The heroical lover, or, Antheon and Fidelta a poem / written by Thomas Bancroft.

THE HEROICAL LOVER.

CANTO IV.

The Argument▪

Sir Antheon at his next remove Goes into Spain to seek his Love; Contemnes the wealth Sor'dezza showes, And stickles 'twixt engaged foes.

NO force of envious Fortune can divert From his fair aim a worthy Lovers heart, Resolv'd in's course all crosses to abide

With patience, working 'gainst both wind & tide, Such a true undertaker was our Knight; So firme in's purpose, that he did unite All his endeavours to the point of love, And towards that sweet cen••re still did move. The Sea-mans Needle varies and declines; But 'tis not so with brave heroick minds, Toucht by pure love; these steadily direct Their motions to their marks, and nere defect. A due respect to faith and honour (dear To Worthies) cau'sd this noble Cavalier Still to indulge his amours, to devise How to atchive his ardent enterprize, And think where next he should the name resound Of his Fidelta, nere enough renown'd. At last he did resolve to see what Spain Of worth and excellency did contain; Whether the women of that western coast Have orient beauties, as some men do boast; And whether their endowments be as rare And precious, as they rich in treasure are. Betwixt the potent realmes of Spain and France The Pyrenean hills are bold t'advance Their heads; so hoary, as they took much care To keep the treasures safe that hoorded are In their deep entralls. Over these (they say) The Gaules, too populous, did once make way, And by Iberus side new seats did find;

And over these Sir Antheon now design'd To pass into Iberia. 'Twas not long Before they did ascend those high and strong Rock-ribbed mountains; when to's friend he said: " Some-where (I now remember) I have read " That once these hills took fire, whose mighty heat " Dissolv'd their minerals, and poured great " Currents of treasure down; though now through snow, " And a sharp penetrative air we goe: " But a true Lovers breast, that much doth hold " O'th torrid Zone, defies all force of cold; " Will fight with it at sharp, and whatsoere " To his designes shall opposite appear. Great Spain, whose strength is now in monarchy United, was divided anciently Into twelve kingdomes; through all which the Knight (Whom nothing can dismay, much less affright) Intends with speed to travel, and to try The fortunes of a fresh discovery. When he had pass't those haughty mountains, more Did heat insest him than the cold before: But his surmounting courage did despise Both Earths and Aires more threatning injuries; And like a River went, that without stay, Though with some windings, seeks the wealthy sea: Still was he sounding sweet Fidelt••'s name, And did her worth in every place proclaim; Making in wealthy Corduba more stay,

To he••r what people could of Lucan say, And th' Seneca's. As there he walkt along, And saw a house all mo••s't, but mainely strong, More like a Prison than a Palace; there Fixing his view, and drawing somewhat neare, Forth comes a woman well in years, but ill In fashion, seeming as some Hellish skill She did p••ofess, so fiend-like her aspect, Mixing with carefulness a rude neglect. A temp••st in her eies she seem'd to bear, Whence ro••gh and wavy did her brow appear; Her Elfine hair was gray, but had been red; Her cheekes a nasty morphew over-spred; And like a rusty Gnomon was her nose, Thin as the bone that winter-weather showes; Her teeth were Or, but Argent were her lips; Her neck was speckled as with fairy-nips; Towards her bodies sordid Centre hung Her breasts like Rennet-bags, all knobb'd & clung; And turned were her tanned hands to paws, So bent to rapine, and so arm'd with clawes. She with a false eye (like a Kite that spies) A chick, and cunningly to catch it flies) Having descry'd some jewels rich and faire, Which (from his country brought) the Knight did weare, Did long to finger them; & therfore came To him; and having set her lookes in frame, Thus said: Fair Sir, if from this publick street

" You will withdraw, and please to set your feet " Within my ga••es, I shall to you impart " What haply Nectar-like will warm your heart, " And win your liking; come along, and see " What golden hope's in offe••'d amity. He smiling went with her (brave Iason so VVith magical Medea on••e did goe,) Went with her int' a gallery that led T' a round built room, whose door she opened, Shew'd him a world of treasure shining there, And bade him enter while the coast was clear. But when, refusing, he a stand did make, She thus again his modesty bespake: " You see, blind Fortune has not been my foe, " That has vouchsaf't upon me to bes••ow " Such heaps of treasure; yet some foes I have, " Wild Prodigals. that strut about in brave " Attire, when scarce they have wherewith to buy " A cord, to mind them of their destiny: " By day they're lordly, yet with night conspire " To feed a base and ravenous desire: " Such youngsters oft invade my treasury, " As th' Elders did Susanna's chastity. " Now, as you seem a gallant man at arms, " If you'l secure me from such frightful harmes, " And be my champion, you shall share a part " Of all my wealth, but wholly have my heart: " Midas shall be an Ass to you; that King

" Croesus, scarce nam'd, not worth your envying: " My precious treasures with reflexive shine " Shall gild your brows, & make your looks divine. " Those jewels that you weare are dimme & poore, " Compar'd to many that I keep in store: " I'le give you richer in exchange, that may " My love, together with their-light, display. With that, she wrung his finger, with intent To have pluckt thence its golden ornament, Wherein an Opall shin'd: but he, his blade Halfe-drawing, told her, if such pranks she plaid, He would hacke of her talons, send her head T'her feet, and shew it in g••imme Gorgons stead. Then such a thundring stamp he gave, that all The gold & silver chinkt, and th' Hagge did crawl Backe (like a Crab) in much affright, whilest he, Full of brave scorne and sparkling gallantry, Left her to Mammons mercy, laughing went, As furnisht for a whole mon'ths merriment. Soon after, meeting with a Matron grave, Who by her even carriage seem'd to have A well-pois'd temper, he enquired who That Beldam was that so much wealth did show, That with fair proffers veil'd her foul intents, And meant to cheat amidst her blandishments. " You mean, said she, Sordezza (as I guess,) " That Harpy-like, Hell-raking Sorceress, " Who gapes for gain as Doggs for cooling aire,

" And earth-ward bends, affixing worldly care, " To ••he worlds Centre. If you have been in " Her house, that Hold of mischiefe, Shop of sin, " You owe much to your fortune, that you have " So safe return'd, and not remain'd her Slave. " For she not seldome layes her golden baites " For whom she likes; & when those gay deceits " The Gulls have taken, she enchaunts them so, " That they her service never will forgoe, " But gladly as her vas••ais will remain, " And what she pleases to impose, sustain. " Yet a hard-hearted Mistress does she prove, " And great's her tyranny (pretending love) " To those that serve her, over rocks and hils " And dales she hurries them, while sweat distills; " Sends them to back the wild-bounding Sea, " And pass through perills to rich India; " With troubles, as with torrents, over-bears " Their strength, & with sharp cares their bowels tears; " Feeds them with scraps & refuse; makes them go " Thinly araid through piercing winters snow; " Loosens their limbs with flesh-quakes, and doth make " Whilst others soundly sleep, the wretches wake. " This is no fabulous story which I tell, " But true and real. Therefore weighing well " Your late escaped dangers, with much joy " Reflect upon your precious liberty, " And shun as Serpents (if so wise you be)

The air and track of ill society. Contented with this answer, thence he went, But not without a grateful complement For her intelligen••e, well seasoned VVith grave advice. His resolution led Him forward still or rather urg'd him on: And as a Current being stopt, anon Flowes with more force: so if by chance he staid Long where he lik't, the greater hast he made In's following jo••rneys. VVhen he came in sight Of fair Toledo (once the Moores delight) VVhich in the Centre of that kingdome stands On Tagus, famous for its golden sands; Beyond a thicket bordering on his way, He saw two gallants in a mortal fray Engaged, striking, thrusting, bending all Their forces to procure each others fall. Forthwith dismounting, towards them he goes, And (though in danger of their desp'rate blowes) Betwixt them steps, and bids them hold, or he Would send them where they better should agree; Askes them th' occasion whence their discord rose, And what might urge them to those angry blowes. Saies one of them: This fellow that you see, " That lookes like milk, and quakes for fear of me, " VVas not asham'd to tell me that he saw " My father (who his Pedegree doth draw " From Princes) on a ••ounder'd Hackney ride

" Sometime, and wear no weapon by his side; " Whereas (his foes well knew't) he wore a sword " Daily, as good as Bilbo co••ld afford, " And us'd a trampling Gennet to bestride; " The King of Spain does on no better ride. Th'other with indignation said; This Boy, Whose tongue the Hangmans noose can only tye, " Sayes that my sister loves him, and doth wear " A bracelet (as he brags) made of her hair; " When I dare swear she holds him in disdain, " As courted by the bravest Don in Spain; " And's of that birth, and wealth, and beauty rare, " As well may drive mean Suitors to despair. " For this I challeng'd him; and if you had " Not interven'd (whereof he may be glad,) " I had by this time broch't him on my blade " Like a swoln Toad, and fatal work had made. " You both are valiant, said the Knight, no doubt; " And pity 'tis great spi••its should abo••t " Small matters tempt their fates: p••t ••p for shame " Those angry tooles; and if you'd purchase fame, " Draw them against your countries publick foes " In a just urgent quarrel; do like those " Ancient Heroes, Th••seus, and the rest, " Resist ambitious wrongs, relieve th'opprest, " Release th' enthralled, and such monsters tame " As live like Harpyes, flying at all Game. " These are high waies to honour; but for toyes

" To brawl is infamous, more fit for boyes " Than well-bred men, who wrongs should rightly weigh, " Nor in the ballance heavy hatred lay. " Whole kingdomes suffer for wild fervency " Of blood, and blindly-bold temerity: " And oft the Flow'rs of families (that might " Have done their country much obliging right) " By trifling quarrels have I known to fall, " And damp our hopes with sudden funeral. " Come, let me link your hands, as is most fit, " And in like manner let your hearts be knit; " And as your mettal is now found to be " Solid and firme, so prove your amity. This speech did work no less than Mercuries Pastoral musick, charm'd their enmities, And caused them (in stead of angty blowes) To strike a league, and hate the name of foes. So home they went: but him that made their peace, Nor Love nor Destiny would yet release From painful taskes of travel. Thence he hyes To famous Sevil, where Columbus lyes; And coming there his Epitaph to view, Blowes off the dust with sighs, and much doth rue That a brave Ttraveller who bare a mind As ample as the world, should be confin'd T'a narrow vault; and he that had surveid New unknown stars, should be in darkness laid. Through many cities makes he then his way,

But his chief Scene of business does he lay In fair Madrid; which (as sometimes a clown May rise to honour) from a v••lgar town Is grown a royal seat. But neither there Nor elsewhere can he of Fidelta heare, Nor of such noble qualities as might Thither a Lady of much worth invite. VVherefore at present making there a stand, He meanes to visit some more hopefull land.