Poems, viz. 1. A panegyrick to the king. 2. Songs and sonnets. 3. The blind lady, a comedy. 4. The fourth book of Virgil, 5. Statius his Achilleis, with annotations. 6. A panegyrick to Generall Monck. / By the Honorable Sr Robert Howard.

The Argument.

Thetis at last, though long delay'd by fears, Through the calm waves her dear Achilles bears. Love shews an object to enflame his eyes: The King receives him hid in a disguise.

BUt Thetis, in the night leaving the caves, Stood where the Rocks sent Ecchoes from the waves. And in her unresolved phancy weigh'd, To what safe place her Son might be convey'd. She fears, where Mars was born, th' adjacent Thrace;Line 5 And dreads the warlike Macedonian race. Fam'd-Athens too her doubting phancies fear, With Sestos and Abydos, which appear Too aptly plac'd for ships. For those lov'd Seas She now resolves crown'd by the Cyclades. Nor Myconos, nor Seriphos pleas'd her mind,Line 10 Delos, nor Lemnos unto men unkind.

By Lycomedes Court, she lately stay'd, And heard the shores sound while the Virgins play'd. As she was sent to view Aegaeon's bands,Line 15 Who strove to loose his hundred-fettered-hands. This Land, where quarrels no disturbance wrought, The much distracted Thetis safest thought: Like a poor Bird, with wavering phansies prest, That dares not choose a branch to build her nest.Line 20 Lest it her brood, should unto storms, or snakes, Or men expose; at length she likes and takes. So Thetis on the place resolv'd, prepares To go, but is assaulted with new cares; Whether her son should in her breast be laid,Line 25 Or through the waves born by a Triton's aid. Or to the winged winds, his waftage owe, Or unto Iris Ocean-nourish'd bow; At last two Dolphines she was pleas'd to rain, Which by great Tethys, in th' Atlantick main,Line 30 For her were bred. The vast unfathom'd flood, Bore nothing else in all its scaly brood, So swift, so kind to men; At her command These staid in waves, least injur'd by the Land. The sleepy Youth, (for youth may soundly sleep)Line 35 She from th' Aemonian cave, bears to the Deep. The waves and winds becalmed her designes Assist, and Cynthia in full lustre shines. For his return the Centaur following pray'd; Of wav••s he knew, he need not be afraid.Line 40

O're-flowing tears, fall from his gazing eyes, Whilst they upon the rouling billows rise Now almost out of sight; yet still he gaz'd: And when with waves they sunk, himselfe he rais'd Upon his hinder parts, till the waves quiteLine 45 Had swallow'd all impressions of their flight. Him that to Thessaly must ne'er return, Sad Pholoe, and the clouded Othrys mourn: Sperchios streams, no more with joy swell high; And Chirons den now wanteth harmony.Line 50 The Fauns ament his losse; the Nymphs begin To mourn their passion's hope, ravish'd with him.

And now the Stars begin to take their flight, At the approach of Titan's radiant light. Which from the Ocean rose; whose drops like dew,Line 55 Back to its waves the rising Chariot threw. But Thetis long before, to Scyros came, And gave her Dolphines liberty again; When sleep forsook refresh'd Aeacides: His eyes saluted by the light, and Seas.Line 60 To him unknown, for Pelion all amaz'd He look'd, and on his doubted Mother gaz'd. Who takes him by the hand, with words thus kind,

Dear child, if he that sure was once design'd, Had shar'd my marriage-bed, thou hadst been plac'dLine 65 With Stars, for ever there by me embrac'd:

Heav'n had been then thy due inheritance, Nor had I fear'd the lesser Yates or Chance. But now thy Father's mortall, there can be No way for thee to scape death but by me;Line 70 And now the sad and fat all time draws near, Whose dangers are the cause of all myfear. Forget a while thy Sexe's honour then, Nor this safe habit which I wear contemn. If Hercules thus learnt to spin, and roundLine 75 A javeline bore with winding Ivy crown'd; If Bacchus in these Ornaments was dress'd, And Jove himself, nor Ceneus mind depress'd Thereby; then suffer thus at my desire, Th' appointed time Fate threatneth to exspire.Line 80 Then I'le restore thee to the Centaur's cave. By all the joyes and glory youth can have, I do conjure thee now. If I for thee Shar'd with a Mortall my Divinity? If by the Stygian arming waves I stood,Line 85 And dip'd (I wish, all o're) thee in the flood: Suffer thyselfe thus now to be conceal'd, The mind's not hurt with what the body's heal'd. Why dost thou frown, and turn away thy face? Needst thou to blush? Is gentlenesse disgrace?Line 90 By our known streams, I do assure thee too, Chiron, nor doth, nor shall know what we doo.

His breast in vain she tries, where rougher seeds Were sown, and stories of his Father's deeds: Thus a proud horse, with vigorous blood inflam'd,Line 95 And heat of youth, contemneth to be tam'd.

But doth through fields, and unto rivers flie, O'rejoy'd with his affected liberty: He scorns to yield to the restraining Bitt, And wondreth at his fellows that submit.Line 100 What God with craft inspir'd the Mother's mind, And unto softnesse her rough Son inclin'd?

By chance to Pallas, on the shore that day, The Syrians did their sacred offerings pay. Hither the King, with his fair daughters came,Line 105 (Though seldome seen) unto the holy flame. The image of the rigid Pow'r they crown'd With fragrant wreaths, her spear with garlands bound; All wrondrous fair. Their youthfull blossoms grew, Now like ripe fruit, as fit for gathering too.Line 110 But as the Sea-nymphs are by Venus looks Excell'd, by Cynthia's those of lesser brooks; So from her Sisters, such lov'd victories Were challenged by bright Deidamia's eyes. Her rosy looks did vanquish'd Jewels shame,Line 115 And on her purple garments threw a flame; She might compare with Pallas, when she takes Her gentlest looks, and layes aside her snakes. At this fair Object, the fierce Youth remains Fix't like a Statue, and receiv'd Love's flames.Line 120 Nor would th' insulting passion be conceal'd: His sparkling eyes the inward fire reveal'd. Like the Massagetans red liquor mixt With milk, or purple stains on ivory fixt; Line 125

Such mixture his new kindled passions bred:Line 125 His cheeks now pale, but straight with blushing red. At length, not brooking to be so delay'd, Th' advancing Youth was by his Mother stay'd: Like a young Bull, to rule the herd design'd, His horns not yet with full perfection twin'd;Line 130 When Love first kindleth in his savage breast, Those ruder passions for some snowy beast; He somes at mouth, whilest th' exspecting swains, Joy at the certain witnesse of his flames.

His knowing Mother, finding the fit time,Line 135 Was now, thus said; Canst thou, dear Son, re∣pine With this fair crue, to share unknown delights? Can Pelion, or cold Ossa, shew such sights? Oh that my cares were thine! that thou would'st give A young Achilles in mine arms to live!Line 140

At this, with blushes gentler he remain'd: And though he yielded, yet she still constrain'd. A womans dresse, doth now the youth enclose, And his strong arms, he learns how to compose. His hair's not now neglected as before:Line 145 And on his neck, she hangs the chain she wore. Within rich robes, his steps confined now Move in a gentler pace; and he's taught how To speak with a reserved modesty, Thus changing Wax, which nimble fingers plie,Line 150 First rendered soft by active heat, inclines Unto that form the workman's hand designes.

So Thetis to another shape convey'd Her Son. Nor needed she to what she said, Have added more: For in his beauty too,Line 155 All things appear'd, which to the sex were due. Yet as they went along, she still renews Her words, and her instructions thus pursues; Dear Child, in gentle looks compose thy face, And imitate each motion, and each grace.Line 160 Thou seest these beauties wear, or else I fear, Unto the King our cous'nage, may appear. This said, still as they go some Ornament Her busie fingers mend. Thus Cynthia went From hunting with her Mother; toil'd with sport,Line 165 And with her quiver, to her Father's Court; Her arms now hid, her garments losely flow'd, And in a better form her hair bestow'd. Then to the King, her Son the goddesse brings, And thus, the Altars witnessing, begins.Line 170

Receive Achilles Sister, as thy guest, Are not her Brothers looks in hers express'd? She in her quiver, and her bow delights, And, like the Amazons, scorns marriage-rites. Achilles is enough to be enjoy'dLine 175 By me: Let this in these rites be employ'd. Let thy best care of her allay my fears, Errors are incident to tender years. Let her not rove the woods, nor Gymnick game Frequent, lest with her cloathes she put off shame.Line 180 Let her still live with this fair company, Nor ever let thy shores unguarded lie.

Thou saw'st the Trojans lately, without cause, Did violate the world's observed Laws. This said, the unknown Youth the King re∣ceives,Line 185 (Who finds out fraud when 'tis a God de∣ceives?) And further, rendreth all his thanks as just To her, who thought him worthy such a trust. The pious troup, with fixed eyes amaz'd Upon his beauty, and proportion gaz'dLine 190 So much excelling others, then invites Their company unto their sacred rites. So the Idalian birds, that nimbly flye Through yielding air, in a known company. If to the flock, a stranger joyn his wings,Line 195 He with himself an admiration brings: At last acquainted all with joy, receave The stranger, and the aire together cleave.

The lingring Mother, still yet loth to part, Now takes her leave, repeating all the artLine 200 She taught before, and what she more could tell, And with her whispered wishes bids Farewell; Then takes the waves: her looks still backward bends, And to the shore, these gentle wishes sends.

Dear earth, which hold'st my dearest joy, to theeLine 205 Committed with a fearfull subtilty; Be ever happy and in silence just To me, as Creet to Rhea in her trust:

Long may thy glories last, and may thy name Grow greater then the wandring Delos fame:Line 210 Lesse hurt by storms, then all the Cyclades, That break the billows of th' Aegean seas. Let thy name be the Sailer's sacred vow: Yet to thy shores no Grecian ships allow. Tell Fame, with thee no warlike spears are found,Line 215 But headlesse ones with Ivy-garlands Crown'd. Whilst Mars, the parted Worlds, such rage doth give, Here let Achilles like a Virgin live.

Notes

• Pallas.