Page:Gondibert, an heroick poem - William Davenant (1651).djvu/238

55.
What means my Prince to learn so low a boast,
 Whose merit may aspire to Rhodalind?
For who could Birtha miss if she were lost,
 That shall by worth the others treasure find?

56.
When your high blood, and conquests shall submit
 To such mean joys, in this unminded shade,
Let Courts, without Heav'ns Lamps, in darkness sit,
 And war become the lowly Shepheard's Trade.

57.
Birtha, (a harmless Cottage Ornament!)
 May be his Bride, that's born himself to serve;
But you must pay that blood your Army spent,
 And wed that Empire which our wounds deserve.

58.
This brought the Dukes swift anger to his Eyes;
 Which his consid'rate Heart rebuk'd as fast;
He Goltho chid, in that he nought replies;
 Leaves him, and Birtha seeks with Lovers haste.

59.
Now Goltho mourns, yet not that Birtha's fair;
 Or that the Duke shuns Empire for a Bride,
But that himself must joyn love to despair;
 Himself who loves her, and his love must hide.

60.
He curs'd that him the wounded hither brought
 From Oswald's field; where though he wounds did scape
In tempting Death, and here no danger sought,
 Yet here met worse than Death in Beauty's shape.

61.
He was unus'd to love, as bred in wars,
 And not till now for beauty leasure had;
Yet bore Love's load, as Youth bears other Cares;
 Till now despair makes Love's old weight too sad.

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