VIII.

And by this act of these two Phenixes Nature againe restored is, 100 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 Waiting, when your eyes opened, let out day, 105 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 That opens first a curtaine, hers or his; 110 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 Christmas time, 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 Even small birds, who by that courage dare, 5 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 Of leafes, to furnish roddes enough to whip 10 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; At Court the spring already advanced is, 15 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, The first doth governe dayes, the other nights. 20 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; Then from those wombes of starres, the Brides bright eyes, 25 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, Then from their beames their jewels lusters rise, 30 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: Or but like Stoves, for lust and envy get 35 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. As heaven, to men dispos'd, is every where, 40 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 Not onely in fulnesse, but capacitie, 45 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. As man is of the world, the heart of man, 50 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._ Dreamer, thou art. 55 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? Seest thou all good because thou seest no harme? 60 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; As, for divine things, faith comes from above, 65 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, That Angels, though on earth employd they bee, 70 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; Hast thou a history, which doth present 75 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, Where men need whisper nothing, and yet may; 80 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? Thou hast no such; yet here was this, and more, 85 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 Where the Kings Counsells and his secrets rest. 90 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 Of his owne thoughts; I would not therefore stay 95 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 Either the Court or mens hearts to invade, 100 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.

EPITHALAMION.