[DAIFHANTUS] THE PASSIONS Of Love. 411
"My woes-" There did he stay, fell to the ground,
Rightly divided into blood and tears,
As if those words had given a mortal wound,
So lay he foaming, with the weight of cares.
Who this had seen, and seeing had not wept,
Their hearts were, sure, from crosses ever kept!
The Ladies all, who late from hunting came,
Untimely came to view this Map of Sorrow.
Surely all wept! and sooth it was no shame,
For, from his grief, the world might truly borrow:
As he lay speechless grovelling, all undressed;
So they stood weeping, Silence was their best.
ISMENIO with these Ladies bare a part,
And much bemoaned him, though he knew not why;
But kind compassion struck him to the heart,
To see him mad. Much better see one die!
Thus walks ISMENIO, and yet oft did pause,
At length, a writing made him know the cause.
He read, till words, like thunder, pierced his heart;
He sighed, till Sorrow seemed itself to mourn;
He wept till tears like ysacles [icicles] did part,
He pitied so, that pity, hate did scorn.
He read to sigh, and weep for pity's sake;
The less he read, the less his heart did quake.
At length resolved, he up the writing takes
And to the Ladies travails as with child;
The birth was Love, such love as discord makes,
The midwife Patience; thus in words full mild,
He writ with tears that which with blood was writ:
The more he read, the more they pitied it.
412 [DAIPHANTUS] THE PASSIONS OF LOVE. [A.Sc.
They look upon DAIPHANTUS, he not seeing:
And wondered at him, but his sense was parted.
They loved him much, though little was his being,
And sought to cure him, though he was faint-hearted,
ISMENIO thus, with speed resolves to ease him;
By a sweet song, his sister should appease him '
ISMENIO was resolved he would be eased,
And was resolved of no means but by Music,
Which is so heavenly that it hath released
The danger oft, not to be cured by physic.
Her tongue and hand thus married together,
Could not but please him, who so loved either.
But first before his madness were allayed,
They offered incense at DIANA's shrine,
And much besought her, now to be apaid;
Which was soon granted to these saints divine:
Yet so, that mad DAIPHANTUS must agree
Never to love, but live in chastity.
Thus they adjured him, by the gods on high,
Never henceforth to shoot with CUPID'S quiver!
Nor love to feign: for there's no remedy,
If once relapsed, then was he mad for ever!
Tortured DAIPHANTUS, now a sign did make;
And kind ISMENIO this did undertake.
Then 'gan ARTESIA to play upon her lute,
Whose voice sang sweetly, now a mourning ditty;
LOVE her admired, though he that loved were mute,
CUPID himself feared he should sue for pity.
O wondrous virtue! Words spoken are but wind;
But sung to Prick Song, they are joys divine!
AS] [DAIFHANTUS] THE PASSIONS OF LOVE. 413
I heard her sing, but still methought I dreamed.
I heard her play, but I methought did sleep.
The Day and Night, till now, were never weaned.
VENUS and DIAN ravished, both did weep.
They which each hated, now agreed to say
This was the goddess both of night and day.
My heart and ears, so ravished with the voice
I still forgot, what still I heard her sing:
The tune, surely, of Sonnets, this was all the choice.
Poets do keep it as a charming thing.
What think you of the joys that DAIPHANTUS had,
When for such music, I would still be mad!
The birds came chirping to the windows round,
And so stood still, as if they ravished were;
Beasts forth the forest came, brought with the sound;
The lion laid him down as if in fear.
The fishes in fresh rivers swam to shore;
Yea, had not Nature stayed them, had done more.
This was a sight, whose eyes had never seen;
This was a voice, such music ne'er was heard;
This Paradise was it, where who had been,
Might well have thought of hell, and not afeard.
Sure, hell itself was heaven, in this sphere,
Madmen, wild beasts, and all here tamèd were.
Like as a king, his chair of state ascendeth,
Being newly made a god upon the earth,
In state amounts, till step by step he endeth,
Thinks it to heaven a true-ascending birth.
So hies DAIPHANTUS, on his legs and feet,
As if DAIPHANTUS now some god should meet.
414 [DAIPHANTUS] THE PASSIONS OF LOVE. [S
He looks upon himself, not without wonder.
He wonders at himself, what he might be.
He laughs unto himself: thinks he 's aslumber.
He weeps unto himself, himself to see.
And sure to hear and see what he had done
Might make him swear but now the world begun.
Fully revived, at last ARTESIA ceased,
When birds and beasts so hideous noise did make,
That almost all turned fury, fear was the least;
Yea, such a fear as forced them cry and quake;
Till that DAIPHANTUS, more of reason had
Than they which moaned him, lately being mad.
He with more joy than words could well declare,
And with more words than his new tongue could tell,
Did strive to speak (such was his love and care
Thus to be thankful); but yet knew not well
Whether his tongue (not tuned unto his heart),
Or modest silence, would best act his part?
But speak he will! Then give attentive ear
To hear him tell a woful lover's story!
His hands and eyes to heaven up did he rear,
Grief taught him speech, though he to speak were sorry. But whatsoever be a Lover's Passion,
DAIPHANTUS speaks his, in a mourning fashion.
As o'er the mountains walks the wandering soul,
Seeking for rest in his unresting spirit,
So good DAIPHANTUS, thinking to enrol
Himself in grace, by telling of Love's merit
Was so distracted, how he should commend it,
Where he began, he wished still to end it.
S] [DAIFHANTUS] THE PASSIONS OF LOVE. 415
EURIALE, my eyes are hers in right!
URANIA, my tongue is as her due!
ARTESIA, my ears to her I 'dite!
My heart to each! and yet my heart to you,
To you, VITULLIA! to you, and all the rest,
Who once me cursed, now to make me blest!
"I Beauty and 2 Wit, did I wound and 2 pierce my heart, 3 Music and 4 Favour, 3 gained and 4 kept it sure: Love led by Fancy to the 4 last I part,
Love led by Reason to the I first is truer.
I Beauty and 2 Wit first conquered, made me yield,
3 Music and 4 Favour rescued got the field.
"To 2 Wit and I Beauty, my first love I give!
3 Music and 4 Favours, my second love have gained! All made me mad, and all did me relieve,
Though one recured me, when I was sustained.
Thus, troth to say, to All I love did owe;
Therefore to All my love I ever vow!"
Thus to the first 1 and 2, his right hand he did tender :
His left hand to the 3 and 4; last most lovingly 4.
His tongue kind thanks, first to the last did render,
The whiles his looks were bent indifferently.
Thus he salutes All: and to increase his blisses,
From lip to lip, each Lady now he kisses.
ISMENIO in humble wise salutes he,
With gracious language he returns his heart,
His words so sweetly to his tongue now suits he,
As what he speaks shew Learning with good Art.
ISMENIO pleased DAIPHANTUS, DAIPHANTUs All;
When love gains love for love, this Love we call!
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