Book III, Canto IV

Anger (improv'd by Lusts enormous Flame)
Fires vext Jhonusa, with such sad•ex reams
Of Rage, that her swcet Sexes native shame,
Is scortcht to death, in those prodigious beams.
Which wilst they to her angry Lord betray,
Her Honours loss, such tumulis in him breed,
That both their deaths must serve for an allay,
Whose sudden fall our Christian Champion freed.

OUr noble Captive to fair Vertues Throne,
In safety past, though through Lusts burning Zone
Finds in his Dungeons lazy damps, a rest
More sweet, though with the heavy waights opprest,
Of Iron bondage, then if they had bin
Loves amorous wreaths (Jonusa's Armes) within
Whose Ivory Circles he had slept; but shee,
(Her grief compos'd of all malignity)
Lusts flames unquencht converts to, whilst they burn.
Black thoughts within her breast, that beauteous Urn
Of Lusts corruption: sometimes anger flies
Above the sphear of Reason, and there dyes,
With tears extinguisht; she breaths Curses in
Her Souls pale Agony, such as had bin
More deadly then infectious damps if not
Strangl'd ith' Embrio, dead before their hot
Poyson could work upon her fancie more
Then spleenfull thoughts which were recal'd before
Ripen'd for execution. Now she steeps
Her down in tears, a floud of sorrow weeps
Of power (if penitent) to expiate
Youths vigorous sins, but all her mourning sate
Beneath a darker Vayle then that which shades
Repentant grief, since sinne but wisht invades
The soul with that which leads to horror, when
Grief for sins past bring into light agen
One through a sea of trouble leads the way
To a safe Harbour, th'other casts away
Poor ship-wrackt Mortals, when by deaths swift stroak
Lifes feeble hold is from hopes anchor broke.
So far the fair Jonusa in this sad
Region of grief had gone, till sorrow had
That Feaver turn'd, upon whose flaming wings
At first lust only sate, to one which brings
Deaths symptomes near her heart, which had so long
Beneath the burthen groand, untill the strong
Disease had wrought up all the blood within
Her checks into consuming flames; the skin
Had lost its soft repose of flesh, and lay
On nought but bones, whose sharpnesse did betray
Their macerated nerves; The Rose had lost
His Ensigns in her cheeks, and though it cost
Payns near to death, the Lillie had alone
Set his pale Banners up, no brightnesse shone
Within her eyes dim Orbs, whose fading light
Being quench'd in death, had set in endlesse night
Had not the wise endeavours of her Mayd
(The carefull Manto) griefs pale Scouts betrayd
By slie deceipt. Knowing if she should want
Health, untill cur'd by that exotick plant
The Captives love, what lust at first did burn
With inflammations might a Gangrene turn,
Although she cures not, yet gives present ease
By laying Opiates to the harsh disease.
A Letter, which, did for uncivil blame
His first denyal, in the strangers name
Disguiz'd she gives her, which, with eyes that did
O're-flow with joy, read ore, had soon forbid
Griefs sullen progresse, whose next stage had been
O're Lifes short road, the Grave, deaths quiet Inne
From whose dark terror by this gleam of light
Like trembling children by a Lamps weak light
Freed from nights dreadfull shadowes, she'd imbrac'd
Sleep (natures darknesse) had not joy defac'd
Those sooty characters, and on the wings
Of ayrie hope (that wanton bird which sings
As soon as fledg'd) advanc'd her to survey
The dawning beauties of a long'd for day.
But ere this pyramid of pleasure to
Its height arrives, with's presence to undoe
The golden structure, dreadfull Ammurat
From's floting mansion, safely landed at
The Cities Pott, impatient Love had brought
In an untimely visit, ere swift thought
Fetterd with guilt, could from his eager eye
By an excuse to sanctuary flie,
He enters, and she faints, in which pale trance
His pity findes her, but to no such chance
Imputes the cause, rather conceives it joy
Whose rushing torrent, made her heart imploy
His nimble servants, all her Spirits, to
Prevent a deluge, which might else undoe
Loves new made Common-wealth; But whilst his care
Hastens to help, her fortune did declare
Her sorrows dark enigma, from her bed
The Letter drops, which when lifes Army fled
Their frontier Garrisons neglected had
Been left within't, this seen, declares a sad
Truth to'th amazed Bassa, though 'twere mixt
With subtill falshood, whilst he stands betwixt
High rage, and grief distracted, doubtfull yet
In what new dresse to wear revenge, the fit
Forsakes Ihonusa, who not knowing, she
Detected stood, of Lusts conspiracie
Gainst honours Royal Charter, from a low
Voyce strayns a welcome, which did seem to flow
From fickle discontent, such as the weak
Lungs breath the thoughts in whilst their fibers break.
To counterfeited slumbers, leaving her,
He's gone, with silent anger to confer
And though rage lives in fire, the fury lies
Unseen through the false opticks of his eyes;
With such a farwell as kinde husbands leave
Their pregnant Wives, preparing to receive
A Mothers first of blessings he forsakes
The room, and into strict inquiry takes
The wretched Manto, who ere she could call
Excuse to aid, surpriz'd, discovers all
Her sins black art, from whose dark Theorems, he
This method drawes, that night design'd to be
Lightn'd with Lusts hot triumphs, he pretends
Commanded absence, yet the false stroke bends
But towards that guard, ere by a swift reverse
Brought back, his souls slie Scouts had gain'd commerce
With all those enemies to honour by
Whose aid Ihonusa ruins chastity;
Plac'd by false Manto in a Closet, which,
Silent, and sad, had only to inrich
Its roof with light, some few neglected beams
Sent from Ihonusa's room, which serve as streams
To wa•t intelligence; Here he beheld
Whilest she, who with his absence had expelld
All thoughtfull cares was with her joy swell'd high
As Captives are when cal'd to liberty,
Her Linnen (like a Princely Brides that meets
In the soft folds of her first nuptial sheets
Perfum'd and costly, her fair bed was more
Adorn'd then Shrines, whose Saints rich Kings adore,
Incense in smoaky curles, climbs to the fair
Roof, whilst choice musick rarifies the aire,
Each element in more perfection here
Then in their first creation did appear
Yet liv'd in harmony, the wing'd fire lent
Perfumes to'th aire, that to moist Cordials pent
In Christal Vials, strength, and those impart
Their vigour to that ball of earth, the hart,
The nice eye here epitomiz'd might see
Rich Persia's wealth, and old Rome's luxury
But now (like Natures new made Favorite
Who untill all created for delight
Was fram'd, did nere see Paradice) comes in
Deceiv'd Argalia, thinking he had been
Cald thither to behold a Penitent
Arming for death, not heavens choice blessings spent
On th' vanities of Life, but mirth soon gives
That thought its mortal wound, and shewes she lives
Beyond that dark sphear, where her joyes did move
As if her eyes alone gave Lawes to Love,
Where beauties Constellations all did shine
As if no crosse aspect could ere untwine
Their claspt Conjunctions, which did seem to guide
Old Natures steps, till from their Zeniths pride,
By vertue (the Souls motion) which the World
In order keeps, into coufusion hurld.
For here gay vanity, though cloathd in all
Her gawdy Pageants, lets her Trophies fall
Before bright Vertues Throne, with such a high
Heroick scorn, as aged Saints that die
Heavens Favourites, leave the trivial world, he slights
That gilded Pomp, no splendent beam invites,
His serious eye, to meet their Objects in
An amorous glance, reserv'd as he had been,
Before his grave Confessor, he beholds
Beauties bright Magick, whilst its Art unfolds
Great Loves mysterious Riddles, and commands
Captive Ihonusa to infringe the Bands
Of Matrimonial modesty; when all
Temptation falls, she leaves her Throne to fall,
(The scorn of Greatnesse) at his Feet; but Prayer
(Like flattery) expires in uselesse aire,
Too weak to hatter that firm confidence,
Their torments thunder could not shake: from hence
Despair (Loves Tyrant) had enfor•d her to
More wild Atempts, had not her Ammurat, who
Unseen, beheld all this, prevented by
His sight, the death of bleeding modesty.
Made swift with rage, the ruffl'd Curtain flies
His angry touch, he enters, fixt his eyes,
(From whence some drops of rage distil) on her
Whose heart had lent her Face its Character,
Whilst he stood red with flaming anger, she
Looks pale with fear, Passions disparity
In such extreams, as Natures Laws require,
'Twixt Earths cold Center, and th' aires circling fire,
Dwelt in their troubl'd breasts, his wild eyes stood
Like Comets, when attracting storms of blood
Shook with portentuous sadnesse, whilst hers sate
Like the dull earth, when trembling at the Fate
Of those ensuing ills, heavy and fixt
Within their Orbs. Passions thus strangely mixt,
No various Feaver ere created in,
The phrenzi'd Brain, when sleeps sweet calm had bin
From her soft Throne depos'd: this Lightning past,
Thunder succeeds, as burning Mountains cast
Out horrid noise, after their flame and smoak,
So having paus'd, his dreadful Voyce thus broke
The dismal silence; Thou prodigious Whore,
The curse of my Nativity, that more
Afflicts me, then eternal wrath can do
Spirits condemnd, some Fiends instruct me to
Heighten revenge to thy desert, but so
I should do more then Mortals may, and throw
Thy spotted Soul to flames, yet I will give
Its passe-port hence, for think not to out-live
This hour, this fatal hour, ordaind to see,
More then an Age before of Tragedy;
She that fell from a Firmament of pride
To Fortunes lowest Region, and there di'd
A sad example to ensuing times,
That Honours Altitude supports not Crimes.
When in their stretcht Extentions reaching to
Justice, which can through reverst Opticks view
Giants, though Pigmy sins do oft appear,
Like the dim Moon, more great, because more neer,
Sins, that till fear their guilt did aggravate,
Wore Vertues Frontispiece, since now too late
To hope for life, in their own monstrous form,
Encounter Reasons Guards, till the big storm
Of various passions all were settled in
Dregs of despair, when •earing tears should winne
The victory of anger, Ammurat drawes
His Simme•er, which had in blood writ Lawes
For conquerd Provinces, and with a swift
And cruel rage, ere penitence could lift
Her burthen'd soul in a repentant thought
Tow'rds heaven, sheathes the cold steel in her soft
And snowy breast, with a loud groan she falls
Upon the bloudy floore, half breathlesse calls
For his untimely pity, but perceiving
The fleeting spirits with her bloud were leaving
Her heart unguarded, she imployes that breath
Which yet remain'd, not to bewayle her death,
But beg his life that caus'd it, on her knees
Strugling to rise, but now calm'd Ammurat frees
Her from disturbing death, in's last great work,
And thus declares some vertue in a Turk;
I have brave Christian by perusing thee
In this great act of honour, learnt to be
Too late thy slow-pac'd follower, this •ing (with that
Gives him his Signet) shall when question'd at
The Castle guards, thy safety be, and now
I see her bloods low water doth allow
Me only time to lanch my souls black Bark
Into deaths rubick Sea, for to the dark
And silent Region, though we here were by
Passion divorc'd, Fortune shall not deny
Our souls to sail together: From thy eyes
Remove deaths load, and see what sacrifice
My Love is offering, with that word a stroak
Pierces his breast, whose speedy pains invoak
Deaths Opiates to appease them, be sinks down
By's dying Wife, who ere the cold floud drown
Life in the deluge of her wounds, once more
Betrayes her eyes to'th light, and though they bore
The weight of death upon their Leads, did keep
Them so long open, till the icie sleep
Began to seize on him, and then she cries
Oh see just heaven, see, see my Ammurat dies
To wander with me in the unknown shade
Of Immortality, but I have made
The wounds that murther'd both, his hand that gave
Mine, did but gently let me bloud to save
An everlasting Feaver. Pardon me
My dear, my dying Lord, Eternity
Shall see my soul washt white in tears, but Oh
I now feel times dear want, they will not nowe
Fast as my stream of bloud. Christian farewell,
When ere thou do'st our tragick story tell,
Do not extenuate my crimes, but let
Them in their own black characters be set
Near Ammurats bright vertues, that read by
Th' unpractic'd Lover, which posterity
(Whilst wanton windes play with our dust) shall raise
On beauties throne, the good may justice prayse
By his example, and the bad by mine
From Vice•s Throne be scar'd to Vertues Shrine.
And here the speed deaths messengers did make
To hurry forth their souls, did faintly shake
Her words into imperfect accents, this
She cries is our last enterview, a kisse
Then joyns their bloudlesse Lips; Each close the eyes
O'th other, whilst the parting spirit flies
Mounted on both their breaths, the latest gasp
They ere must draw. Whilst with stiffe arms they clasp
Each others neck, Argalia through a cloud
Of liquid sorrow did behold the proud
Triumphs of death in their untimely fate,
He sees great Ammurat for a Robe of State,
Groveling in blood, the fair Ihonusa lie,
Purpl'd in death; like pollisht Ivory.
Dipt in Vermillion; the bright Chrystals that
Her Soul in conquering flames lookt thorough at.
Both quencht and coold in death; but time did lend
His tears scarce passage, till a drop could end
Its Journey o're his Checks, before a Page
Whose cruelty had far out-grown his Age;
Enters in hast, and with an anger that
(Though indiscreet) at wrongs seemd kindl'd at,
In wounds, did on the Bassas body vent
A spleen that deaths discharge could not content.
This seen, Argalia (to whom all must be
Offence that injures fair humanity)
Stops the vain Torrent, and a neerer way,
To just revenge directs the angry Boy,
Who by unfolded truth, now lets him know,
His Rage to that uncivil height did grow,
Not from a childish spleen, but wrongs that he
A Christian, sufferd in Captivity.
Assur'd by this confession, that he might
Be useful more, then in a secret flight,
Argalia bids him, in his Bassas Name,
A Mandate, write for some of worthiest Fame,
'Mongst all the Christian Citizens, and those
To send the Guard for, ere the Morning rose,
On the black ruines of the Night; this done,
Before that time the Victory had won
Of opportunity (their Warders slain)
Each Christian Captive from his rusty Chain,
His bold band frees, and by their happy aide,
The Gates being first secur'd, with ease dismayd;
The drousie Garrison, from whom they found
But weak resistance, some soft fleep had bound
To Beds of ease, intemperate Riot kept
Others more vainly waking; here one slept
Between a Mistresse Armes, and there another
(Stole to a private Cattamit) did smoother
Delight in whispers, in which loose Garb found,
Ere time rowls up what slow neglect unwound,
Even in securities soft Lap surpriz'd,
They met grim death in Pleasures shape disguiz'd,
All now being slain but feeble Eunuchs, and
Poor trembling Maids, the new, but valiant Band
Of late freed Captives Crown the Wals, from whence
They saw the Soldiers wicked dilligence,
In finding those which the false Mandate had
Design'd for Ruine general, as sad
The Cities sorrows were, a desolate
And silent horror, unregarded sate,
Ith' empty streets, which action had not fil'd,
Yet with employment; but when day did gild
The Ebbony of Night, to hear the rude
Murmure that did, from the mixt multitude,
Open'd together with their Doors, assures
Argalia, that their •ear, which yet secures,
That bandfull of insulting Tyrants, might
(With anger being charg'd home) be put to flight,
With a reserve of hope, whilst every breast
Was sweld with stiffl'd Spirits, whilst opprest
With silent grief, helplesse Spectators, they
Saw those they once for Vertue did obey,
(Their reverend Sena•ors, whose silver'd heads,
Age now made fit for ease) forc'd from their Beds,
By feaverish powers rude fits, whose hear, not all
The Jewleps of their Tears, though some drops fall
From Beauties lovely blossoms, cools their Rage,
Neglected Youth slights like unreverent Age.
But when the conquering Captives, by the brave
Argalia rescued, from the Castle gave
Bright Vict'ries Signal, when they saw each Lance,
The bleeding head of a grim Turk advance
Anger (like unobstructed Love) breaks forth
In flaming hast, yet here the Want of worth
And Valour 'mongst the City heard, had drove
Them all to deaths dark Fields, if whilst they strove
With that stout band of Iannizaries, they
Had not been by Argalia taught the way
To Victory, who in a sally meets
Retreating fear, when crecping from the streets,
To th' vain protection of their doors, and now
His conquering Sword having taught all to bow
Beneath its burnisht splendor, since the high
Applause oth' loudest acclamations fly
Beneath his worth, a general Vote elects,
Him for their Prince, but his brave Soul affects
Not so sublime a burthen, knowing they
Bred under a Democrisie, obey
Contracted power, but harshly he returns
All to their Senate, who of late like Urns
Nought but the uselesse Ashes did contain,
Of their own Laws, which were by Conquest slain.
But his refusal, where acceptance, not
Envy could say, Ambition had begot,
But new Plants Vertue; who from thence did take
The deeper Root, and 'mongst the throng did make
That choice so Epedemical, that he
For Valour feard, lov'd for Humility;
The peoples prayer (those humble shrubs) that ow
For safety to pow•'s Cedars) joyn to grow,
•hadowd beneath his Merit, and create
Him Prince oth' Senate, who (their doubtful state
Requiring strong Ailies) A Fleet prepard,
To seek those Princes, who their danger shard;
Which ready with a prosperous Gale of wind,
He (though imployd by Honour) sails to find
Out Loves rich Indiaes, and with's white winged Fleet,
Hastens Palermos neerest Port to meet.