John Dryden - Delphi Poets Series

by John Dryden

  The Tempest unforeseen prevents their Care,

  And from the first they labour in despair.

  The giddy Ship betwixt the Winds and Tides,

  Forc’d back and forwards, in a Circle rides, 340

  Stun’d with the diff’rent Blows; then shoots amain

  Till counterbuff’d she stops, and sleeps again.

  Not more aghast the proud Archangel fell,

  Plung’d from the height of Heav’n to deepest Hell,

  Than stood the Lover of his Love possess’d 345

  Now curs’d the more, the more he had been bless’d;

  More anxious for her Danger than his own,

  Death he defies; but would be lost alone.

  Sad Iphigene to Womanish Complaints

  Adds pious Pray’rs, and wearies all the Saints; 350

  Ev’n if she could, her Love she would repent,

  But since she cannot, dreads the Punishment:

  Her forfeit Faith, and Pasimond betray’d,

  Are ever present, and her Crime upbraid.

  She blames herself, nor blames her Lover less; 355

  Augments her Anger as her Fears increase;

  From her own Back the Burden would remove,

  And lays the Load on his ungovern’d Love,

  Which interposing durst in Heav’n’s despight

  Invade, and violate another’s Right: 360

  The Pow’rs incens’d awhile deferr’d his Pain,

  And made him Master of his Vows in vain:

  But soon they punish’d his presumptuous Pride;

  That for his daring Enterprize she dy’d,

  Who rather not resisted, than comply’d. 365

  Then impotent of Mind, with alter’d Sense,

  She hugg’d th’ Offender, and forgave th’ Offence,

  Sex to the last: Mean time with Sails declin’d

  The wand’ring Vessel drove before the Wind:

  Toss’d, and retoss’d, aloft, and then alow; 370

  Nor Port they seek, nor certain Course they know,

  But ev’ry moment wait the coming Blow.

  Thus blindly driv’n, by breaking Day they view’d

  The Land before ‘em, and their Fears renew’d;

  The Land was welcome, but the Tempest bore 375

  The threaten’d Ship against a rocky Shore.

  A winding Bay was near; to this they bent,

  And just escap’d; their Force already spent.

  Secure from Storms, and panting from the Sea,

  The Land unknown at leisure they survey; 380

  And saw (but soon their sickly Sight withdrew)

  The rising Tow’rs of Rhodes at distant view;

  And curs’d the hostile Shoar of Pasimond,

  Sav’d from the Seas, and shipwreck’d on the Ground.

  The frighted Sailors try’d their Strength in vain 385

  To turn the Stern, and tempt the stormy Main;

  But the stiff Wind withstood the lab’ring Oar,

  And forc’d them forward on the fatal Shoar!

  The crooked Keel now bites the Rhodian Strand,

  And the Ship moor’d, constrains the Crew to land: 390

  Yet still they might be safe, because unknown;

  But as ill Fortune seldom comes alone,

  The Vessel they dismiss’d was driv’n before,

  Already shelter’d on their Native Shoar;

  Known each, they know: But each with change of Chear; 395

  The vanquish’d side exults; the Victors fear;

  Not them but theirs, made Pris’ners ere they Fight,

  Despairing Conquest and depriv’d of Flight.

  The Country rings around with loud Alarms,

  And raw in Fields the rude Militia swarms; 400

  Mouths without Hands; maintain’d at vast Expence,

  In Peace a Charge, in War a weak Defence;

  Stout once a Month they march, a blust’ring Band,

  And ever, but in times of Need, at hand;

  This was the Morn when issuing on the Guard, 405

  Drawn up in Rank and File they stood prepar’d

  Of seeming Arms to make a short essay,

  Then hasten to be Drunk, the Business of the Day.

  The Cowards would have fled, but that they knew

  Themselves so many, and their Foes so few; 410

  But crowding on, the last the first impel;

  Till overborn with weight the Cyprians fell.

  Cymon inslav’d, who first the War begun,

  And Iphigene once more is lost and won.

  Deep in a Dungeon was the Captive cast, 415

  Depriv’d of Day, and held in Fetters fast:

  His Life was only spar’d at their Request,

  Whom taken he so nobly had releas’d:

  But Iphigenia was the Ladies Care,

  Each in their turn address’d to treat the Fair; 420

  While Pasimond and his, the Nuptial Feast prepare.

  Her secret Soul to Cymon was inclin’d,

  But she must suffer what her Fates assign’d;

  So passive is the Church of Womankind.

  What worse to Cymon could his Fortune deal, 425

  Rowl’d to the lowest Spoke of all her Wheel?

  It rested to dismiss the downward weight,

  Or raise him upward to his former height;

  The latter pleas’d; and Love (concern’d the most)

  Prepar’d th’ amends, for what by Love he lost. 430

  The Sire of Pasimond had left a Son,

  Though younger, yet for Courage early known,

  Ormisda call’d, to whom, by Promise ty’d,

  A Rhodian Beauty was the destin’d Bride:

  Cassandra was her Name, above the rest 435

  Renown’d for Birth, with Fortune amply bless’d.

  Lysymachus who rul’d the Rhodian State,

  Was then by choice their annual Magistrate:

  He lov’d Cassandra too with equal Fire,

  But Fortune had not favour’d his Desire; 440

  Cross’d by her Friends, by her not disapprov’d,

  Nor yet preferr’d, or like Ormisda lov’d:

  So stood th’ Affair: Some little Hope remain’d,

  That should his Rival chance to lose, he gain’d.

  Meantime young Pasimond his Marriage press’d, 445

  Ordain’d the Nuptial Day, prepar’d the Feast;

  And frugally resolv’d (the Charge to shun,

  Which would be double should he wed alone)

  To join his Brother’s Bridal with his own.

  Lysymachus oppress’d with mortal Grief 450

  Receiv’d the News, and study’d quick Relief:

  The fatal Day approach’d: If Force were us’d,

  The Magistrate his publick Trust abus’d;

  To Justice liable, as Law requir’d,

  For when his Office ceas’d, the his Pow’r expir’d: 455

  While Pow’r remain’d, the Means were in his Hand

  By Force to seize, and then forsake the Land:

  Betwixt Extreams he knew not how to move,

  A Slave to Fame, but more a Slave to Love:

  Restraining others, yet himself not free, 460

  Made impotent by Pow’r, debas’d by Dignity!

  Both Sides he weigh’d: But after much Debate,

  The Man prevail’d above the Magistrate.

  Love never fails to master what he finds,

  But works a diff’rent way in diff’rent Minds, 465

  The Fool enlightens, and the Wise he blinds.

  This Youth proposing to possess, and scape,

  Began in Murder, to conclude in Rape:

  Unprais’d by me, tho’ Heav’n sometime may bless

  An impious Act with undeserv’d Success: 470

  The Great, it seems, are priviledg’d alone

  To punish all Injustice but their own.

  But here I stop, not daring to proceed,

  Yet bl
ush to flatter an unrighteous Deed:

  For Crimes are but permitted, not decreed. 475

  Resolv’d on Force, his Wit the Pretor bent

  To find the Means that might secure th’ event;

  Nor long he labour’d, for his lucky Thought

  In Captive Cymon found the Friend he sought.

  Th’ Example pleas’d: The Cause and Crime the same; 480

  An injur’d Lover, and a ravish’d Dame.

  How much he durst he knew by what he dar’d,

  The less he had to lose, the less he car’d

  To menage loathsom Life when Love was the Reward.

  This ponder’d well, and fix’d on his Intent, 485

  In depth of Night he for the Pris’ner sent;

  In secret sent, the publick View to shun,

  Then with a sober Smile he thus begun:

  The Pow’rs above, who bounteously bestow

  Their Gifts and Graces on Mankind below, 490

  Yet prove our Merit first, nor blindly give

  To such as are not worthy to receive:

  For Valour and for Virtue they provide

  Their due Reward, but first they must be try’d:

  These fruitful Seeds within your Mind they sow’d; 495

  ’Twas yours t’ improve the Talent they bestow’d;

  They gave you to be born of noble Kind,

  They gave you Love to lighten up your Mind

  And purge the grosser Parts; they gave you Care

  To please, and Courage to deserve the Fair. 500

  Thus far they try’d you, and by Proof they found

  The Grain intrusted in a grateful Ground:

  But still the great Experiment remain’d,

  They suffer’d you to lose the Prize you gain’d;

  That you might learn the Gift was theirs alone, 505

  And when restor’d, to them the Blessing own.

  Restor’d it soon will be; the Means prepar’d,

  The Difficulty smooth’d, the Danger shar’d:

  Be but your self, the Care to me resign,

  Then Iphigene is yours, Cassandra mine. 510

  Your Rival Pasimond pursues your Life,

  Impatient to revenge his ravish’d Wife,

  But yet not his; to Morrow is behind,

  And Love our Fortunes in one Band has join’d:

  Two Brothers are our Foes, Ormisda mine, 515

  As much declar’d, as Pasimond is thine:

  To Morrow must their common Vows be ty’d:

  With Love to Friend, and Fortune for our Guide,

  Let both resolve to die, or each redeem a Bride.

  Right I have none, nor hast thou much to plead; 520

  ’Tis Force when done must justify the Deed:

  Our Task perform’d we next prepare for Flight:

  And let the Losers talk in vain of Right:

  We with the Fair will sail before the Wind

  If they are griev’d, I leave the Laws behind. 525

  Speak thy Resolves; if now thy Courage droop,

  Despair in Prison, and abandon Hope;

  But if thou dar’st in Arms thy Love regain,

  (For Liberty without thy Love were vain:)

  Then second my Design to seize the Prey, 530

  Or lead to second Rape, for well thou know’st the way.

  Said Cymon, overjoy’d, Do Thou propose

  The Means to Fight, and only shew the Foes;

  For from the first, when Love had fir’d my Mind,

  Resolv’d I left the Care of Life behind. 535

  To this the bold Lysymachus reply’d,

  Let Heav’n be neuter and the Sword decide:

  The Spousals are prepar’d, already play

  The Minstrels, and provoke the tardy Day:

  By this the Brides are wak’d, their Grooms are dress’d; 540

  All Rhodes is summon’d to the Nuptial Feast,

  All but my self, the sole unbidden Guest.

  Unbidden though I am, I will be there,

  And, join’d by thee, intend to joy the Fair.

  Now hear the rest; when Day resigns the Light, 545

  And chearful Torches guild the jolly Night;

  Be ready at my Call, my chosen few

  With Arms administer’d shall aid thy Crew.

  Then entring unexpected will we seize

  Our destin’d Prey, from Men dissolv’d in ease, 550

  By Wine disabled, unprepar’d for Fight,

  And hast’ning to the Seas suborn our Flight:

  The Seas are ours, for I command the Fort,

  A Ship well man’d, expects us in the Port:

  If they, or if their Friends the Prize contest, 555

  Death shall attend the Man who dares resist.

  It pleas’d! The Pris’ner to his Hold retir’d,

  His Troop with equal Emulation fir’d,

  All fix’d to Fight, and all their wonted Work requir’d.

  The Sun arose; the Streets were throng’d around, 560

  The Palace open’d, and the Posts were crown’d:

  The double Bridegroom at the Door attends

  Th’ expected Spouse, and entertains the Friends:

  They meet, they lead to Church; the Priests invoke

  The Pow’rs, and feed the Flames with fragrant Smoke: 565

  This done they Feast, and at the close of Night

  By kindled Torches vary their Delight,

  These lead the lively Dance, and those the brimming Bowls invite.

  Now, at th’ appointed Place and Hour assign’d,

  With Souls resolv’d the Ravishers were join’d: 570

  Three Bands are form’d: The first is sent before

  To favour the Retreat and guard the Shore:

  The second at the Palace-gate is plac’d,

  And up the lofty Stairs ascend the last:

  A peaceful Troop they seem with shining Vests, 575

  But Coats of Male beneath secure their Breasts.

  Dauntless they enter, Cymon at their Head,

  And find the Feast renew’d, the Table spread:

  Sweet Voices mix’d with instrumental Sounds

  Ascend the vaulted Roof, the vaulted Roof rebounds. 580

  When like the Harpies rushing through the Hall

  The suddain Troop appears, the Tables fall,

  Their smoaking Load is on the Pavement thrown;

  Each Ravisher prepares to seize his own:

  The Brides invaded with a rude Embrace 585

  Shreek out for Aid, Confusion fills the Place:

  Quick to redeem the Prey their plighted Lords

  Advance, the Palace gleams with shining Swords.

  But late is all Defence; and Succour vain;

  The Rape is made, the Ravishers remain: 590

  Two sturdy Slaves were only sent before

  To bear the purchas’d Prize in Safety to the Shore.

  The Troop retires, the Lovers close the rear,

  With forward Faces not confessing Fear:

  Backward they move, but scorn their Pace to mend, 595

  Then seek the Stairs, and with slow hast descend.

  Fierce Pasimond, their passage to prevent,

  Thrust full on Cymon’s Back in his descent,

  The Blade return’d unbath’d, and to the Handle bent:

  Stout Cymon soon remounts, and cleft in two 600

  His Rival’s Head with one descending Blow:

  And as the next in rank Ormisda stood,

  He turn’d the Point; The sword inur’d to Blood

  Bor’d his unguarded Breast, which pour’d a purple Flood.

  With vow’d Revenge the gath’ring Crowd pursues, 605

  The Ravishers turn Head, the Fight renews;

  The Hall is heap’d with Corps; the sprinkled Gore

  Besmears the Walls, and floats the Marble Floor.

  Dispers’d at length the drunken Squadron flies,

  The Victors to their Vessel bear the Prize; 610

>   And hear behind loud Groans, and lamentable Cries.

  The Crew with merry Shouts their Anchors weigh,

  Then ply their Oars, and brush the buxom Sea,

  While Troops of gather’d Rhodians croud the Key.

  What should the People do, when left alone? 615

  The Governor, and Government are gone;

  The publick Wealth to Foreign Parts convey’d;

  Some Troops disbanded, and the rest unpaid.

  Rhodes is the Soveraign of the Sea no more;

  Their Ships unrigg’d, and spent their Naval Store; 620

  They neither could defend, nor can pursue,

  But grind their Teeth, and cast a helpless view:

  In vain with Darts a distant War they try,

  Short, and more short the missive Weapons fly.

  Mean while the Ravishers their Crimes enjoy, 625

  And flying Sails, and sweeping Oars employ:

  The Cliffs of Rhodes in little space are lost;

  Jove’s Isle they seek; nor Jove denies his Coast.

  In safety landed on the Candian Shore,

  With generous Wines their Spirits they restore; 630

  There Cymon with his Rhodian Friend resides,

  Both Court, and Wed at once the willing Brides.

  A War ensues, the Cretans own their Cause,

  Stiff to defend their hospitable Laws:

  Both Parties lose by turns; and neither wins, 635

  Till Peace propounded by a Truce begins.

  The Kindred of the Slain forgive the Deed,

  But a short Exile must for Show precede;

  The Term expir’d, from Candia they remove;

  And happy each at Home enjoys his love. 640

  POETRY FROM THE PLAYS

  PROLOGUES AND EPILOGUES

  CONTENTS

  PROLOGUES AND EPILOGUES

  Prologue and Epilogue to The Wild Gallant

  Prologue to The Rival Ladies

  Prologue and Epilogue to The Indian Emperor

  Prologue to Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen

  Prologue and Epilogue to The Wild Gallant, revived

  Prologue and Epilogue to Sir Martin Mar-all, or the Feigned Innocence

  Prologue and Epilogue to The Tempest

  Prologue to Albumazar

  Prologue and Epilogue to An Evening’s Love, or the Mock Astrologer

  Prologue and Epilogue to Tyrannick Love, or the Royal Martyr

  Prologue and Epilogue to The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards

  Prologue and Epilogue to the Second Part of The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards

  Prologue Spoken on the First Day of the Kings House acting after the Fire

  Prologue to Arviragus and Philicia, revived

  Prologue, for the Women, when they Acted at the Old Theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Fields