ThePetitionforanAbsoluteRetreat.InscribedtotheRightHonbleCATHARINECountessofTHANET,mention'dinthePoemundertheNameofARMINDA.Lady Catharine, countess of Thanet ("Arminda"), wife of
Thomas Tufton, 6th earl of Thanet.
GIVEmeOindulgentFate!Givemeyet,beforeIDye,Asweet,butabsoluteRetreat,'MongstPathssolost,andTreessohigh,ThattheWorldmayne'erinvade,ThroughsuchWindingsandsuchShade,MyunshakenLiberty.NoIntrudersthithercome!Whovisit,buttobefromhome;NonewhotheirvainMomentspass,OnlystudiousoftheirGlass,News,thatcharmtolistningEars;ThatfalseAlarmtoHopesandFears;ThatcommonThemeforeveryFop,FromtheStatesmantotheShop,InthoseCovertsne'erbespread,Ofwho'sDeceas'd,orwho'stoWed,BenoTidingsthitherbrought,ButSilent,asaMidnightThought,WheretheWorldmayne'erinvade,BethoseWindings,andthatShade:CourteousFate!affordmethereATablespreadwithoutmyCare,Withwhattheneighb'ringFieldsimpart,WhoseCleanlinessbeallit'sArt,When,ofold,theCalfwasdrest,(Tho'tomakeanAngel'sFeast)Intheplain,unstudiedSauceNorTreufle,norMorilliawas;Norcou'dthemightyPatriarch'sBoardOnefar-fetch'dOrtolaneafford.CourteousFate,thengivemethereOnlyplain,andwholesomeFare.Fruitsindeed(wou'dHeavenbestow)All,thatdidinEdengrow,All,buttheForbiddenTree,Wou'dbecovetedbyme;Grapes,withJuicesocroudedup,Asbreakingthro'thenativeCup;Figs(yetgrowing)candy'do'er,BytheSun'sattractingPow'r;Cherries,withthedownyPeach,AllwithinmyeasieReach;WhilstcreepingnearthehumbleGround,Shou'dtheStrawberrybefoundSpringingwheresoe'erIstray'd,Thro'thoseWindingsandthatShade.FormyGarments;letthembeWhatmaywiththeTimeagree;Warm,whenPhoebusdoesretire,Andisill-supply'dbyFire:ButwhenherenewstheYear,AndverdantalltheFieldsappear;Beautyeverythingresumes,BirdshavedropttheirWinter-Plumes;WhentheLillyfulldisplay'd,StandsinpurerWhitearray'd,ThanthatVest,whichheretoforeTheLuxuriousJosephussays,thateveryMondaySolomonwenttotheHouseofLebanoninanopenChariot,cloath'dinaRobemostdazlingWhite,whichmakesthatAllusionnotimproper,andmaygiveusGroundstobelievethattheLillymention'dbyourSaviour(compar'dtoSolomoninhisGlory)mightreallybethecommonwhiteLilly,altho'theCommentatorsseemindoubtwhatFlowersaretrulymeantbytheLillies,asthinkingtheplainLillynotgayenoughfortheComparison;whereasthisGarmentisnotedbyJosephustobewonderfullyBeautifultho'onlyWhite;norcananyFlower,Ibelieve,haveagreaterLustrethanthecommonWhiteLilly.Monarchwore,WhenfromSalem'sGateshedrove,TothesoftRetreatofLove,Lebanon'sallburnish'dHouse,AndthedearEgyptianSpouse.Cloathme,Fate,tho'notsoGay;Cloathmelight,andfreshasMay:IntheFountainsletmeviewAllmyHabitcheapandnew;Suchas,whensweetZephyrsfly,WiththeirMotionsmaycomply;Gentlywaving,toexpressUnaffectedCarelesness:NoPerfumeshavethereaPart,Borrow'dfromtheChymistsArt;Butsuchasrisefromflow'ryBeds,OrthefallingJasminSheds!'TwastheOdouroftheField,Esau'sruralCoatdidyield,Thatinspir'dhisFather'sPray'r,ForBlessingsoftheEarthandAir:OfGums,orPoudershaditsmelt;TheSupplanter,thenunfelt,Easilyhadbeendescry'd,ForOnethatdidinTentsabide;ForsomebeauteousHandmaidsJoy,AndhisMother'sdarlingBoy.LetmethennoFragrancewear,ButwhattheWindsfromGardensbear,Insuchkind,surprizingGales,Asgather'dfromTheseCircumstancesarerelatedbyPlutarchintheLifeofSylla.Fidentia'sVales,AlltheFlowersthatinthemgrew;Whichintermixing,astheyflew,InwreathenGarlandsdroptagen,OnLucullus,andhisMen;Who,chear'dbythevictoriousSight,Trebl'dNumbersputtoFlight.Letme,whenImustbefine,InsuchnaturalColoursshine;Wove,andpaintedbytheSun,WhoseresplendentRaystoshun,Whentheydotoofiercelybeat,LetmefindsomecloseRetreat,WheretheyhavenoPassagemade,Thro'thoseWindings,andthatShade.Givemethere(sinceHeavenhasshownItwasnotGoodtobealone)APartnersuitedtomyMind,Solitary,pleas'dandkind;Who,partially,maysomethingseePreferr'dtoalltheWorldinme;Slighting,bymyhumbleSide,FameandSplendor,WealthandPride.WhenbutTwotheEarthpossest,'TwastheirhappiestDays,andbest;TheybyBus'ness,norbyWars,TheybynoDomestickCares,Fromeachothere'erweredrawn,ButinsomeGrove,orflow'ryLawn,SpenttheswiftlyflyingTime,Spenttheirown,andNature'sPrime,InLove;thatonlyPassiongivenToperfectMan,whilstFriendswithHeaven.Rage,andJealousie,andHate,TransportsofhisfallenState,(WhenbySatan'sWilesbetray'd)FlythoseWindings,andthatShade!ThusfromCrouds,andNoiseremov'd,LeteachMomentbeimprov'd;EveryObjectstillproduce,ThoughtsofPleasure,andofUse:WhensomeRiverslidesaway,ToencreasetheboundlessSea;Thinkwethen,howTimedo'shaste,TogrowEternityatlast,BytheWillows,ontheBanks,Gather'dintosocialRanks,PlayingwiththegentleWinds,StraittheBoughs,andsmooththeRinds,MoisteachFibre,andeachTop,WearingaluxuriousCrop,LetthetimeofYouthbeshown,Thetimealas!toosoonoutgrown;WhilstalonelystubbornOak,WhichnoBreezescanprovoke,NolessGustspersuadetomove,Thanthose,whichinaWhirlwinddrove,Spoil'dtheoldFraternalFeast,AndleftalivebutonepoorGuest;Rivell'dthedistortedTrunk,SaplessLimbsallbent,andshrunk,SadlydoestheTimepresage,OfourtoonearapproachingAge.WhenahelplessVineisfound,UnsupportedontheGround,CarelessalltheBranchesspread,SubjecttoeachhaughtyTread,BearingneitherLeaves,norFruit,LivingonlyintheRoot;Backreflectingletmesay,SothesadArdelialay;BlastedbyaStormofFate,Felt,thro'alltheBritishState;Fall'n,neglected,lost,forgot,DarkOblivionallherLot;FadedtillArminda'sLove,(GuidedbythePow'rsabove)Warm'danewherdroopingHeart,AndLifediffus'dthro'everyPart;MixingWords,inwiseDiscourse,OfsuchWeightandwond'rousForce,AscouldallherSorrowscharm,AndtransitoryIllsdisarm;ChearingthedelightfulDay,Whendispos'dtobemoreGay,WithWit,fromanunmeasuredStore,ToWomanne'erallow'dbefore.WhatNature,orrefiningArt,AllthatFortunecou'dimpart,HeavendidtoArmindasend;ThengaveherforArdelia'sFriend:ToherCarestheCordialdrop,Whichelsehadoverflow'dtheCup.So,whenoncetheSonofJess,EveryAnguishdidoppress,HuntedbyallkindsofIlls,LikeaPartridgeontheHills;TrainswerelaidtocatchhisLife,BaitedwithaRoyalWife,FromhisHouse,andCountrytorn,MadeaHeathenPrince'sScorn;Fate,toansweralltheseHarms,ThrewaFriendintohisArms.Friendshipstillhasbeendesign'd,TheSupportofHuman-kind;ThesafeDelight,theusefulBliss,ThenextWorld'sHappiness,andthis.Givethen,OindulgentFate!GiveaFriendinthatRetreat(Tho'withdrawnfromalltherest)StillaClue,toreachmyBreast.LetaFriendbestillconvey'dThro'thoseWindings,andthatShade!Where,mayIremainsecure,Waste,inhumbleJoysandpure,ALife,thatcannoEnvyyield;WantofAffluencemyShield.Thus,hadTheDescriptionofthisCave,isexactlytakenfromPlutarchintheLifeofCrassus.Crassusbeencontent,WhenfromMariusRagehewent,WiththeSeatthatFortunegave,ThecommodiousampleCave,Form'd,inadividedRock,BysomemightyEarthquake'sShock,IntoRoomsofeverySize,Fair,asArtcou'de'erdevise,Leaving,inthemarbleRoof,('GainstallStormsandTempestsproof)OnlyPassagefortheLight,TorefreshthechearfulSight,WhilstThreeSharersinhisFate,Onth'EscapewithJoydilate,BedsofMosstheirBodiesbore,Canopy'dwithIvyo'er;RisingSprings,thatroundthemplay'd,O'erthenativePavementstray'd;WhentheHourarriv'dtoDine,VariousMeats,andsprightlyWine,Onsomeneighb'ringClifftheyspy'd;EveryDaya-newsupply'dByaFriend'sentrustedCare;HadHestillcontinu'dthere,Madethatlonelywond'rousCaveBothhisPalace,andhisGrave;PeaceandResthemighthavefound,(PeaceandRestareunderGround)NorhavebeeninthatRetreat,Fam'dforaProverbialFate;InpursuitofWealthbeencaught,Andpunish'dwithagoldenDraught.NorhadSertorius.He,whoCrowdscou'dblind,Whisp'ringwithasnowyHind,Made'emthinkthatfromabove,(LikethegreatImpostor'sDove)TydingstohisEarsshebrought,Rulesbywhichhemarch'dandfought,AfterSpainhehado'er-run,Citiessack'd,andBattleswon,DroveRome'sConsulsfromtheField,MadeherdarlingPompeyyield,Atafatal,treacherousFeast,FeltaDaggerinhisBreast;Hadhehisonce-pleasingThoughtOfSolitudetoPracticebrought;HadnowildAmbitionsway'd;InthoseIslandshadhestay'd,Justlycall'dtheSeatsofRest,TrulyTheCanaryIslands,call'dbytheAncientstheFortunateIslands,andtakenbysomeofthePoetsforElysium.Fortunate,andBlest,BytheancientPoetsgiv'nAstheirbestdiscover'dHeav'n.Letmethen,indulgentFate!Letmestill,inmyRetreat,FromallrovingThoughtsbefreed,OrAims,thatmayContentionbreed;NorbemyEndeavoursledByGoods,thatperishwiththeDead!FitlymighttheLifeofManBeindeedesteem'daSpan,IfthepresentMomentwereOfDelighthisonlyShare;IfnootherJoysheknewThanwhatroundabouthimgrew:Butasthose,whoStarswou'dtraceFromasubterraneanPlace,ThroughsomeEnginelifttheirEyesTotheoutward,gloriousSkies;Soth'immortalSpiritmay,WhendescendedtoourClay,Fromarightlygovern'dFrameViewtheHeight,fromwhenceshecame;ToherParadisebecaught,AndThingsunutterabletaught.Givemethen,inthatRetreat,Giveme,OindulgentFate!ForallPleasuresleftbehind,ContemplationsoftheMind.LettheFair,theGay,theVainCourtshipandApplauseobtain;Letth'AmbitiousruletheEarth;LetthegiddyFoolhaveMirth;GivetheEpicurehisDish,Ev'ryonetheirsev'ralWish;WhilstmyTransportsIemployOnthatmoreextensiveJoy,WhenallHeavenshallbesurvey'dFromthoseWindingsandthatShade.