Page 91Artemisia.
THERE is nothing here but exceeds the measure of mean Spirits: Nothing but transcends the Capacity of shallow Heads. The Mausolaeum which you be∣hold, is one of the Worlds great Mira∣cles. Artemisia who caused it to be built, is another far greater Miracle, though not so vast, nor wearieth so much the sight. But both have wherewith to fill with her Renown, as well the present as future Times: Wherewith to furnish matter for new Fables; And to serve in History for a spectacle of magni∣ficence, and prodigie to all Nations and Ages.
They are no common Architects which direct this sumptu∣ous and stately structure. Love is the undertaker and hath traced out the designe: Magnificence presides in the Execu∣tion; and all the Arts gathered together work there under her Command, and by her Orders. Surely it were needful to have a very vast apprehension, and Eyes capable of great objects to contemplate at once these pendant Quarries wrought into Pillars: And to behold at one View a whole Mountain of Jasper erected into an Obelisk. Asia and Africa must be there∣by exhausted and impoverished: I do beleeve that at present there are left neither Marble in their Bosoms, nor pretious Metals in their Veins. And you there behold in Frizes, Chapters, and Ballisters, all that the sun was able to produce rich and resplendent in many Ages. Not only all the Trea∣sures of the Earth have been exhausted to serve for this Enter∣prize, Page 92 but whole Colonies of workmen have been consumed therein; And all those rich carved Pieces, whereof your eyes partake in an instant and without trouble, are the Invention and labour of the ablest heads and the most skilfull hands of Greece.
Leocarez who was the Authour and Father of the most ex∣quisite Gods, and of the most eminent Artists of these dayes, imployed all his skill in that Statue which he made of one sin∣gle Agate. It hath no other colours then what the Stone brought with it from the Quarry. And neverthelesse by a con∣currence, which exceeded the expectation of the VVorkman, Nature so well mingled them, and with so much equality and proportion, that a Picture, were it drawn by the hand of Apelles himself, could not better resemble Mausolus. Three Lamps framed of three large Rubies make a precious Fire, fed with Balm under this Figure. There is a fourth, which is compo∣sed of a more noble matter, which sends forth a cleerer and more resplendent flame, though it be invisible. It is the heart it self of Artemisia, which burns alwayes equally and with the same fire, and consumes before her Husbands Ghost still pre∣sent to her eyes.
I observe that you have a long time fixed your sight parti∣cularly upon the face of this Colossus, and upon the strange Characters it bears. The Characters are Egyptian and Sacred. The Subject is the Elogy of Mausolus, expressed in figured and mysticall termes. The mourning of his Widow, and sor∣rows of his People are not there forgotten: But all this, as you may see, is there onely in Epitome, and in a cold and livelesse stile. The most Magnificent, even the most eloquent and faithfull Epitaph of Mausolus is in the heart of Artemisia. Love and Death have grav'd it with their Pencils. There is not a word in it which hath not both life and heat, which doth not love and sigh, which doth not resent and is not resented. Is it not that which the Architect meant to expresse by this Love and Death, which he hath couched at the Foot of the Obelisk? Would you not say that these Characters were but newly in∣graven, and that they made all Passengers who shall read them Page 93 to accompany with their sighs and Tears, the Sighs of the Arts, and the Tears of the Muses; the sadnesse of the Metals, and the mourning of the Marbles?
As for those two other Loves which close up the Ballisters, they are numbred among those which have contributed their Cares and Labours to this vast Work. They hold also the Square and Compass in their Hands: And seem thereby wil∣ling to give Testimonie against the Errours of the ignorant, who perswade themselves that Love can act nothing which is not tumultuous and irregular; And that there is nothing but confusion and disorder in all its productions. Love neverthe∣less (whatsoever these ignorant persons may say of it) is the superintent of Harmonies and Accords; and the first inventer of Squares and Measures: And I do not doubt, but if some one of those people came hither, he would presently avow that Love is more regular and better proportioned in this vast building, then Philosophie ever was in the Tub of the Cynick. Surely also it is wonderful to behold, such regular Enormities, and such adjusted proportions amidst so great excesse. But nothing yet there appears save the first draughts of this pro∣portion and evennesse: And one must expect the last form of the whole Bodie to judge of the correspondencie between these enormous and monstruous parts, which are the Temerities of Art, the Exaggerations of Marble and Jasper; And if I may say so, the Hyperboles and Amplifications of Architecture.
We are not the only persons in whom so sumptuous and magnificent a mourning begets astonishment. Those that you see at the Foot of the steps, though they belong to the Court of Artemisia, and are accustomed to the Majestie of her De∣signe, and have their Mindes and Eyes as full of it as ours. Some expresse their astonishment by their Gesture, and seem to say that this Monument will one day draw all Europe to Asia, and be an Heroick Temple, where Magnificence and mourn∣ing, Love and Death, Artemisia and Mausolus will be ho∣noured together, and receive from Posterity an equal worship, and like Oblations. The rest further advanced observe her action, and accompany it with their respect and silence.
Page 94 The affliction of her Minde seems to have passed even into her Garment, which is black and without ornament. Her sad∣nesse nevertheless is Majestical and becoming: And upon her face, still pale by the Death of her Husband, there appears a kinde of pleasing languishment, which demands compassi∣on and would beget Love, if it were in a subject either lesse elevated, or lesse austere. Two Turtle Doves which she her self newly sacrificed to the Spirit of Mausolus burn before her, with her Hair upon an Altar of Porphirie: And mean while the fire which seized on her Heart by degrees consumes the tyes of her Soul, and prepares it to go joyn it self with the other Heart which expects it. The ashes of Mausolus, which she hitherto so charily preserved, are moistned with her Tears in the Cup you see in her hand. She takes it up to drink them: And her moist and sparkling Eyes which partake something of the Sun and Rain seem to say to those that understand them, that she nevertook any thing more sweet and pleasing to her tast: That the richest works of Art and Nature could not worthily enough conserve so pretious a Pledge: That these dear Ashes are due unto the fire of her Heart, and that nothing but Arte∣misia alone could make a fit sepulchre for Mausolus.
SONNET.
ARTEMISIA speaks.
ELOGIE OF ARTEMISIA.
IT is nothing strange that Artemisia speaks in this Picture: She hath lived above three thousand yeers in the Memo∣rie of Man. Her Fortune and Dignity nevertheless hath not preserved it for her. Whatsoever hath been said of Gold, it doth not exempt those from corruption who wear it in their Crowns: and the Names of Kings and Queens ought not to be more priviledged then their Persons, which die upon Thrones. Vertue hath made Artemisia live to this day, and would have her remain to her Sex, an everlasting Example of a peaceable Magnanimity; and of a Widowhood Couragious without Despair, and afflicted without Dejection. The one Moity of her dyed with Mausolus, and she burned with him that part of her Heart in which Joy resided: But she reserved the other in which was Fortitude and Courage. And if since the fatal Moment which had thus divided her, she was never seen to delight in any thing, yet no man ever observed the the least weaknesse in her. Her modest and strict mourning, and her well becoming and Majestical reservednesse suted with a perfect Wi∣dow: But her bold and Couragious activity in War her dexterous and free Conduct in managing affairs; and her constancie in re∣jecting all sorts of second affections, was like a Woman, who acted still with the Heart and Spirit of her Husband, and who had even espoused his shadow. But not being content to have preserved his Courage in her action, and his image in her Memory, she must needs have also his Ashes upon her Heart; And erected his Name and Tomb into a Mira∣cle, by a structure in which all the Arts wearied themselves, and Na∣ture her self was almost exhausted.
MORAL REFLECTION.
ARTEMISIA though a Heathen and a Barbarian is to young Widows a Governesse full of Authority and of great Example. She teacheth them that the most invincible and strongest Widow∣hood is not that which sends forth the loudest cryes, and which seeks to express it self by Poisons and Precipices: That it is Modesty and Fidelity which make chast Matrons, and not Hairs pulld up by the root, and torn Cheeks, That a sober and lasting Mourning is more decent and exemplar, then an unequal affliction which tears it self to day and paints it self to morrow, which is furious on the day of a Husbands Buriall; and will endure no Discourse but of Poison and Ropes, and two Dayes after will have their Haire curled, their faces painted and spotted. And that a Heathen woman having in one Monument placed all the wealth of a whole Kingdom, to raise unto the Name of her Husband an imaginary and fantasticall Eternity. It is a very great shame that Christian women should not distribute even for the salvation of their Husbands, and the Comfort of their own Souls the Remainder of what they spend upon Play, Vanity, and Excess. And because this Truth is important and of great use, I conceived, that it would be very beneficial to give it a more solid foun∣dation, and to make a Discourse of it apart, where it shall have all the proofs and all the light whereof it is capable.
MORAL QUESTION.
In what manner a Gallant Woman should mourn, and what ought to be the duties of her Widowhood.
THose Women are very ill instructed in the Morality of their Sex, who reduce into Shagrin and sadnesse all the Duties and Vertues of a prudent Widow. A serious and constant Love doth not wholly pour it self forth into tears; And all the decency of exemplar Fidelity consists not in a black cypress Veil or Gown: It is not expres∣sed by shadowed lights, and weeping Tapers; And it is not discovered by studied looks, and by fourty hours of artificiall darkness. Philoso∣phy, I say even Christian philosophy, forbids not tears in like occasi∣ons, It is impossible that blood should not flow from hearts which are divided, and from souls which are severed by force. And since man, as the Scripture tells us, is the head of the woman, the wonder would be no lesse, if a Wise should lose her Husband without weeping, then if a body should not bleed when the head is cut off: But she ought not also to perswade her self that her wound must run everlastingly; And Page 97 that it concerns her honour to have alwayes tears in her eyes, and com∣plaints in her mouth. Sadness, Mourning, Solitude, relate indeed to her duty, but make not the most important, and indispensable part thereof: And yet by a publique Errour, which time and custome have authorized, this lesse important part is superstitiously observed. Wo∣men are not content with a regular and discreet sadness, they put on an extravagant and fantasticall kind of sorrow; And Opinion begin∣ning where Nature ends, they sigh for fashions sake, and weep artifi∣cially, after the true mourning hath consumed the reall sighes, and when tears in good earnest are exhausted.
A Prudent and Couragious Widow will give no way to fancy, or opinion, and will submit all that she can reasonably and with decency, to lawfull Customes, and to instructed and cultivated Nature. But ha∣ving once satisfied these duties of tendernesse which proceed more from the superficies then the bottome of the heart, she will reserve her self for more solid and serious duties of greater force and use, wherein her affection and fidelity may act more profitably, and be produced with more honour and reputation. The weak widows who raise up a hea∣vie and slothfull sadness to a degree of Vertue; and the wilfull who glo∣ry in an incurable grief, will oppose to these duties the example of the widow Palme, I mean of that Palme from which the Male is taken away: She is never cured, as they say, of her driness, which is her affli∣ction; and what care soever is taken to reestablish her, she dies at length languishing, and of I know not what secret disease, which resembles our Melancholy.
However it fares with the widowhood of the Palme, which is but a Metaphoricall and figurative widowhood, as her love is but symboli∣call and allegoricall: If it be lawfull to make comparisons, and ren∣der figure for figure, I will say that a prudent widow ought to leave unto weak souls examples of weakness, which resides in the lowest story of souls; and to seek out in the Region of light and pure spirits, patterns of a generous mourning, and of an active and well governed affliction: She will performe during a widowhood of many yeers, what the Moon doth during a widowhood of few hours: An obscurity is seen upon the face of the Eclipsed Moon; And this obscurity is, to speak proper∣ly, but the sadness and mourning of her widowhood, occasioned by the interposition of the Earth between her and the Sunne. But this sad∣ness which deprives her of colour, takes not away her force. It makes her not descend from her Elevation, nor diverts her course: Though she appears black to us, yet she forbears not to keep her Station, and to move regularly and in order: And her mourning doth not hinder her from following the conduct of her Intelligence. The affliction of the sage Widow ought to be just and regular, like that of the Moon. Her mourning ought not to deject her heart, nor discompose her carriage. It ought not to obscure the light of her soul, nor retard the activity she owes either her House, or the Republique, to which she is after the death of her Husband, what the Moon is to the World in the absence of the Page 98 Sunne. Her affliction is not exempted from these duties, and her Sex gives her no dispensation for them. The Widow and afflicted Turtle doth not abandon the care of her neast, and the feeding of her little ones. And the Mother Eagle when the Male is taken from her doth not forbear to prey and make warre upon Serpents. There are exam∣ples enough of this Active and Couragious Widowhood, of this reaso∣nable and well ordered sorrow, of this discreet and magnanimous mour∣ning. This which I am going about to propose, is Illustrious and full of Reputation: and the sight of it ought to be so much the more de∣lightfull, in respect a Copy of it is now drawn, which posterity will esteem no lesse then its Originall.
EXAMPLE.
Blanch of Castile, Queen Regent of France.
SPain boasts to have produced Artemisias as well as antient Lidea; And she boasts not of them without reason. The chiefest point is, that she hath produced them as Quarries of stone produce fair Statues. Their matter was indeed of Spain, but the lineaments and beau∣ty of their Figure they owe to France. Blanch the Mother of St Lewis was one of these Artemisia's born in Spain, and formed in France. Her Race was one of the most Illustrious and Remarkable in that Countrey. The Mines of Gold, and the Veins which bear the most Precious stones, were not so rich nor famous. And we may say that her Heroick life, and great actions were to the greatness of her birth, what a rare Figure is to rare Matter.
She was the most respected and renowned of four Crowned Widows, who in their time were the honour of their Condition, Sex, and Age. The first was Margarite of France, sister to Philip the August, who had the Courage to undertake a Warre against Infidels, and to go seek out in the Holy-Land, honourable and renowned Dangers and Crowns, Blessed by God and Men. No lesse Courage was requisite for Queen Blanch, to consent to the Expedition of her Son Lewis against the Turk, and his enterprizes beyond the Seas, then was necessary for Margarite to begin a holy Warre, and to ingage her self by an expresse Vow, in dan∣gers of the Sea and Warre. And whatsoever the most Malignant inter∣preters of the best actions may say of it, who avouch in despite of Hi∣story, that Blanch perswaded St. Lewis to take a Journey into Syria, that she might Reigne a second time, by a second Regency. It is certain that this Crosiad, or holy Warre, was the heaviest cross of her life, the pu∣nishment of her heart, and the torment of her soul; the death of her pleasures and joys: And the Couragious Queen since the very moment her Son left her, did nothing but suffer in minde, and fight in imaginati∣on. Nothing but dangers, and objects of fear were presented before Page 99 her Eyes; And in the Lo••er it self she was continually tossed by Tempests, and thought her self in danger of suffering shipwrack with her Son; every day she was a Prisoner, and sick with him, and every night she died by the Hand of some Arsacide or Saraz•n whom her ap∣prehensions and dreams represented to her: The second illustrious Widow of her time, was Hed••ga Dutchess of Silecia. The Church, to which appertains the Crowning of Vertues, rendred Honour to her long and difficult Repose, to her painful and laborious Solitude: And judged her worthy to be Canonized, after a Widowhood of thirty years spent in a Monastery. The Vertue of Blanch had need of no lesse Cons•ancie at Court. Her Widowhood was no lesse laborious, her Devotion no lesse servent, nor less exercised or profitable in that place, and she required no lesse Courage against the pleasures of the Palace and the Pride of Authority, then was necessary for 〈◊〉 amidst the Aus•ctities and Humiliations of a Religious Life. Elizabeth of Hun∣gary was the third Widow, who honoured this Age, so fruitful in So∣veraign Examples, and Crowned Vertues. Her Charity and Works of Mercie retain still a good odour in the Church, and edifie the faith∣ful. It is reported that the Emperor Frederick the second, who was present at the opening of her Tomb, made an offering to her of three Crowns of Gold: And by this Ceremonie crowned in one single Per∣son, a holy Virgin, a holy Wife, and a holy Widow. The Charity of Queen Blanch was practised in a higher degree then that of Elizabeth. Her works of Mercie were more universal, more necessary, of greater use and better Example. The poor were not only entertained and the sick comforted by her good deeds; but Nations were conserved there∣by, and Provinces setled in Peace, Wars extinguished, Troubles paci∣fied, good Lawes established, publick abuses reformed, Heresies either humbled or abolished, and a whole kingdom preserved in peace, and quietly governed, and with Justice. These Royal Charities and Mer∣cies of State, are of a quite other Rank then the particular ones which are practised in Hospitals. And the Crown of a Holy Queen which Blanch hath merited thereby, may equal those of a holy Wife, of a holy Widow, and of a holy Nun, which the purchased by her other Vertues.
But I look upon her here as a Widow: and without doing injury to the memory of three others, who were not set forth with so much ad∣vantage, and who left lesse light behinde them; We may well place her upon the Stage, and propose her for the pattern of a modest and constant, active and victorious Widow. Her heart by the Death of the King her Husband suffered all that a Heart violently t•rn from another, and divided between Grief and Love, could endure. But Reason and Piety prevailed over Grief and Love; and so well ioyned the pieces of this Heart, that a scarre onely remained without weaknesse or under∣cencie.
After this secret and domestick Combat sought against two predo∣minant Page 100 passions, and authorized by Nature; she began by the Cares and Duties of a Mother, which was to her more intimate, and of a longer standing then a Regent: and applyed her first thoughts to the education of her Son. Having a designe to make him a Holy, Wise, and Victorious King, she placed about him able Religious men, and of good 〈◊〉, who seasoned in him the first principles of Piety; Men of busi∣nesse and experience who read him lessons of State-affairs, and taught him Policie sutable to the time and practise; Captains and Knights of Reputation, who instructed him in the Science of War, and rendred him one of the most Gallant men at Arms in the whole Kingdom. Passing from thence to the Functions of her Regencie, she began with setling Religion, which ought to be the principle Pillar of a State. And because she was not ignorant that the least Divisions in this Pillar might procure the general destruction of the whole building; and that Conspiracies and Revolts are the ordinary Attendants of Schisms and Heresies, she vigorously endeavoured the reduction of the Albi∣genses. Her pains therein found so happy success, as she dissipated the Remnants of this unhappy Sect: And Raymond Earl of Tholouse forced by her Arms, submitted to the Authority of the Church; expiated the Apostacie of his House, and the Rebellion of his Progenitors, made publick satisfaction, and in his shirt, to that Religion which he had so often violated.
These happy successes of a most happy Regency did not hinder the Commotions of some disgusted Princes from shaking the vessel, and indangering it in the midst of a Calm. They did not hate the Princess who governed, she was too amiable, and ruled with too much Pru∣dence and Grace: But it vexed them to see the Stern in her hands; and they were willing to take it from her, with a purpose to break it, and to divide it amongst themselves. Noise and Tumult did not astonish the Regent not put her in disorder: she dexterously managed the most tractable, and brought them back by little and little to their duty, she shewed her Sword lifted up to the most perverse and untractable per∣sons. And by her Prudence, no lesse then by her Courage, their raised Troops, and plotted Enterprises were reduced to Deputies, and a Con∣ference. Force having proved so unsuccessful to them, they resolved to practise Treason, and undertook to carry away the King as he was going to the appointed Assembly at Vandome. But it is a dangerous thing to undertake to steal away a young Eagle from under the Wings of his Mother, and to carry away by force a young Whelp from a Lionesse. Blanch being advertised of their Conspiracie saved the King in the Castle of Mount-le-Hery: and from thence brought him back to Paris with a strong Convoy, and even the sight of the Conspirators, to whom there remained only shame and despite, which are the first punishments of discovered Treasons.
After these appeased Troubles the Duke of Brittany on the one side, and the Earl of Champain on the other, raised with new Charges a new Page 101 party. Blanch went out the first in the most rigid season of the Year. The heat of her Courage was so great in this War, and her March so speedy and vigorous, that not being to be stayed either by 〈◊〉 which stopped the most rapid Rivers, nor by the Heavens which poured down Snow, she returned in few Moneths victorious over Winter, Na∣ture, and Rebellion. The Earl of Champain was defeated with less Noise, and with gentler Arms. The King being already set forth to chastise him, the Regent got before him, and went to try whether perswasi∣ons might prevail without Force. But he yielded neither to perswasi∣ons nor Force. They were the Graces which vanquished him; The face of Blanch left nothing to be acted by Reason or Arms, It gained the Victory without Combat; It concluded the Treaty without con∣testation or Articles. And the Earl who was come forth a Rebel to the Son, returned back a Slave to the Mother, and a sworn Servant to them both.
All the whole Regency of Blanch was thus powerful. And in the Field as well as in the Closet, in Military no lesse then Civil Enter∣prizes, she shewed that her Heart and Head were equally capable of the two parts of Regality: That her Hands were as fit for the Scepter as for the Sword; and that she knew how to govern as efficaciously, as handsomly to overcome. This so lively and beneficial light did not escape the being assaulted with very soul slanders, which fell upon that which ought to be most respected and inviolable in a Woman. But the vapours which arise from the Earth do not darken the Sun, nor hinder it from doing good to the World; and these Obloquies took not away one single Ray from the Vertue of Blanch, nor hindred her from shining and finishing her Course peaceably and with Honour. In fine, to equal also in austerity and submission, such as she had excelled by action and in the Government of affairs, she imbraced like them the profession of a regular life. Thereby the acquired out of the World the Regality of the poor and humble, the Soveraignty of Spirit and interiour Unction. She finished what was wanting to a Queen by adding to that Dignity the Title of Religious. And the Veil which she took was to her a second Crown, which gave a second Lustre and set a new value upon the first.
