4420714Madagascar; with Other Poems — Written, When Collonell Goring Was beleev'd to be slaine, at the siege of BredaWilliam Davenant
Written, When Collonell Goring Was beleev'd to be slaine, at the siege of Breda.
His death lamented by Endimion, Arigo.
The Scene, the Sea.
ENDIMION. Ho! Pilot! change your Course! for know we are Not guided by the Sea-mans usuall Starre: Storme-frighted-Foole! dull, wat'ry Officer! Dost thou our Voyage by thy Compasse steere? In all the Circle of thy Card, no Winde Tame, or unruly, thou wilt ever finde Can bring us where the meanest on the Coast Immortall is, and a renowned Ghost.
ARIGO. Let the assembled Winds in their next warre, Blow out the light, of thy old guiding Starre; Whilst on uncertaine Waves, thy Bark is tost, Untill thy Card is rent, thy Rudder lost. Nor Star, nor Card; though with choyce Winds you fill Your Sayles (subdu'd by Navigators skill;) Can teach thee rule thy Helme, 'till't waft us o're Pacifique Seas, to the Elizian Shore.
ENDIMION. Who to that flow'ry Land, shall search his way, No mortall Pilots Compasse must obay; Nor trust Columbus art, although he can Boast longer toyles, than he, or Magilan: Thoug in Sea-perils, he could talke them dumbe, And prove them lazy Criples; bred at home, By's travailes, he could make the Sunne appeare, A young, and unexperienc'd Travailer.
ARIGO. If thou wilt Steere our course, thou must rely On some majestick, Epick-History; (The Poet's Compasse) such as the blind Priest In fury writ, when like an Exorcist, His Numbers charm'd the Grecian Host; whose Pen, The Scepter was, which rul'd the Soules of Men. Survey his mystick Card; learne to what Coast, He did transport, each brave unbody'd Ghost, New shifted from his flesh, that valiant Crew, Which fierce Achilles, and bold Hector slew?
ENDIMION. Enquire, where these are now? beneath what Shade, In deare-bought rest, their weary Limmes are laid, That trod on rugged wayes? for Honor still Leaves the smooth Plaine, t'ascend the rough, steepe Hill. There seeke, the Macedonian Youth; who knew No worke, so full of ease, as to subdue: Who scarce beleev'd his Conquests worthy fame, Since others thought, his fortune overcame.
ARIGO. Neere him, the Epire-Quarreller doth lie; Lookes, as he scorn'd his immortalitie, Because of too much rest; seemes still at strife With Fate, for losse of troubles, not of life: Griev'd that to dye, hee made such certaine hast, Since being dead, the noble Danger's past.
ENDIMION. Neere these, goe seeke (with Mirtle over-growne) The Carthaginian Victor's shady Throne; Who there, with sullen thoughts, much troubled lies; And chides, the over-carefull Destinies; That these Ambitious Neighbours thither sent So long before his birth; thus to prevent Dishonour at their deaths; O fond surmise, Of one, who when but mortall was so Wise! As if betimes, they hastned to a Tombe, Lest he b'ing borne, they had been overcome.
ARIGO. Neere him, the wondrous Roman doth appeare, Majestick, as if made Dictator there; Where now, the philosophick Lord, would heale The wound, he gave him for the Publique Weale: Which he more strives to hide; as sham'd his Eye Should finde, that any wound could make him die.
ENDIMION. If thou, by the wise Poets Card, or Starre, Canst bring us where these alter'd Monarchs are; Shift all thy Sayles, to husband ev'ry Winde; 'Till by a short, swift passage we may finde, Where Sidney's ever-blooming-Throne is spred; For now, since one renown'd as he is dead; (Goring, the still lamented, and belov'd!) He hath enlarg'd his Bow'r, and farre remov'd His lesse heroique Neighbours, that gave place To him; the last of that soone number'd Race.
ARIGO. Whom he must needs delight to celebrate, Because himselfe, in manners, and in Fate, Was his undoubted Type: Goring, whose name Though early up, will stay the last with Fame:
ENDIMION. Though Sidney was his Type, fulfill'd above What he foretaught, of Valour, Bounty, Love: Who dy'd like him, even there, where he mistooke The People, and the Cause he undertooke: Betray'd by Pitty then, to their defence, Whose povertie was all their innocence: And sure, if to their helpe a Third could come, Beguild by Honour, to such Martyrdome; Sufficient like these Two, in braine, as blood; The World in time would thinke, their cause is good.
ARIGO. Thus he forsooke his glories being young: The Warriour is unlucky, who lives long; And brings his courage in suspect; for he That aymes at honour, i'th supreme degree, Permits his Valour to be over-bold, Which then, ne're keepes him safe, 'till he be old.
ENDIMION. His Bounty, like his Valour, unconfin'd; As if not borne to Treasure, but assign'd The Rents of lucky Warre; each Day to be Allow'd, the profits of a Victorie! Not of poore Farmes, but of the World the Lord! Heire, to intestate Nations by his Sword.
ARIGO. In Valour thus, and bounty, rays'd above The vulgar height, so in designes of Love; For onely gentle Love could him subdue; A noble crime, which snew'd his Valour, true: It is the Souldier's test; for just so far He yeelds to Love, he overcomes in War.
ENDIMION. But why Arigo, doe wee strive to rayse The Story of our losse, with helplesse praise? Why to this Pilot mourne; whose Eares can reach Nothing lesse loud, than Winds, or Waters breach? Or thinke, that he can guide us to a Coast, Where wee may finde, what all the World hath lost?
ARIGO. About then! Lee the Helme! Endimion! see; Loose Wreaths (not of the Bay, but Cypresse Tree) Our Poet weares, and on the Shore doth mourne, Fearing, t'Elizium bound, wee can't returne. Steere back! his Verse may make those Sorrowes last Which here, wee 'mongst unhallow'd Sea-men waste.
