Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A30820
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The heroical lover, or, Antheon and Fidelta a poem / written by Thomas Bancroft.
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Bancroft, Thomas, fl. 1633-1658.
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1658
(1658)
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Wing B641; ESTC R22823
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36,518
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104
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regâ—late its acts and teach his Will To yield obedience to its dictates still Hence famous for his wisdome he became And justly sith enlightned by the same All vertues are which in his gentle breast Meeting with much content their centre blest Such was his valour that he knew not how To fear invasive danger nor to bow Under afflictions weight but upright stood With heart unconquer'd and unchilled blood In the foul gulfs of luxury he nere Emplunged himself but a fair course did sâ—eere In Seas of plenty and what ere he took In hand did fixtly at fair justice look Nor so much as his Poniards breadth would pass Beyond the way that right and level was His courteous sweetness humbly seem'd to show That from high Ancestry his blood did flow His bounty free as heavenly influence Made good the style of brave magnificence And all his vertues were wrought up so high So full of lustre strength and dignity That nothing could be added save the sound Of mighty Fame to make them more renown'd THE HEROICAL LOVER CANTO 2. The Argument The young Knight of Fidelta hears And thinks her praises tune the spheres Seeks her through Italy in vaine But finds Aselgia with her train WHen at the beam of youth this matchless Knight Now weigh'd himself sound his spirits light And felt more fervent blood he thought to prove The sweet endearements of desertful love And call'd to mind what Beauty he had seen Fit to be took for his affections Queen As minded some brave Heroine to wed Or never else to warm a Genial bed Mean while comes Fame than thinnest sume more light Or wings of insects shining in their flight And tells him in a busy panting hast Of a renowned Lady richly grac'â— With all endowments Nature can bestow By name Fidelta who her self would snow Most worthy of his love although it were A treasure of affection nere so dear But was so wondrous modest so retir'd So sweetly humble that she much desir'd Her beauties though as sparks of heaven beheld Might yet encloud their beams and be conceal'd So much her precious vertue fear'd to be Allaid by th' mixture of much company And for this reason as some birds do flit From coast to coast she did so often quit The place she honour'd from resort to go That where to find her very few did know As sure now said Sir Antheon as I draw A trusty sword I such a Lady saw In my last dream who having at me cast Some smiling glances vanisht at the last And left my heart on fire t' is surely she That must be mine by Destinies decree This to confirme I now remember well What oft to me my chary Nurse did tell To wit that great Astrologers once said That I a Lady of this name should wed I 'le travel through this Globe to seek her out Where'ere she hidden lyes and should not doubt But to discloud her though her beauty bright Were maskt in shadowes of Cimmerian night The Stygian Prince that Proserpine did steale Should not this Lady from my sight conceal In 's inmost cell though it with clouds were hung And 'bout her bed redoubled darkness flung But with a deep device I would orethrow His shady palace and her beauties show To th' upper world that would admiring stand And offer service what she should command This said he call'd for gentle Eubulus A man mature discreet and vertuous And thus bespake him Friend I now must try The strength and temper of your amity So long profest by all fair promises Of friendly aide all vowes of services Heâ—ted with zeale and yet I know your heart 's So firme that needless are perswasive arts I must intreat you readily to goe With me and help my skilless youth to wooe For I must travel who can tell how farre To seek a bright though sublunary starre A Lady whom all beauty doth embeam Though never by me seene save in a dream But so we do adore the Powers on high Though not expos'd to view of mortal eye And we admire the Phoenix though there be Few that did ere that winged wonder see The place of her retirement I no more Know then I do the Oceans utmost shore Yet shall I finde her to my wisht content My Genius tells me so if you 'l assent To my desires and cause my paines to be More short through your long-lov'd society To make a question Eubulâ—s reply'd Of service is to make our friendship void As cancell'd were its bond command me t' go On bare feet through the Hyperbâ—rean snow Or through dry parched Desarts seek my way 'Mongst poisonous Serpents and without delay I 'le run those hazards the sweet style of Friend Is charme enough to cause me to attend Your motions through the world and to despise The frowns of Fortune strokes of Destinies These words made musick in St. Anthâ—ons eare Who for th' affection he profest to beare Return'd him thanks and further did devise How to atchive his amorous enterprize But as a Sea-man ready to launch out O' th' Harbour when the winds do shift about From point to point well knows not how to set His hoised sailes that he may forward get So did this noble Lover doubtful stand Whither he should direct his course what land He should â—ill with his fame what region see To make therein blind loves discovery But having heard how Italy was grac't Sometime with Ladyes of renown as chast Lucretia Arria and Paulina deare To Seneca he now resolv'd to sâ—eere A straight course thither hoping there to find Fidelta th' honour of all woman-kinde And to observe with some delight what breed Of beauties now those Ladyes did succeed So like the Trojan Knight attended by Faithful Achates full of hope and joy Went he with Eubulus by land and Sea Juâ—iled with roâ—ky dangers in his way And at a hard rate did experience buy Yet came at last in ken of Italy And saw the smoke of Rhegium where t' is said That famous land was sometime severed From Sicily the force of waves and wind Driving asunder what had been joyn'd Having arriv'd where Harbour did invite And chear'd his worthy friend his dear delight Of that fair coast a greedy view he tooke More pleas'd therewith than Jason was to looke On Colchis strand th' one for a golden â—leece Sail'd farre this other a faâ—re richer piece Of beauty sought Like Mercury he mov'd And truth of history by tryal prov'd Apt to take notice and to give account Of every wood and river Plaine and Mount In the whole region One day as he came Near to Vesuvius when it belcht a flame Out of its horrid moâ—th and sent a smoke Therewith that threatned half the world to choke O Hell said he thy happiness is great That hast no feeling of that fervent heat Within thy bowells nor art rapt along By force thereof but restest on a strong And fixed Base whereas in my sick heart