Fish burn in seas; beasts, birds thy weapons prove; By thee dead elements and heav'ns move; Which void of sense itself, yet are not void of love. V. But those twin Loves, which from thy seas of light Had need both arm'd and surely guarded go : Next to the younger Love, Irenus* went, There hid in quiet sheath, sleeps it in endless night. Patience his shield had lent to ward his breast, .VIII. By him Andreost pac'd, of middle age, His mind as far from rashness, as from fears; Hating base thoughts, as much as desp'rate rage : The world's loud thund'rings he unshaken hears : * Peaceableness. + Matt. v. 9. Fortitude. Nor will he death or life, or seek or fly,. Worst was his civil war, where deadly fought He with himself, till passion yields or dies : His rage well temper'd is: no fear can daunt Well may he strength in death; but never courage want. But like a mighty rock, whose unmov'd sides The hostile sea assaults with furious wave, And 'gainst his head the boist'rous north-wind rides; Waves scatter'd, drop in tears, winds broken, whining plain*. Such was this knight's undaunted constancy; No mischief weakens his resolved mind: None fiercer to a stubborn enemy; But to the yielding none more sweetly kind. His shield an even ballast ship embraves, Which dances light, while Neptune wildly raves: His word was this, I fear but Heav'n, nor winds nor waves.' XII. And next Macrothumust, whose quiet face * i. c complain. Nor could revenge, clad in a deadly white, For ill, he good repay'd, and love exchang'd for spite. Was never yet a more undaunted spirit ; Yet, most him deem'd a base and tim'rous swain; And though he died, yet dead, he rose a conqueror. His nat❜ral force beyond all nature stretched : In greatest discontents he rests contented: His rocky arms of massy adament, Safely could back rebut the hardest blade; Of such strange mould and temper was he made: Though many weights its rising arms depress'd: His word was Rising most, by being most oppress'd.' XVI. Next him Androphilus*, whose sweetest mind "Twixt mildness temper'd, and low courtesy, Could cease as soon to be, as not be kind : * Gentleness, or courtesy. Much less commanded in his gentle heart: His enemies knew not how to discommend him ; But he such slavish office much refusing, Can eas❜ly quit his name from their false tongues abusing,* XVIII. His arms were fram'd into a glitt'ring night, Whose sable gown with stars all spangled wide, Afford the weary traveller cheerful light, And to his home his erring footsteps guide: Upon his ancient shield the workmen fine Had drawn the Sun, whose eye did ne'er repine To look on good and ill: his word, To all I shine.' XIX. Fair Virtue, where stay'st thou in poor exile, Leaving the court from whence thou took'st thy name? While in thy place is stept disdaining vile, And flattery, base son of need and shame; And with them surly scorn, and hateful pride; Which more display her shame, than loathsome foulness hide, Late, there thou livedst with a gentle swain, (As gentle swain as ever lived there) Who lodg'd thee in his heart, and all thy train, Where hundred other gracés quarter'd were: But he, alas! untimely dead and gone, Leaves us to rue his death, and thee to moan, That few were ever such; and now those few are noné. XXI. By him the stout Encrates* boldly went, Assailed oft by mighty enemies, Which all on him alone their spite mispent ; For he whole armies single bold defies; With him nor might, nor cunning slights prevail; All force on him they try, all forces fail: Yet still assail him fresh, yet vainly still assail. XXII. His body full of vigour, full of health; } His table feeds not lust, but strength and need : Full stor❜d with plenty, not by heaping wealth, But topping rank desires, which vain exceed : On's shield a hand from Heav'n a orchard dressing, Pruning superfluous boughs the trees oppressing; So adding fruit: his word, By lessening increasing." 6 XXIII. His settled mind was written in his face : Nor yet his treasure hide by neighb'ring Hell: A lovely pair of twins clos'd either side: Not those in Heav'n, the flow'ry Geminies, Are half so lovely bright; the one his bride, Agneiat chaste, was join'd in Hymen's ties, *Temperance, † Chastity in the married. |