10 RƲMINANS: OR THE REPERCUSSION OF A TRIUMPH Celebrated in the Palace of Diana Ardenna.
By the Rustick Muse of R.W. [...].
Aud. Epig. Lib. 1.
Ʋror amore miser, tantoque potentius utor,
Quanto, qui me urit, longius ignis abest.
I burn in flames of love, and fry
More by the fire's longinquity.
Printed Anno Virginis parturientis.
1662.
THE DEDICATION. TO THE Transcendently Formose, AND (As far as can be concluded from the Topicks of Ommatology) MOST HEROICALLY VIRTUOUS Mrs Anne Gibbs.
Who personated
- Gartrude in Tu Quoque July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.
- Harebr. wife in Madworld my M. July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.
- Rosinda in Young Admirall July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.
- Dionysia in All's lost by lust July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.
- A Lady in Merry Milkm. July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.
- LUCRETIA in Rape of Lucrece July 3.6.4.4.8.5.5.8.
1661.
At the (Quondam-Antelope, now) King's Arms in Holywell Oxon.
RICHARD WALDEN, To intimate his retention of those indelible Characters imprinted on his heart by the emissive Organ of her fulgurant eye, DEDICATETH THIS Encomiastick Decameron
From his Grotto at the foot of לארה in ARDEN Aug. 10th 1661.
PROLOGUE (by the Book)
Thus I'm Commanded to forestall the eyes
Of those few Readers that will not pass by's.
FEar no sarcastick Placard such as cloath
The sides of Pasquin and Morforeo.
Here you'll find nothing bitter, not so much
As to protect for Momus's teeth, for such
Our Author thus accosts, I know there's none
Exempted from thy reprehension.
Thou carp'd'st, as Vulcane's man, 'cause he had not
A breast transparent, and 't was Venus's lot
To hath the same doom on her creaking shoes;
To both which censures it's obnoxious.
Yet needs it not a patrone to defend it;
For none, I'm sure, will carp at, that can mend, it.
But thus the humble Author doth subject,
To that acute discerning Intellect,
This his Capriccio, which did distill
From a dull brain, through an obtuser quill.
I know my weakness in a task
Of such a Magn'tude which doth ask
A quill from Marcab, if you'd ha't
Done well, sure to delineate
Such a Platonick she that may
Be Monarch of Utopia,
Requires a fancy that's sublime,
And such a strain that's buskin'd, mine
Desid'rates both these, for the most,
And that's imperfect, I can boast
Is so much knowledge as to tell
Tis Pansophy to know you well.
Thrice happy he then that shall be
Blest with that Encyclopaedy.
CANTO I. Or the INTRODƲCTION.
I'm he who once sate by still Charwell's side,
Amongst th'Ouzonian Girls, and whilome try'd
To whisper out a Dirge for her, when her
Who was the Pole-star of our Hemisphaere.
(That Heledonian Nymph who from her sire
Came murm'ring this sad news did me inspire,
And brought Melpomene, who needs would be
My Abcedarian in Philomusy.
Nor is it strange, though scarce observed yet,
(A) Should begin the Muse's Alphabet.)
But now repos'd upon the shady lawns
Of dimpled Cune amongst old Arden's Fauns.
I sing the triumph of that face which mean't
If not anticipated, 'tis she alone,
I'm sure, hath verify d that Etymon.
SHE who each frown or smile can shew more dead,
Than e're were petrify'd by Medusa's head.
Whose tongue speaks sophisms, that would baffle Sphinx
Whose eyes charm Basilsks, and blind the Linx.
The azure streams that circle in whose hands
Out vye bright Pactolus for all his sands.
Whose all is such that who so views't shall find
She is the Auxesis of woman-kind.
She't is that claims these fetter'd slaves to be
Expos'd as Trophys of her victory.
CANTO II. Or the GARTRUDADE.
'Twas when Hyperion was turning back
From his aestiral Tropick, and did make
His way through raging Alased, that time
The Euronymides and the Thespian Nine,
Led by their Alytarch Apollo, hye
To celebrate their Anniversary
Upon those learned banks, where Charwel makes
A Chersenese, as she the Bride o'ertakes,
Posting to Dorchester the place design'd
To joyn her to the rude Chilternian kind.
That most unhappy-happy day the sky
Was govern'd by the sweet-lipp'd Mercury.
And Phaebus past the Zenith of his course,
Going to Neptune's bed with all his force
To's sister Thetis, when first these mine eyes
Saw a far brighter luminary rise,
And from his country too, which did Eclips
His lustre with the tincture of her lipps.
To make this good my fancy did suggest,
His horses might be casually reverst.
But when I saw her eyes an extasie,
Put me in posture of a Niobe.
These are those twins which all that chance to view,
'Count more resplendent than the Delian two.
But her tongue soon reviv'd my Dormant sense,
In augmentation to her eminence,
And as the Saylors list to th' Syren's song,
And have nor will nor power to steer along,
But hover near the Rocks and Shelves till they
Have time to make both wreck and the. their prey.
So those melodious accents render'd me
Th' attentive slave of this Parthenope.
Then did the welkinlowre, which did e'r while
Behold us with a look, beyond a smile.
Good reason why, SHE went away, the beams
Of whose bright Planets caus'd those dazling gleams;
But as the Sun is oft hid from the croud,
Behind the sable curtains of a cloud,
Yet soon returns, so did this envious veyle,
Which interpos'd it self, as oft recoyle.
GARTRƲDE did oft encounter Geraldine,
As oft wish'd I that his Cue had been mine.
For though at first she would not have releas'd
Those secret embers rak'd up in her breast,
Yet if my Exit prove as good as his
'Twill wrap my soul in extasie of bliss.
'Twas unto Hymen's temple which to you,
My Musc, shall be a Ne-plus-ultra too.
For we'l retire, yet 'fore we go let's add
As her just merit this small
(a) A verbo [...] laudo unde deducunt alii titulum, Virgilii Aeneidos.
aenead;That though her modesty would not permit
Her swasive tongue forbear denying it,
Yet who that saw her personate with th' rest,
Can chuse but say that she performed best.
CANTO III.
COme from thy dormitory, Muse, and prove
A diligent Notary, Then Mighty Jove
Sate at the helm, and mortals gan to sing
Their silent Mattens to him, every thing
Conspir'd to aid us in the quest of her,
Of whom in all Time's rusty Register
There's ne'er a Parallel, but this her part
Is so discordant from her virtuous heart,
Thou shalt now praetermit it, draw thy rein,
And, craving leave, return to bed again.
CANTO IV. Or the ROSINDADE.
THen the Plebeans hasten'd to adore,
And chant their Vespers to, their great god Thor
But that is not our theme, my Muse, wee'll see
Renown'd ROSINDA's hospitality
In Naples, for it was her private jarrs
That blew the trumpet to th' intended wars.
She forfeits her prerogative to woo,
The Prince to what she ne'er could tempt him to:
Or by facility or kindness, he
But poorly retributes her courtesie.
Degenerate cold Prince, whose frigid fire
Only admits the name of love, 'cause blind.
How else could thy excaecated desire,
Tend to ought else but her that was design'd
To grace the bed o'th' Phaenix of his kind.
'Count but externals, she deserves no worse
Than one that might inherit th' Ʋniverse.
Poize her intrinsick virtues, and she calls
For one that could ingross Heroicals.
Nay but for fear of a Dilemma, I
Could name the extract of formosity.
But he affects Cassandra, on whom she
Means to employ her best Chirurgery,
Which can't be ineffectual, when each part
's Magisterial to allay the smart.
Her touch is a Dictamnum, and her eyes
Dart smiles more soveraigne then Panaces.
And so it prov'd, her patient did regain,
At once, both strength and vigor of her brain,
Witness her plot to quench ROSINDA's fires
By th' consummation of her chast desires.
The Prince came to the camp of Scicily
Upon her summons for ROSINDA, she
To save his life became a prey to them,
And won Cesario by a stratagem.
CANTO V. Or the DIONYSIADE.
DId'st see, my Muse, how yonder wanton whore
Proud 'cause Queen Regent of this day & hour,
Came whirling in her Coach, as if she mean't
To sport in some opacous firmament,
With her old Martial Paramour, while he
Rode on before her through the Galaxy?
But we will wink at that, 'tis my intent
To enterprize a thing more eminent.
Let us observe Antonio that way
Encountr'd by his DIONYSIA.
A dreadful combatant, nay do not start,
In Cupid's lists she's sure to thrill the heart.
Nor was she long in winning of the field,
Antonio was soon enforc'd to yeild
Himself a wilful subject, and forget
Th' allegiance he vow'd to Margaret.
"Such is the potency of her who darts
"Glances so piercing that they conquer hearts.
Yet he was loath at first to quit the yoak
Of's lawful soveraign, but did revoke
His resolution, till a missive, brought
From DIONYSIA, entertain'd his thought.
Then read, consider'd, wept a while, and then
Thinking ha'd past o'r somthing, read again.
This rais'd a tempest in his troubled breast,
He re-enacted what he now reverst,
Thought of his Margaretta, and the oath
In Hymen's temple taken by them both.
Then weigh'd his DIONYSIA's courtesie,
Which put his mind in aequilibrity.
Consulted with his friend, who did prefer
The last, and made her scal the heavyer.
Untill she came her self on embasie,
And turn'd the scales by th magick of her eye.
Which made him to conclude he would go on,
Although he grappled with destruction.
"And who could chuse but be for such an one
"A renegado from's Religion.
"Perfect Antonio, what thou dost begin,
"Let th' worst come on't, 'twill be a splendid sin.
Thus troubled DIONYSIA design'd,
To meliorate the Crasis of his mind
By her prescriptions, O thrice happy man
Who had'st so potent a Physician.
Whose tongue whosoe' experiments shall find
Galeni Exhilerans to a pensive mind.
Whose eyes I've try'd my self and now conclude
'Tis th' onely Acopon for lassitude.
A kiss from whose sweet lips, but he alone
Must be thus blisful, is a panchreston.
Yet all these Ana's could not do him good,
Naught can repaire his health but his own blood,
Which cures her too, she and her rival friend,
Like to undaunted Amazons, contend,
One weeping, t'other smiling, who could do.
An act most worthy their Antonio.
CANTO VI.
BUt why so hasty, Pegasus? look, here
Is no great cause for such a swift career;
There's nought in Friga's Vespers doth require
So high a Pannade, nor is't my desire
That thou should'st take the needless pains to sing
The virtues of Landoff's fam'd Magick ring.
Which sure made her invisible, for I
With all my indagations could not 'spy
That Non-parel, who with her troops possest
Th' Elective Empire of my torrid brest.
CANTO VII.
SAturne succeeded next who did ordain
GARTRƲDE's re-entrance in the lists again,
With her Antagonist, which wee'll pass o're
Because we saw, the combate once before.
And Seater's Vespers too because they lye
Without our Province's territory.
CANTO. VIII.
BRight Sol the next usurp'd th' Imperial throne,
But vex't to see beams brighter than his own.
He call'd to Zephyrus to bring supply
Of Clouds, as she dispell'd them with her eye.
But whence those powerful rays were sent, did lye
Out o'th' dominions of my prying eye.
So you may sleep, my Muse, but come anon
To take thy ultime valediction.
CANTO IX. Or the LƲCRETIADE.
THen Cynthia 'rose the Empress of the sky,
But from this pensive palefac'd Deity
My forward fear presag [...]d some Tragick end
Our Acidalian revels did attend.
Now, Muse, thy Pegasus his course hath run,
This is the day Albions refulgent Sun
Did pass that line which terminates my sight,
And left me groping in a polar night.
LƲCRETIA, of whose virtue Fame hath hurl'd
Sufficient Euges through th' capacious world,
Did from her modest eye such lightning dart
Kindled lascivious fires in Tarquin's heart.
Who posted from the camp to raze the splendor
Of that stout fortlet which would not surrender.
But having lost her name regardless she,
Resolv'd not to survive, by battery
Demolish'd th' fabrick. Thus that Roman dame
Resign'd her life to notifie her name
In Fame's records, but this, no doubt, did write
The copy fairer than the prototype.
Had this been real 'twould go nigh, I fear,
To cause a fatall Regifugium here.
Then I retir [...]d, yet dubious whether she
Deserv'd my plaudite or plangite.
For, if those hapless men, whose lot did fall
I'th' farthest part o'th' frigid Zones, bewail
Their half-years-night, yet sure their Sun will turn
At's period, what cause have I to mourn?
Doom'd from the sight of mine, whose brighter rays
Make me more sensible of such delays.
Especially sith I do not know
Whether 't will e'er be day again, or no.
CANTO X. Or the CONCLUSION.
THus was I partially eclyps'd, and here
Apollo too forsook our Hemisphere.
And went to's brother Neptune's bed to cool
His fiery chariot in his Western Pool.
Leaving his Lacquey Vesper in his seat
T [...] unharness th' horses and provide them meat.
Mean while my restless fancy my feet leads
T' expatiate in the adjacent meads,
Where silent Charwel revels as she goes
To th' Nuptials of her elder sister Ouze.
And to this Nymph I made my moan till night,
With his black mask had hoodwink'd all the light.
Cynthia was absent too, sure she was gone
To Latmus to salute Endymion.
So I was forced to retire to rest,
But Morpheus with his wiles could not arrest
My watchful sences, then Aurora led
The blushing Morne from her Mygdonian bed.
And made the rays of light in tumults throng,
Which come too soon, although they stay'd too long,
For warlike Mars usurp'd the reins o'th'sky
The last of this so famous Heptarchy,
And would needs be my convoy till I come
Out of the precincts of Elysium.
For such were those most blessed banks that while
SHE darted there her beatifick smile.
Then blame me not if I was scarce content
To want those Aspec [...]s, yet at last I went;
But with eyes so retorted that I made
My t [...]rdy paces seem all retrograde.
Yet was my tedious journey too soon done.
Our jades, before the Sun's, their course had run▪
But here are none 'fore whom to vent my woes,
And flames depress'd grow but more vigorous,
Experience dictates, for this he [...]rt of mine
Is daily holocaust [...]d to that shrine.
The Book EPILOGizeth.
THus have my pages entertain'd your eye
With some reflections of formosity.
He that enumerates all shall find it more
Than th' task o'th' Segamore's Embassador.
And now let Critick Catos vent their rage,
In their censorious descants on each page.
All such Malignant Planets I'll neglect,
So you'll but deign me your benign Aspect.
—F [...]rsan & hec olim meminisse Juvabit.
FINIS.