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
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
his Service did address His Love by Words and Letters did express Though she seem'd Coy his Love she did not slight But Civil Answers did in Letters write At last so well acquainted they did grow That but one Heart each other's Thoughts did know Mean time their Parents did their Love's descry And sought all ways to break that Unity Forbad each other's company frequent Did all they could Love's Meetings to prevent But Love regards not Parents nor their Threats For Love the more 't is barr'd more Strength begets Thus being cross'd by stealth they both did meet And Privacy did make their Love more sweet Although their Fears did oft affright their Mind Lest that their Parents should their Walks out-find Then in the Kingdom did Rebellion spring Most of the Commons fought against their King And all the Gentry that then Loyal were Did to the Standard of the King repair Amongst the rest this Noble Youth was one Love bade him stay but Honour spurr'd him on When he declar'd his Mind her Heart it rent Rivers of Tears out of her Eyes grief sent And every Tear like Bullets pierc'd his Breast Scatter'd his Thoughts and did his Mind molest Silent long time they stood at last spake he Why doth my Love with Tears so torture me Why do you blame my Eyes said she to weep Since they perceive you Faith nor Promise keep For did you love but half so true as I Rather than part you 'ld chuse to stay and dye But you Excuses make and take delight Like cruel Thieves to rob and spoil by Night Now you have stole my Heart away you run And leave a silly Virgin quite undone If I stay from the Warrs what will Men say They 'l say I make excuse to be away By this Reproach a Coward I am thought And my Disgrace will make you seem in fault To set your Love upon a Man so base Bring Infamy to us and to our Race To sacrifice my Life for your content I would not spare but Dear in this consent 'T is for your sake Honour I strive to win That I some Merit to your Worth may bring She. If you will go let me not stay behind But take such Fortune with you as I find I 'le be your Page attend you in the Field When you are weary I will hold your Shield He. Dear Love that must not be for Women are Of tender Bodies and Minds full of Fear Besides my Mind so full of Care will be For fear a Bullet should once light on thee That I shall never fight but strengthless grow Through feeble Limbs be subject to my Foe When thou art safe my Spirits high shall raise Striving to get a Victory of Praise With sad Laments these Lovers did depart Absence as Arrows sharp doth wound each Heart She spends her time to Heaven-high doth pray That Gods would bless and safe conduct his way The whilst he fights and Fortune's Favour had Fame brings this Honour to his Mistress sad All Cavaliers that in the Army were There was not one could with this Youth compare By Love his Spirits all were set on fire Love gave him Courage made his Foes retire But O ambitious Lovers how they run Without all guidance like Apollo's Son Run out of Moderation's Line so he Did through the thickest of the Army flee Singly alone amongst the Squadrons deep Fighting sent many one with Death to sleep But Numbers with united strength at last This Noble Gallant Man from Horse did cast His Body all so thick of wounds was set Safety it seems in fight he did forget But not his Love who in his Mind still lyes He wish'd her there to close his dying-Eyes Soul said he if thou wandrest in the Air Thy Service to my Mistress by thy care Attend her close with her Soul Friendship make Then she perchance no other Love may take But if thou sink down to the Shades below And being a Lover to Elyzium go Perchance my Mistress Soul you there may meet So walk and talk in Love's Discourses sweet But if thou art like to a Light put out Thy Motion 's ceas'd then all 's forgot no doubt With that a sigh which from his Heart did rise Did mount his Soul up to the Airy Skies The whilst his Mistress being sad with care Her Knees were worn imploring Gods with Prayer A Drowsie Sleep did all her Senses close But in her Dreams Fancy her Lover shows With all his Wounds which made her loud to cry Help help you Gods said she that dwell on high These fearful Dreams her Senses all did wake In a cold sweat with fear each Limb did shake Then came a Messenger as pale as Death With panting sides swoln eyes and shortned breath And by his looks his sadder Tale did tell Which when she saw straight in a swoun she fell At last her stifled Spirits had recourse Unto their usual place but of less force Then lifting up her Eyes her Tongue gave way And thus unto the Gods did mourning say Why do we pray and offer to high Heaven Since what we ask is seldom to us given If their Decrees are fix'd what need we pray Nothing can alter Fates nor cross their way If they leave all to Chance who can apply For every Chance is then a Deity But if a Power they keep to work at will It shews them cruel to torment us still When we are made in Pain we always live Sick Bodies Grieved Minds to us they give With Motions which run cross compos'd we are Which makes our Reason and our Sense to jar When they are weary to torment us must We then return and so dissolve to Dust But if I have my Fate in my own Power I will not breathe nor live another hour Then with the Gods I shall not be at strife If my Decree can take away my Life Then on her feeble Legs she straight did stand And took a Pistol charg'd in either hand Here Dear said she I give my heart to thee And by my Death divulg'd our Loves shall be Then Constant Lovers Mourners be when dead They 'l strew our Graves which is our Marriage-Bed Upon our Hearse a weeping-Poplar set Whose moistning-drops our Death's-dri'd Cheeks may wet Two Cypress Garlands at our Head shall stand That were made up by some fair Virgin 's hand And on our cold pale Corps such Flowers strow As hang their Heads for grief and downward grow Then shall they lay us deep in quiet Grave Wherein our Bones long Rest and Peace may have Let no Friends Marble-Tombs erect upon Our Graves but set young Mirtle-trees thereon Those may in time a shady Grove become Fit for sad Lovers Walks whose Thoughts are dumb For Melancholy Love seeks place obscure No Noise nor Company it can endure And when to ground they cast a dull sad Eye Perhaps they 'l think on us who therein lye Thus though w' are dead our Memory remains And like a Ghost may
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
play In th' Evening with the Bats doth dance the Hay Or at the setting of the Sun doth flye With Swallows swift to keep them Company But if she 's cross'd she straight malicious grows And in a fury Plagues on Men she throws Or other Sickness and makes Beasts to dye And cause the Marrow in the bones to fry But Creatures that with long time are grown old Or such as are of Constitution cold She nourishes and Life she doth restore In Flyes Bats Swallows many Creatures more For some do say these Birds in Winter dye And in Summer revive again to flye Of all the Four Seasons of the Year This Season doth most full and fat appear Her blood is hot and flowing as full Tide She 's only fit to be Apollo's Bride But she as all young Ladies in their prime Doth fade and wither with old Father Time And all their beauty which they much admire Doth vanish soon and quickly doth expire Just so the Summer dries withers away No powerful Art can make sweet Beauty stay The Autumn though she 's in her fading years And sober yet she pleasantly appears Her Garments are not deck'd with Flowers gay Nor are they green like to the Month of May But of the colour are of dapple Deer Or Hares that to a sandy ground appear Yet she is rich with Plenty doth abound All the encrease of Earth is with her found Most Creatures Nourishment to them doth give And by her bounty Men Beasts Birds do live Besides the grieved Heart with Joy doth fill When from the plump Grapes Wine she doth distill And gathers Fruits which lasting are and sound Her brows about with Sheaves of Corn are crown'd In those are Seeds whereof Man makes some Bread With which the Poor and Rich are nourished Yet 't is not Bounty can hinder Nature's course For constantly she change in one source For though the Matter may be still the same Yet she doth change the Figure and the Frame And though in Principles she constant be And keeps to certain Rules which well agree To a wise Government yet doth not stay But as one comes another glides away So doth the Autumn leave our Hemisphere To Winter cold at which Trees shake for fear And in that Passion all their Leaves do shed And all their Sap back to the Root is fled Like to the Blood which from the Face doth run To keep the Heart lest Death should seize thereon Then comes the Winter with a lowring brow No pleasant Recreations doth allow Her skin is wrinkled and her blood is cold Her Flesh is numb her Hands can nothing hold Her Face is swarthy and her Eyes are red Her Lips are blew with Palsie shakes her Head She often coughs and 's very rheumatick Her Nose doth drop and often doth she spit Her Humour 's Melancholy as Cold and Dry Yet often she in show'ring Rain doth cry And blustring Storms as in a Passion sent Which on the Earth and on the Water vent As Rheums congeal to Flegm the Waters so By thickning Cold congeal to Ice Hail Snow Which she spits forth upon the Earth they lye In lumps and heaps which makes the Plants to dye She 's poor and barren little hath to give For in this Season all things hardly live But often those who 're at the worst estate By change of Times do grow more fortunate So when the Winter 's past then comes the Spring And Plenty doth restore to every thing A Poet in the Company Said to his Lady YOur Fingers are Minerva's Loom with which Your Sense in Letters weave No knots or snarls you leave Work Fancy's Thread in Golden Numbers rich Your Breasts are Helicon which Poets fits For though they do not drink If thereon they do think Their Brains are fill'd with high and sparkling Wits Your Tongue 's Parnassus Hill on high it stands Her Muses sit and sing Or dance in Fayrie's Ring Crown'd with your Rosie Lips and sweet Garlands Your Eyes Diana's Arrows and no doubt Your arched Brow her Bow Like Ebony black doth show From whence sweet gentle Modesty shoots out Your Hairs are fatal Threads Lovers hang by Your Brain is Vulcan's Net Fine Fancies for to get Which like to winged Birds aspiring flye The next a Man of Scholarship profest He in his turn this Tale told to the rest An Expression of the Doubts and Curiosity of Man's Mind THere was a Man which much desir'd to know When he was dead whither his Soul should go Whether to Heaven high or down to Hell Or the Elyzium Fields where Lovers dwell Or whether in the air to flie about Or whether it like to a Light goes out At last the Thoughts the Servants to the Mind Which dwell in Contemplation to find The truth they said No pains that they would spare To travel every where and thus prepare Each Thought did clothe it self with Language fit For to enquire and to dispute for it And Reason they did take to be their Guide Then straight unto a Colledg they did ride Where Scholars dwell and learned Books are read The living Works of the most Wise who 're dead There they enquired the truth for to know And every one was ready for to show Though every sev'ral Work and sev'ral Head And sev'ral Tongue a sev'ral path still lead Where the Thoughts were scattering several ways Some tedious long others like short Essays But Reason which they took to be their Guide With rest and silence quietly did ' bide Till their return who ragged and all torn Came back as naked as when they were born For in their travels hard disputes had past Yet all were forc'd for to return at last But when Reason saw their poor condition Naked of Sense their Words and Expedition And Expectation too and seeming sad But some were frantick and despairing mad She told them They might wander all about But she did fear the Truth would ne're find out Which when they heard with rage they angry grew And straight from Reason they themselves withdrew Then all agreed they to the Court would go In hopes the Courtiers then the truth might know The Courtiers laugh'd and said they could not tell They thought the Soul in Sensual Pleasures dwell And that it had no other Heaven or Hell The Soul they slight but wish the Body well This answer made the Thoughts not long to stay Among the Courtiers but soon went their way Then to the Army straight they did repair Hoping the Truth of Souls they should find there And of the Chief Commander they enquire Who willing was to answer their desire They said for certain that all Souls did dye But those that liv'd in Fame or Infamy Those that Infamous were without all doubt Were damn'd and from reproach should ne'r get out But such whose Fame their Noble Deeds did raise Their Souls were blest with an Eternal Praise And those that dy'd and never mention'd were They thought their Souls breath'd out to
so high lived in the Lower Region and by intermixing together as their Parents did produced more of their Kind But after those productions of these Souls they went to the Planets where they found some of their Climates too cold others too moist others too cold and moist others hot and others hot and moist others hot and dry others cold and dry with which they did not agree being not equally temper'd But yet in every Planet these Souls being fruitful they left many of their Issues called Meteors which are shining-lights like Starrs but being produced from the Mortal temper of the Souls are subject to Mortality for Amorous Thoughts are the Bodily-dregs of Mortality which made these Meteors subject to dye as other Generations being the Mortal Effects of their Immortality otherwise they would be Starrs for whatsoever is Mortal may beget their Like or Kind which other things that are Immortal never do But when these two Souls had travelled above the Planets they became one fix'd Starr as being Eternal and not subject to dye And when they were thus they did produce no more Issues for what Mortality the Body left Those Souls to Earth and Planets did resign Which in a Generation of Meteors shine Fancy's Monarchy in the Land of Poetry IN the Land of Poetry Reason was King a Gallant Prince he was and of a Heroick Spirit a Majestical Presence and of a Sober and Grave Countenance He was tall of Stature and strong of Limbs His Queen was the Lady Wit a Lady of a quick Spirit of a pleasant Conversation amiable Countenance free Behaviour and of a sweet Disposition she was neatly shap'd fair Complexion'd and finely but variously attired This King and Queen loved one another with an extraordinary Affection and lived very happily and peaceably for he governed wisely His Kingdom was large and fully populated well manured and of great Traffick He made profitable Laws set strict Rules and kept good Orders both in the Church and State As for the Church Faith and Zeal were the two Arch-bishops who were sworn to consecrate none but Moral Virtues to preach Good Life and leave all Sects Opinions Superstitions Idolatry and the like Neither were they suffered to make Lectures of Learning because it is always about Controversies puzling Belief with nice Distinctions vain Fantasms and empty Words without Sense The Cathedral Church was the Conscience The two Universities were Study and Practice wherein all the Masculine Youth of the Kingdom were bred As for the State there were Superintendent Officers and Magistrates made of all degrees The Sen ces were the five Ports to this Kingdom the Head and the Heart were the two Magazines There were two Governours made to every Port to Command and Rule Judgment and Understanding always sit at the Ports called the Ears to examine all that enter there having a strict Command from the King to let in no Sound but Harmony no Reports but Truth no Discourses but Rational or Witty and that they should shut the Gates against Flattery Falshood Discord harsh loud Strains Scraping Creaking Squealing Noises Love and Skill were the two Commanders to the Port Eyes who were commanded to let none in but Uniformity Cimmetry Beauty Graceful Motions pleasing Aspects light and well-mixt Colours and to shut the Gates against Deformity or Monstrosity rude or cruel Actions glaring Lights illmix'd Colours false Shadows and Darkness and to set up the light of Dreams when they are shut Also to let no Tears pass through the Eyes but those that have a Pass-port from the Governour of the Heart At the Port of the Nostrils sate Like and Dislike who were commanded to let in none but sweet Smells such as refresh the Brain as the scent of sweet Flowers savoury Herbs Earth new-plough'd new-bak'd Bread also sweet Gums sweet Essences and the like but to shut the Gates of the Nostrils against snuffs of Candles stinking Breaths corrupted Flesh stale Fish old Apples strong Cheese spilt Drink foul Gutters especially the Pump or Sink in a Ship also no Smells of Suet or Grease and from many more stinking Scents which would be too tedious to mention But in case of necessity they were to be allowed or at least commanded to let in some sorts of Stinks as Assafoetida and burnt Feathers to cure the Fits of the Mother Then the two Commanders of the Mouth were Truth and Pleasure one was to govern the Words the other the Taste Pleasure was commanded to let nothing into the Mouth that was either too sharp too bitter too salt or too deliciously sweet Truth was commanded to suffer no Lyes Cursing Slandering Railings Flattering nor Amorous Lascivious Factious Discourses Likewise never to let pass an Oath but to confirm a Truth no Threatning but to terrifie or reclaim the Wicked or Cross-natur'd no Pleading but for Right no Commands but for Good no Praises but for Worth Also to let no Sighs nor Groans pass nor no Professions except they have a Pass-port from the Heart Nor no Promises but when they have a Pass-port from the King which is Reason The two Commanders of Touch were Pain and Pleasure who were commanded to keep out all sharp Colds burning Heats Bruises Pinches Smartings Cuttings Prickings Nippings Pressing Razing and to let in none but nourishing Warmth soft Rubbing gentle Scratching refreshing Colds and the like And upon pain of Death or at least high Displeasure these Rules were to be kept Yet sometimes Bribery corrupted the Commanders The Privy-Council-Chamber was the Breast the Privy-Councellors were Secrecy Constancy Fidelity Unity Truth Justice Fortitude Prudence and Temperance These Privy-Councellors helped the King to manage the Affairs of the Kingdom The Secretaries of State were Intelligence and Dispatch The Treasurer was Memory The Lord Keeper was Remembrance The Mayors of every City were Authority The Constables were Care The Judges were Commutative and Distributive Justice Honesty was the Commander of all the Forces of the Actions and Thoughts The Heroick Actions are the chief Commanders as Captains and Colonels and the like The Common-Soldiers are the ordinary and necessary Actions which are employed in Offensive and Defensive Warrs The Merchants are the Imaginations which traffick and trade all over the World The Inventions are the Handicrafts-men and Labourers The Appetites are the Citizens that are so covetous as to engross all Commodities and the Wealth of the Kingdom and are the most Luxurious People in the Land But as I said the King was a Wise Prince and to divert his Subjects from too serious Studies dull Contemplations and laborious Dictatings he had Masques Plays Pastorals and the like being attended by his Nobles the Sciences and the Gentry of the Kingdom which were the several Languages The Queen by the Muses and Graces The Marriage of Life and Death DEATH went a wooing to Life but her grim and terrible Aspect did so affright Life that she ran away and would by no means hearken unto her Suit Then Death sent Age and
into Factions Sores and great Spots of Rebellion which causeth Death and Destruction But one of the former Doctors was about contradicting him but the Mind forbid him Then one said Melancholy was the Stone caused by a cold congealment of the Spirit Another said Cruelty was the Stone caused by hot Revenge or covetous Contractings which bakes all the tender and softer Humours into a hard confirmed Body the Stone Then one said That Rage and Fury were Convulsions No said another Inconstancies are Convulsions Then one said Pity was a Consumption pining and wasting by degrees Nay by your favour said a second Forgetfulness is a Consumption which fades as Light and Colours or moulders as Dust. Then another said Desire was a Dropsie which was always dry Nay said a second Desire is that Disease which is called a Dog-like-Appetite which causes the Appetite of the Mind to be always hungry and the Stomack of the Mind seeming always empty which makes the Thoughts hunt after Food But a Dropsie said he is a Reluctancy which always swells out with Aversions O said a third a Dropsie in the Mind is Voluptuousness Nay said a fourth a Dropsie is Pride that swells out with Vain-glory. But they disputed so much whether a Dropsie or a Dog-like-Appetite or a Reluctancy or Voluptuousness or Pride that they fell together by the Ears And the Mind was well content to let them fight But for fear the Mind should be disturbed his Friends parted them and pray'd the Doctors that they would prescribe the Mind something to take Then they began their Prescriptions For the Lethargie of Grief said one you must take some Crumbs of Comfort mix'd with the Juice of Patience the Spirits of Grace and Sprigs of Time and lay it to the Heart of the Mind and it will prove a perfect Cure Another said A Lethargie is Stupidity and therefore you must take hot and reviving Drinks as the Vapour of Wine or the like Drinks variety of Objects pleasant Conversation mix these together then put this Liquor into a Syringe of Musick and squirt it into the Ears of the Mind and this will bring a perfect Cure The Doctor who said an Apoplexy was Hate said The Mind must take a few Obligations and mix them with a mollifying-Oyl of Good-nature and Spirits of Gratitude and bind them upon the grieved part and that would cure it No said the Doctor that said Apoplexies were Love you must take the Drug of Misfortunes and the Sirrup of Misery and when you have mix'd them together you must set them a stewing on the Fire of Trial then drink it off warm and although it will make the Mind sick with Unkindness for the present yet it will purge all the doting Humours out of the Mind But he that said Hate was a Dead-Palsie prescribed the same Medicine as he that said it was an Apoplexy for he said an Apoplexy is a kind of a Dead-Palsie He that said Ignorance was a Dead-Palsie said The Mind must take some good Books whose Authors were Learned Persons and squeeze them hard through a Strainer of Study and mix some practised Experience thereto and make a Salve of Industry then spread it upon a strong Canvase of Time and lay it upon the Malady and it will be a perfect Cure And he that said Spight and Envy were Cancers bid the Mind take the Honey of Self-conceit once in two or three hours and it would abate that sharp or salt Humour The other that said that Spight and Envy were Fistula's bid the Mind get some of the Powder of Inferiors or the Tears of the Distressed and mix them well together and lay it to the Sore and it will be a perfect Cure He that said that Envy was the Scurvy bid him bathe in Solitariness and drink of the Water of Meditation wherein run Thoughts of Death like Mineral-Veins and it will cure him And the Doctor that said Anger was a Fever bid the Mind drink cold Julips of Patience He that said Anger was an Epilepsie bid the Mind take the Powder of Discretion And the Doctor that said An Ague was Doubts and Hopes bid him take the Powder of Watchfulness and mix it with a Draught of Courage and drink it in his Cold Fit and take the Powder of Industry in the Liquor of Judgment in his hot Fit and it will cure him He that said An Ague in the Mind was Fear gave the same Prescription of the former Medicine for the Cold Fit But he that said Jealousie was an Ague bid the Mind take some of the Spirits of Confidence And he that said Jealousie was a Consumption bid the Mind take Nourishing-Broths of Variety and bathe in the River of Oblivion which would cool the Fever of Suspition But he who said That Jealousie was the Gout in the Mind bid the Mind lay a Plaster of Absence spread on the Canvase of Time and it would cure him As for the Wind-Cholick he that said it was the overflow of the Imaginations and Conceptions bid the Mind take some several Noises both Instrumental and Vocal and mix them with much Company and lay them to the Ears of the Mind and it will cure Probatum est And those that said That Wind-cholick was strange Opinions or wild Fancies bid the Mind take some Pills of Employment to purge out those crude flatulent and undigested Humours But he that said It was caused by a dilatation of the Thoughts bid him take the Eyes of Dice and the Spots of Cards and the Chequers of Chess-boards and the Points of Table-men and put them together and when they are throughly mix'd and dissolved into an Oil annoint the Fingers-ends the Palms of the Hands the Wrist the Elbows and the Eyes of the Mind this says he will contract the Thoughts to the compass of a Single-penny which will cure that Disease As for the Disease called the Spotted-Fever which is Slander they bid the Mind take a good quantity of Repentance and distil it from whence will drop Tears and take a Draught of that distilled Water every morning fasting But he that said That Malice was the Spotted Fever bid the Mind distil Merits from whence will drop Praises and bid the Mind take a draught of that Water every Evening He that said Discontent was the Plague being a part of all the Diseases bid the Mind take Humility Magnanimity Obedience Loyalty Fidelity and Temper and put all these together and make a Pultis and lay it upon the Swelling it will keep it from breaking asswage the Pain and cure the Patient But if they come out in Spots of Rebellion there is no Remedy to avoid Death As for Melancholy he that said it was the Stone in the Mind caused by a cold congealment in the Spirits which stupifies the Senses of the Mind into Stone bid him take Beauty Wit fine Landskips Prospects Musick fresh Air put this into the Liquor of Mirth and drink of it every day it would prove a perfect
tell you said the Mind Nature builds some Minds like a curious and stately Palace and furnishes them so richly that it needs neither Time nor the Senses laying Reason as the Foundation and Judgment for the Building wherein are firm and straight Pillars of Fortitude Justice Prudence and Temperance is paved with Understanding which is solid and hard walled with Faith which is roofed with Love and bows like an Arch to embrace all towards a round Compass is Leaded with Discretion which sticks close keeping out watry Errors and windy Vanities it hath passages of Memory and Remembrance to let Objects in and Doors of Forgetfulness to shut them out likewise it hath Windows of Hopes that let in the Light of Joy and Shutts of Doubts to keep it out also it hath large Stairs of Desire which arise by steps or windings up by degrees to the Towers of Ambition Besides in Architecture of the Mind there are wide Rooms of Conception furnish'd richly with Invention and long Galleries of Contemplation which are carved and wrought with Imaginations and hung with the Pictures of Fancy Likewise there are large Gardens of Varieties wherein flow Rivers of Poetry with full Streams of Numbers making a purling Noise with Rhymes on each side are Banks of Oratory whereon grow Flowers of Rhetorick and high Trees of Perswasion upon which a Credulous Fool helped by the Senses will climb and from the top falls on the Ground of Repentance from whence old Father Time takes him up and puts him into the Arms of Expence who carries him in to the Chyrurgeon of Expence and is healed with the Plaster of Warning or else dyes of the Apoplexical Disease called Stupidity But Wisdom will only look up to the top viewing the growth and observing what kind they are of but never adventures to climb she will sit sometimes under the Branches for Pleasure but never hang on the Boughs of Insinuation While they were disputing in comes grim Death whose terrible Aspect did so affright the Mind that the very fear put out its Light and quenched out its Flame and the Body being struck by Death became sensless and dissolved into Dust. But old Father Time run away from Death as nimbly as a light-heel'd Boy or like those that slide upon the Ice but never turned to see whether Death followed or no Death called him but he made himself as it were deaf with Age and would not hear A Tripartite Government of Nature Education and Experience NATURE Education and Experience did agree to make a Juncto to govern the Monarchy of Man's Life every one ruling by turns or rather in parts being a Tripartite Government The Soul the Senses and the Brain where Nature creates Reason as the chief Magistrate to govern the Soul Education creates Virtue to govern the Appetites for Virtue is bred not born in Man And Experience creates Wit to govern the Brain for Wit though native without Experience is defective As for the Soul which Natural Reason governs it hath large Territories of Capacity and Understanding and many Nobles living therein as Heroick Passions and Generous Affections Subtil Enquiries Strong Arguments and Plain Proofs The Senses which Virtuous Education governs are five great Cities and the various Appetites are the several Citizens dwelling therein which Citizens are apt to rebel and turn Traitors if Virtue the Governess be not severe and strict in executing Justice with Courage cutting off the Heads of Curiosity Nicety Variety Luxury and Excess and though Temperance must weigh measure and set Limits yet Prudence must distribute to Necessity and Conveniency the several Gifts of Nature Fortune and Art The third is the Brain wherein Experienc'd Wit governs which is the pleasantest part and hath the larrgest Compass wherein are built many Towers of Conceptions and Castles of Imaginations Grounds ploughed with Numbers and sowed with Fancies Gardens planted with Study set with Practice from whence Flowers of Rhetorick grow and Rivers of Elegancy flow through it This part of the Kingdom hath the greatest Traffick and Commerce of any of the three parts and flourishes most being populated with the Graces and Muses Wit being popular hath great power on the Passions and Affections and in the Senses makes Civil Entertainments of Pleasure and Delight feeding the Appetites with delicious Banquets NATURE's HOUSE THE whole Globe is Nature's House and the several Planets are Nature's several Rooms the Earth is her Bed Chamber the Floor is Gold and Silver and the Walls Marble and Porphyrie the Portals and Doors are Lapis-Lazarus instead of Tapistry Hangings it is hung with all sorts of Plants her Bed is of several precious Stone the Bed-posts are of Rocks of Diamonds the Bed's-head of Rubies Saphires Topasses and Emeralds Instead of a Feather-bed there is a Bed of sweet Flowers and the Sheets are fresh Air her Table is of Agats and the like yet the Roof of the Chamber is Earth but so curiously Vaulted and so finely wrought that no Dust falls down it is built much like unto a Martin's Nest the Windows are the Pores of the Earth Saturn is her Gallery a long but a dark Room and stands at the highest Story of her House Sol is her Dining-Room which is a round Room built with Heat and lined with Light Venus is her Dressing-Room Cynthia is her Supping-Room which is divided into four Quarters wherein stand four Tables one being round at which she sits being furnished with all Plenty the other are Side-board Tables Mercury is her Room of Entertainment The Rational Creatures are her Nobles The Sensitive Creatures are her Gentry The Insensible Creatures are her Commons Life is her Gentleman-Usher Time is her Steward And Death is her Treasurer A DISPUTE THE Soul caused Reason and Love to dispute with the Senses and Appetites Reason brought Religion for whatsoever Reason could not make good Faith did Love brought Will for whatsoever Love said Will confirmed The Senses brought Pleasure and Pain which were as two Witnesses Pleasure was false Witness but Pain would not nor could not be bribed Appetite brought Opinion which in somethings would be obstinate in others very facil But they had not disputed long but they were so entangled in their Arguments and so invective in their Words as most Disputers are that they began to quarrel as most Disputers do Whereupon the Soul dismist them although with much difficulty for Disputers are Captains or Colonels of ragged Regiments of Arguments and when a Multitude are gathered together in a Rout they seldom disperse until some Mischief is done and then they are well pleased and fully satisfied The Preaching-Lady Dearly Beloved Brethren IHAVE called you together to Instruct Exhort and Admonish you My Text I take out of Nature the third Chapter in Nature at the beginning of the fourth Verse mark it dearly Beloved the third Chapter beginning at the fourth Verse The Text In the Land of Poetry there stands a steep high Mount named Parnassus at the top
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
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
illustrate with false lights their dim Virtues or give them such Praises they never deserved Wherefore no History should be esteemed but what was written by the Authors themselves as such as write the History of their own Lives Actions and Fortunes and the several Accidents that befell in their time and to their knowledg yet said she I wish I might out-live the Historians of these times that I might write a History of the Historians there to describe their Birth and Breeding their Life their Actions their Fortunes their Interest and let the World judg whether they writ Truth and without Partiality But to draw towards an end of my Tale All sorts of People resorting to hear her speak she became so famous as that a great Monarch whose Kingdom was neighbouring to the Countrey she was born bred and lived in had a great curiosity to see and hear her for the fame of her Beauty was equal to the fame of her Wit and putting himself into a disguise left his Kingdom and Wife to visit this Lady whom when he saw and had heard speak her Wit Beauty and graceful Behaviour did so ravish him that he became a deseperate Lover Whereupon he secretly revealed himself unto her perswading all he could to leave that inclosed life proffering her to be divorced from his Wife and to marry her But she refused his Offers despised his Love forbid his Suit and absented her Person which caused him to return in a rage and fury sending Ambassadors to proclaim Warrs unless the State would deliver the Lady into his Power But they absolutely denied to deliver her thinking it both a wicked and dishonourable disgrace to their Countrey although they perceived an utter ruin was like to fall upon them by reason the Kingdom was in a weak condition caused by former Warrs But it came no sooner to her hearing but she desired to meet the Ambassadors in a publike audience which they granted where multitudes of People came thronging to see her and when they were met she thus spake I come not here to make Eloquent Orations to divulge my Wit or to present my Beauty to the view of many Eyes for though I may thank Nature for her bounteous Gifts Yet I have not that Vanity or Pride For to allure or draw from Virtue 's side But I come to answer these Threatning-Ambassadors for I cannot call them Noble or Honourable since they come upon a base Design and to an unjust End But let me tell them That the Gods would hate me should I break my holy Vow Next I should grieve my Father's sleeping-Ashes should I disobey his dyingcommand Thirdly I should be a dishonour to my Birth and Sex should I live incontinently Lastly I should curse my Birth hate my Life blast my Fame should I be the cause of my Countrey 's Ruin and my Countrey had cause to do the same should it beruined for me But since it will prove a Mischief Sin and Shame to live Honour Prudence Love and Justice bids me dye Wherefore I have sacrificed my Life for my Countrey 's Peace and Safety my unspotted Chastity holy Vows and dutiful Obedience and to quench the raging Lust of a wicked Tyrant And growing very sick she became so weak that she could stand no longer but gently sinking to the ground she fell whereupon all that could get near run unto her to help her but she told them it was in vain for Poyson saith she hath been the Engine that hath broken open the Gate of Life to let Death in and so immediately dyed Which the People no sooner understood but made such outcries lamentations and mournings as if there had been an utter desolation of the whole World Then after some time of Preparations they buried her with great solemnity and intombed her costly the State setting up her Statue of Brass for her Courage and Love to her Countrey the Church Deified her a Saint for her Virtue and Piety and the Clergy raised Altars where all the Kingdom twice a year did offer unto her solemn Sacrifices and the Poets built several Pyramides of Praise of her Beauty Wit Virtue and sweet Graces which Pyramides reach'd to Fame's highest Tower and the Historians writ her Life and Death in Golden Letters and recorded them in Fame's Brazen Tower that all the World might know and follow the Example of her Heroick Spirit Generous Soul Chast Body Pious Life and Voluntary Death HEAVEN's Library which is FAME's Palace purged from Errors and Vices JOVE and some of the other Gods being set in Council Pallas being one rose up and bowing to Jove thus spake Great Jove said she I ought in duty and love to inform you not only of the Vices and Errors which are numerous in the World and in time may bring it to confusion but of those Errors and Vices which are crept into your great Library Fame's Palace and if order be not taken to destroy them they will devour all your best and noblest Records Jove answers That Vices were as Serpents and Errors as Worms bred in the Bowels of Nature of which she could never be cured for the Gods had no Medicine strong enough to purge them out and by reason they were from all Eternity they could not be destroyed for if any thing could be destroyed that is from all Eternity then we our selves might be destroy'd but said Jove we can cast them out of our own Mansions though we cannot cast them out of Nature's Bowels also we can hinder them from coming in wherefore Fame is to be reproved for suffering the Library to be so foul and full of filthy Vermin Whereupon Mercury was sent to call Fame to appear before Jove and his Council so when Fame came Jove told her That Gods and Goddesses ought to be just and upright and to have their Palaces pure and full of Truth which said he you nor your Palace hath not been for you are Partial and your Court full of Faction and my Library your Palace foul and full of Wormy Errors which if it had been kept pure and clean they would never have entred or if they had entred you might have caused them to have been swept out by Old Father TIME Fame answered That it was not her fault for Mars Venus and Fortune had sent them in and it is not for me to oppose so great a God as Mars or so great a Goddess as Venus or to sit as Judg to determine what was best to be flung out or what to be placed therein for none is fit to judg those Causes but you great Jove and your Council Jove approving what Fame said told his Council That after they had taken some repast they would sit in Council again and their only Business should be to purge and cleanse their Library So after they had feasted with Ambrosia and Nectar they returned to Council where they did first decree That all those Records that were to be cast forth should be heapt up