The duell of the stags a poem / written by the honourable Sir Robert Howard. Howard, Robert, Sir, 1626-1698. 1668 Approx. 17 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 10 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A44643 Wing H2991 ESTC R19749 12221801 ocm 12221801 56418 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A44643) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 56418) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 919:17) The duell of the stags a poem / written by the honourable Sir Robert Howard. Howard, Robert, Sir, 1626-1698. [4], 14 p. Printed for Henry Herringman ..., In the Savoy [London] : 1668. Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library. In verse. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700. 2005-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-04 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2005-04 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE DUELL OF THE STAGS : A Poem . Written by the Honourable Sir ROBERT HOWARD . In the SAVOY , Printed for Henry Herringman , at the Sign of the Anchor , on the Lower Walk of the New-Exchange . 1668. To His GRACE THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM . MY LORD , I Shou'd beg your pardon , cou'd I apprehend it were an error to present any thing to your Grace which comes from me , to whom I have made so entire a Dedication of my self ; but this advantage appears in all real esteems and friendships , they are as much above the Ceremonies of the world , as the usual Practise of it ; but your Grace has a farther Title to this , being more yours than Mine ; as much as an Image made well shap't and polish't , is more properly due to him that gave it that perfection , then to him that first dig'd the stone out of the Quarry ; it was an ill contriv'd House within , full of Entries and unuseful passages , till your Grace was pleas'd to take them away , and make it Habitable for any Candid opinion . At the same time when your Grace made this your own , you made me more justly yours ; 't was in your Confinement , where after some Concealment of your self , to weigh the Circumstances and Causes of your persecution , you generously expos'd your self to stand all hazards and tryals , from the assurance of your Courage , and advise of your Innocence ; and as your Grace in your adversity has found the advantage of an unshaken Honour , I doubt not but your Prince and Nation will find an equal benefit in your better Fortunes , by your Council and Service , which will always be directed by such a steady vertue ; and may all advantages that you encrease in , and all the Nation receives by you , be equal'd by nothing but the Content of My Lord , Your Graces most Humble and faithful Servant ROBERT HOVVARD . THE DVELL OF THE STAGGS . IN Windsor Forest , before Warr destroy'd , The harmless Pleasures which soft Peace injoy'd ; A mighty Stagg grew Monarch of the Heard , By all his savage Slaves obey'd , and fear'd : And while the Troops about their Soveraign fed , They watch't the awfull nodding of his head . Still as he passeth by , they all remove , Proud in Dominion , Prouder in his Love : [ And while with pride and appetite he swells ; ] He courts no chosen object , but compels : No Subject his lov'd Mistress dares deny , But yields his hopes up to his tyranny . Long had this Prince imperiously thus sway'd , By no set Laws , but by his will obey'd ; His fearful slaves , to full obedience grown , Admire his strength , and dare not use their own . One subject most did his suspicion move , That show'd lest fear , and counterfeited love ; In the best Pastures by his side he fed , Arm'd with two large Militia's on his head : As if he practic'd Majesty , he walk't , And at his nod , he made not haste , but stalk't . By his large shade , he saw how great he was , And his vast Layers on the bended grass . His thoughts as large as his proportion grew , And judg'd himself , as fit for Empire too . Thus to rebellious hopes he swell'd at length , Love and Ambition growing with his strength . This hid ambition his bold Passion showes And from a Subject to a Rival grows . Sollicits all his Princes , fearful Dames , And in his sight Courts with rebellious flames . The Prince sees this with an inflamed eye , But looks are only signes of Majesty : When once a Prince's Will meets a restraint , His power is then esteem'd but his complaint . His Head then shakes , at which th' affrighted Heard , Start to each side ; his Rival not afear'd , Stands by his Mistress side , and stirs not thence , But bids her own his Love , and his Defence . The Quarrel now to a vast height is grown , Both urg'd to fight by Passion , and a Throne ; But Love has most excuse , for all we find Have Passions , though not Thrones alike assign'd . The Soveraign Stagg shaking his loaded head , On which his Scepters with his Arms were spread , Wisely by Nature , there together fix't , Where with the Tytle , the Defence was mixt . The Pace which he advanc'd with to engage , Became at once his Majesty , and Rage : T'other stands still with as much confidence , To make his part seem only his defence . Their heads now meet , and at one blow each strikes , As many strokes , as if a rank of Pikes Grew on his brows , as thick their Antlers stand Which every year kind Nature does disband . Wild Beasts sometimes in peace and quiet are , But Man no season free 's from love or warr . With equal strength they met , as if two oakes Had fell , and mingled with a thousand stroaks . One by Ambition urg'd , t'other Disdain , One to Preserve , the other fought to Gain : The Subjects , and the Mistresses stood by , With Love and Duty to crown Victory : For all Affections wait on prosperous Fame , Not he that climbs , but he that falls , meets shame . While thus with equall Courages they meet , The wounded Earth yields to their strugling feet ; And while one slydes , t'other pursues the fight , And thinks that forc't Retreat looks like a Flight : But then asham'd of his retreat , at length Drives his Foe back , his rage renews his strength . As even weights into a motion thrown , By equall turns , drive themselves up and down ; So somtimes one , then t'other Stag prevails , And Victory yet doubtfull holds the scales . The Prince asham'd to be oppos'd so long , With all his strengh united rushes on ; The Rebel weaker , then at first appears , And from his courage sinks unto his fears . Not able longer to withstand his might , From a Retreat at last steals to a Flight . The mighty Stagg pursues his flying Foe , Till his own pride of Conquest made him slow ; Thought it enough to scorn a thing that flyes , And only now persu'd him with his eyes . The Vanquish'd as he fled , turn'd back his sight Asham'd to flye , and yet affraid to fight : Sometimes his wounds , as his excuse survay'd , Then fled again , and then look back and stay'd : Blush't that his wounds so slight should not deny Strength for a fight , that left him strength to flye . Calls thoughts of Love and Empire to his ayd , But fears more powerful then all those perswade , And yet in spight of them retains his shame , His Cool'd ambition , and his half-quench'd flame . There 's none from their own sense of shame can flye , And dregs of passions dwell with misery . Now to the Shades he bends his feeble course , Despis'd by those , that once Admir'd his force : The wretch that to a scorn'd condition 's thrown , With the Worlds favour , looses too his own . While fawning Troops their Conquering Prince enclos'd Now render'd absolute by being oppos'd ; Princes by disobedience get Command , And by new quench'd Rebellions firmer stand ; Till by the boundless offers of successe , They meet their Fate in ill-us'd happinesse . The vanquish't Stagg to thickest shades repaires , Where he finds safety punish't with his cares ; Thorough the Woods he rushes not , but glides , And from all searches but his own he hides ; Asham'd to live , unwilling yet to loose , That wretched life he knew not how to use . In this retirement thus he liv'd conceal'd , Till with his wounds , his fears were almost heal'd ; His antient passions now began to move , He thought again of Empire , and of Love : Then rouz'd himself , and stretch'd at his full length , Took the large measure of his mighty strength ; Then shook his loaded head ; the shadow too , Shook like a tree , where leaveless branches grew . Stooping to drink , he sees it in the streams , And in the Woods hears clashing of his Beams ; No accident but does alike proclaim His growing strength , and his encreasing shame . Now once again , resolves to try his Fate , ( For Envy always is importunate ; ) And in the Mind perpetually does move , A fit Companion for unquiet Love. He thinks upon his Mighty Enemy Circl'd about with Pow'r , and Luxury . And hop'd his strength might sink in his desires , Remembring he had wasted in such Fires . Yet while he hop'd by them to overcome , He wisht the others fatal joys his own . Thus the unquiet Beast in safety lay , Where nothing was to fear , nor to obey ; Where he alone Commanded , and was Lord , Of every Bounty , Nature did afford , Choose feasts for every Arbitrary sense , An Empire in the state of Innocence . But all the Feasts , Nature before him plac't , Had but faint relishes to his lost taste . Sick minds , like Bodies in a Feaver spent , Turns Food to the Disease , not Nourishment . Sometimes he stole abroad , and shrinking stood , Under the shelter of the friendly Wood ; Casting his envious eyes towards those Plains Where with Crown'd Joys , his Mighty Rival Reigns . He saw th' obeying Herd marching along , And weigh'd his Rivals Greatness by the Throng . Want , takes false measures , both of power , and joys , And envy'd Greatness is but Crowd , and Noise . Not able to endure this hated sight , Back to the Shades he flies to seek out Night . Like exiles from their Native soils , though sent To better Countreys , think it Banishment . Here he enjoy'd , what 'tother could have there , The Woods as Shady , and the Streams as Cleer , The Pastures more untainted where he fed , And every night , chose out an unprest Bed. But then his lab'ring soul with Dreams was prest , And found the greatest wearyness in Rest ; His dreadful Rival in his sleep appears , And in his Dreams again , he fights , and fears : Shrinks at the stroaks of t'others Mighty Head , Feels every wound , and dreams how fast he fled . At this he wakes , and with his fearful eyes , Salutes the Light , that Fleet the Eastern Skies . Still half amaz'd , looks round , and held by fear , Scarce can Believe , no Enemy was neer . But when he saw his heedless fears were brought , Not by a Substance , but a drowzy Thought , His ample sides he shakes , from whence the Dew In scatter'd showers , like driven Tempests flew . At which , through all his Breast new boldness spread , And with his Courage , rais'd his Mighty Head. Then by his Love inspir'd , resolves to try The Combat now , and overcome , or die . Every weak Passion sometimes is above The fear of Death , much more the Noblest Love. By Hope 't is scorn'd , and by dispair 't is sought , Persu'd by Honour , and by sorrow brought . Resolv'd the paths of danger now to tread , From his scorn'd shelter , and his fears , he fled . With a brave haste now seeks a second Fight , Redeems the base one by a Noble flight . In the mean time , the Conqueror injoy'd That Power by which he was to be destroy'd . How hard 't is for the Prosperous to see , That Fate which waits on Power , and Victory . Thus he securely Raign'd , when in a Rout , He saw th ▪ affrighted Heard flying about ; As if some Huntsmen did their Chase Pursue , About themselves in scatter'd Rings they flew . He like a careful Monarch , rais'd his Head , To see what Cause that strange disturbance bred ; But when the searcht-out Cause appear'd no more , Then from a Slave , he had o'recome before , A bold disdain did in his Looks appear , And shook his Aweful Head to chide their Fear . The Herd afraid of Friend and Enemy , Shrink from the one , and from the other Fly ; They scarce know which they should obey , or trust , Since Fortune only makes it safe and just . Yet in despight of all his Pride , he staid , And this unlookt for Chance with trouble weigh'd . His Rage , and his Contempt alike , swell'd high , And onely fear'd his Enemy should Flie ; He thought of former Conquest , and from thence Couzn'd himself into a Confidence . T'other that saw his Conqueror so neer , Stood still and listned to a whisp'ring fear ; From whence he heard his Conquest , and his shame ; But new-born Hopes his antient fears o'recame . The Mighty Enemies now met at length , With equal Fury , though not equal Strength ; For now , too late , the Conqueror did find , That all was wasted in him but his Mind . His Courage in his Weakness yet prevails , As a bold Pilot steers with tatter'd Sails ; And Cordage crackt , directs no steddy Course , Carry'd by Resolution , more then Force . Before his once scorn'd Enemy he reels , His Wounds encreasing with his Shame , he feels The others strength , more from his weakness grows , And with one furious push , his Rival throws . So a tall Oak , the pride of all the Wood , That long th' Assault of several storms had stood ; Till by a Mighty Blast more pow'rfully pusht , His Root 's torn up , and to the Earth he rusht . Yet then he rais'd his Head , on which there Grew Once , all his Power , and all his Title too ; Unable now to rise , and less to fight , He rais'd those Scepters to demand his Right : But such weak Arguments prevail with none , To plead their Titles , when their Power is gone . His Head now sinks , and with it all defence , Not only rob'd of Power , but Pretence . Wounds upon wounds , the Conqueror still gives , And thinks himself unsafe , while t'other lives : Unhappy State of such as wear a Crown Fortune can never lay 'em gently down . Now to the most scorn'd Remedy he flies , And for some pitty seems to move his Eyes ; Pitty , by which the best of virtue's Try'd , To wretched Princes ever is deny'd . There is a Debt to Fortune , which they pay For all their Greatness , by no Common way . The flatt'ring Troops unto the Victor fly , And own his Tytle to his Victory ; The faith of most , with Fortune does decline , Duty 's but Fear , and Conscience but Design . The Victor now , proud in his great success , Hastes to enjoy his fatal Happiness ; Forgot his Mighty Rival was destroy'd By that , which he so fondly now enjoy'd . In Passions , thus Nature her self enjoys , Sometimes preserves , and then again destroys ; Yet all destruction which revenge can move , Time or Ambition , is supyly'd by Love. FINIS .