Who now exults but Cymon in his Mind? Vain hopes and empty Joys of human Kind, Proud of the present, to the future blind!) Secure of Fate, while Cymon plows the Sea, And steers to Candy with his conquer'd Prey, Scarce the third Glass of measur'd Hours

was run,

When like a fiery Meteor sunk the Sun, The Promise of a Storm; the shifting Gales Forsake by Fits and fill the flagging Sails: Hoarse Murmurs of the Main from far were heard, 331 And Night came on, not by degrees prepar'd, But all at once; at once the Winds arise, The Thunders roul, the forky Lightning flies In vain the Master issues out Commands, In vain the trembling Sailors ply their Hands;

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, Stun'd with the diff'rent Blows; then shoots amain

But soon they punish'd his presumptuous Pride;

That for his daring Enterprize she dy'd, Who rather not resisted, than comply'd. 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 ; Nor Port they seek, nor certain Course they know, 371

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

The threaten'd Ship against a rocky Shore. A winding Bay was near; to this they bent,

Than stood the Lover of his Love possess'd 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 Punish

ment:

Her forfeit Faith, and Pasimond betray'd, Are ever present, and her Crime upbraid. She blames herself, nor blames her Lover

less;

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 :

The Land unknown at leisure they survey; And saw (but soon their sickly Sight withdrew)

381 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

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;

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; Mouths without Hands; maintain'd at vast Expence, 401 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,

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 ; But crowding on, the last the first impel; 411 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, 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, 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 Renown'd for Birth, with Fortune amply

bless'd.

A Slave to Fame, but more a Slave to Love : Restraining others, yet himself not free, Made impotent by Pow'r, debas'd by Dignity!

461 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,

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:
The Great, it seems, are priviledg'd alone 471
To punish all Injustice but their own.
But here I stop, not daring to proceed,
Yet blush to flatter an unrighteous Deed:
For Crimes are but permitted, not decreed.

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 hey 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, 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;

'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. Thus far they try'd you, and by Proof they found

501

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,

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

53!

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.

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,

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

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, Death shall attend the Man who dares resist. It pleas'd! The Pris'ner to his Holdy 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 :

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,

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 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 : Two sturdy Slaves were only sent before 591 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,

Then seek the Stairs, and with slow hast descend.

Fierce Pasimond, their passage to pre

vent,

Thrust full on Cymon's Back in his descent, The Blade return'd unbath'd, and to the

Handle bent:

599 Stout Cymon soon remounts, and cleft in two 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,

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; And hear behind loud Groans, and lamentable Cries.

611

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, 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.

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,

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
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