Author: liza.blake

Hope, hearing Doubt an army great did bring¹
For to assault the castle she was in,²
For her defense she made that castle³ strong,
Placing great ord’nance on the wall along.⁴
Bulwarks she⁵ built at every corner’s end;                                5
A curtain long the middle did defend.⁶
Two faces make⁷ a point, from whence the⁸ cannons play;
Two points do make⁹ a third to stop the en’mies¹⁰ way;
The wings were not¹¹ too short, nor curtains were¹² too long;
The points were not¹³ too sharp, but blunt to make them strong.¹⁴ 10
Round¹⁵ the castle, enemies out to keep,
A ditch was dug,¹⁶ which was both wide and deep;
Bridges were¹⁷ made to draw or let at length;
The gates had iron bars of wondrous strength.
Soldiers upon the curtain’s line did stand,                               15
And each did hold¹⁸ a musket in his hand.
When Hope had ordered all about her fort,
Then she did call a council to her court.
“I hear,” said she¹⁹ “that Doubt a war will make,
And bring great force this castle for to take,                            20
Wherefore, my friends, provisions must be sought,
And first of all, good store of victuals bought:
Hunger doth lose more forts, than force doth win,
Then must we with the stomach first begin.
The next is arms, the body for to guard;                                   25
Those that unarmèd²⁰ are, are soon’st afeared.
For²¹ to small use we make a ditch or wall
Without armed men to keep that²² wall withall.
Shall we neglect men’s lives and all their strength,²³
More than a wall, that may be broke at length?²⁴                  30
For ammunitïons, that mighty power,
Engines of death, which armies,²⁵ towns devour,
Yet are they of no use, unless mankind
Hath strength, skill, will, to use them as design’d.
’Tis wisdom²⁶ to advise what ways are best                            35
Us to defend, that we be not²⁷ oppressed.”
Then Expectation, being gray with age,
Advises²⁸ Hope by no means to engage
Too near her castle, but let that be free.
“Draw out a line about the town,” said she,                             40
“There make some works, soldiers entrench therein,
Let not the wars close at your gates begin.”
With that, Desire, though young, yet wisely spake:²⁹
“Alas,” said she, “Doubt that small line will³⁰ take;
So great a compass will your strength divide,                         45
A body weak may break through any side.
Besides, the soldiers will more careless be
When they a rescue strong behind them see.
But in the castle, where lies all their good,
There they will fight to the last drop of blood.”                      50

Doubt round¹ the fort of Hope intrenchèd² lay,
Stopped all provisions that should pass that way,
Digging³ forth earth to raise up rampires high;
Against Hope’s curtains did their cannons⁴ lie.
The line being long, it seemed the weakest place,                           5
Or else to batter down the frontier’s face.
There pioneers did dig a mine to spring,
Balls and grenados in the⁵ fort did fling;
Rams they did place, to beat their walls down flat,
With many engines more,⁶ as good as that.                                    10
But when⁷ Doubt breaches made in any part,
Hope’s industry soon closed it up⁸ with art.
Yet Doubt did resolve⁹ fierce assaults to make,
And did set¹⁰ ladders up the fort to take;
When Hope perceived,¹¹ great stones and weights down flung, 15
Which many killed as they on ladders hung.
Many did fall, and in the ditch did lie,
But then fresh men did straight their place supply.
Upon the walls of Hope many lay dead,
And those that fought did on their bodies tread.                            20
Thus various fortune on each side did fall,
And Death was th’only¹² conqueror of all.

Courage against Prudence a war did make,
For Rashness (her foe, his favorite)’s¹ sake.
For Rashness ’gainst² Queen Prudence had a spite,
And did persuade great Courage for to fight.
Courage did raise³ an army vast and great,                            5
That for the⁴ numbers Tamberlaine might beat,
Cloathed all in glist’ring⁵ coats,⁶ which made a show,
And tossing feathers⁷ which their pride did blow.
Such fiery horses⁸ men could hardly wield,
And in this equipage they took the field.                                10
Loud Noise⁹ spoke of this¹⁰ Army everywhere,
Until at last it came to Prudence’s¹¹ ear.
Prudence a council called of all the wise,
And aged¹² experience, her¹³ to advise.
Then Industry¹⁴ was called, which close did wait,               15
And orders had to raise an army straight.
But out, alas!¹⁵ her kingdom was so small,
That scarce an army could be raised of all.
At last they did about ten thousand get,
And¹⁶ care employèd was their¹⁷ arms to fit;                        20
Discipline trained and taught each several man,¹⁸
How they should move, and in what posture stand.
Great store of victuals Prudence did provide,
And ammunition of all sorts beside.
The foot were clothed in coarse yet¹⁹ warm array,              25
Their wages small, yet had they constant pay.
Well armed they were all, breast, back, and pot,
Not for to tire them, but to keep out shot.
Each had their muskets, pikes, and banners right,
That nothing might be wanting when they²⁰ fight.              30
The cavalry was armèd as in frocks,²¹
Gauntlet and pistols, and some firelocks,²²
Swords by their sides, and at their saddle bow
Hung poleaxes to strike, and give a blow.
Horses they had, not²³ pampered in a stable,                        35
But from the plow, which were both strong and able
To make²⁴ a long march, or²⁵ endure a shock,
That quietly will stand firm²⁶ as a rock,
Not starting, though²⁷ the guns shot²⁸ in their face,
But as they’re guided, went²⁹ from place to place.               40
Prudence for men and horses³⁰ did provide
Physicians, surgeons, farriers, smiths beside,³¹
Wagons and carts, all luggages to bear,
That none might want when in the field they were.
Strict order she did give to everyone,                                      45
Lest through mistake some wrong there might be done,³²
And as they marched, scouts every way did go,
To bring intelligence where lay the foe.
And when the army stayed some rest to take,
Prudence had care what sentinels to make:                          50
Men that were watchful, full of industry,
Not such as are debauched, or³³ lazy lie,
For armies oft by negligence are lost,
Which had they fought, might of their valor boast.
But Prudence, she with care still had an eye                         55
That everyone had match and powder by.
Besides, through a wise care, and³⁴ not afraid,
She always lay entrenchèd where she stayed.
At last the armies both drew near in sight,
Then both began to order for the³⁵ fight.                               60
Courage his army was so vast and great,
As they did scorn the en’my³⁶ when they met.
Courage did many a scornful message send,
But Prudence still made Patience by her stand;
Prudence did call³⁷ to Doubt for his advice,³⁸                       65
But in his answers he was very nice.
Hope, of that army great, did make³⁹ but light,
Persuaded Prudence by all⁴⁰ means to fight:
“For why,” said Hope, “they do us so despise
That they grow careless; error blinds their eyes.                 70
Whereby we may such great advantage make,
As we may win, and many prisoners take.”
Then Prudence set her army in array,
Choosing the⁴¹ Roman custom, and their way.
In bodies small her army she did part,                                   75
In dollops,⁴² which was done with care and art.
Ten in⁴³ a rank, and sev’n files⁴⁴ deep they were;
Between each part a lane of ground lay bare,
For single and loose men about to run,
To skirmish first, before the fight begun.                               80
The battle ordered, in three parts was set;
The next supplied⁴⁵ when the first part was⁴⁶ beat,
And⁴⁷ Prudence rode about from rank to rank,
Taking great care to strengthen well the flank.
Prudence the van did lead, Hope the right wing,                 85
Patience the left, and Doubt the rear did bring.
The en’my’s⁴⁸ army fiercely up did ride,
As thinking presently them to divide.
But they were much deceived, for when they met,
They saw an army small, whose force was great.                90
Then did they fight, where⁴⁹ Courage bore up high,
For though the worst he had, he scorned to fly.