The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics)

by Cavendish, Margaret

  Noble friends, brave soldiers, and wise counsellors; who knows but this our meeting may produce good and great effects, as to bring peace to the country which is molested with wars, ruin to your enemies, that hath almost ruined you; comfort to your sad friends we have left behind; liberty to your imprisoned friends; we fight for fame to after memories, honour, and profit in our living times, but if we let our enemies become our masters; they will give us restless fears, unreasonable taxes, unconscionable oaths, whereby we shall lose the peace of our minds, the conversation of our friends, the traffic with our neighbours, the plenty of our land, the form of our customs, the order of our ceremonies, the liberty of a subject, the royalty of your government, and the company and rule of our gracious, virtuous and beautiful Queen: and shall they have courage to spoil, and we none to right our wrongs? Shall they live by our hard labour, and shall we live by their hard laws? All noble spirits hate bondage, and will rather the than endure slavery. Wherefore my friends be constant to your just resolutions, circumspect in your ways, patient in your labours, heroic in your actions; for what man can remember such injuries, and let their courages be cold? Wherefore for your own sakes, your country’s sake, your royal Queen’s sake, go on with valiant hearts, and active strengths, and may Apollo be your friend, shooting his darts, dazzling your enemy’s eyes; may Mars the god of war direct you, in your fight; may Fortune give you aid, and Pallas give you victory.

  After she had thus spake, the trumpets sounded to charge, where the young general sent some flying horse to give the onset, and then to run away, which the other army seeing thought it was out of fear, and followed them as in pursuit, which haste disordered and broke all their ranks, which the Queen’s army no sooner saw, but it marched in good order to meet them[.] The enemy viewing their unexpected posture, was so daunted as they neither had spirits to fight, nor power to run away, whereby there was a great number killed, and taken prisoners, which made them become absolute masters of the field.

  The Prince with much difficulty retreated back about a day’s march, with some few; but with the prime of his horse, where he heard of a fresh army coming to assist them; for the King fearing they were not strong enough, being forced suddenly away, caused new men to be raised to follow them. The news of this army rejoiced the Prince much, being at that time very melancholy for the great loss he received, and a disgrace, as he thought; by reason he despised the enemies to the King, and to be overcome, by those he scorned, did wrack his soul; but taking up fresh hopes with his new-come army returned back to the Queen’s army again, which when they heard of a new supply, [were] much amazed and dejected, by reason they were weary and tired with their fights, and disordered with gathering up and carrying away their spoils; but the young general perceiving them to hang down their heads, thus spake.

  Noble friends,

  I perceive such a sadness in your faces, as if fear had taken possession of your hearts, which if it hath, except courage beats it out, it will betray your lives unto your enemies, and to be taken by a timorous thought, before your strength hath grappled with your Joes, were base, and if right and truth be on your side, as sure it is, and reason rules your judgement, as I hope it doth, you have no cause to doubt: but if you fear the conduct of my youth, as wanting experience to judge or direct the best, then here are aged men who with Ulysses, and Nestor may compare; their counsel is your aid. Thus let no vain suspicion quench your hopes, but courage set your spirits on fire, and with their heat consume your enemies to ashes.

  With that they all aloud did say; go on, we will the or conquer.

  In the meanwhile, the Prince was encouraging his new-come army, who was struck with the news of the last battle, hearing nothing of it until they met the Prince; the sudden report like thunder shook their spirits, which to appease, the Prince thus spake.

  Noble friends,

  You that have humility to obey, love to unite, charity to redress, have hopes to obtain; for hope is the ground on which courage is built: let not the enemy of mistrust vanquish your faith, but perform your loyalty, through your industry, for obedient thoughts [are] not sufficient, without obedient actions[.] Wherefore take courage to fight; let not your enemies kill your spirits, weep not, nor condole at our losses, but let us regain our honours, either by victory or death[.] And they that are slothful, or cowardly in this army, may they neither enjoy the laurel, olive or Cyprus, but go to the grave unregarded, or forgotten, or live in shame despised; but those that are industrious and valiant, may they sit high in honour’s throne, as fame may blow their praises so loud, and far, no time can stop the sound.

  Then the two armies being set in battle array, the Prince to save the infusion of blood, finding his army not full of alacrity, sent the young general a challenge, which when it came, although he knew himself unfit for a single duel, accepted it, being afraid of the dishonour of denying it: but the two armies would not consent to look on, whilst they fought, for in the encounter, both the armies joined in cruel fight.

  But [Travellia] having no skill in the art and use of the sword, nor strength to assault, nor resist, was wounded, which wound bled so fast that he fainted and fell down to the ground; but the Prince, who was of a noble nature, perceiving by his shape, that he was but a stripling, ran to untie his headpiece, and viewing his face straight knew her, who grew so astonished thereat, as he had not power to stir for the present, but he stopping the wound as well as he could, brought life again, yet so faint she was, as she could not speak, neither had he power to go away, but sat by until some found him.

  In the meantime, the army being left to chance, having not their general to direct them; Fortune played a part of civility, and courtship, giving victory to the ladies, so the Queen’s army had the day, and some of the common soldiers, seeking for spoil, found them in this posture, he sitting by, holding her in his arms, from whence they took her, and put her in a litter, and he also in the same as a prisoner, carrying them to the body of the army; and as she went, having recovered her spirits again, thus complaining, [she] said.

  I have heard of Pleasure, never could it obtain,

  For what we Pleasure call, still lives in Pain:

  Then Life is Pain, and Pain is only Life

  Which is a Motion, Motion all is strife;

  As forward, backward, up or down, or so

  Sideways, or in a circle round, doth go.

  Then who would live, or would not wish to die,

  Since in the Grave there is no Misery?

  O let me die, strive not my Life to save,

  Death happy is, and Peace lies in the Grave.

  The Prince told her, she preached to herself a false doctrine; for, said he;

  Life is a Blessing which the Gods do give,

  And nothing shows them Gods but that they live;

  They the Original of Life, the Spring,

  Life the beginning is of everything;

  And Motion is from all Eternity,

  Eternal Motions make the Gods to be.

  To wish no Life, we wish no Gods, and then

  No resurrection to the Souls of Men;

  In Resurrection, we as Gods become

  To be, – none would refuse a Martyrdom;

  The very being pleaseth Nature well,

  Were she to live always in pains of Hell;

  Nature, nothing is more horrid to her

  Than Annihilation, that quite undoes her.

  Thus Gods and Nature you do wish to spoil,

  Because a little pain endures a while;

  Devils had rather Devils be, than nought at all,

  But you like Angels that did never fall.

  Thus they discoursed as they went; but he strove to conceal himself from her knowledge until such time as he thought he might make his peace with her, for fear she should run away again out of hate and dislike to him.

  But the army, when they missed their young general, grew so sad, that they took no pleasure in their victory, for they were all as one dumb man, no noise was heard,
all eyes were full of tears. But when they saw the litter, as supposing she was dead, they raised a cry that rent the air, and made the thicker clouds to move. Which when she heard, and saw them running to her, she shook her hand, to show them she did live.

  Then sent they shouts of joy to Heaven high,

  And every countenance sad looked merrily.

  But when they came so near to view her face, and saw her pale and weak, they grew into such a rage, that they would have killed the Prince, hearing he wounded her: but she entreated for his life, and begged him for her prisoner; no sooner asked, but granted, who gave the charge into her father’s keeping.

  Then being brought into her tent, the army watched by turns whilst she was under the chirurgeons’ hands for cure; nor would they take any of the spoils, but what she did divide unto them; nor any direction, but what she gave; nor would they stir until her health permitted her to travel; but being indifferently well, gave order to march on.

  But the King had raised another army in the time of her sickness, and sent it out to meet them.

  Where she, although weak, went about to order and encourage her soldiers, who loved her better than their life; which affections made them fight so well, that they overcame their enemies; and before the King could raise another army, they got unto the city.

  Where as soon as she came near, she gave order to her soldiers to entrench about it; then gave order that they should cast at every corner of the city a mount of earth, on which she placed her cannon to batter down the walls: then did she build forts about to place her men to shoot and cast granadoes in; and by their several assaults they battered the city, and killed many of their men by sundry and sudden assaults: at last, she resolved to storm it. But the King perceiving his weakness, and that he could not hold out long, sent to the young general, desiring a treaty, withal a cessation of arms.

  In the meantime, the Queen, being weary of her imprisonment, longing for the coming of her beloved, in a melancholy humour thus spake;

  O what a Hell it is to love, and not be loved again! Nay not only to love, but to love a slave, and he regards me not. Do I say, slave? No, he is none that hath no slavish passion: then he is free,

  And I am only bound to Slavery;

  First to my passions, then to his Tyranny:

  What shall I do, you Gods above?

  You punish me, and yet you make me love.

  Do you delight still in a tortured mind?

  Make you no sympathy in human kind?

  Must all your Works consist in contradiction?

  Or do we nothing enjoy but Fiction?

  The Mind is nothing but Apprehension,

  ’Tis not a Thing, unless it hath Dimension.

  But O you powerful Gods, by your Decree,

  Can of Nothing a Something make to be:

  Then make me Something, grant me my Delight,

  Give me my lover, or destroy me quite.

  Thus leaving her in a melancholy posture and humour, we return to the armies.

  The cessation being near expired, the young general called a council, and thus spake to them.

  Right noble and valiant heroics,

  The King hath sent to treat of peace, but in my opinion there can be no honourable agreement next to the setting the Queen at liberty, but the resigning of his crown, and so his kingdom to her.

  First, for raising hostility, disturbing the sweet peace, and happy condition of a kingdom that never molested them.

  Then, for the dishonour, in taking the Queen prisoner, the ruin and spoil of your country, the death of your friends, and the loss of your gallant men killed in this dissension, making many widows, and fatherless children.

  Besides, who can rely upon the faith of an unjust prince, who made war upon his neighbours without a just offence, but only through an ambitious attempt upon your Queen and kingdom. Have we not victory? and yet shall we return with loss? shall we despise the gifts of the gods, in making no use of what they give us? and shall the trumpet of loud fame report the Queen was taken prisoner, and resigned upon a low agreement? No; let fame divulge unto the world, her release came with the ruin of this kingdom.

  After the general had spoken, one of the council, who was like Nestor for years and experience,

  Our general, said he, hath spoke a speech so full of courage and honour, as shows him to be of so true an heroic spirit, that he hath left no room for policy to play a part. But states cannot subsist with valiant hands alone; unless they hold the politic head, which is the guide to great designs; it burns more cities than granadoes do, it undermines strong towns, pulls down great works, ruins forts, sets battles, takes prisoners, makes slaves, and conquers kings and kingdoms; and that we call policy in a public state, is called discretion in a private family; and it is not, as the vulgar think it, a cheat, or there deceit, but a wise prudence, to prevent the worst of ills, or to keep peace, or get tranquility. ’Tis true, valour is a daring spirit, but policy is the trusty friend, and covers all those faults it cannot mend with skill, it guides the bark in which man’s life swims, and keeps them from the shipwreck of the world, pulls down the ambitious sails, when blown too full with pride, lest it should overturn the ship of safety, so drowned in seas of miseries: but policy will rather choose the oars of patience, and take the tides of time, than venture where the doubts are more than hopes, or hazards more than gains: then let us try to make a prudent peace, not trusting to Fortune’s favour, unless she were more constant.

  For in the Wars such unknown Chance may fall,

  Instead of Victory, be ruined all.

  I speak not this to cross my general, for I shall be as ready to obey all his commands, be it never so dangerous, as I have freely delivered my opinion.

  After he had spoke, the general rose up, and said, these counsels are too solid to be contradicted by rash youth. Whereupon they all agreed to treat with the King, giving his ambassadors audience. The King’s ambassadors coming into their assembly, thus spake.

  You great victorious Amitenians,

  My master should not need to seek for peace before it sought for him, had not the god of love proved his enemy, persuading Mars to be his foe; for those that are crossed in love, have seldom victory; for Mars doth take the part of Cupid, Venus’s son. Thus our great King and master is by love undone: but since ’tis the gods that work his fate, he humbly doth submit; wherefore he sends these proffers unto you.

  First, he will build your broken forts again, and raise those walls his soldiers have pulled down.

  Secondly, he will repay your charges and expenses in this war, although his own is great, and his loss is more.

  Thirdly, he will restore his prisoners, if you will do the like to those you have taken; but for the Queen, she is no prisoner;

  For our Master is her Captive, and her Thrall,

  Both to command him, and his Kingdom all.

  After the Amitenians had consulted, they told the King’s ambassadors, that words were not acts, wherefore they could conclude of nothing until the Queen was in her army to make her atonement for herself; and if she were no prisoner, they desired to wait on her out of the city; if not, they must use force.

  Whereupon the ambassadors went back to their King to declare their answer, but to return to the captive Prince, who was more fettered in his mind than in his body, for his old father treated him civilly, and used him kindly: but perceiving him to be very melancholy, thought it might proceed from the overthrow he received; which he strove to methate, telling him, nothing was more subject to chance than war, and that the valiantest and wisest men might fall by Fortune’s hand; for, said he, she on wheels, not on firm ground did stand.

  She seeks not Worth and Merit to advance,

  Her Sceptre which she governed all, was Chance.

  With that the Prince, he sighing said, O Fortune most unkind,

  I would she were as powerless as blind.

  As he was speaking, in come the young general, which when he saw, love’s passion shook his man
ly strength, and made his visage pale; but she being of an affable and sweet disposition, wish[ed] all content of mind to every person, although she had little herself.

  Noble Sir, said she, it was not for want of respect I have not visited you, but my engagements have so busily employed me, that till that cessation of arms, I have not had so much time as to examine your welfare; but I know, my father hath not omitted any service he could help you in; neither do I believe, you being commander, can be so ignorant but to know camps can afford nothing but a rude entertainment, having therein no necessary accommodations, and since my wishes cannot make it better, you will be pleased to accept of it, as it is.

  Worthy Sir, answered the Prince, I am only a prisoner to your favours, but am free by your noble entertainments.

  So after some discourse, telling him of the agreement which was like to be, left him, or rather carried him with her; for his soul went after her, although his person stayed behind: but to follow the ambassadors, who were got to the King, and told him the demands of the Amitenian army [were] to have their Queen before they would treat any farther. The King being very much troubled thereat, for to keep her he durst not, knowing his own weakness, and their strength; and to let her go, he could not; for his passion of love would not give him leave; neither would he call a council, knowing they would be for the departure of the Queen for their own securities; then did he wish for his friend and servant Prince; but at last resolved, went to the Queen his mistress, and taking the crown from his head, laid it at her feet.

  Madam, said he, here I deliver you my crown, and with it my kingdom; and yield myself your prisoner, dispose of it, and me as you please, for it never shall be said I make conditions with her I do adore; for since my soul is yours, there is nothing I can own that is not so; and since you must, and will go from this place, let me go with you to set your triumphs out, and lead me as your slave.