In nos jus habeat: jus habet omne malum. 80
Tu stabilis brevium genus immortale nepotum
Fundes; nec tibi Mars ipfa fuperftes erit.
Semper plena manens uteri de fonte perenni
Formosas mittes ad mare Mortis aquas.
Sic Venus humanâ quondam, Dea faucia dextrâ, 85
(Namque folent ipsis Bella nocere Deis)
Imploravit opem superùm, questúsque cievit,
Tinxit adorandus candida membra cr
Quid quereris? contemne breves fecura dolores;
Nam tibi ferre Necem vulnera nulla valent.

or.

90

MISCELLANIES.

CONSTANTIA AND PHILETUS.

I.
I

SING two constant lovers' various fate,
The hopes and fears that equally attend
Their loves, their rivals' envy, parents' hate;
I sing their woeful life and tragic end.
Aid me, ye Gods! this story to rehearse,
This mournful tale, and favour every verse.

II.
In Florence, for her stately buildings fam’d,
And lofty roofs that emulate the sky,
There dwelt a lovely maid, Constantia nam'd,
Fam'd for the beauty of all Italy;
Her lavish Nature did at first adorn
With Pallas' soul in Cytherea's form.

III.
And framing her attractive eyes fo bright,
Spent all her wit in study, that they might
Keep earth from Chaos and eternal Night;
But envious Death destroy'd their glorious light.
Expect not beauty, then, since she did part,
For in her Nature wasted
I'olume 1.

H

hier art.

20

IV. Her hair was brighter than the beams which are A crown to Phæbus, and her breath fo sweet, It did transcend Arabian odours far, Or smelling flow'rs, wherewith the Spring does greet Approaching Summer; teeth like falling snow For white, were placed in a double row.

V.
Her wit excelling praise, ev'n all admire; 25
Her speech was fo attractive, it might be
A cause to raise the mighty Pallas' ire,
And Itir up envy from that deity.
The maiden-lilies at her sight
Wax'd pale with epvy,and from thence grew white. 30

VI.
She was in birth and parentage as high,
As in her fortune great or beauty rare,
And to her virtuous mind's nobility
The gifts of Fate and Nature doubled were;
That in her spotlefs soul and lovely face

35 You might have seen each deity and grace.

VII.
A scornful boy, Adonis, viewing her,
Would Venus still defpisc, yet her desire;
Each who but saw was a competitor
And rival, scorch'd alike with Cupid's fire.

40 T'he glorious beams of her fair eyes did move And light beholders on their way to love,

VIII.
Among her many suitors a young knight,
'Bove others wounded with the majesty
Of her fair presence, presseth most in sight; 45
Yet feldom his desire can satisfy
With that bless'd object, or her rareness fee;
For Beauty's guard is watchful Jealousy.

IX.
Oft-times, that he might see his dearest fair,
Upon his stately jennet he in th’ way

SO
Rides by her houfe, who neighs, as if he were
Proud to be view'd by bright Constantia :
But his poor master, tho' he see her move
His joy, dares shew no look betraying love.

X.
Soon as the Morning left her rosy bed,

55
And all heav'n's smaller lights were driv'n away,
She, by her friends and near acquaintance led,
Like other maids, would walk at break of day:
Aurora blush'd to see a light unknown,
To behold cheeks more beauteous than her own. 60

XI. Th' obsequious lover follow's Mill her train, And where they go that way his journey feigns: Should they turn back, he would turn back again, For with his love his business still remains. Nor is it strange he hould be loath to part 65 From her, whose eyes had stole away his heart.

L

80

Both by two gen'rous princes lov'd,
Who knew, and judg'd what they approv'd;
Yet having each the same desire,
Both from the busy throng retire :
Their bodies to their minds refign'd,
Car'd not to propagate their kind:
Yet tho' both fell before their hour,
Time on their offspring hath no pow'r:
Nor fire nor fate their bays shall blast,
Nor death's dark vçil their day o'ercast.

85

88