Epithalamium vpon the all-desired nvptials of Frederike the fift, Prince Palatine of Rhene, chiefe elector, Duke of Bauier, and arch-sewer to the Romane Empire And Elizabeth, the onely daughter of Iames, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. VVritten by Augustine Taylor.

Facile est imperare volenti . O Would to God I had the Sun-hatch't wing , A quill so worth to tell of banquetting : Mine is so partcht in cinders of my wants , Desert craues Vowels , Art giues Consonants . One sence is sleeping , and that sence is muffled , This sence is studying , that and all are ruffled : Amazed , wakened , called , incomposed , Moued , affected , gathered , indisclosed . The perfect blazon true fame shall support , Will tell how farre my Art is heere too short : Were I but seated on the Muses mountaine , To quaffe my quart of that ripe dropping fountaine , Where Tully once wonne that immortall praise , From that Parnassus fetcht his Romaine phrase : Vnder that Helicon my Muse should sing , Not altogether praise of Englands King , But in my notes Fames whispering breath should bleed , Deseruing praises to his worthy seed . You now must thinke I felt my wit but poore , I napt an howre , and ment to write no more . Now apparitions , now good , and then bad , I 'le tell thee England of a dreame I had . Suppose I sate vpon the Cliffes of Douer , ( From flowery Kent ) the Ocean to looke ouer . When in a morning old Aurora's hue Had clad the heauens in their ancient blew . Night went so fast , and day appear'd so plaine , The eies diseased of the Northerne waine : Artipholax bluster'd in his muffled bed , Pale Luna to the Westerne confines fled ; White teames of mist ran stealing downe the riuers , Eclipsed mansions now were craz'd in shiuers , My greedy slumber shew'd my eies , me thought Strange nouelties that cheerefull day had brought . The first I gaz'd at , seem'd a rocke of stone , Which Sea-gods ( sometime ) vs'd to sit vpon , Incompast round with seas on euery side , Fram'd like a seat , cast by the surly tide ; Whereon the fairest Lady was repos'd , That euer Nature whilome had disclos'd , Crown'd in all glory , made so fine and denty , I saw one beauty , and in that one plenty . If euer eye was summond to a feast , My eyes were feasted , and my feast was best : I thought Marpessa in that princely Chaire Had there repos'd her selfe to take the aire , And sadly suited in a solemne cheere , Did meane to stay her Lord and Louer there . And Idas slow , in needy speed dispatching , He yet was absent , and she yet was watching . O how I curst him , ( angry at delay ) Hard-hearted man to be so long away . The day waxt elder , and the morne shew'd cleerer , The heauens pittifull , sent the Sunne to cheere her . Phoebus appear'd , cloth'd in his fair'st array , As if prepar'd to suite a glorious day . His radiant splendors scatter in the skyes , Her faire perfections sparkle in mine eyes . I was opinionate the world was done , I thought the Gods had sent another Sunne . Then it was so , by vcnturing , I came Some paces neerer to this princely Dame . When I perceiu'd she was a mortall creature , Composed in the perfect'st mould of Nature , And in her hand she held a little frame , With this deuice erected in her name . DELPHEBA . A branch in March , that dy'd to liue in Aprill .

Motto . Mors emit vitam .

Life weeps for death , death crownes a new life blest ; Thus , friends weep most , to know their friends at rest . In this faire creature seated thus alone , A thousand beauties were combin'd in one : Her golden Tresses hang'd vncurl'd and ruffl'd , In a rich Night-gowne she was sadly muffl'd . O had I seene her suited in those rayes , Which Courtly custome obserues now-a-dayes , I eould haue teld yee neerer her great merit , But ignorance must now a part inherit . Your thoughts must censure , she was more than faire , ( And being more , I cannot more declare ) And fit to adde a glory to the sky , A mate ( indeed ) for maiesty to buy , Crown'd with all graces , and to name in generall , One beauty matchlesse , and in that one seuerall . O had you seene her , how all beauties mou'd her , You wold haue prais'd her , if you had not lou'd her . Thus long I view'd her , rauisht more & more , I turn'd my eyes to glance vpon the shore , Where I espy'd a stranger sadly standing , Waiting for shipping , as men do for landing . Vpon Delphebaes seat his eyes were gazing , I saw a scutchion by the sunnes bright blazing ; Telling his name , and ouer that was planted A faire deuise which no perfection wanted . TORBINIVS . A male Confessor to a female Priest .

Motto Palam , voluntate .

Great men are often actors of oppression , And she 's the cause that I must make confession . His eies gaz'd at Delpheba as before , ( So ship-wrackt sea-men vse to do at shore ) Afflicted , troubled , feared , and tormented , Distemper'd , blubber'd , sad , and discontented , Complaining , sorrowing , wishing , nothing gaining , Sighing , bewailing , crauing , not obtaining , Seeking for passage to Delphebas resting , Vowing , affecting , calling , and protesting , Vnto the Powers Diuine he plants prefers , He had but one life and that was hers . To raile on Nature then he doth beginne , That she ( vnkind ) ordain'd him not to swimme : To breake his passions Phoebus look't more cheerely , And smil'd as if hee lou'd a louer deerely , And halfe resolu'd to let Torbinius passe , From him to her , he showes a bridge of glasse : Composd in all parts pleasant to behold , Fram'd by Diuine Art , wonders manifold , Appear'd to gaze on , yet it seem'd so brittle , The passage dangerous and the safety little ; But loue so forward in his owne attempts , And mixes sowre harmes with fraile sweet contents , Determines now , as men for women would do , To win his loue , or try what venturing could do ; Enters the bridge with this rash resolution , To die for loue , confirmes the old conclusion , And his boil'd humour in this sort doth cherish , To passe the bridge , or in the midst to perish : And being distant from the sandie side , Some measur'd paces , Neptune sends the tide , And summons fenny subiects to new broyles , Collecting surges to maintaine new spoyles . The houering windes tumbl'd from Eolus wombe , And in the Ocean gan to digge their Tombe . The Titan Esterne gates , perculliz'd , pale , Er'st calmes , now stormes , for gusts a bitter gale . Nereus warn'd the Sea-gods to these warres , And rul'd as Generall in these vpstart iarres . Torbinius being on the bridge of glasse , Look't downe and saw th' impatient billowes passe , And with his dul eares , hard the deafe winds mumble , And with his dim eyes saw the surges tumble . One waue did caper , and that billow wonder'd , This surge was angry , and that tempest thunder'd , Aspiring , threatning death , or future ill , Shaping , presenting accidents to kill . A hurrying mist comes sudden stealing in , Nor he , nor she , saw neither her nor him : In this strange temper passionately distracted , Torbinius now a sowre part sadly acted ; And all his griefes sprung , as it seem'd to me , From the sicke confines of perplexitie . A thicke-lin'd mist continu'd 'tweene them two , ( Loue wrapt in wrinkles knowes no worke to do . ) Thus Fortune makes , & thus mad Fortune marres , Loue is still Souldier at such ciuill warres . Sighing , lamenting , these bad broyles to be in , That he should dye , and not his Lady see him , When onely for her sake hee ventured thus , ( Loue sees no dangers that seeme timorus . ) Torbinius . Then to himselfe ( I thought ) hee did reply , And said ; How lucklesse and accurst am I , Couer'd with fortunes foule dissembling fame , To dye for her that knowes not who I am ? Oh might I dye my Ladies face before , I would say Fortune were a noble Whore , In her faire sight to end Torbinius date , O then my death were not vnfortunate , Then she might iustly say ; here ended he , That liu'd , and lou'd , and dy'd to honor me : But Gods , & Seas , & Winds , contemne my plaints , And their harsh Language trippes on Consonants : Then thus resolu'd , succeed what ill can proue , And if I dye , I dye for her I loue . I left him thus , and turn'd my greedy eyes Vpon the rocke where faire Delpheba lyes , Who now in blacke appear'd to me all couer'd , About the which sad Melancholy houer'd . Then to Delpheba there ( me thought ) resorted , Nymphes and Sea-gods , by their loue transported , To comfort her that seem'd so much lamenting , And know the sad cause of her discontenting . Delpheba . To whom she answer'd , I haue lost a friend , Which winged Fame can nere too much commend . O would to God I could Olimpus raise , And there set Trophies to his endlesse praise : And for his death , I chose this place to mone , " The teares are truest that are shed alone . " A dying life weepes for a liuing death , A tale vnseemely for a true friends breath . And as it is , it may be something better , Fortune 's a strumpet , and she is my debter , Promising best , when she perform'd the worst : Things that sound harshli'st , I haue had those first . The Gods and Nymphs began to tune their throtes , To keepe a consort with her cheerelesse notes . In this Diapason deepe , sad harmonie , Dull sences striue for sorrowes victory , Chimes iterating on this blacke-mouth'd dinne ; I then perceiu'd Torbinius comming in , Seeing Delpheba in such passions suited , In mourning weeds such ill cheere prosecuted , Attires himselfe in sorrowes for her sake , Torbinius . The Counter-tennor of her part to take . Vnto the fair'st my seruice I commend , T is onely thou my loue did apprehend , All dangers past compared to this prize , Seemes like a darke way to a Paradize . And on all dangers what 's he would not venter , Those all being past , might to thy presence enter ? And am I happy to be comne thus neere thee ? And art thou kind ? or can my comming cheere thee ? I 'le weare what thou wears , what thou loues I le keep I 'le laugh when thou smiles , when thou sighes I le weep . What most shall grieue thee , it shal most torment me , What best shal please thee , that shal best content me . If Natures pride be but so kinde as faire , All stormes are past , I do not care for Care . I loue thee now when sad laments increase , To haue thy loue when passions turne to peace . Expecting Sommer when cold March is past , I 'le wait ten months to haue a May at last . I l'e reape no Haruest but where thou hast sowne , My loue in thy loue shall exceed thy owne . And but in thee , no hope , no hap , no health , And but in thee no will , no wish , no wealth . For what thou mournes , I waile , thy part I take ; Now blessed be all women for thy sake . In thee I loue , in thee I onely liue , 'T is I that begges , and it is thou can giue . Nor do I craue thee more then may beseeme thee , Thou art my best hap , and I most esteeme thee . Make me a seruant at thy sacred shrine ; This life is that life , let that life be mine . What good , what ill , what life , what all to thee , That good , that ill , that life , that all to me . Comforts attend thee , all good hap befriend thee , Duties commend thee , wished power defend thee . Make me thy seruant , smile on my request , Delphebaes Scholler I am now profest . At Lunaes full the skyes seeme in their state , At Princes birthes the earth lookes fortunate . The one decayes when in her chiefest prime , The other dyes when in his hopeful'st time . My teares are falling for a friend that lou'd me , He 's dead , he 's gone , & thus his death hath mou'd me His death is liuing , and my life is dying , My life is creeping , and his death is flying . My losse , his gaine : his wealth my wo compriz'd , Are two contraries strangely exerciz'd . My plaints and teares , and sorrowes , still augmented , Complaining , blubber'd , lasting more tormented . Much pitty'd cheerenesse , much lamented neernesse , Vnharbor'd , fearelesse , vnfrequented neerenesse , Desolate , distressed , frustrate , vn-respected , Incommitate , oppressed , complicate , neglected : And of all these ills there is but one mother , Pale Death , leaues our life this gift , and no other . The earth and Mortals must submit their Powers , To serue a Will aboue this will of ours . Of what earth can do I may iustly vaunt , What heauens will haue I must needly grant . O death , ô death , thy spoiles I cannot mend , Yet I 'le performe the duty of a friend : Some friends liue yet , 't is you appeares to me Will be associate in my misery . You , you , Torbinius , for your great desert , Shall haue the best place in my conquer'd heart : My loue , shall your loue pay with wisht reward , And with Delpheba be in best regard : Expecting sorrowes will be sooner past , And ioy ( though long ) yet will be here at last : The skies look cheerly , that e're-while lok't strangly , The seas are smiling that but now were angry , I thinke the Gods ( together ) haue decreed To change our muffled melancholy weed , And for our late lamented Funerals , Now to erect contented Nuptials ; In pledge of loue I greete thee with a kisse , I owe thee more , suppose , by giuing this . Now let me craue you to decide this thought And be not partiall ; which of these two ought To be lamented more ? her teares are sowne , For her friends haruest that pale death hath mowne : His teares are spent for her calamities , That seemes a mother of sad miseries . Shee weepes for him that neuer can do better , Hee weepes for her that yet is natures debter : Then rightly scan'd if iudgement rightly do , 'T will say her teares , no wise worke takes them too : Whether she weepe for freind sake , or her owne , 'T is yet a question , and it is not knowne , If for her owne sake ( I must needs be plaine ) Shee thought by his life to reape future gaine ; This wailing no man rightly can commend , For thus she proues a very vnkind freind . If she lament for his sake , wise men saith , Shee showes th' imbecillity of her faith . And by that weakenesse it appeares to me Shee thinkes her selfe in better case then he : She ought not t'weepe that he hath run so fast , But at her slow pace that must go at last . But now ( me-thinkes ) Delphebas wondrous wise , To make a Summer of her Winters eies : All friendly duties are discharged duly , Old Natures loue is paid by wisedome truly . The Sun , and Aire , & houering Winds do mutter , Conceiuing more ioy , then dumbe sence can vtter : The Sea-gods whisper iump in all opinions , To order peace through their vntil'd Dominions , And tooke their leaue , all Tempests now are gone , Torbinius and Delpheba now alone , They ioyned hands and then ( me thought ) did passe Backe to the shore where great attending was , And being landed dangers all bereft them , My dreame was ended and in ioy I left them . Ex aspectis nascitur amor . When Lordly Phaebus left his Esterne Ile , And with his splendor that Titanian smile , Came like a Prince from th' orientall gate , So richly suted in his robes of State . The chearelesse earth shooke off her dewy tresses , And from darke curtaines now her shades digresses . I lookt about me , Douer was not neere mee , That now contents me , which but then did feare me . I then perceiu'd 't was on the bancke of Thames , That I retain'd th' inuention of my dreames : And as the pleasant Riuer fast did glide , With pratling murmur by the Kentish side , I laid me downe neere to a Willow roote , Whose branches farre had ouer-growne the foote ; The searching Sunne not in a day obtain'd , To see the stocke whereby she was maintain'd . 'T was publicke knowne a fairer tree then this , Ne're neighbour'd neere the bankes of Thamesis . I there repos'd vpon this dewy brimme . And , as I thought , the Tide came stealing in . Thames that e're while gaz'd vpon Phoebus prime , Turn'd now againe to watch for his decline : Night went , day came , all ioyes on tiptoes shiuer , A snow white Swanne came playing vp the Riuer : Ruffling his plumes and in such ioy did swimme , You would haue sworne the Tide much fauor'd him . His so faire breast dinted the furrowing Isis , Who saith he saw a worthier bird then this is ? Both Kent and Essex gather'd neere to see , Where the first landing of this Swanne might bee : Faire Middle-sex pul'd downe her maske and Fan , To see the Tide bring in this stranger Swan . O how it ioy'd me to heare musicke greet him In seuerall tunes , and other Swannes did meete him ; Their Princely salutations sure were such , As London neuer saw of mirth so much . Now , in the end , where this faire Swan took landing , Let none decide but those of vnderstanding . Quisque potest rebus succurrere , nemo diebus . To Fredericke . Omnia fert tempus . When thou ( great Prince ) from Rhenus natiue clime ( Richer then Tagus , faire as Florentine , ) Pul'd vp thy Ensignes , clad thy ratling Sailes , The wind , thy vyage , and the Tide preuailes , To bring thee to our Easterne tumbling Thames , The Ocean's message to great Britaines IAMES : And may that howre in happy times to come Be cal'd thy landing in Elizium : Happy thy birth , more fortunate thy life , Prosperous thy voyage , vertuous thy wife : Vertue , Virginity , Honour , Natures pride , Thou art her Husband , and Shee is thy Bride , And consecrated shall that day be thought : The howre and Isis that thee hither brought , Shall be erected in great Fames Register , And thy reward is prou'd a Princes Sister . Fame cannot chuse but impe her pinion'd wing , And in loud Musicke for thy welcome sing : Feast thee , attend thee , and in more esteeme Then Cleopatra the Egiptian Queene Feasted Marke Anthony , nor can thou say , Thou came in Autumne , it was rather May ; Onely crosses of lamented Funerals , Chanc't in the Frontiers of thy Nuptials . Vxor bona , optima possessio . O worthy FREDERIKE , it was Lordly done , That thou thy selfe in person hither come . It shewes thy minde is Noble , and indeed , Sprung from the airie where true Eagles breed . Eagles in Cages , are but Kings in Towers , And but enioy the name of Princely powers . Kings are earths Gods , and Gods liu'd not at home , But had a mind in forraine Climes to rome . 'T is register'd not many Ages since , Solon of Athens was to choose a Prince : Being demanded how he meant to know , A man well worthy of a Crowne ( or no ) Answer'd : If this choyce be to me assig'nd , I l'e choose a Prince , and onely by the minde : If inward Noble , I heard wise men tell , Hee 's worth a Crowne , and 't will seeme passing wel . By this I noted , how thou truly merits The perfect beautie that thou now inherits , And sure she thinkes thee a right worthy Prince , That would thy trauels ( for her sake ) conuince . If all that trauel'd might enioy like store , The lame would run , that scarce could go before . Who would not trauell , and to them owe duties , When each eye finds perfections in their beauties ? Liue long , great Prince , and be thy chosen prize A faire terrestriall happy Paradize . To Germany . In time hereafter , yet remember Thame , How once she welcom'd a yong Prince of Rhene . Amicos nouos parans , ne obliuiscaris veterum . Virtus in se habet omnia bona . To Elizab. Faire Princesse , vertuous ; what to good belongs Thou art the mother to , Applause so throngs , T' attend on thee , and 'mongst the rest my part , It is thy merites makes my loue and Art , Vprear'd on tiptoes , and yet would aspire To giue thee what is due , and my desire , Tels but thy name , and it is all I can , Those do no more , that professe what I am : Nor can , nor neede , for all remembreth That thou art onely that Elizabeth , Which forraine Ecchoes in loud notes doth ring , To be the daughter of great Britaines King . Nor is it I that labours in thy praise , I know thy name 's thy Trumpet , and can raise It selfe to' th' height of honour ; why I write To tell my duty , and this Epithite , Is stuft full of Affection : what if poore ? The gifts are great when giuers haue no more : And should indeed be thought our Alexander , Macedo's sonne : the Easterne great Commander , Was nam'd in Cottages by th' low'st degree ; Then of a Miller : ô good God said hee , There 's not a Miller now but knowes my name , Meaning indeed Report addes life to Fame ; Fame's like the Sunne , and not disdaines to view Both Courts and Cottages , neither doth rue Of their great courtesies : marke well each seate , And great men proud , makes them vnseemely great . A woman silent , great by birth before , So richly drest , Fame shapeth more and more . Eliza , England truly boasts of thee To be the Treasurer of each Treasurie , That euer grac't a woman : must we leaue thee ? I l'e now trust Fortune ; for't did not deceiue me . I euer thought so faire a flower as this , Should grace some other place then Thamesis . And yet faire Princesse , vertuous I meane , Remember Thames when thou art set on Rhene . How gladly thunder'd she lowd Epithets , Professed peales , all to her Nuptiall Rites ? Did she not summon gazers to thy Reuels , And what was knotty , with her tide she leuels ? Dis-gorged Canons fire in seuerall shapes , Enemies suffer when true Christians scapes . Meteors i' th aire , she did her owne selfe choake , All London thought Thames wold dissolue to smoke , And all the Reuels this faire Floud did make , Worthy Eliza , was but for thy sake . When thou wast married , she by chance heard tell , And did but this because she loues thee well . At thy depart , shee 'l follow thee and weepe , And then shee 'l turne thy worthy stocke to seeke , And finding them , shee 'l leaue her sobbing moane , Onely shee 'l each day see where thou hast gone . Well may she boast she was of able power , To grace faire Rhenus with an English flower . And when these two meet in great Oceans , Thei 'l know each other by their natiue Swans . So by this marriage , Eccho vnderstands , 'T will make acquainted both the Seas and Lands . A happy time , a good world may it be , After yong Frederike came to match with thee . O noted howre , blest be the God aboue , Thou but leaues England to enioy thy loue ; And for thy absence Britaine in a mends Hath gained great store of true Christian friends . Liue , liue , faire Princesse , may thy seede , thy fame , In cinders , ashes keepe aliue thy name . Foelicitas est voluptas , quam paenitudo nulla sequitur . Creator per creaturas cognoscendus . Heu , some will say when they haue lost a friend And make his funerall , e're they see his end ; A number now are buried in conceit When they 'r ( indeed ) not sicke , yet teares will wait . There is a death in absence some suppose , Who thinkes there is ? for I am none of those : Is England loth to loose so faire a creature As art thy selfe Eliza ? ô , Dame Nature Cast thee not in her mould of best perfection , Euer to liue a Virgin , heauens direction Smil'd at thy birth and meant to make a mother , That when thou dies thou may leaue such another . Virginity dies a Traitor , her possessions Like traitors Earldomes make such large digressions They leaue no Heires at all , by this I see A Virgine cannot leaue posterity . To Elizab. As thou art honour'd for a Virgins life , Thou still shalt liue , because a happy wife . I heard it said , the first time Nestor smil'd , Was when he saw a woman great with child ; And being asked why he smil'd ( and blest her , ) Said he , the next age will remember Nestor . And thou faire Princesse in the age to come , Shall liue by Fame when Natures life hath done : And death hath truely paid her Fame to time Shall build their blazons to the seed of thine . Fama velox est , crescitque eundo .