9THE Seventh Canto OF THE THIRD BOOK Dedicated to CHARLES COTTON Eſq;
The ARGUMENT.
Wakt by the Duke's Adoption, Hubert brings
Borgio beneath the ſhade of Nights black Wings,
To dark Verona: Orna is betray'd,
And Hurgonil, not Jealous, but diſmay'd.
The Chiefs their Paſſions vent to Hermegild,
But ſoon to Gartha's braver Paſſion yield.
101.UNlucky Fire, which tho from Heaven deriv'd,
Is brought too late like Cordials to the Dead,
When all are of their Sovereign ſence depriv'd,
And Honour which my rage ſhould warm is fled.
2.Dead to Heroick Song this Iſle appears,
The ancient Muſick of Victorious Verſe:
They taſt no more, than he his Dirges hears,
Whoſe uſeleſs Mourners ſing about his Herſe.
3.Yet ſhall this Sacred Lamp in Priſon burn,
And through the darkſom Ages hence invade
The wondring World, like that in Tullie's Urn,
Which tho by time conceal'd, was not decay'd.
114.And Charles in that more civil Century,
When this ſhall wholly fill the Voyce of Fame,
The buſie Antiquaries then will try
To find amongſt their Monarchs Coins thy Name.
5.They will admire thy force gainſt Gothick rage,
Thy Head of Athens, and thy Woman breaſt,
Which reſcu'd theſe Records in a rude Age,
When the free Arts were frighted, and oppreſt.
6.If they who read thy Victories, thus confeſt,
Find not thy wreathed Image, their blind Skill
In gath'ring Monarchs Medals, they'll deteſt,
And think they made their long Collections ill.
127.They'll highly bleſs thy Vertue, by whoſe Fire
I keep my Lawrel warm, which elſe would ſade,
And thus enclos'd, think me of Nature's Quire
The chief, who ſtill ſing ſweeteſt in the ſhade.
8.To Fame who rules the World, I lead thee now,
Whoſe ſolid Power the thoughtful underſtand,
Whom tho too late, weak Princes to her Bow,
The People ſerve, and Poets can command.
9.And Fame the only Guide to Empires paſt,
Shall to Verona lead thy Fancie's Eyes,
When Night ſo black a Robe on Nature caſt,
As Nature ſeem'd afraid of her Diſguiſe.
1310.Ambitious Hubert to Verona came
In the dark Reign of Univerſal Sleep;
And means no Tears ſhall quench his Angers flame,
Tho all the Dwellers muſt be wak'd to weep.
11.Till Fame had made the Duke's Adoption known,
He painfully ſuppreſt this raging Fire;
But now it was above his Conduct grown,
And Bergio thus provok'd it to aſpire.
12.Thy Wealth, thou painted City, who ſhall ſaye?
Black art thou now, and ſleep thy buſineſs ſeems;
Each dark abode is ſilent as the Grave,
Thy ſleep were perfect Death if Death had Dreams.
1413.Thou civil Crowd of ſoft Inhabitants,
Sleep and forget thy Crimes; may Adice
No more relieve thy thirſty Medows wants,
But ſwelling here; thy drowning Lethe be.
14.Wake but to kindle luſt, and boldly think
Heaven has no Eyes, but the departed Sun;
May thy new marri'd at Adult'ries wink,
Both ſoon ſeek Strangers, and each other ſhun.
15.Sleep you who Ruin States by Trades Encreaſe,
Rich Traffickers who fetch thoſe Toyes from far,
Which ſoften us at home, you plead for Peace,
Becauſe our Luxuries we quit in War.
1516.Sleep as ſecurely as your Carricks ſteer,
When in deep Seas your Gale is from the Eaſt,
You and Your Pilots want the Art to fear
The ſuddain Tempeſt breeding in my Breaſt.
17.You Stateſmen ſleep, who States tame Lyons be
For you and Lyons ſleep with open Eyes,
And ſhut 'em when you wake, you ſeem to ſee
Through darkneſs, and with Wink your ſight diſguiſe.
18.Sleep you Oppreſſors, Monſters quickly bred,
When private Will is joyn'd to publick Power,
Like Bears in Winter long by ſlumber fed,
You wake with Hunger, that would Herds devour.
1619.Sleep all, till waking each with raviſht Mind,
Shall the ſtrange Glory of new Light admire,
And thinking 'tis the Morn, Curſe when ye find,
Your City is become your Funeral Fire.
20.Bargio did Hubert's Fury thus excite,
Which from his darkn'd thoughts breaks through his Eyes
As ſuddainly as Morning breaks from Night,
Oh glorious Chiefs from ſleep to Battle riſe.
21.And now the Morn in ſuddain Glory roſe,
And to ſalute the World, ſhifts from his Face
Night's Veil, as faſt as Bolder unmask to thoſe
Whom they ſaluting, would with kindneſs Grace.
1722.To reſtleſs Hubert, Borgio leads the way,
Near Orna's Window Hurgonil he ſpies,
Who there with Muſick welcomes Break of Day,
And as the Lark the Eaſt ſalutes her Eyes.
23.For there at ev'ry dawn with Lovers layes,
Till this ſweet Moon ſhall end their nuptial Rites,
And Joyes begin, he love Reveillees payes,
Which made their morning ſweet as Lovers nights,
24.Such Aires the untun'd Borgio ill abides,
For Muſick which is ſo the Soul of Love,
As Love is of our Life, his Soul derides,
Whom only Drums ambitions Noice could move.
1825.He oft ſends back, as he does forward paſs,
His fatal Looks, which did the Count leſs awe
Than did that Amorous, but more dreadful Face,
Which he too ſoon in Orna's window ſaw,
26.For there appear'd, tho but obliquely plac'd,
As ſhrunk behind the Glaſs, a Youth, who ſeem'd
Repleat with all thoſe Graces, which have grac'd
Great Courts, or greater Love has e'er eſteem'd.
27.Such ſeem'd this Amorous Youth, who ſoon withdrew
His Looks, and ſhut the Caſement haſtily,
As if he only watch'd to ſcape from view,
By ſtealth would ſee, and to be ſeen was ſhy.
1928.A Youth, who thus his Beauty ſeems to hide,
So guiltlesſly in a ſuſpicious time,
And in the Chamber of a plighted Bride,
Might blot the whiteſt Vertue with a Crime.
29.Yet this as Loves falſe Fire, the Count did ſcorn.
Grave Tybalt, who theſe Rites attended, ſeems
So loſt in Sleep, as if not yet the Morn
Were broke, and ranks his Viſion with his Dreams.
30.Yet Jealouſie, which does by Thoughts ſubſiſt,
As Life by Air; grew ſtronger by their pauſe;
For they their Muſick ſilently diſmiſt,
And fearing ill Effects, muſt doubt the Cauſe.
2031.Muſick which here at Orna's dawn had ſung,
For Love's Morn breaks not in a common Sky;
But now their Lutes did ſeem on Willows hung,
Where near ſome murmuring Brook dead Lovers lye.
32.Wain Jealouſie, thou fruitful little Seed,
Tho ſingle, and as ſmall as Atoms ſown,
Yet faſter riſeth than a forward Weed,
In many Stems ſoon great and fully blown.
33.'Tis Love's Alarm Bell too often hung
Near Lover's Beds, and keeps 'em ſtill awake;
Yet Noble Hurgonil, when firſt it rung,
Scarce ſeem'd to ſtart, and now thus calmly ſpake.
2134.Since Love the valiant Aids I muſt not dread
A Shadows force, and I ſhould vain appear,
To let my Eyes be by a Viſion led
From Her whoſe Image in my Heart I wear.
35.Such Maiden Stratagems each plighted Bride,
Rul'd by her Virgin Counſel does deviſe;
And thus my Faith in Orna muſt be tri'd,
Faith's Fort is beſt attempted by Surpriſe.
36.She as betroath'd does till this Moon be paſt,
And Marriage Laws begin by Cuſtom Sway,
And now ſhe tempts my Jealouſie to taſte
How I will Reign, when ſhe muſt long obey.
2237.That Youth her near Ally, ſuch harmleſs Art
Aſſiſts, which may to Country Eyes ſeem bold;
But Courts Elixir Vertue does convert
The worſt and moſt ſuſpected Coyn to Gold.
38.Tybalt repll'd, this Tryal, Hurgonil,
Exalts you both, it proves your love not light,
And ſhews that ſhe wants guilt to give her Skill,
Where to direct her Jealous Tryals right.
39.Your ſolid healthful Love ſweats not away
At the faint Heat of Jealouſies pale Flame,
Nor even in Death will more than Souls decay,
Which dye not, but return from whence they came.
2340.And ſince her Tryal is ſo uſeleſs made,
Her Errour does her Innocence proclaim;
For as we trace ſtrange Thieves by known Thieve aid
So our own Guilt lights us to others Shame.
41.The Guilty often wake, when Jealous grown,
To watch Love's Treaſons in another's Bed;
Yet after foul Adulteries in their own,
Sleep as ſecure from Terrors as the Dead.
42.Thus as they homeward move, they timely draw
Diſcretion's Curtain o'r each others Eyes,
And would not ſee, what they with Sorrow ſaw,
Truth oft more modeſt ſeems in a Diſguiſe.
2443.Wiſe Nature does reprove our Jealouſie,
'Tis Fear, and Fear none willingly expreſs,
The Jealous ſhrink like Spies from every Spy,
And what they find with Honours leſs confeſs.
44.But why (miſterious Love) to blemiſh Truth
In trueſt Lovers haſt thou Art devis'd?
Even in the Artleſs Sex, for that fair Youth
Was Gartha in a manly ſhape diſguis'd.
45.Whoſe Beauty ſtoop'd to Hermegild's advice,
And ſhe of Ʋlpha, Orna's Woman bought
The Jewel Honour at a common price,
And was by ſtealth to Orna's Chamber brought.
2546.There ſhe in Night's black Boſom lay,
As in dark Lanthorns Light for Treaſon lyes,
And ſo when ſhe peep'd forth, 'twas to betray,
As thoſe were made to ſhine for a Surpriſe.
47.Calm Orna fearleſs ſlept, ſince free from Sin,
And little did her Womans duty doubt,
Nor heard when ſhe had took the Traytors in,
Who through her Windows let her Honour out.
48.And ſtill ſhe ſlept with as becalm'd a Breaſt,
As thoughtleſs Martyrs in a Monument,
Whilſt Gartha (whoſe Succeſs her Cares encreas'd)
Shifts her Diſguiſe, and to her Palace went.
2649.Where Hubert longingly expects that ſhe
The reaſon of her Abſence ſhould unfold,
Who big with Plot longs for delivery,
And thinks Succeſſes loſt that are not told.
50.With Hermegild ſhe haſtily arrives,
Where when ſhe Hubert and bold Borgio ſpi'd,
Her Anger ſeem'd to threaten Lovers Lives,
And at her Frowns has many a Lover dy'd.
51.The two fierce Leaders gravely thoughtful grow
Like ſcar'd Aſtrologers, as griev'd to take
From this new Comet in her threatening Brow,
The Empires Doom, and thus her Paſſion ſpake.
2752.Wild Rumour, which from Court to Breſcia fled,
Has brought you here bright in your Angers Flame,
You, Hubert, who in War have others led,
Now for your own chief Guide chuſe common Fame.
53.At Gondibert's Succeſs, and new Renown
Your ſick Ambition in a Fever ſeems;
Which from the Camp ſo drives you to the Town,
As fev'riſh men ſhift Beds to change their Dreams.
54.Back to your Camp, and come not here to boaſt
Of numerous Enſigns, which but ſeldom are
By Valour gain'd, tho oft by Cowards loſt,
Rags which the Beggar Honour wears in War.
2855.Dull force cannot wiſe Courts with threatnings fright,
Who breed ſtrong not in Helmets but in Heads,
Thoſe Battles which you know not why you fight,
And whilſt you frown in Fields, ſmile in their Beds.
56.More had ſhe ſaid, but ſtudious Hermegild
Begg'd with his Looks, grown pale with Lovers Cares,
That her bold Paſſion would to Prudence yield,
And thus to Hubert he his Mind declares.
57.Think not great Prince, that our Deſigns are ſlow,
But think your Courage makes a dang'rous haſt;
The Cures of Inward Wounds then doubtful grow
To Art, when outwardly they heal too faſt.
2958.The Duke's Adoption is a tender Wound,
Which cannot rough and haſty hands endure,
By gentle ſearch are narrow Arteries found,
Where we the Spirits cloſer Walks ſecure.
59.Think not the Wounds ill ſearcht, which Artiſts cloſe,
Whilſt you to open it grow raſhly bold;
As men ill cur'd haſte deſp'ratly to Blows,
Becauſe new Wounds may launce and cure the old.
60.Your Station is on Hills, your Glories all
Watch as a Beacon, that does bid 'em Arm,
And here your Name but whiſper'd, ſerves to call
The ſleeping Faction like a new Alarm.
3061.Retire, tho like the Sun declin'd you keep
Your Circle ſtill, and give to others Light,
Since we muſt wiſh your Enemies a-ſleep,
Give us betimes the benefit of Night.
62.Preſerve your Camp, no Force but of the Mind
Can make our way, and when ſuch Force you doubt,
Think then that Giants, loth to die, can bind
And maſter Souls with Limbs from going out.
63.Hubert's loſt Patience, he did thus reſtore,
Then Gartha with ſuch Reverence he did chide,
As Indian Prieſts in Storms check and adore
Their Idols Rage, but Hubert thus repli'd.
3164.Who doubts your Wiſdom, Hermegild, which long
Has led fierce Armies, and calm Councils taught,
Muſt the worlds Miſtreſs, grave Experience wrong,
As if ſhe wanted Worth, which all have ſought.
65.Such who play with Truth, are puniſht by
Derided Anguiſh, till they ſerious turn,
As wanton Scepticks, who Effects deny?
Of Fire, ſee others ſmiling whilſt they burn.
66.Your Faith to me, your love of Gartha binds,
Which doubting, I her force of Beauty doubt
A Light held up, when Courts tempeſtuous Winds
Threaten to blow Heavens Lamps, the Planets out.
3267.Think my Impatience is the Armies Sin,
And if when Gartha with my wrong's is warm'd,
Your Power can hardly keep her Paſſions in,
How ſhould I ſtop three angry Legions arm'd?
68.Her Anger Heavenly is, for as kind Heaven
Grieves that our own advantage we decline
By doing ill; ſo her Rebukes are given,
Becauſe ſhe ſuffers when the Loſs is mine.
69.Victorious Maid, I find deep Wounds of Cares
On your fair Brow; but ſo by Beauty ſhown,
As youthful Victors wear their boaſted Scars,
To make their Vertue more than Beauty known.
3370.Tell me the Empire's ſafe, and tell me where
You and your Faction have ſo early met;
To humble thoſe who are ſo proud to fear,
That at your Dawn their Sun muſt ever ſet.
71.Gartha from each to all now ſhifts her Eyes,
As if too wild, and proud to be confin'd,
So proud with Praiſe, that ſhe does Praiſe deſpiſe,
And ſpreads like Sails ſwell'd with a proſp'rous Wind.
72.Her Words abound, as Maids firſt Stories flow,
When to ſtoln Lovers they from Parents ſcape,
And faſt ſhe ſpeaks, as Scouts chas'd by the Foe
Declare their Number, and their Battles ſhape.
3473.She tells how ſcarce from man ſhe knew,
When ſo audacious made by her Diſguiſe,
How ſoon her treble Voyce a Tenour grew,
Her baſhful Looks, bolder than Eagles Eyes.
74.She makes her ſecret Progreſs fully known,
And how falſe Ʋlpha aided the Succeſs;
Whoſe Treaſon though ſhe ſcorn'd, ſhe grac'd her own,
As Traytors Greatneſs makes their Treaſon leſs.
75.Whilſt thus her mourning Conqueſt ſhe reports,
Their forward hopes ſhrunk back & ſeem'd diſmaid
To be inſtead of Sovereign Gold, with Courts
Small Plots (the common Coyn of Stateſmen) paid.
3576.Then thus ſpake Hermegild to higheſt Heights,
The loweſt Steps muſt be the firſt Degrees,
The ſtrongeſt ſtoop to carry greater Weights,
And from conceal'd ſmall Roots, ſpring lofty Trees.
77.Nature diſguis'd, does oft from Lowneſs riſe,
To high Effects; ſo does her Servant Art,
Courts which by Art ſubſiſt, and low Diſguiſe
Oft dreſs a King to play a Subject's part.
78.Theſe Clouds which threaten Hurgonil, e'r long
Shall o'r the ſleeping Duke a Tempeſt breed;
As weaker Winds may ſuddainly grow ſtrong,
And ſplit a Maſt, which firſt ſcarce ſhook a Reed.
3679.The World is not ſubdu'd by Victories,
Nor by the Voyce of Publick Councils ſway'd,
'Tis being wild beſt conquer'd by Surpriſe,
And eaſi'ſt rul'd, when to the Yoke betray'd.
80.Wiſe Courts for Man have many a little Snare
In Cities (now grown wild as Forreſts) ſpread
To take the uſeful Beaſt alive, whom War
Deſtroyes, tho he be uſeleſs being dead.
81.Now Borgio, who with Hopes ſwell'd Sails had ſteer'd,
Grows troubleſom, as Sails then ſtrong winds change
Like Sails he ſlackn'd, when his Hope laveer'd,
And ſeem'd as much a ſtorm, as ſtorms ſeem ſtrange.
3782.Invite, ſaid he, State Student to your Feaſt
Of Ruling Councils, an inſipid Food.
When Canibal Ambition is your Gueſt,
Who is not fed with Precepts, but with Blood.
83.Poorly you make us fall from publick Heights,
To private Depths; and all your great Deſigns,
Are ſubt'ly ſhrunk to Lovers little Slights,
Your Indian Voyage was to Copper Mines.
84.The Duke's Adoption by the King is ſeal'd,
The Count by Marriage plight to Orna ti'd,
Faſt by Confederate the Crown is held,
And we watch hard to ſcare a ſleeping Bride.
3885.Accurs'd be Courts where you, wiſe Stateſmen,
Your ſelves, and not your Maſter great, you keep
Your Watch with falſe Alarms, and only wake
To breed thoſe Fears, which hinder others ſleep.
86.Falſhood condemn'd you free from publick good,
Bind Truth to the Authority of Schools,
Leaſt in your Prieſts you ſhould be underſtood,
Prieſts you make falſe, and they confirm you Fools.
87.Tho humbly firſt you low as Serpents crawl,
Yet ſoon you ſhow your power, which is your Sting.
Wildly you catch at him, when you muſt fall
Who by your Weights grows weak, your govern'd King.
3988.Greedy as Lyons o'r your trembling Prey,
Rowling your Eyes about with Jealous Care,
For fear ſome other ſtrong Devourer may
In what you long have hunted, quickly ſhare.
89.You ſell the Peace that with your Blood you bought,
Then in your Cloſſets other Quarrels feign
To break that Peace, for which like Fools we fought
And make the People purchaſe it again.
90.At this old Hermegild renounc'd his Age,
For heat of Anger made his Viſage young,
And ſoon in Words he would let looſe his Rage,
But Gartha ſooner thus prevents his Tongue.
4091.Is this your Lyon Hubert, whom you bring
In terrour from his Canvas Cage, your Tent,
That by inſtinct he may to free the King
Roar, if he find him not of Kings Deſcent.
92.Or would he cure Courts tame Civility?
Or muſt the Ladies yield to him for fear?
Soon a diſpis'd dead Lyon ſhall he be,
If he pronounce his Savage Doctrine here.
93.Rebels to Courts, the Force of uſeful Power,
Where Stateſmen ſhould be ſafe tho vext with Cares,
To reſcue whom your Fury would devour,
They breed not War for you, but you for Wars.
4194.Courts form'd not War to keep the World alarm'd,
Or vex the Quiet, but to tame the Rude,
To Right whom Tumults wrongfully have harm'd,
And Conquer thoſe who have the good ſubdu'd.
95.Courts your wiſe Maſters, did invent the odds
Of Camps o'r Crowds, you muſter'd by your wills,
Would now like Ruffian Giants brave your Gods,
Who ſmile in Clouds to ſee you heave at Hills.
96.How wildly would the World be Rul'd, if left
By Civil Courts to your uncivil Sway?
Juſtice would hardly dare to bluſh at Theft,
Nor Prieſts to ſigh, when Prieſts become their Prey.
4297.What are your Battles where Ambition tries
Thoſe Titles which avoid the Teſt of Law,
Battles, the Worlds confuſed Lotteries,
Where for the Prize thouſands together draw.
98.Like mighty Murtherers you Honour boaſt,
Ofener by Chance than Valour give Defeats;
Vainly like Gameſters count not what you loſt,
But what you won, hiding your baſe Retreats.
99.By wretched Rapine urg'd to bold Attacks,
And when a City even by Treaty yields,
You oft out do the Fame of Gothick Sacks,
And where they City's left, leave deſart Fields.
43100.And when your conquering Train comes home quite tir'd
With emptying Cities, and with filling Graves,
Your Foreign Vices are at firſt admir'd,
'Till low you fall in Riots as your Slaves.
101.Now Hubert did arreſt her pleading hand,
Which earneſt grew, & did her Tongue out-plead,
His Looks did Borgio's Silence ſoon command,
And on her Hand he Tears of kindneſs ſhed.
102.And that ſweet Pledge with fervent Kiſſes held,
As faſt as Lovers then that fair Hand hold,
Which has the long ſought Promiſe newly ſeal'd,
Whe Rivals hopes grow warm, & theirs grow cold ▪
44103.He ſaid ſhe was Heavens private Mirrour wrought,
For Kings that they might ſecret Truths diſcern;
He prais'd the Court, that her ſuch greatneſs taught
As only Courts can teach, and Princes learn.
104.Now with one Mind to ſeveral Cares they hie;
She haſtes to Court to haſten Orna's ſhame:
And both the Chiefs diſguis'd to Breſcia fly,
Thro Miſts returning as in Crowds they came.
105.Iubert will wait till her Deſigns appear
In larger Growth, for He was bred to ſow
Courts little Fields, and well he knew that there
Small Rivals oft to mighty Miſchiefs grow.
45106.They look but wrong on Courts who can derive
No great Effects from outward Littleneſs;
Thro Fooliſh Scorn they turn the Proſpective,
And ſo contract Courts little things to leſs.
107.Man's little Heart in narrow ſpace does hide
Great Thoughts, ſuch as have ſpacious Empire ſway'd
The little Needle does vaſt Carricks guide,
And of ſmall Atoms were the Mountains made.
FINIS.