Book II, Canto V

Whilst serene Joy sate smiling in her Court,
As shadows to illustrate Vertue by
Phantastick Love becomes the Princess sport,
Whose harsher Dictates she ere long must try.
For now Suspition (Vertues secret Foe)
Fir'd with Argalia's just deserved Fame,
Makes her great Father think each Minute slow,
Till separation had allayd the Flame.

LEst that her Court, which seems compos'd of all
That's great, or good, th'ore-weaning world should can
Perfections height, a word which whilst on Earth,
(Vain as delight) only from Name takes birth,
In this, the largest and most glorious sphear,
Ere Greatness mov'd in, some few Stars appear,
To Vertue retrograde, th' informing Spirit
(Love) by whose motion, on the Pole of Merit,
This bright Orb turnd, even 'mongst these Heroes finds
A pair of Followers, whose imperfect minds
Transgrest his Dictates, and though no offence
So full of guilt, as foul Incontinence,
Durst here approach, by waies less known unto
What Love intends, those various Figures drew,
Whose Aspects nere more neer Conjunction move,
Then Eyes, the slight Astronomy of Love.
That new Platonnick Malady, the way
By which imperfect Eunuchs do betray
Natures Diseases to contempt, whilst by
Such slight repast, they strive to satisfie
Loves full desires, which pines, or else must crave
More then thin Souls in seperation have;
Being lately by some sick Phantasticks brought,
But neer the Court, within it long had sought
For residence, till entertaind by two
Whose meeting Souls no more distinction knew,
Then Sex, a difference which whilst here it grows,
Toward Heaven, it to Corporeal Organs ows.
But since that these so uncouth Actors here,
But as Intruders on the Scean appear,
Ere in their story we ingulph too far,
Let's first behold them in their Character:
If ere thy sober Reason did submit,
To suppling Mirth (that wanton Child of wit)
Beholding A Fantastick, drest in all
His vain delights, whats Annalogical
To our Acretius, then conceive thou'st seen,
Though if compar'd, those short to him had been,
As Transcripts are to Coppies; to compleat
A Humorist here, Folly had close a seat,
'Mongst more then vulgar knowledge, and might pass
The same account, an Academick Ass
Makes of his Fathers four year Charge, when he
Frights Villagers with shreds of Sophistry.
'Mongst forrein parts, of which like Coriate,
Hee'd run through some, he had acquir'd to prate
By priviledge, and as if every Nation
Contributed, is in each several fashion;
Which (like their Tongues) all so imperfect find,
That both disguiz'd his body and his mind;
Though self conceit (vain Youths fantastick Crime)
Made him steal singly from the Front of time,
Ith' Medium, which but seldome proves the seat,
For Lust's wild-fire, or Zeals reflected heat,
He amarous grows, and doubting to prevail,
For all his Wings caught Pegasus by th' Tail;
And being before with Cupidi Engines fit'd,
From his Posteriors doubly was inspir'd.
She that at first this sympathetick flame,
Inspir'd him with the Court, knew by the Name
Of Philanta, to whom all would impair
Their skill, that gave that Epithet of fair
Except Acretius, since her beauty fit
For praises was, where parallel'd by wit.
Yet, now, although times sad discovery tels
Her Autumes furrows were no parallels,
In Beauties sphear, those youthful forms being grown
So obsolete, scarce the Vestigia's shown
A Native pride, and strange phantastick dress,
More admiration then ere comeliness
Could do, acquires: She formerly had been
A great Admirer of Romances, in
Whose Garb she now goes drest; a medly piece,
Made up of India, Turkie, Persia, Greece,
With other Nations, all enforc'd to be
Compriz'd within five foots Stenography.
Her Wit that had been critical, and rang'd
'Mongst Ladies more then th' Ushers legs, was chang'd,
To gratifie, and every word she sayd,
An Apothegme unto the Chamber-Maid,
From whom her long experienc'd knowledge in
Some of the female mysteries of sin,
Had gain'd the applause of being skil'd in all
That could prevent decaying Beauties fall.
Acratius and she, being such a pair,
As Nature, when tir'd with more serious care,
For Recreation made, instructed by
Their meeting Natures secret sympathy;
Soon learn to love, but as if now too wise
For Youths first dictates, Loves loose Rules comprize
In such strick bounds, that each the Object saw
Of their desires, like sacred things, some Law,
Fear made obey'd, forbids the world to use,
Least the Ador'd, enjoyment should abuse
Into contempt, nor are their meetings in
Those plainer pathes (which their nice Art cals sin)
At all performd, that the dull road unto
The Bridal Bed; this the fantastick Clew
To a delight, which doth in Labyrinths sit,
None ere beheld, while they preserv'd their wit.
Like wanton Jove committing secret Rapes
On mortal Beauties, they transmute their shapes,
At every inter-view, now in adress
Resembling an Arcadian Shepherdess;
She in the Woods encounters him, whilst he
Arm'd like a furious Knight, resolv'd to be
Her Ravisher approaches, but being by
Her prayers charmd into pity, there doth ly,
Fetterd in soft Embraces; now he must
Turn Hermit, and be tempted unto Lust,
By her a Lady errant; like distrest
Lovers, whose hopes by rigid Friends opprest,
Pines to despair, they now are wandring in
Unhanted Groves, whose pensive shades had been,
So oft their shady Vail, that every Tree,
In wreaths where Love lay wrapt in mystery,
Held their included Names, a subtile way,
To the observant Courties to betray
Their serious folly, which, from being their own
Delight, was now the sport oth' Pages grown;
The pleasant Off-springs of whose wanton wit,
Disturbs their peace, that though secur'd they fit,
In shady Desarts, with as much of fear,
As wandring Ladies, when the Gyants neer,
They'r still possest; less tertible were all
The dreadful Objects Ammadis de Gaule,
Or wittier Quixote, from their Enemies
Ere met, then was the fear of a surprize,
By those which did such strict observance take,
They thus their folly the Courts laughter make.
Neer to the Islands utmost Verge did lye
Retir'd even from Heavens universal Eye,
A deep, dark Vale, whose Night-concealing shade,
By a fresh Rivers silver stream was made
So sweetly cool, it often did invice,
Pharonnida to meet the smooth delight
Of calm retirement there, where to impart
With Natures Bounty all that liberal Art
Though fit for so remote a pleasure, stood,
A Grotto where, the Macrocosmes cold blood,
Run more disperst in various Labyrinths then
It circulates within the Veins of men.
Hither th' inventive Lovers, who long sought
Some way which Fancy nere her Followers taught,
T' express their serious folly in, repair,
Oft as the Sun made th' insalubrious Aire,
Unfit for publick walks; to entertain
Them here, with what exceeded all their vain
Delights before, newly erected by
Succesful Art, each various Deity,
Old Fancy plac'd the Seas Commanders, here
They with delight behold, but when drawn neer,
They saw ith' midst oth' blew-ey'd Tritons plac'd
Neptune and The••s Chariot, yet not grac'd
With their unfinisht figures: this they took,
For so much favour, as they had forsook
Their Thrones to give them place, but what adds yet
More to the future mirth, they swiftly fit
Themselves with Habits, such as Art had drew
Its Fancies in, both of their Robes being blew;
Inchac'd with silver streams, their heads with fair
Dishevel'd Perrywigs of Sea-green hair;
Were both adornd, circling whose Crowns they wore,
Wreathd Coronets of Flags, his right hand bore
A Golden Trident here (yet hardly red)
As if new pluckt from the Seas froathy Bed,
A branch of Corral: but whilst here they sit
Proudly adornd, both void of Fear, as Wit;
The Gates oth' Grotto, swiftly shutting in
A Torrent, such as if they'd seated been
At Niles loud Chataracts, by wayes before
Unseen break forth, by which the Engine bore
From its firm station, flotes aloft, and by
A swift withdrawing of those Bayes, which rye
Floods from commerce, is wafted forth into
A spatious Pool, where the bold Artist drew
Th' unfathom'd Seas Epitomy, within
A circling Wall, but such as might have been
A pattern to Romes big bulk'd pride, when they
Shewd Seas loud Battels, for the Lands soft play.
Our amorous Humorists, that must now appear,
These narrow Seas Commanders, shook with fear,
Sit trembling, whilst the shril-voic'd Tritons sound
Their crooked Shels, whose watry Notes were drownd
By th' lofty laughter of that Troop, they saw
Their pleas'd Spectators; for Pharonnida,
Being now with all her beauteous Train come to
Behold this Pageant, taught them how to view
A shame as dreadful as their fear, which yet
Was full of horrour, for though safe they sit
Ith' floating Chariot, yet the mounting Waves,
So boisterous grew, that even great Neptune craves
Himself relief, till frighted from all sense,
By second dangers, from that Port from whence
They sallied forth, two wel-rig'd Ships are now
Seen under Sail, whose actions taught them how
Sea-fights are mannag'd, in a method that
They being too neer engag'd to tremble at,
By fears slow conduct, to confusion led,
Fall from their Thrones, and through the Waves had fled
From shame to death, had they not rescued been,
By swift Relief, a Curtesie that in
Its first approach, though welcom'd when they come
To stand the shock oth' Courts loud mirth, as dumb,
As were the Fishes, they so late forsook,
Makes Mercy court them in a dreadful look.
But leaving these to pay with future hate,
Each Courtiers present mirth, a sadder fate
Commands my Pen no longer to attend
On smooth Delights, before it gives an end
To that Ephemera of pleasure, which
Whilst a free Conversation did enrich
Their thoughts too fast did ripen in the breast
Of both our royal Lovers, whose Fate rests
Not longin downy slumbers, ere it starts
In vain Phantasmaes, Hope her self departs
In a distracted trembling, their bright sphear
Of milder Stars, had now continued clear;
So long, till what their smiling Influence drew,
From the unthankful Earth, contracted to
A vail of Clouds, whose coolness whilst some prais'd,
Obscur'd those beams, by which they first were rais'd.
Hels subtile Embrioes, the Ingratitudes
Of curst Amphibia, whose disguise includes
Mischiefs Epitome, had often strook
In secret at their envied joyes, which took
Nere its effects till now, so heavenly free
The verteous Princess was, from what could be
Of him to vice, she knew not to mistrust
It in another, but thinks all as just
As her own even thoughts, wherefore without
Oppressing of her Soul with the least doubt
Rais'd from suspition, she dares let her see
She lov'd Argalia, though it could not be,
Yet counted more then what his Merits might
Claim as Desert, but this smal beam of light.
Through the Prospective of suspition, to
Envies malignant Eye conveyd, to do
An Act, informs the curst Amphibia, that
Makes Love lament, for what she triumph'd at;
Since Vertue (Heavens unspotted Character)
On the belov'd Argalia did transfer
Merits of too sublime a height to be
Shadowed with vice, from that Flowers fragrancie
She sucks her Venome, and from what had built
His Glory, now intends to raise his Guilt;
For though the Prince no Engines need to move,
His Passions Frame, but just Desert, his Love,
Her close endeavours are to heighten't by
Praises, that make Affection jealousie,
Whose Venome, having once possest his Soul,
It swiftly doth (like fatal Charmes) controul
Reasons fair Dictates, and although no fear
From such wel-order'd Actions could appear
To strengthen it, Argalia's Merits caus'd
Some sad and sullen doubts, such as when pauf'd
Awhile upon, resolve their Cure must be
Their Cause remov'd, though in that Action he
From his Breasts royal Mansion, doth exclude
The noblest Vertue, generous Gratitude.
My worthless Fortune with, will but prepare
Our future happiness, the time we spare
From feeding on Ambrosia, will encrease
Our wealthy store, when the white Wings of peace
Shall bear us back with Victory; there may
Through the dark Chaeos of my Fate display
Some beam of Honour, though compar'd with thine,
(That Element of living flames) it shine
Dim as the pale-fac'd Moon, when she lets fall
Through a dark Grove her beams: thy Vertues shall
Give an Alarum to my sluggish Soul,
When ere it drops; thy Memory controul
The weakness of my Passions: When we strive
Ith' heat of glorious Battel, I'le revive
My drooping Spirits, with that harmony
Thy Name includes; thy Name, whose memory
(Dear as those Relicks a protecting Saint
Sends humble Vot'ries) mentions, will acquaint
My thoughts with all that's good, then calm again,
This Conflict of thy fears, I shall remain
Safe in the Hail of Death, if guarded by
Thy pious Prayers; Fates Messengers, that fly
On wings invisible, will lose the way
Aim'd at my breast, if thou vouchsafe to pray
To Heaven for my protection.—But if we
Nere meet again, yet—oh yet, let me be
Sometimes with pity thought on, at which word,
His ore-charg'd Eyes no longer could afford
A Room to entertain their Tears; both wept,
As if they strove to quench that fire which kept
Light in the Lamps of Life, whose Fortunes are
Ith' House of Death, whilst Mars the regal Star.
Some time in silent sorrow spent, at length
The fair Pharonnida recovers strength,
Though Sighs each Accent interrupted to
Return this Answer, Wilt, oh wilt thou do
Our infant Love such injury to leave
It ere full grown: When shall my Soul receive
A comfortable smile to cherish it,
When thou art gone; they'r but dull Joyes that sit
Enthron'd in fruitless wishes: yet I could
Part with a less expence of sorrow, would
Our rigid Fortune only be content
With absence, but a greater punishment
Conspires against us, danger must attend
Each step thou treadst from hence, and shall I spend
Those hours in mirth? each of whose minutes lay
Wait for thy life; when Fame proclaims the day,
Wherein your Battels joyn, how will my fear
With doubtful Pulses beat, until I hear
Whom Victory adorns? Or shall I rest
Here without trembling, when lodg'd in thy breast,
My heart's expos'd to every danger that
Assails thy Valour, and is wounded at
Each stroke that lites on thee, which absent, I
Prompted by fear to Myriads multiply.
—But these are Fancies Wildfi•es, we in vain
Do spend unheard Orizons, and complain
To unrelenting Rocks, this Night peect Scrol,
This Bill of our Divorcement doth inrole
Our Names in sable Characters, nought will
Expunge till death obliterate our Ill.
Oh do not (dear Commandress of my Heart)
Argalia answers, let our moist eyes part
In such a Cloud as will for ever hide
Hopes brightest Beams, those Deities that guide
The secret motions of our Fate, will be
More merciful, then to twist Destiny
In such black Threads, should Death unravel all
The feeble Cordage of our Lives, we shall
Spight of that Prince of Terrours, in the high
And glorious Palace of Eternity,
Being met again, renew that Love, which we
On Earth were forc'd, before Maturity
Had ripen'd it to Leaves; ith' numerous throng
Of long departed Souls, that stray among
The Mirtles in Elizium, I will find
Thy Virgin Ghost; and whilst the Rout inclin'd
To sensual pleasures here, refining are,
In purging Flames laugh at each envious Star,
Whose Aspects, if ill cited at our Brith,
With poysonous Influence blasts the Joyes of Earth.
Oh wast not (cries the Princess) dear time in
These shadows of Conceit, the Hours begin
To be 'mongst those inserted, that have try'd
The Actions of the World, which must divide
Us from our Joy; the Sea through which we sail
Works high with woe, nor can our prayers prevail
To calm its angry Brow; the glorious Fraight
Of my unwelcome Honours hangs a Waight
Too ponderous on me for to steer the way,
Thy humbler Fortunes do, else ere I'de stay
To mourn without thee, I would rob my Eyes
Of peaceful slumbers, and in course disguise,
(Whilst Love my Sex's weakness did controul)
Command my Body to attend my Soul:
My Soul, my dear, which hovering neer thee, not
Midnight alarums, that appear begot
By truth should startle; 'twixt the clamorous Camp,
Lightned with Cannons, and the peaceful Lamps,
That undisturb'd here wasts its Oile, I know
No difference, but what doth from Passion flow:
Whose close Assaults do more afflict us far,
Then all the loud impetuous storms of War.
We must, we must, replies Argalia, stand
This Thunder bolt unmov'd, since his Command,
Whose Will confirms our Law; happy had we
Great Princess been, if in that low degree,
From whence my Infancy was rais'd, I yet
Had liv'd a toiling Rural, then when fit
For Himens pleasures, uncontrol'd I'de took
Some homely Village Girl, whose Friends could look
After no Joynture, for to equallize
Her Portion but my love; no jealous Eyes
Had waited on our Meetings, we had made
All our Addresses free; the friendly shade
Cast from a spreading Oak, as soon as she
Had milkt her Cows, had prov'd our Canopy,
Where our unpollisht Courtship had a Love,
As chast concluded, as from th' amorous Dove,
Pearcht neer us we had learnt it; when arriv'd,
Unto Loves Zenith, we had undepriv'd,
By disagreeing Parents soon been led,
To Church by th' sprucest Swains; our Marriage-bed,
Though poor and thin, would have been neatly drest
By rural Paranymphs, clad in the best
Wool their own Flocks afforded; in a low
And humble Shed, on which we did bestow
Nought but our labour to erect, we might
Have spent our lustie youth with more delight
Then glorious Courts are guilty of, And when
Age had decayd our strength, grown up to men
Beheld our large course issue. Our dayes ended
Unto the Church been solemnly attended
By those of our own Ra•k, and buried been
Neer to the Font that we were Christned in.
Whilst I in russet Weeds of poverty
Had spun these course Threds, shining Majesty
Would have exhausted all her stock to Frame,
A match for thy Desert; some Prince whose Name
The neighbouring Regions trembl'd at, from whom
The generous Issue of thy fruitful Womb,
Might have deriv'd a stock of Fame to build
A future Greatness on, such as should yeild
Subjects of wonder to the World. About
To interrupt him, ere he had drawn out
This sad Theam she began to speak, but by
Nights swift approach was hinder'd; now drew nigh
The time of his departure: whilst he bleeds,
At thought oth' first, a second Summons speec•s
His preparations to the City, where
That big bulkt body, unto which his care
M•st add a Soul, was now drawn up, and stayd,
Only to have his wisht Commands obeyd.
His powerful Passion, Loves strict Rules respecting,
More then bright Honours Dictates, yet neglecting
All summons stayed him, till he'd sacrific'd
His Vows to her, whose every smile he priz'd,
Above those trivial Glories; Ere from hence
He dares depart, each with a new expence
Of Tears, payes interest to exacting Fate,
For every Minute she had lent of late,
Unto poor Love, whose stock since not his own
Although no Spend-thrift is a Bankrupt grown.
Look how a bright and glorious Morning, which
The youthful Brow of April doth enrich,
Smiles, till the rude Winds blow the troubl'd Clouds
Into her Eyes, then in a black Vail shrouds
Her self, and weeps for sorrow; so wept both
Our royal Lovers, each would, and yet was loath
To bid farwel, till stubborn time inforc'd
Them to that Task; first his warm Lips divorc'd
From the soft balmy touch of hers; next parts
Their hands, those frequent witnesses oth' heart's
Indissoluble Contracts: last, and worst,
Their eyes,—their weeping eyes, (oh Fate accurst,
That layes so hard a task upon my Pen,
To write the parting of poor Lovers) when
They had even lost their light in tears, were in
That shade, that dismal shade, forc'd to begin
The progress of their sorrow; he is gone,
Sweet, sad Phoronnida left—left alone,
To entertain grief in soft sighs, whilst he
'Mongst noise and tumult, oft finds time to be
Alone with sorrow, though encompast by
A numerous Army, whose brave Souls sweld high,
With hopes of Honour, least Fames Trump want breath,
Hast to supply't by Victory, or death.
But ere calmd thoughts to prosecute our story,
Salute thy Ears with the deserved Glory
Our marshal Lovers purchast here, I must
Let my Pen rest awhile, and see the rust
Scour'd from my own Sword, for a fatal day
Draws on those gloomy hours, whose short steps may
In Britains blushing Chronicle write more
Of sanguine Guilt, Newberies second Fight. then a whole Age before:
To tell our too neglected Troops that we
In a just Cause are slow, we ready see
Our rallied Foes, nor wil't our sloathful Crime
Expunge, to say, Guilt wakend them betime,
From every Quarter, the affrighted Scout
Brings swift Alarums in, hovering about
The clouded tops of the adjacent Hils,
Like ominous Vapours lye their Troops, noise fils
Our yet unrallied Army, and we now
Grown legible, in the contracted Brow,
Discern whose heart looks pale with fear: If in
This rising storm of blood, which doth begin
To drop already, I'me not washt into
The Grave, my next safe Quarter shall renew
Acquaintance with Pharonnida, till then,
I leave the Muses to converse with men.