Argalus and Parthenia The argument of ye history. Written by Fra: Quarles. Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. 1629 Approx. 277 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 83 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A10246 STC 20526 ESTC S112006 99847265 99847265 12292 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A10246) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 12292) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1581:02) Argalus and Parthenia The argument of ye history. Written by Fra: Quarles. Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. Sidney, Philip, Sir, 1554-1586. Arcadia. Cecil, Thomas, fl. 1630, engraver. [6], 160, [2] p. Printed for Iohn Marriott in St. Dunstons Church:yard fleetstreet, London : 1629. The title page is engraved and signed: Tho: Cecill sculp. Based on a story in Sir Philip Sidney's "Arcadia". In verse. In three books. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Sidney, Philip, -- Sir, 1554-1586. -- Arcadia -- Adaptations -- Early works to 1800. 2002-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-04 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-05 TCP Staff (Michigan) Sampled and proofread 2002-05 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARGALVS and PARTHENIA The Argument of ye History Written by Fra : Quarles . Lusit Anacreon London Printed for Iohn Marriott in S Dunston's Church-yard fleet street . 1629. Tho : Cecill sculp . The minde of the Frontspiece . Reader , behinde this silken Frontspiece lyes The Argument of our Booke ; which , to your eyes Our Muse ( for serious causes , and best knowne Vnto her selfe ) commands should be vnshowne ; And therefore , to that end , she hath thought fit To draw this Curtaine , t'wixt your eye and it . TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY LORD RICH OF KENSINGTON , EARLE OF HOLLAND , CAPTAINE OF HIS M aties GVARD , AND GENTLEMAN OF THE BED-CHAMBER , CHANCELLOR OF THE VNIVERSITIE OF CAMBRIDGE , KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER , ONE OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNSEL : AND GREAT EXAMPLE OF TRVE HONOVR AND CHIVALRY . FRA : QVARLES PRESENTS AND DEDICATES HIS ARG ALVS AND PARTHENIA . To the Reader . Reader : I Present thee here with a history of Argalus and Parthenia , the fruits of broken houres : I was a Sience taken out of the O●…chard of Sir Philip Sydney , of pretious memory , which I haue lately 〈◊〉 vpon a Crab-stocke , in mine owne : It hath brought ●…orth many leaues , and promises pleasing frui●… , if m●…leuolent eyes blast it not in the bud . This Booke differs from my former , as a Courtier from a Churchman : But if any thinke it vn●… , for one to play both parts , I haue presidents for it : And l●…t such know , that I haue taken but one play-day in sixe : Howeuer , I should beshrew that hand that binds them all together to make one Volume . In this D●…scourse , I haue not affect●…d to set thy v●…derstanding on the Rack , by the tyranny of strong lines , which ( as they fabulously report of China dishes ) are m●…de for the third Generation to make vse of , and are the meere itch of wit ; vnder the colour o●… which , many haue ventured ( trusti●…g to the Oe●…ipean conceit of their ingenious Reader ) to write non-sense , and felloniously father the crea●…ed expositions of other men ; not vnlike some painters , who first make the picture , then , from the opinion of better iudgements , conclude , whom it resembles . These lines ●…re strong enough for my purpose ; If not for thine , yet reade them , and your vnderstandings may bee magnified by their weaknesse . Reader , thou sh l●… , in the progresse of this Story , meet with a 〈◊〉 S●…licisme ; which is this ; Demagoras his so f●…ule a deed , ●…ted vpon the faire Parthenia , is fully exp●…st ; and yet , the reuenge thereof p●…st ouer in silence ; wherein ( as I conceiue ) I haue not dealt vniustly . When Prometheus stole fire from heauen to animate and quicken his artificiall bodies , the seuerer Gods ( for punishment of so high a Sacriledge , strucke him not d●…ad with a sudden Thunderbolt , but ( to be more deeply auenged ) l●…t him liue , to be tormented with Vulters , continually g●…awing on his Liuor . The s●…me kind of torture had Ixion : so had Sisyphus : so had Tantalus : Did then Demagoras fault equall ( if not exceed ) theirs , and should his punishment be l●…sse ? H●…d my pen deliuered him dead into your hands , what could ye h●…ue had more ? His accursed memory had soone ro●…ted with his b●…ser name , and there had beene an end of him : In which respect , I haue suffered him to liue , that he might stand like a lack-a-Lent , or a Shrouing Cocke for eue●…y one to spend a Cudgell at , to the wo●…lds end . Ladies ( for in yo●…r 〈◊〉 l●…ps I know this booke will choose to lye , which being farre fetched , if the Stationer be wise , will be most fit for you ) my suit is , that you would be pleased to giue the faire Parthenia your noble ●…ntertainment : She hath crost the Seas ●…or your acquaintance , and is come to liue and dye with you ; to whose gentle hands I recommend her , and kisse them . FR ; QV. Dublin this 4. of March. 1628. ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA . The first Booke . WIthin the limits of th' Arcadian land , Whose gratefull bounty hath inricht the hand Of many a Shepherd swaine , whose rurall Art ( Vntaught to gloze , or with a double heart To vow dissembled loue ) did build to Fame Eternall Trophies of a pastorall name ; That sweet Arcadia ; which , in antique dayes , Was wont to warble out her well-tun'd layes To all the world ; and , with her oaten Reede , Did sing her loue whilst her proud flocks did feed ; Arcadia , whose deserts did claime to be As great a sharer in the Daphnean tree , As his , whose louder Aenead proudly sings Heroick conquests of victorious Kings ; There ( if th'exuberance of a word may swell So high , that Angels may be said , to dwell ) There dwelt that Virgin , that Arcadian glory , Whose rare composure did abstract the story Of true perfection , modellizing forth The ●…eight of beauty , and admired worth ; H●…r name Parthenia ; whose vnnam'd descent Can serue but as a needlesse complement To gild p●…rfection : She shall boast , alone , What bounteous Art , and Nature makes her owne . Her Mother was a Lady , whom deepe age More fi l'd with honour , then diseases ; s●…ge , A modest Matron , strict , reseru'd , austere , Sp●…ring in sp●…ch , bu●… liberall of her eare ; Fi●…rce to her fo●…s , and violent where she l kes ; Wedded to what her owne opinion strikes ; Fr●…quent quent in almes , and charitable deeds , Of mighty spirit , constant to her beads , Wisely suspitious ; but what need we other Then this ? she was the rare Parthenia's mother ; That rare Parthenia , in whose heauenly eye Sits maiden-mildnesse , mixt with Maiesty , Whose secret power hath a double skill , By frownes or smiles , to make aliue , or kill ; Her cheeks are like two bancks of fairest flowers , Inricht with sweetnesse from the twilight showers , Whereon those iarres which were so often bred , Composed were , betwixt the white and red : Her haire raught downe beneath her yuory knees , As if that Nature , to so rare a piece , H●…d meant a shadow , labouring to show A●…d boast the vtmost , that her hand could doe : Like sm●…llest flaxe appea●…'d her Nymph like haire , But only fl●…xe was not so small , so faire : H r lips like Rubies , and you 'd thinke , within , In stead of teeth , that orient Pearles had bin : The whiten●…sse of her dainty n●…ck you know , If euer you behold the new-salne Snow ; Her Swan-like brests were like two little Spheares , Wherein , each a zure line in view appeares , Which , were they obuious but to euery eye , All liberall Arts would turne Astronomie ; Her sl●…nder wast , her lilly hands , her armes I dare not 〈◊〉 to view , because all charmes Forbidden are : My bashfull Muse descends No lower sleppe : He●…e her Commission ends , And by another vertue doth enioyne My pen to treate perfection , more diuine : The chast Diana , and her Virgin-crew Was but a Type of one , that should ensue In after ages , which we find exprest , And here fulfill'd in chasts Parthenia's brest : True vertue was the obiect of her will ; She could no ill , because she knew no ill ; Her thoughts were noble , and her words not lauish , Yet free , but wisely waigh'd ; more apt to rauish , Then to entice ; lesse beautify'd with art , Then naturall sweetn sse : In her gentle heart Iudgement t●…anscended : from her milder brest Passion was not exiled , but represt : Her voyce exce●…'d ; nay , had you heard her voyce But warble 〈◊〉 , you might haue had the choyce , To 〈◊〉 her for some smooth-fac'd Cherubin , O●… el●…e some glorious Angel , that had bin A trebble sharer in th' eternall ioyes , Such was h●…r voyce , such was her heauenly voyce : Merry , yet mod●…st ; witty , and yet wise ; Not apt to toy , and yet not too too nice ; Quick , but not ●…ash ; Courteous , and yet not common ; Not too familiar , and yet scorning no man : In bri●…fe , who would relate her prayses well , Must first bethinke himselfe , what is t' exc●…ll . When these perfections h●…d enhaunc'd the name Of rare Parthenia , nimble winged Fame Grew great with honour , spreads her hasty wings , Aduanc'd her Trumpet , and away she springs , And with her ●…ull mouth'd blast she doth proclaime 〈◊〉 glory of Partheniaes name : Who now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parthenia ? what report Can find admittance in th' Arcadian Co●…rt But faire Partheniaes ? Euery sol●…mne feast Must now be swcern●…d , ho●…ourd , and poss●…st With high discourses of Partheniaes glory , And euery mouth must b●…eathe Partheniaes story . The Po●…t summons now his amorous quill , And scornes a●…istance from the sacr●…d Hill : The sweet lip●… Oratour takes in hand to raise His prouder stile , to sp●…ke Partheniacs praise . The curious Painter wis●…ly doth displace Faire Venus , sets Parthenia in her pl●…ce . The Pleader burnes his bookes , disdaines the Law , And f●…lls in lou●… with whom his ey●…s ne'er saw . Healths to the f●…ire Parthenia fl●… about At euery bord , whilst others , mo●…e 〈◊〉 , Build Idols to her , and adore the s●…me ; And Parrats learne to 〈◊〉 Partheniaes name . Some trust to f●…me ; some secretly disprise Her worth ; some emulates , and some enuies ; Some doubt , some feare lest lauish same belye her , And all that dare beleeue report , admire . Vpon the bord●…rs of the Arcadian Land Dwelt a Laconian Lord ; Of proud command , Lord of much people , youthfull , and of fame , More great then good ; Demagoras his name , Of stature tall , his body spare , and meager , Thicke shoulderd , hollow cheek'd , and visage eager , His g●…shfull countenance swarthy , long and thinne , And downe each side of his reuerted chin●…e A locke of blacke neglected haire ( be friended With warts too vgly to be seene ) descended ; His rowling eyes were deeply suncke , and hiew'd Like fire ; T is said , they blisterd where they view'd . Vpon his shoulders , from his fruitfull crowne , A rugged crop of Elfclocks dangled downe : His hide all hairy ; garish his attire , And his complexion meerely Earth and Fire ; Peruerse to all ; extenuating what Another did , because he did it not : Maligning all mens actions but his owne , Not louing any , and belou'd of none : Reuengefull , enuious , desperately stout , And in a word , to paint him fully out , That had the Monopolie to fulfill All vice ; the Hieroglyphick of all ill . He view'd Partheniaes face : As srom aboue Fireballs of lightning hurld by angry Ioue Confound the vnarm'd beholder at a blow , And leaue him ruin'd in the place : Euen so The peerelesse beauty of Partheniaes eyes , At the first sight did conquer and surprise , The slauish thoughts of this amazed louer , Who voyd of strength to hide , or to discouer The tyrannous scorching of his secret fires , Prompted by passion , with himselfe conspires . Accurs'd Demagoras ! Into what a fe●… Hath one looke strucke thy soule ? O neuer , neuer To be recur'd : If I had done amisse , Hath heauen no easier plagues in store , but this ? Promethius paines are not so sharpe as these , Our sinnes yet labour'd both of one disease ; Our faults are equall ; Both stole fire from heauen ; Our faults alike , why are our plagues vneuen ? Be iust ; O make not such vnequall ods Of equall sinnes : Be iust , or else no Gods : Why send ye downe such Angels to the earth , To mocke poore mortalls ? or of mortall birth , If such a heauenlike Paragon may be , Why doe ye not wound her , as well as me But why doe I implore your aydes in 〈◊〉 , That are the hi●…hest Agents in my p●…ine ? Poore wretc●… ! What hope of helpe can ye assure me , When onely she , that made the wound can cure me ? Diuine 〈◊〉 , earths 〈◊〉 Iewell , Would thou 〈◊〉 beene lesse glorious or lesse cruell . Wh●…n 〈◊〉 thine eyes did to these eyes appeare , I read the 〈◊〉 of my ruine there , My necessary ruin●… : Heauen , nor Hell Can salue my sores , by helpe of Prayer , or spell ; Gods are vniust ; and if , with charmes , 〈◊〉 haunt her , Her eyes are counter charmes , to enchant 〈◊〉 : Why doe I thus ex●…lcerate my disease ? By adding torments , hope I to find ease ? Is not her cruelty enough , alone , But must I bring fresh torments of my owne ? Cheare vp Demagor●…s : T is a wise mans part Not to lose all , if his vnpractis'd art Serues not to gaine : A Gamester may not choose His chance : It is some conquest not to loose : Looke to thy selfe : Let no iniurious blast Of cold despaire chi●… thy greene wounds too fast For time to cure : O , hope for no remission Of paine , till Cupid send thee a Physition . She is a woman . If a woman , then My title 's good ; Women were made for men : She is a woman , though her heauenly brow Write Angell , and may stoope , although not now ; Women , by lookes , will not be vnderstood , Vntill their hearts aduise with flesh and blood . She is a woman ; There 's no reason why , But she ( perchance ) may burne as well as I. Moue then , Demagoras , let Parthenia know The strength of her owne beauty , in thy woe : Feare not , what thou ador'st ; begin to moue , Chriscrosse sore-runs the Alphabet of loue : T is halfe perfected , what is once begun ; She is a woman ; and she must be wonne . Like as a Swaine , whose hands haue made a vow And sw●…rne allegeance to the peacefull plough , Prest out for seruice in the 〈◊〉 campe , At first ( vnentred ) finds a liuelesse dampe Beleagring euery ioynt ; as often swounds As ere he viewes his sword , or thinks of wounds ; At length ( not finding any meanes for flying , Switcht and spurd on with desp●…rate feare of dying ) He hewes , he hackes , and in the midst he goes , And freshly deales about his frantick blowes ; Euen so Demagoras , whose vnbred fashion Had neuer yet subscrib'd to loues sweet passion : Being call'd a Combitant to Cupids field , Trembles , and secretly resolues to yeeld The day without a parly , till at length , Fiercely transported by th'vntu●…'d strength Of his owne passion , he himselfe assures , That 〈◊〉 torme●…ts must haue desp'rate c●…res And thus to the diuine Partheniaes eares Applies his speech , deuo●…d of doubts and f●…ares . Fairest of creatures , If my ruder tongue , To right it selfe , should d●…e your patience wrong : And lawlesse passion make it too too free , O blame your heauenly beautie , and not me : It was those eyes , those precious eyes that first Enforc'd my tongue to speake , or heart to burst , From those deare eyes I first receiu'd that wound , Which seekes for cure , and cannot be made sound , But by the hand that strucke ; To you alone , I sue for helpe , that else must hope for none : Then crowne my ioyes , thou Antidote of despaire , And be as mercifull , as thou art faire . Nature , ( the bounty of whose liberall hand Made thee the iewell of the Arcadian land ) Intended in so rare a prize , to boast Her masterpeece : Hid Iewells are but lost . shine then , and rob not nature of her due , But honour her , as she hath honour'd you . Let not the best of all her workes lye dead In the nice Casket of a Mayd●…nhead : What she would haue reueal'd , O doe not smother , Th' art made in vaine , vnlesse thou make another : Giue me thy heart , and for that gift of thine , Lest thou shouldst want a heart , I le giue thee mine , As richly fraught with loue , and lasting duty , As thou , with vertue , or thine eyes , with beauty . Why dost thou frowne ? why does that heauenly brow Not made for wrinkles , show a wrinkle now ? Send forth thy brighter sun-shine , and the while , O lend me but the twilight of a smile : Giue me one amorous glance : why standst thou mute ? Disclose those ruby lips , and grant my suite ; Speake ( loue ) or if thy doubtfull minde be bent To silence , let that silence be consent : Nor begge I loue of almes , although in part , My words may seeme t●…implead my owne desert . Disdaine me not , although my thoughts descend Below themselues , t' enioy so faire a friend : 〈◊〉 that haue o●…t , with teares , bin sought to , sue ; And Queens haue bin his seruants , that serues you . The beauties of all Gr●…ece haue bin at strife To winne the name of great Demagoras wife , And bin despis'd , not worthy to obtaine So high an honour ; What they sought ( in vaine ) I here present thee with as thine owne due , It being an honour fit for none but you : Speake then ( my loue , ) and let thy lips make knowne , That I am either thine , or not mine owne : Haue you beheld when f●…esh Auroras eye Sends forth her early beames , and by and by Withdrawes the glory of her face , and shrowds Her checkes behind a ruddy m●…ske of clouds , Which , who beleeue in Erra Pater , say Presages winde , and blustry stormes that day , Such were Partheniaes lookes , in whose faire face , Roses and Lillies , late had equall place . But now , twixt mayden bash fulnesse and spleene , Roses appear'd and Lillies were not seene : S●…e paus'd a while , till at the last she breakes Her long kept angry silence , thus ; and speakes , My Lord , Had your strong Oratory but the Art , To make me conscious of so great desert , As you perswade , I should be bound in duty To praise your Rhet'ricke , as you prize my beauty ; Or if the frailty of my iudgement could Flatter my thoughts so grosly , as to hold Your words for currant , you might boldly dare Count me as soolish , as you terme me faire . If you vye Courtship , fortune knowes that I Haue not so strong a Game , to see the vye : Alas , my skill durst neuer vndertake To play the game , where hearts be set at stake ; Needs must the losse be great , when such haue bin Seldome obseru'd to saue themselues that win : You craue my heart ; My Lord , you craue withall , Too great a mischiese ; My poore heart 's too small To fill the concaue of so great a brest , Whose thoughts can scorne the amorous request Of loue sicke Queenes , and can requite the vaine , And factious suits of Ladies with disdaine : Stoope not so low beneath your selfe ( great Lord ) To loue Parthenia : Shall so poore a word Staine your faire lips ? whose merits doe proclaime A more transcendent fortune , then that name Can giue : Call downe Ioues winged Pursuiuant , A●…d giue his tongue the power to enchant Some easie Goddesse , in your name , and treat A mariage fitting so sublime , so great A mind as yours , and fill the fruitfull earth With Heroes , sprung from so diuine a birth : Partheniaes heart could neuer yet aspire So high : Her homebred thoughts durst ne're desire So fond an honour , matcht with so great pride , To hope for that , which Queenes haue beene denyde . Be wise , my Lord ; vouchsafe not to repeat S'vnfit a suit ; Be wise , as you are great : Aduance your noble thoughts : hazard no more To wrack your fortunes on so fleet a shore , That , to the wiser world , it may be knowne The lesse y' are mine , the more you are your owne . Like as a guilty prisner , vpon whom Offended Iustice lately past her doome , Stands trembling by , and , hopelesse to preuaile , B●…ules not for mercy , but to the loath'd Iaile D●…agges his sad yrons , and from thence commends A h●…sty suite to his selected friends , That by the vertue of a quicke Reprie●…e The wretch might haue some few daies more to liue . Euen so Demagoras , whose rewounded heart Had newly felt the vnexpected smart And secret burthen of a desp'rate doome , Replies not , takes no leaue , but quits the roome , And , in his discontented mind , reuolues Ten thousand thoughts ; and at the last resolues What course to runne , relying on no other , But the assistance of Partheniaes mother . Forthwith his fierce misguided passion droue His wandring steps to the next neighboring groue . A keene Steeletto in his trembling hand He rudely grip'd , vpon his lips did stand A milke white froth ; his eyes like flames ; sometimes He curses heauen ; himselfe ; and then , the times ; Railes at the proud Parthenia ; raues ; despaires ; And from his head rends off his tangled hayres ; Curs . s the wombe that bare him ; bans the Fates ; And , drunke with spleene , he thus deliberates . Why dyest thou not , Demagoras , when as death Lends thee a weapon ? Can the whining breath Of discontent and passion send reliefe To thy distraction , or asswage thy griefe ? Why moou'st thou not the Gods ? Or rather , why Do'st not contemne , and scorne their power , and dye ? But stay ! Of whom dost thou complaine ? A woman . To whom ( fond man ) dost thou complaine ? A woman . And shall a womans frownes haue power to grieue thee ? Or shall a womans wanton smile relieue thee ? Fye , fie , Demago●…as , shall a womans eye Pre●…aile , to make the stout Demagor●…s dye , And leaue to after times an entred name 〈◊〉 Callender of fooles ? Rouze vp for shame Thy wasted spirits : whet thy spleene and liue To be reueng'd : She , she that would not giue Admittance to thy proferd loue must drinke The potion of thy hate : stirre then the sinke Of all thy passion ; where thou canst not gaine By fairer lauguage , Tarquin-like constraine . But hold thy band , Dem●…goras , and aduise ; Art giues ad●…antage oft , where force denyes ; Suspend thy fury : Make Parthenia●…s mother Thy meanes : One Adamant will cut another : Sweeten thy lips with amorous Oratorie ; Affect her tender heart , with the sad story Of thy deare loue ; Extoll Parth●…niaes beauty ; But most of all , vrge that deserued duty Thou ow'st her vertue , and make that the ground Of thy first loue , that gaue thy heart the wound : Mingle thy words with sighes ; and it is meet , If thou canst force a teare , to let her see 't Against thy will : Let thy false tongue forbeare No vowes and though thou beest forsworne , yet sweare : If ere thy barren lips shall chance to pause , For want of words ; Parthenia is the cause , Who hath benumm'd thy heart ; If e're they goe Beyond their lists , Parthenia made them so . Withall ; be sure , when ere thou shalt aduance The daughters vertues , let the glory glance Vpon the prudent mother ; Women care not To heare too much of vertue , if they share not . When thus thou hast prepar'd her melting eare To soft attention ; closely , in the reare Of thy discourse , preferre thy sad petition , That she would please to fauour the condition Of a distressed louer , and afford In thy behalfe , a mothers timely word ; So shalt thou wreck thy vengeance by a wilde , And make the mother bawd to her owne childe . He paused not ; but like a rash proiector ( Whose franticke passion was supreme director ) Fixt his first thoughts , impatient of the second Which might bin betterd by aduise , and reckon'd All time but lost , which he bestowed not On th' execution of his hopefull plot ; Forthwith his nimble paces he diuided Towards the Summer Pallace , where resided The faire Partheniaes mother , boldly enters , And after mutu●…ll complement , aduenters To breake the yce of his dissembled griefe ; Thus he complaines , and thus he begs reliefe . Madam , The hopefull thriuing of my suit depends Vpon your goodnesse , and it recommends It selfe vnto your sauour , from whose hand It must haue sentence , or to fall , or stand ; Thirce three times hath the Soueraigne of the night , Repaird her empty hornes with borrowed light , Since these sad eyes , these beauty blasted eyes Were stricken by a light , that did arise From your blest wombe , whose vnasswaged smart Hath peirc'd my soule , and wounded my poore heart ; It is the faire Parthenia , whose diuine And glorious vertue led these eyes of mine To their owne ruine ; Like a wanton fly , I dallied with the flames of her bright eye , Till I haue burn'd my wings : O , if to loue Be held a sinne , the guilty gods aboue ( Being fellow-sinners with vs , and commit The selfe same crimes ) may eas'ly pardon it . O thrice diuine Partheni●… , that hast got A sacred priuiledge which the gods haue not , If thou hast doom'd that I shall be bereauen Of my loath'd life , yet let me dye for giuen : And welcome death , that with one happy blow Giues me more ease , then life could euer doe . Madam , to whom should my sad words appeale But you ? Al●… , to whom should I reueale My dying thoughts , but vnto you , that gaue Being to her , that hath the power to saue My wasted life ? The language of a mother Moues more then teares , that trickle from another . With that a well dissembled drop did slide From his false eyes . The Lady thus replyde . My Honorable Lord , If my vntimely answer hath preuented Some further words your passion would haue vented , Pardon my haste ; which , in a ruder fashion Sought onely to diuide you , from your passion : The loue you beare Parthenia must claime The priuiledge of mine eare , and in her name , ( Though from an absent mind as yet vnknowne ) Returne I thankes , with intrest of my owne . The little iudgement , that the gods haue lent Her downy yeares ( though in a small extent ) Does challenge the whole freedome of her choyce , In the resignement of a mothers voice : The sprightly fancies of a virgins mind Enter themselues , and hate to be confinde ; The hidden Embers of a louers fire Desire no bellowes , but their owne desire , And like to Dedalus his forge , if blowne Burnes dimme and dyes ; blazes , if let alone ; Louers affect , without aduisement , that Which being most perswaded to , they hate . My Lord , adiourne your passion , and refer The fortune of your suite to time , and her . Like to a Pinace is a louers minde , The Saile his fancy is ; A storme of winde , His vncontrouled passion ; the Stea●…'s His reason ; Rocks and Sinds , are doubts and feares ; Your storme being great , like a wise Pilot , beare But little Saile , and stoutly ply the Steare . Leaue then the violence of your thoughts to me , My Lord , too hasty Gamesters ouersee . Goe , moue Parthenia , and let Iuno's blessing Attend your hopefull suite , in the suppressing Loues common euills ; and if her warme desire Show but a sparke , leaue me to blow the fire . Goe , lose no time : Louers must be laborious ; My Lord goe prosperous , aud returne victorious . With that Demagoras ( prostrate on the ground , As if his eares had heard that blessed sound , Wherewith the Delphian oracle acquites The accepted sacrifice ) performes the rites Of quicke deuotion , to that heauenly voice , Which fed his soule with the malignant ioyes Of vow'd reuenge ; vp , from the floore he starts , Blesses the tongue that bles●… him ; and departs . By this time , had the heauen-surrounding Steeds Quell'd their proud courage , turn'd their fainting head Into the lower Hemispheare , to coole Their flaming nostrills in the Westerne poole , When as the dainty and mollitious ayre Had bid the Lady of the Pallace , share In her refined pleasures , and inuited Her gentle steps , fully to be delighted In those sweet walkes , where Flora's liberall hand Had giuen more freely , then to all the land ; There walked she ; and in her va●…ious minde , Proiects and casts about which way to finde The progresse of the yong Partheniaes heart ; Likes this way : then a second thought does thwart The first ; Likes that way ; then a third , the second : One while she likes the match , and then she reckon'd Demagoras vertues : now her feare entices H●…r thoughts to alter ; then she counts his vices : Sometimes she cals his vowes and oathes to minde : Another while , thinkes oathes and words but winde . She likes , dislikes ; Her doubtfull thoughts doe vary , Resolues , and then resolues the quite contrary . One while she feares , that his maligne aspect Will giue the virgin cause to disaffect : And then , propounds to her ambitious thoughts His wealth , the golden couer of all faults : And , from the Chaos of her doubt , digests Her feares ; creates a world of wealth , and rests . With that , she straight vnfixt her fastned eyes From off the ground ; and , looking vp , espyes The faire Parthenia , in a louely bowre , Spending the treasure of an euening houre : There sate she , reading the sweet-sad discourses Of Charicleas loue : the entercourses Of whose mixt fortunes taught her tender heart To feele the selfe same ioy , the selfe same smart : She read , she wept ; and , as she wept , she smil'd , As if her ●…quall eyes had reconcilde The extremes of ioy and griefe : she closde the booke , Then op'ned it , and with a milder looke , She piti●…s louers ; musing then a while , She teaches smiles to weepe ; and teares , to smile : At length , her broken thoughts she thus discouers . Vnconstant state of poore distressed louers ! Is all extreame in loue ? No meane at all ? No draughts indifferent ? either honey or Gall ? Hath Cupids Vniuerse no temp'rate Zone , Either a torrid or a frozen one ? Alas , alas , poore louers . As she spake Those words , from her disclosed lips there brake A gentle sigh ; and after that , another : With that steps in her vnexpected mother . Haue ye beheld , when Titans lustfull head Hath newly di●…'d into the seagreene bed Of Thet is , how the bashfull Horizone ( Enfore'd to see what should be seene by none ) Lookes red for shame ; and blushes to discouer Th' incestuous pleasures of the heauen borne louer ? So look'd Parthenia , when the sudden eye Of her vnwelcome mother did d●…scry Her secret passion : The mothers smile Brought forth the daughters blush ; and leuell coyle They smil'd and blush ; one smile begate another : The daughter blusht , because the icalous mother Smil'd on her ; and the silent mother smilde , To see the conscious blushing of her childe , At length , growne great with words , she did awake Her forced silence , and she thus bespake . Blush not , my fairest daughter ; T is no shame To pitty louers , or lament that flame , Which worth and beauty kindles in the brest : T is charity to succour the distrest . The disposition of a generous heart Makes euery griese her owne , at least beares part . What marble , ah what adamantine care Ere heard the flames of Troy , without a teare ? Much more the scorching of a louers fire , ( Whose desprate fewell is his owne desire ) May boldly challenge euery gentle heart To be 〈◊〉 in his secret smart : Why dost thou blush ? why did those pearly teares Slide downe ? Feare not : this Arbour hath no cares ; Here 's none but we ; speake then : It is no shame To shed a teare ; thy mother did the same : Say ; hath the winged wanton , with his dart , Sent ere a message to thy wounded heart ? Speake , in the name of Hymen I coniure thee ; If so , I haue a 〈◊〉 shall recure thee : I feare , I feare , the yong La 〈◊〉 Lord Hath lately left some indigested word In thy cold stomack : which , for want of Art I doubt , I doubt , lyes heauy at thy heart : If that be all , reue●…ling brings reliefe : Silence in loue but multiplies a griefe : Hid sorrow's desperate , not to be endur'd , Which being but disclos'd , is easly cur'd : Perchance , thou 〈◊〉 Demagoras ; and wouldst smother Thy close 〈◊〉 from thy angry mother , And reap●… the da●…nty fruits of loue , vnseene ; I did the like , or thou hadst neuer beene ; Stolne goods are sweetest : If it be thy minde To loue in secret , I will be as blinde As he that wounded thee ; or if thou dare Acquaint thy mother , then a mothers care Shall be redoubled , till thy thoughts acquire The sweet fruition of thy choice desire : Thou lou'st D●…magoras ; If thy lips deny , Thy conscious heart must giue thy lips the lye : And if thy liking countermand my will , Thy punishment shall be to loue him still : Then loue him still , and let his hopes inherit The crowne , belonging to so faire a merit , His thoughts are noble , and his fame appeares To speake , at least , an age aboue his yeares . The blood of his increasing honour springs From the high stock of the Arcadian Kings : The gods haue blest him with a liberall hand , Enricht him with the prime of all the land : Honour and wealth attend his gates , and what Can he command , that he possesses not ? All which , and more , ( if mothers can diuine ) The fortune of thy beauty hath made thine : He is thy Captiue , and thy conquering eyes Haue tooke him prisner : hee submits , and lies At thy deare mercie , hoping ne re to be Ransom'd from death , by any price , but thee . Wrong not thy selfe in being too too nice , And what ( perchance ) may not be proferd twise , Accept at first : It is a foolish minde To be too coy : Occasion 's bald behind : T is not the common worke of euery day , T' afford such offers : Take them while you may : Times alter : youth and beauty are but blasts ; Vse then thy time , whil'st youth and beauty lasts : For if that loath'd and infamous reproach Of a stale maide , but offer to incroach Vpon opinion ; th' art in estimation , Like garments , kept till they be out of fashion : Thy worth , thy wit , thy vertues all must stand Like goods at outcries , priz'd at second hand . Resolue thee then , t' enlarge thy Virgin life , With th' onourable freedome of a wife , And let the fruits of that blest marriage be A liuing pledge betwixt my Child and me . So said ; The faire Parthenia ( in whose heare Her owne affections yet had got the start Of her obedience ) makes a sudden pause , Striues with her thoughts , obiects the binding lawes Of filiall duty , to her best affection ; Sometimes submits vnto her owne election , Sometimes vnto her mothers : thus diuided In her distracted sancy , sometimes guided By one desire , and sometimes by another , She thus replide to her attentiue mother . Madam , Thinke not Parthenia , vnder a pretence Of silence , studies disobedience : Or by the crafty slownesse of reply , Borrowes a quick aduantage to deny : It lyes not in your power , to command Beyond my will : vnto your tender hand , I here surrender vp that little All You gaue me , freely to dispose withall . The gods forbid , Parthenia should resist What you command , command you what you list : But pardon me , the young Laconian Lord Hath made assault , but neuer yet could board This heart of mine : I wept , I wept indeed , But my misconsterd streames did ne're proceed From Cupids spring : This blubber'd book makes known , Whose griefes I wept ; I wept not for mine owne ; My lowly thoughts durst neuer yet a spire The least degree , towards the proud desire Of so great honour , to be call'd his wife , For whom , ambitious Queenes haue bin at strife ; He su'd for loue , and strongly did importune My heart , more pleased with a meaner fortune ; My brest was marble , and my heart forgot All pitty ; for , indeed , I lou'd him not ; But Madam ; you , to whose more wise directions I bend the stoutest of my rash aff●…ctions , You haue commanded , and your will shall be The square to my vneauen desires , and me ; I 'le practise duty , and my deeds shall show it ; I 'le practise loue , though Cupid neuer know it . Wh●…n great Basilius ( he whose princ●…ly hand Nourisht long peace in the Arcadian land ) With triumph , brought to his renowned Court , His new espoused Queene , was great resort Of forraine States , and Princes , to behold The truth , that vnbeleeu'd report had told Of faire Gynecias worth : Thither repair'd The Cyprian Nobles , richly all 〈◊〉 In warlike furniture , and well addrest , With solemne Iousts to glorifie the feast Of mariage royall , lately past betweene Th' Arcadian King , and his thrice noble Queene , The faire Gynecia ; in whose face and brest Nature , and curious Art had done their best , To summe that rare perfection , which ( in briefe ) Transcends the power of a strong beliefe ; Her Syer was the Cyprian King , whose fame Receiu'd more honour from her honour'd name , Then , if he had , with his victorious hand , Vnsceptred halfe the Princes in the land : To tell the glory of this royall Feast ; The Bridegroomes state , and how the Bride was drest ; The princely seruice , and the rare delights ; The seuerall names and worth , of Lords and Knights ; Their quaint Impresa's , their deuisefull showes ; Their martiall sports , their oft redoubled blowes ; The courage of this Lord , or that proud horse ; Who ran ; who got the better , who , the worse , Is not my taske ; nor lyes it in my way , To make relation of it : Heraulds may : Yet Fame and honour hath selected one , From that illustrious crew ; and him alone Haue recommended to my carefull quill , Forbidding that his honour sho●…ld lye still Among the rest , whom fortune and his spirit , That day , had crowned with a victors merit , His name was Argalus ; In Cyprus borne ; And ( if what is not ours , may adorne Our proper fortunes ) his blood royall springs From th' ancient stocke of the great Cyprian Kings : His outside had enough to satisfie The expectation of a curious eye : Nature was too too prodigall of her beauty , To make him halfe so faire , whom Fame , and duty He ought to Honour , cal●…'d so often forth , T' approue the exc'lence of his manly worth : His minde was richly furnisht with the treasure Of morall knowledge , in so liberall measure , Not to be proud : So valiant , and so strong Of noble courage , not to dare a wrong : Friendly to all men , inward but with few ; Fast to his old friends , and vnapt for new : Lord of his word , and master of his passion , Serious in buisnesse , choyce in recreation : Not too mistrustfull , and yet wisely wary ; Hard to resolue , and then as hard to vary : And to conclude , the world could hardly finde So rare a body with so rare a minde . Thrice had the bright surueyour of the heauen Diuided out the dayes and nights by euen And equall houres , since this child of fame ( Inuited by the glory of her name , ) First view'd Partheniaes face , whose mutuall eye Shot equall flames , and with the secret tie Of vndisclos'd affection , ioyn'd together Their yeelding hearts , their loues vnknown to either , Both dearly lou'd : the more they stroue to hide Their loue , affection they the more descride . It lyes beyond the power of art to smother Affection , where one vertue finds another : One was their thoughts , and their desires one , And yet both lou'd , vnknowne ; beloued , vnknowne : One was the Dart , that at the selfe same time Was sent , that wounded her , that wounded him : Both hop'd , both fear'd alike , both ioy'd , both grieu'd ; Yet , where they both could helpe , was none relieu'd : Two lou'd , and two beloued were ; yet none But two in all , and yet that all but one . By this time had their barren lippes betraid Their timorous silence ; now they had displaid Loues sanguine colours , whilst the winged Child Sate in a tree , and clapt his hands , and smil'd To see the combat of two wounded friends : He strikes and wounds himselfe , while she defends That would be wounded , for h●…r paine proceeds , And flowes from his , and from his wound , she bleeds ; She playes at him , and ayming at his breast , Pierc'd her owne heart : and when his hand addrest The blow to her faire bosome , there it found His owne deare heart , and gaue that heart the wound : At length both conquer'd and yet both did yeeld , Both lost the day , and yet both wan the field : And as the warfare of their tongues did cease , Their lips gaue earnest of a ioyfull peace . But ô the hideous chances that attend A louers progresse , to his iournies end ! How many desp'rate rubs , and dangers waite Each minute , on his miserable state ! His hopes doe build , what straight his feares destroy , Sometimes , he surfeits with excesse of ioy : Sometimes , despairing ere to find reliefe , He roares beneath the tyranny of griefe ; And when loues current runnes with greatest force , Some obuious mischiefe still disturbes the course : For loe , no sooner the discouerd flame Of these new parted louers did proclaime Loues sacred Iubilé ; but the Virgins Mother ( The posture of whose visage did discouer Some serious matter , harb'ring in her brest ) Enters the roome : Halfe angry , halfe in iest , Shee thus began : My dearest child , this night , When as the silent darknesse did inuite Mine eyes to slumber , sundry thoughts possest My troubled minde , and robb'd me of my rest ; I slept not , till the early bugle horne Of Chaunti●…lere had summon'd in the Morne T' attend the Light , and nurse the new-borne Day ; At last , when Morpheus , with his leaden key , Had lockt my senses , and enlarg'd the power Of my heauen guided fancy , for an houre I slumbred ; and before my slumbring eyes , One , and the selfesame dreame presented thrice ; I wak'd ; and , being frighted at the vision , Perceiu'd the Gods had made an app●…ition : My dreame was this : Me thought I saw thee sitting Drest like a princely Bride , with robes befitting The state of Maiesty ; thy Nymph-like haire Loosely dissheuel'd ; and thy browes did beare A Cypresse wreath ; and ( thrice three months expir'd ) Thy pregnant wombe grew heauy , and required Lucina's aid : with that , me thought I saw A teame of harnest Peacocks fiercely draw A siery Chariot from the flitting sky , Wherein there sate the glorious Maiesty Of great Saturnia , on whose traine attended An hoast of Goddesses ; Iuno descended From out the flaming Chariot , and blest Thy painfull wombe : Thy paines a while encreast ; At length , she laid her gentle palmes vpon Thy fruitfull flanke , and there was borne a son : She made thee mother of a smiling boy , And , after , blest thee with a mothers ioy ; She kist the Babe , whose fortune she foresold , For on his head she set a Crowne of Gold ; Forthwith , as if the heauens had clouen in sunder , Me thoughts I heard the horrid noise of thunder ; The raine pour'd downe , and yet the skie was cleare , And euery drop that lighted , did appeare As orient pearle , mixt with refined gold ; VVbereat , the goddesse turn'd , and said , Behold , Great I●…ue hath sent a gift : goe forth , and tak 't , Thus hauing spoke , she vanisht , and I wak't : I wak'●… ; and waking , trembled ; for I knew They were no idle passages , that grew From my distemperd thoughts ; t was not a vaine Delusion rouing from a troubled braine ; It was a vision ; and the gods forespake Parthenia's fortune : Gods cannot mistake . I lik'd the dreame ; wherein the gods foretold Thy ioyfull mariage ; and the shower of gold Betokened wealth ; The Infants golden Crowne , Ensuing honour : Iuno's comming downe , A safe deliuerance ; and the smiling Boy Summ'd vp the totall of a mothers ioy : But what the wreath of Cypresse ( that was set Vpon thy nuptiall browes ) presag'd , as yet The gods keepe from me : if that secret doc Portend an euill , heauen keepe it from thee too . Aduise Parthenia : Seeke not to withstand The plot , wherein the Gods vouchsafe a hand ; Submit thy will to theirs ; what they enioy●…e , Must be ; nor lyes it in my power , or thine To contradict : Endeauor to fulfill What , else , must come to passe against thy will. Now by the fil●…all all duty thou dost beare The gods and me , or if ought else more deare Can force obedience ; as thou hop'st to speed At the gods hands , in greatest time of need ; By heauen , by hell , by all the powers aboue , I here coniure Parthenia to remoue All sond conceits , that labour to disioyne What heauen hath knit , Dem●…goras's heart and 〈◊〉 ; The gods are faithfull , and their wisedomes know What 's better for vs mortalls , then we doe ; Doubt not ( my child ) the gods cannot deceiue ; What heauen does offer , feare not to receiue , With thankfull hands : Passe not so sleightly ouer The deare affection of so true a louer ; Pitty his flames ; relieue his tortur'd brest , That findes abroad , no ioy ; at home , no rest ; But , like a wounded Hart before the hounds , That flies , with Cupids Iauelin in his wounds : Stir vp thy rak't vp embers of desire , The gods will bring in fewell , and blow the fire ; Be gentle ; let thy cordiall smiles reuiue His wasted spirits , that onely cares to liue To doe thee honour : It was Cupids will , The dart he sent , should onely wound ; not kill ; Yeeld then ; a●…d let th'engaged gods powre downe Their promis'd blessings on thy head ; and crowne Thy youth with ioyes ; and maist thou after be As blest in thine , as I am blest in thee . So said : The faire Parthenia , to whose heart Her fixt desires had taught th'●…m willing Art Of disobedience , calls her iudgement in ; And , of two euills , determines it a sin More veniall , by a resolute deniall , To proue vn 〈◊〉 , then be d●…sloyall To him , whose heart a sacred vow had tyed So fast to hers ; and ( weeping ) thus reply●…d : Madam , The angry gods haue late conspir'd to show The Vtmost their enraged hands could doc , And hauing laid aside all mercy , stretch Their power , to make one miserable wretch , Whose curst and tortur'd soule must onely be The subiect of their wrath ; and I am she . Hard is the case ! my deare desires must faile ; My vowes must cracke ; my plighted faith be fraile ; Or else affection must be so exil'd A mothers heart , that she renounce her child . And as she sp●…ke that word , a flowing tide Of teares gusht out , whose violence deny'd Tn'intended passag●… of her doubling tongue : She stopt a ●…hile : Then on the floore sh●… flung Her prostrate body , whilst her hands did teare ( Not kn●…owing what they did ) her dainty haire . Sometimes she struck the ground ; somtimes , her brest : Began some words , and then wept out the rest ; At last , her liuelesse hands did , by degrees , Raise her cast body on her feeble knees , And humbly rearing her sad eyes vpon Her mothers frowning visage , thus went on . Vpon these knees ; these knees that ne're were bent To you in vaine ; that neuer did present Their vnrewarded duty ; neuer rose Without a mothers blessing ; vpon those , Vpon those naked knees , I recommend To your deare thoughts , those term●…nis that attend Your poore Parthenia , whose vnknowne distresse Craues rather death , then language to expresse . What shall I doe ? D●…magoras and Death Sound both alike to these sad eares ; that breath That names the one , does nominate the other . No , no , I cannot loue him ; my deare mother , Command Parthenia now to vndergoe What death you please , and these quick hands shall show The seale of my obedience in my heart . The gods themselues , that haue a secret art To force affection , cannot violate The lawes of Nature , stop the course of Fate . Can earth forget her burthen , and ascend ? Or can th' aspiring flames be taught to tend To th' earth ? If fire descend , and earth aspire , Earth were no longer earth , nor fire , fire . Euen so , by nature , 't is all one to me , To loue Demagoras , and not to be . No , no , the heauens can doe no act that 's greater , Then ( hauing made so ) to preserue their creature . And thinke you that the righteous Gods would fill me With such false ioyes , as ( if enioy'd ) would kill me ? I know that they are mercifull : what they Command , they giue a power to obey . The ioyfull vision that your slumbring eyes Of late beheld did promise and comprise A fayrer fortune , then the heauens can share To poore Partheniaes merit ; whom despaire Hath swas●…ow'd : Your prophetick dreame discride A royal●… mariage ; pointed out the Bride ; Her safe Deliuer ●…ce and her smiling sonne ; Honou●… and 〈◊〉 ; and after all was done , Th●…re wants a Bridegroome : him , the heauens haue seald Within my brest ; by me , to be reueal'd ; VVhich , if your patience shall vouchsafe to heare , My lips shall recommend vnto your eare . When as Basilius ( may whose royall hand Long sway the scepter of th' Arcadian land ) From Cyprus brought his more then princely Bride , The faire Gynecia , ( whom as Greece deny'd An equall ; so the world acknowledg'd none As her superiòur in perfection : ) Vpon this Ladies royall traine , and state , Agreat concourse of Nobles did awaite , And Cyprian Princes , with their princely port , To see her crowned in th' Arcadion Court ; Illustrious Princes were they : but as farre As midnight Phebe outshines the twinckling Starre , So far , amongst this rout of Princes , one Surpast the rest , in honour and renowne ; VVhose perfect vertue findes more admiration In the Arcadian Court , then imitation : In th'exc'lence of his outward parts , and feature , The world conceiues , the curious hand of Nature Outwent it selfe ; which , being richly fraught And furnisht with transcendent worth , is thought To be the chosen fortresse for protection Of all the Arts , and storehouse of perfection●… The Cyprus stock did ne're , till now , ●…ring forth So rare a Branch , whose vnderualued worth Brings greater glory to th' Arcadian Land , Then can the dull Arcadians vnderstand ; His name is Argalus . He ( Madam ) was that Cypresse wreath , that crown'd My nuptiall brows : And now the Bridegroom 's found , Cloath'd in the mystry of that Cypresse wreath ; VVhich , since the better gods haue pleas'd to breathe Into my soule , O may I cease to be , If ought , but death , part Argalus and me : Yet does my safe obedience not withstand VVhat you desire , or what the gods command : For what the gods command , is your desire Parthenia should obey ; and not respire Against their sacred counsels , or withstand The plot , wherein they haue vouchsaf'd a hand : VVe must submit our wils ; what they en●…oyne , Must be ; nor lies it in your power or mine , To crosse : we must endeauour to fulfill VVhat else must come to passe against our will ; My vowes are past , and second heauens decree , Nothing shall part my Arg●…s and me . So said ; Th' impatient mothers kindled eye ( Halfe closed with a murtherous frowne ) let flie A scorching fireball , from whence was shed Some drops of choller ; sternly shakes her head ; With trembling hands vnlocks the doore , and flees , Leauing Parthenia on her aking knees , And as she fled , her fury thus began To open , And is Argalus the man ? But there she stopt ; when striuing to expresse What rage had prompted , could doe nothing lesse . All you , whose deare affections haue beene tost In Cupids blanket , and vniuftly crost By wilfull Parents , whose extreame command Haue made you groan beneath their tyrannous hand , That take a furious pleasure to diuorse Your soul●…s from your best thoughts , nay ( what is worse Then torture ) force your fancies to respect , And dearely loue , whom most you dis affect : Draw neare , and comfort the distressed heart Of poore Parthenia ; let your eyes impart One droppe at least : And whosoe're thou be That read'st these lines , may thy desiers see The like successe , if reading , thou fo●…beare To wet this very paper with a teare . Behold ( poore Lady ) how an houres time Hath pluck't her faded roses from their prime , And like an vnregarded ruine , lyes , With deaths vntimely image in her eyes . She , she , whom hopeful thoughts had newly crownd With promis'd ioyes , lyes groueling on the ground ; Her weary hand sustaine her drooping head ; ( Too soft a pillow for so hard a bed ) Her eyes swolne vp , as loath to see the light , That would discouer so forlorne a sight : The flaxen wealth of her neglected haires Stick'●… fast to her pale cheel●…s with dried teares ; And at first blush , she seemes , as if it were Some curious statue on a Sepulchre : Sometimes her brinie lips would whisper thus , My Argalus , my dearest Argalus And then they clos'd againe , as if the one Had kist the other , for that seruice done In naming Argalus : sometimes opprest With a deepe sigh , she gaue her panting brest A sudden stroke ; and after that another , Crying , Hard fortune , O hard hearted mother ! And sicke with her owne thoughts , her passion stroue Betwixt the two extreames of griefe , and loue ; The more she grieu'd , the more her loue abounded ; The more she lou'd , the more her heart was wounded With desperate griefe : at length , the tyrannous force Of loue and griefe , sent forth this selfe d●…scourse . How art thou chang'd ( Parthenia ? ) how hath passion Put all thy thoughts , and senses out of fashion ? Exil'd thy little iudgement , and betray'd thee To thine owne selfe ? How nothing hath it made thee ? How is thy weather beaten soule opprest With stormes and tempests blowne from the Northeast Of cold despaire ? which , long ere this , had found Eternall rest ; had bin orewhelm'd , and drown'd In the deepe gulfe of all my miseries , Had I not pumpt this water from mine eyes ; My Argalus ; ô where , ô where art thou ? Thou little think'st thy poore Parthenia , now Is tortur'd for thy sake ; alas , ( deare heart ! ) Thou know'st not the insufferable smart I vndergoe for thee : Thou dost not keepe A Register of those sad teares I weepe , No , no , thou dost not . Well , well ; from henceforth , Fortune , doe not spare To doe the worst ( thy Agent ) Mischiefe dare ; Deuise new torments , or repeat the old , Vntill thou burst , or I complaine : Be bold , As bitter ; I disdaine thy rage , thy power ; Who 's leuell'd with the earth , can fall no lower ; Doe ; spit thy venome forth , and temper all Thy studied actions with the spirit of gall ; Thy practis'd malice can no euill deuise Too hard , for Argalus to exercise ; His loue shall sweeten death , and make a torture My sportfull pastime , to make houres shorter ; His loue shall fill my heart , and lea●…e no roome , Wherein your rage may practise martyrdoome . But ere that word could vsh●…r out another , The tender Vi●…gins marble hearted mother Enters the Chamber ; with a chang'd aspect Beholds Partheni●… ; with a new respect Salutes her child , and ( hauing clos'd the doore ) Her helpfull arme remoues her from the ●…loore Whereon she lay ; and , being set together , In gentle termes , she thus did commune with her . Peruerse Partheni●… , Is thy heart so sworne To A●…galus his loue , that it must s●…orne Demagoras ? Are your soules conioyn'd so close , That my ent●…eaty may not enterpose ? If so , what helpe ? yet let a mothers care Be not conte●…n'd , that bids her child beware . The sickle that 's too early , cannot reape A fruitfull Haruest : Looke , before you leape : Adiourne your thoughts , and make a wise delay , You cannot measure vertue in a day ; Vertues appeare , but vices baulke the light ; T is hard to read a vice at the first sight . False are those ioyes , that are not mixt with doubt , Fire easely kindled , will not easely out : Diuide that loue , which thou bestowst on one , Twixt two : try both ; then take the best , or none : Consult with time : for time bewrayes , discouers The faith , the loue , the constancy of louers . Acts done in hast , by leasure are repented , And things , soone past , are oft , too late lamented : With tha●… , Parthenia , rising from her place , And bowing with incomparable grace , M●…de ●…his reply ; Madam , each seuerall day Since first you gaue this body being , may Write a large volume of your tender care , Whose hourely goodnesse if it should compare With my deserts , alas , the world would show Too great a summe , for one poore heart to owe ; I must confesse my heart is not so sworne To Argalus his merit as to scorne D●…magoras ; nor yet so loosely tyed , That I can slip the knot , and so diuide Entire affection , which must not be seuer'd , Nor euer can be ( but in vaine ) endeuour'd . My heart is one , and by one power guided ; One is no number ; cannot be diuided . And Cupids learned schoolemen haue resolu'd That loue diuided is but loue dissolu'd ; But yet , what plighted faith , and honour may Not now vndoe , your counsell shall delay . Madam , Partheniaes hand is not so greedy , To reape her corne , before her corne he ready : Her vnaduised sickle shall not thrust Into her hopefull Har●…est , ere needs must : To yours P●…rthenia shall submit her skill , Whose season shall be season'd by your will : Her time of haruest shall admit no measure But onely what 's proportion'd by your pleasure . S●… ended she ; But till that darknesse got The mastry of the light , they parted not . The mother pleads for the Laconian Lord ; The daughter ( whose impatience had abhort'd His very name , had not her mother spok't ) S●…e pl●…ads her vow , which cannot be reuokt . Y●…t st●…ll the mother pleads , and does omit No way vntryed , that a hard hearted wit Knowes to deuise ; perswades , allures , entreats ; Mingles his words with smiles , with tears , w th threats ; Commands , coni●…es ; tries one way , tryes another , Does th●…tmost that a marble brested mother Can doe ; and yet the more she did apply , The mor●… she taught Parthenia to deny ; The more she did ass●…ult , the more contend ; The more she taught the virgin to defend . At last , despairing ( for her words did finde More ease to moue a mountaine , then her minde ) She sp●…ke no more ; but from her chaire she started , And spit these words , Goe , peeuish Girle , and parted . Away she flings , and finding no successe In her lost words , her fury did addresse Her raging thoughts to a new studied plot ; Actions must now enforce , what words could not . Treason is in her thoughts ; Her furious breath Can whisper now no language , vnder death ; Poore Argalus must dye ; and his remoue Must make the passage to Demagoras loue : And till that barre be broken , or put by , No hope to speed ; Poore Argalus must dye . Demagoras is call'd to counsell now , Consults , consents ; and , after mutuall vow , R●…soluing on the act , they both conspire , Which way to execute their close desi●…e . D●…awing his keene Seeletto from his side , Madam ( said he ) This medicine well applide , To Arg●…lus his bo●…ome , will giue rest To him , and me ; the sudden way is best . My Lord ( 〈◊〉 she ) your trembling hand may misse The marke , and then your selfe in danger is Of outcry ; or perchance his owne resistance . Attempts are dangerous , at so small a distance . A drugg's the better weapon ; which does breathe Deaths secret errand , carries sudden death Clos'd vp in sweetnesse : Come , a drugge strikes sure , And works our ends , and yet we sleepe secure . My Lord , bethinke no other ; Set your rest Vpon these C●…rds ; The surest way is best : Leaue me to manage our successfull plot , And if these studious browes contriue it not Too sure , for art of M●…gicke to preuent , Ne're trust a womans wit , w●…en fully bent To take reuenge : Begone , my Lord ; repose The trust in me : Onely be wise , be close . That night , when as the vniuersall sh●…de Of the vnspangled heauen , and earth had made An v●…ter darknesse ; ( darknesse , apt to further The horrid enterprise of rapes , and m●…her ) She , she , that now lacks nothing to procu●…e A full reuenge , she calls Athleia to her , ( Partheniaes handmaid ) whom sh●… thus ●…espake . Athleia , dare thy priuate thoughts partake With mine ? Canst thou be secret ? Has thy heart A locke that none can pick by theevish art , Or brake by force ? Tell me , Canst thou digest A secret , trusted to thy faithfull brest ? Madam , said sh●… , L●…t me bee neuer true To my owne thoughts , if euer false to you : Speake what you please ; Athleia shall conceale , Torments may make me roare , but ne're re●…eale . Replyde the Lady then : Athleia knows How much , how much my deare affection owes Partheniaes heart whose welfare is the crowne Of all my ioyes , which now is ouerthrowne And deeply buried in forgotten dust , If thou betray the secret of my trust . It lyeth in thy power to remoue Approaching euills : Parthenia is in loue : Her wasted spirits languish in her brest , And nought , but look'd for death , can giue her rest ; T is Argalus she loues ; who , with disdaine , Requites her loue , not louing her againe ; He sleights her teares : The more that he neglects , The more entirely she ( poore soule ) affects : She groanes beneath the burden of despaire , And with her sighes she cloyes the idle ayre . Thou art acquainted with her priuate teares ; And you , so oft exchanging tongues and eares , Must know too much , for one poore heart t' endure ; But desperate's the wound admits no Cure : It lies in thee to helpe : Athleia , say , Wilt thou assist me , if I find the way ? Madam , my forced ignorance shall be Sufficient earnest of my secresie : Your lips haue vtter'd nothing that is new To Athleias eares : Alas , it is too true . Long , long ere this , your seruant had reueal'd The same to you , bad not my lips bi●… seal'd : But if my best endeauors may extend To bring my Mistresse sorrowes to an end , Let all the enraged D●…ties a●…ot To me worse torment , if I doe it not : My life 's too poore to hazard for her ease ; Madam , I le do●… ; Command me what you please : So said ; The treacherous Lady steps aside , In●…o her serious close●… ; and applide Her hasty , and perfidious hands , to frame This fo●…ged letter , in Partheniaes name . Constant Parthenia to her faithfull Argalus . ALthough the malice of a mother Does yet enforce my tongue to smother What my desire is , should flame ; yet Parthenia is the same . Although my fire be hid a while , T is but fire slak'd with oyle ; Before seuen Suns shall rise and fall , It shall burne , and blaze withall . What I send thee , drinke with speed , Else let my Argalus take heed ; Vnlesse thy prouidence withstand , there is treason ne're at hand ; Drinke as thou lou'st me , and it shall secure thee From future dangers ; or from past , recure thee . This done , and seal'd , she op'd her pri●…te doore , Call'd in Athleia , and said ; For euery sore The gods prouide a salue . Force must preuaile , Where sighes and teares , and deepe entreaties faile . Forthwith from out her Cabinet she tooke A little glasse , and said , Athleia , looke Within these slender walls , these glazed lists , Parthe●…aes happinesse , and life consists ; It is Nepenthe ; which the factious gods Doe vse to drinke , when ere they be at ods , Whose secret vertue ( so infus'd by loue ) Does turne deep hatred , into dearest loue ; It makes the proudest louer whine and baule , And such to dote , as neuer lou'd at all ; Here take this glasse , and recommend the same To A●…galus in his P●…theniaes name , And to his hand , to his owne hand commit This letter ; Betweene A●…galus , and it Let no eye come : Be sure thy spee●… preuent The rising Sun : and so heauens crowne th' euent . By this the feather'd Bellman of the night Sent forth his midnight summons , to inui●…e All eyes to sl●…mber , when they both addrest Their thoughtfull minds , to take a doubtfull rest . O heauens ! and you , O you celestiall powers , That neuer slumber , but imploy all houres In mans prorection ; still preseruing , keeping Our soules from obuious dangers , waking , sleeping . O , can your all-descerning eyes behold Such impious actions prosper , vncontroll'd ? O can your hearts , your tender hearts endure To see your seruant ( that now sleepes secure , Vnarm'd , vnwarn'd , and hauing no defence , But your protection , and his innocence ) Betray'd , and murther'd , drawing at one breath His owne prepar'd destruction , his owne death ? And will ye 〈◊〉 ? He that is the crowne Of prized vertue , honour and renowne ; The flowre of Arts ; the Cyprian liuing story ; Arcadias Girland , and great Graeces glory ; The earths new wonder ; and the worlds example , Must dye betraid ; Treason and death must trample Vpon his life ; and , in the dust , must lye As much admit'd perfection , as can dye . No , Argalus , the coward hand of death Durst ne're assault thee , if not vnderneath The Maske of loue : Thou art aboue the reach Of open wrongs ; Mans force could ne're make breach Into thy life : no , Death could ne're vncase Thy soule , had she appeared face to face . Dreame , Argalus ; and let thy thoughts be troubled With murthers , treasons ; Let thy dreams be doubled And what thy frighted fancy shall perceiue , Be wisely superstitious , and beleeue . O , that my lines could wake thee now , and seuer Those eyelids , that ere long must sleepe for euer . Wake , now or neuer Argalus ; and withstand Thy danger ; Wake , the murtheresse is at hand . Parthenia , oh Parthenia , who shall weepe Thy world of teares ? Canst thou , O canst thou sleep ? Will thy dull Genius giue thee leaue to slumber ? Does nothing trouble thee ? no dreame incumber Thy frighted thoughts ? and Argalus so neere His latest houre ? Not one dreaming teare ? Sleepe on : and when thy flattring slumber's past , Perchance , thine eyes will learne to weepe as fast . His death is plotted ; And this morning light Must send him downe , into eternall night . Nay , what is worse then worst ; His dying breath Will censure thee , as Agent in his death . By this the broadfac'd Quirister of night Surceas'd her screeching note , and tooke her flight To the next neighbring Ivy : Brids and beasts Forsake the warme protection of their nests , And nightly 〈◊〉 , whilst darknesse did display Her sable curtaines , to let in the day , When sad Athleia's dreame had vnbenighted Her slumbring eies : her busie thoughts were frighted : She rose , and trembled ; and being halfe distraught , With her prophetick feares ; she thus bethought . What ayle the Gods , thus to disturbe my rest , And make such earthquakes in my troubled brest ? Nothing but death , and murthers ? Graues and Bells ? Frighting my fancy , with their hourely knells ? T was nothing but a dreame ; and dreames they say , Expound themselues the cleane contrary way . The Riddle 's read ; and now I vnderstand My dreames intents : Some mariage is at hand : For death interpreted , is nothing else But mariage ; And the melancholly Bells , Is mirth and musicke : By the graue , is read The ioyfullioy , full , ioyfull , mariage bed : I , I t is plaine : And now , me thinks , 't was I , That my prophetick dreame foretold , should dye . If this be death , Death exercise thy power , And let Athleia dye within this houre . Doe , doe thy worst ; Athleia's faithfull breath Shall pray for nothing more then sudden death . But stay , Athleia , the too forward day , Begins to gild the East ; away , away . So hauing said ; The nimble fingerd Lasse Tooke the forg'd letter , and the amorous glasse , And , to her early progresse , she applies her ; D parts , and toward ; Argalus she hies her ; But euery step she tooke , her mind enforc'd New thoughts , and with her selfe , she thus discours'd . How fraile's the nature of a womans will ! How crosse ! The thing that 's most forbidden , still They more desire ; and least inclinde , to doe What they are most of all perswaded too . Had not ( alas ) my Lady bound these hands , Athl●…ia ne're had struggled with her bands . I must not tast it ! Had she not enioyn'd My lips from tasting it , Athleia's mind Had neuer thought on 't ; now , me thinkss I long ; Desires , if once confinde , become too strong For womans conquer'd reason to resist ; A womans reason 's measur'd by her list . I long to tast : yet was there nothing did Mooue my desires , but that I was forbid . With that she stayd her weary steps , and hasted T'vntye the Glasse ; lift vp her arme and tasted ; That done ( and hauing now attain'd , almost Her iourneyes end ) the little time she lost , New speed regaines ; The nimble ground she traces With double hast and quicke redoubled paces . All on a sudden , she begins to faint ; Her bowells gripe , her breath begins to taint ; Her blistred tongue growes hot , her liuer glowes ; Her vaines doe boile , her colour comes and goes : She staggers ; falls ; and on the ground she lyes ; Swels like a bladder ; roares ; and bursts ; and dyes . Thus from her ruine , Argalus deriues His longer life , and by her death , he liues ; Liue Argalus , and let the gods allot Such morning draughts to those that loue thee not : Liue long ; and let the righteous powers aboue , That haue preseru'd thee for Parthenia's loue , Crowne all thy hopes , and fortunes , with euent Too sure , for second treasons to preuent . By this time , did the lauish breath of Fame Giue language to her Trumpet , and proclaime Athleias death , the current of which newes Truths warrant had forbidden to abuse Deceiued eares : which , when the Lady heard , Whose trecherous heart was greedily prepar'd To entertaine a murther ; she arose , And with rude violence desperately throwes H●…r trembling body , on the naked floore , But what she said , and did , I will deplore , Not vtter ; but with forced silence smother , Because she was the faire Parthenia's mother : May it suffice , that the extreames of shame , And vnresisted sorrow ouercame Her disappointed malice ; lesse lamenting The treason , then successe ; and more repenting Of what she fail'd to doe , then what she did , Her sullen soule dispaires ; her thoughts forbid What reason wants the power , to perswade ; Her griefes b●…ing growne too deepe for her to wade , She sinks ; and with a hollow sigh , she cryed , Welcome thou easer of all euills ; and dyed . Now tongues begin to walke ; and euery eare Hath got the Saturyasis to heare This tragicke sceane : The breath of Fame grows bold Feares no repulse , and scornes to be controlld , Whilst lowd report , ( whose tender lips before , Durst onely whisper ) now begins to roare ; The letter , found in dead Athleias brest , Bewray'd the plot ; and what ( before ) was guest , Is now confirm'd , and clear'd : for all men knew Whose hand it was , and whence the malice grew . But haue we lost Parthenia ? In what Isle Of endlesse sorrow lurks she all this while ? Sweet Reader , vrge me not to tell , for feare Thy heart dissolue , and melt into a teare . Excuse my silence : If my lines should speake , Such marble hearts , as could not melt , would break ; No , leaue her to her selfe : It is not fit To write , what being read , you 'd wish vnwrit : I leaue the taske to those , that take delight , To see poore Ladyes tortur'd in despight Of all remorse ; whose hearts are still at strife To p●…int a torment to the very life . I leaue that taske to such , as haue the powre To weepe , and smile againe within an houre . To those , whose flinty hearts are more content●…d To limme a griefe , then pitty the tormented . Let it suffice , that had not heauen protected Her Argalus ; the ioy whereof , corrected That 〈◊〉 griefe , which passion recommended To her sad thoughts , her story here had ended . When Time ( the enemy of Fame ) had clos'd Her babling lips , and gently had compos'd Partheniaes sorrowes , raising from the ground Her body , spent with griefe , and almost drownd In her owne teares ; a long expected Sceane Of better fortune enters in , to dreane His marish eyes : Her stormy night of teares Being past , a welcome day of ioy appeares ; The rocke's remou'd , and loues wide Ocean now Giues roome enough ; lookes with a milder brow . Reader forget thy sorrowes ; Let thine eare Welcome the tydings thou so longst to heare : A louers diet 's sweet , commixt with sower ; His hell and heauen , oft-time , diuides an houre . Now Argalus can finde a faire accesse To his Parthenia : now , feares nothing lesse Then eares and eyes ; and now Partheniaes heart Can giue her tongue the freedome , to impart His louder welcome , whilst her greedy eye Can looke her fill , and feare no stander by . She 's not Parthenia , he not present with her ; And he not Argalus , if not together . Their cheeks are fill'd with smiles ; their tongues with chat , Now , this they make their subiect , and now that . One while they laugh ; and laughing wrangle too , And iarre , as iealous louers vse to doe . And then a kisse , must make them friends againe ; Faith , one's too little ; Louers must haue twaine ; Two brings in ten ; ten multiplyes to twenty ; That , to a hundred : then because the plenty Growes troublesome to count , and does incumber Their lips ; their lips gaue ●…isses without number . Their thoughts run backe to former times : they told Of all loues passages , they had of old . ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA . The Second Booke . SAyle gentle Pinace : Now the heauens are cleare , The winds blow faire : Behold the harbour's neere . Trydented Neptune hath forgot to frowne ; The rocks are past ; The storme is ouerblowne ; Vp wetherbeaten voyagers ; and rouze yee , Forsake your loathed Cabbi●…s ; vp , and louze ye Vpon the open decks , and smell the land ; Cheare vp ; the welcome shoare is nigh at hand : Sayle gentle Pinace , with a prosperous gale , To th' Isle of peace : S●…ile gentle Pinace , saile ; Fortune conduct thee ; Let thy keele diuide The siluer streames , that thou mast safely slide Into the bosome of thy quiet Key , And quite thee fairely of th'iniurious Sea. Great Seaborne Queene , thy birthright giues thee power T' assist poore suppliants ; grant one happy houre . O , let these wounded louers be possest , At length , of their so long desired rest . Now , now the ioyfull mariage day drawes on ; The Bride is bu●…ie , and the Bridegroome 's gone To call his fellow Princes to the feast ; The Girland's made ; The bridall chamber 's drest ; The Muses haue consulted with the Graces , To crowne the day , and honour their embraces With shadow'd Epithalmes : Their warbling tongues Are perfect in their new made Lyrick songs ; Hymen begins to grumble at delay , And Bacchus laughs to think vpon the day ; The virgin tapors , and what other rights Doe appertaine to Nuptiall delights , Are all prepar'd , whereby may be exprest The ioyfull triumph of this mariage feast . But stay ! who lends me now an yron pen , T'engraue within the marble hearts of men A tragick sceane ; which whosoe're shall reade , His eyes may spare to weepe , and learne to bleed Carnation teares : If time shall not allow His death preuented eyes to weepe enow , Th●…n let his dying language recommend What 's left to his posterity to end . Thou saddest of all Muses ; come ; afford Thy studious helpe , that each confounding word May rend a heart ( at least ; ) that euery line May pickle vp a kingdome in the brine Of their owne teares : O teach me to extract The spirit of griefe , whose vertue may distract Those brests , which sorrow knowes not how to kill ; Inspier , 〈◊〉 inspire my melting Quill , And , like sad Niobé , let euery one That cannot melt , be turn'd into a stone : Teach me to paint an oft-repeated sigh So to the life , that whosoe're be nigh May heare it breathe , and learne to doe the like By imitation , till true passion strike Their bleeding hearts : Let such as shall rehearse This story , houle like Irish at a Herse . Th' euent st●…ll crownes the act : Let no man say , Before the euening 's come ; T is a faire day : When as the Kalends of this bridall feast Were entred in , and euery longing brest 〈◊〉 great with expectation , and all eyes ( Prepar'd for entertaining nouelties ) Were growne impatient now , to be suffis'd With that , which Art and Honour had deuis'd T' adorne the times withall , and to display Their bounty , and the glory of that day , The rare Parthenia taking sweet occasion To blesse her busie thoughts , with contemplation Of absent Argalus , whose too long stay Made minutes 〈◊〉 dayes ; and euery day A measur'd age ; into her s●…cret bower Betooke her weary steps , where euery houre Her greedy eares expect to heare the summe Of all her hopes , that Argalus is come . She hopes , she feares at once ; and still she muses What makes him stay so long ; she chides ; excuses ; She questions ; answers ; and she makes reply , And talkes , as if her Argalus were by ; Why com'st thou not ? Can Argalus forget His languishing Parthenia ? what , not yet ? But as she spake that word , she heard a noise , Which seem'd as if it were the whispering voice Of close conspiracy : she began to feare She knew not what , till her deceiued eare , Instructed by her hopes , had singled out The voice of Argalus from all the rout , Whose steps ( as she supposed ) did prepare By stealth to sieze vpon her vnaware : She gaue aduantage to the thriuing plot , Hearing the noyse , as if she heard it not . Like as young Doues , which ne're had yet forsaken The warme protection of their nests , or taken Vpon themselues a selfe-prouiding care , To shift for food , but with paternall fare Grow fat and plump ; think euery noise they heare , Their full cropt parents are at hand , to cheare Their crauing stomacks , whilst th' impartiall fist Of the false Cater , rifling where it list In euery hole , surprises them , and sheds Their guiltlesse blood , and parts their gasping heads From their vaine struggling bodies ; so ; euen so Our poore deceiu'd Parthenia , ( that did owe Too much to her owne hopes ) the whilst her eyes Were set , to welcome the vnualued prize Of all her ioyes , her dearest Argalus , Steps in Demagoras , and salutes her thus : Base Trull ; Demagoras comes to let thee see , How much he scornes thy painted face , and thee ; Foule Sorceresse ! Could thy prosperous actions think To scape reuenge , because the gods did wink At thy designes ? Think'st thou thy mothers blood Cryes in a language , not to be'vnderstood ? Hadst thou no closer stratagem , to further Thy pamper'd lust , but by the saluage murther Of thine owne aged parent , whose sad death Must giue a freedome to the whisp'ring breath Of thy enioy'd adult'rer ? who ( they say ) Will cloake thy whoredome , with a mariage day ; Nay struggle not ; here 's none that can reprieue Such pounded beasts ; It is in vaine to striue , Or roare for helpe : why do'st not rather weepe , That I may laugh ? Perchance , if thou wilt creepe Vpon thy wanton belly , and confesse Thy selfe a true repentant murtheresse , My sinfull Page may play the soole , and gather Thy early fruit into his barne , and father Thy new got Cyprian bastard , if that he Be halfe so wis●… , that got it , but to flee . Hah ! dost thou weepe ? or doe false mists but mocke Our cheated eyes ? From so obdure a rock Can water flow ? weeping will make thee faire ; Weepe till thy mariage day ; that who repaire To grace thy feast , may fall a weeping too , And , in a mirrour , see what teares can doe . Vile strumpet ! did thy flattering thoughts e're wrong Thy iudgement so ; to thinke , D●…magoras tongue Could so abuse his honour , as to sue For serious loue ? So base a thing as you ( Me thinks ) should rather fixe your wanton eyes Vpon some ea●…e groome , that hopes to rise Into his masters fauour , for your sake ; I ; this had beene preferment , like to make A hopefull fortune : thou presumptuous trash●… What was my courtship ? but the minuts dash Of youthfull passion , to allay the dust Of my desires , and exuberous lust ? I scorne thee to the soule , and here I stand Bound for reuenge , whereto I set my hand . With that , he c●…ught her rudely by the faire And bounteous treasure of her Nymph-like hayre ; And , by it , dragd her on the du●…y floore : He stopt her mouth , for feare she should implore An aid from heauen , she swounding in the place , His salvage hands besmear'd her liuelesse face With horrid poyson , thinking she was dead , He left her breathlesle , and away he fled . Come , come ye Furies , you malignant spirits , Infernall Harpies , or what , else , inherits The land of darknesse ; you , that still conuerse VVith damned soules ; you , you that can rehearse The horrid facts of villanies , and can tell How euery hell hound lookes , that roares in hell ; Suruey them all ; and , then , informe my pen , To draw in one , the monster of all men ; Teach me to limme a villaine , and to paint With dextrous art , the basest Sycophant , That e're the mouth of insolent disdaine Vouchsas'd to spit vpon ; the ripened blaine Of all diseased humours , fit for none But dogs to lift their hasty legs vpon : So cleare mens eyes , that whosoe're shall see The type of basenesse , may cry , This is Hee ; Let his reproach be a perpetuall blot In Honours booke : Let his remembrance rot In all good mindes : Let none but villaines call His bugbeare name to memory , wherewithall To fright their bauling bastards : Let no spell Be found more potent , to preuaile in hell , Then the nine letters of his charme like name ; Which , let our bashfull Chriscrosse row disclaime To the worlds end , not fitting to be set As mutes , within the Iewish Alphabet . But harke ! Am I deceiu'd , or doe I heare The voice of Arg'lus sounding in mine eare ? He calls Parthenia : No , that tongue can be No counterfeit : He 's come : 't is he , 't is he . Welcome too la●… , that art now come too soone ; Hadst thou bin here , this deed had ne're bin done . Alas ! when louers linger , and outgoe Their promis'd date , they know not what they doe : Men fondly say , that women are too fond ; At parting , to require so strict a bond For quicke returne : Poore soules ! 't is they endure Oft times the danger of the forfeiture ; I blame them not ; for mischiefe still attends Vpon the too long absence of true friends . Well ; Argalus is come , and seekes about In euery roome , to finde Parthenia out ; He askes , enquiers ; but all lips are sparing To be the authors of ill newes , not daring To speake the truth ; they all amazed stand ; And now , my Lord 's as fearfull to demand ; Dares not enquire her health , lest his sad eare Should heare such words , as he 's afraid to heare : All lips are boulted with a linnen barre , And euery eye does , like a bl●…zing star , Portend some euill ; no language findes a leake ; The lesse they speake , the more he feares to speake . Faces grow sad ; and euery priuate eare Is turn'd a Closet for the whisperer ; He walkes the roome , and like an vnknowne stranger They eye him ; from each eye , he picks a danger ; At last , his lips not d●…ting to importune What none dare tell him , vnexpected fortune Leads his rash steps into a darkned roome , A place more black then night ; No sooner come , B●…t he was welcom'd with a sigh , as deepe As a spent heart could giue ; he heard one weepe , And by the noise of groanes and sobs was led ( H●…uing none other guide ) to the sad bed . Who is 't ( said he ) that calls vntimely night To hide those griefes that thus abiure the light ? With that , as if her heart had rent in two , She past a sigh , and said , O aske not who ? Vrge not my tongue to make a forc'd reply To your demand : Alas ! it is not I : Not I ( said he ? ) what language doe I heare ; Darknesse may stop mine eye , but not mine eare . It is my deare Parthenia's voice ; ah me , And can Parthenia , not Parthenia be ? What meanes this word , ( Alas ! it is not I ) ? What sudden ill hath taught thee to deny Thy selfe ? or what can Argalus then claime , If his Parthenia be not the same , She was ; alas , it seemes to me all one To say , Thou art not hers , that 's not her owne . Can hills forget their pondrous bulk , and flye , Like wandring Atomes , in the empty sky ? Or can the heauens , ( growne idle ) not fulfill Their certaine reuolutions , but stand still , And leaue their constant motion , for the winde T' inherit ? Can Parthenia change her minde ? Heauen sooner shall stand still , and earth rem●…e , E're my Parthenia 〈◊〉 her loue : Vnfold thy Riddle then ; and tell me , why Those lips should say , ( Alas it is not I. ) Whereto she thus reply'd ; O doe not thou So wrong thy noble thoughts , as once t' allow That cursed name a roome , within thy brest , Let not so foule a prodigy be blest With thy lost breath ; Let it be held a sin Too great for pardon , e're to name 't agen ; Let darknesse hide it in eternall night ; May it be clad with horror , to affright A desp'rate conscience ; He that knowes not ●…ow To mouthe a curse , O let him practise now Vpon this name ; Let him that would contract The body of all mischiefe , or extract The quint'ssence of all sorrowes , onely claime A secret priuiledge to vse that name : Far be it from thy language , to commit So soule a sin , as once to mention it : Liue happy Arg'lus ; doe not thou partake In these my miseries : O forbeare to make My burthen greater , by thy tender sorrow ; Alas , my heart is strong , and needs not borrow Thy needlesse helpe : O be not thou so cruell To feed my ●…aming fiers , with thy fuell ; Why dost thou sigh ? O wherefore should thy heart Vsurpe my stage , and act Parthenia's part ? It is my proper taske : what dost thou meane , Without my licence , to intrude my Sceane ? Alas ! thy sorrowes ease not my distresse ; God knowes , I weepe not one pocre teare the lesse : My patent's sign'd and past ; whereby appeares That I haue got the Monopoly of teares : In me , let each mans torment finde an end : I am that Sea , to which all Riuers tend : Let all spent mourners , that can weepe no more , Take teares on trust , and set them on my score . And as she spake that word , his heart not able To beare a language so vnsufferable , But being swolne so big , must either breake Or vent , his darkned reason grew too weake T' oppose his quickned passion ( like a man Transported from himselfe ) he thus began ; Accursed darknesse ! Thou sad type of death ! Infernall Hagge , whose dwelling is beneath ! What meanes thy boldnesse to vsurpe this roome , And force a night , before the night be come ? Get , get ●…hee downe , and keepe within thy lifts ; Goe reuell there ; and burle thy hideous mists Before those cursed eyes , that take delight In vtter darkenesse , and abhorre the light ; Returne thee to thy dungeon , whence thou came And hide those faces , whose infernall flame C●…ls for more darknesse , and whose tortur'd soules Craue the protection of th' obscurest holes , To scape some lashes , and auoid those strict And horrid plagues , the furies doe inflict : But if thou needs must ramble here , abou●… ; Goe to some other Clymate , and remoue Thy vgly presence from our darkned eyes , That hate thy Tyranny : Goe exercise Thy power in Groues , and solitary springs , Where Bats are subiects , and where Owles are kings ; Goe to the granes , and fill those empty voomes , That such as slumber in their silent Toombs May blesse thy welcome shades , and lie possest Of vndi●…rbed and eternall rest : Or if thy more ambitious fogs desire To haunt the liuing ; hast thee , and retire Into some Cloyster , and there stand b●…ene The light , and those that faine would sin , vnseene ; Assist them there ; and 〈◊〉 thy vgly shapes Count ' nance close treasons , and incestuous rapes : Benight those roomes ; and ayd all such , as feare The eye of heauen ; Goe ; close thy curtaines there ; We need thee ●…ot ( foule witch , ) away , away ; Thou hid'st more beauty then the noone of day Can giue ; O thou , that hast so rudely hurl'd On this darke bed , the glory of the world . So said ; Abruptly he the roome departs , His cheeks looke pale , his curled hayre 〈◊〉 L●…ke quills of Porcupines , and from his eye Q●…icke flashes like the flames of lightning flye ; He calls for light ; the light no sooner come , But his owne hand connayes it to the roome From whence he came , and as he entred in He blest himselfe ; he blest himselfe agin ; Thrice did he blesse himselfe , and after said , Foule witch , begon ; and let thy dismall shade For sake this place ; Let thy darke fogs obey Great Vulcans charge ; 〈◊〉 Vulcans name , away ; Or if thy ●…out rebellion shall disclaime His soueraignty , in my Parthenia's name I charme thee hence . And as that word flew out , He steps to that sad bed , where round about , Clos'd were the curtaines , as if darknesse did Command that such a Iewell should be hid : His left hand held the tapour , and his right Enforc'd the curtaines , to absolue the light ; Which done ; appear'd before his wondring eye The truest pourtrait of deformity , As e're the Sun beheld : That louely face That was , of late , the modell of all grace And 〈◊〉 beauty , whose imperious eyes 〈◊〉 where e're they lookt , and did ●…urprise The very soules of men ; she , she of whom Nature her selfe w●…s proud , is now become So loath'd an obiect , so deform'd , dis●…z'd , As darknesse , for m●…s sake , was well aduis'd To cloath in mists , lest any were incited To see that face , and so depart affrighted . All this when Argalus b●…held , and found It was no dreame , he fell vpon the ground ; And 〈◊〉 ; and rose agen ; stood still ; and gaz'd ; At first he startled , then he stood amaz'd ; Lookes now vpon the light ; and now on her ; One while his tyred fancy does refer His th●…ughts to silence ; as his thoughts encrease , His p●…ion striues for vent , and breakes that peace , Which conquer'd reason had , of late , concluded , And thus began ; Are these false ●…es deluded ? Or haue inchanted mists stept in betweene My abused eyes , and what 〈◊〉 eyes ●…aue seene ? No ; mischi●…fe cannot act so faire a part , Taffright in i●…st ; it goes beyond the art Of all blacke bookes , to maske , with such disguise , So sweet a face ; I know , that these are eyes ; And this a light ; False mists could neuer be Betwixt my poore Parthenia , and me . Accursed Tapour ! what infernall spright Breath'd in thy face ? what Fury gaue thee light ? Thou impe of Phlegetor ; who let thee in , To force a day , before the day begin ? Who brought thee 〈◊〉 ? I ? did I ? From whom , What leane chapt fury did I snatch thee from ? When as this cursed hand did goe about To bring thee in , why went not these eies out ? Be all such Tapours cursed , for thy sake ; Ne're shine , but at some Vigill , or sad Wake ; Be neuer seene , but when as sorrow cals Thy needfull helpe to nightly ●…unerals ; Be as a May-game for th' amazed Bat To sport about ; and Owles , to wonder as : Still h●…nt the Chancels a : a midnight knell , To fright the Sexton from his passing Bell : Giue light to none but treasons , and be hid In their darke lanthorns : Let all mirth forbid Thy treacherous flames the roome : and if that none . Shall deigne to put thee out , goe out alone ; Attend some misers table , and then waste Too soone , that he may curse thee for thy haste ; Bur●… dimme for euer : Let that flat●…'ring ligh●… Thou feed'st , consume thy stock : be ●…isht quite From Cupids Court : When louers goe abou●… Their stol●… pleasures , let your flames goe out ; Henceforth be vsefull to no other end , But onely to burne day light , or attend The midnight Cups of such as shall resigne , VVith vsurie , thir indigested wine : VVhy dost thou burne so cleare ? Alas ! these eyes Discerne too much ; Thy wanton blaze doth rise Too high a pitch : Thou burnst too bright , for such As see no comfort ; O thou shin'st too much : Why dost thou vexe me ? Is thy flame so stout Tendure my breath ? This breath shall puffe thee out . Thus , thus my ioyes are quite extinguisht , neuer To be re●…iu'd : Thus gone , thus gone sor euer . With that , transported with a furious hast , He blew it out : but marke , that very blast ( As if it meant , on purpose , to disclaime His desp'rate thoughts ) reuiu'd th'extinguisht flame . He stands amaz'd ; and , hauing mus'd a while , Beholds the Tapour , and begins to smile . And can the gods themselues ( said he ) contriue A way for hope ? Can my past ioyes reuine , Like this rekinàled fier ? If they doe , I 'le curse m●… lips ( bright Lamp ) for cursing you . Eternall Fates ! Deale fairely ; dally not : If your hid bounties haue reseru'd a lot Beyond my wained hopes , be it exprest In open view ; make haste ; and doe your best : But if your Iustice be determin'd so , To exercise your vengeance on my woe , Strengthen not what at length you mean●… to burst ; Strike home betimes ; dispatch ; and doe your worst : That burthen is too great for him to beare , That 's 〈◊〉 poised betmixt hope and feare . And there he stopt ; as fearing to molest The silent peace of her dissembled rest . He gaz'd vpon her ; stood as in a trance ; Sometimes her liuelesse hand he would aduance To his sad lips ; then steale it downe agen ; Sometimes , a teare would fall vpon 't ; and then A sigh must dry it ; Euery kisse did beare A sigh ; and euery sigh begat a teare : If I had lou'd thee , for thy heauenly eye , I might haue courted the bright maiesty Of Tiran : If thy curious lips had snar'd My lick'rish thoughts , I might haue soone prepar'd A blushing Currall , or some full ripe Chery , And pleas'd my lips , vntill my lips were weary ; Or if the smoothnesse of thy whiter brow Had charm'd mine eyes , and made my fancy bow To outwards obiects , polishs Marble might Haue giuen as much content , as much delight ; In briefe , had Argalus his flatter'd eye Bin pleas'd with beauties bare Epitomy , Thy curious picture might haue then supply'd My wants , more full , then all the world beside ; No , no ; 'T was neither brow , nor lip , nor eye Nor any outward exc'lence vrg'd me , why To loue Parthenia : 'T was thy better part , Which mischiefe could not wrong , surpris'd my heart . Thy beauty was but like a Christall case , Through which , the Iewell of admired grace Transparent was , whose hidden worth did make Me loue the C●…ket , for the Iewels sake ; No , no ; my well-aduised eye pierc'd in Beyond the filme ; sunk deeper then the skin ; Else , had I now bin chang'd , and that firme duty I owe my vowes , had faded , with thy beauty ; Nay , weepe not ( my Parthenia ; ) let those teares Ne're waile that losse , which a few after yeares Had claim'd as due ; Cheare vp ; thou hast forsaken But that , which sicknesse would ( perchance ) haue taken , With greater disaduantage ; or else age , That common euill , which ●…rt cannot asswage ; Beauty 's but bare opinion : White and Red Haue no more priuiledge , but what is bred By humane fancie ; which was ne're confinde To certaine bounds , but varies like the winde ; What one man likes , another disrespects ; And what a third most hates ; a fourth , affects ; The Negro's eye thinkes blacke beyond compare , And what would fright vs most , they count most faire : If then opinion be the Tutch , whereby All beautie 's tride ; Parthenia , in my eye Out shines faire Hellen ; or who else she be , That is more rich in beauties wealth , then she . Cheare vp : The soueraignty of thy worth , enfranches Thy capti●…e beaut●… ; and thy vertue blanches These staines of fortune ; Come ; it matters not What others thinke : a letter 's but a blot To such as cannot reade ; but , who haue skill , Can know the faire impression of a Quill From grosse and heedl●…sse blurres ; and such can thinke No paper foule , that 's fairely writ with ●…nke : VVhat others hold a blemish in thy face , My skilfull eyes reade Characters of grace ; VVhat hinders then ; but that without delay , Triumph may celebrate our nuptiall day ? She that hath onely vertue to her guide , Though wanting beautie , is the fairest Bride . A Bride ? ( said she ) such Brides as I , can haue No fitter bridall Chamber , then a Gra●…e ; Death is my bridegroome ; and to welcome Death , My loyall heart shall plight a second faith ; And when that day shall come , that ●…oyfull day , Wherein transcendent pleasures shall allay The heat of all my sorrowes , and conioyne My palefac'd Bridegrooms lingring hand , with mine ; These Ceremonies , and these Triumphs shall Attend the day , to grace that Day with all . Time with his empty Howreglasse shall lead The Triumph on ; His winged hoofes shall tread Slow paces ; After him , there shall ensue The chast Diana , with her Virgin crew , All crown'd with Cypresse girlands ; After whom In ranke , th' impartiall Destinies shall come ; Then , in a sable Chariot faintly drawne With harnast Virgins . vail'd with purest lawne , The Bride shall sit ; Despaire and Griefe shall stand , Like heartlesse bridem●…ids , vpon either hand . Vpon the Chariot top , there shall be plac'd The little winged god , with arme vnbrac'd , And bow vnbent ; his drooping wings must hide His naked knees ; his Q●…iuer by his side Must be vnarm'd , and either hand must hold A bann●…r ; where , with Char●…cters of gold Shall be decipher'd , ( fit for euery eye To read , that runs ; Faith Loue , and Constancy , Next after , Hope , in a discoloured weed , Shall sadly march alone ? A slender reed Shall guide her feeble steps ; and , in her hand , A broken Anchor , all besmear'd with sand . And after all , the Bridegroome shall appeare Like Ioues Lieu●…enant , and bring vp the Reare ; He shall be mounted on a Coa●…e-black steed ; His hand shall hold a Dart ; on which , shall bleed A pierced heart ; wherein , a former wound Which Cupids lauelin entred shall be found . When as these Triumphes shall adorne our feast , Let Argalus be my inuited guest , And let him bid me nuptiall Ioy : from whom I once expected all my ioyes should come . With that ; as if his count'nance had thought good To weare Death's colours ; or as if his blood Had beene imployed to condole the smart And torm●…nt of his poore afflicted heart , He thus bespake : Vnhappiest of all men , Why doe I liue ? Is Death my Riuall then ? Vnequall chance ! Had it bin flesh and blood , I could ●…aue grapled , and ( perchance ) withstood Some stout encounters : Had an armed host Of mort all riualls ventur'd to haue crost My blest desires ; my Partheniaes eye Had giuen me power to make that army fly Like frighted Lambs , before the Wolfe ; But thou Before whose presence , all must stoope and bow Their seruile necks ! what weapon shall I hold Against thy hand , that will not be controll'd ? Great enemie ! whose kingdome 's in the dust And darkesome Caues ; I know that thou art iust ; Else had the gods ne're trusted to thy hand So great a priuiledge , so large command And iurisdiction o're the liues of men , To kill , or saue euen whom thou please , and when ; O , suffer not Partheniaes tempting teares To moue thy heart ; Let thy hard hearted eares Be deafe to all her suits : If she profess●… Affection to thee , beleeue nothing lesse ; She 's my betrothed spouse , and Hymens bands Haue firmely ioyn'd our hearts , though not our hands . Where plighted faith , and sacro-sanctius vowe Hath giuen possession , dispossesse not thou . Be iust ; and though her briny lips bewaile Her griese with teares , let not those teares preuaile . Whom heauens haue ioyn'd , thy hands may not disioyne , I am 〈◊〉 ; and Partheniaes mine . Alas ! we are but one ; Then thou must either Refuse vs both ; or , else , take both together . My deare Parthenia , let no cloudy passion Of dull despaire molest thee , or vnfashion Thy better thoughts , to make thy troubled mind Either forgetfull , or thy selfe vnkind . Starue not my pining hopes , with longer stay My loue hath wings , and brookes no long delay . It houers vp and downe , and cannot rest Vntill it light , and perch vpon thy brest . Torment not him , within these lingring fires , That 's rack●… already on his owne desires . Seale and deliuer as thy deed , that band , Whereto thy promist faith hath set her hand ; And what our plighted hearts , and mutuall vew Haue so long since begun , O finish now ; That our imperfect and halfe pleasures may Receiue perfection , by a mariage day : Wh●…reto , she thus ; Had the pleas'd God aboue , Forgiuen my faults , and made me fit for Ioue To blesse at large ; Had all the powers of heauen ( To boast the vtmost of their bounty ) giuen As great addition to my slender fortune As they could giue , or couetous mind importune , I vow to heauen and all those heauenly powers , They should no sooner beene made mine , but yours . Nay , had my fortunes staid but at the rate They were ; had I remained in that state I was ( although , at best , vnworthy farre Of such a pee●…lesse lesse blessing as you are ) My deare acceptance should haue fill'd my heart As full of ioyes as now it is of smart ; But , as I am , let angry Ioue then vent On me his plagues , till all his plagues be spent . And when I roare , let heauen my paines der●…de , When I match Argilus to such a Bride . Liue happy , A●…galus , let thy soule receiue What blessings poore Parthenia cannot haue ; Liue happy : May thy ioyes be neuer done , But let one blessing araw another on : O may thy better Angell watch and ward Thy soule , and pitch an euerlasting guard About the portals of thy tender heart , And showre downe blessings wheresoere thou art ; Let all thy ioyes be as the month of May , And all thy dayes be as a mariage day . Let sorrow , sicknesse , and a troubled minde Be strangers to thee ; Let them neuer finde Thy heart at home ; Let Fortune still alot Such lawlesse guests to those that loue thee not : And let those blessings , which shall wanting be To such as merit none , alight on thee . That mutuall faith , betwixt vs , that of late Hath past , I giue thee freedome to translate Vpon the merits of some fitter spouse : I giue , thee leaue , and freely quit thy vowes . I call the gods to witnesse , nothing shall More blesse my soule ; no comfort can befall More truely welcome to me , then to see My Argalus , ( what ere become of me ) So linckt in wedlocke , as shall most augment His greater honour , and his true content . With that , a sudden and tempestuous tyde Of teares orewhelm'd her language , and denyde A passage , but when passions flood was spent , She thus proceeds : You gods , if you are bent To act my Tragedy , why doe you wrong Our patience so , to make the play so long ? Your Sceanes are tedious ; Gainst the rules of Art , You dwell too long ; too long , vpon one part . Be briefe , and take aduantage of your odds ; One simple mayde against so many gods ? And not be conquer'd yet ? Conioyne your might , And send her soule into eternall night , That liues too long a day ; I le not resist , Prouided you strike home , strike where ye list . Accursed be that Day , wherein these eyes First saw the light ; Let desp'rate soules deuise A curse sufficient for it ; Let the Sun Ne're shine vpon it ; and what ere 's begun Vpon that fatall day , let heauen forbid it Successe ; if not , to ensnare the hand , that did it . Why was I borne ? Or , being borne , O why Did not my fonder nurses Lullaby ( Euen whilst my lips were hanging on her brest ) Sing her poore Babe to euerlasting rest ? O then my infant soule had neuer knowne This world of griefe , beneath whose weight Igroane . No , no , it had not : He that dyes in 's prime , Speeds a long businesse , in a little time . But Argalus ( whose more extreame desire , Vnapt to yeeld , like water-sprinkled fire , Did blaze the more ) impatient of denyall , Gaue thus an onset to a further tryall ; Life of my Soule ; By whom , next heauen , I breath , Excepting whom , I haue no friend but Death , How can thy wishes ease my griefe , or stand My miserie in stead , when as thy hand , And nothing but thy helping hand can giue me Reliefe , and yet refuses to relieue me ? Strange kinde of Charity ! when , being afflicted , I finde best wishes , yet am interdicted Of those best wishes , and must be remou'd From loues enioyment ; why ? Because belou'd . Alas ! alas ! How can thy wishes be A blessing to me , if vnblest in thee ? Thy beauty 's gone , ( thou saist ; ) why , let it goe ; He loues but ill , that loues but for a show ; Thy beauty is supply'd in my affection , That neuer yet was slaue to a complexion . Shall euery day , wherein the earth does lacke The Suns reflex , b'expell'd the Almanacke ? Or shall thy ouer-curious steps for beare A garden , 'cause there be no Roses there ? Or shall the sunset of Parthenia's beauty Enforce my i●…dgement to neglect that duty , The which my best aduis'd affection owes Her sacred vertue , and my solemne vowes ? No , no ; it lyes not in the power of Fate , To make Parthenia too vnfortunate , For Argalus to loue . It is as easie for Parthenia's heart To proue lesse vertuous , as for me to start From my firme faith : The flame that honours breath Hath blowne , nothing hath powre to quench , but death . Thou giu'st me leaue to chuse a fitter spouse , And freedome to recall , to quit those vowes I tooke : VVho gaue thee license to dispense VVith such false tongues , as offer violence To plighted faith ? Alas , thou canst not free Thy selfe , much lesse hast power to license me : Vowes can admit no change ; They still perseuer Against all chance , they binde , they binde for euer : A vow 's a holy thing ; no common breath ; The limits of a vow , is heauen , and death ; A vow that 's past , is like a bird that 's flowne From out thy hand ; can be recall'd by none ; It dies not , like a time beguiling I●…st , As soone as vented ; liues not in thy brest , VVhen vtterd once ; but is a sacred word , Straight enterd in the strict and close record Of heauen ; It is not like a Iuglers knot , Or fast , or loose , as pleases vs , or not . since then thy vowes can finde no dispensation , And may not be recall'd , recall thy passion ; Performe , performe , what now it is too late T' vnwish againe ; too soone to violate ; Seeke not to quit , what heauen denies to free , Performe thy vowes to heauen ; thy vowes to me . Thrice dearer then my soule , ( she thus r●…plide ) Mad my owne pamper'd fancy beene the guide To my affection , I had condescended Ere this to your request , which had befriended My best desiers too ; I lou'd not thee For my owne pleasure , in that base degree , As gluttons doe their diet , who dispense With vnwash'd hands , ( lest they should giue offence To their grip'd stomackes , when a minutes stay Will make them curse occasion all the day . ) I lou'd not so ; My first desires did spring From thy owne worth ; and , as a sacred thing , I alwaies view'd thee , whom my zeale commands Me not prophane with these desiled hands : T is true ; Performance is a debt we owe To Vowes , and nothing's dearer then a Vow ; Yet when the gods doe rauish from our hand The meanes to keepe it , ' ●…is a countermand . He that hath vow'd to sacrifice each day At Iuno's Altar's bound , and must obey . But if ( being vnder vow ) the gods doe please To strike him with a leperous disease , Or foule infection ; which is better now , Prophane the Al●…ar , or to breake the vow ? The case is mine ; where then the gods dispense , We may be bold , yet tender no offence . Admit it were an euill ; 't is our be●…est Of necessary ills to choose the least . The gods are good : The strickt recognisance Of vowes , is onely taken to aduance The good of man ; Now if that good proue ill , We may refuse , our vowes entire still . I vow a mariage ; why ? because I doe Entirely affect that man , my vowes are to ; But if some foule disease should interpose Betwixt our promis'd mariage , and our vowes . The strict performance of these vowes must proue I wrong ; and therefore loue not , whom I loue . Then vrge no more : Let my deny all be A pledge sufficient twixt my loue and thee . So ended sl●…e : 〈◊〉 vehement desire , ( That c●…n be quencht with No ; no more , then fire , With oyle ; and can submit to no condition ) Lends him new breath : Loue makes a Rethoritian . He speaks : she answers : He , afresh , replyes ; He stoutly sues ; As stoutly she denyes . He begs in vaine ; and she denics in vain●… ; For she denies agai●…e ; He begs again●… ; At last , both weary , ●…e his suite adiournes , For louers dayes are good , and bad by turnes . He bids farewell : As if the heart of either Gaue but one motion , they both sigh'd together . She bids farewel ' ; and yet she bids it so , As if her farewell ended , if he goe ; He bids farewel ' ; bu●… so , as if delay Had promis'd better farewells to his stay . She bids farewell ; but holds his hand so fast , As if that farewell , should not be the last . Both sigh'd , both wept , and both , being heauy harted , She bids farewell ; He bids farewell ; and parted . So parted they : Now Argalus is gone ; And now Parthenia's weeping all alone ; And , like the widowed Turtle , she bewailes The absence of her mate : Passion preuailes Aboue her strength : Now her poore heart can tell , What 's heauen , by wanting heauen ; and what is hell By her owne torments : Sorrow now does play The Tyrants part ; Affection must obey ; And , like a weathercocke , her various minde Is chang'd , and turn'd with euery blast of winde . In desp'rate language she deplores her state ; She faine would wish ; but then , she knowes not what ; Resolues of this ; of that ; and then of neither ; She faine would ●…lee , but then she knows not whither ; At length ( consulting with the heartlesse paire Of ill aduisers , Sorrow , and Despaire ) Resolues to take th' aduantage of that night , To steale away ; and seeke for death , by flight ; A Pilgrims weed her liuelesse limmes addrest From hand to foot : A thong of leather blest Her wasted loynes ; Her feeble feet were shod With Sandalls ; In her hand a Pilgrims rod. When as th' illustrious Soueraigne of the Day Had now begun his Circuit , to suruay His lower kingdome , hauing newly lent The vpper world to Cynthiaes gouernment , Forth went Parthenia , and begins t' attend The progresse now , which only Death can end . Goe haplesse virgin ! Fortune be thy guide , And thine owne vertues ; and what else beside , That may be prosperous : may thy merits find More happinesse , then thy distressed mind Can hope ; Liue , and to after ages proue The great example of true Faith and Loue : Gone , gone she is ; but whither she is gone , The gods , and fortune can resolue alone ; Pardon my Quill , that is enforc'd to stray From a poore Lady , in an vnknowne way . To number forth her weary steps , or tell Those obvious dangers , that so oft befell Our poore Parthenia , in her pilgrimage , Or bring her miseries on the open st●…ge ; Her broken slumbers ; her distracted care ; Her hourely feares , and srights ; her hungry fare ; Her daily pe●…ils ; and her nightly scapes From rauenous beasts , and from a●…tempted rap●…s , Is not my taske ; who care not to incite My R●…aders p●…ssion to an appetite . We leaue Parthenia now ; and our discourse Must cast an ●…ye , and bend a settled course To Argalus . When Argalus ( returni●…g To v●…sit his Parthenia , the n●…xt morning ) P●…rceiued she was fled , not knowing whither ; He makes no stay ; Consults not with the weather ; Stayes not to thi●…ke , but claps his hasty knees To his fleet Courser ; and away he flees ; His haste enquires no way ; ( he needs not feare To lose the roade , that goes he knowes not where ; ) One w●…ile he pricks vp●… the fruitfull plaines ; And now , he gently s●…ks his prouder reines , And climbes the barren hills : with fresh C●…reers He tryes the right hand way ; and then he ver●…s His course vpon the left : One while he likes This path ; when , by and by , his fancy strikes Vpon another tract . Sometimes , he rou●…s Among the Springs , and solitary Groues ; Where , on the tender barkes of sundry trees , H'engraues Parthenia's name , with his : then flees To the wild Champian : his proud Ste●…d remoures The hopefull fallowes , with his horned 〈◊〉 ; He baulkes no way ; rides ouer rocke , and mountaine ; When led by fortune to Diana's Fountaite , He straight dismounts his steed ; begins to quench His thirsty lippes ; and after that , to drench His fainting limmes , in that sweet streame , wherein Parthenia's dainty fingers of●… had bin . The Fountaine was vpon a steepe descent , Whose gliding current nature gaue a vent Through a firme rock ; which Art ( to make it known To after ages ) wall'd , and roof'd with stone ; Aboue the Christall fountaines head , was plac'd Diana's Image ( though of late defac'd : ) Beneath , a rocky Cysterne did retaine The water , s●…ding through the Cocks of Cane ; Whose curious Current , the worlds greater eye Ne're viewed , but in his mid-day M●…jestie : It was that Fountaine ; where , in elder times Poore Corydon compos'd his rurall rimes , And left them closely hid , for his vnkinde And marble hearted Phyllida to finde . All rites perform'd ; he re-amounts his Steed , Redeemes his losse of time with a new speed : And with a fresh supply , his strength renewes His progresse , God knowes whither ; He pursues His vow'd aduenture , brooking no delay , And ( with a minde as doubtfull as the way ) He iournies on ; he left no course , vnthought ; No traueller , vnask'd ; no place , vnsought . To make a Iournall of each Circumstance ; His change of fortunes , or each obuious chance Befell his tedious trauell : to relate The braue attempt of this exploit , or that ; His rare atchieuements , and their faire successe ; His noble courage , in extreame distresse ; His desp'rate dangers ; his deliuerance : His high esteeme with men , which did enhanse His meanest actions to the throne of I●…ue : And what he sufferd , for Partheniaes loue , Would make our volume endlesse , apt to try The vtmost patience of a studious eye ; All which , the bounty of a free conceit May sooner reach too , then my pen relate . But till bright Cynthiaes head had three times thrise Repayr'd her empty hornes , and fill'd the eyes Of gazing mortalls , with her globe of light , This re●…lesse louer ceas'd not , day and night , To wander , in a sollitarie Quest For her , whose loue had taught him to digest The dregges of sorrow , and to count all ioyes But follyes ( weigh'd with her ) at least , but toyes . It hapned now that twise six months had run , Since wandring Argalus had first begun His toylesome progresse ; who , in vaine , had spent A yeare of houres , and yet no euent , When fortune brought him to a goodly Seat ( Wall'd round about with Hills ) yet not so great As pleasant ; and lesse curious to the fight , Then strong ; yet yeelding euen as much delight , As strength ; whose onely outside did declare The masters Iudgement , and the builders care . Arround the Castle , nature had laid out The bounty of her treasure ; round about , Well fenced meadowes ( fill'd with summers pride ) Promis'd prouision for the winter tide , Neere which the neighb'ring hills ( well stockt and stor'd With milke white flocks ) did seuerally afford Their fruitfull blessings , and deseru'd encrease To painfull husbandry , the childe of peace ; It was Kalanders seat , who was the brother Of lost Parthenia's late deceased mother . He was a Gentleman , whom vaine ambition Nere taught to vnderualue the condition Of priuate Gentry , who preferr'd the loue Of his respected neighbours , farre aboue The apish congies of th'vnconstant Court ; Ambitious of a good , not great report . Beloued of his Prince , yet not depending Vpon his sauours so , as to be tending Vpon his person : and , in briefe , too strong Within himselfe , for fortunes hand to wrong : Thither came wandring Argalus ; and receiu'd As great content , as one that was bereau'd Of all his ioyes , could take , or who would striue T' expresse a welcome to the life , could giue : His richly furnisht table more exprest A common bounty , then a curious feast ; Wherea●… , the choice of precious wines were profer'd In liberall sort ; not vrg'd , but freely offer'd ; The carefull seruants did attend the roome , No need to bid them either goe or come : Each knew his place , his office , and could spy His masters pleasure , in his masters eye . But what can rellish pleasing to a taste That is distemper'd ? Can a sweet repast Please a sicke pallate ? no , there 's no content Can enter Argalus , whose soule is bent To tyre on his owne thoughts : Kalanders loue , ( That other times would rauish ) cannot moue That fixed heart , which passion now incites T' abiure all pleasures , and forsweare delights . It fortun'd ; on a day , that dinner ending , Kalander and his noble guests , intending T' exchange their pleasures in the open ayre , A messenger came in ; and did repaire Vnto Kalander ; told him , That the end Of his imployment , was to recommend A noble Lady to him ( neare allyde To faire Queene Hellen ) whose vnskilfull guide Had so misled , that she does make request , This night , to be his bold , and vnknowne guest ; And by his helpe , to be inform'd the way To finde to morrow , what she lost to day . Kalander ( the extent of whose ambition Was to expresse the bountious disposition Of a free heart , as glad of such occasion To entertaine ) return'd the salutation Of an vnknowne seruant ; and withall profest , A promis'd welcome to so faire a guest . Forthwith Kalander , and his noble friends ( All but poore Argalus , who recommends His thoughts to priuate vses , and confines His secret fancy to his owne designes ) Mounted their praunsing Steeds , to giue a meeting To his faire guest , they met , but at first meeting Kalander stood amaz'd ; ( for he suppos'd It was Parthenia ) and thus his thoughts disclos'd ; Maddam ( said he ) If these mine aged eyes Retaine that wo●…ted strength , which age denies To many of my yeares . I should be bold ( In viewing you ) to say , I doe behold . My neece Parthenia's , face : Nor can I be Perswaded ( by your leaue ) but you are she ? Thrice noble Sir ( she thus replide ) your tongue ( Perchance ) hath done the faire Parthenia wrong , In your mistake , and too much honour'd me , That ( in my iudgement ) was more fit to be Her foyle , then picture ; yet hath many an eye Giuen the like sentence , she not being by ; Nay , more ; I haue bin told ; that my owne mother Fail'd often to distinguish t'one from t'other . Said then Kalander : If my rash conceit Hath made a fault , mine error shall await Vpon your gratious pardon ; I alone VVas not deceiu'd ; for neuer any one That view'd Parthenia's visage , but would make As great an error , by as great mistake . But ( Madd●…m ) for her sake , and for your owne , ( VVhose worth may challenge to it selfe alone , More seruice then Kalander can expresse ) Y' are truly welcome . Enter , and possesse This Castle as your owne ; which can be blest In nothing , more , then in so faire a guest . Whereto , the Lady ( entring ) thus replide . Let euerlasting ioyes be multiplide VVithin these gentle gates ; and let them stand As lasting monuments in th' Arcadian la●…d , Of rare and bounteous hospitalitie To after-times . Let strangers passing by Blesse their succeeding heires as shall descend From such a Lord , from such a noble Friend . When as a little 〈◊〉 had repai●…'d Her weary limmes , which trauell had impair'd , The freenesse of occasion did present New subiects to discourse ; wherein they spent No little time ; among the rest , befell Kalander ( often stopt with teares ) to tell Of Argalus , and lost Parthenia's loue , Whose vndissembled passion did moue A generall griefe ; the more that they attended To his sad tale , the more they wish'd it ended . Maddam ( said he ) although your visage be Like hers ; yet may your fortunes disagree ; Poore girle ! and as he ●…pake that word , his eyes Let fall a teare . The Lady thus replyes ; My soule doth suffer for Parthenia's sake ; But tell me , Sir , did Argalus for sake His poore 〈◊〉 whom he lou'd so deare ? How hath he spent his daies e're since ? and where ? Maddam ( said he ) when as their marriage day Drew neare ; mischiefe , that now was bent to play Vpon the Stage , her studied master prize , With ougly leprosie did so disguise Her beauteous face , that she b●…came a terroar To her owne selfe : But Arg●…lus the mirrour Of truest constancy , ( whose loyall heart , Not guided by his eye , 〈◊〉 to start From his past v●…wes ) did , in despight of fortune , Pursue his fixt desires , and importune Th' entended mariage 〈◊〉 : But she , Whom reason now had taught to disagree VVith her distracted thoughts stands deafe and mute , And at the last , to auoyd his further suit , Not making any prinie to her flight , She quits the house , and steales away by night ; But Maddam , when as Argalus perceiu'd That she was fled ; and being quite bereau'd Of his last hope poore louer , he assayes By toyle some pilgrimage to end his dayes , Or finde her out : Now twice sixe months haue run Their tedious courses , since he first begun His fruitlesse iourney , ranging farre and neare , Suffering as many sorrowes as a yeare Could send ; and made by the extreames of weather Vna●…t for trauell , fortune brought him thither ; VVhere he as yet remaines , till time shall make His wasted bodie fit to vndertake His discontented progresse , and renew His great enquest for her , who at first view , Maddam , you seem'd to be . So said ; The Lady from whose tender eyes Some drops did slide , whose heart did sympathize W●…th both their sorrowes , said ; And is their then Such vnexpected constancy in men ? Most noble Sir ; If the too rash desires of a stranger May be dispens'd withall without the danger Of too great boldnesse , I should make request To see this noble Lord , in whose rare brest ( By your report ) more honour doth reside , Then in all Greece ; nay , all the world beside ; I haue a message to him , and am loath To doe it , were I not ingag'd by ●…ath . Whereat , Kalander , not in breath , but action Applies himselfe to giue a satisfaction To her propounded wish : protraction wasts No time ; but vp to Arg●…s he hasts : Argalus comes downe ; and after s●…lutation G●…uen , and re●…iu'd , she accosts him on this fashion My noble Lord , VVhereas the loud resounding trump of fame Hath nois'd your worth , and gloriside your name Aboue all others , let your goodnesse now Make good that faire report ; that I may know By true experience , what my ioyfull eare ●…ad but , as yet , the happinesse to heare . And if the frailty of a womans wit May chancet ' o●…end ; ●…e noble , and r●…mit . Then know ( most noble Lord ) my natiue place , Is Co●…inth ; of the selfe same biood and race , VVith faire Queene H●…llen , in whose princely Court I had my birth , my breeding : To be short ; Thither not many daies ago●… , there came , Disguis'd and chang'd in all things but her name , The rare Par●…a , so in shape transform'd , In feature altred , and in face d●…form'd . That ( in my iudgement ) all this region could Not show a thing , more vgly to b●…hold . Long was it , ere her oft repeated vowes And solemne protestations could rouze My ouer dull beliefe ; till , and the last , Some passages , that heretofore had past In secret , twixt Parthenia and me , Gaue full assurance't could be none but she ; Abundant welcome , ( as a soule so sad As mine , and hers , could giue or take ) she had So like we were in face , in speech , in growth , That whosoeuer saw the one , saw both : Yet were we not alike in our complexions So much as in our lones , in our affections One sorrow seru'd vs both ; and one reliefe Could ease vs both , both partners in one griefe Much priuate time we ioyntly spent ; and neither Could finde a true content , if not together . The strange occurrents of her dire misfortune She oft discourst , which strongly did importune A world of teares from these suffused eyes , The true partakers of her miseries . And as she spake , the accent of her story Would alwaies point vpon th' eternall glory Of your rare constancy , which whosoere In after-ages shall presume to heare And not admire let him be proclaim'd Arebell to all vertue , and ( defam'd In his best actions ) let his leprous name Or die d●…shonour'd , or suruiue with shame . But ah ! what simples can the hand of art Finde out to stanch a louers bleeding heart ? Or what ( alas ) can humane skill apply To turne the course of loues Phlebotomie ? Loue is a secret sire , inspir'd and blowne By fate ; which wanting hopes , to feed vpon Workes on 〈◊〉 very soule , and does torment The vniuerse of man : which being spent And wasted in the Conflict , often shrinkes Beneath the burthen ; and , soconquerd sinkes ; All which , your poore Parthenia knew too well , VVhose bed rid hopes , not hauing power to quell Th' imperious fury of extreame despaire , She languisht , and not able to contraire The will of her victorious passion ; cryed , My dearest Argalus , farewell , and dyed : My Lord , not long before her latest breath Had freely paid the full arrears to death , She cald me to her ; In her dying hand She strained mine , whilst in her eyes did stand A showre of teares , vnwept ; and in mine eare She whisperd so , as all the roome might heare . Sister ( said she ) ( That title past betweene vs Not vndeseru'd ; for , all that ere had scene vs , Mistooke vs so , at least ) The lat●…st sand Of my spent 〈◊〉 is now at hand . Those ioyes , which heauen appointed out for me , I here bequeath to be possest by thee . And when sweet death shall clarifie my thoughts , And draine them from the dregs of all my faults , Enioy them thou , wherewith ( being so refinde From all their drosse ) ●…ull fraught thy constant minde And let thy prosprous voyage be addrest To the faire port of Argalus his brest , As whom the eye of noone did ne'er discouer So loyall , so renownd , so rare a louer : Cast anchor there , for by this dying breath Nothing can please my soule more , after death , And make my ioyes more perfect , them to see A mariage twixt my Argalus and thee ; This Ring the pledge betwixt his heart and mine , A●… freely as he gaue me , I make thine : With it , vnto thy faithfull heart I tender My sacred vowes : with it , I here surrender All right and title , that I had , or haue In such a blessing , as I now must leaue ; Goe to him , and coniure him in my name What loue he bare to me , the very same That he transferre on thee : take no deniall . VVhich granted , liue thou happy , constant , loy all . And as she spake that word , her voice did alter ; Her breath grew cold , her specch began to faulter ; Faine would she vtter more , but her spent tongue ( Not able to gos further ) faild , and clung To ber dry roofe . A while , as in a trance , She lay ; and , on a sudden , did aduance Her forced language to the height , and cryed , Farewell my dearest Argalus : and died . And now , my Lord , although this office be Vnsutable to my sex , and disagree T●…o much perchance , with the too mean condition Of my estate , more like to finde dirision , Then satisfaction ; yet , my gratious Lord , Extr'ordinary merits doe afford Extr'ordinary meanes , and can excuse The breach of custome , or the common vse ; VVherefore , incite●… 〈◊〉 the deare directions Of dead Parther●… , 〈◊〉 mine owne affections , And by the exc'lence of your high desert , I here present you with a faithfull heart , A heart , to you deuoted ; which assures It selfe no happinesse , but in being yours . Pardon my boldnesse . They that shall reproue This , as a fault , reproue a fault in loue . And why should custome doe our sex that wrong , To take away the priuiledge of our tongue ? If nature giue vs freedome , to affect , Why then should custome barre vs to d●…tect The gifts of nature ? She that is in paine Hath a sufficient warrant to complaine . Then giue me leaue ( my Lord ) to reinforce A virgins suit , ( thinking ne're the worse Of proferd loue ) let my desiers thriue , And freely ' accept what I so freely giue . So ending ; silence did enla●…ge her eare , ( Prepar'd with q●…icke attention ) to heare His gracious words : But Argalus whose passion Had put his amorous Courtship out of fashion , Return'd no answer , till his trickling eies Had giuen an earnest of such obsequies , As his adiourned sorrow had entended To doe at full , and therefore recommended To priuacy ; True griefe abhorres the light , Who grieues without a witnesse , grieues aright . His passion thus suspended for a while , ( And yet not so , but that it did recoyle Strong sighes ) he wip'd his teare-bedewed ey●…s , And turning to the Lady , thus replyes . Madam , Your no lesse rare , then noble fauours show How much you merit , and how much I owe Your great desert , which claimes more thankfulnesse , Then such a dearth of language can expresse . But most of all , I stand for euer bound To that your goodnesse , my Parthenia found In her distresse , for which respect ( in duty As I am tyed ) poore Argalus shall repute ye The flowre of noble courtesie , and proclaime Your high deseruings . Lady ; as I am , A poore vnhappy wretch , the very scorne Of all prosperitie , distrest , forlorne , Vnworthy the least fauour you can giue ; I am your flaue , your Beadsman will I liue : But for this weighty matter you propound , Although I see how much it would redound To my great happinesse , yet heauen knowes ( Most exc'llent Lady ) I cannot dispose Of my owne thoughts ; nor haue I power to doe What , else , you needed not perswade me to ; For trust me , were this heart of mine , mine owne , To carue according to my pleasure , none But you should challenge it ; but while I liue It is Parthenia's , and not mine to giue . Whereto she thus replies : Most noble Sir , Death , that hath made diuorse 'twixt you , and her , Hath now returned you your heart againe , Dissolu'd your vowes , dislink'd that sacred chaine , Which tide your soules ; nay more , her dying breath Bequeath'd your heart to me ; which by her death Is growne a debt , that you are bound to pay ; Then know ( my Lord ) the longer you delay , The longer time her soule is dispossest ( And by your meanes ) of her desired rest . Whereto the poore distressed Argalus Pausing a while return'd his answere thus ; Incomparable Lady , When first of all , by heauens diuine directions , VVe lou'd , we lik'd , we linkt our deare affections , And with the solemne power of an oath , In presence of the better gods , we both Exchang'd our hearts : in witnesse of which thing , I gaue , and she receiued this deare Ring , Which now you weare ; by which she did resigne Her heart to me ; for which , I gaue her mine . Now , Maddam , by a mutuall commerce , My exchang'd heart is not my owne , but hers ; Which if it had the power to suruiue , She being dead , what heart haue I to giue ? Or if that heart expired in her death , VVhat heart had shee ( poore Lady ! ) to bequeath ? Maddam , in her began my deare affection ; In her , it liu'd ; in her , it had perfection ; In her , it ioy'd , although but ill befriended By Fate ; in her begun , in her , it ended . If I had lou'd , if I had onely lou'd Parthenia's beautie , I had soone beene mou'd To moderate my sorrowes , and to place That loue on you , that haue Parthenia's face ; But 't was Parthenia's selfe I lou'd , and loue ; VVhich as no time hath power to remoue From my sixt heart , so nothing can diminish , No fortune can dissolue ; no death can finish . With mingled frownes and smiles , she thus replide , H●…lfe in a rage , And must I be denide ? Are those the noble fauours I expected ? To finde disgrade ? and goe away reiected ? Most noble Lady , if my words ( said he ) Suit not your expectation , let them be Imputed to the miserie of my state , Which makes my lips to speake they know not what ; Mistake not him , that onely studies how , VVith most aduantage still to honour you . Alas ! what ioyes I euer did receiue From fortune's buried in Parthenia's graue , VVith whom , ere long ( nor are my hopes in vaine ) I hope to meet , and neuer part againe . So said ; with more then Eagle winged hast , She flew into his bosome and embrac'd , And her clos'd armes , his sorrow-wasted wast ; Surcharg'd with ioy , she wept , not hauing power To speake . Haue you beheld an Aprill shower Send downe her hasty bubbles , and then stops , Then storms afresh , through whose transparent drops The vnobscur●…d lamp●… of heauen conuaies The brigh●…er glory o●…'s refulgent rayes : Euen so , within her blushing checks resided A mixt a●…pect , 'twixt smiles and teares diuided , So euen diuided ; no man could say , whether She wept , or 〈◊〉 , she smil'd , and wept together , She held him fast , and like a fainting louer , Whose passion now had license to discouer Some words ; Since then thy heart is not for me , Take , take thy owne Parthenia ( said she ) Cheare vp , my Argalus ; these words of mine Ate thy Parthenia's , as Parthenia's thine ; Beleeue it ( Loue ) these are no false alarmes ; Thou hast thine owne Parthenia in thine armes . Like as a man , whose hourely wants implore Each meales reliefe , trudging from doore to doore , That heares no dialect from churlish lippes , But newes of Beadles , and their tor●…uring whips , Takes vp ( perchance ) some vnexpected treasure , New lost ; departs ; and , ioyfull beyond measure , I●… so transported , that he scarce beleeu●…s So grea●… a truth ; and what his eye perceiues Not daring trust , but feares it is some vision , Or 〈◊〉 dre●…me , deseruing but derision . So Argalus●…mazed ●…mazed at the newes , F●…ine wo●…ld beleeue , but da●…ing not abuse His easie saith too soone , for feare his heart Should s●…rfeit on conc●…it , he did impart The truth vnto his fancie by degrees , VVhere stopp'd by passion , falling on his knees , He thus began ; O ●…ou eternall powers That haue the guidance of these soules of ours , Who by your iust prerogati●…e can doe What is a sin for man to diue into ; Whose vndiscouer'd actions are too high For thought ; too deepe for man ●…'enquier , why ? Delude not these mine eyes with the false show Of such a ioy , as I must neuer know But in a dreame : Or if a dreame it be , O let me neuer wake againe , to see My selfe deceiu'd , that am ordain'd t' enioy A reall griefe , and but a dreaming ioy . Much more he spake to this ●…ffect , which ended ; He blest himselfe , and ( with a sigh ) vnbended His aking knees ; and rising from the ground , H●… c●…st his rolling eyes about , and found T●…e roome auoyded , and hims●…lfe alone ; The doore halfe clos'd , and his Parthenia gone , His new distemper'd passion grew extreame ; I knew , I knew , ( said he ) 't was but a dreame ; A minutes ioy ; a flash ; a flattering bubble Blowne by the fancy , full of pleasing trouble ; Which waking breakes ; and empties into ayre , And breathes into my soule a fresh despaire . I knew 't was nothing but a golden dreame , Which ( waking ) makes my wants the more extreame ; I knew 't was nothing but a dreaming ioy , A blisse , which ( waking ) I should ne're enioy . My deare Parth●…nia tell me , where , O where Art thou that so 〈◊〉 ' st mine ●…ye , mine eare ? O that my wak'ned fancy had the might To represent vnto my reall sight What my deceiued eyes beheld , that I Might surfeit with excesse of ioy , ●…nd die . With that the faire Parthenia ( whose desire Was all this while , by fire , to draw out fir●… ; And by a well aduised course to smother The s●…ry of one passion with another ) Stept in , and said ; Then Argalus take thou Thy true Parthenia : Thou dream'st not now ; Behold this Ring , whose Motto does impart The constancy of our diuided heart : Behold these eyes , that for thy sake haue vented A world of teares , vnpittied , vnlamented : Behold the face , that had of late the power To curse all beauty ; yet it selfe , secure : Witnesse that Tapour , whose prophetick snuffe VVas outed and re●…iued with one puffe : And that my words may whet thy dull belief●… , 'T was I , that roard beneath the scourge of griefe , VVhen thou did'st curse the Darknesse , for concealing My face ; and then the T●…pour , ●…or revealing So ●…oule a face ; 'T was I , that , ouercome VVith violent despaire , stood deafe and dumbe To all thy vrg'd perswasions . It was I , That , in thy absence , did resolue to die A wandring pilgrime , trusting to be led By fortune , to my death ; and therefore fled : But see ; the powers aboue can worke their ends , In spight of mortals : and what man intends , The heauens dispose , and order the euent : For when my thoughts were desperately bent To mine owne ruine , I was led by fate ( Through dangers , now too tedious to relate ) To faire Queene Hellens court , not knowing whither My vnaduised steps were guided . Thither My Genius brought me ; where , vnknowne to any , I mournd in silence ; though obseru'd by many , Relieu'd by none . At length , they did acquaint The faire Queene H●…llen with my strange complaint , Whose noble heart did truly sympathize With mine , partaking in my miseries : Who , fill'd with pitty , strongly did importune The wofull cause of my disastrous fortune , And neuer rested , till she did inforce These lips t' acquaint her with the whole discourse . VVhich done , her gratious pleasure did command Her owne Physitian , to whose skilfull hand She left my foule disease ; who in the space Of twice ten dayes , restor'd me to this face : The cure perfected , straight she sent about ( Without my knowledge ) to enquier out That party , for whose sake I was contented T' endure such griefe with patience , vnrepented . Hoping ( since by her meanes , and help of Art ) My face was cur'd ) euen so to cure my heart . But when the welcome messenger return'd Thy place of boad , ô how my spirits burnd To k●…sse her hands , and so to leaue the Court ; But she ( whose fauours did transcend report As much , as they exceeded my desert ) Detain'd me for a while , as loath to part VVith her poore handmaid ; till at last , perpending A louers haste , and freely apprehending So iust a cause of speed , she soone befriended My best desiers , and sent me thus attended , VVhere ( vnder a false maske ) I laid this plot , To see how soone my Argalus had forgot His dead Parthenia , but my blessed eare Hath heard , what few or none must hope to heare : Now farewell sorrow , and let old despaire Goe seeke new brests : let mischiefe neuer dare Attempt our hearts : let Argalus inioy His true Parthenia ; let Parthenia's ioy Reuiue in him : let each be blest in eyther , And blest be heauen , that brought vs both together . With that , the well-nig●… broken hearted louer , Rauisht with ouer ioy , did thus discouer His long pent words : And doe these eyes once more Behold what their extreame despaire gaue o're To hope for ? Doe these wretched eyes attaine The happinesse , to see this face againe ? And is there so much happinesse yet left For a broke heart , a heart that was bereft Of power t' enioy , what heauen had pow●…r to giue ? Breathes my P●…rthenia ? Does Partheni●… liue ? Who euer saw the Septentrionall stone , By hidden power , ( a power as ye●… vnknowne To our confinde and darkned reason ) draw The neighb'ring steele ; which , by the mutuall law Of natures secret working , striues as much To be attracted , till they ioyne and touch ; Euen so these greedy Louers meet , and charmes Each other strongly in each others armes ; Euen so they meet ; and with vnbounded measure Os true content , and time beguiling pleasure , Enioy each other with a world of kisses , Sealing the patent of true worldly blisses ; Where for a while I leaue them to receiue , What pleasures new met louers vse to haue . Readers forbeare ; and let no wanton eye Abuse our Sceane : Let not the stander by Corrupt our lines , or make an obsceane glosse Vpon our sober Text , and mixe his drosse With our refined gold , extracting sower From sweet , and poyson from so faire a flower . Correct your wandring thoughts , and doe not feare To thinke the best : Here is no Tarquine here ; No lustfull , no insatiate Messaline , Who thought it gaine sufficient to resigne An age of honour , for a night of pleasure ; Whose strength t' endure lust , was the iust measure Of her adust desire : Yee need not feare Our priuate Louers , who esteeme lesse deare Their liues then honours , daring not to doe , But what vnsham'd the Sun may pry into . If any itching eares desire to know , What seret conf'rence past betwixt these two ; To them my Muse thus answers ; When your case Shall proue the like , she wils you to embrace True honour , as these n●…ble louers did , And you shall know ; Till then you are forbid To enquire further : Onely this she pleases To let you vnderstand , that loues diseas●…s Being throughly cured , by their meeting , they H●…ue once againe 〈◊〉 a Mariage day ; Which that it might succeed with fairer fortune , Readers , she moues your pleasures , to importune The better gods , that they would please t'appay Their griefes with ioy , and smile vpon that Day . The end of the second Booke . ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA . The third Booke . VVHen sturdy Marches stormes are ouerblowne And Aprill , gentle show'rs are slidden downe To close the windchapt earth , succeeding May Enters her month , whose earely breaking day Calls Ladies from their hasty beds to view Sweet Maias pride , and the discolour'd hiew Of dewy-brested Flora , in her bower Where euery hand hath leaue to picke the flowre Her fancy likes , wherewith to be possest , Vntill it fade , and wither in her brest . Now smooth-fac'd Neptune , with his gladder smiles Visits the bankes of his beloued Isles ; Eolus calls in the winds , and bids them hold Their full-mouth'd blasts , that breathles are controlld ; Each one ●…tyres and shrinks into his seat And seagreene Triton sounds a shrill retreat : And thus at length , our Pinace is past o're The barre ; and rides before the Maiden-Towre . Vp , now in earnest ( voyagers ) and stand yee On your faint legs ; O●…r long boat straight shal land ye . Forget your trauels now , and lead your eyes From your past dangers to your present prize . You traffick'd not for toyes ; The gods haue set No other price to things of price , but sweat . Cheare vp ; call home your hearts , and be aduis'd , Goods eas'ly purchas'd , are as eas'ly priz'd . You traffick'd not for trifles ; and your trauell Was not to compasse the almightie grauell Of th' Indian Mines , to ballace your estates ; T was not for blasts of Honour ; whose poore dates Depend on regall smiles , and haue no measures , But Monarchs wils , expiring with their pleasures . T was not to conquer Kingdomes , or obtaine The dangerous title of a Soueraigne ; These are poore things : It is but false discretion To toyle , where hopes are sweeter then possession . No , we are bound vpon more braue aduentures ; True Honour , Vertue , beauty , are the Centers To which we point , whereto our thoughts doe tend , And heauen hath brought our voyage to an end . Haile noble Argalus ; now the Cock boate stands Secure : step forth , and reach thy widened hands , And take thy fairest Bride into thine armes ; Strike vp ( braue spirit ) Cupids fresh alarmes Vpon her melting lips : Take Toll , before Thou set her dainty foot vpon the shore ; So let her slide vpon thy gentle brest , And feele the ground : then lead her to her rest . Goe Imps of honour ; let the morning Sun Gild your delights , and spend his beames vpon Your marriage triumphs ; let his westerne light Decline apace , and make a early Night . Go●… , Turtles , goe ; let trebble ioyes betide The faithfull Bridegroome , and his fairest Bride . L●…t your own●… ve●…tues light you to your rest ; Tomorrow come we to your n●…ptiall feast . By this the curld pate VVaggoner of heauen H●… 〈◊〉 his diurnall course , and drinen Hi , pan●…ing S●…eds adowne the W●…sterne hill , When silu●…r Cynthia , rising to fulfill He●…n g●…tly course , le ts fall an euening teare , To see her bro●…her lea●…e the Hemisphere , W●…ich , by the ayre disper●…d , is early found ( And call'd a pearlly dew ) vpon the ground : Still was the night , no language did molest The waking ear ; All mortals were at res●… ; No 〈◊〉 of wind had power to prouoke The Aspine lea●…e , or quell the aspiring smoake ; Sweet was the ayre , and clear●… ; no S●…arre was hi●… ; No enu●…ous cloud was stirring , to forbid The 〈◊〉 Astronomer , to gaze , and looke Into the secrets of his spangled booke ; Whilst round about , in each resounding groue , ( As if the 〈◊〉 of night had stroue 〈◊〉 the warbling Philomele compares , And 〈◊〉 by turn●…s her Polyphonian ayres . And now the horn-mouth'd Belman of the night Had se●…t his midnight summons , to inuite Nights 〈◊〉 rebuls , from their secret holds To 〈◊〉 and visite the securer folds , Whilst drouzie Morpheus , with his leaden keyes , Locks vp the Shepherds eye-lids , and betrayes The sc●…ttered flocks , which lye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Expecting fire when the 〈◊〉 - 〈◊〉 . By ●…his the p●…lefac'd Empresse of the night H●…d 〈◊〉 vp her borrowed light , And to the lower world she now retites , Attended with her traine of lesser 〈◊〉 , And early Hesper shoots his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , To vsher Titan from his purple bed . The gray ey'd lanitor does now begin To ope his Easterne portals , and let in The new borne Day ; who hauing lately hu●…ld The shades of night into the lower world , The dewy cheek'd Aurora does vnfold Her purple Curtaines , all be●…ng'd with gol●… ; And from the pillow of his Crocian bed , Don Phoebus rouzes his resulg●…t head ; That with his all d●●scerning eye suruayes , And gilds the mountaines with his morning rayes . Now , now the wakefull Bride groome ( whose last night Had made her shades too long ) salutes the ligh●… ; Salutes the welcom●… light , which now a●…length , Shall crown his heart with ioyes , beyond th●… 〈◊〉 Of mortall language , whose religious 〈◊〉 Shall light these lou●… to their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vp Argalus , and 〈◊〉 thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 T' enioy that ioye , from whence all ioy proc●…ds : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ioyes , from whence all ioy 〈◊〉 Vp 〈◊〉 ; and 〈◊〉 thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . And thou f●…ite B●…ide , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the day , Thy Day is come , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Awake , and rouze 〈◊〉 ●…om thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Thy Day is come : and m●…y thy ioy 〈◊〉 number Thy minutes that are 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Arise , and bid thy maid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Put on thy nuptiall robes , Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O may thy after dayes be like this 〈◊〉 . By this , bright Phoebus with redoubled glorie Had halfe way mounted to the highest storie Of his Olympicke Palace : there to see This long expected Dayes solemnitie : When all on sudden , there was heard around From euerie quarter ) the Maiestick sound Of many Trampets : all in consort running One point of warre , transcending farre the cunning Of mortall blasts ; and what did seeme more strange , The shrill mouth'd musicke did as sudden change To Dorick straines , to sweet mollitious ayres , To Lyrick songs , and voyces , like to theirs That charm'd Vlysses : whil'st th' amazed eare Stood rauisht at these changes , it might heare Those voyces , ( by degrees ) transforme to Lutes , To Shaulms , deepe throated Sackbuts , and to Flutes , And Eccho-forcing Cornets ; which surpast The Art of man : this Harmony did last Vntill the Bridegroome came : But all men wondred To heare the noyse : some thought the heauens had thundred To a new tun●… ; and some more wiser eares Conceiu'd , it was the Musick of the Spheares : All wonderd , all men gaz'd ; and all could heare , But none knew whence the Musicke was , or where . Forthwith , as if a second Sun had rose , And stroue with greater brightnesse , to depose The glory of the first , the Bridegroome came , Vsher'd along with Eagle-winged Fame , Whose twice fiue hundred mouthes did at one blast Inspire a thousand Tr●…mpets , as he past . His nuptiall ves●…re was of Scarlet Dye So deepe , as it would dazle a weake eye To gaze vpon 't ; to which , the curious Art Of the laborious needle did impare So great a glorie , that you might behold A rising Sunne , imbost with purest gold , From whence ten thousand trailes of gold came down In waued poynts , like Sunbeames from that Sun : Thus from his Chamber , midd'st the vulgar Crowd ( Like Titan breaking through a gloomy cloud ) The long expected Bridegroome came , and past Th' amazed multitude , till at the last , His Herauld brought him to the Hall of State , When all th' Arcadian Nobles did awaite To welcome his approach , and to discharge The lowder volley of their ioyes at large . The Hall was spacious , lightsome , and bestrow'd With Flora's wealth ( a bountie that she ow'd This glorious feast ) The wals were richly clad With curious Tap'strie ; ( such as Greece ne're had Before this day ) wherein you might behold , Wrought to the life , in colourd silkes , and gold , This present Story of these peerelesse Louers , Which , like a silent Chronicle , discouers The seuerall passages , that d●…d be fall 'Twixt their first meeting , and their nuptiall ; Deuis'd and wrought by Virgins borne in Greece , Presented to this Triumph , as a peece Deuoted to the memorie and fame Of Argalus , and his Parthenia's name . No sooner was the Ceremony ended , ( Wherein each noble spirit more contended T' expresse affection , then affect th'expession Of courtly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a ba●…e profession Of ayrie friendship ) but a sudden shout Of rudely mingled ●…yees flew th●…oughout The spatious Castle , which confus'dly cry'd Ioy to Parth●…nia , to the fairest Bride . Fo●… 〈◊〉 ( as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had broken loose , And Dei●…ies had meant to enter pose Their heauenly bodies , with the mortall tribe Of men ; or , else , intending to ascribe Their pers'nall honour to this nuptiall ) In more then prin●…ly st●…te , enters the Hall A gloriou●… Show of Ladies , all aray'd In rare and costly robes , and richly laid With Iems vnualued ; and each Lady wore A Scarfe vpon her arme , embroidered o'er With gold and pearle ; Thus hand in hand they pa●…t Into the Hall , but oft their eyes did ●…ast A backward looke , as if their thoughts did minde Some greater glory , comming on b●…hinde : Next after them , came in the virgin crew In milke white robes ( virgins that neuer knew The sacred mysteries of the mariage bed , Nor , finding trouble in a Maidenhead , Erelent a thought to nuptiall ioyes , till now ) Thus past these buds of nature ; two , by two , Their long dis●…heueld treffes d●…angled downe With car●…sse Art , and on each head a crowne Of golden Laurell stood : Their ●…aces 〈◊〉 Beneath a vaile , seem'd 〈◊〉 the Stars were clouded . H●…ue ye beheld in fros●…y winters Euen , When all the lesser twin●…ng lamps of heauen Are fully ●…indled , how the ●…uddy face Of rising Cynthi●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with what a grace She views the Throne of darkenesse , and aspires Th' Olympick brow , amidst the smaller fires ? So after all these sparkes of beauty , came ( They were but sparks to such a glorious flame ) The fayre Parthenia , thus the rose-cheek'd Bride Enters the roome ; A milke white vayle did hide Her blushing face ; which , ne'erthelesse discloses Some glymps of red , like Lawne o're spreading roses ; Thus entred she ; The garments , that she wore , Were made of Purple silke , bespangled o're With Starres of purest gold , and round about Each seuerall S●…arre went , winding in , and out , A trayle of orient pearle , so rarely wrought , That as the garments moou'd , you would haue thought , The Starres had twinckled ; Her dissheueld hayre Hung downe behind , as if the onely care Had bin to reconcile neglect and Art , H●…ng loosely downe , and vayl'd the backer part Of those her sky-resembling robes ; but so , That euery breath would waue it too and fro , Like flying clouds ; through which , you might discouer Sometimes one glim'ring Starre , sometimes another : Thus on she went ; her ample traine supported By thrice three virgins , euenly siz'd and sorted In purple robes : forthwith , the Bridegroome rises From off his chaire ; bowes downe ; and sacrifices The peacefull offring of a morning kisse , Vpon her lips : To such a Saint as this , O , what rebellious heart could chose but bowe , And offer freely the perpetuall vowe Of choyce obedience ? With that , each Noble moues him from his place , And with a posture , full of Princely grace , Salutes the louely Bride , with words , expressing The ioy●…ull modell of a kingdomes blessing . But hark●… ! The Hymenean trumpet sends Her latest summons forth : Hymen attends The noble payre , and is prepar'd to y●…ke Their promis'd hands ; the sacred Altars smoake With Mirr●… and Frankinsence , Thewayes are strowd With Flora's prid●… ; and the expecting crowd Haue throng'd the streets , and ●…uery greedy eye Attends , to see the Tryumph passing by : At length , the gates flew open . And on this fashion Began the Tryumph ; first a Proclamation Was made , with a loud voyce : If any be , Or Lord , or Knight , or whatsoere degree , Professing armes , or honour in the land , That at this time , can chalenge , or pretend A ti●…le to Parthenia's heart , or claime A right , or interest in her loue , or name ; Let him come forth in person ; or , appeare By noble Proxy , if not present here ; And by the exc●…lent honour of a Knight , He shall receiue such honourable right As the iust sword can giue ; Let him now come , And speake ; or , else , for euermore be dumme . Thrice was it read ; which done ; forthwith there came True honours Eaglewinged Herauld , Fame , Sounding a siluer Trump ; and as she past , She shooke the earths foundation , with her blast . Next after whom in vndissembl●…d state The Bridegroome came ; on his right hand did wait The god of Warre , in 〈◊〉 robes of greene , All stain'd with bleeding hearts , as they had ●…eene But newly wounded , and from euery wound , Fresh bloud due seeme to trickle on the ground ; And as the garments moo●…'d , each dying heart Would seeme to pant a while , and then depart . Vpon the Bridegroomes left hand there attended Heauens Pursu●…uant , whose brawny arme extended A winged Caduce ; He had scarce the might To curbe his feet ; his feet were wing'd for flight . Aboue his head their hands did ioyntly hold A crimzon Canopie embost with gold . Next them , twice twenty famous Nobles follow'd , Braue men at armes , whose names the world had hallow'd For rare exploits , and twice as many Knights , Whose bloods haue ●…ansom'd , and redeem'd the rights Of wronged Ladies : These were all aray'd In robes of Needle worke , so rarely made , That he which sees them , thinkes he doth behold Armours of steele , saire filletted with gold : And as they marcht , their Squires did aduance Before each Knight his warlike Shield and Lance. And after these , the Princely virgin Bride , On whom all eyes were fastned , did diuide Her gentle paces , being led betweene Two Goddesses , the one arai'd in greene , On which the curious needle vndertooke To make a forest : here a bubling brooke Diuides two thickets : through the which doth flie The singled Deere , before the deepe-mouth'd Crie , That closely followes : There th' affrighted Herd Stands trembling at the musicke , and afeard Of euery shadow , gazes to and f●…o , Not knowing where to stay , or where to goe ; Where , in a Launskip , you may see the Faunes , Following their crying mothers o're the Lawnes ; The other was in robes , the purer dye Whereof , did represent the midday sky , Full of black clouds ; through which , the glorius beams Of the obscured Sun appeares , and seemes As ' ●…were to scatter ; and at length , to shed His brighter glory , on a fruitfull bed Of noisome weeds ; from whence , you might discerne A thousand painfull Bees extract and earne Their sweet prouision ; and , with laden thighes , To beare their waxy burthens : On this wise The princely Bride was led betwixt these two , The first , was she , that on Act●…ons brow Reueng'd her naked Chastity ; the other Was she , to whom loues pregnant braine was mother Through Vulcans helpe ; and these did iointly hold Vpon her head , a Coronet of gold ; Whose traine Dianas virgin crew , all crown'd With golden wreathes , supported from the ground . Next after her , vpon the triumph waited An order , by Diana new created , And styl'd the Ladies of the Maidenhead , In white , wrought here and there with spots of red , And euery spot appeared as a staine Of louers blood , whom their hard hearts had slaine : Ranckt three , and three ; and on each h●…ad a crowne Of Primeroses , and Roses not yet blowne . Next whom , the beauties of th' A●…dian Court March'd two and two , whose glory came not short Of what th'vnlimited , and studied art Of glory-vying Ladies could impart To such solemnities ; where euery one Stroue to excell , and to b'excell'd of none . Thus came they to the Temple ; where attended The sacred Priests , whose voices recommended The dayes successe to heauen , and did diuide A blessing ' ●…wixt the Bridegroome , and the Bride : Which done ; and after low obeysance made , The first ( whilst all the rest kept silence ) said : Welcome to Iuno's sacred Courts ; Draw neare : Vnspotted Louers , welcome : Doe not feare To touch this holy ground ; Passe on secure ; Our gates stand open to such guests , as you are ; Our gracious Goddesse grants you your desires , And hath accepted of those holy fires , We offered in your name , and takes a pleasure To smell your Incense in so great a measure Of true delight , that we are bold to say , She crownes your vowes , and smiles vpon this Day . So said ; they bowed to the ground , and blest Themselues ; that done , they singled from the rest The noble Bridegroome , and his princely Bride , And said ; Our gracious goddesse be our guide , As we are yours ; and as they spake that word , Their well-tun'd voices sweetly did accord With Musick from the Altar : As along They past , they ioyntly warbled out this song : THus in Pompe , and Priestly pride , To glorious Iuno's Altar goe we ; Thus to Iuno's Altar show we The noble Bridegroome and his Bride : Let Iuno's hourely blessing send ye As much ioy as can attend ye . May these louers neuer want True iores , nor euer beg in vaine Their choice desiers ; but obtaine What they can wish , or she can grant . Let Iuno's hourely blessings send ye As much ioy as can attend yee . From sacietie , from strife , Iealousies , domesticke iars , From those blowes , that leaue no scars , Iuno protect your mariage life . Iuno's hourely blessings send yee As much ioy as can attend ye . Thus to Hymens sacred bands We commend your chast deserts , That as Iuno link'd your hearts , He would please to ioyne your ●…ands . And let both their blessings send ye As much ioy as can attend ye . No sooner was this Nuptiall Caroll ended , But bowing to the ground , they recommended This princely paire ( both prostrate on the floore ) And with their hands presented them before The sacred Altar , whereunto they brought Two milke white Turtles ; and with prayers be sought That Iuno's lasting fauours would descend , And make their pleasures , pleasures without end . With that , a horrid cracke of dreadfull thunder Possest each fainting heart , with feare and wonder : The rafters of the holy Temple shooke , As if accu●…sed Archimagoes booke ( That cursed Legion ) had beene newly rea●… The ground did tremble , and a mist ore-spread The da●…kned Altar . At length , deepe silence did possesse and fill The spatious Temple , all was whist and still ; When , from the clouded Altar , brake the sound Of heauenly Musicke ; such , as would confound With death , or rauishment the earth bred eare , H●…d not the Goddesse giuen it strength , to beare So strong a rapture . As the Musicke ended , The Mist on sudden vanisht , and ascended ●…rom whence it came . The Altar did appeare , And ashes lying , where the Turtles were : Neere which , great Hymen stood , not seene before : His purple Mantle was embroidred o're With Crownes of Thorne ; mongst which , you might behold Some , here and there ( but very few ) of gold ; Vpon each little space , that did diuide The seuerall Crownes , a Gordian knot was tied : And , turning to the Priest , he thus began ; What meane these sumes ? Say , what hath mortall man To doe with vs ? What great request , what suite Does now attend vs , that they thus salute Our nostrills , with such acceptable sauours ? Tell vs , wherein doe they implore the sauours Of the pleas'd gods ; sor by the eternall throne , And M●…iesty of heauen , it shall be done . Whereto , with b●…nded kne●…s , they thus ●…eplide ; Great God , this noble Bride-groome , and his Bride Whom we , most humbly here , present before Great Iuno's sacred altar , doe implore Your gracious aide : that with your nuptiall bands , Your Grace would please to tie their promist bands . With that , he straight descends the holy stayres , And with his widened armes diuides and shares An equall blessing twixt them both , and said , NOble Youth , and louely Maide , Heauen accepts your ple●…sing fires , And hath granted your desires : By the mystry of our power , First , we consecrate this howre To Iuno's name , that she would blesse Our prosprous actions with successe . With this Oyle ( which we appoint For holy vses ) we anxoint Your temples , and with nuptial●… bands Thus we firmly ioyne your hands : Be ioyn'd for euer : and let none Presume t' vndoe , what we haue done . Be ioyn'd till lawlesse Death shall seuer Both hands & hearts : be ioyn'd for euer : Eternall curses we alot To those , till then , shall loose this knot . So said , he blest them both in Iuno's name , And from their sight he vanisht in a flame . That done , they rose , and with new fumes saluted The smoaking altar . Thrice they prostituted Their bended bodies on the holy ground , Where sending forth the well accepted sound Of thankes and vowes , from their diuided heart , They kisse the sacred Altar and depart ; And with the selfe same Triumph as the came , Returned ; whil'st the louder Trumpe of Fame With a full blast , sends forth a shrill retreate , And reconducts them to the Hall of State ; Whose richly furnisht table would inuite A bed rid stomacke to an Appetite , And make the wastfull Glutton , that does eate His vnearn'd di●…t with his daily sweat , B●…hold his heauen in a more ample measure , Then he had hopes to purchase , with the treasure Of his b●…st fait●… ; such were the dainties : such The vyands , that I dare not thinke too much To tearme it Paradise , where all things did Offer themselues , and nothing was forbid . Soone as the Martial of this Princely feast , Had in his rightfull seat , plac'd euery guest , A soft harmonious rapture did confine All tongues with wonder , as a thing diuine . Forthwith ; with ioyned hands , and smiling faces , With habits more vnequall then their paces , A ●…olly paire drew neare the table ; the one In greene ; His pamper'd body had outgrowne His seame-ript garments , all embroyder'd ouer With spreading Vines , whose fruitful leaues did couer Her swelling Clusters , his outstrutting eyes 〈◊〉 ' d in his head : his dropsie swollen thighes Quagg'd as he went ; his purple colour'd snout Was freely furnisht , and enricht about With Carbuncles ; around his browes did twine Full laden Clusters , rauisht from the Vine : The other was a Lady , whom the Sun With his bright rayes had too much gaz'd vpon : The colour of her silken Mantle was Twixt greene and yellow , like the saded grasse ; On which were wrought enclosed fields of Corne , Some reap'd , some bound in sheaues , & some vnshorne Well f●…uour'd was her count'nance ; plump & round ; Her golden Tresses dangled to the ground ; Her temples bound with full ripe eares of wheate , Made like a Girland : frequent drops of sweat Downe ●…rom her sw●…rty browes did 〈◊〉 trickle , And in her Sun-●…urnt hand she bare a sickle . Thus vsherd , wi●…h a Bag-pipe , to the Table , They both stood mute : Bacchus as yet vnable To challenge language from his breathlesse tongue , Till smiling Ceres thus began the Song . Ceres . WElcome , fairest virgin B●…ide ; Welcome to our i●…lly seast ; Tast what Ceres did prouide For so faire , so faire a guest . Bacch . Tast what Ceres did prouide For so faire so faire a guest : Welcome fairest Virgin B●…ide ; VVelcome to our iolly feast . Chor. Our conioyned bounties doe Make M●…rs smile , and Venus to . Ceres . VVelcome noble Bridegroome hither ; VVorlds of blisse and ioyes attend ye : Freely welcome both together ; See what Ceres bounty sends ye . Bacch . Freely welcome both together ; See what Bacchus bounty ●…ends yee : VVelcome noble B●…idegroome hither ; VVorlds of blisse , and ioyes attend yee . Chor. Our conioyned bounties doe Make Mars smile , and Venus to . Ceres . Here is that whose sweet variety Giues you pleasure and delight ; Makes you full , without s●…cietie ; Wasts the day , and hasts the night . Bacch . This will 〈◊〉 the man of warr , When the drum shall beate in vaine ; When his spirits drooping are , This will make them rise againe . Chor. You that ioyntly doe inherit Venus beautie , Mars his spirit , Freely taste our bountie ; so Mars shall smile , and Venus to . The song thus ended ; ioyning hands together , They bow'd ; and vanish●… , none knew how , nor whither . To make relation of each quaint Deuise , That Art presented their vnwearied eyes ; The nature of their mirth , of their discourse ; The dainties of the first , the second course ; The secret glances of the Bridegroomes eye On his faire Bride ; how oft she blusht , and why ; Were but to robbe the Bridegroome of his right , Who counts each houre a Summers day , till night . Me thinke it grieues me , that my pen should wrong Poore Louers disappointed hopes so long ; And it repents me so , that oftentimes , Me thinkes , I could be angry with my Rimes , And for the cruell sins , that they commit , In being tedious ; some I wish vnwrit . Let it suff●…e , what glory , what delight , What state ; or , what to please the appetite , The eye , the eare , the fancy . In a word , What ioy so short a season could afford To well prepared hearts , was here exprest In this our Nuptiall , this our princely feast . Thus when the board was voided , and the Sewer Had now resignd his office with the Ewer , The curious linnen gone , and all the rights Perform'd , that ●…ong to festiuall delights ; The light foot Hermes ent●…rs in the Hall , Holds forth his C●…duce , and adiures them all To depth of silence ; Tells them ; ' ●…is his taske ; To let them know , the Gods intende a Maske , To grace these nuptialls ; and , with that , he spred His ayre-diuiding pinions , and fl●…d : VVhen silence 〈◊〉 had charmed euery eare VVith wonder , and attention ; they might heare The winged 〈◊〉 of night , about In euery corner , sweetly wa●…bling out Their Philomelian ayres , and wilder note VVhich nature taught them to diuide , by rote ; So that the Hall did seeme a shady groue , VVherein b●… turnes , the ambitious 〈◊〉 stroue T'xcell themselues . VVhile thus their eares were seeding with delight Vpon these straines ; the Goddesse of the night Enters her Sceane ; Her body was confind VVithin a coale black Mantle thorow linde VVith sable Furres ; Her tresses were , of hiew , Like Ebonie ; on which , a Pearely dewe Hung , like a spiders Webb ; Her face did shrowd A swarth Complexion , vnderneath a Cloud Of black curld Cypresse : On her head , she wore A crowne of burnisht Gold , be shaded o're VVith Foggs and ●…ory mists ; Her hand did beare A Scepter , and a sable Hemispheare ; She sternely shooke her dewly lockes , and brake A melancholly smile , and thus bespake , Driue on , driue on , ( dull Waggoner ) Let slippe Your louser reines , and vse thine idle whippe ; Thy pamperd Steeds are pursie ; Driue away ; The lower world thinkes long to see the day ; Darkenesse befits vs best ; and our delight Will rellish farre more sweeter , in the night ; Approach ( yee blessed shadowes ) and extend Your early Iurisdiction , to befriend Our nightly sports ; Approach ; make no delay ; It is your 〈◊〉 , your Soueraigne calls away . VVith that a sudden darknesse fill'd the Hall : The light was ba●…sht , and the windowes all So neerely clos'd their eye lids , round about That day could not get in ; nor darknesse , out ; Thus while the death resembling shades of night Had drawne their misty Curtaines twixt the light And euery darkned eye , which was denide To see , but that , which darkenesse could not hide ; The iealous God , fearing he knowes not whom ( Indeed , whom feares he not ? ) enters the roome , And , with his clubfoot , groping in the shade Of night , he mutter'd forth these words and said . Where is this wanton Harlot now become ? Is light so odious to her ? or is home So homely in her wandring eyes , that she Must still be rambling , where vnknowne to me ? Can nothing be concluded , nothing done , But intermedling Venus must be one ? Is 't not enough that Phebus does applaud Her lust , but must nights Goddesse be her baud ? Darkenesse , be gon , Thou patronesse to Lust ; If faire m●…anes may not rid ●…hee , fouler must : Away ; my power shall outcharme thy charmes , And find her , painting , in her louers armes , Enter you Lamplets of terrestriall fire , And let your golden heads ( at least ) conspire To counterfeit a day , and on the night Reuenge the wrongs of Phebus , with your light . So said ; The darkned Hall was garnisht round With lighted Tapors : Euery obiect found An eye to owne it , and each eye was f●…li'd VVith pleasure , in the obiect it beheld . As these deuisefull changes did incite Their quickned fancies , with a fresh delight , Morpheus came in ; His dreaming pace was so , That none could say , he moou'd ; he moou'd so slow ; His folded armes , athwart his brest , did knit A sluggards knot ; His nodding chinne did hit Against his panting bosome , as he past ; And often times his eyes were closed fast ; He wore a Crowne of Poppy on his head ; And , in his hand , he bore a Mace of lead : He yauned thrice , and , after Ho●…age done To nights blacke soueraigne , he thus begun : Great Empresse of the world ; to whom , I owe My selfe , my seruice , by perpetuall vowe ; Before the footstoole of whose dreadfull Throne , The Princes of this lower world , lay downe Their Crownes , their Scepters ; whose victorious hand , In twice twelue houres did conquer and command This Globe of earth ; your seruant ( whose dependance Quickens his power ) comes , to giue attendance Vpon thy early shaddowes , and to seize Vpon these wearied mortals , when you please T' appoint ; till then , your seruant is at hand , To put in execution your Command . To whom the smiling Goddesse thus replide ; Morpheus ; Our pleasure is to set aside This night to mirth , and time-beguiling sports ; Our sleepe restrayning buisnesse much imports Your welcome absence , whil'st our eares shall number The flying houres : our mirth admits no slumber . That word scarce ended ; but the Queene of Loue Descended from her vnseene seate aboue ; In her faire hand she led her winged Son , And like a full mouth'd tempest , thus begun ; D●…sloyall Sic●…phant ; deaths bastard brother ; Accursed spaune , cast from a cursed Mother ; That with thy base impostures , ri●…est man Of halfe his dai●…s , of halfe that little spanne , Nature hath lent his life ; that with thy wiles , Hugg'st him to death ; betray'st him with thy smiles ; What mak'st thou here , and to vsurpe my right , Perfideous Caitife ? Venu●… day is night . Goe to the frozen world ; where mans desire Is made of Ice , and melts before the fire , Yet ne're the warmer : Goe , and visit ●…ooles , Or P●…legmatick old age , whose spirit cooles As quickly as their breath : Goe ; what haue we To doe ( dull Morpheus ) with thy Mace , or thee As leaden as thy Mace ? Th' art made for nought , Bu●… to still Children , or to ease the thought Or brain-sick Phranticks ; or with ioyes to ●…ter Po●…re slumbring soules ; which wak'd , finde no such matter . Goe succour those , that vent by quick retaile Their wits , vpon deare penny-worths of Al●… ; Or marrow'd Eunuchs , whose adust desire Wants meanes to slake the fury ' of their false fire . O that I were a Basiliske , that I Might dart my venome ; or else venom'd , die . Boy , bend thy Bow ; and with thy forked dart , Drawne to the head , thrill , thrill him to the heart : Let flie Deaths arrow ; or if thou had none , In deaths name send an arrow of thine owne ; We are both wrong'd , and in the same degr●…e ; Shoot then ; at once , reuenge thy s●…lfe and me . VVith that the little angry god did bend His steelen Bow , and in deaths name did send His winged messenger , whose faithfull hast Dispatch'd his irefull errand and stuck fast Within his pierced liuer , and did hide His singing feathers , in his wounded side . Morpheus fell downe as dead ; and on the ground Lay for a little season in a sound , Gasping for breath ; And Louers dreames they say , Haue euermore beene wanton since that day . Venus was pleas'd ; The Goddesse of the night Grew angry ; she would needs resigne her right Of gouernment ; and in a spleene threw downe Her H●…mispheare , her Scepter , and her Crowne ; And with a duskie fogge , she did besmeare The face of Venus ; soyld her golden haire , VVith her blacke shades ; and , with foule tearmes reuil'd Both her , her cuckold mate , and bastard childe ; VVhere at the God of Warre , being much offended , Forsooke both seat and patience , and descended ; And , to the world , he proffer'd to make good Faire Venus honour , with his dearest blood . To whom poore Vulcan ( puffing in a rage , To heare his well knowne fortune on the stage ) Scrap'd many a thanke ; and , with his crouching knee Profest true loue , to such true friends , as hee . And euer since , experience lets vs know , Cuckolds are kind , to such as m●…s them so . By this , god Morpheus , waking from his swound , Began to groane ; and , from his aking wound Drew forth the buried shaft : but Mars ( whose word Admits no other Organ , but his sword ) Vnsheath'd his furious brondyron , and let flye A blow at Morpheus head , which had wellnye Clouen him in twaine , had not the Queene of night Hurl'd hasty mists , before his darkned sight ; So that the sword , by a false guided ayme , Struck Vulcans foot , which euer since , was lame . At last , the gods came downe , and thought it good , To n●…ppe this earely quarrell in the bud . VVho fearing vprores , with a friendly cup Of blest 〈◊〉 , tooke the quarrell vp ; And , for th' offence committed , did proclame This sentence , in offended Iuno's name . Morpheus , from hence is banisht , for this night , And not to approch before the morning light ; Mars is exilde for euer , as a guest , Adiudg'd vnfitting for a mariage feast . Cupid is doom'd to rome and ro●… about To the worlds end , and both his eyes put out . Venus is 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 night , And not ( vnlesse by stealth ) to see the light : Her chiefest ioy to be bu●… pleasing folly , P●…rm'd w th madnes , dog'd with melancholly . And there the Musicke did inuite their paces To measure time ; and , by exchange of places , To lead the curious beholders eye , A willing captiue to variety . Thus , with the sweet vicissitude of mirth They spent the time , as if that heauen and earth Had studied to please man , in such a measure , That Art could not doe more , ●…augment their pleasure ; And so they vanisht . Now Ceres euening bounty reinuites Her noble guests , to her renew'd delights ; And frolicke Bacchus , to refresh their soules , With a full hand , presents his swelling Bowles . Wine came vnwish'd like water from a sourse , And delicates were mingled with discourse . What Art could doe , to make a welcome guest , Was liberally presented at that feast . It was no sooner ended , but appeares An old gray pilgrime , deeply strucke i●… yeares , In tatterd garments ; In his wrinkled hand An houreglasse , l●…bouring with her latest sand . Beneath his arme , a buffen knapsacke hung , Stuft full of writings , in an vnknowne tongue ; Chronologies , outdated Almanacks , And Patents , that had long suruiu'd their waxe . Vnto his shoulders , Eagles wings were ioyn'd ; His head ill thatch'd before , but bal'd behind : And leaning on his crooked Sythe he made A little pause , and after that , he said , Mortalls , 'T is out : My glasse is runne , And with it , the day is done . Darke shadows haue expell'd the light , And my glasse is turn'd for night . The Queene of darkenesse bids me say , Mirth is fitter for the day . Vpon the day , such ioyes attend ; With the day such ioyes must end . Thinke not , Darknesse goes about , Like death , to puffe your pleasures out . No , no , shee le lend you new delights ; She hath pleasures for the nights . When as her shadows shall benight yee , She hath what shall still delight ye . Aged Time shall make it knowne , She hath dainties of her owne . T is very late ; Away , away , Let day sports expire with Day . For this time , we adiourne your feast ; The Bridegroome faine would be at rest . And if night pastimes shall displease yee , Day will quickly come , and ease yee . With that , a sweet vermillian tincture stayn'd The Brides faire cheekes ; The more that she restrayn'd Her blush , the more her disobedient blood Did ouerflow ; as if a second flood Had meant to rise , and , for a little space , To drowne that world of beauty in her face S●…e blusht ; ( but knew not why ) And like the Moone S●…e look'd most red , vpon her going downe . But see : the smiling Ladi●…s do●… begin To ioyne their whispring heads , as there had beene A plot of treason ; till at length , vnspide , They stole away , the vnwilling-willing Bride ; Their busi●… hands disrob'd her , and so led The timorous virgin to her Nuptiall b●…d . By this , the Nobles hauing recommended Their tongues to silence , their discourse being ended , They look'd about , and thinking to haue done Their seruice to the Bride ; the B●…ide was gone . And now , the Bridegroome ( vnto whom delay Seem'd worse then death ) could brook no longer st●…y : Attended by his noble guests , he enters That roome , where th'enterchangeable Indenters Of dearest loue , lay ready to be seal'd With mutuall pleasures , not to be reueald . His garments grow too tedious , and their waight ( Not able to be borne ) doe ouer fraight His weary shoulders ; Atlas neuer stoopt Beneath a greater burthen , and not droopt ; No helpe was wanting ; for he did receiue What sudden ayde he could expect , or haue From speedy hands , from hands that did not wast The time , vnlesse ( perchance ) by ouer hast ; Meane while , a dainty warbling brest , not strong , As sweet , presents this Epithalamion song . Man of warre , march brauely on , The field 's not easie to be wonne ; There 's no danger in that warre , Where lips both swords and bucklers are . Here 's no cold to chill thee ; A bed of downe's thy field : Here 's no sword to kill thee , Vnlesse thou please to yeeld ; Here is nothing will incumber , Here will be no scars to number . These are warres of Cupids making , These be warres will keepe yee waking , Till the earely breaking Day Call your forces hence , away . These are warres that make no spoyle , Death shoots his shafts in vaine ; Though the souldier get a foyle , He will rouze , and fight againe . These be warres that neuer cease , But conclude a mutuall peace . Let benigne and prosp'rous starres Breathe successe vpon these warres , And when thrice three months be runne , Be thou father of a sonne ; A son , that may deriue from thee The honor of true merit , And may to ages , yet to be , Conuay thy blood thy spirit ; Making the glory of his fame Perpetuate , and crowne thy name , And giue it life in spight of death , When fame shal want both trump and breath . Haue you beheld in a faire summers euen , The golden-headed Charioter of heauen , With what a speed , his prouder reynes doe bend His panting horses , to their iourneyes end ? How red he lookes ; with what a swift careire Her hurries to the lower Hemisphere ; And in a moment , shootes his golden head Vpon the pillow of blushing Thetis bed . Euen so the bridegroome ( whose defire had wings More swift then Time , switcht on w th pleasure ) springs Into his nuptiall bed ; and looke how fast The stooping Faulkon clips ; and , with what hast , Her tallons seize vpon the timorous prey , Euen so , his armes ( impatient of delay ) His circling armes embrac'd his blushing Bride , While she ( poore soule ) lay trembling by his side . The Bridegroome now growes weary of his guests : What mirth of late was pleafing , now molests His tyred patience : Too much sweet offends ; Sometime , to be forsaken of our friends , In Cupids moralls , is obseru'd to be The fruits of friendship , in the best degree . And thus , at last , the Curtaines being clos'd , They left them , each , in others armes repos'd . And here my Muse bids , draw our Curtaines too , T is vnfit to see , what priuate louers doe . Reader , let not thy thoughts grow ouer rancke ; But vaile thy vnderstanding , with a Blancke . Thinke not on what thou think'st ; and , if thou canst , Yet vnderstand not , what thou vnderstandst . Sow not thy fruitfull heart with so poore seeds ; Or if , perchance , ( vnsowne ) they spring like weeds , Vse them like weeds , thou knowst not how to kill ; Sleight them ; and let them thriue against thy will. View them like euills , which Art cannot preuent , But see , thou take no pleasure in their sent . And one thing more ; When as the morrow light Shall bring the bash full Bride into thy sight ; Be not too cruell ; Let no wanton eye Disturbe , and wrong her conscious modesty ; And if she blush , examine not for what ; Nay , though thou see it ( Reader ) see it not . And shall our story discontinue here ? Or want a period , till another yeare ? Shall we befriend these louers , with the night , And leaue them buried in their owne delight ? And so conclude ? No , it shall ne're be sed , That mariage ioyes end in the mariage bed . Fond , and adulterate is that loue , which founds Her happinesse on such vnstable grounds : And , like a sudden blaze , it neuer lasts , But as the pleasure waxes cold , it wasts . Now Argalus awakes ; and now the light Is euen as welcome to him , as the night : His eyes are fixt vpon his louely Bride , While she la●…s sweetly slumbring by his side . She sle●…pes ; He views her ; Thrice , his mind was bent , To call Parthenia , and thrice it did repent . Sometimes , his lips , with a stolne kisse would greet Her gu●…ltlesse lips ; ( They say stolne goods are sweet ) At length , sh●… wakes ; and hides her blushing cheekes In his warme bosome ; where , she safely seekes For Sanctuary , whereunto should ●…ly The guil●… of her protected modesty . He smiles , and whispers in her deafned eare ; ( Women can vnderstand , and yet not heare ) He sp●…akes , but she ( euen whilst his lips wa●… b●…eaking Their words ) with hers , did stop his lips frō speaking When thrice three Suns had now almost , out-worne The rare solemnities , that did adorne These princely nuptialls , and had made report Grow something sparing in th' Arcadian Court , Argalus , whose endeuours were addrest , To practise what might please Parthenia best , Resolu'd to leaue Kalanders house , and crowne Parthenia sole Commandresse of her owne . Long was it , ere Kalanders liberall eare Could be vnlockt ; It had no power to heare The word , Farewell ; S●…ill Argalus entreated , And fram'd excuses ; which , he soone defeated ; But as the stout Alcides did casheire One rising head , another would appeare , Euen so , whilst his ingenious loue did smother One cause of parting , he would find another . Kalander thus at last , ( being ouerwrought With words , which importunity had taught Inexorable Argalus ) was faine To yeeld , what he so long gainsaid , in vaine ; T is now concluded , Argalus must goe , But yet Kalander must not leaue them so ; There is no parting , till the aged sire Shall warme his fingers , by Partheniaes fire ; Parthenia sues ; Kalander must not rest , Till he become Partheniaes promis'd guest . The morrow next , when Titans earely ray Had giuen faire earnest of a fairer Day ; And , with his trembling beames , had repossest The eyes of mortalls , newly rouz'd from rest , They left Kalanders Castle , and that night , Arriu'd they at the Pallace of delight , ( For so 't was call'd ) it was a goodly seate , Well chosen ; not capatious , as neate ; Yet was it large enough , to entertaine A potent Prince with all his Princely trayne ; It seem'd a Center to a Parke , welstor'd With Deere ; whose well thriuen bounty did afford Continuall pleasure , and delight ; nay what , That earth cals good , this Seat afforded not ? Th' impatient Falkner here may learne to say Forgotten pray'rs , and blesse him euery day . The patient Angler , here may tire his wish ; And ( if he please ) may sweare , and yet catch fish . The sneaking Fouler , may goe boldly on , And ne're want sport vntill his powder 's done . And to conclude , there was no stint , no measure To th' old mans profit , or the young mans pleasure : Thither this night the nuptiall troope is gone ; And now Parthenia's welcome to her owne : But would yee heare what entertainment past ? Conceiue it rather ; for my quill would wast Th' vnthriuing stock of my bespoken time , While such free bounty cannot stand with rime : But that , which most did season , and imbellish Their choyce delights , and gaue the truest relish To their b●…st mirth , and pleasures ; was to see With what a sweet conjugiall harmony All things were carried : Euery word did proue To adde some acquisition to their loue ; So one they were , that none couldiusty say , Which of them rul'd , or whether did obey ; He rul'd ; because she would obey , and she In thus obeying , rul'd as well as he : What pleased him , would need no other cause , To please her to , but onely his applaus●… ; A happy paire ! whose double life , but one , Made one life double ; and the single , none . Thus when th' vnconstant Lady of the night Had chang'd her sharpned horns , for an orbe of light , Kalander ( whose occasions grew too strong , And may not be dispenc'd withall too long ) Takes leaue , and ( being equall heauy hearted With sad Parthenia for his hast ) departed . But Argalus ( who neuer yet could owne Himselfe with more aduantage then alone ) And faire Parthenia ( whose well pleas'd desire Hopes nothing else , if Argalus be by her ) Need not the helpe of any , to augment The better ioyes of their retir'd content : Sometimes the curious garden would inuire Their gentle paces , to her proud deligh ; Sometimes the welstor'd Parke would change their pleasure , And tender to her view , her light ●…oot treasure ; Where th'vnmolested Herd would seeme to 〈◊〉 , And craue a death at faire Parthenia's hand . Sometimes their steps would clime th' ambit●…us Tower , From whose aspiring top they might discouer A little commonwealth of land , which none But Argalus durst challenge as his owne . Sometimes ( for change of pleasure ) he would read Selected stories , whilst her 〈◊〉 would seed Vpon his lips , and now and then a kisse Would interpose , like a parenthesis Betweene their semicircled armes , enclos'd ; ( O what dull spirit could be indispos'd To read such lines ! ) and whilst vpon the booke His eyes were fix'd her pleased eyes would look Vpon the gracefull Reader , and espie A story farre more pleasing in his eye . Vpon a day , as they were closely seated ; H●…r cares a trending , whil'st his lips repeated A story , treating the renown'd aduentures And famous a●…s of great Alcides ; enters A Messenger , whose countenance did bewray A hast too serious , to admit delay ; His hand presents him letters , which did bring Their sealed errand from th' Arcadian King ; Whereat Parthenia rose , and stept aside ; Her thoughts were troubled ; euer as she eyed The Messenger , her colour comes and goes ; Parthenia feares ; and yet Parthenia knowes Not what to feare ; Her iealous heart knowes how To feare an Euill , because it feares to know ; And as he read the lines her eye was fixt Vpon his eye , which seem'd to striue betwixt A thousand thwarting passions : Once he cast His eye on hers ; and finding hers so fast On his , he blusht ; she blusht ; both blusht together , Because they blusht for what , vnknowne to either . The letter being read ( and hauing kist Basilius name ) he speedily dismist The messenger ; with promise to obey Basilius iust commands , without delay . That done ; he tooke Pathenia by the hand , His deare Parthenia , by the trembling hand ; And to her greedy eye he straight presents The Paper , ballac'd with it's sad contents : Parthenia , with a fearefull slownesse tooke it ; And with a fearefull hast did ouerlooke it : Her face being blanched with the pallide signes Of what she fear'd too soone , she read these lines . Basilius Rex . VVHereas the famous and victorious name Of great Amphialus , makes the trumpe of Fame Breathe nothing but his conquests and renowne ; VVhose lawlessè actions fortune striues to crowne ( In spight of Iustice ) with a Victors merit , Respecting more the greatnesse of his spirit , Then iustnesse of his cause , to the dishonour Of vertue , and all such as wa●…te vpon her . And furthermore ; whereas his power is knowne T' oppugne the welfare of our State and Crowne , VVith strong rebell●…on , to the high aduancement Of his disloyall glory , and inhancement Of his perfidious name , the great increase Of factions , and disturbance of our peace . Likewise , where as his high preuailing hand ( Against the force whereof no flesh can stand ) Could ne're he equall'd yei , much lesse o'recome , But with loud triumph , still does carry home The spoyles of our lost honour , to the fame Of his rebellious glory , and our shame . We therefore in our Princely care , perpending The serious premises , and much depending , On your knowne courage , haue selected you To stand our Champion royall , and renew Our wasted honour , with your sword and launce , In equall Duell ; Thus you shall aduance The glorious pitch of your renowned name , With the braue purchase of eternall fame : In this you shall reuiue our dying glorie , And liue the subiect of this ages story , ( VVhich shall be read tili time shall haue an end ) And tye Basilius your perpetuall friend . To our right trusty and noble kinsman Argalus . But as she read , a teare did trickle downe Vpon the lines , as if it meant to drowne Th' vnwelcome message , and at length she said ; Ah me ! my Argalus was 't this you made Such hast to answere ? did that answere need To be returned with so great a speed ? Can you , oh can you be so quickly won , To leaue your poore Parthenia , and be gon ? To whom resolued Argalus ( whose eye Was fixt vpon his honour ) made replie ; My deare Parthenia ; were it to obtaine The vnsumm'd welth of Pluto ; or to gaine The soueraignty of the earth , without th' expence Of blood or sweate , without the least pretense Of danger , my ambition would despise The easie conquest of so great a prize , If purchas'd by thy discontent , or by The poorest teare that trickles from thine eye ; But to recall my promise , or forsake That resolution honour bid me make In this behalfe ; or to betray that trust Repos'd in me , the gods would be vniust , ( And not themselues ) if they should but command Or vrge me , with an ouerswaying hand . My deare Parthenia ; Let no false suggestion Abuse thy passion , or presume to question My dearest loue ; Though honour bids vs part , Yet honor can not robbe thee , of my heart : Honour , that calls me with her loud alarmes , VVill bring me back , with Tryumph , to thine armes ; So said ; the sad Parthenia , ( whose teares Are turnd Lieutenants to her tongue ) forbeares To tempt her language : Griefes , that are but sm●…ll , Can speake , when great ones cannot vent at all : But tender hearted Argalus ( to whom Such silence speakes too loud ) forsooke the roome ; And , with a brest , as full of pensiue care , As honor , gaue directions to prepare His warlike Steed , his Martiall attire And all things , such imployment does require . And here O thou , thou great supreame protectresse Of bolder spirits , and the sole directresse Of lofty flying quills , which shall deriue To after times , what glorious swords acchiue ; And mak'st the actions of heroick spirits Perpetuate , and crowne their names their merits ; Illustrious Clio : Aide me , and inspire My ragged rimes , with thy diviner fire ; Teach me to raise my stile , and to attaine A pitch , that may transcend the vulgars straine ; Reach me a quill , rent from an Eagles wing ; And let my Incke be blood ; that I may sing Death to the life : let him ; that reads , expound Each dash , a sword ; and euery word , a wound , By this , the Champion royall had put on His martial weeds ; and hasting to be gone , The poore Parthenia , whose cold 〈◊〉 , past : ( Like those in Agues ) now does burne as fast : She leaues the lonely roome ; and comming out , She finds her Argulus , enclosed about With glittering walls of steele , apparell'd round In his bright armes , ( whom she had ●…ather found Lockt vp in her's ) and wanting nothing now , But what her lips could not ( poore soule ) allow , Without sea of teares , her last farewell ; She ranne vnto him ; and wept ; and , weeping fell Vpon her knees ; she claspt him by the arme , And looking vp , she thus began to charme ; My Argalus ; my Argalus : my deare , And wilt thou goe , and leaue Parthenia here ? VVilt thou forsake me then ? And can these teares Not intercede betwixt thy deafned ●…ares , And my sad suit ? Canst thou , ô canst thou goe , And leaue thy poore distrest Parthenia so ? Parthenia sues ; Parthenia does implore ; Parthenia begges , that neuer begg'd before ; Remember , O remember you are , now , Vnder the power of a sacred vow : Honour must stoope to vowes , which once being crackt , You cannot doe an honourable act : I haue a Right vnto you ; you are mine ; I haue that Interest , which I le ne're resigne , Till death : I le neuer hazard to forgoe My whole estate of happìnesse , at one throw , No , no , I will not : I will hold thee fast In spight of Honor and her nine dayes blast ; Your former acts haue giuen sufficient proofe To the wide world ; your valour 's knowne enough VVithout a further tryall : There 's enow To lose their liues ( lesse worthy ) besides you ; 'T was then a time for armes , when you had none , None other life to venture , but your owne ; Excuse me then , that onely doe endeauor To hold mine owne ; which now I must , or neuer ; Mine , mine you are , and you can vndertake No danger , but 〈◊〉 must partake ; Shall your Parthenia be indanger'd then ? Parthenia shall be present , euen when The strokes fall thickest ; and Parthenia shall Suffer what ere to Argalus may befall ; Parthenia , in your greatest paines , shall smart ; Your blood shall trickle from Parthenia's heart : Can prayers obtaine no place ? By this deare hand , The sacred pledge of our coniugiall band ; By all the pleasures of our dearest loue ; By heauen , and all the heauenly powers aboue ; Or if those motiues cannot finde a roome , Yet by the tender fruit , that in my wombe Begins to budde , or if ought else appeare To thy best thoughts more pretious or more deare , By that , forsake me not , although the rest Preuaile not . Grant this first , this last request : To whom the broken hearted Argalus , VVearied , but not o'recome , made answer thus ; My deare Parthenia ; Thy desires neuer Gainesaid my will , till now : Doe not perseuer To craue that boone , I cannot grant : forbeare To vrge me : Resolution hath no eare : VVeepe not ( my Ioy : ) Let not those drops of thine , That trickle from so faire an eye , diuine A foule successe ; Cheare vp ; A smile , or two Would make me halfe a Conqueror , ere I goe : Shine forth ; and let no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 benight The glorious luster of so faire a light ; Doubt not my life : The iustnesse of my cause , That brings me on , will quite me with applause ; Feare not , that such a blessing , such a wife Was e're intended for so short a life . Expect my safe returne ; as quicke , as glorious ; My Genius tells me , I shall 〈◊〉 , victorious . So said , as if that passion had forgot Her mother tongue , her tongue replyed not : But , like to one , new stricken with the thunder , She stood betwixt 〈◊〉 , feare , and wonder : His lips tooke leaue , and as his armes surrounded Her feeble wast , she straight fell down , and swounded ; But Argalus , transported with the tide And tyranny of honour , could abide No longer stay ; He 〈◊〉 her to the guard Of her owne women ; left her , and repair'd Vnto the Campe ; wherein , he spent some dayes , In parley , with Amphialus ; and assayes , By all perswasine meanes , to make him yeeld To iust demands , and not to staine the field With needlesse blood ; But finding him vnapt For peacefull counsell ( being strongly rapt With his owne fame ) and scorning to afford His eare to any language , but the sword , He ceas'd t' aduise him ; and ( enforc'd to try A rougher Dialect ) wrote him this defie . Renown'd Amphialus , If strong perswasions , backt with reasons could Bin honour'd with your eare ; your wisedome would , In yeelding to so faire a peace , haue won As ample glory , 〈◊〉 your sword hath done . You should haue conquer'd soules where now , at most , You can subdue but bodies , that haue lost The power to resist : But since my suit , Sowne on so barren 〈◊〉 , can find no fruit ; Receiue a mortall challenge , from a hand , Whose iustice takes a glory to withstand So foule a cause , and labours to subdue Your heedlesse errors , whilst it honours you . Compose you then , to make a preparation , According to your noble wonted fashion ; And thinke not sleight , of ne're so weake an arme , That strikes , when Iustice strikes vp her alarme . Argalus . No sooner had he read it , but his pen , With noble speed , return'd these lines agen . Much more renowned Argalus , Your faithfull seruant , whose victorlous brow Was neuer daunted yet , is daunted now , By your braue curtesie , being stricken dumbe With your rare worth , and fairly ouercome ; Yet doubting not the iustnesse of my Cause ( That 's ouer ruled by the sacred lawes Of dearest loue ) will giue my sword the power , Euen to maintaine it , to the latest houre . I shall expect your comming in the 〈◊〉 , Where , with a heart , ( not poyson'd with the 〈◊〉 Or gall of 〈◊〉 ) with my dearest blood , Your seruant shall be ready to make good His iust designes ; assured of no lesse Then treble same , if crowned with 〈◊〉 ; If not , There 's no dishonour can accrew , In being conquer'd , and o'recome by you , 〈◊〉 : Soone after ; Argalus , ( whose blood did boyle To be in action ) comes into the Isle ; Clad in white 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , and strangely drest With knots of womans hayre , which from his crest Hung dangling down ; 〈◊〉 , with their bountious treasure , Orespred his Corslet in a liberall measure ; His curious furniture was fashion'd out , Like to a flying Eagle , round about Beset with plumes ; whose crooked beake ( being cast Into a costly 〈◊〉 ) was made fast To th' saddle bow : Her spredden traine did couer His crooper , whilst the trappers seem'd to houer Like wings ; that , to the fixt 〈◊〉 eye , As the Horse pranc'd , the Eagle seem'd to fly ; Vpon his arme , ( his threatning arme ) he wore A sleeue , all curiously embroydred ore With bleeding 〈◊〉 , which faire Parthenia made , ( In those crosse times , when fortune so betraid Their secret loue , and with a smiling frowne 〈◊〉 their false hopes ) as copies of her owne ; Vpon his shield ( for his deuice ) he set Two neighbring Palmes whose budding branches met And twin'd together ; the obscure Imprese Imported this , Thus 〈◊〉 , as these : His Horse was of a fiery Sorrell : Blacke His maine , his feet , his taile ; on his proud backe , A coaleblacke List : His nostrells , open wide , Breath'd warre , before his sparkling eye descryde An enemy to encounter ; vp by turnes , He lifts his hasty hoofes , as if he scornes The earth , or if his tabring feet had found Away , to goe , and yet ne're change the ground . By this Amphialus ( who all this while Thought minuts yeares ) was landed in the Isle , In all respects prouided , to afford As bountious intertainment , as the sword And Launce could giue : And at the Trumpets sound , Their Steeds , ( that needed not a 〈◊〉 to wound Their bleeding flanks ) both start , & with smooth running Their 〈◊〉 declining with vnshaken cunning Perform'd their masters will , with angry speed ; But Argalus his well instructed Steed Being hot , and full of courage ( fiercely led By his owne pride ) prest in his prouder head , The which when stout Amphialus espide , ( Well knowing it vnsafe to giue his side ) Prest likewise in ; so that both men , and horse Shouldring each 〈◊〉 , with a double force Fell to the ground . But by accustom'd skill , And help of Fortunes hand , that succours still Bold spirits , shunn'd the danger of the fall , And had ( lesse fear'd then hurt ) no harme at . They rose , drew forth their swords ; which now begun To doe what their left staues had lest vndone . Haue ye beheld a Leaguer ? In what sort The deepe mouth'd Cannon playes vpon the Fort , And how by peecemeales it doth batter downe The yeelding walls of the besieged towne ? Euen so their swords ( whose oft repeated blowes Could finde no patience yet to interpose A breathing respite ) with redoubled strength So hew'd their proofelesse armours , that at length Their failing trust began to proue vnsound , And peece by peece , they dropt vpon the ground , Trusting their bodies to the bare defence Of vertue , and vnarmed innocence . Such deadly blowes were dealt , and such 〈◊〉 , That Mars himselfe stood rauisht and affrighted To see the cruell Combate : Euery blow Did act two parts ; both 〈◊〉 and guarded too At selfe-same 〈◊〉 . So incomparable Their skilfull quicknesse was , that none was able To say ( although their watchfull eyes attended The strokes ) who made the blow , or who defended . Long was it ere their equall skill and force Of armes could show a better , or a worse . Neither preuail'd as yet ; yet both excell'd In not preuailing . Neuer eye beheld More equall ods : No wound as yet could show A droppe of wasted blood , yet euery blow Was full of death . When skilfull Gamesters play , The Christmas box gaines often more then they . At length the sword of Argalus ( that neuer Thirsted so long in vaine till now ; nor euer 〈◊〉 victory doubtfull for so long a space ) Fastned a wound on the disarmed face Of stout Amphialus , who now does feele The equall temper of his enemies steele , Yet was not daunted , by the blow receiu'd , Nor of his wonted courage so breau'd , As by the saucy daring of one thrust To faint or yeeld : rather a braue distrust Of his old worth , call'd a new anger on , And fir'd him to a sudden talion : When as directed by some fate-blest charme He made a second stroake that pierc'd the arme Of haughty Argalus , and made him know Amphialus would rather dye then owe. Argalus blush't for want of blood . Expecting A quicke reuenge , which was not long effecting ; For whilst Amphialus ( whose hopes inflam'd His tyrannous thoughts with conquest , & proclaim'd Vndoubted victory ) heapt his strokes so fast , As if each blow had scorn'd to be the last . The watchfull Argalus ( whose nimble eye Dispos'd his time , in onely putting by ) Put home a thrust , ( his right foot comming in ) And pierc'd his Nauell ; that the wound had bin No lesse then death , if Fortune , ( that can turne A mischiefe to aduantage ) had for borne To show a miracle ; for with that blow , Amphialus last made , his arme had so O , estrucke it selfe ; that sideward to the ground He fell ; and falling , he receiu'd that wound Which ( had he stood ) had enter'd in , point blancke , But , falling , only graz'd vpon his flancke . Being downe , braue Argalus his threatning sword Bids yeeld ; Amphialus answering not a word , ( As one , whose mighty spirit did disdaine A life of almes ) but striuing to regaine His legs , and honour , Argalus let driue , With all the strength , a wounded arme could giue , Vpon his head ; but his hurt arme ( not able To doe him present seruice , answerable To his desires ) let his weapon fall ; With that , Amphialus ( though daz'd withall ) Arose ; but Argalus ran in , and graspt ( 〈◊〉 clos'd together ) with him ; where , both claspt And grip'd each in th'unfriendly armes of either ; A while they grappled ; grappling , fell together , And on the ground , with equall fortune stroue ; Some time 〈◊〉 was got aboue , And sometimes Argalus ; Both ioyntly vow'd 〈◊〉 ; Both wallowed in their mingled blood , Both bleeding fresh : Now , Argalus bids yeeld . And now , Amphialus : Both would win the field , Yet neither could ; At last , by free consent , They rose ; and to their breathed swords they went ; The Combat's now renew'd , both laying on , As if the fight had beene but new begon . New wounds asswage the smarting of the old , And warme blood entermingles with the cold . But Argalus ( whose wounded arme had lost More blood , then all his body could almost Supply ; and like an 〈◊〉 , that expends So long as he hath either stocke , or friends ) Bled more then his spent Fountains could make good His spirit could giue courage , but not blood . As when two wealthy Clyents , that waxe old In suit , ( whose learned councell can vphold And glaze the cause alike , on either side ) During the time their tearmly golden tide Shall flow alike , from both , 't is hard to say Who prospers best , or who shall get the Day . 〈◊〉 he , whose water first shall cease to flow , And ebbe so long , till it shall ebbe too low . His cause , ( though richly laden to the brincke , With right ) shall strike vpon the barre and sincke , And then 〈◊〉 easie Councell may vnfold The doubt ; The question 's ended , with the gold . Euen so our Combatants , the 〈◊〉 their blood Was equall 〈◊〉 ; the Cause seem'd equall good , The Victory equall ; equall was their armes ; Their Hopes were equall : 〈◊〉 was their harmes . But when poore Argalus his wasting blood Ebb'd in his veines , ( although it made a flood A 〈◊〉 flood , in the vngratefull field ) His cause , his strength , ( but not his heart ) must yeeld : Thus wounded Argalus the more he fail'd , The more , the proud Amphialus preuail'd : With that , Amphialus ( whose noble strife Was but to purchase honour , and not life ) Perceiuing what aduantage , in the fight , He gained , and the valour of the Knight , Became his suitor , that himselfe would please To pitty himselfe , and let the Combat cease ; Which noble Argalus ( that neuer vs'd In honour to part stakes ) with thankes , refus'd : ( Like to a lucklesse gamester ; who , the more He loses , is 〈◊〉 willing to giue o' 〈◊〉 ) And filling vp his empty veines , with spite , Begins to summe his forces , and vnite His broken strength , and ( like a Lampe that makes The greatest blaze at going out ) he takes His sword in both his hands ; and , at a blow , Cleft armour , shield , and arme , 〈◊〉 , in two ; But now enrag'd Amphialus forgets All pitty ; and , trusting to his Cards , he sets That stock of courage , treasur'd in his brest , Making his whole estate of 〈◊〉 , his Rest ; And vies such blowes , as Arg'lus could not see Without his losse of life : so thundred he Vpon his wounded body , that each wound Seem'd like an open Sluce of blood , that found No hand to stop it , till the dolefull cry . Of a most beautious Lady ( who well nie Had run her selfe to death ) restrain'd his arme ( Perchance too late ) from doing further harme . It was the faire Parthenia , who that night Had dream'd , she saw her husband in that plight She now had found him : Feare and loue together , Gaue her no rest , till they had brought her hither : The nature of her feare did now begin T' expell the feare of Nature ; stepping in , Betweene their pointing swords , she prostrate lay Before their blood-bed abbled feet , to say She knew not what ; for as her lips would striue To be deliuer'd , a deepe sigh would driue The abortiue issue of her language forth ; Which , borne vntimely , perisht in the birth ; And if her sighes would giue her 〈◊〉 to vent it , O then a teare would trickle , and preuent it ; But 〈◊〉 the winde of her loud sighes had laid The 〈◊〉 of her teares , she sobb'd , and said : O wretched eyes of mine ! O wailfull sight ! O day of darknesse ! O eternall night ! And there 〈◊〉 stopt ; her eyes being fixt vpon Amphialus ; she sigh'd , and thus went on : My Lord , 'T is said you loue : Then , by that sacred power Of loue , as you 'd 〈◊〉 mercy in the houre Of greatest misery , leaue off ; and sheathe Your bloody sword : or else if nought but death May slake your anger , O let mine , let mine Be a sufficient offring at the Shrine Of your appeased thoughts ; or , if you thirst For Argalus 〈◊〉 life , then take mine first : Or , if for noble blood you seeke , if so Accept of mine ; my blood is noble too , And worth the spilling : Euen for her deare sake , Your tender soule affects , awake , awake , Your noble mercy : Grant , I care not whether ; Let me dye first ; or , kill vs both together . With that Amphialus was about 〈◊〉 speake , 〈◊〉 Argalus ( whose heart 〈◊〉 almost 〈◊〉 To heare Partheniaes words ) 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 , ah Parthenia ; Then must I 〈◊〉 bought and sold for teares ? Is my condition So poore , I cannot 〈◊〉 , but by petition ? So said ; He 〈◊〉 aside ( for feare , by chance , The fury of some misguided blow may 〈◊〉 And touch Parthenia ) and , fill'd with high 〈◊〉 , Would haue 〈◊〉 the Combat fresh againe . But now , Amphialus was charm'd ; his hand 〈◊〉 no sufficient warrant to withstand Parthenia's suit , from whose faire eyes there came Such precious teares , in so belou'd a name ; His eyes grew tender , and his melting heart Was ouercome ; his very soule did smart ; He 〈◊〉 not , but kept him at a distance , And ( putting by some blowes ) made no resistance . But what can long endure ? Lamps wanting oyle , Must out at last , although they blaze a while ; Trees wanting Sap , must wither ; strength and beauty Can claime no priuiledge to quit that duty They owe to Time and Change ; but like a Vine ( The vnsound supporters failing ) must decline : Poore Argalus growes 〈◊〉 , and must giue o're To strike ; his feeble arme can strike no more ; And natures 〈◊〉 ' d Bayly now destraines His blood , for that small debt that yet remaines 〈◊〉 ; His arme that cannot vse the poynt , Now 〈◊〉 vpon the pomell ; euery ioynt Disclaimes their idle sinews ; and his eye Begins to double euery obiect by ; Nothing appeares the same it was ; the ground , And all thereon does seeme to daunce the round . His legs grow faint ; and thinking to sit downe , He mist his Chaire , and 〈◊〉 into a swoune . With that Amphialus and Parthenia ran , Ran in with hast , Amphialus 〈◊〉 To loose his Helmet , whil'st her busie palme Chaf'd his cold Temples , and ( distilling Balme Into his wounds ) her hasty fingers tore Her linnen sleeues , and Partlet that she wore , No wipe the teare mixt blood away , and wrap His wounds withall ; vpon her panting lappe She laide his liuelesse head , and ( wanting bands To binde the bloody cloathes ) her nimble hands ( As if it were ordained for that end , And therefore made so long ) did freely rend Her dainty haire , by handfuls from her head ; But as she wrapt the wounds , her eyes would shed And wet the rags so much , that she was faine 〈◊〉 sighs and sobs to drie it vp againe . Thus halfe distracted with her griefes and feares , These words she enter mingles with her teares ; Distrest Parthenia ! Into what estate Hath fortune , and the direfull hand of Fate Driuen thy perplexed soule ? O thou , O thou , That wert the president of all ioyes , but now ; Now turn'd th' example of all misery , For torments worse then death to practise by ! How lesse then nothing art thou ? and how more Then miserable ! Thou that wert before All Ladies of the earth for happinesse But very now ; ( ah me ) now , nothing lesse ! O angry heauens ; what hath Parthenia done , To be thus plagu'd , or why not plagu'd alone If guilty ? what shall poore Parthenia doe ? To whom shall she complaine ? alas ! or who Shall giue reliefe ? nay who can giue reliefe To her , that hopes for succour from her griefe ? O death ! Must we be parted then ? for euer ? And neuer meet againe ? what , neuer ? neuer ? Or shall Parthenia now be so vnkinde , Te leaue her Argalus , and stay behind ? No , no , my dearest Argalus , make roome , ( There 's roome enough in heauen ) I come , I come . Who euer saw a dying coale of fire , Lurke in warme embers ( till some breath inspire A forc'd reuiuall ) how obscure it lies ; And being blowne , glimmers a while , and dies ? So Argalus , to whom Parthenia's breath Giuing new life , ( a life in spite of death ) Recall'd him from his death-resembling traunce ; Who from his panting Pillow did aduance His feeble head ; and looking vp , he made Hard shift to sorce a language , and thus said ; My deare Parthenia : Now my glasse is runne ; The Tapours tell me that the Play is done ; My dayes are summ'd ; Death seizes on my heart ; Alas ! the time is come , and we must part : Yet by my better hopes ; grimme death does bring No griefe to Argalus , no other sting But this , that I must leaue thee , euen before My gratefull actions can crosse the score Of thy deare merits : But since it pleases him , whose wisedome still Disposes all things by his better will , Depend vpon his goodnesse , and relye Vpon his pleasure , not inquiring why : And trust that one day we shall meet , and then Enioy each other , ne're to part agen : Meane while liue happy : Let Parthenia make No doubt , but bessed Argalus shall partake In all her ioyes on earth , which shall encrease His ioyes in heauen , and soules eternall Peace . Loue well the deare remembrance of thy true And faithfull Argalus ; let no thought renew My last disgrace ; thinke not the hand of Fate Made me vnworthy , though vnfortunate . And as he spake that word , his lips did vent A sigh , whose vio'lence h●…d well nigh rent His heart in twaine ; and when a pa●…ting kisse H●…d giuen him earnest of appoaching blisse , He snatch his sword into his hand and cryed ; O death ! thou art the Conquerour ; and dyed . With that ; Parthenia , whose liuelihood was founded Vpon his life , bow'd downe her head and swounded ; But griefe , that ( like a Lyon ) loues to play Before it kils , gaue death a longer day ; Else had Parthenia dy'd , since death depriued Him of his life , in whose deare life she liued . But ah ! Parthenia's sorrow was too deepe , Too too vnruly , to be lull'd asleepe By ought but Death : She startles from her swound ; And nimbly rising from the loathed ground , Kneeles downe ; and layes her trembling hand vpon His lukewarme lips , but finding his breath gone , Griefe playes the Tyrant ; fierce distruction driues her She knowes not where ; vnbounded 〈◊〉 depriucs her Of sense and language ; here and there she goes , Not knowing what to doe ; nor what she does ; Somtimes her faire misguided hand would teare Her beautious face ; sometimes , her bountious haire , As if their vse could stand her in no stead , Since her beloued Argalus was dead . But now Amphialus ( that all this space Stood like an Idol , fastned to his place ; Where with a world of teares , he did bemoane The deed , that his vnlucky hands had done ) Well knowing ; that his words would aggrauate , Not ease the miserie of her woefull state , Spake not , but caus'd her women that came with her To vrge her to the Ferrie ; where together With her dead Argalus , she ' embrackt ; from whom She would not part : no sooner was she come To t'other shore , but all the funerall state Of militarie discipline did waite Vpon the Corps , whil'st troopes of trickling eyes Fore-ran the well perform'd solemnities : The Martiall Trumpet breath'd her dolefull sound , Whil'st others traild their Ensignes on the ground ; Thus was the most lamented Corpes conuaid , Vpon a Chariot , lin'd , and ouerlaid With Sables , to his house ; a house , then night More black , no more the Palace of Delight ; Where now we leaue him to receiue the Crowne Prepar'd for vertue , and deseru'd renowne ; Where now we leaue him to be full possest Of endlesse peace , and euerlasting Rest. But who shall comfort poore Parthenia now ? What Oratory can preuaile ? or how Can counsell chuse but blush to vndergoe So vaine taske , and be contemned too ? May Counsell mooue a heart , whose best 〈◊〉 Consists in desperate yeelding to a griefe ? O : what aduice can rellish in her eares , That weepes , and takes a pleasure in her teares ? Readers , forbeare : sorrowes that are lamented , Are but exulcerated , but augmented ; Forbeare attempt , where there is no preuayling ; A desperate griefe growes stronger by bewaying . Leaue her to time and fortune : let your eyes No longer prye into her miseries ; True mourners loue to be beheld of none ; Who truly grieues , desire to grieue alone . But now our bloodhound Muse must draw , and track Amphialus , and bring the Murtherer backe To a new Combate : Where if fortune please To crowne our Tragick Sceane , and to appease The crying blood of Argalus , with blood ; Our better rellisht story ( making good Your hopefull expectations ) shall besriend The teares of our Parthenia , and end . Soone as the stout Amphialus had out worne The danger of his wounds , and made returne Into the Martiall Campe ; there , to maintainc His new got honor , and to entertaine Aggrieued challengers , that shall demand , O●… seeke for satisfaction from his hand ; An armed Knight came praunsing o're the plaine , D●…nouncing watre , and breathing forth disdaine . Foure dam ' sells vsherd him , in sable weeds ; And foure came after , all on mourning Steedes ; His curious Armour was so painted ouer With liuely sh●…dowes , that you might discouer The image of a gaping Sepulchre ; About the which , were scattered here and there Some dead mens bones : His horse was black as let ; His furniture was round about beset With branches , slipt from the sad Cypresse tree ; His Bases ( reaching farre below the knee ) Embroydred were with wormes : vpon his shield , For his lmprese , he had a beautious childe , Whose body had two heads ; whereof the t'one Appear'd quite dead ; the t'other ( drawing on ) Did seeme to gaspe for breath ; and vnderneath , This Motto was subscrib'd , From death , by death . Thus arm'd to point , he sent his bold defie . T' Amphialus , who sent as quick replye . Forthwith , being summon'd by the Trumpets found , They start ; but braue Amphialus , that sound , The Knight had mist his Rest , ( as yet not met ) Scorning to take aduantage , would not let His Launce descend , nor ( brauely passing by ) Encounter his befriended enemy . Whereat the angry Knight ( not apt to brook Such vnsupportable mishappe forsooke His white mouth'd Steed ; throwing his L●…nce aside , ( Which too too partiall fortune had denide A faire successe ) drew forth his glittering sword ; Whereat Amphialus lighted ( who abhorr'd A conquest meerely by aduantage gain'd , Esteeming it but robb'd , and not obtain'd ) Drew forth his sword ; and , for a little space , Their strokes contended with an equall pace , And fiercenesse : He did more discouer A brauery , then anger ; whil'st the other Bewray'd more spleene , then either skill , or strength , To manage it : 〈◊〉 , at length , With more then wonted ease , did b●…tter so His ill defended armour , that each blow , Open'd a door●… , for death to enter in ; And now the noble Conquerour does begin To hate so poore a conquest , and disdain'd To take a life , so easily obtain'd . And mou'd with pitty , ( stepping backe ) he staid His vnresisted violence , and said , Sir Knight , contest no more ; but take the peace Of your owne passion ; Let the Combate cease , Seeke not your causlesse ruine ; Turne your arme ( Better imployd ) gainst such , as wish you harme . Husband your life , before it be too late , Fall not by him , that ne're deseru'd your hate . To whom , the Knight return'd these words againe , Thou lyest , false Traitor ; and I here disdaine Both words and mercy , with a base defie , And to thy throat , my sword shall turne the lye . To whom Amphialus : vnciuill Knight , Couragious in nothing , but in spight , And base discourtesie ; thou soone shalt know , Whether thy tongue betrayes thy heart or no. And as he spake , he gaue him such a wound Vpon the necke , as strucke him to the ground . And , with the fall , his sword ( that now de●…y de All mercy ) deepely pierc'd into his side ; That done ; he loos'd his Helmet , with intent , To make his ouerlauish tongue repent Of those base words , he had so basely said , Or ●…lse , to crop him shor●…er , by the head . Who ●…uer s●…w th' illustrious eye of no●…e ( New broken from a gloomy cloud ) ●…nd downe His earth reioycing glory , and d●…play His golden beames vpon the sonnes of Day : Euen so , the Helmet being gone , a faire And costly treasure of vnbraided haire O'respred the shoulders of the vanquisht Knight , Whose , now discouer'd visage ( in despight Of neighb'ring death ) did witnesse and proclaime A soueraigne beautie in Parthenia's name , And she it was indeed ; see how she lies Smiling on death , as it her blessed eyes ( Blest in their best desire●… ) had espied His fice already , for whose fake she died . The Lillies , and the Roses ( that while 〈◊〉 Stroue in her Cheekes , till they compounded there ) Haue broke their truce , and freshly falne to blows ; Behold ; the Lilly hath o'recome the Rose . Her Alablaster neck ( ●…hat did ou●…goe The Doues in whi●… ness●… ; or the new falne snow ) Was stain'd with blood , as if the red did se●…ke Pro●…tion there , being banisht from her che●…ke : So full of ●…weetnesse was her dying face , Th●…t death had not the power to displace Her natiue beauti●… ; onely by translation , Moulded , and cloath'd it in a newer fashion . But now Amphialus ( in whom griefe and shame Of this vnlucky victorie , did claime An eq●…ll interest ) prostrate on the earth , Accurs'd his swo●…d , his arme , his houre of birth ; Casting his Helmet , and his gauntlet by , H●…s vndissembled teares did testifie , What words could not : But finding her estate More apt for helpe , then griefe , ( though both too late ) Crept on his knees , and begging pardon of her , His hands ( his often cursed hands ) did proffer Their needlesse helpe , and with his life to sh●…w What honour a deuoted heart could doe . Whereto Parthenia ( whose expiring breath G●…ue speedy signes of a desired death ) Turning her fixt ( but oft recalled eyes ) Vpon Amphialus , faintly thus replies : Sir you haue done enough ; and I require No more ; Your hands haue done , what I desire ; What I expect ; and if against your will , The better ; So 〈◊〉 wish your fauours still ; Yet one thing more , ( if enemies may sue ) I craue , which is , To be vntoucht by you ; And as for Honour , all that I demand Is not to 〈◊〉 honour from your hand . No , no ; 't was no such bargaine made ; That he Whose hands had kill'd my Argalus , should helpe me ; Your hands haue done enough ; I craue no more ; And for the deed sake , I forgiue the Doer ; What then remaines ? but that I goe to rest With Argalus , and to be repossest Of him ; with him for euer to abide , E're since whose death , I haue so often died . And there she fainted ( euen as if the Clock Of death had giuen a warning , e're it struck ) But foone returning to her selfe againe ; Welcome sweet death , said she , whose minutes paine , Shall crowne this soule with euerlasting pleasure ; Come , come , and welcome ; I attend thy leasure : Delay me not ; O doe me not that wrong , My A●…galus will chide , I stay so long ; O now I fe●…le the Gordian-knotted bands , Of life vntied ; O heauens ! into your hands , I recommend my better part with trust , To finde you much more mercifull , then iust ; ( Yet truly iust withall ) O life , O death , I call you both to witnesse , that this breath Ne're drew a dram of comfort , since that houre My A●…galus dyed : O thou eternall power , Shroud all my faul●…s beneath the milkewhite veile Of thy deare mercy ; and when this tongue shall faile To speake , O then : And as she spake ( O then ) O then she left To spe●…ke ; ●…d , being suddenly bereft Of words , the fatall S●…ster did diuide H●…r slender twine of life , and so sh●… dyed . So dyed Parthenia ; in whose closed ey●…s The world of beauty and perfection ly●…s Lockt vp by Angels ( as a thing diuin●… ) From mortall ey●…s , the whilst her vert●…es shine In perfect glory , in the throne of glory , Leauing the world no Relique , but the story Of earths perfection , for the mouth of Fame To confecrate to her eternall 〈◊〉 : Which shall suruiue , ( if 〈◊〉 a●… d●…uine ) ( Though not in these poore monuments of mine ) To th' end of dayes ; and , by th●…se looser ●…imes , Shall be d●…liuer'd to succeeding times : So long as beauty shall but finde a friend , Partheni●…es lasting f●…me shall neu●…r end . Till , to be truly vertuous , to be chast , Be held a sinne , Partheniaes name shall last . Thus when Amphialus had put out this Lampe , This Lampe of hono●…r , he forsooke the Campe ; And , like a willing pris'ner , was confinde To the strict limits of a troubled minde ; No Iury need b'impanell'd , or agreed Vpon the verdict ; none , to att●…st the deed ; None to gi●…e sentence , in the Iudgement hall ; Himselfe was witnesse , Iury , Iudge , and all ; Where now we leaue him , whilst we turne our eyes Vpon Partheniaes women , whose fierce cryes Inforce a helpl●…sse audience . It is said , When Troy was taken , such a cry was made . One snatcht Partheniaes sword , resolu'd to dye Partheniaes death : another , rauing by , Stroue for the weapon ; through which eager strife , They both were hindred ; and each lau'd a life : Others , whom wis●…r passion had taught how To grieue at e●…sier rates , did rudely throw Their carelesse bodies on the purple floore ; Where , sprinkling dust vpon their heads , they tore Their tangled haire , and garments , drencht in teares : And cryed , as i●… Partheniaes blessed eares Could heare the 〈◊〉 of griefe ; such griefes as would Returne her from her glory , if they could ; 〈◊〉 heart was turn'd a wardrobe of true passion , Where griefes were cloa●…hed in a seuerall fashion ; Sometimes their sorrow would recall to view H●…r vertue , chastnesse , sweetn●…sse , and renew Their wast●…d p●…ssions ; and , oft-times , they bann'd Themselues , for obeying her v●…iust command . And now by this , the mourn●…ll Trumpe of Fame ( Grow e ho●…se with very sorrow ) did proclaime And spr●…d her dolefull tidings , whilst all eares A●…d ey●…s were fill'd with death , and sliding teares ; Pitty and Sorrow , mixt with Admiration , Becam●… the threefold subiect of all passion ; Gri●… w●…ther progresse through all he●…rts ; and none From t●…e poore Cottage , to the princely Throne , Could own a thoght , whose best aduice could borrow The smallest respite from th'extreames of sorrow . But all this while , Basilius princely brest , As it commanded , so outgrieu'd the rest ; His share was treble : hearts of Kings are deepe And close ; what once they entertaine , they ke●…pe With violence : The violence of his passion Admits no meane , as yet , no moderation ; But soone as griefe had done her priuate rights And dues to Honour ; Honour ( that delights In publique seruice , and can make the breath Of sighes and sobs to triumph ouer death ) Call'd in solemnity , with all her traine , And military pompe , to entertaine Our welcome Mourners , whose slow paces tread The paths of death ; and , with sad triumph lead The slumbring body , to that bed of rest , Where nothing can disquiet , or molest Her sacred ashes : There , intombed , lay The valiant Argalus ; and there , they say , Ere since that time , th' Arcadians , once a yeare , Visit the ruines of their Sepulchre ; And , in memoriall of their faithfull loues , There , built an Altar ; where , two milk white D●…ues They yearly offer to the hallowed Fame Of Argalus , and his Partheniaes name . FINIS . Hos ego versiculos . LIke to the damaske Rose you see , Or like the blossome on the tree , Or like the daintie flowre of May , Or like the Morning to the day , Or like the Sunne , or like the shade , Or like the Gourd which Ionas had , Euen such is man whose thred is spunne , Drawne out and cut , and so is done . The Rose withers , the blossome blasteth ; The flowre fades , the morning hasteth ; The Sunne sets ; the shadow flies , The Gourd consumes , and man he dies . Like to the blaze of fond delight ; Or like a morning cleare and bright ; Or like a frost , or like a showre , Or like the pride of Babels Towre , Or like the houre that guides the time , Or like to beauty in her prime ; Euen such is man , whose glorie lends His life a blaze or two , and ends . Delights vanish ; the morne o're casteth , The frost breakes , the shower basteth , The Tower fals , the flowre spends , The beauty fades , and mans life ends . Finis . Fr. Qu. The Authors Dreame . MY sinnes are like the haires vpon my head , And raise their Audit to as high a score : In this they differ : these doe daily shed ; But ah ! my sinnes grow daily more and more . If by my haires thou number out my sins , Heauen make me bald before the day begins . 2 My sins are like the sands vpon the Shore , Which euery ebbe layes open to the eye : In this they differ : These are couer'd o're With euerie tyde : My sinnes still open lye . If thou wilt make my head a sea of teares , O they will hide the sinnes of all my yeares . 3 My sins are like the Starres within the skies In view , in number , euen as bright as great ; In this they differ ; These doe set and rise ; But ah ! my sins doe rise but neuer set . Shine Sun of glorie , and my sins are gone Like twinkling Stars before the rising Sun. Finis . Fr. Qu. Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A10246-e660 The Masque of the Gods. Vulcan●… speech . Morphe●… speech . The Goddesle of the nights speech Venus speech to Morpheus The sentence . Argalus last speech . Parthenia's last speech .