Chapter 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.