Part 13

Where is that holy fire, which _Verse_ is said To have? is that inchanting force decai'd? _Verse_ that drawes _Natures_ workes, from _Natures_ law, Thee, her best worke, to her worke cannot draw. Have my teares quench'd my old _Poetique_ fire; 5 Why quench'd they not as well, that of _desire_? Thoughts, my mindes creatures, often are with thee, But I, their maker, want their libertie. Onely thine image, in my heart, doth sit, But that is waxe, and fires environ it. 10 My fires have driven, thine have drawne it hence; And I am rob'd of _Picture_, _Heart_, and _Sense_. Dwells with me still mine irksome _Memory_, Which, both to keepe, and lose, grieves equally. That tells me'how faire thou art: Thou art so faire, 15 As, _gods_, when _gods_ to thee I doe compare, Are grac'd thereby; And to make blinde men see, What things _gods_ are, I say they'are like to thee. For, if we justly call each silly _man_ A _litle world_, What shall we call thee than? 20 Thou art not soft, and cleare, and strait, and faire, As _Down_, as _Stars_, _Cedars_, and _Lillies_ are, But thy right hand, and cheek, and eye, only Are like thy other hand, and cheek, and eye. Such was my _Phao_ awhile, but shall be never, 25 As thou, wast, art, and, oh, maist be ever. Here lovers sweare in their _Idolatrie_, That I am such; but _Griefe_ discolors me. And yet I grieve the lesse, least _Griefe_ remove My beauty, and make me'unworthy of thy love. 30 Plaies some soft boy with thee, oh there wants yet A mutuall feeling which should sweeten it. His chinne, a thorny hairy unevennesse Doth threaten, and some daily change possesse. Thy body is a naturall _Paradise_, 35 In whose selfe, unmanur'd, all pleasure lies, Nor needs _perfection_; why shouldst thou than Admit the tillage of a harsh rough man? Men leave behinde them that which their sin showes, And are as theeves trac'd, which rob when it snows. 40 But of our dallyance no more signes there are, Then _fishes_ leave in streames, or _Birds_ in aire. And betweene us all sweetnesse may be had; All, all that _Nature_ yields, or _Art_ can adde. My two lips, eyes, thighs, differ from thy two, 45 But so, as thine from one another doe; And, oh, no more; the likenesse being such, Why should they not alike in all parts touch? Hand to strange hand, lippe to lippe none denies; Why should they brest to brest, or thighs to thighs? 50 Likenesse begets such strange selfe flatterie, That touching my selfe, all seemes done to thee. My selfe I embrace, and mine owne hands I kisse, And amorously thanke my selfe for this. Me, in my glasse, I call thee; But alas, 55 When I would kisse, teares dimme mine _eyes_, and _glasse_. O cure this loving madnesse, and restore Me to mee; thee, my _halfe_, my _all_, my _more_. So may thy cheekes red outweare scarlet dye, And their white, whitenesse of the _Galaxy_, 60 So may thy mighty, amazing beauty move _Envy_'in all _women_, and in all _men_, _love_, And so be _change_, and _sicknesse_, farre from thee, As thou by comming neere, keep'st them from me.

[Heroicall Epistle.] _In 1633_ Sapho to Philaenis _follows Basse's_ Epitaph upon Shakespeare, _and precedes_ The Annuntiation and Passion. _In 1635 it was placed with some other miscellaneous and dubious poems among the_ Letters to severall Personages, _where it has appeared in all subsequent editions. I have transferred it to the neighbourhood of the_ Elegies _and given it the title which seems to describe exactly the genre to which it belongs. In JC it is entitled_ Elegie 18_th._ _The other MSS. are A18, A25, O'F, N, P, TCC, TCD. In A25, JC, and P, ll. 31-54 are omitted_]

[2 have? _1650-69:_ have, _1633-39_]

[3 workes, _1633-39:_ worke, _1650-69_, _O'F_]

[8 maker, _1635-69:_ maker; _1633_]

[17 thereby; And _1635-69:_ thereby. And _1633_, _some copies_]

[22 As _Down_, _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ As dowves _P:_ As downs _O'F_. _See note_

_Cedars_,] as Cedars, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]

[26 maist be ever. _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC:_ maist thou be ever. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ shalt be for ever. _P:_ mayst thou be for ever. _JC_]

[33 thorny hairy _1633-69:_ thorney-hairy _TCD:_ thorny, hairy _modern edd._]

[40 are _Ed:_ are, _1633-69_]

[58 me to mee; thee, _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _TC_ (_generally_ mee, _in MSS.:_) me to mee; shee, _1633:_ me to thee, thee _Chambers_

_halfe_,] harte _A25_, _JC_, _P_]

[59-60

So may thy cheekes outweare all scarlet dye May blisse and thee be one eternallye _P:_ _om. JC_ ]

[61 mighty, amazing _Ed:_ mighty amazing _1633-69:_ almighty amazing _P_]

EPITHALAMIONS,

_OR_

MARRIAGE SONGS.

_An Epithalamion, Or mariage Song on the Lady_ Elizabeth, _and_ Count Palatine _being married on St._ Valentines _day._

I.

Haile Bishop Valentine, whose day this is, All the Aire is thy Diocis, And all the chirping Choristers And other birds are thy Parishioners, Thou marryest every yeare 5 The Lirique Larke, and the grave whispering Dove, The Sparrow that neglects his life for love, The household Bird, with the red stomacher, Thou mak'st the black bird speed as soone, As doth the Goldfinch, or the Halcyon; 10 The husband cocke lookes out, and straight is sped, And meets his wife, which brings her feather-bed. This day more cheerfully then ever shine, This day, which might enflame thy self, Old Valentine.

II.

Till now, Thou warmd'st with multiplying loves 15 Two larkes, two sparrowes, or two Doves, All that is nothing unto this, For thou this day couplest two Phœnixes; Thou mak'st a Taper see What the sunne never saw, and what the Arke 20 (Which was of soules, and beasts, the cage, and park,) Did not containe, one bed containes, through Thee, Two Phœnixes, whose joyned breasts Are unto one another mutuall nests, Where motion kindles such fires, as shall give 25 Yong Phœnixes, and yet the old shall live. Whose love and courage never shall decline, But make the whole year through, thy day, O Valentine.

III.

Up then faire Phœnix Bride, frustrate the Sunne, Thy selfe from thine affection 30 Takest warmth enough, and from thine eye All lesser birds will take their Jollitie. Up, up, faire Bride, and call, Thy starres, from out their severall boxes, take Thy Rubies, Pearles, and Diamonds forth, and make 35 Thy selfe a constellation, of them All, And by their blazing, signifie, That a Great Princess falls, but doth not die; Bee thou a new starre, that to us portends Ends of much wonder; And be Thou those ends. 40 Since thou dost this day in new glory shine, May all men date Records, from this thy Valentine.

IIII.

Come forth, come forth, and as one glorious flame Meeting Another, growes the same, So meet thy Fredericke, and so 45 To an unseparable union growe. Since separation Falls not on such things as are infinite, Nor things which are but one, can disunite, You'are twice inseparable, great, and one; 50 Goe then to where the Bishop staies, To make you one, his way, which divers waies Must be effected; and when all is past, And that you'are one, by hearts and hands made fast, You two have one way left, your selves to'entwine, 55 Besides this Bishops knot, or Bishop Valentine.

V.

But oh, what ailes the Sunne, that here he staies, Longer to day, then other daies? Staies he new light from these to get? And finding here such store, is loth to set? 60 And why doe you two walke, So slowly pac'd in this procession? Is all your care but to be look'd upon, And be to others spectacle, and talke? The feast, with gluttonous delaies, 65 Is eaten, and too long their meat they praise, The masquers come too late, and'I thinke, will stay, Like Fairies, till the Cock crow them away. Alas, did not Antiquity assigne A night, as well as day, to thee, O Valentine? 70

VI.

They did, and night is come; and yet wee see Formalities retarding thee. What meane these Ladies, which (as though They were to take a clock in peeces,) goe So nicely about the Bride; 75 A Bride, before a good night could be said, Should vanish from her cloathes, into her bed, As Soules from bodies steale, and are not spy'd. But now she is laid; What though shee bee? Yet there are more delayes, For, where is he? 80 He comes, and passes through Spheare after Spheare, First her sheetes, then her Armes, then any where. Let not this day, then, but this night be thine, Thy day was but the eve to this, O Valentine.

VII.

Here lyes a shee Sunne, and a hee Moone here, 85 She gives the best light to his Spheare, Or each is both, and all, and so They unto one another nothing owe, And yet they doe, but are So just and rich in that coyne which they pay, 90 That neither would, nor needs forbeare, nor stay; Neither desires to be spar'd, nor to spare, They quickly pay their debt, and then Take no acquittances, but pay again; They pay, they give, they lend, and so let fall 95 No such occasion to be liberall. More truth, more courage in these two do shine, Then all thy turtles have, and sparrows, Valentine.

VIII.

And by this act of these two Phenixes Nature againe restored is, 100 For since these two are two no more, Ther's but one Phenix still, as was before. Rest now at last, and wee As Satyres watch the Sunnes uprise, will stay Waiting, when your eyes opened, let out day, 105 Onely desir'd, because your face wee see; Others neare you shall whispering speake, And wagers lay, at which side day will breake, And win by'observing, then, whose hand it is That opens first a curtaine, hers or his; 110 This will be tryed to morrow after nine, Till which houre, wee thy day enlarge, O Valentine.

[Epithalamions, _&c._ _1635-69:_ _no general title_, _1633_. An Epithalamion, _&c._ _1633-69_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_ (_most of the MSS. have the full title but with slight verbal variations_)]

[13 shine, _Ed:_ shine. _1633-69_]

[14 enflame] enflãe _1633_]

[18 Phœnixes; _Ed:_ Phœnixes, _1633:_ Phœnixes. _1635-69_]

[21 foules, _1633:_ fowle, _1635-69_]

[22 Thee, _1633_, _1650-69:_ Thee: _1635-39_]

[37 their blazing _1633-69_, _D_, _Lec:_ this blazing _A25_, _B_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ their), _P_, _TCD_]

[40 ends. _1635-69:_ ends, _1633_]

[42 this thy _1633-54_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ this day _1669_, _A25_, _JC_, _Chambers_]

[46 growe. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ goe, _1633-69_, _Lec_]

[49 disunite, _Grolier:_ disunite. _1633-69 and Chambers_]

[56 Bishops knot, or Bishop Valentine. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_ (our), _S96_, _TC_ Bishops knot, O Bishop Valentine. _1633-54:_ Bishops knot of Bishop Valentine. _1669:_ Bishops knot, of Bishop Valentine. _Chambers_]

[60 store, _1633_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_

starres, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]

[67 come too late, _1633:_ come late, _1635-69_]

[70 O Valentine? _1633-54_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ old Valentine? _1669_]

[81 passes _1633-39:_ passeth _1650-69_

Spheare, _Ed:_ Spheare. _1633:_ Spheare: _1635-69_]

[82 where. _1650-69:_ where, _1633-39_]

[85 here, _1633-39_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD:_

there, _1650-69_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]

[91 stay;] stay, _1633_]

[92 spare, _1633-54:_ spare. _1669_]

[94 acquittances, _1635-69:_ acquittance, _1633_]

[96 such] _om._ _1669_]

[104 As ... uprise,] _brackets 1650-69_]

[105 day,] day. _1633_]

ECCLOGUE.

1613. _December_ 26.

Allophanes _finding_ Idios _in the country in Christmas time, reprehends his absence from court, at the mariage Of the Earle of Sommerset_, Idios _gives an account of his purpose therein, and of his absence thence_.

_Allophanes._

Vnseasonable man, statue of ice, What could to countries solitude entice Thee, in this yeares cold and decrepit time? Natures instinct drawes to the warmer clime Even small birds, who by that courage dare, 5 In numerous fleets, saile through their Sea, the aire. What delicacie can in fields appeare, Whil'st Flora'herselfe doth a freeze jerkin weare? Whil'st windes do all the trees and hedges strip Of leafes, to furnish roddes enough to whip 10 Thy madnesse from thee; and all springs by frost Have taken cold, and their sweet murmure lost; If thou thy faults or fortunes would'st lament With just solemnity, do it in Lent; At Court the spring already advanced is, 15 The Sunne stayes longer up; and yet not his The glory is, farre other, other fires. First, zeale to Prince and State; then loves desires Burne in one brest, and like heavens two great lights, The first doth governe dayes, the other nights. 20 And then that early light, which did appeare Before the Sunne and Moone created were, The Princes favour is defus'd o'r all, From which all Fortunes, Names, and Natures fall; Then from those wombes of starres, the Brides bright eyes, 25 At every glance, a constellation flyes, And sowes the Court with starres, and doth prevent In light and power, the all-ey'd firmament; First her eyes kindle other Ladies eyes, Then from their beames their jewels lusters rise, 30 And from their jewels torches do take fire, And all is warmth, and light, and good desire; Most other Courts, alas, are like to hell, Where in darke plotts, fire without light doth dwell: Or but like Stoves, for lust and envy get 35 Continuall, but artificiall heat; Here zeale and love growne one, all clouds disgest, And make our Court an everlasting East. And can'st thou be from thence?

_Idios._ No, I am there. As heaven, to men dispos'd, is every where, 40 So are those Courts, whose Princes animate, Not onely all their house, but all their State. Let no man thinke, because he is full, he hath all, Kings (as their patterne, God) are liberall Not onely in fulnesse, but capacitie, 45 Enlarging narrow men, to feele and see, And comprehend the blessings they bestow. So, reclus'd hermits often times do know More of heavens glory, then a worldling can. As man is of the world, the heart of man, 50 Is an epitome of Gods great booke Of creatures, and man need no farther looke; So is the Country of Courts, where sweet peace doth, As their one common soule, give life to both, I am not then from Court.

_Allophanes._ Dreamer, thou art. 55 Think'st thou fantastique that thou hast a part In the East-Indian fleet, because thou hast A little spice, or Amber in thy taste? Because thou art not frozen, art thou warme? Seest thou all good because thou seest no harme? 60 The earth doth in her inward bowels hold Stuffe well dispos'd, and which would faine be gold, But never shall, except it chance to lye, So upward, that heaven gild it with his eye; As, for divine things, faith comes from above, 65 So, for best civill use, all tinctures move From higher powers; From God religion springs, Wisdome, and honour from the use of Kings. Then unbeguile thy selfe, and know with mee, That Angels, though on earth employd they bee, 70 Are still in heav'n, so is hee still at home That doth, abroad, to honest actions come. Chide thy selfe then, O foole, which yesterday Might'st have read more then all thy books bewray; Hast thou a history, which doth present 75 A Court, where all affections do assent Unto the Kings, and that, that Kings are just? And where it is no levity to trust? Where there is no ambition, but to'obey, Where men need whisper nothing, and yet may; 80 Where the Kings favours are so plac'd, that all Finde that the King therein is liberall To them, in him, because his favours bend To vertue, to the which they all pretend? Thou hast no such; yet here was this, and more, 85 An earnest lover, wise then, and before. Our little Cupid hath sued Livery, And is no more in his minority, Hee is admitted now into that brest Where the Kings Counsells and his secrets rest. 90 What hast thou lost, O ignorant man?

_Idios._ I knew All this, and onely therefore I withdrew. To know and feele all this, and not to have Words to expresse it, makes a man a grave Of his owne thoughts; I would not therefore stay 95 At a great feast, having no Grace to say. And yet I scap'd not here; for being come Full of the common joy, I utter'd some; Reade then this nuptiall song, which was not made Either the Court or mens hearts to invade, 100 But since I'am dead, and buried, I could frame No Epitaph, which might advance my fame So much as this poore song, which testifies I did unto that day some sacrifice.

EPITHALAMION.

I.

_The time of the Mariage_.

Thou art repriv'd old yeare, thou shalt not die, 105 Though thou upon thy death bed lye, And should'st within five dayes expire, Yet thou art rescu'd by a mightier fire, Then thy old Soule, the Sunne, When he doth in his largest circle runne. 110 The passage of the West or East would thaw, And open wide their easie liquid jawe To all our ships, could a Promethean art Either unto the Northerne Pole impart The fire of these inflaming eyes, or of this loving heart. 115

II.

_Equality of persons_.

But undiscerning Muse, which heart, which eyes, In this new couple, dost thou prize, When his eye as inflaming is As hers, and her heart loves as well as his? Be tryed by beauty, and than 120 The bridegroome is a maid, and not a man. If by that manly courage they be tryed, Which scornes unjust opinion; then the bride Becomes a man. Should chance or envies Art Divide these two, whom nature scarce did part? 125 Since both have both th'enflaming eyes, and both the loving heart.

III.

_Raysing of the Bridegroome_.

Though it be some divorce to thinke of you Singly, so much one are you two, Yet let me here contemplate thee, First, cheerfull Bridegroome, and first let mee see, 130 How thou prevent'st the Sunne, And his red foming horses dost outrunne, How, having laid downe in thy Soveraignes brest All businesses, from thence to reinvest Them, when these triumphs cease, thou forward art 135 To shew to her, who doth the like impart, The fire of thy inflaming eyes, and of thy loving heart.

IIII.

_Raising of the Bride._

But now, to Thee, faire Bride, it is some wrong, To thinke thou wert in Bed so long, Since Soone thou lyest downe first, tis fit 140 Thou in first rising should'st allow for it. Pouder thy Radiant haire, Which if without such ashes thou would'st weare, Thou, which to all which come to looke upon, Art meant for Phœbus, would'st be Phaëton. 145 For our ease, give thine eyes th'unusual part Of joy, a Teare; so quencht, thou maist impart, To us that come, thy inflaming eyes, to him, thy loving heart.

V.

_Her Apparrelling._

Thus thou descend'st to our infirmitie, Who can the Sun in water see. 150 Soe dost thou, when in silke and gold, Thou cloudst thy selfe; since wee which doe behold, Are dust, and wormes, 'tis just Our objects be the fruits of wormes and dust; Let every Jewell be a glorious starre, 155 Yet starres are not so pure, as their spheares are. And though thou stoope, to'appeare to us in part, Still in that Picture thou intirely art, Which thy inflaming eyes have made within his loving heart.

VI.

_Going to the Chappell._

Now from your Easts you issue forth, and wee, 160 As men which through a Cipres see The rising sun, doe thinke it two, Soe, as you goe to Church, doe thinke of you, But that vaile being gone, By the Church rites you are from thenceforth one. 165 The Church Triumphant made this match before, And now the Militant doth strive no more; Then, reverend Priest, who Gods Recorder art, Doe, from his Dictates, to these two impart All blessings, which are seene, or thought, by Angels eye or heart. 170

VII.

_The Benediction._

Blest payre of Swans, Oh may you interbring Daily new joyes, and never sing, Live, till all grounds of wishes faile, Till honor, yea till wisedome grow so stale, That, new great heights to trie, 175 It must serve your ambition, to die; Raise heires, and may here, to the worlds end, live Heires from this King, to take thankes, you, to give, Nature and grace doe all, and nothing Art. May never age, or error overthwart 180 With any West, these radiant eyes, with any North, this heart.

VIII.

_Feasts and Revells._

But you are over-blest. Plenty this day Injures; it causeth time to stay; The tables groane, as though this feast Would, as the flood, destroy all fowle and beast. 185 And were the doctrine new That the earth mov'd, this day would make it true; For every part to dance and revell goes. They tread the ayre, and fal not where they rose. Though six houres since, the Sunne to bed did part, 190 The masks and banquets will not yet impart A sunset to these weary eyes, A Center to this heart.

IX.

_The Brides going to bed._