The Heroical Lover - Canto Iii Poem by Thomas Bancroft

The Knight, that in Italian ground
No footsteps of Fidelta found,
Travells int' France, with Robbers fights,
And Alazonia's profers slights.

By this time had our noble Traveller
(Fitted no less for Mars than Cupids warre)
Marcht through fam'd Italy, and as that Hun,
Stout Attyla, who did that land ore--run,
In every town and city sought for prey:
So had this VVorthy (if compare I may
Vertue with vice) in every place enquir'd
For that faire Prize which chiefely he desi'rd.
But being not found, (as who can set the time
Wherein he shall to high contentment climbe?)
He elsewhere laid the Scene of his designe,
To wit, in France; whose people are (like wine)
So brisk and pleasant, that great Caesar might
In their harmonious tempers well delight;
And haply for that cause he longer staid
Amongst them, and their country more surveid.
Over the huge high--shoulder'd Alps there be
Three passages 'twixt France and Italy;
One of them Hannibal is said t' have wrought
With fire and vinegar, what time he brought
The Fates 'gainst Rome: that way Sir Antheon chose;
And as with Eubulus he climbing goes,
Bespeakes him thus: Sweet Partner of my care,
`Whose spirits with no dangers daunted are,
`Nor any paines decline, I hope we shall
`Much sooner pass these hills than Hannibal;
`The way's well smooth'd, & fire my bosome bears
`That melts my brain into a lake of teares,
`As piercing as the liquor that he pour'd
`Upon the rocks; though yet the Heavens nere lowr'd
`Upon our travells, but anon they clear'd
Their lookes, and full of smiling light appear'd.
`He, full of falshood, cruelty, despight,
`And all the Furies that enrage a fight,
`Could scarcely promise to himself success
`Like my fair hopes, who Love and Nobleness
`Strive to advance, and nothing seek but what
`Fore--pointing Fates have taught me t' levell at,
Five times had Phoebus with his golden light
The world immantled, and as oft the Night
The same had disarraid, before those vast
And rocky hills the Knight had over--past:
But lastly coming where the country lay
More plain, he took much pleasure to survey
The fruitful land, and bent his industry
To compass't round, though in the forme it lye
Of a Quadrangle; as he meant to make
(VVhat greatest Artists scarce dare undertake)
A Circle and a Quadrat to agree
In the nice point of just equality.
Blith Tityrus, that well could pipe and sing,
Made not the fields of Amaryllis ring
More fully, than this worthy Lover spred
Fidelta's fame wheres'ere he travelled:
Nor did pale Ceres with more industry
Her daughter seek in fields of Sicily;
Nor Cadmus, at his fathers first Command,
Make a more busy search by Sea and land
For rap't Europa, than this Gallant did
Wher'ere he deem'd his Treasure might lye hid;
Which could he by good fortune find, he would
Not envy Plutus for his heapes of gold.
About the country he not only drew
A journal--line, but did his quest pursue
Through all its provinces, wheres'ere they lay:
And being not farre from Poictiers on his way,
Found an occasion not ably to show
What fiery fortitude in's breast did glow.
It thus befell: Two Gallants that had bin
Gaming all night, and paid so dear for sin,
That they had lost their Pictures at their play,
Nor left a Crosse to keep the Fiend away,
Next morning (though o're night dejected low)
VVell mounted, to their high--way trade did go,
To try what fortunes they could steale upon,
And so patch up their poor condition.
But as a sharpe--set Haggard that did faile
To find a Patridge, or a daintier Quaile.
Flyes at less Game, a Linnet or a Wren:
So these, not meeting with well--monyed men,
Fell foule an two fair Milk--maids (as they sat
Sweetning their paines with songs and pleasant chat)
Seis'd on their little hardly--earned store
Of coine, and made them desperately poor;
Causing the wretches in a wild affright
To cry for succour to th' approching Knight,
Whom through some shadowy bushes they espy'd
Full of clear--metal'd gallantry to ride:
Forthwith he came like Perseus, when he saw
Andromeda enchain'd, in rage did draw
Upon the Robbers; who again made head,
Saluted him with sounding blowes instead
Of a Good--morrow; fiercely fought, yet straight
Feeling upon their crests th' unwonted weight
Of his stiff blade, their own on ground they threw,
Yielded themselves, and did for Quarter sue.
`Quarter? said he, you hateful Plunderers
`Of purses! Terrours of faint Travellers!
`Can you expect kind Quarter, that should be
`Tortur'd and quarter'd for your villany?
`Can you (the wandering fires of wickedness,
`Your countryes running Plague--sores) that profess
`Nothing but riots, rapines, cruel acts,
`Have ought in minde save Gallowses and Racks?
`You in rich Scarlet like to Princes goe,
`Yet base as tatter'd Rogues your selves do show
`By your debauchments, and extinguish quite
`All sparks of worth that shines in others bright.
`Come, Milk--sops, that, as you could slash and slay
`Whole troops, would seem, yet straight the Pultrons play,
`Cast now those splendid Sloughs, that ill become
`Such Snakes: for as you took their monyes from
`These Maids, their garments shal you have, put on
`Their Aprons & their wastcoates: they shall d'on
Your cloakes, and say they never were so brave,
`Nor the like gallant day shall ever have.
`Take their pailes too, & carry them to th' Town
`Meekely and maidenly; nor do you frown,
`Much less refuse, lest that my sword t' a goade
`I turne, and shrewdly prick you on the Rode:
`I never drove such Bullocks; nor will I
`Sell them, unlesse the Hangman come to buy.
This said, he set them marching on the way
(Not as in battaile, but) in strange array.
The Varlets sowrely lookt, and ready were
To turne to curds the milk that they did beare:
But the Maids were lighthearted, talkt aloud,
Smil'd at their robes & thought they seem'd too proud
When now they came to Poictieres, nere did Fowls
So flock at mid--day about flying Owles,
As people swarming came in such amaze,
Upon those walking wonderments to gaze:
And all that viewed them did so break out
Into loud laughter, clap their hands, and shout,
That never could a more confused noise
Be rais'd at Bacchus wild solemnities.
Scarce could Sir Antheon and his friend make way
With flourisht weapons, that they might convey
Their theevish Charge t' an aweful Magistrate,
Who to their vile offence might adequate
Some punishment: yet, cleaving still the Throng,
To a strict Justicer they came ere long,
Who thought th' Offenders not unfit to feele
(Sith cladlike women) what belong'd to th' wheel,
That as to break good fortunes they were bent,
They suffer might a breaking punishment:
Mean while he sent them where expect they might
After a law--day a long--lasting night.
Fame with a fuller blast did never strain
Her cheeks, when Theseus had Procrustes slain,
Than now proclaim'd Sir Antheons worth, most high
In honour, courted, feasted royally.
Yet' cause Fidelta's image ever shin'd
In's phansy, small content he there could find.
But (hearing least of her he most did love)
Resolv'd forthwith some other aires to prove;
And first to visit Europes thorough--fare,
Full--peopled Paris, did himself prepare.
When he did nearer to that City come
Than Tullies Tusculanum is to Rome,
Just in that season when with eager pace
Flame--breathing Sirius did the Lion chace,
Under a tree whose umbrage did invite
His stay, he from his Palfrey did alight,
Intending there the sunnes exalted pow'r
T'avoid, and rest until the Evening hour:
The fervour of the day began t'abate
By slow degrees, when in great pomp and state
A Court--bred Lady that way chanc't to come,
Drawn by six Horses (whiter than their fome)
In a rich chariot, such as might compare
With Cytharea's, which through yielding air
Soft Swannes convey. The Lady seem'd of light
And air made up, her presence was so bright:
Yet some dark spots she on her face did wear,
That haply she like Cinthia might appear.
Her head with Chrysolithes adorned round,
Seem'd with a radiant starry cincture crown'd:
Her Carcanet and bracelets would have made
A richer chain than ever Vulcan laid
Upon his Anvil: of pure Tyrian die
Her vesture was, which fine embroydery
Had deckt with Peacocks, wondrous (to behold)
For lively workmanship, and all of gold,
Save that round Saphires, colour'd like the skies,
Did shine in stead of Argus watchful eyes.
Sir Antheon seeing her so stately brave,
Upon her fixt his eyes; who gladly gave
Him a full view as leisurely she past
Along, her pleasure not requiring hast;
For onely t'view the country, and to shew
Her pompous greatness, she abroad did goe.
Somewhat behind the Traine that with her came,
On a mishapen Jade, both lean and lame,
Rode as forelorn a person all along,
Grumbling & rolling his distemper'd tongue
His clothes had been like flow'rs, but now were grown
Poor wither'd weeds; and looking oft thereon,
Sorely he sighed, and his browes did knit,
As one both weak in fortune and in wit:
Of him the Knight enquir'd what Lady 'twas
That in illustrious state that way did pass,
Like some great Princess. Sir, said he (to tell
`The truth) this Lady do I know too well;
`Her name is Alazonia, high at Court
`Has she been bred, but who fares better for't?
`I've serv'd her almost as old Poets say
`Hard--taskt Alcides did Queen Omphale;
`A fair thred have I spun, spent many pounds,
`Consum'd my patrimony, sold whole townes
`To buy her love; who mounts of gold to me
`Promis'd, though not a Mole--hil do I see
`Of kind performance. Yet as one bewitcht,
`Or for true service sure to be enricht,
`I still wait on her; though I may as soon
`Vault from this Centre to the silver Moon,
`And bring down treasure, as her love regain,
`Who now beholds her servant with disdain;
`Much less recover what I erst have lost
`Through fond profusion, and excessive cost.
`For though I now attend in mean array,
`Yet have I serv'd her when I shone like Day,
`Was the Top--gallant of the Town, and gave
`Lawes (as it were) to all that would be brave.
`Such must they be that on this Lady wait,
`Who studies most quaint fashions to create,
`And boasts more in an hour, than in an age
`She will make good, howere she does engage.
More had he utter'd in that eager vein,
But that the Lady bad drive back again:
For she descrying, as she passed by,
In the young Knight some sparks of gallantry,
Felt her affection (kindled thence) to glow
With such an ardour, that she needs must go
Back to th'attractive object of her love,
And with these melting words his metal prove:
`Sir, if enfeebling heat, or redious length
`Of travel, chance t' have tired out your strength,
`Rest in your servants chariot here; lo I
`Dispread mine armes t' imbrace your company,
`And shall (as with a bowl of Nectar deep)
`Waken your spirits, lay your cares asleep.
`In those bright eyes I something read above
`Th'ascent and region of a common love;
`And that I might with fuller view discern
`What warm'd my heart, I made this quick return.
`Where ever you intend your worth to show,
`Your pleasure I'le attend, and with you go:
`And if at Court (a Stage for you most fit)
`You will keep up your fashion and your wit,
`I'le see your way to lofty honour clear'd,
`Nor leave you till in happiness inspher'd:
`There like the radiant Day--God shall you shine,
`And wear the value of a precious Mine
`Upon your back: nor shall you need to fear
`Harsh envies storms; I like a Halcyon there
`Shall keep all calm: then dear Sir come aboard;
`More love to you no Lady shall afford.
`Madam, said he, as fire makes fewel flame,
`So love the like affections force may claim
`In the beloved; but yours runs so high,
`It quite orewhelms my grateful quality,
`And brings me under: yet get up I must,
`And gallop in contempt of heat and dust;
`My business rapts me hence, nor can I stay
`A formal leave to take, but must away.
Forthwith he mounts, and rides as if in fear
O'th' Gorgons head, or th' uglier Fiend he were;
With greedy hast the way (as't were) devoures,
And soon beholds the proud Parisian towers;
Coming whereto, he much admires to see
Such numerous troopes, and quaint variety
Of fashions there; but could not fashion well
Himself to stay, where fatal pride did dwel.
Strait tries he other Quarters; but doth find
To the same Falling--evill all inclin'd:
Whence he concludes his Lady, that was sound
In mind and manners, was not there t' be found.