Canto 4

After a pitchie, and a dripping night,
Poor Travailers confounding in their way,
A glorious Morn (succeeding) glads the sight;
And, with the long'd-for Sun, returns the day:
After the whistling winds have spent their spight,
On the calm'd Sea the wanton Dolphins play:
So the afflicted Kingdom it befell
When soft FERNANDO bade the world farewel.

And if ours wisht a Champion, to fullfil
Their Vengeance upon Those, from whom alone
(Using remiss FERNANDO'S favours ill)
They make account that all their Ills are grown.
Now they I have one according to their will,
Putting illustrious JOHN into the Throne,
As PEDRO'S onely Son they could come at:
And his true Son, though Illegitimat.

That this was Heaven's Ordinance divine
By most cleer Tokens evident became,
When a young girl, speaking before her time,
In EBORA distinctly form'd his name.
And as a Herald-Angel sent in fine
The Portingall Successour to proclame
Lifting i'th'Cradle Body, Hand, and Tone,
Cry'd, PORTUGAL FOR THE NEW KING DON JOHN.

Such, at this time, was the confus'd Estate
Of the poor Realm, and the mad People's spleen;
That (to disburthen their conceived Hate)
Flat Cruelties in ev'ry part were seen:
Killing the Kin, and all that did relate
To the adult'rous Earl, and to the Queen,
With whom her lewdness (they affirm'd) was more
In widowhood, then it had been before.

But true, or false, the scandal which they gave
Forfeits his Head (and rightly) to the Axe.
He dyes for't in her presence: Others have
The self-same sawce. It catches like fir'd flax.
One, whom religious Orders could not save,
Thrown from a Steeple like ASTIANAX:
A Second, Orders, Sex, nor th' Altar's Horn:
A third dragg'd naked, and to mamocks torn.

In long forgetfullness may now be laid
Those horrid Massacres, which ROME beheld,
By bloody SYLLA, and fierce MARIUS, made,
When one another they by turns expel'd.
Then LEONÓRE (whom th'unrevenged shade
Of her dear Count with open fury swell'd)
Invites CASTEEL, who did her daughter wed:
Saying, the CROWN belongeth to her head.

Her daughter BEATRICE was she, as due
To whom, he of CASTEEL that Crown might clame:
Reputed daughter of FERNANDO too,
With the permission of her mother's Fame.
Into the Field CASTILIA therefore drew,
To seize the Kingdom in his Consort's name,
Amassing men (our Spot to overwhelm)
From every Province of his spacious Relm.

Troops came (on this occasion) from that LAND
To which one BRIGUS gave his name of yore:
From Lands recover'd (by their GREAT FERNAND,
And greater CID) from the usurping MORE.
Nor those, who high in MARS his favour stand,
Who with their Ploughs (laborious) travaile o're
The Hills of LEON, slowly did advance:
The ancient Terror of the Moorish Lance.

The VANDALS came, who to this day confide
In Valour which of old they made appeer.
SEVILIA came (ANDALUZIA'S Pride)
So sweetly water'd by GUADALQUIVEER.
The noble ISLAND (which was colonied
Sometime by TYRIANS) was not wanting here,
Who, on their Banners in those days of yore
The famous Pillars of ALCIDES bore.

Came likewise Troops from old TOLEDO'S Reame,
Whose nimble Tongue the neatest Spanish trolls:
And TAGUS clasps her with his amorous streame,
Which from the Hills of CUENCA sweetly rolls.
Nor fear kept you from being joyn'd to Them,
Sordid GALLEGOS (refractory Souls!)
That arm your selves again, those swords t'oppose,
Of which already ye have felt the blows.

Likewise black Furies of the war drives an
The BISKAYNER, A mortal enemy
To Complement; nor of a Heart, that can
From any stranger brook an injury:
He of GUIPUSCUA, and th'ASTURIAN:
Fam'd for their Yron-Indies far and nigh:
These (arm'd with their own Mines) conducted are
To serve their LORD in the denounced War.

JOHN, from whose manly Bosom's bristles, grew
That courage, SAMPSON borrow'd of his hairs,
Though all his men amount but to a Few,
To play the best of a bad Game prepares.
Nor, that he's unresolved what to do,
Calls the cheif Counsellors in his Affaires;
But, to observe how every one inclines:
"For among many there are many minds.

There want no such, as, ev'n against that Cause
They follow, Reasons do insinuate:
Whose sence with a Castilian Byas draws
From all that's Portingal degenerate.
Whom Fear so freezes, and so overaws,
That natural love it doth exterminate.
Their King, and Countrey, they deny: and wou'd
With PETER too, for fear deny their GOD.

Don NUNIO (to be sure) was none of Those:
But though his Brothers (whom he deerly lov'd)
Take t'other side, and big the danger grows,
Them whose Faith staggers sharply he reprov'd;
And at these People with their I's, and No's;
Laying his Hand upon his Hilt (more mov'd
Then Eloquent) these words abruptly hurl'd:
Threatning the Earth, the Ocean, and the world.

What? 'Mongst the Portingal-Nobility
Shall there be any less then Sons of MARS?
What? in this Realm (victorious far and nigh)
Shall there be born, That shun defensive wars?
That will their Hearts, their Hands, their Heads deny
At such a pinch, their Fortunes, and their Stars?
Or who, for any cause that can be thought,
Will see their Countrey in subjection brought.

What? Are not you then of those worthies bred,
Who (fierce and valiant as the Swords they wore)
Under the great HENRIQUEZ Standart led,
O'rethrew this warlike Nation once before?
When Them so many routed Squadrons fled,
So many Flaggs, that (besides thousands more
Of lesser Rank, amongst the opulent Pr•y)
Sev'n potent Earles our Pris'ners were that day?

With whom, perpetually were trodden down
These, That are now so dreadful in your view,
By DENIS, and, his Son, of high Renown,
But with your Sires, and Grandsires? and if you
Were (by the Sins, or weakness, of the CROWN)
Kept under, in FERNANDO'S days; Renew
Your strength with the new King: "For 'tis not strange
"(You see) for People with their Kings to change.

Ye have one now, that, if your courage rose
Equal with his You lifted to the Throne,
Ye might o'rethrow the World, how much more Those,
Whom ye have oft already overthrown?
And if, in short, with Him ye cannot lose
Those fears, that seem t'have turn'd you into stone;
Stand but like stones (I ask you not one stroke)
Whilst I alone resist a forraign yoak.

I onely, with my Tenants, and with this—
(And at that word he pull'd out half his Blade)
Will save from force, and all that shameful is,
This Land, which hitherto hath liv'd a Maid.
By the King's fire, and mine (lighted at his):
Our Countrey's Tears: By Faith (by you not waigh'd):
Not onely These upon their knees I'l bring,
But All that ever shall oppose my King.

As when, despairing now, the Youth of ROME
(All that survived CANNAE'S fatal Field)
Stood ready (rallyed in CANUSIUM)
Themselves unto the Conquerour to yield,
But young CORNELIUS doth amongst them come,
And swears them All upon his sword, compel'd;
That they the Roman wars shall never leave,
Till life leave them, or Those their lives bereave:

So NUNIO animates, whom he did force.
Whose boyst'rous Rhet'rick such quick flame imparts,
Chiefly the Tail and sting of his discourse,
As thaws those fears that had congeal d their hearts.
And presently they call to Horse, to Horse,
Tossing about their heads Lances, and Darts.
They run: and live (with open mouth they cry)
The famous King that gives us Liberty!

Amongst the fiercer Commons, some up-cry
This war, by which their Countrey is assoyl'd:
Others scowr up their Armours, and supply
What with the rust of peace was eate, and spoyl'd:
These, stuff old Murrions; Those, new breast-plates try:
Each takes those Arms, he hath most skill to wield.
With sev'ral colour'd Garments, others flaunt:
Others, Love-Motto's, and devices paint.

With all this well-appointed Company,
Doth valiant JOHN from fresh ABRANTES go:
Abrantes, which injoys abundantly
The streams, from CUENCA'S frozen Caves that flow.
The well-arm'd Vanguard is commanded by
One, who was fit t have led against a Foe
Those Oriental Forces without Compt,
With which King XERXES past the HELLESPONT.

DON NUNIO ALVAREZ, I mean: the true
And fatal scourge of proud CASTILIANS,
No less, then once the valiant HUN was to
The ancient GAULLS, and the ITALIANS.
Another Knight (to whom much praise is due)
Leads the right wing of LUSITANIANS:
As skilfull to conduct, as bold in fight,
OF VASCONCETOS MEM RODRIQUEZ, high•.

The other wing, that corresponds with this,
ANTONIO VASQUEZ of ALMAAD commands,
Who after Conde of Abranchez is:
And Hee comes up with the Sinestre Bands.
In the R•er-Gard the Standart none can miss,
Where (Circling PORTUGAL) CASTILIA Stands;
With IOHN, accomplished in every part:
Who makes a dunce of MARS in his own Art.

Trembling upon the Battlements, and een
Cold (betwixt hope and feare suspended now)
Wives, Mothers, Sisters, Mistresses, are seen.
Prayers they preferr: Fasts, Pilgrimages, vow.
Our Troops (advancing with undaunted meen)
Down by the Foe they sit them, brow to brow;
Receiv'd with shouts, which rock the Firmament:
Yet one, & t'other, doubted the event.

The vocall Trumpets challenge, and accept:
The Drumms, and whistling Fifes in consort joyne.
The dusty Field the s•ourisht Ensigns swept,
Where all the Colours of the Rainbow shine.
It was the time, when, CERES'S fruits being reapt,
She lends her Lab'rers to the God of Wine:
When (into Libra entred August's Sun)
Plump BACCHUS put sweet Must into the Tun.

Castilian Trumpets did the On-set sound,
Loud, furious dismall, terrible, and hoarce
Heard it ARTABOR'S Mount, and underground
Her way did frighted GUADIANA force:
Heard it the DWERE, and ALENTECHO round:
TAGUS looks back, then hastens on his course:
And Mothers (who that baylefull noysedid heare)
Claspe to their Breasts their tender Babes for feare.

How many Cheeks were there discolourd seen,
Whilst to the Heart the frendlie blood repaird?
"In great Incounters greater is I ween
"The feare of danger, then the danger feard:
"But, when the first brunt's over, Rage, and Teen,
"Desire of honour, and to Plume the Beard
"Of a proud Foe; These take away the sence
"Of losing limbs, or dearest life's expence.

On either side the first Battalions move:
The doubtfull war on either side began:
These fighting for their Country, which they love;
Those, to possess another's if they can.
The great PEREYRA, first his force did prove:
Summing an Armie's valour in one Man.
Hee shocks, strikes down, in fine he makes, their Grave,
And with their Corpses sows the Land they crave.

Now through the darkned Ayre barbd Arrows fleet,
Javelins, with other shott, fly whizzing round;
Vnder the fiery Coursers's yron Feet
The Earth doth tremble, and the Vales resound:
Lances are crackt, and (dropping thick as Sleet)
The Horsemen armd come thundring to the ground.
Vpon feirce NUNIO'S Few, fresh Foes are pact:
Their Art, to multiply; his, to abstract.

Loe now his Brother's swords against him bent
(Cruell, and ougly)! But Hee wonders not.
For they, who'gainst their King, and Countrey went,
Would never stick to cut a Brother's Throat.
Of these Revolters many did present
Themselves in the first Ranks: And who so hot
To kill their Friends, as They? so kindred Hoasts
Of yore incountred in Pharsalian Coasts.

O CATALINE, and Thou Sertorius bould,
Noble CORIOLANUS, with the rest,
Who'gaynst your Countrey drew your swords of ould
From an Impious, though provoked, Brest!
If in the darke Abysse of PLUTO'S Hould
Ye find your selves with FURIES'S whipps opprest,
Tell them (to cloake the horrour of your sin)
Some Portingalls sometimes have Traytors bin.

Ore whelmd with growing Foes's impetuous flood,
Now were the formost of our Squadrons burst,
There NUNIO, like a rampant Lyon, stood,
Whom in her neighb ring Mountains CEUTA nurst;
But now he is invirond with a wood
Of HUNTERS speares, ore Tetuan plains that courst;
Those All are bent at Him, His Brows Hee draws,
Nor is it Feare, but Anger makes him pause.

Musty he looks, nought pleased with the sight,
Yet (his wild Nature, and undaunted he art
Incompetible with ignoble flight)
Himself amongst the thickest he doth dart:
So with the blood of Aliens dyes our Knight
The Lusitanian Grass. Some fall, some start
Ev'n of his own. For, where there is such odds,
Strength often fails, and firmest Vertue nods.

JOHN saw how hard brave NUNIO was put to't:
(For, as a wise and careful General,
His Eye was in all parts, in all his Foot,
His Presence, and his words, gave life to All)
As a She-Lyon, and a Nurse to boot,
That finds, whilst Hunger, Her from home did call,
(Leaving her whelps unto themselves) a bold
Massylian shepherd lurcht them from her Hold;

Raving she runs, and grinds her Teeth, and rends
The SEAVEN BROTHER MOUNTAINS with her Voice:
So JOHN, so runs he (to assist his Frends)
To the Head Squadrons with some soldiers choice.
O brave Camrades, noble as are your Ends,
(How in your matchless Valour I rejoyce)!
Defend your Countrey, and defend your Lands:
The Hope of Freedom in your Lances stands.

See me, your King, your Fellow, and your Head,
'Mongst Darts, 'mongst Arrows, and thick Pikes among,
Rush on the Foe! Nor are you sent, but led.
Shew, fighting, to what Countrey ye belong.
The irrefragable Warriour sed;
Who, four times poysinga sharp Lance, and strong;
Throws it with force: and through this Throw alone
Many a Soule out of her House is throwne.

For (loe!) his men with honorable shame
Are kindled new and with a noble Ire.
Who shall bet most at MARS his bloody Game,
Is th'onely Thing to which they All aspire.
They Vye, revye, and dip their steel in flame:
Break stubborn Mayles, nor leave thick Plates intire.
Thus wounds they give, and wounds they take again,
Nor doth it grieve them, slaying, to be slain.

Many are posted to the Stygian Wave,
Into whose Bodies entred Steel, and death.
Of St. IA GO there the MASTER brave
Dyes fighting stoutly to his last of breath.
Another MASTER dire of CALATRAVE
Pulls Troops down with him to the shades beneath.
The Renegade PEREYRAS likewise dye
Reneaguing HEAVEN and their Destiny.

Went thousands of the Vulgar without noat,
And nobles too, unenter'd in FAME'S rolls,
Where that lean dog still gapes with triple throat,
Which never can be fill'd with humane souls.
And (more to humble them, who, when on float,
Thought the whole World must stoop to their controlls)
The high Castilian Standart now doth fall,
And kiss the foot of that of PORTUGALL.

With deaths, with groans, with blood, with gashes dire,
The battail cruel above measure grows.
The multitude of men, that here expire,
Makes all the Flow'rs in colour like the Rose.
All fly, or dye: Now out of breath was Ire:
Now Valour lost an Arm for want of Foes:
Now routed sees himself CASTILIA'S King,
And quits the purpose he from home did bring.

The Field he leaves unto the Conquerer,
Glad that he did leave him his life too.
The poor remainder follow: To whom Feare
Gave wings, not Feet: nor did they run, but flew.
The loss of so much men, and Treasure there,
Profoundly in their silent hearts they rue:
Hiding the smart, the sorrow; and the soyle,
To have Another triumph in their spoyle.

Some Him with open mouth blaspheam'd, and curst,
Who first invented War mankind to quell;
In whose obdurate Breast Ambition first,
And Covetise of others goods did dwell;
Nor car'd for feeding his hydropick Thirst
How many silly soules were pack't to Hell;
Who taught the way to shorten humane lives,
To orphan Children, and to widow Wives.

Victorious JOHN upon the place stays out
In martial glory the accustom'd days:
With Offrings then, and Pilgrimage devout,
To Him, That gave the Conquest, gives the Praise.
But NUNIO (minding what he was about,
As He That knows, a lasting Fame to raise,
No way like Arms, which all the world command)
Passes his Troops to the Trans-Tagan Land.

To Him his stars so favourable were,
That the success applauded the designe:
For he both conquers, and the spoyls doth weare
Of Andalusian Countreys That confine.
The Betick Standard of SEVILIA there,
Under which divers neighb'ring great ones joyn,
With small resistance at his feet soon falls,
Quell'd by the force, and name, of PORTINGALS.

With these, and other Victories opprest
A tedious while were the CASTILIANS brave,
When Peace, and now by both desired Rest,
The vanquisht People from the Victors have:
After the KING OF HEAV'N, for ever blest,
To the Foe-Kings in holy marriage gave
Of ENGLISH SISTERS the unequall'd pair,
Illustrious, lovely, beautiful, and Fair.

But long that Breast, inur'd to bloody Broile,
To live without a Foe, could not sustain;
So (having none upon the Land to toyle)
Goes to extend his Conquests ore the Maine.
This is our first of Kings, who doth exile
Himself from SPAIN, to make the AFFRICANE
By force of Arms perceive the diff'rence great
Betwixt CHRIST's Law, and that of MAHOMET.

Behold on curled THETYS'S silver flood
Their wings a thousand swimming Eagles beat,
To catch the swelling wind (a moving wood)
Where the World's utmost bounds ALCIDES set,
MOUNT AVILA he takes, and the Walls good
Of noble CEUTA, outing MAHOMET
With his blind Worship: and secures all SPAINE
From Treason of another JULIANE.

Death envies so great Bliss to PORTUGALL
As to injoy the Ages it desires
This worthy Prince; and takes him from Earth's Ball,
To add a new Voice to the Angells's Quires.
But that GOOD POW'R, which Him to Heav'n did call,
Left his large off-spring to supply their Sire's
Lamented want: PRINCES, who shall command,
Augment, and with new Vertues deck the Land.

King EDWARD was not of the happiest, though,
The while that He the Regal Throne did fill:
"For moody TIME goes blending joy with woe:
"And with alternate Hand gives good for Ill.
"Who ever Happiness did constant know?
"Or FORTUNE with one face continue still?
Yet to this KINGDOM she, and ev'n this KING,
More of her honey gave, then of her sting.

He saw his Brother Captive (good FERNAND)
Who had a Soul so publike, and so brave,
That, for his Troops, distrest in AFFRICK-LAND,
Himself a Pawn unto the MOORS he gave.
Where, when his ransome was in his own Hand,
He (born a Prince) would rather dye a slave:
Then that for Him we CEUTA should restore
Freedom he lovd, but lov'd his Countrey more.

CODRUS, because the Foe should not o'recome;
Deviz'd a noble Stratagem to dye:
To save the martial discipline of ROME
Did RFGULUS to Death with Torments flye:
Ours, distant fear to keep his Countrey from,
Invites himself to endless slavery.
CODRUS, nor CURTIUS (so much wonder'd at)
Nor loyal DECII, did so much as That.

But EDWARD'S onely Son, ALPHONSO hight,
(A lucky Name to our HESPERIA)
Who, the prowd threatnings of Barbarian night
In bord'ring Lands, low as the dust did lay;
Would have been doubtless an unconquer'd Knight,
Had he forborn t'invade IBERIA.
AFFRICK will tell you, 'twas impossible
To overcome a King so terrible.

To pull the golden Apples was his hap,
Which none before him, but ALCIDES bit,
On the feirce MOOR he such a Yoake did clap
From which they cannot rest their Necks out yit.
The Palme and Lawrell green his Temples wrap,
Of Victories, he at the Seige did git
Of Pop'lous TANCER, Strong ALAGER'S Towers,
And tough ARZILA, o're the Barb'rous Powers

Infine, the ever-conqu'ring PORTINCALL'S
(The succours beaten) entring These by force,
Threw to the ground the adamantine walls,
And All that thwarted their Victorious course.
Wonders (deserving Pens whence liquor falls
Immortalizing with it's Nectar source)
Wrought private Swords in this Exployt of fame:
Exalting more the Lusitanian name.

But after taynted with Ambition,
And Rule's sweet Thirst (though soure to Him at last)
FERNANDO he invades of ARRAGON,
About the Kingdom of CASTILIA vast.
Of the proud NATIONS (which depend thereon)
A num'rous Hoast, t'oppose him, is a masst,
From CADIZ to the lofty PERYNEE:
All which the King FERNANDO did obey.

The young PRINCE IOHN disdayns it should be said,
Hee is the only idle Man in SPAINE;
And therefore. his ambitious Sire to ayd
Resolves forth with: nor is his Ayd in vaine.
The Battayle's bloody period, undismayd,
Hee sees; and with a brow serene and plaine.
The warlike Father put to totall Rout,
Yet leaves the Son the Victory in doubt.

For the sublime and truly Royall son
(Gay Knight undaunted, consident, and high)
Having vast spoyle to the Adversary done,
Stays one whole day the Field to justify.
Thus was OCTAUIUS CAESAR overthrowne,
And Victor his companion ANTHONY:
When They or Those, who noble IULIUS kil'd,
Reveng'd themselves in the Philippick Feild.

ALPHONS o mounted to high Heav'n serene;
The Prince, That then the Scepter swayd of right,
Was Second IOHN, who made of KINGS fifteen
Hee (to attain to Glory's utmost hight)
Began a Taske, exceeding strength terrene
(Whose weight is now by my weake shoulders born)
To seek the Cradle of the purple MORN.

He sends fit Messengers from his owne Court
Through SPAINE, FRANCE, celebrated ITALY:
There to imbarque in that illustrious Port
Where was interr'd, of old, PARTHE NOPE.
NAPLES; which Fortune made her Tennis-Court,
By severall NATIONS held successively,
To place it glorious (no more change to feel)
In sov'raign SPANIARDS, who can fix her wheel.

Away they sayle through the CALAERIAN DEUP;
Passe by the RODIAN ISLAND'S sandy Bay:
Along the Coast of ALEXANDRIA keep,
For POMPEY'S death infamous to this day.
They travayle MEMPHIS, and those Lands which steep
Themselves in NYLE. To ETHIOPIA
They mount, which EGYPTS upper part doth lock,
Where CHRIST hath feeding an out-lying Flock.

The ERYTHREAN SEA they likewise crost:
Which, dry-foot past the seed of ISRAEL.
The NABATHEAN MOUNTAYN'S sight they lost,
So named from the Son of ISHMAEL.
The oderiferous SABEAN-COAST
(Inricht with Teares which from the Mother fell
Of fayre ADONE.) and BLEST ARABIA trac't
Throughout (the STONY balking; and the WAST;)

The PERSIAN GULPH they enter. To This neer,
Great BABEL'S Ruines are yet visible.
Swift TIGRIS mingles with EUFRATES heer:
Brothers, That with their Fountain's glory swell.
Hence they proceed in quest of INDUS cleer:
From which great things Posteritie shall tell,
Of Troops, that through long Seas shall passe thereto:
Which, even by Land nigh TRAIAN durst not doe.

Of INDIA, TARFE, and CARMANIAN HILLS,
The strange and uncoth Nations they beheld:
Noating the sev'rall Customes, sev'rall Skills,
Which sev'rall Regions doe produce, and yeild.
But from such Distant parts (joynd to the Ills
Of so rough journeys) Men return but seld.
In fine, there did These dye; they stuck fast there:
For back they come not to their Country deare.

Seems, gracious HEAV'N reserv'd for Thee alone,
EMANUEL, and for thy great desart
So hard a worke: For Thee with thoughts high-flown
Inspir'd, and cut out fit to act this part.
MANUEL (succeeding IOHN, both in the Throne,
And in the haughty purpose of his Heart)
When first he took on Him the Kingdoms Charge,
The Conquest undertook oth' OCEAN large.

Hee, as a person, whom the noble thought
Of th' obligation he inherited
From his Fore Fathers (who intirely sought
The Realm's advancement) hourly combated;
When PHEBUS, quitting the supernal Vault,
Vnto the low ANTIPODES was fled,
And setting starrs (which in his place arose)
With twinckling eyes invited to repose:

Extended now upon his golden Nest
(Such are the Beds where thoughts tumultuous brood)
And there revolving in his silent Brest
The obligation of his place, and blood:
Slumber possest his Eyes, nor dispossest
His Heart of Cares, which made that station good:
For his tyr'd Lidds whilst sleep (resisted) shutts,
MORPHEUS a thousand shapes before him putts.

So high above ground seems he lifted heer,
That his proud Crown the Firmament doth peirce:
From whence new worlds before his eyes appeer,
Nations of num'rous people strange and fierce:
And yonder (to the springing MORNING neer)
As through the Ayre his visual Raies disperse,
Hee sees, farr off, from high and antient Mountains,
Melt down a payre of deep and crystall Fountains

With Birds of monstrous Forms, wild-beasts and Flocks,
One of those Mountains was inhabited;
Where thousand savage Trees with leavie Locks
The intercourse of people hindered
The shaggie Forrest, and the craggie Rocks's
Inextricable Knots, demonstrated,
That to those days of ours from ADAM'S sin,
No humane Foot had ever trod therein.

Out of these Waters (as to Him appeares)
Addressing towards him their hasty pace,
Two Fathers rise, both wondrous struck in yeares,
With Rustick both, yet venerable, Face.
Their Snowy Curles distill in silver Teares
Which bathe their Bodyes down in every place.
Taun'd were their Skins, and rusty: Their Beards kept
Rough and unshorn, with which the ground they swept.

The Temples of their heads, were trimly bound
With health-restoring Druggs, and Fruits unknown.
The one lookt weather-beaten and halfe-drownd,
As if a longer voyage Hee had gone;
And (fierce, ev'n at his Fountain) underground
Seem'd to have stoln from a remoter one:
As from Arcadian plains ALPHEO sly
TO ARETHUSA'S bed in SICILY.

This (as the more authoriz'd of the Twain)
Spake thus (farr off) unto the King O Tho•
For whose high Crown, and Empire soveraign,
Much World is kept, that's h•d from the world, now.
Wee (through the Earth so fam'd, whose Necks in vain,
Strave others wholly to their yoaks to bow)
Are come to wish thee send some Men That may
Receive large tributes, we to Thee must pay.

I am illustrious GANGES: born and nurst
In PARADICE: where is my mother-spring.
My Mate (That from the Cliffes thou seest, doth burst;
Nor other Cradle knows) is INDUS KING.
Yet a severe Warr shall we cost thee first:
But Thou (persisting) in the end shalt bring,
By Victories prodigious, to the Bitt,
All these viewd Nations humbly to submit.

The Holy and illustrious River, sed
No more: But in a moment vanisht Both.
EMANUELL wakes surpriz'd with a strange dread,
And earthquake in his Bosome. PHEBUS goeth
In the meane time his glittring Cloke to spred
Over the WORLD, buried in downe, and sloath.
AURORA came: who, when she forth doth rush,
Strikes Lilies pale, and makes the Roses blush.

The KING in hast to councell calls his Lords,
To them the figures of the Vision shows;
To them repeates the Holy Elder's Words:
Whence in them all great admiration grow's.
A NAVY is resolv'd on by the BOARD'S
Vnanimous Voate: In which (magnanimous) Those,
Whom hee shall find to plough the OCEAN blew,
Must seek new Nations out, and Clymates new.

I, who despayr'd to see put in effect
What had so long been tumbling in my mind:
(For my presaging Soule could nere be checkt
From prompting great things to mee of this kind)
Comprize not for what cause, for what respect,
Or for what merit, he in mee could find;
But the good King was pleas'd to pick out mee
To be this weightie enterprize's Key.

And with Intreaties, and with sugard phraise
(Which are the pow'rfullest commands of KINGS)
He sayd to me. "Through deep, and rugged ways,
"VERTUE attains the best and noblest things.
"A Life well lost, or hazarded, to Bays
"Of everlasting Honour persons brings:
"For (if to sordid Feare it never bends)
"The shorter 'tis, the Farther it extends.

You have I chose (and all the rest set by)
To a Taske fit for you to undergoe:
A Taske Heroick, difficult and high,
Which (for my sake) you will think light, I know.
I could not suffer more: but thus reply,
O my dread LEIGE! through swords, through fir•, through snow,
For Thee to venture, only is Annoy
When I consider life is such a Toy.

One, following, Cryes: O Son! (the only gage,
The prop, the stay, the comfort and the joy,
Of this my weake unprofitable Age,
Which Floods of bitter Tears drown in Annoy)
Why leav'st thou mee in this sad equipage?
Why wilt thou goe, and leave mee (my deare Boy!)
To make the greedy Seas thy Sepulchere,
And Fishes feed That take their pastime there?

Another (with loose Hayr) O my deer Mate,
Without whom Love tells mee my roote must pine!
Why wilt thou goe, and venture at this rate
That life to GULPHS, which is not thine but mine?
How canst thou change, for so uncertain Fate,
The chaste embraces of thy constant Vine?
Our loves, our joyes (in vain how sweet!) must They
To Sea? and with this wind be blown away:

In these and other speches of this kind
(Which from deer love, and soft compassion rose)
Old men and children (to like Ruth inclin'd
By diff'rent Ages) imitated Those
The neigbring mountayns in dull consort joyne:
And, melting, bare the burthen of their woes.
The golden Sands the Silver Tears bedew'd:
Which seemd to strive with them in multitude.

WEE (not so much as lifting once our Eyes
On Wife, or Mother: though our Soules it grinds)
Whereby in vain laments to Sympathize,
Or change the purpose of our fixed minds)
T'embarque our selves, conceiv'd it was most wise,
Without those Farewells to which custom binds:
Which (though it bee Love's most indeering way)
Galls more, both Those That goe: and Those that stay.

But an Ould man of Venerable look
(Standing upon the shore amongst the Crowds)
His Eyes fixt upon us (on ship-board) shook,
His head three times ore cast with sorrows clowds:
And (streining his Voyce more, then well could brook
His aged lungs: It rattled in our shrow'ds)
Out of a science practise did Attest,
Let fly these words from an oraculou's Brest.

Put me on Tasks as great as those of yore
Suborn'd EURISTEUS to ALCIDES gave;
The fruitful HYDRA, ERIMANTHIAN BORE,
The HARPIES dire, NEMEAN LYON brave.
In short, to visit the infernal shore
Where Styx moats PLUTO'S House with its black Wave:
For Thee (O KING) worse dangers, and worse Toyls,
My Spirit leaps at, nor my Flesh recoyles.

With sumptuous Boons; and words, that those exceed;
My good will He doth praise, and gratifie:
"For Vertue, spurr'd with praise, doubles her speed;
"And is inflam'd to Enterprises high.
To second me in this Exployt, agreed
(Oblig'd by Nature's, and by Frendship's Tye,
Thirsty alike of Honour, and of Fame)
My dear and loving Brother PAUL DE GAME.

NICH'LAS COELLIO makes a Third: for pains
Most indefatigable. And These are
My two Supporters strong of Hand, and Brains:
Experienc't both, both no less bold in warr.
I get me a young Crew of sturdy Swains,
Whose budding Valour itcht for martial jarr:
All metled Lads; And so, it well appeers,
That came to such a business Volunteers.

These too have gifts from MANUEL'S hand, t'equip
Themselves, and make the love they bear him more:
And with the praising bounty of his Lip,
Are arm'd 'gainst All, hard Fates can have in store.
Thus man'd KING PELIAS that prophetick ship
In which (through Euxine Seas, unsayl d before)
With AESON'S Heyre the vent'rous youth of GREECE
He sent to COLCOS for the Golden Fleece.

Now in the famous Port of LISBON-TOWN
(Where golden TAGUS mingles his sweet Flood
With the Salt OCEAN, and his Sands doth drown)
With noble longings, and transported mood,
The SHIPS lye ready. There no sullen frown,
No frosty Fear, benmms the youthful blood:
For both the Sea-men, and the Land-men there,
Will go with me about the WORLD, they sweare.

Upon the shore the strutting souldiers sayle
In cloathes of sev'rall colour, sev'rall cutt,
Their minds, more brave: bent to extend our pale,
And plant in lands unknown their daring foot.
The gentle wind breathing a tempting Gale,
On the tall Shipps the Standarts ope and shutt.
The Shipps expect, for this new Navigation,
To bee (like ARGO) made a Constellation.

Wee (fitted and provided thus, with All
That such a Voyage doth require and crave)
To fit our soules for death devoutly fall:
Which Saylers see in ev'ry rounding Wave.
From Him, whose presence Beatificall
Is all the Food that Saints and Angels have,
Favour we beg, for to prepare our way,
And to conduct us with his heavenly Ray.

Thus of that Temple took we a long leave,
Which (on the Margent of our Ocean plac't)
From the blest City did it's name receave
Where GOD was born (a Gem in Clay enchac't)
I promise thee (O KING) how wee did heave
Our Anchors from that shore, when I recast;
With doubt of ever seeing it again,
Scarce can my bridled eyes from Tears refrain.

Th'Inhabitants of LISBON, that sad day
(For Frendship some, and some for Kindreds Tyes)
Others, as meer spectators, flockt: dismay,
And solitarinesse, writt in their Eyes.
And wee (whom thousand Priests upon our way
Did bring with Psalms, and all solemnities
Of grave procession) praying to our GOD,
Went to take shipping in the Noble Road.

In so long Voyage, and so doubtfull ways,
The gazing people give us All for lost,
This, by their •eares the softer sex bewrays:
The Men by Sighs, as they would yeild the Ghost,
Sisters, and Mothers; And poor Wives (always
Where there is most of love, there feare reigns most.)
Increase the doubt upon the gen'rall score,
That she shall never see our Faces more.

O Glory of commanding! O vain Thirst
Of that same empty nothing, we call Fame!
O Ignis fatuus, kindled and nurst
With vulgar breath (and this we Honour name)!
What Plagues, what stings, what secret scourges curst,
Torment those Bosomes which thou doest inflame!
What deaths! what dangers! what impetuous storms!
What cruelties on them thy Hand performs!

Fell Tyrant of the soules! life's swallowing Wave!
Mother of Plunders, and black Rapes unchast!
The secret miner, and the open Grave,
Of Patrimonies, Kingdoms, Empires vast!
They call thee noble, and they call thee Brave:
(Worthy t'have other names upon thee cast!)
They call thee Fame, and Glory soveraign:
Titles, with which the foolish Rout is tane.

What new disaster dire intendest Thou
To lead these Kingdoms, and these Folk into?
What deaths, what Horrours must they swallow now,
Vnder pretence to spread Religion true?
What holdings forth of golden Mines, and how
Great Kingdoms shall be conquer'd by a Few?
What Fames do'st thou advance? what Histories?
What Palms? what Triumphs? and what Victories.

But Thou (the lignage of that Foole, who twice
Undid thee by his disobedience:
Not only when he lost thee PARADICE,
Into this Vale of Teares exild from thence;
But when by growth of his infectious Vice
He forfeited thy second Innocence,
And Thee, out of a golden exile hurld
Into an Iron and contentious world.)

Since with this sweet and pleasing vanity
Thy giddie Brain is so bewitcht, and drownd;
Since bloody Rage and Inhumanity,
Valour, and Brav'rie, in thy language sound;
Since thou doest valew, and esteem so high,
The disesteem of life, which we are bound
To cherish, and in great accompt to have it:
(Since so much fear'd to loose it, Hee who gave it)

Hast thou not, close at hand, the ISHMAELITE
To cut thee work out, more then thou canst doe?
If for the sacred Law of CHRIST thou fight,
Th' ARABIAN'S false one does not He pursue?
Hath Hee not thousand Citties, Infinite
Of Land, if Power's availe, if Wealth's one too?
Hath not Hee got in Arms a mighty Name,
If Honour, and not Bootie be thy Ayme?

Leav'st thou a growing Foe just at thy dore,
To goe and seek another Foe so farr,
Dispeopling an ould Realm, wasting her store,
Quitting thy Countrey, and thy private LAR?
That flatt'ring Fame to Heav'n may make thee soare,
Through waves uncertain seekst thou certain warr?
In thy swoln Style in words at length to find,
ARABIA, PERSIA, ETHIOPIA, YN'D?

Accurst be Hee, who first sorsook the Ground,
And fastned canvas wings to a dry Tree!
Worthy, in endlesse darkness to be bound;
If that, which I was taught, RELIGION bee.
May never Judgment, solid and profound,
May never Happy Veyn in Poetrie,
Retrive his memory, adorn his Fame:
But dye, with Him, his Glory, and his Name.

The son of IAPET stole from PHEBUS'S Carr
Fire, which in humane Breast he did infuse;
Fire, which the world did kindle into Warr,
Plagues, and debaucheries (a great abuse!)
PROMETHEUS, had it not been better farr
For Us, and for the world (which wee misuse)
Thy noble Statute had excus'd that fire,
Which made it with Ambition's wings aspire?

Then had not the much pittied youth been driving
His Sire's gilt charet; nor that great contriver
Through th'empty Ayre sayld with his Son (This giving
The sea a name, Hee Fame unto a River)
Nothing so high, nothing so barrd the living,
Through Fire, Sword, Water, Calm and Cold: what ever:
Which MAN projecteth, and attempteth not,
A strange Condition! an unquiet Lot!