and with a smiling Glance Thus gratulates to Greece her happy Chance O Argives we shall Conquer Troy is ours But long Delays shall first afflict our Pow'rs Nine Years of Labour the nine Birds portend The Tenth shall in the Town 's Destruction end The Serpent who his Maw obscence had sill'd The Branches in his curl'd Embraces held But as in Spires he stood he turn'd to Stone The stony Snake retain'd the Figure still his own Yet not for this the Wind-bound Navy weigh'd Slack were their Sails and Neptune disobey'd Some thought him loath the Town shou'd be destroy'd Whose Building had his Hands divine employ'd Not so the Seer who knew and known foreshow'd The Virgin Phaebe with a Virgin 's Blood Must first be reconcil'd the common Cause Prevail'd and Pity yielding to the Laws Fair Iphigenia the devoted Maid Was by the weeping Priests in Linnen-Robes array'd All mourn her Fate but no Relief appear'd The Royal Victim bound the Knife already rear'd When that offended Pow'r who caus'd their Woe Relenting ceas'd her Wrath and stop'd the coming Blow A Mist before the Ministers she cast And in the Virgin 's room a Hind she plac'd Th' Oblation slain and Phaebe reconcil'd The Storm was hush'd and dimpled Ocean smil'd A favourable Gale arose from Shore Which to the Port desir'd the Grecian Gallies bore Full in the midst of this Created Space Betwixt Heav'n Earth and Skies there stands a Place Confining on all three with triple Bound Whence all Things though remote are view'd around And thither bring their Undulating Sound The Palace of loud Fame her Seat of Pow'r Plac'd on the Summet of a lofty Tow'r A thousand winding Entries long and wide Receive of fresh Reports a flowing Tide A thousand Crannies in the Walls are made Nor Gate nor Bars exclude the busy Trade 'T is built of Brass the better to diffuse The spreading Sounds and multiply the News Where Eccho's in repeated Eccho's play A Mart for ever full and open Night and Day Nor Silence is within nor Voice express But a deaf Noise of Sounds that never cease Confus'd and Chiding like the hollow Roar Of Tides receding from th' insulted Shore Or like the broken Thunder heard from far When Jove to distance drives the rowling War The Courts are fill'd with a tumultuous Din Of Crowds or issuing forth or entring in A thorough fare of News Where some devise Things never heard some mingle Truth with Lies The troubled Air with empty Sounds they beat Intent to hear and eager to repeat Error sits brooding there with added Train Of vain Credulity and Joys as vain Suspicion with Sedition join'd are near And Rumors rais'd and Murmurs mix'd and Panique Fear Fame sits aloft and sees the subject Ground And Seas about and Skies above enquiring all around The Goddess gives th' Alarm and soon is known The Grecian Fleet descending on the Town Fix'd on Defence the Trojans are not slow To guard their Shore from an expected Foe They meet in Fight By Hector's fatal Hand Protesilaus falls and bites the Strand Which with expence of Blood the Grecians won And prov'd the Strength unknown of Priam's Son And to their Cost the Trojan Leaders felt The Greciav Heroes and what Deaths they dealt From these first Onsets the Sigaean Shore Was strew'd with Carcasses and stain'd with Gore Neptuman Cygnus Troops of Greeks had slain Achilles in his Carr had scow'r'd the Plain And clear'd the Trojan Ranks Where e'er he fought Cygnus or Hector through the Fields he sought Cygnus he found on him his Force essay'd For Hector was to the tenth Year delay'd His white man'd Steeds that bow'd beneath the Yoke He chear'd to Courage with a gentle Stroke Then urg'd his fiery Chariot on the Foe And rising shook his Lance in act to throw But first he cry'd O Youth be proud to bear Thy Death enobled by Pelides Spear The Lance pursu'd the Voice without delay Nor did th' whizzing Weapon miss the way But pierc'd his Cuirass with such Fury sent And sign'd his Bosom with a Purple dint At this the Seed of Neptune Goddess-born For Ornament not Use these Arms are worn This Helm and heavy Buckler I can spare As only Decorations of the War So Mars is arm'd for Glory not for Need. 'T is somewhat more from Neptune to proceed Than from a Daughter of the Sea to spring Thy Sire is Mortal mine is Ocean's King Secure of Death I shou'd contemn thy Dart Tho' naked and impassible depart He said and threw The trembling Weapon pass'd Through nine Bull-hides each under other plac'd On his broad Shield and stuck within the last Achilles wrench'd it out and sent again The hostile Gift The hostile Gift was vain He try'd a third a tough well-chosen Spear Th' inviolable Body stood sincere Though Cygnus then did no Defence provide But scornful offer'd his unshielded Side Not otherwise th' impatient Hero far'd Than as a Bull incompass'd with a Guard Amid the Circus roars Provok'd from far By sight of Scarlet and a sanguine War They quit their Ground his bended Horns elude In vain pursuing and in vain pursu'd Before to farther Fight he wou'd advance He stood considering and survey'd his Lance. Doubts if he wielded not a Wooden Spear Without a Point He look'd the Point was there This is my Hand and this my Lance he se'd By which so many thousand Foes are dead O whether is their usual Virtue fled I had it once and the Lyrnessian Wall And Tenedos confess'd it in their fall Thy Streams Caicus rowl'd a Crimson-Flood And Thebes ran Red with her own Natives Blood Twice Telephus employ'd this piercing Steel To wound him first and afterward to heal The Vigour of this Arm was never vain And that my wonted Prowess I retain Witness these heaps of Slaughter on the Plain He said and doubtful of his former Deeds To some new trial of his Force proceeds He chose Menaetes from among the rest At him he lanch'd his Spear and pierc'd his Breast On the hard Earth the Lycian knock'd his Head And lay supine and forth the Spirit fled Then thus the Hero neither can I blame The Hand or Javelin both are still the same The same I will employ against this Foe And wish but with the same Success to throw So spoke the Chief and while he spoke he threw The Weapon with unerring Fury flew At his left Shoulder aim'd Nor entrance found But back as from a Rock with swift rebound Harmless return'd A bloody Mark appear'd Which with false Joy the flatter'd Hero chear'd Wound there was none the Blood that was in view The Lance before from slain Menaetes drew Headlong he leaps from off his losty Car And in close Fight on foot renews the War Raging with high Disdain repeats his Blows Nor Shield nor Armour can their Force oppose Huge Cantlets of his Buckler strew the Ground And no Defence in his bor'd Arms is found But on his Flesh no Wound or Blood is
to be heard I know not what Answer they could have made For that Reason such Tales shall be left untold by me You have here a Specimen of Chaucer's Language which is so obsolete that his Sense is scarce to be understood and you have likewise more than one Example of his unequal Numbers which were mention'd before Yet many of his Verses consist of Ten Syllables and the Words not much behind our present English As for Example these two Lines in the Description of the Carpenter's Young Wife Wincing she was as is a jolly Colt Long as a Mast and upright as a Bolt I have almost done with Chaucer when I have answer'd some Objections relating to my present Work I find some People are offended that I have turn'd these Tales into modern English because they think them unworthy of my Pains and look on Chaucer as a dry old-fashion'd Wit not worth receiving I have often heard the late Earl of Leicester say that Mr. Cowley himself was of that opinion who having read him over at my Lord's Request declar'd he had no Taste of him I dare not advance my Opinion against the Judgment of so great an Author But I think it fair however to leave the Decision to the Publick Mr. Cowley was too modest to set up for a Dictatour and being shock'd perhaps with his old Style never examin'd into the depth of his good Sense Chaucer I confess is a rough Diamond and must first be polish'd e'er he shines I deny not likewise that living in our early Days of Poetry he writes not always of a piece but sometimes mingles trivial Things with those of greater Moment Sometimes also though not often he runs riot like Ovid and knows not when he has said enough But there are more great Wits beside Chaucer whose Fault is their Excess of Conceits and those ill sorted An Author is not to write all he can but only all he ought Having observ'd this Redundancy in Chaucer as it is an easie Matter for a Man of ordinary Parts to find a Fault in one of greater I have not ty'd my self to a Literal Translation but have often omitted what I judg'd unnecessary or not of Dignity enough to appear in the Company of better Thoughts I have presum'd farther in some Places and added somewhat of my own where I thought my Author was deficient and had not given his Thoughts their true Lustre for want of Words in the Beginning of our Language And to this I was the more embolden'd because if I may be permitted to say it of my self I found I had a Soul congenial to his and that I had been conversant in the same Studies Another Poet in another Age may take the same Liberty with my Writings if at least they live long enough to deserve Correction It was also necessary sometimes to restore the Sense of Chaucer which was lost or mangled in the Errors of the Press Let this Example suffice at present in the Story of Palamon and Arcite where the Temple of Diana is describ'd you find these Verses in all the Editions of our Author There saw I Danè turned unto a Tree I mean not the Goddess Diane But Venus Daughter which that hight Danè Which after a little Consideration I knew was to be reform'd into this Sense that Daphne the Daughter of Peneus was turn'd into a Tree I durst not make thus bold with Ovid lest some future Milbourn should arise and say I varied from my Author because I understood him not But there are other Judges who think I ought not to have translated Chaucer into English out of a quite contrary Notion They suppose there is a certain Veneration due to his old Language and that it is little less than Profanation and Sacrilege to alter it They are farther of opinion that somewhat of his good Sense will suffer in this Transfusion and much of the Beauty of his Thoughts will infallibly be lost which appear with more Grace in their old Habit. Of this Opinion was that excellent Person whom I mention'd the late Earl of Leicester who valu'd Chaucer as much as Mr. Cowley despis'd him My Lord dissuaded me from this Attempt for I was thinking of it some Years before his Death and his Authority prevail'd so far with me as to defer my Undertaking while he liv'd in deference to him Yet my Reason was not convinc'd with what he urg'd against it If the first End of a Writer be to be understood then as his Language grows obsolete his Thoughts must grow obscure multa renascuntur quoe nunc cecidere cadentque quoe nunc sunt in honore vacabula si volet usus quem penes arbitrium est jus norma loquendi When an ancient Word for its Sound and Significancy deserves to be reviv'd I have that reasonable Veneration for Antiquity to restore it All beyond this is Superstition Words are not like Land-marks so sacred as never to be remov'd Customs are chang'd and even Statutes are silently repeal'd when the Reason ceases for which they were enacted As for the other Part of the Argument that his Thoughts will lose of their original Beauty by the innovation of Words in the first place not only their Beauty but their Being is lost where they are no longer understood which is the present Case I grant that something must be lost in all Transfusion that is in all Translations but the Sense will remain which would otherwise be lost or at least be maim'd when it is scarce intelligible and that but to a few How few are there who can read Chaucer so as to understand him perfectly And if imperfectly then with less Profit and no Pleasure 'T is not for the Use of some old Saxon Friends that I have taken these Pains with him Let them neglect my Version because they have no need of it I made it for their sakes who understand Sense and Poetry as well as they when that Poetry and Sense is put into Words which they understand I will go farther and dare to add that what Beauties I lose in some Places I give to others which had them not originally But in this I may be partial to my self let the Reader judge and I submit to his Decision Yet I think I have just Occasion to complain of them who because they understand Chaucer would deprive the greater part of their Countrymen of the same Advantage and hoord him up as Misers do their Grandam Gold only to look on it themselves and hinder others from making use of it In sum I seriously protest that no Man ever had or can have a greater Veneration for Chaucer than my self I have translated some part of his Works only that I might perpetuate his Memory or at least refresh it amongst my Countrymen If I have alter'd him any where for the better I must at the same time acknowledge that I could have done nothing without him Facile est inventis addere is no
mortal Hate his Rival view'd Now Friends no more nor walking Hand in Hand But when they met they made a surly Stand And glar'd like angry Lions as they pass'd And wish'd that ev'ry Look might be their last It chanc'd at length Perithous came t' attend This worthy Theseus his familiar Friend Their Love in early Infancy began And rose as Childhood ripen'd into Man Companions of the War and lov'd so well That when one dy'd as ancient Stories tell His Fellow to redeem him went to Hell But to pursue my Tale to welcome home His Warlike Brother is Perithous come Arcite of Thebes was known in Arms long since And honour'd by this young Thessalian Prince Theseus to gratifie his Friend and Guest Who made our Arcite's Freedom his Request Restor'd to Liberty the Captive Knight But on these hard Conditions I recite That if hereafter Arcite shou'd be found Within the Compass of Athenian Ground By Day or Night or on whate'er Pretence His Head shou'd pay the Forfeit of th' Offence To this Perithous for his Friend agreed And on his Promise was the Pris'ner freed Unpleas'd and pensive hence he takes his way At his own Peril for his Life must pay Who now but Arcite mourns his bitter Fate Finds his dear Purchase and repents too late What have I gain'd he said in Prison pent If I but change my Bonds for Banishment And banish'd from her Sight I suffer more In Freedom than I felt in Bonds before Forc'd from her Presence and condemn'd to live Unwelcom Freedom and unthank'd Reprieve Heav'n is not but where Emily abides And where she 's absent all is Hell besides Next to my Day of Birth was that accurst Which bound my Friendship to Perithous first Had I not known that Prince I still had been In Bondage and had still Emilia seen For tho' I never can her Grace deserve 'T is Recompence enough to see and serve O Palamon my Kinsman and my Friend How much more happy Fates thy Love attend Thine is th' Adventure thine the Victory Well has thy Fortune turn'd the Dice for thee Thou on that Angels Face maist feed thy Eyes In Prison no but blissful Paradise Thou daily seest that Sun of Beauty shine And lov'st at least in Loves extreamest Line I mourn in Absence Loves Eternal Night And who can tell but since thou hast her Sight And art a comely young and valiant Knight Fortune a various Pow'r may cease to frown And by some Ways unknown thy Wishes crown But I the most forlorn of Humane Kind Nor Help can hope nor Remedy can find But doom'd to drag my loathsom Life in Care For my Reward must end it in Despair Fire Water Air and Earth and Force of Fates That governs all and Heav'n that all creates Nor Art nor Natures Hand can ease my Grief Nothing but Death the Wretches last Relief Then farewel Youth and all the Joys that dwell With Youth and Life and Life it self farewell But why alas do mortal Men in vain Of Fortune Fate or Providence complain God gives us what he knows our Wants require And better Things than those which we desire Some pray for Riches Riches they obtain But watch'd by Robbers for their Wealth are slain Some pray from Prison to be freed and come When guilty of their Vows to fall at home Murder'd by those they trusted with their Life A favour'd Servant or a Bosom Wife Such dear-bought Blessings happen ev'ry Day Because we know not for what Things to pray Like drunken Sots about the Streets we roam Well knows the Sot he has a certain Home Yet knows not how to find th' uncertain Place And blunders on and staggers ev'ry Pace Thus all seek Happiness but few can find For far the greater Part of Men are blind This is my Case who thought our utmost Good Was in one Word of Freedom understood The fatal Blessing came From Prison free I starve abroad and lose the Sight of Emily Thus Arcite but if Arcite thus deplore His Suff'rings Palamon yet suffers more For when he knew his Rival freed and gone He swells with Wrath he makes outrageous Moan He frets he fumes he stares he stamps the Ground The hollow Tow'r with Clamours rings around With briny Tears he bath'd his fetter'd Feet And dropp'd all o'er with Agony of Sweat Alas he cry'd I Wretch in Prison pine Too happy Rival while the Fruit is thine Thou liv'st at large thou draw'st thy Native Air Pleas'd with thy Freedom proud of my Despair Thou may'st since thou hast Youth and Courage join'd A sweet Behaviour and a solid Mind Assemble ours and all the Theban Race To vindicate on Athens thy Disgrace And after by some Treaty made possess Fair Emily the Pledge of lasting Peace So thine shall be the beauteous Prize while I Must languish in Despair in Prison die Thus all th' Advantage of the Strife is thine Thy Portion double Joys and double Sorrows mine The Rage of Jealousie then fir'd his Soul And his Face kindl'd like a burning Coal Now cold Despair succeeding in her stead To livid Paleness turns the glowing Red. His Blood scarce Liquid creeps within his Veins Like Water which the freezing Wind constrains Then thus he said Eternal Deities Who rule the World with absolute Decrees And write whatever Time shall bring to pass With Pens of Adamant on Plates of Brass What is the Race of Humane Kind your Care Beyond what all his Fellow-Creatures are He with the rest is liable to Pain And like the Sheep his Brother-Beast is slain Cold Hunger Prisons Ills without a Cure All these he must and guiltless oft endure Or does your Justice Pow'r or Prescience fail When the Good suffer and the Bad prevail What worse to wretched Vertue could befall If Fate or giddy Fortune govern'd all Nay worse than other Beasts is our Estate Them to pursue their Pleasures you create We bound by harder Laws must curb our Will And your Commands not our Desires fulfil Then when the Creature is unjustly slain Yet after Death at least he feels no Pain But Man in Life surcharg'd with Woe before Not freed when dead is doom'd to suffer more A Serpent shoots his Sting at unaware An ambush'd Thief forelays a Traveller The Man lies murder'd while the Thief and Snake One gains the Thickets and one thrids the Brake This let Divines decide but well I know Just or unjust I have my Share of Woe Through Saturn seated in a luckless Place And Juno's Wrath that persecutes my Race Or Mars and Venus in a Quartil move My Pangs of Jealousie for Arcite's Love Let Palamon oppress'd in Bondage mourn While to his exil'd Rival we return By this the Sun declining from his Height The Day had shortned to prolong the Night The lengthen'd Night gave length of Misery Both to the Captive Lover and the Free For Palamon in endless Prison mourns And Arcite forfeits Life if he returns The Banish'd never hopes his Love to see Nor hopes
Manner and the Means prepare Possession more than Conquest is my Care Mars is the Warriour's God in him it lies On whom he favours to confer the Prize With smiling Aspect you serenely move In your fifth Orb and rule the Realm of Love The Fates but only spin the courser Clue The finest of the Wooll is left for you Spare me but one small Portion of the Twine And let the Sisters cut below your Line The rest among the Rubbish may they sweep Or add it to the Yarn of some old Miser's Heap But if you this ambitious Pray'r deny A Wish I grant beyond Mortality Then let me sink beneath proud Arcite's Arms And I once dead let him possess her Charms Thus ended he then with Observance due The sacred Incence on her Altar threw The curling Smoke mounts heavy from the Fires At length it catches Flame and in a Blaze expires At once the gracious Goddess gave the Sign Her Statue shook and trembl'd all the Shrine Pleas'd Palamon the tardy Omen took For since the Flames pursu'd the trailing Smoke He knew his Boon was granted but the Day To distance driv'n and Joy adjourn'd with long Delay Now Morn with Rosie Light had streak'd the Sky Up rose the Sun and up rose Emily Address'd her early Steps to Cynthia's Fane In State attended by her Maiden Train Who bore the Vests that Holy Rites require Incence and od'rous Gums and cover'd Fire The plenteous Horns with pleasant Mead they crown Nor wanted ought besides in honour of the Moon Now while the Temple smoak'd with hallow'd Steam They wash the Virgin in a living Stream The secret Ceremonies I conceal Uncouth perhaps unlawful to reveal But such they were as Pagan Use requir'd Perform'd by Women when the Men retir'd Whose Eyes profane their chast mysterious Rites Might turn to Scandal or obscene Delights Well-meaners think no Harm but for the rest Things Sacred they pervert and Silence is the best Her shining Hair uncomb'd was loosly spread A Crown of Mastless Oak adorn'd her Head When to the Shrine approach'd the spotless Maid Had kindling Fires on either Altar laid The Rites were such as were observ'd of old By Statius in his Theban Story told Then kneeling with her Hands across her Breast Thus lowly she preferr'd her chast Request O Goddess Haunter of the Woodland Green To whom both Heav'n and Earth and Seas are seen Queen of the nether Skies where half the Year Thy Silver Beams descend and light the gloomy Sphere Goddess of Maids and conscious of our Hearts So keep me from the Vengeance of thy Darts Which Niobe's devoted Issue felt When hissing through the Skies the feather'd Deaths were dealt As I desire to live a Virgin-life Nor know the Name of Mother or of Wife Thy Votress from my tender Years I am And love like thee the Woods and Sylvan Game Like Death thou know'st I Ioath the Nuptial State And Man the Tyrant of our Sex I hate A lowly Servant but a lofty Mate Where Love is Duty on the Female Side On theirs meer sensual Gust and sought with surly Pride Now by thy triple Shape as thou art seen In Heav'n Earth Hell and ev'ry where a Queen Grant this my first Desire let Discord cease And make betwixt the Rivals lasting Peace Quench their hot Fire or far from me remove The Flame and turn it on some other Love Or if my frowning Stars have so decreed That one must be rejected one succeed Make him my Lord within whose faithful Breast Is fix'd my Image and who loves me best But oh ev'n that avert I chuse it not But take it as the least unhappy Lot A Maid I am and of thy Virgin-Train Oh let me still that spotless Name retain Frequent the Forests thy chast Will obey And only make the Beasts of Chace my Prey The Flames ascend on either Altar clear While thus the blameless Maid address'd her Pray'r When lo the burning Fire that shone so bright Flew off all sudden with extinguish'd Light And left one Altar dark a little space Which turn'd self-kindl'd and renew'd the Blaze That other Victour-Flame a Moment stood Then fell and lifeless left th' extinguish'd Wood For ever lost th' irrevocable Light Forsook the blackning Coals and sunk to Night At either End it whistled as it flew And as the Brands were green so dropp'd the Dew Infected as it fell with Sweat of Sanguin Hue. The Maid from that ill Omen turn'd her Eyes And with loud Shrieks and Clamours rent the Skies Nor knew what signifi'd the boding Sign But found the Pow'rs displeas'd and fear'd the Wrath Divine Then shook the Sacred Shrine and sudden Light Sprung through the vaulted Roof and made the Temple bright The Pow'r behold the Pow'r in Glory shone By her bent Bow and her keen Arrows known The rest a Huntress issuing from the Wood Reclining on her Cornel Spear she stood Then gracious thus began Dismiss thy Fear And Heav'ns unchang'd Decrees attentive hear More pow'rful Gods have torn thee from my Side Unwilling to resign and doom'd a Bride The two contending Knights are weigh'd above One Mars protects and one the Queen of Love But which the Man is in the Thund'rer's Breast This he pronounc'd 't is he who loves thee best The Fire that once extinct reviv'd again Foreshews the Love allotted to remain Farewell she said and vanish'd from the Place The Sheaf of Arrows shook and rattl'd in the Case Agast at this the Royal Virgin stood Disclam'd and now no more a Sister of the Wood But to the parting Goddess thus she pray'd Propitious still be present to my Aid Nor quite abandon your once favour'd Maid Then sighing she return'd but smil'd betwixt With Hopes and Fears and Joys with Sorrows mixt The next returning Planetary Hour Of Mars who shar'd the Heptarchy of Pow'r His Steps bold Arcite to the Temple bent T' adore with Pagan Rites the Pow'r Armipotent Then prostrate low before his Altar lay And rais'd his manly Voice and thus began to pray Strong God of Arms whose Iron Scepter sways The freezing North and Hyperborean Seas And Scythian Colds and Thracia's Wintry Coast Where stand thy ' Steeds and thou art honour'd most There most but ev'ry where thy Pow'r is known The Fortune of the Fight is all thy own Terrour is thine and wild Amazement flung From out thy Chariot withers ev'n the Strong And Disarray and shameful Rout ensue And Force is added to the fainting Crew Acknowledg'd as thou art accept my Pray'r If ought I have atchiev'd deserve thy Care If to my utmost Pow'r with Sword and Shield I dar'd the Death unknowing how to yield And falling in my Rank still kept the Field Then let my Arms prevail by thee sustain'd That Emily by Conquest may be gain'd Have pity on my Pains nor those unknown To Mars which when a Lover were his own Venus the Publick Care of all above Thy stubborn Heart has softned into Love Now by her Blandishments
others Arms embrac'd Rush to the conscious Bed a mutual Freight And heedless press it with their wonted Weight The sudden Bound awak'd the sleeping Sire And shew'd a Sight no Parent can desire His opening Eyes at once with odious View The Love discover'd and the Lover knew He would have cry'd but hoping that he dreamt Amazement ty'd his Tongue and stopp'd th' Attempt Th' ensuing Moment all the Truth declar'd But now he stood collected and prepar'd For Malice and Revenge had put him on his Guard So like a Lion that unheeded lay Dissembling Sleep and watchful to betray With inward Rage he meditates his Prey The thoughtless Pair indulging their Desires Alternate kindl'd and then quench'd their Fires Nor thinking in the Shades of Death they play'd Full of themselves themselves alone survey'd And too secure were by themselves betray'd Long time dissolv'd in Pleasure thus they lay Till Nature could no more suffice their Play Then rose the Youth and through the Cave again Return'd the Princess mingl'd with her Train Resolv'd his unripe Vengeance to defer The Royal Spy when now the Coast was clear Sought not the Garden but retir'd unseen To brood in secret on his gather'd Spleen And methodize Revenge To Death he griev'd And but he saw the Crime had scarce believ'd Th' Appointment for th' ensuing Night he heard And therefore in the Cavern had prepar'd Two brawny Yeomen of his trusty Guard Scarce had unwary Guiscard set his Foot Within the farmost Entrance of the Grot When these in secret Ambush ready lay And rushing on the sudden seiz'd the Prey Encumber'd with his Frock without Defence An easie Prize they led the Pris'ner thence And as commanded brought before the Prince The gloomy Sire too sensible of Wrong To vent his Rage in Words restrain'd his Tongue And only said Thus Servants are preferr'd And trusted thus their Sov'reigns they reward Had I not seen had not these Eyes receiv'd Too clear a Proof I could not have believ'd He paus'd and choak'd the rest The Youth who saw His forfeit Life abandon'd to the Law The Judge th' Accuser and th' Offence to him Who had both Pow'r and Will t' avenge the Crime No vain Defence prepar'd but thus reply'd The Faults of Love by Love are justifi'd With unresisted Might the Monarch reigns He levels Mountains and he raises Plains And not regarding Diff'rence of Degree Abas'd your Daughter and exalted me This bold Return with seeming Patience heard The Pris'ner was remitted to the Guard The sullen Tyrant slept not all the Night But lonely walking by a winking Light Sobb'd wept and groan'd and beat his wither'd Breast But would not violate his Daughters Rest Who long expecting lay for Bliss prepar'd Listning for Noise and griev'd that none she heard Oft rose and oft in vain employ'd the Key And oft accus'd her Lover of Delay And pass'd the tedious Hours in anxious Thoughts away The Morrow came and at his usual Hour Old Tancred visited his Daughters Bow'r Her Cheek for such his Custom was he kiss'd Then bless'd her kneeling and her Maids dismiss'd The Royal Dignity thus far maintain'd Now left in private he no longer feign'd But all at once his Grief and Rage appear'd And Floods of Tears ran trickling down his Beard O Sigismonda he began to say Thrice he began and thrice was forc'd to stay Till Words with often trying found their Way I thought O Sigismonda But how blind Are Parents Eyes their Childrens Faults to find Thy Vertue Birth and Breeding were above A mean Desire and vulgar Sense of Love Nor less than Sight and Hearing could convince So fond a Father and so just a Prince Of such an unforeseen and unbeliev'd Offence Then what indignant Sorrow must I have To see thee lie subjected to my Slave A Man so smelling of the Peoples Lee The Court receiv'd him first for Charity And since with no Degree of Honour grac'd But only suffer'd where he first was plac'd A grov'ling Infect still and so design'd By Natures Hand nor born of Noble Kind A Thing by neither Man nor Woman priz'd And scarcely known enough to be despis'd To what has Heav'n reserv'd my Age Ah! why Should Man when Nature calls not chuse to die Rather than stretch the Span of Life to find Such Ills as Fate has wisely cast behind For those to feel whom fond Desire to live Makes covetous of more than Life can give Each has his Share of Good and when 't is gone The Guest though hungry cannot rise too soon But I expecting more in my own wrong Protracting Life have liv'd a Day too long If Yesterday cou'd be recall'd again Ev'n now would I conclude my happy Reign But 't is too late my glorious Race is run And a dark Cloud o'ertakes my setting Sun Hadst thou not lov'd or loving sav'd the Shame If not the Sin by some Illustrious Name This little Comfort had reliev'd my Mind 'T was frailty not unusual to thy Kind But thy low Fall beneath thy Royal Blood Shews downward Appetite to mix with Mud Thus not the least Excuse is left for thee Nor the least Refuge for unhappy me For him I have resolv'd whom by Surprize I took and scarce can call it in Disguise For such was his Attire as with Intent Of Nature suited to his mean Descent The harder Question yet remains behind What Pains a Parent and a Prince can find To punish an Offence of this degenerate Kind As I have lov'd and yet I love thee more Than ever Father lov'd a Child before So that Indulgence draws me to forgive Nature that gave thee Life would have thee live But as a Publick Parent of the State My Justice and thy Crime requires thy Fate Fain would I chuse a middle Course to steer Nature 's too kind and Justice too severe Speak for us both and to the Balance bring On either side the Father and the King Heav'n knows my Heart is bent to favour thee Make it but scanty weight and leave the rest to me Here stopping with a Sigh he pour'd a Flood Of Tears to make his last Expression good She who had heard him speak nor saw alone The secret Conduct of her Love was known But he was taken who her Soul possess'd Felt all the Pangs of Sorrow in her Breast And little wanted but a Womans Heart With Cries and Tears had testifi'd her Smart But in-born Worth that Fortune can controul New strung and stiffer bent her softer Soul The Heroine assum'd the Womans Place Confirm'd her Mind and fortifi'd her Face Why should she beg or what cou'd she pretend When her stern Father had condemn'd her Friend Her Life she might have had but her Despair Of saving his had put it past her Care Resolv'd on Fate she would not lose her Breath But rather than not die sollicit Death Fix'd on this Thought she not as Women use Her Fault by common Frailty would excuse But boldly justifi'd her Innocence And while the Fact was
but by Sighs and offer'd vain Relief At length her Stock of Tears already shed She wip'd her Eyes she rais'd her drooping Head And thus pursu'd O ever faithful Heart I have perform'd the Ceremonial Part The Decencies of Grief It rests behind That as our Bodies were our Souls be join'd To thy whate'er abode my Shade convey And as an elder Ghost direct the way She said and bad the Vial to be brought Where she before had brew'd the deadly Draught First pouring out the med'cinable Bane The Heart her Tears had rins'd she bath'd again Then down her Throat the Death securely throws And quaffs a long Oblivion of her Woes This done she mounts the Genial Bed and there Her Body first compos'd with honest Care Attends the welcom Rest Her Hands yet hold Close to her Heart the Monumental Gold Nor farther Word she spoke but clos'd her Sight And quiet sought the Govert of the Night The Damsels who the while in Silence mourn'd Not knowing nor suspecting Death suborn'd Yet as their Duty was to Tancred sent Who conscious of th' Occasion fear'd th' Event Alarm'd and with presaging Heart he came And drew the Curtains and expos'd the Dame To loathsom Light then with a late Relief Made vain Efforts to mitigate her Grief She what she could excluding Day her Eyes Kept firmly seal'd and sternly thus replies Tancred restrain thy Tears unsought by me And Sorrow unavailing now to thee Did ever Man before afflict his Mind To see th' Effect of what himself design'd Yet if thou hast remaining in thy Heart Some Sense of Love some unextinguish'd Part Of former Kindness largely once profess'd Let me by that adjure thy harden'd Breast Not to deny thy Daughters last Request The secret Love which I so long enjoy'd And still conceal'd to gratifie thy Pride Thou hast disjoin'd but with my dying Breath Seek not I beg thee to disjoin our Death Where-e'er his Corps by thy Command is laid Thither let mine in publick be convey'd Expos'd in open View and Side by Side Acknowledg'd as a Bridegroom and a Bride The Prince's Anguish hinder'd his Reply And she who felt her Fate approaching nigh Seiz'd the cold Heart and heaving to her Breast Here precious Pledge she said securely rest These Accents were her last the creeping Death Benum'd her Senses first then stopp'd her Breath Thus she for Disobedience justly dy'd The Sire was justly punish'd for his Pride The Youth least guilty suffer'd for th' Offence Of Duty violated to his Prince Who late repenting of his cruel Deed One common Sepulcher for both decreed Intomb'd the wretched Pair in Royal State And on their Monument inscrib'd their Fate BAUCIS AND PHILEMON Out of the Eighth Book OF OVID'S Metamorphoses BAUCIS AND PHILEMON Out of the Eighth Book of OVID's METAMORPHOSES The Author pursuing the Deeds of Theseus relates how He with his Friend Perithous were invited by Achelous the River-God to stay with him till his Waters were abated Achelous entertains them with a Relation of his own Love to Perimele who was chang'd into an Island by Neptune at his Request Perithous being an Atheist derides the Legend and denies the Power of the Gods to work that Miracle Lelex another Companion of Theseus to constrm the Story of Achelous relates another Metamorphosis of Baucis and Philemon into Trees of which he was partly an Eye-witness THus Achelous ends His Audience hear With admiration and admiring fear The Pow'rs of Heav'n except Ixion's Son Who laugh'd at all the Gods believ'd in none He shook his impious Head and thus replies These Legends are no more than pious Lies You attribute too much to Heavenly Sway To think they give us Forms and take away The rest of better Minds their Sense declar'd Against this Doctrine and with Horrour heard Then Lelex rose an old experienc'd Man And thus with sober Gravity began Heav'ns Pow'r is Infinite Earth Air and Sea The Manufacture Mass the making Pow'r obey By Proof to clear your Doubt In Phrygian Ground Two neighb'ring Trees with Walls encompass'd round Stand on a mod'rate Rise with wonder shown One a hard Oak a softer Linden one I saw the Place and them by Pittheus sent To Phrygian Realms my Grandsire's Government Not far from thence is seen a Lake the Haunt Of Coots and of the fishing Cormorant Here Jove with Hermes came but in Disguise Of mortal Men conceal'd their Deities One laid aside his Thunder one his Rod And many toilsom Steps together trod For Harbour at a thousand Doors they knock'd Not one of all the thousand but was lock'd At last an hospitable House they found A homely Shed the Roof not far from Ground Was thatch'd with Reeds and Straw together bound There Baucis and Philemon liv'd and there Had liv'd long marry'd and a happy Pair Now old in Love though little was their Store Inur'd to Want their Poverty they bore Nor aim'd at Wealth professing to be poor For Master or for Servant here to call Was all alike where only Two were All. Command was none where equal Love was paid Or rather both commanded both obey'd From lofty Roofs the Gods repuls'd before Now stooping enter'd through the little Door The Man their hearty Welcome first express'd A common Settle drew for either Guest Inviting each his weary Limbs to rest But e'er they sat officious Baucis lays Two Cushions stuff'd with Straw the Seat to raise Course but the best she had then rakes the Load Of Ashes from the Hearth and spreads abroad The living Coals and lest they shou'd expire With Leaves and Barks she feeds her Infant-fire It smoaks and then with trembling Breath she blows Till in a chearful Blaze the Flames arose With Brush-wood and with Chips she strengthens these And adds at last the Boughs of rotten Trees The Fire thus form'd she sets the Kettle on Like burnish'd Gold the little Seether shone Next took the Coleworts which her Husband got From his own Ground a small well-water'd Spot She stripp'd the Stalks of all their Leaves the best She cull'd and then with handy-care she dress'd High o'er the Hearth a Chine of Bacon hung Good old Philemon seiz'd it with a Prong And from the sooty Rafter drew it down Then cut a Slice but scarce enough for one Yet a large Portion of a little Store Which for their Sakes alone he wish'd were more This in the Pot he plung'd without delay To tame the Flesh and drain the Salt away The Time between before the Fire they sat And shorten'd the Delay by pleasing Chat. A Beam there was on which a Beechen Pail Hung by the Handle on a driven Nail This fill'd with Water gently warm'd they set Before their Guests in this they bath'd their Feet And after with clean Towels dry'd their Sweat This done the Host produc'd the genial Bed Sallow the Feet the Borders and the Sted Which with no costly Coverlet they spread But course old Garments yet such Robes as these They laid alone at
Cinyras my Father been What hinder'd Myrrha's Hopes to be his Queen But the Perverseness of my Fate is such That he 's not mine because he 's mine too much Our Kindred-Blood debars a better Tie He might be nearer were he not so nigh Eyes and their Ojects never must unite Some Distance is requir'd to help the Sight Fain wou'd I travel to some Foreign Shore Never to see my Native Country more So might I to my self my self restore So might my Mind these impious Thoughts remove And ceasing to behold might cease to love But stay I must to seed my famish'd Sight To talk to kiss and more if more I might More impious Maid What more canst thou design To make a monstrous Mixture in thy Line And break all Statutes Humane and Divine Canst thou be call'd to save thy wretched Life Thy Mother's Rival and thy Father's Wife Confound so many sacred Names in one Thy Brother's Mother Sister to thy Son And fear'st thou not to see th' Infernal Bands Their Heads with Snakes with Torches arm'd their Hands Full at thy Face th' avenging Brands to bear And shake the Serpents from their hissing Hair But thou in time th' increasing Ill controul Nor first debauch the Body by the Soul Secure the sacred Quiet of thy Mind And keep the Sanctions Nature has design'd Suppose I shou'd attempt th' Attempt were vain No Thoughts like mine his sinless Soul profane Observant of the Right and O that he Cou'd cure my Madness or be mad like me Thus she But Cinyras who daily sees A Crowd of Noble Suitors at his Knees Among so many knew not whom to chuse Irresolute to grant or to refuse But having told their Names enquir'd of her Who pleas'd her best and whom she would prefer The blushing Maid stood silent with Surprize And on her Father fix'd her ardent Eyes And looking sigh'd and as she sigh'd began Round Tears to shed that scalded as they ran The tender Sire who saw her blush and cry Ascrib'd it all to Maiden-modesty And dry'd the falling Drops and yet more kind He stroak'd her Cheeks and holy Kisses join'd She felt a secret Venom fire her Blood And found more Pleasure than a Daughter shou'd And ask'd again what Lover of the Crew She lik'd the best she answer'd One like you Mistaking what she meant her pious Will He prais'd and bad her so continue still The Word of Pious heard she blush'd with shame Of secret Guilt and cou'd not bear the Name 'T was now the mid of Night when Slumbers close Our Eyes and sooth our Cares with soft Repose But no Repose cou'd wretched Myrrha find Her Body rouling as she rould her Mind Mad with Desire she ruminates her Sin And wishes all her Wishes o'er again Now she despairs and now resolves to try Wou'd not and wou'd again she knows not why Stops and returns makes and retracts the Vow Fain wou'd begin but understands not how As when a Pine is hew'd upon the Plains And the last mortal Stroke alone remains Lab'ring in Pangs of Death and threatning all This way and that she nods considring where to fall So Myrrha's Mind impell'd on either Side Takes ev'ry Bent but cannot long abide Irresolute on which she shou'd relie At last unfix'd in all is only fix'd to die On that sad Thought she rests resolv'd on Death She rises and prepares to choak her Breath Then while about the Beam her Zone she ties Dear Cinyras farewell she softly cries For thee I die and only wish to be Not hated when thou know'st I die for thee Pardon the Crime in pity to the Cause This said about her Neck the Noose she draws The Nurse who lay without her faithful Guard Though not the Words the Murmurs overheard And Sighs and hollow Sounds Surpriz'd with Fright She starts and leaves her Bed and springs a Light Unlocks the Door and entring out of Breath The Dying saw and Instruments of Death She shrieks she cuts the Zone with trembling haste And in her Arms her fainting Charge embrac'd Next for she now had leisure for her Tears She weeping ask'd in these her blooming Years What unforeseen Misfortune caus'd her Care To loath her Life and languish in Despair The Maid with down-cast Eyes and mute with Grief For Death unfinish'd and ill-tim'd Relief Stood sullen to her Suit The Beldame press'd The more to know and bar'd her wither'd Breast Adjur'd her by the kindly Food shew drew From those dry Founts her secret Ill to shew Sad Myrrha sigh'd and turn'd her Eyes aside The Nurse still urg'd and wou'd not be deny'd Nor only promis'd Secresie but pray'd She might have leave to give her offer'd Aid Good-will she said my want of Strength supplies And Diligence shall give what Age denies If strong Desires thy Mind to Fury move With Charms and Med'cines I can cure thy Love If envious Eyes their hurtful Rays have cast More pow'rful Verse shall free thee from the Blast If Heav'n offended sends thee this Disease Offended Heav'n with Pray'rs we can appease What then remains that can these Cares procure Thy House is flourishing thy Fortune sure Thy careful Mother yet in Health survives And to thy Comfort thy kind Father lives The Virgin started at her Father's Name And sigh'd profoundly conscious of the Shame Nor yet the Nurse her impious Love divin'd But yet surmis'd that Love disturb'd her Mind Thus thinking she pursu'd her Point and laid And lull'd within her Lap the mourning Maid Then softly sooth'd her thus I guess your Grief You love my Child your Love shall find Relief My long experienc'd Age shall be your Guide Relie on that and lay Distrust aside No Breath of Air shall on the Secret blow Nor shall what most you fear your Father know Struck once again as with a Thunder-clap The guilty Virgin bounded from her Lap And threw her Body prostrate on the Bed And to conctal her Blushes hid her Head There silent lay and warn'd her with her Hand To go But she receiv'd not the Command Remaining still importunate to know Then Myrrha thus Or ask no more or go I prethee go or staying spare my Shame What thou wou'dst hear is impious ev'n to name At this on high the Beldame holds her Hands And trembling both with Age and Terrour stands Adjures and falling at her Feet intreats Sooths her with Blandishments and frights with Threats To tell the Crime intended or disclose What Part of it she knew if she no farther knows And last if conscious to her Counsel made Confirms anew the Promise of her Aid Now Myrrha rais'd her Head but soon oppress'd With Shame reclin'd it on her Nurses Breast Bath'd it with Tears and strove to have confess'd Twice she began and stopp'd again she try'd The falt'ring Tongue its Office still deny'd At last her Veil before her Face she spread And drew a long preluding Sigh and said O happy Mother in thy Marriage-bed Then groan'd and ceas'd the good Old
the dawning Day arise Take to the Western Gate thy ready way For by that Passage they my Corps convey My Corpse is in a Tumbril laid among The Filth and Ordure and enclos'd with Dung That Cart arrest and raise a common Cry For sacred hunger of my Gold I die Then shew'd his grisly Wounds and last he drew A piteous Sigh and took a long Adieu The frighted Friend arose by break of Day And found the Stall where late his Fellow lay Then of his impious Host enquiring more Was answer'd that his Guest was gone before Muttring he went said he by Morning-light And much complain'd of his ill Rest by Night This rais'd Suspicion in the Pilgrim's Mind Because all Hosts are of an evil Kind And oft to share the Spoil with Robbers join'd His Dream confirm'd his Thought with troubled Look Straight to the Western-Gate his way he took There as his Dream foretold a Cart he found That carry'd Composs forth to dung the Ground This when the Pilgrim saw he stretch'd his Throat And cry'd out Murther with a yelling Note My murther'd Fellow in this Cart lies dead Vengeance and Justice on the Villain 's Head You Magistrates who sacred Laws dispense On you I call to punish this Offence The Word thus giv'n within a little space The Mob came roaring out 〈◊〉 throng'd the Place All in a trice they cast the Cart to Ground And in the Dung the murther'd Body bound Though breathless warm and reeking from the Wound Good Heav'n whose darling Attribute we find Is boundless Grace and Mercy to Mankind Abhors the Cruel and the Deeds of Night By wond'rous Ways reveals in open Light Murther may pass unpunished for a time But tardy Justice will o'ertake the Crime And oft a speedier Pain the Guilty feels The Hue and Cry of Heav'n pursues him at the Heels Fresh from the Fact as in the present Case The Criminals are seiz'd upon the Place Carter and Host confronted Face to Face Stiff in denial as the Law appoints On Engins they distend their tortur'd Joints So was Confession forc'd th' Offence was known And publick Justice on th' Offenders done Here may you see that Visions are to dread And in the Page that follows this I read Of two young Merchants whom the hope of Gain Induc'd in Partnership to cross the Main Waiting till willing Winds their Sails supply'd Within a Trading-Town they long abide Full fairly situate on a Haven's side One Evening it befel that looking out The Wind they long had 〈◊〉 was borne about Well pleas'd they went to Rest and if the Gale 'Till Morn continu'd both resolv'd to fail But as together in a Bed they lay The younger had a Dream at break of Day A Man he thought stood frowning at his side Who warn'd him for his Safety to provide Not put to Sea but safe on Shore abide I come thy Genius to command thy stay Trust not the Winds for fatal is the Day And Death unhop'd attends the watry way The Vision said And vanish'd from his sight The Dreamer waken'd in a mortal Fright Then pull'd his drowzy Neighbour and declar'd What in his Slumber he had seen and heard His Friend smil'd scornful and with proud contempt Rejects as idle what his Fellow dreamt Stay who will stay For me no Fears restrain Who follow Mercury the God of Gain Let each Man do as to his Fancy seems I wait not I till you have better Dreams Dreams are but Interludes which Fancy makes When Monarch-Reason sleeps this Mimick wakes Compounds a Medley of disjointed Things A Mob of Coblers and a Court of Kings Light Fumes are merry grosser Fumes are sad Both are the reasonable Soul run mad And many monstrous Forms in sleep we see That neither were nor are nor e'er can be Sometimes forgotten Things long cast behind Rush forward in the Brain and come to mind The Nurses Legends are for Truths receiv'd And the Man dreams but what the Boy believ'd Sometimes we but rehearse a former Play The Night restores our Actions done by Day As Hounds in sleep will open for their Prey In short the Farce of Dreams is of a piece Chimera's all and more absurd or less You who believe in Tales abide alone What e'er I get this Voyage is my own Thus while he spoke he heard the shouting Crew That call'd aboard and took his last adieu The Vessel went before a merry Gale And for quick Passage put on ev'ry Sail But when least fear'd and ev'n in open Day The Mischief overtook her in the way Whether she sprung a Leak I cannot find Or whether she was overset with Wind Or that some Rock below her bottom rent But down at once with all her Crew she went Her Fellow Ships from far her Loss descry'd But only she was sunk and all were safe beside By this Example you are taught again That Dreams and Visions are not always vain But if dear Partlet you are yet in doubt Another Tale shall make the former out Kenelm the Son of Kenulph Mercia's King Whose holy Life the Legends loudly sing Warn'd in a Dream his Murther did foretel From Point to Point as after it befel All Circumstances to his Nurse he told A Wonder from a Child of sev'n Years old The Dream with Horror heard the good old Wife From Treason counsell'd him to guard his Life But close to keep the Secret in his Mind For a Boy 's Vision small Belief would find The pious Child by Promise bound obey'd Nor was the fatal Murther long delay'd By Quenda slain he fell before his time Made a young Martyr by his Sister's Crime The Tale is told by venerable Bede Which at your better leisure you may read Macrobius too relates the Vision sent To the great Scipio with the fam'd event Objections makes but after makes Replies And adds that Dreams are often Prophecies Of Daniel you may read in Holy Writ Who when the King his Vision did forget Cou'd Word for Word the wond'rous Dream repeat Nor less of Patriarch Joseph understand Who by a Dream inslav'd th' Egyptian Land The Years of Plenty and of Dearth foretold When for their Bread their Liberty they sold. Nor must th' exalted Buttler be forgot Nor he whose Dream presag'd his hanging Lot And did not Craesus the same Death foresee Rais'd in his Vision on a lofty Tree The Wife of Hector in his utmost Pride Dreamt of his Death the Night before he dy'd Well was he warn'd from Battle to refrain But Men to Death decreed are warn'd in vain He dar'd the Dream and by his fatal Foe was slain Much more I know which I forbear to speak For see the ruddy Day begins to break Let this suffice that plainly I foresee My Dream was bad and bodes Adversity But neither Pills nor Laxatives I like They only serve to make a well-man sick Of these his Gain the sharp Phisician makes And often gives a Purge but seldom takes They not correct but poyson all
think it was to give consent But struggling with his own Desires he went With large Expence and with a pompous Train Provided as to visit France or Spain Or for some distant Voyage o'er the Main But Love had clipp'd his Wings and cut him short Confin'd within the purlieus of his Court Three Miles he went nor farther could retreat His Travels ended at his Country-Seat To Chassis pleasing Plains he took his way There pitch'd his Tents and there resolv'd to stay The Spring was in the Prime the neighb'ring Grove Supply'd with Birds the Choristers of Love Musick unbought that minister'd Delight To Morning-walks and lull'd his Cares by Night There he discharg'd his Friends but not th' Expence Of frequent Treats and proud Magnificence He liv'd as Kings retire though more at large From publick Business yet with equal Charge With House and Heart still open to receive As well content as Love would give him leave He would have liv'd more free but many a Guest Who could forsake the Friend pursu'd the Feast It happ'd one Morning as his Fancy led Before his usual Hour he left his Bed To walk within a lonely Lawn that stood On ev'ry side surrounded by the Wood Alone he walk'd to please his pensive Mind And sought the deepest Solitude to find 'T was in a Grove of spreading Pines he stray'd The Winds within the quiv'ring Branches plaid And Dancing-Trees a mournful Musick made The Place it self was suiting to his Care Uncouth and Salvage as the cruel Fair. He wander'd on unknowing where he went Lost in the Wood and all on Love intent The Day already half his Race had run And summon'd him to due Repast at Noon But Love could feel no Hunger but his own While list'ning to the murm'ring Leaves he stood More than a Mile immers'd within the Wood At once the Wind was laid the whisp'ring sound Was dumb a rising Earthquake rock'd the Ground With deeper Brown the Grove was overspred A suddain Horror seiz'd his giddy Head And his Ears tinckled and his Colour fled Nature was in alarm some Danger nigh Seem'd threaten'd though unseen to mortal Eye Unus'd to fear he summon'd all his Soul And stood collected in himself and whole Not long For soon a Whirlwind rose around And from afar he heard a screaming sound As of a Dame distress'd who cry'd for Aid And fill'd with loud Laments the secret Shade A Thicket close beside the Grove there stood With Breers and Brambles choak'd and dwarfish Wood From thence the Noise Which now approaching near With more distinguish'd Notes invades his Ear He rais'd his Head and saw a beauteous Maid With Hair dishevell'd issuing through the Shade Stripp'd of her Cloaths and e'en those Parts reveal'd Which modest Nature keeps from Sight conceal'd Her Face her Hands her naked Limbs were torn With passing through the Brakes and prickly Thorn Two Mastiffs gaunt and grim her Flight pursu'd And oft their fasten'd Fangs in Blood embru'd Oft they came up and pinch'd her tender Side Mercy O Mercy Heav'n she ran and cry'd When Heav'n was nam'd they loos'd their Hold again Then sprung she forth they follow'd her amain Not far behind a Knight of swarthy Face High on a Coal-black Steed pursu'd the Chace With flashing Flames his ardent Eyes were fill'd And in his Hands a naked Sword he held He chear'd the Dogs to follow her who fled And vow'd Revenge on her devoted Head As Theodore was born of noble Kind The brutal Action rowz'd his manly Mind Mov'd with unworthy Usage of the Maid He though unarm'd resolv'd to give her Aid A Saplin Pine he wrench'd from out the Ground The readiest Weapon that his Fury found Thus furnish'd for Offence he cross'd the way Betwixt the graceless Villain and his Prey The Knight came thund'ring on but from afar Thus in imperious Tone forbad the War Cease Theodore to proffer vain Relief Nor stop the vengeance of so just a Grief But give me leave to seize my destin'd Prey And let eternal Justice take the way I but revenge my Fate disdain'd betray'd And suff'ring Death for this ungrateful Maid He say'd at once dismounting from the Steed For now the Hell-hounds with superiour Speed Had reach'd the Dame and fast'ning on her Side The Ground with issuing Streams of Purple dy'd Stood Theodore surpriz'd in deadly Fright With chatt'ring Teeth and bristling Hair upright Yet arm'd with inborn Worth What e'er said he Thou art who know'st me better than I thee Or prove thy rightful Cause or be defy'd The Spectre fiercely staring thus reply'd Know Theodore thy Ancestry I claim And Guido Cavalcanti was my Name One common Sire our Fathers did beget My Name and Story some remember yet Thee then a Boy within my Arms I laid When for my Sins I lov'd this haughty Maid Not less ador'd in Life nor serv'd by Me Than proud Honoria now is lov'd by Thee What did I not her stubborn Heart to gain But all my Vows were answer'd with Disdain She scorn'd my Sorrows and despis'd my Pain Long time I dragg'd my Days in fruitless Care Then loathing Life and plung'd in deep Despair To finish my unhappy Life I fell On this sharp Sword and now am damn'd in Hell Short was her Joy for soon th' insulting Maid By Heav'n's Decree in the cold Grave was laid And as in unrepenting Sin she dy'd Doom'd to the same bad Place is punish'd for her Pride Because she deem'd I well deserv'd to die And made a Merit of her Cruelty There then we met both try'd and both were cast And this irrevocable Sentence pass'd That she whom I so long pursu'd in vain Should suffer from my Hands a lingring Pain Renew'd to Life that she might daily die I daily doom'd to follow she to fly No more a Lover but a mortal Foe I seek her Life for Love is none below As often as my Dogs with better speed Arrest her Flight is she to Death decreed Then with this fatal Sword on which I dy'd I pierce her open'd Back or tender Side And tear that harden'd Heart from out her Breast Which with her Entrails makes my hungry Hounds a Feast Nor lies she long but as her Fates ordain Springs up to Life and fresh to second Pain Is sav'd to Day to Morrow to be slain This vers'd in Death th' infernal Knight relates And then for Proof fulfill'd their common Fates Her Heart and Bowels through her Back he drew And fed the Hounds that help'd him to pursue Stern'd look'd the Fiend as frustrate of his Will Not half suffic'd and greedy yet to kill And now the Soul expiring through the Wound Had left the Body breathless on the Ground When thus the grisly Spectre spoke again Behold the Fruit of ill-rewarded Pain As many Months as I sustain'd her Hate So many Years is she condemn'd by Fate To daily Death and ev'ry several Place Conscious of her Disdain and my Disgrace Must witness her just Punishment and be A Scene of
my Spear And after cur'd To me the Thebans owe Lesbos and Tenedos their overthrow Syros and Cylla Not on all to dwell By me Lyrnesus and strong Chrysa fell And since I sent the Man who Hector slew To me the noble Hector's Death is due Those Arms I put into his living Hand Those Arms Pelides dead I now demand When Greece was injur'd in the Spartan Prince And met at Aulis to revenge th' Offence 'T was a dead Calm or adverse Blasts that reign'd And in the Port the Wind-bound Fleet detain'd Bad Signs were seen and Oracles severe Were daily thunder'd in our General 's Ear That by his Daughter's Blood we must appease Diana's kindled Wrath and free the Seas Affection Int'rest Fame his Heart assail'd But soon the Father o'er the King prevail'd Bold on himself he took the pious Crime As angry with the Gods as they with him No Subject cou'd sustain their Sov'raign's Look Till this hard Enterprize I undertook I only durst th' Imperial Pow'r controul And undermin'd the Parent in his Soul Forc'd him t' exert the King for common Good And pay our Ransom with his Daughters Blood Never was Cause more difficult to plead Than where the Judge against himself decreed Yet this I won by dint of Argument The Wrongs his injur'd Brother underwent And his own Office sham'd him to consent 'T was harder yet to move the Mother's Mind And to this heavy Task was I design'd Reasons against her Love I knew were vain I circumvented whom I could not gain Had Ajax been employ'd our slacken'd Sails Had still at Aulis waited happy Gales Arriv'd at Troy your choice was fix'd on me A fearless Envoy fit for a bold Embassy Secure I enter'd through the hostile Court Glitt'ring with Steel and crowded with Resort There in the midst of Arms I plead our Cause Urge the foul Rape and violated Laws Accuse the Foes as Authors of the Strife Reproach the Ravisher demand the Wife Priam Antenor and the wiser few I mov'd but Paris and his lawless Crew Scarce held their Hands and lifted Swords But stood In Act to quench their impious Thirst of Blood This Menelaus knows expos'd to share With me the rough Preludium of the War Endless it were to tell what I have done In Arms or Council since the Siege begun The first Encounter 's past the Foe repell'd They skulk'd within the Town we kept the Field War seem'd asleep for nine long Years at length Both Sides resolv'd to push we try'd our Strength Now what did Ajax while our Arms took Breath Vers'd only in the gross mechanick Trade of Death If you require my Deeds with ambush'd Arms I trap'd the Foe or tir'd with false Alarms Secur'd the Ships drew Lines along the Plain The Fainting chear'd chastis'd the Rebel-train Provided Forage our spent Arms renew'd Employ'd at home or sent abroad the common Cause pursu'd The King deluded in a Dream by Jove Despair'd to take the Town and order'd to remove What Subject durst arraign the Pow'r supreme Producing Jove to justify his Dream Ajax might wish the Soldiers to retain From shameful Flight but Wishes were in vain As wanting of effect had been his Words Such as of course his thundring Tongue affords But did this Boaster threaten did he pray Or by his own Example urge their stay None none of these but ran himself away I saw him run and was asham'd to see Who ply'd his Feet so fast to get aboard as He Then speeding through the Place I made a stand And loudly cry'd O base degenerate Band To leave a Town already in your Hand After so long expence of Blood for Fame To bring home nothing but perpetual Shame These Words or what I have forgotten since For Grief inspir'd me then with Eloquence Reduc'd their Minds they leave the crowded Port And to their late forsaken Camp resort Dismay'd the Council met This Man was there But mute and not recover'd of his Fear Thersites tax'd the King and loudly rail'd But his wide opening Mouth with Blows I seal'd Then rising I excite their Souls to Fame And kindle sleeping Virtue into Flame From thence whatever he perform'd in Fight Is justly mine who drew him back from Flight Which of the Grecian Chiefs consorts with Thee But Diomede desires my Company And still communicates his Praise with me As guided by a God secure he goes Arm'd with my Fellowship amid the Foes And sure no little Merit I may boast Whom such a Man selects from such an Hoast Unforc'd by Lots I went without affright To dare with him the Dangers of the Night On the same Errand sent we met the Spy Of Hector double-tongu'd and us'd to lie Him I dispatch'd but not till undermin'd I drew him first to tell what treacherous Troy design'd My Task perform'd with Praise I had retir'd But not content with this to greater Praise aspir'd Invaded Rhoesus and his Thracian Crew And him and his in their own Strength I slew Return'd a Victor all my Vows compleat With the King's Chariot in his Royal Seat Refuse me now his Arms whose fiery Steeds Were promis'd to the Spy for his Nocturnal Deeds And let dull Ajax bear away my Right When all his Days out-ballance this one Night Nor fought I Darkling still The Sun beheld With slaughter'd Lycians when I strew'd the Field You saw and counted as I pass'd along Alastor Cromyus Ceranos the Strong Alcander Prytanis and Halius Noemon Charopes and Ennomus Choon Chersidamas and five beside Men of obscure Descent but Courage try'd All these this Hand laid breathless on the Ground Nor want I Proofs of many a manly Wound All honest all before Believe not me Words may deceive but credit what you see At this he bar'd his Breast and show'd his Scars As of a furrow'd Field well plough'd with Wars Nor is this Part unexercis'd said he That Gyant-bulk of his from Wounds is free Safe in his Shield he fears no Foe to try And better manages his Blood than I But this avails me not our Boaster strove Not with our Foes alone but partial Jove To save the Fleet This I confefs is true Nor will I take from any Man his due But thus assuming all he robs from you Some part of Honour to your share will fall He did the best indeed but did not all Patroclus in Achilles Arms and thought The Chief he seem'd with equal Ardour fought Preserv'd the Fleet repell'd the raging Fire And forc'd the fearful Trojans to retire But Ajax boasts that he was only thought A Match for Hector who the Combat sought Sure he forgets the King the Chiefs and Me All were as eager for the Fight as He He but the ninth and not by publick Voice Or ours preferr'd was only Fortunes choice They fought nor can our Hero boast the Event For Hector from the Field unwounded went Why am I forc'd to name that fatal Day That snatch'd the Prop and Pride of Greece away I saw Pelides sink With
Fruit and Product of his Labours past And in the Water views perhaps the Knife Uplifted to deprive him of his Life Then broken up alive his Entrails sees Torn out for Priests t' inspect the God's Decrees From whence O mortal Men this gust of Blood Have you deriv'd and interdicted Food Be taught by me this dire Delight to shun Warn'd by my Precepts by my Practice won And when you eat the well deserving Beast Think on the Lab'rer of your Field you feast Now since the God inspires me to proceed Be that whate'er inspiring Pow'r obey'd For I will sing of mighty Mysteries Of Truths conceal'd before from human Eyes Dark Oracles unveil and open all the Skies Pleas'd as I am to walk along the Sphere Of shining Stars and travel with the Year To leave the heavy Earth and scale the height Of Atlas who supports the heav'nly weight To look from upper Light and thence survey Mistaken Mortals wandring from the way And wanting Wisdom fearful for the state Of future Things and trembling at their Fate Those I would teach and by right Reason bring To think of Death as but an idle Thing Why thus affrighted at an empty Name A Dream of Darkness and fictitious Flame Vain Themes of Wit which but in Poems pass And Fables of a World that never was What feels the Body when the Soul expires By time corrupted or consum'd by Fires Nor dies the Spirit but new Life repeats In other Forms and only changes Seats Ev'n I who these mysterious Truths declare Was once Euphorbus in the Trojan War My Name and Lineage I remember well And how in Fight by Sparta's King I fell In Argive Juno's Fane I late beheld My Buckler hung on high and own'd my former Shield Then Death so call'd is but old Matter dress'd In some new Figure and a vary'd Vest Thus all Things are but alter'd nothing dies And here and there th' unbodied Spirit flies By Time or Force or Sickness dispossest And lodges where it lights in Man or Beast Or hunts without till ready Limbs it find And actuates those according to their kind From Tenement to Tenement is toss'd The Soul is still the same the Figure only lost And as the soften'd Wax new Seals receives This Face assumes and that Impression leaves Now call'd by one now by another Name The Form is only chang'd the Wax is still the same So Death so call'd can but the Form deface Th' immortal Soul flies out in empty space To seek her Fortune in some other Place Then let not Piety be put to flight To please the tast of Glutton-Appetite But suffer inmate Souls secure to dwell Lest from their Seats your Parents you expel With rabid Hunger feed upon your kind Or from a Beast dislodge a Brother's Mind And since like Tiphys parting from the Shore In ample Seas I sail and Depths untry'd before This let me further add that Nature knows No stedfast Station but or Ebbs or Flows Ever in motion she destroys her old And casts new Figures in another Mold Ev'n Times are in perpetual Flux and run Like Rivers from their Fountain rowling on For Time no more than Streams is at a stay The flying Hour is ever on her way And as the Fountain still supplies her store The Wave behind impels the Wave before Thus in successive Course the Minutes run And urge their Predecessor Minutes on Still moving ever new For former Things Are set aside like abdicated Kings And every moment alters what is done And innovates some Act till then unknown Darkness we see emerges into Light And shining Suns descend to Sable Night Ev'n Heav'n it self receives another die When weari'd Animals in Slumbers lie Of Midnight Ease Another when the gray Of Morn preludes the Splendor of the Day The disk of Phoebus when he climbs on high Appears at first but as a bloodshot Eye And when his Chariot downward drives to Bed His Ball is with the same Suffusion red But mounted high in his Meridian Race All bright he shines and with a better Face For there pure Particles of AEther flow Far from th' Infection of the World below Nor equal Light th' unequal Moon adorns Or in her wexing or her waning Horns For ev'ry Day she wanes her Face is less But gath'ring into Globe she fattens at increase Perceiv'st thou not the process of the Year How the four Seasons in four Forms appear Resembling human Life in ev'ry Shape they wear Spring first like Infancy shoots out her Head With milky Juice requiring to be fed Helpless tho' fresh and wanting to be led The green Stem grows in Stature and in Size But only feeds with hope the Farmer 's Eyes Then laughs the childish Year with Fluorets crown'd And lavishly perfumes the Fields around But no substantial Nourishment receives Infirm the Stalks unsolid are the Leaves Proceeding onward whence the Year began The Summer grows adult and ripens into Man This Season as in Men is most repleat With kindly Moisture and prolifick Heat Autumn succeeds a sober tepid Age Not froze with Fear nor boiling into Rage More than mature and tending to decay When our brown Locks repine to mix with odious Grey Last Winter creeps along with tardy pace Sour is his Front and furrow'd is his Face His Scalp if not dishonour'd quite of Hair The ragged Fleece is thin and thin is worse than bare Ev'n our own Bodies daily change receive Some part of what was theirs before they leave Nor are to Day what Yesterday they were Nor the whole same to Morrow will appear Time was when we were sow'd and just began From some few fruitful Drops the promise of a Man Then Nature's Hand fermented as it was Moulded to Shape the soft coagulated Mass And when the little Man was fully form'd The breathless Embryo with a Spirit warm'd But when the Mothers Throws begin to come The Creature pent within the narrow Room Breaks his blind Prison pushing to repair His stiffled Breath and draw the living Air Cast on the Margin of the World he lies A helpless Babe but by Instinct he cries He next essays to walk but downward press'd On four Feet imitates his Brother Beast By slow degrees he gathers from the Ground His Legs and to the rowling Chair is bound Then walks alone a Horseman now become He rides a Stick and travels round the Room In time he vaunts among his youthful Peers Strong-bon'd and strung with Nerves in pride of Years He runs with Mettle his first merry Stage Maintains the next abated of his Rage But manages his Strength and spares his Age. Heavy the third and stiff he sinks apace And tho' 't is down-hill all but creeps along the Race Now sapless on the verge of Death he stands Contemplating his former Feet and Hands And Milo-like his slacken'd Sinews sees And wither'd Arms once fit to cope with Hercules Unable now to shake much less to tear the Trees So Helen wept when her too faithful
and the sore Encreaseth at his hert more and more The clotered blode for any liche crafte Corrumped and is in his body laste That neither veineblode he ventousing Ne drinke of herbes may be helping By vertue expulsed or anymall For thilke vertue cleaped naturall Ne may the venim vold ne ekpell The pipes of his longes began to swell And euery lacerte in his brest adoun Is shent with venim and corrupcion Him gaineth neither for to get his life Vomite upwarde ne dounward laxatife All is to brust thilke region Nature hath no dominacion And certainly ther as nature wol not wirch Farwel phisike go beare the corse to 〈◊〉 This is all and some that Arcite must die For which he 〈◊〉 after Emelye And Palamon his cosyn dere Then said he thus as ye shall after here Nought may my wofull 〈◊〉 in my 〈◊〉 Declare a point of all my sorowes 〈◊〉 To you my lady that I loue most But I bequeth the seruice of my gost To you abouen any creature Sin that my life may no lenger dure Alas the wo alas my paines strong That I for you haue suffered and so long Alas the dethe alas myn Emely Alas departing of our company Alas myn hertes quene alas my liues wife Myn hertes lady ender of my life What is the world what asken men to haue Now with his loue now in his cold graue Alone withouten any company Farwel my swete foe myn Emely And soft take me in your armes twey For the loue of God herkeneth what I sey I haue here with my cosin Palamon Had strife and rancour many a daie agon For loue of you and for my ielousie And Jupiter so wisely my soule gie To speaken of a seruant properlie With circumstances all trulie That is to say trouth honour and knighthede Wisedome humblesse estate and hie kinrede Fredome and all that longeth to that art So Jupiter haue of my soule part As in this world right now knowe I non So worth to be loued as Palamon That serueth you and woll doen all his life And if that you shall euer been a wife Foryet not Palamon the gentle man And with that worde his speche fail began For from his feete vnto his brest was come The colde death that hath hym nome And yet more ouer for in his armes two The vital strength is lost and all ago Saue onely the intellect without more That dwelleth in his hert sicke and sore Gan failen when the hert felt death Dusked his iyen two and failed breath But on his Ladie yet cast he his iye His last worde was mercie Emelye His spirite chaunged and out went there Whetherwarde I cannot tell ne where Therefore I stint I am no diuinistre Of soules finde I not in this registre Ne me leste not thilke opinion to tell Of hem though they writen where thei dwell Arcite is cold that Mars his souse gie Now woll I speke foorth of Emelye Shright Emelye and houlen Palamon And Theseus his suster vp toke anon Swouning and bare her fro his corse awaie What helpeth it to tary forth the daie To tellen how she wept bothe euen and morow For in such case women haue much sorowe When that her husbands been fro hem go That for the more partie they sorowen so Or els fallen in such maladie That at the last certainly they die Infinite been the sorowe and the teres Of old folke and folke of tender yeres In all the toune for death of this Theban For hym there wepeth bothe child and man So great wepyng was there not certain When Hector was brought all fresh islain To Troie Alas the pite that was there Cratching of chekes rentyng eke here Why woldest thou be dedde thus women crie And haddest gold inough and Emelye No man maie glad Theseus Sauing his old father Egeus That knewe this worlds transmutacion As he had seen it bothe up and doun Joie after wo and wo after gladnesse And shewed him ensamples and likenesse Right as there died neuer man quod he That he ne liued in yearth in some degree Right so there liued neuer man he saied In this world that sometime he ne deied This world is but a throughfare full of wo And we been pilgrimes passing to and fro Death is an end of euery worldes sore And over all this yet saied he moche more To this effect full wisely to exhort The people that they should hem recomfort Duke Theseus with all his busie cure Casteth now where that the sepulture O good Arcite shall best imaked bee And eke moste honourable of degree And at the last he tooke conclusion That there as Arcite and Palamon Had for love the battaile hem between That in the same selue groue swete and grene There as he had his amerous desires His complaint and for loue his hote fires He would make a fire in which the offis Funerall he might hem all accomplis He hath anon commaunded to hack and hew The okes old and laie hem all on a rew In culpons well arraied for to brenne His officers with swift foote they renne And right anon at his commaundement And after Theseus hath he isent After a beare and it all oversprad With cloth of gold the richest that he had And of the same sute he clothed Arcite Upon his handes his gloues white Eke on his hedde a croune of Laurell grene And in his hand a sworde full bright and kene He laied hym bare the visage on the bere Therewith he wept that pite was to here And for the people should seen hym all When it was daie he brought him to the hall That rorreth of the crie and of the sorowes soun Then gan this woful Theban Palamon With glittering beard and ruddie shining heres In clothes blacke dropped all with teres And passing other of wepyng Emelye The rufullest of all the companie And in as much as the service should bee The more noble and riche in his degree Duke Theseus let foorth the stedes bring That trapped were in stele all glitering And couered with the armes of Dan Arcite Upon these stedes great and white Ther saten folk of which one bare his sheld Another his speare in his hand held The third bare with him a bowe Turkes Of brent gold was the case and eke the harnes And ridden foorth apace with sorie chere Toward the groue as ye shall after here The noblest of the Grekes that there were Upon her shoulders carried the bere With slake pace and iyen redde and white Throughout the cite by the maister strete That sprad was al with blake and that wonder hie Right of the same is the strete iwrie Upon the right hand went Egeus And on the other side Duke Theseus With vessels in her hand of gold full fine All full of honie milke blode and wine Eke Palamon with full great companie And after that came woful Emelye With fire in hand as was that time the gise To doen the office of funerall