an Heroick Poem.
43
32.
O Honour! Frail as Life thy fellow Flower!
Cherish'd and watch'd, and humr'ously esteem'd,
Then worn for short adornments of an hour;
And is when lost no more than life redeem'd.
O Honour! Frail as Life thy fellow Flower!
Cherish'd and watch'd, and humr'ously esteem'd,
Then worn for short adornments of an hour;
And is when lost no more than life redeem'd.
33.
This fatal Hubert finds, if honour be
As much in Princes lost, when it grows less,
As when it dies in men of next degree:
Princes are onely Princes by excess.
This fatal Hubert finds, if honour be
As much in Princes lost, when it grows less,
As when it dies in men of next degree:
Princes are onely Princes by excess.
34.
For having twice with his firm Opposite
Exchang'd a wound, yet none that reach'd at life,
The adverse sword his Arms best sinew hit,
Which holds that strength, which should uphold their strife.
For having twice with his firm Opposite
Exchang'd a wound, yet none that reach'd at life,
The adverse sword his Arms best sinew hit,
Which holds that strength, which should uphold their strife.
35.
When thus his dear defence had left his Hand,
Thy life (said Hurgonil) rejoyce to wear
As Orna's favour, and at her command;
Who taught the mercy I will practise here.
When thus his dear defence had left his Hand,
Thy life (said Hurgonil) rejoyce to wear
As Orna's favour, and at her command;
Who taught the mercy I will practise here.
36.
To which defenceless Hubert did reply,
My life (a worthless Blank) I so despise,
Since Fortune laid it in her Lotary,
That I'm asham'd thou draw'st it as a Prize.
To which defenceless Hubert did reply,
My life (a worthless Blank) I so despise,
Since Fortune laid it in her Lotary,
That I'm asham'd thou draw'st it as a Prize.
37.
His grief made noble Hurgonil to melt,
Who mourn'd in this a Warriours various fate;
For though a Victor now, he timely felt
That change which pains us most by coming late.
His grief made noble Hurgonil to melt,
Who mourn'd in this a Warriours various fate;
For though a Victor now, he timely felt
That change which pains us most by coming late.
38.
But Orna (ever present in his thought)
Prompts him to know, with what success for fame
And Empire, Gondibert and Oswald fought;
Whilst Hubert seeks out death, and shrinks from shame.
But Orna (ever present in his thought)
Prompts him to know, with what success for fame
And Empire, Gondibert and Oswald fought;
Whilst Hubert seeks out death, and shrinks from shame.
Va-
