The Argument. Fame's progress through Verona, when she brings Ill news enlarg'd, as her extended wings. The Combat's cause shakes Aribert's great mind; And the effects more conquersRhodalind. MeekOrna's fears, proudGartha's bold disdain; AndLaurakindly dying for the Slain.
1. TO Streets (the Peoples Region) early Fame First brought this grief, which all more tragick make; And next, to the triumphant Court she came, Where prosp'rous Pow'r sleeps long, though Sutors wake;
2. But yet the early King (from Childhood bred To dangers, toyls, and courser wants of war) Rose up to rule, and left soft Love in bed, Could conquer Lands and Love, but stoopt to Care.
3. Care, that in Cloysters onely seals her Eies, Which Youth thinks folly, Age as wisdom owns; Fools by not knowing her, out live the wise; She Visits Cities, but she dwells in Thrones.
4. Care, which King Aribert with Conquest gain'd, And is more sure to him than Realms intail'd; Wak'd him to know why Rumor thus complain'd, Or who in battail bled, or who prevail'd?
5. Young Hurgonil (who does his wounds conceal, Yet knew it did his dutious care import That some just witness should his cause reveal) Sent Tybalt to appease, and tast the Court.
6. To that proud Palace which once low did lie In Parian Quarries, now on Columes stands: Ionique Props that bear their Arches high, Which conquer'd treasure rais'd with Tuscan Hands.
7. So vast of heighth, to which such space did fit As if it were o're-cyz'd for Modern Men; The ancient Giants might inhabit it; And there walk free as winds that pass unseen,
8. The Monarch's wealth this shew'd in all the parts; But the attendant Guards denote him wise; Who on the weather of his Peoples hearts, For a short Course, not voyages, relies.
9. Through many Guards (all watchful, calm, and bold) Tybalt did pass the first magnifick Square; And through ascents does enter to behold, Where the States Head and Eies assembled are.
10. There sat the King, on whose consid'rate Brow Sixtie experienc'd Summers he discern'd, Which made him ripe, and all of Conduct know That from success is own'd, from losses learn'd.
11. Near him the Empire's strict Surveyors sate; Whose universal fight no object lose; Who see not crimes too soon, nor worth too late; Find dangers seed, and choke it ere it grows.
12. He wealth nor birth preferr'd to Councels place; For Counsel is for use, not ornament; Souls are alike, of rich and ancient Race; Though Bodies claim distinctions by descent.
13. Here boyling Youth, nor frozen Age can sit: It would in Subjects scorn of ruling Breed, If that great work should such small ayds admit, And make them hope that they no rulers need.
14. Nature too oft by birth-right does prefer Less perfect Monarchs to a busie Throne; Yet more than her, Courts by weak Counc'lers err, In adding Cyphers where she made but one.
15. To this wise King, sage Tybalt did relate The Combats cause, with truth's severe extent; Reveals that fire which kindl'd Oswald's hate: For which such precious valour was misspent.
16. Gives Gondibert a just record of praise; First how unwilling, then how bold in fight; And crowns the Conquer'd with the Victor's Baies, When Manhood bids him do their valour right:
17. At last recounts the wounded and the slain; And how Prince Hubert and the Duke retir'd; From nothing brave or great he did refrain, But his own deeds, which doing were admir'd.
18. This Arribert with outward patience hears, Though wounded by the cause for which they fought; With mod'rate joy the death of Oswald bears; Yet justly to extreams it inward wrought.
19. Tybalt he now with peacefull looks discharg'd; And then his thoughts (imprison'd in his breast) He straight by libertie of Tongue inlarg'd; Which thus unto his Councel he addrest.
20. With what a diff'rence Nature's pallate tasts The sweetest draught which Art provides her, Pow'r: Since Pow'r, Pride's Wine, but high in relish last Whilst fuming new, for Time does turn it sow'r?
21. Yet Pow'r, Earth's tempting Fruit, Heav'n first did plant From Mans first Serpent safe, Ambition's reach; Else Eden could not serve Ambition's want; Whom no command can rule, nor precept teach.
22. Pow'r is that luscious wine, which does the bold, The wise, and noble most Intoxicate; Ads time to Youth, and takes it from the Old; Yet I by surfeit this Elixer hate.
23. I curse those Wars that make my glory last; For which the Tuscan Widows curse me more; The barren Fields where I in Arms did fast, That I might surfeit on luxurious pow'r.
24. Thou Hermegild, who art for valour Crown'd, For honour trusted, and for wisdom heard; And you whom Counsel has no less renown'd, Observe how virtue against peace has err'd.
25. Still I have fought, as if in Beauty's sight, Out-suffer'd patience, bred in Captives Breasts; Taught fasts, till Bodies like our Souls grew light; Out-watch'd the jealous, and out-labour'd Beasts.
26. These were my merits, my reward is Pow'r; An outward Trifle, bought with inward peace; Got in an Age, and rifled in an hour; When feav'rish love, the People's Fit, shall cease.
27. For did not Pow'r on their frail love depend, Prince Oswald had not treated with that love; Whose glory did in hastie darkness end; A spark which vanish'd, as it upward strove.
28. By scorn of dangers and of ease, he sought The Lombards hearts, my Rhodalind, and Crown; And much his youth had by his practice wrought, Had Gondibert not levell'd his renown:
29. Had Gondibert not staid the Peoples Eyes (Whose virtue stept 'twixt Oswald and their sight) Who knows but Rhodalind had been his Prise, Or war must have secur'd Paternal right.
30. Sad and uneasie is a long-kept Throne; Not that the People think long pow'r unjust, But that for change, they wish best Monarchs gone; Fond change, the People's soon repented lust!
31. I did advance (though with some jealous pain) A forward virtue to my subjects love; Lest one less temp'rat should their favour gain; Whom their unstudy'd choice would more approve.
32. To thee sage Hermegild my self I leave, My fame and pow'r: Thee action cannot waste; Caution retard, nor promptitude deceave; Slowness belate, nor Hope drive on too fast.
33. Think Hubert Heir to Oswald's bold pretence; To whom the Camp at Brescia is inclin'd; The Duke at Bergamo will seek defence; And these are seeds of war for Rhodalind.
34. This said, his Councel he dismiss'd, who spy'd A growing rage, which he would fain conceal; They durst but nicely search, what he would hide, Lest they inflame the wound that else might heal.
35. They haste to sev'ral Cares, some to allay Court's hectick Feaver, Faction (which does reign Where Luxury, the Syre of Want, does sway) Some to appease th'Alliance of the slain.
36. But Order now bids us again pursue Th' unweary'd Motion of unhappie Fame; From Fields to Streets, from Streets to Court she flew; Where first she to the Kings Apartment came.
37. Thence through the Palace she her wings did air; And as her Wings, her Tongue too never ceas'd; Like restless Swallows in an Evening fair: At last does on a peacefull dwelling rest.
38. Where Sleep does yet that gentle Sex possess, Who ne'r should more of Care's rude wakings know, But what may help sad Lovers to success; Or imp Loves wings when Hymen thinks them slow.
39. There Lovers seek the Royal Rhodalind; Whose secret breast was sick for Gondibert; And Orna, who had more in publick pin'd For Hurgonil, the Monarch of her heart.
40. And there the killing Laura did reside; See, of whose Eyes the Lombard Youth Complain; Yet often she for noble Arnold di'd; And knew not now her Murderer was slain.
41. Nor Hugo, who was all with love indu'd; Whom still with tears the Lombard Ladies name; Esteeming Modern Lovers false, and rude, And Poets falser when they sing their fame.
42. These Beauties (who could soften Tyrant Kings) Sleep now conceal'd within there Curtains shade; Till rudely Fame, by shaking loud her wings Disturb'd their Eyes, and their wak'd hearts dismay'd.
43. They heard in parcels by imperfect sound, A tale too dismal to be understood; That all their Lovers lay in hallow'd ground; Temples their Bodies hid, the Fields their bloud.
44. That this dire Morn to sad Verona brought The Duke and Oswald, of lov'd life depriv'd; And that of all who their fierce battel fought, Onely the mangled Hurgonil surviv'd.
45. This Tale, Fam's course, officious Friends convey'd, (Which are attendant Slaves, and Palace Grooms) Who by the Lover of some busie Maid, From outward Courts sent it to inward Rooms.
46. Such horrour brought, where love had onely us'd, Did yet breed more amazement than belief; Whilst Orna now, and Laura flie confus'd To Rhodalind, Truth's Altar, for relief.
47. There with disorder'd voyces they compare, And then derive what each has loosly learn'd; Each hope applies, where others most despair; As doubting all but where her self's concern'd.
48. This weeping conf'rence had not lasted long, When Tybalt, free from Aribert's commands, Scapes the assembling Court's inquiring Throng, And enters here; where first he doubtfull stands.
49. For Pitie, when he ruin'd Laura spi'de. Bids his discretion artfully complain; And shew far off, what Truth not long can hide: Death at a distance seen, may ease fears pain.
50. Their bus'ness now he can no more forbear; For who on their urg'd patience can prevail, Whose expectation is provok'd with fear? He therefore thus their patience did assail.
51. Kind Heav'n that gave you virtue, give you peace; Delightfull as your Beauties be your Minds; Still may your Lovers your renown increase, Though he who honour seeks, first danger finds!
52 Still may your beauty bear that ancient rate, Which beautie was chaste Honours Merchandice; When Valor was chief Factor in Love's State; Danger, Love's stamp, and Beautie's currant price.
53. Renown'd be Oswald, who in high belief Of Rhodalind, her love with danger sought; In Love's Records be Gondibert the chief, Who for her right, not for his own has sought.
54. Though these for mighty minds deserve Fame's voice; Yet Orna needs must boast of Hurgonil; Whose dangers well have justifi'd her choice, And might alone Fame's publick Trumpet fill.
55. Enlarg'd be Honor's Throne, that Arnold there And Hugo may for ever sit and rest, Free from their Valor's toyls, and Laura's fear; Which more than wounds disorder'd eithers Breast.
56. This said, he paws'd; finds each distrusts his art; For Hope and Doubt came and return'd apace, In chang'd Complexion from th'uncertain heart, Like frighted Scowts for Tidings to the Face.
57. His Eie seem'd most imploy'd on Rhodalind; Whose love above her bashful caution sways; For naming Gondibert, he soon did find, Her secret Soul shew'd pleasure at his praise.
58. Yet when she found her comforts did not last, And that as Oracles, the future taught He hid Truth's Face, and darkned what was past; Thus Truth through all her mourning Vails she sought.
59. Why in these Ladies do you lengthen pain, By giving them Grief's common med'cin, Doubt? Ease those with death, whose Lovers now are slain; Life's fire a Feaver is, when Love's is out.
60. Yet think not that my cares peculiar are; Perhaps I from religious pitie learn'd, In Virtue's publick loss to take some share; For there, all but the vicious are concern'd.
61. Your Prudence, Royal Maid (he straight replies) More than your birth, may claim the Lombards Crown; Who'ere in conquest of your favour dies; For life's lost Inch, shall find a long renown.
62. Then happy Oswald who is sure to gain, Even by Ambition that undoes the wise; Great was th'attempt for which he's nobly slain; And gets him praise, though he has mist the Prize.
63. But happier Gondibert, who does survive To beg your Mercy, that he thus hath dar'd To own that cause, for which the world might strive; And conq'ring, takes his wounds for his reward.
64. Be Hurgonil long distant from his Grave, Whose life was so important in this cause; Who for each wound he took, a wider gave, And lives t' enjoy the pleasure of applause.
65. To say, how Hugo and Lord Arnold strove For victory, and mention their event, Were to provide such fun'ral rites for Love, As Death would be closs Mourner, and repent.
66. Now Laura's blood back to her liver fled; True Beautie's Mint: For by her Heart, Love's Throne, Beautie's call'd in, like Coyn, when Kings are dead As if not currant, now her Lover's gone.
67. And like her beauty, she had darkned life, But that with sprinkled water they restore (By sudden cold, with sudden heat at strife) Her spirits to those walks they us'd before.
68. She Arnold calls, then lost that name again, Which Rhodalind, and Orna's tears bemone, Who busily would her spent strength sustain, Though Hope has scarcely yet brought back their own.
69. Now they her Temples chaf'd, and straight prepare Hot Eastern Fumes to reach her Brains cool'd sence; With Wine's fierce spirits these extracted are, Which warm but slowly, though of swift expence.
70. Yet now again she breath'd Lord Arnold's name, Which her apt Tongue through custom best exprest; Then to stay Life, that so unwilling came, With Cordial Epithems they bath'd her breast.
71. Th' attendant Maids, by Tybalt's ready aid, To stop her Mourners tears, convey her now Where she may ease in her own Curtain's shade Her weary heart, and grief more Tongue allow.
72. No sooner was this pity'd Laura gone, But Oswald's sister, Gartha the renown'd! Enters, as if the world were overthrown, Or in the tears of the afflicted drown'd.
73. Unconquer'd as her beauty was her mind; Which wanted not a spark of Oswald's fire, Ambition lov'd, but ne'r to Love was kind; Vex'd Thrones did more than quiet shades desire.
74. Her Garments now in loose neglect she wore, As sured to her wild dis-shevell'd hair; Men in her shape might Nature's work adore, Yet ask, why Art's nice dress was absent there?
75. But soon they found what made this change appear; For meeting Truth, which slowly follows Fame, Rage would not give her leasure for a Tear To quench (ere he thus spake) her passions flame.
76. Blasted be all your beauties Rhodalind, Till you a shame, and terrour be to light; Unwing'd be Love, and slow as he is blind, Who with your Looks poyson'd my Brothers sight!
77. Low and neglected be your Father's Throne, Which like your beauty, Oswald did ore-rate; Let luckless war take Lands from his light Crown, Till those high cares he want that give it weight!
78. Let Pow'rs consumption be his long disease, (Heav'ns vexing curb, which makes wild Monarchs tame) And be he forc'd in froward age to please His Favour's Monster, who devours his Fame.
79. May you soon feel (though secret in your love, As if your love were Sin) the publick scorn! May Gondibert, who is your glory, move Your pitie, when none else but you shall mourn!
80. To the dark Inn (where weary Valour, free From thankless dangers rests) brave Oswald's gone! But Hubert may, though vanquish'd, live to see Your Victor with his victory undone!
81. This said, she mounts (with a tempestuous Brow) The Chariot her Calabrian Coursers drew; Lifted by Slaves (who still about her bow) As if with wings of swift Revenge she flew.
82. To Brescia's Camp her course she had design'd; And bids her Tuscan Charioter drive on, As if his Steeds were dieted with wind! Slow seems their speed whose thoughts before them run
83. The pav'd Streets kindle with her Chariot wheels! The Omen of wars fire the Citie spies, Which with those sparks struck by her Coursers heels, Shine not so much as rage does in her Eyes.
84. Those that observ'd her anger, grief, and haste, With ancient Roman melancholy mourn; She seem'd their Cities Genius as she pass'd, Who by their Sins expell'd, would ne'r return.
85. The gentle Ladies, she has left in tears, Who no example need, nor cause to melt; For soon even grief's Alarms, our foremost tears, Kill those whose pain by Love's quick sence is felt.
86. And Rhodalind her fatal love does blame, Because she finds it now by Gartha spy'd; And does lament Love's fire, which bashfull shame Cannot reveal, nor her discretion hide.
87. She would not have it waste, nor publick grow, But last conceal'd like that in Tullia's Urn; Or that which prosp'rous Chymists nicely show; Which as it thrives, must more in private burn.
88. Yet straight (grown valiant with her Victors fate) She would have Hymen hold his Torches high; And Love's fire priz'd, as Vestals theirs did rate; Which none durst quench, though free to ev'ry eye.
89. Resolves her love whilst this new valour lasts, Shall undisguis'd her Father's sight endure; And Orna now to her dear Lover hastes; Whose outward wounds stay for her inward cure.
90. But here a wonder may arrest our thought, Why Tybalt (of his usual pity void) To such sost Ears these direfull sorrows brought, Since to the King he onely was employ'd?
91. But these are Ridles of mysterious Love! Tybalt in private long for Laura pin'd; And try'd how Arnold would her passion move In death, who living ever fill'd her mind?
92. And by this trial how she Arnold us'd, He gravely meant to urge or stay his heart; But much by Love the Cautions are abus'd, Who his wild Ridles would reduce to Art.
_-_160_divider.png)