10 RUMINANS: OR THE REPERCUSSION OF A TRIUMPH Celebrated in the Palace of Diana Ardenna.  
By the Rustic Muse of R.W. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  Aud. Epig. Lib. 1. 
Vror amore miser, tantoque potentius utor,  
Quanto, qui me urit, longius ignis abest.  
I burn in flames of love, and fry  
More by the fire's longinquity.  
Printed Anno Virginis parturientis.  
1662.   

THE DEDICATION. TO THE Transcendently Formose, AND (As far as can be concluded from the Topics of Ommatology) MOST HEROICALLY VIRTUOUS Mrs Anne Gibbs.  
Who personated 

Gartrude in Tu Quoque July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.  
Harebr. wife in Madworld my M. July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.  
Rosinda in Young Admiral July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.  
Dionysia in All's lost by lust July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.  
A Lady in Merry Milkm. July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.  
LUCRETIA in Rape of Lucrece July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.    
1661.  
At the (Quondam-Antelope, now) King's Arms in Holywell Oxon.  
RICHARD WALDEN, To intimate his retention of those indelible Characters imprinted on his heart by the emissive Organ of her fulgurant eye, DEDICATETH THIS Encomiastic Decameron  
From his Grotto at the foot of לארה in ARDEN Aug. 10th 1661.   

PROLOGUE (by the Book)  

Thus I'm Commanded to forestall the eyes  
Of those few Readers that will not pass by's.   

FEar no sarcastic Placard such as   
The sides of Pasquin and Morforeo.  
Here you'll find nothing bitter, not so much  
As to protect for Momus' teeth, for such  
Our Author thus accosts, I know there's none  
Exempted from thy reprehension.  
Thou carp'd'st, as Vulcane's man, 'cause he had not  
A breast transparent, and it was Venus' lot  
To hath the same doom on her creaking shoes;  
To both which censures its obnoxious.  
Yet needs it not a patron to defend it;  
For none, I'm sure, will carp at, that can mend, it.  
But thus the humble Author doth subject,  
To that acute discerning Intellect,  
This his Capriccio, which did distil  
From a dull brain, through an obtuser quill.   

I know my weakness in a task  
Of such a Magn'tude which doth ask  
A quill from Marcab, if you'd have't  
Done well, sure to delineate  
Such a Platonic she that may  
Be Monarch of Utopia,  
Requires a fancy that's sublime,  
And such a strain that's buskined, mine  
Desid'rates both these, for the most,  
And that's imperfect, I can boast  
Is so much knowledge as to tell  
'tis Pansophy to know you well.  
Thrice happy he than that shall be  
Blest with that Encyclopaedy.    

CANTO I. Or the INTRODUCTION.  

I'm he who once sat by still Charwell's side,  
Amongst th' Ouzonian Girls, and whilom tried  
To whisper out a Dirge for her, when her  
Who was the Polestar of our Hemisphere.  
(That Heledonian Nymph who from her sire  
Came murmuring this sad news did me inspire,  
And brought Melpomene, who needs would be  
My Abcedarian in Philomusy.  
Nor is it strange, though scarce observed yet,  
(A) Should begin the Muse's Alphabet.)  
But now reposed upon the shady lawns  
Of dimpled Cune amongst old Arden's Fauns.   

I sing the triumph of that face which meant  
To give 
(a) So the learned Bouchert in his Phaleg gives the Etymology of Europe, exploding those of Verhop, and the Fable of Europa. In the Punic tongue it signifies an excellentcountenance.  Vrappa to our 
(b) Poetica licentia, yet according to the opinion of Verslegan, etc.  continent,  
If not anticipated, 'tis she alone,  
I'm sure, hath verify d that Etymon.  
SHE who each frown or smile can show more dead,  
Than e'er were petrified by Medusa's head.  
Whose tongue speaks sophisms, that would baffle Sphinx  
Whose eyes charm Basilsks, and blind the Linx.  
The azure streams that circled in whose hands  
Out vie bright Pactolus for all his sands.  
Whose all is such that who so viewsed shall find  
She is the Auxesis of womankind.  
She'd is that claims these fettered slaves to be  
Exposed as Trophys of her victory.    

CANTO II. Or the GARTRUDADE.  

'Twas when Hyperion was turning back  
From his aestiral Tropic, and did make  
His way through raging Alased, that time  
The Euronymides and the Thespian Nine,  
Led by their Alytarch Apollo, hie  
To celebrate their Anniversary  
Upon those learned banks, where Charwel makes  
A Chersenese, as she the Bride o'ertakes,  
Posting to Dorchester the place designed  
To join her to the rude Chilternian kind.  
That most unhappy-happy day the sky  
Was governed by the sweet-lipped Mercury.  
And Phoebus past the Zenith of his course,  
Going to Neptune's bed with all his force  
To's sister Thetis, when first these mine eyes  
Saw a far brighter luminary rise,  
And from his country too, which did Eclipse  
His lustre with the tincture of her lips.  
To make this good my fancy did suggest,  
His horses might be casually reversed.  
But when I saw her eyes an ecstasy,  
Put me in posture of a Niobe.  
These are those twins which all that chance to view,  
‛ Count more resplendent than the Delian two.  
But her tongue soon revived my Dormant sense,  
In augmentation to her eminence,  
And as the Sailors list to th' Syren's song,  
And have nor will nor power to steer along,  
But hover near the Rocks and Shelves till they  
Have time to make both wreck and the. their prey.  
So those melodious accents rendered me  
Th' attentive slave of this Parthenope.  
Then did the welkinlowre, which did e'er while  
Behold us with a look, beyond a smile.  
Good reason why, SHE went away, the beams  
Of whose bright Planets caused those dazzling gleams;  
But as the Sun is oft hid from the crowd,  
Behind the sable curtains of a cloud,  
Yet soon returns, so did this envious veil,  
Which interposed itself, as oft recoil.  
GARTRUDE did oft encounter Geraldine,  
As oft wished I that his Cue had been mine.  
For though at first she would not have released  
Those secret embers raked up in her breast,  
Yet if my Exit prove as good as his  
'Twill wrap my soul in ecstasy of bliss.  
'Twas unto Hymen's temple which to you,  
My Musc, shall be a Ne-plus-ultra too.  
For we'll retire, yet before we go let's add  
As her just merit this small 
(a) A verbo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 laudo unde deducunt alii titulum, Virgilii Aeneidos.  aenead;  
That though her modesty would not permit  
Her swasive tongue forbear denying it,  
Yet who that saw her personate with th' rest,  
Can choose but say that she performed best.    

CANTO III.  

COme from thy dormitory, Muse, and prove  
A diligent Notary, Then Mighty Jove  
Sat at the helm, and mortals 'gan to sing  
Their silent Matins to him, every thing  
Conspired to aid us in the quest of her,  
Of whom in all Time's rusty Register  
There's ne'er a Parallel, but this her part  
Is so discordant from her virtuous heart,  
Thou shalt now praetermit it, draw thy rain,  
And, craving leave, return to bed again.    

CANTO IU. Or the ROSINDADE.  

THen the Plebeians hastened to adore,  
And chant their Vespers too, their great god Thor  
But that is not our theme, my Muse, we'll see  
Renowned ROSINDA's hospitality  
In Naples, for it was her private jars  
That blew the trumpet to th' intended wars.  
She forfeits her prerogative to woe,  
The Prince to what she ne'er could tempt him to:  
Or by facility or kindness, he  
But poorly retributes her courtesy.  
Degenerate cold Prince, whose frigid fire  
Only admits the name of love, 'cause blind.  
How else could thy excaecated desire,  
Tend to aught else but her that was designed  
To grace the bed o'th' Phoenix of his kind.  
‛ Count but externals, she deserves no worse  
Than one that might inherit th' Universe.  
Poise her intrinsic virtues, and she calls  
For one that could engross Heroicals.  
Nay but for fear of a Dilemma, I  
Can name the extract of formosity.  
But he affects Cassandra, on whom she  
Means to employ her best Chirurgery,  
Which can't be ineffectual, when each part  
's Magisterial to allay the smart.  
Her touch is a Dictamnum, and her eyes  
Dart smiles more sovereign than Panaces.  
And so it proved, her patient did regain,  
At once, both strength and vigour of her brain,  
Witness her plot to quench ROSINDA's fires  
By th' consummation of her chaste desires.  
The Prince came to the camp of Sicily  
Upon her summons for ROSINDA, she  
To save his life became a prey to them,  
And won Cesario by a stratagem.    

CANTO V Or the DIONYSIADE.  

Didst see, my Muse, how yonder wanton whore  
Proudly 'cause Queen Regent of this day & hour,  
Came whirling in her Coach, as if she meant  
To sport in some opacous firmament,  
With her old Martial Paramour, while he  
Road on before her through the Galaxy?  
But we will wink at that, 'tis my intent  
To enterprise a thing more eminent.  
Let us observe Antonio that way  
Encountered by his DIONYSIA.  
A dreadful combatant, nay do not start,  
In Cupid's lists she's sure to thrill the heart.  
Nor was she long in winning of the field,  
Antonio was soon enforced to yield  
Himself a wilful subject, and forget  
Th' allegiance he vowed to Margaret.  
" Such is the potency of her who darts  
" Glances so piercing that they conquer hearts.  
Yet he was loath at first to quit the yoke  
Of's lawful sovereign, but did revoke  
His resolution, till a missive, brought  
From DIONYSIA, entertained his thought.  
Then read, considered, wept a while, and then  
Thinking had passed o'er something, read again.  
This raised a tempest in his troubled breast,  
He re-enacted what he now reversed,  
Thought of his Margarita, and the oath  
In Hymen's temple taken by them both.  
Then weighed his DIONYSIA's courtesy,  
Which put his mind in aequilibrity.  
Consulted with his friend, who did prefer  
The last, and made her scal the heavyer.  
Until she came herself on embassy,  
And turned the scales by th' magic of her eye.  
Which made him to conclude he would go on,  
Although he grappled with destruction.  
" And who could choose but be for such an one  
" A renegado from's Religion.  
" Perfect Antonio, what thou dost begin,  
" Let th' worst come on't, 'twill be a splendid sin.  
Thus troubled DIONYSIA designed,  
To meliorate the Crasis of his mind  
By her prescriptions, O thrice happy man  
Who hadst so potent a Physician.  
Whose tongue whosoe ' experiments shall find  
Galeni Exhilerans to a pensive mind.  
Whose eyes I've tried myself and now conclude  
'Tis th' only Acopon for lassitude.  
A kiss from whose sweet lips, but he alone  
Must be thus blissful, is a panchreston.  
Yet all these Ana's could not do him good,  
Naught can repair his health but his own blood,  
Which cures her too, she and her rival friend,  
Like to undaunted Amazons, contend,  
One weeping, t'other smiling, who could do.  
An act most worthy their Antonio.    

CANTO VI.  

BUt why so hasty, Pegasus? look, here  
Is no great cause for such a swift career;  
There's nought in Friga's Vespers doth require  
So high a Pannade, nor is't my desire  
That thou shouldst take the needless pains to sing  
The virtues of Landoff's famed Magic ring.  
Which sure made her invisible, for I  
With all my indagations could not ' spy  
That Non-parel, who with her troops possessed  
Th' Elective Empire of my torrid breast.    

CANTO VII.  

SAturne succeeded next who did ordain  
GARTRVDE's re-entrance in the lists again,  
With her Antagonist, which we'll pass o'er  
Because we saw, the combat once before.  
And Seaters Vespers too because they lie  
Without our Province's territory.    

CANTO. VIII.  

BRight Sol the next usurped th' Imperial throne,  
But vexed to see beams brighter than his own.  
He called to Zephyrus to bring supply  
Of Clouds, as she dispelled them with her eye.  
But whence those powerful rays were sent, did lie  
Out o'th' dominions of my prying eye.  
So you may sleep, my Muse, but come anon  
To take thy ultime valediction.    

CANTO IX. Or the LUCRETIADE.  

THen Cynthia ' rose the Empress of the sky,  
But from this pensive palefaced Deity  
My forward fear presaged some Tragic end  
Our Acidalian revels did attend.  
Now, Muse, thy Pegasus his course hath run,  
This is the day Albion's refulgent Sun  
Did pass that line which terminates my sight,  
And left me groping in a polar night.  
LUCRETIA, of whose virtue Fame hath hurled  
Sufficient Euges through th' capacious world,  
Did from her modest eye such lightning dart  
Kindled lascivious fires in Tarquin's heart.  
Who posted from the camp to raze the splendour  
Of that stout fortlet which would not surrender.  
But having lost her name regardless she,  
Resolved not to survive, by battery  
Demolished th' fabric. Thus that Roman dame  
Resigned her life to notify her name  
In Fame's records, but this, no doubt, did write  
The copy fairer than the prototype.  
Had this been real 'twould go nigh, I fear,  
To cause a fatal Regifugium here.  
Then I retired, yet dubious whether she  
Deserved my plaudite or plangite.  
For, if those hapless men, whose lot did fall  
I'th' farthest part o'th' frigid Zones, bewail  
Their half-years-night, yet sure their Sun will turn  
At's period, what cause have I to mourn?  
Doomed from the sight of mine, whose brighter rays  
Make me more sensible of such delays.  
Especially sigh I do not know  
Whether it will e'er be day again, or no.    

CANTO X. Or the CONCLUSION.  

THus was I partially eclypsed, and here  
Apollo too forsook our Hemisphere.  
And went to's brother Neptune's bed to cool  
His fiery chariot in his Western Pool.  
Leaving his Lackey Vesper in his seat  
T● unharness th' horses and provide them meat.  
Mean while my restless fancy my feet leads  
T' expatiate in the adjacent meads,  
Where silent Charwel revels as she goes  
To th' Nuptials of her elder sister Ouze.  
And to this Nymph I made my moan till night,  
With his black mask had hoodwinked all the light.  
Cynthia was absent too, sure she was gone  
To Latmus to salute Endymion.  
So I was forced to retire to rest,  
But Morpheus with his wiles could not arrest  
My watchful senses, than Aurora led  
The blushing Morn from her Mygdonian bed.  
And made the rays of light in tumults throng,  
Which come too soon, although they stayed too long,  
For warlike Mars usurped the reins o'th'sky  
The last of this so famous Heptarchy,  
And would needs be my convoy till I come  
Out of the precincts of Elysium.  
For such were those most blessed banks that while  
SHE darted there her beatific smile.  
Then blame me not if I was scarce content  
To want those Aspects, yet at last I went;  
But with eyes so retorted that I made  
My t●rdy paces seem all retrograde.  
Yet was my tedious journey too soon done.  
Our jades, before the Sun's, their course had run▪  
But here are none 'fore whom to vent my woes,  
And flames depressed grow but more vigorous,  
Experience dictates, for this heart of mine  
Is daily holocaust●d to that shrine.    

The Book EPILOGizeth.  

THus have my pages entertained your eye  
With some reflections of formosity.  
He that enumerates all shall find it more  
Than th' task o'th' Segamore's Ambassador.  
And now let Critic Cato's vent their rage,  
In their censorious descants on each page.  
All such Malignant Planets I'll neglect,  
So you'll but deign me your benign Aspect.   
— F●rsan & hec olim meminisse Juvabit.   
FINIS.