The Duel where all rules of artfull strife, To rescue or endanger Darling-life, Are by reserves of strength and courage shown; For killing was long since a Science grown. Th' event by which the Troops engaged are, As private rage too often turn to war.
1. BY what bold passion am I rudely led, Like Fame's too curious and officious Spie, Where I these Rolls in her dark Closet read, Where Worthies wrapt in Time's disguises lie?
2. Why should we now their shady Curtains draw, Who by a wise retirement hence are •reed, And gone to Lands exempt from Nature's Law, Where love no more can mourn, nor valour bleed?
3. Why to this stormy world from their long▪rest, Are these recall'd to be again displeas'd, Where during Natures reign we are opprest, Till we by Deaths high priviledge are eas'd?
4. Is it to boast that Verse has Chymick pow'r, And that its rage (which is productive heat) Can these revive, as Chymists raise a Flower, Whose scatter'd parts their Glass presents compleat?
5. Though in these Worthies gone, valour and love Did chastely as in sacred Temples meet, Such reviv'd Patterns us no more improve, Than Flowers so rais'd by Chymists make us sweet.
6. Yet when the souls disease we desp'rate find, Poets the old renown'd Physitians are, Who for the sickly habits of the mind, Examples as the ancient cure prepare.
7. And bravely then Physitians hononr gain, When to the world diseases cureless seem, And they (in Science valiant) ne'r refrain Arts war with Nature, till they life redeem.
8. But Poets their accustom'd task have long Forborn, (who for Examples did disperse The Heroes virtues in Heroick Song) And now think virtue sick, past cure of verse.
9. Yet to this desp'rate cure I will proceed, Such patterns shew as shall not fail to move; Shall teach the valiant patience when they bleed, And hapless Lovers constancy in love.
10. Now Honour's chance, the Duke with Oswald takes, The Count his great Stake, Life, to Hubert sets; Whilst his to Paradin's Lord Arnold stakes, And little Hugo throws at Dargonets.
11. These Four on equal ground those Four oppose; Who wants in strength, supples it with his skill; So valiant that they make no haste to close; They not apace, but handsomly would kill.
12. And as they more each others courage found, Each did their force more civilly express, To make so manly and so fair a wound, As loyal Ladies might be proud to dress.
13. But vain, though wondrous, seems the short event Of what with pomp and Noise we long prepare: One hour of battel oft that force hath spent, Which Kings whole lives have gather'd for a war.
14. As Rivers to their ruin hastie be, So life (still earnest, loud, and swift) runs post To the vaste Gulf of death, as they to Sea, And vainly travels to be quickly lost.
15. And now the Fates (who punctually take care We not escape their sentence at our birth) Writ Arnold down where those inroled are Who must in Youth abruptly leave the Earth.
16. Him Paradine into the Brow had pierc't; From whence his bloud so overflow'd his Eyes, He grew too blind to watch and guard his breast, Where wounded twice, to Deaths cold Court he hies.
17. And Love (by which Life's name does value find, As Altars even subsist by ornament) Is now as to the Owner quite resign'd, And in a sigh to his dear Laura sent.
18. Yet Fates so civil were in cruelty As not to yield that he who conquer'd all The Tuscan Vale, should unartended die, They therefore doom that Dargonet must fall.
19. Whom little Hugo dext'rously did vex With many wounds in unexpected place, Which yet not kill, but killingly perplex; Because he held their number a disgrace.
20. For Dargonet in force did much exceed The most of Men, in valour equall'd all; And was asham'd thus diversly to bleed, As if he stood where showrs of Arrows fall.
21. At once he ventures his remaining strength To Hugo's nimble skill, who did desire To draw this little war out into length, By motions quick as Heav'ns fantastick fire!
22. This fury now is grown too high at last In Dargonet; who does disorder all The strengths of temp'rance by unruly haste, Then down to Deaths low Calm does breathless fall.
23. When with his own Storm sunk, his Foe did spie Lord Arnold dead, and Paradine prepare To help Prince Oswald to that victory, Of which the Duke had yet an equal share.
24. Vain Conquerour (said Hugo then) return! In stead of Laurel which the Victor wears, Go gather Cypress for thy Brothers Urn, And learn of me to water it with Tears.
25. Thy Brother lost his life attempting mine; Which cannot for Lord Arnold's loss suffice: I must revenge (unlucky Paradine) The blood his death will draw from Laura's Eyes.
26. We Rivals were in Laura, but though she My griefs derided, his with sighs approv'd; Yet I (in Loves exact integritie) Must take thy life for killing him She lov'd.
27. These quick alike, and artfully as fierce, At one sad instant give and take that wound, Which does through both their vital Closets pierce; Where Life's small Lord doth warmly sit enthron'd.
28. And then they fell, and now near upper Heaven, Heav'ns better part of them is hov'ring still, To watch what end is to their Princes given, And to brave Hubert, and to Hurgonil.
29. In progress thus to their eternal home, Some method is observ'd by Destinie, Which at their Princes setting out did doom, These as their leading Harbingers to die.
30. And fatal Hubert we must next attend, Whom Hurgonil had brought to such distress, That though Life's stock he did not fully spend, His glory that maintain'd it is grown less.
31. Long had they strove, who first should be destroy'd; And wounds (the Marks of Manhood) gave and took, Which though like honour'd Age, we would avoid, Yet make us when possess'd, for rev'rence look.
32. O Honour! Frail as Life thy fellow Flower! Cherish'd and watch'd, and humr'ously esteem'd, Then worn for short adornments of an hour; And is when lost no more than life redeem'd.
33. This fatal Hubert finds, if honour be As much in Princes lost, when it grows less, As when it dies in men of next degree: Princes are onely Princes by excess.
34. For having twice with his firm Opposite Exchang'd a wound, yet none that reach'd at life, The adverse sword his Arms best sinew hit, Which holds that strength, which should uphold their strife.
35. When thus his dear defence had left his Hand, Thy life (said Hurgonil) rejoyce to wear As Orna's favour, and at her command; Who taught the mercy I will practise here.
36. To which defenceless Hubert did reply, My life (a worthless Blank) I so despise, Since Fortune laid it in her Lotary, That I'm asham'd thou draw'st it as a Prize.
37. His grief made noble Hurgonil to melt, Who mourn'd in this a Warriours various fate; For though a Victor now, he timely felt That change which pains us most by coming late.
38. But Orna (ever present in his thought) Prompts him to know, with what success for fame And Empire, Gondibert and Oswald fought; Whilst Hubert seeks out death, and shrinks from shame.
39. Valour, and all that practice turns to art, Alike the Princes had and understood; For Oswald now is cool as Gondibert; Such temper he has got by losing blood.
40. Calmly their temper did their art obay; Their stretch'd Arms regular in motion prove; And force with as unseen a stealth convay, As noiseless hours by hands of Dials move.
41. By this new temper Hurgonil believ'd That Oswald's elder virtues might prevail; To think his own help needfull much he griev'd; But yet prepar'd it lest the Duke should fail.
42. Small wounds they had, where as in Casements sate Disorder'd Life; who seem'd to look about, And fain would be abroad, but that a Gate She wants so wide, at once to sally out.
43. When Gondibert saw Hurgonil draw near, And doubly arm'd at conquer'd Huberts cost, He then, who never fear'd, began to fear, Lest by his help his honour should be lost.
44. Retire, said he; for if thou hop'st to win My Sisters love by aiding in this strife; May Heav'n (to make her think thy love a sin) Eclipse that beauty which did give it life.
45. Count Hurgonil did doubtfully retire, Fain would assist, yet durst not disobay; The Duke would rather instantly expire, Than hazard Honour's death, by death's delay.
46. Alike did Oswald for dispatch prepare; And cries, Since Hubert knew not to subdue, Glory farewel, that art the Souldiers care, More lov'd than Woman, less than Woman true!
47. And now they strive with all their sudden force To storm Life's Cittadil, each others Brest; At which could Heav'ns chief Eye have felt remorse, It would have wink'd, or hast'ned to the West.
48. But sure the Heav'nly Movers little care Whether our motion here be false or true; For we proceed, whilst they are regular, As if we Dice for all our actions threw.
49. We seem surrender'd to indiff'rent Chance, Even Deaths grave work looks like fantastick play; That Sword which oft did Oswald's fame advance In publick war, fails in a private fray.
50. For when (because he ebbes of bloud did feel) He levell'd all his strength at Gondibert, It clash'd and broke against the adverse steel, Which travell'd onward till it reach'd his heart.
51. Now he that like a stedfast statue stood In many Battels registerd by Fames, Does fall depriv'd of language as of blood; Whilst high the Hunters send their Victors name.
52. Some shout aloud, and others wind the Horn! They mix the Cities with the Field's applause; Which Borgio soon interprets as their scorn, And will revenge it ere he mourn the cause.
53. This the cold Evening warm'd of Vasco's age; He shin'd like scorching Noon in Borgio's looks, Who kindled all about him with his rage, And worse the Triumph than the Conquest brooks.
54. The Troops (astonish'd with their Leaders fate) The horrour first with silence entertain; With loud impatience than for Borgio wait, And next with one confusion all complain.
55. Whom thus he urg'd! Prince Oswald did command We should remove far from the Combat's list; And there like unconcern'd Spectatours stand, Justly restrain'd to hinder or assist.
56. This (Patient Friends!) we dully have obay'd; A temp'rance which he never taught before, But though alive he could forbid our aid, Yet dead, he leaves revenge within our pow'r.
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