I invocate, to grace my Artless labour,
The faithful goddess, men call MEMORY (True Poet's treasure, and their Wit's best favour); To deck my Muse with truest poesy!
Though Love write well, yet Passion blinds th'affection.
Man ne'er rules right, that's in the least subjection.
Sweet Memory! Soul's life, new life increasing!
The Eye of Justice! Tongue of Eloquence!
The Lock of Learning! Fountain never ceasing!
The Cabinet of Secrets! Caske[t] of Sense!
Which governest Nature, teacheth Man his awe!
That art all Conscience, and yet rul'st by Law!
Bless thou, this Love Song-Air of my best wishes!
(Thou art the Parent nourisheth Desire!)
Blow, gentle winds! safe land me at my blisses!
Love still mounts high, though lovers not aspire.
My Poem's Truth! Fond poets feign at pleasure!
A loving subject is a Prince's treasure.
IN VENICE fair, the city most admired;
Their lived a Gallant, who DAIPHANTUS hight.
Right nobly born, well lettered, loved, desired
Of every Courtier in their most delight:
So full of pleasance, that he seemed to be
A man begot in VENUS' infancy.
His face was fair, full comely was his feature;
Lipped like the cherry, with a wanton's eye:
A MARS in anger, yet a VENUS' creature;
Made part of CYNTHIA, most of MERCURY:
A pitied soul, so made of Love and Hate,
Though still beloved, in love unfortunate.
Thus made by Nature, Fortune did conspire
To balance him, with weight of CUPID'S wings;
Passant in Love, yet oft in great Desire;
Sudden in Love, not staid in anything.
He courted all, not loved: and much did strive
To die for Love, yet never meant to wive!
388 [DAIPHANTUS] THE PASSIONS OF LOVE. [A. Sc.
As Nature made him fair, so likewise witty;
(She not content) his thoughts thus very fickle.
Fortune that gained him, placed him in this city,
To wheel his head, which she had made most tickle.
Fortune made him beloved, and so distraught him!
His reins let forth, he fell; and CUPID caught him.
Not far from Venice, in an Abbey fair,
Well walled about, two worthy Ladies dwelt :
Who virgins were, so sweet and debonair,
The ground they trod on, of their odour smelt.
Two virgin Sisters, matchless in a phere,
Had lived virgins well nigh eighteen year.
EURIALE, the elder sister 's named;
The other was URANIA the wise.
Nature for making them was surely blamed:
VENUS herself, by them all did despise !
Such beauties with such virtue! so combined,
That all exceeds, yet nought excels their mind.
EURIALE So shows as doth the sun,
When mounted on the continent of heaven:
Yet oft she's clouded; but when her glory 's come,
Two suns appear! to make her glory even.
Her smiles send brightness when the sun 's not bright!
Her looks give beauty, when the sun lends light!
Modest and humble, of nature mild and sweet;
Unmatched beauty with her virtue meeting:
Proud that her lowly 'beisance doth re-greet
With her chaste silence. Virtue ever keeping.
This is the sun, that sets before it rise!
This is a star! no less are both her eyes!
AS] [DAIPHANTUS] THE PASSIONS OF LOVE. 389
Her beauty peerless! peerless is her mind!
Her body matchless! matchless are her thoughts!
Herself but one! but one like her, we find!
Her wealth's her virtue! Such virtue is not bought!
This is a heaven on earth, makes her divine!
This is the sun, obscures where it doth shine!
Could write her worth! her worth no eye may see!
Or that her tongue (O heaven!) were now my heart,
What silver lines in showers should drop from me!
My heart she keeps! how can I then indite?
No heart-less creature can Love Passions write!
As a black veil upon the wings of morn,
Brings forth a day as clear as VENUS' face;
Or a fair jewel, by an Ethiope worn,
Enricheth much the eye, which it doth grace:
Such is her beauty, if it well be told !
Placed in a jetty chariot set with gold.
Her hair, Night's canopy in mourning weeds
Is still enthroned, when locked within is seen
A Deity, drawn by a pair of steeds
Like VENUS' eyes! And if the like have been,
Her eyes two radiant stars, but yet divine!
Her face day's sun (heaven all !) if once they shine!
Upon the left side of this heavenly feature,
In curious work, Nature hath set a seal,
Wherein is writ, This is a matchless creature!
Where Wit and Beauty strives for the appeal:
The Judges choosed are Love and Fancy. They rise,
And looking on her, with her, left their eyes!
390 [DAIPHANTUS] THE PASSIONS OF LOVE. [A.Sc.
Her Wit and Beauty were at many frays, "Whether the deep impressions did cause?" "Nature!" said Beauty; Art, her Wit did praise : Love thought her Face; her tongue had Truth's applause. Whilst they contend, Which was the better part? I lent an eye; She robbed me of my heart!
Sisters these two are, like the Day and Night:
Their glories, by their virtues they do merit,
One as the Day to see the other's might;
The other's Night to shadow a high spirit.
If all were Day, how could a lover rest?
Or if all Night, lovers were too much blest!
Both fair; as eke their bodies tall and slender :
Both wise, yet silence shews their modesty :
Both grave, although they both are young and tender:
Both humble hearted, not in policy.
So fair, wise, grave, and humble are esteemed;
Yet what men see, the worst of them is deemed!
Nature that made them fair, doth love perfection.
What Youth counts wisdom, Age doth bring to trial.
Grave years in Youth, in Age needs no direction.
A humble heart deserves, finds, no denial.
Fairs ring their knells, and yet Fame never dies!
True judgement 's from the heart, not from the eyes!
These two, two sisters, cousins to this lover;
He often courts, as was his wonted fashion.
Who swears all 's fair, yet hath no heart to prove her,
Seems still in Love or in a lover's Passion,
Now learns this lesson! and love-scoffers find it!
CUPID hits rightest, when Lovers do least mind it!
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