Selected quad for the lemma: state_n
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A67906
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Bentivolio and Urania in four bookes / by N.I. D.D.
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Ingelo, Nathaniel, 1621?-1683.
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1660
(1660)
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Wing I175; ESTC R16505
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565,427
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738
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dismiss'd her with many thanks put into few words because they had now a vehement desire to see the End of their Journey Having quickly pass'd the valley of Elpicale they came to the famous River Lampromelan so call'd because though the waters were of a duskish colour yet from the banks there is a fair view of the lofty Hills of Theoprepia the Higher whose Inhabitants they saw shining with Glory as if they had been cloth'd with the Sun and so exalted above the state of this Low world that as they walk'd they seem'd to have the Moon under their feet A Ferriman call'd Euthanatus by order of the Prince of Theoprepia gives constant attendance here to transport such as come through Biocalon to his Country The man was of a grim look and very apt to affright such as did not know him but they having heard that he was faithful in the discharge of his Office willingly committed themselves to his Conduct He had no sooner plac'd them in his Boate but they fell into a gentle flumber which after a long journey refresh'd their weary Limbs with an acceptable repose Whilst Euthanatus wafted them over he diverted himself with a Song which was fram'd to expresse his compassionate 〈◊〉 of the unpleasant Task of that Boatman which wafts Evil Souls to Infernal shades and pleas'd himself with his own more noble Employment in that he was the Ferriman of Theoprepia His Ditty was as followeth Unhappy Charon how I pity thee Condemn'd to toyle in Hellish drudgery What dost thou daily suffer toss'd upon The dismall billowes of black Acheron I guesse thy thoughts and passions whilst I think How oft thy rotten Boate is like to sink Ore-fraught with sinfull Souls and thou dismaid With their wan looks whom Devils make afraid Who pay their fraight with grudging telling thee That thou hast brought them where they would not be I thank my Master I have no such task My Passengers give me more then I aske And I should count my self though I 'me but poor Well paid though I for nothing waft them ore For they re Good Souls and so refin'd from Sin And heavy Flesh that though I take them in Many at once I row with greatest ease And passe so quick that I do ever please This I observe They 'r chearfull when they come And much more glad when I have brought them home By which I see That those which no hurt doe Where they have been are welcome where they goe To keep presumptuous Ghosts out is my Charge Should they rush in they 'd overwhelme my Barge And if Despaire steal in I know t' would break My Cordage or else make my Vessell leake Unwilling Soules who by constraint have died To earthly life by strong affections tied Shall not come in for they 'l but passe in pain And I be forc'd to bring them back again Should doubtfull Folk which trust not God come near My wavering Bark would tosse 〈◊〉 Hope and Fear Who God 〈◊〉 or weaker men beguile And their own Souls with wilfull guilts defile The wind would turn should such to passe essay Or if 't were fair they 'd prove a Remora Their dirty Wherry in foul Styx doth floate Those which are meet for Heaven do fit my Boate. And as they passe no blustring wind dare blow Nor one rough VVave set frownes upon the brow Of Lampromelan whilst a constant gale Of cold but usefull Aire doth fill my saile Here I will sing and work nor grudge my stay To waft my Masters Friends which come this way And when he sayes he doth expect no more I le put my Boate adrift and go ashore By that time he had ended his Song he was come to the other side of the River and he had no sooner put his Passengers upon the Bank but they awaken'd and started into an unexpressible gladness for their happy arrival in their Native Country Some of their old Acquaintance walking at that time near the River conducted them courteously to the Palace of Abinoam which was hard by I should now proceed to relate the joyful welcome which the good old Father bestow'd upon his Children and to discourse concerning the Marriage of Nicomachus and Arete and to declare how Abinoam to honour their Nuptials brought forth not only all sorts of rich Bliss but certain unspeakable degrees of Joy which he had kept secret a great while in the hidden recesses of his vast Treasury I should also say how affectionately Bentivolio's Brethren did congratulate his Return and made an agreement never to part more and then describe the manner of their Life and Entertainment in the Court of Abinoam But being sufficiently wearied with coming hither I will make bold to sit down and rest before I go any further FINIS BENTIVOLIO AND URANIA The Second Part IN TWO BOOKS By NATH INGELO D.D. LONDON Printed by J. Grismond for RICHARD MARRIOTT and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstan's Church-yard in Fleetstreet 1664. To the Right Honourable JOHN Earl of LAUDER DAILL Secretary of State to His Majesty for the Kingdom of Scotland Gentleman of His Majesty's Bed-Chamber and one of His most Honourable Privy Council in both Kingdoms MY LORD THe Obligations which your Lordship hath laid upon me are so great that I disputed a good while with my self whether it were not better to continue an unthankful Negligence then to attempt a Gratitude in this poor Expression When I perus'd the Number of your Lordship's Civilities I felt something of those troublesome Passions which surprize a Merchant when by the Foot of his Accompts he perceives that his Debts have overgrown his Ability to make Payment But remembring how unworthy a thing it is ingratefully to conceal another's Right I thought it was necessary to acknowledge what I owe though I am not able to discharge it and when besides this I consider'd that your Lordship's Goodness can as easily take a small Acknowledgment in good part as bestow Courtesies without the Expectation of any I grew a little confident and thought that the Forbearance of a due Address would be as unjust a Modesty in me as it is in any Tenant who is asham'd to carry his Rent because his charitable Landlord requires only a Pepper-corn This Motive yes my Lord this Motive is the Root upon which my Boldnesse grows A mean Sacrifice is not incapable of Acceptance with God nor a little Present with such as are like him if they be offer'd with a sincere Mind With my own Intentions I am indifferently well acquainted and I have receiv'd such Assurance of your Lordship's generous Disposition that I think I may lawfully say that in your Lordship's behalf which Pindar did long since for Theron the Prince of Agrigentum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But lest I should offend your Lordship's Modesty with a Recital of your just Praises or presse