Caffandra was her name, above the rest
Renown'd for birth, with fortune amply blefs'd.
Lyfimachus, who rul'd the Rhodian state,
Was then by choice their annual magistrate:
He lov'd Caffandra too with equal fire,
But fortune had not favour'd his defire;
Crofs'd by her friends, by her not disapprov'd,
Nor yet preferr'd, or like Ormisda lov'd :
So ftood th' affair: fome little hope remain'd,
That, should his rival chance to lose, he gain'd.
Mean time young Pafimond his marriage prefs'd,
Ordain'd the nuptial day, prepar'd the feast;
And frugally refolv'd (the charge to shun,
Which would be double fhould he wed alone)
To join his brother's bridal with his own.
Lyfimachus, opprefs'd with mortal grief,
Receiv'd the news, and study'd quick relief:
The fatal day approach'd; if force were us'd,
The magiftrate his public truft abus'd;
To juftice liable, as law requir'd;
For, when his office ceas'd, his power expir'd:
While power remain'd, the means were in his hand.
By force to feize, and then forfake the land:
Betwixt extremes he knew not how to move,
A flave to fame, but, more a flave to love :
Reftraining others, yet himself not free,
Made impotent by power, debas'd by dignity.
Both fides he weigh'd: but, after much debate,
The man prevail'd above the magiftrate.
Love never fails to mafter what he finds, But works a different way in different minds, The fool enlightens, and the wife he blinds. This youth propofing to poffefs and scape, Began in murder, to conclude in rape :
Unprais'd by me, though heaven fometimes may bless
An impious act with undeserv'd fuccefs:
The great it seems are privileg'd alone
To punish all injustice but their own.
But here I ftop, not daring to proceed,
Yet blush to flatter an unrighteous deed:
For crimes are but permitted, not decreed.
Refolv'd on force, his wit the prætor bent,
To find the means that might fecure th' event;
Nor long he labour'd, for his lucky thought
In captive Cymon found the friend he fought;
Th' example pleas'd: the cause and crime the fame;
An injur'd lover, and a ravish'd dame.
How much he durft he knew by what he dar'd,
The lefs he had to lofe, the lefs he car'd,
To manage loathfome life when love was the reward.
This ponder'd well, and fix'd on his intent,
In depth of night he for the prifoner fent ;
In fecret fent, the public view to fhun,
Then with a fober fmile he thus begun.
The powers above, who bounteously bestow
Their gifts and graces on mankind below,
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 firft they must be try'd:
These fruitful feeds within your mind they fow'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 groffer parts; they gave you care
To please, and courage to deserve the fair.
Thus far they try'd you, and by proof they found
The grain intrufted in a grateful ground:
But ftill the great experiment remain'd,
They fuffer'd you to lofe the prize you gain'd;
That you might learn the gift was theirs alone:
And when reftor'd, to them the bleffing own.
Reftor'd it foon will be; the means prepar'd,
The difficulty smooth'd, the danger shar'd:
Be but yourself, the care to me refign,
Then Iphigene is yours, Caffandra mine.
Your rival Pafimond purfues 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, Ormifda mine,
As much declar'd as Pafimond is thine:
To-morrow muft their common vows be ty'd:
With love to friend, and fortune for our guide,
Let both refolve to die, or each redeem a bride.
Right I have none, nor haft thou much to plead;
'Tis force, when done, must justify the deed:
Our task perform'd, we next prepare for flight:
And let the lofers talk in vain of right:
We with the fair will fail before the wind,
If they are griev'd, I leave the laws behind.
Speak thy refolves: if now thy courage droop,
Defpair in prison, and abandon hope:
But if thou dar'ft in arms thy love regain
(For liberty without thy love were vain);
Then fecond my defign to feize the prey,
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 fhew the foes:
For from the firft, when love had fir'd my mind,
Refolv'd I left the care of life behind.
To this the bold Lyfimachus reply'd,
Let heaven be neuter, and the fword decide;
The fpoufals are prepar'd, already play
The minstrels, and provoke the tardy day:
By this the brides are wak'd, their grooms are dress'd;
All Rhodes is fummon'd to the nuptial feast,
All but myfelf the fole unbidden guest.
Unbidden though I am, I will be there,
And join'd by thee, intend to joy the fair.
Now hear the reft; when day refigns the light,
And chearful torches gild the jolly night,
Be ready at my call; my chofen few
With arms adminifter'd fhall aid thy crew.
Then entering unexpected will we seize
Our destin'd prey, from men diffolv'd in ease
By wine difabled, unprepar'd for fight :
And haftening to the feas, fuborn our flight:
The feas 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 conteft,
Death fhall attend the man who dares refift.
It pleas'd the prisoner 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 fun arofe; the ftreets were throng'd around,
The palace open'd, and the posts were crown'd.
The double bridegroom at the door attends
Th' expected fpoufe, and entertains the friends :
They meet, they lead to church, the priests invoke
The powers, and feed the flames with fragrant smoke.
This done, they feast, and at the close of night
By kindled torches vary their delight,
Thefe lead the lively dance, and thofe the brimming bowls invite.
Now, at th' appointed place and hour affign'd
With fouls refolv'd the ravifhers were join'd:
Three bands are form'd; the first is fent before
To favour the retreat, and guard the fhore;
The fecond at the palace-gate is plac'd,
And up the lofty stairs afcend the last :
A peaceful troop they feem with fhining vefts,
But coats of mail beneath fecure their breasts.
Dauntless they enter, Cymon at their head,
And find the feaft renew'd, the table spread :
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