who may enquire why I have taken so much pains to become an Authour Or why any man stays so long sweating at the fire of Invention to dress the food of the Minde when Readers have so imperfect Stomachs as they either devour Books with over hasty Digestion or grow to loath them from a surfet And why I more especially made my task an Heroick Poem I shall involve the two first Questions in one as submitting to be concern'd amongst the generality of Writers whose Enemies being many and now mine we must joyn forces to oppose them Men are chiefly provok'd to the toyl of compiling Books by love of Fame and often by officiousness of Conscience but seldom with expectation of Riches for those that spend time in writing to instruct others may finde leasure to inform themselves how mean the provisions are which busie and studious minds can make for their own sedentary bodies And Learned men to whom the rest of the world are but Infants have the same foolish affection in nourishing others minds as Pelicans in feeding their young which is at the expence of the very subsistance of Life 'T is then apparent they proceed by the instigation of Fame or Conscience and I believe many are perswaded by the first of which I am One and some are commanded by the second Nor is the desire of Fame so vain as divers have rigidly imagin'd Fame being when belonging to the Living that which is more gravely call'd a steddy and necessary reputation and without it hereditary Power or acquir'd greatness can never quietly govern the World 'T is of the dead a musical glory in which God the Authour of excellent goodness vouchsafes to take a continual share For the remember'd virtues of Great men are chiefly such of his works mention'd by King David as perpetually praise him and the good fame of the Dead prevails by example much more than the reputation of the Living because the later is always suspected by our Envy but the other is chearfully allow'd and religiously admir'd for Admiration whose Eyes are ever weak stands still and at gaze upon great things acted far off but when they are near walks slightly away as from familiar objects Fame is to our Sons a solid Inheritance and not usefull to remote Posterity and to our Reason 't is the first though but a little taste of Eternity Those that write by the command of Conscience thinking themselves able to instruct others and consequently oblig'd to it grow commonly the most voluminous because the pressures of Conscience are so incessant that she is never satisfied with doing enough for such as be newly made the Captives of God many appearing so to themselves when they first begin to wear the Fetters of Conscience are like common slaves when newly taken who terrified with a fancy of the severity of absolute Masters abuse their diligence out of fear and do ill rather than appear idle And this may be the cause why Libraries are more than double lin'd with Spiritual Books or Tracts of Morality the later being the Spiritual Counsels of Lay-men and the newest of such great volumns being usually but transcriptions or translations differ so much from the Ancients as later days from those of old which difference is no more than an alteration of names by removing the Ethnicks to make way for the Saints These are the effects of their labours who are provok'd to become Authours meerly out of Conscience and Conscience we may again averre to be often so unskilfull and timorous that it seldom gives a wise and steddy account of God but grows jealous of him as of an Adversary and is after melancholy visions like a fearfull Scout after he hath ill survey'd the Enemy who then makes incongruous long and terrible Tales Having confess'd that the desire of Fame made me a Writer I must declare why in my riper age I chose to gain it more especially by an Heroical Poem and the Heroick being by most allow'd to be the most beautifull of Poems I shall not need to decide the quarrels of Poets about Degrees of Excellence in Poesie But 't is noâ— amiss ere I avow the usefulness of the Science in general which was the cause of my undertaking to remember the value it had from the greatest and most worthy spirits in all Ages for I will not abstain though it may give me the reputation but of common reading to mention that Pâ—sistratus though a Tyrant liv'd with the praise and dy'd with the blessing of all Greece for gathering the scatter'd limbs of Homer's Works into a Body and that great Alexander by publickly conversing with it attain'd the universal opinion of Wit the fame of such inward forces conducing as much to his Conquests as his Armies abroad That the Athenian Prisoners were thought worthy of life and liberty for singing the Tragedies of Euripides That Thebes was sav'd from destruction by the victors reverence to the memory of Pindar That the elder Scipio who govern'd all the civil world lay continually in the bosom of Ennius That the great Numantin and Laelius no less renown'd were openly proud when the Romans believ'd they assisted Terence in his Comedies That Augustus to whom the mysteries of the universal Empire were more familiar than domestick Dominion to Modern Kings made Virgil the partner of his joys and would have divided his businesses with Horace And that Lucan was the fear and envy of Nero. If we approch nearer our own times we may adde the triumphal Entry which the Papacy gave to Petrarâ—h and how much Tasso is still the glory and delight of Italie But as in this hasty Muster of Poets and listing their confederates I shall by omitting many deprive them of that pay which is due from Fame so I may now by the opinion of some Divines whom notwithstanding I will reverence in all their distinct habits and fashions of the mind be held partial and too bold by adding to the first number though I range them upon holy ground and aside Moses David and Solomon for their Songs Psalms and Anthems the Second being the acknowledg'd Favorite of God whom he had gain'd by excellent Praises in sacred Poesie And I fear since Poesie is the clearest light by which they find the soul who seek it that Poets have in their fluent kindness diverted from the right use and spent too much of that spiritual talent in the honour of mortal Princes for divine Praise when in the high perfection as in Poets and onely in them is so much the uttermost and whole of Religious worship that all other parts of Devotion serve but to make it up 89 Praise is Devotion fit for mighty Minds The diff'ring World 's agreeing Sacrifice Where Heaven divided Faiths united finds But Pray'r in various discord upward flies 90 For Pray'r the Ocean is where diversly Men steer their course each to a sev'ral Coast Where all our Int'rests so discordant be That half beg winds by
discover the difficulties and greatness of such a work For when Solomon made use of his Neighbours towards his Building he lost no reputation nor by demanding those aids was thought a lesser Prince but rather publish'd his Wisdom in rightly understanding the vast extent of his enterprise Who likewise with as much glorie made use of Fellers of Wood and Hewers of Stone as of learned Architects Nor have I refrain'd to be oblig'd to men of any Science as well mechanical as liberal Nor when Memorie from that various and plentifull stock with which all observers are furnish'd that have had diversitie of life presented me by chance with any figure did I lay it aside as useless because at that instant I was not skilfull to manage it artfully but I have staid and recorded such objects till by consulting with right Masters I have dispos'd of them without mistake It being no more shame to get Learning at that very time and from the same Text when and by which we instruct others than for a froward Scout discovering the Enemie to save his own life at a pass where he then teaches his Partie to escape In remembring mine own helps I have consider'd those which others in the same necessitie have taken and find that Writers contrarie to my inclination are apter to be beholding to Books than to Men not onely as the first are more in their possessions being more constant Companions than dearest friends but because they commonly make such use of treasure found in Books as of other treasure belonging to the Dead and hidden under ground for they dispose of both with great secrecie defacing the shape or images of the one as much as of the other through fear of having the original of their stealth or abundance discover'd And the next cause why Writers are more in Libraries than in company is that Books are easily open'd and learned men are usually shut up by a froward or envious humour of retention or else unfold themselves so as we may read more of their weakness and vanitie than Wisdom imitating the Holy-day-custom in great Cities where the shops of Chaundrie and slight wares are familiarly open but those of solid and staple merchandise are proudly lock'd up Nor indeed can it be expected that all great Doctors are of so benign a nature as to take pains in gaining treasure of which Knowledge is the greatest with intent to inrich others so easily as if they stood every where with their Pockets spred ready to be pickt nor can we read of any Father who so far and secretly adopted his Son to a Book of his own writing as that his Son might be thought Authour of that written Wit as much as his Father was Authour of him Nor of any Husband that to his darling Wife would so far surrender his Wisdom as that in publique he could endure to let her use his Dictates as if she would have others think her wiser than himself By this rememberance of that usual parsimony in owners of Wit towards such as would make use of their plenty I lament the fortune of others and may wish the Reader to congratulate mine For I have found Friends as ready as Books to regulate my conceptions or make them more correct easie and apparent But though I am become so wise by knowing my self as to believe the thoughts of divers transcend the best which I have written yet I have admitted from no man any change of my Design nor very seldom of my sense For I resolv'd to have this Poem subsist and continue throughout with the same complexion and spirit though it appear but like a plain Family of a neighbourly alliance who marry into the same moderate quality and garb and are fearfull of introducing strangers of greater rank lest the shining presence of such might seem to upbraid and put all about them out of countenance And now Sir that the Reader may whom Writers are â—ain to court draw in and keep with artifice so shy men grow of Books believe me worthy of him I cannot forbear to thank you in publick for examining correcting and allowing this Poem in parcels ere it arriv'd at the contexture by which you have perform'd the just degrees of proceeding with Poets who during the gayety and wantonness of the Muse are but as children to Philosophers though of some Giant race whose first thoughts wilde and roaming far off must be brought home watch'd and interâ—ogated and after they are made more regular be encourag'd and prais'd for doing well that they may delight in aiming at perfection By such a Method the Muse is taught to become Master of her own and others strength and who is he so learn'd how proud soever with being cherish'd in the bosom of Fame that can hope when through the several ways of Science he seeks Nature in her hidden walks to make his Journey short unless he call you to be his Guide and who so guided can suspect his safety even when he travels through the Enemie's Countrey for such is the vast field of Learning where the Learned though not numerous enough to be an Army lye as small Parties maliciously in Ambush to destroy all new Men that look into their Quarters And from such you and those you lead are secure because you move not by common Maps but have painfully made your own Prospect and travel now like the Sun not to inform your self but enlighten the world And likewise when by the strict survey and Government that hath been had over this Poem I shall think to govern the Reader who though he be noble may perhaps judge of supream Power like a very Commoner and rather approve authority when it is in many than in one I must acquaint him that you had not alone the trouble of establishing and destroying but enjoy'd your intervals and ease by Two Colleagues Two that are worthy to follow you into the Closets of Princes if the knowledge of Men past of whom Books are the remaining minds or of the present of whom Conversation is the usefull and lawfull Spie may make up such greatness as is fit for great Courts or if the rays that proceed from the Poetick Planet be not a little too strong for the sight of modern Monarchs who now are too seldom taught in their youth like Eaglets to fortifie their eyes by often soaring near the Sun And though this be here but my testimony it is too late for any of you to disclaim it for since you have made it valid by giving yours of GONDIBERT under your hands you must be content to be us'd by me as Princes are by their preferr'd Subjects who in the very act of taking honour return it to the Giver as benefits receiv'd by the creature manifest the power and redound to the glory of the Creator I am now Sir to your great comfort that have been thus ill and long diverted arriv'd at my last consideration which is to satisfie those
The Heroique Poem Dramatique is Tragedie The Scommatique Narrative is Satyre Dramatique is Comedie The Pastoral Narrative is called simply Pastoral anciently Bucolique the same Dramatique Pastoral Comedie The Figure therefore of an Epique Poem and of a Tragedie ought to be the same for they differ no more but in that they are pronounced by one or many persons Which I insert to iustifie the figure of yours consisting of five books divided into Songs or Cantoes as five Acts divided into Scenes has ever been the approved figure of a Tragedie They that take for Poesie whatsoever is writ in Verse will think this Division imperfect and call in Sonets Epigrams Eclogues and the like pieces which are but Essayes and parts of an entire Poem and reckon Empedocies and Lucretius natural Philosophers for Poets and the moral precepts of Phocâ—lides Theognis and the Quatrains of Pybrach and the Historie of Lucan and others of that kind amongst Poems bestowing on such Writers for honour the name of Poets rather than of Historians or Philosophers But the subject of a Poem is the manners of men not natural causes manners presented not dictated and manners feigned as the name of Poesie imports not found in men They that give enterance to Fictions writ in Prose erre not so much but they erre For Prose requiteth delightfulness not onely of fiction but of stile in which if Prose contend with Verse it is with disadvantage and as it were on foot against the strength and wings of Pegasus For Verse amongst the Greeks was appropriated anciently to the service of their Gods and was the Holy stile the stile of the Oracles the stile of the Laws and the stile of Men that publickly recommended to their Gods the vows and thanks of the people which was done in their holy songs called Hymns and the composers of them were called Prophets and Priests before the name of Poet was known When afterwards the majestie of that stile was observed The Poets chose it as best becoming their high invention And for the Antiquitie of Verse it is greater than the antiquitie of Letters For it is certain Cadmus was the first that from Phoenicia a Countrey that neighboureth Judea brought the use of Letters into Greece But the service of the Gods and the Laws which by measured Sounds were easily committed to the memorie had been long time in use before the arrival of Cadmus there There is besides the grace of stile another cause why the ancient Poets chose to write in measured language which is this There Poems were made at first with intention to have them sung as well Epick as Dramatick which custom hath been long time laid aside but began to be revived in part of late years in Italie and could not be made commensurable to the Voice or Instruments in Prose the ways and motions whereof are so uncertain and undistinguished like the way and motion of a Ship in the Sea as not onely to discompose the best Composers but also to disapoint sometimes the most attentive Reader and put him to hunt counter for the sense It was therefore necessarie for Poets in those times to write in Verse The Verse which the Greeks and Latines considering the nature of their own languages found by experience most grave and for an Epique Poem most decent was their Hexameter a Verse limited not onely in the length of the line but also in the quantitie of the syllables In stead of which we use the line of ten Syllables recompensing the neglect of their quantitie with the diligence of Rime And this measure is so proper for an Heroique Poem as without some loss of gravitie and dignitie it was never changed A longer is not far from ill Prose and a shorter is a kind of whisking you know like the unlacing rather than the singing of a Muse. In an Epigram or a Sonnet a man may vary his measures and seek glorie from a needless difficultie as he that contrived Verses into the form of an Organ a Hatchet an Egg an Altar and a pair of Wings but in so great and noble a work as is an Epique Poem for a man to obstruct his own way with unprofitable difficulties is great imprudence So likewise to chuse a needless and difficult correspondence of Rime is but a difficult toy and forces a man sometimes for the stopping of a chink to say somewhat he did never think I cannot therefore but very much approve your Stanza wherein the syllables in every Verse are ten and the Rime Alternate For the choice of your Subject you have sufficiently justified your self in your Preface But because I have observed in Virgil that the Honour done to Aeneas and his companions has so bright a reflection upon Augustus Caesar and other great Romans of that time as a man may suspect him not constantly possessed with the noble spirit of those his Heroes and believe you are not acquainted with any great man of the race of Gondibert I adde to your Justification the puritie of your purpose in having no other motive of your labour but to adorn Virtue and procure her Lovers than which there cannot be a worthier design and more becoming noble Poesie In that you make so small account of the example of almost all the approved Poets ancient and modern who thought fit in the beginning and sometimes also in the progress of their Poems to invoke a Muse or some other Deitie that should dictate to them or assist them in their writings they that take not the laws of Art from any reason of their own but from the fashion of precedent times will perhaps accuse your singularitie For my part I neither subscribe to their accusation nor yet condemn that Heathen custom otherwise than as accessarie to their false Religion For their Poets were their Divines had the name of Prophets Exercised amongst the People a kind of spiritual Authoritie would be thought to speak by a Divine spirit have their works which they writ in Verse the Divine stile pass for the Word of God and not of man and to be hearkened to with reverence Do not our Divines excepting the stile do the same and by us that are of the same Religion cannot justly be reprehended for it Besides in the use of the spiritual calling of Divines there is danger sometimes to be feared from want of skill such as is reported of unskilfull Conjurers that mistaking the rites and ceremonious points of their art call up such spirits as they cannot at their pleasure allay again by whom storms are raised that overthrow buildings and are the cause of miserable wracks at Sea Unskilfull Divines do oftentimes the like For when they call unseasonably for Zeal there appears a spirit of Cruelty and by the like â—â—roun instead of Truth they raise Discord instead of Wisdom Eraud instead of Reformation Tumult and Controversie instead of Religion Whereas in the Heathen Poets at least in those whose works have lasted to the time
busie without noise 10. Whilst her great Mistress Nature thus she tends The busie Houshold waits no less on her By secret law each to her beauty bends Though all her lowly Mind to that prefer 11. Gracious and free she breaks upon them all With Morning looks and they when she does rise Devoutly at her dawn in homage fall And droop like Flow'rs when Evening shuts her Eyes 12. The sooty Chymist who his sight does waste Attending lesser Fires she passing by Broke his lov'd Lymbick through enamour'd haste And let like common Dew th' Elixar flie 13. And here the grey Philosophers resort Who all to her like crafty Courtiers bow Hoping for secrets now in Nature's Court Which onely she her fav'rite Maid can know 14. These as the Lords of Science she respects And with famillar beams their age she chears Yet all those civil forms seem but neglecâ—s To what she shews when Astragon appears 15. For as she once from him her being took She hourly takes her Lawâ— reads with swift sight His will even at the op'ning of his look And shews by haste obedience her delight 16. She makes when she at distance to him bows His int'rest in her Mother's beauty known For that 's th' Orig'nal whence her Copy ' grows And near Orig'nals Copies are not shown 17. And he with dear regard her gifts does wear Of Flow'rs which she in mystick order ties And with the sacrifice of many a tear Salutes her loyal Mother in her Eyes 18. The just Historians Birtha thus express And tell how by her Syres Example taught She serv'd the wounded Duke in Life's distress And his fled Spirits back by Cordials brought 19. Black melancholy Mists that fed despair Through wounds long rage with sprinkled Vervin cleer'd Strew'd Leaves of Willow to refresh the air And with rich Fumes his sullen sences cheer'd 20. He that had serv'd great Love with rev'rend heart In these old wounds worse wounds from him endures For Love makes Birtha shift with Death his Dart And she kills faster than her Father cures 21. Her heedless innocence as little knew The wounds she gave as those from Love she took And Love lifts high each secret Shaâ—t he drew Which at their Stars he first in triumph shook 22. Love he had lik'd yet never loâ—g'd before But finds him now a bold unquier Guest Who climbs to windows when we shut the Door And enterâ—d never lets the Master rest 23. So strange disorder now he pines for health Makes him conceal this Revelleâ— with shame She not the Robber knows yet feels the stealth And never but in Songs had heard his name 24. Yet then it was when she did smile at Hearts Which Countrey Lovers weaâ— in bleeding Seals Ask'd where his pretty Godhead found such Daâ—â—s As make those wounds that onely Hymen heals 25. And this her ancient Maid with sharp complaintâ— Heard and rebuk'd shook her experienc'd Head With tears â—osought her not to jest at Saints Nor mock those Martyrs Love had Captive led 26. Nor think the pions Poets ere would waste So many tears in Ink to make Maids mourn Iâ— injur'd Lovers had in ages past The lucky Mirtle more than Willow worn 27. This grave rebuke Officious Memory Presents to Birtha's thought who now believ'd Such sighing Songs as tell why Lovers die And prais'd their faith who wept when Poets griev ' 28. She full of inward questions walks alone To take her heart aside in secret Shade But knocking at her breast it seem'd or gone Or by confed'racie was useless made 29. Or else some stranger did usurp its room One so remote and new in ev'ry thought As his behaviour shews him not at home Nor the Guide sober that him thither brought 30. Yet with this forreign Heart she does begin To treat of Love her most unstudy'd Theam And like young conscienc'd Casuists thinks that sin Which will by talk and practise lawfull seem 31. With open Ears and ever-waking Eyes And flying Feet Love's fire she from the sight Of all her Maids does carry as from Spies Jealous that what burns her might give them light 32. Beneath a Mirtle Covert now does spend In Maids weak wishes her whole stock of thought Fond Maids who Love with Minds fine stuff would mend Which Nature purposely of Bodies wrought 33. She fashions him she lov'd of Angels kind Such as in holy Story were employ'd To the first Fathers from th' Eternal Mind And in short vision onely are enjoy'd 34. As Eagles then when nearest Heav'n they flie Of wild impossibles soon weary grow Feeling their bodies find no rest so high And therefore peaâ—ch on Earthly things below 35. So now she yields him she an Angel deem'd Shall be a Man the Name which Virgins fear Yet the most harmless to a Maid he seem'd That ever yet that fatal name did beat 36. Soon her opinion of his hurtless heart Affection turns to faith and then Loves fire To Heav'n though bashfully she does impart And to her Mother in the Heav'nly Quire 37. If I do love said she that love O Heav'n Your own Disciple Nature bred in me Why should I hide the passion you have given Or blush to shew effects which you decree 38. And you my alter'd Mother grown above Great Nature which you read and rev'renc'd here Chide not such kindness as you once call'd Love When you as mortal as my Father were 39. This said her Soul into her breasts retires With Love's vain diligence of heart she dreams Her self into possession of desires And trusts unanchor'd Hope in fleeting Streams 40. Already thinks the Duke her own spous'd Lord Cur'd and again from bloody battel brought Where all false Lovers perish'd by his sword The true to her for his protection sought 41. She thinks how her imagin'd Spouse and she So much from Heav'n may by her virtues gain That they by Time shall ne'r oretaken be No more than Time himself is overta'ne 42. Or should he touch them as he by does pass Heav'ns favour may repay their Summers gone And he so mix their sand in a slow Glass That they shall live and not as Two but One. 43. She thinks of Eden-life and no rough wind In their pacifique Sea shall wrinkles make That still her lowliness shall keep him kind Her cares keep him asleep her voice awake 44. She thinks if ever anger in him sway The Youthfull Warriours most excus'd disease Such chance her Tears shall calm as showres allay The accidental rage of Winds and Seas 45. She thinks that Babes proceed from mingling Eyes Or Heav'n from Neighbourhood increase allows As Palm and the Mamora fructifies Or they are got by closs exchanging vows 46. But come they as she hears from Mothers pain Which by th' unlucky first-Maids longing proves A lasting curse yet that she will sustain So they be like this Heav'nly Man she loves 47. Thus to her self in day-dreams Birtha talks The Duke whose wounds of war are healthfull grown To cure