VIII.
And by this act of these two Phenixes
100Nature againe restored is,
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
105Waiting, when your eyes opened, let out day,
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
110That opens first a curtaine, hers or his;
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 Christmastime,
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
5Even small birds, who by that courage dare,
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
10Of leafes, to furnish roddes enough to whip
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;
15At Court the spring already advanced is,
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,
20The first doth governe dayes, the other nights.
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;
25Then from those wombes of starres, the Brides bright eyes,
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,
30Then from their beames their jewels lusters rise,
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:
35Or but like Stoves, for lust and envy get
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.
40As heaven, to men dispos'd, is every where,
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
45Not onely in fulnesse, but capacitie,
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.
50As man is of the world, the heart of man,
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.
55Dreamer, thou art.
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?
60Seest thou all good because thou seest no harme?
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;
65As, for divine things, faith comes from above,
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,
70That Angels, though on earth employd they bee,
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;
75Hast thou a history, which doth present
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,
80Where men need whisper nothing, and yet may;
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?
85Thou hast no such; yet here was this, and more,
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
90Where the Kings Counsells and his secrets rest.
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
95Of his owne thoughts; I would not therefore stay
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
100Either the Court or mens hearts to invade,
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.
ECCLOGUE. &c. 1633-69: similarly, A18, A23, B, D, H49, Lec, N, O'F, S96, TCC, TCD
his absence thence. 1633, Lec: his Actions there. 1635-69, A18, H49, N, O'F, TC: his absence then. D, S96
2 countries] country A18, N, TC
4 clime 1633-39: clime: 1650-69: clime. D
5 small 1633, A18, B, D, H49, Lec, N, O'F, TC:
smaller 1635-69, Chambers
12 Have 1633: Having 1635-69
murmure A18, A23, B, D, H49, N, O'F, TC: murmures 1633-69
22 were, Ed: were; 1633-69
29 kindle] kindles 1633
34 plotts, 1635-69, A18, B, D, H49, N, O'F, S96, TC: places, 1633, 1669, Lec
37 disgest, 1633-39: digest, 1650-69
39 there. D: there 1633-69
40 where, 1633: where: 1635-69, owing to the dropping of stop in previous line
42 State.] State, 1633
54 one 1633, A18, D, H49, N, O'F, TC: own 1635-69, Lec
55 I am ... Court. 1633, A18, B, D, H49, N, S96, TC: And am I then from Court? 1635-69
art. 1650-69: art, 1633-39
57 East-Indian A18, A23, B, D, H49, Lec, N, O'F, S96, TC: Indian 1633-69
61 inward A18, A23, B, D, H49, Lec, N, O'F, S96, TC: inner 1633-69
75 present] represent A18, N, TC
78 trust? Ed: trust. 1633-39: trust, 1650-69
84 pretend? Ed: pretend. 1633-69
85 more, 1633: more. 1635-69
86 before. 1633-69: before, Chambers. See note
92 withdrew.] withdrew 1633
96 say. 1635-69: say, 1633
98 joy, ... some; Ed: joy; ... some, 1633: joy; ... some. 1635-69