html.skin-theme-clientpref-night @media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os }Before these Tydings to Merlinus speed,
His swifter Science, knew the fatal need
Of Queen, and Princes, who in Natures Book,
For all events, did most Assiduous look:
Nor could her Causes, and Effects create
The World a Providence, or Mankind Fate;
But, as her aptest Schollar, him had taught,
Which other Mortals, as vain Empericks sought:
Who, no less weighs her humble ease, and power,
In every tender Hearb, and smiling Flower;
Then in those prouder Blessings she conveys
From Sun, or Stars stupend'ous course, and Rayes.
And now Merlinus at the Court appears,
The Queen, and Princes dangers fill'd with cares;
Who but in his deep skill, their hopes repose,
Since Fate their lives, so dreadful did oppose.
Where he beholds the beauteous Ladies Mourn,
As if to Statues, Niob like they'd turne;
Or that the Queens soft life, so farr were fled,
His Art, must now recall her, from the Dead.
While with their Prayers, and Blessings, he arrives
Unto her Presence, viewing how life strives
For weak Possession, in that beaut'ous frame,
Death, as his fairest Captive, hopes to claim.
Next feels her Pulse, with all his subtle Art,
But finds its strength retyr'd, to ayde the Heart;
Which, as Loves Region, has a right to be,
The last surrender'd, to Deaths Victory.
Then takes a Cordial, made of purest Gold,
No man before did Potable behold;
With Dewes infus'd, the Diamond Rocks distil,
And Pearles rich Soul, extracted by his skill.
To these an Essence adds, more precious too,
Chymists th' Elixar call; but since none show,
That would this work in costly Limbecks breed,
And coldly live, their Arts vain Fires to feed.
While of this Liquor, (whose least drop might be,
Valu'd above all Indian-Treasury;)
Through the Queens Lips, conveys a gentle draught,
Whence Life, even fled away, is back soon brought.
And now her Pulse, begins lifes March to beate,
While Death's pale Flags, her Rosie Cheeks defeat,
And next, does open Windowes of her Eyes,
That seem like Stars, new kindled in the skies.
Merlinus joy'd, his Cordial thus succeeds;
To th' wounded Princes next, his Person speeds;
Griev'd, that he could not, all at once supply,
And weeps, to see in what extreames they lie.
Then takes a Balme of this Elixar made,
Which to their griefs, with tender hand convey'd,
Their drooping hearts, to wonder does restore,
And shows their wounds, must not have Mortal power.
Nor had the Sun two dayes bright Circles shin'd,
But their great Lives, their Pristine vigours find;
Which more to Joy, the Queen as speedy mends,
And all but Loves soft wounds, from his Cure ends.
Whence common Artists, that make life endure
A tedious Diet, and loath'd Physicks Cure;
Wonder'd, Disease, so soon surpriz'd should be,
By his sublimer skill, and remedy.
And now, that rumor swiftly might convey,
Through Brittain, Joyes, for this most happy day;
The Princes visit the most beaut'ous Queen,
Who for their sakes had thus afflicted been,
And, at her feet, with tears now prostate lie,
Imploring pardon, they design'd to dye;
Since she their lives esteem'd at that high price,
As to resign her own, Deaths Sacrifice.
Grieving that Love, should so much oblige Fate,
And from her wounds, their sins recriminate,
Who for Loves sake chose death themselves to give,
That she more happy, by their falls might live.
To whom, with gracious words, she thus replyes;
Belov'd of Men, and Joy of Brittish Eyes,
Who, ne'r like this, shall Register an hour,
Though their bright Records mention Roman Power,
Defeated by your Prowess, and Gaul brought,
To rue that time, when you conjoyn'd, they fought;
For which the Sun shall ne'r consume a Day,
But I devoted thankes to Heaven will pay.
That can no Merit, great enough allow
To you, as Princes, and as Lovers too;
For which, 'tis my unhappiness to live,
Except at once I had two Souls to give.
Yet must your Passions blame, that did decree
A Death of both, or either, without me
That could have been contented first to dye,
And Pay Loves Debt, with my sad destiny.
Then, to each Prince, a gentle hand does give,
Which humbly kiss'd, they on their knees receive;
Whose Lilly-white, best Orient-Pearl did stain,
And out-shin'd Saphyrs blew, in every vein.
Thus leads them with her, to a Royal seat,
Where soon, Merlinus did attend to Greet,
The happy Cures, his wondrous art had done,
Which they with highest thanks, and presents own,
And to his Person, great endearments give,
Admiring his deep meanes, by which they live;
Whence they, in such short time, o'rcame their griefs,
And Nature furnish'd, with such strange reliefes.
To whom Merlinus thus does humbly speak,
Since Nature, her bright handmaid Art did make;
Few of her Counsels, and admir'd effects,
But profound Science, wondrously Inspects.
Else her large Providence, that guides things here,
Must prove to Mortals, but a niggard Care;
If she producing Creatures, by her Power,
Did fail of meanes, their Glories might restore.
Hence through the Universe, her healthful Lawes
With every being, show a Divine cause,
While Stars, no more her operations cost,
Than Plants, and Herbs, that humbly spring, may boast,
Nor does this Mistress of the World deny,
To disclose secrets, in her bosome lie,
If Mans frail Sense, she does sublimely teach,
Can the deep Process, of her wonders reach.
Hence Med'cins sets apart, (and joyes the Cure,
That makes her Individuals, long endure;)
Which, in her most lov'd sympathies consist,
Or such Antipathies, Disease resist.
Thus by my skill, and fervent Prayers, I sought,
That Soul to Inform'd matter, first she brought;
Which has from Elements, distinct essence,
Yet is of all things, one best Quintessence.
And this our Lives Infirmities Restores,
Beyond the aid of Natures common Powers;
Assisting life, with life, the self same way,
That first in Bodies, she did Souls convey.
This said, a Vial (of a substance too,
His Art next precious to th' Elixar knew;)
Presents the Queen and Princes, which contain'd
This sublime worke, by his deep Science gain'd
At Natures richest cost, whose value could
Purchase the World, and next transmute to Gold
All kind of mettals, that if Treasure fail,
This endless wealth, might Brittains Foes assaile.
And here admiring, they a while it view,
Which does in colour, far more beaut'ous show,
Than Iris various Arch, and seemes like beames
Of Sun, and Stars, or more Cœlestial Flames.
And to Merlinus, with one voice reply,
Most mighty Bard, since in thy skill, doth lie
Such sublime knowledge, ne'r to Man was known,
May future Ages ever it Renown,
Not suffering time, whose hand doth often raze
His choicest glories, ever thine deface;
Or from forgotten truth, make Fictions Fame,
The bold oblivion, of thy sacred Name.
Which said, resolve, this matchless work shall be
Preserv'd, as Natures highest Mystery;
And in that Temple kept, where Brittains pay
Devotion, to her mighty Power each day.
And now the Queen, whose mind unusual cares
Did apprehend, in her late sad despaires;
Acquaints him, how her Soul a Voyage took;
In that deep Trance, as it lifes Fetters broke.
Whence to her seem'd, that warlike Nations spread
Banners throughout this Isle, with horror led;
Whose manners they, before did never know,
With Images, beheld of Princes too.
That should mix blood, with Brittains Royal Line,
And thence succeeding Ages, fruitful shine;
Changing Complexion of our Lawes, and Speech,
Say, wond'rous Bard, if thy deep Science reach
To future things, What do these Visions speak?
Or, are they but such Fantasmes, vain Dreams make?
To which, this Learned Sage, does thus express;
Illustrious Queen, though 'tis most hard, to guess
Succeeding Acts of Time, wrapt in the Lawes
Of Providence, the Worlds great hidden cause;
While in our Bodies, Souls commix with Sence,
That does obstruct, their Divine Præscience;
Else might their Vision, without sensual eyes,
Take highest Prospect, of her Mysteries;
Since Nature to the World, and all things live,
In different Bodies, a-like Soul does give;
And is diffus'd, from her Internal mind,
Where every cause, does actual fore-sight find;
Which, since our Souls, cannot in Bodies reach,
By glorious Mediums, she our Sence does teach.
Nor, must we think, the Orbes, and Starry-Sphære,
But, as Nights Tapers, Heaven has kindled there;
Or, that Ecclipses of the Sun, and Moon,
Defects of Nature show, and not our own;
Though it must dazel Humane sence, to read
The Text of Heaven, in such bright causes spread.
Hence oft Mutations follow Crowns, and States,
Which ignorant minds allot to Chance, and Fates;
While nothing to us Mortals, e'r insues,
But she in some Prophetick Cause foreshewes.
And what the restless studies of my Art
To you great Queen, and Princes, can impart,
I humbly offer, in this hour to show,
That strikes my Soul, with some amazement too.
Craving this Royal Presence, a short space,
Some learned Products, of his skill to grace,
And may, for Brittains sake, be useful seen;
Which said, the Princes, with the beauteous Queen,
Remove in State, and thus by him are brought,
To an Appartment vast, and wond'rous wrought.
From Archytects, taught by his deep survey,
Which none but he, e'r enter'd to that day[errata 1].
Wherein this Sage, long Contemplation took,
T'instruct the World, in Natures profound Book;
Or else the Muses sublime Raptures writ,
That Poets call Heavens best inspired wit.
A Science graces all, yet taught by none,
In Schooles Pedantick Tearmes, and Precepts known;
Where Faith, could not it self from Tutors free,
While this remains, untaught Divinity.
And Natures best Exchequer, has for store,
Spending profusely thence, yet never Poor;
Though oft like virtue, meets Inglorious Fate,
Since more than Human Soul, its worth must rate.
Nor did that Age, the Muses less esteem,
Than Sacred Raptures, Men Prophetick deeme;
From whence the wise, Castalian Cliffs aspir'd,
And with Heavens zeal, this Divine gift admir'd.