The Heroical Lover - Canto Vi Poem by Thomas Bancroft

The Gallant now his Scene doth lay
In Sicily, and on the Sea
Rescues a Knight from wrackful waves;
On land a Ladies honour saves.

As those that of clear Phoebus did enquire
About obscure events, of their desire
Did sometimes fail, and doubtful went away:
So though the Knight consulted night and day
With wise experienc'd Eubulus, yet he
Could finde but little ground of certainty
To fix his thoughts upon, nor well did know
Where next he should his wonted paines bestow.
At last, resolv'd he was to range the fields
Of Sicily, and try what worth that yields;
An Isle that in the mid--land Sea doth lye,
As vertue stands in mediocrity.
For loves and warres it sometimes famous was,
And still its fellow--Islands doth surpass
In things of note: the men ingenious are;
The women, like to wood--Nymphs, sweet & faire:
And 't was presum'd, because the people spend
Much paines in fields (which Poets did intend,
Who feign'd that Saturne hid bis sickle there)
The currents of their lives did run more cleare
From vicious taints, than others idly spent;
And worthy persons did the coast frequent.
Besides, whereas long since, to plant that Isle,
People (invited by its wealthy soile)
From Corinth, Sparta, Athens, flocking came,
And other Cities of high worth and fame;
'Twas credible their vertues would not be
Extinct, but shine yet in their progeny.
These things wel weigh'd, Sir Antheon & his friend,
Who to make proofe thereof did now intend,
In a fair ship lancht forth; that (as ore--joy'd
To be by persons of prime worth emploi'd,)
While the winds whisiled, on the waters danc'r,
And forwards with auspicious course advanc't,
Passing by sundry Islands famous made
By Poets, that therein their Scenes had laid.
But when of Sicily they came in sight,
The aire grew turbid, and the winds did fight,
Whirling about with such a threatful sound,
As they forthwith the vessell would have drown'd;
As the like mischiefe they had lately done
To a tost Barke that on a rock did runne.
It was a Ship wherein a youthful Knight
Of Malta sail'd; that in this others sight
Was dasht upon the hard and craggy side
Of Scylla (which wise Sea--men most avoid,)
And with th' allision split and shatter'd sore,
As all her barking Dogges the Barke had tore.
So have I known a globe of snow to roll
Down from a hill--top, all compact and whole,
Till some hard obstacle it met, but fly
In pieces then, and wildly scatter'd lye.
All perisht in the shipwracke save the Knight,
Who full of caution and of motion light,
Into the ship--boat leapt, enforc't t' obey
False winds, that turning straight another way,
Drove him to deep despaire; who now did flote
Near to Charybdis whose vast gulfy throat
Had quickly swallow'd him, but that our brave
Heroick Lover, vent'ringfar to save
The wretched Passenger (that seem'd to be
A person of some eminent degree)
Drew him into his vessel, interpos'd,
And him from straits of horrid danger los'd,
Banisht his baleful woes, and lively joyes
Recall'd into his death--expecting eyes:
Soone as the bellowing surges of the Maine
Grew tamely silent, and the Heavens serene,
So that they well could into Harbour get,
Our Knight on shore his now--call'd brother set,
VVith wine refresht him, waftage did provide,
And all things for his voyage fit beside;
Giving him cause in Malta to proclaime
His noble favours, and divulge his fame.
Thither he went; but not before he show'd
What services for a sav'd life he ow'd;
Debts which he would with speaking heart agnize,
And gage for payment all his faculties.
Of all strange things that Travellers admire
In Sicily, there's none like Ætna's fire,
That (unextinct) hath burn'd from age to age,
And sometimes with such high impetuous rage,
That, belching out flames, cinders, ashes, smoke,
It threatned wholly to ore--whelme and choke
That Island, striking all the rest with fear
Lest the worlds conflagration now were neare.
The hill was less incensed at this time,
Giving the sprightful Gallant leave to climbe
Its steep and rocky sides, & to survey
Some chinkes and clefts thorough which the wind makes way
Into its bowlls, and like bellowes blowes
The fire therein, that without ceasing glowes,
As being with stuff combustible supply'd,
Which Nature there does plenteously provide.
Then came he to the place where some did say
Empedocles his iron slippers lay,
Thrown out 'oth' furnace, after he had cast
Himself into the flame, and breath'd his last;
Thus stealing out o'th' world, to seeme to be
Deathless, and honour'd as some Deity.
This mov'd the Knights inseparable friend
To fall int' a discourse o'th' fatal end
Of blindly--bold ambition, and to tell
With how great danger it doth upward swell;
How (like to smoke) it doth obliquely rise,
But falls directly from high dignities;
How Giant--like it 'gainst the Gods doth go,
And under proud feet layes Religion low;
Stickes not to violate with impious hands
Of blood or amity the strictest bands;
Subverts well--founded governments, with Fate
(As't were) conspiring all to ruinate.
When now 'bout objects much to be admir'd,
They rather had their limbs, than senses, tir'd,
Down went they from the Mountain to the Plain,
Whose bounteous soile glads Italy and Spain,
Malta and Barbary, with rich supplies
Of graine, the welcom'st of commodities.
Led on by sweet Affects, the way they found
To Syracuse, a City much renown'd
By Maro's Muse, who thither did resort,
Preferring it sometimes to Caesars court,
It was against great Romes ambitious wrong
By God--like Archimed defended long;
Who seem'd at threatning ships to hurle at once
Fierce lightning--flames and fulminary stones,
So that th' astonisht Victor gave command
That none should, 'gainst that Artist heave his hand;
Who yet i'th'tumult 'mongst his figures found,
VVas soone disfigur'd by a deadly wound.
This caus'd Sir Antheon his sepulchral stone
With teare--shot eyes to view, and look thereon
For the Cylinder and the Sphere he made;
Defiring oft ere Natures debt he paid,
To have them figur'd on his tombe, to show
VVhat to his industry the world did owe.
The Knight now having seene what worthy was
Of observation there, did forwards pass,
Minded to see the place where Poets say
The Stygian Monarch pluckt Proserpina
Into his iron coach, and hurrying fast,
A veile of shades about her beauties cast:
Seiz'd neare to Enna was this gallant prize,
VVhere the fair Islands very navell lyes;
A medow stor'd with flowers so odorous,
That snuffing Hounds do in its bosome lose
The sents of beasts pursu'd; about it round,
Tufted with neat trees is the rising ground,
And nourisht with coole waters, gather'd nigh,
As't were t' admire a gaping vastity
In rockes adjoyning; into which (they say)
Pluto in triumph rode, yet lost the day;
Black night advancing from her drowsy seat
To welcome him, and on his Queen to wait.
Nat far beyond these wonderments, that might
Retard his motion, travell'd had the Knight;
But that (as if lusts wild--fires fatally
Rag'd in that coast) a wronged Ladies Cry
Sent from the Concave of a valley neare,
Did with amazement strike his listning eare.
She being fresh as May, of lineage high,
And wealth beyond the most in Sicily,
Had oft been seen, attended by her Maid
Alone, to walke there in the pleasing shade;
And (as it were) the Wood--Nymphs steps to trace
Into a mossy Cave, a pretty space
From her high--seated Mansion: That had mov'd
A bruitish Don, that wealth and woman lov'd
B'ove fame or honesty, in wait to lye
To win her by surprize, and forcibly
Take her to wife, that so enjoy he might
A beauty rare, a fortune infinite.
That this rude wickedness might then be wrought,
Three Russians (wild as Boreas sons) he brought
With him; and now they had the trembling Prey
Amongst them, and were forcing her away.
But brave Sir Antheon having got a view
('Mongst shady bushes) of that salvage crew,
Cast where t'assaile them with his brandisht blade,
And that so closely, as they did invade
The noble Lady; whom he either wou'd
Rescue out of their hands, or spend his blood.
And Eubulus, although more fit to give
Grave counsels and instruction how to live,
Than deadly tooles to wield, did yet advance
Bravely with sword in hand, and forward prance.
These suddenly, as from an ambush, met
Those worst of Thieves, where ere they well could set
The Lady down, their champion to the ground
VVas brought, engoared with a gastly wound;
The Knights keen weapon soon asunder shred
The sinews of his neck, and laid his head
Upon his shoulder, there a sleep to take
Than night more heavy, never more to wake.
The like did Eubulus, his sword ore--took
Another, as he turn'd his head to look
At's gasping Mate; the steel stook in his jaw,
And being forced thence, did rudely draw
His shatter'd teeth; so fell he likewise down
From his chaf't Steed, and dasht his hairy crown
'Gainst the hard earth. Those other two that saw
Such deadly slashing, quickly did withdraw,
And fled Sir Antheons force, who them a while
Pursu'd, but thought it fitter to recoil
To a fair Lady, than foul varlets chace,
VVhose brutish courses mankind did disgrace.
He found her almost where he left her, so
Empalsied with affrights, she scarce could go;
Her blood being like to Niobe's when grown
Stone--cold she was, & scarce from marble known.
But his warm hand (who was all love, all fire,)
Gently embalming hers, did soon inspire
Her veins with heat, and made her spirits from
Their sad Retreat with lively motion come.
His softer language too her inward pain
Much eas'd, and rosy tinctures fetcht again
Into her cheeks; as when dim clouds away
Are blown, clear Heaven more beauties doth display:
Thus comforted, he usher'd her along
Unto her home, and set her safe among
Her dearest friends who hearing, what was done,
Shed tears for joy (like rain by th'shining Sun
Fairely embrighten'd) striving to express
To her all love, to him all thankfulness.
And as Ætolian Achelous flow'd
VVith bounty towards some that had bestow'd
Their paines to chace the Calydonian Beast,
Perithous, Lelex, Theseus, at the least:
So strove this noble Ladyes worthy friends
To make the Knight and Eubulus amends
VVith royall entertainment, for their high
Merit, and most obliging courtesy.
The bounty of the house was full and free,
Yet could not work upon the constancy
Of brave Sir Antheon, there to fix his mind;
For that another Lady (though disjoyn'd
In place) was linkt to him with lines of love,
Which, howsoere extended, firme would prove
To seek that sweetning Object of desire
(Which finde he would, or finally expire.)
Thence hasts he to Palermo, that a thin
Phoenician Colonie had sometime bin;
But by additions grew so stately great
And populous, that 'tis a princely seat;
A City of such eminence and fame,
As may some soveraignty o're others claime:
Fair streets, brave structures, rich magnificence
Of Temples, give the place preeminence;
Which yet had worthier been its head to reare
With honour, if Fidelta had been there.
But none there knew her, nor had winged Fame
Wafted the pleasing sweetness of her name
Into those parts, which caus'd the pensive Knight
To look on Beauties there with small delight,
But still to travel on, in mind to try
The close of a true Lovers destiny.
The next place where he did some dayes reside,
Messina was; whose gates stood open wide,
As in derision of the Turks proud threats,
Who oft for prizes near that Haven waites.
There such pure noble liquour did he tast,
As caus'd Augustus to forget his past
Sorrowes; & with the Knight wrought so a while:
But shortly did his discontents recoile,
And sadly did he fold his armes, when there
No newes he could of rare Fidelta heare.
Other fair Cities made he with his love
Acquainted, but like Fortune still did prove,
Finding the peoples greater part to be
Light, vaine, and void of solid constancy;
So that it seem'd impertinent to spend
Much time in such an Isle for such an end
As he design'd; yet howsoere he staid
A while, as disappointed, not dismaid.