The Heroical Lover - Canto Viii Poem by Thomas Bancroft

Our worthy Lover takes his way
Towards farre--fam'd Eutopia,
Finds there Fidelta, claimes his prize,
And triumphs in connubial joyes.

In all assayes the courage of our Knight
Shew'd (like his sword) a temper exquisite,
Bearing so true an edge, as hardest fate
That ere encountr'd it could nere rebate.
This rais'd his thoughts, adapted him for high
Atchievements, form'd him for great dignity;
Quickn'd his hopes, and wrought upon his mind
Further to seek what most he wisht to finde.
But as a Sapling on a mountaine pight,
When the rude winds tumultuously doe fight,
Bends several wayes, as surly blasts impell:
So tost with passions was the Knight, nor well
What course in's business might be taken, knew,
Nor in what coast he should his quest renew.
Some thoughts he had great Britain to have seen,
An Isle once famous for a Fairy Queen;
But hearing then (as who now does not heare?)
That Rapine, Fraud, & Treachery were there,
Acting their Hellish plots in peace and war,
As common as high wayes but deeper far;
He could not hope Fidelta there to finde,
Where people were to falshood most inclin'd.
Nor could he think it safe for him to tread
Where Trappes & Snares so covertly were laid.
Some other nations ment he to assay;
But Fame unwilling seem'd to give him way,
Reproching them with manners so impure,
As no fair noble Lady could endure.
Amidst the Puzzle of designes, his friend
(Who on him cheerefully did still attend)
Thus spake: Small reason have we to complain
`That our great labours have been spent in vain;
`For we have seen what made Vlysses wise,
`Manners and Cities differing in their guise,
`And government. But haply, had we show'd
`At first lesse rashness, & more time bestow'd
`In consultations, we had better sped,
`And our desire long since accomplished
`There is (discover'd by an English Knight,
`Much--honour'd More) a land, Eutopia hight,
`Not far from our Atlantis, though in wrath
`Beyond it far; a land that bringeth forth
`(As Fame reports) a brave and noble race
`Of people, that account all vices, base,
`Maintain fair rights, and love to peace profess,
`Alike detesting war and wickedness.
`Now lately have some thoughts possest my mind
`That there we shall your long sought Lady find,
`That land being less with vicious customs stain'd
`Than those whereof we have the knowledg gain'd:
`If then you please that proofe hereof be made,
`We will retire (like Planets retrograde)
`Towards our native coast, and so, no doubt,
`Shall find ere long that famous country out.
Hereat Sir Antheon smil'd, and said (in jest
`Perhaps, if Apollonius, who profest
`Strange sounds t'interpret, had but chanc'd to hear
`How Huntsmen in these parts their Hounds doe chear,
`He would have told us that their Hornes did say
`At every blast, Euto, Eutopia.
`But if this fair and happy region be
`Not far from our Atlantis, certainely
`'Tis such a floting Island, as 'tis said
`That Delos was, till fixt and stablished.
`For sometime (if my judgment do not faile)
`It border'd upon Plato's Common--weale,
`Famous in Greece, so far from us, that well
`How great the distance is I cannot tell.
`However your desire imports to me
`A just command, besides an augury
`Of good success; & I your counsel weigh
`As much as what a Senate--house can say:
`Nor (having found you credible in all
`Reports) can I your words in question call:
`Your riper age, that has the world explor'd
`Much more than mine, more knowledge doth afford.
`Then let us cheerfully our selves address
`(As at the first) to th' earnest business
`Of ardent love, to seek that happy land,
`And her that greater service may command.
These speeches ended, to a Port they went,
And for their own Atlantick vessel sent;
A Ship that oft had wrastled with the Seas,
And born up bravely in long voyages.
When they had trimm'd it up in every joynt,
Had seen it firm, complete in every point,
And furnisht with provisions plenteous store,
They boldly put off from the lazy shore
Into the working Floud, that smil'd with fome,
And proudly swell'd to see the vessel come.
Through wildest vastities & torrid'st Climes
They past, sometimes bestorm'd, becalm'd sometimes;
Sometimes with unseen rocks (that seem'd to bear
A secret spight to them) they threatned were;
Somtimes with swallowing gulfs, sometimes with sands
Up--cast, and oft with Rovers from strange lands.
Yet, as great Caesars fortune they along
Had with them took, they safely past among
All dangers, safely to the largest Plain
In Neptunes Empire came, the Southern Main.
It was not long before they rack't the sand
Of their Atlantis with their Keele; yet land
They would not there, lest they too long should stay
Ere they arriv'd at fair Eutopia.
Having at last procur'd an abler Guide,
And sail'd by his direction, they descry'd
Somewhat that lookt as if a cloud had lain
Upon the Sea; but soon appear'd more plain
To be an Isle, the same that they had sought,
And with hard paines a sight thereof had bought.
The countrey seem'd of figure spherical,
Embost with hills more beautiful than tall,
Whose browes fresh woods engirt; the shadow'd vales
Were here & there with brooks (like silver Trails)
Enbrightned; the rich soiles well--cultur'd state
Render'd it chief of Islands Fortunate,
They, safely landing, greatly joy'd to see
A people form'd to fair civility,
That shew'd themselves in mind and body sound,
And had much knowledge with more vertue crown'd,
Hating the names of injury & strife,
As bitter enemies to the sweetest life;
So that good laws amongst them did indeed
Scarce seem from evill manners to proceed,
But rather from a wise forecast. They were
(Like those of famous Sparta) so severe,
That such as dar'd t' offend, were never spar'd,
Nor was Desert ere cheated of reward.
Hence liv'd they in such quietness, that they
Might wel be neighbours to th' Pacificke--Sea;
And happy were in such a high degree,
That next to Heaven was their felicity.
The Knight, whose sparkling courage clear'd his way,
Went on with his design without delay;
And as those motions which from Nature flow,
Do towards their cessation swifter grow:
So he now drawing nearer to his Love,
With more alacrity did forward move.
Under a hill, with Olive--arbours green,
Amongst whose sprases was store of Turtles seen,
Did stand an ancient Edifice, not gay,
Nor vast, but strong and usefull every way;
Such as whose very structure wrought th' effect
In all beholders, of a fair respect:
Humility had rais'd it, and there sate
Full--handed Bounty smiling at the gate,
Whilst fair Civility in every room,
Took care of what might dignity become.
It had for Prospect an extended Plain
Towards the East, where Flora seem'd to reign
In richest state: through this, Sir Antheon drew
Up towards the Fabrick which he had in view:
When meeting with a Passenger by th' way,
An aged Sire, all (Pilgrime--like) in gray,
He gently wisht him (if he could) to tell
What person at that pleasant Seat did dwell.
`Truly, said he, there shines in yonder place
`A starlike Beauty, the great joy and grace
`Of this whole coast; Fidelta is her name,
`Whose worth would weary many--tongued Fame
`Fully to sound it: her poor Bead--man I
`Profess my self, and will do till I dye.
The Knight (now rapt with joy, & grown as light
As Nisus felt himself, when first in flight
He stretcht his wings) no more to hear would stay,
But thither hasted where his Treasure lay.
Arriv'd and enter'd there, he fed his sight
A while with objects of no mean delight;
Servants all clad in livery; a free
Full house, yet void of fulsome luxury.
A fire amidst the hall (most apt to show
Pure charity) that did like Vesta's glow;
All things i'th' old worlds fashion, plain but neat,
So regular, substantial, and compleat,
That (sure) he thought that happy Houshould could
Not look with envy upon th' age of gold.
Coming at last to th' presence of that rare
Lady, whose beauty clear'd the circling aire,
Whose eye--light, breath, & virgin--blush, did show
How starres do shine, Balme smells, & Roses glow;
As wonder--struck he stood, & scarce could use
His vocal faculty: so stands my Muse,
And words doth want sufficiently to praise
A beauty that transcends Hyperbole's;
Which so attempt to reach with lofty strains,
Her lowly mind forbids, and saves my pains.
He found her with fine needle curiously
Working Susanna's famous history
In silk and gold; whose vernal beauty clear,
And the hoary Elders wintry faces, were
So artfully enlyv'd, that well they might
Lead into errour a Beholders sight.
But he a livelier and a lovelier Piece
Admiring (more than Troy that Dame of Greece)
His courtship thus began: Fair Governess
`Of all the pow'rs your Servant doth possess!
`Lady Angellical! most fit to move
`And rule the Orb and influence of love!
`I that to find your home have travelled
`Farther than all that searcht for Nilus head,
`From hardest exigents on Sea and Land,
`Come now to kiss your soft Ambrosial hand,
`And to demand as (hardly earned Hire)
`Your true affections treasure, love entire.
`The Magnetisme that in your vertues lies,
`Drew me to this laborious enterprize,
`Fame having far divulg'd your courtesy,
`Noble beneficence, rare modesty,
`Meekness, veracity, and many more
`High notes of excellence, which I adore,
`And with your person must the same possess,
`Or fall full far short of long'd--for happiness.
`Fair Sir, said she, if of my vertues you
`Be so desirous, that you them pursue,
`Then (if you can) those dear endowments take
`As yours, but use them nobly for my sake;
`Take those quaint jewels for your wondrous pains,
`But leave the cabinet that them contains:
`I shall not be disfurnisht, for we so
`Fetcht flames from fire, which ner'theless will glow.
`Perchance I make it my ambitious strife
`To imitate Diana's single life;
`Will you perst then to solicite me,
`And like Orion, tempt my chastity?
`What if my heart, drawn forth by such a charm
`As your soft speech, anothers breast doth warm,
`To whom I promis'd love? then without fruit
`You labour spend, and frustrate is your suit.
`For sooner shall some harsh collision crack
`The whirling Spheres, and to a general wrack:
`Hurry the world, than any force of Fate
`Shall cause me my vow'd faith to violate:
`Fortune may smile, and frown, and oft estrange
`Her looks, but must not look my mind to change.
`Madam, said he, your temper's not so hard,
`That into it all entrance is debarr'd;
`For as you spake, from my dilated heart
`I did perceive some spirits to depart,
`And fly int' yours; whence now they back retire,
`To work in us an unitive desire.
`My breast's inflam'd; yet my desire do I
`Disdain to follow with the common cry
`To pull for love, or come with poor intent
`To beg a smile, or shew my languishment;
`But to your beauties as bold claim to lay,
`As Venus to the Doves that draw her, may,
`Sith to unite our hearts the stars combin'd,
`And to our Match the Destinies consign'd:
`I saw you in a dream too; whence drew
`Fair hopes that sometime I should sleep with you.
`You little dream, said she, what envy I
`Should draw upon you, should I not deny
`What you desire; For many Knights whom arts
`And arms ennobled, have from forraign parts
`Repair'd and su'd to me, as Pilgrims go
`On holier visits, and devotion show.
`But I have either fled them, as they say
`Daphne did Phoebus, or else sent away
`Them with their suits, and caus'd them to depart
`Sorely opprest with heaviness of heart;
`Or into a passion chaf't, as flouds are more
`Enrag'd, when meeting with a rocky shore.
`But now that you more loveliness present,
`I feel my rigid temper to relent;
`And sith indeed you urge the will and law
`Of mighty Fate, you needs must over--awe
`My pow'r, and I must of my modesty
`Crave leave to say I love you fervently:
`Nor think it levity in me to say
`So much, for I have learn'd my words to weigh.
`Plain truth to tell, loud Fame has blown your worth
`So far, and trumpeted your merits forth,
`That you in your Atlantis to have seen
`I purpos'd; as that Amazonian Queen,
`Thalestris (though with more impure intent
`Than mine) to'th Macedonian Monarch went.
`Love, Theseus--like, a noted part did play,
`Did through a Labyrinth it self convey,
`Found passage through mine ear; though in at th' eye
`(More slippery far) it slides most frequently.
`However to the centre of my breast
`With happy speed it went, and there shall rest:
`Time that will break strong--hearted Oake, shall nere
Crack that affection which to you I bear.
After this sweet accord, this harmony
Of voice and vote, they further did agree
By Hymens hallowed lights all doubts to clear,
And make their loves more sensible appear.
Haste was requir'd; nor many dayes did passe
Before what they desir'd accomplish't was
With fairest auspice, every rite and dress
That aptly symboliz'd their happiness.
And as when Peleus was to take his deare
Thetis to wife, the Gods invited were
To th' marriage--feast: so persons eminent,
Whom Fame had Heaven--ward in high praises sent
For loyalty in love, must onely be
The welcome Guests to this solemnity.
Yet such true hearts these Islanders did bear,
That faithful Lovers, like to culvers there
In flocks did meet; who as their cups did flow,
Turn'd Prophets, and full fortunes did fore--show
To th' married Pair; while the air with musick rung,
And nuptial hymnes inspired Poets sung.
Thus now these worthy Lovers reacht the joyes
That long had hover'd in their phantasies;
Ioyn'd their loves forces, that (as gummes in fire
With spices mixt) more sweetly did conspire;
And blest their fates, that on them had bestow'd
Such ample favours, as to few were show'd.
High was their happiness, and scarce to be
Reacht with the lines of loftiest poetry.