Yet Fame and honour hath selected one From that illustrious crew and him alone Haue recommended to my carefull quill Forbidding that his honour shoâ—…ld lye still Among the rest whom fortune and his spirit That day had crowned with a victors merit His name was Argalus In Cyprus borne And if what is not ours may adorne Our proper fortunes his blood royall springs From th' ancient stocke of the great Cyprian Kings His outside had enough to satisfie The expectation of a curious eye Nature was too too prodigall of her beauty To make him halfe so faire whom Fame and duty He ought to Honour calâ—…'d so often forth T' approue the exc'lence of his manly worth His minde was richly furnisht with the treasure Of morall knowledge in so liberall measure Not to be proud So valiant and so strong Of noble courage not to dare a wrong Friendly to all men inward but with few Fast to his old friends and vnapt for new Lord of his word and master of his passion Serious in buisnesse choyce in recreation Not too mistrustfull and yet wisely wary Hard to resolue and then as hard to vary And to conclude the world could hardly finde So rare a body with so rare a minde Thrice had the bright surueyour of the heauen Diuided out the dayes and nights by euen And equall houres since this child of fame Inuited by the glory of her name First view'd Partheniaes face whose mutuall eye Shot equall flames and with the secret tie Of vndisclos'd affection ioyn'd together Their yeelding hearts their loues vnknown to either Both dearly lou'd the more they stroue to hide Their loue affection they the more descride It lyes beyond the power of art to smother Affection where one vertue finds another One was their thoughts and their desires one And yet both lou'd vnknowne beloued vnknowne One was the Dart that at the selfe same time Was sent that wounded her that wounded him Both hop'd both fear'd alike both ioy'd both grieu'd Yet where they both could helpe was none relieu'd Two lou'd and two beloued were yet none But two in all and yet that all but one By this time had their barren lippes betraid Their timorous silence now they had displaid Loues sanguine colours whilst the winged Child Sate in a tree and clapt his hands and smil'd To see the combat of two wounded friends He strikes and wounds himselfe while she defends That would be wounded for hâ—…r paine proceeds And flowes from his and from his wound she bleeds She playes at him and ayming at his breast Pierc'd her owne heart and when his hand addrest The blow to her faire bosome there it found His owne deare heart and gaue that heart the wound At length both conquer'd and yet both did yeeld Both lost the day and yet both wan the field And as the warfare of their tongues did cease Their lips gaue earnest of a ioyfull peace But ô the hideous chances that attend A louers progresse to his iournies end How many desp'rate rubs and dangers waite Each minute on his miserable state His hopes doe build what straight his feares destroy Sometimes he surfeits with excesse of ioy Sometimes despairing ere to find reliefe He roares beneath the tyranny of griefe And when loues current runnes with greatest force Some obuious mischiefe still disturbes the course For loe no sooner the discouerd flame Of these new parted louers did proclaime Loues sacred Iubilé but the Virgins Mother The posture of whose visage did discouer Some serious matter harb'ring in her brest Enters the roome Halfe angry halfe in iest Shee thus began My dearest child this night When as the silent darknesse did inuite Mine eyes to slumber sundry thoughts possest My troubled minde and robb'd me of my rest I slept not till the early bugle horne Of Chauntiâ—…lere had summon'd in the Morne T' attend the Light and nurse the new-borne Day At last when Morpheus with his leaden key Had lockt my senses and enlarg'd the power Of my heauen guided fancy for an houre I slumbred and before my slumbring eyes One and the selfesame dreame presented thrice I wak'd and being frighted at the vision Perceiu'd the Gods had made an appâ—…ition My dreame was this Me thought I saw thee sitting Drest like a princely Bride with robes befitting The state of Maiesty thy Nymph-like haire Loosely dissheuel'd and thy browes did beare A Cypresse wreath and thrice three months expir'd Thy pregnant wombe grew heauy and required Lucina's aid with that me thought I saw A teame of harnest Peacocks fiercely draw A siery Chariot from the flitting sky Wherein there sate the glorious Maiesty Of great Saturnia on whose traine attended An hoast of Goddesses Iuno descended From out the flaming Chariot and blest Thy painfull wombe Thy paines a while encreast At length she laid her gentle palmes vpon Thy fruitfull flanke and there was borne a son She made thee mother of a smiling boy And after blest thee with a mothers ioy She kist the Babe whose fortune she foresold For on his head she set a Crowne of Gold Forthwith as if the heauens had clouen in sunder Me thoughts I heard the horrid noise of thunder The raine pour'd downe and yet the skie was cleare And euery drop that lighted did appeare As orient pearle mixt with refined gold VVbereat the goddesse turn'd and said Behold Great Iâ—…ue hath sent a gift goe forth and tak 't Thus hauing spoke she vanisht and I wak't I wak'â—… and waking trembled for I knew They were no idle passages that grew From my distemperd thoughts t was not a vaine Delusion rouing from a troubled braine It was a vision and the gods forespake Parthenia's fortune Gods cannot mistake I lik'd the dreame wherein the gods foretold Thy ioyfull mariage and the shower of gold Betokened wealth The Infants golden Crowne Ensuing honour Iuno's comming downe A safe deliuerance and the smiling Boy Summ'd vp the totall of a mothers ioy But what the wreath of Cypresse that was set Vpon thy nuptiall browes presag'd as yet The gods keepe from me if that secret doc Portend an euill heauen keepe it from thee too Aduise Parthenia Seeke not to withstand The plot wherein the Gods vouchsafe a hand Submit thy will to theirs what they enioyâ—…e Must be nor lyes it in my power or thine To contradict Endeauor to fulfill What else must come to passe against thy will Now by the filâ—…all all duty thou dost beare The gods and me or if ought else more deare Can force obedience as thou hop'st to speed At the gods hands in greatest time of need By heauen by hell by all the powers aboue I here coniure Parthenia to remoue All sond conceits that labour to disioyne What heauen hath knit Demâ—…goras's heart and 〈◊〉 The gods are faithfull and their wisedomes know What 's better for vs mortalls then we doe Doubt not my child the gods cannot deceiue What heauen does offer feare not to receiue With thankfull hands Passe
expecting crowd Haue throng'd the streets and â—…uery greedy eye Attends to see the Tryumph passing by At length the gates flew open And on this fashion Began the Tryumph first a Proclamation Was made with a loud voyce If any be Or Lord or Knight or whatsoere degree Professing armes or honour in the land That at this time can chalenge or pretend A tiâ—…le to Parthenia's heart or claime A right or interest in her loue or name Let him come forth in person or appeare By noble Proxy if not present here And by the excâ—…lent honour of a Knight He shall receiue such honourable right As the iust sword can giue Let him now come And speake or else for euermore be dumme Thrice was it read which done forthwith there came True honours Eaglewinged Herauld Fame Sounding a siluer Trump and as she past She shooke the earths foundation with her blast Next after whom in vndissemblâ—…d state The Bridegroome came on his right hand did wait The god of Warre in 〈◊〉 robes of greene All stain'd with bleeding hearts as they had â—…eene But newly wounded and from euery wound Fresh bloud due seeme to trickle on the ground And as the garments mooâ—…'d each dying heart Would seeme to pant a while and then depart Vpon the Bridegroomes left hand there attended Heauens Pursuâ—…uant whose brawny arme extended A winged Caduce He had scarce the might To curbe his feet his feet were wing'd for flight Aboue his head their hands did ioyntly hold A crimzon Canopie embost with gold Next them twice twenty famous Nobles follow'd Braue men at armes whose names the world had hallow'd For rare exploits and twice as many Knights Whose bloods haue â—…ansom'd and redeem'd the rights Of wronged Ladies These were all aray'd In robes of Needle worke so rarely made That he which sees them thinkes he doth behold Armours of steele saire filletted with gold And as they marcht their Squires did aduance Before each Knight his warlike Shield and Lance. And after these the Princely virgin Bride On whom all eyes were fastned did diuide Her gentle paces being led betweene Two Goddesses the one arai'd in greene On which the curious needle vndertooke To make a forest here a bubling brooke Diuides two thickets through the which doth flie The singled Deere before the deepe-mouth'd Crie That closely followes There th' affrighted Herd Stands trembling at the musicke and afeard Of euery shadow gazes to and fâ—…o Not knowing where to stay or where to goe Where in a Launskip you may see the Faunes Following their crying mothers o're the Lawnes The other was in robes the purer dye Whereof did represent the midday sky Full of black clouds through which the glorius beams Of the obscured Sun appeares and seemes As ' â—…were to scatter and at length to shed His brighter glory on a fruitfull bed Of noisome weeds from whence you might discerne A thousand painfull Bees extract and earne Their sweet prouision and with laden thighes To beare their waxy burthens On this wise The princely Bride was led betwixt these two The first was she that on Actâ—…ons brow Reueng'd her naked Chastity the other Was she to whom loues pregnant braine was mother Through Vulcans helpe and these did iointly hold Vpon her head a Coronet of gold Whose traine Dianas virgin crew all crown'd With golden wreathes supported from the ground Next after her vpon the triumph waited An order by Diana new created And styl'd the Ladies of the Maidenhead In white wrought here and there with spots of red And euery spot appeared as a staine Of louers blood whom their hard hearts had slaine Ranckt three and three and on each hâ—…ad a crowne Of Primeroses and Roses not yet blowne Next whom the beauties of th' Aâ—…dian Court March'd two and two whose glory came not short Of what th'vnlimited and studied art Of glory-vying Ladies could impart To such solemnities where euery one Stroue to excell and to b'excell'd of none Thus came they to the Temple where attended The sacred Priests whose voices recommended The dayes successe to heauen and did diuide A blessing ' â—…wixt the Bridegroome and the Bride Which done and after low obeysance made The first whilst all the rest kept silence said Welcome to Iuno's sacred Courts Draw neare Vnspotted Louers welcome Doe not feare To touch this holy ground Passe on secure Our gates stand open to such guests as you are Our gracious Goddesse grants you your desires And hath accepted of those holy fires We offered in your name and takes a pleasure To smell your Incense in so great a measure Of true delight that we are bold to say She crownes your vowes and smiles vpon this Day So said they bowed to the ground and blest Themselues that done they singled from the rest The noble Bridegroome and his princely Bride And said Our gracious goddesse be our guide As we are yours and as they spake that word Their well-tun'd voices sweetly did accord With Musick from the Altar As along They past they ioyntly warbled out this song THus in Pompe and Priestly pride To glorious Iuno's Altar goe we Thus to Iuno's Altar show we The noble Bridegroome and his Bride Let Iuno's hourely blessing send ye As much ioy as can attend ye May these louers neuer want True iores nor euer beg in vaine Their choice desiers but obtaine What they can wish or she can grant Let Iuno's hourely blessings send ye As much ioy as can attend yee From sacietie from strife Iealousies domesticke iars From those blowes that leaue no scars Iuno protect your mariage life Iuno's hourely blessings send yee As much ioy as can attend ye Thus to Hymens sacred bands We commend your chast deserts That as Iuno link'd your hearts He would please to ioyne your â—…ands And let both their blessings send ye As much ioy as can attend ye No sooner was this Nuptiall Caroll ended But bowing to the ground they recommended This princely paire both prostrate on the floore And with their hands presented them before The sacred Altar whereunto they brought Two milke white Turtles and with prayers be sought That Iuno's lasting fauours would descend And make their pleasures pleasures without end With that a horrid cracke of dreadfull thunder Possest each fainting heart with feare and wonder The rafters of the holy Temple shooke As if accuâ—…sed Archimagoes booke That cursed Legion had beene newly reaâ—… The ground did tremble and a mist ore-spread The daâ—…kned Altar At length deepe silence did possesse and fill The spatious Temple all was whist and still When from the clouded Altar brake the sound Of heauenly Musicke such as would confound With death or rauishment the earth bred eare Hâ—…d not the Goddesse giuen it strength to beare So strong a rapture As the Musicke ended The Mist on sudden vanisht and ascended â—…rom whence it came The Altar did appeare And ashes lying where the Turtles were Neere which great Hymen stood not seene before His purple
be seene by none Lookes red for shame and blushes to discouer Th' incestuous pleasures of the heauen borne louer So look'd Parthenia when the sudden eye Of her vnwelcome mother did dâ—…scry Her secret passion The mothers smile Brought forth the daughters blush and leuell coyle They smil'd and blush one smile begate another The daughter blusht because the icalous mother Smil'd on her and the silent mother smilde To see the conscious blushing of her childe At length growne great with words she did awake Her forced silence and she thus bespake Blush not my fairest daughter T is no shame To pitty louers or lament that flame Which worth and beauty kindles in the brest T is charity to succour the distrest The disposition of a generous heart Makes euery griese her owne at least beares part What marble ah what adamantine care Ere heard the flames of Troy without a teare Much more the scorching of a louers fire Whose desprate fewell is his owne desire May boldly challenge euery gentle heart To be 〈◊〉 in his secret smart Why dost thou blush why did those pearly teares Slide downe Feare not this Arbour hath no cares Here 's none but we speake then It is no shame To shed a teare thy mother did the same Say hath the winged wanton with his dart Sent ere a message to thy wounded heart Speake in the name of Hymen I coniure thee If so I haue a 〈◊〉 shall recure thee I feare I feare the yong La 〈◊〉 Lord Hath lately left some indigested word In thy cold stomack which for want of Art I doubt I doubt lyes heauy at thy heart If that be all reueâ—…ling brings reliefe Silence in loue but multiplies a griefe Hid sorrow's desperate not to be endur'd Which being but disclos'd is easly cur'd Perchance thou 〈◊〉 Demagoras and wouldst smother Thy close 〈◊〉 from thy angry mother And reapâ—… the daâ—…nty fruits of loue vnseene I did the like or thou hadst neuer beene Stolne goods are sweetest If it be thy minde To loue in secret I will be as blinde As he that wounded thee or if thou dare Acquaint thy mother then a mothers care Shall be redoubled till thy thoughts acquire The sweet fruition of thy choice desire Thou lou'st Dâ—…magoras If thy lips deny Thy conscious heart must giue thy lips the lye And if thy liking countermand my will Thy punishment shall be to loue him still Then loue him still and let his hopes inherit The crowne belonging to so faire a merit His thoughts are noble and his fame appeares To speake at least an age aboue his yeares The blood of his increasing honour springs From the high stock of the Arcadian Kings The gods haue blest him with a liberall hand Enricht him with the prime of all the land Honour and wealth attend his gates and what Can he command that he possesses not All which and more if mothers can diuine The fortune of thy beauty hath made thine He is thy Captiue and thy conquering eyes Haue tooke him prisner hee submits and lies At thy deare mercie hoping ne re to be Ransom'd from death by any price but thee Wrong not thy selfe in being too too nice And what perchance may not be proferd twise Accept at first It is a foolish minde To be too coy Occasion 's bald behind T is not the common worke of euery day T' afford such offers Take them while you may Times alter youth and beauty are but blasts Vse then thy time whil'st youth and beauty lasts For if that loath'd and infamous reproach Of a stale maide but offer to incroach Vpon opinion th' art in estimation Like garments kept till they be out of fashion Thy worth thy wit thy vertues all must stand Like goods at outcries priz'd at second hand Resolue thee then t' enlarge thy Virgin life With th' onourable freedome of a wife And let the fruits of that blest marriage be A liuing pledge betwixt my Child and me So said The faire Parthenia in whose heare Her owne affections yet had got the start Of her obedience makes a sudden pause Striues with her thoughts obiects the binding lawes Of filiall duty to her best affection Sometimes submits vnto her owne election Sometimes vnto her mothers thus diuided In her distracted sancy sometimes guided By one desire and sometimes by another She thus replide to her attentiue mother Madam Thinke not Parthenia vnder a pretence Of silence studies disobedience Or by the crafty slownesse of reply Borrowes a quick aduantage to deny It lyes not in your power to command Beyond my will vnto your tender hand I here surrender vp that little All You gaue me freely to dispose withall The gods forbid Parthenia should resist What you command command you what you list But pardon me the young Laconian Lord Hath made assault but neuer yet could board This heart of mine I wept I wept indeed But my misconsterd streames did ne're proceed From Cupids spring This blubber'd book makes known Whose griefes I wept I wept not for mine owne My lowly thoughts durst neuer yet a spire The least degree towards the proud desire Of so great honour to be call'd his wife For whom ambitious Queenes haue bin at strife He su'd for loue and strongly did importune My heart more pleased with a meaner fortune My brest was marble and my heart forgot All pitty for indeed I lou'd him not But Madam you to whose more wise directions I bend the stoutest of my rash affâ—…ctions You haue commanded and your will shall be The square to my vneauen desires and me I 'le practise duty and my deeds shall show it I 'le practise loue though Cupid neuer know it Whâ—…n great Basilius he whose princâ—…ly hand Nourisht long peace in the Arcadian land With triumph brought to his renowned Court His new espoused Queene was great resort Of forraine States and Princes to behold The truth that vnbeleeu'd report had told Of faire Gynecias worth Thither repair'd The Cyprian Nobles richly all 〈◊〉 In warlike furniture and well addrest With solemne Iousts to glorifie the feast Of mariage royall lately past betweene Th' Arcadian King and his thrice noble Queene The faire Gynecia in whose face and brest Nature and curious Art had done their best To summe that rare perfection which in briefe Transcends the power of a strong beliefe Her Syer was the Cyprian King whose fame Receiu'd more honour from her honour'd name Then if he had with his victorious hand Vnsceptred halfe the Princes in the land To tell the glory of this royall Feast The Bridegroomes state and how the Bride was drest The princely seruice and the rare delights The seuerall names and worth of Lords and Knights Their quaint Impresa's their deuisefull showes Their martiall sports their oft redoubled blowes The courage of this Lord or that proud horse Who ran who got the better who the worse Is not my taske nor lyes it in my way To make relation of it Heraulds may
vnregarded ruine lyes With deaths vntimely image in her eyes She she whom hopeful thoughts had newly crownd With promis'd ioyes lyes groueling on the ground Her weary hand sustaine her drooping head Too soft a pillow for so hard a bed Her eyes swolne vp as loath to see the light That would discouer so forlorne a sight The flaxen wealth of her neglected haires Stick'â—… fast to her pale cheelâ—…s with dried teares And at first blush she seemes as if it were Some curious statue on a Sepulchre Sometimes her brinie lips would whisper thus My Argalus my dearest Argalus And then they clos'd againe as if the one Had kist the other for that seruice done In naming Argalus sometimes opprest With a deepe sigh she gaue her panting brest A sudden stroke and after that another Crying Hard fortune O hard hearted mother And sicke with her owne thoughts her passion stroue Betwixt the two extreames of griefe and loue The more she grieu'd the more her loue abounded The more she lou'd the more her heart was wounded With desperate griefe at length the tyrannous force Of loue and griefe sent forth this selfe dâ—…scourse How art thou chang'd Parthenia how hath passion Put all thy thoughts and senses out of fashion Exil'd thy little iudgement and betray'd thee To thine owne selfe How nothing hath it made thee How is thy weather beaten soule opprest With stormes and tempests blowne from the Northeast Of cold despaire which long ere this had found Eternall rest had bin orewhelm'd and drown'd In the deepe gulfe of all my miseries Had I not pumpt this water from mine eyes My Argalus ô where ô where art thou Thou little think'st thy poore Parthenia now Is tortur'd for thy sake alas deare heart Thou know'st not the insufferable smart I vndergoe for thee Thou dost not keepe A Register of those sad teares I weepe No no thou dost not Well well from henceforth Fortune doe not spare To doe the worst thy Agent Mischiefe dare Deuise new torments or repeat the old Vntill thou burst or I complaine Be bold As bitter I disdaine thy rage thy power Who 's leuell'd with the earth can fall no lower Doe spit thy venome forth and temper all Thy studied actions with the spirit of gall Thy practis'd malice can no euill deuise Too hard for Argalus to exercise His loue shall sweeten death and make a torture My sportfull pastime to make houres shorter His loue shall fill my heart and leaâ—…e no roome Wherein your rage may practise martyrdoome But ere that word could vshâ—…r out another The tender Viâ—…gins marble hearted mother Enters the Chamber with a chang'd aspect Beholds Partheniâ—… with a new respect Salutes her child and hauing clos'd the doore Her helpfull arme remoues her from the â—…loore Whereon she lay and being set together In gentle termes she thus did commune with her Peruerse Partheniâ—… Is thy heart so sworne To Aâ—…galus his loue that it must sâ—…orne Demagoras Are your soules conioyn'd so close That my entâ—…eaty may not enterpose If so what helpe yet let a mothers care Be not conteâ—…n'd that bids her child beware The sickle that 's too early cannot reape A fruitfull Haruest Looke before you leape Adiourne your thoughts and make a wise delay You cannot measure vertue in a day Vertues appeare but vices baulke the light T is hard to read a vice at the first sight False are those ioyes that are not mixt with doubt Fire easely kindled will not easely out Diuide that loue which thou bestowst on one Twixt two try both then take the best or none Consult with time for time bewrayes discouers The faith the loue the constancy of louers Acts done in hast by leasure are repented And things soone past are oft too late lamented With thaâ—… Parthenia rising from her place And bowing with incomparable grace Mâ—…de â—…his reply Madam each seuerall day Since first you gaue this body being may Write a large volume of your tender care Whose hourely goodnesse if it should compare With my deserts alas the world would show Too great a summe for one poore heart to owe I must confesse my heart is not so sworne To Argalus his merit as to scorne Dâ—…magoras nor yet so loosely tyed That I can slip the knot and so diuide Entire affection which must not be seuer'd Nor euer can be but in vaine endeuour'd My heart is one and by one power guided One is no number cannot be diuided And Cupids learned schoolemen haue resolu'd That loue diuided is but loue dissolu'd But yet what plighted faith and honour may Not now vndoe your counsell shall delay Madam Partheniaes hand is not so greedy To reape her corne before her corne he ready Her vnaduised sickle shall not thrust Into her hopefull Harâ—…est ere needs must To yours Pâ—…rthenia shall submit her skill Whose season shall be season'd by your will Her time of haruest shall admit no measure But onely what 's proportion'd by your pleasure Sâ—… ended she But till that darknesse got The mastry of the light they parted not The mother pleads for the Laconian Lord The daughter whose impatience had abhort'd His very name had not her mother spok't Sâ—…e plâ—…ads her vow which cannot be reuokt Yâ—…t stâ—…ll the mother pleads and does omit No way vntryed that a hard hearted wit Knowes to deuise perswades allures entreats Mingles his words with smiles with tears w th threats Commands coniâ—…es tries one way tryes another Does thâ—…tmost that a marble brested mother Can doe and yet the more she did apply The morâ—… she taught Parthenia to deny The more she did assâ—…ult the more contend The more she taught the virgin to defend At last despairing for her words did finde More ease to moue a mountaine then her minde She spâ—…ke no more but from her chaire she started And spit these words Goe peeuish Girle and parted Away she flings and finding no successe In her lost words her fury did addresse Her raging thoughts to a new studied plot Actions must now enforce what words could not Treason is in her thoughts Her furious breath Can whisper now no language vnder death Poore Argalus must dye and his remoue Must make the passage to Demagoras loue And till that barre be broken or put by No hope to speed Poore Argalus must dye Demagoras is call'd to counsell now Consults consents and after mutuall vow Râ—…soluing on the act they both conspire Which way to execute their close desiâ—…e Dâ—…awing his keene Seeletto from his side Madam said he This medicine well applide To Argâ—…lus his boâ—…ome will giue rest To him and me the sudden way is best My Lord 〈◊〉 she your trembling hand may misse The marke and then your selfe in danger is Of outcry or perchance his owne resistance Attempts are dangerous at so small a distance A drugg's the better weapon which does breathe Deaths secret errand carries sudden death Clos'd vp in sweetnesse Come a drugge strikes sure And works our ends
reuenge which was not long effecting For whilst Amphialus whose hopes inflam'd His tyrannous thoughts with conquest proclaim'd Vndoubted victory heapt his strokes so fast As if each blow had scorn'd to be the last The watchfull Argalus whose nimble eye Dispos'd his time in onely putting by Put home a thrust his right foot comming in And pierc'd his Nauell that the wound had bin No lesse then death if Fortune that can turne A mischiefe to aduantage had for borne To show a miracle for with that blow Amphialus last made his arme had so O estrucke it selfe that sideward to the ground He fell and falling he receiu'd that wound Which had he stood had enter'd in point blancke But falling only graz'd vpon his flancke Being downe braue Argalus his threatning sword Bids yeeld Amphialus answering not a word As one whose mighty spirit did disdaine A life of almes but striuing to regaine His legs and honour Argalus let driue With all the strength a wounded arme could giue Vpon his head but his hurt arme not able To doe him present seruice answerable To his desires let his weapon fall With that Amphialus though daz'd withall Arose but Argalus ran in and graspt 〈◊〉 clos'd together with him where both claspt And grip'd each in th'unfriendly armes of either A while they grappled grappling fell together And on the ground with equall fortune stroue Some time 〈◊〉 was got aboue And sometimes Argalus Both ioyntly vow'd 〈◊〉 Both wallowed in their mingled blood Both bleeding fresh Now Argalus bids yeeld And now Amphialus Both would win the field Yet neither could At last by free consent They rose and to their breathed swords they went The Combat's now renew'd both laying on As if the fight had beene but new begon New wounds asswage the smarting of the old And warme blood entermingles with the cold But Argalus whose wounded arme had lost More blood then all his body could almost Supply and like an 〈◊〉 that expends So long as he hath either stocke or friends Bled more then his spent Fountains could make good His spirit could giue courage but not blood As when two wealthy Clyents that waxe old In suit whose learned councell can vphold And glaze the cause alike on either side During the time their tearmly golden tide Shall flow alike from both 't is hard to say Who prospers best or who shall get the Day 〈◊〉 he whose water first shall cease to flow And ebbe so long till it shall ebbe too low His cause though richly laden to the brincke With right shall strike vpon the barre and sincke And then 〈◊〉 easie Councell may vnfold The doubt The question 's ended with the gold Euen so our Combatants the 〈◊〉 their blood Was equall 〈◊〉 the Cause seem'd equall good The Victory equall equall was their armes Their Hopes were equall 〈◊〉 was their harmes But when poore Argalus his wasting blood Ebb'd in his veines although it made a flood A 〈◊〉 flood in the vngratefull field His cause his strength but not his heart must yeeld Thus wounded Argalus the more he fail'd The more the proud Amphialus preuail'd With that Amphialus whose noble strife Was but to purchase honour and not life Perceiuing what aduantage in the fight He gained and the valour of the Knight Became his suitor that himselfe would please To pitty himselfe and let the Combat cease Which noble Argalus that neuer vs'd In honour to part stakes with thankes refus'd Like to a lucklesse gamester who the more He loses is 〈◊〉 willing to giue o' 〈◊〉 And filling vp his empty veines with spite Begins to summe his forces and vnite His broken strength and like a Lampe that makes The greatest blaze at going out he takes His sword in both his hands and at a blow Cleft armour shield and arme 〈◊〉 in two But now enrag'd Amphialus forgets All pitty and trusting to his Cards he sets That stock of courage treasur'd in his brest Making his whole estate of 〈◊〉 his Rest And vies such blowes as Arg'lus could not see Without his losse of life so thundred he Vpon his wounded body that each wound Seem'd like an open Sluce of blood that found No hand to stop it till the dolefull cry Of a most beautious Lady who well nie Had run her selfe to death restrain'd his arme Perchance too late from doing further harme It was the faire Parthenia who that night Had dream'd she saw her husband in that plight She now had found him Feare and loue together Gaue her no rest till they had brought her hither The nature of her feare did now begin T' expell the feare of Nature stepping in Betweene their pointing swords she prostrate lay Before their blood-bed abbled feet to say She knew not what for as her lips would striue To be deliuer'd a deepe sigh would driue The abortiue issue of her language forth Which borne vntimely perisht in the birth And if her sighes would giue her 〈◊〉 to vent it O then a teare would trickle and preuent it But 〈◊〉 the winde of her loud sighes had laid The 〈◊〉 of her teares she sobb'd and said O wretched eyes of mine O wailfull sight O day of darknesse O eternall night And there 〈◊〉 stopt her eyes being fixt vpon Amphialus she sigh'd and thus went on My Lord 'T is said you loue Then by that sacred power Of loue as you 'd 〈◊〉 mercy in the houre Of greatest misery leaue off and sheathe Your bloody sword or else if nought but death May slake your anger O let mine let mine Be a sufficient offring at the Shrine Of your appeased thoughts or if you thirst For Argalus 〈◊〉 life then take mine first Or if for noble blood you seeke if so Accept of mine my blood is noble too And worth the spilling Euen for her deare sake Your tender soule affects awake awake Your noble mercy Grant I care not whether Let me dye first or kill vs both together With that Amphialus was about 〈◊〉 speake 〈◊〉 Argalus whose heart 〈◊〉 almost 〈◊〉 To heare Partheniaes words 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ah Parthenia Then must I 〈◊〉 bought and sold for teares Is my condition So poore I cannot 〈◊〉 but by petition So said He 〈◊〉 aside for feare by chance The fury of some misguided blow may 〈◊〉 And touch Parthenia and fill'd with high 〈◊〉 Would haue 〈◊〉 the Combat fresh againe But now Amphialus was charm'd his hand 〈◊〉 no sufficient warrant to withstand Parthenia's suit from whose faire eyes there came Such precious teares in so belou'd a name His eyes grew tender and his melting heart Was ouercome his very soule did smart He 〈◊〉 not but kept him at a distance And putting by some blowes made no resistance But what can long endure Lamps wanting oyle Must out at last although they blaze a while Trees wanting Sap must wither strength and beauty Can claime no priuiledge to quit that duty They owe to Time and Change but like a Vine The vnsound supporters