"Ah, Goltho! who love's feaver can asswage?
For though familiar seem that old disease,
Yet, like religion's fit, when people rage,
Few cure those evils which the patient please.

"Nature's religion, love, is still perverse,

And no commerce with cold discretion hath; For if discretion speak when love is fierce, 'Tis way'd by love, as reason is by faith."

As Gondibert left Goltho when he heard
His saint profan'd, as if some plague were nie;
So Goltho now leaves Ulfinore, and fear'd
To share such veng'ance, if he did not flie.

How each at home o're-rates his miserie,
And thinks that all are musical abroad,
Unfetter'd as the windes, whilst onely he,
Of all the glad and licens'd world, is aw'd.

And as cag'd birds are by the fowler set

To call in more, whilst those that taken be, May think (though they are pris'ners in the net) Th' incag'd, because they sing, sometimes are free.

So Goltho (who by Ulfinore was brought

Here, where he first love's dangers did perceive In beauty's field) thinks, tho' himself was caught, Th' inviter safe, because not heard to grieve.

But Ulfinore (whom neighbourhood led here)
Impressions took before from Birtha's sight;

Ideas which in silence hidden were,

As Heav'ns designes before the birth of light.

This from his father Ulfin he did hide,

Who, strict to youth, would not permit the best Reward of worth, the bosome of a bride, Should be but after vertuous toyles possest.

For Ulfinore (in blooming honour yet)

Tho' he had learnt the count'nance of the foe, And tho' his courage could dull armys whet, The care o're crouds, nor conduct could not know:

Nor varie batails' shapes in the foes' view;
But now in forraigne fields meanes to improve
His early arts, to what his father knew,

That merit so might get him leave to love.

Till then, check'd passion shall not venture forth:
And now retires with a disorder'd heart;
Griev'd, least his rival should by early'r worth
Get love's reward, ere he can gain desert.

But stop we here, like those who day-light lack,
Or as misguided travailers that rove,
Oft finde their way by going somewhat back;
So let's return, thou ill conductor, Love!

Thy little wanton godhead, as my guide,
I have attended many a winter night,

To seek whom time for honour's sake would hide,
Since in mine age sought by a wasted light:

But ere my remnant of life's lamp be spent, Whilst I in lab'rinths stray amongst the dead; I mean to recollect the paths I went,

And judge from thence the steps I am to tread.

Thy walk (though as a common deitie

The croud does follow thee) misterious grows, For Rhodalind may now closs mourner die, Since Gondibert, too late, her sorrow knows.

Young Hurgonil above dear light prefers
Calm Orna, who his highest love outloves;
Yet envious clouds in Lombard registers
O'recast their morn, what e're their evening

proves.

For fatal Laura, trusty Tybalt pines;

For haughty Gartha, subtle Hermegild;

Whilst she her beauty, youth, and birth declines; And as to fate, does to ambition yield.

Great Gondibert, to bashful Birtha bends,
Whom she adores like vertue in a throne;
Whilst Ulfinore and Goltho (late vow'd friends
By him) are now his rivals, and their owne.

Through ways thus intricate to lovers' urnes

Thou leadst me, Love, to show thy trophies past; Where Time (less cruel than thy godhead) mournes In ruines which thy pride would have to last.

Where I on Lombard monuments have read

Old lovers' names, and their fam'd ashes spy'd;

But less can learn by knowing they are dead, And such their tombes; than how they liv'd, and dy❜d.

To Paphos flie! and leave me sullen here!
This lamp shall light me to records which give
To future youth so just a cause of feare,
That it will valour seem to dare to live!

GONDIBERT.

CANTO THE FOURTH.

THE ARGUMENT.

The king to Gondibert is grown so kinde,
That he prevents the bounteous Rhodalind
In giving of her love; and Gondibert
Laments his breast holds but a single heart;
Which Birtha grieves her beauty did subdue,
Since he undoes the world in being true."

FULL grows the presence now, as when all know Some stranger prince must be receiv'd with state; When courts shew those, who come to see the show ; And all gay subjects like domesticks waite.

Nor Ulfinore nor Goltho absent were ;

Whose hopes expect what list'ning Birtha (hid In the adjoyning closet) fears to heare;

And beggs kind Heav'n in pitty would forbid.

The king (who never time nor pow'r misspent
In subjects' bashfulness, whiling great deeds
Like coward councels, who too late consent)
Thus to his secret will aloud proceeds.

"If to thy fame," (brave youth) "I could add wings,

Or make her trumpet louder by my voice, I would (as an example drawn for kings) Proclaim the cause, why thou art now my choice. "But this were to suspect the world asleep, Or all our Lombards with their envy blinde, Or that the Hunns so much for bondage weep, As their drown'd eies cannot thy trophies finde. "When this is heard, none dare of what I give

Presume their equal merit might have shar'd; And to say more, might make thy foes believe,

Thy dang❜rous worth is grown above reward. "Reward even of a crown, and such a crown,

As by Heav'n's model ancient victors wore ; When they, as by their coyn, by laws were known; For laws but made more currant victors' pow'r.

"A crown soon taught, by whom pow'r first was given;

When victors (of dominion cautious made
By hearing of that old revolt in Heav'n)
Kept pow'r too high for subjects to invade.

"A crown, which ends by armies their debate, Who question height of pow'r; who by the law (Till plain obedience they make intricate)

Would not the people, but their rulers aw.