealth the golden couer of all faults And from the Chaos of her doubt digests Her feares creates a world of wealth and rests With that she straight vnfixt her fastned eyes From off the ground and looking vp espyes The faire Parthenia in a louely bowre Spending the treasure of an euening houre There sate she reading the sweet-sad discourses Of Charicleas loue the entercourses Of whose mixt fortunes taught her tender heart To feele the selfe same ioy the selfe same smart She read she wept and as she wept she smil'd As if her â—…quall eyes had reconcilde The extremes of ioy and griefe she closde the booke Then op'ned it and with a milder looke She pitiâ—…s louers musing then a while She teaches smiles to weepe and teares to smile At length her broken thoughts she thus discouers Vnconstant state of poore distressed louers Is all extreame in loue No meane at all No draughts indifferent either honey or Gall Hath Cupids Vniuerse no temp'rate Zone Either a torrid or a frozen one Alas alas poore louers As she spake Those words from her disclosed lips there brake A gentle sigh and after that another With that steps in her vnexpected mother Haue ye beheld when Titans lustfull head Hath newly diâ—…'d into the seagreene bed Of Thet is how the bashfull Horizone Enfore'd to see what should
not so sleightly ouer The deare affection of so true a louer Pitty his flames relieue his tortur'd brest That findes abroad no ioy at home no rest But like a wounded Hart before the hounds That flies with Cupids Iauelin in his wounds Stir vp thy rak't vp embers of desire The gods will bring in fewell and blow the fire Be gentle let thy cordiall smiles reuiue His wasted spirits that onely cares to liue To doe thee honour It was Cupids will The dart he sent should onely wound not kill Yeeld then aâ—…d let th'engaged gods powre downe Their promis'd blessings on thy head and crowne Thy youth with ioyes and maist thou after be As blest in thine as I am blest in thee So said The faire Parthenia to whose heart Her fixt desires had taught th'â—…m willing Art Of disobedience calls her iudgement in And of two euills determines it a sin More veniall by a resolute deniall To proue vn 〈◊〉 then be dâ—…sloyall To him whose heart a sacred vow had tyed So fast to hers and weeping thus replyâ—…d Madam The angry gods haue late conspir'd to show The Vtmost their enraged hands could doc And hauing laid aside all mercy stretch Their power to make one miserable wretch Whose curst and tortur'd soule must onely be The subiect of their wrath and I am she Hard is the case my deare desires must faile My vowes must cracke my plighted faith be fraile Or else affection must be so exil'd A mothers heart that she renounce her child And as she spâ—…ke that word a flowing tide Of teares gusht out whose violence deny'd Tn'intended passagâ—… of her doubling tongue She stopt a â—…hile Then on the floore shâ—… flung Her prostrate body whilst her hands did teare Not knâ—…owing what they did her dainty haire Sometimes she struck the ground somtimes her brest Began some words and then wept out the rest At last her liuelesse hands did by degrees Raise her cast body on her feeble knees And humbly rearing her sad eyes vpon Her mothers frowning visage thus went on Vpon these knees these knees that ne're were bent To you in vaine that neuer did present Their vnrewarded duty neuer rose Without a mothers blessing vpon those Vpon those naked knees I recommend To your deare thoughts those termâ—…nis that attend Your poore Parthenia whose vnknowne distresse Craues rather death then language to expresse What shall I doe Dâ—…magoras and Death Sound both alike to these sad eares that breath That names the one does nominate the other No no I cannot loue him my deare mother Command Parthenia now to vndergoe What death you please and these quick hands shall show The seale of my obedience in my heart The gods themselues that haue a secret art To force affection cannot violate The lawes of Nature stop the course of Fate Can earth forget her burthen and ascend Or can th' aspiring flames be taught to tend To th' earth If fire descend and earth aspire Earth were no longer earth nor fire fire Euen so by nature 't is all one to me To loue Demagoras and not to be No no the heauens can doe no act that 's greater Then hauing made so to preserue their creature And thinke you that the righteous Gods would fill me With such false ioyes as if enioy'd would kill me I know that they are mercifull what they Command they giue a power to obey The ioyfull vision that your slumbring eyes Of late beheld did promise and comprise A fayrer fortune then the heauens can share To poore Partheniaes merit whom despaire Hath swasâ—…ow'd Your prophetick dreame discride A royalâ—… mariage pointed out the Bride Her safe Deliuer â—…ce and her smiling sonne Honouâ—… and 〈◊〉 and after all was done Thâ—…re wants a Bridegroome him the heauens haue seald Within my brest by me to be reueal'd VVhich if your patience shall vouchsafe to heare My lips shall recommend vnto your eare When as Basilius may whose royall hand Long sway the scepter of th' Arcadian land From Cyprus brought his more then princely Bride The faire Gynecia whom as Greece deny'd An equall so the world acknowledg'd none As her superiòur in perfection Vpon this Ladies royall traine and state Agreat concourse of Nobles did awaite And Cyprian Princes with their princely port To see her crowned in th' Arcadion Court Illustrious Princes were they but as farre As midnight Phebe outshines the twinckling Starre So far amongst this rout of Princes one Surpast the rest in honour and renowne VVhose perfect vertue findes more admiration In the Arcadian Court then imitation In th'exc'lence of his outward parts and feature The world conceiues the curious hand of Nature Outwent it selfe which being richly fraught And furnisht with transcendent worth is thought To be the chosen fortresse for protection Of all the Arts and storehouse of perfectionâ—… The Cyprus stock did ne're till now â—…ring forth So rare a Branch whose vnderualued worth Brings greater glory to th' Arcadian Land Then can the dull Arcadians vnderstand His name is Argalus He Madam was that Cypresse wreath that crown'd My nuptiall brows And now the Bridegroom 's found Cloath'd in the mystry of that Cypresse wreath VVhich since the better gods haue pleas'd to breathe Into my soule O may I cease to be If ought but death part Argalus and me Yet does my safe obedience not withstand VVhat you desire or what the gods command For what the gods command is your desire Parthenia should obey and not respire Against their sacred counsels or withstand The plot wherein they haue vouchsaf'd a hand VVe must submit our wils what they enâ—…oyne Must be nor lies it in your power or mine To crosse we must endeauour to fulfill VVhat else must come to passe against our will My vowes are past and second heauens decree Nothing shall part my Argâ—…s and me So said Th' impatient mothers kindled eye Halfe closed with a murtherous frowne let flie A scorching fireball from whence was shed Some drops of choller sternly shakes her head With trembling hands vnlocks the doore and flees Leauing Parthenia on her aking knees And as she fled her fury thus began To open And is Argalus the man But there she stopt when striuing to expresse What rage had prompted could doe nothing lesse All you whose deare affections haue beene tost In Cupids blanket and vniuftly crost By wilfull Parents whose extreame command Haue made you groan beneath their tyrannous hand That take a furious pleasure to diuorse Your soulâ—…s from your best thoughts nay what is worse Then torture force your fancies to respect And dearely loue whom most you dis affect Draw neare and comfort the distressed heart Of poore Parthenia let your eyes impart One droppe at least And whosoe're thou be That read'st these lines may thy desiers see The like successe if reading thou foâ—…beare To wet this very paper with a teare Behold poore Lady how an houres time Hath pluck't her faded roses from their prime And like an
if you are bent To act my Tragedy why doe you wrong Our patience so to make the play so long Your Sceanes are tedious Gainst the rules of Art You dwell too long too long vpon one part Be briefe and take aduantage of your odds One simple mayde against so many gods And not be conquer'd yet Conioyne your might And send her soule into eternall night That liues too long a day I le not resist Prouided you strike home strike where ye list Accursed be that Day wherein these eyes First saw the light Let desp'rate soules deuise A curse sufficient for it Let the Sun Ne're shine vpon it and what ere 's begun Vpon that fatall day let heauen forbid it Successe if not to ensnare the hand that did it Why was I borne Or being borne O why Did not my fonder nurses Lullaby Euen whilst my lips were hanging on her brest Sing her poore Babe to euerlasting rest O then my infant soule had neuer knowne This world of griefe beneath whose weight Igroane No no it had not He that dyes in 's prime Speeds a long businesse in a little time But Argalus whose more extreame desire Vnapt to yeeld like water-sprinkled fire Did blaze the more impatient of denyall Gaue thus an onset to a further tryall Life of my Soule By whom next heauen I breath Excepting whom I haue no friend but Death How can thy wishes ease my griefe or stand My miserie in stead when as thy hand And nothing but thy helping hand can giue me Reliefe and yet refuses to relieue me Strange kinde of Charity when being afflicted I finde best wishes yet am interdicted Of those best wishes and must be remou'd From loues enioyment why Because belou'd Alas alas How can thy wishes be A blessing to me if vnblest in thee Thy beauty 's gone thou saist why let it goe He loues but ill that loues but for a show Thy beauty is supply'd in my affection That neuer yet was slaue to a complexion Shall euery day wherein the earth does lacke The Suns reflex b'expell'd the Almanacke Or shall thy ouer-curious steps for beare A garden 'cause there be no Roses there Or shall the sunset of Parthenia's beauty Enforce my iâ—…dgement to neglect that duty The which my best aduis'd affection owes Her sacred vertue and my solemne vowes No no it lyes not in the power of Fate To make Parthenia too vnfortunate For Argalus to loue It is as easie for Parthenia's heart To proue lesse vertuous as for me to start From my firme faith The flame that honours breath Hath blowne nothing hath powre to quench but death Thou giu'st me leaue to chuse a fitter spouse And freedome to recall to quit those vowes I tooke VVho gaue thee license to dispense VVith such false tongues as offer violence To plighted faith Alas thou canst not free Thy selfe much lesse hast power to license me Vowes can admit no change They still perseuer Against all chance they binde they binde for euer A vow 's a holy thing no common breath The limits of a vow is heauen and death A vow that 's past is like a bird that 's flowne From out thy hand can be recall'd by none It dies not like a time beguiling Iâ—…st As soone as vented liues not in thy brest VVhen vtterd once but is a sacred word Straight enterd in the strict and close record Of heauen It is not like a Iuglers knot Or fast or loose as pleases vs or not since then thy vowes can finde no dispensation And may not be recall'd recall thy passion Performe performe what now it is too late T' vnwish againe too soone to violate Seeke not to quit what heauen denies to free Performe thy vowes to heauen thy vowes to me Thrice dearer then my soule she thus râ—…plide Mad my owne pamper'd fancy beene the guide To my affection I had condescended Ere this to your request which had befriended My best desiers too I lou'd not thee For my owne pleasure in that base degree As gluttons doe their diet who dispense With vnwash'd hands lest they should giue offence To their grip'd stomackes when a minutes stay Will make them curse occasion all the day I lou'd not so My first desires did spring From thy owne worth and as a sacred thing I alwaies view'd thee whom my zeale commands Me not prophane with these desiled hands T is true Performance is a debt we owe To Vowes and nothing's dearer then a Vow Yet when the gods doe rauish from our hand The meanes to keepe it ' â—…is a countermand He that hath vow'd to sacrifice each day At Iuno's Altar's bound and must obey But if being vnder vow the gods doe please To strike him with a leperous disease Or foule infection which is better now Prophane the Alâ—…ar or to breake the vow The case is mine where then the gods dispense We may be bold yet tender no offence Admit it were an euill 't is our beâ—…est Of necessary ills to choose the least The gods are good The strickt recognisance Of vowes is onely taken to aduance The good of man Now if that good proue ill We may refuse our vowes entire still I vow a mariage why because I doe Entirely affect that man my vowes are to But if some foule disease should interpose Betwixt our promis'd mariage and our vowes The strict performance of these vowes must proue I wrong and therefore loue not whom I loue Then vrge no more Let my deny all be A pledge sufficient twixt my loue and thee So ended slâ—…e 〈◊〉 vehement desire That câ—…n be quencht with No no more then fire With oyle and can submit to no condition Lends him new breath Loue makes a Rethoritian He speaks she answers He afresh replyes He stoutly sues As stoutly she denyes He begs in vaine and she denics in vainâ—… For she denies agaiâ—…e He begs againâ—… At last both weary â—…e his suite adiournes For louers dayes are good and bad by turnes He bids farewell As if the heart of either Gaue but one motion they both sigh'd together She bids farewel ' and yet she bids it so As if her farewell ended if he goe He bids farewel ' buâ—… so as if delay Had promis'd better farewells to his stay She bids farewell but holds his hand so fast As if that farewell should not be the last Both sigh'd both wept and both being heauy harted She bids farewell He bids farewell and parted So parted they Now Argalus is gone And now Parthenia's weeping all alone And like the widowed Turtle she bewailes The absence of her mate Passion preuailes Aboue her strength Now her poore heart can tell What 's heauen by wanting heauen and what is hell By her owne torments Sorrow now does play The Tyrants part Affection must obey And like a weathercocke her various minde Is chang'd and turn'd with euery blast of winde In desp'rate language she deplores her state She faine would wish but then she knowes not
linde VVith sable Furres Her tresses were of hiew Like Ebonie on which a Pearely dewe Hung like a spiders Webb Her face did shrowd A swarth Complexion vnderneath a Cloud Of black curld Cypresse On her head she wore A crowne of burnisht Gold be shaded o're VVith Foggs and â—…ory mists Her hand did beare A Scepter and a sable Hemispheare She sternely shooke her dewly lockes and brake A melancholly smile and thus bespake Driue on driue on dull Waggoner Let slippe Your louser reines and vse thine idle whippe Thy pamperd Steeds are pursie Driue away The lower world thinkes long to see the day Darkenesse befits vs best and our delight Will rellish farre more sweeter in the night Approach yee blessed shadowes and extend Your early Iurisdiction to befriend Our nightly sports Approach make no delay It is your 〈◊〉 your Soueraigne calls away VVith that a sudden darknesse fill'd the Hall The light was baâ—…sht and the windowes all So neerely clos'd their eye lids round about That day could not get in nor darknesse out Thus while the death resembling shades of night Had drawne their misty Curtaines twixt the light And euery darkned eye which was denide To see but that which darkenesse could not hide The iealous God fearing he knowes not whom Indeed whom feares he not enters the roome And with his clubfoot groping in the shade Of night he mutter'd forth these words and said Where is this wanton Harlot now become Is light so odious to her or is home So homely in her wandring eyes that she Must still be rambling where vnknowne to me Can nothing be concluded nothing done But intermedling Venus must be one Is 't not enough that Phebus does applaud Her lust but must nights Goddesse be her baud Darkenesse be gon Thou patronesse to Lust If faire mâ—…anes may not rid â—…hee fouler must Away my power shall outcharme thy charmes And find her painting in her louers armes Enter you Lamplets of terrestriall fire And let your golden heads at least conspire To counterfeit a day and on the night Reuenge the wrongs of Phebus with your light So said The darkned Hall was garnisht round With lighted Tapors Euery obiect found An eye to owne it and each eye was fâ—…li'd VVith pleasure in the obiect it beheld As these deuisefull changes did incite Their quickned fancies with a fresh delight Morpheus came in His dreaming pace was so That none could say he moou'd he moou'd so slow His folded armes athwart his brest did knit A sluggards knot His nodding chinne did hit Against his panting bosome as he past And often times his eyes were closed fast He wore a Crowne of Poppy on his head And in his hand he bore a Mace of lead He yauned thrice and after Hoâ—…age done To nights blacke soueraigne he thus begun Great Empresse of the world to whom I owe My selfe my seruice by perpetuall vowe Before the footstoole of whose dreadfull Throne The Princes of this lower world lay downe Their Crownes their Scepters whose victorious hand In twice twelue houres did conquer and command This Globe of earth your seruant whose dependance Quickens his power comes to giue attendance Vpon thy early shaddowes and to seize Vpon these wearied mortals when you please T' appoint till then your seruant is at hand To put in execution your Command To whom the smiling Goddesse thus replide Morpheus Our pleasure is to set aside This night to mirth and time-beguiling sports Our sleepe restrayning buisnesse much imports Your welcome absence whil'st our eares shall number The flying houres our mirth admits no slumber That word scarce ended but the Queene of Loue Descended from her vnseene seate aboue In her faire hand she led her winged Son And like a full mouth'd tempest thus begun Dâ—…sloyall Sicâ—…phant deaths bastard brother Accursed spaune cast from a cursed Mother That with thy base impostures riâ—…est man Of halfe his daiâ—…s of halfe that little spanne Nature hath lent his life that with thy wiles Hugg'st him to death betray'st him with thy smiles What mak'st thou here and to vsurpe my right Perfideous Caitife Venuâ—… day is night Goe to the frozen world where mans desire Is made of Ice and melts before the fire Yet ne're the warmer Goe and visit â—…ooles Or Pâ—…legmatick old age whose spirit cooles As quickly as their breath Goe what haue we To doe dull Morpheus with thy Mace or thee As leaden as thy Mace Th' art made for nought Buâ—… to still Children or to ease the thought Or brain-sick Phranticks or with ioyes to â—…ter Poâ—…re slumbring soules which wak'd finde no such matter Goe succour those that vent by quick retaile Their wits vpon deare penny-worths of Alâ—… Or marrow'd Eunuchs whose adust desire Wants meanes to slake the fury ' of their false fire O that I were a Basiliske that I Might dart my venome or else venom'd die Boy bend thy Bow and with thy forked dart Drawne to the head thrill thrill him to the heart Let flie Deaths arrow or if thou had none In deaths name send an arrow of thine owne We are both wrong'd and in the same degrâ—…e Shoot then at once reuenge thy sâ—…lfe and me VVith that the little angry god did bend His steelen Bow and in deaths name did send His winged messenger whose faithfull hast Dispatch'd his irefull errand and stuck fast Within his pierced liuer and did hide His singing feathers in his wounded side Morpheus fell downe as dead and on the ground Lay for a little season in a sound Gasping for breath And Louers dreames they say Haue euermore beene wanton since that day Venus was pleas'd The Goddesse of the night Grew angry she would needs resigne her right Of gouernment and in a spleene threw downe Her Hâ—…mispheare her Scepter and her Crowne And with a duskie fogge she did besmeare The face of Venus soyld her golden haire VVith her blacke shades and with foule tearmes reuil'd Both her her cuckold mate and bastard childe VVhere at the God of Warre being much offended Forsooke both seat and patience and descended And to the world he proffer'd to make good Faire Venus honour with his dearest blood To whom poore Vulcan puffing in a rage To heare his well knowne fortune on the stage Scrap'd many a thanke and with his crouching knee Profest true loue to such true friends as hee And euer since experience lets vs know Cuckolds are kind to such as mâ—…s them so By this god Morpheus waking from his swound Began to groane and from his aking wound Drew forth the buried shaft but Mars whose word Admits no other Organ but his sword Vnsheath'd his furious brondyron and let flye A blow at Morpheus head which had wellnye Clouen him in twaine had not the Queene of night Hurl'd hasty mists before his darkned sight So that the sword by a false guided ayme Struck Vulcans foot which euer since was lame At last the gods came downe and thought it good To
nâ—…ppe this earely quarrell in the bud VVho fearing vprores with a friendly cup Of blest 〈◊〉 tooke the quarrell vp And for th' offence committed did proclame This sentence in offended Iuno's name Morpheus from hence is banisht for this night And not to approch before the morning light Mars is exilde for euer as a guest Adiudg'd vnfitting for a mariage feast Cupid is doom'd to rome and roâ—… about To the worlds end and both his eyes put out Venus is 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 night And not vnlesse by stealth to see the light Her chiefest ioy to be buâ—… pleasing folly Pâ—…rm'd w th madnes dog'd with melancholly And there the Musicke did inuite their paces To measure time and by exchange of places To lead the curious beholders eye A willing captiue to variety Thus with the sweet vicissitude of mirth They spent the time as if that heauen and earth Had studied to please man in such a measure That Art could not doe more â—…augment their pleasure And so they vanisht Now Ceres euening bounty reinuites Her noble guests to her renew'd delights And frolicke Bacchus to refresh their soules With a full hand presents his swelling Bowles Wine came vnwish'd like water from a sourse And delicates were mingled with discourse What Art could doe to make a welcome guest Was liberally presented at that feast It was no sooner ended but appeares An old gray pilgrime deeply strucke iâ—… yeares In tatterd garments In his wrinkled hand An houreglasse lâ—…bouring with her latest sand Beneath his arme a buffen knapsacke hung Stuft full of writings in an vnknowne tongue Chronologies outdated Almanacks And Patents that had long suruiu'd their waxe Vnto his shoulders Eagles wings were ioyn'd His head ill thatch'd before but bal'd behind And leaning on his crooked Sythe he made A little pause and after that he said Mortalls 'T is out My glasse is runne And with it the day is done Darke shadows haue expell'd the light And my glasse is turn'd for night The Queene of darkenesse bids me say Mirth is fitter for the day Vpon the day such ioyes attend With the day such ioyes must end Thinke not Darknesse goes about Like death to puffe your pleasures out No no shee le lend you new delights She hath pleasures for the nights When as her shadows shall benight yee She hath what shall still delight ye Aged Time shall make it knowne She hath dainties of her owne T is very late Away away Let day sports expire with Day For this time we adiourne your feast The Bridegroome faine would be at rest And if night pastimes shall displease yee Day will quickly come and ease yee With that a sweet vermillian tincture stayn'd The Brides faire cheekes The more that she restrayn'd Her blush the more her disobedient blood Did ouerflow as if a second flood Had meant to rise and for a little space To drowne that world of beauty in her face Sâ—…e blusht but knew not why And like the Moone Sâ—…e look'd most red vpon her going downe But see the smiling Ladiâ—…s doâ—… begin To ioyne their whispring heads as there had beene A plot of treason till at length vnspide They stole away the vnwilling-willing Bride Their busiâ—… hands disrob'd her and so led The timorous virgin to her Nuptiall bâ—…d By this the Nobles hauing recommended Their tongues to silence their discourse being ended They look'd about and thinking to haue done Their seruice to the Bride the Bâ—…ide was gone And now the Bridegroome vnto whom delay Seem'd worse then death could brook no longer stâ—…y Attended by his noble guests he enters That roome where th'enterchangeable Indenters Of dearest loue lay ready to be seal'd With mutuall pleasures not to be reueald His garments grow too tedious and their waight Not able to be borne doe ouer fraight His weary shoulders Atlas neuer stoopt Beneath a greater burthen and not droopt No helpe was wanting for he did receiue What sudden ayde he could expect or haue From speedy hands from hands that did not wast The time vnlesse perchance by ouer hast Meane while a dainty warbling brest not strong As sweet presents this Epithalamion song Man of warre march brauely on The field 's not easie to be wonne There 's no danger in that warre Where lips both swords and bucklers are Here 's no cold to chill thee A bed of downe's thy field Here 's no sword to kill thee Vnlesse thou please to yeeld Here is nothing will incumber Here will be no scars to number These are warres of Cupids making These be warres will keepe yee waking Till the earely breaking Day Call your forces hence away These are warres that make no spoyle Death shoots his shafts in vaine Though the souldier get a foyle He will rouze and fight againe These be warres that neuer cease But conclude a mutuall peace Let benigne and prosp'rous starres Breathe successe vpon these warres And when thrice three months be runne Be thou father of a sonne A son that may deriue from thee The honor of true merit And may to ages yet to be Conuay thy blood thy spirit Making the glory of his fame Perpetuate and crowne thy name And giue it life in spight of death When fame shal want both trump and breath Haue you beheld in a faire summers euen The golden-headed Charioter of heauen With what a speed his prouder reynes doe bend His panting horses to their iourneyes end How red he lookes with what a swift careire Her hurries to the lower Hemisphere And in a moment shootes his golden head Vpon the pillow of blushing Thetis bed Euen so the bridegroome whose defire had wings More swift then Time switcht on w th pleasure springs Into his nuptiall bed and looke how fast The stooping Faulkon clips and with what hast Her tallons seize vpon the timorous prey Euen so his armes impatient of delay His circling armes embrac'd his blushing Bride While she poore soule lay trembling by his side The Bridegroome now growes weary of his guests What mirth of late was pleafing now molests His tyred patience Too much sweet offends Sometime to be forsaken of our friends In Cupids moralls is obseru'd to be The fruits of friendship in the best degree And thus at last the Curtaines being clos'd They left them each in others armes repos'd And here my Muse bids draw our Curtaines too T is vnfit to see what priuate louers doe Reader let not thy thoughts grow ouer rancke But vaile thy vnderstanding with a Blancke Thinke not on what thou think'st and if thou canst Yet vnderstand not what thou vnderstandst Sow not thy fruitfull heart with so poore seeds Or if perchance vnsowne they spring like weeds Vse them like weeds thou knowst not how to kill Sleight them and let them thriue against thy will View them like euills which Art cannot preuent But see thou take no pleasure in their sent And one thing more When as the morrow light Shall bring the bash full Bride into thy sight
Soone as the stout Amphialus had out worne The danger of his wounds and made returne Into the Martiall Campe there to maintainc His new got honor and to entertaine Aggrieued challengers that shall demand Oâ—… seeke for satisfaction from his hand An armed Knight came praunsing o're the plaine Dâ—…nouncing watre and breathing forth disdaine Foure dam ' sells vsherd him in sable weeds And foure came after all on mourning Steedes His curious Armour was so painted ouer With liuely shâ—…dowes that you might discouer The image of a gaping Sepulchre About the which were scattered here and there Some dead mens bones His horse was black as let His furniture was round about beset With branches slipt from the sad Cypresse tree His Bases reaching farre below the knee Embroydred were with wormes vpon his shield For his lmprese he had a beautious childe Whose body had two heads whereof the t'one Appear'd quite dead the t'other drawing on Did seeme to gaspe for breath and vnderneath This Motto was subscrib'd From death by death Thus arm'd to point he sent his bold defie T' Amphialus who sent as quick replye Forthwith being summon'd by the Trumpets found They start but braue Amphialus that sound The Knight had mist his Rest as yet not met Scorning to take aduantage would not let His Launce descend nor brauely passing by Encounter his befriended enemy Whereat the angry Knight not apt to brook Such vnsupportable mishappe forsooke His white mouth'd Steed throwing his Lâ—…nce aside Which too too partiall fortune had denide A faire successe drew forth his glittering sword Whereat Amphialus lighted who abhorr'd A conquest meerely by aduantage gain'd Esteeming it but robb'd and not obtain'd Drew forth his sword and for a little space Their strokes contended with an equall pace And fiercenesse He did more discouer A brauery then anger whil'st the other Bewray'd more spleene then either skill or strength To manage it 〈◊〉 at length With more then wonted ease did bâ—…tter so His ill defended armour that each blow Open'd a doorâ—… for death to enter in And now the noble Conquerour does begin To hate so poore a conquest and disdain'd To take a life so easily obtain'd And mou'd with pitty stepping backe he staid His vnresisted violence and said Sir Knight contest no more but take the peace Of your owne passion Let the Combate cease Seeke not your causlesse ruine Turne your arme Better imployd gainst such as wish you harme Husband your life before it be too late Fall not by him that ne're deseru'd your hate To whom the Knight return'd these words againe Thou lyest false Traitor and I here disdaine Both words and mercy with a base defie And to thy throat my sword shall turne the lye To whom Amphialus vnciuill Knight Couragious in nothing but in spight And base discourtesie thou soone shalt know Whether thy tongue betrayes thy heart or no. And as he spake he gaue him such a wound Vpon the necke as strucke him to the ground And with the fall his sword that now deâ—…y de All mercy deepely pierc'd into his side That done he loos'd his Helmet with intent To make his ouerlauish tongue repent Of those base words he had so basely said Or â—…lse to crop him shorâ—…er by the head Who â—…uer sâ—…w th' illustrious eye of noâ—…e New broken from a gloomy cloud â—…nd downe His earth reioycing glory and dâ—…play His golden beames vpon the sonnes of Day Euen so the Helmet being gone a faire And costly treasure of vnbraided haire O'respred the shoulders of the vanquisht Knight Whose now discouer'd visage in despight Of neighb'ring death did witnesse and proclaime A soueraigne beautie in Parthenia's name And she it was indeed see how she lies Smiling on death as it her blessed eyes Blest in their best desireâ—… had espied His fice already for whose fake she died The Lillies and the Roses that while 〈◊〉 Stroue in her Cheekes till they compounded there Haue broke their truce and freshly falne to blows Behold the Lilly hath o'recome the Rose Her Alablaster neck â—…hat did ouâ—…goe The Doues in whiâ—… nessâ—… or the new falne snow Was stain'd with blood as if the red did seâ—…ke Proâ—…tion there being banisht from her cheâ—…ke So full of â—…weetnesse was her dying face Thâ—…t death had not the power to displace Her natiue beautiâ—… onely by translation Moulded and cloath'd it in a newer fashion But now Amphialus in whom griefe and shame Of this vnlucky victorie did claime An eqâ—…ll interest prostrate on the earth Accurs'd his swoâ—…d his arme his houre of birth Casting his Helmet and his gauntlet by Hâ—…s vndissembled teares did testifie What words could not But finding her estate More apt for helpe then griefe though both too late Crept on his knees and begging pardon of her His hands his often cursed hands did proffer Their needlesse helpe and with his life to shâ—…w What honour a deuoted heart could doe Whereto Parthenia whose expiring breath Gâ—…ue speedy signes of a desired death Turning her fixt but oft recalled eyes Vpon Amphialus faintly thus replies Sir you haue done enough and I require No more Your hands haue done what I desire What I expect and if against your will The better So 〈◊〉 wish your fauours still Yet one thing more if enemies may sue I craue which is To be vntoucht by you And as for Honour all that I demand Is not to 〈◊〉 honour from your hand No no 't was no such bargaine made That he Whose hands had kill'd my Argalus should helpe me Your hands haue done enough I craue no more And for the deed sake I forgiue the Doer What then remaines but that I goe to rest With Argalus and to be repossest Of him with him for euer to abide E're since whose death I haue so often died And there she fainted euen as if the Clock Of death had giuen a warning e're it struck But foone returning to her selfe againe Welcome sweet death said she whose minutes paine Shall crowne this soule with euerlasting pleasure Come come and welcome I attend thy leasure Delay me not O doe me not that wrong My Aâ—…galus will chide I stay so long O now I feâ—…le the Gordian-knotted bands Of life vntied O heauens into your hands I recommend my better part with trust To finde you much more mercifull then iust Yet truly iust withall O life O death I call you both to witnesse that this breath Ne're drew a dram of comfort since that houre My Aâ—…galus dyed O thou eternall power Shroud all my faulâ—…s beneath the milkewhite veile Of thy deare mercy and when this tongue shall faile To speake O then And as she spake O then O then she left To speâ—…ke â—…d being suddenly bereft Of words the fatall Sâ—…ster did diuide Hâ—…r slender twine of life and so shâ—… dyed So dyed Parthenia in whose closed eyâ—…s The world of beauty and perfection lyâ—…s Lockt vp by Angels as a thing diuinâ—… From mortall eyâ—…s the whilst
suffused eyes The true partakers of her miseries And as she spake the accent of her story Would alwaies point vpon th' eternall glory Of your rare constancy which whosoere In after-ages shall presume to heare And not admire let him be proclaim'd Arebell to all vertue and defam'd In his best actions let his leprous name Or die dâ—…shonour'd or suruiue with shame But ah what simples can the hand of art Finde out to stanch a louers bleeding heart Or what alas can humane skill apply To turne the course of loues Phlebotomie Loue is a secret sire inspir'd and blowne By fate which wanting hopes to feed vpon Workes on 〈◊〉 very soule and does torment The vniuerse of man which being spent And wasted in the Conflict often shrinkes Beneath the burthen and soconquerd sinkes All which your poore Parthenia knew too well VVhose bed rid hopes not hauing power to quell Th' imperious fury of extreame despaire She languisht and not able to contraire The will of her victorious passion cryed My dearest Argalus farewell and dyed My Lord not long before her latest breath Had freely paid the full arrears to death She cald me to her In her dying hand She strained mine whilst in her eyes did stand A showre of teares vnwept and in mine eare She whisperd so as all the roome might heare Sister said she That title past betweene vs Not vndeseru'd for all that ere had scene vs Mistooke vs so at least The latâ—…st sand Of my spent 〈◊〉 is now at hand Those ioyes which heauen appointed out for me I here bequeath to be possest by thee And when sweet death shall clarifie my thoughts And draine them from the dregs of all my faults Enioy them thou wherewith being so refinde From all their drosse â—…ull fraught thy constant minde And let thy prosprous voyage be addrest To the faire port of Argalus his brest As whom the eye of noone did ne'er discouer So loyall so renownd so rare a louer Cast anchor there for by this dying breath Nothing can please my soule more after death And make my ioyes more perfect them to see A mariage twixt my Argalus and thee This Ring the pledge betwixt his heart and mine Aâ—… freely as he gaue me I make thine With it vnto thy faithfull heart I tender My sacred vowes with it I here surrender All right and title that I had or haue In such a blessing as I now must leaue Goe to him and coniure him in my name What loue he bare to me the very same That he transferre on thee take no deniall VVhich granted liue thou happy constant loy all And as she spake that word her voice did alter Her breath grew cold her specch began to faulter Faine would she vtter more but her spent tongue Not able to gos further faild and clung To ber dry roofe A while as in a trance She lay and on a sudden did aduance Her forced language to the height and cryed Farewell my dearest Argalus and died And now my Lord although this office be Vnsutable to my sex and disagree Tâ—…o much perchance with the too mean condition Of my estate more like to finde dirision Then satisfaction yet my gratious Lord Extr'ordinary merits doe afford Extr'ordinary meanes and can excuse The breach of custome or the common vse VVherefore inciteâ—… 〈◊〉 the deare directions Of dead Partherâ—… 〈◊〉 mine owne affections And by the exc'lence of your high desert I here present you with a faithfull heart A heart to you deuoted which assures It selfe no happinesse but in being yours Pardon my boldnesse They that shall reproue This as a fault reproue a fault in loue And why should custome doe our sex that wrong To take away the priuiledge of our tongue If nature giue vs freedome to affect Why then should custome barre vs to dâ—…tect The gifts of nature She that is in paine Hath a sufficient warrant to complaine Then giue me leaue my Lord to reinforce A virgins suit thinking ne're the worse Of proferd loue let my desiers thriue And freely ' accept what I so freely giue So ending silence did enlaâ—…ge her eare Prepar'd with qâ—…icke attention to heare His gracious words But Argalus whose passion Had put his amorous Courtship out of fashion Return'd no answer till his trickling eies Had giuen an earnest of such obsequies As his adiourned sorrow had entended To doe at full and therefore recommended To priuacy True griefe abhorres the light Who grieues without a witnesse grieues aright His passion thus suspended for a while And yet not so but that it did recoyle Strong sighes he wip'd his teare-bedewed eyâ—…s And turning to the Lady thus replyes Madam Your no lesse rare then noble fauours show How much you merit and how much I owe Your great desert which claimes more thankfulnesse Then such a dearth of language can expresse But most of all I stand for euer bound To that your goodnesse my Parthenia found In her distresse for which respect in duty As I am tyed poore Argalus shall repute ye The flowre of noble courtesie and proclaime Your high deseruings Lady as I am A poore vnhappy wretch the very scorne Of all prosperitie distrest forlorne Vnworthy the least fauour you can giue I am your flaue your Beadsman will I liue But for this weighty matter you propound Although I see how much it would redound To my great happinesse yet heauen knowes Most exc'llent Lady I cannot dispose Of my owne thoughts nor haue I power to doe What else you needed not perswade me to For trust me were this heart of mine mine owne To carue according to my pleasure none But you should challenge it but while I liue It is Parthenia's and not mine to giue Whereto she thus replies Most noble Sir Death that hath made diuorse 'twixt you and her Hath now returned you your heart againe Dissolu'd your vowes dislink'd that sacred chaine Which tide your soules nay more her dying breath Bequeath'd your heart to me which by her death Is growne a debt that you are bound to pay Then know my Lord the longer you delay The longer time her soule is dispossest And by your meanes of her desired rest Whereto the poore distressed Argalus Pausing a while return'd his answere thus Incomparable Lady When first of all by heauens diuine directions VVe lou'd we lik'd we linkt our deare affections And with the solemne power of an oath In presence of the better gods we both Exchang'd our hearts in witnesse of which thing I gaue and she receiued this deare Ring Which now you weare by which she did resigne Her heart to me for which I gaue her mine Now Maddam by a mutuall commerce My exchang'd heart is not my owne but hers Which if it had the power to suruiue She being dead what heart haue I to giue Or if that heart expired in her death VVhat heart had shee poore Lady to bequeath Maddam in her began my deare affection In her it liu'd in her
it had perfection In her it ioy'd although but ill befriended By Fate in her begun in her it ended If I had lou'd if I had onely lou'd Parthenia's beautie I had soone beene mou'd To moderate my sorrowes and to place That loue on you that haue Parthenia's face But 't was Parthenia's selfe I lou'd and loue VVhich as no time hath power to remoue From my sixt heart so nothing can diminish No fortune can dissolue no death can finish With mingled frownes and smiles she thus replide Hâ—…lfe in a rage And must I be denide Are those the noble fauours I expected To finde disgrade and goe away reiected Most noble Lady if my words said he Suit not your expectation let them be Imputed to the miserie of my state Which makes my lips to speake they know not what Mistake not him that onely studies how VVith most aduantage still to honour you Alas what ioyes I euer did receiue From fortune's buried in Parthenia's graue VVith whom ere long nor are my hopes in vaine I hope to meet and neuer part againe So said with more then Eagle winged hast She flew into his bosome and embrac'd And her clos'd armes his sorrow-wasted wast Surcharg'd with ioy she wept not hauing power To speake Haue you beheld an Aprill shower Send downe her hasty bubbles and then stops Then storms afresh through whose transparent drops The vnobscurâ—…d lampâ—… of heauen conuaies The brighâ—…er glory oâ—…'s refulgent rayes Euen so within her blushing checks resided A mixt aâ—…pect 'twixt smiles and teares diuided So euen diuided no man could say whether She wept or 〈◊〉 she smil'd and wept together She held him fast and like a fainting louer Whose passion now had license to discouer Some words Since then thy heart is not for me Take take thy owne Parthenia said she Cheare vp my Argalus these words of mine Ate thy Parthenia's as Parthenia's thine Beleeue it Loue these are no false alarmes Thou hast thine owne Parthenia in thine armes Like as a man whose hourely wants implore Each meales reliefe trudging from doore to doore That heares no dialect from churlish lippes But newes of Beadles and their torâ—…uring whips Takes vp perchance some vnexpected treasure New lost departs and ioyfull beyond measure Iâ—… so transported that he scarce beleeuâ—…s So greaâ—… a truth and what his eye perceiues Not daring trust but feares it is some vision Or 〈◊〉 dreâ—…me deseruing but derision So Argalusâ—…mazed â—…mazed at the newes Fâ—…ine woâ—…ld beleeue but daâ—…ing not abuse His easie saith too soone for feare his heart Should sâ—…rfeit on concâ—…it he did impart The truth vnto his fancie by degrees VVhere stopp'd by passion falling on his knees He thus began O â—…ou eternall powers That haue the guidance of these soules of ours Who by your iust prerogatiâ—…e can doe What is a sin for man to diue into Whose vndiscouer'd actions are too high For thought too deepe for man â—…'enquier why Delude not these mine eyes with the false show Of such a ioy as I must neuer know But in a dreame Or if a dreame it be O let me neuer wake againe to see My selfe deceiu'd that am ordain'd t' enioy A reall griefe and but a dreaming ioy Much more he spake to this â—…ffect which ended He blest himselfe and with a sigh vnbended His aking knees and rising from the ground Hâ—… câ—…st his rolling eyes about and found Tâ—…e roome auoyded and himsâ—…lfe alone The doore halfe clos'd and his Parthenia gone His new distemper'd passion grew extreame I knew I knew said he 't was but a dreame A minutes ioy a flash a flattering bubble Blowne by the fancy full of pleasing trouble Which waking breakes and empties into ayre And breathes into my soule a fresh despaire I knew 't was nothing but a golden dreame Which waking makes my wants the more extreame I knew 't was nothing but a dreaming ioy A blisse which waking I should ne're enioy My deare Parthâ—…nia tell me where O where Art thou that so 〈◊〉 ' st mine â—…ye mine eare O that my wak'ned fancy had the might To represent vnto my reall sight What my deceiued eyes beheld that I Might surfeit with excesse of ioy â—…nd die With that the faire Parthenia whose desire Was all this while by fire to draw out firâ—… And by a well aduised course to smother The sâ—…ry of one passion with another Stept in and said Then Argalus take thou Thy true Parthenia Thou dream'st not now Behold this Ring whose Motto does impart The constancy of our diuided heart Behold these eyes that for thy sake haue vented A world of teares vnpittied vnlamented Behold the face that had of late the power To curse all beauty yet it selfe secure Witnesse that Tapour whose prophetick snuffe VVas outed and reâ—…iued with one puffe And that my words may whet thy dull beliefâ—… 'T was I that roard beneath the scourge of griefe VVhen thou did'st curse the Darknesse for concealing My face and then the Tâ—…pour â—…or revealing So â—…oule a face 'T was I that ouercome VVith violent despaire stood deafe and dumbe To all thy vrg'd perswasions It was I That in thy absence did resolue to die A wandring pilgrime trusting to be led By fortune to my death and therefore fled But see the powers aboue can worke their ends In spight of mortals and what man intends The heauens dispose and order the euent For when my thoughts were desperately bent To mine owne ruine I was led by fate Through dangers now too tedious to relate To faire Queene Hellens court not knowing whither My vnaduised steps were guided Thither My Genius brought me where vnknowne to any I mournd in silence though obseru'd by many Relieu'd by none At length they did acquaint The faire Queene Hâ—…llen with my strange complaint Whose noble heart did truly sympathize With mine partaking in my miseries Who fill'd with pitty strongly did importune The wofull cause of my disastrous fortune And neuer rested till she did inforce These lips t' acquaint her with the whole discourse VVhich done her gratious pleasure did command Her owne Physitian to whose skilfull hand She left my foule disease who in the space Of twice ten dayes restor'd me to this face The cure perfected straight she sent about Without my knowledge to enquier out That party for whose sake I was contented T' endure such griefe with patience vnrepented Hoping since by her meanes and help of Art My face was cur'd euen so to cure my heart But when the welcome messenger return'd Thy place of boad ô how my spirits burnd To kâ—…sse her hands and so to leaue the Court But she whose fauours did transcend report As much as they exceeded my desert Detain'd me for a while as loath to part VVith her poore handmaid till at last perpending A louers haste and freely apprehending So iust a cause of speed she soone befriended My best desiers and sent me thus attended VVhere vnder a false maske I laid this plot To