s: _Thou_ art bewilder'd; the sane head is mine.


s: Pity thyself; none needs compassion more.


s: Yet, oh! could'st thou but act as reason bids!


s: And in my turn I wish the same for thee.


s: All I could do to soothe thee has been tried.


s: For that, in this my warning, thou art paid.


s: Know'st thou then aught, that thus thou sound'st the alarm?


s: Thy crime! that were enough to make one fear.


s: My deed is of old date, and long atoned.


s: My final victory proves the Gods appeased.


s: Hatred and passionate envy blind thine eyes.


s: O Heaven-abandon'd wretch, that envies thee!


s: Thou hold'st so cheap, then, the Messenian crown?


s: I think on what the future hath in store.


s: To-day I reign; the rest I leave to Fate.


s: For Fate thou wait'st not long; since, in this hour----


s: What? for so far Fate hath not proved my foe--


s: Fate seals my lips, and drags to ruin thee.


s: The ill-boding note which frantic hatred sounds


s: To affright a fortune which the Gods secure.


s: Once more my friendship thou rejectest; well!


s: More for this land's sake grieve I, than mine own.


s: I chafe not with thee, that thy hate endures,


s: Nor bend myself too low, to make it yield.


s: What I have done is done; by my own deed,


s: Why should this heart of mine set mighty store


s: Not men's good word hath made me what I am.


s: Since so thou wilt, I dare maintain it still.


s: Which dooms dread ends to dreadful deeds,


s: Son loved of Zeus his father--for he sinn'd,


s: And the strand of Euboea,                               _ant._ 2.


s: O villages of OEta                                      _str._ 3.


s: From the oak-built, fiercely-burning pyre,


s: A willing, a willing sacrifice on that day


s: When the shirt-wrapt, poison-blister'd Hero


s: Coming swiftly through the sad Trachinians,


s: That the flame tower'd on high to the Heaven;


s: From the four-town'd, mountain-shadow'd Doris,


s: Built in strength against the vanquish'd!


s: When the white-robed, garland-crowned Monarch


s: And stands, shouting for a slaughterous axe;


s: And the stern, destiny-brought Stranger,


s: Coming swiftly through the jocund Dorians,


s: That the blood rushes in streams to the dust;


s: Of your dead master's line, I bring you news


s: To make the gates of this long-mournful house


s: Leap, and fly open of themselves for joy!


s: Hark how the shouting crowds tramp hitherward


s: With glad acclaim! Ere they forestall my news,


s: Is my son safe? that question bounds my care.


s: He is, and by the people hail'd for king.


s: The rest to me is little; yet, since that


s: Must from some mouth be heard, relate it thou.


s: Not little, if thou saw'st what love, what zeal,


s: At thy dead husband's name the people show.


s: For when this morning in the public square


s: I took my stand, and saw the unarm'd crowds


s: Women and children intermix'd; and then,


s: Group'd around Zeus's altar, all in arms,


s: Serried and grim, the ring of Dorian lords--


s: I trembled for our prince and his attempt.


s: Till presently the King came forth, in robe


s: Of sacrifice, his guards clearing the way


s: Before him--at his side, the prince, thy son,


s: Unarm'd and travel-soil'd, just as he was.


s: With him conferring the King slowly reach'd


s: The flower-dress'd victim stood--a milk-white bull,


s: Swaying from side to side his massy head


s: With short impatient lowings. There he stopp'd,


s: And seem'd to muse awhile, then raised his eyes


s: To heaven, and laid his hand upon the steer,


s: And cried: _O Zeus, let what blood-guiltiness_


s: _Yet stains our land be by this blood wash'd out,_


s: _And grant henceforth to the Messenians peace!_


s: That moment, while with upturn'd eyes he pray'd,


s: The prince snatch'd from the sacrificer's hand


s: The axe, and on the forehead of the King,


s: Where twines the chaplet, dealt a mighty blow


s: Which fell'd him to the earth, and o'er him stood,


s: And shouted: _Since by thee defilement came,_


s: _What blood so meet as thine to wash it out?_


s: _What hand to strike thee meet as mine, the hand_


s: _Of Æpytus, thy murder'd master's son?_--


s: But, gazing at him from the ground, the King....


s: _Is it, then, thou?_ he murmur'd; and with that,


s: He bow'd his head, and deeply groan'd, and died.


s: Till then we all seem'd stone, but then a cry


s: Broke from the Dorian lords; forward they rush'd


s: To circle the prince round--when suddenly


s: Laias in arms sprang to his nephew's side,


s: And from that moment I saw nothing clear;


s: For from all sides a deluge, as it seem'd


s: Burst o'er the altar and the Dorian lords,


s: To armed warriors;--I heard vengeful cries,


s: I heard the clash of weapons; then I saw


s: The Dorians lying dead, thy son hail'd king.


s: And, truly, one who sees, what seem'd so strong,


s: Melt like a passing smoke, a nightly dream,


s: At one bold word, one enterprising blow--


s: Might ask, why we endured their yoke so long;


s: But that we know how every perilous feat


s: Thou speakest well; but here, to give our eyes


s: Authentic proof of what thou tell'st our ears,


s: The conquerors, with the King's dead body, come.


s: body of_ POLYPHONTES, _followed by a crowd of the_


s: Sister, from this day forth thou art no more


s: Rejoice with us! and trust me, he who wish'd


s: Welfare to the Messenian state, and calm,


s: Could find no way to found them sure as this.


s: Mother, all these approve me; but if thou


s: Approve not too, I have but half my joy.


s: This politic sovereign, lying at our feet,


s: With blood-bespatter'd robes, and chaplet shorn!


s: Even in death, that countenance austere!


s: So look'd he, when to Stenyclaros first,


s: And found him at my husband's side, his friend,


s: His kinsman, his right hand in peace and war,


s: His blood--to me, for I confess it, kind;


s: So look'd he in that dreadful day of death;


s: So, when he pleaded for our league but now.


s: Desired'st thou, what truly spurr'd thee on?


s: Of the Heracleidan conquerors, as thou said'st,


s: Indeed thy lifelong passion and sole aim?


s: Or did'st thou but, as cautious schemers use,


s: Cloak thine ambition with these specious words?


s: I know not: just, in either case, the stroke


s: Which laid thee low, for blood requires blood;


s: But yet, not knowing this, I triumph not


s: Over thy corpse--triumph not, neither mourn,--


s: For I find worth in thee, and badness too.


s: What mood of spirit, therefore, shall we call


s: None, since a twofold colour reigns in all.


s: One colour in thy life, the hue of truth;


s: That justice, that sage order, not alone


s: Natural vengeance, may maintain thine act,


s: And make it stand indeed the will of Heaven.


s: Thy father's passion was this people's ease,


s: This people's anarchy, thy foe's pretence.


s: As the chiefs rule, my son, the people are.


s: Unhappy people, where the chiefs themselves


s: Are, like the mob, vicious and ignorant!


s: So rule, that even thine enemies may fail


s: To find in thee a fault whereon to found,


s: Of tyrannous harshness, or remissness weak--


s: So rule, that as thy father thou be loved!


s: So rule, that as his foe thou be obey'd!


s: Take these, my son, over thine enemy's corpse


s: Thy mother's prayers! and this prayer last of all:


s: Where my own youth falls short! But, Laias, now,


s: First work after such victory, let us go


s: To the Gods grateful sacrifice; and then,


s: Assume the ensigns of my father's power.


s: _Morning. A Pass in the forest region of Etna._


s: (_Alone, resting on a rock by the path._)


s: The mules, I think, will not be here this hour;


s: They feel the cool wet turf under their feet


s: By the stream-side, after the dusty lanes


s: In which they have toil'd all night from Catana,


s: And scarcely will they budge a yard. O Pan,


s: How gracious is the mountain at this hour!


s: A thousand times have I been here alone,


s: Or with the revellers from the mountain-towns,


s: Is shining on the brilliant mountain-crests,


s: And on the highest pines; but farther down,


s: Here in the valley, is in shade; the sward


s: Is dark, and on the stream the mist still hangs;


s: One sees one's footprints crush'd in the wet grass,


s: One's breath curls in the air; and on these pines


s: That climb from the stream's edge, the long grey tufts,


s: Here will I stay till the slow litter comes.


s: I have my harp too--that is well.--Apollo!


s: What mortal could be sick or sorry here?


s: Whose mules I follow'd, may be coming up,


s: With exile, and with brooding on his wrongs,


s: Pausanias, his sage friend, who mounts with him,


s: Could scarce have lighted on a lovelier cure.


s: The mules must be below, far down. I hear


s: Their tinkling bells, mix'd with the song of birds,


s: Rise faintly to me--now it stops!--Who's here?


s: With thy head full of wine, and thy hair crown'd,


s: Touching thy harp as the whim came on thee,


s: And praised and spoil'd by master and by guests


s: And the feast past its prime; so we slipp'd out,


s: Some of us, to the portico to breathe;--


s: Peisianax, thou know'st, drinks late;--and then,


s: I saw the mules and litter in the court,


s: Thou, too, wast with him. Straightway I sped home;


s: I saddled my white mule, and all night long


s: Through the cool lovely country follow'd you,


s: Pass'd you a little since as morning dawn'd,


s: And have this hour sate by the torrent here,


s: Till the slow mules should climb in sight again.


s: Crouch in the wood first, till the mules have pass'd;


s: They do but halt, they will be here anon.


s: Save mine, he must not meet a human eye.


s: One of his moods is on him that thou know'st;


s: I would fain stay, and help thee tend him. Once


s: He knew me well, and would oft notice me;


s: And still, I know not how, he draws me to him,


s: And I could watch him with his proud sad face,


s: His flowing locks and gold-encircled brow


s: When his star reign'd, before his banishment,


s: But oh! Pausanias, he is changed of late;


s: And when he comes among his friends at feasts,


s: 'Tis as an orphan among prosperous boys.


s: Thou know'st of old he loved this harp of mine,


s: But I would serve him, soothe him, if I could,


s: He loves thee, but he must not see thee now.


s: Thou hast indeed a rare touch on thy harp,


s: He loves that in thee, too;--there was a time


s: (But that is pass'd), he would have paid thy strain


s: With music to have drawn the stars from heaven.


s: He hath his harp and laurel with him still,


s: And all which might relax his settled gloom.


s: Yet thou may'st try thy playing, if thou wilt--


s: But thou must keep unseen; follow us on,


s: In this clear mountain-air, a voice will rise,


s: Though from afar, distinctly; it may soothe him.


s: Play when we halt, and, when the evening comes


s: And I must leave him (for his pleasure is


s: To be left musing these soft nights alone


s: In the high unfrequented mountain-spots),


s: Then watch him, for he ranges swift and far,


s: Sometimes to Etna's top, and to the cone;


s: But hide thee in the rocks a great way down,


s: And try thy noblest strains, my Callicles,


s: With the sweet night to help thy harmony!


s: Thou wilt earn my thanks sure, and perhaps his.


s: Of this fair summer-weather, on these hills,


s: That needs no thanks; one is far better here


s: Than in the broiling city in these heats.


s: But tell me, how hast them persuaded him


s: In this his present fierce, man-hating mood,


s: To bring thee out with him alone on Etna?


s: Thou hast heard all men speaking of Pantheia


s: Thirty long days in a cold trance of death,


s: And whom Empedocles call'd back to life.


s: Thou art too young to note it, but his power


s: Swells with the swelling evil of this time,


s: And holds men mute to see where it will rise.


s: He could stay swift diseases in old days,


s: Cleanse to sweet airs the breath of poisonous streams,


s: This he could do of old; but now, since all


s: Since broils tear us in twain, since this new swarm


s: Of sophists has got empire in our schools


s: Where he was paramount, since he is banish'd


s: And lives a lonely man in triple gloom--


s: He grasps the very reins of life and death.


s: And he made answer, I should come at night


s: And he would tell me, as his old, tried friend,


s: Who still was faithful, what might profit me;


s: Bah! Thou a doctor! Thou art superstitious.


s: Was subject to these trances from a girl.


s: But he still lets the people, whom he scorns,


s: Gape and cry _wizard_ at him, if they list.


s: Thou art as cross, as sour'd as himself!


s: Thou hast some wrong from thine own citizens,


s: And then thy friend is banish'd, and on that,


s: Straightway thou fallest to arraign the times,


s: I hear, Gorgias, their chief, speaks nobly of him,


s: As of his gifted master, and once friend.


s: He is too scornful, too high-wrought, too bitter.


s: 'Tis not the times, 'tis not the sophists vex him;


s: There is some root of suffering in himself,


s: Which makes the time look black and sad to him.


s: But lead him through the lovely mountain-paths,


s: And keep his mind from preying on itself,


s: And talk to him of things at hand and common,


s: And thou, a boy whose tongue outruns his knowledge,


s: And on whose lightness blame is thrown away.


s: Up by the torrent-side, under the pines.


s: Crouch in the brushwood till the mules have pass'd;


s: Then play thy kind part well. Farewell till night!


s: _Noon. A Glen on the highest skirts of the woody region


s: The noon is hot. When we have cross'd the stream,


s: We shall have left the woody tract, and come


s: See how the giant spires of yellow bloom


s: Are shining on those naked slopes like flame!


s: And we were not so far from human haunt,


s: I should have said that some one touch'd a harp


s: With a gay revelling band; he breaks from them


s: Sometimes, and wanders far among the glens.


s: But heed him not, he will not mount to us;


s: I spoke with him this morning. Once more, therefore,


s: Instruct me of Pantheia's story, Master,


s: Visit us as they do with sign and plague,


s: To know those spells of thine which stay their hand


s: Mind is the spell which governs earth and heaven.


s: Man has a mind with which to plan his safety;


s: "The wit and counsel of man was never clear,


s: Troubles confound the little wit he has."


s: Mind is a light which the Gods mock us with,


s: I know these notes among a thousand. Hark!


s: The track winds down to the clear stream,


s: To the high mountain-pastures, and to stay,


s: Till the rough cow-herds drive them past,


s: Knee-deep in the cool ford; for 'tis the last


s: Of all the woody, high, well-water'd dells


s: Of noon is broken there by chestnut-boughs


s: Is freshen'd by the leaping stream, which throws


s: Eternal showers of spray on the moss'd roots


s: Of trees, and veins of turf, and long dark shoots


s: Of ivy-plants, and fragrant hanging bells


s: And stream, and sward, and chestnut-trees,


s: End here; Etna beyond, in the broad glare


s: Slope behind slope, up to the peak, lies bare;


s: The peak, round which the white clouds play.


s: _The music below ceases, and_ EMPEDOCLES _speaks, accompanying


s: himself in a solemn manner on his harp._


s: And bade the winds through space impel the gusty toy


s: Looks once, and drives elsewhere, and leaves its last employ.


s: And dares stamp nothing false where he finds nothing sure.


s: Is fate indeed so strong, man's strength indeed so poor?


s: And he treats doubt the best who tries to see least ill.


s: Ask not the latest news of the last miracle,


s: Ask what most helps when known, thou son of Anchitus!


s: What? life and chance go hard with thee too, as with us;


s: Tyranny, pride, and lust, fill Sicily's abodes;


s: Scarce can one think in calm, so threatening are the Gods;


s: And asks what ails him so, and gets what cure he can.


s: Be neither saint nor sophist-led, but be a man!


s: Trumpet it as they will, is but the same as thine.


s: Sink in thyself! there ask what ails thee, at that shrine!


s: For man would make no murmuring, were his will obey'd.


s: And believes Nature outraged if his will's gainsaid.


s: No title from the Gods to welfare and repose;


s: But we are all the same--the fools of our own woes!


s: He fails not to judge clear if this be quench'd or no.


s: The world does but exist that welfare to bestow.


s: No, we are strangers here; the world is from of old.


s: Born into life we are, and life must be our mould.


s: So each new man strikes root into a far fore-time.


s: To tunes we did not call our being must keep chime.


s: Experience, like a sea, soaks all-effacing in.


s: The world is what it is, for all our dust and din.


s: Our wants have all been felt, our errors made before.


s: How man may here best live no care too great to explore.


s: We mark not the world's course, but would have _it_ take _ours_.


s: A false course for the world, and for ourselves, false powers.


s: Bafflers of our own prayers, from youth to life's last scenes.


s: We want all pleasant ends, but will use no harsh means;


s: But our own acts, for good or ill, are mightier powers.


s: Other existences there are, that clash with ours.


s: Like us, the Libyan wind delights to roam at large.


s: Nor is that wind less rough which blows a good man's barge.


s: Allows the proudly-riding and the foundering bark.


s: The ill deeds of other men make often _our_ life dark.


s: But we an easier way to cheat our pains have found.


s: And bend their little fists, and rate the senseless ground;


s: With God and Fate to rail at, suffering easily.


s: Grant that the world were full of Gods we cannot see;


s: Fain would do all things well, but sometimes fails in strength.


s: And quietly declaims the cursings of himself.


s: Is everywhere; sustains the wise, the foolish elf.


s: To embitter human life, malignant Deities;


s: And feign kind Gods who perfect what man vainly tries.


s: We measure the sea-tides, we number the sea-sands;


s: We search out dead men's words, and works of dead men's hands;


s: And spend our wit to name what most employ unnamed.


s: Our hair grows grey, our eyes are dimm'd, our heat is tamed;


s: Man's measures cannot mete the immeasurable All.


s: Sure only that your mind sees all things which befal."


s: Nor does being weary prove that he has where to rest.


s: Draws in the enamour'd gazer to its shining breast;


s: Now do we soon perceive how fast our youth is spent.


s: Our shivering heart is mined by secret discontent;


s: Still hungrier for delight as delights grow more rare.


s: Fail'd to fill up the void which in our breasts we bear.


s: To find with you the joy we in vain here require!"


s: Make us, not fly to dreams, but moderate desire.


s: Why should I say that life need yield but _moderate_ bliss?


s: Shall _we_ judge what for man is not true bliss or is?


s: To have loved, to have thought, to have done;


s: To have advanced true friends, and beat down baffling foes--


s: And relegate to worlds yet distant our repose?


s: And yet the village-churl feels the truth more than you,


s: The boors with whom he talk'd, the country-spots he knew.


s: Tremblest, and wilt not dare to trust the joys there are!


s: Because thou must not dream, thou need'st not then despair!


s: _A long pause. At the end of it the notes of a harp


s: below are again heard, and_ CALLICLES _sings:--_


s: Among the green Illyrian hills; and there


s: The sunshine in the happy glens is fair,


s: And there, they say, two bright and aged snakes,


s: Bask in the glens or on the warm sea-shore,


s: In breathless quiet, after all their ills;


s: Nor do they see their country, nor the place


s: Where the Sphinx lived among the frowning hills,


s: There those two live, far in the Illyrian brakes!


s: For years, they sitting helpless in their home,


s: In sight of blood; but were rapt, far away,


s: To those untrodden mountain-lawns; and there


s: Placed safely in changed forms, the pair


s: Wholly forget their first sad life, and home,


s: That was my harp-player again!--where is he?


s: And for young Callicles, thank him from me;


s: Tell him, I never fail'd to love his lyre--


s: Till mine eyes ache with the long spectacle,


s: And I shall doubtless see them all again;


s: Thou know'st me for a wanderer from of old.


s: Meanwhile, stay me not now. Farewell, Pausanias!


s: _He departs on his way up the mountain._


s: I dare not urge him further--he must go;


s: But he is strangely wrought!--I will speed back


s: And bring Peisianax to him from the city;


s: His counsel could once soothe him. But, Apollo!


s: How his brow lighten'd as the music rose!


s: Callicles must wait here, and play to him;


s: I saw him through the chestnuts far below,


s: Just since, down at the stream.--Ho! Callicles!


s: On this charr'd, blacken'd, melancholy waste,


s: Crown'd by the awful peak, Etna's great mouth.


s: Round which the sullen vapour rolls--alone!


s: Pausanias is far hence, and that is well,


s: For I must henceforth speak no more with man


s: He hath his lesson too, and that debt's paid;


s: And the good, learned, friendly, quiet man,


s: May bravelier front his life, and in himself


s: Find henceforth energy and heart. But I--


s: Whose banishment is not his greatest ill,


s: And for whose hurt courage is not the cure--


s: What should I do with life and living more?


s: And the world hath the day, and must break thee,


s: Not thou the world. With men thou canst not live,


s: Their thoughts, their ways, their wishes, are not thine;


s: For something has impair'd thy spirit's strength,


s: And dried its self-sufficing fount of joy.


s: Thou canst not live with men nor with thyself--


s: O sage! O sage!--Take then the one way left;


s: And turn thee to the elements, thy friends,


s: Thy well-tried friends, thy willing ministers,


s: Who asks this final service at your hands!


s: The last spark of man's consciousness with words--


s: Ere quite the being of man, ere quite the world


s: Before the soul lose all her solemn joys,


s: And the soul's deep eternal night come on--


s: Receive me, hide me, quench me, take me home!


s: _He advances to the edge of the crater. Smoke


s: and fire break forth with a loud noise, and_


s: In the court of Gods, in the city of men,


s: And in the lonely rock-strewn mountain-glen,


s: Through whose heart Etna drives her roots of stone


s: Thine ancient rout by the Cilician hills,


s: And that curst treachery on the Mount of Gore?


s: Thy last mischance on this Sicilian deep?


s: Where erst the strong sea-currents suck'd thee down,


s: Never to cease to writhe, and try to rest,


s: Letting the sea-stream wander through thy hair?


s: Gods and the race of mortals love so well,


s: When through thy caves thou hearest music swell?


s: Droops all his sheeny, brown, deep-feather'd neck,


s: The curtains of the blue films slowly meet


s: Rosily brighten, and the soothed Gods smile


s: At one another from their golden chairs,


s: And no one round the charmed circle speaks.


s: Of fresh-pull'd violets wreathed and nodding o'er;


s: And her flush'd feet glow on the marble floor.


s: The brave, impetuous heart yields everywhere


s: These rumblings are not Typho's groans, I know!


s: Of the mountain-crush'd, tortured, intractable Titan king--


s: All the fool's-armoury of magic!--Lie there,


s: As the sky-brightening south-wind clears the day,


s: That triumph of the sweet persuasive lyre,


s: When jealous Pan with Marsyas did conspire;


s: Left their friend, and with robes flowing


s: Ah, poor Faun, poor Faun! ah, poor Faun!


s: Scornful Apollo's ensign, lie thou there!


s: Though thou hast been my shade in the world's heat--


s: Though I have loved thee, lived in honouring thee--


s: The jars of men reach him not in thy valley--


s: He hears nothing but the cry of the torrents,


s: Take thy bough, set me free from my solitude;


s: Where shall thy votary fly then? back to men?--


s: But they will gladly welcome him once more,


s: And help him to unbend his too tense thought,


s: And keep their friendly chatter at his ear,


s: And haunt him, till the absence from himself,


s: And he will find its air too keen for him,


s: And so change back; and many thousand times


s: Like a sea-wave, betwixt the world and thee,


s: Thou young, implacable God! and only death


s: Bring him to poise. There is no other way.


s: And yet what days were those, Parmenides!


s: When we were young, when we could number friends


s: In all the Italian cities like ourselves,


s: When with elated hearts we join'd your train.


s: Ye Sun-born Virgins! on the road of truth.


s: Then we could still enjoy, then neither thought


s: Nor outward things were closed and dead to us;


s: But we received the shock of mighty thoughts


s: On simple minds with a pure natural joy;


s: And if the sacred load oppress'd our brain,


s: We had the power to feel the pressure eased,


s: The brow unbound, the thoughts flow free again,


s: In the delightful commerce of the world.


s: We had not lost our balance then, nor grown


s: Thought's slaves, and dead to every natural joy.


s: The smallest thing could give us pleasure then--


s: Fulness of life and power of feeling, ye


s: Are for the happy, for the souls at ease,


s: But he, who has outlived his prosperous days--


s: But he, whose youth fell on a different world


s: From that on which his exiled age is thrown--


s: Whose mind was fed on other food, was train'd


s: By other rules than are in vogue to-day--


s: Whose habit of thought is fix'd, who will not change,


s: But, in a world he loves not, must subsist


s: Of his own breast, fetter'd to what he guards,


s: That the world win no mastery over him--


s: Who has no friend, no fellow left, not one;


s: Who has no minute's breathing space allow'd


s: To nurse his dwindling faculty of joy----


s: Joy and the outward world must die to him,


s: _A long pause, during which_ EMPEDOCLES _remains


s: motionless, plunged in thought. The night deepens.


s: He moves forward and gazes round him, and


s: The radiant, rejoicing, intelligent Sons of Heaven.


s: No, no, ye stars! there is no death with you,


s: No languor, no decay! languor and death,


s: They are with me, not you! ye are alive--


s: Ye, and the pure dark ether where ye ride


s: Brilliant above me! And thou, fiery world,


s: That sapp'st the vitals of this terrible mount


s: Upon whose charr'd and quaking crust I stand--


s: Thou, too, brimmest with life!--the sea of cloud,


s: That heaves its white and billowy vapours up


s: To moat this isle of ashes from the world,


s: Lives; and that other fainter sea, far down,


s: O'er whose lit floor a road of moonbeams leads


s: That mild and luminous floor of waters lives,


s: With held-in joy swelling its heart; I only,


s: Whose spring of hope is dried, whose spirit has fail'd,


s: I, who have not, like these, in solitude


s: Maintain'd courage and force, and in myself


s: Am dead to life and joy, therefore I read


s: Oh, that I could glow like this mountain!


s: Oh, that my heart bounded with the swell of the sea!


s: Oh, that my soul were full of light as the stars!


s: Oh, that it brooded over the world like the air!


s: But no, this heart will glow no more; thou art


s: Nothing but a devouring flame of thought--


s: They were well born, they will be well entomb'd--


s: And we might gladly share the fruitful stir


s: Down in our mother earth's miraculous womb;


s: With what roll'd of us in the stormy main;


s: We might have joy, blent with the all-bathing air,


s: Or with the nimble, radiant life of fire.


s: If these have been the master part of us--


s: Where will _they_ find their parent element?


s: What will receive _them_, who will call _them_ home?


s: But we shall still be in them, and they in us,


s: And we shall be the strangers of the world,


s: And they will be our lords, as they are now;


s: And keep us prisoners of our consciousness,


s: But through their forms, and modes, and stifling veils.


s: The ineffable longing for the life of life


s: Baffled for ever; and still thought and mind


s: Will hurry us with them on their homeless march,


s: Will blow us fiercely back to sea and earth,


s: And fire repel us from its living waves.


s: This uncongenial place, this human life;


s: To see if we will poise our life at last,


s: To our own only true, deep-buried selves,


s: Being one with which we are one with the whole world;


s: Some slough of sense, or some fantastic maze


s: Forged by the imperious lonely thinking-power.


s: And each succeeding age in which we are born


s: Will have more peril for us than the last;


s: Will goad our senses with a sharper spur,


s: Will fret our minds to an intenser play,


s: Will make ourselves harder to be discern'd.


s: And we shall struggle awhile, gasp and rebel--


s: And we shall fly for refuge to past times,


s: Their soul of unworn youth, their breath of greatness;


s: Knead us in its hot hand, and change our nature


s: And we shall feel our powers of effort flag,


s: And rally them for one last fight--and fail;


s: And we shall sink in the impossible strife,


s: I have in no wise been;--but slave of thought?...


s: And who can say: I have been always free,


s: Lived ever in the light of my own soul?--


s: I cannot; I have lived in wrath and gloom,


s: Fierce, disputatious, ever at war with man,


s: Far from my own soul, far from warmth and light.


s: But I have not grown easy in these bonds--


s: But I have not denied what bonds these were.


s: Not to die wholly, not to be all enslaved.


s: I feel it in this hour. The numbing cloud


s: Mounts off my soul; I feel it, I breathe free.


s: Through the black, rushing smoke-bursts,


s: (_The Day of Burial, in the Abbey, of_ ARTHUR PENRHYN


s: Cheer'd us, and now is pass'd into the night?


s: Couldst thou no better keep, O Abbey old,


s: The presence of that gracious inmate, light?--


s: Hither he came, late-born and long-desired,


s: And to men's hearts this ancient place endear'd;


s: What, is the happy glow so soon expired?


s: And down over the Thames the darkness drew.


s: One still lags last, and turns, and eyes the Pile


s: Huge in the gloom, across in Thorney Isle,


s: King Sebert's work, the wondrous Minster new.


s: They moor'd their boats among the bulrush stems;


s: The world-famed Abbey by the westering Thames.


s: Who bade him loose his boat, and fix his oar,


s: And row him straightway to the further shore,


s: And wait while he did there a space abide.


s: That voice had note so clear of sweet command;


s: Through pouring tide he pulls, and drizzling haze,


s: And sets his freight ashore on Thorney strand.


s: And thitherward the stranger took his way.


s: Nave, choir and transept glorified with light,


s: While tongues of fire on coign and carving play!


s: Come streaming with the floods of glory in,


s: _O Saxon fisher! thou hast had with thee_


s: So saith he, blessing him with outspread hands;


s: _At dawn thou to King Sebert shalt relate_


s: _How his St. Peter's Church in Thorney Isle_


s: _Peter, his friend, with light did consecrate._


s: Pageants have pass'd, and tombs of mighty kings


s: Efface the humbler graves of Sebert's line,


s: And, as years sped, the minster-aisles divine


s: Grew used to the approach of Glory's wings.


s: Light, only light, was slow to reappear.


s: Or drown'd in mists of childish wonderment,


s: Fond fancies here, there false philosophy!


s: Of men with mind thus darken'd and astray;


s: And scarce the boon of life could struggle through,


s: For want of light which should the boon convey.


s: Seem'd to come true at last, O Abbey old!


s: It seem'd, a child of light did bring the dower


s: Foreshown thee in thy consecration-hour,


s: And in thy courts his shining freight unroll'd:


s: And goodness warm, and truth without alloy,


s: And temper sweet, and love of all things pure,


s: And joy in light, and power to spread the joy.


s: That to my mind there came how, long ago,


s: The charm'd babe of the Eleusinian king--


s: His nurse, the Mighty Mother, will'd it so.


s: He slumber'd, and ambrosia balm'd the child;


s: But all night long amid the flames he lay,


s: Upon the hearth, and play'd with them, and smiled.


s: And saw her babe amidst the fire, and scream'd.


s: A sigh the Goddess gave, and with a frown


s: Pluck'd from the fire the child, and laid him down;


s: Then raised her face, and glory round her stream'd.


s: Mantled her form, no more her head was bow'd;


s: But raiment of celestial sheen she wore,


s: And beauty fill'd her, and she spake aloud:--


s: Had human cry not marr'd the work divine,


s: Their kindness shown me in my wandering hour."


s: --She spake, and from the portal pass'd away.


s: Long since, his name is heard on earth no more.


s: And went where all his fathers went before.


s: Of childhood, Arthur! did some check have power,


s: That, radiant though thou wert, thou couldst but stay,


s: Bringer of heavenly light, a human hour?


s: And weakness warn'd him, and he fear'd decline.


s: And in the grave he laid a cherish'd wife,


s: And men ignoble harass'd him with strife,


s: And deadly airs his strength did undermine.


s: The sound beloved of his victorious breath;


s: And light's fair nursling stupor first invades,


s: And next the crowning impotence of death.


s: That Pair, whose head did plan, whose hands did forge


s: The Temple in the pure Parnassian gorge,


s: Finish'd their work, and then a meed required.


s: "Live happy, then expect your perfect meed!"


s: Quiet in sleep, the seventh night, they died.


s: Death, death was judged the boon supreme indeed.


s: And served men nobly, and acceptance found,


s: And borne to light and right his witness high,


s: What could he better wish than then to die,


s: And wait the issue, sleeping underground?


s: Down the long age of truth that ripens slow;


s: And break his heart with all the baffling change,


s: Though moving inly to one far-set goal.--


s: What had our Arthur gain'd, to stop and see,


s: A Church once large and then grown strait in soul?


s: Alternating with wisdom's too short reign,


s: Folly revived, re-furbish'd sophistries,


s: Yet would I not disturb thee from thy tomb,


s: Thus sleeping in thine Abbey's friendly shade,


s: And the rough waves of life for ever laid!


s: I would not break thy rest, nor change thy doom.


s: Even as that loved, that well-recorded friend--


s: Hast thy commission done; ye both may now


s: Wait for the leaven to work, the let to end.


s: By this dear guest over thy precinct shed--


s: Fear not but that thy light once more shall burn,


s: Once more thine immemorial gleam return,


s: Though sunk be now this bright, this gracious head!


s: And thy transfigured walls be touch'd with flame--


s: Again from lip to lip will pass his name.


s: The ground, which hides thee now, but four?


s: To run their course, and reach their goal,


s: That steadfast, mournful strain, consoled


s: What, was four years their whole short day?


s: Which man, proud man, finds hard to bear,


s: _Such ways, such arts, such looks hadst thou!_


s: Here, where the grass is smooth and warm,


s: Then some, who through this garden pass,


s: _The dachs-hound, Geist, their little friend._


s: Round his small throat of black and brown


s: Were thine in store, thou faithful friend.


s: Thine eye was bright, thy coat it shone;


s: And thou art gone where Geist hath gone,


s: The name Europe ([Greek: Eurôpê], _the wide prospect_) probably


s: boldest warriors of that country, before Rustum encountered him,


s: though Sohrab had the advantage; the second, the youth obtained a


s: fatal to Sohrab, who, when writhing in the pangs of death, warned


s: woes, and bade him dread the rage of the mighty Rustum, who must


s: soon learn that he had slain his son Sohrab. These words, we are


s: The afflicted and dying youth tore open his mail, and showed his


s: father a seal which his mother had placed on his arm when she


s: discovered to him the secret of his birth, and bade him seek his


s: Sohrab's death, he burnt his tents and all his goods, and carried


s: was, agreeably to the last request of Sohrab, permitted to cross


s: the Oxus unmolested. To reconcile us to the improbability of this


s: truth; and Rustum, as before stated, fought under a feigned name,


s: "Balder the Good having been tormented with terrible dreams,


s: indicating that his life was in great peril, communicated them to


s: from him the threatened danger. Then Frigga exacted an oath from


s: fire and water, from iron, and all other metals, as well as from


s: stones, earths, diseases, beasts, birds, poisons, and creeping


s: things, that none of them would do any harm to Balder. When this


s: was done, it became a favourite pastime of the Æsir, at their


s: woman, he went to Fensalir, the mansion of Frigga. That goddess,


s: "'What!' exclaimed the woman, 'have all things sworn to spare


s: "'Because I am blind,' answered Hödur, 'and see not where Balder


s: is, and have, moreover, nothing to throw with.'


s: "'Come, then,' said Loki, 'do like the rest, and show honour to


s: Balder by throwing this twig at him, and I will direct thy arm


s: "Hödur then took the mistletoe, and, under the guidance of Loki,


s: darted it at Balder, who, pierced through and through, fell down


s: solicitations, promised to bestow his daughter Iseult in marriage


s: confidante a philtre, or love-potion, to be administered on the


s: night of her nuptials. Of this beverage Tristram and Iseult, on


s: their voyage to Cornwall, unfortunately partook. Its influence,


s: during the remainder of their lives, regulated the affections and


s: "After the arrival of Tristram and Iseult in Cornwall, and the


s: interviews.--Tristram, being forced to leave Cornwall, on account


s: which became the theatre of unnumbered exploits.


s: confidant to the queen of Cornwall, to try if he could induce her


s: _Recalls the obscure opposer he outweigh'd._


s: _Of that unpitying Phrygian sect which cried._


s: See St. Augustine's _Confessions_, book ix. chapter 11.]


s: See, among "Early Poems," the poem called _A Memory-Picture_.]


s: _O'er the sun-redden'd western straits._


s: "There was very lately a lad in the University of Oxford, who was


s: join himself to a company of vagabond gipsies. Among these


s: discovered to him their mystery. After he had been a pretty while


s: scholars, who had formerly been of his acquaintance. They quickly


s: learning among them, and could do wonders by the power of


s: imagination, their fancy binding that of others: that himself had


s: _Young Daphnis with his silver voice doth sing._


s: like the Linus-song, one of the early plaintive strains of Greek


s: popular poetry, and used to be sung by corn-reapers. Other


s: traditions represented Daphnis as beloved by a nymph who exacted


s: from him an oath to love no one else. He fell in love with a


s: princess, and was struck blind by the jealous nymph. Mercury, who


s: _Ah! where is he, who should have come._


s: See _Harzreise im Winter_, in Goethe's _Gedichte_.]


s: The author of _Obermann_, Étienne Pivert de Senancour, has little


s: Probably all who know the Vevey end of the Lake of Geneva, will


s: _And the kind, chance-arrived Wanderer._


s: _And that curst treachery on the Mount of Gore._


s: _Ye Sun-born Virgins! on the road of truth._


s: ... [Greek: kourai d' hodon hêgemoneuon,


s: hêliades kourai, prolipousai dômata nyktos,


s: _Couldst thou no better keep, O Abbey old,


s: shore. Having left the boat, St. Peter ordered the fisherman to


s: wait, promising him a reward on his return. An innumerable host


s: from heaven accompanied the apostle, singing choral hymns, while


s: everything was illuminated with a supernatural light. The


s: dedication having been completed, St. Peter returned to the


s: fisherman, quieted his alarm at what had passed, and announced


s: Mellitus, Bishop of London, who, going to the church, found not


s: only marks of the chrism, but of the tapers with which the church


s: proceeding to a new consecration, and contented himself with the


s: celebration of the mass."--DUGDALE, _Monasticon Anglicanum_


s: _The charm'd babe of the Eleusinian king._


s: _That Pair, whose head did plan, whom hands did forge


s: The Temple in the pure Parnassian gorge._


s: O' Robin's reed."--BURNS, _Poor Mailie's Elegy_.]


s: _Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, _Edinburgh_.


s: CONTENTS:--The Study of Poetry--Milton--Thomas Gray--John


s: _SELECTED POEMS._ [_Golden Treasury Series_.


s: _ISAIAH OF JERUSALEM._ In the Authorised English Version. With


s: _A BIBLE READING FOR SCHOOLS._ The Great Prophecy of Israel's


s: New and Cheaper Edition. Crown 8vo. 4s. 6d.


s: To my Frinds the Camber-Britans and theyr Harp


s: seventeenth centuries, is astonishing; and it was impossible that


s: affected by the example of its neighbours.


s: “His rimes were smooth, his meeters well did close,


s: “Polyolbion” is not a poem to be read through, but to be read in.


s: delightful touches in the other delightful poems which give more


s: The leaves then lying on the mossy root,


s: As if she fain would sing, yet fain would weep;


s: Praising fair summer that too soon is gone,


s: On a more exact comparison of Drayton with Holinshed we find him


s: satellite, the splendid Ballad of Agincourt (“To my Frinds the


s: “Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring,”--


s: is “conveyed” from this passage of Drayton.]


s: _Lux Hareshulla tibi Warwici villa, tenebris,


s: Arma, Viros, Veneres, Patriam modulamine dixti:


s: Te Patriæ resonant Arma, Viri, Veneres._]


s: against the whole power of the _French_:


s: Printed for WILLIAM LEE, at the Turkes Head


s: in Fleete-Streete, next to the Miter and Phænix.


s: Had Henryes name beene onely met in Prose,


s: Who write of lesse then Kings: who victory,


s: The French, alike with vs, might view his name


s: His actions too, and not confesse a shame:


s: Nay, grow at length, so boldly troublesome,


s: But thou hast wakte their feares: thy fiercer hand


s: Hath made their shame as lasting, as their land.


s: By thee againe they are compeld to knowe


s: They bleede afresh by thee, and thinke the harme


s: Such; they could rather wish, t’were Henryes arme:


s: Who thankes thy painfull quill; and holds it more


s: To be thy Subiect now, then King before.


s: By thee he conquers yet; when eu’ry word


s: Yeelds him a fuller honour, then his sword.


s: Strengthens his action against time: by thee,


s: Hee victory, and France, doth hold in fee.


s: So well obseru’d he is, that eu’ry thing


s: Speakes him not onely English, but a King.


s: And France, in this, may boast her fortunate


s: That shee was worthy of so braue a hate.


s: Her suffring is her gayne. How well we see


s: The Battaile labour’d worthy him, and thee,


s: Where, wee may Death discouer with delight,


s: Where wee may see how well it doth become


s: A life to Kings, more glorious, then they had.


s: England may vaunt thou do’st erect to her,


s: Yet forced to confesse, (yea blush for shame,)


s: How it would become her, would she learne to knowe


s: Once to requite thy Heauen-borne Art and Zeale,


s: Or at the least her selfe but thankfull showe


s: Her ancient Glories that do’st still reueale:


s: Sing thou of Loue, thy straines (like powerfull Charmes)


s: And when againe thou lik’st to sing of Armes


s: The Coward thou with Courage do’st inspire:


s: But when thou com’st to touch our Sinfull Times,


s: Then Heauen far more then Earth speakes in thy Rimes.


s: It hath beene question’d, Michael, if I bee


s: A Friend at all; or, if at all, to thee:


s: Because, who make the question, haue not seene


s: Those ambling visits, passe in verse, betweene


s: Thy Muse, and mine, as they expect. ’Tis true:


s: And, though I now begin, ’tis not to rub


s: Hanch against Hanch, or raise a riming Club


s: About the towne: this reck’ning I will pay,


s: Without conferring symboles. This ’s my day.


s: Lend me thy voyce, O Fame, that I may draw


s: Wonder to truth! and haue my Vision hoorld,


s: Hot from thy trumpet, round, about the world.


s: That all Earth look’d on; and that earth, all Eyes!


s: It cast a beame as when the chear-full Sun


s: Is fayre got vp, and day some houres begun!


s: And fill’d an Orbe as circular, as heauen!


s: The Orbe was cut forth into Regions seauen.


s: And those so sweet, and well proportion’d parts,


s: There read I, streight, thy learned Legends three,


s: Heard the soft ayres, between our Swaynes & thee,


s: Which made me thinke, the old Theocritus,


s: Their loues, their quarrels, iealousies, and wrongs


s: Did all so strike me, as I cry’d, who can


s: With vs be call’d, the Naso, but this man?


s: Pearch’d ouer head, the wise Athenian Owle:


s: I thought thee then our Orpheus, that wouldst try


s: And I had stil’d thee, Orpheus, but before


s: My lippes could forme the voyce, I heard that Rore,


s: And Rouze, the Marching of a mighty force,


s: Drums against Drums, the neighing of the Horse,


s: The Fights, the Cryes, and wondring at the Iarres


s: I saw, and read, it was thy Barons Warres!


s: O, how in those, dost thou instruct these times,


s: That Rebells actions, are but valiant crimes!


s: And caried, though with shoute, and noyse, confesse


s: Sayst thou so, Lucan? But thou scornst to stay


s: And flight about the Ile, well neare, by this,


s: That reade it? that are rauish’d! such was I


s: With euery song, I sweare, and so would dye:


s: But that I heare, againe, thy Drum to beate


s: A better cause, and strike the brauest heate


s: That euer yet did fire the English blood!


s: Our right in France! if ritely vnderstood.


s: There, thou art Homer! Pray thee vse the stile


s: Thou hast deseru’d: And let me reade the while


s: Thy list of aydes, and force, for so it is:


s: The Poets act! and for his Country’s sake


s: Braue are the Musters, that the Muse will make.


s: And when he ships them where to vse their Armes,


s: How do his trumpets breath! What loud alarmes!


s: Looke, how we read the Spartans were inflam’d


s: With bold Tyrtæus verse, when thou art nam’d,


s: So shall our English Youth vrge on, and cry


s: This booke! it is a Catechisme to fight,


s: And will be bought of euery Lord, and Knight,


s: That can but reade; who cannot, may in prose


s: Get broken peeces, and fight well by those.


s: Of tender eyes will more be wept, then seene:


s: I feele it by mine owne, that ouer flow,


s: But then refreshed, with thy Fayerie Court,


s: As, on two flowry Carpets, that did rise,


s: And with their grassie greene restor’d mine eyes.


s: Yet giue mee leaue, to wonder at the birth


s: Of thy strange Moon-Calfe, both thy straine of mirth,


s: Thou hadst brought Lapland, or old Cobalus,


s: Then Affricke knew, or the full Grecian shore!


s: To all thy vertuous, and well chosen Friends,


s: I call the world, that enuies mee, to see


s: If I can be a Friend, and Friend to thee.


s: Ceas’d was the Thunder, of those Drummes which wak’d


s: Th’affrighted French their miseries to view,


s: At Edwards name, which to that houre still quak’d,


s: Their Salique Tables to the ground that threw,


s: Yet were the English courages not slak’d,


s: But the same Bowes, and the same Blades they drew,


s: With the same Armes, those weapons to aduance,


s: Which lately lopt the Flower de liz of France.


s: Henry the fift, that man made out of fire,


s: Th’Imperiall Wreath plac’d on his Princely browe;


s: Which way olde Henry came by it; or howe


s: At Pomfret Castell Richard should expire:


s: What’s that to him? He hath the Garland now;


s: For Munmouth meanes to keepe it, if he can.


s: That glorious day, which his great Father got,


s: The valiant Dowglass, that Herculian Scot,


s: When for his Crowne at Shrewsbury they playde,


s: And all those Tempests quietly had layde,


s: That not a cloud did to this Prince appeare,


s: No former King had seene a skye so cleere.


s: Yet the rich Clergy felt a fearefull Rent,


s: In the full Bosome of their Church (whilst she


s: Lesse then she was, and thought she might not be:)


s: By Wickclif and his followers; to preuent


s: The growth of whose opinions, and to free


s: That foule Aspersion, which on her they layde,


s: She her strongst witts must stirre vp to her ayde.


s: To sett things steddy, that stood not so right,


s: But that thereby the poore might be inthral’d,


s: Should they be vrged by those that were of might,


s: It should continue in that perfect plight;


s: Wherefore to Lester, he th’Assembly drawes,


s: In which one Bill (mongst many) there was red,


s: Against the generall, and superfluous waste


s: Of temporall Lands, (the Laity that had fed)


s: Which for defence might stand the Realme in sted,


s: Where it most needed were it rightly plac’t;


s: Which made those Church-men generally to feare,


s: For all this calme, some tempest might be neare.


s: And being right skilfull, quickly they forsawe,


s: No shallow braines this bus’nesse went about:


s: Therefore with cunning they must cure this flawe;


s: For of the King they greatly stood in doubt,


s: Lest him to them, their opposites should drawe,


s: Some thing must be thrust in, to thrust that out:


s: And to this end they wisely must prouide


s: One, this great Engine, Clearkly that could guide.


s: Chichley, that sate on Canterburies See,


s: A man well spoken, grauely stout, and wise,


s: The most select, (then thought of that could be,)


s: (For well they knew, that in this bus’nesse, he


s: Would to the vtmost straine his faculties;)


s: Him lift they vp, with their maine strength, to proue


s: By some cleane slight this Lybell to remoue.


s: His braine in labour, gladly foorth would bring


s: Somewhat, that at this needfull time might fit,


s: The sprightly humor of this youthfull King,


s: His working soule proiecteth many a thing,


s: Vntill at length out of the strength of wit,


s: He found a warre with France, must be the way


s: To dash this Bill, else threatning their decay.


s: Whilst vacant mindes sate in their breasts at ease,


s: And the remembrance of their Conquests past,


s: Vpon their fansies doth so strongly sease,


s: As in their teeth, their Cowardise it cast


s: Rehearsing to them those victorious daies,


s: The deeds of which, beyond their names should last,


s: That after ages, reading what was theirs,


s: Shall hardly thinke, those men had any Heires.


s: A speech, (which chanc’d, the very pinne to cleaue)


s: That it no roomth should for a second leaue,


s: More of this Title then in hand to tell,


s: If so his skill him did not much deceaue,


s: And gainst the King in publike should appeare;


s: Thus frames his speech to the Assembly there.


s: Pardon my boldnesse, my Liedge Soueraine Lord,


s: Nor your Dread presence let my speech offend,


s: Your milde attention, fauourably affoord,


s: Which, such cleere vigour to my spirit shall lend,


s: That it shall set an edge vpon your Sword,


s: Asking you, why, men train’d to Armes you keepe,


s: Your right in France yet suffering still to sleepe.


s: When as your right includes that large extent,


s: To th’either Alpes your Empire forth to lay,


s: Can he be English borne, and is not bent


s: Weele wade if we want ships, the waues or climme,


s: In one hand hold our swords, with th’other swim.


s: What time controules, your braue great Grandsires claim,


s: To th’Realme of France, from Philip nam’d the faire,


s: Which to King Edward by his mother came,


s: Queene Isabel; that Philips onely heire,


s: Which this short intermission doth not maime,


s: That where his Right in bloud preuailed not,


s: In spight of hell, yet by his Sword he got.


s: What set that Conqueror, by their Salique Lawes,


s: Those poore decrees their Parliaments could make,


s: He entred on the iustnesse of his Cause,


s: To make good, what he dar’d to vndertake,


s: And once in Action, he stood not to pause,


s: And downe their buildings with such fury bare,


s: That they from mists dissolued were to ayre.


s: As those braue Edwards, Father, and the Sonne,


s: At Conquer’d Cressy, with successefull lucke,


s: Where first all France (as at one game) they wonne,


s: Neuer two Warriours, such a Battaile strucke,


s: That when the bloudy dismall fight was done,


s: Here in one heape, there in another Rucke


s: The English Swords, no difference knew betwixt.


s: There Lewes King of Beame was ouerthrowne


s: With valient Charles, of France the younger Brother,


s: A Daulphine, and two Dukes, in pieces hewen;


s: To them six Earles lay slaine by one another;


s: There the grand Prior of France, fetcht his last groane,


s: Two Archbishops the boystrous Croud doth smother,


s: There fifteene thousand of their Gentrie dy’de


s: With each two Souldiers, slaughtered by his side.


s: Nor the Blacke Prince, at Poyteers battaile fought;


s: Short of his Father, and himselfe before,


s: Her King and Prince, that prisoners hither brought


s: From forty thousand weltring in their gore,


s: That in the Worlds opinion it was thought,


s: France from that instant could subsist no more,


s: The Marshall, and the Constable, there slaine


s: Vnder the Standard, in that Battaile ta’ne.


s: Nor is this clayme for women to succeede,


s: (Gainst which they would your right to France debarre)


s: A thing so new, that it so much should neede


s: Such opposition, as though fetcht from farre,


s: Daughter to Clothar, first so nam’d of France.


s: Hugh Capet, who from Charles of Lorayne tooke


s: The Crowne of France, that he in peace might raigne,


s: As heire to Lingard to her title stooke,


s: Who was the daughter of King Charlemaine,


s: Whom that Hugh Capet made his heire againe,


s: From Ermingard his Grandame, claim’d the Crowne,


s: Duke Charles his daughter, wrongfully put downe.


s: Nor thinke my Leege a fitter time then this,


s: You could haue found your Title to aduance,


s: At the full height when now the faction is,


s: T’wixt Burgoyne, and the house of Orleance,


s: Your purpose you not possibly can misse,


s: That whilst these two in opposition stand,


s: You may haue time, your Army there to land.


s: My visuall sence, me thinkes in euery eye


s: I see such cheere, as of our good successe


s: In France hereafter seemes to Prophecie;


s: Thinke not my Soueraigne, my Alegeance lesse


s: My words: thus long vpon this subiect spent,


s: This speech of his, that powerfull Engine prou’d,


s: Then e’r our Fathers got, which rais’d vs hier,


s: The Clergies feare that quietly remou’d,


s: And into France transferd our Hostile fier,


s: It made the English through the world belou’d,


s: That durst to those so mighty things aspire,


s: And gaue so cleere a luster to our fame,


s: That neighbouring Nations trembled at our name.


s: When through the house, this rumor scarcely ran,


s: That warre with France propounded was againe,


s: But put the proiect on with might and maine,


s: That else no bus’nesse they would entertaine,


s: As though their honour vtterly were lost,


s: If this designe should any way be crost.


s: So much mens mindes, now vpon France were set


s: That euery one doth with himselfe forecast,


s: What might fall out this enterprize to let,


s: As what againe might giue it wings of hast,


s: And for they knew, the French did still abet


s: The Scot against vs, (which we vsde to tast)


s: To Conquer them, ere we to France should goe.


s: Which Ralph then Earle of Westmorland propos’d,


s: Quoth he, with Scotland let vs first begin,


s: By which we are vpon the North inclos’d,


s: And lockt with vs, one Continent within,


s: Then first let Scotland be by vs dispos’d,


s: And with more ease, yee spatious France may winne,


s: Else of our selues, ere we our Ships can cleere,


s: To land in France; they will inuade vs here.


s: For that of one two labours were to make,


s: First, Conquer France, and Scotland yee may take,


s: Tis the French pay, the Scot to them that tyes,


s: That stopt, asunder quickly yee shall shake


s: The French and Scots; to France then first say I,


s: First, first, to France, then all the Commons cry.


s: To Charles of France, to will him to restore


s: Those Territories, of whose large extent,


s: The English Kings were owners of before;


s: The King would set those English on his Shore,


s: That in despight of him, and all his might,


s: Should leaue their liues there, or redeeme his right.


s: Aniou, and Mayne, with Gascoyne which he takes


s: With these proud France, he first of all awakes,


s: For their deliuery, giuing power to treat;


s: For well he knew, if Charles should these restore,


s: No King of France was euer left so poore.


s: The King, and Daulphin, to his proud demand,


s: That he might see they no such matter ment,


s: As a thing fitter for his youthfull hand;


s: And that was all the answere he could get,


s: Which more, the King doth to this Conquest whet.


s: That answering the Ambassadour, quoth he,


s: Thanks for my Balls, to Charles your Soueraigne giue,


s: And thus assure him, and his sonne from me,


s: I’le send him Balls and Rackets if I liue,


s: That they such Racket shall in Paris see,


s: When ouer lyne with Bandies I shall driue,


s: France may (perhaps) into the Hazard runne.


s: So little doth luxurious France fore-see


s: By her disdaine, what shee vpon her drew:


s: The punishment that shortly should ensue,


s: Which so incenst the English King, that he


s: That those three horrors, Famine, Sword, and Fire,


s: In all mens mouthes now was no word but warre,


s: And folke would aske of them ariu’d from farre,


s: What forces were preparing whence they came?


s: ’Gainst any bus’nesse ’twas a lawfull barre


s: To say for France they were; and ’twas a shame


s: Ought, but some thing that did belong thereto.


s: Olde Armours are drest vp, and new are made;


s: Iacks are in working, and strong shirts of Male,


s: He scowers an olde Fox, he a Bilbowe blade,


s: Now Shields and Targets onely are for sale;


s: Who works for warre, now thriueth by his Trade,


s: The browne Bill, and the Battell-Axe preuaile:


s: The curious Fletcher fits his well-strung Bowe,


s: And his barb’d Arrow which he sets to showe.


s: Tents and Pauillions in the fields are pitcht,


s: (E’r full wrought vp their Roomthynesse to try)


s: Windowes, and Towers, with Ensignes are inricht,


s: With ruffling Banners, that doe braue the sky,


s: To see them thus hang wauing in his eye:


s: His toylsome burthen from his back doth throwe,


s: And bids them worke that will, to France hee’ll goe.


s: Rich Saddles for the Light-horse and the Bard


s: For to be brau’st there’s not a man but plyes,


s: Plumes, Bandroules, and Caparizons prepar’d;


s: The Greaues, or Guyses were the surer guard,


s: The Vambrasse, or the Pouldron, they should prize;


s: And where a stand of Pykes plac’t close, or large,


s: Which way to take aduantage in the Charge.


s: One traynes his Horse, another trayles his Pyke,


s: He with his Pole-Axe, practiseth the fight,


s: The Bowe-man (which no Country hath the like)


s: With his sheafe Arrow, proueth by his might,


s: How many score off, he his Foe can strike,


s: Yet not to draw aboue his bosomes hight:


s: The Trumpets sound the Charge and the Retreat,


s: The bellowing Drumme, the Martch againe doth beat.


s: Whose Battery France must feele vpon her Walls,


s: To breake the strong Percullice, and the Balls,


s: Of Wild-fire deuis’d to throw from farre,


s: To burne to ground their Pallaces and Halls:


s: Some studying are, the scale which they had got,


s: Thereby to take the Leuell of their Shot.


s: The man in yeares preacht to his youthfull sonne


s: Prest to this Warre, as they sate by the fire,


s: What deedes in France were by his Father done,


s: And told him, there how he an Ensigne wonne,


s: Which many a yeare was hung vp in the Quire:


s: And in the Battell, where he made his way,


s: How many French men he struck downe that day.


s: The good old man, with teares of ioy would tell,


s: In Cressy field what prizes Edward play’d,


s: As what at Poycteers the Black Prince befell,


s: In deedes of Armes how Awdley did excell,


s: For their olde sinnes, how they the French men payd:


s: How brauely Basset did behaue him there:


s: How Oxford charg’d the Van, Warwick the Reare.


s: And Boy, quoth he, I haue heard thy Grandsire say,


s: Who shooting at a French twelue score away,


s: Quite through the body, stuck him to a Tree;


s: Vpon their strengths a King his Crowne might lay:


s: Such were the men of that braue age, quoth he,


s: When with his Axe he at his Foe let driue,


s: Murriain and scalpe downe to the teeth did riue.


s: The scarlet Iudge might now set vp his Mule,


s: With neighing Steeds the Streetes so pestred are;


s: For where he wont in Westminster to rule,


s: For be hath now no bus’nesse at the Barre:


s: But to make Wills and Testaments for those


s: That were for France, their substance to dispose.


s: By this, the Counsell of this Warre had met,


s: And had at large of eu’ry thing discust;


s: And the graue Clergie had with them beene set:


s: To warrant what they vndertook was iust,


s: They bad the King for that to them to trust:


s: The Church to pawne, would see her Challice layde,


s: E’r shee would leaue one Pyoner vnpayde.


s: From Milford Hauen, to the mouth of Tweed,


s: Ships of all burthen to Southampton brought,


s: For there the King the Rendeuous decreed


s: To beare aboard his most victorious fraught:


s: The place from whence he with the greatest speed


s: Might land in France, (of any that was thought)


s: And with successe vpon that lucky shore,


s: Where his great Grandsire landed had before.


s: But, for he found those vessels were to fewe,


s: That into France his Army should conuay:


s: He sent to Belgia, whose great store he knewe,


s: Might now at neede supply him euery way.


s: His bounty ample, as the windes that blewe,


s: Such Barkes for Portage out of eu’ry bay


s: In Holland, Zealand, and in Flanders, brings;


s: As spred the wide sleeue with their canuase wings.


s: But first seauen Ships from Rochester are sent,


s: The narrow Seas, of all the French to sweepe:


s: All men of Warre with scripts of Mart that went,


s: And had command, the Coast of France to keepe:


s: And view what strength, was in the Bay of Deepe:


s: And if they found it like to come abroad,


s: To doe their best to fire it in the Road.


s: Three as tall Ships, as e’r did Cable tewe,


s: The Henry Royall, at her parting thence,


s: Like the huge Ruck from Gillingham that flewe:


s: All hauing charge, their voyage hauing bin,


s: Before Southampton to take Souldiers in.


s: Twelue Merchants Ships, of mighty burthen all,


s: New off the Stocks, that had beene rig’d for Stoad,


s: That ready were their Merchandize to load,


s: To put her fraught conueniently to land.


s: Eight goodly Ships, so Bristow ready made,


s: Which to the King they bountifully lent,


s: With Spanish Wines which they for Ballast lade,


s: In happy speed of his braue Voyage ment,


s: Hoping his Conquest should enlarge their Trade,


s: And there-withall a rich and spacious Tent:


s: And as, this Fleet the Seuerne Seas doth stem,


s: Fiue more from Padstowe came along with them.


s: The Hare of Loo, a right good Ship well knowne,


s: The yeare before that twice the Strayts had past,


s: Two wealthy Spanish Merchants did her owne,


s: Who then but lately had repair’d her wast;


s: For from her Deck a Pyrate she had blowne,


s: After a long Fight, and him tooke at last:


s: And from Mounts Bay sixe more, that still in sight,


s: Wayted with her before the Ile of Wight.


s: From Plymmouth next came in the Blazing Starre,


s: And fiery Dragon to take in their fraught;


s: With other foure, especiall men of Warre,


s: That in the Bay of Portugall had fought;


s: And though returning from a Voyage farre,


s: Stem’d that rough Sea, when at the high’st it wrought:


s: With these, of Dertmouth seau’n good Ships there were,


s: The golden Cressant in their tops that beare.


s: So Lyme, three Ships into the Nauy sent,


s: Of which the Sampson scarse a mon’th before,


s: Had sprung a Planke, and her mayne Mast had spent,


s: With extreame perill that she got to shore;


s: With them fiue other out of Waymouth went,


s: Which by Southampton, were made vp a score:


s: With those that rode (at pleasure) in the Bay,


s: And that at Anchor before Portsmouth lay.


s: Next these, Newcastle furnisheth the Fleet


s: Offring to Sack them as they sayl’d for Sluce:


s: Six Hulks from Hull at Humbers mouth them meet,


s: Which had them oft accompanied to Pruce.


s: Fiue more from Yarmouth falling them among,


s: That had for Fishing beene prepared long.


s: The Cowe of Harwich, neuer put to flight,


s: For Hides, and Furres, late to Muscouia bound,


s: Of the same Port, another nam’d the Spight,


s: That in her comming lately through the Sound,


s: After a two-dayes-still-continued fight,


s: Had made three Flemings runne themselues a ground;


s: With three neat Flee-boats which with them doe take,


s: Six Ships of Sandwich vp the Fleet to make.


s: Which to the King most liberally they lent,


s: At their owne charge, and bountifully payde,


s: Fourescore at Armes a peece, themselues and layde


s: At six score Archers each, as Suffolke showes,


s: Twenty tall men at Armes, with forty Bowes.


s: Warwick and Stafford leauied at no lesse


s: Of men at Armes, and Archers which they presse,


s: Of their owne Tenants, Arm’d with their owne store:


s: Their forwardnesse fore-showes their good successe


s: In such a Warre, as had not beene before:


s: And other Barrons vnder Earles that were,


s: Yet dar’d with them an equall charge to beare.


s: Berckley, Powis, Burrell, fast together cling;


s: Seymer, and Saint Iohn for the bus’nesse closse,


s: Each twenty Horse, and forty foote doe bring


s: More, to nine hundred mounting in the grosse


s: In those nine Ships, and fitly them bestow’d,


s: Which with the other fall into the Road.


s: From Holland, Zeland, and from Flanders wonne


s: By weekely pay, threescore twelue Bottoms came,


s: From fifty vpward, to fiue hundred Tunne;


s: Whose glittering Flags against the Radient Sunne,


s: Show’d as the Sea had all beene of a flame;


s: For Skiffes, Crayes, Scallops, and the like, why these


s: From eu’ry small Creeke, cou’red all the Seas.


s: The man whose way from London hap’d to lye,


s: By those he met might guesse the generall force,


s: Now with a Troupe of Foote, and then of Horse,


s: To whom the people still themselues apply,


s: Bringing them victuals as in mere remorce:


s: And still the acclamation of the presse,


s: Saint George for England, to your good successe.


s: There might a man haue seene in eu’ry Streete,


s: The Father bidding farewell to his Sonne:


s: Small Children kneeling at their Fathers feete:


s: The Wife with her deare Husband ne’r had done:


s: Brother, his Brother, with adieu to greete:


s: One Friend to take leaue of another runne:


s: The Mayden with her best belou’d to part,


s: Gaue him her hand, who tooke away her heart.


s: The nobler Youth the common ranke aboue,


s: On their coruetting Coursers mounted faire,


s: One ware his Mistris Garter, one her Gloue;


s: And he a lock of his deare Ladies haire;


s: And he her Colours, whom he most did loue;


s: There was not one but did some Fauour weare:


s: And each one tooke it, on his happy speede,


s: To make it famous by some Knightly deede.


s: The cloudes of dust, that from the wayes arose,


s: Which in their martch, the trampling Troupes doe reare:


s: When as the Sunne their thicknesse doth oppose


s: In his descending, shining wondrous cleare,


s: To the beholder farre off standing showes


s: Like some besieged Towne, that were on fire:


s: As though fore-telling e’r they should returne,


s: That many a Citie yet secure must burne.


s: The well-rig’d Nauie falne into the Road,


s: For this short Cut with victuall fully stor’d,


s: As then the time conuenience could afford;


s: The Ships appointed wherein they should goe,


s: And Boats prepar’d for waftage to and fro.


s: To be imbarqu’d when euery Band comes downe,


s: Each in their order as they mustred were,


s: Or by the difference of their [a]Armings knowne,


s: Or by their Colours; for in Ensignes there,


s: Some wore the Armes of their most ancient Towne,


s: There was not any, but that more or lesse,


s: Something had got, that something should expresse.


s: First, in the [b]Kentish Stremer was a Wood,


s: Out of whose top an arme that held a Sword,


s: As their right Embleme; and to make it good,


s: Which was; Vnconquer’d; as that freest had stood.


s: Bore a Blacke Lyon Rampant, sore that bled,


s: With a Field-Arrow darted through the head.


s: ancient liberties, by surprising the Conqueror like a mouing


s: The men of [d]Surrey, Cheeky Blew and gold,


s: (Which for braue Warren their first Earle they wore,


s: In many a Field that honour’d was of olde:)


s: And Hamshere next in the same Colours bore,


s: Three Lions Passant, th’ Armes of Beuis bould,


s: Who through the World so famous was of yore;


s: A siluer[e] Tower, Dorsets Red Banner beares;


s: The Cornishmen two Wrestlers had for theirs.


s: The [f]Deuonshire Band, a Beacon set on fire,


s: Sommerset [g]a Virgine bathing in a Spring,


s: In Gold three [h]Bloudy Cheuernells doe bring;


s: Wiltshire a Crowned[a] Piramed; As nigher


s: Barkshire a [b]Stag, vnder an Oake that stood,


s: The mustred men for [c]Buckingham, are gone


s: Vnder the Swan, the Armes of that olde Towne,


s: Are by the Red Crosse, and the Dagger knowne;


s: The Men of [d]Essex ouermatch’d by none,


s: Vnder Queene Hellens Image Martching downe;


s: The Souldiers sent from [g]Cambridgshire, a Bay


s: Hartford[h] two Harts that in a Riuer play;


s: And [i]Huntington a People proud as they,


s: Not giuing place to any for their power,


s: A youthfull Hunter, with a Chaplet Crown’d,


s: Northampton[k] with a Castle seated high,


s: The men of [l]Rutland, to them marching nie,


s: In their rich Ensigne beare an Ermine Ram,


s: And [m]Lestershire that on their strength relye,


s: A Bull and Mastiue fighting for the game.


s: Lincolne[n] a Ship most neatly that was lim’d


s: In all her Sailes with Flags and Pennons trim’d.


s: Stout[a] Warwickshire, her ancient badge the Beare,


s: Worster[b] a Peare-Tree laden with the Fruit,


s: A Golden Fleece and[c] Hereford doth weare,


s: Stafford[d] a Hermet in his homely sute,


s: Shropshire[e] a Falcon towring in the Ayre,


s: And for the Shiere whose surface seems most brute,


s: Shiere, on which many Hawkes were wont to airy._]


s: Olde[f] Nottingham, an Archer clad in greene,


s: Vnder a Tree with his drawne Bowe that stood,


s: Which in a checkquer’d Flagge farre off was seene:


s: And[g] Lancashire not as the least I weene,


s: Thorough three Crownes, three Arrowes smear’d with blood:


s: Cheshiere a Banner very square and broad,


s: A flaming Lance, the[h] Yorkshiere men for them,


s: As those for Durham neere againe at hand,


s: So[k] Westmerland link’d with it in one Stem,


s: A Ship that wrackt lay fierd vpon the sand:


s: Northumberland[l] with these com’n as a Brother,


s: dangerous Seas, betwixt England and Ireland._]


s: expressed in the fight between the golden and red Lyons._]


s: Thus as themselues the English men had show’d


s: Vnder the Ensigne of each seu’rall Shiere,


s: The Natiue Welch who no lesse honour ow’d


s: To their owne King, nor yet lesse valiant were,


s: In one strong Reg’ment had themselues bestow’d,


s: To their owne Quarter marching as the rest,


s: As neatly Arm’d, and brauely as the best.


s: Those men of South-Wales of the [b]mixed blood,


s: Had of the Welch the leading of the way:


s: Caermardin[c] in her Colours beare a Rood,


s: Whereon an olde man lean’d himselfe to stay


s: At a Starre pointing; which of great renowne,


s: Was skilfull Merlin, namer of that Towne.


s: harbours in the knowne world, therefore not vnaptly so


s: From which, out of the Battlement aboue,


s: The men of [e]Munmouth (for the ancient loue


s: To that deare Country; neighbouring them so nie)


s: Three Crownes Imperiall which supported were,


s: With three Arm’d Armes, in their proud Ensigne beare.


s: Seuerne beginneth to widden, as when Pirats haue come in to giue


s: warning to the other Maratyne Countries._]


s: birth-place, and to expresse his principalities._]


s: The men of [f]Brecknock brought a Warlick Tent,


s: Vpon whose top there sate a watchfull Cock,


s: Radnor,[g] a mountaine of a high assent,


s: Thereon a Shepheard keeping of his Flock,


s: As [h]Cardigan the next to them that went,


s: And [i]Merioneth beares (as these had done)


s: Three dancing Goates against the rising Sunne.


s: Those of [a]Montgomery, beare a prancing Steed,


s: Denbigh[b] a Neptune with his three-fork’d Mace:


s: Flintshiere[c] a Workmayd in her Summers weed,


s: With Sheafe and Sickle (with a warlick pace)


s: Those of Caernaruon not the least in speed,


s: Though marching last (in the mayne Armies face)


s: Three golden Eagles in their Ensigne brought,


s: Vnder which oft braue Owen Guyneth fought.


s: Of Armes, and Ensignes, that aboard were brought,


s: Of Streamers, Banners, Pennons, Ensignes pight,


s: Vpon each Pup and Prowe; and at the fraught,


s: Into a naturall course againe be brought,


s: As the vaste Nauie which at Anchor rides,


s: Proudly presumes to shoulder out the Tides.


s: The Fleet then full, and floating on the Maine,


s: The numerous Masts, with their braue Topsailes spred,


s: When as the Winde a little doth them straine,


s: Seeme like a Forrest bearing her proud head


s: Against some rough flawe, that forerunns a raine;


s: So do they looke from euery loftie sted,


s: Which with the Surges tumbled too and fro,


s: Seeme (euen) to bend, as trees are seene to doe.


s: From euery Ship when as the Ordnance rore,


s: Of their depart, that all might vnderstand,


s: When as the zealous people from the shore,


s: Againe with fires salute them from the Land,


s: To watch the Beacons, with a carefull hand,


s: Which being once fierd, the people more or lesse,


s: Should all to Church, and pray for their successe.


s: They shape their Course into the Month of Seyne,


s: That destin’d Flood those Nauies to receiue,


s: Before whose fraught her France had prostrate laine,


s: As now she must this, that shall neuer leaue,


s: Vntill the Engines that it doth containe,


s: Into the ayre her heightned walls shall heaue;


s: Whose stubborne Turrets had refus’d to bow,


s: To that braue Nation that shall shake them now.


s: Long Boates with Scouts are put to land before,


s: Vpon light Naggs the Countrey to discry,


s: (Whilst the braue Army setting is on shore,)


s: To view what strength the enemy had nie,


s: Pressing the bosome of large France so sore,


s: That her pale Genius, in affright doth flye


s: To all her Townes and warnes them to awake,


s: And for her safety vp their Armes to take.


s: At Paris, Roan, and Orleance, she calls,


s: And at their gates with gronings doth complaine:


s: Then cries she out, O get vp to your walls:


s: Which in two Battailes gaue those fatall falls,


s: At Cressie, and at Poyteers, where lay slaine


s: Our conquered Fathers, which with very feare


s: Quake in their Graues to feele them landed here.


s: The King of France now hauing vnderstood,


s: Of Henries entrance, (but too well improu’d,)


s: He cleerly saw that deere must be the blood,


s: That it must cost, e’r he could be remou’d;


s: He sends to make his other Sea Townes good,


s: Fearing fresh powers from England eu’ry day.


s: To the high’st earth whilst awfull Henry gets,


s: From whence strong Harflew he might easl’est see,


s: With sprightly words, and thus their courage whets,


s: In yonder walls be Mynes of gold (quoth he)


s: He’s a poore Slaue, that thinkes of any debts;


s: Harflew shall pay for all, it ours shall be:


s: This ayre of France doth like me wondrous well,


s: Lets burne our Ships, for here we meane to dwell.


s: But through his Hoast, he first of all proclaim’d


s: In paine of death, no English man should take


s: From the Religious, aged, or the maym’d,


s: To gaine his owne for that he onely aym’d;


s: Nor would haue such to suffer for his sake:


s: Which in the French (when they the same did heare)


s: Bred of this braue King, a religious feare.


s: His Army rang’d, in order fitting warre,


s: Each with some greene thing doth his Murrian crowne,


s: With his mayne standard fixt vpon the Carre;


s: Comes the great King before th’intrenched Towne,


s: Whilst from the walls the people gazing are,


s: In all their sights he sets his Army downe;


s: But seekes where he his Battery may begin.


s: His strong aproaches on three parts to make;


s: Himselfe on th’one, Clarence on th’other side,


s: To Yorke and Suffolke he the third doth take,


s: The Mines the Duke of Glocester doth guide;


s: Then caus’d his Ships the Riuer vp to Stake,


s: That none with Victuall should the Towne relieue


s: Should the Sword faile, with Famine them to grieue.


s: From his Pauillion where he sate in State,


s: Arm’d for the Siedge, and buckling on his Shield,


s: Braue Henry sends his Herault to the Gate,


s: By Trumpets sound, to summon them to yeeld,


s: Or else to say ere he forsooke the field,


s: Harflew should be but a meere heape of Stones,


s: Her buildings buried with her Owners bones.


s: France on this sudaine put into a fright,


s: With the sad newes of Harflew in distresse,


s: She on the suddaine, knew not to redresse,


s: But vrg’d to doe the vtmost that she might,


s: The peoples feares and clamours to suppresse,


s: Raiseth a power with all the speede she could,


s: Somewhat thereby, to loose King Henries hold.


s: Leading those Forces levied for the turne,


s: By which they thought their Titles to aduance,


s: And of their Countrey endlesse praise to earne,


s: But it with them farre otherwise doth chance,


s: For when they saw the Villages to burne,


s: And high-towr’d Harflew round ingirt with fires,


s: They with their powers to Cawdebeck retire.


s: Like as a Hinde when shee her Calfe doth see,


s: From which should shee aduenture it to free,


s: Shee must her selfe fill his deuouring Iawes,


s: And yet her young one, still his prey must be,


s: (Shee so instructed is by Natures Lawes:)


s: With them so fares it, which must needs goe downe


s: If they would fight; and yet must loose the Towne:


s: Now doe they mount their Ordnance for the day,


s: Their scaling Ladders rearing to the walls,


s: Their battering Rammes against the gates they lay,


s: Their brazen slings send in the wilde-fire balls,


s: Baskets of twigs now carie stones and clay,


s: And to th’assault who furiously not falls;


s: Which then vnfelt, yet gaue the greatest blowe.


s: Rampiers of earth the painefull Pyoners raise


s: With the walls equall, close vpon the Dike,


s: To passe by which the Souldier that assayes,


s: On Planks thrust ouer, one him downe doth strike:


s: A second French transpearc’d him with a Pyke:


s: That from the height of the embattel’d Towers,


s: Their mixed blood ranne downe the walls in showers.


s: A French man back into the Towne doth fall,


s: From the same place is by a stone struck dead;


s: Tumbling vpon them logs of wood, and all,


s: That any way for their defence might sted:


s: The hills at hand re-ecchoing with the din


s: Of shouts without, and fearefull shrickes within.


s: When all at once the English men assaile,


s: Out of the Towne come quarries thick as haile;


s: As thick againe their Shafts the English send:


s: The bellowing Canon from both sides doth rore,


s: With such a noyse as makes the Thunder pore.


s: Now vpon one side you should heare a cry,


s: And all that Quarter clowded with a smother;


s: The like from that against it by and by;


s: As though the one were eccho to the other,


s: The King and Clarence so their turnes can ply:


s: And valiant Gloster showes himselfe their brother;


s: Whose Mynes to the besieg’d more mischiefe doe,


s: Then with th’assaults aboue, the other two.


s: Stilling his little Grand-childe when it cride,


s: Almost distracted with the Batteries rage:


s: Sometimes doth speake it faire, sometimes doth chide,


s: As thus he seekes its mourning to asswage,


s: By chance a Bullet doth the chimney hit,


s: Which falling in, doth kill both him and it.


s: Whilst the sad weeping Mother sits her downe,


s: To giue her little new-borne Babe the Pap:


s: Kills the sweet Baby sleeping in her lap,


s: That with the fright shee falls into a swoone,


s: From which awak’d, and mad with the mishap;


s: As vp a Rampire shreeking she doth clim,


s: Comes a great Shot, and strikes her lim from lim.


s: Whilst a sort runne confusedly to quench,


s: Some Pallace burning, or some fired Street,


s: Call’d from where they were fighting in the Trench;


s: They in their way with Balls of Wilde-fire meet,


s: For the fierce English vowe the Towne to take,


s: Or of it soone a heape of stones to make.


s: Hot is the Siege the English comming on,


s: As men so long to be kept out that scorne,


s: Carelesse of wounds as they were made of stone;


s: As with their teeth the walls they would haue torne:


s: So that they found a place that gaue them way,


s: They neuer car’d what danger therein lay.


s: From eu’ry Quarter they their course must plye,


s: As’t pleas’d the King them to th’assault to call:


s: Now on the Duke of Yorke the charge doth lye:


s: To Kent and Cornwall then the turne doth fall:


s: Then Huntingdon vp to the walls they crye:


s: Then Suffolke, and then Excester; which all


s: In their meane Souldiers habits vs’d to goe,


s: Taking such part as those that own’d them doe.


s: The men of Harflew rough excursions make,


s: Vpon the English watchfull in their Tent,


s: Whose courages they to their cost awake,


s: With many a wound that often back them sent,


s: And in the Chase pell mell amongst them went,


s: For on the way such ground of them they win,


s: That some French are shut out, some English in.


s: Nor idely sit our Men at Armes the while,


s: Foure thousand Horse that eu’ry day goe out;


s: And of the Field are Masters many a mile,


s: By putting the Rebellious French to rout;


s: For him they take, his Ransome must redeeme,


s: Onely French Crownes, the English men esteeme.


s: Whilst English Henry lastly meanes to trye:


s: By three vast Mynes, the walls to ouerthrowe.


s: The French men their approches that espye,


s: By Countermynes doe meete with them belowe,


s: That stifled quite, with powder as with dust,


s: Longer to walls they found it vaine to trust.


s: Till Gaucourt then, and Tuttivile that were


s: The Townes Commanders, (with much perill) finde


s: As how their owne to yeelding were enclinde,


s: Summon to parly, off’ring frankly there;


s: If that ayde came not by a day assignde,


s: To giue the Towne vp, might their liues stand free:


s: As for their goods, at Henries will to be.


s: And hauing wonne their conduct to the King,


s: Those hardy Chiefes on whom the charge had layne:


s: Thither those well-fed Burgesses doe bring,


s: What they had off’red strongly to maintaine


s: In such a case, although a dang’rous thing,


s: Yet they so long vpon their knees remaine:


s: That fiue dayes respight from his Grant they haue,


s: Which was the most, they (for their liues) durst craue.


s: Nothing within their sight but sword, and fire;


s: And bloody Ensignes eu’ry where display’d:


s: The English still within themselues entire,


s: When all these things they seriously had way’d,


s: To Henries mercy found that they must trust,


s: For they perceiu’d their owne to be iniust.


s: The Ports are opened, weapons layd aside,


s: And from the walls th’Artillary displac’d:


s: The Armes of England are aduanc’d in pride:


s: The watch Tower, with Saint Georges Banner grac’d:


s: Liue Englands Henry, all the people cride:


s: Into the Streetes their women runne in hast,


s: Bearing their little Children, for whose sake


s: They hop’d the King would the more mercy take.


s: The gates thus widened with the breath of Warre;


s: Their ample entrance to the English gaue:


s: There was no dore that then had any barre;


s: For of their owne not any thing they haue:


s: When Henry comes on his Emperiall Carre:


s: To whom they kneele their liues alone to saue.