Clitophon and Lucippe translated.
TO THE LADIES.
PRAY, ladies, breath; awhile lay by
Celestial Sidney's arcady;
Here's a story that doth claim
A little respite from his flame:
Then with a quick dissolving look
Unfold the smoothness of this book,
To which no art (except your sight)
Can reach a worthy epithet;
'Tis an abstract of all volumes,
A pilaster of all columns
Fancy e'er rear'd to wit, to be
The smallest god's epitome,
And so compactedly express
All lovers pleasing wretchedness.
Gallant Pamela's majesty,
And her sweet sister's modesty
Are fix'd in each of you; you are
Distinct, what these together were,
Divinest that are really
What Cariclea's feign'd to be;
That are ev'ry one the nine,
And brighter here Astrea's shine,
View our Lucippe, and remain
In her, these beauties o'er again.
Amazement! noble Clitophon,
Ev'n now look'd somewhat colder on
His cooler mistress, and she too
Smil'd not as she us'd to do;
See! the individual pair
Are at sad odds, and parted are;
They quarrel, emulate, and stand
At strife, who first shall kiss your hand.
A new dispute there lately rose
Betwixt the Greeks and Latins, whose
Temple's should be bound with glory
In best languaging this story;
Ye heirs of love, that with one smile
A ten years war can reconcile;
Peaceful Helens! virtuous! see!
The jaring languages agree,
And here all arms laid by, they do
In English meet, to wait on you.
TRULY VALIANT LEARNED FRIEND,
WHO IN HIS BOOK RESOLVED THE ART GLADIATORY INTO THE MATHEMATICS.
HARK, reader! wilt be learn'd i'th' wars?
A gen'ral in a gown?
Strike a league with arts and scars,
And snatch from each a crown?
Wouldst be a wonder? Such a one,
As should win with a look,
A bishop in a garrison,
And conquer by the book?
Take then this mathematic shield,
And henceforth by its rules,
Be able to dispute i'th' field,
And combat in the schools.
Whilst peaceful learning once again,
And the soldier so concord,
As that he fights now with her pen,
And she writes with his sword,
Amyntor's Grove.
HIS CHLORIS, ARIGO, AND GRATIANA.
Ir was Amyntor's grove that Chloris
For ever echoes, and her glories
Chloris, the gentlest shepherdess
That ever lawns and lambs did bless ;
Her breath like to the whispering wind
Was calm as thought, sweet as her mind;
Her lips like coral gates kept in
The perfume and the pearl within;
Her eyes a double-flaming torch
That always shines, and never scorch:
Herself the heav'n in which did meet
The all of bright, of fair and sweet.
Here was I brought with that delight
That separated souls take flight;
And when my reason call'd my sense
Back somewhat from this excellence,
That I could see; I did begin
T'observe the curious ordering
Of every room, where 'ts hard to know
Which most excels in scent or show;
Arabian gums do breathe here forth,
And th' east's come over to the north;
The winds have brought their hire of sweet
To see Amyntor Chloris greet;
Balm and Nard, and each perfume
To bless this pair, chafe and consume,
And th' Phoenix, see! already fries!
Her nest a fire in Chloris' eyes!
Next the great and powerful hand
Beckons my thoughts unto a stand
Of Titian, Raphael, Georgone,
Whose art even nature hath outdone;
For if weak nature only can
Intend, not perfect what is man,
These certainly we must prefer
Who mended what she wrought, and her;
And sure the shadows of those rare
And kind incomparable fair
Are livelier nobler company,
Than if they could or speak or see:
For these I ask without a tush
Can kiss or touch, without a blush,
And we are taught that substance is,
If unenjoy'd, but th' shade of bliss.
Now every saint clearly divine
Is clos'd so in her several shrine;
The gems so rarely, richly set,
For them we love the cabinet;
So intricately plac'd withal,
As if th' embroidered the wall,
So that the pictures seem'd to be
But one continued tapestry.
After this travel of mine eyes
We sate, and pitied deities;
We bound our loose hair with the vine,
The poppy and the eglantine;
One swell'd an oriental bowl
Full, as a grateful, loyal soul
To Chloris!-Chloris! hear, oh hear! "Tis pledg'd above in every sphere.
Now straight the Indian's richest prize Is kindled a glad sacrifice;
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