Part 17

At my approach new Fires my Bosom warm; New vigor I receive from every Charm: I found invention with my Love increase; And both instruct me with new Arts to please; New Gallantrys I sought to entertain, And had the Joy to find ‘em not in vain; All the Extravagance of Youth I show, And pay’d to Age the Dotage I shall owe; All a beginning Passion can conceive, What beauty Merits, or fond Love can give. With diligence I wait _Aminta’s_ look, And her decrees from Frowns or Smiles I took, To my new fixt resolves, no stop I found, My Flame was uncontroul’d and knew no bound; Unlimited Expences every day On what I thought she lik’d, I threw away: My Coaches, and my Liverys, rich and new, In all this Court, none made a better show. _Aminta_ here was unconfin’d and free, And all a well-born Maid cou’d render me She gave: My early Visits does allow, And more ingagingly receives me now, Her still increasing Charms, Her soft Address, } Partial Lover cannot well Express, } Her Beautys with my flame each hour increase. } ‘Twas here my Soul more true content receiv’d, Then all the Duller hours of Life I’d liv’d. --But with the envying Night I still repair To _Inquietude_; none lodge at _Little Care_. The hasty Minutes summon me away, } While parting pains surmount past hours of Joy, } And Nights large Reckoning over-pays the day. } The GOD of _Sleep_ his wonted Aid denys; Lends no Repose, or to my Heart or Eyes: Only one hour of Rest the breaking Morning brought, In which this happy Dream Assail’d my Thought,

The DREAM.

_All Trembling in my Arms_ Aminta _lay,_ _Defending of the Bliss I strove to take;_ _Raising my Rapture by her kind delay,_ _Her force so charming was and weak._ _The soft resistance did betray the Grant,_ _While I prest on the Heaven of my desires;_ _Her rising Breasts with nimbler Motions Pant;_ _Her dying Eyes assume new Fires._ _Now to the height of languishment she grows,_ _And still her looks new Charms put on;_ _--Now the last Mystery of_ Love _she knows,_ _We Sigh, and Kiss: I wak’d, and all was done._

‘Twas but a Dream, yet by my Heart I knew, Which still was Panting, part of it was true: Oh how I strove the rest to have believ’d; Asham’d and Angry to be undeceiv’d! But now LOVE calls me forth; and scarce allows A moment to the Gods to pay my Vows: He all Devotion has in disesteem, But that which we too fondly render him: LOVE drest me for the day; and both repair, With an impatient hast to _Little Care_; Where many days m’ advantage I pursu’d, But Night returns me to _Inquietude_; There suffer’d all that absent Lovers griev’d, And only knew by what I felt I liv’d; A thousand little Fears afflict my Heart, And all its former order quite subvert; The Beauty’s which all day my hope imploy’d, Seem now too excellent to be enjoy’d. I number all my RIVALS over now, Then Raving Mad with Jealousie I grow, Which does my Flame to that vast height increase; That here I found, I lov’d to an Excess: These wild Distractions every Night increase, But day still reconciles me into Peace; And I forget amidst their soft Delights, The unimagin’d torment of the Nights. ‘Twas thus a while I liv’d at _Little Care_, Without advance of Favour or of fear, When fair _Aminta_ from that Court departs, And all her Lovers leave with broken Hearts, On me alone she does the Grace confer, In a Permission I shou’d wait on her. Oh with what eager Joy I did obey! Joy, which for fear it shou’d my Flame betray, I Veil’d with Complisance; which Lovers Eyes Might find transported through the feign’d disguise; But hers were unconcern’d; or wou’d not see, The Trophies of their new gain’d Victory: _Aminta_ now to _Good Reception_ goes; A place which more of Entertainment shows Then State or Greatness; where th’.nhabitants, Are Civil to the height of Complisance; They Treat all Persons with a chearful Grace, And show ‘em all the pleasures of the Place; By whose Example bright _Aminta_ too, Confirm’d her self, and more obliging grew. Her Smiles and Air more Gracious now appear; And her Victorious Eyes more sweetness wear: The wonderous Majesty that drest her Brow, Becomes less Awful, but more Charming now: Her Pride abating does my Courage warm, And promises success from every Charm. She now permits my Eyes, with timorous Fears, To tell her of the Wounds she’as made by hers, Against her Will my Sighs she does approve, And seems well pleas’d to think they come from Love. Nothing oppos’d it self to my delight, But absence from _Aminta_ every Night. But LOVE, who recompences when he please, And has for every Cruelty an ease; Who like to bounteous Heaven, assigns a share Of future Bliss to those that suffer here: Led me to HOPE! A City fair and large, Built with much Beauty, and Adorn’d with Charge.

HOPE.

_’.is wonderous Populous from the excess,_ _Of Persons from all parts that thither press:_ _One side of this magnifick City stands,_ _On a foundation of unfaithful Sands;_ _Which oftentimes the glorious Load destroys,_ _Which long designing was with Pomp and Noise;_ _The other Parts well founded neat and strong,_ _Less Beautiful, less Business, and less Throng._ _’.is built upon a Rivers Bank, who’s clear_ _And Murmuring Glide delights the Eye and Ear._

The River of PRETENSION.

_This River’s call’d_ Pretension; _and its source_ _T’ a bordering Mountain owes, from whence with force,_ _It spreads into the Arms of that calm space,_ _Where the proud City dayly sees her face;_ _’.is treacherously smooth and falsly fair,_ _Inviting, but undoing to come near;_ _’.ainst which the Houses there find no defence,_ _But suffer undermining Violence;_ _Who while they stand, no Palaces do seem_ _In all their Glorious Pomp to equal them._

This River’s Famous for the fatal Wrecks, Of Persons most Illustrious of both Sex, Who to her Bosom with soft Whispers drew, Then basely smil’d to see their Ruin too. ‘Tis there so many Monarchs perisht have, And seeking Fame alone have found a Grave. ‘Twas thither I was tempted too, and LOVE Maliciously wou’d needs my Conduct prove; Which Passion now to such a pass had brought, It gave admittance to the weakest thought, And with a full carreer to this false Bay I ran. But met _Precaution_ in my way. With whom _Respect_ was, who thus gravely said, Pretension _is a River you must Dread:_ _Fond Youth, decline thy fatal Resolution,_ _Here unavoidably thou meets Confusion;_ _Thou fly’st with too much hast to certain Fate,_ _Follow my Counsel, and be Fortunate._

Asham’d, all Blushing I decline my Eyes, Yet Bow’d and Thank’d _Respect_ for his advice. From the bewitching River straight I hy’d, And hurried to the Cities farthest side Where lives the Mighty _Princess Hope_, to whom The whole Isle as their ORACLE do come; Tho’ little Truth remains in what she says, Yet all adore her Voice, and her Wise Conduct praise.

The Princess HOPE.

I.

_She blows the Youthful Lovers flame,_ _And promises a sure repose;_ _Whilst with a Treason void of shame,_ _His fancy’d Happiness o’re-throws._ _Her Language is all soft and fair_ } _But her hid Sense is naught but Air,_ } _And can no solid reason bear;_ } _As often as she speaks,_ _Her faithless Word she breaks;_ _Great in Pretension, in Performance small,_ _And when she Swears ‘tis Perjury all._ _Her Promises like those of Princes are,_ _Made in Necessity and War,_ _Cancell’d without remorse, at ease,_ _In the voluptuous time of Peace._

II.

_These are her qualities; but yet_ _She has a Person full of Charms,_ _Her Smiles are able to beget_ _Forgiveness for her other harms;_ _She’s most divinely shap’d, her Eyes are sweet,_ _And every Glance to please she does employ,_ _With such address she does all persons treat_ _As none are weary of her flattery,_ _She still consoles the most afflicted Hearts,_ _And makes the Proud vain of his fancy’d Arts._

Amongst the rest of those who dayly came, T’ admire this _Princess_, and oblige their flame, (Conducted thither by a false report, } That Happiness resided in her Court) } Two young successless Lovers did resort: } One, so above his Aim had made pretence, That even to Hope, for him, was Impudence; Yet he ‘gainst Reasons Arguments makes War, And vainly Swore, his Love did merit her. Boldly Attempted, daringly Addrest, And with unblushing Confidence his flame confest. The other was a Bashful Youth, who made His Passion his _Devotion_, not his _Trade_; No fond opiniater, who a price Sets on his Titles, Equipage, or Eyes, But one that had a thousand Charms in store, Yet did not understand his _Conquering_ Pow’r: This _Princess_ with a kind Address receives These Strangers; and to both new Courage gives. She animates the haughty to go on! Says--_A Town long besieg’d must needs be won._ _Time and Respect remove all obstacles,_ _And obstinate Love arrives at Miracles._ _Were she the Heir to an illustrious Crown,_ _Those Charms, that haughty meen, that fam’d renown,_ _That wond’rous skill you do in Verse profess,_ _That great disdain of common Mistresses;_ _Can when you please with aid of Billet Deux,_ _The Royal Virgin to your Arms subdue,_ _One skill’d in all the Arts to please the fair,_ _Shou’d be above the Sense of dull despair:_ _Go on, young noble Warrier, then go on,_ _Though all the fair are by that Love undone._ Then turning to the other: _Sir_, said she, _Were the bright Beauty you Adore like me,_ _Your silent awful Passion more wou’d move,_ _Than all the bold and forward Arts of Love._ _A Heart the softest composition forms,_ _And sooner yields by treaty, then by storms;_ _A Look, a Sigh, a Tear, is understood,_ _And makes more warm disorders in the Blood,_ _Has more ingaging tender Eloquence,_ _Then all the industry of Artful Sense:_ _So falling drops with their soft force alone_ _Insinuate kind impressions in obdurate stone._ But that which most my pity did imploy, Was a young Hero, full of Smiles and Joy. A noble Youth to whom indulgent Heaven, Had more of Glory then of Virtue given; Conducted thither by a Politick throng, The Rabble Shouting as he past along. Whilst he, vain with the beastly Din they make, (Which were the same, if Bears were going to stake) Addresses to this faithless Flatterer; Who in return, calls him, _young God of War!_ The _Cities Champion!_ and his _Countries Hope_, _The Peoples Darling_, and _Religious Prop_. _Scepters_ and _Crowns_ does to his view expose; And all the Fancied pow’r of Empire shows. In vain the Vision he wou’d dis-believe, In spight of Sense she does his Soul deceive: He Credits all! nor ask’s which way or how, The dazling Circle shall surround his Brow; Implicitly attends the flattering Song, Gives her his easy Faith, and is undone. For with one turn of State the Frenzy’s heal’d, The Blind recover and the Cheats reveal’d. Whilst all his _Charms_ of _Youth_ and _Beauty_ lies, The kind reproach of pitying Enemies. To me she said, and smiling as she spoke, Lisander, _you with Love have Reason took,_ _Continue so, and from_ Aminta’s _Heart_ _Expect what Love and Beauty can impart._ I knew she flatter’d, yet I cou’d not choose But please my Self, and credit the Abuse; Her charming Words that Night repos’d me more, Then all the grateful Dreams I’d had before. Next day I rose, and early with the Sun; Love guided me to _Declaration_, A pleasant City built with Artful Care, To which the Lovers of the Isle repair. In our pursuit _Respect_ dissatisfy’d, Did the unreasonable Adventure chide; Return, unheedy Youth, cry’d he, return! Let my advice th’ approaching danger warn: Renounce thy Purpose and thy haste decline, Or thou wilt ruine all Loves great design; Amaz’d I stood, and unresolv’d t’ obey, Cou’d not return, durst not pursue my way; Whilst LOVE, who thought himself concern’d as Guide I’th’ Criminal Adventure, thus reply’d:

LOVE’s Resentment.

_Must we eternal Martyrdom pursue?_ _Must we still_ Love, _and always suffer too?_ _Must we continue still to dye,_ _And ne’r declare the cruel Cause;_ _Whilst the fair Murdress asks not why,_ _But triumphs in her rigorous Laws;_ _And grows more mighty in disdain,_ } _More Peevish, Humorous, Proud and Vain_ } _The more we languish by our Pain?_ } _And when we Vow, Implore, and Pray,_ _Shall the Inhumane cruel fair_ _Only with nice disdain the sufferer pay?_ _Consult her Pride alone in the affair,_ _And coldly cry--In time perhaps I may--_ _Consider and redress the Youth’s despair;_ _And when she wou’d a Period put to’s Fate,_ _Alas, her cruel Mercy comes too late!_ But wise _Respect_ obligingly reply’d, Amintas _Cruelty you need not dread,_ _Your Passion by your Eyes will soon be known,_ _Without this hast to Declaration;_ _’.is I will guide you where you still shall find,_ Aminta _in best Humour and most kind._

Strong were his Arguments; his Reasonings prove Too pow’rful for the angry God of _Love_. Who by degrees t’ his native softness came, Yields to _Respect_ and owns his haste a blame. Both vow obedience to his judging Wit, And to his graver Conduct both submit, Who now invites us to a Reverend place, An ancient Town, whose Governor he was. Impregnable, with Bastions fortify’d, Guarded with fair built Walls on every side, The top of which the Eye cou’d scarce discern, So strong as well secur’d the Rich concern; _Silence_ with _Modesty_ and _Secrecy_, Have all committed to their Custody. _Silence_ to every questions ask’d, replies With apt Grimasses of the Face and Eyes; Her Finger on her Mouth; and as you’ve seen, Her Picture, Handsom, with fantastick mean, Her every Motion her Commands express, But seldom any the hid Soul confess. The _Virgin Modesty_ is wond’rous fair, A bashful Motion, and a blushing Air; With unassur’d regard her Eyes do move, Untaught by affectation or Self-love; Her Robes not gaudy were, nor loosely ty’d, But even concealing more then need be hid. For _Secrecie_, one rarely sees her Face, Whose lone Apartment is some Dark recess; From whence unless some great affairs oblige, She finds it difficult to dis-ingage; Her voice is low, but subtilly quick her Ears, And answers still by signs to what she hears. --Led by _Respect_ we did an entrance get, Not saying any thing, who ere we met.

The City of DISCRETION.

_The Houses there, retir’d in Gardens are,_ _And all is done with little noise,_ _One seldom sees Assemblies there,_ _Or publick shows for Grief or Joys._ _One rarely walks but in the Night,_ _And most endeavour to avoid the Light._ _There the whole World their bus’ness carry,_ _Without or confident, or Secretary:_ _One still is under great constraint,_ _Must always suffer, but ne’r make complaint,_ _’.is there the dumb and silent languishes,_ _Are predic’d, which so well explain the Heart:_ _Which without speaking can so much express,_ _And secrets to the Soul the nearest way impart;_ _Language which prettify perswades belief;_ _Who’s silent Eloquence obliges Joy or Grief._

This City’s called _Discretion_, being the name Of her that is Lieutenant of the same, And Sister to _Respect_; a Lady who Seldom obtains a Conquest at first view; But in repeated Visits one shall find, Sufficient Charms of Beauty and of Mind: Her vigorous piercing Eyes can when they please, Make themselves lov’d, and understood with Ease. Not too severe, but yet reserv’d and wise, And her Address is full of subtilties; Which upon all occasions serves her turn; T’ express her Kindness, and to hide her scorn; Dissimulations Arts, she useful holds, And in good manners sets ‘en down for rules. ‘Twas here _Aminta_ liv’d, and here I paid My constant visits to the lovely Maid. With mighty force upon my Soul I strove, To hide the Sent’ments of my raging Love. All that I spoke did but indifferent seem, Or went no higher than a great esteem. But ‘twas not long my Passion I conceal’d, My flame in spight of me, it self reveal’d.

The silent Confession.

_And tho’ I do not speak, alas,_ _My Eyes, and Sighs too much do say!_ _And pale and languishing my Face,_ _The torments of my Soul betray;_ _They the sad story do unfold,_ Love _cannot his own secrets hold;_ _And though Fear ty’s my Tongue, Respect my Eyes,_ _Yet something will disclose the pain;_ _Which breaking out throw’s all disguise;_ _Reproaches her with Cruelties;_ _Which she augments by new disdain;_ _--Where e’re she be, I still am there;_ _What-ere she do, I that prefer;_ _In spight of all my strength, at her approach,_ _I tremble with a sight or touch;_ _Paleness or Blushes does my Face surprize,_ _If mine by chance meet her encountering Eyes;_ _’.was thus she learn’d my Weakness, and her Pow’r;_ _And knew too well she was my Conqueror._

And now-- Her Eyes no more their wonted Smiles afford, But grew more fierce, the more they were ador’d; The marks of her esteem which heretofore Rais’d my aspiring flame, oblige no more; She calls up all her Pride to her defence; And as a Crime condemns my just pretence; Me from her presence does in Fury chase; No supplications can my doom reverse; And vainly certain of her Victory, Retir’d into the _Den_ of _Cruelty_.

The Den of Cruelty.

A Den _where_ Tygers _make the passage good,_ _And all attempting_ Lovers _make their Food;_ _I’th’ hollow of a mighty_ Rock _’.is plac’d,_ _Which by the angry Sea is still imbrac’d:_ _Whose frightful surface constant Tempest wears,_ _Which strikes the bold Adventurers with Fears._ _The_ Elements _their rudest Winds send out,_ _Which blow continual coldness round about._ _Upon the_ Rock _eternal Winter dwells,_ _Which weeps away in dropping Isicles;_ _The barren hardness meets no fruitful Ray,_ _Nor bears it Issue to the God of day;_ _All bleek and cale, th’ unshady prospect lies,_ _And nothing grateful meets the melancholy Eyes._

To this dire place _Aminta_ goes, whilst I, Begg’d her with Prayers and Tears to pass it by; All dying on the Ground my self I cast, And with my Arms her flying Feet imbrac’d; But she from the kind force with Fury flung, And on an old deformed Woman hung. A Woman frightful, with a horrid Frown, And o’re her angry Eyes, her Brows hung down: One single Look of hers, fails not t’ impart, A terror and despair to every Heart: She fills the Universe with discontents, And Torments for poor Lovers still invents. This is the mighty _Tyrant Cruelty_, Who with the _God of Love_ is still at enmity; She keeps a glorious Train, and Glorious Court, And thither Youth and Beauty still resort: But oh my Soul form’d for Loves softer Sport, Cou’d not endure the _Rigor_ of her Court! Which her first rude Address did so affright, That I all Trembling hasted from her Sight, Leaving the unconcern’d and cruel Maid, And on a Rivers Bank my self all fainting laid; Which River from the obdurate Rock proceeds, And cast’s it self i’th’ Melancholy Meads.

The River of Despair.

_Its Torrent has no other source,_ _But Tears from dying Lovers Eyes;_ _Which mixt with Sighs precipitates its course;_ _Softning the senseless Rocks in gliding by;_ _Whose doleful Murmurs have such Eloquence_ _That even the neighbouring Trees and flow’rs have pitying sense;_ _And Cruelty alone knows in what sort,_ _Against the moving sound to make defence,_ _Who laughs at all despair and Death as sport._

A dismal Wood the Rivers Banks do bear, Securing even the day from entering there; The Suns bright Rays a passage cannot find, Whose Boughs make constant War against the Wind; Yet through their Leaves glimmers a sullen Light; Which renders all below more terrible than Night, And shows upon the Bark of every Tree, Sad stories carv’d of Love and Cruelty; The Grove is fill’d with Sighs, with Crys, and Groans, Reproaches and Complaints in dying Moans; The Neighbouring Eccho’s nothing do repeat, But what the Soul sends forth with sad regret; And all things there no other Murmurs make, But what from Language full of death they take, ‘Twas in this place dispairing ere to free _Aminta_ from the Arms of _Cruelty,_ That I design’d to render up my Breath, And charge the cruel Charmer with my Death.

The RESOLVE.

_Now, my fair Tyrant, I despise your Pow’r;_ _’.is Death, not you becomes my Conqueror;_ _This easy Trophy which your scorn_ _Led bleeding by your Chariot-side,_ _Your haughty Victory to adorn,_ _Has broke the Fetters of your Pride,_ _Death takes his quarrel now in hand,_ _And laughs at all your Eyes can do;_ _His pow’r thy Beauty can withstand,_ _Not all your Smiles can the grim victor bow._ _He’ll hold no Parley with your Wit,_ _Nor understands your wanton play,_ _Not all your Arts can force him to submit,_ _Not all your Charms can teach him to obey;_ _Your youth nor Beauty can inspire,_ _His frozen Heart with_ Love’s _perswasive fire;_ _Alas, you cannot warm him to one soft desire;_ _Oh mighty Death that art above,_ _The pow’r of Beauty or of_ Love!

Thus sullen with my Fate sometimes I grew, And then a fit of softness wou’d ensue, Then weep, and on my Knees implore my Fair, And speak as if _Aminta present were_.

The QUESTION.

_Say, my fair Charmer, must I fall,_ _A Victim to your Cruelty?_ _And must I suffer as a Criminal?_ _Is it to_ Love _offence enough to dye?_ _Is this the recompence at last,_ _Of all the restless hours I’ve past?_ _How oft my Awe, and my Respect,_ _Have fed your Pride and Scorn?_ _How have I suffered your neglect,_ _Too mighty to be born?_ _How have I strove to hide that flame_ _You seem’d to disapprove?_ _How careful to avoid the name_ _Of Tenderness or_ Love? _Least at that Word some guilty Blush shou’d own,_ _What your bright Eyes forbad me to make known._