lucasta-第10章
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hite。 So powerfully you draw when you perswade； Passions in you in us are vertues made； Such is the magick of that lawfull shell That where it doth but talke； it doth compell： For no Apelles 'till this time e're drew A Venus to the waste so well as you。 W。 Rudyerd。
Only son of Sir Benjamin Rudyerd； Kt。； known as a poet and a friend of poets； and as a warm advocate of Episcopacy。 See MEMOIRS OF SIR B。 R。； edited by Manning； 1841； 8vo； p。 257。
The world shall now no longer mourne nor vex For th' obliquity of a cross…grain'd sex； Nor beauty swell above her bankes； （and made For ornament） the universe invade So fiercely； that 'tis question'd in our bookes； Whether kils most the Amazon's sword or lookes。 Lucasta in loves game discreetly makes Women and men joyntly to share the stakes； And lets us know； when women scorne； it is Mens hot love makes the antiparisthesis； And a lay lover here such comfort finds As Holy Writ gives to affected minds。 The wilder nymphs； lov's power could not comand； Are by thy almighty numbers brought to hand； And flying Daphnes； caught； amazed vow They never heard Apollo court till now。 'Tis not by force of armes this feat is done； For that would puzzle even the Knight o' th' Sun； But 'tis by pow'r of art； and such a way As Orpheus us'd； when he made fiends obay。 J。 Needler； Hosp。 Grayensis。
A celebrated romance； very frequently referred to by our old writers。 Sir Thomas Overbury； in his CHARACTERS； represents a chambermaid as carried away by the perusal of it into the realms of romance； insomuch that she can barely refrain from forsaking her occupation； and turning lady…errant。 The book is better known under the title of THE MIRROR OF PRINCELY DEEDES AND KNIGHTHOOD； wherein is shewed the worthinesse of the Knight of the Sunne； &c。 It consists of nine parts； which appear to have been published at intervals between 1585 and 1601。
TO HIS NOBLE FRIEND； MR。 RICHARD LOVELACE； UPON HIS POEMS。
SIR； Ovr times are much degenerate from those； Which your sweet Muse； which your fair fortune chose； And as complexions alter with the climes； Our wits have drawne th' infection of our times。 That candid age no other way could tell To be ingenious； but by speaking well。 Who best could prayse； had then the greatest prayse； 'Twas more esteemd to give then wear the bayes。 Modest ambition studi'd only then To honour not her selfe； but worthy men。 These vertues now are banisht out of towne； Our Civill Wars have lost the civicke crowne。 He highest builds； who with most art destroys； And against others fame his owne employs。 I see the envious caterpillar sit On the faire blossome of each growing wit。 The ayre's already tainted with the swarms Of insects； which against you rise in arms。 Word…peckers； paper…rats； book…scorpions； Of wit corrupted the unfashion'd sons。 The barbed censurers begin to looke Like the grim Consistory on thy booke； And on each line cast a reforming eye Severer then the yong presbytery。 Till； when in vaine they have thee all perus'd； You shall for being faultlesse be accus'd。 Some reading your LUCASTA will alledge You wrong'd in her the Houses priviledge； Some that you under sequestration are； Because you write when going to the Warre； And one the book prohibits； because Kent Their first Petition by the Authour sent。 But when the beauteous ladies came to know； That their deare Lovelace was endanger'd so： Lovelace； that thaw'd the most congealed brest； He who lov'd best； and them defended best； Whose hand so rudely grasps the steely brand； Whose hand so gently melts the ladies hand； They all in mutiny； though yet undrest； Sally'd； and would in his defence contest。 And one； the loveliest that was yet e're seen； Thinking that I too of the rout had been； Mine eyes invaded with a female spight （She knew what pain 't would be to lose that sight）。 O no； mistake not； I reply'd： for I In your defence； or in his cause； would dy。 But he； secure of glory and of time； Above their envy or mine aid doth clime。 Him valianst men and fairest nymphs approve； His booke in them finds judgement； with you； love。 Andr。 Marvell
TO COLONEL RICHARD LOVELACE； ON THE PUBLISHING OF HIS INGENIOUS POEMS。
If the desire of glory speak a mind More nobly operative and more refin'd； What vast soule moves thee； or what hero's spirit （Kept in'ts traduction pure） dost thou inherit； That； not contented with one single fame； Dost to a double glory spread thy name； And on thy happy temples safely set Both th' Delphick wreath and civic coronet？ Was't not enough for us to know how far Thou couldst in season suffer； act and dare But we must also witnesse； with what height And what Ionick sweetnesse thou canst write； And melt those eager passions； that are Stubborn enough t' enrage the god of war Into a noble love； which may expire In an illustrious pyramid of fire； Which； having gained his due station； may Fix there； and everlasting flames display。 This is the braver path： time soone can smother The dear…bought spoils and tropheis of the other。 How many fiery heroes have there been； Whose triumphs were as soone forgot as seen？ Because they wanted some diviner one To rescue from night； and make known。 Such art thou to thy selfe。 While others dream Strong flatt'ries on a fain'd or borrow'd theam； Thou shalt remaine in thine owne lustre bright； And adde unto 't LUCASTA'S chaster light。 For none so fit to sing great things as he； That can act o're all lights of poetry。 Thus had Achilles his owne gests design'd； He had his genius Homer far outshin'd。 Jo。 Hall。
Original has ASPIRE。
The precocious author of HORAE VACIVAE； 1646； and of a volume of poems which was printed in the same year。 In the LUCASTA are some complimentary lines by Lovelace on Hall's translation of the commentary of Hierocles on the Golden Verses of Pythagoras； 1657。
TO THE HONORABLE； VALIANT； AND INGENIOUS COLONEL RICHARD LOVELACE； ON HIS EXQUISITE POEMS。
Poets and painters have some near relation； Compar'd with fancy and imagination； The one paints shadowed persons （in pure kind）； The other paints the pictures of the mind In purer verse。 And as rare Zeuxes fame Shin'd； till Apelles art eclips'd the same By a more exquisite and curious line In Zeuxeses （with pensill far more fine）； So have our modern poets late done well； Till thine appear'd （which scarce have paralel）。 They like to Zeuxes grapes beguile the sense； But thine do ravish the intelligence； Like the rare banquet of Apelles； drawn； And covered over with most curious lawn。 Thus if thy careles draughts are cal'd the best； What would thy lines have beene； had'st thou profest That faculty （infus'd） of poetry； Which adds such honour unto thy chivalry？ Doubtles thy verse had all as far transcended As Sydneyes Prose； who Poets once defended。 For when I read thy much renowned pen； My fancy there finds out another Ben In thy brave language； judgement； wit； and art； Of every piece of thine； in every part： Where thy seraphique Sydneyan fire is raised high In valour； vertue； love； and loyalty。 Virgil was styl'd the loftiest of all； Ovid the smoothest and most naturall； Martiall concise and witty； quaint and pure； Iuvenall grave and learned； though obscure。 But all these rare ones which I heere reherse； Do live againe in Thee； and in thy Verse： Although not in the language of their time； Yet in a speech as copious and sublime。 The rare Apelles in thy picture wee Perceive； and in thy soule Apollo see。 Wel may each Grace and Muse then crown thy praise With Mars his banner and Minerva's bayes。 Fra。 Lenton。
The author of the YOUNG GALLANT'S WHIRLIGIGG； 1629； and other poetical works。 Singer does not give these lines。 In the WHIRLIGIG there is a curious picture of a young gallant of the time of Charles I。； to which Lovelace might have sat； had he been old enough at the time。 But Lenton had no want of sitters for his portrait。
TO HIS HONOURED AND INGENIOUS FRIEND； COLONEL RICHARD LOVELACE； ON HIS 〃LUCASTA。〃
Chast as Creation meant us；
