shall rise Though mine the Woman for my ravish'd Prize But she excepted as unworthy Strife Dare not I charge thee dare not on thy Life Touch ought of mine beside by Lot my due But stand aloof and think profane to view This Fauchion else not hitherto withstood These hostile Fields shall fatten with thy Blood He said and rose the first the Council broke And all their grave Consults dissolv'd in Smoke The Royal Youth retir'd on Vengeance bent Patroclus follow'd silent to his Tent. Mean time the King with Gifts a Vessel stores Supplies the Banks with twenty chosen Oars And next to reconcile the shooter God Within her hollow Sides the Sacrifice he stow'd Chryseis last was set on board whose Hand Ulysses took intrusted with Command They plow the liquid Seas and leave the less'ning Land Atrides then his outward Zeal to boast Bade purify the Sin-polluted Host. With perfect Hecatombs the God they grac'd Whose offer'd Entrails in the Main were cast Black Bulls and bearded Goats on Altars lie And clouds of sav'ry stench involve the Sky These Pomps the Royal Hypocrite design'd For Shew But harbour'd Vengeance in his Mind Till holy Malice longing for a vent At length discover'd his conceal'd Intent Talthybius and Eurybates the just Heralds of Arms and Ministers of Trust He call'd and thus bespoke Haste hence your way And from the Goddess-born demand his Prey If yielded bring the Captive If deny'd The King so tell him shall chastise his Pride And with arm'd Multitudes in Person come To vindicate his Pow'r and justify his Doom This hard Command unwilling they obey And o'er the barren Shore pursue their way Where quarter'd in their Camp the fierce Thessalians lay Their Sov'reign seated on his Chair they find His pensive Cheek upon his Hand reclin'd And anxious Thoughts revolving in his Mind With gloomy Looks he saw them entring in Without Salute Nor durst they first begin Fearful of rash Offence and Death foreseen He soon the Cause divining clear'd his Brow And thus did liberty of Speech allow Interpreters of Gods and Men be bold Awful your Character and uncontroll'd Howe'er unpleasing be the News you bring I blame not you but your Imperious King You come I know my Captive to demand Patroclus give her to the Herald's Hand But you authentick Witnesses I bring Before the Gods and your ungrateful King Of this my Manifest That never more This Hand shall combate on the crooked Shore No let the Grecian Pow'rs oppress'd in Fight Unpity'd perish in their Tyrants sight Blind of the future and by Rage misled He pulls his Crimes upon his People's Head Forc'd from the Field in Trenches to contend And his Insulted Camp from Foes defend He said and soon obeying his intent Patroclus brought Briseis from her Tent Then to th' intrusted Messengers resign'd She wept and often cast her Eyes behind Forc'd from the Man she lov'd They led her thence Along the Shore a Pris'ner to their Prince Sole on the barren Sands the suff'ring Chief Roar'd out for Anguish and indulg'd his Grief Cast on his Kindred Seas a stormy Look And his upbraided Mother thus bespoke Unhappy Parent of a short-liv'd Son Since Jove in pity by thy Pray'rs was won To grace my small Remains of Breath with Fame Why loads he this imbitter'd Life with Shame Suff'ring his King of Men to force my Slave Whom well deserv'd in War the Grecians gave Set by old Ocean's side the Goddess heard Then from the sacred Deep her Head she rear'd Rose like a Morning-mist and thus begun To sooth the Sorrows of her plaintive Son Why cry's my Care and why conceals his Smart Let thy afflicted Parent share her part Then sighing from the bottom of his Breast To the Sea-Goddess thus the Goddess-born address'd Thou know'st my Pain which telling but recals By force of Arms we raz'd the Theban Walls The ransack'd City taken by our Toils We left and hither brought the golden Spoils Equal we shar'd them but before the rest The proud Prerogative had seiz'd the best Chryseis was the greedy Tyrant's Prize Chryseis rosy Cheek'd with charming Eyes Her Syre Apollo's Priest arriv'd to buy With proffer'd Gifts of Price his Daughter's liberty Suppliant before the Grecians Chiefs he stood Awful and arm'd with Ensigns of his God Bare was his hoary Head one holy Hand Held forth his Lawrel-Crown and one his Scepter of Com His Suit was common but above the rest mand To both the Brother-Princes was address'd With Shouts of loud Acclaim the Greeks agree To take the Gifts to set the Pris'ner free Not so the Tyrant who with scorn the Priest Receiv'd and with opprobrious Words dismiss'd The good old Man forlorn of human Aid For Vengeance to his heav'nly Patron pray'd The Godhead gave a favourable Ear And granted all to him he held so dear In an ill hour his piercing Shafts he sped And heaps on heaps of slaughter'd Greeks lay dead While round the Camp he rang'd At length arose A Seer who well divin'd and durst disclose The Source of all our Ills I took the Word And urg'd the sacred Slave to be restor'd The God appeas'd The swelling Monarch storm'd And then the Vengeance vow'd he since perform'd The Greeks 't is true their Ruin to prevent Have to the Royal Priest his Daughter sent But from their haughty King his Heralds came And seiz'd by his Command my Captive Dame By common Suffrage given but thou be won If in thy Pow'r t' avenge thy injur'd Son Ascend the Skies and supplicating move Thy just Complaint to Cloud-compelling Jove If thou by either Word or Deed hast wrought A kind remembrance in his grateful Thought Urge him by that For often hast thou said Thy Pow'r was once not useless in his Aid When He who high above the Highest reigns Surpriz'd by Traytor-Gods was bound in Chains When Juno Pallas with Ambition fir'd And his blue Brother of the Seas conspir'd Thou freed'st the Soveraign from unworthy Bands Thou brought'st Briareus with his hundred Hands So call'd in Heav'n but mortal Men below By his terrestrial Name AEgeon know Twice stronger than his Syre who sate above Assessor to the Throne of thundring Jove The Gods dismay'd at his approach withdrew Nor durst their unaccomplish'd Crime pursue That Action to his grateful Mind recal Embrace his Knees and at his Footstool fall That now if ever he will aid our Foes Let Troy's triumphant Troops the Camp inclose Ours beaten to the Shore the Siege fasake And what their King deserves with him partake That the proud Tyrant at his proper cost May learn the value of the Man he lost To whom the Mother-Goddess thus reply'd Sigh'd e'er she spoke and while she spoke she cry'd Ah wretched me by Fates averse decreed To bring thee forth with Pain with care to breed Did envious Heav'n not otherwise ordain Safe in thy hollow Ships thou shou'd'st remain Nor ever tempt the fatal Field again But now thy Planet sheds his pois'nous Rays
Arts Endeavours can we have Guibbons but guesses nor is sure to save But Maurus sweeps whole Parishes and Peoples ev'ry Grave And no more Mercy to Mankind will use Than when he robb'd and murder'd Maro's Muse. Wou'dst thou be soon dispatch'd and perish whole Trust Maurus with thy Life and M lb rn with thy Soul By Chace our long-liv'd Fathers earn'd their Food Toil strung the Nerves and purifi'd the Blood But we their Sons a pamper'd Race of Men Are dwindl'd down to threescore Years and ten Better to hunt in Fields for Health unbought Than fee the Doctor for a nauseous Draught The Wise for Cure on Exercise depend God never made his Work for Man to mend The Tree of Knowledge once in Eden plac'd Was easie found but was forbid the Taste O had our Grandsire walk'd without his Wife He first had sought the better Plant of Life Now both are lost Yet wandring in the dark Physicians for the Tree have found the Bark They lab'ring for Relief of Humane Kind With sharpen'd Sight some Remedies may find Th' Apothecary-Train is wholly blind From Files a Random Recipe they take And Many Deaths of One Prescription make Garth gen'rous as his Muse prescribes and gives The Shop-man sells and by Destruction lives Ungrateful Tribe who like the Viper's Brood From Med'cine issuing suck their Mother's Blood Let These obey and let the Learn'd prescribe That Men may die without a double Bribe Let Them but under their Superiours kill When Doctors first have sign'd the bloody Bill He scapes the best who Nature to repair Draws Phisick from the Fields in Draughts of Vital Air. You hoard not Health for your own private Use But on the Publick spend the rich Produce When often urg'd unwilling to be Great Your Country calls you from your lov'd Retreat And sends to Senates charg'd with Common Care Which none more shuns and none can better bear Where cou'd they find another form'd so fit To poise with solid Sense a spritely Wit Were these both wanting as they both abound Where cou'd so firm Integrity be found Well-born and Wealthy wanting no Support You steer betwixt the Country and the Court Nor gratifie whate'er the Great desire Nor grudging give what Publick Needs require Part must be left a Fund when Foes invade And Part employ'd to roll the Watry Trade Ev'n Canaans happy Land when worn with Toil Requir'd a Sabbath-Year to mend the meagre Soil Good Senators and such are you so give That Kings may be supply'd the People thrive And He when Want requires is truly Wise Who slights not Foreign Aids nor over-buys But on our Native Strength in time of need relies Munster was bought we boast not the Success Who fights for Gain for greater makes his Peace Our Foes compell'd by Need have Peace embrac'd The Peace both Parties want is like to last Which if secure securely we may trade Or not secure shou'd never have been made Safe in our selves while on our selves we stand The Sea is ours and that defends the Land Be then the Naval Stores the Nations Care New Ships to build and batter'd to repair Observe the War in ev'ry Annual Course What has been done was done with British Force Namur Subdu'd is England's Palm alone The Rest Besieg'd but we Constrain'd the Town We saw th' Event that follow'd our Success France though pretending Arms pursu'd the Peace Oblig'd by one sole Treaty to restore What Twenty Years of War had won before Enough for Europe has our Albion fought Let us enjoy the Peace our Blood has bought When once the Persian King was put to Flight The weary Macedons refus'd to fight Themselves their own Mortality confess'd And left the Son of Jove to quarrel for the rest Ev'n Victors are by Victories undone Thus Hannibal with Foreign Laurels won To Carthage was recall'd too late to keep his own While sore of Battel while our Wounds are green Why shou'd we tempt the doubtful Dye agen In Wars renew'd uncertain of Success Sure of a Share as Umpires of the Peace A Patriot both the King and Country serves Prerogative and Privilege preserves Of Each our Laws the certain Limit show One must not ebb nor t' other overflow Betwixt the Prince and Parliament we stand The Barriers of the State on either Hand May neither overflow for then they drown the Land When both are full they feed our bless'd Abode Like those that water'd once the Paradise of God Some Overpoife of Sway by Turns they share In Peace the People and the Prince in War Consuls of mod'rate Pow'r in Calms were made When the Gauls came one sole Dictator sway'd Patriots in Peace assert the Peoples Right With noble Stubbornness resisting Might No Lawless Mandates from the Court receive Nor lend by Force but in a Body give Such was your gen'rous Grandsire free to grant In Parliaments that weigh'd their Prince's Want But so tenacious of the Common Cause As not to lend the King against his Laws And in a lothsom Dungeon doom'd to lie In Bonds retain'd his Birthright Liberty And sham'd Oppression till it set him free O true Descendent of a Patriot Line Who while thou shar'st their Lustre lend'st 'em thine Vouchsafe this Picture of thy Soul to see 'T is so far Good as it resembles thee The Beauties to th' Original I owe Which when I miss my own Defects I show Nor think the Kindred-Muses thy Disgrace A Poet is not born in ev'ry Race Two of a House few Ages can afford One to perform another to record Praise-worthy Actions are by thee embrac'd And 't is my Praise to make thy Praises last For ev'n when Death dissolves our Humane Frame The Soul returns to Heav'n from whence it came Earth keeps the Body Verse preserves the Fame MELEAGER AND ATALANTA Out of the Eighth Book OF OVID'S Metamorphosis MELEAGER AND ATALANTA Out of the Eighth Book of OVID's METAMORPHOSIS CONNEXION to the Former STORY Ovid having told how Theseus had freed Athens from the Tribute of Children which was impos'd on them by Minos King of Creta by killing the Minotaur here makes a Digression to the Story of Meleager and Atalanta which is one of the most inartificial Connexions in all the Metamorphoses For he only says that Theseus obtain'd such Honour from that Combate that all Greece had recourse to him in their Necessities and amongst others Calydon though the Heroe of that Country Prince Meleager was then living FRom him the Caledonians sought Relief Tho' valiant Meleagrus was their Chief The Cause a Boar who ravag'd far and near Of Cynthia's Wrath th' avenging Minister For Oeneus with Autumnal Plenty bless'd By Gifts to Heav'n his Gratitude express'd Cull'd Sheafs to Ceres to Lyaeus Wine To Pan and Pales offer'd Sheep and Kine And Fat of Olives to Minerva's Shrine Beginning from the Rural Gods his Hand Was lib'ral to the Pow'rs of high Command Each Deity in ev'ry Kind was bless'd Till at Diana's Fane th'invidious Honour ceas'd Wrath touches
shou'd I grant thou didst not rightly see Then thou wert first deceiv'd and I deceiv'd by thee But if thou shalt alledge through Pride of Mind Thy Blood with one of base Condition join'd 'T is false for 't is not Baseness to be Poor His Poverty augments thy Crime the more Upbraids thy Justice with the scant Regard Of Worth Whom Princes praise they shou'd reward Are these the Kings intrusted by the Crowd With Wealth to be dispens'd for Common Good The People sweat not for their King's Delight T' enrich a Pimp or raise a Parasite Theirs is the Toil and he who well has serv'd His Country has his Countrys Wealth deserv'd Ev'n mighty Monarchs oft are meanly born And Kings by Birth to lowest Rank return All subject to the Pow'r of giddy Chance For Fortune can depress or can advance But true Nobility is of the Mind Not giv'n by Chance and not to Chance resign'd For the remaining Doubt of thy Decree What to resolve and how dispose of me Be warn'd to cast that useless Care aside My self alone will for my self provide If in thy doting and decrepit Age Thy Soul a Stranger in thy Youth to Rage Begins in cruel Deeds to take Delight Gorge with my Blood thy barb'rous Appetite For I so little am dispos'd to pray For Life I would not cast a Wish away Such as it is th' Offence is all my own And what to Guiscard is already done Or to be done is doom'd by thy Decree That if not executed first by thee Shall on my Person be perform'd by me Away with Women weep and leave me here Fix'd like a Man to die without a Tear Or save or slay us both this present Hour 'T is all that Fate has left within thy Pow'r She said Nor did her Father fail to find In all she spoke the Greatness of her Mind Yet thought she was not obstinate to die Nor deem'd the Death she promis'd was so nigh Secure in this Belief he left the Dame Resolv'd to spare her Life and save her Shame But that detested Object to remove To wreak his Vengeance and to cure her Love Intent on this a secret Order sign'd The Death of Guiscard to his Guards enjoin'd Strangling was chosen and the Night the Time A mute Revenge and blind as was the Crime His faithful Heart a bloody Sacrifice Torn from his Breast to glut the Tyrant's Eyes Clos'd the severe Command For Slaves to Pay What Kings decree the Soldier must obey Wag'd against Foes and when the Wars are o'er Fit only to maintain Despotick Pow'r Dang'rous to Freedom and desir'd alone By Kings who seek an Arbitrary Throne Such were these Guards as ready to have slain The Prince himself allur'd with greater gain So was the Charge perform'd with better Will By Men inur'd to Blood and exercis'd in Ill. Now though the sullen Sire had eas'd his Mind The Pomp of his Revenge was yet behind A Pomp prepar'd to grace the Present he design'd A Goblet rich with Gems and rough with Gold Of Depth and Breadth the precious Pledge to hold With cruel Care he chose The hollow Part Inclos'd the Lid conceal'd the Lover's Heart Then of his trusted Mischiefs one he sent And bad him with these Words the Gift present Thy Father sends thee this to cheer thy Breast And glad thy Sight with what thou lov'st the best As thou hast pleas'd his Eyes and joy'd his Mind With what he lov'd the most of Humane Kind E'er this the Royal Dame who well had weigh'd The Consequence of what her Sire had said Fix'd on her Fate against th' expected Hour Procur'd the Means to have it in her Pow'r For this she had distill'd with early Care The Juice of Simples friendly to Despair A Magazine of Death and thus prepar'd Secure to die the fatal Message heard Then smil'd severe nor with a troubl'd Look Or trembling Hand the Fun'ral Present took Ev'n kept her Count'nance when the Lid remov'd Disclos'd the Heart unfortunately lov'd She needed not be told within whose Breast It lodg'd the Message had explain'd the rest Or not amaz'd or hiding her Surprize She sternly on the Bearer fix'd her Eyes Then thus Tell Tancred on his Daughters part The Gold though precious equals not the Heart But he did well to give his best and I Who wish'd a worthier Urn forgive his Poverty At this she curb'd a Groan that else had come And pausing view'd the Present in the Tomb Then to the Heart ador'd devoutly glew'd Her Lips and raising it her Speech renew'd Ev'n from my Day of Birth to this the Bound Of my unhappy Being I have found My Father's Care and Tenderness express'd But this last Act of Love excels the rest For this so dear a Present bear him back The best Return that I can live to make The Messenger dispatch'd again she view'd The lov'd Remains and sighing thus pursu'd Source of my Life and Lord of my Desires In whom I liv'd with whom my Soul expires Poor Heart no more the Spring of Vital Heat Curs'd be the Hands that tore thee from thy Seat The Course is finish'd which thy Fates decreed And thou from thy Corporeal Prison freed Soon hast thou reach'd the Goal with mended Pace A World of Woes dispatch'd in little space Forc'd by thy Worth thy Foe in Death become Thy Friend has lodg'd thee in a costly Tomb There yet remain'd thy Fun'ral Exequies The weeping Tribute of thy Widows Eyes And those indulgent Heav'n has found the way That I before my Death have leave to pay My Father ev'n in Cruelty is kind Or Heav'n has turn'd the Malice of his Mind To better Uses than his Hate design'd And made th' Insult which in his Gift appears The Means to mourn thee with my pious Tears Which I will pay thee down before I go And save my self the Pains to weep below If Souls can weep though once I meant to meet My Fate with Face unmov'd and Eyes unwet Yet since I have thee here in narrow Room My Tears shall set thee first afloat within thy Tomb Then as I know thy Spirit hovers nigh Under thy friendly Conduct will I fly To Regions unexplor'd secure to share Thy State nor Hell shall Punishment appear And Heav'n is double Heav'n if thou art there She said Her brim-full Eyes that ready stood And only wanted Will to weep a Flood Releas'd their watry Store and pour'd amain Like Clouds low hung a sober Show'r of Rain Mute solemn Sorrow free from Female Noise Such as the Majesty of Grief destroys For bending o'er the Cup the Tears she shed Seem'd by the Posture to discharge her Head O'er-fill'd before and oft her Mouth apply'd To the cold Heart she kiss'd at once and cry'd Her Maids who stood amaz'd nor knew the Cause Of her Complaining nor whose Heart it was Yet all due Measures of her Mourning kept Did Office at the Dirge and by Infection wept And oft enquir'd th' Occasion of her Grief Unanswer'd
will assist and Jove assert my Right But thou of all the Kings his Care below Art least at my Command and most my Foe Debates Dissentions Uproars are thy Joy Provok'd without Offence and practis'd to destroy Strength is of Brutes and not thy Boast alone At least 't is lent from Heav'n and not thy own Fly then ill-manner'd to thy Native Land And there thy Ant-born Myrmidons command But mark this Menace since I must resign My black-ey'd Maid to please the Pow'rs divine A well-rigg'd Vessel in the Port attends Man'd at my Charge commanded by my Friends The Ship shall wast her to her wish'd Abode Full fraught with holy Bribes to the far-shooting God This thus dispatch'd I owe my self the Care My Fame and injur'd Honour to repair From thy own Tent proud Man in thy despight This Hand shall ravish thy pretended Right Briseis shall be mine and thou shalt see What odds of awful Pow'r I have on thee That others at thy cost may learn the diff'rence of degree At this th' Impatient Hero sowrly smil'd His Heart impetuous in his Bosom boil'd And justled by two Tides of equal sway Stood for a while suspended in his way Betwixt his Reason and his Rage untam'd One whisper'd soft and one aloud reclaim'd That only counsell'd to the safer side This to the Sword his ready Hand apply'd Unpunish'd to support th' Affrong was hard Nor easy was th' Attempt to force the Guard But soon the thirst of Vengeance fir'd his Blood Half shone his Faulchion and half sheath'd it stood In that nice moment Pallas from above Commission'd by th' Imperial Wife of Jove Descended swift the white arm'd Queen was loath The Fight shou'd follow for she favour'd both Just as in Act he stood in Clouds inshrin'd Her Hand she fasten'd on his Hair behind Then backward by his yellow Curls she drew To him and him alone confess'd in view Tam'd by superiour Force he turn'd his Eyes Aghast at first and stupid with Surprize But by her sparkling Eyes and ardent Look The Virgin-Warrior known he thus bespoke Com'st thou Celestial to behold my Wrongs Then view the Vengeance which to Crimes belongs Thus He. The blue-ey'd Goddess thus rejoin'd I come to calm thy turbulence of Mind If Reason will resume her soveraign Sway And sent by Juno her Commands obey Equal she loves you both and I protect Then give thy Guardian Gods their due respect And cease Contention be thy Words severe Sharp as he merits But the Sword forbear An Hour unhop'd already wings her way When he his dire Affront shall dearly pay When the proud King shall sue with trebble Gain To quit thy Loss and conquer thy Disdain But thou secure of my unfailing Word Compose thy swelling Soul and sheath the Sword The Youth thus answer'd mild Auspicious Maid Heav'ns will be mine and your Commands obey'd The Gods are just and when subduing Sense We serve their Pow'rs provide the Recompence He said with surly Faith believ'd her Word And in the Sheath reluctant plung'd the Sword Her Message done she mounts the bless'd Abodes And mix'd among the Senate of the Gods At her departure his Disdain return'd The Fire she fan'd with greater Fury burn'd Rumbling within till thus it found a vent Dastard and Drunkard Mean and Insolent Tongue-valiant Hero Vaunter of thy Might In Threats the foremost but the lag in Fight When did'st thou thrust amid the mingled Preace Content to bid the War aloof in Peace Arms are the Trade of each Plebeyan Soul 'T is Death to fight but Kingly to controul Lord-like at ease with arbitrary Pow'r To peel the Chiefs the People to devour These Traitor are thy Tallents safer far Than to contend in Fields and Toils of War Nor coud'st thou thus have dar'd the common Hate Were not their Souls as abject as their State But by this Scepter solemnly I swear Which never more green Leaf or growing Branch shall bear Torn from the Tree and giv'n by Jove to those Who Laws dispence and mighty Wrongs oppose That when the Grecians want my wonted Aid No Gift shall bribe it and no Pray'r persuade When Hector comes the Homicide to wield His conquering Arms with Corps to strow the Field Then shalt thou mourn thy Pride and late confess My Wrong repented when 't is past redress He said And with Disdain in open view Against the Ground his golden Scepter threw Then sate with boiling Rage Altrides burn'd And Foam betwixt his gnashing Grinders churn'd But from his Seat the Pylian Prince arose With Reas'ning mild their Madness to compose Words sweet as Hony from his Mouth distill'd Two Centuries already he fulfill'd And now began the third unbroken yet Once fam'd for Courage still in Council great What worse he said can Argos undergo What can more gratify the Phrygian Foe Than these distemper'd Heats If both the Lights Of Greece their private Int'rest disunites Believe a Friend with thrice your Years increas'd And let these youthful Passions be repress'd I flourish'd long before your Birth and then Liv'd equal with a Race of braver Men Than these dim Eyes shall e'er behold agen Ceneus and Dryas and excelling them Great Theseus and the force of greater Polypheme With these I went a Brother of the War Their Dangers to divide their Fame to share Nor idle stood with unassisting Hands When salvage Beasts and Men's more salvage Bands Their virtuous Toil subdu'd Yet those I sway'd With pow'rful Speech I spoke and they obey'd If such as those my Councils cou'd reclaim Think not young Warriors your diminish'd Name Shall lose of Lustre by subjecting Rage To the cool Dictates of experienc'd Age. Thou King of Men stretch not thy sovereign Sway Beyond the Bounds free Subjects can obey But let Pelides in his Prize rejoice Atchiev'd in Arms allow'd by publick Voice Nor Thou brave Champion with his Pow'r contend Before whose Throne ev'n Kings their lower'd Scepters bend The Head of Action He and Thou the Hand Matchless thy Force but mightier his Command Thou first O King release the rights of Sway Pow'r self-restrain'd the People best obey Sanctions of Law from Thee derive their Source Command thy Self whom no Commands can force The Son of Thetis Rampire of our Host Is worth our Care to keep nor shall my Pray'rs be lost Thus Nestor said and ceas'd Atrides broke His Silence next but ponder'd e'er he spoke Wise are thy Words and glad I would obey But this proud Man affects Imperial Sway. Controlling Kings and trampling on our State His Will is Law and what he wills is Fate The Gods have giv'n him Strength But whence the Style Of lawless Pow'r assum'd or Licence to revile Achilles cut him short and thus reply'd My Worth allow'd in Words is in effect deny'd For who but a Poltron possess'd with Fear Such haughty Insolence can tamely bear Command thy Slaves My freeborn soul disdains A Tyrant's Curb and restiff breaks the Reins Take this along that no Dispute
Hours And Nature's ready Pencil paints the Flow'rs When thy short Reign is past the Fev'rish Sun The sultry Tropick fears and moves more slowly on So may thy tender Blossoms fear no Blite Nor Goats with venom'd Teeth thy Tendrils bite As thou shalt guide my wandring Feet to find The fragrant Greens I seek my Brows to bind His Vows address'd within the Grove he stray'd Till Fate or Fortune near the Place convey'd His Steps where secret Palamon was laid Full little thought of him the gentle Knight Who flying Death had there conceal'd his Flight In Brakes and Brambles hid and shunning Mortal Sight And less he knew him for his hated Foe But fear'd him as a Man he did not know But as it has been said of ancient Years That Fields are full of Eyes and Woods have Ears For this the Wise are ever on their Guard For Unforeseen they say is unprepar'd Uncautious Arcite thought himself alone And less than all suspected Palamon Who listning heard him while he search'd the Grove And loudly sung his Roundelay of Love But on the sudden stopp'd and silent stood As Lovers often muse and change their Mood Now high as Heav'n and then as low as Hell Now up now down as Buckets in a Well For Venus like her Day will change her Cheer And seldom shall we see a Friday clear Thus Arcite having sung with alter'd Hue Sunk on the Ground and from his Bosom drew A desp'rate Sigh accusing Heav'n and Fate And angry Juno's unrelenting Hate Curs'd be the Day when first I did appear Let it be blotted from the Calendar Lest it pollute the Month and poison all the Year Still will the jealous Queen pursue our Race Cadmus is dead the Theban City was Yet ceases not her Hate For all who come From Cadmus are involv'd in Cadmus Doom I suffer for my Blood Unjust Decree That punishes another's Crime on me In mean Estate I serve my mortal Foe The Man who caus'd my Countrys Overthrow This is not all for Juno to my shame Has forc'd me to forsake my former Name Arcite I was Philostratus I am That Side of Heav'n is all my Enemy Mars ruin'd Thebes his Mother ruin'd me Of all the Royal Race remains but one Beside my self th' unhappy Palamon Whom Theseus holds in Bonds and will not free Without a Crime except his Kin to me Yet these and all the rest I cou'd endure But Love 's a Malady without a Cure Fierce Love has pierc'd me with his fiery Dart He fries within and hisses at my Heart Your Eyes fair Emily my Fate pursue I suffer for the rest I die for you Of such a Goddess no Time leaves Record Who burn'd the Temple where she was ador'd And let it burn I never will complain Pleas'd with my Suff'rings if you knew my Pain At this a sickly Qualm his Heart assail'd His Ears ring inward and his Senses fail'd No Word miss'd Palamon of all he spoke But soon to deadly Pale he chang'd his Look He trembl'd ev'ry Limb and felt a Smart As if cold Steel had glided through his Heart Nor longer staid but starting from his Place Discover'd stood and shew'd his hostile Face False Traytor Arcite Traytor to thy Blood Bound by thy sacred Oath to seek my Good Now art thou found forsworn for Emily And dar'st attempt her Love for whom I die So hast thou cheated Theseus with a Wile Against thy Vow returning to beguile Under a borrow'd Name As false to me So false thou art to him who set thee free But rest assur'd that either thou shalt die Or else renounce thy Claim in Emily For though unarm'd I am and freed by Chance Am here without my Sword or pointed Lance Hope not base Man unquestion'd hence to go For I am Palamon thy mortal Foe Arcite who heard his Tale and knew the Man His Sword unsheath'd and fiercely thus began Now by the Gods who govern Heav'n above Wert thou not weak with Hunger mad with Love That Word had been thy last or in this Grove This Hand should force thee to renounce thy Love The Surety which I gave thee I defie Fool not to know that Love endures no Tie And Jove but laughs at Lovers Perjury Know I will serve the Fair in thy despight But since thou art my Kinsman and a Knight Here have my Faith to morrow in this Grove Our Arms shall plead the Titles of our Love And Heav'n so help my Right as I alone Will come and keep the Cause and Quarrel both unknown With Arms of Proof both for my self and thee Chuse thou the best and leave the worst to me And that at better ease thou maist abide Bedding and Clothes I will this Night provide And needful Sustenance that thou maist be A Conquest better won and worthy me His Promise Palamon accepts but pray'd To keep it better than the first he made Thus fair they parted till the Morrows Dawn For each had laid his plighted Faith to pawn Oh Love Thou sternly dost thy Pow'r maintain And wilt not bear a Rival in thy Reign Tyrants and thou all Fellowship disdain This was in Arcite prov'd and Palamon Both in Despair yet each would love alone Arcite return'd and as in Honour ty'd His Foe with Bedding and with Food supply'd Then e'er the Day two Suits of Armour sought Which born before him on his Steed he brought Both were of shining Steel and wrought so pure As might the Strokes of two such Arms endure Now at the Time and in th' appointed Place The Challenger and Challeng'd Face to Face Approach each other from afar they knew And from afar their Hatred chang'd their Hue. So stands the Thracian Heardsman with his Spear Full in the Gap and hopes the hunted Bear And hears him rustling in the Wood and sees His Course at Distance by the bending Trees And thinks Here comes my mortal Enemy And either he must fall in Fight or I This while he thinks he lifts aloft his Dart A gen'rous Chilness seizes ev'ry Part The Veins pour back the Blood and fortifie the Heart Thus pale they meet their Eyes with Fury burn None greets for none the Greeting will return But in dumb Surliness each arm'd with Care His Foe profest as Brother of the War Then both no Moment lost at once advance Against each other arm'd with Sword and Lance They lash they foin they pass they strive to bore Their Corslets and the thinnest Parts explore Thus two long Hours in equal Arms they stood And wounded wound till both were bath'd in Blood And not a Foot of Ground had either got As if the World depended on the Spot Fell Arcite like an angry Tyger far'd And like a Lion Palamon appear'd Or as two Boars whom Love to Battel draws With rising Bristles and with froathy Jaws Their adverse Breasts with Tusks oblique they wound With Grunts and Groans the Forest rings around So fought the Knights and fighting must abide Till Fate an Umpire sends
their Diff'rence to decide The Pow'r that ministers to God's Decrees And executes on Earth what Heav'n foresees Call'd Providence or Chance or fatal Sway Comes with resistless Force and finds or makes her Way Nor Kings nor Nations nor united Pow'r One Moment can retard th' appointed Hour And some one Day some wondrous Chance appears Which happen'd not in Centuries of Years For sure whate'er we Mortals hate or love Or hope or fear depends on Pow'rs above They move our Appetites to Good or Ill And by Foresight necessitate the Will In Theseus this appears whose youthful Joy Was Beasts of Chase in Forests to destroy This gentle Knight inspir'd by jolly May Forsook his easie Couch at early Day And to the Wood and Wilds pursu'd his Way Beside him rode Hippolita the Queen And Emily attir'd in lively Green With Horns and Hounds and all the tuneful Cry To hunt a Royal Hart within the Covert nigh And as he follow'd Mars before so now He serves the Goddess of the Silver Bow The Way that Theseus took was to the Wood Where the two Knights in cruel Battel stood The Laund on which they fought th' appointed Place In which th' uncoupl'd Hounds began the Chace Thither forth-right he rode to rowse the Prey That shaded by the Fern in Harbour lay And thence dislodg'd was wont to leave the Wood For open Fields and cross the Crystal Flood Approach'd and looking underneath the Sun He saw proud Arcite and fierce Palamon In mortal Battel doubling Blow on Blow Like Lightning flam'd their Fauchions to and fro And shot a dreadful Gleam so strong they strook There seem'd less Force requir'd to fell an Oak He gaz'd with Wonder on their equal Might Look'd eager on but knew not either Knight Resolv'd to learn he spurr'd his fiery Steed With goring Rowels to provoke his Speed The Minute ended that began the Race So soon he was betwixt 'em on the Place And with his Sword unsheath'd on pain of Life Commands both Combatants to cease their Strife Then with imperious Tone pursues his Threat What are you Why in Arms together met How dares your Pride presume against my Laws As in a listed Field to fight your Cause Unask'd the Royal Grant no Marshal by As Knightly Rites require nor Judge to try Then Palamon with scarce recover'd Breath Thus hasty spoke We both deserve the Death And both wou'd die for look the World around A Pair so wretched is not to be found Our Life 's a Load encumber'd with the Charge We long to set th' imprison'd Soul at large Now as thou art a Sovereign Judge decree The rightful Doom of Death to him and me Let neither find thy Grace for Grace is Cruelty Me first O kill me first and cure my Woe Then sheath the Sword of Justice on my Foe Or kill him first for when his Name is heard He foremost will receive his due Reward Arcite of Thebes is he thy mortal Foe On whom thy Grace did Liberty bestow But first contracted that if ever found By Day or Night upon th' Athenian Ground His Head should pay the Forfeit See return'd The perjur'd Knight his Oath and Honour scorn'd For this is he who with a borrow'd Name And profer'd Service to thy Palace came Now call'd Philostratus retain'd by thee A Traytor trusted and in high Degree Aspiring to the Bed of beauteous Emily My Part remains From Thebes my Birth I own And call my self th' unhappy Palamon Think me not like that Man since no Disgrace Can force me to renounce the Honour of my Race Know me for what I am I broke thy Chain Nor promis'd I thy Pris'ner to remain The Love of Liberty with Life is giv'n And Life it self th' inferiour Gift of Heaven Thus without Crime I fled but farther know I with this Arcite am thy mortal Foe Then give me Death since I thy Life pursue For Safeguard of thy self Death is my Due More would'st thou know I love bright Emily And for her Sake and in her Sight will die But kill my Rival too for he no less Deserves and I thy righteous Doom will bless Assur'd that what I lose he never shall possess To this reply'd the stern Athenian Prince And sow'rly smild In owning your Offence You judge your self and I but keep Record In place of Law while you pronounce the Word Take your Desert the Death you have decreed I seal your Doom and ratifie the Deed. By Mars the Patron of my Arms you die He said dumb Sorrow seiz'd the Standers by The Queen above the rest by Nature Good The Pattern form'd of perfect Womanhood For tender Pity wept When she began Through the bright Quire th' infectious Vertue ran All dropp'd their Tears ev'n the contended Maid And thus among themselves they softly said What Eyes can suffer this unworthy Sight Two Youths of Royal Blood renown'd in Fight The Mastership of Heav'n in Face and Mind And Lovers far beyond their faithless Kind See their wide streaming Wounds they neither came From Pride of Empire nor desire of Fame Kings fight for Kingdoms Madmen for Applause But love for Love alone that crowns the Lover's Cause This Thought which ever bribes the beauteous Kind Such Pity wrought in ev'ry Ladies Mind They left their Steeds and prostrate on the Place From the fierce King implor'd th' Offenders Grace He paus'd a while stood silent in his Mood For yet his Rage was boiling in his Blood But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt As softest Metals are not slow to melt And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds Then reasons with himself and first he finds His Passion cast a Mist before his Sense And either made or magnifi'd th' Offence Offence of what to whom Who judg'd the Cause The Pris'ner freed himself by Natures Laws Born free he sought his Right The Man he freed Was perjur'd but his Love excus'd the Deed Thus pond'ring he look'd under with his Eyes And saw the Womens Tears and heard their Cries Which mov'd Compassion more He shook his Head And softly sighing to himself he said Curse on th' unpard'ning Prince whom Tears can draw To no Remorse who rules by Lions Law And deaf to Pray'rs by no Submission bow'd Rends all alike the Penitent and Proud At this with Look serene he rais'd his Head Reason resum'd her Place and Passion fled Then thus aloud he spoke The Pow'r of Love In Earth and Seas and Air and Heav'n above Rules unresisted with an awful Nod By daily Miracles declar'd a God He blinds the Wise gives Eye-sight to the Blind And moulds and stamps anew the Lover's Mind Behold that Arcite and this Palamon Freed from my Fetters and in Safety gone What hinder'd either in their Native Soil At ease to reap the Harvest of their Toil But Love their Lord did otherwise ordain And brought 'em in then own despite again To suffer Death deserv'd for well they know 'T is in my Pow'r and I their deadly Foe The Proverb
of Meeting were deny'd But all those Wants ingenious Love supply'd Th' inventive God who never fails his Part Inspires the Wit when once he warms the Heart When Guiscard next was in the Circle seen Where Sigismonda held the Place of Queen A hollow Cane within her Hand she brought But in the Concave had enclos'd a Note With this she seem'd to play and as in sport Toss'd to her Love in presence of the Court Take it she said and when your Needs require This little Brand will serve to light your Fire He took it with a Bow and soon divin'd The seeming Toy was not for nought design'd But when retir'd so long with curious Eyes He view'd the Present that he found the Prize Much was in little writ and all convey'd With cautious Care for fear to be betray'd By some false Confident or Fav'rite Maid The Time the Place the Manner how to meet Were all in punctual Order plainly writ But since a Trust must be she thought it best To put it out of Laymens Pow't at least And for their solemn Vows prepar'd a Priest Guiscard her secret Purpose understood With Joy prepar'd to meet the coming Good Nor Pains nor Danger was resolv'd to spare But use the Means appointed by the Fair. Near the proud Palace of Salerno stood A Mount of rough Ascent and thick with Wood Through this a Cave was dug with vast Expence The Work it seem'd of some suspicious Prince Who when abusing Pow'r with lawless Might From Publick Justice would secure his Flight The Passage made by many a winding Way Reach'd ev'n the Room in which the Tyrant lay Fit for his Purpose on a lower Floor He lodg'd whose Issue was an Iron Door From whence by Stairs descending to the Ground In the blind Grot a safe Retreat he found It s Outlet ended in a Brake o'ergrown With Brambles choak'd by Time and now unknown A Rift there was which from the Mountains Height Convey'd a glimmering and malignant Light A Breathing-place to draw the Damps away A Twilight of an intercepted Day The Tyrants Den whose Use though lost to Fame Was now th' Apartment of the Royal Dame The Cavern only to her Father known By him was to his Darling-Daughter shown Neglected long she let the Secret rest Till Love recall'd it to her lab'ring Breast And hinted as the Way by Heav'n design'd The Teacher by the Means he taught to blind What will not Women do when Need inspires Their Wit or Love their Inclination fires Though Jealousie of State th' Invention found Yet Love refin'd upon the former Ground That Way the Tyrant had reserv'd to fly Pursuing Hate now serv'd to bring two Lovers nigh The Dame who long in vain had kept the Key Bold by Desire explor'd the secret Way Now try'd the Stairs and wading through the Night Search'd all the deep Recess and issu'd into Light All this her Letter had so well explain'd Th' instructed Youth might compass what remain'd The Cavern-mouth alone was hard to find Because the Path disus'd was out of mind But in what Quarter of the Cops it lay His Eye by certain Level could survey Yet for the Wood perplex'd with Thorns he knew A Frock of Leather o'er his Limbs he drew And thus provided search'd the Brake around Till the choak'd Entry of the Cave he found Thus all prepar'd the promis'd Hour arriv'd So long expected and so well contriv'd With Love to Friend th' impatient Lover went Fenc'd from the Thorns and trod the deep Descent The conscious Priest who was suborn'd before Stood ready posted at the Postern-door The Maids in distant Rooms were sent to rest And nothing wanted but th' invited Guest He came and knocking thrice without delay The longing Lady heard and turn'd the Key At once invaded him with all her Charms And the first Step he made was in her Arms The Leathern Out-side boistrous as it was Gave way and bent beneath her strict Embrace On either Side the Kisses flew so thick That neither he nor she had Breath to speak The holy Man amaz'd at what he saw Made haste to sanctifie the Bliss by Law And mutter'd fast the Matrimony o're For fear committed Sin should get before His Work perform'd he left the Pair alone Because he knew he could not go too soon His Presence odious when his Task was done What Thoughts he had beseems not me to say Though some surmise he went to fast and pray And needed both to drive the tempting Thoughts away The Foe once gone they took their full Delight 'T was restless Rage and Tempest all the Night For greedy Love each Moment would employ And grudg'd the shortest Pauses of their Joy Thus were their Loves auspiciously begun And thus with secret Care were carried on The Stealth it self did Appetite restore And look'd so like a Sin it pleas'd the more The Cave was now become a common Way The Wicket often open'd knew the Key Love rioted secure and long enjoy'd Was ever eager and was never cloy'd But as Extremes are short of Ill and Good And Tides at highest Mark regorge the Flood So Fate that could no more improve their Joy Took a malicious Pleasure to destroy Tancred who fondly lov'd and whose Delight Was plac'd in his fair Daughters daily Sight Of Custom when his State-Affairs were done Would pass his pleasing Hours with her alone And as a Father's Privilege allow'd Without Attendance of th' officious Crowd It happen'd once that when in Heat of Day He try'd to sleep as was his usual Way The balmy Slumber fled his wakeful Eyes And forc'd him in his own despite to rise Of Sleep forsaken to relieve his Care He sought the Conversation of the Fair But with her Train of Damsels she was gone In shady Walks the scorching Heat to shun He would not violate that sweet Recess And found besides a welcome Heaviness That seiz'd his Eyes and Slumber which forgot When call'd before to come now came unsought From Light retir'd behind his Daughters Bed He for approaching Sleep compos'd his Head A Chair was ready for that Use design'd So quilted that he lay at ease reclin'd The Curtains closely drawn the Light to skreen As if he had contriv'd to lie unseen Thus cover'd with an artificial Night Sleep did his Office soon and seal'd his Sight With Heav'n averse in this ill-omen'd Hour Was Guiscard summon'd to the secret Bow'r And the fair Nymph with Expectation fir'd From her attending Damsels was retir'd For true to Love she measur'd Time so right As not to miss one Moment of Delight The Garden seated on the level Floor She left behind and locking ev'ry Door Thought all secure but little did she know Blind to her Fate she had inclos'd her Foe Attending Guiscard in his Leathern Frock Stood ready with his thrice-repeated Knock Thrice with a doleful Sound the jarring Grate Rung deaf and hollow and presag'd their Fate The Door unlock'd to known Delight they haste And panting in each
him a Bow or his from Cupid take away Time glides along with undiscover'd haste The Future but a Length behind the past So swift are Years The Babe whom just before His Grandsire got and whom his Sister bore The Drop the Thing which late the Tree inclos'd And late the yawning Bark to Life expos'd A Babe a Boy a beauteous Youth appears And lovelier than himself at riper Years Now to the Queen of Love he gave Desires And with her Pains reveng'd his Mother's Fires THE FIRST BOOK OF HOMER'S ILIAS The First Book of Homer's Ilias The ARGUMENT Chryses Priest of Apollo brings Presents to the Grecian Princes to ransom his Daughter Chryseis who was Prisoner in the Fleet. Agamemnon the General whose Captive and Mistress the young Lady was refuses to deliver her threatens the Venerable Old Man and dismisses him with Contumely The Priest craves Vengeance of his God who sends a Plague among the Greeks Which occasions Achilles their Great Champion to summon a Council of the Chief Officers He encourages Calchas the High Priest and Prophet to tell the Reason why the Gods were so much incens'd against them Calchas is fearful of provoking Agamemnon till Achilles engages to protect him Then embolden'd by the Heroe he accuses the General as the Cause of all by detaining the Fair Captive and refusing the Presents offer'd for her Ransom By this Proceeding Agamemnon is oblig'd against his Will to restore Chryseis with Gifts that he might appease the Wrath of Phoebus but at the same time to revenge himself on Achilles sends to seize his Slave Briseis Achilles thus affronted complains to his Mother Thetis and begs her to revenge his Injury not only on the General but on all the Army by giving Victory to the Trojans till the ungrateful King became sensible of his Injustice At the same time he retires from the Camp into his Ships and withdraws his Aid from his Country-men Thetis prefers her Son's Petition to Jupiter who grants her Sute Juno suspects her Errand and quarrels with her Husband for his Grant till Vulcan reconciles his Parents with a Bowl of Nectar and sends them peaceably to Bed THe Wrath of Peleu's Son O Muse resound Whose dire Effects the Grecian Army found And many a Heroe King and hardy Knight Were sent in early Youth to Shades of Night Their Limbs a Prey to Dogs and Vulturs made So was the Sov'reign Will of Jove obey'd From that ill-omen'd Hour when Strife begun Betwixt Atrides Great and Thetis God-like Son What Pow'r provok'd and for what Cause relate Sow'd in their Breasts the Seeds of stern Debate Jove's and Latona's Son his Wrath express'd In Vengeance of his violated Priest Against the King of Men who swoln with Pride Refus'd his Presents and his Pray'rs deny'd For this the God a swift Contagion spread Amid the Camp where Heaps on Heaps lay dead For Venerable Chryses came to buy With Gold and Gifts of Price his Daughters Liberty Suppliant before the Grecian Chiefs he stood Awful and arm'd with Ensigns of his God Bare was his hoary Head one holy Hand Held forth his Laurel Crown and one his Sceptre of Command His Suit was common but above the rest To both the Brother-Princes thus address'd Ye Sons of Atreus and ye Grecian Pow'rs So may the Gods who dwell in Heav'nly Bow'rs Succeed your Siege accord the Vows you make And give you Troys Imperial Town to take So by their happy Conduct may you come With Conquest back to your sweet Native Home As you receive the Ransom which I bring Respecting Jove and the far-shooting King And break my Daughters Bonds at my desire And glad with her Return her grieving Sire With Shouts of loud Acclaim the Greeks decree To take the Gifts to set the Damsel free The King of Men alone with Fury burn'd And haughty these opprobrious Words return'd Hence Holy Dotard and avoid my Sight E'er Evil intercept thy tardy Flight Nor dare to tread this interdicted Strand Lest not that idle Sceptre in thy Hand Nor thy God's Crown my vow'd Revenge withstand Hence on thy Life The Captive-Maid is mine Whom not for Price or Pray'rs I will resign Mine she shall be till creeping Age and Time Her Bloom have wither'd and consum'd her Prime Till then my Royal Bed she shall attend And having first adorn'd it late ascend This for the Night by Day the Web and Loom And homely Houshold-task shall be her Doom Far from thy lov'd Embrace and her sweet Native Home He said The helpless Priest reply'd no more But sped his Steps along the hoarse-resounding Shore Silent he fled secure at length he stood Devoutly curs'd his Foes and thus invok'd his God O Source of Sacred Light attend my Pray'r God with the Silver Bow and Golden Hair Whom Chrysa Cilla Tenedos obeys And whose broad Eye their happy Soil surveys If Smintheus I have pour'd before thy Shrine The Blood of Oxen Goats and ruddy Wine And Larded Thighs on loaded Altars laid Hear and my just Revenge proptious aid Pierce the proud Greeks and with thy Shafts attest How much thy Pow'r is injur'd in thy Priest He pray'd and Phoebus hearing urg'd his Flight With Fury kindled from Olympus Height His Quiver o'er his ample Shoulders threw His Bow twang'd and his Arrows rattl'd as they flew Black as a stormy Night he rang'd around The Tents and compass'd the devoted Ground Then with full Force his deadly Bowe he bent And Feather'd Fates among the Mules and Sumpters sent Th'Essay of Rage on faithful Dogs the next And last in Humane Hearts his Arrows fix'd The God nine Days the Greeks at Rovers kill'd Nine Days the Camp with Fun'ral Fires was fill'd The Tenth Achilles by the Queens Command Who bears Heav'ns awful Sceptre in her Hand A Council summon'd for the Goddess griev'd Her favour'd Hoast shou'd perish unreliev'd The Kings assembl'd soon their Chief inclose Then from his Seat the Goddess-born arose And thus undaunted spoke What now remains But that once more we tempt the warry Plains And wandring homeward seek our Safety hence In Flight at least if we can find Defence Such Woes at once encompass us about The Plague within the Camp the Sword without Consult O King the Prophets of th' event And whence these Ills and what the Gods intent Let them by Dreams explore for Dreams from Jove are sent What want of offer'd Victims what Offence In Fact committed cou'd the Sun incense To deal his deadly Shafts What may remove His settled Hate and reconcile his Love That he may look propitious on our Toils And hungry Graves no more be glutted with our Spoils Thus to the King of Men the Hero spoke Then Calchas the desir'd Occasion took Calchas the sacred Seer who had in view Things present and the past and Things to come foreknew Supream of Angurs who by Phoebus taught The Grecian Pow'rs to Troy's Destruction brought Skill'd in the secret Causes of their Woes The Reverend Priest in graceful
Act arose And thus bespoke Pelides Care of Jove Favour'd of all th' Immortal Pow'rs above Wou'dst thou the Seeds deep sown of Mischief know And why provok'd Apollo bends his Bow Plight first thy Faith inviolably true To save me from those Ills that may ensue For I shall tell ungrateful Truths to those Whose boundless Pow'r of Life and Death dispose And Sov'reigns ever jealous of their State Forgive not those whom once they mark for Hate Ev'n tho' th' Offence they seemingly digest Revenge like Embers rak'd within their Breast Bursts forth in Flames whose unresisted Pow'r Will seize th' unwary Wretch and soon devour Such and no less is he on whom depends The sum of Things and whom my Tongue of force offends Secure me then from his foreseen Intent That what his Wrath may doom thy Valour may prevent To this the stern Achilles made Reply Be bold and on my plighted Faith rely To speak what Phoebus has inspir'd thy Soul For common Good and speak without controul His Godhead I invoke by him I swear That while my Nostrils draw this vital Air None shall presume to violate those Bands Or touch thy Person with unhallow'd Hands Ev'n not the King of Men that all commands At this resuming Heart the Prophet said Nor Hecatombs unslain nor Vows unpaid On Greeks accurs'd this dire Contagion bring Or call for Vengeance from the Bowyer King But he the Tyrant whom none dares resist Affronts the Godhead in his injur'd Priest He keeps the Damsel Captive in his Chain And Presents are refus'd and Pray'rs preferr'd in vain For this th' avenging Pow'r employs his Darts And empties all his Quiver in our Hearts Thus will persist relentless in his Ire Till the fair Slave be render'd to her Syre And Ransom-free restor'd to his Abode With Sacrifice to reconcile the God Then he perhaps atton'd by Pray'r mav cease His Vengeance justly vow'd and give the Peace Thus having said he sate Thus answer'd then Upstarting from his Throne the King of Men His Breast with Fury fill'd his Eyes with Fire Which rowling round he shot in Sparkles on the Sire Augur of Ill whose Tongue was never found Without a Priestly Curse or boding Sound For not one bless'd Event foretold to me Pass'd through that Mouth or pass'd unwillingly And now thou dost with Lies the Throne invade By Practice harden'd in thy sland'ring Trade Obtending Heav'n for what e'er Ills befal And sputtring under specious Names thy Gall. Now Phoebus is provok'd his Rites and Laws Are in his Priest profan'd and I the Cause Since I detain a Slave my Sov'reign Prize And sacred Gold your Idol-God despise I love her well And well her Merits claim To stand preferr'd before my Grecian Dame Not Clytemnestra's self in Beauties Bloom More charm'd or better ply'd the various Loom Mine is the Maid and brought in happy Hour With every Houshold-grace adorn'd to bless my Nuptial Bow'r Yet shall she be restor'd since publick Good For private Int'rest ought not be withstood To save th' Effusion of my People's Blood But Right requires if I resign my own I shou'd not suffer for your sakes alone Alone excluded from the Prize I gain'd And by your common Suffrage have obtain'd The Slave without a Ransom shall be sent It rests for you to make th' Equivalent To this the fierce Thessalian Prince reply'd O first in Pow'r but passing all in Pride Griping and still tenacious of thy Hold Would'st thou the Grecian Chiefs though largely Sould Shou'd give the Prizes they had gain'd before And with their Loss thy Sacrilege restore Whate'er by force of Arms the Soldier got Is each his own by dividend of Lot Which to resume were both unjust and base Not to be born but by a servile Race But this we can If Saturn's Son bestows The Sack of Troy which he by Promise owes Then shall the conquering Greeks thy Loss restore And with large Int'rest make th' advantage more To this Atrides answer'd Though thy Boast Assumes the foremost Name of all our Host Pretend not mighty Man that what is mine Controll'd by thee I tamely shou'd resign Shall I release the Prize I gain'd by Right In taken Towns and many a bloody Fight While thou detain'st Briseis in thy Bands By priestly glossing on the God's Commands Resolve on this a short Alternative Quit mine or in exchange another give Else I assure thy Soul by Sov'reign Right Will seize thy Captive in thy own Despight Or from stout Ajax or Ulysses bear What other Prize my Fancy shall prefer Then softly murmur or aloud complain Rage as you please you shall resist in vain But more of this in proper Time and Place To Things of greater moment let us pass A Ship to fail the sacred Seas prepare Proud in her Trim and put on board the Fair With Sacrifice and Gifts and all the pomp of Pray'r The Crew well chosen the Command shall be In Ajax or if other I decree In Creta's King or Ithacus or if I please in Thee Most fit thy self to see perform'd th' intent For which my Pris'ner from my Sight is sent Thanks to thy pious Care that Phoebus may relent At this Achilles roul'd his furious Eyes Fix'd on the King askant and thus replies O Impudent regardful of thy own Whose Thoughts are center'd on thy self alone Advanc'd to Sovereign Sway for better Ends Than thus like abject Slaves to treat thy Friends What Greek is he that urg'd by thy Command Against the Trojan Troops will lift his Hand Not I Nor such inforc'd Respect I owe Nor Pergamus I hate nor Priam is my Foe What Wrong from Troy remote cou'd I sustain To leave my fruitful Soil and happy Reign And plough the Surges of the stormy Main Thee frontless Man we follow'd from afar Thy Instruments of Death and Tools of War Thine is the Triumph ours the Toil alone We bear thee on our Backs and mount thee on the Throne For thee we fall in Fight for thee redress Thy baffled Brother not the Wrongs of Greece And now thou threaten'st with unjust Decree To punish thy affronting Heav'n on me To seize the Prize which I so dearly bought By common Suffrage giv'n confirm'd by Lot Mean Match to thine For still above the rest Thy hook'd rapacious Hands usurp the best Though mine are first in Fight to force the Prey And last sustain the Labours of the Day Nor grudge I thee the much the Grecians give Nor murm'ring take the little I receive Yet ev'n this little thou who woud'st ingross The whole Insatiate envy'st as thy Loss Know then for Phthya fix'd is my return Better at home my ill-paid Pains to mourn Than from an Equal here sustain the publick Scorn The King whose Brows with shining Gold were bound Who saw his Throne with scepter'd Slaves incompass'd round Thus answer'd stern Go at thy Pleasure go We need not such a Friend nor fear we such a Foe There will not want to follow me in Fight Jove
And short and full of Sorrow are thy Days For what remains to Heav'n I will ascend And at the Thund'rer's Throne thy Suit commend 'Till then secure in Ships abstain from Fight Indulge thy Grief in Tears and vent thy Spight For yesterday the Court of Heav'n with Jove Remov'd 'T is dead Vacation now above Twelve Days the Gods their solemn Revels keep And quaff with blameless Ethiops in the Deep Return'd from thence to Heav'n my Flight I take Knock at the brazen Gates and Providence awake Embrace his Knees and suppliant to the Sire Doubt not I will obtain the grant of thy desire She said And parting left him on the place Swoln with Disdain resenting his Disgrace Revengeful Thoughts revolving in his Mind He wept for Anger and for Love he pin'd Mean time with prosperous Gales Ulysses brought The Slave and Ship with Sacrifices fraught To Chrysa's Port Where entring with the Tide He drop'd his Anchors and his Oars he ply'd Furl'd every Sail and drawing down the Mast His Vessel moor'd and made with Haulsers fast Descending on the Plain ashore they bring The Hecatomb to please the shooter King The Dame before an Altars holy Fire Ulysses led and thus bespoke her Sire Reverenc'd be thou and be thy God ador'd The King of Men thy Daughter has restor'd And sent by me with Presents and with Pray'r He recommends him to thy pious Care That Phoebus at thy Sute his Wrath may cease And give the penitent Offenders Peace He said and gave her to her Father's Hands Who glad receiv'd her free from servile Bands This done in Order they with sober Grace Their Gifts around the well-built Altar place Then wash'd and took the Cakes while Chryses stood With Hands upheld and thus invok'd his God God of the Silver Bow whose Eyes survey The sacred Cilla thou whose awful Sway Chrysa the bless'd and Tenedos obey Now hear as thou before my Pray'r hast heard Against the Grecians and their Prince preferr'd Once thou hast honour'd honour once again Thy Priest nor let his second Vows be vain But from th' afflicted Host and humbled Prince Avert thy Wrath and cease thy Pestilence Apollo heard and conquering his Disdain Unbent his Bow and Greece respir'd again Now when the solemn Rites of Pray'r were past Their salted Cakes on crackling Flames they cast Then turning back the Sacrifice they sped The fatted Oxen slew and flea'd the Dead Chop'd off their nervous Thighs and next prepar'd T' involve the lean in Cauls and mend with Lard Sweet-breads and Collops were with Skewers prick'd About the Sides inbibing what they deck'd The Priest with holy Hands was seen to tine The cloven Wood and pour the ruddy Wine The Youth approach'd the Fire and as it burn'd On five sharp Broachers rank'd the Roast they turn'd These Morsels stay'd their Stomachs then the rest They cut in Legs and Fillets for the Feast Which drawn and serv'd their Hunger they appease With sav'ry Meat and set their Minds at ease Now when the rage of Eating was repell'd The Boys with generous Wine the Goblets fill'd The first Libations to the Gods they pour And then with Songs indulge the Genial Hour Holy Debauch Till Day to Night they bring With Hymns and Paeans to the Bowyer King At Sun-set to their Ship they make return And snore secure on Decks till rosy Morn The Skies with dawning Day were purpled o'er Awak'd with lab'ring Oars they leave the Shore The Pow'r appeas'd with Winds suffic'd the Sail The bellying Canvass strutted with the Gale The Waves indignant roar with surly Pride And press against the Sides and beaten off divide They cut the foamy way with Force impell'd Superiour till the Trojan Port they held Then hauling on the Strand their Gally Moor And pitch their Tents along the crooked Shore Mean time the Goddess-born in secret pin'd Nor visited the Camp nor in the Council join'd But keeping close his gnawing Heart he fed With hopes of Vengeance on the Tyrant's Head And wish'd sor bloody Wars and mortal Wounds And of the Greeks oppress'd in Fight to hear the dying Sounds Now when twelve Days compleat had run their Race The Gods bethought them of the Cares belonging to their place Jove at their Head ascending from the Sea A shoal of puny Pow'rs attend his way Then Thetis not unmindful of her Son Emerging from the Deep to beg her Boon Pursu'd their Track and waken'd from his rest Before the Soveraign stood a Morning Guest Him in the Circle but apart she found The rest at awful distance stood around She bow'd and e'er she durst her Sute begin One Hand embrac'd his Knees one prop'd his Chin. Then thus If I Celestial Sire in aught Have serv'd thy Will or gratify'd thy Thought One glimpse of Glory to my Issue give Grac'd for the little time he has to live Dishonour'd by the King of Men he stands His rightful Prize is ravish'd from his Hands But thou O Father in my Son's Defence Assume thy Pow'r assert thy Providence Let Troy prevail till Greece th' Affront has paid With doubled Honours and redeem'd his Aid She ceas'd but the consid'ring God was mute 'Till she resolv'd to win renew'd her Sute Nor loos'd her Hold but forc'd him to reply Or grant me my Petition or deny Jove cannot fear Then tell me to my Face That I of all the Gods am least in grace This I can bear The Cloud-Compeller mourn'd And sighing first this Answer he return'd Know'st thou what Clamors will disturb my Reign What my stun'd Ears from Juno must sustain In Council she gives Licence to her Tongue Loquacious Brawling ever in the wrong And now she will my partial Pow'r upbraid If alienate from Greece I give the Trojans Aid But thou depart and shun her jealous Sight The Care be mine to do Pelides right Go then and on the Faith of Jove rely When nodding to thy Sute he bows the Sky This ratifies th' irrevocable Doom The Sign ordain'd that what I will shall come The Stamp of Heav'n and Seal of Fate He said And shook the sacred Honours of his Head With Terror trembled Heav'ns subsiding Hill And from his shaken Curls Ambrosial Dews distil The Goddess goes exulting from his Sight And seeks the Seas profound and leaves the Realms of Light He moves into his Hall The Pow'rs resort Each from his House to fill the Soveraign's Court. Nor waiting Summons nor expecting stood But met with Reverence and receiv'd the God He mounts the Throne and Juno took her place But sullen Discontent sate lowring on her Face With jealous Eyes at distance she had seen Whisp'ring with Jove the Silver-footed Queen Then impotent of Tongue her Silence broke Thus turbulent in rattling Tone she spoke Author of Ills and close Contriver Jove Which of thy Dames what Prostitute of Love Has held thy Ear so long and begg'd so hard For some old Service done some new Reward Apart you talk'd for that 's your special care The Consort
my Spear And after cur'd To me the Thebans owe Lesbos and Tenedos their overthrow Syros and Cylla Not on all to dwell By me Lyrnesus and strong Chrysa fell And since I sent the Man who Hector slew To me the noble Hector's Death is due Those Arms I put into his living Hand Those Arms Pelides dead I now demand When Greece was injur'd in the Spartan Prince And met at Aulis to revenge th' Offence 'T was a dead Calm or adverse Blasts that reign'd And in the Port the Wind-bound Fleet detain'd Bad Signs were seen and Oracles severe Were daily thunder'd in our General 's Ear That by his Daughter's Blood we must appease Diana's kindled Wrath and free the Seas Affection Int'rest Fame his Heart assail'd But soon the Father o'er the King prevail'd Bold on himself he took the pious Crime As angry with the Gods as they with him No Subject cou'd sustain their Sov'raign's Look Till this hard Enterprize I undertook I only durst th' Imperial Pow'r controul And undermin'd the Parent in his Soul Forc'd him t' exert the King for common Good And pay our Ransom with his Daughters Blood Never was Cause more difficult to plead Than where the Judge against himself decreed Yet this I won by dint of Argument The Wrongs his injur'd Brother underwent And his own Office sham'd him to consent 'T was harder yet to move the Mother's Mind And to this heavy Task was I design'd Reasons against her Love I knew were vain I circumvented whom I could not gain Had Ajax been employ'd our slacken'd Sails Had still at Aulis waited happy Gales Arriv'd at Troy your choice was fix'd on me A fearless Envoy fit for a bold Embassy Secure I enter'd through the hostile Court Glitt'ring with Steel and crowded with Resort There in the midst of Arms I plead our Cause Urge the foul Rape and violated Laws Accuse the Foes as Authors of the Strife Reproach the Ravisher demand the Wife Priam Antenor and the wiser few I mov'd but Paris and his lawless Crew Scarce held their Hands and lifted Swords But stood In Act to quench their impious Thirst of Blood This Menelaus knows expos'd to share With me the rough Preludium of the War Endless it were to tell what I have done In Arms or Council since the Siege begun The first Encounter 's past the Foe repell'd They skulk'd within the Town we kept the Field War seem'd asleep for nine long Years at length Both Sides resolv'd to push we try'd our Strength Now what did Ajax while our Arms took Breath Vers'd only in the gross mechanick Trade of Death If you require my Deeds with ambush'd Arms I trap'd the Foe or tir'd with false Alarms Secur'd the Ships drew Lines along the Plain The Fainting chear'd chastis'd the Rebel-train Provided Forage our spent Arms renew'd Employ'd at home or sent abroad the common Cause pursu'd The King deluded in a Dream by Jove Despair'd to take the Town and order'd to remove What Subject durst arraign the Pow'r supreme Producing Jove to justify his Dream Ajax might wish the Soldiers to retain From shameful Flight but Wishes were in vain As wanting of effect had been his Words Such as of course his thundring Tongue affords But did this Boaster threaten did he pray Or by his own Example urge their stay None none of these but ran himself away I saw him run and was asham'd to see Who ply'd his Feet so fast to get aboard as He Then speeding through the Place I made a stand And loudly cry'd O base degenerate Band To leave a Town already in your Hand After so long expence of Blood for Fame To bring home nothing but perpetual Shame These Words or what I have forgotten since For Grief inspir'd me then with Eloquence Reduc'd their Minds they leave the crowded Port And to their late forsaken Camp resort Dismay'd the Council met This Man was there But mute and not recover'd of his Fear Thersites tax'd the King and loudly rail'd But his wide opening Mouth with Blows I seal'd Then rising I excite their Souls to Fame And kindle sleeping Virtue into Flame From thence whatever he perform'd in Fight Is justly mine who drew him back from Flight Which of the Grecian Chiefs consorts with Thee But Diomede desires my Company And still communicates his Praise with me As guided by a God secure he goes Arm'd with my Fellowship amid the Foes And sure no little Merit I may boast Whom such a Man selects from such an Hoast Unforc'd by Lots I went without affright To dare with him the Dangers of the Night On the same Errand sent we met the Spy Of Hector double-tongu'd and us'd to lie Him I dispatch'd but not till undermin'd I drew him first to tell what treacherous Troy design'd My Task perform'd with Praise I had retir'd But not content with this to greater Praise aspir'd Invaded Rhoesus and his Thracian Crew And him and his in their own Strength I slew Return'd a Victor all my Vows compleat With the King's Chariot in his Royal Seat Refuse me now his Arms whose fiery Steeds Were promis'd to the Spy for his Nocturnal Deeds And let dull Ajax bear away my Right When all his Days out-ballance this one Night Nor fought I Darkling still The Sun beheld With slaughter'd Lycians when I strew'd the Field You saw and counted as I pass'd along Alastor Cromyus Ceranos the Strong Alcander Prytanis and Halius Noemon Charopes and Ennomus Choon Chersidamas and five beside Men of obscure Descent but Courage try'd All these this Hand laid breathless on the Ground Nor want I Proofs of many a manly Wound All honest all before Believe not me Words may deceive but credit what you see At this he bar'd his Breast and show'd his Scars As of a furrow'd Field well plough'd with Wars Nor is this Part unexercis'd said he That Gyant-bulk of his from Wounds is free Safe in his Shield he fears no Foe to try And better manages his Blood than I But this avails me not our Boaster strove Not with our Foes alone but partial Jove To save the Fleet This I confefs is true Nor will I take from any Man his due But thus assuming all he robs from you Some part of Honour to your share will fall He did the best indeed but did not all Patroclus in Achilles Arms and thought The Chief he seem'd with equal Ardour fought Preserv'd the Fleet repell'd the raging Fire And forc'd the fearful Trojans to retire But Ajax boasts that he was only thought A Match for Hector who the Combat sought Sure he forgets the King the Chiefs and Me All were as eager for the Fight as He He but the ninth and not by publick Voice Or ours preferr'd was only Fortunes choice They fought nor can our Hero boast the Event For Hector from the Field unwounded went Why am I forc'd to name that fatal Day That snatch'd the Prop and Pride of Greece away I saw Pelides sink With
He who cou'd often and alone withstand The Foe the Fire and Jove's own partial Hand Now cannot his unmaster'd Grief sustain But yields to Rage to Madness and Disdain Then snatching out his Fauchion Thou said He Art mine Ulysses lays no claim to Thee O often try'd and ever trusty Sword Now do thy last kind Office to thy Lord 'T is Ajax who requests thy Aid to show None but himself himself cou'd overthrow He said and with so good a Will to die Did to his Breast the fatal Point apply It found his Heart a way till then unknown Where never Weapon enter'd but his own No Hands cou'd force it thence so fix'd it stood Till out it rush'd expell'd by Streams of spouting Blood The fruitful Blood produc'd a Flow'r which grew On a green Stem and of a Purple Hue Like his whom unaware Apollo slew Inscrib'd in both the Letters are the same But those express the Grief and these the Name THE WIFE OF BATH HER TALE THE Wife of BATH HER TALE IN Days of Old when Arthur fill'd the Throne Whose Acts and Fame to Foreign Lands were blown The King of Elfs and little Fairy Queen Gamboll'd on Heaths and danc'd on ev'ry Green And where the jolly Troop had led the round The Grass unbidden rose and mark'd the Ground Nor darkling did they dance the Silver Light Of Phaebe serv'd to guide their Steps aright And with their Tripping pleas'd prolong'd the Night Her Beams they follow'd where at full she plaid Nor longer than she shed her Horns they staid From thence with airy Flight to Foreign Lands convey'd Above the rest our Britain held they dear More solemnly they kept their Sabbaths here And made more spacious Rings and revell'd half the Year I speak of ancient Times for now the Swain Returning late may pass the Woods in vain And never hope to see the nightly Train In vain the Dairy now with Mints is dress'd The Dairy-Maid expects no Fairy Guest To skim the Bowls and after pay the Feast She sighs and shakes her empty Shoes in vain No Silver Penny to reward her Pain For Priests with Pray'rs and other godly Geer Have made the merry Goblins disappear And where they plaid their merry Pranks before Have sprinkled Holy Water on the Floor And Fry'rs that through the wealthy Regions run Thick as the Motes that twinkle in the Sun Resort to Farmers rich and bless their Halls And exorcise the Beds and cross the Walls This makes the Fairy Quires forsake the Place When once 't is hallow'd with the Rites of Grace But in the Walks where wicked Elves have been The Learning of the Parish now is seen The Midnight Parson posting o'er the Green With Gown tuck'd up to Wakes for Sunday next With humming Ale encouraging his Text Nor wants the holy Leer to Country-Girl betwixt From Fiends and Imps he sets the Village free There haunts not any Incubus but He. The Maids and Women need no Danger fear To walk by Night and Sanctity so near For by some Haycock or some shady Thorn He bids his Beads both Even-song and Morn It so befel in this King Arthur's Reign A lusty Knight was pricking o'er the Plain A Batchelor he was and of the courtly Train It happen'd as he rode a Damsel gay In Russet-Robes to Market took her way Soon on the Girl he cast an amorous Eye So strait she walk'd and on her Pasterns high If seeing her behind he lik'd her Pace Now turning short he better lik'd her Face He lights in hast and full of Youthful Fire By Force accomplish'd his obscene Desire This done away he rode not unespy'd For swarming at his Back the Country cry'd And once in view they never lost the Sight But seiz'd and pinion'd brought to court the Knight Then Courts of Kings were held in high Renown E'er made the common Brothels of the Town There Virgins honourable Vows receiv'd But chast as Maids in Monasteries liv'd The King himself to Nuptial Ties a Slave No bad Example to his Poets gave And they not bad but in a vicious Age Had not to please the Prince debauch'd the Stage Now what shou'd Arthur do He lov'd the Knight But Soveraign Monarchs are the Source of Right Mov'd by the Damsels Tears and common Cry He doom'd the brutal Ravisher to die But fair Geneura rose in his Defence And pray'd so hard for Mercy from the Prince That to his Queen the King th' Offender gave And left it in her Pow'r to Kill or Save This gracious Act the Ladies all approve Who thought it much a Man should die for Love And with their Mistress join'd in close Debate Covering their Kindness with dissembled Hate If not to free him to prolong his Fate At last agreed they call'd him by consent Before the Queen and Female Parliament And the fair Speaker rising from her Chair Did thus the Judgment of the House declare Sir Knight tho' I have ask'd thy Life yet still Thy Destiny depends upon my Will Nor hast thou other Surety than the Grace Not due to thee from our offended Race But as our Kind is of a softer Mold And cannot Blood without a Sigh behold I grant thee Life reserving still the Pow'r To take the Forfeit when I see my Hour Unless thy Answer to my next Demand Shall set Thee free from our avenging Hand The Question whose Solution I require Is what the Sex of Women most desire In this Dispute thy Judges are at Strife Beware for on thy Wit depends thy Life Yet lest surpriz'd unknowing what to say Thou damn thy self we give thee farther Day A Year is thine to wander at thy Will And learn from others if thou want'st the Skill But not to hold our Proffer in Scorn Good Sureties will we have for thy return That at the time prefix'd thou shalt obey And at thy Pledges Peril keep thy Day Woe was the Knight at this severe Command But well he knew 't was bootless to withstand The Terms accepted as the Fair ordain He put in Bail for his return again And promis'd Answer at the Day assign'd The best with Heav'ns Assistance he could find His Leave thus taken on his Way he went With heavy Heart and full of Discontent Misdoubting much and fearful of th' Event 'T was hard the Truth of such a Point to find As was not yet agreed among the Kind Thus on he went still anxious more and more Ask'd all he met and knock'd at ev'ry Door Enquir'd of Men but made his chief Request To learn from Women what they lov'd the best They answer'd each according to her Mind To please her self not all the Female Kind One was for Wealth another was for Place Crones old and ugly wish'd a better Face The Widow's Wish was oftentimes to Wed The wanton Maids were all for Sport a Bed Some said the Sex were pleas'd with handsom Lies And some gross Flatt'ry lov'd without disguise Truth is says one he seldom fails to win Who Flatters
Sex aspires to sway You to rule all while we like Slaves obey There was not one or Widow Maid or Wife But said the Knight had well deserv'd his Life Ev'n fair Geneura with a Blush confess'd The Man had found what Women love the best Upstarts the Beldam who was there unseen And Reverence made accosted thus the Queen My Liege said she before the Court arise May I poor Wretch find Favour in your Eyes To grant my just Request 'T was I who taught The Knight this Answer and inspir'd his Thought None but a Woman could a Man direct To tell us Women what we most affect But first I swore him on his Knightly Troth And here demand performance of his Oath To grant the Boon that next I should desire He gave his Faith and I expect my Hire My Promise is fulfill'd I sav'd his Life And claim his Debt to take me for his Wife The Knight was ask'd nor cou'd his Oath deny But hop'd they would not force him to comply The Women who would rather wrest the Laws Than let a Sister-Plantiff lofe the Cause As Judges on the Bench more gracious are And more attent to Brothers of the Bar Cry'd one and all the Suppliant should have Right And to the Grandame-Hag adjudg'd the Knight In vain he sigh'd and oft with Tears desir'd Some reasonable Sute might be requir'd But still the Crone was constant to her Note The more he spoke the more she stretch'd her Throat In vain he proffer'd all his Goods to save His Body destin'd to that living Grave The liquorish Hag rejects the Pelf with scorn And nothing but the Man would serve her turn Not all the Wealth of Eastern Kings said she Have Pow'r to part my plighted Love and me And Old and Ugly as I am and Poor Yet never will I break the Faith I swore For mine thou art by Promise during Life And I thy loving and obedient Wife My Love Nay rather my Damnation Thou Said he Nor am I bound to keep my Vow The Fiend thy Sire has sent thee from below Else how cou'dst thou my secret Sorrows know Avaunt old Witch for I renounce thy Bed The Queen may take the Forfeit of my Head E'er any of my Race so foul a Crone shall wed Both heard the Judge pronounc'd against the Knight So was he Marry'd in his own despight And all Day after hid him as an Owl Not able to sustain a Sight so foul Perhaps the Reader thinks I do him wrong To pass the Marriage-Feast and Nuptial Song Mirth there was none the Man was a-la-mort And little Courage had to make his Court. To Bed they went the Bridegroom and the Bride Was never such an ill-pair'd Couple ty'd Restless he toss'd and tumbled to and fro And rowl'd and wriggled further off for woe The good old Wife lay smiling by his Side And caught him in her quiv'ring Arms and cry'd When you my ravish'd Predecessor saw You were not then become this Man of Straw Had you been such you might have scap'd the Law Is this the Custom of King Arthur's Court Are all Round-Table Knights of such a sort Remember I am she who sav'd your Life Your loving lawful and complying Wife Not thus you swore in your unhappy Hour Nor I for this return employ'd my Pow'r In time of Need I was your faithful Friend Nor did I since nor ever will offend Believe me my lov'd Lord 't is much unkind What Fury has possess'd your alter'd Mind Thus on my Wedding-night Without Pretence Come turn this way or tell me my Offence If not your Wife let Reasons Rule persuade Name but my Fault amends shall soon be made Amends Nay that 's impossible said he What change of Age or Ugliness can be Or could Medea's Magick mend thy Face Thou art descended from so mean a Race That never Knight was match'd with such Disgrace What wonder Madam if I move my Side When if I turn I turn to such a Bride And is this all that troubles you so sore And what the Devil cou'dst thou wish me more Ah Benedicite reply'd the Crone Then cause of just Complaining have you none The Remedy to this were soon apply'd Wou'd you be like the Bridegroom to the Bride But for you say a long descended Race And Wealth and Dignity and Pow'r and Place Make Gentlemen and that your high Degree Is much disparag'd to be match'd with me Know this my Lord Nobility of Blood Is but a glitt'ring and fallacious Good The Nobleman is he whose noble Mind Is fill'd with inborn Worth unborrow'd from his Kind The King of Heav'n was in a Manger laid And took his Earth but from an humble Maid Then what can Birth or mortal Men bestow Since Floods no higher than their Fountains flow We who for Name and empty Honour strive Our true Nobility from him derive Your Ancestors who puff your Mind with Pride And vast Estates to mighty Titles ty'd Did not your Honour but their own advance For Virtue comes not by Inheritance If you tralineate from your Father's Mind What are you else but of a Bastard-kind Do as your great Progenitors have done And by their Virtues prove your self their Son No Father can infuse or Wit or Grace A Mother comes across and marrs the Race A Grandfire or a Grandame taints the Blood And seldom three Descents continue Good Were Virtue by Descent a noble Name Cou'd never villanize his Father's Fame But as the first the last of all the Line Wou'd like the Sun ev'n in Descending shine Take Fire and bear it to the darkest House Betwixt King Arthur's Court and Caucasus If you depart the Flame shall still remain And the bright Blaze enlighten all the Plain Nor till the Fewel perish can decay By Nature form'd on Things combustible to prey Such is not Man who mixing better Seed With worse begets a base degenerate Breed The Bad corrupts the Good and leaves behind No trace of all the great Begetter's Mind The Father sinks within his Son we see And often rises in the third Degree ' If better Luck a better Mother give Chance gave us being and by Chance we live Such as our Atoms were ev'n such are we Or call it Chance or strong Necessity Thus loaded with dead weight the Will is free And thus it needs must be For Seed conjoin'd Let 's into Nature's Work th' imperfect Kind But Fire th' enliv'ner of the general Frame Is one its Operation still the same It s Principle is in it self While ours Works as Confederate's War with mingled Pow'rs Or Man or Woman which soever fails And oft the Vigour of the Worse prevails AEther with Sulphur blended alters hue And casts a dusky gleam of Sodom blue Thus in a Brute their ancient Honour ends And the fair Mermaid in a Fish descends The Line is gone no longer Duke or Earl But by himself degraded turns a Churl Nobility of Blood is but Renown Of thy great Fathers by their Virtue known And