The Argument. The People, left byGartha, leave to mourn; And worshipHermegildfor her return. The woundedHurgonilbyOrnacur'd; Their loyal loves by marriage plight assur'd. InLaura'shasty change, Love's pow'r appears, AndTybaltseeks the kindness which he fears.
1. WHen sad Verona saw in Gartha's shape Departed Peace brought back, the Court they prais'd; And seem'd so joy'd as Cities which escape A Siege, even by their own brave Sallys rais'd.
2. And Hermegild, to make her triumph long, Through all the streets his Chariot slowly drove; Whilst she endures the kindness of the Throng, Though rude, as was their rage, is now their love.
3. On Hermegild (so longingly desir'd From Hubert's Camp) with Childish Eyes they gaze; They worship now, what late they but admir'd, And all his Arts to mightie Magick raise.
4. On both they such abundantt Blessings throw, As if those num'rous Priests who here reside, (Loath to out-live this joy) assembled now In haste to bless the Laytie e're they dyd'.
5. Thus dignify'd, and Crown'd through all the Streets To Court they come; where them wise Aribert Not weakly with a publick passion meets; But in his open'd Face conceal'd his heart.
6. With mod'rate joy he took this Pledge of Peace, Because great joys infer to judging Eys The mind distress'd before; and in distress, Thrones, which are jealous Forts, think all are Spies.
7. Yet, by degrees, a Soul delighted shows To Gartha, whom he leads to Rhodalind; And soon to Hermegild as artless grows As Maids, and like succesfull Lovers kind.
8. And Rhodalind, though bred to daily sight Of Courts feign'd Faces, and pretended hearts, (In which disguises Courts take no delight, But little mischiefs shun by little Arts.)
9. She, when she Gartha saw, no kindness faign'd; But faithfully her former rage excus'd; For now she others sorrows entertain'd, As if to love, a Maid's first sorrow us'd,
10. Yet did her first with cautious gladness meet; Then soon from grave respect to fondness grew; To kisses in their taste and odour sweet, As Hybla Hony, or Arabian Dew.
11. And Gartha like an Eastern Monarch's Bride, This publick love with bashfull homage took, For she had learn'd from Hermegild to hide A rising Heart, behind a falling Look.
12. Thus, mask'd with meekness, she does much intreat A pardon for that Storm her sorrow rais'd; Which Rhodalind more fues she would forget, Unless to have so just a sorrow prais'd.
13. Soon is this joy through all the Court dispers'd; So high they vallue peace, who daily are In Prides invasions, private faction, vers'd; The small, but fruitfull seed of publick war.
14. Whilst thus sweet Peace had others joys assur'd, Orna with hopes of sweeter Love was pleas'd; For of war's wounds brave Hurgonil was cur'd; And those of love, which deeper reach'd, were eas'd.
15. In both these cures her Sov'raign help appears, Since as her double Patient he receiv'd For War's wounds, Balm, dropp'd in her precious tears, And Love's, her more accepted vows, reliev'd.
16. She let no medc'nal Flow'r in quiet grow, No Art lie hid, nor Artist ease his thought, No Fane be shut, no Priest from Altars go, Nor in Heav'n's Quire no Saint remain unsought,
17. Nor more her Eys could ease of sleep esteem Than sleep can the world's Eye, the Sun, conceal; Nor breath'd she but in vows to Heav'n, or him, Till Heav'n, and she, his diff'rent wounds did heal.
18. But now she needs those ayds she did dispence; For scarce her cures were on him perfect grown, E're shame afflicts her for that diligence, Which Love had in her fits of pity shown.
19. When she (though made of shunning bashfulness) Whilst him in wounds a smarting Feaver burn'd, Invok'd remotest aydes to his redress, And with a loud ungovern'd kindness mourn'd.
20. When o're him then, whilst parting life She ru'd, Her kisses faster (though unknown before) Then Blossoms fall on parting Spring, she strew'd; Than Blossoms sweeter, and in number more.
21. But now when from her busie Maid she knew How wildly Grief had led her Love abroad, Unmask'd to all, she her own Pris'ner grew; By shame, a Virgin's Native Conscience, aw'd.
22. With undirected Eies which careless rove, With thoughts too singly to her self confin'd, She blushing starts at her remember'd love, And grievs the world had Eyes, when that was blind.
23. Sad darkness, which does other Virgins fright, Now boldly and alone, she entertain'd; And shuns her Lover, like the Traytor, light, Till he her curtains drew, and thus complain'd.
24. Why, bashfull Maid, will you your beauty hide, Because your fairer Mind, your Love, is known? So Jewellers conceal with artfull pride Their second wealth, after the best is shown.
25. In pity's passion you unvail'd your mind; Let him not fall, whom you did help to climb; Nor seem by being bashfull so unkind, As if you think your pity was a crime.
26. O' useless shame! Officious bashfulness! Virtues vain sign, which onely there appears Where Virtue grows erroneous by excess, And shapes more sins, than frighted Conscience fears.
27. Your blushes, which to meer complexion grow, You must, as Nature, not as Virtue own; And for your open'd Love, you but blush so As guiltless Roses blush that they are blown.
28. As well the Morn (whose essence Poets made, And gave her bashfull Eyes) we may believe Does blush for what she sees through Night's thin shade, As that you can for love discover'd grieve.
29. Arise! and all the Flow'rs of ev'ry Mead (Which weeping through your Stils my health restor'd) Bring to the Temple to adorn your Head, And there where you did worship, be ador'd.
30. This with a low regard (but voice rais'd high By joys of Love) he spake; and not less kind Was now (ent'ring with native harmony, Like forward spring) the blooming Rhodalind:
31. Like Summer, goodly Gartha, fully blown; Laura, like Autumn, with as ripe a look; But shew'd, by some chill griefs, her Sun was gone, Arnold, from whom she Life's short glory took.
32. Like Winter, Hermegild; yet not so gray And cold, but that his fashion seem'd to boast, That even weak Winter is allow'd some day, And the Air clear, and healthfull in a Frost.
33. All these, and Tybalt too (unless a Spie He be, watching who thrives in Laura's sight) Came hither, as in kind conspiracy, To hasten Orna to her marriage plight.
34. And now the Priests prepare for this high vow All Rites that to their Laws can adde a grace; To which the sequent knot they not allow, Till a spent Moon recovers all her Face.
35. And now the streets like Summer Meads appear! For with sweet strewings Maids left Gardens bare, As Lovers wish their sweeter Bosoms were, When hid unkindly by dis-shevell'd Hair.
36. And Orna now (importun'd to possess Her long wish'd joys) breaks through her blushes so, As the fair Morn breaks through her rosyness; And from a like guilt did their blushes grow.
37. She thinks her Love's high sickness now appears A fit so weak, as does no med'cine need; So soon societie can cure those fears On which the Coward, Solitude, does feed.
38. They with united joy blest Hurgonil And Orna to the sacred Temple bring; Whilst all the Court in triumph shew their Skill, As if long bred by a triumphant King.
39. Such days of joy, before the marriage day, The Lombards long by custom had embrac't; Custom, which all, rather than Law obay, For Laws by force, Customs, by pleasure last.
40. And wisely Ancients by this needfull snare Of guilded joys, did hide such bitterness As most in marriage swallow with that care, Which bashfully the wise will ne'r confess.
41. 'Tis Sates-mens musick, who States Fowlers be, And singing Birds, to catch the wilder, set; So bring in more to tame societie; For wedlock, to the wild, is the States Net.
42. And this loud joy, before the marriage Rites, Like Battels Musick which to fights prepare, Many to strife and sad success invites; For marriage is too oft but civil war.
43. A truth too amply known to those who read Great Hymen's Roles; though he from Lovers Eyes Hides his most Tragick stories of the Dead, Lest all, like Goths, should 'gainst his Temples rise.
44. And thou (what ere thou art, who dost perchance With a hot Reader's haste, this Song pursue) May'st find, too soon, thou dost too far advance, And wish it all unread, or else untrue.
45. For it is sung (though by a mourning voice) That in the Ides before these Lovers had, With Hymens publick hand, confirm'd their choice, A cruel practise did their peace invade.
46. For Hermegild, too studiously foresaw The Counts alliànce with the Duke's high blood, Might from the Lombards such affection draw, As could by Hubert never be withstood.
47. And he in haste with Gartha does retire, Where thus his breast he opens to prevent, That Hymen's hallow'd Torch may not take fire, When all these lesser lights of joy are spent.
48. High Heav'n (from whose best Lights your beauty grows, Born high, as highest Minds) preserve you still From such, who then appears resistless Foes, When they allyance joyn to Arms and Skill!
49. Most by conjunction Planets harmfull are; So Rivers joyning overflow the Land, And Forces joyn'd make that destructive war, Which else our common conduct may withstand.
50. Their Knees to Hurgonil the People bow And worship Orna in her Brothers right; They must be sever'd, or like Palms will grow, Which planted near, out-climb their native hight.
51. As Winds, whose violence out-does all art, Act all unseen: so we as secretly These branches of that Cedar Gondibert Must force, till his deep Root in rising die.
52. If we make noise whilst our deep workings last, Such rumour through thick Towns unheeded flies, As winds through woods, and we (our great work past) Like winds will silence Tongues, and scape from Eyes.
53. Ere this dark lesson she was clearer taught, His enter'd Slaves place at her rev'renc'd Feet A spacious Cabinet, with all things fraught, Which seem'd for wearing artfull, rich, and sweet.
54. With leisurely delight, she by degrees Lifts ev'ry Till, does ev'ry Drawer draw, But nought which to her Sex belongs she sees; And for the Male all nice adornments saw.
55. This seem'd to breed some strangeness in her Eyes, Which like a wanton wonder there began; But straight she in the lower Closet spies Th'accomplish'd dress, and Garments of a Man.
56. Then starting, she her Hand shrunk nicely back, As if she had been stung; or that she fear'd This Garment was the skin of that old Snake, Which at the fatal Tree like Man appear'd.
57. Th'ambitious Maid at scornfull distance stood, And bravely seem'd of Love's low vices free; Though vicious in her mind, not in her blood: Ambition is the Minds immodestie!
58. He knew great minds disorder'd by mistake, Defend through pride, the errours they repent; And with a Lovers fearfulness he spake Thus humbly, that extreams he might prevent.
59. How ill (delightfull Maid!) shall I deserve My Life's last flame, fed by your beauty's fire, If I shall vex your virtues, that preserve Others weak virtues, which would else expire.
60. How, more than death, shall I my life despise, When your fear'd frowns, make me your service fear; When I scarce dare to say, that the disguise You shrink to see, you must vouchsafe to wear.
61. So rude a Law your int'rest will impose; And solid int'rest must not yield to shame: Vain shame, which fears you should such honour lose, As lasts but by intelligence with Fame.
62. Number, which makes opinion Law, can turn This shape to fashion, which you scorn to use, Because not by your Sex as fashion worn; And fashion is but that which Numbers chuse.
63. If you approve what Numbers lawfull think, Be bold, for Number cancels bashfulness; Extreams, from which a King would blushing shrink, Unblushing Senates act as no excess.
64. Thus he his thoughts (the picture of his mind) By a dark Vayl to sudden sight deny'd; That she might prise, what seem'd so hard to find; For Curtains promise worth in what they hide.
65. He said her Manhood would not strange appear In Court, where all the fashion is disguise; Where Masquerades are serious all the year, None known but strangers, nor secure but Spies.
66. All rules he reads of living great in Courts, Which some the Art of wise dissembling call; For Pow'r (born to have Foes) much weight supports By their false strength who thrust to make it fall.
67. He bids her wear her beauty free as light; By Ears as open be to all endeer'd; For the unthinking Croud judge by their sight, And seem half eas'd, when they are fully heard.
68. He shuts her breast even from familiar Eyes; For he who secrets (Pow'rs chief Treasure) spends To purchase Friendship, friendship dearly buys: Since Pow'r seeks great Confed'rates, more than friends.
69. And now with Counsels more particular, He taught her how to wear tow'rds Rhodalind Her looks, which of the Mind false pictures are, And then how Orna may believe her kind.
70. How Laura too may be (whose practis'd Eyes Can more detect the shape of forward love) By treaty caught, though not by a surprize; Whose aid would precious to her faction prove.
71. But here he ends his Lecture, for he spy'd (Adorn'd, as if to grace Magnifick Feasts) Bright Rhodalind, with the elected Bride; And with the Bride, all her selected Guests.
72. They Gartha in their civil pitie sought, Whom they in midst of triumphs mis'd, and fear Lest her full breast (with Huberts sorrows fraught) She, like a Mourner, came to empty here.
73. But she, and Hermegild, are wild with haste, As Traitors are whom Visitants surprise; Decyphring that which fearfully they cast In some dark place, where worser Treason lies.
74. So open they the fatal Cabinet, To shut things slighter with the Consequent; Then soon their rally'd looks in posture set; And boldly with them to their triumphs went.
75. Tybalt, who Laura gravely ever led, With ceaseless whispers laggs behind the Train; Tries, since her wary Governour is dead, How the fair Fort he may by Treaty gain.
76. For now unhappy Arnold she forsakes; Yet he is blest that she does various prove, When his spent heart for no unkindness akes; Since from the Light as sever'd as from Love.
77. Yet as in storms and sickness newly gone, Some Clouds a while, and strokes of faintness last; So, in her brow, so much of grief is shown, As shews a Tempest, or a sickness past.
78. But him no more with such sad Eyes she seeks, As even at Feasts would make old Tyrants weep; Nor more attempts to wake him with such shreeks, As threatned all where Death's deaf Pris'ners sleep.
79. Hugo and him, as Leaders now she names, Not much as Lovers does their fame approve; Nor her own fate, but chance of battel blames; As if they dy'd for honour, not for love.
80. This Tybalt saw, and finds that the turn'd Stream Came fairly flowing to refresh his heart; Yet could he not forget the kind esteem She lately had of Arnold's high desert.
81. Nor does it often scape his memorie, How gravely he had vow'd, that if her Eyes, After such Show'rs of Love, were quickly drie, He would them more than Lamps in Tombs despise.
82. And Whilst he watch'd like an industrious Spie Her Sexes changes, and revolt of Youth; He still reviv'd this vow as solemnly, As Senates Count'nance Laws or Synods, Truth.
83. But men are frail, more Glass than Women are! Tybalt who with a stay'd judicious heart Would love, grows vain amidst his gravest care: Love, free by nature, scorns the Bonds of Art!
84. Laura (whose Fort he by approch would gain) With a weak sigh blows up his Mine, and Smiles; Gives fire but with her Eye, and he is slain; Or treats, and with a whisper him beguiles.
85. Nor force of Arms or Arts (O Love!) endures Thy mightiness; and since we must discern Diseases fully ere we studie cures; And our own force by othes, weakness learn;
86. Let me to Courts and Camps thy Agent be, Where all their weakness and diseases spring From their not knowing, and not honouring thee In those who Nature in thy triumphs sing.
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