endlesse Ioyes and never feare the ill Of grudging Friends Then she her selfe did kill To tell what griefe theyr Parents did sustaine Were more then my rude Quill can overcome Many a teare they spent but all in vaine For weeping calls not backe the Dead againe They both were layed in one Grave life done And these few words were writ vpon the Tombe Epitaph VNderneath this Marble stone Lye two Beauties ioyn'd in one Two whose Loves Death could not sever For both liv'd both dy'd together Two whose Soules being too divine For earth in their owne Spheare now shine Who have left their loves to Fame And their earth to earth againe FINIS AN ELEGIE ON THE Death of the Right Honourable DVDLEY Lord CARLETON Viscount DORCHESTER late Principall Secretarie of State THe infernall Sisters did a Counsell call Of all the Feinds to the blacke Stygian Hall The dire Tartarean Monsters hating light Begot by dismall Erebus and night Wheresoe're dispers'd abroad hearing the Fame Of their accursed meeting thither came Revenge whose greedy minde no Blood can fill And Envie neuer satisfied with ill Thither blind Boldnesse and impatient Rage Resorted with Death's neighbour envious Age And Messengers diseases wheresoe're Then wandring at that Senate present were Whom to oppresse the Earth the Furies sent To spare the Guiltie vex the Innocent The Counsell thus dissolv'd an angry fever Whose quenchlesse thirst by Blood was sated never Envying the Riches Honour Greatnesse Love And Vertue Loadstone which all these did move Of Noble CARLETON him she tooke away And like a greedy Vultur seas'd her prey Weepe with mee each who eyther reads or heares And know his losse deserues his Countries teares The Muses lost a Patron by his Fate Virtue a Husband and a Prop the State SOL'S Chorus weepes and to adorne his Herse CALLIOPE would sing a Tragicke verse And had there bin before no Spring of theirs They would have made a Helicon with their teares A. C. AN ELEGIE ON THE Death of my loving Friend and Cousen Mr. RICHARD CLERKE late of LINCOLNES Inne Gentleman IT was decreed by stedfast Destinie The World from Chaos turn'd that all should Die. Hee who durst fearelesse passe blacke Acheron And dangers of th' infernall Region Leading Hell's triple Porter captivate Was overcome himselfe by conquering Fate The Roman TVLLIE'S pleasing Eloquence Which in the Eares did locke vp every Sence Of the rapt hearer his Mellifluous breath Could not at all charme vnremorsefull Death Nor SOLON so by Greece admir'd could save Himselfe with all his Wisedome from the Grave Sterne Fate brought MARO to his Funerall flame And would have ended in that fire his Fame Burning those lofty Lines which now shall be Times conquerors and out-last Eternitie Even so lov'd CLERKE from Death no scape could find Though arm'd with great ALCIDES valiant mind Hee was adorn'd in yeares though farre more young With learned CICERO'S or a sweeter Tongue And could dead VIRGIL heare his lofty straine Hee would condemne his owne to fire againe His youth a SOLON'S Wisedome did presage Had envious Time but given him SOLONS age And all that in our Ancestors hath bin Of any Vertue earth now lost in him Who would not therefore now if Learnings friend Bewayle his fatall and vntimely end Who hath such hard such vnrelenting Eyes As would not weeps when so much Vertue dyes The God of Poets doth in darknesse shrowd His glorious face and weepes behind a Cloud The dolefull Muses thinking now to write Sad Elegies their teares confound their sight But him to Elysium's lasting Ioyes they bring Where winged Angels his sad Requiems sing Abraham Cowley A DREAME OF ELYSIVM PHOEBVS expuls'd by the approaching Night Blush'd and for shame clos'd in his bashfull light Whilst I with leaden MORPHEVS overcome The Muse whom I adore enter'd the roome Her hayre with looser curiositie Did on her comely backe dishevel'd lye Her Eyes with such attractive beauty shone As might have wak'd sleeping ENDYMION Shee bid me rise and promis'd I should see Those Fields those mansions of Felicitie Wee mortals so admire at Speaking thus She lifts me vp vpon wing'd Pegasus On whom I rid Knowing where ever shâ—e Did goe that place must needs a Temple bee No sooner was my flying Courser come To the blest dwellings of Elysium When straight a thousand vnknowne joyes resort And hemm'd me round Chast loves innocuous sport A thousand sweets bought with no following Gall Ioyes not like ours short but perpetuall How many objects charme my wandring eye And bid my soule gaze there eternally Heere in full streames BACCHVS thy liquor flowes Nor knowes to ebbe heere IOVES broad Tree bestowes Distilling honey heere doth Nectar passe With copious current through the vardant grasse Heere HYACINTH his fate writ in his lookes And thou NARCISSVS louing still the brookes Once louely boyes and Acis now a Flower Are nourish'd with that rarer herbe whose power Created the wars potent God heere growes The spotlesse Lilly and the blushing Rose And all those diuers ornaments abound That variously may paint the gawdy ground No Willow sorrowes garland there hath roome Nor Cypresse sad attendant of a Tombe None but APOLLO'S tree and th'Ivie twine Embracing the stout Oake the fruitfull Vine And trees with golden Apples loaded downe On whose faire toppes sweet PHILOMEL alone Vnmindfull of her former misery Tunes with her voice a rauishing Harmony Whilst all the murmuring brookes that glide along Make vp a burthen to her pleasing song No Scritchowle sad companion of the night Or hideous Rauen with prodigeous flight Presaging future ill Nor Progne thee Yet spotted with young Ilis tragedy Those Sacred bowers receiue There 's nothing there That is not pure immaculate and rare Turning my greedy sight another way Vnder a row of storme-contemning Bay I saw the Thracian singer with his lyre Teach the deafe stones to heare him and admire Him the whole Poets Chorus compas'd round All whom the Oake all whom the Lawrell crown'd There banish'd OVID had a lasting home Better then thou couldst giue ingratefull Rome And LVCAN spight of Nero in each vaine Had euery drop of his spilt bloud againe HOMER Sol's first borne was not poore or blinde But saw as well in body as in minde TVLLIE graue CATO SOLON and the rest Of Greece's admir'd Wisemen heare possest A large reward for their past deeds and gaine A life as euerlasting as theyr Fame By these the valiant Heroes take theyr place All who sterne Death and perils did imbrace For Vertues cause Great ALEXANDER there Laughing at Earth's small Empier did weare A nobler Crowne then the whole world could give There did HORATIVS COCLES SCAEVA live And valiant DECIVS who now freely cease From warre and purchase an Eternall peace Next them beneath a Myrtle bowre where Doves And gallesse Pidgeons build theyr nests all Loves Faithfull perseverers with amorous kisses And soft imbraces taste theyr greediest wishes LEANDER with his beautious HERO playes Nor are they parted with dividing Seas PORCIA injoyes her BRVTVS Death no more Can now divorce theyr wedding as before THISBE her PIRAMVS kiss'd his THISBE hee Embrac'd each blest with th' others companie And every couple alwayes dancing sing Eternall Ditties to Elysium's King But see how soone these pleasures fade away How neere to Evening is delights short Day For th'watchfull Bird true Nuncius of the Light Straight crow'd and all these vanish'd from my sight My very Muse her selfe forsooke mee too Me gâ—iefe and wonder wak'd What should I doe Oh! let me follow thee sayd I and goe From life that I may Dreame for ever so With that my flying Muse I though to claspe Within my armâ—s but did a Shadow graspe Thus châ—efest Ioyes glide with the swiftest streame And all our greatest Pleasure 's but a Dreame ABRA COVVLEY FINIS Some mistakes are passed in the Impression which I beseech thee Gentle Reader to pardon Vale. H. S.
might pleasure you But if beyond those limits you demand I must not answer Sir nor vnderstand Beleeue me vertuous maiden my desire Is chast and pious as thy Virgin thought No flash of lust t' is no dishonest fire Which goes as soone as it is quickly brought But as thy beauty pure which let not bee Eclipsed by disdaine or cruelty Oh! how shall I reply quoth she thou 'ast won My soule and therefore take thy victory Thy eyes and speaches haue my heart o'recome And if I should deny thee loue then I My selfe should feele his torment for that fire Which is kept close doth burne with greatest ire Yet doe not count my yeelding lightnesse in me Impute it rather to my ardent loue Thy pleasing carriage long agoe did win me And pleading beauty did my liking moue Thy eyes which draw like loadstones with their might The hardest hearts won mine to leaue me quite Oh! I am rapt aboue the reach said hee Of thought my soule already feeles the blisse Of heauen when sweete my thoughts once tax but thee With any crime may I lose all happinesse Is wisht for both your fauour here and dead May the iust Gods power vengance on my head Whilst he was speaking this behold theyr fate CONSTANTIA'S father entred in the roome When glad PHILETVS ignorant of his state Kisses her cheekes more red then the setting Sun Or else the morne blushing through clouds of water To see ascending Sol congratulate her Iust as the guilty prisoner fearefull stands Reading his fatall Theta in the browes Of him who both his life and death commands Ere from his mouth he the sad sentence knowes Such was his state to see her father come Nor wisht for nor expected to the roome The inrag'd old man bids him no more to dare Such bold intrudance in that house nor be At any tyme with his lou'd daughter there Till he had giuen him such authoritie But to depart since she her loue did shew him Was liuing death with lingring torments to him This being knowne to kinde PHILOCRATES He cheares his friend bidding him banish feare And by some letter his grieu'd minde appease And shew her that which to her freindly eare Tyme gaue no leaue to tell and thus his quill Declares to her her absent louers will THE LETTER PHILETVS to CONSTANTIA I Trust deare Soule my absence cannot move You to forget or doubt my ardent love For were there any meanes to see you I Would runne through Death and all the miserie Fate could inflict that so the world might say In Life and Death I lov'd CONSTANTIA Then let not dearest Sweet our absence sever Our loves let them ioyn'd closely still together Give warmth to one another till there rise From all our labours and our industries The long expected fruits have patience Sweet There 's no man whom the Summer pleasures greet Before he tast the Winter none can say Ere night was gone hee saw the rising Day So when wee once have wasted Sorrowes night The sunne of Comfort then shall give vs light PHILETVS This when CONSTANTIA read shee thought her state Most happie by PHILETVS Constancie And perfect Love she thankes her flattering Fate And never missing CVPID 'cause that hee Had pierc't his heart and thus shee writes agen Vnfeyn'd affection guiding of her Pen. CONSTANTIA to PHILETVS YOur absence Sir though it be long yet I Neither forget or doubt your Constancie Nor need you feare that I should yeeld vnto Another what to your true Love is due My heart is yours it is not in my claime Nor have I power to give 't away againe There 's nought but Death can part our soules no time Or angry Friends shall make my Love decline But for the harvest of our hopes I 'le stay Vnlesse Death cut it ere 't be ripe away CONSTANTIA Oh! how this Letter did exalt his pride More proud was hee of this then PHAETON When PHOEBVS flaming Chariot he did guide Before he knew the danger was to come Or else then IASON when from Colchos hee Returned with the Fleeces victorie But ere the Autumne which faire CERES crown'd Had payd the swetting Plowmans greediest prayer And by the Fall disrob'd the gawdy ground Of all her Summer ornaments they were By kind PHILOCRATES together brought Where they this meanes to ' nioy theyr freedome wrought Sweet Mistresse sayd PHILETVS since the time Propitious to our votes now gives vs leave To enioy our loves let vs not deare resigne His long'd for favour nor our selves bereave Of opportunity left it flye agen Further then Love hath wings to follow him For when your Father as his custome is For pleasure doth pursue the timerous Hare If you 'l resort but thither I 'le not misse To be in those Woods ready for you where Wee may depart in safety and no more With Dreames of pleasure onely heale our sore This both the Lovers soone agreed vpon But ere they parted hee desires that shee Would blesse this greedy hearing with a Song From her harmonious voyce shee doth agree To his request and doth this Ditty sing Whose ravishing Notes new fires to 's old doth bring THE SONG TIme flye with greater speed away Adde feathers to thy wings Till thy hast in flying brings That wisht for and expected Day Comforts sunne wee then shall see Though at first it dark'ned bee With dangers yet those Clouds being gon Our Day will put his lustre on Then though Deaths sad night doe come And wee in silence sleepe ' Lasting Day agen will greete Our ravisht Soules and then there 's none Can part vs more no Death nor Friends Being dead their power o're vs ends Thus there 's nothing can dissever Hearts which Love have ioyned together Feare of being seene PHILETVS homeward droue But ere they part she willingly doth giue As faithfull pledges of her constant loue Many a kisse and then each other leaue In greife though rapt with ioy that they haue found A way to heale the torment of their wound But ere the Sun through many dayes had run CONSTANTIA'S charming beauty had o'recome GVISCARDO'S heart and 's scorn'd affection won Her eyes that conquered all they shone vpon Shot through his glutton eyes such hot desire As nothing but her loue could quench the fire In roofes which Gold and Parian stone adorne Proud as their Landlords minde he did abound In fields so fertile for theyr yearely corne As might contend with scorcht Calabria's ground But in his soule where should be the best store Of surest riches he was base and poore Him was CONSTANTIA vrg'd continually By her freinds to loue sometimes they did intreate With gentle speeches and milde courtesie Which when they see despis'd by her they threat But loue too deepe was seated in her heart To be worne out with thought of any smart Her father shortly went vnto the wood To hunt his friend GVISCARDO being there With others who by freindship and by bloud Vnto CONSTANTIA'S aged father
were Alyed nere there likewise were with these His beautious daughter and PHILOCRATES Being entred in the pathlesse woods whilst they Pursue their game PHILETVS being late Hid in a thicket carries straight away His loue and hastens his owne hasty fate Which came to soone vpon him and his Sunne Eclipsed was before it fully shone For when CONSTANTIA'S missed in a maze Each takes a seuerall course and by curst fate GVISCARDO runs with a loue carryed pace Towards them who little knew their sorrowfull state So hee like bold Icarus soaring hye To Honor fell to th'depth of misery For when GVISCARDO sees his Riuall there Swelling with poysonous envy comes behind PHILETVS who such fortune did not feare And with his flaming sword a way doth find To his heart who ere that death possest him quite In these few words gaspt out his flying sprite O see CONSTANTIA my short race is runne See how my bloud the thirstie ground doth die But liue thou happier then thy loue hath done And when I 'me dead thinke sometime vpon me More my short tyme permits me not to tell For now death seaseth me oh my deare farwell As soone as he had spoke these words life fled From 's wounded body whil'st CONSTANTIA she Kisses his cheekes which loose there liuely red And become pale and wan and now each eye Which was so bright is like when life was done A fallen starre or an eclipsed Sunne Thither PHILOCRATES by 's fate being droue To accompany PHILETVS Tragedy Seeing his friend was dead and 's sorrowfull loue Sate weeping o're his bleeding body I Will now reuenge your death said hee Or in your murther beare you company I am by Iove sent to reuenge this fate Nay stay GVISCARDO thinke not heauen in jest T' is vaine to hope flight can secure thy state Then thrusting's sword into the Villaines brest Here said PHILOCRATES thy life I send A sacrifice t' appease my slaughtered friend But as he falls here take reward said hee For this thy victory with that he flung His killing rapier at his enemy Which hit his head and in his braine-pan hung With that he falles but lifting vp his eyes Farewell CONSTANTIA that word said hee dies What shall shee doe she to her brother runnes And 's cold and livelesse body doth imbrace She calls to him hee cannot heare her moanes And with her kisses warmes his clammie face My Deare PHILOCRATES shee weeping cryes Speake to thy Sister but no voyce replyes Then running to her loue with many a teare Thus her minds fervent passion shee express't O stay blest Soule stay but a little here And we will both hast to a lasting rest Then to Elisiums Mansions both together Wee 'le journey and be married there for ever But when she saw they both were dead quoth she Oh my PHILETVS for thy sake will I Make vp a full and perfect Tragedie Since t' was for me Deare loue that thou didst dye I 'le follow thee and not thy losse deplore These eyes that saw thee kill'd shall see no more It shall not sure be sayd that you did dye And thy CONSTANTIA live since thou wast slayne No no deare Soule I will not stay from thee But constant bee in act as well as Name Then piercing her sad brest I come shee cryes And Death for ever clos'd her weeping eyes Her Soule being fled to it's Eternall rest Her Father comes who seeing this hee falls To th' earth with griefe too great to bee exprest Whose dolefull words my tyred Muse me calls T' o'repasse which I might gladly doe for feare That I should toyle too much the Readers eare FINIS THE TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF PIRAMVS AND THISBE Written By A. C. fit surculus Arbor LONDON Printed by B.A. and T.F. for HENRY Sâ—ILE and are to be sold at his shop at the Signe of the Tygers-head in St. Paules Church-yard 1633. TO THE WORSHIPFVL my very loving Master LAMBERT OSBOLSTON chiefe Schoole-master of Westminster-Schoole SIR MY childish Muse is in her Spring and yet Can onely shew some budding of her Wit One frowne vpon her Worke Learn'd Sir from you Like some vnkinder storme shot from your brow Would turne her Spring to withering Autumne's time And make her Blossomes perish ere their Prime But if you Smile if in your gracious Eye Shee an auspicious Alpha can discrie How soone will they grow Fruit How will they flourish That had such beames their Infancie to nourish Which being sprung to ripenesse expect then The best and first fruites of her gratefull Pen. Yours Abraham Cowley THE TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF PYRAMVS and THISBE WHere Babilons high Walls erected were By mighty NINVS wife two houses 〈◊〉 One THISBE liv'd in PIRAMVS the faiâ—â— In th' other Earth ne're boasted such a paiâ—e The very sencelesse walls themselves combin'd And grew in one Iust like their Masters minde THISBE all other women did excell The Queene of Love lesse lovely was then shee And PIRAMVS more sweet then tongue can tell Nature grew proud in framing them so well But VENVS enuying they so faire should bee Bids her sonne CVPID shew his crueltie The all-subduing God his bow did bend And doth prepare his most remorslâ—sse dart Which he vnseene vnto theyr hearts did send And so was Loue the cause of Beâ—uties end But could he see he had not wrought theyr smart For pitie sure would haue o'recome his heart Like as a bird within a net is taine By strugling more entangles in the ginne So they who in loues Laborinth remaine With striuing neuer can a freedome gaine The way to enter's broad but being in No art no labour can an exit win These Louers though theyr parents did reproue Theyr fires and watch'd theyr deedes with iealousie Though in these stormes no comfort could remoue The various doubts and feares that coole hot loue Though he nor hers nor she his face could see Yet this did not abolish loues decree For age had crackd the wall which did them part This the vnanimate couple soone did spie And heere their inward sorrowes did impart Vnlading the sad burden of theyr heart Though loue be blind this shewes he can discrie A way to lessen his owne misery Oft to the friendly cranny they resort And feede themselues with the coelestiall ayre Of odoriferous breath no other sport They could enioy yet thinke the time but short And wish that it againe renewed were To sucke each others breath for euer there Sometimes they did exclaime against theyr fate And sometimes they accus'd imperiall IOVE Sometimes repent theyr flames but all too late The arrow could not be recald theyr state Ordained was by IVPITER aboue And CVPID had appointed they should loue They curst the wall which did theyr kisses part And to the stones theyr dolorous words they sent As if they saw the sorrow of theyr heart And by theyr teares could vnderstand theyr smart But it was hard and knew not what they ment Nor with theyr siths alas would it