Arm, arm, Villerius, arm!  

Thou hast no leisure to grow old;

those now must feel thy courage warm,

who think thy blood is cold.

Our Admiral from sea?  

What storm transporteth thee?

or bring'st thou storms that can do more

than drive an admiral on shore?

Arm, arm, the bassa's fleet appears;  

to Rhodes his course from Chios steers;

her shady wings to distant sight,

spread like the curtains of the night.

Each squadron thicker and still darker grows;  

the fleet like many floating forrests shows.

Arm, arm! Let our drums beat  

to all our out-guards, a retreat;

and to our main guards add

files double lin'd from the parade.

Send horse to drive the fields;

prevent what rip'ning summer yields.

To all the foe would save

set fire, or give a secret grave.

I'le to our gallies hast,

untackle ev'ry mast;

hale 'em within the peer,

to range and chain 'em there,

and then behind Saint Nic'las cliffs

shelter our brigants, land our skiffs.

Our field and bulwark-cannon mount with hast;  

fix to their blocks their brazen bodies fast:

whilst to their foes their iron entrails fly:

display our colours, raise our standard high!

What various noises do mine ears invade?  

and have a consort of confusion made?

The shriller trumpet, and tempestuous drum:

the deaf'ning clamor from the cannons womb;

which through the air like suddain thunder breaks,

seems calm to souldiers shouts, and womens shrieks.

What danger (rev'rend lord) does this portend?

Danger begins what must in honour end.

What vizards does it wear?

Such, gentle prince,

as cannot fright, but yet must warn you hence.

What can to Rhodes more fatally appear

than the bright crescents which those ensigns wear?

Wise emblems that encreasing empire show;

which must be still in nonage and still grow.

All these are yet but the forerunning van

of the prodigious gross of Solyman.

Pale shew those crescents to our bloody cross?

Sink not the western kingdoms in our loss?

Will not the Austrian eagle moult her wings,

that long hath hover'd o're the Gallick-kings?

Whose lillies too will wither when we fade;

and th'English lyon shrink into a shade.

Thou see'st not, whilst so young and guiltless too,

that kings mean seldome what their states-men do;

who measure not the compass of a crown

to fit the head that wears it, but their own;

still hind'ring peace, because they stewards are,

without account, to that wild spender, war.

Still christian wars they will pursue, and boast  

unjust successes gain'd, whilst Rhodes is lost:

whilst we build monuments of death, to shame

those who forsook us in the chase of fame.

We will endure the colds of court-delays;

honour grows warm in airy vests of praise.

On rocky Rhodes we will like rocks abide.

Away, away, and hasten to thy bride!

'Tis scarce a month since from thy nuptial rites

thou cam'st to honour here our Rhodian knights:

to dignifie our sacred annual feast:

we love to lodge, not to entombe a guest.

Honour must yield, where reason should prevail.

Aboard, aboard, and hoyse up ev'ry sail

that gathers any wind for Sicilie!

Men lose their virtu's pattern, losing thee.

Thy bride doth yield her sex no less a light,

but, thy life gone, will set in endless night.

Ye must like stars' shine long ere ye expire.

Honour is colder vertue set on fire:

my honour lost, her love would soon decay:

here for my tomb or triumph I will stay.

My sword against proud Solyman I draw,

his cursed prophet, and his sensual law.

To Rhodes this fatal fleet her course does bear,  

can i have love, and not discover fear?

When he, in whom my plighted heart doth live

(whom hymen gave me in reward

of vows, which he with favour heard,

and is the greatest gift he e're can give)

shall in a cruel siege imprison'd be,

and I, whom love has bound, have liberty?

Away! Let's leave our flourishing abodes

in Sicily, and fly to with'ring Rhodes.

If by their sale my lord may be redeem'd,  

why should they more than trifles be esteem'd

vainly secur'd with iron bars and locks?

They are the spawn of shells, and warts of rocks.

Love a consumption learns from chymists' art.

Saphyrs, and harder di'monds must be sold

and turn'd to softer and more current gold.

With gold we cursed powder may prepare

which must consume in smoak and thinner air.

Go seek out cradles, and with child-hood dwell;

where you may still be free

from love's self-flattery,

and never hear mistaken lovers tell

of blessings, and of joys in such extreams

as never are possest but in our dreams.

They woo apace, and hasten to be sped;

and praise the quiet of the marriage-bed:

but mention not the storms of grief and care

when love does them surprize

with sudden jealousies,

or they are sever'd by ambitious war.

Send out to watch the wind! with the first gale

I'l leave thee, Sicilie; and, hoysing sail,

steer strait to Rhodes. For love and I must be

preserv'd (Alphonso!) or else lost with thee.

The bloud of Rhodes grows cold: life must expire!  

The duke still warms it with his valour's fire!

If he has much in honour's presence done,

has sav'd our ensigns, or has others' won,

then he but well by your example wrought;

who well in honour's school his child-hood taught.

The foe three moons tempestuously has spent

where we will never yield, nor he relent;

still we but raise what must be beaten down;

defending walls, yet cannot keep the town;

vent'ring last stakes where we can nothing win;

and, shutting slaughter out, keep famine in.

How oft and vainly Rhodes for succour waits

from triple diadems, and scarlet hats?

Rome keeps her gold, cheaply her warriours pays

at first with blessings, and at last with praise.

By armies, stow'd in fleets, exhausted Spain

leaves half her land unplough'd, to plough the main;

and still would more of the old world subdue,

as if unsatisfi'd with all the new.

France strives to have her lillies grow as fair

in other realms as where they native are.

The English lyon ever loves to change

his walks, and in remoter forrests range.

He can at most but once prevail,  

though arm'd with nations that were brought by more

gross gallies then would serve to hale

this island to the Lycian shore.

Let us apace do worthily and give

our story length, though long we cannot live.

What sudden halt hath stay'd thy swift renown,  

o're-running kingdoms, stopping at a town?

He that will win the prize in honour's race

must nearer to the goal still mend his pace.

If age thou feel'st, the active camp forbear;

in sleepy cities rest, the caves of fear.

Thy mind was never valiant, if, when old,

thy courage cools because thy blood is cold.

How can ambitious manhood be exprest

more then by marks of our disdain of rest?

What less than toyls incessant can, despite

of cannon, raise these mounts to castle-height?

Or less than utmost or unwearied strength

can draw these lines of batt'ry to that length?

The toils of ants, and mole-hills rais'd, in scorn

of labour, to be levell'd with a spurn.

These are the pyramids that shew your pains;

but of your armies' valour, where remains

one trophy to excuse a bassa's boast?

Valour may reckon what she bravely lost;

not from successes all her count does raise:

by life well lost we gain a share of praise.

If we in dangers' glass all valour see,

and death the farthest step of danger be,

behold our mount of bodies made a grave;

and prize our loss by what we scorn'd to save.

Away! range all the camp for an assault!

Tell them, they tread in graves who make a halt.

Fat slaves, who have been lull'd to a disease;

cramm'd out of breath, and crippled by their ease!

whose active fathers leapt o're walls too high

for them to climb: hence, from my anger fly:

which is too worthy for thee, being mine,

and must be quench'd by Rhodian blood or thine.

Great sultan, hail! though here at land  

lost fools in opposition stand;

yet thou at sea dost all command.

What is it thou wouldst shew, and yet dost shrowd?

I bring the morning pictur'd in a cloud;

a wealth more worth then all the sea does hide;

or courts display in their triumphant pride.

Thou seem'st to bring the daughter of the night;

and giv'st her many stars to make her bright.

Dispatch my wonder and relate her story.

'Tis full of fate, and yet ha's much of glory.

A squadron of our gallies that did ply

west from this coast, met two of Sicily,

both fraught to furnish Rhodes, we gave 'em chase,

and had, but for our number, met disgrace.

For, grapling, they maintain'd a bloody fight,

which did begin with day and end with night.

And though this bashful lady then did wear

her face still veil'd, her valour did appear:

she urg'd their courage when they boldly fought,

and many shun'd the dangers, which she sought.

Where are the limits thou would'st set for praise?

or to what height wilt thou my wonder raise?

This is Ianthe, the Sicilian flower,

sweeter then buds unfolded in a shower,

bride to Alphonso, who in Rhodes so long

the theam has been of each heroick song;

and she for his relief those gallies fraught;

both stow'd with what her dow'r and jewels bought.

O wond'rous vertue of a christian wife!

Advent'ring lifes support, and then her life

to save her ruin'd lord! bid her unveil!

It were more honour, sultan, to assail

a publick strength against thy forces bent,

then to unwall this private tenement,

to which no monarch, but my lord, has right;

nor will it yield to treaty or to might:

where heavn's great law defends him from surprise:

this curtain onely opens to his eyes.

If beauty veil'd so vertuous be,

'tis more than christian husbands know;

whose ladies wear their faces free,

which they to more than husband show.

Your bassa swore, and by his dreadful law,  

none but my lord's dear hand this veil should draw;

and that to Rhodes I should conducted be,

to take my share of all his destiny:

else I had quickly found

sure means to get some wound,

which would in death's cold arms

my honour instant safety give

from all those rude alarms

which keep it waking whilst I live.

Hast thou ingag'd our prophet's plight

to keep her beauty from my sight,

and to conduct her person free

to harbour with mine enemy?

Vertue constrain'd the priviledge I gave:  

shall I for sacred vertue pardon crave?

I envy not the conquests of thy sword:

thrive still in wicked war;

but, slave, how did'st thou dare,

in vertuous love, thus to transcend thy lord?

Thou did'st thy utmost vertue show:

yet somewhat more does rest,

not yet by thee exprest;

which vertue left for me to do.

Thou great example of a christian wife,

enjoy thy lord, and give him happy life.

Thy gallies with their fraight,

for which the hungry wait,

shall strait to Rhodes conducted be;

and as thy passage to him shall be free,

so both may safe return to Sicilie.

May Solyman be ever far

from impious honours of the war;

since worthy to receive renown

from things repair'd, not overthrown.

And when in peace his vertue thrives,

let all the race of loyal wives

sing this his bounty to his glory,

and teach their princes by his story:

of which, if any victors be,

let them, because he conquer'd me,

strip cheerfully each others brow,

and at his feet their laurel throw.

Strait to the port her gallies steer;

then hale the centry at the peer.

And though our flags ne'r use to bow,

they shall do vertue homage now.

Give fire still as she passes by,

and let our streamers lower fly.

Pirrhus, draw up our army wide!  

then from the gross two strong reserves divide;

and spread the wings;

as if we were to fight,

in the lost Rhodians sight,

with all the western kings!

Each wing with janizaries line;

the right and left to Haly's sons assign;

the gross to Zangiban.

The main artillery

with Mustapha shall be:

bring thou the rear, we lead the van.

It shall be done as early as the dawn;

as if the figure by thy hand were drawn.

We wish that we, to ease thee, could prevent

all thy commands, by ghessing thy intent.

These Rhodians, who of honour boast,

a loss excuse, when bravely lost:

now they may bravely lose their Rhodes,

which never play'd against such odds.

To morrow let them see our strength, and weep

whilst they their want of losing blame;

their valiant folly strives too long to keep

what might be render'd without shame.

'Tis well our valiant prophet did  

in us not only loss forbid,

but has enjoyn'd us still to get.

Empire must move apace,

when she begins the race,

and apter is for wings than feet.

They vainly interrupt our speed,

and civil reason lack,

to know they should go back

when we determine to proceed.

When to all Rhodes our army does appear,  

shall we then make a sudden halt,

and give a general assault?

Pirrhus, not yet, Ianthe being there:

let them our valour, by our mercy prize.

The respit of this day

to vertuous love shall pay

a debt long due for all my victories.

If vertuous beauty can attain such grace

whilst she a captive was, and hid,

what wisdom can his love forbid

when vertue's free, and beauty shews her face?

Dispatch a trumpet to the town;

summon Ianthe to be gone

safe with her lord. When both are free

and in their course to Sicily,

then Rhodes shall for that valour mourn

which stops the hast of our return.

Those that in Grecian quarries wrought,

and pioneers from Lycia brought,

who like a nation in a throng appear,

so great their number is, are landed here:

where shall they work?

Upon Philermus Hill.

There, ere this moon her circle fills with days,

they shall, by punisht sloth and cherish'd skill,

a spacious palace in a castle raise:

a neighbourhood within the Rhodians view;

where, if my anger cannot them sudue,

my patience shall out-wait them, whilst they long

attend to see weak princes make them strong:

there i'le grow old, and dye too, if they have

the secret art to fast me to my grave.

When we, Ianthe, would this act commend,  

we know no more how to begin

than we should do, if we were in,

how suddenly to make an end.

What love was yours which these strong bars of fate

were all too weak to separate?

which seas and storms could not divide,

nor all the dreadful Turkish pride?

Which pass'd secure, though not unseen,

even double guards of death that lay between.

What more could honour for fair vertue do?

What could Alphonso venture more for you?

With wonder and with shame we must confess

all we our selves can do for Rhodes, is less.

Nor did your love and courage act alone.

Your bounty too has no less wonders done.

And for our guard you have brought wisely down

a troop of vertues to defend the town:

the only troop that can a town defend,

which heav'n before for ruine did intend.

Look here, ye western monarchs, look with shame,

who fear not a remote, though common foe;

the cabinet of one illustrious dame

does more then your exchequers joyn'd did do.

Indeed I think, Ianthe, few  

so young and flourishing as you,

whose beauties might so well adorn

the jewels which by them are worn,

did ever musquets for them take,

nor of their pearls did bullets make.

When you, my lord, are shut up here

expence of treasure must appear

so far from bounty, that, alass!

it covetous advantage was:

for with small cost I sought to save

even all the treasure that I have.

Who would not all her trifling jewels give,  

which but from number can their worth derive,

if she could purchase or redeem with them

one great inestimable gemm?

Oh ripe perfection in a brest so young!

Vertue has tun'd her heart, and wit her tongue.

Though Rhodes no pleasure can allow

I dare secure the safety of it now;

all will so labour to save you

as that will save the city too.

Alass! the utmost I have done

more then a just reward has won,

if by my lord and you it be but thought,

I had the care to serve him as I ought.

Brave duke, farewell, the scouts for orders wait,

and the parade does fill.

Great Master, I'll attend your pleasure strait,

and strive to serve your will.

Ianthe, after all this praise  

which fame so fully to you pays,

for that which all the world beside

admires you, I alone must chide.

Are you that kind and vertuous wife,

who thus expose your husband's life?

The hazards, both at land and sea,

through which so boldly thou hast run,

did more assault and threaten me

then all the sultan could have done.

Thy dangers, could I them have seen,

would not to me have dangers been,

but certain death: now thou art here

a danger worse than death I fear.

Thou hast, Ianthe, honour won,

but mine, alass, will be undone:

for as thou valiant wer't for me,

I shall a coward grow for thee.

Take heed Alphonso, for this care of me,

will to my fame injurious be;

your love will brighter by it shine,

but it eclipses mine.

Since I would here before, or with you fall,

death needs but becken when he means to call.

Ianthe, even in this you shall command,

and this my strongest passion guide;

your vertue will not be deny'd:

it could even Solyman himself withstand.

To whom it did so beauteous show:  

it seem'd to civilize a barb'rous foe.

Of this your strange escape, Ianthe, say,

briefly the motive and the way.

Did I not tell you how we fought,

how I was taken, and how brought

before great Solyman? but there

I think we interrupted were.

Yes, but we will not be so here,

should Solyman himself appear.

It seems that what the bassa of me said,  

had some respect and admiration bred

in Solyman; and this to me increast

the jealousies which honour did suggest.

All that of Turks and tyrants I had heard,

but that I fear'd not death, I should have fear'd.

I, to excuse my voyage, urg'd my love

to your high worth; which did such pitty move

that straight his usage did reclaim my fear;

he seem'd in civil France, and monarch there:

for soon my person, gallies, fraight, were free

by his command.

O wondrous enemy!

These are the smallest gifts his bounty knew.

What could he give you more?

He gave me you;

and you may homewards now securely go

through all his fleet.

But honour says not so.

If that forbid it, you shall never see

that I and that will disagree:

honour will speak the same to me.

This christian Turk amazes me, my dear!

How long, Ianthe, stay'd you there?

Two days with Mustapha.

How do you say?

two days, and two whole nights? alas!

That it, my lord, no longer was,

is such a mercy, as too long I stay,

e'r at the altar thanks to heav'n I pay.

To heav'n, confession should prepare the way.

She is all harmony, and fair as light  

but brings me discord, and the clouds of night.

And Solyman does think heav'n's joys to be

in women not so fair as she.

'Tis strange! Dismiss so fair an enemy!

She was his own by right of war,

we are his dogs, and such as she his angels are.

You come from sea as Venus came before;  

and seem that goddess, but mistake her shore.

Her temple did in fruitfull Cyprus stand;

the sultan wonders why in Rhodes you land.

And by your sudden voyage he doth fear

the tempest of your passion drove you here.

Rustan, I bring more wonder than I find;

and it is more than humour bred that wind

which with a forward gale

did make me hither sail.

He does your forward jealousie reprove.

Yet jealousie does spring from too much love;

if mine be guilty of excess,

I dare pronounce it shall grow less.

You boldly threaten more than we dare hear.

That which you call your duty is your fear.

We have some valour or our wounds are feign'd.

What has your valour from the Rhodians gain'd?

Unless Ianthe, as a prize, you boast;

who now has got that heart which I have lost.

Brave conquest, where the taker self is taken!

And, as a present, I

bring vainly, e're I dye,

that heart to him which he has now forsaken.

Whispers of eunuchs, and by pages brought

to Licia, you have up to story wrought.

Lead to the sultan's tent! Pirrhus, away!

For I dare hear what he himself dares say.

Refuse my pass-port, and resolve to dye;  

only for fashion's sake, for company?

Oh costly scruples! But I'le try to be,

thou stubborn honour, obstinate as thee.

My pow'r thou shalt not vanquish by thy will,

I will enforce to live whom thou would'st kill.

They in to morrow's storm will change their mind,

then, though too late instructed, they shall find,

that those who your protection dare reject

no humane power dares venture to protect.

They are not foes, but rebels, who withstand

the pow'r that does their fate command.

Oh Mustapha, our strength we measure ill,

we want the half of what we think we have;

for we enjoy the beast-like pow'r to kill,

but not the god-like pow'r to save.

Who laughs at death, laughs at our highest pow'r;

the valiant man is his own emperour.

Your pow'r to save, you have to them made known,

who scorn'd it with ingratefull pride;

now, how you can destroy, must next be shown;

and that the christian world has try'd.

'Tis such a single pair

as onely equal are

unto themselves; but many steps above

all others who attempt to make up love.

Their lives will noble history afford,

and must adorn my scepter, not my sword.

My strength in vain has with their vertue strove;

in vain their hate would overcome my love.

My favours I'le compell them to receive:

go Mustapha, and strictest orders give,

through all the camp, that in assault they spare

(and in the sack of this presumptuous town)

the lives of these two strangers, with a care

above the preservation of their own.

Alphonso has so oft his courage shown,

that he to all but cowards must be known.

Ianthe is so fair that none can be

mistaken, amongst thousands, which is she.

Alphonso, now the danger grows so near,  

give her that loves you leave to fear.

Nor do I blush, this passion to confess,

since it for object has no less

than even your liberty, or life;

I fear not as a woman, but a wife.

We were too proud no use to make

of Solyman's obliging proffer;

for why should honour scorn to take

what honour's self does to it offer.

To be o'rcome by his victorious sword,

will comfort to our fall afford;

our strength may yield to his; but 'tis not fit

our vertue should to his submit;

in that, Ianthe, i must be

advanc'd, and greater far than he.

Fighting with him who strives to be your friend,

you not with vertue, but with pow'r, contend.

Forbid it, heav'n, our friends should think that we

did merit friendship from an enemy.

He is a foe to Rhodes, and not to you.

In Rhodes besieg'd, we must be Rhodians too.

'Twas fortune that engag'd you in this war.

'Twas providence! Heaven's pris'ners here we are.

That providence our freedom does restore;

the hand that shut, now opens us the door.

Had heav'n that pass-port for our freedom sent,

it would have chose some better instrument

than faithless Solyman.

O say not so!

To strike and wound the vertue of your foe

is cruelty, which war does not allow:

sure he has better words deserv'd from you.

From me, Ianthe, no;

what he deserves from you, you best must know.

What means my lord?

For I confess, I must

the poyson'd bounties of a foe mistrust:

and when upon the bait I look,

though all seem fair, suspect the hook.

He, though a foe, is generous and true:

what he hath done declares what he will do.

He in two days your high esteem has won:

what he would do I know; who knows what he has done?

Done?

[Aside.]

Wicked tongue, what hast thou said?

What horrid falshood from thee fled?

Oh, jealousie (if jealousie it be)

would I had here an asp instead of thee!

Sure you are sick, your words, alas!

gestures, and looks, distempers shew.

Ianthe, you may safely pass;

the pass, no doubt, was meant to you.

He's jealous sure; oh, vertue! can it be?

Have I for this serv'd vertue faithfully?

Alphonso...

Speak, Ianthe, and be free.

Have I deserv'd this change?

Thou do'st deserve

so much, that emperours are proud to serve

the fair Ianthe; and not dare

to hurt a land whilst she is there.

Return (renown'd Ianthe) safely home;

and force thy passage with thine eyes

to conquer Rhodes will be a prize

less glorious than by thee to be o'rcome.

But since he longs (it seems) so much to see,

and be possest of me,

tell him, I shall not fly beyond his reach:

would he could dare to meet me in the breach.

From out the camp a valiant christian slave  

escap'd, and to our knights assurance gave

that at the break of day

their mine will play.

Oft Martiningus, struck and try'd the ground,

and counter-digg'd, and has the hollows found:

we shall prevent

their dire intent.

Where is the duke, whose valour strives to keep  

Rhodes still awake, which else would dully sleep?

His courage and his Reason is o'rethrown.

Thou sing'st the sad destruction of our town.

I met him wild as all the winds,  

when in the ocean they contest:

and diligent suspition finds

he is with jealousie possest.

That arrow, once misdrawn, must ever rove.

O weakness, sprung from mightiness of love!

O pitty'd crime!

Alphonso will be overthrown

unless we take this ladder down,

where, though the rounds are broke,

he does himself provoke

too hastily to climb.

Invisibly, as dreams, fame's wings fly every where;  

hov'ring all day o're palaces of kings,

at night she lodges in the people's ear:

already they perceive Alphonso wild,

and the belov'd Ianthe griev'd.

Let us no more by honour be beguil'd;

this town can never be reliev'd;

Alphonso and Ianthe being lost,

Rhodes, thou dost cherish life with too much cost!

Not come to see me e're th'assault be past?  

He spoke it not in anger but in haste.

If mighty Solyman be angry grown

it is not with his empress, but the town.

When stubborn Rhodes does him to anger move

'tis by detaining there what he does love.

He is resolv'd the city to destroy.

But more resolv'd Ianthe to enjoy.

T'avoid your danger cease your jealousie.

Tell them of danger who do fear to dye.

None but your self dares threaten you with death.

He follows passion, I pursue my reason:

he loves the traitor, and I hate the treason.

Our foes appear!  

Let Solyman forget his way to glory

increase in conquest and grow less in story.

That honour which in vain

his valour shrinks to gain,

when from the Rhodians he Ianthe takes,

is lost in losing me whom he forsakes.

Traverse the cannon! mount the batt'ries higher!  

More gabions, and renew the blinds!

Like dust they powder spend,

and to our faces send

the heat of all the element of fire;

and to their backs have all the winds.

More ladders, and reliefs to scale!  

The fire-crooks are too short! Help, help to hale!

That battlement is loose, and strait will down!

Point well the cannon, and play fast!

their fury is too hot to last.

That rampire shakes, they fly into the town.

March up with those reserves to that redout!

Faint slaves! the janizaries reel!

They bend, they bend! and seem to feel

the terrours of a rout.

Old Zanger halts, and re-inforcement lacks!

March on!

Advance those pikes, and charge their backs!

Those plat-forms are too low to reach!  

Haste, haste! call Haly to the breach!

Can my domestique janizaries flye!

And not adventure life for victory!

Whose child-hood with my palace milk I fed:

their youth, as if I were their parent, bred.

What is this monster death, that our poor slaves,

still vext with toyl, are loth to rest in graves?

If life so pretious be, why do not they,  

who in war's trade can only live by prey,

their own afflicted lives expose

to take the happier from their foes?

Our troops renew the fight!

And those that sally'd out

to give the rout,

are now return'd in flight!

Follow, follow, follow, make good the line!  

In, Pirrhus, in! Look, we have sprung the mine!

Those desp'rate English ne'r will fly!  

Their firmness still does hinder others flight,

as if their mistresses were by

to see and praise them whilst they fight.

That flame of valour in Alphonso's eyes,

outshines the light of all my victories!

Those who were slain when they his bulwark storm'd,

contented fell,

as vanquish'd well;

those who were left alive may now,

because their valour is by his reform'd,

hope to make others bow.

E'r while I in the English station saw

beauty, that did my wonder forward draw,

whose valour did my forces back disperse;

fairer than woman, and than man more fierce:

it shew'd such courage as disdain'd to yield,

and yet seem'd willing to be kil'd.

This vision did to me appear:  

which mov'd my pitty and my fear:

it had a dress much like the imag'rie

for heroes drawn, and may Ianthe be.

Fall on! the English stoop when they give fire!  

They seem to furl their colours and retire!

Advance! I onely would the honour have

to conquer two, whom I by force would save.

My reason by my courage is misled!  

why chase I those who would from dying fly,

enforcing them to sleep amongst the dead,

yet keep my self unslain that fain would die?

Do not the pris'ners whom we take declare

how Solyman proclaim'd through all his host,

that they Ianthe's life and mine should spare?

Life ill preserv'd is worse than basely lost.

Mine by dispatch of war he will not take,

but means to leave it lingring on the rack;

that in his palace i might live, and know

her shame, and be afraid to call it so.

Tyrants and divels think all pleasures vain,

but what are still deriv'd from other's pain.

Renown'd Alphonso, thou hast fought to day,  

as if all Asia were thy valour's prey.

But now thou must do more

than thou hast done before;

else the important life of Rhodes is gone.

Why from the peacefull grave

should I still strive to save

the lives of others, that would lose mine own?

The souldiers call, Alphonso! thou hast taught

the way to all the wonders they have wrought;

who now refuse to fight

but in thy valour's sight.

I would to none example be to fly;

but fain would teach all human kind to dye.

Haste, haste! Ianthe in disguise

at th'English bulwark wounded lies;

and in the French, our old Great Master strives

from many hands to rescue many lives.

Ianthe wounded? where? alas!

Has mourning pitty hid her face?

Let pitty fly, fly far from the opprest,

since she removes her lodging from my brest!

You have but too great cruelties to chuse

by staying here; you must Ianthe lose,

who ventur'd life and fame for you;

or your Great Master quite forsake,

who to your childhood first did shew

the ways you did to honour take.

Ianthe cannot be  

in safer company:

for what will not the valiant English do

when beauty is distress'd and vertue too?

Dispatch your choice, if you will either save

occasion bids you run;

you must redeem the one

and I the other from a common grave.

Alphonso, haste!

Thou urgest me too fast.

This riddle is too sad and intricate;

the hardest that was e're propos'd by fate.

Honour and pitty have

of both too short a time to choose!

Honour the one would save,

pitty, would not the other lose.

Away, brave duke, away!

Both perish by our stay.

I to my noble master owe

all that my youth did nobly do:

he in war's school my master was,

the ruler of my life;

she my lov'd mistriss; but, alass,

my now suspected wife.

By this delay we both of them forsake!  

Which of their rescues wilt thou undertake?

Hence, Admiral, and to thy master hy!

I will as swiftly to my mistris fly;

through ambush, fire, and all impediments

the witty cruelty of war invents:

for there does yet some taste of kindness last,

still relishing the vertue that is past.

But how, Ianthe, can my sword successful prove,

where honour stops, and only pitty leads my love?

O suddain change! repulst in all the heat  

of victory, and forc'd to lose retreat!

Seven crescents, fixt on their redouts, are gone!

Horse, horse! we fly

from victory!

Wheel, wheel from their reserves, and charge our own!

Divide that wing!

More succours bring!

Rally the fled,

and quit out dead!

Rescue that ensign and that drum!

Bold slaves! they to our trenches come:

though still our army does in posture stay

drawn up to judge, not act, the business of the day;

as Rome, in theaters, saw fencers play.

Who can be loud enough to give command?  

Stand, Haly, make a stand!

Those horses to that carriage span! Drive, drive!

Zanger is shot agen, yet still alive!

Coyns for the culv'rin, then give fire

to cleer the turn-pikes, and let Zanger in!

Look, Pirrhus, look, they all begin

to alter their bold count'nance, and retire!

How cowardly my num'rous slaves fall back:  

slow to assault, but dext'rous when they sack!

Wild wolves in times of peace they are;

tame sheep, and harmless, in the war.

Crowds fit to stop up breaches; and prevail

but so as shoals of herrings choak a whale.

This dragon-duke so nimbly fought to day,

as if he wings had got to stoop at prey.

Ianthe is triumphant but not gone;

and sees Rhodes still beleaguer'd, though not won.

Audacious town! thou keep'st thy station still;

and so my castle tarries on that hill,

where I will dwell till famine enter thee;

and prove more fatal than my sword could be.

Nor shall Ianthe from my favours run,

but stay to meet and praise what she did shun.

Fair vertue, we have found  

no danger in your wound.

Securely live,

and credit give

to us, and to the surgeons' art.

Alas! my wound is in the heart;

or else, where e're it be,

imprison'd life it comes to free,

by seconding a worser wound that hid doth lie:

what practice can assure

that patient of a cure,

whose kind of grief still makes her doubt the remedy?

The wounded that would soon be eas'd

should keep their spirits tun'd and pleas'd;

no discords should their mind subdue:

and who in such distress

as this, ought to express

more joyful harmony than you?

'Tis not alone that we assure

your certain cure;

but pray remember that your blood's expence

was in defence

of Rhodes, which gain'd to day a most important victory:

for our success, repelling this assault,

has taught the Ottomans to halt;

who may, wasting their heavy body, learn to fly.

Not only this should hasten your content,

but you shall joy to know the instrument

that wrought the triumph of this day;

Alphonso did the sally sway;

to whom our Rhodes, all that she is does owe,

and all that from her root of hope can grow.

Has he so greatly done?

Indeed he us'd to run

as swift in honour's race as any he

who thinks he merits wreaths for victory.

This is to all a comfort, and should be,

if he were kind, the greatest joy to me.

Where is my alter'd lord? I cannot tell

if I may ask, if he be safe and well?

For whil'st all strangers may his actions boast,

who in their songs repeat

the triumphs he does get,

I only must lament his favours lost.

Some wounds he has; none desperate but yours;  

Ianthe cur'd, his own he quickly cures.

If his be little, mine will soon grow less.

Ay me! What sword

durst give my lord

those wounds, which now Ianthe cannot dress?

Ianthe will rejoyce when she does hear

how greater than himself he did appear

in rescue of her life; all acts were slight,

and cold, even in our hottest fight,

compar'd to what he did,

when with death's vizard she her beauty hid.

Love urg'd his anger, till it made such haste

and rusht so swiftly in,

that scarce he did begin

e're we could say, the mighty work was past.

All this for me? somthing he did for you:

but when his sword begun

much more it would have done

if he, alas! had thought Ianthe true.

Be kind, Ianthe, and be well!

It is too pittifull to tell

what way of dying is exprest

when he that letter read

you wrote before your wounds were drest;

when you and we dispair'd you could recover:

then he was more than dead,

and much out-wept a husband and a lover.

Tear up my wounds! I had a passion coorse  

and rude enough to strengthen jealousie;

but want that more refin'd and quicker force

which does out-wrestle nature when we dye.

Turn to a tempest all my inward strife:

let it not last,

but in a blast

spend this infectious vapour, life!

It is my lord! Enough of strength I feel,

to bear me to him, or but let me kneel.

He bled for me when he atchiev'd for you

this day's success; and much from me is due.

Let me but bless him for his victory,

and hasten to forgive him e'r I dye.

Be not too rash, Ianthe, to forgive.

Who knows but I ill use may make

of pardons which I could not take

for they may move me to desire to live.

If ought can make Ianthe worthy grow

of having pow'r of pard'ning you,

it is, because she perfectly does know

that no such pow'r to her is due.

Who never can forget her self, since she

unkindly did resent your jealousie.

A passion against which you nobly strove:

I know it was but over-cautious love.

Accursed crime! Oh, let it have no name

till I recover bloud to shew my shame.

Why stay we at such distance when we treat?

As monarchs' children, making love

by proxy, to each other move,

and by advice of tedious councils meet.

Keep back, Ianthe, for my strength does fail

when on thy cheeks I see thy roses pale.

Draw all the curtains, and then lead her in;

let me in darkness mourn away my sin.

Your looks express a triumph at our loss.  

Can I forsake the crescent for the cross?

You wish my spreading crescent shrunk to less.

Sultan, I would not lose by your success.

You are a friend to the besiegers grown!

I wish your sword may thrive,

yet would not have you strive

to take Ianthe rather than the town.

Too much on wand'ring rumour you rely;

your foolish women teach you jealousie.

My war with Rhodes will never have success,

till I at home, Roxana, make my peace.

I will be kind, if you'l grow wise;

go, chide your whisp'rers and your spies,

be satisfy'd with liberty to think;

and, when you should not see me, learn to wink.