then If power had quench'd ambitions fever when 'T was first inflam'd with hope whose cordials prove Oft slow as opiates in the heat of love This with a heat that spoild digestion by The angry Tyrant heard rage did unty The curles of passion whose soft trammels had Crisp'd smooth hypocrisie from which unclad Disvellop'd nature shews her unfil'd dress Rough as an angry friend by no distress Of beauty to be calm'd since slie deceit Vertue had now unmask'd no candid bait Conceals his thoughts which soon in publick shews From what black Sea those mists of passion rose Dayes sepulchre the ebbon arched night Was rais'd above the battlements of light The frenzy'd worlds allaying opiate sleep Oretaking action did in silence steep The various fruits of labor and from thence Recovers what pays for her times expence In which slow calm whilst half the drowsie earth Lay in the shade of nature to give birth Unto the burthen of sick fancy fear Groans deep as deaths alarms through her ear Fly toward the throne of Reason to inform The pensive Princess that the last great storm Of fate was now descending beyond which Her eyes orewhelm'd in sorrow must inrich Their orbs with love no more but in the dawn Of Life behold her Friends destruction drawn Since threatn'd danger sad assurance gives In those deep groans he now but dying lives More swiftly to destroy the falling leaves Of blasted hope with horror she receives By a convey of wearied light that stroke Through rusty grates intelligence which shoke The strength of fortitude there was a room Deep and obscure where in a heavy gloom The unstirr'd air in such a darkness dwelt As mask'd Egyptians from Heavens vengeance felt Till by the strugling rayes of a faint lamp Forc'd to retreat and the quicksilver damp Shed on the sweaty walls which hid within That glitt'ring vail worn figures that had been The hieroglyphick epitaphs of those Which charity did to the earth dispose In friendships last of Legacies except What is to cure loose fames diseases kept Here ' mongst the ruines of mortality In blood difigur'd she beholds one lie Who though disguis'd in death's approach appears By 's habit that confirmer of her fears Her gentle Love alone and helpless in The grasp of death striving in vain to win The field from that grim Tyrant who had now Embalm'd him in his blood and did allow Him no more spirits but what in that strife Serv'd to groan out the Epilogue of life And then depart natures cold stage to be Suck'd up from time into eternitie When thus the ever lasting silence had Lock'd up his voice and death's rude hand unclad His hovering soul whose elemental dress Is left to dust and dark forgetfulness When natures lamps being snuft to death he lay A night-piec'd draught of once well-modell'd clay With such a silent pace as witches use To tread ore graves when their black arts abuse Their cold inhabitants his murtherers were Entred the vault from the stain'd floor to bear The cold stiff coarse which having softly laid In 's doom-days bed unto the royal Maid Whose beauty in this agony defac'd Griefs emblem sate with eager speed they haste Either a guilty shame or fear to be Converted by her forms divinity Made them chuse darkness for protection in Whose hideous shade she of her self unseen Is hurried thence unto that dreadfull place Where he intomb'd lay whom she must imbrace In death's dark lodgings and e'er life was fled Remain a sad Companion of the dead Confining beauty in youth's glorious bloom To the black prison of a dismal tomb Where fast inclos'd Earth's fairest blossom must Unnaturally be planted in the dust Where life 's bright Star Heav'ns glorious influence Her soul in labor with the slow suspence Of lingring torments must expecting lie Till famine Natures ligatures untie And can oh can we ever hope to save Her that 's in life a Tenant to the Grave Can ought redeem one that already lies Within the Bed of Death whose hot lust fries In the enjoyment of all beauties that The aged World e'er had to wonder at To feed whose riot the well temper'd blood That sanguine youth's smooth cheek mixt with a flood Of harsh distemperatures o'erflows and brings Some to their lodgings on the flaming wings Of speedy feavers whilst the others creep On slow consumptions millions from the steep And dangerous precipice of war Some in A stream of their own humors that have bin Swell'd to a dropsie being even prest to death By their own weight whilst others part with breath From bodies worn so thin they seem'd to be Grown near the souls invisibilitie But whither strayes our fancy have we left The wofull Lady in a tomb bereft Of all society and shall I let My wandring pen forsake her such a debt Would banckrupt pity Th' undistinguish'd day Whose new-born light did but e'en then display Its dewy wings when first she was confin'd To the dark tomb was now grown almost blind With age when thus through fates black curtin broke Unlook'd for light that darkness which did choake All passages by which the thin air held Commerce with neigboring rooms being now expel'd By the dim tapers glimmering beams let fall Part of the rayes through an old ruin'd wall That fenc'd an ugly dungeon where the night Dwelt safe as in the Center by the fight Of which unlook'd for guest some prisoners who Had there been stay'd even till despairing to Be ere releas'd in eager fury tries To force their way where their directing eyes Led by the light should guide them come at length Where with times burden tir'd the buildings strength Losing its first firm union was divorc'd With gaping clefts an easie strength inforc'd Those feeble guards but come into the room Where ore the living Ladies sable tomb Hung the directing light they there in vain For further passage seeking were again To the black dungeon horrors dismal seat In sad despair making their slow retreat Now neer departing a deep dolefull groan Revers'd their eyes amazement almost grown To stupefaction stays them whilst they hear New sighs confirm their wonder not their fear Till thus Euriolus whose bold look spoke The braver soul the dismal silence broke What ere thou art that hoverest here within This gloomy shadow speak what wrong hath bin Thy troubl'd Ghost's tormenter art thou fled From wo to stir the dust o' th' peacefull dead Or com'st from sacred shadows to lament Some friends dead coarse which this dark Tenement Hath lodg'd in dust The trembling Lady hearing A humane voice again and now not fearing Th' approaches of a greater danger cries What ere you are fear moâ—ks your faith here lies A wofull wretch intâ—mb'd alive that nere Must look on light again my spirit were Blest if resolv'd to air but here it must A sad companion in the silent dust To Loath'd corruption be until the pale Approaching Fiend harsh famine shall exhale In dews of blood
a more sad discov'ry They behold The brackish Main in funerall Pomp unfold The Trophies of her Cruelty Her Brow Uncurl'd with Waves was only spotted now With scatter'd Ruines here engag'd within The ruffl'd Sails some sad Souls that had been For life long strugling tir'd at length are forc'd To sink and die Yonder a Pair divorc'd From all the warm Society of flesh With cold stiff Arms embrace their Fate The fresh And tender Virgin in her Lovers sight The Sea-Gods ravish and th' Enthean light Of those bright Orbs her Eyes which could by nought But Seas be quencht t' eternall darkness brought Whilst pittying these a suddain noise whose strange Confusion did their Passions Object change Assaults their wonder which by this surprize Amaz'd perswades them to inform their Eyes With its obscure Originall when led By sounds that might in baser Souls have bred A swift aversion clashing Weapons they Might soon behold upon the Sands that lay Beneath the Rock a Troop of desp'rate men Unstartled with those dangers which even then Their ruin'd Ship and dropping Garments shewd Heaven freed them from what Mercy had bestowd Let their own anger loose which flaming in A fatall Combate had already bin In blood disfigur'd But when now so near Them drawn that every Object did appear In true distinction they with wonder rais'd To such a height as Poets would have prais'd Their Heroes in a noble Christian saw Whose Sword as if by the eternall Law Of Providence to punish Infidels Directed with each falling stroke expels A Turks black Soul Yet Valor being opprest By multitudes must have at length sought rest From Death had not brave Ariamnes by His Hunters followed brought him Victory Whilst the approaching danger did exclude Even hope the last support of Fortitude The desperate Turks that chose the Sea to be Their sad Redeemer of Captivity Though from that fear they fled to death had now Upon the Shoar left none life could allow But motion to though stopt by death such store All the Escap'd appeard but such as bore The fatall Story of destruction to Their distant Friends when now a serious view By Ariamnes and that noble Youth Whose Actions honourd as authentick truth Made all admire him of their pitty'd dead With sorrow took one worthy Soul unfled From life they found which by Argalia seen With joy recalls those Spirits that had been In busie Action lost but danger that Toward the Throne of life seem'd entring at Too many wounds denies him to enlarge The Sheam of Love as noble Vertues charge To him her follower Ariamnes by His goodness and their sad necessity Prompted to pity fearing slow delays As dangers fatall Harbinger conveys The wounded strangers to the place where he His Palace made the Throne of Charitie 'T was the short journey 'twixt the Day and Night The calm fresh Evening Times Hermaphrodite The Sun on Lights dilated Wings being fled To call the Western Villagers from Bed Ere at his Castle they arrive which stood Upon a Hill whose Basis freng'd with wood Shadowed the fragrant Meadows thorough which A spatious River striving to enrich The flow'ry Valleys with what ever might At home be profit or abroad delight With parted streams that pleasant Islands made It s gentle Current to the Sea conveyd In the composure of this happy place Wherein he lived as if fram'd to embrace So brave a Soul as now did animate It with its presence strength and beauty sate Combin'd in one 't was not so vastly large But fair convenience countervaild the charge Of Reparations all that modest Art Affords to soâ—â—r pleasures every part More for its Ornament but none were drest In Robes so rich but what alone exprest Their Masters providence and care to be A prop to falling Hospitality For he not Comet-like did blaze out in This Country Sphear what had extracted been From the Courts lazy Vapors but had stood There like a Star of the first Magnitude With a fixt constancy so long that now Grown old in Vertue he began to bow Beneath the weight of time and since the calm Of Age had left him nothing to embalm His Name but Vertue strives in that to be The glorious wonder of Posterity Each of his Actions being so truly good That like the Ground where hollowed Temples stood Although by age the Ruines ruin'd seem The people beare a reverent esteem Unto the place so they preserve his Name A yet unwasted Pyramid of Fame Rich were his publick Vertues but the price Of those was but the World to Paradice Compar'd with that rare Harmony that dwells Within his Walls each Servant there excells All but his Fellows in deseâ—t each knew First when then how his Lords Commands to do None more enjoyed then was enough none less All did of plenty tast none of excess Riot was here a stranger but far more Repining penury ne're from that doore The Poor-man went denied nor did the rich Ere surfet there 't was the blest Medium which Extracted from all compound Vertues we Make and then Christian Mediocrity Within the compass of his spatious Hall Stood no vain Pictures to obscure the Wall Which usefull Armes adornd and such as when His Prince requir'd assistance his own men Valiant and numerous mannag'd to defend That righteous Cause but never to attend A popular Faction whose corrupted Seed Hell did engender and Ambition feed His Judgment that like Lifes Attendant Sence To try each Objects various difference Fit Mediums chose which he made Vertue here Beholding though these wandring Stars appear Now in their greatest detriment the Rays Of perfect worth he to that Vertue payes Those Attributes of honour which unto Their Births though now in course disguise was due To Aphrons wounds successfull Art applies Prevailing Med'cines whilst Invention flies To the Aphelion of her Orb to seek Such modest Pleasures as might smooth the Cheek Of ruffl'd Passion which being found are spent To cure the sad Argalia's discontent Which long being lost to all delight at length Revives again his Friends recover'd strength They having now no Remora to stay Them here but what their gratitude did pay To his desires whose Courtesie had made Those bonds of Love with as much zeal obey'd As those which duty locks preparing are To take their leave even in whose civil War Whilst they contend with Courtesies as sent To rescue when his Eloquence was spent Brave Amminander with such hast as shewed His speed to some supream Injunction owed Such diligence a Messenger brings in A Packet which that noble Lord had been Too frequently acquainted with to fear Th' unseen Contents which open'd did appear A Mandate from his royall Master to Attend him ere the next dayes Beauties grew Deform'd with Age which honourd Message read To banish what Suspition might have bred In 's doubtfull Friends he the inclos'd contents With cheerfull hast unto their view presents Their fear thus cur'd by information he That his appearance in
distant crisis and on flaming wings Posts through the blood whose mass infected brings Deaths banners near the Fort of life which in Acute distempers it attempts to win From Natures guards had not the hot assault By youth sustain'd made deaths black army halt Whilst marching to the grave the swift disease Like a proud foe repulst forc'd to give ease By slow retreats yet of those cruel wars Left long remaining bloodless characters But ere the weak Euriolus for he This hapless stranger was again could be By strength supported base Amarus who Could think no more then priceless thanks was due For all his dangerous pains more beastly rude Then untam'd Indians basely did exclude That noble guest which being with sorrow seen By Ammida whose prayers and tears had been His helpless advocates she gives in charge To her Ismander that till time enlarge Her then restrain'd desires he entertain Her desolate and wandring friend Nor vain Were these commands his entertainment being Such as observant Love thought best agreeing To her desires But here not long he stayed Ere Fortune prompted by his wit obeyed That artfull Mistris and reward obtains By fine imposture for firm vertues pains The gout that common curse of slothfull wealth With frequent pain had long impair'd the health Of old Amarus who though else to all Griping as that for ease was liberal From practic'd physick to the patients curse Poor pratling women or impostors worse Slie Mountebanks whose empty impudence Do frequent murthers under healths pretence He all had tried yet found he must endure What though some eas'd none perfectly could cure Oft had his judgement purse and patience bin Abus'd by cheats yet still defective in The choice of men which error known unto My brother and Euriolus they drew Their platform thus Euriolus clad in An antick dress which shew'd as he had bin Physitian to the great Mogol first by Ismander prais'd at distance doth apply Himself unto Amarus where t'â—inhance The price of 's art he first applauds the chance That had from distant Regions thither brought Him to eclipse their glory who had sought For 't in his cure before then seconds that With larger promises which tickled at Amarus vies with his threatning to break His iron chests and make those idols speak His gratitude though lock'd with conscience they To his own clamorous wants had silent lay Some common medicines which the people prize ' Cause from their knowledg vail'd in slight disguise Apply'd to 's pain and those assisted by Opinion whose best antidotes supply The weak defects of art he soon attains So much of health that now his greatest pains Had been th' ingag'd reward had he not bin By future hopes kept from ingratefull sin So far that in performing action he Exceeds his passions prodigalitie Large promises with such performance that Whilst his deluders smile and wonder at Thus speaks its dark orginal To shew Euriolus how fortune did out-grow Desert in his estate he was one day From th' Castle walls taking a pleas'd survay Of spacious fields whose soils made fertile by Luxurious art in rich variety Still youthfull nature cloath'd which whilst he views An old suspition thus his tongue renews How blest my worthy friend how blest had I Been in my youths laborious industry T' have seen a son possest of this but now A daughters match a stranger must endow With what I 've toil'd to get and what is more My torment one that being betroth'd before My sons decease wants an estate to make Her marriage blest but knew I how to shake This Swagg'rer off there lives not far from hence One that to match her to were worth th' expence Of my estate his name is Dargonel A wary Lad who though his land do swell Each day with new additions yet still lives Sparing and close takes heed to whom he gives Or whom he lends except on mortgage by Whose strength it may securely multiply This worthy Gentleman with wise foresight Beholding what an object of delight Our link'd estates would be hath since I lost My heir been in 's intention onely crost By this Ismander whom though I confess A braver man yet since a fortune less Ne'r must have my consent onely since by Her contract I have lost the liberty Of second choice unless I vainly draw My self in danger o' th ore-busie Law I want some sound advice that might inform Me how to rid him yet not stand a storm Broke from his rage although my daughter love Him more then health I shall command above Her feeble passions if you dare impart So much of aid from your almighty art As to remove this remora and here He stopp'd yet lets a silent guilt appear In looks that shew'd what else the theam affords He 'd have conceiv'd as being too foul for words Which seen by him whose active wit grâ—w strong In friendships cause as loath to torture long His expectations thus their stream he stayes With what at once both comforts and betrayes Raise up your spirits my blest Patron to Sublime content Heav'n sent me to renew Your souls harmonious peace that dreadfull toy Of conscience wisely wav'd you may enjoy Uninterrupted hopes yet since we must Be still most wary where we 're most unjust Le ts not be rash swift things are oft unsure Whilst moles through death's dark angles creep secure Then since it 's full of danger to remove Betroth'd Ismander whilst his publick love By your consent rais'd to assurance may A granted interest claim first let us stay His fury and the peoples censures by A nuptial knot whose links we will unty Ere the first night confirms the hallow'd band By wayes so secret that death 's skilfull hand Shall work unknown to fate and render you To the deluded worlds more publick view A real mourner whilst your curtain'd thought Triumphs to be from strict engagements brought Besides the vailing of our dark designe Like vertue thus this plot will sink a Mine Whose wealthy womb in ample jointure will Bring much of dead Ismanders state to fill The vast desire of wealth This being done I with prevailing philters will outrun Sorrows black Bark which whilst it lies at drift I 'll so renew her mirth no sigh shall lift Its heavy sails which in a calm neglect Shall lie forgot whilst what 's not now respect To Dargonel shall soon grow up to be Like Natures undiscovered sympathie A love so swift so secret all shall pause At its effects whilst they admire the cause This by Amarus with belief which grew Into applause heard ouâ— he doth renew With large additions what h 'had promis'd in His first attempts Then hasting to begin The tragick scene which must in triumph be Usher'd to light his known deformitie Of wretched baseness for a while he lays Aside and by a liberal mirth betrays Approaching joy which since incited by His wishes soon lifts Hymens torches high As their exalted hopes The happy Pair
prevail'd On his resolves from peacefull povertie His ages refuge hurrying him to be Once more an Agent unto fortune in Uncertain toils whose trouble to begin Leaving his Prince to so much rest as those Whose serious souls are busied to compose Unravell'd thoughts into a method now Sophron forsakes him to discover how His fellow Peers of that lost party stand Dispos'd for action if a Kings command Should give it life all which hâ— findes to be So full of yet untainted loyaltie That in a swift convention they prepare By joyning judgements to divide their care From distant places with such secret haste As did declare a flaming zeal though plac'd In cautions shadow owe considerate Peers Such whose light youth th' experienc'd weight of yeers Had long since ballast with discretion met To see their Prince and to discharge the debt Of full obedience each had with him brought His states surviving hope snatch'd from the soft Hands of lamenting mothers that to those If fit for arms they safely might dispose The excution of those Councils which Their sober age with judgement did inrich In Sophron's Palace which being far remov'd From the streets talking throngs was most aprov'd For needfull privacy these loyal Lords Whose faithfull hearts th' infallible records The heedless vulgar whose neglective sin Had lost the copies of allegiance in This inter regnum trust to being met To shun delayes mans late repented debt The Prince with speed appears whom no disguise Of youths betrayer Time could from their eyes Long undiscover'd keep through the rough vail Of Age or what more powerfull did prevail On Beauties ruines they did soon descry The unquench'd embers of a Majesty Too bright for time to hide with curtains less Dark then that mansion of forgetfulness The Grave which mans first folly taught to be The obscure passage to eternitie That their example might be precept to Unknowing youth with all the reverence due To awefull Princes on their thrones the old Experienc'd Courtiers kneel by which grown bold In their belief those of unriper age Upon their judgements did their faith engage So far that they in solemn vows unite Their yet concordant thoughts which ere the flight Of time should leave the day behind desire To live in action But this rising fire Of loyal rage which in their breasts did burn The thankfull Prince thus gently strives to turn Into a milder passion such as might Not scorch with anger but with judgement light How much is't both my wonder and my joy That we whom treason studied to destroy With near as much of miracle as in The last of dayes lost bodies that have bin Scatter'd amongst the elements shall be Conven'd i' th' Court of immortality Depress'd with fortune and disguis'd with age Sad arguments brave subjects to engage Your loyal valor I had gone from all My mortal hopes had not this secret call Of heaven which doth with unknown method curb Our wilde intention brought me to disturb Your peacefull age whose abler youth had in Defending me expos'd to ruine bin I had no more my conscience now at rest With Widows curses Orphans tears opprest No more in fighting fields those busie marts Where honor doth for fame with death change harts Beheld the sad success of Battails where Proud victors make youths conquest ages care But hid from all a crowns false glories spent Like beauteous flowers which vainly waste the scent Of odors in unhanted desarts all My time conceal'd till wither'd age should fall From that short stem of nature life to be Lost in the dust of deaths obscuritie When in the pride of youth my stars withdrew Their influence first I then had stood with you Those thunderbolts of fate and bravely died Contemning fortune had that feverish pride Of valor not been quench'd in hope to save My infant son from an untimely grave But he when from domestick ills convey'd In safety being by treacherous fate betray'd Either by death or ignorance from what His stars when kindl'd first where pointed at Either lives not or else conceal'd within Some course disguise whose poverty hath been So long his dull companion till he 's grown Not less to us then to himself unknown All this being weigh'd in reasons scale is there Ought in 't can tempt decrepid age to bear Such glorious burthens which if fortunate In the obtaining of in natures date Can have no long account ere I again What I had got with danger kept with pain Summon'd by death the graves black monarch must With sorrow lose yet since that heaven so just And you so loyal I have found that it Might argue fear if I unmov'd should sit At all your just desires I here i' th' sight Of heaven declare together with my right To prosecute your Liberties as far As Justice dares to patronize a war This with a magnanimity that shew'd His youths brave spirits were not all bestow'd On the accounts of age had to so high A pitch of zeal inflam'd their loyalty That in contempt of slow-pack'd counsels they Did like rash youth whose wit wants times allay Haste to unripe engagements such as â—ound The issue weak whose parents are unsound All to those towns where neighborhood had made Them lov'd for vertue or for power obey'd Whilst each with his peculiar guarâ— attends His honor'd Prince imploy their active friends Who having with collecting trumpets made Important errands ready to Invade The peoples censure for a theme to fame Their long lost Princes safe returu proclaim Which though at first a subject it appear'd Onely for faith when circumstance had clear'd Th' eye of Reason from each nobler minde Th' embraces of a welcom truth did finde In publick throngs whilst every forward friend Spoke his resolves his sullen foes did spend Their doubts in private whispers by exchange Of which they found hate had no farther range Then close intelligence whose utmost bounds Ere they obtain the usefull trumpet sounds No distant summons but close marches to His loyal friends whom now their foes might view In troops which if fate favor their intents Ere long must swell to big-bulk'd Regiments Through Country towns and Cities prouder streets The murmuring drum in busie marches meets Such forward valor husbandmen did fear The earth would languish the succeeding years For want of Laborers nor could business stop The streightned Prentice who the slighted shop Left to his angry Master who must be Forc'd to abridge his seven years tyranny Changes the baser utensils of trade For burnisht arms and by example made More valiant scorns those shadows which they fear'd More then rough war whilst ' mongst the cities herd To Regiments from scattering bands being grown From that to Armys whose big looks made known Those bold designs which Justice fear'd to own Though hers till plac'd in Powers imperial throne They now toward action haste which to begin Whilst Castles are secur'd and Towns girt in With armed lines whose Pallizado's had Whole Forrests of