Part 23

The Ladies jest! command him to feign still! Tell him, how, one day, he may be in love! That lover's reason hath not Love's free will! Smile in disdain, to think of that he proves! (O me, DAIPHANTUS! how art thou advised? When he's less pitied, then he is despised!)

They hold this but his humour! seem so wise! And many lovers' stories forth do bring! Court him with shadows, whilst he catcheth flies, Biting his fingers till the blood forth spring! Then do they much commend his careless Passion! Call him "a lover of our Courtiers' fashion!"

All this they do in modesty; yet free From thinking him so honest, as in truth: Much less so kind, as to love two or three, Him near allied; and he himself a youth! Till with the sweat, which from his sufferings rise, His face is pearled, like the lights his eyes.

Then with his look down-cast, and trembling hand, A High Dutch colour, and a tongue like ice, Apart with this EURIALÆ to stand Endeavours he. This was his last device, Yet in so humble strains, this Gallant courts her; The wind being high, his breath it never hurts her!

Speechless thus stands he, till She feared him dead, And rubs his temples, calls and cries for aid. Water is fetched and spunged into his head: Who then starts up; from dreaming, as he said, And craving absence of all, but this Saint, He 'gan to court her, but with a heart right faint.

"Bright Star of PHŒBUS! Goddess of my thought! Behold thy vassal, humbled on his knee! Behold for thee, what gods and Art hath wrought, A man adoring! of Love, the lowest degree. I love! I honour thee!" No more; there stayed As if foresworn; even so, was he afraid!

EURIALÆ now spake, yet seemed in wonder, Her lips when parting, heaven did ope his treasure, "O do not, do not love! I will not sunder A heart in two! Love hath nor height nor measure! Live still a virgin! Then I'll be thy lover!" Heaven here did close. No tongue could after move her.

As if in heaven, he was ravished so. O love! O voice! O face! which is the glory? O day! O night! O Age! O worlds of joy! Of every part, true love might write a story. Convert my sighs, O to some angel's tongue. To die for Love is life! Death is best young!

She gone, URANIA came. He, on the flower, But sight of her revived his noble fire: And as if MARS did thunder, words did shower! (Love speaks in heat, when 'tis in most Desire) She made him mad, whose sight had him revived; Now speaks he plainly! Storms past, the air is glide.

"Why was I made, to bear such woe and grief? Why was I born, but in Love to be nourished? Why then for Love (Love, of all virtues chief), And I not pitied, though I be not cherished? What! did my eyes offend in virtue seeing? O no! True Virtue is the lover's being!

"Beauty and Virtue are the twins of life; Love is the mother which them forth doth bring. Wit with discretion ends the lover's strife. Patience with silence is a glorious thing. Love crowns a man, Love gives to all due merit; Men without love are bodies without spirit.

"Love to a mortal is both life and treasure. Love changed to Wedlock doubleth in her glory. Love is the gem, whose worth is without measure. Fame dies, if not entombed within Love's story. Man that lives, lives not, if he wants Content. Man that dies, dies not, if with Love's consent."

Thus spake DAIPHANTUS, and thus spake he well; Which wise URANIA well did understand: So well she like it, as it did excel. Now graced she him with her white slender hand, With words most sweet, a colour fresh and fair, In heavenly speech, she 'gan his woes declare.

"My good DAIPHANTUS! Love, it is no toy! CUPID, though blind, yet strikes the heart at last. His force, you feel! whose power must breed your joy; This is the meed for scoffs, you on him cast! You love, who scorned! your love, with scorn is quite! You love, yet want! your love, with want is spite!

"Love plays the wanton, where she means to kill. Love rides the fool, and spurs without direction. Love weeps like you, yet laughs at your good will. Love is, of all things, but the true confection. Love is of everything; yet itself's but one thing. Love is anything, yet indeed is nothing.

"We virgins know this, though not the force of Love. For we two sisters live as in a cell: Nor do we scorn it, though we it not approve; By prayer we hope, her charms for to repell! And thus adieu! But you, in Progress go, To find fit place to warble forth your woe.

"Who first seeks mercy, is the last for grief," Thus did She part; whose image stayed behind. He in a trance stands mute, finds no relief (For She was absent, whose tongue pleased his mind), But like a heartless and a hurtless creature, In admiration of so sweet a feature.

At length looked up, his shadow only seeing, Sighs to himself and weeps, yet silent stands; Kneels, riseth, walks, all this without True Being, Sure he was there, though fettered in Love's bands. His lips departed, parted were his blisses: Yet for pure love, each lip the other kisses.

Revived by this, or else Imagination, Recalls things past, the time to come laments; Records his love, but with an acclamation! Repents himself and all these accidents. Now with the wings of Love, he 'gins to raise, His Love to gain, this woman he doth praise.

"Women than Men are purer creatures far! The Soul of souls! the blessed Gift of Nature! To men, a heaven! to men, the brightest star! The pearl that's matchless! high, without all stature! So full of goodness, that Bounty waiteth still Upon their trencher! feeds them with free will!

"Where seek we Virtue, learn true Art or Glory; Where find we Joy that lasteth, still is spending, But in sweet Women? of man's life, the Story! Alpha, they are! Omega is their ending! Their virtues shine with such a sun of brightness! Yet he's unwise, that looks in them for lightness!"

(O let my pen relate mine own decay! There are, which are not, or which should not be, Some shaped like Saints, whose steps are not the way. O let my Verse not name their infamy! These hurt not all, but even the wandering eye, Which fondly gapes for his own misery.

These do not harm the honest or the just, The faithful lover, or the virtuous dame; But those whose souls be only given to lust, Care more for pleasure, than for worthy fame. But peace, my Muse! For now, methinks I hear An angel's voice come warbling in my ear!)

Not distant far, within a garden fair, The sweet ARTESIA sang unto her lute, Her voice charmed CUPID, and perfumed the air, Made beasts stand still, and birds for to be mute. Her voice and beauty proved so sad a ditty; Who saw, was blind! who heard, soon sued for pity!

This Lady was no virgin like the rest, Yet near allied. By Florence city dwelling (Nature and Art; within her both were blest; Music in her, and Love had his excelling). To visit her fair cousins oft she came; Perhaps more jocund, but no whit to blame.

Fortune had crossed her with a churlish Mate, Who STRYMON hight. A Palmer was his sire, Full nobly born and of a wealthy state; His son a child not born to his Desire. Thus was she crossed, which causèd her thereby, DAIPHANTUS' grief to mourn, by sympathy.

DAIPHANTUS hearing such a swan-tuned voice, Was ravished, as with angels' melody; Though in this labyrinth blest, could not rejoice, Nor yet could see what brought this harmony. At length, this goddess ceased; began draw near, Who, when he saw; he saw not, 'twas her sphere!

Away then crept he on his hands and knees, To hide himself: thought VENUS came to plague him! Which she espying, like the sun she stands; As with her beams, she thought for to assuage him. But like the sun, which gazed on blinds the eye, So he by her! and so resolved to die.

At this, in wonder softly did she pace it; Yet suddenly was stayed. His verses seized her, Which he late writ, forgot. Thus was he graced. She read them over, and the writing pleased her. For CUPID framed two mottoes in her heart: The one as DIAN'S, the other, for his dart.

She read and pitied; reading, Pity taught. She loved and hated; hate to Love did turn. She smiled and wept; her weeping Smiling brought. She hoped and feared; her Hopes in fear did mourn. She read, loved, smiled, and hoped; but 'twas in vain: Her tears, still dread; and pity, hate did gain.

She could have loved him, such true verses making; She might have loved him, and yet love beguiling. She would have kissed him, but feared his awaking; She might have kissed him, and sleep sweetly smiling. She thus afeared, did fear what she most wished. He thus in hope, still hoped for that he missed.

He looked! They two, long each on other gazed! Sweet silence pleaded what each other thought. Thus Love and Fancy both alike amazed, As if their tongues and hearts had been distraught. ARTESIA'S voice thus courted him at length. The more she spake, the greater was his strength!

"Good gentle Sir! your fortunes I bemoan, And wish my state so happy as to ease you! But She that grieved you, She it is alone, Whose breath can cure, and whose kind words appease you! Were I that She, heaven should my star extinguish, If you but loved me, ere I would relinquish.

"Yet, noble Sir! I can no love protest, For I am wedded (O word full fraught with woe!) But in such manner as good love is blest, In honest kindness, I'll not prove your foe! Mine own experience doth my counsel prove, I know to pity, yet not care to love!

"A sister, yet Nature hath given me, A virgin true, right fair, and sweetly kind. I for her good, Fortune hath driven me To be a comfort. Your heart shall be her mind. My woes yet tell me, she is best a maid!" And here she stopped her tears, her words thus stayed.

DAIPHANTUS then, in number without measure, Began her praises, which no pen can end. "O Saint! O sun of heaven, and earth the treasure! Who lives, if not thy honour to defend? Ah me! what mortal can be in love so strange, That wedding Virtue will a wand'ring range?

"She, like the morning, is still fresh and fair. The Elements, of her, they all do borrow; The Earth, the Fire, the Waters, and the Air; Their strength, heat, moisture, liveliness. No sorrow Can Virtue change! Beauty hath but one place. The heart's still perfect; though empaled the face.

"O eyes! no eyes, but stars still clearly shining! O face! no face but shape of angels' fashion! O lips! no lips, but bliss by kiss refining! O heart! no heart, but of true love right Passion! O eyes, face, lips, and heart, if not too cruel; To see, feel, taste, and love earth's rarest jewel."

This said, he paused, new praises now devising, Kneels to APOLLO for his skill and Art: When came the Ladies! At which, he arising, 'Twixt lip and lip, he had nor lips nor heart. His eyes, their eyes so sweetly did incumber: Although awaked, yet in a golden slumber.

Most like a lion raised from slumbering ease, He cast his looks, fall grimly them among. At length, he firmly knit what might appease His brow; looked stedfastly and long At one, till all their eyes with his eyes met alike On fair VITULLIA, who his heart did strike.

VITULLIA fair, yet brown; as mixed together As Art and Nature strove which was the purest. So sweet her smilings were, a grace to either! That heaven's glory in that face seemed truest. VENUS, excepted when the god her wooed, Was ne'er so fair! so tempting, yet so good!

Wonder not, mortals, though the Poets feign! The Muses' graces were in this She's favour: Nor wonder, though She strove his tongue to gain! For I lose mine, in thinking of his labour. "Well may he love," I write, "and all Wits praise her, She's so all humble, Learning cannot raise her!"

DAIPHANTUS oft sighed: "Oh!" oft said "Fair!" Then looks and sighs, and then cries wonderful; Thus did he long, and truly 'twas not rare: The object was! which made his mind so dull. Pray pardon him! for better to cry "Oh!" Than feel that Passion which caused him sigh so.

Now, all were silent, not alone this Lover, Till came ISMENIO, brother to this Saint, Whose haste made sweat, his tongue he could not prove her, For this against him, that his heart was faint: Thus all amazed, none knowing any cause, ISMENIO breathless, here had time to pause.

At length, ISMENIO, who had wit and skill, Questioned the reason of this strong effect: At last related, haste outwent his will, He told them, "He was sent, them to direct, Where hunting sports, their eyes should better please!" Who first went forth, DAIPHANTUS most did ease.

They gone, DAIPHANTUS to his standish highs! Thinks, in his writs VITULLIA'S beauties were: But what he wrote, his Muse not justifies, Bids him take time! "Love badly writes in fear! Her worthy praise, if he would truly write, Her kisses' nectar must the same indite."

"Art, and sweet Nature! Let your influence drop From me like rain! Yes, yes, in golden showers! (Whose end is Virtue, let him never stop!) But fall on her, like dew on sprinkling flowers! That both together meeting, may beget An ORPHEUS! two gems in a soil richly set!"

Thus ravished, then distracted, as was deemed, Not taught to write of Love in this extreme; In love, in fear; yea, trembling (as it seemed), If praising her, he should not keep the mean! Thus vexed, he wept! His tears intreated pity, But Love unconstant, tunes a woful ditty.

Now kneels to VENUS. Faithfulness protested To this, none else! This was his only Saint! Vowed e'er his service, or to be arrested To VENUS' censure! Thus he left to faint. His love brought Wit, and Wit engendered Spirit; True Love and Wit thus learned him to indite.

"As the mild lamb runs forth from shepherd's fold, By ravenous wolves is caught and made a prey: So is my Sense, by which Love taketh hold, Tormented more than any tongue can say. The difference is, they tortured so, do die! I feed the torment breeds my misery.

"Consumed by her I live, such is her glory! Despised of her I love, I more adore her! I'll ne'er write ought, but of her virtue's story! Beauty unblasted is the eye's rich storer, If I should die, O who would ring love's knell?" Faint not, DAIPHANTUS! Wise men love not so well!

"Like heaven's artist, the astronomer, Gazing on stars, oft to the earth doth fall: So I, DAIPHANTUS, now Lover's Harbinger, Am quite condemned to Love's funeral! Who falls by women, by them oft doth rise; Ladies have lips to kiss, as well as eyes!"

But tush, thou fool! thou lov'st all thou seest. Who once thou lovest, thou should'st change her never! Constant in love, DAIPHANTUS, see thou beest! If thou hope comfort, Love but once, and ever! "Fortune! O be so good to let me find A lady living, of this constant mind!"

"O, I would wear her in my heart's heart-gore! And place her on the continent of stars! Think heaven and earth, like her had not one more! Would fight for her till all my face were scars! But if that women be such fickle Shees; Men may be like them in infirmities!"

O no, DAIPHANTUS! Women are not so 'Tis but their shadows, pictures merely painted! Then turn poor lover! "O heaven! not to my woe! Then to VITULLIA!" With that word, he fainted. Yet she that wounds, did heal. Like her, no heaven. Odds in a man, a woman can make even!

"O my VITULLIA! Let me write that down! O sweet VITULLIA! Nature made thee sweet! O kind VITULLIA! Truth hath the surest ground! I'll weep or laugh, so that our hearts may meet!" Love is not always merry, nor still weeping: A drop of each, Love's joys are sweets in sleeping.

"Her name, in golden letters, on my breast I'll 'grave! Around my temples, in a garland wear! My Art shall be, her favour for to have! My Learning still her honour high to rear! My lips shall close but to her sacred name! My tongue be silent but to spread her fame!

"In woods, groves, hills, VITULLIA'S name shall ring! In meadows, orchards, gardens, sweetest and fair! I'll learn the birds her name alone to sing! All quires shall chant it in a heavenly air! The Day shall be her Usher! Night, her Page! Heaven, her Palace! and this Earth, her Stage!

"Virgin's pure chasteness, in her eyes shall be! Women, true love, from her true mind shall learn! Widows, their mourning in her face shall see! Children, their duty in her speech discern! And all of them in love with each, but I: Who fear her love, will make me fear to die!

"My Orisons are still to please this creature! My Valour sleeps but when She is defended! My Wits still jaded but when I praise her feature! My Life is hers; in her begun and ended! O happy day wherein I wear not willow! Thrice blessed night, wherein her breast's my pillow!

"I'll serve her, as the Mistress of all Pleasure! I'll love her, as the Goddess of my soul! I'll keep her, as the Jewel of all treasure! I'll live with her, yet out of LOVE'S control! That all may know, I will not from her part, I'll double lock her in my lips and heart!

If e'er I sigh, it shall be for her pity! If e'er I mourn, her funeral draws near! If e'er I sing, her virtue is the ditty! If e'er I smile, her beauty is the sphere! All that I do, is that I may admire her! All that I wish, is that I still desire her!"

But peace, DAIPHANTUS! Music is only sweet, When without discord. A consort makes a heaven. The ear is ravished when true voices meet. Odds, but in music, never makes things even. In voices' difference breeds a pleasant ditty, In Love, a difference brings a scornful pity.

Whose was the tongue, EURIALÆ defended? Whose was the wit, URANIA did praise? Whose were the lips, ARTESIA'S voice commended? Whose was the heart loved all? all crowned with bays? "Sure 'twas myself! What did I? O I tremble! Yet I'll not weep! Wise men may love dissemble.

"Fie, no! Fond Love hath ever his reward! A sea of tears! a world of sighs and groans! Ah me! VITULLIA will have no regard To ease my grief, and cure me of my moans; If once her ear should hearken to that voice, Relates my fortunes in Love's fickle choice.

But now, I will, their worth with hers declare, That Truth by Error may have her true being; Things good are lessened by the thing that's rare. Beauty increaseth by a blackness seeing. Whoso is fair and chaste, they, sure, are best! Such is VITULLIA! such are all the rest!

"But she is fair, and chaste, and wise." What then, So are they all, without a difference! "She's fair, chaste, wise, and kind, yes, to all men." The rest are so! Number makes Excellence. "She's fair, chaste, wise, kind, rich, yet humble." They three, her equal! Virtue can never stumble.

"VITULLIA is the sun; they stars of night!" Yet night is the bosom wherein the sun doth rest. "The moon herself borrows of the sun's light," All by the stars take counsel to be blest. The day's the sun, yet Cupid can it blind; The stars at night, Sleep cures the troubled mind.

"She is a rose, the fairer, so the sweeter! She is a lute, whose belly tunes the music! She is my prose, yet makes me speak all metre! She is my life, yet sickens me with physic! She is a virgin, that makes her a jewel! She will not love me, therein She is cruel!

"EURIALÆ is like Sleep when one is weary URANIA is like a golden Slumber. ARTESIA'S voice, like Dreams that make men merry. VITULLIA, like a Bed, all these encumber. 1. Sleep, 2. Slumber, 3. Dreams upon a 4. Bed are best; First, Second, Third, but in the Fourth is blest.

"O but VITULLIA, what? She's wondrous pretty! O I, and what? so is She very fair! O yes, and what? She's like herself most witty! And yet, what is She? She is all but air! What can earth be, but earth? So we are all! Peace, then, my Muse! Opinion oft doth fall!

"EURIALÆ, I honour for humility! URANIA, I reverence for her wit! ARTESIA, I adore for true agility! Three Graces for the goddesses most fit. Each of these gifts are blessed in their faces, O, what's VITULLIA, who hath all these Graces?"

She is but a Lady! So are all the rest. As pure, as sweet, as modest, yea as loyal; Yes, She's the Shadow (shadows are the least!), Which tells the Hour of Virtue by her dial. By her, men see there is on earth a heaven! By them, men know her virtues are matched even!

In praising all, much time he vainly spent, Yet thought none worthy but VITULLIA; Then called to mind, he could not well repent The love he bare the wise URANIA. EURIALÆ, ARTESIA, all, such beauties had, Which as they pleased him, made him well nigh mad.

EURIALÆ, her beauty, his eyesight harmed! URANIA, her wit, his tongue incensed! ARTESIA, her voice, his ears had charmed! Thus poor DAIPHANTUS was, with love tormented. VITULLIA'S beauty, as he did impart, The others' virtues vanquishèd his heart.

At length, he grew as in an ecstasy 'Twixt Love and Love, Whose beauty was the truer? His thoughts thus diverse, as in a lunacy, He starts and stares, to see Whose was the purer? Oft treads a maze, runs, suddenly then stays, Thus with himself, himself makes many frays.

Now with his fingers, like a barber snaps! Plays with the fire-pan, as it were a lute! Unties his shoe-strings! Then his lips, he laps! Whistles awhile, and thinks it is a flute! At length, a glass presents it to his sight, Where well he acts fond Love in Passions right.

His chin he strokes! swears "beardless men kiss best!" His lips anoints, says "Ladies use such fashions!" Spits on his napkin, terms that "the bathing jest." Then on the dust, describes the Courtiers' Passion. Then humble calls, "Though they do still aspire; Ladies then fall, when Lords rise by desire."

Then straddling goes, says, "Frenchmen fear no bears!" Vows "he will travel to the Siege of Brest!" Swears, "Captains, they do all against the hair!" Protests "Tobacco is a smoke-dried jest!" Takes up his pen for a tobacco pipe, Thus all besmeared, each lip, the other wipe.

His breath, he thinks the smoke! his tongue, a coal! Then runs for bottle-ale to quench his thirst; Runs to his ink-pot, drinks! then stops the hole! And thus grows madder than he was at first. TASSO he finds, by that of HAMLET thinks Terms him a madman, then of his inkhorn drinks!