Nero did in Rome or it thy Wife and Children were here present before thy face I would al ridge their Lives that thy accuried Eyes might be witnesses of their bloody Murthers so much Wrath and Hare rageth in my Heart that all the Blood in thy Body cannot waâ—â—â—â— thence At which words the Giants which he had hired to desend him from his Foes came unto him very througly aâ—med with sturdy Weapons in their hands and requested him to be quâ—er and to abâ—â—e his so intenled Anger and they would fetch unto his presence all those braving Knights that were the occation of his Disquietness and Anger and so without carrying for an answer they departed down into the Court and left the Knight of the Castle with the Magician standing still upon the Gallecy to behold the following Encounters But when the Giants approached the Champions presence and saw them so well porportioned and furnished Knights of so gallant Statures they flourished about their knotty Clubs and purposed not to spend the time in Words but in Blows Then one of y e fiercest and cruellest Giants of them all which was called Brandamond seeing St. George to be the forwardest in the Enterprize and judged him to be the Knight that had so braved his Lord he began with a stern Ceuntenance to speak unto him in this manner Art thou that bold Knight said the Giant that with thy witless Words hast so anger'd the mighty Leoger the Lord of this Castle If thou be I advse thee by Submission to seek to appease his furious Wrath before Revengement be taken upon thy Person Also I do charge thee that if thou wilt remain with thy Life that thou dost leave thy Armour and yield thyself with all these Followers with their hands bound behind them and go and ask Forgiveness at his Feet To which St. George with a smiling Countenance answered Gyant said he thy Counsel I do not like nor thy Advice will I receive but rather do we hope to send thee and all thy Followers without tongues to the infernal King of fiery Phlegeton and for that you shall not have any more time to speak such folly and foolishness either return your ways from whence you came and repent of this which you have said or else prepare yourselves to a mortal Battle The Giants when they heard the Champions Resolutions and how slightly they regarded their Proffers without any longir tarrying they straight way fell upon St. George and his Company intending with their knotty Bats of Steel to beat them as small as flesh unto the Pot but the Quéen of Chance so smiled upon the Christian Champions that the Giants smally prevailed for betwixt them was fought a long and terrible battle in such danger that the victory hung wavering on both sides not knowing to whom it would fall the Bats and Fauchions made such a noise upon one another's Armour that they sounded like to the blows of the Cyclops working upon their Anvils and at every blow they gave fire flew from their sâ—etled Corllets like sparkles from the flaming Furnaces in Hell the Skies resounded back the ecchoes of their Strokes the Ground shook as though it had been oppressed with an Earth-quake the pavement of the Court was over spread with an intermixing of blood and sweat and the Walls of the Castle were mightily battered with the Giants Clubs by the time that glistering Sol the days bright Candle began to decline from the top of Heaven the Giants wearied in fight began to faint whereat the Christian Knights with more Courage began to encrease in Strength and with such vigour affayled the Giants that before the golden Sun had dived to the western World the Giants were quite discomforted and â—â—ainâ— some lay with their Hands dismembred from their Bodies weltring in purple gore some had their Brains sprinkled against the Walls some lay in Channels with their Intrals trailing down in streams of Blood and some Ioyntless with Bodies cut in pieces so that there was not one left a live to withstand the Christian Champions Whereat St. George with the other six Knights fell upon their knees and thanked the immortal Rector of all good Chance for their Uictory But when the Knight of the Black Castle which stood upon the Gallery during all the time of the Encounter and saw how all the Giants were stain by the Prowess of those strange knights he raged in great Wrath wishing that the Ground might gape and swallow him before he were delivered into the hands of his Enemies and presently would have cast himself headlong from the top of the Gallery thereby to have dasht out his Brains against the Pavement had not the Necromancer who like wise beheld the event of the Encounter intercepted him in his intended Drift promising to perform by Art what the Giants could not do by Force So the Necromancer fell to his Magick Spells and Charms by which the Christian Champions were mightily troubled and molested and brought in danger of their Lives by afearful and strange manner as shall be hereafter shown For as they stood after their long Encounters unbuckling their Armours to take the fresh Ayr and their bloody Wounds received in their last conflict the Magirian caused by his Art a Spirit in the likeness of a Lady of a marvellous and fair Beauty to look through an Iron Grate who seemed to lean her fair Face upon her white Hand very pensively and distilled from her crystal Eyes great abundance of Tears When the Champions saw this beautiful Creature they remained in great Admiration thinking with themselves that by some hard Misfortune she was imprisoned in those Iron Grates at which this Lady did seem to open her fair and crystaline Eyes looking earnestly upon St. George and giving a grsevous and sorrowful Sigh she withdrew herself from the Grate which sudden departure caused the Christian Knights so have a great desire to know who it should be suspecting that by the force of some Enchantment they should be overthrown but casting up their Eyes again to see if they could see her they could not but they saw in the very same place a Woman of a great and princely Stature who was all armed in silver Plates with a Sword girded at her Waste sheathed in a golden Scabberd and had hanging at her Neck an ivory Bow and a gilt Quiver this Lady was of so great Beauty that she séemed almost to excéed the other but in the same sort as the other did upon a sudden she vanished away leaving the Champions no less troubled in their thought than before they were The Christian Knights had not long time bewailed the absence of the two Ladies but that without seeing any body they were stricken with such furious blows upon their Backs that they were constrained to stoop with one Knee upon the ground yet with a trice they rose again and looking then to see who they were that struck them they perceived them to be the
said she more sharp than the pricking Bryer with what inequality dost thou torment my wounded heart not linking my dear Lord in the like Affection of Mind O Venus if thou be imperious in thy Deity to whom both Gods and Men obey command my wandring Lord to return again or grant that my Soul may flie into the Clouds that by the Winds it may be blown into his sweet Bosom where now lives my bleeding heart But foolish Fondling that I am he hath rejected me and shuns my Company as the Syrens else had he not refused the Court of Egypt where he was Honoured as a King and wandred the the World to seek another Love No no it cannot be he bears no such unconstant mind and I greatly fear some Treachery hath bereaved me of his sight or else some stony Prison excludes my George from me If it be so sweet Morpheus thou God of Golden Dreams reveal to me my Love 's Abiding that in my sleep his shadow may appear and report the cause of his departure After this Passion breathed from the mansion of her Soul she committed her watchful eyes to the Government of sweet sleep which being no sooner closed but there appeared as she thought the shadow and very shape of her dearly beloved Lord St. George of England not as he was wont to be flourishing in his glittering Burgonet of Steel nor Mounted on a stately Iennet deckt with a crimson Plume of spangled Feathers but in over-worn and simple Attire with pale Looks and lean Body like to a Ghost risen from some hollow Grave breathing as it were these sad and woful Passions Sabra I am Betrayed for Love of thee And lodg'd in hollow Caves and dismal Night From whence I never more shall come to see Thy loving Countenance and Beauty bright Remain thou True and Constant for my sake That of thy Love they may no Conquest make Let Tyrants think if ever I obtain What e're is lost by Treason's cursed guile False Egypt's Scourge I surely will remain And turn to streaming blood Morocco's smile That damned Dog of Barbary shall rue The doleful Sâ—ratagems that will ensue The Persian Towers shall smoak with fire And lofty Babylon be tumbled down The Cross of Christendom shall then aspire To wear the proud Egyptian tripple Crown Ierusalem and Iudah shall behold The fall of Kings by Christian Champians bold Thou Maid of Egypt still continue chast A Tyger seeks thy Virgins Name to spill Whilst George of England is in Prison plac'd Thou shalt be forc'd to Wed against thy will But after this shall happen Mighty things For from thy Womb shall spring three Wondrous Kings This strange and woeful spéech was no sooner ended but she awaked from her Sleep and presently reached forth her white hands thinking to imbrace him but she catched nothing but brittle Air which caused her to renew her former Complaints Oh wherefore died I not in this my troublesome Dream said the sorrowful Lady that my Ghost might have haunted those inhumane Monsters which have thus falsly betrayed the bravest Champion under the Cope of Heaven for his sake will I exclaim against the ingratitude of Egypt and like Ravished Philomel fill every corner of the Land with Ecchoes of his wrong my Woes shall exceed the Sorrows of Dido Queen of Carthage mourning for Eneas With such like Passions wearied she the time away till twelve Months were fully finished At last her Father understanding what fervent Affection she bore to the English Champion began in this manner to relate Daughter said the Egyptian King I charge thee by the bond of Nature and the true obedience thou oughtest to bear my Age to banish and exclude all fond Affections from thy mind and not thus to settle thy Love upon a wandring Knight that is unconstant and without habitation thou seest he hath forsaken thee and returned into his own Country where he hath Wedded a Wife of that Land and Nation therefore I charge thee upon my Displeasure to Affect and Love the Black King of Morocco that rightfully hath deserved thee in Marriage which shall be shortly Honourably holden to the Honour of Egypt and so he departed without any Answer at all By which Sabra knew he would not be crost in his Will and Pleasure therefore she sighed out these lamentable words O unkind Father to cross the Affection of his Child and to force Love where no Liking is Yet shall my mind continue true unto my dear beloved Lord although my Body be forced against Nature to Obey and Almidor have the Honour of my Marriage-Bed English George shall enjoy my true Uirginity if ever he return again into Egypt and thereupon she pulled forth a chain of Gold and wrapped it seven times about her Ivory Neck This said she hath been seven days steept in Tygers Blood and seven nights in Dragons Milk whereby it hath obtained such excellent Uertue that so long as I wear it about my Neck no Man on Earth can enjoy my Uirginity though I be forced to the state of Marriage and lie seven years in Wedlocks Bed yet by the vertue of this Chain I shall continue a true Uirgin Which words were no sooner ended but Almidor entred her sorrowful Chamber and presented her with a Wedding Garment which was of the purest Median Silk imbossed with Pearl and rich refined Gold perfumed with sweet Syrian Powders it was of the colour of the Lilly when Flora hath bedecked the Fields in May with Natures Ornaments Glorious and Costly were her Uestures and so stately were the Nuptial Rites Solemnized that Egypt admired the bounty of her Wedding which for seven days was holden in the Court of Ptolomy and then moved to Tripoly the chief City in Barbary where Almidor's forced Bride was Crowned Queen of Morocco at which Coronation the Conduits ran with Greekish Wines and the Streets of Tripoly were beautified with Pageants and delightful shews The Court resounded such melodious Harmony as though Apollo with his Silver Harp had descended from the Heavens such Tilts and Tournaments were performed betwixt the Egyptian Knights and the Knights of Barbary that they exceeded the Nuptials of Hecuba the beauteous Queen of Troy which honourable proceedings we leave for this time to their own contentments some Masking some Dancing some Revelling some Tilting and some Banqueting Also leaving the Champion of England Saint George mourning in the Dungeon in Persia as you heard before and return to the other Six Champions of Christendom which departed from the Brazen Pillar every one his several way whose Knightly and Noble Adventures if the Muses grant me the Bounty of fair Castalian Springs I will most amply discover the Honour of all Christendom CHAP. IV. How Saint Denis the Champion of France lived Seven years in the shape of an Hart and how proud Eglantine the King's Daughter of Thessaly was transformed into a Mulberry-Tree and how they recovered their former shapes by means of Saint Denis 's Horse CAlling
's unkind and Tyrant-like doth deal You Fairy Nymphs of Lovers much ador'd And gracious Damsels which in evenings fair Your Closets leave with heavenly beauty stor'd And on your shoulders spread your golden hair Record with me that Sabra is unkind Within whose Breast remains a double mind Ye Savage Bears in Caves and Dens that lie Remain in Peace if you may sorrows hear And be not moved at my misery Tho' too extream my passions do appear England farewel and Coventry adieu But Sabra Heaven above still prosper you These Uerses being no sooner finished and engraven about the â—ark of a Walnut-tree but with a grisly look and wrathful countenance he lift up his hand intending to strike the poiniard up to the Hilt in his Breast but at the same instant he beheld Sabra entring the Orchard to take her wonted Walks of pleasure whose sight hindred his purpose and caused other bloody cogitations to enter into his mind The Furies did incense him to a wicked Deed the which my trembling tongue faints to report For after she had walked to the farthest side of the melancholy Orchard he rigorously ran unto her with his Dagger drawn and catching her about the slender wast thus frightfully threatned her Now stubborn Dame quoth he will I obtain my long desired purpose and Revenge by Violence thy former proud Denials first I will wrap this Dagger in thy Locks of Hair and nail it fast into the ground then will I Ravish thee by Force and Violence and triumph in the Conquest of thy Chastity which being done I will cut thy tongue out of thy mouth because thou shalt not reveal nor desery thy bloody Ravisher Likewise with this Poiniard will I chop off both thy hands whereby thou shalt never write with Pen thy stain of Honour nor in Sampler sow this proffered Disgrace Therefore except thou wilt yield to quench my desired Love with the pleasures of thy Marriage Bed I will by force and violence inflict those vowed punishments upon thy delicate Body be not too resolute in denials for if thou bee'st the gorgeous Sun shall not glide the compass of an hour before I obtain my long desired purpose And thereupon he stepped to the Orchard-door and with all expedition locked it and put the Key in his Pocket Then returned he like an hunger-starved Wolf to seize upon the silly Lamb Or like the chased Boar when he is wounded with the Hunter's Launce came running to the helpless Lady intending her present Rape and foul Dishonour But she thinking all hope of aid and succour to be void fell into a dead Swoon being not able to move for the space of a quarter of an hour But yet at last having recovered her dead senses to their former vital moving she began in this pitiful manner to defend her assailed Chastity from the wicked Earl that stood over her with his bloody Dagger threatning most cruelly her final Confusion My Lord of Coventry said she with weeping Tears and kneeling upon the Ground is Vertue banished from your breast have you a mind more tyrannous than the Tygers in Hycoania that nothing may suffice to satisfie Your Lustful desires but the stain of mine Honour and the Conquest of my Chastity If it be my Beauty that hath inticed you I am content to have it converted to a loathsome Leprosie whereby to make me odious in your Eyes If it be my rich and costly Garments that make me Beautiful and so intangle you henceforth I will attire my Body in poor and simple array and for evermore dwell in Countrey Caves and Cottages so that I may preserve my Chastity unspotted If none of these may suffice to abase your Tyrannous Intent but that your Lust will make me Time's wonder and pointing stock and scorn of vertuous Ladies then will the Heavens revenge my wrongs to whom I will uncessantly make my petitions The Birds in the Air after their kind will evermore exclaim against your wickedness the Silvane Beasts that abide in Woods and Desarts will breathe forth clamours of your wickedness the creeping worms that live within the crevices of the Earth will give dumb signs and tokens of your wickedness The running Rivers will murmur at your wickedness The Woods and Trees Herbs and Flowers with every sensless thing will sound some motions of your wickedness Return return my Noble Lord unto your former Vertues banish such fond desires out of your mind stain not the Honour of your House with such black Scandals and Disgrace bear this in mind before you do attempt so vile a sin What became of Hellen's Ravishment but the Destruction of Renowned Troy What of Roman Lucretia 's Rape but the Banishment of Tarquin And what of Progne 's foul Deflourment by her Sister's Husband the Lustful King of Thrace but the bloody Banquet of his young Son Itis whose tender body they served to his Table baked in a Pye At which speeches the â—â—eful Earl wrapped his hands within her Locks of Hair which was covered with a costly Caul of Gold and in this manner presently replied unto her What tellest thou me of Poets Tales said he of Progne's Rape and Terius 's bloody Banquet thy Ravishment shall be an Induction to thy Tragedy which if thou yield not willingly I will obtain by Force and Violence therefore prepare thy self either to entertain the Sentence pronounced or yield thy Body to my pleasure This unrecanting and vowed Resolution of the Earl added grief upon grief and heaped Mountains of Sorrow upon her Soul Twice did the hapless Lady cast her eyes to Heaven in hopes the Gods would pity her Distress and twice unto the Earth wishing the Ground might open and devour her and so deliver her from the sury of the wicked Homicide but at last when she saw that neither Tears Prayers nor Wishes could prevail she gave an outward sign of consenting upon some Conditions under colour to devise a present means to preserve her Chastity and deliver her self from his Lustful Assailments There is no condition said the Earl but I would yield unto so thou wilt grant my desire and make me chief commander of thy Love First my Lord quoth she shall you suffer me to sit some certain hours upon this bed of Violets and bewail the loss of my good name which shortly shall be yielded up to your pleasure then shall you lie and dally in my Lap thereby to make my Affections yet freezing cold to flame with burning brands of Love that being done you shall receive your wished desires Those words caused the Earl to convert his furious wrath to smiling joy and casting down his Dagger he gave her a courteous kiss which she in his conceit graciously accepted whereby his mind was brought into such a vain opinion that he thought no Heaven but in her presence no comfort but in her sight and no pleasure but in her then caused he Sabra to sit down upon a bed of Uiolets beset about with divers sorts
changed their pleasant Pastime to a sad and bloody Tragedy for Sabra proffering to keep pace with them delighted to behold the valiant Encounters of her young Sons and being careless of herself through the over swiftness of her Steed she slipped beside her Saddle and so fell directly vpon a thomey brake of Brambles the pricks whereof more sharp than Spikes of Iron entred to every part of her delicate Body some pierce the lovely closets of her star-bright Eyes whereby instead of cristal pearled Tears there issued drops of purest Blood her Face before that blushed like the Morning 's radiant Countenance was now changed into a Crimson-red her milk white hands that lately strained the ivory Lute did seem to wear a bloody scarlet Glove and her tender Paps that had often sed her Sons with the Milk of Nature were all becent and â—orâ— with those accuâ—sed Brambles from whose deep Wounds there issued such a stream of purple Gore that it converted the Grass from a lively green to a crimson-hue and the abundance of Blood that trickled from her Breast began to enforce her Soul to give the World a woful Farewel Yet notwithstanding when her beloved Lord her sorrowful Sons and all the rest of the waful Champions had washed her wounded Body with a spring of Tears and when she perceived that she must of force commit herself to the fury of imperious Death she breathed forth this dying Exhortation Dear Lord said she in this unhappy Hunting must you lose the truest Wife that ever â—ay by any Prince's side yet mourn not you nor grieve you my Sons nor you brave Christian Knights but let your warlike Drums convey mâ— royally to my Tomb that all the World may write in brazen Books how I have followed my Lord the Pride of Christendom through many a bloody Field and for his sake have left my Parents Friends and Country and have travelled through many a dangerous Kingdom but now the cruel Fates have wrought their last spight and finished my Life because I am not able to perform what Love he hath deserved of me And now to you my Sons this Blessing do I leave behind even by the Pains that forty Weeks I once endured for your sakes when as you lay enclosed in my Womb and by my Travels in the Wilderness whereas my Groans upon your Birth-day did in my thinking cause both Trees and Stones to drop down Tears when as the merciless Tygers and tameless Lyons did stand like gentle Lambs and mourned to hear my Lamentations and by a Mother's Love that ever since I have born you imitate and follow your Father in all his honourable Attempts harm not the silly Infant nor the helpless Widow defend the Honour of distressed Ladies and give freely unto wounded Souldiers seek not to stain the unspotted Virgins with your Lust and adventure evermore to redeem true Knights from Captivity live evermore professed Enemies to Paganism and spend your Lives in the Quarrel and Defence of Christ that Babes as yet unborn in time to come may speak of you and record you in the Books of Fame to be true Christian Champions This is my Blessing and this is the Testament I leave behind for now I feel the chilness of pale Death closing the Closets of mine Eyes Farewel vain World dear Lord farewel sweet Sons you 'r famous Followers of my George and all true Christian Knights adieu These words were no sooner ended but with a heavy sigh she yielded up the Ghost whereat St. George being impatient in his sorrows fell upon her liveless Body tearing his Hair and rending his Hunter's Attire from his back into many pieces and at last when his Griefs were some what diminished he burst out into these bitter Lamentations Gone is the Star quoth he that lighted all the Nothern World whithered is the Rose that beautified our Christian Fields dead is the Dame that for her beauty stained all Christian Women for whom I 'll fill the Air with everlasting Mones Let this day henceforth be fatal to all times and counted for a dismal day of Death let never the Sun shew forth his Beams thereon again but Clouds as black as pitch cover the Earth with fearful Darkness let every Tree in this accursed Forrest henceforth be blasted with unkindly Winds let Brambles Herbs and Flowers consume and wither let Grass and blooming Buds perish and decay and all things near the place where she was slain be turned to dismal black and ghastly colour that the Earth itself in mourning Garments may lament her loss let never Bird sing chearfully on tops of Trees but like the mournful Musick of the Nightingale fill all the Air with fatal Tunes let bubling Rivers murmure for her loss and silver Swans that swim thereon sing doleful Melody let all the Dales belonging to these fatal Woods be covered with green bellied Serpents croaking Toads hissing Snakes and sigh-killing Cockatrices in blasted Trees let fearful Ravens shrick let Howlets cry and Crickets sing that after this it may be called a place of dead Mens wandring Ghosts But fond Wretch why do I thus Lament in vain and bath her bleeding Body with my Tears when Grief by no means will recal her Life yet this shall satisfie her Soul for I will go a Pilgrimage unto Ierusalem and offer up my Tears to Jesus Christ upon his blessed Sepulchre by which my stained Soul may be washt from this bloody Guilt which was the cause of this sorrowful day's mishap These sorrowful words were no sooner ended but he took her bleeding Limbs between his fainting Arms and gave a hundred kisses upon her dying coloured Lips retaining yet the colour of Alabaster new wash'd in Purple-blood and in this â—â—taâ—â—e a while lying gave way to others to unfold their Woes But his Sons whose Sorrows were as great as his protested never to neglect one day but daily to weep some Tears upon their Mother's Grave till from the Earth did spring some mournful flower to beav remembrance of her Death as did the Uiolet that spâ—â—ng from chast Adonis's Blood where Venus wept to see him slain Likewise the other six Champions that all the time of their Lamentations stood like Men drowned in the depth of Sorrow began now a little to recover themselves and after protested by the honour of true Knight hood and by the Spuâ— and golden Garter of St. George's Leg to accompany him unto the Holy Land bare footed without either Horse or Sâ—ooe only clâ—â—â— in russet Gaberdines like the usual Pilgrims of the World and never to return till they had paid their Uows at that blessed Sepulchre Thus in this sorrowful manner wearied they the time away filling the Woods with echoes of their Lamentations and recording their Dolours to the whistling Winds but at last when black Night began to approach and with her cable Mantle to overspread the crystal Firmament they retired with her dead Body back to the City of London where the report of
highly thou wer 't prized in my Affections In this manner did the woful Queen spend her dayes until sickness coming on put the harmony of Nature out of tune in her Body which by little and little languished away in such sort that she became a meer Skelleton or Anatomy and now finding that Death by degrees began to sieze on her Uital parts she called her Nobles unto her and spake to them these words My Lords I am now taking my last leave of you the spent Hour-glass of my Life is near at hand and now at my parting ghost I do adjure ye as you will answer it before the Higher Powers whither I am now going to appear that ye invest Euphemius King when I am dead and gone and though I doubt not of your performance herein yet for my more assurance and that my ghost may quietly rest hereafter I shall desire you to take an Oath to do it which if you should fail in the performance know assuredly you will both wrong your selves and him him in depriving him of his Crown and your selves of a good King he being a Prince kind wise just and merciful and only unkind unto me The Nobles to satisfie her request freely took their Oaths to be true to Euphemius and now the Queen being fully satisfied with what was done willingly yielded up the ghost whom the Nobles buried in most sumptuous manner which being done they sent an Honourable Messenger to Euphemius to certifie him of the Queens death and how she had bequenthed her Crown to him which Messenger set forth Artemia's love in such pathetical words as wrought in him a strange alteration for when he thought upo nher unalterable affection towards him the constancy of her love her matchless beauty rare endowments and superexcellent parts he began to reflect upon himself his unkindness to her his vile ingratitude that could wrong her which dyed for love of him These considerations made him to like where before he loathed and to loath where before he loved for whereas before he used to give many private visits to my Daughter protesting all constancy and loyalty towards her now the poyson of hatred entred into his heart against her as taking her to be the chief obstacle which hindred him from the enjoyment of the Quéen and might be also the same of the Kingdom if it should be known he were married unto her wherefore he departed along with the Messenger never so much as bidding her farewel or sending any Messenger unto her The Nobles entertained him very splendidly and with great solemnity Crowned him King In the mean time the poor Praxeda was well near distracted with discontent finding her self to be with Child fearing to discover it unto me and finding such an alteration of love from him Her case being thus desperate knowing it impossible to be long concealed she sent to him this following Letter My Dear Euphemius MEN do tax our Sex for being unconstant but now I must apply that fault to you I say to you whose Oaths did give so great a Testimony of your fidelity that I duâ—st not doubt them for fear of injuring my self Ah Euphemius doth Honours change Manners can you so soon forget Praxeda whom you swore so firmly to love Now if thou hast no pity for me take some compassion on the fruit of my Womb the seal of our loves wherein thy lively Image is implanted and if thou hast any thing of Nature in thee thou canst not but deplore its condition and provide a remedy for the same we still hoping thou wilt remain constant I rest Thine own Praxeda Euphemius received this Letter with great indignation vowing revenge the Rhamnusian Nemesis possessing his vengeful breast in all her blackest formes and now his enraged blood being tickled with the thoughts of a pleasing himself for as he thought his disgrace in claiming him to be her Husband he intended the destruction not only of she but of all her Kindred and that to be pâ—â—formed as soon as he could find any pretended cause of aquatâ—◠〈◊〉 her In the mean time to deterr her from any proâ—â—â—â—tion â—â— her 〈◊〉 he returned â—o her this invective answer HAth your impudence no other person to Father your Pastard brat but upon me whose known reputation is such as will free me in the Consciences of all honest persons from the known calumnies of such a vile Strumpet was it not my vertue preferred me by a general consent to a Kingdom and do you think by detraction to bespatter my good name Cease then perverse Monster of Women-kind to prosecute any further claim unto me lest it prove the deserved destruction of thee and thine Thy deserved Enemy Euphemius But before she received this Letter feeling the burthen of her Womb to grow great she desired leave to go visit an Aunt of hers named Milesia pretending indisposition of Health to which I readily granted knowing my Sister very careful over her for her good To this her Aunt she discovered all what had passed betwixt Euphemius and she desiring her aid and secresie therein and indeed it was but high time for within three days after her coming thither she was delivered of a goodly Boy whom her Aunt named Infortunio and put him out to Nurse to one of her Tenants Soon after she received the Letter from Euphemius which when she had read her grief and sorrow were so great that she deemed her self the very Map of misery and falling into a swound it was long ere her Aunt and the other attendants could recover her to life such a sudden grief had her soul contracted that who so had beheld her would have thought her Spirit ready to descend into Charons Boat to be transported into the Elizian fields but coming a little to her self she thus began for to exclaim And is it possible such Perjury can remain in men do they think Oaths are not binding or that divine vengeance doth not follow upon breach of promise Ah Euphemius can thy heart prove so disloyal were all the protestations thou so often didst reiterate unto me only feigned baits to entrap me to my destruction Then glory in thy triumph but know accursed Caitiff my soul shall haunt thee after death as did the ghost of Queen Dido follow the Body of Perjured Aeneas and saying these words she stabbed her self to the heart with a Bodkin which she had hidden within the Trammels of her Hair and â—etching only two or three deep groans she presently dyed Praxida having acted this woful Tragedy on her self put all the Houshold in a great uproar especially my Sister Milesia who fared like to one of Bacchus frantick raging Nuns or like a Tartar when in a strange habit he prepares himself to a dismal Sacrifice Ah Praxida said she how hath thy actions straid from Reasons center thus to give thy soul a Goal-delivery Abhorred Euphemius accursed mayst thou be that wer't the causer of all this mischief Hast thou a heart more
sanguine a dye to be forgiven and all his repentance and sorrow only â—ained they therefore concluded he should be put to death and gave him his choice of eight several sorts of ways whereby to dye Viz. 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet 2. To be put into a sack and thrown into the Sea 3. To have his head smitten of 4. To be poysoned 5. To be burned to death 6. To be stung to death with snakes 7. To be cast down headlong from a high Tower Or 8. To be shot to death with Arrows Sad is the choice said the wretched Almantor chuse which I will For 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet is to dye the death of a Dog 2. To be put into a sack and drowned is to be devoured by Fishes and want decent Burial 3. To have my Head smitten off is indeed the death of a Nobleman but which no Nobleman would willingly have 4. To be poysoned is to be a stinking Carcase before I am scarce cold in my Grave 5. To be burned is of all deaths most cruel 6. To be stung to death with snakes is a painful lingring death 7. To be cast down from a high Tower an uncertain death What then remains but the last kind of death to be killed with Arrows and that is the death of a Soldier which I shall soonest choose come then seeing you think me not fitting to live quickly dispatch me out of the World Then rending open his Doublet he tyed a Handkerchief before his Eyes and leaning his Back against a Trée he cryed out now do your worst whereupon immediately some Soldiers who were planted on purpose sent a flight of Arrows into his Breast so that in an instant he fed down and dyed Then digged they for him a Grave into which he being put they covered the same with a heap of stones and on one broad one which lay on the top they inscribed this Epitapb Who in his life time still for Blood did crave Was at the last sent bloody to his Grave Whilst this was in doing the Soldiers which Sir David had sent for arrived in the Island whereupon Sir David leaving some few of them for the guarding of the Island under the conduct of the Gyant VVonder he with the residue sailed towards the Island where Almantor lived taking along with him the ancient Gentleman for his guide and sailing thither in the same Ships wherein Almantor came which they of the Island espying seeing their own Ships afar off began to rejoyce but when they perceived strangers in them they began to arm themselves with all the spéed they could and to put themselves in a posture to resist their landing But Sir David nothing daunted at their appearance landed in desâ—igâ—t of all the 〈◊〉 they could make and being on land he with his sword quickly made waâ— for his Soldiers to follow him who encouraged by his example as soon made 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 Enemies that fled before their conquering swords like flocks of Sheep before the devouring Wolves But now the fury of their rage being over Sir David scorning to â—â—ult over a vanquished party caused a retreat to be sounded and sent Messengers after them that he would parley with them to which they willingly condelcended and to that Purpose sent 3 or 4 of the chiefest of than to whom Sir David spake as followeth The cause of my sending to you is to offer you Peace and Liberty Liberty from the Tâ—raldom of an insulting Tyrant to whose insatiable avaâ—ice your Bodies and Estates were made thrall one who not only delighted in Crueety but took delight in the several forms of executing the same who hath now paid his just desots by the â—â—oke of Justice being shit to death for his cruel Tyranny in stead of whom we shall 〈◊〉 for your Governor one well known unto you and here he presented to them the Ancient Gentleman whom if you refuse to accept then expect no other â—â—t what the Sword and a conquering Arm well inforce you to do The Messengers having heard these words with a loud voice cryed out long live our Lord Pandion for so was the ancient Gentleman called and thereupon they desired leave to go immediately to acquaint the rest with their determination which when they had done there was such an acclamaâ—on and shout of the People as surpassed that which Thracian Boreas makes a mongst the Pines of Ossa or as when the Artillery of Heaven are discharged along the cleaving Sky And thereupon coming all to Sir David they submitted themselves promising faithful Obedience to the Aged Pandion which he most lovingly embraced giving them many wholesome admonitions and desiring Sir Pandion to be a Gracious Lord unto them And thus having setled him in the Tyrant Almaâ—ters place he returned to the island of the precious Fountain where leaving a sufficient Guard with Sir Wonder and taking with him some store of the Fruit as also some Vessels of the healing Wine of the Fountaln he returned back to his owâ— country where he was very welcome to his Queen Rosetta and joyfully entertained by the rest of his Subjects CHAP. XX. Now the three Sons of St. George Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David met at a great Justs at Constantinople as also Sir Turpin of France Sir Pedro of Spain Sir Orlando of Italy Sir Ewin of Scotland Sir Phelim of Ireland and Sir Owen of Wales where they obtained the Victory voer all that Juste awith them being richly rewarded by the Emperour for their high Valour LOng had not Sir David been in his Kingdom of Ancona but there Arrived an Herald who by sound of Trumpet proclaimed a solemn Justs to be held by the Emperour of Constantinople in honour of his Sons Nuptials who was contracted to the King of Tribizonds Daughter the Beauteous Lucinda whose Fame resounded all the world over These Justs were proclaimed in all the Kingdoms of the Earth so that at the time appointed there arrived at his Court the most approved Knights for Valour and prowess that were then living Amongst others were St. Georges three Renowned Sons Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David Thiâ—her also had Fames Trumpet invited the Valiant Sir Turpin from France Sir Fedro from Spain Sir Orlando from Italy Sir Ewin from Scotland Sir Philiâ— from Ireland and Sir Owen from Wales Being come to the Emperours Pallace they were by him most kindly entertained and having had knowledg that they were the Sons of the seven Renowned Champions of Christendom whose Valiant Acts had eternized their never dying Memories he thereâ— on commanded them all to be lodged in one Chamber wherein were provided for them nine most sumptuous Beds adorned with the riehest Furniture that could be procured and because the Justs lasted only nine days he appointed each of them to be Champion his particular day But before the Justs began the Prince Rofinda Son to the Emperour was with great state and magnificence Married to the beauteous
Lucinda great were the Triumphs performed that day by Pageants Fire-works and other costly devices far surpasting the skill of the most elaborate Writer to describe all which we shall overpass and come to speak of the Warlike Acts performed by our nine Renowned Heroes which was celebrated in order as followeth On the first day of the Justs entered that valiant knight at Arms the Renowned Sir Guy king of 〈◊〉 mounâ—ed on a Barbary Sâ—eed who pranced on the ground in as great state as Bucephalâ—s the Horse of King Alexander his Armouâ— like the colour of his Horse was of a dark brown and for his device on his Shield was an Anchor with this word Aâ—châ—â—a spl Against him entered a Phrygiaâ— Knight named Dorosus upon a sorrel Horie of an Epirian breed with flaming Nostrils his Armour was green and for his device he had in his Shield a Laurel-Tree with this word ever 〈◊〉 At the Trumpets sound they encountered each other with great skill and violence breaking their slaves that the splinters flew into the Air But at the third course Sir Guy ran against him with such might that both Horse and Man sell to the ground With like Valour did he that day overcome twenty 〈◊〉 Knights and was with great Triumph conducted home unto his lodging The next day Sir Alexander entered the Lists as chief Challenger against all comers His Horse was of a Morocco Race with Tusks out of his mouth like to a Boar His Armour was red and for his device in his Shield was an Oxe bleeding with this word such to Opposers The first that ran against him was a Macedâ—â—ian Lord named Lentulus of Gygantick stature and approved Manhood but by the Valour of Sir Alexander he was overthrown as also nineteen other Knights of Prowess and Fortitude The third day Sir David appeared in the Lists chief Champion against all Opposers His Horse was of a Chesnut colour his Armour azure and on his shâ—eld was painted a serene Sky with this word without Clouds This Valian Knight behaved him self so well that day that he brought to ground thrty four Knights to his great Commendation and Honour being conducted to his lodging by the Prince Rosinda with sound of Trumpets and other Musical Instruments On the fourth day appeared for chief Champion against all comers the Renowned and Valiant Knight at Arms Sir Turpin of France mounted on an Aâ—ahian Courser of a Strawberry colour and so lively were the red spots on him intermingled with white like unto Scrawherries in a dâ—â—h of Crem that it seemed rather natural then artificial His Armour was of a tawny colour and on his shield was painted an Orange Tree with this word fruitfully comforting This valiant Knight behaved himself so gailantly that day that the Emperour in reward of his magnanimity threw unto him a Gold Chain at the end whereof hung a rich Meddal all beset with Pearls and Diamonds and so with great Acclamations of the people he was conducted to his Lodging On the fifth day the most Heroick and Invincible Knight Sir Pedro of Spain entered the Lists mounted on a Spanish Genner his Armour was of a flame colour so artificially wrought that to a not skilful Eye his Body seemed to be all on a fire for so well had the Artist contrived the same that by the moving of his Horse the Wind seemed to fan up the flames to a greater blaze His device in his shield was a Salamander living in the fire with this word not so consumed This Renowned Knight by his Martial Prowess overthrew no less then 34 Champions that encountered with him insomuch that the Princess Lucinda gave him her Glove to wear and commanded that thereafter he should be called her Knight Upon the sixth day as Sir Orlando of Italy was entering the Lists there met him a Squire who spake to him in these words Sir Knight my Master by me advises ye to make the best defence you can that by your stout resistance he may obtain the greater Honour in your overthrow To whom Sir Orlando replyed Go tell thy Master I am prepared for him and that it is not good to sell the Lyons Skin until he be dead Accordingly hereâ—â—â—o encountering each other they fought with so much skill and valour that Mars himself might have been a spectatour of their worthy Atchievments being Men of such Prowess as not to know fear themselves and yet to teach 〈◊〉 others that had to deal with them long time did Victory equally Play upon their dancing Banners but at last Conquest displayed her silver Wings on Sir Orlando's Head and his Antagonists brags vanished in smoak his Body with his Honour being laid in the dust With the like success did he overcome eighteen Knights more that day whereby he won the reputation of a most valiant Knight On the seventh day the Renowned Knight Sir Ewin of Scotland was chief Champion who entered the Lists mounted on a Scottish Galloway who though but small of stature was of strength comparable to an Elephant his Armour was black as also his shield with these Letters in white hoping for day His success was such that he foiled no less then threescore Knights gaining to himself Immortal Fame by such their overthrow The eighth day was managed by Sir Phelim of Ireland as brave a Knight as ever trod the Field of Mars he was mounted on an Irish Hobby decked with a Plume of Peacocks Feathers His Armour was so contrived as if it had been made up of several pieces yet all joyned together in a loving confusedness On his shield was pourtrayed a red Breast with this word innocently harmless He encountered that day with 25 Knights all whom oy his Manly Prowess he overcame On the ninth and last day there entered the Lists that Heroick undaunted Knight Sir Owen of the Mountains mounted on a stately English Palfrey His Armour was milk white his attiring else all cut in Stars which made of Cloth of Silver and Silver Spangles each way seemed to cast many aspects In his shield was a sheep feeding in a pleasant Field with this word without fear or envy This valiant Knight Sir Owen behaved himself so gallantly and dismounted so many Knights that day that the Prince Rosinda entituled him the mirrour of Chevalry and pattern of true Magnanimity After the Justs were finished the Emperour entertained these nine worthy Knights in most sumptuous manner spending several days in their company with great Feasts Masks and other stately showes and in reward of their Martial performances gave unto them 9 most rich precious stones each of them valued at a Kings Ransom besides other most rich Presents from the Prince and Princess and so taking their solemn leave of the Emperour and other High Estates then present with great honour and applause they returned each to his own Country FINIS
St. George I mean is her true and lawful Husband the honour of whose Bed she will not violate for all the Kingdoms of the World Tush faint-hearted fool that I am Sabra is beautiful and therefore to be tempted She is a Woman and therefore easie to be won her Husband he is sporting in the Fields of Mars then why may not she take pleasure in the Chamber of Venus I will use my flattering glosses many kind speeches and many sweet imbraces but I will crop that Bud which but to taste I would give my whole Lands and Revenues I will tell her St. George is a wanderer and one that will never return whereas I am a mighty Deer in England and one that can accomplish whatsoever she desirâ—â—â— Many other circumstances this Lustful Garâ—used to flatter himself in this vain conceit At last the scowling night with pitchy Clouds began to overspread the brightsome Heavens whereby he was forced to repair homewards and to smother up his Love in silence no quiet sléep that night could enter into his eyes but fond and restless dreams sometimes be thought he had his lovely Mistress in his Arms daslying like the 〈◊〉 Queen upon her Minions knee but presently awaking he found it but a gilded shadow which added new grief to his Love-sick passions then by and by he thought he saw how the wrathful Champion with his dreadful and bloody Fauchion came to revenge his Lady's Ravishment whereas the troubled Earl started from his Bed and with a loud voice cried to his Chamberlain for help saying That St. George was come to Murder him Which sudden Outery not only awaked the Chamberlain but the whole house which generally came to hear him company They set up Camphire Tapers to give Light and made him Musick to comfort him and to drive all â—ond santâ—fies from his mind But no sooner ceased the Musick but he 〈◊〉 into his former Cogitations pondering in his mind which way he might obtain his purpose Whereat a dismal Night-Raven beat her wings against his Chamber windows and with a harsh voice gave him warning of a sad success 〈◊〉 presently began the Tapers to â—uâ—â— bâ—â—e as though a Troop of â—hastly 〈◊〉 did encompass his Lâ—â—ging which was an evident â—â—gn that some strange and unhappy Muâ—â—â—r should worthily follow All which could not withdraw the â—ustâ—ul Earl from his wicked Enterprize nor conâ—â—â—â— his mind from the spoil of so sweet a Lady In this manner spent he the night away till the Sun 's bright conuienance summoned him from his restless Bed From whence being no sooner risen but he sent for the Steward of his House and gave him a charge to provide a most sumptuous and costly Banquet for he intended to invite thereunto all the principal Ladies in Coventry What bountiful cheer was provided I think it needless to repeat but to be short at the time and hour appointed the invited Ladies repaired the Banquet was brought in by the Earl's Servants and placed upon the Table by the Earl himself Who after many Welcomes given began thus to move the Ladies to delight I think my House most highly honoured said he that you have vouchsafed to grace it with your presence for methinks you beautifie my Hall as the twinkling Stars beautifie the Ueil of Heaven But amongst the number of you all you have a Cynthia a glistring silver Moon that for brightness exceeded all the rest for she is fairer than the Queen of Cypress lovelier than Dido when Cupid sate upon her knee wiser than the Prophetess of Troy of Personage more comely than the Grecian Dame and of more Majesty than the Queen of Love So that all the Muses with their Ivory pens may write continually and yet not sufficiently describe her excellent Ornaments of Nature This Commendation caused a general smile of the Ladies and made them look one upon another whom it should be Many other Courtlike discourses pronounced the Earl to move the Ladies delight till the Banquet was ended which being finished there came in certain Gentlemen by the Earl's appointment with most excellent musick other some that danced most curiously with as much Majesty as Paris in the Grecian Court. At last the Earl requested one of them to choose out his beloved Mistress and lead her some stately Corants Likewise requesting that none should be offended what Lady soever he did affect to grace with that Courtly pastime At which request all them were silent and silence is commonly a sign of consent therefore he emboldned himself the more to make his desires known to the beholders Then with excéeding courtesie and great humisity he kissed the beauteous hand of Sabra who with a blushing countenance and bashful look accepted his courtesie and like a kind Lady disdained not to dance with him So when the Musicians strained forth their inspiring Melody the Lustful Earl led her a first Course about the Hall in as great Majesty as Mavors did the Queen of Paphos to gain her Love and she followed with as much Grace as if the Queen of Pleasure had been present to behold their Courtly Delights and so when the first Course was ended he found fit opportunity to unfold his secret Love and reveal unto the Lady his extream Passion of mind which were in these Speeches expressed Most Divine and Peerless Paragon said he thou only Wonder of the World for Beauty and excellent Ornaments of Nature know that thy two twinkling Eyes that shine more brighter than the Lights of Heaven being the true Darts of Love have pierced my heart and those thy crimson Cheeks as lovely as Aurora's Countenance when she draws the Curtains of her purple Bed to entertain her wandring Lover those Cheeks I say have wounded me with Love therefore except thou grant me kind comfort I am like to spend the remnant of my Life in Sorrow Gare and Discontent I blush to speak what I desire because I have setled my Love where it is unlawful in a bosome where Kings may sleep and surfeit with delight thy Breast I mean most Divine Mistress for there my Heart is kept Prisoner Beauty is the Keeper and Love the Key my Ransome is a constant Mind Thou art my Uenus I will be thy Mars thou art my Helen I will be thy Mahomet thou art my Cressida I will be thy Croilus thou art my Love and I will be thy Paramour Admit thy Lord and Husband be alive yet hath he most unkindly left thee to spend thy young years in solitary Widow-hood He is unconstant like Eneas and thou more hapless than Dido He marcheth up and down the world in glistring Armour and never doth intend to return He abandoneth thy presence and lieth sporting in strange Ladies Laps therefore dear Sabra live not to consume thy youth in singleness for Age will overtake thee too soon and convert thy Beauty to wrinkled Frowns To which words Sabra would have presently made answer but that the Musick called them to Dance
the second Course which being ended she replyed in this manner Most Noble Lord said she for our bounteous Banquet courteous Entertainment I give the humble thanks of a poor Lady but for your Suit and unlawful desire I do detest as much as the sight of a Crocodile and your flattering Glosses I esteem as much as doth the Ocean of a drisling shower of Rain your Syrens Songs shall never enrice me to listen to your fond Requests but I will like Ulyffes stop my ears and bury all your flattering inticements in the Lake of Forgetfulness Think you that I will stain my Marriage-Bed with the least spot of Infamy that will not proffer me one thought of wrong for all the Treasures of the wealthy Seas Surely the gorgeous Sun shall lose his light by Day and the silver Moon by Night the Skies shall fall the Earth shall sink and every thing shall change from Kind and Nature before I will falsifie my Faith or prove Disloyal to my beloved George attempt no more my Noble Lord to batter the Fortress of my good Name with the Gun-shot of your Flattery nor seek to stain my Honour with your Lustful desires What if my Lord and Husband prove Disloyal and chose out other Loves in Foreign Lands yet will I prove as constant to him as Penelope to her Ulysses and if it be his pleasure never to return but spend his days among strange Ladies yet will I live in single Solitariness like to the Turtle Dove when she hath lost her Mate abandoning all company or as the mournful Swan that swims upon Meander 's Silver Streams where she records her dying tunes to raging Billows so will I spend away my lingering days in grief and die This Resolution of the vertuous Lady so daunted the Earl that he stood like a senseless Image gazing at the Sun not knowing how to reply but yet when they had danced the third Course he began anew to assault her unspotted Chastity in these terms Why my dear Mistriss have you a heart more hard than flint that the tears of my true Love can never mollifie Can you behold him plead for grace that hath been sued unto by many worthy Dames I am a Man that can Command Countries yet can I not command thy stuboorn heart Divine Sabra if thou wilt grant me thy Love and yield to my desire I will have thee clad in Silken Robes and Damask Vestures imbost with Indian Pearls and rich Refined Gold perfumed with Camphire Biss and Syrian sweet Persumes by day a hundred Virgins like to Thetis tripping on the silver Sands shall usually attend thy Person by night a hundred Eunuchs with their strained Instruments shall bring thy Senses into a golden slumber If this procureth not thy sweet content I will prepare a sumptuous Chariot made with Gold wherein thou shalt be drawn by sable sported Steeds along the Fields and gallant Pastâ—res adjoyning to our City Walls whereas the Evening Air shall breathe a coolness â—ar more sweet than Balm upon thy Cheeks and make thy Beauty glister like the purple Pillar of Hyperion when he leaves Aurora blushing in her Bed whereby the Heavens and all the Powers therein shall stand and wonder at thy Beauty and quite forget their usual Courses All this my dear Divine and dainty Mistriss is at thy command and more so that I may enjoy thy Love and Favour which if I have not I will discontentedly end my Life in Woods and Desart places Tygers and untamed Beasts being my chief Companions These vain Promises caused the beauteous Sabra to blush with bashfulness and to give him this sharp Answer Think you my Lord with Golden Promises to obtain the precious Gem the which I will not lose for Europe's Treasury Henceforth be silent in that Enterprize and never after this attempt to practise my dishonour which if you do I vow by Heaven to make it known to every one within the City and to fill all places with the rumour of thy wilful Lust A troop of modest Maids I will procure to haunt thee up and down the streets to wonder at thee like an Owl that never comes abroad but in the darkest night this I am resolved to do and so farewel Thus departed Sabra with a sad Countenance whereby the rest of the Ladies suspected the Earl had attempted her dishonour by secret conference but they all assuredly knew that she was as far from yielding to his desires as is the aged man to be young again or as the Azure Firmament to be a place for Silvane Swains to inhabit In such like Imaginations they spent away the day till the dark night caused them to break off Company The Earl smothered his Grief under a smiling Countenance till the Ladies were every one departed whom he courteously caused his Servants to conduct homewards with Torch-lights because it began to be very dark After their departure he accursed his own Fortune and like a Lyon wanting food raged up and down his Chamber and filling euery corner with bitter exclamations rending his Garments from his back tearing his hair beating his breast and using all the violence he could against himself In this manner spent he away the night suffering no sleep to close the windows of his body His melancholy and extream passion so discontented his mind that he purposed to give end to his sorrows by some untimely death So when the morning appeared he made his repair to an Drchard where Sabra commonly once a day walked to take the Air. The place was very Belancholy and far from the noise of People where after he had spent some certain time in exclaiming against the unkindness of Sabra he pulled his Poimard from his back and prepared his Breast to entertain the stroke of death but before the pretended Tragedy with his Dagger he engraved these Uerses following upon the bark of a Walnut-tree Oh heart more hard then bloody Tygers fell O Ears more deaf than sensless troubled Seas O cruel foe thy rigour doth excell For thee I die thy anger to appease But time will come when thou shalt find me slain Then thy Repentance will encrease thy pain I here engrave my Will and Testament That my sad grief thou may'st behold and see How that my woful heart is torn and rent And gor'd with bloody blade for love of thee Whom thou disdain'st as now the end doth try That thus distress'd doth suffer me to die Oh Gods of Love if so there any be And you of Love that feel the deadly pain Oh Sabra thou that thus afflictest me Hear these my words which from my heart I strain E're that my Corps be quite bereav'd of breath Here I 'll declare the cause of this my death You Mountain Nymphs which in the Desarts Raign Leave off your chase from savage Beasts a while Prepare to see a heart opprest with pain Address your ears to hear my doleful stile No strength nor Art can work me any weal Sith she