The ROYAL DREAM:
OR,
The FORESTERs Garland.
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AS I in my closet was reading alone,
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I reachd down a volume which treated of one;
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A great emperor formerly reigning at Rome,
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Who had but one daughter, so hard was his doom.
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Now if you have patience are willing to wait,
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A wonderful story of him Ill relate;
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How he a young infant endeavourd to kill.
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And how he was hinderd by providence still.
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The emperor hunting a long summers day,
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At length the dark night chasd bright Phebus away,
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When losing his nobles of honour and fame,
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He strait to the house of his forester came.
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And craving a lodging, declaring that he,
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A gentlemen was of a squires degree;
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Who had all the rest of his company lost,
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As over the midst of the forest he crossd.
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Ill grant thee a lodging the forester cryd.
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And likewise a supper he strait did provide,
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Of the very best the house could afford,
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Yet knew not that this was his sovereign lord.
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When supper was ended he shewd his new guest
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A wholesome plain lodging for taking his rest;
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While there he was sleeping the foresters wife,
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She brought forth an infant the joy of her life.
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Atut here is a wonder: This monarch indeed,
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That night was afflicted with troublesome dreams.
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The error of which I in brief shall declare,
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It was the foresters young son and heir.
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He dreamed that under the roof there was born,
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A child whom the fates had agreed to adorn
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His throne in full power after his decease.
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The thoughts of his dream much disturbed his peace.
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At length he arose from his royal repose,
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And so the lodge of his forester goes,
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And said, Honest fellow, come tell me aright,
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Has any young infant been born here this night.
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Yes, yes, worthy master, the forester said,
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My own loving wife of a son has been laid;
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And this very night The emperor smild,
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And cryd, I am willing to see thy sweet child.
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He had his request, and he viewd every part,
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With love in his visage, but spleen in his heart:
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For on the childs forehead a coronet there grew.
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Which made him imagine his dream would be true.
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If policy did not prevent his decree,
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As he considerd which way it might be,
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The blood-thirsty emperor thought of a way,
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The life of the innocent child to betray.
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The emperor cryd, Dost thou know, honest friend,
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With whom thou art talking, from whom it descends?
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No, no, worthy master, the forester cries,
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I never beheld you before with my eyes.
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Why I am your emperor that you did feast.
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The forester trembled, and feard at the least
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That he should be punishd for what he had said.
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Therefore on his knees for a pardon he prayd.
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Thou hast not offended, but pleasured me,
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And as a reward for thy kindness, said he,
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A place in my palace I mean to provide,
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For thy little son, and I will be his guide.
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The poor man replyd, My dear sovereign lord,
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Methinks you have profferd too great a reward,
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In taking such care of a foresters son,
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Yet nevertheless, your will shall be done.
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Then taking his leave he declard he would send
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To them for the child by the hands of a friend.
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The father and mother were both reconcild,
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In hopes it might be for the good of the child.
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About a month after three whom he could trust,
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He calld to his chamber, and told them they must,
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Obey his command, or they surely should die.
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They answerd, My lord, we will surely comply.
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He told them the tragical story at large,
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And on his authority gave them this charge.
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To fetch the young infant, and bring him away
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To some silent grove, where the same they might slay.
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Said he, Pray be careful in acting your part.
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Dispose of the carcass, and bring me the heart.
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They promisd obedience in every case,
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Then posted away to the foresters place.
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Now when they the emperors message had told,
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Two sorrowful parents you there might behold,
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The father he wept, and the mother likewise,
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Both bathed the infant with watery eyes.
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The messengers cryd, Tis a folly to stand,
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We came from the court by a special command.
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Which you thro obedience are bound to obey,
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Then give us the child without longer delay.
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The sorrowful mother she trembling stands,
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Which as she deliverd it into his hands,
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Take care of my infant she often did say,
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And see that it come to no harm by the way.
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They promisd her fair, and departed with speed,
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She little imagind her babe was to bleed
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To death by the emperors cruel express,
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So therefore her sorrow was so much the less.
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They travelled on to the heat of the day,
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And came to the forest where they were to slay
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The infant, but strait there arose a dispute,
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For two of the three were unwilling to dot.
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The man that was cruel did make this reply,
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If it be not done we shall certainly die,
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The emperor strictly enjoined he death,
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Therefore Im resolved to finish his breath.
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Remember the tears of the mother, said one,
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Remember her sighs, and her sorrowful moan;
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Remember the promise that to her was made,
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And let not our hands on the infant be laid.
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The third he replyd, If his life youll not take,
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What proper excuse I pray shall we make.
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Some heart we must bear to our soverign lord,
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Or death without mercy will be our reward.
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The rest replyd, We have found out a way,
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A fawn of the forest well presently slay.
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Whose heart well convey to the emperors hand,
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Declaring that we have obeyd his command.
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The child here well leave in the forest the while,
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Kind fortune perhaps may afford it one smile.
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By saving his life by some means unknown,
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Tis said in a bower they left it alone.
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They managd their matters in everything,
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And unto the emperor strait they did bring
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A heart, which he flung in the fire it seems,
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And laughed to think of the folly of dreams.
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Not far from that place there lived a knight,
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Whose lady was beautiful, charming, and bright.
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Yet nevertheless they no issue could raise,
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As being not blessd with a child in their days.
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By chance in the forest he hunted that day,
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And found the sweet infant where smiling it lay.
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He kissd it and blessd it a thousand times oer,
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Then home to his lady this infant he bore.
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Said he, In the forest this blessing I found,
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With bushes and briars encompassd around:
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It pitied me, lady, to find it alone,
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Well keep it, and love it, and call it our own.
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He orderd his beautiful lady to feign
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Herself in strong labour, in sorrow and pain.
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That so to the world they might freely declare
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This darling to be their own son and heir.
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She freely consented to all his request,
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And kept close her chamber, inviting no guest;
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At length thro the region those glad tidings rung,
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That such a brave knight was blest with a son.
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He grew, and was beautiful, proper, and tall,
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And gained the love and favour of all,
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That ever beheld him, both courtier and stranger,
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Yet fifteen years after his life was in danger.
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For then did the emperor make a decree,
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That lords, knights, and gentlemen feasted should be,
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In his royal palace, and at his own board,
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With all sorts of dainties the realm could afford.
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To this royal banquet repaired the knight,
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And brought the young squire his joy and delight.
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Who had at the time the emperor him see,
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The mark in his forehead as plain as might be.
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O then to the knight the great emperor cryd,
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That is not thy son, I am well satisfyd,
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So on thy allegiance now tell me the truth,
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That mark I have seen in the first of his youth.
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Then finding there was no excuse to be made,
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Unto his great emperor mildly he said,
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I found him one day in the forest alone,
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And kept it, because I had none of my own.
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The emperor called his servants likewise,
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Who came to his presence with watery eyes.
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Declaring what has been rehearsed before,
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And then on his knees did for mercy implore.
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He pardond his servants, the fault they did own,
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Then said to the knight, you must leave me your son.
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For I will maintain him both gallant and gay.
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It was but a folly to answer him nay.
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He left him, altho with a sorrowful heart,
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The feast being ended, they all did depart.
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But still in the emperors breast did remain,
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A firm resolution that he should be slain.
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The empress and her dear daughuer of state,
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They kept a rich palace both glorious and great.
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Some hundred miles from the city of Room,
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Where he was to meet his sad tragical doom.
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A letter soon after the emperor writ,
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And to the young squire the same did commit.
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To carry with speed, without any delay.
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Said he, My great lord, I am free to obey.
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The innocent squire he rid day and night,
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At length being weary he chancd to alight
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And rest in the castle of a noble peer,
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Who bid him right welcome, and made good cheer.
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The letter by chance he let drop in the room,
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So while he was sleeping the early did presume
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To open the seals with abundance of care,
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Which reading, he found a sad tragedy there.
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The words they were these: Take the bearer, I say,
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And put him to death without any delay.
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It is my command, therefore let it be done.
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The blood from his heart like a fountain did run.
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Thus having read it, he bitterly did weep,
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And said, Noble squire, thou liest in a sleep:
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What I am reading is thy tragical woe.
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But still Ill endeavour it may not be so.
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These words he rasd out, and writ in the place,
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The bearer Id have you respect and embrace.
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With all the affection of honour and state,
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And give him our daughter to be his sweet mate.
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With all expedition pray make her his wife,
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And love him as dear as you would your own life.
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Or else you the force of my fury shall feel,
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So having wrote this he close the seal.
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Next morning the squire rode up to the court,
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And came to the empress, as they do report.
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And gave her the letter which when she had read,
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She made preparations her daughter to wed.
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Soon after the emperor he did prepare
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With royal attendance to visit her there,
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And as he his letters before him had sent,
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To meet him in triumph the empress went.
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With her royal daughter and new-married son,
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The nobles they rid, and the commons they run.
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All filled with transports of joy and delight,
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But oh! when the son appeared in sight.
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The emperor flew in a passion and said,
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Oh! what is the reason I am not obeyd?
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My letter declared that he should be slain,
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And yet to my grief he alive doth remain.
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Sure you are mistaken, the empress cryd,
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You said that our daughter was to be his bride.
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Look here is my letter writ with your own hand,
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He having receivd it, was much at a stand.
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At last he broke silence, and said, I bless God,
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Tho twice I have strove to shed innocent blood
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Yet I by thy providence still am debarrd,
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I am disappointed, and he is preservd.
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Twas Heavens decree that it should not be done,
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So welcome my daughter, and welcome my son.
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And welcome my honoured empress too,
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My dream in the forest I find to be true.
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