MICROCOSMOS. THE DISCOVERY OF THE LITTLE World, with the government thereof.
Manilius.
An mirum est habitare Deum sub pectore nostro?
Exemplum (que) Dei quis (que) est sub imagine paruâ.
By IOHN DAVIES.
At Oxford, Printed by Ioseph Barnes, and are to bee solde in Fleetestreete at the signe of the Turkes head by Iohn Barnes. 1603.
TO MY MOST DEERE AND dread Soveraigne IAMES by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, be all heavenly and earthly happinesse.
THoughts, fight no more, but now (with Wits accord)
Yeeld al obedience to Arts rightest rule;
Then, like a constant treble-twisted cord,
Binde vp the sweet'st affections of my Soule,
And, in a Poesy giue them to, O no,
They are too base for such high Excellence!
Yet (prostrate) giue them to him, and say so;
So, I may shunne dislike, you, insolence:
Great (ó too narrow is this name for thee)
King, (yet too straite a stile for thy great worth)
And Monarch, (this with it doth best agree)
Deigne to accept a Base, base Wit brought forth:
And base it is (great Highnesse) in each line,
Because indeede it is too rightly mine.
His Maiesties lesse then least, and most vnworthy Subiect: IOHN DAVIES.
To the sacred Queene of Englands most excellent Maiestie.
IF those VVombs blessed be, from whom proceedes
A world of blessings to the VVorld accurst;
Or if that gracious be, that Graces breedes,
To make Men gracious, being at the worst;
O then how blest and gracious is thy VVombe,
Deere Daughter, Sister, VVife vnto a King!
Wherein Heaven wrought (as in a sacred roome)
Strong Props of peace, which blest Time forth did bring.
Vnto a Mother-maide we all are bound,
For bringing forth our Soules preservatiue;
Who, for the same, is Queene in Heaven Crownd:
And, sith thou bring'st our Corpes conservatiue,
We must crown thee in Earth, or els, we should
Doe otherwise then Saints & Angels would.
Your Highnesse most humbly devoted Vassall. IOHN DAVIES.
The vvhole Ile of greate Brittaine vvas of yore divided into 13. Kingdoms, as by Monuments of antiquity, and Historie (the vvitnesses of time) appeareth. viz.
England into 8. namelie, Kent, South-Saxons, East-Saxons,8 VVest-Saxons, Bernnicia, (aliàs Northumberland) Deira, (or Southumberland) Est-Angles, Mercia.
Scotland into 2. viz. Scottes, & Picts; The Scottes2 on the VVestside, the Picts on the East, called Pictlād, as the other, Scotland.
VVales into 3. viz. North-wales, Southwales, and3 Povvys-land. Vppon vvhich Plaine-songe thus I descant.
AN Articke Ile there is (most famous) found
In the great Lavor of this lesser Round,
Which Neptunes hand (as most esteemd) infolds
And in his vnsweet-sweating bozome holdes,
On whom at once, Heavens providence begate
Thirteene Kinges', which did her participate;
Shee fedd them sweetlie, made them fatte to grow;
For, from her Brest did Milke and Hony flow:
Who being pampred, so, ambitious made,
Gainst Nature gan each other to invade:
Shee greatly griv'd, they quited so her loue;
And ay to make them one, shee oft did proue:
But (froward) at the least, they would be Twoo,
So lived long (in strife) with much adoo:
Yet like a tender Mother (vext to see
That hir deere children could no better gree)
Shee laboured night and day with Tyme, to doe
That which shee tride, but could not bring them to:
[Page]Who (both togither ioyn'd) did them attone,
So, Tyme and shee, (at last) haue made them One.
Then if in One, Thirteene vnited be,
How great, how glorious, and how good is hee?
IOHN DAVIES.
AENIGMA.
A Treble paire, doth our late wracke repaire,
And sextiplies our mirth, for one mishappe;
These six, as hopes, to keepe vs from dispaire,
(When clappes wee feard) were sent vs at a clappe:
That we might clapp our hands in his high praise,
That made vs, by our Heads losse, much more faire,
And vs beheaded, so, our Head to raise:
One headlesse, made all looke as blacke as Hel [...]
All headlesse makes the Head and all looke well.
SPHINX.
IF this a Riddle be, then so be it,
Yet Truth approues what therein hid doth lie,
And Truth's most louelie in the Eye of VVit
When she is rob'd with richest misterie:
In few, by losse we haue gott benefitt,
That's, six for one, by lawfull vserie:
Then, if we gaine by losse, our losse is gaine;
So saith France, Flāders, Scotland, Irelād, Spaine.
To the iudicious Reader.
THou seest this great VVorld (Reader) & perchāce
Thine Eie is cloid with often seeing it;
Then see the Lesse with noe lesse circumstance,
Aud with VVittes Eie, that Monarchy of VVitte.
Microcosmos.
The Heav'ns and Earth, do make the greater VVorld;
And Soule and Bodie, make the Lesse (we prove:)
The Heav'ns doe moue the Earth, & they are whirld
By Him, that makes the Soule, the Body moue.
Primus Moto.
Who conquers it (at least) are Monarchs great,
Greater then those that conquered the greater;
For, from their goodnesse Men their greatnes gette,
And they are best, that doe subdue the better:
Prover. 16 32.
The great VVorld's good, but better is the least:
Things living though never so small, are better then liveles things, though never so great.
Then view it, to subdue it, thou wert best.
IOHN DAVIS.
A Request to the Cittie of Hereford.
Deere Mother, in whose Wombe my vitall flame
Was kindled first by the Almighties breath,
Lend me thy name, to adde vnto my name,
That one, with other, may keepe both from death:
Vnto thy conscience I (poore I) appeale,
Whether or no, I haue deserved it;
My conscience telles me I haue sought thy weale
With al my skill, my will, my woorth, my witte.
Iudge God, iudge good men, iudge my truth herein,
Impartiall Iudges you shall iudge for me;
If so, my soule is sear'd, or I haue bin
(Deere Mother) what I now would seeme, to thee:
Eph. 6.1,2,3,4.
And doe confesse, though vnkinde Parents proue,Yet are their children bound to seeke their loue.
Iohn Davies of Hereford.
In Microcosmon IOH. DAVIS II Herefordiensis.
Quadrua vis animat Prud. in Psycho [...]
[...]. Pyth.
Almae Naturae scatebram fontem (que) perennem:
Cuius quis pandet mysteria? quisve profundos
Audebit timidogressu tentare recessus?
Meram. 2.
Audet Davisius nec magnis excidit ausis.Non is Daedaleâ per coelum remigat alâ,
Nec Phaetontaeo raptatus in aethera curru
Stellarum inspector stupet, aut Iovis atria lustrat:
Horat. lib. 2. Sat. 2.
In se conversus, Divinae particulam auraeNon lippo aut lusco solers rimatur ocello.
[...] Epict.
Hunc lege quisquis aves Animani, tam nobile germenNoscere, decerptum delibatum (que) supremi
Quod de mente Dei quis (que) hoc in corpore gestat.
Non te AEgyptiacus teneat tardetve character;
Clau. epig. 21.
Nulla Syracusij Senis arte inventa morentur,Suspensus coeli fornix & vitreus orbis:
[...] &c. Ho. [...]. Iuv. Saty. 11.
AEdibus in proprijs quae recta aut prava geranturInspicias, haustam (que) polo vigil excute mentem:
Coelitùs emissum descendit [...].
IO. SANFORDVS.
Charissimo Iohanni Davisio Salutem.
OXoniae vates cum sis, Herefordia quare
Davisi, in titulo pristina scripta tuo?
Crede mihi, doctam non vrbem tale pigebit
Ingenium in numero nomen habere suo.
Charus & illius mihi nomine, charus & huius
Vrbis es: hinc artes ducimus, indegenus,
Charior at proprio mihi nomine: fas mihi suave
Ingenium, mores fas sit amare probos.
Ingenium mores (que) tuos redamem: illud & istos,
Plura mihi, cunctis hic lib [...]r ipse probat.
Robertus Burhillus Coll. C.C. Soc.
Liber Lectores alloquitur.
HEm! tu qui (leve paginas pererrans
Nostras pollice, & inquiete ocello)
Piscaris rabidum tibi venenum
Ex hoc fonticulo, scaturienti
Nisi Castaliae liquore, nullo;
Abito procul hinc: facessat ist hic
Ocelli malè prurientis ardor.
Non nostris olidae natant papyris
Algae; nec levibus tume sco nugis
Molestanta, scelus Patre expiandum
Lemnio! hinc profugus Cupido: lirae,
Sordes, qui squiliae exulant, & omnis
Putredo, iuveni nocens legenti.
Quin tu, sobrie, docte, perspicacis
Cui luces Aquilae, altius (que) acumen,
Et tu, Montis amans biforme culmen
Chara progenies novem Dearum,
Adsis; & genium, meum (que) carmen
Expendas (rogo) strictiore lance
Tui iudicij sagacioris.
Non supercilium, striasve frontis
Declino tetric as minacioris:
Thaletem accipio; venito Brute,
Censorem volo te; severioris
Nec durum fugio Catonis vnguem.
Hoc est quod fugio; labore tanto,
Commentum peperisse mollicellum,
Veltricas, apinasve; queis, inepto
Ridendi moveatur a [...]sa vulgo.
N. Debillus.
In Libri Auctorem.
PHilosophi laudes, laudes meruêre poêtae;
Davisius vatem, philosophum (que) refert.
Ergo Parnassi lauro, lauro (que) Lycaei,
Philosopho, & vati cinge Britanne caput.
Nam quorum Pylios vnum dare postulat annos,
Haec effecta duo sedulus ille dedit.
MIrum in modum, Men did wonder-maze,
Which wonderment, this later worke of thine
(Not by detracting from it) doth deface.
How so? by giving out a greater shine:
The soules Horizon that made light whil-ere,
But this inlightens her whole Hemispheare.
[Page]Blest be thou Sunne frō whēce this light doth spring
And blessed be this little World of light
By which who walkes, perforce must be a King,
King of a little World, in Fortunes spight;
For force, and vertue, in the soule doe sitte,
And they doe raigne that ruled are by it.
Thē raigne thou in Mens thoughts, thou thoughtful Soule,
Whil'st thy rare Worke among their Workes shall raigne;
For, it in passion, passion doth controule,
Then mightie is thy grace, thine Arte, thy paine:
As thou for writing faire art most renownd,
So, writing thus, thou must be Lawrell cround.
IOHN IAMES
Mihi charissimo Iohanni Dauisio Herefordiensi.
QVid petis nostrae leviora Musae
Fila, Davisi? fateor, Sorores
Tardus ignoro Ardalides. quid isthoc!
Me-ne lacessas?
Eia! nec factum bene! mellilinguis
Te canat Maiâ genitus; Camoenae
Te canant diuae; ingeminent (que) cantus
Agmina vatum:
Cui bono? Maiâ genitus, Camoenae,
Agmina & vatum procul ite: mirum
In modum dio cecinit seipsum
Carmine vates.
Dij boni, talis titulus Pöesi
Optimae quàm conveniens! & isthic
Microcosmos- sed tamen acquiesco;
Ipse loquatur.
[Page]Desinas & tu steriles arare
(Me citando) arvos: niveum Libelli
Est scelus frontispicium lituris
Tinguere nostris.
T. R.
To the Author.
MAns soule (th'Idea of our Makers mould)
Whiles it doth harbour in this house of clay,
Is so ore-whelm'd with passions manifold,
Is so ore-throwne with Adams olde decay:
That much like bastard Eagle, dimme of sight,
It dares not take a view of Reasons light.
O then, redoubled thankes deserues thy VVorke,
Whose Verse Prometheus-like striues to enflame
That sacred Sparke, which in our Soules doth lurke,
Giving blinde Reason eies to see the same:
Davies, thine Arte beyond our Arte doth reach,
For thou each Soule, soule-humbling Arte dost teach:
Thus Oxford Artists are oblig'd to thee,
Who, Stork-like building heere a while thy Nest,
For Earthly Lodge dost leaue an heav'nly fee,
Giving a Sword to kill that foe of Rest,
Faire learnings blott, which Scollers know to well,
I mean, Self-loue, which thy Self-Arte doth quell.
DOVGLAS CASTILION.
Vpon Master Iohn Davies, Beginning his Discoverie of the litle VVorld with a Preface vnto the most high and mightie Prince Iames the first King of England &c.
SO, ere he dare adventure on the Maine,
The prudent Sailoure prostrate on the shoare
Makes first his vovves vnto the
Castor and Pollux.
swan-bred Twaine,And their aspect religiously implores:
So, ere vnto the Ocean he sets-forth,
Who is this lesse Worlds great Discouerer,
He turns his eies vnto the hopefull North,
And viewes the Cynosure that shineth there.
Auspicious Star, at whose divine arise
Earth did put of her saddest maske of Night,
Shine mildely on him, who beholdes thine Eies,
As sole directors of his course aright.
So that the great world may the lesse world see
By that faire Light he borrowed first of thee.
Vpon the Discoverie of the litle VVorld By Master Iohn Davies.
GOe Drake of England,
Christoph. Columb.
Doue of Italie,Vnfolde what ever Neptunes armes infolde,
Travell the Earth (as Phoebus doth the skie)
Till you begette newe Worlds vpon this olde.
Would any wonders see, yet liue at rest,
Nor hazard life vpon a dangerous shelfe?
[Page]Behold, thou bear'st a World within thy brest,
Take ship at-home, and sayle about thy selfe.
The shippe wherein Sir Fr. Dra. compassed the World.
This Paper-Bark may be thy Golden-Hinde,Davies the Drake and true discou'rer is,
The end, that thou-thy-selfe thy-selfe maist finde;
The prize and pleasure thine, the trauell his:
See here display'd, as plaine as knowledge can,
This litle World, this wondrous Ile of Man.
Charles Fitz-Ieffry.
To the Reader.
BEyond the reach of vulgar intellect,
Inbred by Nature, but refin'd by Art,
Doth wisdomes Heyre this monument erect,
Grace't with what ere the Graces can impart.
Here, Wits not soild with looser blandishment.
The Subiect pure, abstruse, and worthy paine,
Annatomizing civill goverment,
And, of the Soule what Reason can attaine.
The many sweetes herein contained be,
Epitomiz'd, would aske too large Narration
To be compris'd within this narrow station.
Reade then the VVorke: when, if thou canst not see
Th'infolded flame; be rapt with admiration,
But censure not: for, Owles haue bleared eies,
Dazled with every Starre that doth arise.
To the Booke as it is dedicated vnto his most excellent Maiestie.
THrise happy Issue, brain-begotten Birth,
Wits pure Extraction, life of Poesie,
[Page]Togither borne with Englands endlesse mirth;
How haue the Heauens grace't thy nativity!
Wast from disdaine to powre th'ambrosian dew
(Dropping like Nectar from a sacred quill)
Into the common Lavour, vulgar view;
That Heaven deferd thy birth these howres vntill?
O blessed Booke, reserv'd to kisse that hand,
From which, desert nere parted discontent!
Go, pay thy vowes; await his dread command
To whom in prostrate duety thou art sent.
Shall He say, liue? flie Time; swell Lethe lake;
Burst fell Detraction; thou liu'st: and when
A thousand Ages dust shall over-rake,
Thy living Lines shall please both God, and men:
For, grace't by him, whom swift intelligence
Hath made Arch-Master of each excellence,
It needes must follow, that succeeding daies
Cannot detract from what he dain'd to praise.
Nicholas Deeble.
Ad Lectorem de libro.
BEnigne lector, parvuli orbis incola,
Qui coeca falsi transfretans mundi vada,
Dirigere recto tramite exoptas ratem,
Istum libellum vt Nauticum Indicem sequens;
Fugies Ceraunia saxa, Syrenas leves,
Fugies trucem Carybdin, & Syrtes vagas.
Vide Teipsum, & in spice omnes angulos;
[Page]Quisquis seipsum non videt, cernit Nihil.
Noscito Teipsum, cordis explorans sinus;
Quisquis seipsum nescit, hic novit Nihil.
Cura teipsum, vt proprij medicus mali;
Quisquis seipsum negligit, curat Nihil.
Vides teipsum modò Animam inspicias tuam.
Curas teipsum modò Animam sanes tuam.
Nathanael Tomkins.
TO praise thee, beeing what I am to thee,
Were (in effect) to dispraise thee, and mee:
For, who doth praise himselfe, deserves dispraise;
Thou art my selfe, then thee I may not praise:
But this, in Na [...]ure, may I say by Arte,
Thine Arte, by Nature, makes thee what thou art.
Your louing Brother and worst part of your selfe Richard Dauies
A Preface in honor and devotion vnto our most puissant, and no lesse roially-accomplished Soveraigne, Iames by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, & Ireland, defender of the faith, &c.
THou blessed Ile,
Albio [...].
white Marke for Envies aime,(If Envy aims at most felicity)
Triumph, sith now thou maist by iustice claime
Precedence in the VNIVERSITY,
VVherein best Iles doe striue for mastery:
Now, shalt thou be great MODERATOR made
In each Dispute, that tendes to EMPERY,
So that AMBITION shall no deeper wade,
Then thy DECREES in iudgment shall perswade.
Now Grand-dame ALBION, in thy grandure thinke,
Thinke seriously vpon each circumstance
(Sith late thou wert at Pitt of Perills Brincke)
That may make thee (though old] as yong to dance,
Mou'd by sweete straines of more sweete Concordance:
But staie (deere Mother) ô I doe thee wrong
To putt thee in thy Muses; now advance
Thy voice, in Praise to whom it doth belong,
GOD, and thy KING, that made thee, fainting, strong.
My son loue the Lord, and the King, and medle not with them that are seditious Prover. 24.21.
Thy God, and King, King given thee of GODTo make thee loue thy Go [...], and like thy Kinge;
And so gaue thee a Royall, for a Rod,
To punish thee with what doth comfort bring,
And make thee richer by his chastening.
Hee came by no
Killing this, or that Cousin; that, or this Competitor.
Meanders of Mans bloudVnto our Land; but with a sure slow winge
Hee [...]lew farre from it, and did leaue that Flud
On the left hand, for those that Right with-stoode.
Though home-bred harts may harbour strange desires,
Nere-pleas'd Perversnesse, yet, must needes confesse
He to this Crowne, by double right, aspires,
Bloud, and Bequest; say, Male-contentednesse,
(If thou dost liue, but I hope nothing lesse)
Ist true, or no? I see Shame holdes thy tongue
From such deniall; then, for shame, expresse
Thy loue to right, and doe thy Liege no wrong,
But say, long may our Crowne to him and his belong.
His precious Veines doe flow with our deer'st bloud;
2. Sam. 5.1.
Bone of our bones, Flesh of our Flesh, is he:If he by vs, then, should haue beene withstoode,
We had withstoode our selues; and cursed bee
The hand that with the head doth disagree.
Beyond his birth, he was a Kinge, in right,
And borne to beare rule, in the high'st degree,
Whose hand and head endowed are with might
Scepters and Crownes to weld, and weare aright.
And giue we her, her due, that now is gone,
Who had in her a World of Princely Parts:
Yet shee hath left her World, and Worth to one
Thats Master of himselfe, and of the Arts
Which Art, and Nature, but to Kings impartes:
And as this Queene was oft from death preserv'd
When in his lawes he had got all her partes [...]
So was this King from like distresse conserv'd,
And both (no doubt) for Englands life reserv'd.
And right well worthy of the Crowne is hee,
Were it more deere then Caesars Diadem
(When envious World did him her Monarch see)
That never did molest our Queene, and Reame,
That might with bloud, for bloud, haue made it streame [...]
That God that tenders all that tender bloud
Blesse him and his for it, and make his Stemme
Yeeld many Branches, that may ever bud,
And bring sweete fruit, for Scottish-Englands good.
Much Bloud, though drawne from Heavens vnholy fo [...]s,
Seemes irksome (if not loathsome) to their sight:
For, when iust David thought their Arke t'inclose
Within a Temple, with all glory dight,
(Which hee (in zeale) meant to erect outright)
Hee was forbad by Heav'ns most holy One
For making B [...]oud to flow (though in their right)
And that Taske put on peacefull Salomon:
[...]. Sam. 7.2.13.
Then peacefull be thy Raigne (deare Lord) alone
[...]. Sam. 7.2.13.
To build the Temple of true Vnion.
[...]. Sam. 7.2.13.
But, though our Bloud were thus deere in thine Eies
(More deere then Gold, although a double Crowne)
Yet did our feare thy
E: A:
Loue with care surprizeAnd bee'ng our owne, we vs'd it as our owne;
For, safe we kept it, as to thee its knowne:
We lou'd thee so, as still we fear'd thy powre,
For, if a wren from vs to thee had flowne,
We (as supposing that hee ment to towre)
Would keepe him safe, for loue and feare, in Towre.
Deere King, drade Sov'raigne, sacred Maiesty,
And what stile els, a mortall state may beare,
We, truely English, doe but liue to die
For thee, for that thou (stirred) didst not steere
Thy powre against our peace; but didst indeere
Vs to thee, by thy peerelesse patience showne,
True token of thy loue-begotten care
Of vs and ours; as if that loue alone
Had held our losse of bloud (as tis) thine owne.
Had not our blouds beene precious in thine Eie,
Thou mightst (perhaps) haue made vs buy it deare
Or made thee heire apparant publikely,
As Iustice would; but cro [...]t by private feare:
Stories swarme with Examples, farre, and neere,
That many further off, and of lesse force
To catch at Crownes, would heires thereto appeere,
Or pull of Crownes and heades of them perforce,
That, wearing Crownes, crost their vnblessed course.
But thou (to thy true glory be it said)
Though having hands of powre to reach a Crowne
Thou didst thy selfe containe, and praid, and staid,
Till now in peace thou haste it for thine owne;
And still may thee and thine by it be knowne:
That Scots, and English, no more may be two,
But made, by true-loues artlesse Art, all one,
As Nature hath made vs, and Contry too,
Both which to vnitie vs both doe woo.
So neighbour Nations seeing our concent
Shall stand in awe of our vnited powr's;
And (of our friendshippe glad) shall vs present
With precious gifts, and all that loue alures;
So all, as friends, while friends we are, is ours:
And may hee bee a terror made to all,
That twixt vs the least discontent procures;
And as a Monster most vnnaturall,
Let odious bee his damn'd memoriall.
If wee, when wee were but halfe, what we are,
And had a woman to our soveraigne,
Were able all foes at their dores to dare,
VVhat may we doe, when over vs doth raigne
A kingly King, and one Realme made of twaine?
If ever therefore twixt our Fathers were
(That now are rakt in dust) cause to complaine,
Let it be rakt with them, for wee are cleere
From wronging each, and each to other deere.
Both subiect to one Soveraigne, then draw wee
Togeather kindlie in subiections Yoke;
God, and our King will ioy, if wee agree,
But greive, if we each other shal provoke,
And make vs feele their wrathes resistlesse stroke:
Then dwell in our harts, for ioyes cordiall
(VVhich nothing but your sorowes can revoke)
Haue made them large ynough to hould you all,
Prov. 27.19.
And lend vs yours, to doe the like withall.Call for them when yee will, they shalbe yours,
Togither with the Tena [...]nts harbred there:
But take our harts, for now they are not oures,
But yours for ever, let vs then ende ere
Vs to you ever, who are to vs deere:
My voice, though base, to highest Concord tends,
Then tis in tune (I trust) to ev'ry Eare:
If it be harsh, my hart shall make amendes,
For it doth relish Loue which nere offends.
Then weigh our Prince (our Peace) with Vprightnesse,
And presse him to no more then that will way.
For, (if not too perverse) we must confesse
Our best requests sometimes may haue a nay
Wee may not aske God why he (somtimes) denies our requests; but because hee is as good, as wise, suppose it is for the best: no more ought wee a wise & good King, &c.
For better ends; which he may not bewray:
It is no ease for one two friends to please
VVhen both, perhapps, doe but for one thing praie:
Then die, ô die ere once him so displease,
As to vrge that, that may his hart disease.
O that I had a Soule-enchanting Tongue,
That with an Eare-bewitching violence
I might persuade to all that doth belong
To perfect Loue, and true obedience;
Sith our felicitie must flow from thence:
If so it be, then nought the VVill can moue
To loue, if obiects of such excellence
cannot allure the Mind and Will to loue,
As the felicitie which now we prove.
Our King comes not to our late barren Crowne
Himselfe alone, but brings a fruitfull Queene,
And (Englands comfortes) children of their owne,
By which the state ay stablisht may be seene;
Then blest are wee, if ere wee blest haue beene:
O let vs then blesse him whose blessednesse
Hath (when our sinnes expected sorrowes keene)
Preserv'd vs both from warres, and wretchednesse.
And let vs loue, in Soule, and singlenesse.
Giue vs your Daughters, and take ours in marage,
That, Blouds so mixte, may make one flesh, and bloud;
We will not yours, then doe not ours disparage,
But ballance all by woorth, and Liuely-hood,
By Vertue, Beauty, and what ere is good:
Each bend his wittes, and all his industrie,
To make all one in body, minde, and mood:
Then God will blesse all, bent to vnity,
And plunge vs all, in all felicity.
If Concord makes of weake, most mightie things,
And Discord of most mightie, things most fraile;
If subiects peace, and glorie be the Kings,
And their Disgrace, and strife his dis [...]vaile;
Then ô let my weake words strongly prevaile
To strongest peace, (that makes weak'st weaknesse strong)
Then, nought shall dare our daring peace t'assaile,
[...]ccl. 4.9.
But we shall right th'oppressed Neighbours wronge,And make them holde their owne, as we doe, longe.
As when a humane-flesh-fedd Caniball
Hath singled out some weakling, for a Pray,
And by the power of some Knight (armed all),
Is sker'd (at point to feede) with skath away:
So from th' opprest, we shall oppressors fray;
And be as Gods Liuetenants, heere belo,
To see his highest iustice done each way,
Prov. 24.11.
That Heau'n by vs may make the Earth to knoWe are Heau'n- holpe, to helpe all wronged so.
Whiles Myne, and Thyne, did disvnite our Crownes
(Two things for which, the Sire and sonne will iarre)
There was some cause, sometimes, of secret frownes,
That ended too too oft with open warre;
But now both We, and They vnited are;
And, surely to sustaine that double Crowne,
Fiue Proppes we haue, (Ambition so to barre)
Made of each others substance, so, our owne,
Then what remaines but still to loue, as One.
The Lion to the Dragon's reconcil'd,
That whilome did vpon each other feede;
Ierusalem hath David (erst exild)
Free denized, & King proclaim'd with speede;
Whose Members dance for ioy of that iust deed [...]:
[...]. Sam. 6.14.
Hir King is now, according to his Hart
VVhich, with, saue goodnesse, nothing is agreed [...]
He is a King in all, and in earth part,
By bloud (without bloud) Nature, Minde, and Arte.
Fortune that crost the will, and worke of Nature
For many yeares, hath now made her amends
By making vs, (as we are) one, in nature,
And of vnfaithfull foes, most faithfull friends:
That Hand on whose direction all depends
(Disposing Crownes and Kingdomes as it lists)
Hath made vs one, I hope, for endlesse endes:
Then curst be he that Heau'n herein resists;
And blest be him that it therein assists.
And, though I be no Seer, yet let mee
(Out of my darke foresight in things future)
Speake like a Seer, that can snch things see
That may be seene without the seeing pow'r,
And their like, seene of blind men ev'ry howr:
If sinne crosse not the course of Heau'n herein,
Our Land (that flowes with Hony, Milke, and Floure)
Shall be an Earthlie Paradice, wherein
Plentie, and Peace shall woo from, and to sinne.
But Plenty, like an Eaue-enticing Snake,
Shall tempt vs with the Eye-delighting frute
Of all voluptuousnes, which if wee take,
There is a powr that can our fortunes sute
VVith Adams, when hee Ead [...] was cast out;
And, with stil-sweating sorrow-furrowed Browes,
To liue, or begge, or starve if we be mute:
For nought hath roote so fast, or gaily growes,
But Hea [...]n [...] least puffe extirpes, and overthrowes.
O tis perfection next to that of Gods,
When Men are compast with all sensuall sweetes,
Then, then, to make the Will to know the odds
Betwixt that sweete that lasts, and this that fleetes,
And so restraine harts ioy when pleasure greetes:
An abiect Slaue will glutt his greedie Maw
A noble and good hart will haue consideration of his meate & diet. Eccl. 30.25.
VVith what so ere his Sense with sweete regreetes,If he can snatch it, but great Myndes withdraw
Their Wills from such base blisse, by Glories law.
A Beare will breake her Belly, if shee may,
So hoony be the meane to doe the deede:
And so will Men-beares doe, as well as thay,
If they catch hoonied sweetes, themselues to feede;
VVho make it their Minds laboure onely meede:
Basse humane Beasts, how senselesse is your [...]ense
That will gainst sense and Reason so exceede!
Base is your minde, worse your intelligence,
Odious to God, and vnto Men offence.
Eccl. 10.17.
If Landes are saide to flourish, and reioyceVnder new Kinges, though oft worse then the old,
How may this Land, as if shee had made choise
Of hir Liege Lord, (that now the same doth hold)
For vertue onely, ioy him to infold!
If Soules extreame ioy makes the Body dance,
(VVittnesse sweete Psalmist) then, deere Liege, behold
Thy subiects iesture at thine enterance,
And be assur'd they besse this blessed chance.
And see how Vertue pulls to, and putts fro,
Note Simil.
Like to the Load-stone whose North-point attractsAnd South-point putts off, what the North pulls to:
So thou (North-point) by right and vertuous Acts
Dost draw our Crowne, and vs to thee contracts:
And those, South from thee (that in show might draw)
By Vertue mou'd (as loathing bloudie facts)
Put off the Crowne, (before their head it saw,)
To thee, whose vertue breedes their loue and awe.
See, see how Mother Natures totall Body
Doth (as inspired with a second Soule)
Exult to see thee weare the Crowne vnbloudy!
See how the Orbes of Heav'n doe slowly roule
To slacke Times course, which they for thee controule!
The hoast of starres, with Sol their soveraigne,
Fight, all aspects malitious to ore-rule:
The Elements renew their force againe,
To blesse with plentie, thy thrice-blessed raigne.
Our Fields, are clad in three-pil'd Greene in Graine,
(Three pil'd for thicknesse that none sees the Ground:
In
Corne.
Graine which no Land can (for goodnesse) staine;Like ioyfull Sommer-Queenes, they thus are gound
To see their Ki [...]g (by whom they flourish) cround:
VVho will for thee such larges throw about
(VVith open hand) that Beggars shall abound
VVith fill of Bread; yea all the land throughout
Shall glut her Children with Milke, Flowre, and Frute.
Behold our Heards crowning our gorgeous Downes
Psal. 144. 13
VVith Diadems of rich and rarest Wooll!
See how the virgin Lambes, in milke-white Gownes,
Pro. 27. 26.
Doe skip for ioy (whereof their harts are full!)
No Beast, nay not the Asse (though nere so dull)
But in his voice (though vnarticulate)
Salutes these times, and vp their spirites pull:
So, Airie, and Watrie Flockes congratulate
Thy fortune blest, to staie this sincking state.
No Beast is backward in this common ioy,
But the slowe Oxe; and hee with open Throte
Complaines, for that Men will him now imploy
More then before; yet tunes a doubtfull Note
That none may him directly grieved note:
For, he (though nere so blunt of wit and sprite)
Cannot but know (except hee can but dote)
That his whole Tribe might haue beene bucherd quight
To feede huge Hosts, if thou hadst not thy right.
Our Houndes and Haukes, with Spaniels them among,
Togither drue their Heads, so to decree
(VVith Triumph such as to them doth belong)
How th'one should runne, and crie, the other flea
To sport their King, for their Sportes libertee.
They fear'd their game had beene expired quight,
And that their owne decay they soone should see;
For no flesh comes amisse t'a hungry wight
The person that is ful despiseth an hony-combe but vnto the hungry Soules (as hunger-bittē Soldiers) every bitter thing is sweete. Prov. 27.7.
That hunts for Flesh for neede, not for delight.The Rivers, dallying with their beautious Banckes
VVith voice of comfort, whisper in their Eares
That Swans shall decke them now, not Soldiers Rancks [...]
Swans, whose sweete Songs, shall banish cares and feares,
And both ioy-drown'd do interchange sweete Teares:
Each silver Prill gliding on golden Sand
Transmuted so, by these new golden yeares,
Oreflowne with ioy, doth laugh vpon the Land;
VVhich as with blisse entraunct, amaz'd doth stand.
The senslesse Trees, with sense of ioy past Ioy,
Send, through their Buff-skyn Barks, their iuyce in Teares;
VVhich ere they fall, blithe Nature doth imploy
In Buds, and Blossoms, so that each appeares
Smiling on all, and Roabes of Triumph weares:
So, all doe weepe and laugh, and laughing weepe
That earth (the Iade of Elementals) beares;
And as an holy-day, this yeare doth keepe,
Drownd in a Sea of hoonied pleasures deepe.
The Seasons of the yeare in councell sate,
VVhich of the fow'r thee first should entertaine;
VVho all decreed the Spring (as chiefe in state)
Should welcome in thy comming hereto raigne,
And decke our Triumphes for our Soveraigne.
Among the Monthes, March was thereto assign'd
Yet hee refus'd, till hee his puffes restrain'd,
And having spent his spight, to wit, his winde,
I [...] fine, he welcomes thee in mildest kinde.
The Day, and Night, straue then for greatest might
VVhen thou should'st come this Isl [...] of Isles to sway;
So greed, there should bee as much Day, as Night,
The Day to triumph in, the Night to play
VVith Heav'nly Visions, which sweete sleepes bewray.
Neptune now hugs his Darlinge in his Armes,
(This Queene of Isles) lest that his Tridents sway
Should bee made subiect to her Sceptred Armes,
So, flat [...]'ring, seekes to shunne his feared harmes.
Her Eies, (witnesse mine Eies) lights of the Land
Oxford, and Cambridge, distill'd ioyfull Teares,
VVith cries among, for loe, the Doctors stand
(Prest with the Presse) filling the Worlds wide Eares
VVith showts of ioy, that fainted late with feares;
Vp go their Caps; so Gravity for ioy
Doth light become, and Age like Youth appeares,
VVhich doubled mirth to see Eld play the Boy
And with Cap tost, till lost, to sport and toy.
Looke in the studies of the younge, and old,
Their wonted studies wee shall changed see,
For now the Muse their heades (deere harts) doth hold,
The while their hands are making lines agree
To meate their ioy, that cannot measur'd be:
Happy is he that can light on one line
That may expresse (and kisse it for a fee)
The thousandth part of what his hart doth line,
Namely that ioy, that no name can define.
Some bend their browes, and wroth with their conceite
Doe scratch their Cogitations
The fore part of the Scull.
hardest HoldFor having no Worths in their rude Receipt
VVorth the bestowing, though the worst be gold;
WVhich is but Drosse, compar'd with what they would:
Some other write and blot, and blotting write,
So thoughts in Blots infolded, thoughts vnfold;
Bewraying so the Worlds of their delight,
Is more then Worlds of thoughts can well recite [...]
And hee that best dischargeth his Soules charge,
Doth it displeasingly, with much a doe,
As when rare Preachers whith a blessing large,
Discharge their hearers, thronging out they goe
That at the Gate they sticke, and stumble too:
(VVhen some by maine force from their fellowes breake)
So, thoughts in them, so one another woo
To be out first, and so the same doe seeke,
That in the Portall of the minde they steeke.
And those that breake out, come but stumbling ou [...]
Nay, cannot stand, without some others stay:
So, one each other stay in stumbling doubt,
And yet no one can well his doubts bewray,
For doubt he doth, say what his friend can say:
He doubts his Lines may be (for Loue or hate)
Led to his Liege, that can all faults display;
Hee doubts their worth, and (carefull) doubts their fat [...],
So Doubts distresse his thoughts, oppresse his Pat [...].
Learning and Vertue, that did hang the Head,
As if they had receau'd their doome of death,
or had bin in a Dreame, or rather dead
VVith their kind Nurse deere Queene Elizabeth
(Who did thē, with hir Crowne, to thee bequeath)
Lo, on the sodaine how they looke aloft,
Being reviv'd (at point to render breath)
And with the Muses treade the Measures oft,
Meating their ioy with feete high-falling soft.
The Braine bredd Godesses, poore forlorne Crue
That still she feeds, which some [...] cal broken-Braines,
Some Poets, and some fellowes fangled new,
Some Rimers base (that all the VVorld disdaines)
And other some, Mēs plagues, (but they are swaines)
These being well [...]neere out of hart before,
Each to his fellow ioy vnfained faines,
Because they likely were to Bee no more
For being but (poore Soules) the VVorlds Ey-sore.
But when they heard with cheerefull Trumpetts clange
Thy peacefull name proclaim'd, as Englands king,
They skipt & daunc't, and Heav'nly Hymnes they sange,
That Angells did admire their Carrolling,
VVhich made both Heau'n and Earth with ioy to ring:
Each now retakes his late abandon'd Pen,
And Night, and Day they plie it, pestering
Thy Name with Fame, thy fame with more then Me [...]
Maie beare, if they be not remade agen.
And who hath held their Pens from blott of blam [...]
And ever kept their Muse immaculate,
Their conscience now takes comfort in the same [...]
As if some God were come, (that Vice doth hate)
VVith Grace their virtue to remunerate:
As when the Kinge of Kings shall come at last
To giue all Men their meede, in righteous rate,
The good alone reioyce in their liues past:
So perfect Po [...]ts now must comfort tast.
Now, their cleere Soules (free from distemp'ratur [...]
That constantly ensues vnconstant Vice)
Doe (Angell-holpe) draw Lynes divinely pure,
T'expres [...]e their Soules prais-worthy avarice
To draw their King to read their Subiect twice:
They melt in Nectar of Phrase most refin'de,
That may the Pallate of the Soule intice
To tast and retast (in a greedy kinde)
The Sweetes there mixt to recreate the Minde.
Healths, now goe round among the rude, & Civill,
The Earths best bloud, (that bettereth our bloud)
Is suck't each where, and he esteem'd a divill
That will not drinke (to show his mery moode)
A little more (perhapps) then does him good:
If VVine were made to gladd the hart of Man
Psal. 104. 1 [...]. Eccl. 31.28.
(Although our gladnesse needes no wyny floudd)
Then now, or never, troule about the Cann,
Till sober moode cries hoe, and no more can.
When the righteous are in auctority the people reioyce: but when the wicked bear rule, the people sigh. Prover. 29 2.
A time there is for all things vnder Sunn [...],A time for mirth, aswell as to be sadd,
The time for mirth is now, ev'n now begun,
Now wisest men with mirth doe seeme starke madd,
And cannot choose their harts are all so gladd.
Then let's be merry in our God, and King
That made vs merry, being ill bestadd;
South [...]hampton vp thy cappe to Heauen fling
And on the
Psal. 144. 9.
Violl there sweet praises sing,For he is come that grace to all doth bring.
If thou did'st faul [...], (iudge Heau'n, for I will spare thee,
Because my faults are more then can be cast)
It did to greater glorie but prepare thee,
Sith greater vertue now thereby thou hast.
Ps. 119.67.71.
Before our troubles we seeme goodnesse past.But cold Afflictions water cooles the heate
VVhich Youth, and Greatnesse oft too much doth wast;
And Queenes are coy, and cannot brooke the sweat
That such heate causeth for it seemes vnsweete.
But yet thy woorth doth wrest from what soere
thereto opposd, by vnseene violence
Acknowledgment of what in thee is deere
That is, the glory of much excellence
God & King.
Fitt for the vse of high'st preheminence:The VVorld is in the wane, and worthy Me [...]
Haue not therein in each place residence:
Such as are worthy should be cherisht then,
And being overthrowne raisd vp agen.
Pembrooke to Court (to which thou wert made strange)
Goe, doe thine homage to thy Soveraigne,
VVeepe, and reioyce, for this sadd-ioyfull Change;
Then weepe for ioy, thou needst not teares to faine,
Sith late rhine Eies did nought els entertaine:
If I mistake thee not, and thy best part,
Thy vertues will thy Lieges favoure gaine:
For, Vertue, vertue loues, as Arte doth Arte;
Then will hee loue thee (Lord) for thy desart [...]
Thy Sire and Grand-sire, were two mightie Peeres
Th [...]t were strong trustie Pillars of this State:
Thou hast what they had, thy want is but yeeres;
Yet Arte in thee doth Tyme anticipat,
And maks thee being yonge, in old estate:
For lo, thy Iudgments, iointes are strongly knitt
And in Artes Limbecke, thy all-learned Pate,
VVisdome extracts the Quintessence of VVit [...]
To make the same for hie imployment fitt.
Hold vp your hartlesse Heads, and headlesse Harts
All yee whom Time and Fortune did suppresse;
Hee's come, hee's come, that Life halfe dead reverts,
Deere little Lord, great in too great distresse,
(VVith smoothed front) goe kisse thy happinesse.
Ladies, and Lords, purse-pinched, and Soule-pain'd,
Poore, Rich and all (rich ïn all blessednesse)
Bles [...]e him by whom yee haue till now remain'd
To tast these Tymes which yeeld sweet ioyes vnfain'd.
High humbled Lady, high though humbled,
High by thy vertue, humbled by thy Crosse
By Fortune lift vp, and downe tumbled,
Two (ô speake VVorld) had ere one such a losse
As shee had of two Pheares, who did engrosse
The richest VVares that Arte and Nature sold,
Yet Fortune in their fines was over-crosse,
For both vntimely shee return'd to Mould
Yet, Lady, new be cast in Comforts Mold.
Yee seemely Senators that God do feare
Vertues true Lovers, Bloud-detesting Sages,
Peace & Rights friends, (as now doth wel appeare)
Load-starrs to this, Lights to the after Ages
Reioyce you may, for, your well-erned VVages
(Earned of your late Mistris) he will pay
That's now your Master; Thē with harmeles rages
Of zeale infam'd exult, and with vs say
Blest be King Iames, our King, our Ioy, our Stay.
Mo [...]t-ioy, let ioy now mount as high as Heav'n,
For now thy (long-left) land is Heav'n become:
Come; come away, the Foe to slight is driv'n,
Hasten thy comming, hie, ô hie thee home
That ioy (though nought els cā) may thee orecome:
Muses deere loue, Mecaenas to their loues,
Thy King vnto this kingdome now is come,
And like the sunne in our new Heaven moues
To comfort thee and all that glorie loues.
If wee that still liue here doe Heav'n it hold,
VVhat wilt thou thinke it with that Hell cōpar'd
VVhere yet thou liv'st, among deathes manifold,
(VVhich for our safety thou hast long endur'd?)
Thou sure wilt thinke no Angell now doth ward
The Esterne Eden, plac'd now in the North,
But, Scots and English men, the same doe guard
And therein liue; then come Heroicke Worth,
Attend thy Liege till he resends thee forth.
Meeke-harted Worcester friend of Humanity [...]
Hono [...]'d for honesty, so rightly honored;
Gods white-guif [...] Whiteguif [...] [...] glory of Prelacy;
Buckhurst our Treaso [...]er, roially treasured
VVith richest Rules of Rule: Egerton famouzed
For loue to equity: chiefe Iust [...]ce of the land
Bold Popham resolute, for thy friend, for thy Head;
Striue, striue, ô striue to make fast Peaces Band,
That you (obeying) may in peace command;
So you by it, and it by you may stand.
Great harted Heros, great Northumberland
Furnisht withall that may make great a Peere;
And Tethys true-loue ventrous Cumberland;
Together with the rest to England deere
Deere Peeres let now your peereles [...]e ioy appeere [...]
Goe Lordes, goe meete your sans-Peere Soveraigne;
And tell him yee are his while hee is here,
And when he leaues the Earth for heav'nly raigne
You and yours will be his, whiles they remaine.
Thou liuely Image of our Worldes perfection,
Ou [...] little Worlds great Paragon of fame,
Sir Phil. Sid [...].
Both taking beeing (by the Heav'ns direction)
In one selfe [...] wombe, that both should be the same
In Spirite, in vertue, nature, and in name;
This World beginnes to cotton now for thee,
For whom the World, sometimes, was much to blame:
Vertue, deere Sidney,
Sir R. Sidney.
now advaunc'd shalbeSith Vertue knowes no partialitee.
Thou virgin Knight that dost thy selfe obscure
From Worlds vnequall eies, and faine wouldst dy
Er' thy name should be knowne to Worlds impure,
Sir Ed. Dy.
Now shew thy selfe, thou canst not hidden lie
From our new [...] Worlds desert [...]out-searching Eie.
Great Sidneies loue (true proofe of thy great worth)
Liue now, for now thou maist not living die;
Vertue must vse thee, then (Dyer Knight) come forth
To haile thy vertues Loadstarre from the North.
And Albions Scaeva, whose crosse-wounded Corse
Like t' an imbalmed dead-Corpse in aspect
Twenty times dead, yet still hast vitall force,
And so dost cousin death, through deaths defect,
Yet scornst, nay hat'st thy life, in Fames respect:
Sir Ed. Wingfield.
Vp with thy Coate of Steele, its time for thee,
No foe is now in field, and in effect
Thy Veines are drie, thine eies do dimmely see,
Then ioy in peace, with life at last agree.
Great Maiestie, last let the least, of all
Thy Subiects least, send from his hart a signe
Of that it holds and whiles it is, it shall;
The light of the kings coū tenāce is life: & his fauour is as a clowde of the later raine, Prover. 16.15.
That is, that loue thou only mai'st define
By that vnbounded loue (to vs) of thine!
I haile thee happy Sov'raigne from a farre,
Vnworthy to approach thy view of Eine,
Saying blest be him that blessed thee from warre,
To be our peace, in whom we blessed are.
And be thine owne, though others praise come short
O sacred Sou'raigne Soule of Englandes ioy,
Let matchlesse vertues, Vertues praise report,
VVhich thou alone dost questionlesse enioy:
The Vulgars laudes thine Eares doe nought but cloy,
The Concaue of a Crowne may cause that winde,
VVhich froward Fates haue power to destroy:
But that pure praise that's due to thy pure Minde,
From Fates is free'd being of immortall kinde.
VVell wott'st thou Princes liues haue much more force
Then purest Lawes, their Subiects to refine;
For, Subiects follow still their Sov'raignes course,
As, Sunne-like Marigolds doe Sol divine,
VVho lose their grace when hee doth ceasse to shine:
This makes thee shun, what may ecclipse thy light,
Because thou lead'st all by that light of thine,
And striv'st to glitter in all vertue bright,
That all might haue thereby direction right.
Though at thy becke be all sons-pleasing sweetes,
Yet art thou pleas'd with what thy sense containes,
In Straightes where Abstinence with Reason meetes,
Which head-strong Appetite (Synne-spurred) raignes,
And binds thy Passions in Soule-staying chaines.
Thus Reason strictly ruleth thee, we see,
VVhich over thee (as thou raign'st ore vs) raignes:
If Reason thou obai'st, much more should wee,
That are borne to obey Reason, and thee.
How came I with thee to bee so acquainted
That so I should discribe each part of thee?
Thy Booke wherin so liuely thou art painted
(Deere Liege) I once (ioy-ravished) did see,
For which I shall, till death the better bee:
Then saw I thee, and then I heard thy VVordes
VVhich with Gods, and thy glory, did agree,
And Charity beliefe to them affords,
Sith [...]hee knowes nothing that with them discords.
And if the Bookes compil'd by vs, do beare
The Image of our Mindes, (as thou do'st say)
Then in that Booke that Image doth appeare
Bright as the Sunne (in Vertues best araye)
To light all Kinges to keepe their
1. Tim. 6.15. Rom. 19.16.
Kinges high Way:No Sentence, Line, Clause, VVord, or Syllable
Therein contain'd, but doth pure thoughts bewraie:
Then, sith thy Minde is to it semblable,
No Earthly King is to thee sutable.
Never was Piety with Policy
So well componnded in the Head of State:
The Serpents wisedome many Snakes apply
To Sores of Kinges Simplicity, but hate
The Doue-like innocence, as out of date.
If Piety, and Policy doe iarre
(As some suppose) then can we bee s'ingrate
As not to crowne him that did end the warre?
Nor be compos'd by such a Temperer?
For, if from Hartes abundance Mouthes disperse
Vertue or Vices Mammon all abroade,
What may we deeme thee thē, that did'st reherse.
Such precepts, as beseem'd a Semi-God,
How best the Sonne should beare an Empires Lode
(Which weakenesse oft, back-broken, vndergoes)
We needes must weene that Vertue makes abode
(As in her home) in thy Hart, sith it floes
VVith goodnesse like Gods, to thy Friends, & Foes.
How like a Lord of thy selfe do'st thou striue
To conquer Passion (Princes great'st disease)
In him that likely is thee to survive?
And, as an old [...]tride Sea-man tells at Seas
VVhat Rocks and [...]latts a yong one may displease
Ere [...]irst he setts out, that he them may shunne:
So, from thy proofe (for thy Succeeders ease
Thou tell'st him (ere to rule he hath begune)
What Compasse he should keep, safe Course to run.
For Empire is a Sea most faire to see,
But perillous to proue, as they best kno
That all their life-long to it bounden be,
Subiect each Tyde to be orewhelm'd with woe,
If not to wracke and finall overthro:
Wherein thou dost thy course so wisely guide
That like a skilful Pilot thou dost sho
(By demonstration) how this Sea t'abide
And safely saile, or else at Ancor ride.
Then, ô how blessed is this blisful Ile
VVhose God is Loue, whose King is Vertues Host,
VVhose Grace and VVisdome (with an holy guile)
Doth catch the Least and binds them to him most,
As to their Piller, and vpholding Post!
VVho makes his Subiects great, as good, as great
By his example, without Checke, or cost,
And to vnequalls equal Law doth meate
With Loues right hād, which stil doth hate defeate!
The Fire, as be'ng the noblest Element,
Is plac'd, by Natures hand, aboue the rest;
That, by it's actiue vertue prevalent,
It might repurifie the worst, and best,
That be inferior, or in lesse request:
So thou art iustly plac'd (in Natures right)
Aboue the great'st, that with thy vertue least
Canst purge them from their greatest vices quight,
And make them shine, through thy high vertues light.
Such Kings should be obaid, and glory-cround,
Because their Vertues al mens else exceede:
For, they that are in all abundance drownd,
Yet, set no more in, then may Nature feede,
And spare the rest for those that haue more need,
O! these are rightly Fames Superlatiues,
(Gods vpon Earth, that's Kings like Gods in deede)
From whom the subiect vertue high derives,
VVhose liues are Lights to lead obscurer liues.
And, Vertue in a King is more of price,
Then in a poore man, though most vertuous,
For Kings haue more meanes to be drawn to Vice,
And may, without controle, be vicious;
But poore-men, not, for Want, and Summumius:
If Sol would Venus vse, what Starre comes not
At becke, wel-neere, too neere to him, to vse?
But if a naked poore Snake be so hott
He may be coold; but so be coold, cannot.
VVhat glory gettes constrain'd Sobrietie
(If glorie gotten be by Vertue right)
Constrain'd b'imperious Necessitie,
Other, then to be chast for want of might
In Purse, or Parts, or all the Bodie quight?
VVhere's no Foe to oppunge what conquest i [...]t?
But where be many great Ones, there to fight,
And with a Kingly courage them resist,
O such an one is a true Martialist!
How easie this is sedd, who doth not see?
How Arte may picture Vertue, all perceaue;
But to inspire hir with vitalitee,
This none but onely Gods haue powr to geue,
From whom alone shee doth her life receaue.
O, deere Liege, that I could, as faine I would,
Make Vertue lively; then by thy good leave,
Thou should'st not leave me (wretch) sith then I could
Leaue all the World to serue thee, as I should.
Then would I with a never vvearied Eye
Help thee to watch from wolues thy Flocke to keepe:
Thy Flocke is great, and Wolues may lurcki [...]g lye
In each darke Corner to devoure thy Sheepe:
But blest were he that would, & could dive deepe
Into th'Abiss [...] of ev'ry darke device,
(While thou gav'st Nature necessarie sleepe)
To feele their
Psa. 64.45.6.
Snares to catch, & Lures t'intice,So, make them knowne that would thee preiudice.
Diue, diue, to Hell blacke Hels inhabitants
(Children of darkenesse that envie our light)
Albion's no place for such blacke Miscreants,
For God, and Man, there, with (not for) you fight:
Then, doe your selues ensconse in endlesse night;
There stand vpon your guard, guarded with [...]iends [...]
That guard & grieue you, both at once, with spight;
There shall yee feele smart of Gods fingers ends,
Sith divine Iustice deeper nere descends.
Deere Loue, sweet Lord goodnes-surmounting God,
How stands this Land oblig'd vnto thy loue!
This little-great Land, or great-little Clod
Thou more regard'st (it seemes) thē heav'n aboue;
2. Pet. 2.4.
For there thou plaguedst sinne, as Angels proue:B [...]t, though this Isle doth flote on seas of sinne,
Thou, mou'd with loue, frō it dost plagues remoue,
As if against the streame thou wouldst it winne
To perfect goodnesse, and to rest therein.
O bow our Harts of steele, make them well bent,
That they may through thy hart shoot sh [...]f [...]s of loue,
And wound the same with loue most violent:
But what neede that, sith now the same we proue?
But yet, sith thou such shooting dost approue,
And, by thy lawes, alone its lawfull game,
Let a [...]l the shafts of our indevors roue
At thy harts whitest loue, sith in the same
Consists our game, grace, glory, ioy, and fame;
Gaine, for all's gain'd in thy all-giving loue;
Grace, for Gods loue is mans extreamest grace;
Glorie, for thou do'st glorifie thy loue;
Ioy, sith they needs must ioy, whom
In G [...]d are all, sith without him are no Ioyes.
ioies embrace;And [...]ame, for Fame ensues the loue of Grace;
All these winne we, if we thy loue doe win:
Then should we draw our Soules out of sins Case,
And, be'ng well bent, shoote loue-shafts at the Pi [...]
Of thy deere loue, which lies thine hart within.
Orecome vs (Lord) in kindnesse, let thy grace
Ever triumph ore our vngrac'ousnesse:
So, weele triumph in that gracious disgrace,
Giving all glorie to thy graciousnesse,
And, loue, and feare thy dread almightynesse.
Let not these Blessings greater make thy Curse
Against our inbred base vngratefulnesse:
O let not thy grace make vs worse, and worse,
But to be gracious let it vs enforce!
These super-supererogating Workes
Proceeding from thy sup'rinducing loue
Might make vs (though farre worse then Iewes or Turkes)
Math. 11.2 [...].
To entertaine them as thou do'st approue,
And giue thy loue no cause ours to reprooue.
Since borne I was, I saw but sinne abound,
And thy grace ore abounding, which might moue
A senslesse stone to sincke in Teares profound,
Flowing from highest loue, in Teares ydrownd.
Thou deal'st not thus with the adiacent Lands
(Although perhaps they haue provokt thee lesse)
Captivitie hath oft bound them in Bands,
And the Destroiers Sword hath had egresse
Through all the Members of them, more, and lesse,
Which did not cut, but eate flesh (greedy sword)
Deut. 32.42.
Nor shed, but was made drunke with blouds excesse
But to out land, alone, thou do'st afford
Peace, Plentie, Freedome, Health, Wealth, and thy Word.
Yet from him sitting on the kingly Throne
Vnto the Slaue that at the Hand-mill grindes [...]
Others, by civill Sword haue beene orethrone,
And Masacres of Bodies, and of Mindes,
Haue beene performed in all hell [...]sh kindes:
Vpon their Walles were Woes and Wellawaies
Breath'd out with grones, like hollow-voiced windes;
Their streetes, with shrikes through soddaine stabs dismai [...]s,
By Nights did eccho, and did ring by Daies,
While stormes of rage did bloudy billowes raise.
The venerable Lore that Time and Art [...]
Ramu [...].
Exchequer'd had, in one Head (rarely wrought)Was let-out by a Dagger, or a Dart,
As good for nothing, but to bring to nought:
Vertue was held a Rebell, and still sought
But to be slaine, and so, by Death, embrac'd:
Vice was secur'd by that which Vice had wrought
By Vertues helpe, by Vice now quite defac'd [...]
So all, but Vice, then dide, or were disgrac'd.
And heerewith keene-cheek'd Famine made away
Paris, Rochel.
Through their best Citties bowels, so to bringTheir Bellies and their Backes to kisse, and plaie,
So to beguile the smart of famishing,
Which in the hollowes of the Hart did sting:
Dogs, C [...]ts, Mice, Rats, stale Carion, and Horse-dung
(Wherewith perchance they humane-flesh did minge)
These did they eate, they were so hunger-stunge,
Nay, dide for want of these, through famine longe.
Thinke what it is to Sowe, and not to Reape,
Or what to haue, what others haue in hold
That haue no hold; yet all away doth sweepe
And so by spoile of all, liue vncontrold:
What tis to haue a Wife, yet haue thy wife
To haue no powre to doe, as thy wife should,
But, to avoide the Ravishers rude knife,
Cannot avoide the losse of more then life.
O could a Man behold, at one aspect,
The many Hels attending Civill-warre,
He would suppose (no doubt) by the effect,
Hell had broke loose, and tane Earth prisoner,
And vsd it worser then worst Hell by farre:
For, if the God of Heav'n a Realme would damme
Aboue the Earth, he neede but let it iarre
Within it selfe; and then, no Hellish flame
Can so torment with anguish, as the same.
Diffring in nothing but in Time, and Place
Saue that the Sunnes light makes the griefe the more;
For it giues light to see the hidious case
Of all, when all are almost drown'd in Gore,
That, like a Deluge, oreflowes Sea, and Shore;
VVhich, if it might be felt, and not be seene,
S [...]nse would suppose the same to be lesse sore;
For Sight (the Senses Soveraigne) would weene
That, that is still vnfelt, that is vnseene.
And but that Woes are priviledg'd from iest,
I well might say (and yet but iest in sho)
That this damnation Divels more detest
Then the perdition in the Hell belo;
For there their vtmost miseries they kno:
And well they wot, if they (as these) should iarre,
Their kingdome (like these) should to ruine goe:
So they, much more then Hell, feare civill-warre [...]
Because a kingdome it doth more then marre.
The Night that Nature hath ordain'd for rest
Then ye [...]lds no rest, yet endlesse rest it giues;
No rest it yeelds, but kils both Man, and Beast,
Yet rest it giues, by reaving of their liues;
So, kniues bereaue their rest, that rest by kniues!
They disease thereby killing, and ease them being killed.
Men go to bed (as to their graue) with breath,
Where Death, vnwares, of breath thē oft depriues;
So, while they sleepe in life, they sleepe in death,
True Image of the life in Hell beneath.
For if in that Hell be degrees of Woes,
As Truth it selfe affirmes (with voice divine)
Then may these seeme to be the worst of those
That lowest Hell doth in it selfe confine;
For, weeping and Teeth-gnashing, that Hels Signe
Is seene each where, where civill Swords doe rage,
VVhich do the best-backt states in sunder chine,
And with Hell-like confusion doe engage
The brightest Empires to darke Vassallage.
As when the might'st Baiazeth is come
Into the clawes of some rude Tamburlaine,
Hee's vsd more basely then the basest Groome,
Till he be forc'd to beate out his owne Braine
Against the cage of his hard Harts disdaine:
So, when the civill Swords vncivilliz'd
In mightist Empires, there it runnes amaine
Through all, till all be with Contempt surpriz'd,
Or, all doe end, ere so will be dispisde.
2. Kin. 11.1,2,3 2. Kin. 16. 3. & 2 Chro. 28.16.
Thus whiles Athalia hath her owne bloud suckt;And Achaz in the fire his Flesh did frie;
Yea whiles Samaria on her Walles hath pluckt,
Her
2. Kin 6.26. 27,28,29.
childrens Limbes in sunder savagely,Devouring them with hunger greedily,
Our Milke and hoony-flowing Palestine
Hath overflowne withall felicitie;
Whiles Envie sought, but could not (saue repine)
To hale vs from this Sea, with Hooke and Line.
So wee alone (orewhelm'd in Earthlie Blisse)
Still diue in Pleasures Streames to finde new Ioies,
Not knowing once what Sword, or Famine is,
Nor the least thing that Nature ought annoyes,
2. Sam 7.18.
Saue when we list to make them sporting Toies.VVhat are we (Lord) or what our Fathers house,
That it by thee such vvelfare still enioies,
As it doth seeme thy vvhole care's cast on vs,
And to vs only wert most gracious!
VVhat endlesse Peales of Praise are due to thee
From those to whom (as to vnworthy vs)
Thou leavest not an headlesse Anarchee,
As to the Caniballs prodigious,
A Government more then most monsterous!
Gen 10.6.8.10
Nor as to the Tartarian Herdes of Cham,Isai. 66.19.
Nor Swarmes of Tubal-gog (most ravenous)But with thy powre divine, them vp didst dam
Farre off from Albion in the Land of Ham!
Our present happinesse shall more appeere
(And long may it bee present and to come)
Compared with the state wherein we were
At our grand Ancestors first calling home
To civill life (that long did rudely rome)
Their common-weale (if so it may bee call'd)
VVas (like to Romes when Sylla rag'd in Rome)
VVith Rage, and Wronge, and lawlesse might enthrall'd,
And by each savage Furie ever galld.
The greate devour'd the meane, the meane the lesse;
VVho could gripe hardest held all as he would;
VVho crost his will, the law did then transgresse,
For which he dide, or dying liue he should;
So strongest Theeues themselues did Princes hold:
All was worse then it seem'd, yet seem'd all woe,
For twas a Nation (which this Land did hold).
That liv'd by one anothers overthro,
Yet, for they liu'd togither, seem'd not so.
I could, although my Muse were neere so dull,
Be endlesse in this infinite discourse:
But now, Decorum hy the eare doth pull
My forward Muse, and staies her in her course,
Lest that a Booke her Preface wax perforce:
It is ynough my Booke doth ore abound
VVith tedious lines, if not with lines farre worse.
Yet in well-borne Prolixitie is found
That which abortiue Breefenesse cannot bound.
And for a tast (God graunt it may prooue tastie)
Of what the Muse can doe now thou art come,
That which ensues (though shee were over-hastie)
Is her first speach since Musing made her dombe:
This Brat, conceaved in her barraine Wombe,
Was made to moue by the all-movers aide,
And if both moue thee to like all, or some,
I shall account my Muse the blessedst Maide
That ever for an Husband so long staide.
Yet shee that next to God and thee hath right
My service to command, commandeth me
To be hir Mouth (to vtter what shee might)
vnto hir great'st Protector, next to thee,
Ere that my short wing'd Muse doo further flee:
My deerest Country VVales commandeth this,
That in the depth of all humilitee
I let hir Prince to know how ill shee is,
For want of him, hir Loue, hir Life, hir blisse.
VVhat shall I say (deere Liege) I'm at a stand
That haue so much (with little skill) to say;
Heau'n, Earth, Men, Beasts, Fish, Fowle, yea, Sea and Land
Exults with vs, insults on those that may
And will not; curst be those I (cursing) pray:
To curse Gods foes, and youres, is but to blesse
Those that be his, and yours, and both obay;
David did so, and Davies doth no lesse,
Amen saie all, that loue true blessednesse.
Iohn Davies.
CAMBRIA To the high and mighty, Hen [...]y by the grace of God Prince of Wales.
GReat Grandame Wales, from whom these Ancestors
Descended, from whom I, (poore I) descend,
I owe so much to my Pregeni [...]ors,
And to thee, for them, that vntill mine end
Thy name, and fame, Ile honor, and defend:
Sith Ioy doth pas [...]age to thy speech deny
(For that thy Prince [...]hine honor doth commend)
Lest that thy silence might be tane awrie,
Mine Artlesse P [...]n shall thy Tongues want supply.
Did Curtius more for Rome, then I for thee,
That willingly (to saue thee from annoy
Of dire dislike, for ingratuitee)
Do take vpon me to expresse thy ioy,
And so my Muse in boundlesse Seas destroie?
Yet, lo, deere Grandame, how myne active Loue,
My little All doth (more then all) imploy
For thee, that thou by me thy Prince maist moue
To louethee for the ioy he makes thee proue.
O then most gracious Sonne vnto that Sire,
VVhose grace doth glorifie both Sire, & Sonn [...];
Of thy great grace I (prostrate) thee desire
To cast thine Eye on mine intention,
Rather, then on my Muses action.
The Burden's waighty which shee vndergoes,
And shee is VVeake, and Dull in motion;
Then let thy lively Soule hir Soule inclose,
And giue hir youth and Spright, that aged groes.
As when a yongling lieth by the syde
Of some old Sire, his age doth vertue draw
From his deere youth, that makes Age longer bide:
So mine invention old, cold, rude, and raw,
(Not able to disgest ought in hir maw)
May by the quicke hereditary heate
Of thy yong Muse (that y [...]iest thoughts can thaw)
In VVales, my Countries name, performe this feare,
And welcome thee to thy long empty Seat [...].
But ô! I feele, but with the thought of thee,
My frozen thoughts to melt, as with a Sunne,
Whose comfort Brutes Remayne doth long to see:
And through my Nerues I feele the warme bloud runne
Frō hart, to braines, to heat invention.
Mount Muse vpon the winges of high desire;
Runn Numbers, now my swistest thoughts outrūne,
That prostrate on my face (while you aspire)
I may salute thie Prince (VVales) and his Sire.
VVelcome ten-thouzand times ye sacred Paire,
Great Atlas, and Alcides of this Land,
Vpon whose shoulders (safe from all impaire)
The Common-wealth thereof doth fixed stand,
VVhich dext'rously your Vertue doth cōmand.
Deere Prince, the weale of Wales, the Brittains blisse,
By me (thine owne) VVales lets thee vnderstand,
That shee desires thy princely feete to kisse,
And praies, as for her Heau'n on Earth, for this.
Then come sweete Prince, thy Principalitie
Doth long to beare thee on her blisful Brest:
There shalt thou see the Hart of Loyal [...]y
(Loue-sicke) for want of thee in great vnrest;
Then come (Deere sweete) and to thine owne giue rest.
For, as an hungrie Stomacke bites the more
The neerer meate is to the same addrest:
So is thy Peoples longing made more sore
To hold thee now they haue thee, then before.
There shalt thou finde Brutes venerable Stocke
To loue thee, as the Creame of their best bloud;
For, all about thee wil they thronging flocke
To tender thee their Eies, to doe thee good,
Such is the nature of their loving moode.
As when a Father, fallen in decay,
Doth see his Sonne, that giues him Cloth and foode [...]
Crown'd as a King, Ioy makes his hart her Pray;
So will they ioy to see their Ioy to sway.
From Owen Thewdor, who from Camber came,
(From Camber Sonne of Brute who came frō Troy)
Art thou descended; and thy Bellsires name
VVas Thewdor: let vs (Brittaines) then enioy
Our owne in thee, in thee, our onely Ioy.
VVe haue bin long afflicted, and opprest
By those that sought our whole Race to destroy;
Then sith we are in thee so highly blest,
Lett's haue our owne, thy selfe, to giue vs rest.
O come, and comfort vs, our Ioy, our Peace,
Let vs haue thee, then haue we all, in thee,
All that, that tends to Peace, and ioyes increase;
And in thy presence we shall blessed be;
For thou art blest, then in thee, blest are wee;
Sith blest thou art with all that Heau'n doth cast
Vpon the Heau'n of Earthes felicitee:
Our bloud in thee craues part of it, at last [...]
In recompence of all our sorrowes past.
VVhat shall oppunge this, our bloud doth cōvince;
Nature hath made thee ours, and we are thine;
VVe are thy people, and thou art our Prince;
Betwixt vs Loue will haue nor Thyne, nor Myne,
But the VVord Oures she doth to vs Assigne:
Our Land, our Prince, our People, and our Lawes,
Our State, our Common-weale, our Hand, Seale, Signe,
All ours, & nought but ours, (deere Prince) because
Both Prince and People clos'd are in this clause.
Then come All ours, blesse all ours with our Eies
Plac'd in the Head, begotten by our Head;
VVhich was begotten by our bloud likewise:
Come, rule thou vs in that Heads place, & steede,
Till thou that Head, in his place, shalt succeede.
Here shalt thou see, cas'd in poore Coates of freeze,
Rich Spirits of Troians, which on glory feede,
VVho, for they are, and rightly came of these,
Each with the nature of the Stocke agrees.
Our greatest braverie lies all within
(Where greatest Harts do loue the same to haue)
VVe say, to braue an abiect sprite, is sinne;
But, to be braue in Sp'rite is passing braue:
VVe scorne a double-gilt base-mettled Slaue,
For we are harted-vvhole, true Iovialists,
Making our glorie goe beyond our Graue,
So to dissolue Oblivions foggy mists,
And blind the Eies of squint-Ei'd Satyrists.
For, be it that we know no Complement,
Other then such as our deere Ancients knew,
That's plaine, and simple, like our harts intent;
Yet, if we pleasd, we could be fash'ond new;
Lou'd we not more our Fathers to ensue:
We want nor wit, nor sp'rit, nor wealth (perchance)
Swift-flying Fash'on swiftlie to pursue,
In guize, in gate, and courtly dalliance,
At Tilt, each way, with Loue, or Marses lance.
VVitnesse our Owen Thewdor, who could giue
True demonstration how to court a Queene:
Who from the seede of Ioue did grace receiue
To beare him selfe in her Eie best-beseene,
And made her thoughts a demy-God him weene:
He so could draw the motion of her eie
By motions seemely, which, in him were seene,
That he alone best pleas'd her fantazie,
As beeing full of best-grac'd Maiestie.
Now, from the Court, descend we to the Campe:
And from those elder times, to these of ours:
There finde we (no lesse currant for the stampe)
Sir. Roger Williams.
WILLIAMS (worlds wonder for his natiue powers)Out-daring Death in many sanguine showres:
The singing Bullets made his soule reioice,
As Musicke that the hearing most alures;
And, if the Canons bas'd it with their voice,
He seem'd as ravisht with an Heav'nly noise.
And when the Fo mens Muskets spight did spitt
Then would he spitt, in sport, at them the while:
The Blowes his courage gaue, were plac'd by wit [...],
For VVitt and Courage dwelt still in his Stile;
VVhile Cowardize, and Folly made them vile
VVhose glory lay all in their Ladies Lappe,
And when he came to Court, at them would smile
Yea, smoothlie iest at their soft silken Happe,
Yet could, like Mars, take there somtimes a Napp.
Runne over all the Stories Tymes affoord,
Or prie vpon them with the sharpest sight,
VVe shall not finde one did more with his Sword
Then this braue Brittaine, and true Troian-Knight,
VVho putt
P. Parm [...].
Achilles in his Tent to flightBy such an over-dareing Enterprize,
As all that that heare it, not beleeue it might,
But that these Tymes haue seene it with their Eies,
And that the fame thereof to Heaven flies.
Quite through & through Deaths grizely Iawes hee ran [...]
And made a way through Horrors vgli'st Hell,
Yea, danted Death, more like some God, then Man,
Vntill the Prince, and Death he did compell
To flie for life, which his sword sought to quell:
O Skinck how blessed wert thou in his loue
That drue thee on, through Death to Glories well,
From whence the life of Fame doth flowing move
To all, that for her sake such Dangers prove!
Should I recount the pettie Miracles
By him performed, in his martiall course,
My words would scarse be held for Oracles:
Suffizeth me, the VVorld (that knew his force)
VVell knew his Hart was VVitt, and Valours Source.
And they that most envie our Brittish fame
Must needs thus much of him confesse (perforce)
That whatsoever from this Brittaine came
VVas VVitt, and Spright, or savor'd of the same:
But, should I instance in particuler,
What Truth doth warrant for the Brittaines glory;
I could (perhaps) runne vp their Race, as farre
As loue, and finde them famoused in story:
But, for in me it may be thought vaine glorie,
Sith being one, my selfe I seeme to praise,
I will desist, although my soule be sory
I should desist from that which many waies,
Might Camber crowne with everlasting Baies.
Thē come, sweet Prince, take thou vs to thy charge,
And we, the while will take the charge of thee:
Thou shalt thine office easily discharge,
For we will more then most obedient bee,
Which, to his comfort, thy dread Sire shall see:
For, when obedience flowes from ardent loue,
It is perform'd with all alacritee;
Which thou in vs (we hope) shalt shortly proue,
For with thy becke thou shalt vs stay, or moue.
If thou wilt come to vs, thou well shalt see
Weele spare no paine, that may effect thy pleasure;
For each one will be busie, as a Bee,
To yeeld thee honied ioie, by waight and measure,
And shunne (as Hell) the cause of thy displeasure.
Weele plant our Mountaines with the rarest Trees,
That may be culled from Pomonas Treasure,
And all our hedge-ro [...]s shall be ranckt with these,
To please thine eie with what with taste agrees.
Weele root vp all our roughes, our heath's, our furs,
And, in their place, make grasse, & cowslips gro:
VVe will remoue what thy dislike incurs,
And with the Mountaines fill the Vales below,
If by Mans powre, and paine they may be so:
Nought shall offend thee, be it what it will,
(Be it but mortall) if we it may know;
For, vveele bring downe the prowdest He, or Hill,
That thou shalt doome to be scarse good, or ill.
Then liue with vs (deere Prince) and we vvill make
Our wildest Wasts Iett-coulored Garden-Plots;
So, Flora will her flowred Meades forsake,
To set flowres there, in many curious knots,
To please thee and (our other selues) the Scots:
VVeele turne our Villages to Citties faire,
And share them twixt the Scots, and vs, by lots,
VVhereto both one, and other may repaire,
To interchange Commodities, or Aire.
VVeele cleeue the Mountaines Neptune to let in,
That Ships may floate, where now our Sheepe do feede [...]
And, whatso-ere industrious hands may win
Shall not be lost, that may thy pleasure breede,
Or richer make our intermixed Seede:
And whereas now two Townes doe scarse appeere
Within the largest Prospect; then, with speede,
They shall be built, as if one Towne they were,
That we may be to each as neere, as deere.
Those pleasant Plots where erst the Romaines built
Faire Citties for their Legions to liue in,
VVhose gorgeous Architecture was oreguilt,
That by the civill Sword haue ruin'd bin,
("Which Ruines are the Monuments of sinne)
These will we now repaire, faire as before,
That Scots, and Brittaines may mixt liue therein:
Caerleon, where king Arthure liu'd of yore,
Shall be rebuilt, and double gilt once more.
And all along her gaudy gallant Streetes
VVeele go in Triumph, singing once a day
God, and our Princes praises (sweete of sweetes)
Vpon our Harpes, like Angels, all the way,
For that our Prince is pleasd with vs to stay:
VVhat ist that loiall thankefull Harts can doe,
But we will doe, nay, do much more then thay?
Thus doe we Brittaines our Prince kindly woo
To rule vs, ere misrule doth vs [...] vndoo.
If prowde we be (as Pride perhaps vvill say)
How can wee choose, now we haue such a Prince?
Yet shall we prowder be him to obey,
Then prowde of our dominion, long since,
VVhen with our Swordes we did the Land convince.
Wee were a People free, and freely fought
For glorie, freedome, and preheminence,
But now our totall glory shall be sought
In this, that we will serue thee as we ought.
Beleeue not Envy (Prince) that vs pursues
(Because shee knowes our Race is halfe divine)
That will (perhaps) say we our selues misuse,
And to contention over-much incline;
This may be put on any mortall line
By Envies malice; but thou shalt perceaue
Our vice is Wit, and Courage-masculine,
With constant kindnesse mixt; which Brute did leaue
To Camber, from whom, we did it receiue.
Nor may it be harmonious to thine Eares
To heare our stocke deprau'd by Iniurie;
For, thy deer'st bloud (as to the World appeares)
Is soild thereby with odious obloquie;
Then stop their mouthes that breath such blasphemie:
Let not our plainenesse be their common-place
To make them sport, in bitter foolery;
For we hold planenesse to be no disgrace,
How ere, false-harted Fiends may deeme it base.
I doe confesse vvee open-harted are,
Scorning Italian-hollow-hartednesse:
Where we dislike, there shew the same we dare;
And where we loue, we loue for nothing lesse
Then that which tasts of base vnworthinesse.
Troy had no Sinen, though the Greekes had store,
Nor can her Ofspring their cro [...]fe fortunes blesse
VVith creeping to a Devill, or adore
A senslesse Blocke, [...]hough double-gilt or more.
VVe like Civilitie when it is dide,
In coulor which vvill take no hue but one,
That's Blacke, which still vvill like it selfe abide,
Aswell in raging stormes, as shining Sunne,
Till it doth change by dissolution:
VVe hate, as Hell, the fovvle bi-formed face,
Because it alters its creation,
And thinke, that glorie hath her greatest grace
In vniformitie, and keeping place.
VVe are whole-chested, and our Breastes doe hold
A single Hart, that is as good, as great;
And that doth make vs in our actions bold:
For Innocence with feare doth never sweate,
How ill so ere the World doth her intreate:
Our Kith, Kinne, and Aliance, with our friends
VVe by the measure of kinde nature meate,
If so, we needs must loue thee, for these ends,
And, for our happinesse on thee depends.
O could I tune my Tongue vnto thine Eare [...]
That so my Words, might musicke seeme to it,
That so thou might'st alone the Burden beare
VVhich it requires, as it is requisit!
Then, should my Note be noted to be fit:
I speake for those, whose Tongues are strange to thee,
In thine owne Tongue; if my words be vnfit,
That blame be mine; but if Wales better be
By my disgra [...]e; I hold that grace to me.
And better shall it be if my weake lines
Shall draw thee but one furlong thetherward:
For as, when in the Morne, Sol farre-off shines;
Yet cheeres vs with approaching hetherward
(But makes vs heavie going from-vs-ward)
So Wales will much reioice, vvhen thy svveete face
Doth (though farre off) with favour her regard:
Thine only countenance shall giue her grace,
And make her deeme her se [...]fe in blessed case;
But ten times blest if shee might thee embrace!
None otherwise then as a widow poore
Vext with oppressions, and adversity,
If some great Prince doo match with hir, therfore,
To shield hir so from woes, and iniuries,
Shee'l kisse his feete in loues humility:
So shee (that like a widow long hath liv'd
VVithout a Prince) our Principalitie,
VVill kisse thy feete, and be (halfe dead) reviv'd,
If such an honyed Husband she had wiv'd
Shee, good old Ladie, then (with youth renew'd)
VVould foote it finely in blith Round [...]laies;
No Bellamoure should then be better hu'd,
For hir Harts mirth in hir face bloud would raise,
That would deserue thy Loue, thy grace, thy praise;
And, as inspired with a courtly Spright,
Vpon the soddaine, would spend, Nights, & daies,
(As Dido entertain'd the Troian Knight)
In all that should or thee, or thine delight.
Thou shalt perceave, though she be far frō Courts,
Clos'd in a Cantone of this blessed Land,
Yet shee hath in hir Trayne some of all sorts
Of either Sex; whereof some vnderstand
The Dialect of Court, and Courts command;
To whom shee giues most royall Maintenance:
For, pettie Ki [...]gdoms some Squires haue in hand,
VVho will the glory of thy Court advance,
Sith they thēselues keepe Demi-Courts perchāce.
Then come sweet Prince, Wales woeth thee by me
(By me hir sorrie Tongs-man) to be pleas'd
To liue with hir, that so, shee may by thee
Bee rul'd in loue, and ruled so, be eas'd
Of what in former times hath hir displeas'd.
The Sheepe their Owners keeping most approue;
For, he will cure them, when they are diseas'd,
Ioh. 10.12.18.
With Loues right hand; But Hirelings (Truth doth prove)Doo keepe the Flocke for Lucre, more then Loue.
Wales hir most vnworthie Solicitor IOHN DAVI [...].
MICROCOSMOS. THE DISCOVERY OF THE LITTLE VVORLD, VVITH the government thereof.
SIth that thou hast so soundly slept my Muse,
Dreaming on that which thou before had'st dōe
Being awake againe, thy Spirits rowze,
To make an end of what thou hast begun:
Be'ng rest-refresht therefore, now forwards run
With bright
Christ the true God of Wisedome, & the onelie Sunne in [...]lightning our Intelligence.
Apollo; (pray him be thy guide)Vntill thou touch the Tropicke of Reason
Where VVisdome puts Plus vltra, there abide,
For past that point to passe, is passing pride.
For our VVill's Baiard blind, yet bold, and free,
And, had she way made in hir maine Carreere,
sh'would runne into that Light that none can see
Saue light of Lights, to feele the secrets there,
Which Angells wonder at, yet not come neere:
But Reas'ns conduct is nothing safe
The secrets of the highest Heaven are farre aboue the reach of humane Reason [...]
herein,Therefore the VVill hath too iust cause of feare
Lest shee should runne into presumptuous sinne,
For which divinest Angells damn'd haue bin.
For since our Proto-parents lowest fall,
Our wisdoms highest pitch (God wot) is low:
But had they stood Hee had infus'd in all
His VVord, (selfe-VVisdome) which alone to know
Is to know all that VVisdomes selfe can showe:
But since, the state of things is so vnstay'd
That humane vvisedome stands it wotts not howe;
Vnsure in all; for, Iudgment's oft betrai'd
In that which proofe before had well
Every knowledge hath its beginning of the senses, which are often deceiu'd. Therefore all sciēces which are deriu'd & fast rooted in the senses are vncertaine, & deceiptfull.
assai'd.But having toucht the Braine, the Soule, the VVill,
(All which (saue of the soule) can brooke no touch)
It rests that Reasons heasts wee doe fulfil,
To prosecute much more, or more then much,
That VVitt for VVill wil willingly avouch:
Th'al-giving Giver giveth al that liue
(His Creatures) such desires, and Natures such;
As for their good with good wil stil should striue,
And shun what ere should them of it depriue.
Beasts more thē Men (the more Beasts mē the while)
Pursue that good that doth their natures fitt.
To them for that (though they be nere so vile)
Is highest knowledge giv'n, and they vse it,
Thereby condemning both mans VVill, and VVitt:
And yet hath Man a (synn-peruerted) will
To seeke that good he knowes most [...]requizit,
Who knowes & loues the good, yet takes the ill
Oft for the good, but for the evill stil.
Yet as he was ordain'd to greater good,
So greater knowledge was in him infus'd;
With no lesse will, (were it not sinn withstood)
To seeke that Good; yet the will witt-abus'd
When it hath found it, is oft witt
The vnderstanding abused by the misreport of the inferior senses diverts the will from embracing good obiected to hir.
refus'd:Vnhallowed sense, drown'd in that damned iuyce,
(Synnes Syder) from Eaues fatall Apple bruiz'd,
(Be'ing deadly drunck) makes stil the worser choise,
Wherein (like Sow in mire) it doth reioyce [...]
Among the hoast of Natures creatures, bee
Three kindes of Appetites, (there ay consorts)
3. Kinds of Appetites in all creatures.
Naturall, sensitive, and Voluntarie.The first divided is into two sortes;
That's inclination voide of Sense or Soule,
To doe what the owne nature most importes:
The naturall apetite two-folde.
As light things mount, and heavy downwards roule,
Which nature, Natures selfe cannot controule.
The other with this vertue action haue,
Which nerthelesse proceedeth not from sense;
To Vegetatiue Soules this, Nature gaue,
Soules Vegetatiue.
Which in Trees, Plants, and Grasse hath residence;
Who doe desire to sucke that influence
That feedes them, and avoides the contrary;
A plant will thirst for moistures confluence;
And draw to it all kinde humidity,
Retayning that it liues and pro [...]pers by.
The like in our owne members we obserue,
Who wanting nutriment doe sucke the vaines;
The vaines doe sucke the bloud themselues to serue;
Thus each attracteth foode when neede constraines,
And all things living seeke the same with paines:
Hence we devide this naturall desire
The natural desire how devided.
Into two kindes, the one, each plant retaines,
The other, things which life doth sense-inspire;
As Man, and Beast, and what doth els respire.
The Seate of this desire stands on two feete,
Which fixt are in two places; That's to say
The liver, and the Stomacke; there doe meete
The forces of this Appetite to slay
With famine, or with foode fraile life to stay:
The sensitiue desire is two-fold too,
The sensitiue apetite two-fold.
From sense the first, the last comes not that way,
The first, to ioy and griefe is fixed so,
That no force can it from the same vndoe.
For in the sinewes (Feelings instruments)
This pow'r is plac'd, or in the Synewy skin;
And that the Synewes ioyes, or discontents,
That wel, or ill, affecteth them within:
By heate, or cold, they paine, or pleasure wyn,
As they to them are wel, or ill applied.
For sense and motion synewes made haue bin
That by them paine or pleasure, should be tride,
And make our Bodies moue on ev'ry side.
Nor doe these Appetites wait on the will,
Ne from the Phantazie doe they proceede,
For wil we, nil we, we shal hunger stil,
Whē food's with-drawn, that should our Bodies feed;
And we shal feele what sense affects with speede,
How ere the will or Phantazy impung;
We may abstaine from nurrishment in deede,
But then thereby much more for it we long,
And Flesh wil pine with paine, if hunger-stung.
But th'other Appetites bredd without touch,
Are forged by the thoughts or Phantazie;
These, discreete Nature in the hart doth couch,
Which be Affectes that lurke in secresie,
Be'ng motions of the hartes Hart properlie:
These wait on witt, and choose or else reiect
What it holds deerest, or doth most defie;
So VVitt's the cause, and they are the effect,
That loue, or loath, as witt doth them direct.
This vvitt, and vvill, the Beasts doe not possesse,
For their most knowledge is most sensuall;
Guided by Nature in their Brutishnesse,
Onely by inclination naturall,
[Page 43]Which moues their sense vn-intellectual,
Or this, or that way, without Reasons
Though Beast [...] haue much more perfect outwa [...]d senses then Men, yet can th [...]y not imploy them reasonably as Men doo.
sway;Then vvitt and vvill their sense wee cannot cal,
Though sensuall will and witt we cal it may:
For man alone hath both to guide his way.
The Voluntary Appetite we finde
Is gott by Reason, and produc'd by vvill,
By it we are to good or ill inclin'd,
As Reason doomes of them by Iudgments skill:
Two actions hath the vvill in reason still,
By which we good embrace, and ill refuse,
Reason revealing what is good or ill,
Who rules hir not as though will could not choose,
But as one teaching Hir [...] hir pow'r to vse.
As in the Vnderstanding and the Minde
Of Men, and Angells, God hath fixt his forme,
So to Mannes will
Free-will is not avoided by grace but established: because grace healeth the Will, that is, giveth vs a will to righteousnes. Aug. de spiritu & littera. Cap. 30.
his loue was no lesse kinde,That to Gods wil he might his vvill conforme:
Ah woe! that sinne should since the same deforme
VVithout constraint! for Hee Her freedome gaue,
And did with vnderstanding her informe,
That voluntarie
That we do [...] will well [...] God worketh of himself without vs, and when we will so well that we doe accordingly, God worketh togither with vs. August. De gratia & libero arbitrio. Cap. 17
service hee might haue;As that, his nature most doth loue and crave.
For, as himselfe doth nothing by constraint,
So he constraines
God draweth vnto him, but he draweth none but the willing.
not those that him obay;Lest that their vvil might haue cause of complaint,
For want of libertie it selfe to sway:
Those praiers please him not, Constraint doth say,
But true obedience flowing from the
God giues regenerate Men free-will to do well but the reprobate haue free-will onely to doe evill. Musculus cōmō places.
vvill;Then vvill should force her selfe (for so shee may)
His gratious good will freely to fulfiil,
Sith good he made hir loue, and loath the Ill.
Then Iustice would that God mans will should doe
When Man doth Gods vvill,
Godlinesse hath the promises of this life and that to come. When Man pleaseth God God wil please Man. All is to be given to God who prepareth the good-will of Man to bee holpen, and helpeth i being p [...]epared. Aug Enchir. ad Laurent. Cap. 22.
this exchang is iust;And Gods free-wil must needes subscribe thereto,
Sith it is free to doe that needes itmust,
VVhich cannot doe the thing that is vniust;
For that were bondage free, or freedome bound;
Sith ro doe evill but to haue a lust
VVere Vassallage to Sathan that Hel-hound,
VVhich fredome to doe good would quite confound.
But yet the vvill hath many motions else,
Diverse degrees therein doe plaine appeare;
Some haue such open harts and wilful vvills
As that they loue and hate through passion meere:
So, Reason their Mindes Sterne in vaine doth steere,
For sense they serve, and have no patience
The seemeing neerest pleasure to
These are Beasts in humane shape, whereof the World's too full.
forbeareFor further good; but forth-with please their sense,
As sensuall appetite doth them incense.
But vvill in others, so hir selfe commaunds,
And those Pow'rs to her pow'r subordinate,
That (being free) shee bindeth both in bands
And vnto Reason all doth captivate:
As, many Dropsy-drie forbeare to drincke,
Because they know their ill t'would aggravate;
So, vvill herein from her owne selfe doth shrinke,
And cleaves to that, that Reason best doth thinke.
The Heau'ns, and Earth, and all the Elements,
(And what besides Man, is of them compos'd)
Doo GOD obay in his commaundements,
For, as Hee wils, so are they al dispos'd;
[Page 45]Yet never he himselfe to them disclos'd:
Then not from knowledge their obedience springes,
But from the nature in their kinds inclos'd;
Yet Men he made to know and doe the things
That be of him, which grace and Knowledge bringes.
And that he should with more heede doe the same,
A VVill he giues him ioyn'd wirh griefe and
Griefe & Ioy are alwaies Consociates of our will
Ioy;Which vvill might ioy when she doth passion tame,
And in the contrary might feele annoy,
All as shee doth her natiue powres imploy.
Here hence we know the odds twixt Ioy and Griefe,
For in extreames they comfort or destroy
Such as leade here a good, or evil life,
Both flowing from the vvill, their fountaine chiefe.
This pow'r hath highest vertue of Desire,
And Caesarizeth ore each Appetite;
Shee rules (being taught) with libertie intire,
VVhose actions are to vvill and nill aright;
VVhose Obiect's real good or so in sight:
In nature shee hates ill in deede, or show,
And in the true, or false good, doth delight;
If ill for good shee choose, hence it doth gro
Because ill seeming good, shee takes it so.
Shee nought can loue but hath some show of good;
Nor ought can
The will naturally cannot desite that which in nature is evill.
loath but hath like show of ill;Desire of good by her may be with-stoode,
But it shee cannot loath, or leave it still:
So may shee choose to execute her will,
VVhen ill is tendred her indeede, or sho,
Bnt cannot l [...]aue it, or her wil fulfill,
Because to ill shee is a mortall foe,
And lothes it as sole worker of her woe.
Then must shee needs be ever vnconstrain'd,
Sith her Creators Wil would haue it so;
Shee could not be her selfe, were shee restrain'd,
And though shee waites on Reason to, and fro,
Will makes Reason to attend her.
Yet shee makes Reason waite her will to kno:For, touching her, her Lord confines his powre,
Which cannot take that he did once besto,
Namely, arbiterment, (her richest dowre)
Except Not-beeing, should her quite devoure.
The Wil may obiect, or not obiect what shee will to the Minde.
For shee hath powre, to obiect to the MindeWhat pleaseth her, or not the same obiect;
And while the Thoughts the same do turne & winde,
Shee may oreturne those Thoughts or them neglect,
And turne the Minde to what shee shal direct:
Yea when as Iudgments final doome is giv'n,
Shee may, or may refuse the same t'effect;
For Men are not as Beasts by Nature driv'n,
Vnlesse of Reason they are quite bereav'n.
The vnderstā ding straineth out of the secret & hid [...] causes of thinges that which to wisdōe is incident. Wil exacting the sāe.
About shee goes when Iudgements doome is past,And re-examines what it hath decreed;
Which done, perhaps the same shee will distast,
(Although the sentence be direct indeede)
And runnes another course, lesse right, with speed:
Which second
The Wil refuseth Good being found, not for being good, but not being so good as it willingly would hau [...]. I [...]l spirits may provoke our fātasies & wil [...]
search yet aimes at greater right,Though shee mistakes the same for want of heede,
Which want proceeds frō Sins extreame dispight,
That blindes our Mindes eies in extreamest light.
Wherefore it vs behoues Grace to invoke,
Whereby wit vprightly may weld the will;
For as ill Sprites our fantazies provoke,
So on our wils they may the like fulfill,
[Page 47]And make her scorne to rule by Reasons skill:
For, shee's ambitious and delights to raigne
Without controle, how euer well, or ill;
And beeing free shee runneth on amaine,
To ioy if wel, if otherwise, to paine.
This liberty of Monarchizing thus
Shee deemeth good, what ill so ere ensues;
It is a kind of bondage to haue powre, wil, and liberty to doe ill.
Which libertie, is bondage base to vs,
And free we were, if our will could not chuse
But vse His will, that gaue vs wils to vse:
Whose only service, only freedome is,
And only they are Slaues that it refuse;
Sith they are Sathans servants (if not his)
Which please him most, when they do most amisse.
For in this great commerce of terrene things,
The bad whereof exceeding so the good,
And that so fast the one to other clings
That twixt them both there is great likelyhood,
Hardly by will can they be vnderstood:
And sith Men Bodies haue aswel as Soules,
Things bodily best like the bodies moode,
Which often so the Minde and VVill controules,
That as it lusts it rules and over-rules.
Herehence it is, some mortall life doe prize
Whosoever seekes felicity where it is not shall finde infelicity where it is.
Aboue eternal, and their guts aboue
The highest God, that doth their guts suffize;
And though the will herein may rigor proue,
Yea, may be forc'd to leaue what it doth loue,
Yet nought can her resistlesse powre constraine,
For nothing can desire from her remoue,
Although shee cannot doe what she would faine:
So maugre force, shee freedome doth retaine.
Reason and mans desires shoulde be in continuall league.
Sith Reason then the VVils desires should sway,And bring th' Affections to obedience,
Its requisite they should accorde alway
To mainetaine warres against rebelling Sense;
Which is the rule of Reasons consequence:
Wherefore we may wel iudge of Reasons rule,
By the Affections and VVils continence;
As a good Prince or Master of a Schoole,
Make them they governe, hate, and shun misrule.
The Hart and Minde beeing at Vnity procure the tranquility of the Affections.
And, for th' Affections from the hart proceede(Which is the Seate of loue to God and Men)
If then the hart and Minde be wel agreed,
The hart with flames of lasting loue will bren,
And fire out froward Passions from their den:
Then wil the Tongue from harts aboundance speake
Gods highest laudes till they report agen;
Then loue twixt Tongue & Hart shal marriage make,
To bring forth naked Truth, which loue doth seeke.
Wherefore the Providence divine did place
The lunges (the voices Organs) next the Hart;
(As the Mindes instruments the Braines embrace)
That they may neere at hand, soone vse their Art;
As Orators of Princes play their part
Neere to their Sov'raignes; And wert not for sinne,
The Braines and Hart are the Seates of Reason and the Affectiōs. Sin is nothing because it was made without him, without whō nothing was made that was made.
The VVill, from Reasons rule should never start,And twixt the Hart, & Braine there should haue bin
A lasting league, as beeing neere of kin.
Sin, noughty Nothing that mak'st all things nought,
(Except the Thing of Things that made thē good)
Thou wast vnmade thy selfe, yet ill haste wrought;
Whereby thou haste so perverst Flesh, and Bloud,
[Page 49]That now by it all goodnesse is with-stood:
Damn'd Nothing that hast such a some-thing stride,
How wast begot? by whom? and in what moode?
Through lust; By Eaue and Adam; In their pride:
Now
Sinne.
Error speakes what The scriptur
Truth hath iustifide.For wit, will, Anger, and Concupiscence,
Are fowre powres of the soule, wherein should lie
Fowre vertues, taking thus their residence:
VVisedome in wit, in will Integritie:
Valor in Ire, and in lust Temprancie:
But wit with ignorance, and will, with wronge,
Anger with Feare, and lust, with libertie
Are so pervers'd, that they themselues impunge,
Except preventing grace be mixt amonge.
The totall frame of mans divinest part,
By light divine we see is out of frame;
Th'antipathie betwixt the
That is, betweene Reason and the Affections.
Minde and Hart,Giues but too good assurance of the same:
And though the minde in all her limbes be lame,
Yet in our little world shee raignes as Queene,
And seekes wilde passions of the Hart to tame,
That in her selfe there might bee ever seene,
Soule-pleasing ioy and peace to flourish greene.
For shee's the mancion of Felicitie,
Contrived so, that there its safe confin'd;
To which there is no way nor entery,
But through th'Affections, servants of the Minde:
Yet they too oft disloial prooue by kinde,
Who liers, and sinne-soothing claw-backes are,
Whereby our iudgments eies they (Traitors) blinde,
That it erres mortallie ere it beware,
If reason of their treason haue not care.
Reason, Concupiscence, & Ire, 3. speciall powres of the Soule.
For three Powres speciall in the Soule reside,Reason, Concupiscence, and ardent Ire,
The first, to Truthes obscure abiding guides;
The second, good-things gladly doth desire;
The third, doth from the contrarie retire:
In bowels of the first the VVits are bred;
Th'Affectes are forg'd in both the others fire;
In nomber fowre, Ioy, Hope, Sorow, and Dread,
Which from the last powres spring, as frō their head.
First, from the first Powre, Ioy and Hope proceedes,
(For what we covet, wee ioy in with hope)
And Ire, the last powre, Dread and sorow breedes;
For, hate to dreade and sorow lies wide ope;
Griefe in hates hell the way to dreade doth grope.
From these Affects (as from their fountaine) floes
All vice and vertue which in Man doth cope,
For vice and vertue ay are mortall foes,
And as Reas'n rules, so either overthroes.
Anima.
The soul's call'd Anima our flesh containes,While shee the same with vitall fire filleth;
Mens.
Mens, while shee mindeth, or shee Minde retaines,Animus.
And Animus, while shee hath VVill or willeth;Ratio.
Shees Ratio, whilst shee iudgement iust fulfilleth:Spiritus.
Then, spiritus shee hight, when shee respires.From all which, science to the soule distilleth,
Scientia.
So, call'd scientia; thus her names doe change,As shee her qualities doth interchange.
The outward senses outward parts possesse,
As th'inward to the soule are knit by kinde:
And, for the soule her powre doth most expresse
In that whereto her soule is most inclinde,
[Page 51]Here-hence it is, men mortified in minde
Whose spirits powres on things divine are bent
The soule vseth not the ministry of the outward senses when shee is swallowed vp with divine meditations.
Fare, as they were sometimes, deafe, dombe, & blind,
Their contemplations are so violent:
But, Vulgars outwarde sense is excellent.
But while the soule can take a strict survay
Of all the instruments which shee doth vse,
So long the owner of that soule may say
He hath a iudgement sound, and perfect Muse:
But if those instruments that Man misvse,
Or ruine them, the soule straight seeing it,
Her ruin'd Iaile shee striues then to refuse:
Which strife the senses frame doth so vnknit
That it confounds it, or distracts the VVit.
And in this moode (though we esteeme it madd)
Men prophesie, and truely things foretell,
The soule being divine works divinely, if shee bee not hindred by her Clog, the body.
Speake diuerse Tongues, which erst they never had,
And in Artes which they knew not, they excell.
Thus whilst the soule doth hold her house an Hell,
Striving to be enlarg'd, becomes more free,
Then workes shee like her selfe (exceeding well)
That wonder tis, the same to heare and see:
O sacred soule (but God) who's like to thee!
NOw, for the Hart fraile life first intertaines,
And is the last part that from it departes,
(Without which, dull were reason, dead the braines)
It's taken for the part which powre impartes
To VVit and VVill, whereby they play their partes;
So as it's held the Mirrour of the minde:
The Hart the Mirror of the Minde.
For, when the Minde vnto herselfe converts,
The Hart is interposd, where shee doth finde
Her feature fowle, or faire, cleere-eied, or blinde.
Then, for the Hart is such a powreful thing,
My hart desires to touch it feelingly:
And, for the Hart doth paine or pleasure bring,
A cleane Hart and a cleane soule are convertible.
The paine is pleasure, when Head properlieMakes hand discribe the Hartes hart handsomly.
Earst Mans internal partes we did devide
Into three VVombes, the Braines, the Brest, & Belly:
About the Braines (before) our skill we tride,
And now by it, the Brest must be discride.
Which is the Shoppe of al the Instruments
Wherewith the vitall Vertue operates;
The Hart, the Lunges, with al Lifes incidents
In region of the Brest, doe hold their States,
Whose Bulke them Bulwarkes frō what ruynates:
The Midriff parteth them from partes that feede
(Which the third VVombe, (the Belly) circulates)
It being a Muscle made for Natures neede,
Assisting in the Breathing Acte and Deede.
And next, there is a Tunicle, or Skin,
That over-spreads the Concaue of the Brest,
Much like a Spiders webbe, subtile, and thin;
Wherout two others grow to part the rest,
Because two places should be breath-possest:
So that, if one (being hurt) could not respire
The other might one halfe retaine (at least)
To keepe
Natures providence for Manns good, should lift vp his minde to the consideration of the loue of a greater Good.
Lifes breath (at point to part) intire,And blowe the sparkes that kindle vitall fire.
These Felmes (like to a Nett with fruite repleat)
Together hold what ere the Brest doth bound,
They line the Ribbes, that whē the Lunges doe beate
They might performe their office whole and sound,
[Page 53]Without being bone-bruiz'd, which might thē confound;
So likewise in a Caule the Hart's inclos'd,
Call'd Pericardion, being Ovall round,
Or like a Flame for forme, and so dispos'd;
To shew that vitall fire is there repos'd.
There, in the Hart's the fountaine whence doth flow
The Hart is the fountaine of naturall heate.
Naturall heate, and by the Artires sends
It al abroade to make the Members grow,
And keepe them growne, in plight to doe their ends.
And though each Instrument of breath attends
And serves the Voice, yet were they chiefely made
For the Hartes vse, (that Lifes-fire comprehends)
That by their service that fire might not vade,
VVhich vnkinde coldnesse else might overlade.
Wherfore the Lunges (breaths-forge) is preordain'd
First to receaue the Aire that cooles the Hart,
VVho doe prepare it (being intertain'd)
And so prepared, doe the same impart
(As Nature wills) to that Life-giving part [...]
The Lunges therfore, are Spūgy, soft, & light,
That Aire might enter, and from thē depart,
VVhich guard the Hart (on left side and the right)
From bordring Bones, that else annoy it might.
VVhich hath a double motion; One, when it
It selfe dilates, the other, it restraines.
The Hartes motion is double.
VVhen it goes out, in goes Aire requisit:
And when it shrinketh in, then out it straines
All smoky Excrements procuring paines.
This motion's kinde, proceeding frō its kinde
(Not as the Muscles moved by the Braines)
For which it hath fixt filaments assign'd,
VVherby it selfe, it selfe may turne & wynd.
This double motion hath two double vses,
(A two fold vse whereof we mention'd haue)
The next to draw in bloud; and then, by Sluces
To send it to the Lunges, for foode they craue
At the Harts hands, sith they the Hart doe saue.
Thus gratefully they kindnesse interchange,
To teach vs how we should our selves
A motiue to brotherly loue taken from the disposition of the Members.
behaue;For when we disagree, it is as strange
As Hart and Lūges should cease to make this chāge.
Thus, this subordinate Lord of Mannes life
(The Hart) resides in his wel-fenced fort;
And, though with it al vitall force be rife,
And members keepes from being al-amort,
Yet should it die, if their helps were cut short.
Hence Kings may learne, that though they Monarchize
Yet doe they, whom they rule, maintaine their port,
Which should induce them, not to tyranize,
But, like good Hartes, lifes-pow'r to exercize.
The flesh of the Hart is the firmest flesh of any part of the Body.
The flesh whereof is firmer, then the fleshOf all the parts the Body hath besides:
So, Kinges should be most firme, for, being nesh,
Their Subiects might be woūded through their sids.
Such be the People stil as be their Guides.
The Hart with Passion, passion may each part,
VVhich Ioy or Sorrowe with the Hart abides:
So, Kinges their praise and People may subvert,
If Passion over-rule their ruling Art.
And in the Bulke it is so situate
As that its Base is Center of the Brest;
The end whereof (where greatnesse doth abate)
Leanes to the left-side more then al the rest;
[Page 55](So Kings, where they frō
Iniust [...]ce makes great Kinges lesse, then Fame can take notice of.
Right decline, are least.)Yet leanes the Hart so, for two causes great;
One, that the Brest-bone should it not infest,
The other, that it should the left-side heate,
Sith on the right, the Liver doth that feate.
And though the Hartes left part more heavy bee,
Because its hard and greater then the right,
Yet Nature hath so ballanc'd it, that shee
Makes it to hange (by admirable sleight)
As if the both sides were of equal weight:
For in the left part (heaviest) shee putts
The vitall spirit, of its nature light;
And in the right part (lightest) loe, shee shutts
The waightie Bloud, wherwith that part shee glutts.
Lo, thus the Highest holy vpright hand
By even counterpoise hath hang'd the Heart
In the Brests Center, (like as th'Earth doth stand
The Hart is hang'd in the Brest by even counterpoise.
In Center of the Heau'ns) by matchlesse Art:
Hence we may learne the duty of this part,
Which should be vpright in Affects, and vvill,
And never from the rules of Vertue start
To right hand, or to left, for good or Ill,
But come life or come death, be vpright stil:
This part likewise hath two Concavities,
On left side one, the other on the right:
And for this vse, are these capacities;
The right receaves the bloud (be'ng boild aright)
That from the Liver runnes, to give it might
To feede the Lunges, and vitall spirits breede,
Bred of pur'st bloud in the left Concaue dight,
Like sweate that frō the right one doth proceede,
Which sweate with vitall Spirits it doth feede.
That is the furnace, wherein still doth flame
The vitall Sp'rit, resplendent, quicke, and cleere,
Like the celestiall Nature, for the same
Both heate, and life to all the whole doth beare;
This Primum mobile that All doth steere:
These concaues thus are made commodiously;
Many good com [...]lexions are ill in conditions.
But now (alas) most harts all hollow are,That Bloud and Spirits therein confused lie,
So as no Art can one from other spie.
In this left concaue where the Hart doth trie
His chiefest skill, the vitall sp'rits to make,
There is the roote of that great Artery
From whom the Artires their beginning take:
Which neere the Hart doth so it selfe forsake,
That part ascends, and part thereof descends
To carrie vitall fire to parts that lacke;
These are the pipes whereby the kinde Hart sends
His cordiall comfortes to th'extreamest ends.
And, for the Veines and Artires neede each other,
And that their succors should be neere at hand,
They meete, and (for the most part) goe togither,
Thereby to vigorize the vitall Band
Which the Harts vertue wholy doth command:
For, th'Artires being lincked with the Vaines,
Lend Aire and Spirit, least their bloud should stand;
And frō the Veines some bloud each artire draines,
Which to disperse, the vitall spirit constraines.
Mutual loue is to be learned from the mutuall assistāce of the partes of the body.
Betweene the Hart and Lunges the like is seene(As erst was said) to learne vs mutuall loue;
For, certaine Pipes doe passe these parts betweene,
By which, each others kindnesse they doe proue:
[Page 57]The hart from his right side doth bloud remoue
Vnto the Lunges by the Arteriall Veine,
The Lunges through veyny-artire, aire doth shoue
Vnto the hart, it to refresh againe,
Whose side sinister doth it entertaine.
The hart (besides) hath many members more,
Which are distinguisht by Anatomists:
The right, and left side hath a little dore,
And many a pipe so small therein subsists,
That scarse mans eie can see how each exists;
Yet all haue vse; for, when the hart doth seeke
Such bloud as without which no hart consists,
The meanes wherewith it draws it, should not break,
But that the strong therein might helpe the weake.
And, that the Aire might enter in thereby
More mildly, and for Nature, more concinne,
Therefore, the hart doth not immediately
Draw from the Mouth the aire it draweth in,
But through those passages it first doth rin,
Lest be'ng too cold t'would coole the hart too much;
For all extreames, saue extreame good, are sinne,
And Nature Vertue in the Meane doth couch,
Vertues Throne is erected iust betweene extreames.
Shewing, that our desires should still be such.
That God, whose powre no power can resist,
Resists all powers that are too violent,
And ever doth the moderate assist;
From whose hand (only) comes the Thunder-dent,
To plague the prowde, and wound th'incontinent:
For, should his Creatures powre b'immoderate,
Then should not his owne bee so eminent:
So, if they it affect, he them doth hate,
And with a thundring vengeance ends their date.
Thus having sleightly toucht this tender part,
(Touching his substance, proper place, and frame)
It now remaines that we doe proue our Arte
Touching another motion of the same,
Belonging to our soules affections lame,
Lam'd by our Flesh too lustie, yet too fraile,
Too lu [...]tie in desire of its owne shame,
But fraile in that wherein it should prevaile,
Yet when its weak'st, the Soule doth most assaile.
It not suffiz'd that nere-suffized Loue
That al things made, to make Man only Bee,
But to Be vvell, as wel some men doe proue,
VVho though of Beeing, they desirous be,
Yet not being wel, they
Murder themselu [...]s.
end ill, sith they seeTheir being VVell, and Being disagree:
Then
The Soule Vege [...]atiu [...] d [...]si [...]es to Be, The Sensitiue to be well, The reasonable to be best, and therfore it never rests till it be ioyned to the best.
Being, was not Manns creations end,But to be happy in a high degree:
And therfore al men al their forces bend,
T'inioy that Good, that Beeing doth cōmend.
Which good desire of Good, in Man is knitt
To a detesting of the contrary;
But, for that sinne hood-wincks Mans Eie of VVitt
He gropes for Good, but feeles the
Evi [...]l cleaves to each worldly Good, as Canker doth to Silver.
Evill by:From this desire of Good, th'affections flie;
Which with their motion swift [...] draw that desire
Heere, there, and where soere they please to hy,
In pursu [...]e of that Good which they require,
To which (though base they bee) they would aspire.
Yet they were good, & kindly lov'd their like;
But they are ill, and loue Ill seeming good;
Yet they by Natures instinct Ill dislike;
And yet by nature evil is their moode,
At first they were Truthes other selfe, for friends;
Yet now by them shee's too too much with-stoode,
Adhering to her foe, while shee pretends
To blesse the Sense, though to accursed endes.
The motiues of the Soule these motions are,
Whose other names are called the Affects [...]
By foll'wing good, and flying ill, they ARE;
Consisting so of these two good Effects;
Though Syn their sense with error oft infects:
Some vsher Iudgment, some on her attend,
The later, take or leaue as shee directs;
The Former, naturally cannot offend,
For they desire but Nature to defend.
As when the Body (Nature to suffize)
Desires to eate, or drinke, (as neede requires)
Or when good happe or ill doth it surprize,
Then
Ioy and sorrow (as Plato affirmes) are the Ropes wherewith we are drawne to the embracing or avoiding of euery action.
Ioy or sorrow moueth our desire:These stil fore-run our Iudgment, & conspire
With Nature, to vsurpe her highest Throne;
For nature runneth on, or doth retire,
As shee is mov'd by iudgment of her owne,
And so doe these that Nature wait vpon.
But those Affects that follow Iudgmēts Traine
Wait hard, as long as Hart is wel dispos'd;
Then lasts the League betweene the Hart & Braine,
For, al their iarres by Reason are compos'd:
But when the Hart against the Brain's oppos'd,
(Which oft proceeds of too much pampering)
Out flie th'Affections that were erst repos'd,
And from their neckes the Raines of Reason [...]ling,
Impatient of slow Iudgments tarrying.
Yet true it is that Hart cannot be mov'd,
Ere Iudgment doomes what's good or badd for it;
Then Hartes desires by her must be approv'd,
Or els the Hart cannot desire a whit:
For what
Iudgement foregoes the Affections.
she holds vnmeet, it thinks vnfitt.But for the motions of the Minde are free,
And neede not stay, as it is requisit,
So before Iudgment doe they seeme to Bee,
Although they follow her as bond, and free.
But though th'Affections cannot moue at all
If Iudgment wing them not and make them flee,
Yet sound advice (which heere we Iudgment call)
The Affections may work without soūd advisement.
May be at rest when they too busy bee,Mov'd by the iudgment of the Fantazee:
This Iudgment's blinde, yet is it most mens Guide,
And no lesse rash, yet ruleth each degree;
This makes th'Affects from Rights straight Pathes to slide,
For Fantazy doth fancie waies too wide.
This skipp-braine Fancy, moves these easie Movers
To loue what ere hath but a glimpse of good;
Then straight she makes thē (like vnconstant lovers)
To chāge their Loues, as she doth change her moode,
VVhich swimmeth with the current of the Bloud:
For as the body's well or ill compos'd,
(VVhich followes oft the nature of its foode)
So Fancy and these Fondlings are dispos'd,
Though in the Soule, and Minde they be inclos'd.
And yet the body's but the Instrument
VVheron the
The Soule worketh by motion, and the Body by Action.
soule doth play what she doth please;But if the stringes thereof doe not concent,
The harmony doth but the soule displease;
[Page 61]Then tune the body Soule, or playing cease:
And when a String is out, straight put it in
With Phisickes
Phisicke can extenuate the Humors that make the Body vnapt to execute the workes of Vertue.
helpe, which Passion may appease,By humbling that which hath too lowd a dyn,
And put the Parts on a Soule-pleasing Pyn.
These Partes though many, yet of three consist,
That's, Humors, Elements, and Qualities;
Which three, doe of fow'r partes, a part subsist,
For from Earth, VVater, Aire, and Fire doth rise
All that the Heav'nly Cope doth circulize:
These are the Elements from whom proceede
The
Humors be the children of the Elements.
Humors with their foresaid qualities;For, Bloud, Flegme, Choller, Melancholy breede
Hott, Cold, Moist, Dry, a fowr-fold vital Seede.
An Element is the most simple part
An Element, what.
VVhereof a thing is made, and in its wracke
Is last resolved; And in Phisicks Art
There are but tvvo, which two of those doe lack
That al the Elemental bodies make:
These two, are tearmed Simples, & Cōpounds,
2. Elements in Phisick-Arte.
The first, is borne on Speculations back;
The last, is bredd by Practize, which cōfoūds
Two or moe Simples in each others bounds.
The Elements of Natures famelies
Produce the Elementals temprament,
VVhich is a mixture of the Qualities
Or composition of each Element:
(As these doe bend, so are their bodies bent)
VVhich we Complexion cal; wherof are two,
Complexion what.
VVell, and ill tempred; And the Aliment
That feeds the Body, herein much can doe,
For that can make & marre Complexion too.
Wel tempred Complexion, what.
VVell-tempred, is an equal counterpoiseOf th'Elements fore-mention'd qualities;
Whereof ther's but one thing of Natures choise
VVherein shee made the mixture thus precise:
(As Galens tract of Tempers testifies:)
VVhich, of each hand, is the interior skin:
And hence we may thus fitly moralize;
That Nature to the Hand so good hath bin,
That it might temper what the Mouth takes in.
Il Cōplexion, what.
Ill tempred's that where some one ElementHath more dominion then it ought to haue;
For they rule ill that haue more regiment
Then nature, wisdome, right, or reason gaue:
So doth this Element it selfe behaue:
Yet each ill temper doth not so exceede,
As that it spils what better tempers saue;
For some surpasse the temperate in deede,
In some small ods, whereof no harmes succeede.
The Bodies temper is fiue waies discerned.
Fiue waies the Bodies temperature is knowne,By Constitution, Operation, Clime,
Coulor, and Age, by these the same is showne,
As Dials by an Index shew the time.
The Body fat is cold, for fat doth clime
By cold degrees; and that, full-flesht is hot,
For heate proceedes from bloud, as doth my rime
From braines; where no heate were, if bloud were not,
And bee'ing too cold they would my sense besot.
By Operation too, the temper's found,
For when a creature, (Man, Beast, Hearbe, or Plant)
Doth that which they by right of kinde are bound,
Then no good temprature those bodies want:
[Page 63]The Clyme in shewing this is nothing skant;
For South-ward, Men are cruell, moody, madd,
Hot, blacke, leane, leapers, lustfull, vsd to vant,
Yet wise in action, sober, fearefull, sad,
If good, most good, if bad exceeding bad.
The Northen Nations are more moist, and cold,
Lesse wicked and deceiptfull, faithfull, iust,
More ample, strong, couragious, martiall, bold,
And, for their bloud is colder, lesse they lust:
Then cold bloud being thicke, it follow must
They are lesse witty, and more barberous;
And for they inwardly are more adust,
A natural reason for the gurmādizing, and qua [...]fing of the Flemmings.
They meate and drinke devoure as ravenous,
The panch and pot esteeming precious.
Yet are they most laborious, loving Artes;
Whose soules are in their fingers (as its sed;)
For, all our best hand-workes come from those parts,
As from the hotter Climes, workes of the hed:
And those that twixt the South, and North are bred
(As France and Italy, Spaine, and the like)
Of hot and cold, are ev'nly tempered;
Therefore they are not made so apt to strike;
But warre with VVisdome, rather then the Pike.
The coulor likewise shewes the temprament;
The Coulor shews the bodies temper.
For Sanguin's red: and yellow's Cholericke:
The M [...]lancholy is to blacknesse bent:
The white or whitish, is the Phlegmaticke:
The white, and blacke, are cold and rhewmaticke:
The Red, and yellow, hot by course of kinde:
To this consents each skilfull Empericke,
Who by experience of their practise finde
That coulor shewes the temper, notes the minde.
The Sanguin's frolicke, free, ingenious,
Couragious, kinde, to women over-kinde;
True Iovialists, by nature generous;
And hot and humid they are by their kinde:
The Chollericke is hasty, and inclinde
To Envie, pride, and prodigalitie;
The reason why men cholericke of cō plexion are [...]oone angry.
As Herc'les-hardy, though with anger blinde;And in its temper it is hot and drie,
Which is the cause it is so angery.
The Phlegmaticke are idle, sleepie, dull,
Whose temper's cold and moist, which drownes the wit:
The Melancholy's mestiue; and too full
Of fearefull thoughts, and cares vnrequisit;
Who loue (as loathing men) alone to sit:
In temper cold and drie too like the dust,
(Dust of the earth, ere God life-breathed it,
Where hence we came, and wherevnto we must)
Which flies (as fearefull) from a little Gust.
These are the humors, whereof Man consists,
A humor, what.
Which is a substaunce thin, to which our foodeThe Stomackes heate by nature first disgests,
And hath dominion chiefly in our bloode:
These like the Elements moue in their moode:
For bloud is hot, and humid, like the aire:
Flegm's cold, and moist, in VVaters likelyhood:
Then Melancholy's like Earth, cold and dry'r:
And hot, and drie is Choler, like the Fire.
Howe the meates are changed to Humors.
And, that the meates to humors should be chang'dThey must be thrice concocted thorowly:
First, in the Stomacke they are interchang'd
And made that Chyle wherein potentially
Next, in the Liver the Masse Sanguiner
Of Chyle composed is, successiuely:
The third, and last's through al the bodie, where
Humors are made, that Meate and Chyle first were.
These raigne by turnes, vntill their tearmes be done:
Bloud, in the spring, from three till nine each Morne:
How the Humors raigne in mans body
Choler, from thence, till three in th'after noone
In sommer-season: Then Flegme in his turne
From thence till nine at night doth rule the sterne
In Autumne: then sad Melancholy thence
Till three next Morne, when VVinter doth returne:
Thus in their turnes they haue preheminence,
Till Time turne vs, and them with vs from hence.
And as these humors haue their turnes in time,
How, & when the Planets rule in mans body.
So rule the Planets in like consequence:
For, by the Moone is governed our Prime
That's hot and moist, but the preheminence
The moisture hath; So our Adolescence
Is swaid by VVit-infusing Mercury
Being hot and moist, yet doth more heate dispense,
Which tunes the voices Organes erst too hy,
Making them speake with more profundity.
Thē, youth (our third age) Loues Queene, Venus swaies
Bee'ng hot and dry, but yet more hot, then drie;
In this we VVantons play, in Venus plaies
And offer Incense to a rowling eie:
Bright Sol (the gloriou'st Planet in the sky)
Doth rule our Manhoode which is temperate:
Hee Author is of race and gravity;
Of haplesse life this is the happi'st state,
Which they hold long'st that are most moderate.
And lastly old age being cold, and dry,
By al-wise Iupiter is governed,
Author of Councell, Craft, and Policy:
VVhich Age againe in two's distinguished,
The first yonge old age may be Christened:
The last Decrepit is, and so is call'd;
Which Saturn rules with Scepter of dul lead:
This Age to Life like Death, is stil enthrall'd,
Thus in our life the Planetts are enstall'd.
Precise dates assigned to severall changes of mans age in his life.
And to these Ages, dates precize we giue;As Child-hood from our Birth till thirteene yeares:
Adolescēce, frō thēce to twēty fiue:
And youth frō thēce til fiue, & thirty weares;
Frō whēce, til fiftie Mannes-estate apperes:
And to the rest old-age we doe assigne;
But one his yeares thē other better beares,
As time their temprature doth enterteigne,
Therfore the temprature should age designe.
For al men cold & dry are old, though yonge,
Psal. 31.11.
Some yong at sixtie, some at forty old;In growing old the youthful Sanguin's lōge,
For it doth store of heate, and moisture hold:
The Melancholy, being dry and cold,
Is aged soone: So women more then men
Soone meete with age, which makes some be so bold
(As vnder
Paint the face.
Coulor that they are wo-men)To keepe off Age till they be
Bis puer.
yong agen.The Aire wee breath may hastē our age.
The Aire we breath doth beare an Ore herein,And being subtil moves the simple Minde;
For, never yet was foole a Florentine,
(As by the wise hath well observed byn)
[Page 67]So subtill is the Aire hee draweth in:
The influences of malignant Starres,
Causes of the Aiers putrification & consequently of grosse witte.
Vales, Caves, Stanckes, Moores, and Lakes that never ryn
Carion, and filth, all such the Aier marres,
Which killes the Corpes, and vvitts Carreër barres.
From Regions, VVinds, & stāding of the place
Where we abide, come the Aires qualities;
Vnder the Poles (the Sun nere showing face
But as a stranger) the Aire so doth freeze
That whosoever breathes it, starving dies:
And in the Torrid Zone it is so hott
That flesh and Bloud (like flaming fire) it fries,
And with a Cole-blacke beautie it doth blott,
Curling the Haires vpon a vvyry knott.
The winds, though Aire, yet Aire do turne & wind;
The passions of the Aier do affect our Minds.
VVhich Passions of the Aire, our sp'rits affect;
These by the Nose and Mouth a waie doe finde
To Braines, and Hart, and there their kindes effect,
And as they are, make them, in some respect:
For, where the VVindes be cold and violent,
(As where rough Boreas doth his Throne erect)
There are the People stronge, and turbulent,
Rending the Sterne of civill government.
The situation of the place likewise
The situation of the Place makes the Aier good or badde.
The Aire therein doth wel or ill dispose;
If to the Sea, or Southerne winde it lies,
It's humid, putrifactiue, & too close:
So fares it in fatt grounds (Slouthes chiefe repose)
The Sandy grounds doe make it hott and dry;
As cold, and moist it is, that Fennes inclose,
But cleere & piercing on the Mountaines hy;
Thus Place with Aire doth chāg our quality.
Foode good or badd, helpes or hinders Witte.
Of no lesse vertue are our Alements,Which VVinde, & Aire, vnto our sp'rits prepare,
VVho are conformed to those Condimentes;
Then fine they be, if most fine be our fare:
The Goodnesse, Quality, and Time of yeare,
Vse, Order, Appetite, and Quantity,
The Howre and Age, these nyne require our care
If we desire to liue heere healthfully,
And make the Soule aboue her soule to fly.
The soone-concocted Cates good iuyce affoording
And but few excrements, are those alone
That make the mind to boord, when Bodi's boording,
If temp'ratly the stomacke take each one:
These in the Braines base witts doe oft enthrone:
For, these the Mouth prepareth for the Maw,
VVhere be'ng concocted, to the Liver runne;
From whence, a sanguine tincture they doe draw,
Then to the Soules Courts hie by Natures lawe.
The Hart's the lower house, the
The Hart & Brayne.
head the hie;(The Roomes whereof we did discribe whil-ere)
Where once appearing they are wing'd to fly,
And in their flight the Soule and Body steere
With motion such as both Coelestiall were:
What mervell is it then, though Geese some be
For want of Capons, that would Cocks appeare
(Cocks of the Game) and chaunt melodiouslee,
If with their kinde, their Commons did agree.
How subtill doth a simple cupp of VVine
Make the Soules faculties, and their effects?
It makes their divine natures more divine,
And with a world of Ioy the Hart affects
Hence comes it that some Captaines doe ca [...]rowse
When they must
Wine moderatly taken chee [...]es [...]he Ha [...]t & spi [...]it [...].
Combate with contrary Sects,To heate the cold bloud and the spirits rowse,
And so make Courage, most couragious.
But here (as erst was saide) some over drinke,
While they desire in fight to over-doe;
On nought but woūds, & bloud, they speake, & think,
While Healthes goe roūd, & braines goe roūder too;
VVyne-making Bloud to VVine & Bloud them wooe.
But Nequid nimis, is the List wherein
Courage should combate, and the Barre whereto
Valor should venter, what is more is sinne,
Which by the wise and Valiant damn'd hath bin.
Drincke hath three; offices, The first assists
3. Offices of Drinke.
Concoction, for in it is boil'd the meate:
The next, to mixe the foode the first disgests:
The Last, to bring it to the Livers heate,
There to be made redd-hott, & apt to [...]leete:
Now when the Current is too violent,
It beares awaie (vntimely) small, and greate,
So crossing Nature in her kinde intent,
She back
Vomitt [...].
retires not knowing what she mēt.Then meate must soak, not in the Stomacke swimme,
If Nature duely we desire to please;
For, when the Stomack's
Gluttony & Drunken [...]s [...]e are he horrible sepulture [...] of mans reason & iudgment.
full aboue the brimme,Tyde tarries none, how ere it may disease
And Nature drowne in those vnruly Seas:
Breath most corrupt, behaviour more then most,
And Mind much more then most, is made by these;
Then how corrupt are they that of it boast?
So much corrupt, they may infect an Hoast.
Its said of one,, that did help to behead
The mounting Monastries that deckt this land,
That he (at last) lost his all-wittie Head
For words he spake, to which he could not stand,
Nor stand to speake, VVine having vpperhand:
Who vsd (as Fame reports) his wits t'refine,
To let them often rest at VVines commande;
But wit abused, by abuse of VVine
Abusd One that forc'd Law to force his fine.
Now as a moderation in these things
With Iudgements choise in their varieties,
To Soule, and Body, health, and glorie brings;
Temperate exercise available to minde and bodie.
So both are bound to temp'rate exerciseFor helping them to vse their faculties:
For without health the same were hindered,
And health from hence as from an helpe doth rise;
For holesome labour breakes those humors head
By which the enemies of health are led.
Natural heate
It helpes the heate that helpeth all the parts;The Spirits it quickens, and puts ope the pores;
Whereby each loathsome excrement departs
As at so many straight wide-open dores:
Our limbes it strengthens and our breath restores:
The morning walkes to the intestines send
The first digestions filth (which kinde abhorres)
And make the seconds to the bladder wend,
So labour lets our sicknesse, so, our end.
All travell tendes to rest, and rest to ease;
Then must the bodie travell to this end:
The Sons of Adam, borne to labour.
The Spirits travell hath respect to these;For idle Spirits that actiue Sp'rit offend
Yet naught was made that was not made to rest;
But nought was made to rest vntill the end:
For Heau'n, Faith, Man, Beast, Fish, Fowle, & the rest
Doe travell, in fine to be rest-possest.
Yet Nature hath ordained a repose
Which we call rest for Man, which rest is sleepe;
The cause whereof from the Braines cheefly floes,
When mounting vapors in their moisture steepe
Doe humors wax, and in the Nerves doe creepe;
And so their conducts close, which shuts the eies;
Then rests the corpes in death-like darknesse deepe,
And Spirits animal Rest doth surprise:
So, are they said to rest vntill they rise.
This makes the head so heavy after meate,
The fumes ascending make the head descend;
For they like hammers on the braines doe beate,
Til they haue hammerd humors in the end,
The weight whereof doth cause the head to bend:
Yet sober sleepes, in place, and season fit
Doe comfort Nature, and her hurts amend;
The Spirits it quickens, and awakes the wit,
For hart must sleepe, when the head wanteth it.
Dead sleepe, Deathes other name and Image true,
Doth quiet Passion, calme Griefe, Time deceiue;
Who pay'ng the debt that is to Nature due
(Like death) in quittance thereof doth receiue
Supply of powres, that her of powre bereaue:
So sleepe her foes wants friendly doth supply,
And in her wombe doth wakefull thoughts conceiue,
Making the Minde beyond it selfe to spie,
For, doubtlesse Dreames haue some divinitie.
Divinity oft in dreames
For, as the influence of Heavens leames
Frames diverse formes in matter corporall:
A natural reason, for the divinity of Dreames.
So of like influence visions and DreamesAre printed in the powre fantasticall;
The which power being instrumental,
By Heav'n disposd to bring forth some effect,
Hath greatest vigor in our sleepes extreames;
For when our mindes doe corporall cares neglect
That influence doth freely them affect,
And so our Dreames oft future haps proiect.
VVatching oremuch, oremuch doth Nature wrong,
It blunts the braines, and sense debilitates;
Dulleth the Spirits, breedes crudities among;
Makes the head heavie, Body it abates,
And kindely heate it cooles, or dissipates:
Over much watching debilitates our wittes.
Yet thorny cares, or stings of ceaslesse Smart,May keepe out sleepe without the senses Gates,
(By pricking them as it were, to the hart)
Till vitall Sp'rits from senses quite depart.
Those Chieftaines, on whose cares depend the crowns
(The waighty crownes, on their as waighty cares)
Of mighty Monarches, and their owne renownes,
Two burdens which in one who ever beares,
This waking care breaketh the sleepe, as a great sickenesse breakes the sleepe. Eccle 31 2.
Must night, and day, vse hands, legs, eies, and eares:These watch, yea sleeping wake for in their sleepes
The point on which their harts are fixt, appeares,
And through their closed eies their minds eie peeps,
To looke to that which them from slumber keepes.
Their sleepes are short, but were they short, & sweet,
[...]re enemy [...]o sle [...]pe and [...]epe cō [...]or [...] of Care.
Nature would longer sweetly life support: [...]ut in their sleepes with wakfull thoughts they meete;
That make their sleepes vnsweet, and yet as short;
Yet as they were all Minde, and Body none,
That had noe feeling of the Bodies hurt,
That Minde (all mind) though Corpes the while doth grone,
Makes flesh all hardnesse brooke, as it were Stone.
Such force hath worldly glory (though but vaine)
To make men, for her love, themselue [...] to hate,
Who for desire of her, their strength doe straine
Farre, farre aboue the pitch of mortall state,
And paine in sense, to sense doe captivate:
Though pains wake sēse, yet sense doth waking sleep,
Dreaming on Glory in the lapp of Fate;
So paine frō sense, doth paine with pleasure keepe,
While sense is moūting Honors Mountaine steepe.
VVhere Glory sitts enthron'd (Coelestial Dame)
Surrounded with a Ring of Diadems,
VVith face (whose beaming-beautie seemes to flāe)
Darting in simling wise those blissefull beames
On those that for her
The laboure of like Bodies be not a like painfull. For glory in a Prince makes the laboure lighter then that of a Pesant, because he wot [...]s it wil be notable.
loue brooke all extreames:VVhat Sense hath sense being so beheavened,
And carried from it selfe on pleasures Streames?
But as entranc'd with ioy, it must seeme deade,
And feele no paine in Minde or Body bredd.
If then Vaine-glories loue shall so subdue
The sense to sense that feeling all annoy,
Its arm'd to brooke the same by glories view,
And the more griefe is felt, the greater ioy;
(Yea though the grife the sēse doth quight destroy)
VVhat shall the loue of Glory infinite
Make sense endure, if sense her powers imploie
To apprehend it, as its requisite?
Such love should hold the paines of Hell too light.
When vnconceaved Ioy dilates the Hart
To th'vtmost reach of his capacitie,
When sense no leasure hath to thinke on smart,
Being so busied with felicity
That soule, and sense are ravished thereby;
What marvell then though fire doth comfort such,
(Although with quēchlesse flames their flesh it fry)
Sith that much
Inward ioy annihilates outward paine.
pain their ioy makes more thē muchAnd paine, that sense can feele, no sense can touch.
This made a woodden
Esay the Prophet so marti [...]ed.
Sawe sweete to the fleshwherewith it sundred was in savage wise:
This makes the burning
S. Lawrence.
Grediorne flesh refreshThat on the same in hellish manner fries,
This makes paine pleasure, and Hell Paradise.
Then give me, ô good giver of all good,
An Hart that may ore paine thus signiorize,
For thy deere love; then with my deerest blood
Ile wash the Earth, and make more Saints to budd.
When Stones (as thicke as haile) from hellish hands
Battr'd that blessed
S. Stephen. Act 7.56,58.
Proto-Martyres braine,The sight he saw his senses so commands,
That, as the Stones did fal the sense to paine,
It deem'd that Grace on it did pleasure raine:
And that deere blood, like-worthlesse water shedd,
Did make the springing Church to sprout amaine;
One Martyr begets many.
For that no sooner was this Martyr deadBut many (as from him) came in his steede.
And that the Elements doe loose their force
( [...]hat by such losse their Lord might lovers win)
It wel appeares; for, did he not divorce
The heate from fire, which his deere Saints were in?
[Page 75]Some too wel knew that this perform'd hath bin:
For out it flew and brent their enemies,
And where it first began, it did begin
The powre thereof with powre to exercise,
Dan. 3.22,23.
To shew his powre, that loth'd their sacrifice.
NOw, to retire from whence our Rimes doe range,
And touch the soule, & minds mind at the soule;
We see the bodies state the minde may change;
So may the minde the bodies state controule;
Thus they the state of one another rule:
The soules soule is the minde, and the mindes minde
Is that, where Reason doth her lawes enrowle:
Yet fuming Passions both of them may blinde,
When body, with them both are ill inclin'd.
Phillipides, that comedies compil'd
Orecoming one that with him did contend
In that light Art, (when hope was quite exil'd)
Sorrow doth occu [...]ie the the place of extreame ioy. Petrarch.
A suddaine ioy wrought his as suddaine end.
Like fate did one Diagoras attend,
Who, see'ng his three sonnes at Olimpus crown'd
For deedes there done (which All did much cōmend)
Extreme ioy (being suddaine) is enemy to nature.
He them embracing, straite fell dead to ground,
Because his ioy was more then hart could bound.
As extreame suddaine ioy doth kill the hart,
Leaving it bloudlesse which is ioies effect
Simil.
(For ioy sends bloud amaine to ev'ry part)
So, extreame griefe the hart may so affect
(Or suddaine feare) that life may it reiect;
For both revoke the sp'rites, bloud, and kind heate,
And to hartes Center doe the same direct,
Which place bee'ng little, and their throng so great,
Expels the Vitall spirits from their seate.
Marc Lepidus, divorced from his wife
Whom he intirely lou'd, with extreame griefe
(For it conceav'd) he quickly lost his life;
So loue reft life, that erst was lifes reliefe,
For loue of that his woe was fountaine chiefe.
So, with a suddaine feare haue many died
Which name I neede not, sith I would be briefe:
By it the haires haue suddainely bin died,
As by graue writers is exemplifide.
Of no lesse force (though lesse the reason be)
Is shamefastnesse, in some of mighty minde:
Shame may bring life to confusion in generous spirits.
One Diodorus died because that heeCould not assoile a Question him assign'd:
The like of Homer we recorded finde;
Who died with shame for being so vnsound
Not to be able (like one double blinde)
Quod capio perdo, quod non capio mihi seruo.
To answere that, base Fishers did propound;So sense of shame did sense and life confound.
These Passions are the suffrings of the soule,
Body & Soule
That make the Inne to suffer with the Ghest:For, Perturbations both togither rowle
Here, there, and ev'ry where, as they thinke best;
Heate naturall
Kinde-heate they fire, or quench with their vnrest:For, some (as all obserue) haue died with ioy;
And some with griese, haue bin life-dispossest:
For in extreames, they Nature so annoy,
As (being suddaine) her they quite destroy.
Yet Mirth in measure, kindly warmes the bloud,
And spreads the Sp'rits, b'inlarging of the hart:
This mirth in measure is the only moode
That cuts the throat of Physicke, and her Art,
It makes our yeares as many as our haires:
Mirth makes mans yeare [...] as many as hi [...] haires.
Then, on earths stage who play a meery part,
Shall much more more thē much offend their heires
By overlong p [...]olonging their desires.
Then, should I liue by Nature overlong,
For I to mirth by nature am too prone;
But Accident in me doth nature wrong,
By whom vntimely shee'l be overthrone:
For Melancholy in my Soule inthrones
Herselfe gainst Nature, through crosse Accident,
Where shee vsurpeth, that is not her owne;
And Nature makes to pine with discontent
That shee should so be reft her regiment.
Thus as the Corpes the qualities compound,
So are th'Affections moist, dry, hot, and cold,
The Affectiōs follow the qualities of the Humors.
The last are humor'd as the first abound:
Ioy (hot and moist) the Sanguine most doth hold,
As sorrow (cold and dry) possesse the Olde.
Meane ioie's a meane to make men moist, and hot,
In which two qualities Health hath her Hold:
But griefe the heat consumes, and bloud doth rot,
Which health impaires, and cuts lifes Gordian knot.
And as meane mirth mans age maks most extreame;
So doth it cloth the bones with frolicke flesh:
For, to the partes it makes the bloud to streame,
Which makes them grow, & doth thē ioy-refresh;
This mirth the hart must haue when head is fresh,
For wyny mirth proceedeth from excesse;
Sicknesse i [...] (as Seneca saith) the chastisement of intemperāce.
And all excesse doth but make nature nesh,
Vnable to endure times long processe,
How ere it may spend time in drunkennesse.
This correspondence then twixt flesh, and sp'rite,
Should make our Mouth the House of Temperance;
For the Corpes qualities will answere right
Her rule of Diet; Then intemperance,
The Head and Hart doth odiously entrance:
The Har [...]s affects begett the Mindes
The Hartes affects, produce the Heades effects,Which make the Soule and Bodies concordance:
Then sith the Bodie breeds the Soules affects,
The Soule should feede the same with right respects.
Respect of Health, respect of name, and fame,
Depending on our moderation,
Should be of force to make vs vse the same;
But, when the Bodies depravation
Toucheth the soule, and bothes damnation,
All these respectes should (being things so deere)
Inflame Desires immoderation
Coldly to vse hott wines & belly cheere,
For belly-gods are but the Divells
Deere are fatted but to be killed; So Epicures &c.
Deere.Sith sicknesse then in bodie, and in soule,
From tempers ill, and ill affections flo,
VVitt ought VVills appetites to over-rule
VVhen they (to follow sense) frō Reason go;
And bring them to the bent of wisdoms Bo:
For, sith our soules by Knowledge things discerne,
From whence the will hath pow'r of willing too,
The power of The will is derived from Knowledge.
If Knowledge then be to them both a Sterne,They should do nought but what of her they learne.
And so they doe, but their Guide being blinde
Of the right Eie, no mervel though they runne
Too much on the left hand from place assign'd,
Directed by Delight, the senses sunne:
Which make her run awrie in rightest vvaies,
Whereby our silly soules are oft vndunne,
VVhen as shee weenes to winne immortall praise,
And crowne her Craft with everlasting Baies.
Who learnes a trade, must haue a time to learne;
For without time an Habit is not gain'd:
So diverse skills the soule cannot discerne,
Vntill they be by exercize obtain'd,
Pr [...]ctise the Moth [...]r of Habit.
For by it onely Habittes are attain'd:
VVhich Habitts stretch not onely to our Deedes,
But to our suffrings, beeing wrong'd, or pain'd,
For Customes force another Nature breedes,
And pyning soule with patience it feedes.
Vnto a soule impatient (seldome crost)
Each Daie a yeare, each yeare an Age doth seeme;
The Soule is possest in patience, if shee possesse patience.
But a meeke soule with troubles often tost,
The time, though long, doth ordinarie deeme;
For Time and Troubles she doth light esteeme:
This well appeares in sicknesse, (though most ill)
At first we still doe worst of it misdeeme,
But staying long with vs, we make our vvill
Familiar with it, so endure it still.
Afflictions water cooles the heate of sinne,
And brings soule-health; But at the first like frost
It soule benummes, as it were starv'd therein,
And sense, and Life and sp'rit thereby were lost:
The Crosse doth quell to Hell the seldome crost:
Hence is it, Christ doth with his Crosse acquaint
Those that be his, whereof they glory'ng boast,
For that the Crosse wel borne creates the Saint,
Frst the crosse and then the Crowne.
As it to Fiendes transformeth them that faint.
Affliction, Ladie of the happy life,
(And Queene of mine, though my life happlesse be)
Give my Soule endlesse peace, in endlesse strife,
For thou hast powre to giue them both to me,
Because they both haue residence in thee:
Let me behold my best part in thine Eies,
That so I may mine imperfections see;
And seeing them I may my selfe despise,
For that selfe-love, doth from selfe-liking rise.
Enfold me in thine Armes, and with a kisse
Of coldest comfort, comfort thou my hart;
Breath to my Soule, that mortified is,
Immortall pleasure in most mortall Smart:
Be ieloues of me, play a Louers part:
Keepe Pleasure from my sense, with sense of paine,
And mixe the same with pleasure by thine Arte;
That so I may with ioy the griefe sustaine,
Which ioye in griefe by thy deere loue I gaine.
When from our selves we are estranged quite,
(Though it be strange, we so estrang'd should be)
Thou mak'st vs
Affliction being familier with vs, doth make vs most familier with our selues.
know our selves at the first sightAnd bring'st vs to our selves, our selues to see;
So that we throughly know our selues by
As a man cā not know him selfe, if hee know not God so he cannot know God well if hee know not him selfe. So inseperable are these knowledges
thee:But bright Voluptu'snesse doth blinde our Eyes
That we can nothing see, (and lesse foresee)
But what within her gaudy Bozome lies,
Being a Mappe of glorious miseries.
Pleasure, thou VVitch to this bewitching VVorld,
Eare-charming Siren, sold to sweetest Synne,
Wherwith our Hartes (as with Cords) is ensnarl'd,
That breake the Cords we cannot being in,
[Page 81]How blest had we bin, had'st thou never bin?
For hadst not thou bin, Griefe had nere had beeing,
Sith at thine end, all sorrow doth
The end of worldly pleasure is the beginning of Payne.
begin,And it with thee hath too good-ill agreeing:
That's leagu'd in ill, and in good disagreeing.
Observaunce, looke about with thy right Eye,
View this VVorlds Stage, and they that play thereon,
And see if thou canst any one espie,
That plaies the wanton being wo-begon;
Or in VVealth wall'wing, plaies not the VVanton:
Wealth makes men wanton.
See how deepe sighes pull in each panting syde
Of the first sort, in all their Action,
And how the second sort no where abide,
As standing on no ground through wanton pride.
The first, with downe-cast lookes stil eie the Mould,
As waying whence they came, & where they must:
The second, with high lookes the Cloudes behold,
To see how they for place and grace doe thrust,
Like these vngratious proude Oppressors iust:
Quiett and sadd the first doe still appeare,
The otherm
Ample fortunes, haue as ample passiōs.
madde with mirth, for Prov. 13.10.
quarells lust;Affliction thus to God doth Soules indeere,
When welfare makes them to the Devill deere.
Revile mee vvorld, say I am Sincke of shame,
Nay worse then Ill it selfe, (if worse might be)
Thou dost not wrong me VVorld, for so I am,
Although I am the worse (dam'd VVorld) for thee:
Spitt out thy fame-confounding spight at me,
Make me so vile that I my selfe may
Our [...]nemies will tell vs wherein wee are faulty which friends will forbeare [...] so may we profit by our foes [...]
hate,That so I may to my Reformer flee;
And be'ng reform'd, I may still meditate
On that pure Minde, that mended my Minds state.
Then though Affliction be no welcome Ghest
Vnto the world (that loues nought but her weale)
Of me, therefore shee shalbe loved best,
Because to me shee doth the VVorld reveale,
Which worldly welfare would from me conceale:
Affliction is the best Tutres [...] to make vs know the World.
It is a gaineful skill the VVorld to know,As they can tel that with the VVorld doe deale,
It cost them much ere proofe the same doth show,
Which knowledge frō Afflictiō streight doth flow.
And though the entrance into Vertues way
Be straite, so strait that few doe enter in,
Yet being entred, walke with ease we may,
For labour endes when vve doe but begin:
,,Sweat before Vertue lacky-like doth rin
To ope the gate of Glory sempiterne,
That her triumphant coach might enter in;
So outward temp'ral toile 'gets blisse eterne
Vpon the corpes of Vertue most interne.
Custom is another nature. Custom is overcome by [...]ustome.
Sith Custome then is of such liuely forceAs it hath powre it selfe to overcome,
How blest are they that doe themselues divorce
From Custome ill, by force of good custome:
And ten times blessed they that from the VVombe
Accustom'd are to Vertues straightest VVay,
For, such by Custome vertuous become,
Though powreful Nature doe her selfe say nay;
For Nature, Customes powre is forc'd t'obay.
When, the affections are called vertues or Vices.
When the Affections Acts are habits growne,Then Vertues or els Vices are they nam'd;
A vicious Habit's hardly overthrowne,
For our Affection is therewith enflam'd,
[Page 83]As with the fire infernall are the damn'd:
Who though they would, and though they anguish haue,
Yet cannot that outragious mood be ram'd,
But still they raging sin, and cannot saue
Themselues from that, that makes their griefe their graue.
A vicious Habit is Hels surest Gin,
Wherewith a Man is sold to sinne, and shame,
Running from sinne to sinne, and nought but sinne,
As Rivers runne the same, and not the same.
Til the mindes Iointes, sinnes force doth so vnframe
That it becomes most loose and dissolute;
Neither regarding heav'n, hell, shame, nor fame,
But to liue loathsomly its resolute;
Thus Habits ill, make evill absolute.
But few there are in whom all vice concurres;
And fewer are they, that all faults doe want;
Vnto the worst, offences cling like Burres;
And to the best as to the Adamant
The Iron cleaues; for the Church militant
By nature is accompanied with sinne;
Yet the least force of faith partes them (I grant)
Sin inhabites, but is not habituall in the godly.
Because it cleaues but sleightly to the skinne,
But to the wickeds flesh its fastned in.
For as a burre the longer it abides
Simil.
Vpon a garment being cott'nd hy,
The more the VVooll windes in his hooked sides:
So sinne the longer it in Flesh doth ly,
The faster to the same its fixt thereby.
If Nature then sinne soone doth entertaine,
Vse violence to Nature by and by,
That it perforce may from the same refraine;
For what skill cannot, force may yet constraine.
Simil.
And as the Burre to VVooll so being fixt,With skill, or force cannot be parted thence,
But that some part will with the VVooll be mixt:
So, sinne where it hath had long residence,
Will leaue remaines there, maugre violence:
Simil.
But Iron from the loadstone cleane will fallWith but a touch: and so wil sinnes offence
From those in whom its not habitual
With but a touch of Faith, though nere so small.
That I may touch the Subiect of my Rimes
More home, (though homely I the same doe touch)
And for, my travell'd Muse might breath somtimes,
And, that the Reader too might doe as much,
(Lest that prolixitie might make him grutch)
Here shall shee make a stande, and looke a-backe,
Simil.
As Riders rancke on Steepes haue customes suchTo breath their bony-Nags, when winde they lacke,
And courage them againe like toile to take.
In knowing our soules, we know [...]he wel-head of al our Actions.
THe knowledge of the Soule, and of her Powres,Is the well-head of morrall-VVisedomes flood:
Hence know we al (worth knowing) that is ours,
In body, or in Soule, that's ill or good:
And if these Powres be rightly vnderstoode,
We know the founts from whēce our Actions slow,
And from what cause proceedeth ev'ry moode,
Or good, or ill, and where that cause doth grow;
Al this and more, this knowledge makes vs know.
For in the Soule doth shine (though sinne-obscur'd)
By Natures light, great light of such science;
Whereby the Soule is made the more assur'd
In all her Actions, and Intelligence;
[Page 85]Though oft deceav'd by seeming goods pretence:
And for the Soule is to the body bound,
Affections therein haue their residence,
That, as with wings, the soule with thē might boūd,
Aboue her selfe from being bloud y drown'd.
Wherefore shee hath Affections of two kinds,
The Minde turns & winds the body by the Affections of the Hart.
The one eggs on, the other doe restraine,
By which the Minde the body turnes and windes,
As they the mind, and minde the Corpes constraine:
Yet whē these Curbs our head-strong nature paine,
It winceth with the Heele of willfull-will;
Orethrowing those Affects that doe it reigne,
And in extremities it runneth still,
Which is the Race of Ruine, Rest of Ill.
This comes to passe when as we overpasse
The bounds of Nature, by our Natures vice;
And in some one excesse we do surpasse,
Desiring more then Nature may suffice,
To which our corrupt natures vs intice:
For let the least Necessity appeere
A ken from vs, (though neere so smal of price)
Little suffiseth Na [...]ure, but nothing Opinion.
As a little Colloquintida d [...]th marre a whole pot of pottage: so covetousnesse doth make all other vertues abhominable. The best vse of worldly things is [...] to contemne worldly [...] It things [...] Plato.
We hold what els we hold, (though nere so deere)
VVorthlesse, and for that want with woe we steere.
Hence is it that with never-ceasing toile,
And no lesse care, we traverse all this All;
Nay, all that All we restleslie turmoile,
And bandy (as it were) this Earthie Ball
Past reasons reach, to win worlds wealth withal:
Desire of having thus still moiles the minde,
Though Nature be suffis'd with pittance small;
VVhich makes vs loose our selues when wee it finde,
Sith see our selues we cannot, being blinde.
It blinds our Eyes that seldom'st are deceav'd,
Eyes of our Soule, that make our Bodies see;
Then Soule and Bodie cannot be perceav'd,
By their owne vertue when they blinded be;
And mine and thine, doth sever mee, and thee:
Nought can content vs. Therefore the Affects
Are in the soule like windes (that nere agree)
Vpon the Sea, and worke the like effects,
Some great, some smal, yet like in most respects.
Beside the chiefe windes and Collaterall,
(Which are the VVindes indeede of chiefe regard)
Sea-men observe more, thirtie two in all,
Al which are pointed out vpon their Carde:
But our Minds Mapp, (though many may be spar'd)
Containeth many more Affects then these,
All which though sett our Minds Content to guard,
Yet sturr they vp (as VVindes doe on the Seas)
Vnquiet Passions which the Minde disease.
A simil.
When Zephire breathes on Thetis, she doth smile,Shee entertaines that gale with such content;
But, if proude Boreas doe puffe the while,
Shee's madd with rage, and threates the Continent;
For those proud puffes her soule doe discontent:
So, some Affections our soules browes vnbend,
And other some doe sextiply each dent;
Some meanely please, some meanely doe offend,
And some doe make the Soule her Soule to rend.
Those that doe meanely moue, Affections hight;
The other Huff-snuffes
Affections move the Soule moderately, but Perturbations move her most violently.
Perturbations be;These later rudely gainst their Guides doe fight,
And so enfume them that they cannot see,
[Page 87]Or make them from their Charge away to flee:
So that the soule being left without a Guide,
And tost with Passions that still disagree,
Doth like a Sternelesse Shippe at randon ride
A Simil.
On mightiest Seas, wrack-threatn'd on each syde.
For, if our Reasons iudgment blinded be,
Th'Affections needes must ever run
When Iudgmēt is betraid, the Affections are misguided.
awrie,And draw with thē each sense tumultuoslee
To offer violence to lowe and hye;
That God, and Nature, tast their tyranny:
Let but the Hart bee loue-sicke, and the same
Will carry Iudgment where his Loue doth ly;
And there confine it, setting all on flame
That offers but resistance once to name.
The lower Iudgment in our blood is sunck
The lower is her reach in Reas'ns discourse;
For Iudgmēt with our blood may be so drūck,
That doome she cannot better frō the worse,
But (reeling too and fro) is reft of force.
The higher therfore, she her selfe doth reare
Therfore moderate fasting feedes the Soule.
Aboue base Flesh & Blood's declining course,
The more Affections basenesse wil forbeare,
And neerer draw to that that first they were.
For, Passions passing ore that break-neck Hill
Of Rashnesse, ledd by Ignorance their guide,
By false-Opinions Hold of Good and Ill
Taking their course, at last with vs abide,
While frō our selves they make our selues to slide,
So that we seeke not that sole sov'raigne Good,
But many Goods we seeke; which being tride
Doe but torment the Minde with irefull
Ills takē for good, grieue the mind vpō triall.
moode,Because they were by her mis-vnderstoode.
Had we the prudence of the brutish kinde,
We would prevēt these Passions Stormes with ease;
For, ere a Storme appeares they shelter finde;
Like providence haue Sea-men on the Seas,
VVho see them farre off, and provide for these:
So ought we, when we see a Passion
Passion is easiest extinguished when it begins to kindle.
riseThat may the Soule, and Body much disease,
VVith Moderations pow'r the same surprize,
Before it gather head to tyrannize.
But, so farre off are we from curbing Passion,
That wilfully we mount it, and so ride
On it a gallopp (spurr'd with Indignation)
To all Extreames, where Vices all abide;
The Divell being extreame Passions guide:
For once whē Reason [...]s driven frō the Helme,
And we twixt Scylla and Charibdis glide,
Ther is no hope but one should overwhelme,
And send vs straight to the infernal Realme.
But with a prudent Man it fares not so,
He keeps himself without th'Affectiōs
A wise man rules, and is not ruled by his Affections.
sway;He seekes no good, but he it wel doth kno,
And knowing it, seekes it the rightest way:
VVe say, and misse, because we mis-asay:
VVisdom chalks out the way her selfe to find,
So that Men cannot erre if it they waie,
Except they be (as many) wilfull blinde,
For it is straight, though strict in easie kinde.
VVisedome (the VVell of ev'ry perfect good)
Is that, which wise men onely (seeking) finde;
VVhich
Constancie holdes the Hart that holds wisdōe.
constant good they seeke in constāt moode,And being found, most constant makes the Minde:
[Page 89]For to the same, it selfe, it selfe doth binde:
Heerehence it is, the clowds of Ignorance
That erst the same did naturally blinde
Away are chased, without tarriance;
For VVisedomes Sonne, himselfe doth there advance.
Thus good, and ill (as erst we said) procure
The Mindes Affects, or Moodes, (so cald by some)
Which good, or evill, pure, or most impure,
Is either past, or present, or to come,
To be attain'd, or not be overcome:
And, as we deeme the absence of good, ill:
So, absent Ill,
Ill is the privation of good.
wee deeme doth good become;Either of which affecteth so our VVill,
That by their meanes it is in motion still.
When any good's propounded to the soule,
Shee notes, shee likes, and lastly it doth loue [...]
But in her Mouth shee often it doth rowle,
That so her Pallate may thereof approue,
Before it can her Soules affection moue:
This motion of possessed good is Ioy;
But good to come (which we doe long to proue)
Is call'd Desire,
Good is the obiect of loue and Desire.
which loue doth still imployTo seeke that good which it would faine enioie.
If Ill proposed be, its call'd Offence,
Because the soule offended is thereby;
If it abides, Hate doth her soule incense;
For shee a lasting ill hates mortally,
As that which most her soule doth damnifie:
And, as from present Ill, Griefe doth aspire:
So, Feare proceedes from Ill farre off or ny:
The moode gainst present Ill is sinnelesse Ire,
To bee angry with evill, is good.
And Fa [...]th, and Hope, gainst future Ill conspire.
All which Affects haue others vnder them;
For Rev'rence, Pitty, and Benevolence,
Spring out of Loue, (as Braunches from the Stemme)
From Ioy, Delight; Dislike, from sorrowes sense;
And in Desire, Hope hath her residence:
Pride is a mō ster compounded of many Affections.
But Prid's a Monster, for shee is compos'dOf Self-conceit, Desire, Ioy, Impudence;
These, and such like in Pride are oft disclos'd,
For in her wombe they restlesse are repos'd.
And, as Affections one another breede,
By one another so are they restrain'd:
Ioy woundeth Griefe, & Griefe makes Ioy to bleede;
And so the rest are by the rest refrain'd,
As by the Stronge the vveaker are constrain'd:
A Simil.
As when curst Thetis chiding knitts the Brow,Her Billowes proud, that eithers pride disdaine,
Thrusts out each other: So, when Passions flow,
The greater doe the lesser overthrow.
A Simil.
And oft it fares in our Mindes Common-weale,As in a Civill-warre the case doth stande;
Where no mann's careful of his Countries heale,
Or who of right should al the rest commaund,
But follow him that hath the strongest hand:
So, in Affections fight ther's no respect
To the Mindes good, or how it should be scand,
But (inconsiderate) they both reiect,
And doe as strongest Passion doth
Where Passion raignes Reason obayeth.
direct.The Hart, the Hold where these Pow'res are inclos'd,
Heereby is vext; for, if it doe incline
To those Affections that are worst dispos'd,
Its inly griv'd, els Ioy the same doth line,
[Page 91]And with the same doth face the Face in fine;
But, if sadd sorrow doe the Hart surprise,
It doth deface the face and make it pyne;
Looking like Languishment through both the Eyes,
For through the
The Eie is the Index of the Minde.
Eyes, our Eye the Hart espies.This direct Index of the Minde, the Eyes
Doth oft bewraie what Reason doth conceale;
For wil yee, nil yee, we shal see thereby
What's well, or ill, in the Mindes common-weale:
Eccl. 13.26.
Our Lookes, our Falshoode truely doe reveale,
Whereby oft lives and liberties are lost;
Examin'd Theeves
Confounded looks bewray mēs lewdnes.
confesse that they did stealeBy their confused lookes, with horror tost:
Thus Count'naunce oft putts vs to double cost,
It Lyvings costs, to hold it beeing hy,
It costs our lives, when we it cannot hold;
We cannot hold it when through it we dye;
And two Proppes hold it high, Silver and Gold,
For which oure lives, and livinges oft are sold:
For too lowe State too false doth make the hands,
Which in the Countenance wee oft behold,
Through which we die; and State that highly stands
Lands must vphold; So, it costs life and lands.
Thus Ioy and Sorrowe send with equal pace
True tokens of their presence in the Hart,
(By Natures force conducted) to the Face;
Where they the powr's convince of Reasons Arte,
And in the
The countenāce showes how the Hart is aff [...]cted [...]
Front with force they play their part:If in the Hart, Griefe be predominant,
The browes wil bend as if they felt the smart;
If Ioy, the face wil seeme therefore to vant,
Then how Hart fares, Fooles are not ignorant.
That Man is truely wise as Man may bee,
That can beare weale, & woe, with like aspect;
There may be such, but, such I nere could see;
Yet good mens countenance I much respect,
But of their goodnes nere saw that effect:
Let Stoicks giue for praecepts what they list,
This vertue may (perhapps) be their defect;
For though Affections force they can resist,
Yet they'l prevaile whē Natures powres assist.
And weakling that I am, how apt am I
To martial al my Passions in my face;
Not to dissemble, is not to lyue.
I oft haue tride, and yet I doe but trie,To keepe them in, in their conceaving place,
Dissembling so Discretions fowle disgrace:
But as I cannot colour my defects,
So, can I wel dissemble in no case;
Which is the cause of many badd effects,
For none (though nere so vaine) this vaine affects.
Teares are the Tokens of a Passion'd Soule,
That Hart for Loue somtimes sends to the Eies,
And oft they witnes there Ioy, Paine, or Dole,
But how so ere, from Passion strong they rise;
Which Passion in Compassion often lies:
Mine Eies are kyn (too neere of kyn) to these,
Which, though my Spirit doth it much despise,
Yet doe they turne mine Eyes too oft to
Teares quench the [...]e of immod [...]ate Passiō.
Seas,To drowne Harts Passion and to give it ease.
But blessed were I if mine Eyes could flowe
With Teares of Pittie seeing the distrest;
But much more blest, had I then to bestow
And franckly giue, then were I treble blest;
My Secret to my selfe, I blesse Him ay
For being no worse, though badd I be at best;
The lesse I speake of what I feele that way,
The more I feele his grace my thoughts to sway.
He, Fount of goodnesse (holie be his name)
Was often seene (when he as man was seene)
To weepe, and seem'd delighted with the same,
Seeing the VVorld (through his Teares) stil oreseene,
That might by his example blest haue beene:
Who never was observ'd to laugh, or iest,
Either in Manhood, or when yeares were greene,
At merry-meetings, or at vveddings feast;
Showing thereby what moode fitts Vertue best.
If Ioy at any time had toucht his Soule,
(As when his words had made a Proselite)
He (only wise) would wisely it controule,
For that this moode with
Mirth is too light for the gravity of Maiestie.
Maiesty do [...]h fight,Which in his Person was enthron'd by right:
This we admire as that we cannot doe,
For, we in pleasures vaine so much delight,
That Ioy may make vs madd, and kill vs too:
For Ioy, or Griefe can our hart-stringes vndoe.
Thus when our Teares doe testifie our ruth,
We neede not rue, or of them be asham'd;
For, Vertue therein her owne selfe ensuth,
When with selfe-love her Soule is most inflam'd,
Which selfe-loue burns the Soul yet nere is
Vertues self-loue alone is Vertuous.
blam'd:Wherefore such Teares, and Teares effus'd for sinne,
Is wyne of Angels, so by Angells nam'd;
Then blessed are those Founts that never lyn
To send forth streames, that Angells glory in.
VVhen sighes for sinne ascend [...] Mercy descends,
And in the rise, their flight anticipates;
Grace centreth sighes that Mercy comprehends,
But sighes from sinne ascending Mercie hates;
Sighes for, and from sinne, are vnequall mates:
From sinne, none but sighes sinneful can arise;
But sighes for sinne high grace consociates,
The kingdom of heaven suffers violence; and th [...] violent take it by force Mat. 11. 12.
And did not Mercie stay them in the rise,They would with violence the Heav'ns surprise.
The Hart cō ceaues two kindes of Ioy or Griefe.
Two kindes of Ioy or Griefe the Hart conceaues,For Good, or Ill, possessed, or future;
The name of Hope, the later Ioy receaues,
Which of some good to come doth vs assure;
The latter Griefe doth Feare in vs procure
Of Ill to come, which we with Griefe expect:
So, Ioy, and Hope, or Griefe, and Feare in powre
Are much alike, their ods Time doth effect,
And take their names as they doe Time respect.
Hope time to come respects, bred by Desire,
Desire of good, wherein we Ioie by Hope;
Likelyhood is the life of hope touching mundane matters.
Hope hath no helpe of science but intireRests on coniecture, which to doubt lies ope,
And likelyhood giues her her vtmost scope:
Yet Hope that's fixt on that all-working VVord
That gaue Earth being, and the Heav'nly Cope,
Excludes Coniecture, and is so assur'd,
As if that hopt for, Time did straite afford.
Then no true Ioy can hope accompany,
That hath but likelyhood for her best stay;
For such hope, Posse evermore doth eie,
Which ere it comes to Esse, slides away:
[Page 95]For in each Possibilitie we may
Behold a possibilitie of faile;
Which must of force our hope sometimes dismay;
Then Feare a shaking hope must needes assaile,
And hope must shake, that crosse events may quaile.
Such is the VVickeds most assured hope,
The hope of the impious is full of feare.
Who Ancor it on transitorie Toyes;
They feare the cracking of that cable Rope
That holds them to their hopes expected ioies;
Contingencie their constan'st hope annoies;
Which ay is constant in vnconstancie:
And oft them with their groundlesse hope destroies;
Which fils their hopes with dire perplexity,
And lines their ioies with lasting miserie.
But hope that hath for obiect certaine things
(As those which Truthes nere-failing word assures)
In great'st distresse great consolation brings,
And like good sauce an appetite procures,
Griefe to disgest, as long as life endures:
This hope makes harts to hold that els would breake;
And harts almost quite broken shee recures,
And when our foes by force our ruine seeke,
Innocencie dreades no danger.
She giues vs strēgth to weene their force too weake.
Shee holds the powres of hell in high contempt,
And makes a iest of temp'ral powre or paine;
From all annoy of both shee is exempt,
For in Griefes bowels shee doth ioie retaine;
As Ionas did in the VVhales intertaine:
The aire shee striketh with so strong a winge
Hopes winges are pennipotent.
That aire, or fire, the force cannot restraine,
But vp shee will through both, and ev'ry thing
That lets her from the place of her biding.
Nay, she with such resistlesse wings doth flie,
That shee her selfe her selfe doth oft surmount;
The Patriarck Abraham.
The Faithfuls Father made her so to stie,And diverse other Saintes of lesse account;
Being on her VVings she, maugre force, wil mount,
Who, through the ten-fold heav'ns (though thick & hard)
Cā glide with ease, as Fish do through a foūt,
Nor by the high'st himselfe can shee be bard,
Gen. 32.26.28
But will prevaile, as it with Iacob far'd.Thus Ioy, and Hope goe iointly hand in hand,
Like Twins got by Desire, by Fancie borne;
And as Hopes ioie, on future Good doth stand,
So, Fear's a griefe conceav'd for Ill vnborne
(Which we expect) wherewith the Soule is torne:
Then looke what ods there is twixt Hope and Ioy,
The like's twixt Feare, and griefe (in minds forlone)
A like they comfort, or the Minde annoy,
As they best know, that best or worst enioy.
Feare doth the Hart contract, (that Hope dilates)
And shut so close that vitall Sp'rits it pines;
Then Nature to prevent death (which shee hates)
Drawes bloud and Sp'rits from al the parts confines,
And to the Hart in haste the same assignes:
Then are the outward partes, as pale, as cold,
And quake as fearing their approaching fines;
Then pants the heart that labours life to hold,
Which ties the Tongue, womb loosing ere it should.
And as this sense-confounding Passion, Feare,
The hart with horror thus excruciates;
So, in the soule it such a swaie doth beare,
That it the Powres thereof quite dissipates;
How like an Idoll stands Feares servile Slaue?
Whose total senses Feare so captivates,
The Senses would dy, that fea [...]e might [...]ot [...]iue
That no one sense hath force it selfe to saue,
But Death desires to kill the feare they haue.
If this base Feare (harts hatefull hel) possesse
The hart, the hart doth then possesse the heele;
But most of all, when hart doth most transgresse,
And divine vengeance it (with feare) doth feele;
Then Strength may seeke to stay it, but, t'wil reele
In spight of morrall strength, that it should sway;
And, as starke drunke with fear, turne like the wheele
That wheeles the nether heauens without stay,
Let courage say the while, what courage may.
No harnesse (though by Vulcan forg'd) can make
Feare is vtterly ha [...]tl [...]sse.
Feare to be hardy, or not hartlesse quite;
If Armors could from Art such tempers take,
The Artist should be king'd in Fortunes spight;
For many kings would crowne him for this sleight:
But he it is, whom heav'n, and hell doth feare,
Can take feare from, and arme vs with his might;
For he alone the faint-hart vp doth reare,
Or make the stowtest hart most faint appeare.
Wee must then armed be from Feare, by feare;
Gods feare expels feare.
Gods feare, that strong Vulcanian Armor, must
Guard such good Soules as doe regard it heere;
Because such feare is euer full of trust,
Eccle. 1.12.
That feares no threate of any mortal thrust;
For, Hope in him, doth make the dareing hart,
Which hope no hart can haue that is vniust;
For Conscience prickes will make the same to start
When the least Leafe doth wagge, by winde, or Art:
The Belly becomes loose though force of Feare
When therfore divine Iustice sinne wil scurge,He doth dishart their harts, in whom it raignes,
In sort, that they themselves with horror
Iob. 41.16.
purge,When he on them his heavy vengeance raynes;
So that their feare exaggerates their paines:
The haughti'st Hart (erst swolne with Valours pride)
Feare striks stone-dead, whē he but vēgeance faines;
And greatest strength by vveakenesse is defide,
When as his pow'r in vveakenesse doth abide.
Courage comes from Hope.
Then, Courage comes from Hope, & Hope frō Heau'n,The Donor is the highest Diety;
The praise is His, that is to prowesse giv'n,
For he alone the Minde doth magnifie:
Then praise him Lowe, if courage make you Hie;
And laude him High, if feare make yee not lowe;
Yea high and lowe praise Him alone, whereby
You gaine the praise that men on you bestowe,
From Whom (as frō the Fount) al praise doth flowe.
How is it then, that Divills in Mennes forme
swaggring
Six-penny Champions.
Man-quellers are so desperate?Who with strong hand Gods Images deforme
Fearing no man, but give the checke or mate
To good and badd of what soever state [...]
This is not courage, but an hellish fire
That boiles their bloud, cal'd Ire, inflam'd by Hate,
And oft of Saints they (Fiendes) haue their desire;
Iob. 2.7.
No otherwise then Iob felt Sathans ire.Gen. 4.8.
So, cursed Caine slue Abell in that moode,Abell, that Innocent the Highests belov'd;
Yet Caine had hart and hand to broach his blood:
The like, Men Angell-like haue oft approv'd
[Page 99]By those whome God in this life nere reprov'd.
This secret is obscure, but light to those
That take it light, and it abide vnmov'd;
Them Faith assures, He doth of all dispose;
In whome, come life or death, they hope repose.
If divine
God.
LOVE desires my Bodies death,By soddaine death my Soule so straight to haue,
VVhat matters it, though he bereave my breath
By Div'll, or Angell, so my Soule he saue;
The
God is the Fountaine of all Power.
pow'r they both possesse, to them he gave,Both are his Ministers to doe his will;
If Sathan then, my Corpes bring to the Grave,
To me it is so farre from being ill,
That Sathan doth me good, against his wil.
Me good said I? well may I call it good,
Sith it is good of goods, good all in all;
The fount, whereof all goodnesse is the floud,
That never yet was gag'd nor never shall
By Men, most wise, or spirits Angelicall:
It is th'Abysse of true Felicity,
VVhich some men, more then most fantastical,
Suppose they have, had they high dignity;
VVith pleasure fac'd, and lyn'd with Misery.
Thus Ioy, and Hope, were by th'all Giver giv'n
As sweete Conductors to his sweetest Sweete;
And Feare, and Griefe, from his wrath are deryv'n
To awe the Mind, (which first therwith doth meete)
And that which that Mind hath fore-done vnmeete,
should be thereto as
Sorrow remaines after sinne for sin, to make the Soule detest sinne [...]
Scourge and Scouger iust,VVhich doe remaine, when sinnes sowre-Sweetes do fleete
To make the Mind abhorre her former lust;
For Griefe, and Feare, are iust to Mindes vniust.
Now the true pleasure which our Nature craues
The whiles the Soule remaines the Bodies Ghest,
Is the true rest some Good the Soule vouchsaves,
Which the Hart holdeth, and esteemeth best;
As Contemplation is Reasons rest:
Yet can there be no pleasure in that good
If it be greater then Hart can disgest;
For, if the Continent bound not the floud,
Confusion must ensue in likely-hood.
If Light (ioy of the Eye) be, as the Sunne,
Too great for the Eyes small capacity,
They may be dymmed so, if not vndunne:
Or if it be too small, they cannot see;
As they are strong or weake, so
Too great Light is as offensive to the Eye, as too little.
Light must bee:The like of other senses may be sedd
Outward or inward, bound to forme, or free,
Who must with moderation still be fedd,
For excesse thē annoies, nay strikes thē dead.
As therfore God is most most infinite,
So hee's with ioy receaved of that part
That's likst himself, which is the Soul or sp'rit;
But for that he cannot himselfe impart
(being Immense) to them by pow'r or arte,
(they being not so) he is to them applied
By
God is by Intelligence apprehended of vs.
Vnderstanding, yet but so in part;If otherwise he should with them abide,
They would through glory be quite nullified.
Now, as a man takes pleasure by these partes,
So in that part he takes the most delight
That to his Flesh, or sp'rite, most ioy imparts;
And with those pleasures is he swallowed quight,
[Page 101]That doe affect that part with maine and might:
Therefore the brutish Vulgar, most are pleas'd
In things substantial which appeare to sight,
And things divine, which cannot so be seas'd,
They hold as vaine, and are therewith displeas'd.
Amonge the pleasures which are sensuall,
The vilst is that we feele, by that we touch;
Because it is the Earthli'st sense of all:
The Tast's of better temper, though not much:
Note which of the outward senses is the most supreme.
Smelling is light, and lightly more will grutch
At vnsweete Savors, then in sweete will ioye;
The Hearing is more worthie farre then such,
Sith its more Air [...]y and doth lesse annoy,
Whereby we gaine the Faith which we enioy.
But Seeing, (Sov'raigne of each outward sense)
Holds most of Fire, which is in nature neere
To the
Seeing is the Soveraigne of the outward Sēses & why.
Celestiall Natures radience;Therefore this sense to Nature is most deere,
As that which hath (by Natures right) no Peere.
Thus much for pleasures which these senses giue,
VVhereof the best must needs most base appeare
Compared to the worst our Soules receave,
Whose powres haue much more pow'r to take and give.
These are the Lures of lust, that never lyn
To draw the vvorld to be a pray to vvoe;
These make fraile flesh & Blood the founts of
The outward senses are the Dores wh [...]re thr [...]ugh Sin enters into our Soules.
sinne,From whence all mortall miseries doe sloe,
Which flesh and blood doe groning vndergoe;
In these are Baites for Beggars, as for Kinges:
VVhich pleasures streames doe (swelling) overfloe,
That they are caught vnwares; so that these thinges
The VVorld to Hell, and Hell to horror b [...]inges.
These are the windowes through which Sathan spies
The disposition of our better part:
Through these he hath a glimps of all that lies
Within the secret'st corners of our Hart,
The Divell knowes not the thoughts of Man.
Which wel to know belongs to heav'nly Art:For loue of these, the Flesh the Sprite doth loth,
Who for their pleasure makes the same to smart,
And for their comfort soule and bodie both
With Care confusedly themselues doe cloth.
A Simil.
As when grim Night puts on a Sable weede,Fac'd with infernal Apparitions,
That so the next daies comfort might exceede:
So, are the Minde and Bodies motions
Care-cloth'd for senses consolations.
Fraile senses (Seede-plots of impietie
Made for our Reasons recreations)
Die and bee damn'd, or liue to magnifie
Your makers Mercie, Might, and Maiestie.
And as in Pleasures false are true degrees,
Agreeing with these Organs of the sense,
Some base, some meane, some high, (for so are these)
The inferiorst interior sense cōceiues more pleasure then all the outward senses can.
(Yet all but base to pleasures excellence,Whereof the soules low'st powre hath highest sense)
So are there like gradations in the ioies
Those Powres conceaue, as is their pre'minence;
The feeding Powre, in feeding powre imploies,
Which pleaseth Nature, but the soule annoies.
The pleasures of the minde doe far excell those of the body.
Those Ioies conceaved by th' IntelligenceAs most supreame, doe most reioice the sp'rite;
For they belong to the supreamest sense,
VVherein the Minde conceaveth most delight
Thus then, if iudgement these degrees would way,
Shee would reiect ioie s [...]nsuall, as too light,
And not permit the same her to betray,
Which makes fraile sense the strongest Reason sway.
The Gluttons Gorge (Charibdis of Excesse)
Should (being disgorg'd) from surfetting forbeare:
Th'insatiate Leacher would that fire suppresse,
That Conscience and his secrets oft doth seare:
None would be Beasts that humane creatures were.
Then, sense of Touch or Tast, as vil'st they bee,
So doe they bring the ioies that soonest weare;
For those that come by that wee heare or see,
Doe longer last, and with vs more agree.
And the more base and brutish pleasures bee,
The more brutish the pleasures bee, the more paine is taken in their execution.
The more's the paine in their accomplishment;
And the more vs'd they are excessiuely,
The more's the soule and bodies dammagement;
VVitnesse the Leachers lothsome languishment,
The Drunkards dropsie, and the Gluttons Grease,
Each clogg'd with either, or worse punishment,
That health decreaseth with their corps increase,
And shame increaseth with their fames decrease.
Aske sensual-pleasure, in her greatest ru [...]fe,
How little griefe will overthrow her quite
And giue her soule a deadly counter-buffe,
Shee wil (as forc'd) confesse, shee hath no might
VVhen Griefe, scarse sensible, but comes in sight.
VVe can brooke pleasures want with greater ease,
Griefes doe more annoy vs then Pleasures delight vs.
Then not feele griefes though they in pleasure bite;
For, absent good doth not so much displease,
As present ill our Soules soule doth disease.
For corporall pleasure being sensuall
Consists in some excesse, which stil doth tende
To the extreame subversion of our All;
The feare whereof must pleasure needs suspend,
And make her suffer pennance to the ende.
No Cōsciēce
Gods cōmā dements mē tioned in the Decalogue.
sear'd with Lusts Soul-scortching fire,But seeles the Lawes sharpe-burning Iron to send
An hell of paine, where she is most intire;
For it doth death it selfe with life inspire.
Now as the pleasures of the eie surpasse
The rest that on the outward senses rest:
So Fancies pleasures all those pleasures passe,
Because Opinion esteemes them best;
Hence is it, wealth with pleasure is possest
For no inherent vertue, but because
Opinion holdeth the possessor blest;
This makes men (maugre God and Natures lawes)
To bite, and scrat for wealth, with Teeth and Pawse.
VVealth, state, and glorie, if they worldly be,
False wealth, fraile state, vaine-glory then they are;
Only held good by doting Fantasie,
Which wil no part thereof to Reason share,
Least shee should finde them false, and bid beware:
But Reasons pleasures are perpetuall,
They are all comforte, quitted from all Care,
They thrall the Minde to freedome spiritual,
That makes selfe Bondage, sweet selfe Freedoms thral.
Bodily pleasures are but paines cōpared to those of the minde.
No marvell then, though Men possessing theseDoe hold al other pleasures hels of paine;
That some their wealth haue throwne into the Seas,
That so they might this weale with ease retaine;
(Save these alone) that prov'd all vnder Sunne,
These haue made Princes quitt their princely Traine,
Train'd by these pleasures (which are never dunne)
Quite from their Scepters and themselues to runne.
These make the Mind and Sp'rite so Nectar-drūck
That they sleepe soundly in divine delight:
These make the Soule forsake the Bodies Trunck,
Leaving it Ioy-tranc'd whilst shee takes her flight
Through Natures workes to have her Makers sight:
These, these, & none but these are Heau'ns on Earth,
Because on Earth they see by Natures light
The highest Heavens Maiestie and Mirth,
And by his Sonnes light
God the Father, father [...]le [...].
without Sire, their birth.Among which pleasures, those which doe consist
In Contemplation, are the most divine;
By which this life and that to come are blist,
VVhich made Philosophers to it assigne
The Chiefe Beatitude, the Spirittes vvine.
If Mindes that never knew the Sov'raigne Good
Mount vp so high to make this Good their fine,
VVhat shame for those baptiz'd in Christ his blood,
If they (like Swine) doe place the same in mudd?
And as the Soule retaineth more or lesse
Of pristine purity, so will the same
In all hir Actions, lesse or more transgresse,
And to the best, or worst, her motions frame:
Therfore some place their pleasure in their fame
For knowledge, and seeke knowledge to be knowne;
Some in rare handy-works, and some in Game,
Some how a State may stand, or be orethrowne
VVhen it is little, or else overgrowne.
And of al skils that meerely are humane,
Civill Policie.
This skill is it that most commends the soule:This can instruct the sword to make a lane
To Crownes, & teach the same Crownes to cōtroule,
And slaues in Catalogue of kings enroule.
For Policies long Arme can compasse pow'r,
Which ioin'd, at wil, the Earths huge Bowle cāroule
In Natures spight, if from th'aetheriall Towre,
A suddaine vengeance stay not humane powre.
If the swordes edge be set on Policie,
It wil slip through the Ioints of Monarchies;
And shaue the Crowne of Roiall Maiestie,
So be it stand in way of Tyranies,
That clime to Crownes by bloud and villanies.
The hand of Policie welding the sword,
Directs each Blow that wounds stil multiplies,
Crownes are purchased often vniustly by bloudy cō quests.
That slaues to Crownes through streams of bloud may ford;For Crownes de Or, those sanguine streames afford.
HEre Muse craue licence for a maine digresse,
Of those that shal thine Ambages survay;
Sith Policie compels thee to transgresse
The Rules of Order, her pow'r to display;
She (most importunate) wil haue no nay,
But thou must from thy proiect long desist
To blazon her high vertue by the way,
That sense may see wherein shee doth consist,
Wherein (being much) thou must the more insist.
But what I shall in this behalfe insert
Through my no skill and lesse experiment,
Comes from a Muse that can but speake of part,
Much lesse hath skill to teach al government;
[Page 107]Or if shee had, shee were too insolent
So to presume; sith Reason hath bin strain'd
To highest reach for Rules of Regiment;
Sufficeth me to touch it as constrain'd [...]
By that I handle; els, would haue refrain'd.
Nor wil I iustifie all rules for right,
That Policie approveth for direct;
God, and Mans wisedome are repugnant quite;
Mans wisedome holdes for good a good effect
Caused by ill, which Gods doth stil reiect:
And to doe all that Policie doth will
Must needes the soule with mortal Sores infect;
Heare, what shee wils, then iudge, if well or ill;
And vse or els refuse it, as yee will.
Whose powre if it with puissance be conioin'd
Policy (vnder God) is the overruler of all vnder heavē.
Controules al powres, saue hellish or divine;
It glues together states, that VVarres vnioin'd,
And severs those that Concord did combine:
It makes or marres disposing Mine and Thine:
On Sov'raignes heads it makes Crownes close to sit,
That sooner shal their heads then Crownes decline;
It makes VVill law, when VVit thinkes Law vnfit,
Yet wils that Law should lincke with VVill and wit.
It tels the Statesman sitting at the Sterne,
To Princes, wee must giue our reasons by waight, & our wo [...]ds by measure.
(Embozom'd by his sov'raigne) he must be
Carefull the humor of his Lige to learne,
And so apply himselfe thereto, that hee
May neither crosse nor with it stil agree:
Like Sol that with nor gainst the Heaven goes,
Similie.
But runnes ascue, by whose obliquitie,
All Policie ought [...]o tend to publicke profite [...]
Each thing on Earth's conserv'd, and gayly groes;
So Councellors their councels shoulde dispose.
Simil.
And as the Moone reflects her borrowed lightVnto the Sunne, that but lent her the same:
So statesmen should reflect (how ere vnright)
Their wel-deservings, and their brightest fame
Where the worde of the king is, there is powe [...], and who shall say to him, what dost thou?
Eccles 8 4.
For Princes may put shame of their oresights
Vpon their servants, who must beare the blame,
Applying praises of those mens foresights
Vnto themselues, as if they were their rights.
A Caveat for great subiects.
Great Subiects must beware of subiects loue,And Sov'raignes hate the first oft breeds the last;
Kings wil their Brethren hate, if not reproue
For being too wel belov'd, who often tast
The evil speede that growes from that loues hast;
Men shoulde not bee divels to shun tēporall death, or to be Gods on earth.
That which in privat persons is called Choler, in publike is called Fury & cruelly. Sal.
Rigor often buyeth her pleasure with perill of life.
Mercy & truth preserue the King: for his throne sha [...]be established with Mercie.
That would of King and subiect be embrac'd)
To mix their vertues deeds with villany,
T'avoide the plague of Popularitie.
With submisse voice it tels the Soveraigne,
Severity makes weake Authoritie,
If that too oft the Subiects it sustaine;
And smal faults punisht with great cruelty
Makes Feare and Hate desp'rate rebell'ouslie.
For, death of Patients Emprickes lesse defame,
Then Executions oft doe Sov'raignty,
And all that haue delighted in the same
Haue hate incurr'd, and often death with shame.
For Policie can hardly wel prevent
Prover. 20.28 He that is careles of his own li [...]e, is Lord of anothers. Sen [...]
The purpose of true Hate made obstinateWith ceaslesse plagues, and extreame punishment:
For, when the weakest hand is desperate
[Page 109]It may confound a
Which mischief (though with extream difficulty prevented if at al avoided yet al the means to escape it are these, 4. Enquiry, Punishment, Innocē cie, Destenie.
Caesar, so a state.Who death desires, is Lord of others life:
He feares not hell that would be reprobate:
A calme Authoritie represseth strife,
When much severitie makes Rebels rife [...]
It's better
By reprehē sion which S. Basil cals the healing of the soule: Salomō an ornamēt of fine gold Pro. 25. and David a precious Balme, Psa. 41. Tacitus saith, every notorious execution of iustice hath some taste of iniustice therin, yet sith it wrings but some in particular it is amply recompē ced in the cō mon good.
cure, then cut of members ill,If it may be; and, if that wil not serue,
Yet cut them off as t'were against thy will:
For, Men hate not their members which they kerue
Or cleane cut off, the rest so to preserue:
For Cruelty sometimes is Clemencie;
Its mercy in the Prince (peace to conserue)
To cut off Rebels with severity,
Lest they prevailing make an Anarchie.
And, if in case a mighty Multitude
Of mighty Men for Treason were to dy,
Policie would not haue the sword imbrude
In bloud of them as t'were successiuely;
But all at once, let them al headlesse ly:
For oft
Iteration of revēg for one fault, is faulty. Punishmente is the companion of iniustice. Plato.
revenge with bloud to iterate,The malice may suppresse of few too hy;
But stirres the harts of all to mortall hate,
Which may impeach the most secured state.
And therefore that which must be cut away
Away with it at once, quoth Policie:
And to the sores these
Salus f [...]r the so [...]es growing from overmuch severity
plaisters ply straight way,Doe some great good that argues Charity,
And pardon some to shew thy Clemencie:
To shedde the bloud of corrupt Maiestrates,
Doth not a little the paine qualifie:
The sacrifice of such hate expiates;
Thus bloud must heale what bloud exulcerates.
Intemp'rate Patients make Phisitions cruell,
And wayward Subiects make the Prince
Austere and iust Maiestrats are like the Ligatures of Chirurgions, which hurt them that bee wounded; for though those Bands be imployd to cure loose mēbers, yet they putt the Patient to much paine.
seveare:Ceaselesse abuses of Ire is the fuell:
Can Sov'raignes beare, when Subiects nought
By the resistance of those that should obey, the lenitie of those that cō mand is diminished. Tacitus.
forbeare?Such must be taught to loue through cause of feare:
For, oft a ijrke from a kinde Masters hand
Amōg much cockring, makes our loue more deere,
When as we know, it with our weale doth stand:
So short correction tends to long command.
Iudges corrupt and all Extortioners
Like Spunges must be vs [...]d, squiz'd being full,
And so must Iustice handle Vsurers;
They pull from
Vsurie is a sweete poison compounded vpon the ruines of good men.
Subiects, Kings from thē must pull,And whē their fleece is grown, sheare off the wooll.
These are the Canker-wormes of Common weales,
They mortifie and make the Members dull,
Then when the Head thereof these Cankers feeles,
He needes must clense them, ere the Body heales.
For whosoever feares hate over much,
Knowes not as yet what Rules to Rule belong;
Let Subiects grutch without iust
A temperate dread suppresseth high and stout stomakes, feare in extremitie stirres men to presumption or desperate resolution, & provoks them to try conclusiōs dāgerous.
cause of grutch,They will, whē they perceave the Prince they wrōg,
To right the same, continue Subiects long:
By Punishment, and by Reward a State
May be ore-aged beeing over yong;
In Mould of Love to melt the Commons hate,
Is to correct without respect of state.
From Piety and cleere-Eyde Providence
Authoritie derives resistlesse force;
Piety makes Authority most potent.
For Piety constraines Obedience,Sith all beleeves the Heau'ns doe blesse her coorse:
[Page 111]And Providence subiection doth enforce,
The mother of a wary person knows not what belongs to Teares.
Paul. Emil.
For, it foresees where Riott may runne out,
And with strong Barres (which Barristers r'enforce)
Makes fast the Parke-pale there and round about,
That to goe through, no one wil goe about.
It teacheth Princes wisely to beware
How they exhaust their store for warre in peace
To maintaine Reuellings, and nothing spare
Superfluity in Bāquets & Aparrell are tokens of a diseased Cō mon-weale, or which is rather in dāger of death.
Seneca.
That tends to Sensualities increase,
Although therfore their Flocks they often fleece:
It ill beseemes (quoth Providence) the Prince,
His owne and publike
A kingdoms superabūdāce if it be managed by a lascivious & voluptuous Prince, is the cause of the subversiō thereof.
Treasures to decreaseFor private satisfaction of the sense,
Which sincks the State with waight of vain expēce.
If there be factions for Sions cause,
So bee't they breake not bounds of Charitie,
Instruction sooner then Correction drawes
F [...]are & terror are slender bonds to bind loue.
Tacitus.
Simil.
Such Discords to a perfect Vnity,
That yeelds a sweete Soule-pleasing harmony:
For, when a Violls strings doe not concent,
We doe not rend them straight, but leisurely
VVith patience put in tune the Instrument;
A gentle intreaty is of more force then an imperious cōmād.
Claudian.
So must it be in case of Government.
Its the least freedome Subiects can demaund
To haue but liberty to hold their peace;
Who keepe their errors close from being scand
Doe hurt none but themselves, in warre or peace:
If Freedome true Obedience release
It will
It is an easie matter to governe good men. Salust.
containe it selfe in liberty;And Lenity Subiection doth encrease
Where strife desires publike tranquillity,
And still agrees t'obey Auctoritie.
Policy prompts the Prince, with voice scarse heard,
If any Subiects be growne over great,
By
O impious people, & accursed times, that doe constrain Princes to doe this for the safety of th [...]ir States, & bodies, that is so perrillous touching the State of their Soule [...].
death their grandure must of force be barr'd;But if by Lawe they cannot doe that feate,
Without the shaking of their State and Seate,
It must be done without Law by some Chance
That
Ere the Subiect be in Armes. A Subiect placed in high dignitie hath more adoo to hold it, then others to gett it. Brutus.
soddainly must fall (ere blood doe heate)So shall their Throne be stablisht, (witnesse France)
And subiect onely to divine vengeance.
For it is sel'd, or rather never seene
That peace and powrfull men doe dwell
Tacit Hist [...] Abraham and Lott must part when their wealth is over growne.
togeather;And ten times blessed is that King or Queene
Who make their Nobles live and loue each other;
Lyve like themselves, & like themselves love either:
This were the Quintenssens of Policie,
And
All Wisdome assisted both by nature and Arte, is little ynough to effect so great an Act by reasō of the perversnes of mās nature.
witte, that's seld derive from the Mother,VVhich rather can be wisht then taught, for whie?
No pow'r from vvill can take vvills liberti [...].
A King may from his high erected Throne
VVith Eagles Eyes (for Kings such Eies should have)
Behold the Members of the State alone,
And what the humors are which them deprave;
So may he purge the partes the VVhole to saue:
But to attone the vvills perverst by pow'r,
As easie wer't the Ocian drie to lave;
Pow'r may cōstraine, but VVill may choose t'endure,
And they that wil be sicke, no skill can cure.
Great Minds like Horses that wil easly reare,
Are easli'st ruled with a gentle Bitt;
And rev'rence Princes should not gaine with
They ought to feare many whom many feare.
feare,Nor Love with
Familia [...]itïe in Princes breedes contempt in Subiectes.
Lowlinesse, for State vnfitt,[Page 113]For none of both with policy doth fitt:
This skill is very difficult, because
Vertues of diff'rent kindes must kindly knitt
Their powres in one, which VVitt togeather drawes,
And guards the Prince, no lesse thē Guards or Laws.
The Empires
Maiestie in a Prince is no lesse commendable then behooful.
Maiestie her state sustaines;The Prince thereby security enioyes,
Free from Rebellions reach (that State disdaines)
And from contempt of Rule, that State annoies
Ingendring all misrule that state destroies:
The Scepter and the nuptial Bedd detests
To be
A Crowne devided vvill serue no kings head.
devided, or to share their ioyes;Yet Sou'rainty in extreame perill rests
Of partnershippe, when it Contempt disgests [...]
Empires are Fortunes Obiects and Tymes Subiects,
Envy and
The Creator of all coupled Envy & a Kingdome together. Seneca.
Empire be inseparate,Fortune doth often Monarches make of Abiects
And Envy Monarchy doth quite abate,
If it assisted be with vulgar
The Multitudes love is light & their hatred heavy.
hate:For Monarches finde no meane betwixt the Ground
And the extreamest topp of their
To attain to Empire ïs a work humane but to retaine it being attayned is a grace divine.
estate;But if they fal, the fall doth them confound:
Therefore let them be sure of footing sound.
Three things (saith Policy) doe stablish Rule,
That it be Constant, Severe, and Restraind;
Constant: for innovation breeds misrule;
Innovation most dangerous to a state.
Severe: for oft by Lenity vnfain'd
Nought but Contempt (orethrow of Rule) is gain'd:
Impunity breeds lawlesse
Over much pittie bringes ove [...]much perill to Soveraignes.
Libertie;For hope of scape (when Iustice is but fain'd)
Drawes on bold Vice to doe al villany
Vnder the Nose of mild Auctority.
For who is aw'd by him, whose Sword doth lie
Fast sheath'd with rust, that it wil not come out?
Who by remisnesse, not by clemencie
Makes th'edge of his pow'r (dull'd) to turne about:
An ynch of liberty more then ought, maks the Cō mons much more loose then they should.
This King the Commons wil command and flout,Who are contain'd with feare and not with shame,
And nere abstaine from Riot or from Rout
For badnesse of them, but for feare of blame,
And punishment inflicted for the same.
Thirdly, Authoritie should be restrain'd,
(As erst was said) and is as much to saie,
Whē the Rod is in the magistrats hand, he may correct, but if it be out hee may bee corrected.
That the chiefe strength from Kings shoulde stil bee drain'd,And stay with them, to be to them a stay;
Lest Treason should their trust and them betray:
They may dissolue the force of Emperie,
When they make Kings of those that should obay;
For Slaues endu'd with Kings authoritie
Make Kings but slaues, through Kings infirmity.
Yet Policie doth not forbid the Prince
To honor Subiects high, of high desert
With highest honor of Obedience,
And though obeying, rule an ample part:
It is a sure guarde of thy principality, if thou doe not suffer great commaundemēt to indure long. Livie. 4.
So be't the honor which they thus imparteBee short and sweete, chiefly Lieuetenancie;
For it, if long, with pride affectes the Hart,
Which makes the same affect sole Monarchie;
So put the King and state in ieobardie.
Hardly cā mē keepe a mean in dignities surmounttng mediocritye.
For Men are Men how ever Angell-like;The highest Angels were ambitious:
Its death to ample fortunes, Saile to strike;
Nay Death to them is farre lesse dolorous:
[Page 115]"For vse of Rule makes mindes imperious.
Wee read but of one Scilla that having g [...]t [...]ē absolute empiry, gaue it over voluntarily.
Great Persons haue great Passions; state is stiffe,
Vnapt to bow, how ever curtuous:
And when great Sp'rits haue tasted but a whiffe
Of praise for rule, they (drunke) would rule in chiefe.
For as the Man orecome with powrefull wine
(Although a Beggar cloathed like a king)
Simil.
When some in mock'ry made him halfe divine
With Lauds, and Legs, stil rising and bowing,
Perswaded was, he was no other thing:
So Sp'rites that are made druncke with vulgar praise
Not to bee overcome with praises & acclamations of people is incident to God only.
For their dexteritie in governing,
Doe weene all true that vulgar vapor saies,
And thinke themselues alone the rest should raise.
When too great subiectes doe too well agree,
Suspitious Policie them out doth set:
For like as stones, which in firme Arches bee
Simil.
Would fall, but that they one another let,
By meanes wherof the Arch more strength doth get:
We ought to endevor even by laws to hinder strife and partakings among nobles. Ari. 5. Pol. c. 8.
So fares it with a state or Monarchie,
Whose perill might (perhaps) be over-great
By ore-much concorde of the over-hie;
Then ods twixt them still mainetaines vnity.
But among other rules of policie
That are vnruly (if by that
Scripture.
rule squar'dThat al should rule) [...]t sov'raignes learnes to ly,
Dissemble, and deceaue; if it regard
The common good of thē they ought to guard:
But to doe ill, that good thereof may come,
By better
Divinity.
Rules and more assur'd, is bard;Then how it should a sou'raigns state become
To ly at all, to this I answere mum.
Kings shoulde bee so framed as they may be altogither good or halfe good, and not altogither wicked, but halfe wicked.
Ari. [...]. Pol c II
What tis to rule, and ruling long to raigne:
If Kings make conscience of a little lie,
When it may good the state and Soveraigne,
Ill may ensue, that good so to refraine:
Yet when wee knowe all harts are in his hands,
That harts and all doth rule and sole sustaine,
We muse at Policies so crosse commaunds
When as we know, all by the
The divine Precepts.
other stands.We haue two eies, two eares, and but one Tongue
Which with the teeth and lippes is eake inclos'd,
And is the senses Organs plac'd among
Eies, Eares, and Nose, by Nature so dispos'd
That nothing by the Tongue should be disclos'd,
Before it hath tane councell of each sense,
That are to falshoode evermore oppos'd,
The Soule is the true lover of Truth.
Lest they should misinforme th'Intelligence,Which haynously procures the Soules offence.
Proverb. 17.
Excellent talke becommeth not a foole,Nor lying lips the King; so saith that Prince
That rul'd in peace, and did his enemies coole
With truth and equity; but that's long since,
These are the last, and therfore the worst daies.
And twixt the times there may be difference:Yet if we may not for Gods gloryly,
Much lesse for matters of lesse consequence:
Kings should be Patterns of all pietie,
VVhich doth consist in truth and equitie.
But pious Augustine (canonized
For piety) saith there are certaine lies
VVhereof no great offence is borne or bred,
Aug. in Psal. 5.
Yet are not faultlesse; in which leasings liesHence may we see, how much deprav'd we are,
VVhen Kings sometimes must faine and temporise
A Kingdome is a schoole of deceipt. Sen. Thyest.
For their estate and common-wealthes welfare,
VVhich would fare ill, if they should it forbeare.
VVho note withall, It breedeth small regard
To bee too lavish of their presence, when
Among the commons it might well be spar'd;
For Maiestis like Deity in Men,
VVhen wee it see, as farre as wee can ken:
We bear m [...]st reverence to Maiesty a far off.
Yet policie (the proppe of waightie States)
VVould haue them present with all now and then,
As well to comforte, as to cease debates,
Both which their harts to true loue captivates.
It tels them other Documents among,
That who so bridles their felicitie
It is a great felicity not to be overcome of great felicity.
Shall better governe it, and hold it long;
For Temp'raunce ioined with Authoritie,
Makes it resemble sacred Deitie:
It bids them loue the learned with effect,
VVho can with lines their liues historifie
That ay shall last, and their renownes erect
Poets & Historiographers haue powre to giue immortality.
The Golden Worlds returned frō exi [...]e.
As high as Heav'n, maugre humane defect.
And here I cannot wonder (though I would)
Sufficiently at these guilt times of ours,
VVherein great Men are so to money sold,
That Iupiter himselfe in golden Showres
Wil basely stand, to gather while it powres.
Mars scornes Minerva, gibes at Mercur [...],
He better likes Venerian Paramoures:
Yet learning and Armes should bee in league by the law of nature.
Greatn [...]sse regards not Prose, or Poesie,
But weenes an Angell hath more Maiesty.
Artes perish wanting praise and due support;
And when want swaies the Senses Common-weale,
VVitts vitall faculties wax al
Yet if some mens wittes were measured by their wealth, they would be accounted Salomons that are nothing else but money-baggs, ïn whō there is nothing but money.
amort:The Minde, constrain'd the Bodies want to feele,
Makes Salves of Earth the Bodies hurt to heale,
Which doe the Mind bemire with thoughts vnfitt;
Hēce come those dull Conceipts sharp witts reveale,
Which nice Eares deeme to come frō want of witt,
When want of w [...]alth (indeede) is cause of it.
As poore as a Poet.
How many Poets, like Anatomies,(As leane as Death for lacke of sustenance)
Complaine (poore Staruelings) in sadd Elegies
Of those whom Learning onely did advaunce,
That of their wants haue no considerance.
What Guift to Greatnesse can lesse welcome be
Then Poems, though by Homer pend perchaunce?
It lookes on them as if it could not see,
Or from them, as from Snakes, away wil flee.
What's this to me (thinkes he) I did not this?
How then to me should praise thereof pertaine?
Thou hitt'st the Marke (deere Sir) & yet dost misse;
For, though no praise for penning it thou gaine,
Yet praise thou gett'st, if thou that Pen
It is good to doe well, so it is also to support well doing.
sustaine,That can
But Poets lie open to a mischiefe; for [...]as Alchimists are suspected for coyning: so are Poets for libelling.
eternize thee in Deathes despight,And through it selfe thy grossest humors straine,
So make them pure (at least most pure in sight)
Which to Posterity may be a light.
In common policy, great Lords should give,
That so, they may (though great) much more receaue:
The more like God, the more they doe relive;
And, the more VVriters they aloft doe heave,
For, with a droppe of ynke their Penns haue pow'r
Good and ill renowme are immortal and prevaile even over the remembrance of Tyme, which Poets have powre to give.
When Poets cōmend mens names to monument they neede no Tombes.
Who can devour Time that doth all devoure,
And goe beyonde Tyme, in lesse then an how'r.
Where had Achilles fame bin longe ere this,
Had not blind Homer made it see the vvay
(In Parchas) [...]pight) to all eternities?
It had with him (long since) bin clos'd in Clay.
Where had AEneas name found place of stay,
Had Virgills verse of it no mention made?
It had ere this bin drown'd in deepe decay:
For, without memory, Names needes must vade;
And memory is ay the Muses Trade.
But how can these Daughters of Memory
Remember those of whom they are dispis'd?
They are not Stocks that feele no iniurie,
But sprightly, quicke, and wondrous wel adviz'd;
Who, though with
Lascivious, obscene, &c.
loose Lines they are oft disguis'dYet when they list, they make immortal lynes,
And, who soere by those lines are surpriz'd,
Are made eternal, they, and their Assignes,
Or wel, or ill, as Poesy defines.
Leaue we to vrge poore Poets iust
As good no compleyning as complayning for no good.
complaint(Sith they are deafe that should redresse the same)
That Policy we may yet better paint,
And consecrate more lines vnto her name,
That learnes our Pen her laudes by lines to frame.
Shee would that Government should never dy,
Which is the Rodd of Circes, which doth tame
Both Man, and Beast, (if ledd by Policy)
And tends to perfect Mans Societie.
The put [...]ing vp of one iniurie be, ettes another.
Shee teacheth Kinges to giue and take no vvrong,One gettes Revenge, Contempt the other gaines:
All gainfull Leagues she would haue lengthn'd long,
And not to warre vntill iust cause constraines;
For, Iustice prospers VVarres and Thrones sustaines:
No Secrets, nor no publike governments
To
They that possesse all thinges want nothing but a man that will speake the truth. Seneca.
Clawbacks, or to those that scrach for gaines,Shee would have shar'd; for badd are all their bents,
And evermore doe ruyne governments.
In such is neither truth to God, or King:
Therefore shee would have such aloofe to stand,
As farre (at least) as a bent brow can fling
Prov. 25.23. The further Flatterers and Avaritious persons stand frō the Soveraign the surer hee stands.
Take away the wicked frō the King and his Throne shalbe established in righteousnes.
Prov. 25.5.
Them from the Sov'raigne, or a straight command:
These bitter baneful weeds doe spil the Land.
But to the tried trusty, she would haue
The Sov'raignes favoure constantlie to stand;
For, with their losse they seeke the whole to saue,
To whome, like Fathers, they themselues behaue.
Shee tells the Kinge that Treason gathers strength
Extreamly in his
The Frogs (in AEsop) insulted vpon the Logg and held it in scorne.
weakenesse; and requiresThat it be cut short ere it gathers length,
And level that, that out of course aspires:
Shee chargeth Kinges to quench their vaine desires
Of vaine expence, without the Commons charge,
Lest it enflame Rebellions quenchlesse fires,
Which oft, such large expence doth much inlarge;
Who, oft the same vpon the King discharge.
Shee wils that holsome Lawes should be ordain'd,
Bereaving Kings of
Not to be able to do evill is great power. It is an excellent necessity not to bee suffered to do evill.
pow'r t'infringe the same:For, if their Crownes are by the Lavves sustain'd,
They should not breake the
God governs that common weale that is governed by a written law. Aristot.
Props, lest al the Frame[Page 111]Should fal, to their confusion and shame:
Statute of Reteyners.
It is an Aphorisme amonge the Lawes of the 12. Tables Let the protection of the People be the chiefest Law.
Else most Ignobles, in a Nobles name,
Wil let Lawes course, which should be safe reseru'd,
And wrack the Poore which law would haue cōserv'd.
And as the Law should governe Maiestrates;
So should the Maiestrates the People sway.
The Governours are living Lavves in States:
And a dumbe Maiestrate the Lavve is ay.
As Bodies, Reason and the Soule obay;
So States should Law and Maiestrates by right;
For, Law is Reason, keeping all in Ray,
By which the wise themselues doe guide aright;
And Vulgares have it from Law-givers light.
She
Civill Policy
bidds the Sou'raigne take heede how he heares,Much lesse embrace th'advice of selfe
Ouer-weening a pestilēt disease of the Mind, most familiar with Fooles.
Conceipt:For, such Conceipt hath neither Eyes, nor Eares,
To heare, or see another, but doth waite
Vpon her selfe, admiring her owne height.
In cases doubtfull it is dangerous
T'admitte light
Take coūcell of thine owne hart for there is no mā more faithfull to thee then it Eccles. 37. 13.
Councells; for, for want of weightT'wil make the case to be more ponderous,
The whilst such Councells prove Aereous.
He is more discreete with whom provident councels (that carry reason with them) do prevaile, thē prosperous deliberations which happen by chaunce.
Tacit 2. An.
Treasons prevaile on the sodaine, good Councells gather sorce by leisure.
Tacitus Hist.
For its oft seene that Publike Policie
Occurrs with matters of such consequence,
Wherein there is such depth of Misterie
That it wil blunt the sharpest Senses sence
Of the acut'st, and swift'st Intelligence;
Ne shall Deliberation be assur'd
Of their effect, vntill their evidence
Tyme doth produce, or triall hath procur'd,
Wherein rash Iudgment must not be endur'd.
The heav'nlyest Hav'ns, m'haue Hellish entries:
Therefore, wise Pilots keepe them in the Maine,
And rather brooke rough Tempests miseries,
Then by vnknowen perrils rest to gaine:
They shunne the flats by their experience plaine;
For, in all perils such experience
Must guide the course, els perillous is paine;
Nay, death may follow double
The faster mē run being out of the way the further they are out of the way.
diligenceNot set on worke by single Sapience.
Experience is the eie of humane wisdom.
Experience is the guide of Policie,Whose nere-deceaved eie sees all in all;
Shee can make light the darkest mistery,
Then, her at all assaies to councell call,
Especially in matters mysticall:
Realmes haue a world of crannies, where doe lurke
Ten thousand mysteries from view of eie,
VVhich nerethelesse vncessantly doe worke,
And often giue the state a deadly Iurke
Shee would haue Kings to haue such Councellors
A Prince ought to bestowe more in getting a wise coūceller, thē in achiueing a cōquest Quintus Curtius.
Wher no coū cel is the people fall: but where manie coūcellors are ther is heal [...]h. Prove [...]. 11.14 Simil.
For Kingdomes govern'd by Philosophers
No Constellations feare, nor Destinies:
They know what should the Soveraigne suffice
And what the Subiect; bending al their might
T'accomplish both their long felicities
By seeing that each one may haue his right,
Preventing forraine, and domesticke spight.
As when a Shippe, that liues vpon the Downes
Of Neptune ( [...]ightie Monarch of those Plaines)
Is neere at point to perish (if hee frownes,)
Without a sterne and one that it sustaines:
So fares that state that hath nor Lordes nor Lawes,
Wherewith the Liege the State from ruine raines
In stormes of troubles, and Contentions flawes,
VVherein wise Councels calme effectes doe cause.
They are the VVatch-men that stand Sentinell
A good councellor is an Argust o the Cōmō-weale.
T'examine all that may impeach the state;
They make the Common-wealth a Paralell
To that of Rome when shee was fortunate,
And Caesar make of a meane Magistrate:
VVho Baracado vp with Lawes strong Barres
All that lies ope for Vice to ruinate,
And stoppe the Passages of Civill VVarres
VVith martiall law, which Male-contents deterres.
Nor neede the Statesman gage Philosophie
Deeper, then well to know how well to liue
In Peace, and VVealth, (this worldes felicitie)
And Rules of Life, to that effect to giue;
They diue too deepe, if they doe deeper diue:
VVhat is the knowledge of the Transcendents
To him that learnes men onlie how to thriue?
Though he nere red such wilde
They will distracte his thoughts, and government requires the whole man.
Artes Rudiments,Hee's fitter farre for civill governments.
The Mathematickes, and the Metaphysickes,
Haue no necessitie in government;
But Ethickes, Politickes, and Oeconomicks,
These to good Governours are incident,
VVhere morrall vertue sitteth President:
To bee well red in all good Historie
To bee well seene in history necessar [...]e in a Magistrat.
(VVhich makes the sp'rite much more intelligent)
Doth stand with state and perfit policie,
And maketh dexterous Authoritie.
Salomō knew all in all. 1 King. 3.12.
The boundes of knowledge are the highest spheares,For, all is knowne in their circumference;
And what soere this Nurse of Earthlings beares?
Eccles. 1.16.
Is subiect to humane intelligence:Then knowledge is vnknowne by consequence:
In which respect Men doe their wits apply
To this or that Arte with all diligence,
Vnable to know al Philosophie,
Because it stands not with mortality.
In all things (as its sedd) are three degrees,
To weet, Greate, Small, and the Indifferent;
And that which doth participate of these
Is in perfection held most excellent,
The Councellor should bee vertuous, for hee supplieth vertues place, which is in the middest.
Which is the Councellor in government:For, hee twixt Prince and People beeing plac'd,
Best sees what is for both convenient;
And for his vertue, is of both embrac'd;
For vertue from the midst is nere displac'd.
If any one supply that vertuous place
And is not vertuous, he a Monster is;
For, in the midst can nothing sit that's base,
Sith Vertue there (as in her Heav'n of blisse)
Her selfe enthrones to all eternities.
Physitions labour, aimes at nought but health;
Sailors, good passage; Captaines, victories;
So Councellors should for the Common-wealth,
Which iustly to her limbes her dowry dealth.
Those whom the king will know shalbee to wel known, but those hee looks strange vpon, no man wil know thē.
He had neede be more then honest, yea much moreThen vertuous (that is, vertuous past compare)
Who whē his King's with-drawn, may ope the dore
And in a Closet diue into his eare,
To put into his Head how all things are:
[Page 125]This if ill Sp'rits perceiue, and hee will bee
Corrupted with pure gold, or what soere,
Some Fiend will say, all this wil I giue thee
(Shewing him VVorldes) if thou wilt honor mee.
Then how behouefull tis for Kinge and state,
To make such Minnions (if he must haue such)
That in their Soules corruption deadly hate,
And having much, desire not overmuch;
But to finde such an one, were more then much:
A man maye light a candle at noone and seek amōgst a multitude, yet misse to sinde, such an one.
For to be neere, and deere vnto a Kinge,
Fils hart with pride, and pride doth empt the pouch;
Thē for supply (sowre
Minions are for the most part so.
sweete) a sweete-sowre thing(Which may the Sov'raign wrest, the subiect wring)
Call'd Lieges-loue abus'd, the same must bring.
But where shall Princes then, bestow their loue
(Sith loue they must, and ought, where it is due?)
On any one that still his grace wil moue
For Common-good, and private doth ensue
But for that good; This Minion in a Mew
It is dāgerous ventering abroade the Aire is so infectious.
Had neede be kept; for, if he flie abrode
Divels-incarnate will him still pursue
Till they haue made a Divell of a God,
Or if hee scape, tis with temptations lode.
An Hart that's truely humbled and is dead
(For loue of Heav'n) to all the earth holds deere,
Yet serpents wisedome hath, in his doues head,
And from all spots of pride is purged cleere,
And stil would fast to make the rest good-cheere:
This were a Minion for a God, or King,
Worthy to weld the VVorld; and who drawes neere
In nature to this Man, or divine Thing,
A Prince should vse, with all deere cherishing.
For,
Maximilian the Emperour answered one that desired hi [...] letters pattents to ennoble him, I am able (quoth he) to make thee rich, but Vertue onelie m [...]st make thee noble.
Vertue onely makes good Councellors,Who in great wisedome hold the State vpright;
No Halles orehang'd with Armes of Ancestors
Haue in their right creation any might;
But if they haue them too, they are most right:
Yet Vertue found not Tully
It is better to bring honour to a mans house then to diffame it being there already.
nobly borne,But made him Noble by his wisedomes weight;
"Vertue respects not fortune, nor doth scorne
"To dwell with those whose fortunes are forlorne.
Kinges come from slaues, and slaues frō Kings descēd:
Bloud's but the water wat'ring Fleshes dust;
Which by its nature ever doth descend,
And makes fraile Flesh to fall to things vniust:
For, tis but
Act. 17.26. The higher the Sunne is, the lesse shaddow he maks, & the greater a mans vertue is, the lesse glory he seekes.
Blood in the vniust and iust:And al alike it is in high and lowe;
Not halfe so ful of life, as ful of lust,
Making vs rather abiect, then to growe
To high accoumpt, for ought that from it flowes.
Yet some times evil men make Rulers good,
As good Musitions, oft in life are badd;
These last make discords ioyne in pleasant moode;
The first the like in Common-weales have made:
So either may be vertuous in his Trade,
How ever vitious in their lives they are:
But Policy the Prince doth still disswade
From making such too great, for they wil pare
The Prince, and polle the Commons
They will make sale of the Princes favour to the preiudice of his people
without care.For Slaves (though Kinges) in disposition
Are most vnmeete to manage Kingdomes states;
And so are Men of base condition
Vnfitt to make inferior
Eccl. 38.33.
Maiestrates:[Page 127]The Floures of Crownes fitt not Mechanick
They are, as the feete, n [...] cessary members, nor could a common-wealth stand without them, howbeit they are as the feete furthest remoued from the head being Reasōs Seate.
Pates,No more then costly plumes doe Asses heads;
They are call'd Crafts-men, quasi craftie mates,
Let these rule
Crafts-men.
such (if they must governe needes)For they at best are nought but holsome vveedes.
But some as voide of honestie as Arte,
Advance themselues by
Had men no other fault yet are they therfore vnfit for government, because so desirous to governe. Authority should be denied to such as seeke it, & given to those that (like wise mē) refuse it.
wealth (the Nurse of Vice)And with good gifts supply want of desert;
Good-giftes, that Givers of Commands entice
To part with them though they be nere so nice:
These (seing wealth hath giv'n them Vertues meede)
Doe make port-sale of Vertue, and Iustice
T'enrich themselues to clymbe thereby with speed;
From whence the wracks of Cōmon-weales proceed.
Did they but good themselues by some mens harme,
It might be borne, although it heavy were:
But
Example of rich men doth much good or hurt in the cō mon-weale.
they hereby make all themselues to armeWith gold, that seeke authoritie to beare,
Because they see its gotten by such geare:
When Vertue's thus neglected and dispis'd,
Then Vice perforce doth in her place appeare;
And where dam'd Vice hath Vertues place surpris'd,
A Common-woe, with Common-wealth's disguis'd.
That must be deerely sold that's deerely
Alexander Severus caus [...]d such to be deposed, and severely pun [...]shed, that b [...]ught their Offices, saying they sold deerer in retaile then they bought in the grosse [...]
bought;And whereas Iudgments thus are bought and sold,
There, by iust Iudgment al goes stil to nought:
Yet [...]ustice and iust Iudgments States vphold,
Whose want wrappes them in mis'ries manifold.
The Iudgments of that Iust orewhelme that Land
That armes Oppression (gainst the Lawes) with Gold;
For where its so, there VVill for Law must stand,
And Law goes with Confusion hand in ha [...]d.
Intelligence (supreme pow'r of the Soule)
Wherein alone w'are like the
The Philosopher saith, God is an infinite actuall Vnderstāding
Deity,Is that alone which makes vs meete to rule;
For Natures lawes, and Reas'ns authority
Requires that such should haue high'st dignity,
That by their vertue, and their high estate,
They might conserve men in prosperity:
For right it is they should be rais'd to State,
That make the state of all most fortunate.
For Honor is high Vertues sole
Honor is the Prize for which Vertue endureth what not?
Reward,For which all vertuous Men all paine endure:
If then such men from Honor should be barr'd,
All to be vicious it would soone procure;
For Vice doth raigne where Vertue hath no pow'r:
Where Honors are bestow'd without respect
On good and badd, as cloudes bestowe their shower,
There must of force ensue but badd effect
For who'l be good, if Grace the good neglect.
Honors given to vertue in former times.
In ancient Common-weales they wonted wereStatues of mettall, Arches triumphal,
With Publike Sepulture, and praises cleere,
These, and such like, they did bestow on all
That to their Common-weales were as a VVall:
For they that watch whilst others sound doe sleepe
To stay the State, that else perhapps might fall,
And laboure stil the Lambes from VVolves to keepe;
Such Shepherds should be honor'd of the Sheepe.
Simïl.
For to give Rule to none but Midasses,Is ev'n as if a Shippe were rendered
In greatest Tempests and VVindes outrages,
To richest Marchants to be governed,
[Page 129]Not to the skillful'st to be mastered:
Whereof ensues the wracke of shippe and freigh [...],
From which in Stormes it is delivered
By skilful Pilotts which haue gott the sleight
by their experience to direct her right.
Themistocles is iustly famoused,
For that by Valor and great Policie
He did reduce th'Athenians beastly bredd
To live by Lawes in great
From wh [...]m the lib [...]rty of disorder is taken awa [...] he i [...] over-ruled for his owne benefit.
civility;But Solon's prais'd more meritoriously,
Who finding Athens at the point to fall
With shocke of Civill warre, he readily
Did staie the same, and reestablish't all
The Lawes & Maiestrats, driv'n to the wall.
Nor did Camillus that repulst the Galls
And Rome preserved from their furies flame
Deserve lesse, (if not more) memorialls,
Thē the two
Romulus & Remus.
Brethrē that first built the same:Nor yet can Caesars or great Pompeies fame
(Though they Romes Empire stretcht from East to VVest)
Be so renowmed, as his glorious name
That found it neere by Haniball
Scipio Affricanus.
possest,Yet rescu'd it, and gaue it roome and rest.
Then Rule should not be given to the rich,
If with their wealth they were but fooles vniust:
The Common-wealth would
The oath of xpiān Kinges is. I will minister Lawe, iustice and protection a [...]ight to every one. It beh [...]ues thē thē to see that their vnder-Mai [...]strates make a cōscience of th [...]er owne oathes & the Kinges [...]
private be to such,For they would rule by Lawes squar'd by their lust;
And for their gaine stil buy and sell the Iust:
VVisedome and Iustice, with wealth competent
Should be in Rulers: such [...]he Prince might trust
With greatest charge (next them) in government;
For each will rule as Vertues President.
For how ist possible men should perswade
Others to vertue and to keepe the Lawes,
If they them-selues them-selues there frō
To mak laws for others & trāsgresse thē our selus, is to teach others [...]o trāsgres thē
disswade,And by their lewdnesse, others lewdnesse cause?
"A Rulers Vice to vice the People drawes:
Sylla might wel be laught to scorne, when hee
Perswaded Temperance to all; because
He liv'd himselfe (none more) licenciouslee,
For none lesse loved mediocritee.
Lisander was no lesse to blame, for hee
Allow'd those Vices in the Multitude,
Frō which himselfe refrain'd
They that favor sin are a [...] worthye of death as they that cōmit the sin Rom 1.31. The way by precepts is obscure & long, but by example [...] sho [...]te & plaine. Senec.
religiouslee:For, if by Princes, vices bee alowd,
It is al one, as if they vice ensude.
But iust Licurgus nere did ought forbid,
But by himselfe the same should be eschude
Whose subiects did no more thē himself did,
Such Legislators should bee deifide.
Such Prince or Priest, such people,
Princes and Priests ought to be the Exchequers of Gods inestimable Graces.
saith the Saw;Examples more then Lawes make men liue wel:
Doe Priests liue so? their liues like Loadstones
Good works ar much more perswasiue to good life thē good wordes.
drawThe people to the same: And doe compel
Sans-force t'obedience such as would rebel:
Then weigh what good or ill your
Good life is the effect and glory of the church militāt & of the good Pastors thereof. Blessed is the Prince & Priest whose liues serue for vnwri [...]en law.
liues doe causeYe Prophets Sonnes, that should in grace excel;
Is your life il? its double ill, because
It hurts your selues, and to vice others drawes.
And where Vice raignes, Rebellion oft doth rule
That diss-vnites the best vnited state:
Which growes from Governors vice or
M [...]s-gove [...]nment [...]or the most parte i [...] cau [...]e of rebellion; an a [...]gument of the goodnes of ours.
mis-ruleThat makes the Commons (with no common hate)
The forraine Foe, then findes domesticke aide,
Aide that assists all that wil innovate;
So by their Subiects Sov'raignes are betraide,
VVhen their mis-rule makes them be disobaide.
ANd here my Muse leads me as by the hand
Out of the way (as it were) by the way,
To view the liues of Princes of this Land,
Since first the Norman did the Scepter sway
Williā Duke of Normandy.
And scanne their vndertakings as I may:
For by th'event of Actions past, wee shall
The present, and future, the better sway;
Others harme teach vs to shū what caused them.
Which is the vse of storie, for they fal
Seldome or nere, that haue light to see All.
VVilliam the Norman, surnam'd Conquerer,
By his succesful sworde having subdude
This compound Nation (weake through civil war)
Brittan [...] Saxon, Dane.
The Conquest hee so thorowly pursude
As that an admirable peace ensude:
This fierce Invader with resistlesse force
It is a glorious matter to cō quer, but a much more glorious to vse the Conquest well.
Dissolu'd the state and made the Multitude
To liue by Lawes, which Lawyers yet enforce,
Which, of all former lawes did crosse the course.
Hee pull'd vp all that might pul downe his state,
Supplanting, or transplanting ev'rie plant
The way to establish a state purchased with the sword
That might proue poison to his frolicke fate;
And planting in their place (ere Plants did want)
Such as were holsome, or lesse discrepant:
So that no Brittaine, Saxon, Dane, or all,
A consequent of removing great ones in a newe-conquered kingdome.
Could to this day his Ofspring here supplant,
But they haue, doe, and still continue shall,
Vntill this Kingdome from her selfe doth fall.
It was no little worke, nor wisedome lesse,
From so smal wealth, and powre which he possest,
Not onely such a people to suppresse,
But erst at ods, to make them liue in rest
20 And odde descentes of Kings and Queens since the conquest.
For ten descents twice tolde and more at least;Not as a Nation mixt, but most intire,
And with new Lordes, new Lawes the land invest,
Which straight extinguish might seditions fire,
And keepe Ambition downe that would aspire.
For vvho so reacheth vvith his sworde a Crowne,
If head, and hand, vse not
As this of this Conqueror.
like government,The reeling Crowne may soone be overthrowne,
Though it (perhaps) be propt by Parliment:
France.
VVitnesse our Conquests in the Continent:That vvere more glorious, then commodious,
Because we made the sword the instrument
Onely to make our selues victorious,
Our glory & shame.
But not to keepe vvhat made vs glorious.From VVilliam, vnto Edward, Longshancks nam'd,
Turmoiles, and Brals, to that state incident,
That is not throughly staide, the Land inflam'd;
For no peace is so sure or permanent,
Ava [...]ice and Pride the perverters of Peace.
But Avarice or Pride makes turbulent.Richard the first, transported by desire
To helpe to conquere Iurie, thether went;
It is meer madnes to trust the Crown in their handes that long to put it on their owne heads.
And made his brother Iohn, Regent intire;Who did vsurpe the Crowne ere his retire.
In which returne, hee vvas tane Prisoner
In Austria, from whence b'ing ransomed,
Rich 1. taken prisoner in Austria.
Hee repossest his Crowne; but in the warreHe made (when he his Crowne recovered)
[Page 133]Vpon his foes, he life surrendered.
The sincerest minds may be tēpted aboue their strength by the glitering glosse of a crown lying within reach.
The end of Kings thus causing their owne griefe
To leaue their crownes so neere anothers Head;
A pleasant pray enticeth many a Theefe,
And who'l bee second, when he may be chiefe.
Neither did Iohn escape the heavie hand
Of iust Revenge, to all Vsurpers due;
In whose dire Raigne, two curses crost the Land,
The Pope interdicted the land.
Gods, and the churches, which made all to rue,
For ceaslesse Troubles did thereon ensue:
And in conclusion his life hee lost;
By poison as some saie.
For vengeance to the ende did him pursue;
So, al his life hee beeing turn'd and tost,
Before his time gaue vp his tired Ghost.
But to descend to Longshanckes, in whose time
Edward. 1.
The common-wealth (fast rooted) gan to sprout,
And by this Piller to high state did clime,
For he was prudent, painefull, valiant [...] stout,
And dextrously his bus'nesse brought about:
He wisely waide how incommodiously
All kings that thought so thriv [...]d the better.
The Conquests stoode atchiv'd the Land without,
Therefore he bent his powre, and industry,
It to reduce into a
Wā Scotlād.
Monarchie.On VVales, and Scotland he that powre imploide,
That which is got [...]ē with the Sword must so bee mainetained, which little instrument can remooue Obstac [...]es bee they never so g [...]eat, or keep them downe that wold rise without permission.
Reducing both to his obedience;
And long might one the other haue enioy'd
Without hart-burning inb [...]ed difference:
If hee had vs'd King VVilliams dilligence:
Prosperous he was abroade, and iust at home,
A no lesse vertuous, then a valiant Prince,
Leaving his Sonne (that next supplide his rome)
A demonstration what doth kings become.
Edward his Sonne, succeeded him in Rule,
But not in
To rule is as much as to amend that which is amisse or awry.
Rules, by which he rul'd aright,Who being seduc'd by Masters of Misrule,
Referr'd the government to their oresight,
Who, all oresaw, but what advance them might:
Vntill their rapine, and ambition,
The loue of all from their
A Prince once in obloquie, doe hee wel, or ill, al is ill taken of his subiects
Liege parted quight;So that the Sire assail'd was by the Sonne,
And being subdu'd, [...] in Prison.
Tacitus Hist. Simil.
A direfull end to Kinges misguided, due;Who like to figg-Trees growing on the side
Of some steepe Rocke, doe feede none but a crue
Of Crowes and
Claw-backs, and Sinn-soothers.
Kites, which on their Toppes do ride,And plume on them (base Birds) on ev'ry side:
A States abundance, if it manag'd be
By a lascivious King, which Slaves misguide,
Subverts the
The more wealth, the more woo, if evil imployed.
State which Kinges cannot foresee,When they are compast with ill Companee.
Edward. 3.
Edward the third, was most victorious,In all attempts and Actions fortunate,
No lesse iudicious then valorous,
Yet were his Conquests hurtfull to his State,
For they the same did but debilitate:
So that when through his ages feeble plight,
And this ore-racked Realmes most poore estate,
The Synnewes of the warre were cracked quight,
His wonted fortunes then plaide least in sight.
His Fathers blood with never-ceasing cries
Filling Th'almighties iust al-hearing Eares,
Importunes Vengeance, which with Argus Eyes
VVatcheth his shaking house for many
The divine Vengeance sleepes not though it wincks.
yeares,[Page 135]And to his Sonnes Sonne fearefully appeares:
Disastrous
Richard of Burdeux.
Richard second of that name,Pestred with plagues, and ceaselesse cause of feares,
(Through his misrule) can well averre the same,
VVho did the forme of this State quite vnframe.
He, like his Grandsire great, great troubles rais'd
Through his more great oppressions, and excesse:
He lov'd and praised none that vertue prais'd;
Liv'd like his Grandsire great, with like
One evil corrupteth another and evill put to evill is cause of mutuall destructiō.
successe,VVho, blest a few, that few or none did blesse:
Edward, and Richard, second of their names,
(The last, the first did second in distresse)
Both over-ruled were by base past-shames,
So Both alike, lost Kingdome, Life, and fames.
And if there be wrench in this Paralell,
It is in that one had a sory Sonne,
The other a like Cousin to compell
Him yeeld his Crowne, be [...]ore his Daies were done,
VVhich were abridg'd (as Edwards) in Prison:
But, if this King had not so childish bin
VVhen Mowbray peacht th'Vsurper of Treason,
He might haue bin secure from al his Kin:
But blinded Iudgment is the hire of Sinne.
Thus fa [...]es it with weake Kings, and Cousins stronge;
Richard, lies naked clothed with his
God executes his owne iustice by the iniustïce of others.
gore,Exposed to the view of old and yonge,
A woefull Spectacle, if not much more
For Kinges that live, as he had liv'd before:
But though Exampl [...]s (freshly bleeding yet)
Doe Caue crie, (or rather lowde doe rore,)
Yet Kings thus clawde, where they doe ytche, forgett
The future paine [...] on present
Present pleasures take away the thought of future paine.
pleasure sett.Henry 4.
Henry the fourth, which thus vsurpt the Crowne,Of all Vsurpers had the best successe.
For, he was provident to hold his owne,
And for the Common-wealth he was no lesse:
In Field, and Towne, he would direct the Presse;
Chiefe Captaine, and chiefe Councellor was
A Kinge should be able to councell as chiefe councellor and direct as chiefe Captaine.
heWho rul'd in height of VVisedome, and Prowesse;
Into obscurest Treasons he could see,
And if they VVere, soone cause them not to Bee.
This held him Kinge as long as life he held,
Which was as longe as Nature gaue him leave;
And courage gaue the Scepter wel to weld
Vnto his Sonne to whome he both did leave,
Who, did accordingly the same receave:
Henry 5.
He rul'd as did his Sire, in VVisedomes strength,And heigth of Valor, which he eke did give;
Who caught fast hold on fleeting France at length,
,,But weak Arms loose, what ere the strōg Arme geint'h.
And now as rowsed from a tedious Sleepe,
(After this Kinge with glorie was interr'd)
The Divine Vengeance gan againe to
Vengeance attends the 3. and 4 generation of mercilesse māquellers.
peepeVpon his Sonne, that longe had bin deferr'd;
The Cries of Richards blood now well are heard:
And silly Henry (though a Saint he bee)
Henry 6.
Must beare the plagues his Grandsires guilt incurr'd,When he imbrude his hands, or did agree
To have his Sov'raignes bloud shedd savaglee.
His Vncles (more like Fathers) first he looseth,
Then by a woman most improvident
He is ore ru [...]'d, fo [...] shee of all disposeth,
Till Hate and Factions ore-grew government.
[Page 137]Then Richard Duke of Yorke in Parliment
Rich. Duke of York claimed the crowne in Parliament.
Claimed the Scepter, (being so ill swai'd)
Where was examin'd his claime, and descent,
And then gaue waie to it, when all was wai'd;
So, silly Henry was by law betrai'd.
The title of Duke Richard thus admitted,
But an Vsurper needes must make the King;
Yet t'was decreed that he should bee permitted
For life to hold the Crowne which death doth bring
When as the Crowne is held as no such
No king, i [...] but halfe on [...]
thing:Making the Duke by Act of Parliament
His Heire apparant, without altering,
Which for them both was most malevolent,
For hardly can one Crowne, two Kings content.
This was a fond conspiring Parliment
The fruites springing frō the pow [...]e of Parliamēts to make Kings in England.
Against their Liege directlie, and the Lawes;
No lesse disloiall, then improvident,
And of effectes most bloudie was the cause;
For, now the King his Friendes together drawes,
VVho, for his safetie straight began to lay,
VVhich could not be without the fearefull Pawse
Of Yorke (that Lion) cleane were
Germanicus, because one or two in the Army had only a purpose to salute him by the name of Emperor, was never wel brooked til by his own death he had paide the price of other mēs rashnes. Tac Hist.
cut away,Downe must his Den, his Howse must haue no stay.
VVho like him selfe (beeing truely Leonine)
Stood on his strength, so to defeate his foes;
And having wisedome truelie serpentine
Still compassing about the crowne he goes,
Whom Henry tripping in his course
No wisdome prevailes against Gods decree.
orethroes:But his Sonne Edward kept the claime a foote
Vntill that civill bloud the Land oreflowes;
Who, in conclusion, pull'd vp by the roote
All Lets, & got th'imbrued crowne with mickle boot.
Edward 4.
Whilst this was doing, the Realme was vndunne,
The Common-wealth, became a Common-woe;
Iustice, and government by Rogues ore runne,
The Ministers whereof tost too and fro
Like foote-balls over which al men may
The effects of civil warre: for looke how much Peace is bet [...]er then warr, so m [...]ch is [...]orraine invasion better then civill dissention.
goe:All was quite out of square, by squaring thus;
The Ground did grone enforc'd to vndergoe,
Continued Armies (most contentious)
That made the State poore, as prodigious.
This Claime was wel examin'd, and admitted,
Here was Succession wel established,
What villanie was not thereby committed?
What vertue was not quite abolished?
And who so high that were not drown'd in dreade?
Yonge, olde, rich, poore, and Babes vnborne,
Civill warre ten [...]es to the preiudice of the yet vnborne.
or borne,Beasts, & things senselesse had cause Teares to shedd,
For all hereby away perforce were worne,
And far'd at least, as Creatures most forlorne.
Woe woorth such vip'rous
Kings houses yeeld many such Vermine.
Cousins that wil rendTheir Mothers [...]wombe (the Cōmon-wealth) to raigne;
From such apparant-Heires God vs defend,
That care not who doe lose so they may gaine:
And long may Hee in peace the Crowne sustaine,
That for our peace, & his, such Heires hath brought;
We all of late for such did stil complaine;
Then now sith we haue such, and cost vs nought,
Lett's thankfull be and know them as we ought.
As Pow'r doth want, so Claimes, & Factions
For a poore and hungry Army cannot observe military disciplin. Casiodorus.
cease;Might Right orecomes, chiefly in Kingdoms claimes;
Pow'r Titles stirrs, and Conquest makes their peace:
The Sword the Law (how firme soever) maymes,
[Page 139]Which at a Conquest (though vnlawful) aymes:
Though Prince, and Peeres, provide for future rule,
Ambition hardly her estate disclaimes,
Though for a time the Lawes her over-rule,
Yet when time serues, the Law shee wil
Ambition vpon the least opportunitie setts vpō what so ere hinders hir rising
misrule.Our State stands not on Armes as others doe;
Our force lies most dispersed at the Plow,
Vnready, rude, and oft rebellious
More cōmon weales are ruined for want of good obayers, thē good commanders.
too,Whose Sun-burnt Necks oft rather breake thē bow,
Not caring whom, ne what they doe alow:
These and such like enduced our late Prince
Such motions vtterly to disalowe,
For this, and many an inconvenience,
Whereof all Times affoord experience.
This made this careful Queene as knowing well,
(By fortie fiue yeares proofe, and her sharpe sight
Into events, whereof al Stories tell)
How safe to rule, and keepe the State vpright,
For her rights sake, right close to keepe this
Iealousy is glued to loue and to a Crowne.
right:Better (she thought) such Hëires two daies old
Then two yeares, and as strong in Law, and Fight:
So, lou'd her States life, and her owne to hold,
And made her Hart that Heires securest Hold.
But sith shee did conclude this great affaire,
Both Law, and Conscience, doe conclude the State;
And who resists (by birth) that lawful Heire,
Resists the lawful Sov'raigne Maiestrate,
Made both by birth and Law from iust estate:
Monarchicall-inheritance resides
In him from her,
Birth, Bequest, Laws of God, Nature, Nations, and Reasō, togeather with all kingly worthines makes good our now kings possession.
then, who doth violateObedience to him wounds the tender sides
Of Law and Conscience, and al good besides.
Edward the fourth thus hauing caught the Crown,
The weake Lancastrians drave to the wall,
And spared none, till all were overthrowne
That might lie in his waie to make him fall:
His
Neerenesse of blood doth oft put hartes furthest a sunder, in K [...]ngdomes cases.
Brother Clarence (ô Crime Capitall!)He did rebaptize in a Butt of VVine,
Being ielous of him (how soere Loiall)
A Turkish providence most indivine;
Yet Crownes wil rest on such, ere thei'le decline.
Besides, a sliding and new-fangled Nation
Ful of Rebellion and Disloyaltie,
May cause a Prince for his securer station
To stand vpon the like extremitie
VVhere Vertue hath no place of certenty.
VVhat Prince (if providēt) wil stick to straine
Both Law and Conscience in secresy
To cutt one Mēber
The Lawe it selfe will rather admitt a mischiefe thē an inconvenience.
off, that letts his raigne,VVhich the states Body doth in health maintaine?
The more perfection and Heroick worth
Such Heires, great Cousines, or great Subiects haue,
The more the Multitude wil sett them
He alwaies shal be suspected & hated of the Prince in possession whō men doe account worthy or like to be Prince in succession. Tacitus Hist. The Valor & fierce courage of the great Cousin, displeaseth the iealous Soveraigne. Tacit.
foorthAnd more and more their rule they seeke and craue;
Then must we lose a part the vvhole to saue:
These haue Achitophells to egge them on
And make them much more restlesse then a wave,
Vntil their Soveraignes they sett vpon
To make them yeeld vp their Dominion.
Manie a busie-Head by VVords and Deeds
Put in their Heads how they may cōpasse
All crafty & Achitophell-like councels, are in showe pleasant, in execution hard, and in event deadly dangerous.
Crownes,That Crownes at last may compasse so their Heads
And sitt victoriously on steedfast Thrones:
[Page 141]All these like humming Bees ensue those Drones;
To gather Hony if they chance to rest,
And store themselues with sweete
A Bākerours peace is in civill discord, & his discord is in peace.
provisions,VVhilst the Crown-greedy Cousine in vnrest
Lives but for them with feares and cares opprest.
Now though King Edward (like a wary Prince)
To remoue Obstacles bent all his might;
Yet could no skill or humane providence
Protect his Sonnes from their Protectors spight:
VVho as he seru'd King Henry, seru'd them right.
The blood of Innocents on Innocents
VVith heavy vengeance mixte, amaine doth light [...]
Thus, Innocents are plagu'd for the Nocents
Such are the High'sts inscrutable
Gods Iudgments are inscrutable but none vniust.
Iudgments.And as He murdred Henrie for his Crowne;
So for their Crowne were his Sonnes
Iustice equal in quality, & quantity for Henry 6. and his Sonne were murdered. &c.
murdered,By hardest Harts in softest Bedd of Downe
They were (deere Harts) at once quite smothered,
VVhich some ignoble Nobles
Man ought not to vse mā prodigally. Seneca. Richard 3.
furthered:And, rather then they should not die by force,
Or want a VVant-grace to performe the Deede,
Their Vncle and Protector must perforce
Their Crowne from Head, and Head frō Life divorce.
Now vp is Richard, (Monster, not a Man)
Vpon the Royal Throne that reeling stood;
Now Rule doth
Vnder this King, to do ill was [...] not alwaies safe [...] & alwaies vnsafe to doe well, as Tacitus reports of Neros raigne, Princes that tyrannously governe their people haue greater cause to feare good men then thē that bee evill.
end, when he to rule began,VVho being perfect ill, destroi'd the Good,
And like an Horseleech liv'd by sucking blood.
Now as desire of Rule more bloody was
In Yorke then Lancaster, so did the flud
Of Divine Vengeance more in Yorke surpasse:
For to maine Seas of blood, Blood-Brookes repasse [...]
They which cōtēn: peace and covet honour, doe lose both peace & honor.
Bloud-sucking Richard (swol [...]e with sucking Bloud)When Horsleech-like he had his bloody pray,
Away fals hee in bloud bemir'd with Mud,
Making his Nephewes vsher him the way.
For from his crowne the crowne was cut away.
A good cause in publike war (like the Cape Bone spei) cō ducts to the lād of triumph
Henrie the sevenths keene-edg'd victorious SwordSlipt twixt both Crownes vnto his Crownes decay,
And got the Crowne that was much more assur'd
VVhich hee to his, and his to theirs affoord.
God amongst Men, no King but demi-God
Hen. 7.
Henrie the seventh the Sc [...]pter takes in hand,Who with it (as with Moises powrefull Rod)
Turn'd streames of civill bloud that soakt this land
A good prince mak [...] war that hee may haue peace, and endures labor in hope of rest. Salust.
To silver streames, that ran on Golden sand:He turned Swords to Mattockes, Speares to Spades,
And bound vp all vnbound, in peaces Band,
Who dra [...]e the erst long idle to their Trades,
And chang'd iniurious Swords, to Iustice-Blades.
No more Plantagenet, but Thewdor now
Sits in the Kingdomes late vnstable Seate:
Eccles. 5 8 [...]
Plow-men praise God, and God doth Where God is praised mēs endevors are blessed.
speed the Plow,For such a King that makes their Crops compleate,
And multiplies their heardes of sheepe and Neate:
Vpon Ambitions Necke hee sets his foote
Keeping her vnder;
Two things doe establish the Throns of kings prudēce & pietie, the one a [...]earing in their Actions, the other in their manners.
And amongst the VVheateHe puls vp Darnell dulie by the roote,
And nought neglects that may his Kingdome boote.
This Salomon lookt into High and Low,
And knew all from the Cedar to the shrub;
He bare the sworde that gaue a bitter blow
1. King. 3.12.
Aswell to Cedars, as the lowest stub[Page 144]That in the course of Iustice prou'd a Rub:
Homer faineth all the Gods to sleep except Iupiter implying ther by the care of a good King for his subiect [...]
VVisedome and Prowesse did exalt his Throne,
Iustice and Mercie propt it, which did curb
Those that would shake it, so that he alone
Did rule the Roast that all did liue vpon.
He, (vertuous King) still fear'd the King of Kings
With louing feare, that made him Lion-bold.
He ordred things as pleas'd the Thing of Things,
Princes ought to measure their Actions by the standerd of their Laws; as this did.
Like David, that of him his Crowne did hold,
That on his Throne his Ofspring doth vphold:
Laden with happinesse, and blessed daies,
His Realme repleat with blessings manifold;
This prosp'rous Prince (to his immortall praise)
Left Life, Realme, Children, all at happy staies.
Then no lesse fear'd, then famous Henry,
Hen. 8.
(That had a sacred Caesar in his pay)
His sword was so successefull as made his neighbours glad of his friendship, & feareful of his indignation.
With some-what more then mortall Maiestie,
Sits on the Throne (that hands divine did stay)
As Heire apparant, and the state doth sway:
He weilds the sword with his victorious hands
That the whole Continent doth sore affray,
Wherewith he makes to crouch the Neighbor lands
Which in a manner lie at his commands.
Hee was as circumspect, as provident,
Mercie may haue her excesse in humā things.
And by his Fathers observation
Did right well know, what kinde of government
Was fitt'st for this vnkinde revolting Nation:
Clemency is most daungerous where & whē soft quiet dealing draweth on more evil then severity [...]
Well knew hee how to part a Combination
That stood not with the state, or his availe;
And if he were severe for reformation,
T'was Emperik-like, that knew what it did aile,
So, kill the cause lest all the VVhole should faile.
His for [...]aine VVarres, and famous Victories
More glorious were [...] then for our Contrie good:
For, such VVars haue these inconveniences,
They make vs spend our Treasures with our bloud,
Where both are cast
Forrain Cō questes were costly in achiving costly in holding, & oft no lesse costly then dishono [...]rable in forgoing
away in likelyhood,When wars abroad drinke vp our wealth at home,
The fire must out, when spent is all the wood;
And if nought from without come in the wombe
The Body needes must die by Natures dombe.
The wealth hee prest from Monastries supprest
VVith the Revennues which to them pertain'd,
In liberal larges to his friends & servants.
The Crowne possest, but hee it dispossestWith open Hand; which, had they, still remain'd
T'had bin aloft; for lesse hath Crownes sustain'd.
Lone, Reliefe, Subsedie, and such as these
Might (for the subiects ease) haue bin refrain'd:
The crownes Revennues such might well release,
And haue maintain'd the state in warre and peace.
If these had still bin adiuncts of the crowne,
And all that hold them hold as of the same;
Our Kinges might haue had a double intrest in their subiectes.
Our Kings might warre with Tenants of their owne,Who would vnprest haue yet bin prest for shame
To follow their Liege-land-lords by that name.
The Crowne then, like a Condite neuer dry,
Stil might haue stream'd (to th'owners endles fame)
Rivers of Riches vnto Low and hy
That well deserv'd of King or Contery.
Those harts, whose life their Liege should thus maintain
(No lesse then bodies to their souls are bound)
Should haue bin tied vnto their Soveraigne
To goe with him at ev'ry needfull Sound,
[Page 145]And in their service bin most faithful found.
But that, that shalbe, shalbe. That high hand
That all disposeth, thus did it
The hearts of Kings are in his hands that disposeth all things to effect his inevitable decrees.
confoundFor purposes which hardly can be scand,
But for the Crowne ill, how ere for the Land.
Hee, Caesar-like in's fortunes confident,
Ere first he crost the Seas to warre with France,
The Marquesse of Exceter made Regent
And Heire apparant; but no ill by chance
Ensu'd till he did him quite
Beheaded him
disadvance:Hee had forgot the direfull Tragedie
Of the sixth Henry, and like heires apparance:
But more advis'd, he held it policie
He knew it was not the speach of a wise man to say, who woulde haue thought it?
To spare that heire till more necessitie.
When he had cleer'd the coast, and clensd the waie,
Of all that lay in either to molest,
And having put the state in perfect staie,
He with his Fathers laid him downe to rest,
And left a Sonne in whom the Land was blest:
Edw. 6.
VVho being yong, could not yet stirre the sterne,
But rul'd by those his sire esteemed best;
And while the vertuous King to rule did learne,
His Realme (misrul'd) in vp-rore did discerne.
Heere raign'd Ambition, like Obedience clad,
There rul'd Sedition, in Concordes coate;
And here and there Rebellion rag'd as mad,
Simil.
And ev'ry where the Common-wealth did floate
Like to an halfe-suncke tempest-beaten Boate:
Each for him selfe, no one for King or Sate,
Vpon the VVedge of Gold the best did doate,
All stood as falling still in each estate,
Knights giving Earles, Earles giving Dukes the Mate.
Many a Demas then forsooke poore Paule;
In Summe, the Summe of all was out of square,
And yet (strange Paradox) at square was all,
None Compasse kept, yet
For private good.
compassing they are,And Circumvention held discretions care:
Thus whilst the Sov'raign's in minoritie,
Each would be sov'raigne that about him were;
The smal in grace strave for maiority,
And Youth with Age for Seniority.
Disorder thus dividing the whole
Disorder mother of Confusion.
State,And subdividing those divisions;
The Lord of Love, to show his vrged Hate,
Tooke the wrong'd Kinge from his Dominions,
And left the Land fir'd with
Sedition the plague of perver [...]nesse.
seditions:By Angells hands this Kinge Angelicall,
(A [...] one of high Iehovahs Minions)
Was borne from this Nation vnnaturall,
That vengeance on it, so, might freely fall.
No sooner had the Heavens seis'd his Soule,
But a left hand began to seize the Crowne;
Which seisure a right hand did soone controule,
And VVrong that would aspire, Right straight putts downe;
Fortune oftē reserveth t [...] the hardest chance [...] them whō she advā ceth to the greatest dignity.
The fortunate cannot doe ill i [...] they would.
Which fatally in fine was overthrone:
Yet was that VVronge made Right by their consents
That were to see that each one had his owne;
But Heau'n disposeth Earth and her intents,
And Earth gainst Heav'n oppos'd, too late
He is made wise too late that is made wis [...] by his owne h [...]rme and irrecov [...] rable l [...]s [...]e.
repents.Who trusts in Men in whome was never
D [...]p [...]t from th [...]e enemies and bew [...]re of thy f [...]iendes Eccle. 6.13.
trust(Except they were at warre with VVealth and State)
Few Statesmen such) shal see how much distrust
Doth Men advantage, and prolongs their date;
When Powr's deriv'd from those that are but weake
(VVeake ev'ry way) it stands in desprate state:
Frailty sticks not fidelity to
Frailty is ful of falshood.
breakeVVhen it doth favoure, and advantage seeke.
In case of Crownes (when it our Crownes may cost,
If we misse holding when at them we catch)
It's deadly dangerous at al to trust,
Much more to trust
There is nothing more profitable to mortall men then distrust. Euripides.
all that advantage watchBy thy losse, from losse themselves to dispatch:
Religion cannot dwell in double
They that stand with all worldes will stand with no world if the world stand not with thē. Queen Mary.
harts;Such Harts haue All that with al states doe match:
Then where Religion slideth, promise starts,
And feare of perill, worldly frendshippe parts.
Queene Mary (for, she was that which shee was,
Namely our Queene, and neere to our late Queene)
Her faults in silence we will
Love covers the multitude o [...] sins in our neighboure what should it doe thē in our Soveraignes that haue more meanes & inducemēts to sin thē private pe [...]sons.
overpasse;Let them be buried with her, sith I weene
Sh'hath bin well taxt whose memorie is greene:
Shee now is Crown'd, and Crown'd to others cost;
VVith Spaine shee matches, being overseene,
Her Kinge forsakes her, Calis quite is lost,
All goes awry, which makes her yeeld the Ghost.
Now sacred
Queene Elizabeth.
Cynthia girt with silver OrbeFrom out Cimerian Clouds of Prisonment,
(Faire Queene of Chastity) appear'd to curbe
Contention, which oreranne this Continent;
And ioyn'd the same with peacefull government,
VVhich we doe yet enioy, and long may wee
The cause of it
All that vnderstand the worth of blessed Peace will say Amen to a praier for Peace.
possesse in all Content;Amen say I, and all that peacefull bee
In him that saith Amen when all agree.
God will rather heare the Orisons of thē that pray for Peace, thē the Trūpets that proclaime warres
Pray for thy King (ble'st Ile) lest that a ChangeA five-fold change, to Desolation tend;
Or thou made subiect to a Subiect strange,
Which may thy publike-weale in peeces rend,
And make it private onely to the frend:
Gods Mill grindes slowly, but small meale it
So often wee play with Gods iudgmēts because we feele not the force ther [...]of, that at length (like the Fly in the flame) we are consumed of them.
makes.Then praise him for thy peace and lesse offend;
Be not as one that stil occasion takes
To sin the more, the more he peace pertakes.
Farre be it from Religion, to pretend
Obedience whil'st it aymes at Princes spoile;
Its not Religion Soveraignty to end,
That Servitude thereby may keepe
Civill warre is fa [...]re worse then Tyranny or vniust iudgmēt Plutarch. in Bruto.
a coile,And for her freedome covett Freedoms foile.
If Kings Commands do crosse the Divine will,
In their discharge Religion must recoile,
But not confound the Charger, for its ill;
And ill can never good
Gods commandements. A Recapitulation of what hath bin discoursed touching the Kings of England & their governments.
Commands fulfill.Now, brifly t'recollect what we haue sedd
Touching the Actiōs of these Potētates:
William Conqueror.
In VVilliam Conquerer's consideredHow soone are conquered devided Stat [...]s;
,,For force disioyned [...] small force
Vis vnita fortior.
ruinates.He, being desirous to reteyne the Pray
His Sword had purchas'd, it quite dissipates;
And like a Chaos at his feete it lay,
To forme it as he listed ev'ry way.
New Lords, new Lawes.
With the new Kinge, he gaue new Lords and Laws,Which curb'd the Head-strōg, & did yoke the VVild,
Till Disobedience with obedience drawes,
And all as one to one and all did yeeld,
VVho, finding his possession to bee sure
Did ease the thralldome wherein they were held,
And that which erst he wounded, he did
To hurt and heale for more health is holsome.
cure;And ev'ry waie their loves did then alure.
Now are the Kinge and the Nobility
True freinds, and fathers to the Common-weale;
The Commons now obay
Blessed is the affliction that procures greater perfection.
vnfeynedly:The Victors and the Vanquished doe feele
How much these Corsiues deadly hatred heale:
Now all, being whole and sound, are made intire,
And all aboute, their Liege doth Larges deale,
By meanes whereof he hath his harts desire,
Whilst with his love, he thus setts Harts on [...]ire.
If he to mercy had the Peeres receav'd,
Or trusted to their Oathes (true Fallacies)
And so departed when hee had perceav'd
The State well settled leaving Deputies,
H'had lost the value of his
Soone ripe, soone rotten.
Victories:Ne had the Land bin free from vvarrs and woes,
That doe consort divided Monarchies;
Ireland a woefull wittnesse is of those,
That for a Conquests want, wracks Friends and Foes.
Omitting other Princes, to descend
Edward 1. Longshancks.
To the first Edward, that did first refine
This Common-weale, and made the same ascend
VVhen through mis-swaying it seem'd to decline:
In whom we see the Providence divine
VVorke by his VVisedome, Valor, Industrie,
Glorious effects, which in the State doe shine;
For Hee it made an intire Monarchie,
Which now remaines so to Posteritie.
Edw. 2. Rich. 2 Hen. 6. Edw. 5.
Edward and Richard, second of their names,VVith the sixth Henry, and the Infant King,
By these (bee't spoken not without their blames)
Is seene the dire and diverse altering
Of kingly state, through evill managing.
These beeing childish, fraile, improvident,
Laie open to
Ambition gathers resistles strength in a Kings weakenes.
Ambitions canvasing;VVho (sp [...]ing time) vsurpt their government
Making them Mirrors for Kings negligent.
The faults fore-mention'd in these haplesse Kings,
The vniust rule of those that ruled them,
Maiesty without magnanimity is vnassured. Livie. 2. [...]
The subiects strength which Sov'raignes weaknesse brings,A fatall Potion made for King and Realme,
Whereof they dranke a deadly draught extreme:
Kings must be Kings indeede and not in show,
Like as the Sunne is Actiue with his Beame;
For if they suffer Subiects, Kings to grow,
Kings must bee slaues, and to their Subiects
I haue seene servāts on horses, & Princes walking like [...] servāts on the ground. Eccl. 10.7.
bow.Edw. 3 Hen 4.
Edward the third and Henrie Bullenbrooke,Hen. 5. Edw. 4.
Henry the fift, and the fourth Edward,These Princes were of Fortune nere forsooke,
Because they governed with due regard;
And whilst they watcht, they made the rest to warde:
By others errors they did rule aright,
Loving feare a sure guarde to Soveraigns
Who made their subiects loving feare their guarde:Ambition durst be dam'd ere come in sight,
Or but once moue her head to looke vpright.
No kingd [...]me free frō Ambition.
Kingdoms the obiects of fortune & Envy.
Because no state without Ambition is,
Which ever hath her Train [...] (for so shee must)
To helpe to guide her, when shee guids amisse;
Impatient of delay in her desire,
Now running that waie and streight trying this;
Like to a restlesse ventlesse Flame of fire,
Simil.
That faine would finde the way streight to aspire.
Ther's
Perfectiō humane
no perfection without some defect,Yet may't be cur'd, or tolerable made;
Onely Ambition doth all cure reiect,
VVealth doth augment it, want makes it not fade;
Ambitiō a sore of the minde incurable.
And into deepes vnknowne in both t'will wade:
In doing well it is most insolent,
And no lesse impudent in doing bad,
Too wil'd to tame, and violently bent
With Tooth and Naile to catch at government.
The Conquests which these Kings in France obtain'd
(As those in Scotland) were by others lost:
"(For Vice will lose what is by vertue gain'd.)
Their keeping put the state to ceaslesse
An inevitable incōvenience
cost,VVhich [...]ost the Commons (rag'd) being racked most;
And with their losse, the King lost many frends,
VVhich were as Fortes to guard his Kingdoms coast;
"But ill beginnings haue vnlucky ends,
And worse proceeding, worse in fine offends.
In the last Richard may be liuely seene
Richard. 3.
Ambition really annatomiz'd;
VVhich orelookes all, and yet is overseene,
Advising all, yet none more vnadvis'd,
Destroying all till shee be sacrifiz'd:
Shee,
Ambition would destroy al to be aboue all.
Faith, Sex, Age, Bloud, State, and Contery,Divine and humane lawes (immortaliz'd)
Respects not, in respect of Empery,
All which appeer'd in this King copiouslie.
Hen. .7
In his Successor (Englands Salomon)Are diverse things well worth the imitation
In our states policie: for he alone
Bent all his powres to benefit this Nation:
He saw our forraine Conquests ill probation,
And that for Islanders it was vnmeete
To spend their wealth for forraine domination,
Which was no sooner fixed, but did fleete,
And did this state with ill Salutes regreete.
He thought it losse to purchase
Vniust peace is to be prefer red before iust warre Livie. Yet open war is more secure thē suspitious peace. Tac. 4. Hist.
warre and hate,Where loue and Traficke might be helde with gaine;
He well remembred, how each Runnagate
And wandring Nation, here ran in amaine,
Making their profit of this Nations paine:
He saw the safetie, and
Great heapes are made of many litle thīgs in peace, & brought to nothinge in warre.
weale of this stateRested in wealth and peace, and quiet raigne,
And not in forraine Conquests, and debate;
VVhich haue as short, as most vncertaine date.
Through Peace and perfect government this Land
May in her rich
Peace & good government the Parents of Prosperity.
Commodities abound,Which may cōfirme the Neighbor-friendships band,
And intertrafficke with them, tunne for pound,
So make the Landes adiacent, to her bound:
Thus God is pleasd, and King and Contrey eas'd,
The Tradsmen
God selleth vs riches for the price of labor.
thriue, that dearth & wars cōfound,The People are (as with great profit) pleas'd,
And none, but those that liue by spoile, displeas'd.
This prudent Prince perceav'd this Common-weale
To be by Trafficke strong made in the
We are said to be well backt when wee are no worse frended
backe;So, as an head that Members wants doth feele,
He leagu'd him, where might be suppli'd their lacke,
He seeing that (which he did often trie)
The
Gold makes al thin [...]s pregnable.
Money-Sacke, best kept the Land from Money is the very sin [...]wes of a State. Mucian.
sack;Therefore the Angells which from him did fly
Had but short wings, and lighted but hard by.
Among the things which he did least regard,
His Belly and his Backe were more then least;
He fared wel, when so his
The good of the Subiects is the obiect of the good [...]rince.
Commons far'd,(Although his commons were not of the best)
Yet fared like a Kinge without a feast;
He rather chose to haue Exchequers
Money (saith Thucidides) makes weapōs forcible and profitable.
richThen wealthy VVardropps; yet would well be drest
When it his Maiestie and State did touch;
Yet held, save Common-wealth, all wealth too
Cyrus [...] was wont to say, he heaped great treasures whē he enriched his friends & Subiects.
much.Where Kings be not in ceasselesse guard of Armes
(Like these of ours) the State lying open so
T'invasion and Rebellions soddaine harmes,
Let not the Kinge looke Friends should [...]oile the Foe
At their owne charge, for feare of overthro:
And in tumultuous times to breake their backs
Will make them from their Necks the yoke to thro,
And to be freed from such tormenting Racks
Wil ruine all, though them with al, it wracks.
Such great improvidence
Let Kinges that desire to live in peace, provide in time thinges necessary for warre.
and want of heedevnseasonable Taxing (Tempting rather)
Hath made the Soveraigne with the Subiect bleede;
Witnesse the two last Richards among other,
That knew how greevous then it was to gather.
Store is no Sore (they say) except of
Tiberius of Constantinople accounted that for counterfet coyne, that was levied with Teares and cryings of the people.
Sores,Yet tis sore
The bitings of enraged necessitie are most dangerous [...] Portiu [...] latro.
store with hate to heape togither;Hate havocks in each hole in al vprores,
As VVater havocks life through all the Pores.
This spectacle of Kingly providence
Nere cloi'd the subiect with too great estate,
Nor would he of a Pesaunt make a Prince;
His best belov'd he held in sober state,
That he might liue with them without debate.
Hen. 7. a true Pa [...]terne of a wise and vertuous Prince.
Of all the Kings that ere this Land possest,For government discreete and temperate,
This King deseruedly is deemed best,
And to be imitated worthiest.
In his Triumphant most victorious Son
Hen. 8.
Henry the last in name, and first in fame,Is to be seene great wisedome, vsd to shun
Crosse Accidents and courage in the same:
Yet some suppose, that he incurred blame
For be'ng too open-handed in expence
Bounty doeth cover manie faults, & Avarice obscureth many vertues.
And giftes excessiue; but it is a shameFor Kings not roially to recompence
The rich desert of any Excellence.
Ingratitude in all's most monsterous,
But most of all in roiall Maiestie,
Wherein its more then most prodigious:
Munificence makes great, Authoritie;
Guiftes doe superinduce the heart to loue.
And standes with Greatnesse in great policie:The force of Guifts doth offer violence
Even to savage Inhumanity,
Forcing therefrom such loues obedience,
As singlie workes with double diligence.
He more respected honor then profit.
His forraine Conquests much more famous wereThen any way commodious to this state,
Yet [...]hem his actiue sp'rite could not forbeare;
For Caesar-like he would predominate
[Page 155]VVhere he had least iust coulor of estate:
In raising lowest shrubs to Cedars hie
He from his sage Sire did degenerate;
Yet vertue though it nere so low doth lie,
Is vvorthy of high praise and dignitie.
In the last Edwards and Queene Maries raigne
Edward 6. Q [...] Marie.
Is seene, what to those states is incident
VVhere subiects doe not feare their Soveraigne,
But striue to liue beside their Regiment,
Contemning so their too-weake government:
Contempt in subiects is the con [...]usion of government.
This made the Rebell rise in strength and pride,
From Sov'raignes weaknesse taking couragement,
T'assault their Gates, led by a feeble Guide,
Shaking their Thrones a while from side to side.
In our Queenes no lesse long then peacefull reigne
Q [...] Elizabeth.
Blest (as appeer'd) by that blest Prince of Peace,
VVas seene much more then wisedome feminine,
If wee respest how soone shee made to cease
The olde Religion for the oldes increase:
That suddaine change that did the soule acquite
Of olde devotion (which none will release
Vpon the suddaine) still to stand in might,
May make a Newter deeme sh'was in the right.
Act. 5.35,36, 37,38,39.
And now descend yee spirites Angelicall,
That, chargde, doe guard th'Anointed of your Lorde;
Crowne my Liege Lord with crowne imperiall,
And put into his hand the awfull Sword
Of Iustice; so, the good shall bee assur'd,
And so may yee bee freed from your charge,
VVhereby the good are evermore secur'd;
For, hee that office will for you discharge,
Sith Iustice goodmens surance doth inlarge.
Blesse him ô ever-blessed Vnion,
Making a no lesse blessed Trinitie;
Blesse him as thou hast never blessed one
That ever did possesse this Monarchy:
Showre downe thy blessings on his family:
The blessings of the womb giue to his Queene,
And let them as the Sea-sand multiplie;
That frō their roiall loines may still be seene
Heires, as the starres of heau'n, for store, and sheene.
Thus haue I breath'd my Muse in Policie,
Or rather runne her out of breath therein;
That so shee may with more facility
Runne ore the rest lesse difficult, vvherein
Shee hath much more then much delighted bin.
But Policie is but abus'd by me,
I doe but mangle her, and make her sinne:
But were shee whollie seene as shee should be,
Sh'would seeme no daughter of Mortalitee!
REturne my Muse frō whence thou hast digrest,
(To toile thy selfe in states deepe misteries)
And now directly prosecute the rest
Touching the soules yet vntoucht faculties:
VVee varied, where we toucht varieties
Of dispositions of the soule and sp'rite;
In touching which, vvee toucht these Policies
Wherein the worldlie wise so much delight,
Because they tend to rule the VVorld aright.
The Mindes pleasurs much more pleasant thē corporal delightes.
The pleasures of the Minde (as erst vvas said)As farre surmount all pleasures corporall,
As the Minde doth the Bodie, which is swai'd
But by the Minde, with svvaie Monarchicall;
VVho doe s'extremely doate on fleshly ioies,
That they doe wish they had no minde at all,
That so they might not feele the Mindes annoies,
For those delights which Flesh and Sprite destroies.
These Men-beastes are as if they never were,
Sensuall persons are vselesse burdens to the earth.
They burden but the Earth, yet are too light,
VVho liue to lust, yet streight away they weare,
(Like Dew against the sunne in highest height)
With flesh-consuming fleshly fraile delight.
These senslesse spunges of Improbity
Are full of pleasure, but it is vnright;
For Gods hand squizeth out their iollitie,
And fil [...] their Mindes with reall miserie.
The Minde, her pleasures needs not intermit
The senses soone weery of their pleasures.
And then retake them, as the senses must:
But changeth them as shee thinkes requisit,
(Sometimes the iust, for pleasures most vniust,
So changing Loue too oft to lothsome Lust)
Except the powre, from whence the motion springs
Be hindred by (and so betrai'd in trust)
Some let in th'Organs, vsd in her workings,
Wine & sicknes 2. Obstacles that lets the m [...]ndes actions.
Which VVines excesse, and sicknesse often brings.
But those impediments bee'ng tane away,
Shee, like a River, keepes her wonted course
Simil.
In motion still, ti [...]l shee bee at a stay
By some strong Damme; yet doth her selfe enforce
(Stil gath'ring strength, & courage from her Sourse)
To breake away through all Impediments,
Wee ought to propose nothing to the minde vnworthy of her.
That so shee may imploy her wonted force
Vpon the pleasures, which her most contents,
Be they vaine Ioies, or divine ravishments.
It then behoves vs to be wel advis'd
What matter we propose vnto our minde;
Or good, or ill, or ill with good disguiz'd:
For if shee should therein a liking finde,
Shee will thereto be evermore inclin'de:
Simil.
Like some pure virgins, that nere knew the sportThat men doe yeeld them, in the kindest kinde,
Having once tasted it, are all amort
But when (though damn'd) they a [...]e at that disport.
If then we would cheere this ay-moving mind,
We must haue care, that that be perfect good
Which shee doth chew (how different e're in kynd)
For, corrupt Aliments breede corrupt blood;
And blood corrupted is Confusions flood:
But sensuall pleasures cannot please the Sense
Without being cloied, though they change their mood;
Sense must awhile forbear plea [...]ures to make them more pleasāt.
For Sēse sometimes must hold thē in suspēce,To sett an edge the while on her dull'd sence.
Likewise, the pleasures which we doe receave
From
The pleasurs which sense receiues from natural things are more pleasant thē those frō Artificiall.
Natures works haue much more force, then thoseThat we from Artificiall things conceaue:
For lett all Artes vnto our view expose
What Arte it selfe in each kinde can disclose,
They bring satiety soone with the sight;
But who is cloi'd to see a flowred Close,
Hills, Dales, Brooks, Meads, VVoods, Groues, all daintie dight,
Sunne, Moone, and Starrs, & al in perfect plight?
For we, being naturall, doe best agree
With things in nature no lesse naturall;
Yet, to confesse a wel-know'n veritee,
Our often seeing these faire Creatures all
[Page 159]Doth make the pleasure much lesse
Nothing vnder the Sūne long cōtents: therefore wee should seeke contentment aboue the Sunne.
Cordial,Herehence it is, that we doe lesse admire
The pow'r of that Hand supernaturall,
Which did this al with al these Faires attire;
And so not praise him, as his workes require.
Yet if a Child, confin'de t'a Dungeon deepe
Vntil he had attained Manhoods yeares,
Should on a Sōmers-day frō some high steepe
Vpon a suddaine see these glorious Fayres,
His Eyes would ravisht be, how ere his Eares;
For Eares should solac'd be, aswell as Eyes,
With the melodious
Birdes.
nimble-winged Quiers;Nay I suppose such ioy would him surprise,
As he were plung'd in ioyes of Paradize.
But while he's Dungeon'd, let the expert'st Tonge yonge,
(That able were to create Living wordes)
Paint out the Earth with quicke-words, great with
And though that Fry againe like Spawne affords,
And ev'ry one had pow'r to pierce like Swords
Into the nature of these Rarities,
To make him comprehēd the highest Lords
Inferior'st workes, he could not well cōprize
The thousādth part of grace which in thē lies.
As when a Man (though with an Angells tongue)
Simil.
Whilst we are Dungeon'd in this VVorld of vvo,
Tels vs of Heau'n, and all that doth belonge
Vnto the state of those that thither [...] go,
With words that from a well of VVisdome flo,
Yet tells he not the hundred thousandth part
Of that rare blisse which none on Earth can kno;
As good Soules wel perceave, whē hēce they
None know it but they that feele it.
part;VVhich farr surmoūts the highest thoughts of Hart.
But herein's faulty this Comparison:
To Mundane things is fixt satiety,
But those blest Things that are aboue the Sun
Are priviledg'd from such deficiency;
For they are ful of all
The propertie of true felicity is alwaies to cōcent the desire and exclude feare.
felicity:The more they are beheld the more they may,
For they content Desires best-sighted Eye,
And please the more, because that still they stay;
"For true ioyes are compleate by their delay.
Aske that same third-Heau'n-rapt
St. Paule.
Saint, what hee sawOr what he heard, when he was ravisht so;
Hee'l tell you (though most learn'd in sacred Law
And no lesse learn'd each way) he doth not kno,
The ioye thereof his Sense did so oreflo.
If then so great a Clark, so pure a Saint,
Being but in the Heau'n, two lofts belo,
Wants words the ioye there of aright to paint,
Who can the highest Heavens blisse depaint?
Thus the Affects of ioy and Griefe, are giv'n
By him, that giues all onely to one end,
To weet, his Glorie, and desire of Heau'n;
Ioye to alure, and Griefe th'Affects to bend
From that which doth to Griefe and Horror tend.
Now then, to runne through other strong Affects,
And to descend to Love, (that doth
Loue doth descend not ascend.
descend)Which is a Passion powrefull in effects
And chiefely the chief good by kinde respects.
When Iudgment hath alow'd a thing for good,
Shee foorth-with tenders it vnto the VVill,
Which doth embrace the same in ioyful moode,
Because it doth hir Soules desire fulfill:
[Page 161]And when that ioy (conceav'd) doth tarry still
Its called Loue,
How love is bredd.
which doth the wil inclineTo simple good, or good scarce toucht with ill:
Thus Loue is bredd or humane or divine,
Which in the soule like a faire Flame doth shine.
But Loue, that hath respect to any thing
Besides the goodnes of the thing belov'd,
Is rather doating, which doth loathing bring
Doating b [...]ings loathing.
Whē things therby desir'd are wel approv'd:
If God himselfe bee for his bounty lov'd
And onely therefore, who doth loue him so
Doth loue him for his goodnes, by him prov'd,
Yea for that goodnes which to him doth flo,
Not for that good which he cannot forego.
Who loveth vs for his owne goodnesse sake,
And for no good in vs, (for we have none)
We should loue him, not for he did vs
God should simply be loved for his own goodnes.
make,But for his goodnesse onely and alone,
And loue al goodnesse, for, and in that One:
A father loues his sonne, not in regard
Of any gaine, but for he is his owne;
Nor should a Sonne, his Sire loue for reward,
But for he is his Sire in Nature dear'd.
For, if we loue ought for the good we have
From it, we loue our selves more then the same,
Or loue it for our selves, our selues to save
From want of that which from it to vs came:
So such loue is selfe-loue, which Love doth blame:
It is selfe-loue to love God for his bounty towards vs onely.
But we must loue the Lord of Love for love;
Nay, though he hate vs, we must love his name,
Sith to make man
Loue made vs to loue.
Loue onely did him moveBut to loue him againe for Mannes behove.
If then we weigh, by vvhat degrees wee mount
To him from vvhom our soules did first descend,
We finde that as through loue (which doth surmoūt)
They came from him, so to him they ascende
God is mans beginning & his end.
The selfe-same way, as to their proper end.For comming from him, they must know him needs;
Aud knowing him, they needes must to him tend,
But so they cannot, but by loues good-deedes;
For what is not of loue, from sinne proceedes.
The order of loues progres
The order then, of the degrees to loueIs, first vvee at things corporall beginne;
For, our birth to that Steppe vs streight doth moue;
Vnto our outward senses then wee rinne,
To Fancie next, and so wee never linne
Till through Reas'n, Iudgement, Contemplation,
VVe come to loue, and so wee rest therein:
But to descend by the selfe same gradation,
And there to rest, descendeth to damnation.
For, to dismount from true loues loftie pitch
(Loue of the High'st,) so lowe as to selfe-loue,
Is, Sow-like, to lie mired in the ditch
Of lowest Hell, where we all Sorowes proue,
And cannot for our soules from thence remoue
Without kinde heav'nly loues all-helping hand;
He workes in vs both the will and the deede.
Which onely and alone hath powre to moueOur Mindes from Earth vnto the Livings Land,
And breake the linckes of selfe-loues mortall Band.
Loue makes an Vnion of Diversitie;
If then wee loue God, hee and wee are One,
One (although diverse) through true amitie;
VVee loue him and our selues for him alone:
[Page 163]So may we loue our selues, as wee loue none.
Selfe-loue is iustifiable whē we loue our selues for god only.
Likenesse breedes loue, which makes him loue vs so
Who made vs to his Image; and his Sonne
Assum'd our shape, which makes his loue the mo:
Then, by like reason, wee should loue him to.
The more his Image is renew'd in vs,
The more he loues vs, and wee loue the more;
Then to deforme the same's most odious,
And he detesteth vs alone therefore,
VVhich makes vs likewise loath him and his lo [...]e:
All which proceedes from dissimilitude,
For, God and Beliall are foes evermore;
Then sith wee are with his faire Forme indu'd,
Let it by vs bee euermore renew'd.
For, Beauty is an vrgent cause of Loue;
Beauty is a speciall cause of loue.
If so, wee should embrace the fairest Faire
With loue that should be farre all loue aboue,
Yea, die for loue, that Loue might life repaire,
And glorifie the same as Beauties Heire:
See wee an hue that mortall beauty staines
(As doth the Sunne the Moone by his repaire)
This sov'raigne Beauty all the glorie gaines,
God the Foūt of all Beauty.
Sith but a sparke thereof the same sustaines.
Then Beauty blush to glorie in thy Blaze,
And much more blush to blaze thy glorie vaine
With coulors fresh, to make fraile eies to gaze,
Painting the face.
And such as cannot iudge of coulors, faine;
No coulor hast thou so thy selfe to staine:
The best is too too bad, and bad's the Best,
That without
Without coulor of Reason.
coulor doe their face ingraine:In earnest such (I thinke) doe loue to Iest,
As Chaucer, but my, Muse will owe the rest.
But outward beauty loue procures, because
Outward argues inwarde beauty.
It argues th'inward beauty of the Minde;For goodnes is th'effect, Beauty the Cause,
And both togither commonly we finde;
For Nature both togither stil doth binde.
A good Complexions disposition
Is, for the most part, vertuously inclinde;
But VVeomens beauty by permission
Being often tempted breedes suspition.
Sinne is conceived in the womb of concupiscence.
For hardly is that kept, that many craues,And chastitie with beautie's stil at strife;
For, much more beautiful are Frailties slaues
Thē (for the most part) they of vertuous life:
And, aske a man, that hath a beautious wife,
How much he fears the fowle fal of his faire,
Because that nothing in the world's more rife
Then at faire beauties byding mens repaire;
And where they haūt, they do not stil
They rather ruine then repaire the [...]ender honors of women.
repaire.But this by accident is rather thus,
Then any waie to beauty naturall;
For it, by Nature, is most vertuous,
A well tēpred body makes a like tempered mind ordinarily.
Sith Tempers good, to Ill are seldome thrall:For, bodies meerely are Organicall,
Wheron the mind doth play al parts in one,
If then they be in tune, most cordiall
Their motiōs must be needs, sith there is none
That moues thē but the minde or God alone.
But for that beauty stil alures the eie,
An vnchaste eie loues to looke vpon [...] light eie.
The [...]ie the hart, the hart the soule & Sp'riteOf those, that on the same do chance to pry,
Because it doth beheau'n them with delight:
[Page 165]This makes them instantly the same incite
To yeeld to loue, or lust, and their desire;
Then being subiect thus to restlesse fight.
It oft enflames, and is ens [...]am'd with fire,
That Flesh and Sprite makes but one flame intire.
How many may wee see distracted quight,
Or pyning liue, or rather dy with paine?
Yea some to spill themselues (with all despight)
For others beautie which they cannot gaine?
If beauty then so ore fraile sense doth raigne,
Beauty [...]igniorizeth the sense.
The beauty of a Womā cheereth the face, and a man loues nothing better. Eccl. 36.22.
Sense, being subiect to her sov'raigntie
Doth sue and serue, her favour to obtaine,
VVith most impetuous importunitie,
Till shee as subiect, to her Subiect lie.
And never times (except the times of old
For whose corruption al the world was drown'd)
But these curst times of ours, durst be so bold,
To make it common with estates renown'd
To cou [...]t bright beauty
Maried.
match'd, as t'were vnbound:Call yee it Courtshippe? cal it what yee please
(Though it be in request) it was not found
In chaster times; [...]or oft it doth disease
The head with swellings which nought can appease.
Mee thinkes I see, (as I haue often seene)
A well-made Male, as male-content to stand
(In silke or silver clad right well-beseene)
VVringing a match'd faire Female by the hand,
Adultery Luxury, wantonnesse, slouth, Pride, &c. are sins in Specie, the Genus to all these is Caro.
VVhil'st, in her eare, he lets her vnderstand
How much shee ought to loue him [...]or his loue;
Meane while hard by stands Patience the Husband,
And lets Temptation his weake vessell proue,
VVhich in his sight her vnseene Spright doth moue.
Its prettie pastime so to passe the time,
It savoures of good breeding, and good VVitt:
The Howres are made more pleasant by this Chime,
Who would not stil to here the same stil sitt,
Although a man transformed were by it?
O tis a iolly matter to give eare,
Nay to give leaue to Musicke in her fitt:
He is a Beast that wil not then forbeare
Though he thereby be made a Beast to beare.
4. Kindes of divine furie.
Foure kinds of divine fury are obseru'd,1 The first (and first by right) Propheticall,
Which by Apollo is rul'd, and conserv'd;
2 The next by Bacchus, called Misticall;
3 The third by Muses, hight Poeticall;
4 The fourth and last, by Venus governed,
Is call'd the Fury Amatoriall;
Which doe inferre, that Love is borne and bredd
Without the breach of Natures Maidenhedd.
What force it hath, is better felt then showne,
Loues force is vnvt [...]erable.
For VVords cannot expresse the force of loue;Call we it Love or Lust, it is well known
It hath the force of both, the Heart to move;
Which these can testifie that it did prove:
Semiramis (whose Vertue past compare)
This furious Passion her did so remoue
From that shee was; that lusting to reshare
Hir Sonne, her Sonne her Threed of Life did share.
The Macedonian Philipps peerelesse
Alexander Mag.
Sonne,That over-ranne the VVorld with Sword and Fire,
This flaming fury yet did so ore runne,
That for his Thais (that kindled his desire)
Yea, did not onely that fowle fact command,
But with his Hands he lab'red (as for hire)
To burne the buildings which as yet did stand,
Till he had laid al level with the Land.
A VVonder worthy of all wonderment,
That he that foil'd what ere his force withstood,
Should bee thus foil'd, and made a President
Of Lusts fell force, which so enflam'd his Blood
That made his Flesh Wild-Fire in likelyhood:
A Man by woman, a King by a Queane
To be so overcome through Lustfull moode,
(Being so effeminate and most obscene)
Argues, in Loue and Lust there is no meane.
Loue is lawl [...]
Strange are th'effects of Lust. For, Men with Men
Nay, Man with Beast: A Sinne not to be toucht
So much as with the Tongue, much lesse with Pen,
And least of all with that too oft bewitcht,
With loue of that which is by Nature grutcht:
Lust is so blinde that it cannot discerne
A Man from Beast, (how ever beastly coucht)
But doth a Man-beast moue (though Nature yerne)
The tricks of Beasts, with lothsome Beasts to learne.
Graue Xenephon lov'd Clinias in this kinde;
So as hee crav'd of Ioue when Clinias di'de,
That (if he might see him, and still be blinde,
Or not see him, and still be perfect Eyde)
He rather mought the want of sight abide
To see him once, then still to haue his sight
And not see him; See see how blinde a Guide
Is lothsome Lust, that leades men so vnright,
Lust is blinde.
As for her pleasure so themselues to spight.
Semiramis an Horse (ô brutish Lust!)
Did lust to haue (ô mōstrous Mare humane!)
Pasiphaë long'd for a Bull to thrust
Her from a woman to a Cow vncleane:
And Cyparissus made an Hynde the meane
To coole his courage; Aristom [...]chus
A silly Bee would haue to be his Queane.
Lust whither wilt? wilt be so monstrous
To long for Bees that be but moates to vs?
Publius Pilatus fell in lusting loue
With Hellens Image; and Pigmalion
Such lovers are as sensles as the stones which they loue.
For his owne Picture did like passion prove.Damn'd Lust what pleasure provd'st thou in a stone
That's cold by kind, as Snow on Libanon?
To tell the Mischiefes, Spoiles, & Masacres,
By hate effected, though through loue begun,
Were but to tell the number of the Starrs;
For Lust and Mischeife are ioynt-passengers.
Troy might (perhappes) haue stoode vnto this Age,
Had Lust not laid it levell with the plaines;
And seas of Blood spent in that ten yeares Siege
Might still haue kept the Chanells of the Vaynes:
Lust is most willfull.
But lewde Lust is so loose that shee restrainesHer will in nought, though it bringes all to nought:
Shee pleasure takes in pleasure causing paines;
For by her painfull pleasures such are wrought,
Yet on such pleasures shee doth fixe her thought.
Shee will not let the Thoughts so much as prie
A minutes space, on ought, but what shee loues;
Shee (Tirant) captivates the Fantasy,
So that it cannot stirre till shee it moves:
[Page 169]Or if it doe shee forth-with it removes.
My Fancies Mistris, saith some slaue to Lust,
Is my Thoughts Heau'n: So swallowed with his Loues
Are all his Thoughts; and though as dry as Dust
He lusts to please his loue with loue vniust.
For this, al that pertaines, must be in print,
VVeeds, VVords, Lookes, Loks, in print, not one awry,
Whose Motions must be currant for the Mynt;
His glances must keepe iust time with her Eye,
O toile intollerable!
And seeme to die, se'ng her rich beauties dye:
Yet with a carefull carelessenesse, he must
Avoide the hate which too much loue doth buy,
And loue no more then may provoke to lust;
These are their loue-tricks, trickes of loue vniust.
One makes an Idoll of his Mistris Glove,
And offers (thrice a day at least) a Kisse
Vnto each finger, so to show his loue;
Another her Haire-Bracelett makes his blisse,
And Night and Day t'adore it wil not misse.
These Fancies, fancie doe with kindnes cloy,
VVitt nere, in loue, taught Pupill so of his,
(As saith the Book) but doth his powres imploy
With kindnesse coy, to winne his witty Toy.
Whist Muse, be mute; wilt thou like Naso proue,
Quoth Speculation.
And interlace thy Lynes with levity?
Wilt thou add Precepts to the Arte of Loue,
And show thy vertue in such vanity?
So to polute thy purer Poesy!
No more, no more, ynough, (if not too much)
Is sedd already of this Mistery;
My Conscience at the same doth (grieving) grutch,
But let it goe this once, with but this Touch.
Be [...]uty promis [...]th more honesty then deformity.
And how-soere Beauty may bee abus'd,It promiseth more good then shapelesnesse:
If it proue otherwise, its thus excus'd;
The High'st to shew that good-guifts (more or lesse)
Proceede from him, and not from Natures largesse,
Lets beauty fal, and soile it selfe with sinne,
VVhich is more dam'd if beauty it doth blesse,
As Vertue is most faire, that blest hath bin
VVith beauty being resident therein.
But loue, that Beautie breedeth, is threefold,
According to three obiects of that loue,
All faire, some good, which thus we may vnfold;
3. Causes of loue viz Pleasant, p [...]ofitable, & honest.
The Pleasant, and the Profitable mooueAs doth the Honest, true loue, which vve proue:
The first concerneth things that please the Sense,
1 As beautie, and at what the sense doth roue;
2 The second hath to welfare reference;
3 The third and last to Iustice and Prudence.
The first and second kinds of lust or loue,
Among the Perturbations may be put,
Sith they so many ill affections moue
That make mans life to be in Sorrow shut,
VVhich like a Razor off the same doth cut:
But loue of honest things is vertuous,
And from mans praises takes away the But;
It shows the Minde is right magnanimous;
'For that's most great, that is most gracious.
Perfect loue.
This loue is kindled by that heav'nly FlameThat like fine Gold, doth purifie the Sp'rite;
And like it selfe (transmuted) maks the same
Good, gratious, holy, wise, iust, clear, & bright,
This is the loue of beauty most extreame
VVherein celestial soules doe most delight;
Of loue that feedes the Sp'rite it is the creame
Infus'd by Iustice Sonnes inlightning Beame.
This loue resembles that of Seraphins,
VVho burne in loue of the extremest Good;
And makes Men like the sacred Cherubins
Still priviledg'd from outward charge; whose moode
Is stil t'attend on LOVES Trin-vnion-hood.
This loue, this beauty, (Loue of vertuous thi [...]gs
Whose beauty flowes from divine beauties Flud)
Doth make Men Gods among the mighti'st Kings,
And Kings with highest God, in high'st dwellings.
Goodnesse is Beauties Mother, and true Loues;
Goodnesse is mother to loue & beau [...]y
Beauty and loue are both bred in one VVombe:
Then loue and beautie stil it much behoues
To tend to Goodnesse, as vnto the Tombe
That must at last for ever them enwombe.
But there are diverse loues, and beauties mo,
According to the creatures all or some
Proceeding from that LOVE and BEAVTY, who
Sheds both on things aboue, and things belo.
Fowre special beauties, Goodnesse hath created;
Goodnes hath made 4 especiall beautie [...].
The first is that, whereby the Minde and sp'rite
Hath VVit and Vnderstanding in them seated:1
The second, them adornes with Knowledge bright 2
That mounts the Minde to Contemplations height;
The third, in seede preserving mortall things; 3
The last in corp'rall things that sense delight:4
Science the Soule to Contemplation brings,
But her to things materiall Fancie flings.
Yet, did the soule but weigh hovv shee is bound
To her Creator, for his matchlesse loue;
Shee would from thence (by Reason) soone rebound,
The little consideration we haue of Gods goodnesse towards vs, is the cause of our coldnesse in loue to him
And wholy stil contemplate things aboue:For this, his loue requitlesse doth approue;
He gaue her beeing, meerely of free grace
Before shee VVas, or could his mercie moue;
Then if shee loue him, her loue is but base
Compar'd with his that made her what shee wa [...].
VVho giues a Guift much more affection shoes
Then the Receaver for it can bewray;
The giver giues, beeing free to giue or choose,
But the Receaver's bound to loue alway:
Yet, if the giver giues to th'end to pray,
Its not of Loue, but Lucre, (loth'd of Loue;)
GOD cannot giue so, in whom all doth stay:
But Men giue thanks for Blessings which they proue,
And God thereby to giue them more doe moue.
The loue that is bought is [...]ark nought.
Such loue in giver and receiver bothIs meerely merc'nary corrupt, and base,
VVhich hatefull loue the Lord of loue doth loth,
And from such lovers turnes his loving face,
As from false Hypocrites, abusing grace:
But true loves scope, is (in a gracious moode)
To loue all those that Mercie shoulde embrace,
Respecting nought, but to streame foorth the flud
Of goodnesse, which it hath for others good.
For loue is free, and freely would be lov'd;
Its actiue, like a Flame in operation;
Saue that, like fire it is not vpwardes mou'd,
But doth descende by Reasons computation,
The Sire doth loue the Sonne, more then the Sonne
Doth loue the Sire, because by generation
Part of the Sire into the Sonne doth runne,
A natural re [...] son why loue descendeth.
But no part of the Sonne in Sire doth wonne.
Sith loue in nature stil doth thus descende,
God loues man more then Man his God can loue;
For Man proceedes from God who is his ende;
But God from Man likewise cannot remoue,
In him we liue move, & haue our being.
For Man is finite, and in God doth moue:
This made him loue Men when they were his foes,
And for their loues a world of woe did proue:
Therefore hee's Fount of Loue whence all loue floes
Which loues for hate, and hate doth loue-dispose.
Now, how to loue this VVell of loue the more
Loue doth direct, by kindling the Desire
Truely to know and minde it evermore;
To know god [...] loue is the way to make Man loue.
Both which so sets the soules frame all on fire,
That it is made one flame of loue intire:
The more wee know it, it the more wee minde;
The more wee minde it, it wee more require;
The more we seeke, the more wee it doe finde,
And being found, it quite doth lose the Minde.
For then the Mindes no more that which it was,
For to this loue it's transubstantiate,
To weete [...] as neere as loue can bring to passe
Its ev'n the selfe-same thing immaculate,
And like this LOVE, this loue doth contemplate;
Reiecting all that would inveagle it
To loue ought els, and stil doth meditate
To loue nought els, and bends all powres of wit
To make it selfe for this Loue onely fit.
Thus Sinners may turne Seraphins by Loue,
All true loue is either Amor Coe [...]i or amor Secul [...], this of our neighbou [...]e, that, of God.
As [...]here is no l [...]ue without faith, so there is no faith without loue.
wounding with Loue-shafts Gods hart (pure alone;)
So, as the ones hart so the others moue
As twixt them a [...] there were no Hart but one:
This is to lye next the chiefe Corner-stone
In the Church-militant, (Triumphant rather,)
For God and man this Loue doth [...]o attone
As doth, nay more then loue doth Sonne and Father;
For loue makes both intire still altogether.
Loue, of all humane Affections is, the most pui [...]ant & passionate.
For Loue doth graue (though in an Hart of Brasse)The forme of the Beloued in the Hart,
So that a Lovers Hart is like a Glasse
Where the Belou'd is seene in ev'r [...] part;
So, in Gods Hart w'are graven by Loves Arte,
And in our harts Loue doth his forme ingrave;
Thus interchang'd we eithers forme impart
To others liking by the
Loue is the Bond that vnites God & man.
Loue we have,And make the Hart the Lodge it to receave:
The ende or scope of loue is to vnite;
The faster therefore it conglutinates
Two harts, or of them makes an vnion right,
So much the more her vertue shee elates,
And perfectly her kinde effectuates:
Then, Loue in God (in whom Love perfect is)
His vertue so to man participates,
That they become
Brothers by redemption ought to be more neere & deere to each other, thē Brothers by creation.
one through that loue of his;For Man partakes his Image and his Blisse.
But man (meere Chaos of extreame Defect)
Doth loue, but loveth onely in desire:
He longs (perhapps) to loue with al effect,
That God and he thereby might be intire,
[Page 175]Whereto his leaden loue would faine aspire;
From which desire proceeds a pleasant paine,
Pleasant, in that it setts the soule on fire
With loue so good; And paine it breeds again,
In good desires there is pleasure and paine.
For that it hath not, what it would haue fain.
But what is lacking in Mans loue, the same
God doth supply out of his boundlesse loue;
And makes Mās loue therby a working flame,
Which to presse through al Pressures stil doth prove,
And towards God (her Spheare) doth ever move:
This Flame doth melt the marrow of the Sp'rite
Making it liquid sooner to remove
In't Mercies Mould, where its reform'd aright,
And made intire with
God.
LOVE, true loues delight.For when the lover loues himselfe no more,
But the Beloved in whom he abides,
Or, if he loue himselfe, it is therefore
To weet, for that he in his loue resides;
Then Loue is pure, & at high'st pitch besides.
When loue is in the height of perfection.
But such high Raptures are too rarely found,
In fraile humanity, that on Earth bides;
Though loue the Soule therfore perhaps may wound
Yet stil t'wil be to the owne Body bound.
How shal I end with everlasting Loue,
To ease my Reader tir'd with heavy lines?
Vnto this Labarinth of Loue (I prove)
The Author (LOVE) no comming out assignes;
Yet rest I may, though it my Muse confines:
As Zeuxis drue a vaile (with curious skill)
Ore that, hee wanted skill t'expresse by Lines;
So I the like in Loue must now fulfill,
And leave the Reader to thinke what he will.
NOw may we range next to the Ranke of loue
Other Affections, and to doe it right
We must place Favoure there, by which w'approve
Of some thing wherein we conceave delight,
For that it's good in deede or so in sight:
Herein Loues obligation doth commence;
Yet favoure may haue force where loue lacks might,
But without Favoure, Loue is a non ENS;
For, Favoure waites vpon Loves excellence.
[...]owe favoure i [...] bredd.
Then Reverence with Favour we may Ranke,Bredd by comparing some high Dignitie
With some inferior State (that Fortune sanck)
Which then is in it's right especially,
When extreame feare and Hatred come not ny:
For though in Rev'rence, Feare and Shamefastnesse,
VVith moderation doe obscurely lye;
Yet Feare (by some Ill caus'd) Good doth suppresse,
Still seene in that which breedes our humblenesse.
True rev'rence therefore beare we vnto God
Who is all [...]good, as he almightie is;
For, fear'd we nought but his revenging Rodd,
Our Rev'rence, would be turn'd to hate by this:
Reverence springs from powre and goodnesse.
Then Rev'rence growes from pow'r and grace of his;And, whosoere with them he most endowes,
Of Rev'rence from lesse Rev'rend cannot misse:
For Rev'rence Pow'r and Goodnesse still ensues,
And the lesse worthie to the better bowes.
For when we eie the vertue, pow'r, and grace,
Of the most Noble, (truely called so)
And looke vpon our selves, and weigh how base
VVe are compar'd with them, then bend we lo
[Page 177]As vnto them that vs in Good out-go.
For, as selfe-liking doth enlarge the Hart,
Simil.
Or puffe it vp (like Bladders which we blo)
So it contracts it selfe in ev'ry part,
When we see others passe vs in desart.
Then as we rev'rence God for goodnesse more,
We reverence God more for his goodnesse then for his powre.
Then for his might, and awfull Maiesty;
So, if we would be rev'renc't of the Low'r,
We must surmount them in that ex'lency
That makes vs most resemble Dëity:
For whereas Goodnesse doth associate Might,
There the most Insolent, most rev'rently
(Though otherwise repleat with al Dispight)
VVill doe their Homage freely with delight.
For homage, fealty, and honor, are
To sacred Vertue due by Natures Law:
Honor we owe to Vertue (though but bare)
And Vertue matcht with might doth Rev'rence draw.
Then Honor, Reverence, and loving awe
To whom honor and reverence are due vpon Earth
Are due to Maiestie; and that is due
To Magistrats that Men frō Vice with-draw,
And make them Vertue eagerly ensue,
Themselues therin be'ng Leaders of the Crue.
The last Affects to Love subordinate
Are Mercy and Compassion;
Mercy and compassion, Affectes flowing from loue
These are theyVVhich make vs (like God) to commiserate
The miseries of those that still decay,
Or are at point to perish without stay.
These, these, bewraie that we are Members quick
Of that same Bodie, whose Head doth bewray
That they are Members mortifide, or sick
VVhich feele no paines, that fellow-members prick.
These make vs make the hand of the distrest
Our Mucke and Earthly Mammons continent,
Yea make vs make the Orphanes home our Brest,
And our right Arme the VVeedowes Sustinent;
Loue hath nothing in private.
And all that want, our All them to content.O that these were more frequent then they are
With those that doe our Churches so frequent!
For damn'ds Devotion that will nothing spare,
But for selfe-comfort altogither care.
These, Colledges and Hospitals erect,
And both endow with copious maintenance;
These are so prevalent in their effect,
That they vnto the Heav'ns doe
Man made of earth.
Earth advance,Wherein there is no want or sufferance:
These doe forgiue, as gladly as they giue,
Vnto their foes miscarried by Mischance;
These good and bad (like God) in lacke relieue,
"For Mercies Bowels melt when anie grieue.
These Bridges builde ore Rivers (semi-Seas)
And turne deepe VVaies (though endlesse in extent)
To Cawseis firme, for Man and Beasts more ease,
Compassiō extendeth her vertue to man and beast.
And ev'ry waie provide for bothes content,Through fellow-feeling of their dryriment:
These make their VVaredrops and the Needies, one,
And their owne Limbes, limbes of the impotent;
Ioy with the ioiefull, mone with them that mone
And sigh in soule, when they in Bodie grone.
O that my soule could (as it gladly would)
It selfe infuse into each worde or line
That tendes to Mercies glorie, then it should
(So as it ought) at least like Phoebus shine,
[Page 179]If not at most, bee more then most divine:
For, Mercie and Iustice are Gods mightie Armes,
Mercy & Iustice are god [...] almightie Armes.
But he most might to Mercie doth assigne
As bee'ng the right Arme, holding all from harmes
Though All do fall through Frailties least Alarmes.
Mercie's the true Idea of Gods Soule,
Wherein his matchlesse glorie glitters most;
Which is of force his Iustice to controule:
For when in Iustice all that are, were lost,
Then Mercie them redeem'd, to Iustice cost;
The Lord of Iustice was vniustly slaine,
That Mercie might triumph, and iustly boast:
Gods Mercie triumpheth over his Iustice towards Man.
As Loue first made, so Mercie made againe
Man-kind, that sin had marr'd with monstrous stain.
Sith Mercie then is of so high account,
Shee should bee most familier with the Hy:
Pri [...]ces and Maiestrates.
For, God in mercy doth himselfe surmount,
That is, it doth himselfe most glorify:
So they that eie the Poore with Pitties eie,
And haue most mercie seated in their soule,
Draw neer'st the nature of his Dëity;
Whose names engrossed are in his Check-role.
And next him ought the VNIVERS to rule.
THus having toucht th' Affections most humane
That humane nature doe consociate;
Now follow those that are most inhumane,
Inhumane affections howe bred.
Bred by Opinion of Ill, which wee hate
Which make vs savage or in worse estate:
The vnrest of our soules, the while they rest
Within our Bodies, and predominate,
Proceedes from fowre chiefe causes of vnrest,
Which thus by Natures searchers are exprest.
4. Perturbations frō whō do flow al immoderate passions of the soule.
Desire, Feare, Griefe, Ioy, all immoderate(Which perturbations be) from these proceede
Al Passions which the soule excruciate,
Which the Mindes ignorance doth (fatting) feede;
As knowing not what's good or Ill indeede.
Desire and Ioie those goods accompany
Which be not good, further then Natures neede,
And that a little (God wot) doth supply
For, overmuch doth her soone mortifie.
Aske peace and plenty what fell fights they haue
With these three Monsters, Pride, Strife, & Excesse,
Hardly themselues, if they at all, doe saue,
From their fell force, they eas'ly wil confesse.
Wherefore God doth blesse man with abundance.
Yet, God with Peace and Plentie, Man doth blesse,That Man might blesse God both in word and deede,
Not take occasion from thence to transgresse:
But from these Fountaines pure doe oft proceede
(By their abuse) Abuses which exceede.
There is no greater temptation thē never to be tēpted, & no sorer punishmēt then of God never to bee punished.
For, sinne in peace and plentie, is so arm'dVVith all that may allure the simple sense,
That sense by those allurements is so charm'd,
That soone it yeeldes to sinne obedience,
As it were forc'd by some Omnipotence:
When sinne so sweetly doth intreate and pray,
And promise Flesh, Heav'n in Incontinence,
(To which prosperity doth Flesh betray)
How can fraile Flesh and Bloud say sweet sinne nay?
If Tast would tast, what might her Pallate please,
Sinne offers the senses their severall satisfactions.
Sinne offers Manna, Nectar, and what not?VVould touching feele? sinne opens pleasures Seas
To plunge the sense therein, it to besot.
The eare shee tickles with such wordes and Notes,
That Hearing (ravisht) hath her selfe forgot.
With eie bewitching Faires the eie shee dotes:
And thus each sense in pleasures seas shee flotes.
These senses thus bewitch'd, Fancie allures
To share the sweetnesse which they say they finde:
Fancie consents; and Iudgement soone procures
T'approue their pleasure, which betraies the Minde,
(Betrai'd and quite misled by Iudgement blind)
Thus in prosperitie sinne domineers,
Vertue without adversitie withereth and loseth her force.
VVho vvith strong cordes of Vanity doth bi [...]de
The soule and body, as it vvel appeeres
By those whom welfare to the world endeeres.
O Flesh! didst thou but know how suger-svveete
The pleasures vvere proceeding from the Crosse;
There is no other passage to heaven thē through the fire of Afflictions.
Th'wouldst runne amaine, the cōming crosse to meet
And count al gaine, saue that alone, but losse:
All sensual Ioies doe thee but turne and tosse
With restlesse proofes of false felicitie,
Which Ioies retaile, but vtter griefes in grosse,
For, corp'rall pleasure in extremitie
The center is, of endlesse miserie.
Now Griefe and Feare,
Griefe & fear accompanie transitory riches.
though they accompanyThese evil goods (goods evil by abuse)
Yet they respect all kinde of misery
VVhich we conceiue, vvhen wee haue not their vse:
Through vvant vvhereof, as through an open sluce
Flow all vexations, and annoies of minde,
Into the emptie sou [...]e, which they reduce
To their obedience in rebellious kinde;
For Reason they in rage doe rudely binde.
The Body hereby (puling) pines away
Simil.
(Like to a Bladder whose winde is out strain'd)By such degrees, as it doth by the way
A whyning make as if the same were pain'd:
So, fares the Body, by the Minde constrain'd,
Till she be breathles, she breathes out but mone,
For want of Goodes but fain'd, her griefes vnfain'd
Doe drie vp quite the Marrow of the Bone,
As if shee were in wretched plight alone.
Good Affects proceede frō the opinion of good, and evill, frō evill.
For as al good Affections doe proceedeFrom the opinion which we haue of Good;
So doth th'opinion of evill breede
All ill Affections and each evil moode;
For ill Conceipt, conceaues this cursed Broode.
Offēce, what.
Now the first touch of ill, is call'd Offence,Frō whence (if it contynewe) foorth do budd
Griefe, Envy, Hate, and fell Impatience,
As Loue proceeds from true Goods residence.
And sith ther's nought that doth to Earth belonge
In which both Good and Ill in deede, or sho
Are not (like Phisick-Potions) mixte amonge;
All mundane things are as they are takē.
Therfore frō thence may be drawne VVeale or VVoeAs they are tane, sith both from thence doe flo:
For that which likes some, some doth most displease;
According to the humors which they owe,
Some take repose, in that which most disease,
As some delight in VVarre, but most in Peace.
And the more inly that offences touch,
So much the more they doe thereby offend:
The inward'st is the better part by much;
Then that which thereto doth annoyance send,
[Page 183]To the tormenting of the VVhole doth tend:
Offenses against the outward Senses are much lesse os [...]ensiue then those against the inward.
Offences done to the externall Sense
Are not so grievous, as those which doe wend
To the internall; No [...] is VVitts offence
So sore, as that which doth the VVill incense.
Nay, if our VVill be not offended, we
Can suffer, what not? without al offence;
In which respect we willingly agree,
That Friēds reproofs should proue our patience,
When with our Foes we would not so dispence:
Likewise o [...]r selues of our selves so may speake,
That others speaking so would vs incense,
And make vs mortally revenge to seek:
Thus VVill bee'ng pleas'd, nought can our
Nothing moues our patience that moves not our will.
patience breake.Then sith Offence most grieves the tender'st Sense,
Therefore are they offended soon'st of all,
Whose Mindes and Bodies haue most excellence,
And are most delicate and speciall,
Bee it by accident, or naturall:
And mong the Hoast of Natures Creatures, Man
Is hard'st to please, and most to Anger thrall;
Man of all creatures hardest to please.
For he with nought will beare, nor suffer can,
Yet al haue cause this wayward VVaspe to ban.
If therefore One it be so hard to please,
How much more hard to please an Hoast of Men?
What can be saide or done so wel, but these
Will
Who so pleaseth all doth more then he that made all.
all, or some of all, speake there agen?They care not against whom, nor where, nor when.
Aske Generalls if this be true or no,
Who though they make their Purs-strings cracke agen
To please the Presse, yet they shal not doe so,
But some will murmur, and speake broadly to.
Some, to bee thought more iudicious are most censorious.
For, some are so invred fault to finde,That they offended are without offence,
Nothing they heare or see, but irkes their minde,
So all offendes them without difference:
And, to be thought of tall intelligence
Their Tongues dispraise, what their Thoughts highly praise;
Because they weene great praise proceeds frō thēce:
For he (thinke they) that sees what to dispraise,
Sees and knowes how t'amend it many waies.
Criticks of these times.
How many may we heare and see of these,Who with bent-brow, scue-looke, and mouth awry
Sleightly survaie the workes that wise-men please
Protesting them to be but poore; And whie?
Because they proue their VVitts base povertie:
They faine would faine to haue vnfained skill
In ev'ry thing wherein they faults espie,
A Foole may make the wise ridiculous to Fooles.
And by depraving VVitt t'haue witt at will,When all's but fain'd, and strain'd and passing ill.
When Men adore their owne sufficiencie,
And weene their excellence doth check the Skies,
What marvel ist, if al beneath the Skie
They check; and through their selfe-conceite dispise?
(Who, but to see their owne woorth, haue no Eyes)
These be men of partes that would have al whollie.
These Men are inly mov'd with much offence,When they another see by Vertue rise,
Because high State (they weene) should recōpence
No others, but their onely excellence.
Bee they most poore, yet be they much more proude,
Exclaiming on the tymes wherein they live:
The cōplaint of base malecontents.
For Men of woorth (say they) with parts indow'dThe tymes doe not respect, nor wil relive,
Thus doe they melt awaie in Envies fire;
And whilst hart-burnings thē of rest deprive,
They them bestirre to part that is intire,
And Commō-wealthes orethrow, so to aspire.
These vnwise wittie Mal-contents are they
Divells incarnate tempt mē desperate.
That egge on Men vnwise, and violent,
T'attempt the over-sway of Princes Sway,
Or rather to confound their government,
That so they might be made preheminent:
For, sly Vlysses must point out the place
Gainst which the force of Aiax must be bent,
And Men made desp'rate hold it no disgrace
To be directed in a desp'rate case.
These waspish over-weening idle Drones,
Are mortal
The Pestilēce which infects al that comes neere it.
plagues to ev'ry Publike-weale:Right anti-Kesars vndermyning Thrones;
Yet Princes hardly shal their motions feele
Vntil their States and Seates begin to reele:
And then too late (perhapps) seeke fast to sitt
VVhē they must rest vpō the pointed Steele;
These are th'effects of mal-contented VVitt,
Which not lookt to, wil haue a madding fitt.
All which proceedeth meerely of Offence,
Cōceav'd by hateful natures hard to please;
VVhich, mischiefe and great inconvenience
Bring to a State, and neither Land nor Seas
Can possibly be priviledg'd from
They walke like Devills invisible.
these.VVho still doe feare, their mis-imploied time
VVill bring vpō thē that which wil displease;
VVhich to prevent they seeke aloft to clime,
VVhich to effect, make cōsciēce of no crime.
For, feare of evill (though of ill to come)
Doth grieue the minde, as if it present vvere;
Cold feare and griefe then Reason so benumme,
That it feeles nothing but cold griefe and feare.
A natural reason of rebels civill fury.
This colde made hot by Ire, which it doth steereBecomes hell fire, which like a quenchlesse flame
Consumeth all it toucheth or comes neere,
And leaues nought els behinde but lasting blame,
So, Feare turn'd Fury, Man doth all vnframe.
Simil.
For, as in nature, things that are most coldMade hot, are most extreame hot, like the Fire:
So Feare, most cold by kind, yet if it should
Bee chaf'd vncessantly with Hate and Ire,
T'would be more hot, then all fires made intire.
For, Man is more out-ragious, wilde, and wood
In Passions heate, then Passion can desire;
A man in fury more furious then a beast.
No Beast is halfe so fell, in maddest moode,As Man, when Furie sets on fire his bloud.
A discription of an angry Man.
From which fire flie out Sparkles through his eies,VVho stare, as if they would their holdes inlarge,
The Cheekes vvith boiling Choler burning rise,
The mouth doth thundring (Canon-like) discharge
The fire which doth the Stomacke overcharge:
The teeth doe (grating) one another grind;
The fists are fast, in motion to giue charge,
The Limbes doe tremble, feete no footing find
But stampe, or stand vnconstant as the VVinde.
All anger springs from offence but al offence grows not to Anger.
Which hellish Passion from Offence proceedes,But all offence proceedes not to the same;
Offence the Mother is that Anger breedes,
But not it selfe in nature nor in name,
[Page 187]Ne can they bee confounded vvithout blame:
For thinges offend vs oft which haue no sense,
With vvhich vve cannot angrie be for shame;
For, that must haue (like vs) Intelligence
VVhich can to Ire provoke our patience.
For, Ire's a vehment motion of the Hart,
What āger is
Stirr'd vp by trespasse, scorne, or such like ill
Offred vnto vs, w [...]olie or in part,
Which in the high'st degree offends our will,
For which, we would revenge in hast fulfill:
For, each one rates himselfe by the Assise
Of selfe-conceipt, by him conceaved still,
From that great good which, he weenes, in him lies
Which none (as he supposeth) should despise.
The more therefore a Man himselfes esteemes,
The better a man thinkes of himself the sooner hee is moued to anger.
The more and sooner he to Ire is mou'd;
Because that so great worth's despis'd he deemes,
For which hee rageth, as from wit remov'd;
Then, Rage to Rancor easily is shou'd;
VVhich is an Anger most inveterate,
What Rancor is.
By Charitie and Reason most reprou'd,
And God and good-men mortallie doe hate;
Therefore to bee eschu'd as reprobate.
For, Rancor is so fell and violent,
That ioint by ioint, the Soule it rudely rends,
Forgetting Iustice, and the Innocent
God, man, sex, age, good, bad, or foes, or friends,
Rancor is indifferent to good & bad.
For, this all these indiff'rently offends:
Then who consults with such a Councellor,
That Argumentes with tooth and naile defends,
Shall bee of all (but Fiendes) an iniurer;
For sure the Div'l's in such a Coniurer.
Some call it honorable to revenge with the sworde all iniuries done against a mās honor. But how can that be honorable which God abhorreth & condemneth to eternall death.
VVhose furie is inflam'd so with desireTo wreake it selfe on that which it enflames,
That on it selfe it brings confusion dire,
And oft with suddaine death her subiect shames;
Heav'n, Earth, and Hell, and all therein shee blames,
Nay railes against, if they wreake not her wronge,
And for her selfe an Hell, on Earth shee frames,
To wreake it on herselfe, if shee be long
Barr'd from Revenge, for which her Soule doth long.
The quality of Rancor.
VVhich is a motion of the Hart, then vvhichNone can be more immane, or violent;
VVhich turnes frō that which doth it roughly tuch
And seekes to quell the same incontinent;
Or on the cause to inflict punishment:
A reason why angry men for the most part are pale.
Here-hence it is some ire [...]ull men are pale,Because the bloud returnes from whence it went,
VVhose harts haught-courage so doth ore exhale,
That they dare doe what not? come Blisse or Bale.
But commonly the bloud doth not returne
As to the Heart it doth in Griefe and Feare,
But in the face in furie it doth burne,
And all the Spirits it enflameth there,
As if no more vvithin the Body vvere:
The bloud and sp'rits inflam'd, the braine ascend,
VVhich they (confusedly distracted) stere,
For how so ere heate may the Heart offend,
To the brains
The Minde doth rest, if heate it not transcend.Simil.
No otherwise then as a man that drincksMore then a man, yet if it not ascendes
Vnto the braine, no man him druncken thinkes,
Nor is he drunke though drinke his belly rends:
Yet beeing still vvithin the heart confin'd,
The soule vvithin the braine her worke attendes
Without disturbing of the VVit or Minde,
Who wonted freedome in the braine doe finde.
But giue Men wit at vvill, nay vvisedome too,
(If possibly men furious
Salomon denies it. Eccl. Chap 7.11.
might be vvise)And put exceeding Anger therevnto,
All's to no purpose, for all in it lies
As fat in fier, which to nothing fries;
Moue but their choller once, and all's on [...]lame
That should them coldly any vvay aduise:
For, when the soule by heate is out of frame,
Her Iudgement must be blinde, and Actions lame.
So that in true effect the furious Man
Is good for nought, (for nought is all as good)
But to blaspheme, and raue, and rayling ban,
And make good men amazed at his moode;
I know no mā worse thē my selfe, God helpe me the while.
God sheild I should be any of this broode:
Yet must I (to my shame) for shame confesse,
Because its seene what humor haunts my bloud,
That Anger to my heart hath oft accesse
Against my will, which faine would it suppresse.
He is mine arch foe gainst whom still I fight,
And though I bee to weake, and he to strong;
Yet fight I will, and aie in his dispight
I will refraine my hands, much more my Tonge,
Both vvhich in wrath are apt to
Instruments of revenge. The heate of the hart mak [...] the fingers nimble.
offer wronge:Heav'n helpe me to subdue this hellish Ire,
And all that doth or shall to it belong,
So with the drops of grace quench out this fire,
That to my heart it neuer more aspire.
Yet let me coldly speake in praise of Heate,
VVhich be'ng temp'rate, yeeldes most sweete effects;
The praise of Choler.
For, Choler makes the VVitt and Courage great,Yea, makes the Hart abound with kinde Affects,
And abiect
Anger is better thē laughter for by a sadd looke the hart is made better. Eccl. Cap. 7.5.
humors vtterly reiects:In the best Natures commonly its plac'd
By Natures finger, for these kinde respects,
And if with fury it be not disgrac'd,
It should by al meanes, by all be embrac'd.
How like to liuelesse Logges some Dastards are,
Whose witt & Courage are quite drown'd in Fleame;
VVho, though wrongs prick their Harts, yet stil they fare
As they vvere either dead, or in a dreame;
Nothing shal moue them, be it nere s'extreame:
A Coward cā not be truely honest.
Heare they their frēds deprau'd (though nere so dear)Nay heare they Fiends the Highests name blasphēe;
They dare not speake a vvord for them for feare;
VVhat vse of such that such base-mindes doe beare?
Simil.
For as a little fire vvhen we are coldDoth vs but little good, and be'ng too great
Doth warme vs otherwise then fier should;
But being moderate, it so doth heat
As neither letts vs coole, nor makes vs sweat:
So, Choler if too little, little steeds,
And if too much, too much doth make vs fret;
But being meane, it many Vertues breeds,
And with an actiue warmth, the blood it feeds.
For to be angery and not to sinne,
Is an obligatorie
Eph [...]s. 4. 26.
Heast divine;For whiles we are that holy anger in
(Not wholly angery) it is a signe
[Page 191]We flame with that which doth our soules refine:
For, in our Soules the iry-pow'r it is
Vertue cāno [...] performe her functiōs without anger.
That makes vs at vnhallowed thoughts repine,
And sober soules are zealous made by this,
Then zealous soules can hardly Anger misse [...]
Thus Ire I pleade for thee, but thou hurt'st mee;
O be propitious therefore, hurt me not:
Then Volumes large, [...]le write concerning thee
Which without blott of blame, I al wil blott
VVith blacke that shal thy
Glory laud.
bright, make bright as hott:So, leaue I thee, and would thou me would'st leaue,
Yet leaue me not, as one thou hast forgott,
But mind me stil, when I should thee conceaue
Gainst ill that would my soule of good bereaue.
For so thou didst possesse Gods patient Soule,
When he as God and Man the Temple clear'd
(With VVhipps) of money-Changers, who did proule
Luke 19.25.
For filthie Pelfe in place to him endear'd,
Where most of al he should be serv'd and fear'd:
So, be with me, deere Ire, till thou and I
Must part,, or [...] by thee no further steer'd,
Then may agree with perfect pietie
And well may stand with true felicitie.
NOw from vnloving Ire doth Hatred spring,
Hatred is a child of Ire.
Which is more Hellish; for, its lasting Ire
As some suppo [...]e; which is a damned thing,
Like to the Devill her prodigious Sire,
VVho Loues to hate, as Loue hates that desire:
Sith God and Nature hath made Man in loue,
To loue God and his like with loue intire,
VVhat Vice can Vertue in man more reproue,
Then that which Man to misse his Ende doth move?
Yet Ire from Hatred must distinguisht be,
I [...]e & hatred distinguished.
For Ire proceeds frō some wrong done to vs,But Hatred, is conceav'd as soone as we
Suppose a Creature to be odious;
Though to vs it were nere iniurious:
And Time can Ire aswage, but hardly Hate,
Ire would but vex, but Hatred's murderous,
Revenge cooles Ire, but cannot Hate abate,
Ires hart can melte, but Hates is obdurate.
Love linckes men togither, Hatred putts them a sunder
Loue is the Linck that lincks mā kind (by kindLouing and kinde) in perfect Vnion;
This Statute (sans defesance) men doth bind
To succour one another woe-begon,
As if they were not diverse but al one:
But Hatred is the Hatchet, which doth cleeve
Mankinde to peeces in confusion;
Releefe refusing, and [...]ake to releeve,
Yet giues more dāmage thē it would receave.
None harbreth Hatred, but men like the Devill,
The proude and envious are like the Devill.
(The Proud, & Envious, which are ful of hate)These hateful Hell-hounds loue this lothsome Evill,
Because it seekes mankinde to ruinate:
VVhat can the Devill worse excogitate?
It is the Toade that swells with Venome such
That no force can resist, much lesse abate;
The Moath of Mā-kind, worse thē nought by much,
Yet most indiff'rent to the Poore and Rich.
A good vse of Hate.
But hate inhabits Man to good effect,VVhen he loues nought, that is not perfect good;
For he through Hate doth Evill still reiect,
VVhich would corrupt his Nature, Mind, & Moode,
[Page 193]And make it (like it selfe) a Nihilhood:
Such hate is happie, holy, and divine,
By which the force of Ill is stil withstood;
This Hate we ought to loue, which doth repine
Hate, worthy of Loue.
At al which doth not Loue aright refine.
Then sacred Hate let my Loue thee embrace,
And, to an Habit grow'n, inhabit mee,
Sith thou flow'st from the Fountes of Loue, & Grace,
O let my love be ever backt by thee;
Then Ill from Loue (so backt) wil ever flee.
Sinfull Hate i [...] hatefull [...]ut gratious hate is behoo [...]ull.
It is a feaver of the Minde to hate,
That's hate to Loue, but whē they both agree
They doe preserve the Soule in perfect state,
Whilst Ill of Ills they quite annihilate.
Thē hate (my Soule) that thou maist ever love
That which this Hate doth loue, with loue intire,
That is, al good below, much more aboue,
Wherto this hate through loue would faine aspire;
For perfect Love inflames iust Hates desire.
No otherwise then VVater hott or cold,
Simil.
Though in some sorte it doth oppung the fire,
Yet makes the flames thereof more manifold,
VVhen it is cast thereon, so as it should.
Thus Ire and Hatred may be good or ill
Envy is a branch of iniustice.
According to their obiects; And Envy
(Their aie-familier) doth follow still
Hatred and Ire, to make a Trinity;
Ire & Hatred the Parent [...] of Envy.
Which may be vs'd well, ill, or neut'rally:
It is well vs'd for Gods foes good successe,
But ill, when it anothers good doth eye,
And neut'rally when it doth not transgresse
The boundes of Love, for loving more or lesse.
Envy is oppo [...]t to Mercy.
Shee is to Mercie alwaies oppositIn her true kinde; for Mercy stil doth grieue
At others harmes; but envi's glad of it,
And pines with paine, when others wel doe thriue [...]
Yea liues in death, when others liue to liue.
1 Some envy others gains, that hinder theirs;
2 Some, others weale, whē they cannot arriue
3 Vnto the like: some, other that aspires
To that they sought, but faild of their desires.
4 But some there are that envy others good,
Without respect of their owne benefit,
Only because they think their fate's withstoode
When others on the least good fortune hit,
Or doe the least good, getting praise for it:
The envy of the divel what
This is the envie, than which none is worse,Ev'n that of Sathan, for Men most vnfit,
This is the envie that incurres his curse,
That from Heav'n for the like did Angels force.
It is safer to be conversant with a Tyrāt, then with the envious persō for the one takes away but life but the other honor and good name.
For envies eies pry most of al on praise,The noblest goods, goods of the noblest Minde
They most envie; and stil themselues they raise
To highest vertue, where they (fixt) it finde;
Heereat the teeth of envie most doe grinde:
For looke how much the Minde the Corpes excels,
And the Mindes riches are of rarer kinde;
So much the more the hart of envie swels,
At those that haue these goods, then any els.
Shee is Prides second selfe, or other name,
Monsters distinct, yet vndiuiduall;
In heav'n and earth hath wel appeer'd the same,
For both made heau'nly Lucifer to fall;
[Page 195]So doe they Lucifers terrestrial:
Pride's more apparāt, for it needs must swel;
Envy is more obscure, then Pride.
But envy euer lines Prides Pectorall:
Pride's as the high'st, envie the lowest hell;
Worse Hags thē either, can in neither dwel.
Pride, before all desires to be preferr'd;
If anie therefore be preferr'd before,
Shee instantly is with fel envie stirr'd;
And the more rise, her envie is the more.
Though Meeknes mount, prids hart doth ake therfore:
For shee thinkes, only shee doth al excel,
Then others excellence her heart must gore:
As others heav'n on earth, is Envies hell;
So others rising makes Pride still to swell.
For, where there is no sunne, no shadow is;
And, where's no weale, or glory, envi's not:
Envy is as the shaddow of vertue.
Shee feedes on her owne hart, and others blisse,
Shee skornes to looke so low as to their lot
That are of Fortune, or the world forgot:
Therefore shee lurkes about the Courtes of Kings,
Envies natural home is in Kings Courts.
(Whose Crownes are ever subiect to her shot)
There like a Snake, that hisses not, shee stings,
And oft ere shee is seene Confusion bringes.
For, not without iust cause doe Poets faine
That shee (as one of the infernall broode)
Doth poison sucke, to vomit it againe,
And makes of Snakes her flesh-consuming foode;
Ovid. Met. l. 2. Simul [...]
Which makes her like a blind-worme, without bloud:
Who often creepeth like this abiect VVorme,
Not wotting which way, each way but the good:
And in Preferments way shee doth enorme
All feete shee meets with, which none can reforme.
Envie therefore the hart doth macerate,
The envious are ashamed to bewray their envie.
Because the Tongue dares not the griefe disclose,That makes that griefe still on the hart to grate,
Which the leane looke alone in silence shoes;
Yet eies shrinke in (as loth to tell the woes)
Such lookes hath the envious.
And looke ascue, as if in looking straightThey might directly so discouer those,
All which makes woe to haue the greater waight
The soule and bodie so to over-fraight.
Bion.
One said, beholding one with envie pin'd,I know not by thy lookes (which all doe loth)
If they fare well or thou ill; for thy Minde
Is vext alike, alike thou look'st for both:
Which subtill speech included simple troth;
Envy is as much grieued for others good as her owne hurt.
For, envi's griev'd no lesse for others goodThen for her proper ill; and is as wroth
For others praise, as if hers were with-stood,
And for both, sucks alike her Subiectes bloud.
Shee envies all to all, except envie,
And that shee envies to, if it exceede;
Like Argus, shee nere sleepes but when her eie
Is charm'd by Mercuries sweete sounding Reede;
Envy flattered sleepes for a while.
"For envie flattered is well agreed:When all respect is had of her and hers,
And all neglected els, her All to feede,
No more, till shee neglected be, shee stirres;
Then as before her selfe shee straight bestirres.
The sunne at highest shee resembles right
(Though base shee be and darke as nether Hell)
Simil.
For as the sunne obscureth things most bright,And makes the light of things obscure, excell:
[Page 197]So envie seeks men famous most to quell,
Before how many the more the envious person slandereth a man, the more high in glory hath he plac'd the crown of the slandered if he take it patiently.
And praiseth most, men least deserving praise,
Such as their deerest fame to shame doe sell;
All such (if any at all) shee most doth raise,
And all men els, doth most of all dispraise.
The more Men want of what they faine would bee,
The more their want with envie is supplide,
The lesse, if prowde, they are in their degree
The lesse they can their betters farre, abide;
"And horse prowd Beggars, they like Kings will ride.
Each Vice caries with it its own torment.
Now as each Vice doth in it beare about
An inbred plague: so in this doth reside
The plague of plagues; to weare it selfe quite out
With fretting gainst the rich or roiall Rowt.
The envious, privie to their owne defects,
Doe witnesse to themselues their small esteeme,
For which the VVorld, they see, them still reiects,
Through which they inly burst with griefe extreme,
The envious condemne themselues for most vnworthy men. No affection is lesse disclosed then envy
But dare not let the world them envious deeme.
For, no Affect is lesse disclos'd then this,
Because it makes men lesse then worthlesse seeme,
Therefore the much more dolorous it is;
"For griefes doe breake the heart if vent they misse.
What Common-weales, and mighty Monarchies,
What glorious Kings, and famous Generals,
Yea (which is strange) what heau'nly Hirarchies
Whose wretched state and miserable fals
(By envie wrought) remaine in Capitals!
Whence all may see, how actiue and how fell
This Furie is, who rests in Funerals:
Or when on earth Men rest i [...] such an Hell,
Envies rest in funerals.
That to th'infernall may be Paralell.
Envie is the parent of Iealousie.
FRom Envy springs ay-watchful Iealousie,(Ore-plus of Loue, as iealous Lovers would)
Which (worse then Hell) hates al Rivalitie,
And cannot brooke that any other should
Possesse that wee or ours would, or doe hold:
Yet some restraine it onely vnto Loue;
For being (as they say) more manifold,
It
Obtrectation is Iealousie in the largest Sense.
Obtrectation hight, which who doth proveShal finde the Minde vnlike it selfe to moue.
For, she can thinke of nought but that alone
That makes her iealous, and when shee's restrain'd
Of former freedome, shee is not her owne;
But like a Body bound t'a Racke, is pain'd,
And thinks of nought but paine be'ng so constrain'd:
This is the Linx in Loue that never sleepes,
Iealousie a Linx in loue.
And oft (too oft) by Lust is entertain'd,Who through nine walles of Mudd, or Mettle peeps,
And so (like Argus) Loves beloved keepes.
Now; as the thinges belov'd are good or badd,
Iealousy good or bad according to her obiect.
How Iealousie is good.
If Men be iealous of their thoughts that gadd
From the chiefe-Good, good is that iealousie;
And in a Prince tis no impiety,
When he suspects Ambition in his State;
Nor in the mari'd ist an Heresy,
If loving-iealousie without debate
Doe keepe each others Love from cause of hate.
Like may bee sedd of Parents, Kinne, and Frendes,
So longe as it aymes but at like respect,
An harmelesse iealousie, from harme defends
Those whom they governe, and by kinde affect:
[Page 199]Such ieal'usie doth in God our good effect;
Gods iealousy touching vs doth procure our good.
Which makes him watch vs, where wee wake or sleepe,
VVho in his loue thereby doth vs protect,
From al those vnseene ills that on vs creepe,
And by the same his honor safe doth keepe.
But iealousie conceau'd through cause vniust,
Evil Iealou [...]
Be it in VVeddlocke, Freindshippe, or where not,
Makes Loue a Languishment; for false mistrust
Is not by God, but by his Foe begott,
Which Loue with Lust doth evermore besott:
Hence come the Quarrells twixt the mari'd Paires,
When they through iealousie are overshott,
This makes Affraies too oft of great Affaires,
Quarrells raised through Suspitiō causlesse.
Iealousy, what.
And ruynes that which loyal Love repaires.
The fell disturber of Loves sweete repose,
Copesmate of Care, tormenter of the Minde,
The Canker of faire Venus sweetest Rose,
The Racke that over-racks the over-kinde,
The over-watchful Eye of Loue stil blinde:
The Hart of Caution wherein ay are bredd
The vital Sp'rites of Arte to State assign'd;
Soule of Regard, alive when it seemes deade,
All this is Iealousie that holds the Heade.
The Caucasus whereto Loues Hart is bound,
Prov. 6.34.
The Vulture which the thoughts thereof devoures,
The Primum mobile which turneth round
The Braine, which to the rest vnrest procures,
A Sore which nought, that's good for ought, recures,
That's Mummy made of the meere Hart of Love,
A temp'rall Hell, whose torment still eudures,
The Pennaunce of Mistrust, which Lovers proue,
All this is Iealousie which I reprove.
And now to ende (where we should haue begunne
When we began to touch corrupt Affects)
With Pride, because from her al Vice doth runne
Ecles. 10.14.19.
(As from the Fountaine) which the Soule infects;Which may be thus describ'd by her effects:
A swelling of the Hart which doth proceede
Pride what.
From Selfe-conceite, that gainst the Soule reflects,And showes more glorious then it is indeede,
Which makes vs thinke our gifts al mens exceede.
The proude person hates pride in all but in himself.
THis Prodigie, this more then mounstrous Pride,This Soules envenomn'd Botch, This Sourse of Sinne,
Can nothing lesse thē hir owne selfe abide,
When shee doth see her selfe another in:
If shee her selfe doth hate, what can shee wynne
But hate of all, that see her as shee is?
Still loth'd may shee be, for had shee not byn,
We stil had liv'd in earthly Heavens blisse,
And Lucifer held heav'nly Paradis.
Sith Man was made a creature sociable,
And that his liues-ioy should therein consist,
What vice in man is more detestable,
Then that which doth this ioy of life resist?
For Pride, as if shee were with nature blist
Pride holdes all in scorne but her selfe.
That farre surmounted more then half-divine,Scornes al Humanity; if so, what ist
On Earth that shee thinks (be'ng so superfine)
Worthie to suite her, but alone to reigne?
Shee (swelling Toade) lookes with disdainful Eyes
If Humility be the mother of true piety, what is Pride, her contrary?
On highest things that are sublunarie,And (Lunatick) aboue the Moone doth rise
In minde, though she mindes nought but villany,
[Page 201]So to aspire to highest Dignitie:
Therefore the most prowde are most ignorant
Of wisedomes hid in blest Theologie,
Because they meerely minde things miscreant,
As earthly pompe, and port extravagant.
If not impossible, yet hard it is,
For the most learn'd and lowly wel to know
Themselues in ev'ry part, and not to misse;
Then sith the Prowd doe never looke so low,
That skil nere comes but with their overthrow:
The proud are taught to know themselues by their proper overthrow.
For they by nature are most prone to pride
That know all but themselues; and yet doe show
They know themselues too wel, for, nought beside
They loue; which loue, that knowledge doth misguid.
For who so lookes with vvell-descerning eies
(If he be mortal, be he what he wil)
Into him selfe, he wil him selfe despise;
For in him selfe he findeth nought but ill,
He that know [...] himselfe best esteemes himselfe least.
Corrupting Soule and Body, Minde, and VVill:
The best shall finde but matter too too bad
To humble them, and so to keepe them still;
The worst shal see ynough to make them mad,
Seeing themselues through Ill, so ill-bestad.
Al vnder Heav'n mans pride hath made so vile,
So fraile, so ful of sorrow and vexation,
All vnder the Sunne is vanity and vexation of Spirit. Eccles. 1.
That should a Man possesse al, yet the while
He should possesse but temporall damnation;
And with it likely divine indignation.
Can Men be prowde then, of an earthly hell,
Affording nought but griefe and molestation?
Or can their harts with Pride and Sorrow swell
When one puffes vp, the other downe doth quel?
Proude men are senselesse in the strictest sense.
If so they can, it is for want of senseTo feele the griefes that are most sensible;
And senselesse Soules haue no preheminence
Of humane Nature; nor extensible
To brutish, which is not insensible:
Then what are proud Soules by this iust accounte
But either deade, or comprehensible
In that of Plants; which from Earth cannot mount,
But that a worthlesse VVren may them surmount.
The Eyes that Sunne-bright Robes, or smoke of praise
Doe dimme, are feeble-sighted, and such Eyes
Cannot themselues as high as Heaven raise,
Nor pierce to Hell which in their Owner
The proude haue Hell with the Prince thereof abiding in their hartes.
lies:For if they would or could in any wise,
Pride could not possibly surprise their Hart,
For Heav'n they would admire, and Hell despise,
And from that Hell they would their Eyes convert [...]
To highest Heav'n, and from it nere divert.
Simil.
But as the Toade to venome turnes her foode(How pure so ere it be) shee feedeth on:
So Pride turnes Vertue to her venom'd moode,
Then which no prid's more neere Damnation;
Spirituall pride God doth most detest.
For sp'ritual pride God hates as he doth none:Which pride is Luciferian, and the fall
Of those, whose Soules are with it over gon,
Shal be like Lucifers, for no one shall
Over-weening, an odious Vice.
Be sav'd that weenes his vertue passeth all.Pride is a winde that makes the Soule to swell,
And without Issue it the same wil rend:
Therefore the proude their owne perfections tell;
Yea, onely tell of what them most commend,
Which if they misse, or others praised more,
Out goth that wind, (which they with thūdrings sēd)
Against al those that are preferr'd before,
And as distracted, raile, and rave, and rore.
Doth Pride a Tenent hold, it must be so,
Although it cutt the Throate of Reason quite;
The proude obstinate in their opiniō.
All her opinions can abide no No:
And though them to defend shee hath no might,
Yet to defend them shee wil rage and fight:
No time, no truth, nor no authoritie,
Shal putt Pride, if shee wrong be, in the right;
For shee desires to haue the masterie
In al, that al may give her dignitie.
Nothing so much shee dreades, as to be deem'd
Any's inferior in any thing;
This makes her loth to learne, sith shee hath seem'd
To know much more then al, by her learning:
She
Reproofs do enrage the proud, though for their good bestowed.
scornes reproofes that information bring;Her Vices shee wil haue for Vertues tane,
Or like a Serpent shee wil hisse and sting,
Blaspheme and what not, for shee's most profane,
And if shee can, be her impugners bane.
The frendshippe is as dang'rous as vnsure,
Where
The proude mā, the drūckard and the Coward are nought to make f [...]ends of; the proud will scorne thee if he out start thee in fortunes, the drūkard wil in wine bewray thy secrts, for what is in the ha [...]t of the sober, is in the tongue of a drunkard, & the Coward dares not speake one word in defence of thy reputation though hee heare it slanderously depraved.
Pride hath any place in any frend,Pride wil the downfall of a friend procure
If by such fall the proude friende may ascend,
For al his frenshippe to himselfe doth tend;
Comes good from him, to him must goe the praise,
As if good in him did begin and end;
So robbes God of his glorie many waies,
And faine aboue his God himselfe would raise.
If he with fained modestie doth vaile
His height of Pride, and doth himselfe dispraise,
Tis but the higher to advance the Saile
Of swelling Pride, which he to Cloudes doth raise,
Nay thūder-cracks the Clouds, that clouds his praise:
The highest Heau'ns (he weenes,) must giue it way
Vnto the Throne where perfect glorie staies,
Sith the Earth cannot hould her, Hell must and can.
And there sitt cheeke by Iowle with Glorie ay;This, Pride desires, and those that her obay.
If shee associate Learning, shee wil leade
That Heav'nly Lady into Hellish waies;
Then shee misledd, each Soule must needes misleade
That on her seeming-wel-stai'd Iudgment staies;
Pride the Fountaine of all Heresies.
Hence spring al Heresies; which Pride doth raise:For lett a Scholer famous for his skill
Maintaine dam'd Error, he for peevish praise
Wil ransacke Bookes and Braines to do it still,
Though he thereby his Soule with Millions spill.
For should we harrow al the Soules of those,
The Soules of al the Heades of Heresies,
We shal finde Pride did thereto them dispose,
That they might liue to al
If a man live Soule & Bodie in Hell to all eternities that his name may live in the mouthes of men to all posterities, he hath but an hellish purchase.
PosteritiesIn Mouthes of Men, though but for Blasphemies:
Knowledge puffes vp, and if the dewes of Grace
Swage not the swelling, it so high wil rise,
That Earth nor Heav'n shal hold it in that case,
Till Hell doth take it downe and it embrace.
The knowledge of the Best consists in
Each man seemes to know more then he doth.
show,This Man is wise compar'd with one more fond;
Yet this great wise man nothing lesse doth know
Then he would seeme to know, and vnderstand:
[Page 205]Suffizeth him he beares the VVorld in hand
That he is wise and learned; Nothing lesse:
But wise in this, that can Mens thoughts command
To thinke him wise, when should he truth confesse,
His wisedome were but wel-cloakt foolishnesse.
Latine and Greeke are but Tongues naturall,
Which helpe, but not su [...]fise to make men wise;
For the effect of speech is al in all,
Eccl. 39.1. [...].3
Sound Sentence, which from wise Collections riseOf diverse Doctrines, which VVitt wel applies:
Then he that hath but Tongues (though all that are)
Not the tongs but the matter contained in thē make men learned.
And not the wisdomes which those Tongues cōprise,
May amongst fooles be held a Doctor rare,
But with the wise al Tongue, and nothing spare.
Giue me the Man that knowes more then a Man,
Yet thinkes he knoweth no more then a Beast:
Giue me him (quoth I) where is
Wee may light a Torch at none day & seeke such a one among a multitude & yet misle to finde him.
he? and who canGive me that Gifte, sith such are al diceast,
Or if they bee, not to be found at least?
Sage Socrates is deade, and with him gon
His Pupills that knew more then al the rest,
Yet thought they knew farre lesse then ev'ry one,
But now al seeme to know, yet know doth none.
O! had a man al learning in his braine,
And were to heare or see the wondrous VVritt
Of some deepe Doctors, he should track them plaine
From place to place where they haue borrowed it,
And nought their owne (perhaps) but what's vnfitt:
Yet as if all were theirs, they are admir'd,
As if wisdome and learning were buried in them.
For they haue the name of wisedome, but there be but few that haue the knowledg of her Ec. 6.22.
As if their Sculls ensconst al skill and VVitt,
Or with some sacred furie were inspir'd,
When as (God wott) their VVitt is al-bemir'd.
Wee shall bee modest if wee take not that vpon vs which we haue not, and brag not of that which we haue.
Yet all take on, as if all were their owne,So tis, all thinke, or few know otherwise,
Which few perhaps as well as they haue stolne,
(Borrow'd I would say) but yet they are wise
Not to detect each others pilferies:
The greatest skill these present times affoord
Is others
If any where I haue followed our newe learning and Time in their fashion, Time and Learning ought the more to favor me, cōsidering how little I am beholding to them both
sayings cleanely to compriseIn ours: so that it be not word for word,
Which wit with moderne wisedome doth accorde.
But say a Man knew al, that Man can know,
Yet doth the
The Divels knowledge far exceedes mans.
Divell know more then that Man;What cause of pride then can it be to show
Lesse knowledge and more pride then dam'd Sathan,
Who hath obseru'd all since the VVorld began;
Nor doe the Elementes repugnance marre
His wits; for he of Aire consists, and can
Command the same: But in
The warr of the Elements in man mars his wit.
Man so they warreThat he is taken Follies Prisoner.
Who knowes nought in the Cause but in th'effect;
The Divels knowledge to the cause extends,
Who enters Natures Brest, and doth select
All secrets of the same, to secret endes:
For he th'Abysse of Causes darke descendes,
The Divel can looke into all the hiddē causes of nature.
And with his Owles-eies (that see best in darke)Those Causes to the Causer comprehendes,
And how they are togither linckt, doth marke;
Yet is lesse prowde of this, then some meane Clarke.
Yet he can wonders worke amusing all,
For having view'd the forces of all thinges,
How the Divell workes wonders.
VVhether celestiall or terrestriall,And with most curious search their true workings,
[Page 207]Their forces he with sleight togither brings,
And actiue to their passiue powres doth binde,
Yea one another so togither minges,
That it brings foorth (by sympathie of kinde)
VVonders surmounting all conceite of minde.
No one excels him (but that Three in One)
In wondrous workes, which may amaze the wise;
But that same onely-wise Trin-vnion
Workes Miracles, wherein all wonder lies;
For Miracles aboue all VVonders rise,
The Divels wonders are Mira, non Miracula.
Sith they are truely supernaturall;
But VVonders he to Natures Secrets ties:
Then wonders simplie are but naturall,
But Miracles meere Metaphysicall.
But be it that some
Elixer-makers, a golden yet beggarly corporation [...] for they are as poore as a Poet.
Begger can extractBy distillation or some other meane
The Quintessence of any thing; That Acte
Suffiseth him to be as prowde as meane:
And though the starueling be as lewd as leane,
Yet thinkes he Kings should feede and make him fat,
Nay, doe him homage: O base Thing vncleane!
Canst thou for this, thinke thou deservest that?
Or can a
The skill i [...] Earthly and earth is the basest of Elements.
skill so base, thee so inflate?What Brest coulde bound thy Heart then, if thou couldst
Make the Elixer, which so many marre?
It's past most probable [...], that then thou wouldst
Seeke to be Deifide, or els turne starre,
That Dull-heades might adore thee from afarre:
It is a
Because it tēds to the attainment of riches, which in this worlde are of most estimation.
skill indeede of rich esteeme,And worthy of the rar'st Philosopher,
But could one doe the same, as many seeme,
Yet no great wise one he himselfe should deeme.
For al his wits to this should be restrain'd
(Sith to worke wonders the whole-man requires)
And though at length (perhaps) he it attain'd,
Yet should he bee to seeke that VVit desires,
In other matters, then these feates by fires.
Sage Salomon, whose wisedome wonder wan,
Knew al in all, which all in one admires,
Eccles. 1.
Yet knew that all was vaine, and he a manVainer then Vanitie, that nothing can.
Our knowledge is so slender, and so fraile,
That the least pride cannot depend thereon;
Pride breaks our Cōnings necke, which oft doth faile
To hold aright the nature of one Stone,
Much lesse to know the kindes of ev'ry one.
Compare the All we know, with the least part
Of that we know not, wee shall see, alone
God only and alone is wise.
That God is wise: And men are voide of Art,And blinde in wit and will, in Minde, and Hart.
Be he a Pleader, and a wordie Man
(Whose VVinde the true Elixer is; for it
The Aire to Aurum transmute lightly can)
Sōe lawyers sell both their silence and speech.
Immoderate desire of having, & honor be enemies, & can hold no cōgruency in one man togither.
If it be an in [...]allible token of health, whē the Physitions be poore, thē is it a true sign of contention (a states disease) when Lawyers bee rich.
If once he gets a name for law-ful wit,
Hee thinkes high pride for him alone is fit:
Convoies of Angels, then must help the most
Vnto his speech; for he makes benefit
Of ev'ry word; for not one shal be lost,
Or if it be, the next shall quit that cost.
Vp goe his Babell-Towres of Pompe and Pride,
That to the High'st he may next neighbour be;
No neighbour neeres him, his grounds are so wide,
Then not a Nod without a treble fee,
[Page 209]An Angell (though most bright) he cannot see:
Verie manie laws are notes of a corrupte Cōmon weale Tacit.
And yet to know the Law, is but to know
How Men should liue, and without Law agree:
Which, Reason to the simplest Soule doth show;
Then pride is farre too high, for skill so low.
But though the Lawyer liues by others losse,
And hath no place in Platoes Common-weale,
Yet if he will not
Cato in R [...]me forbad al to be called to the Barre that were found eloquēt in a bad cause
crosse Law, for the crosseThat no Man hates, but all doe loue to feele;
Hee's worthy of the
Money. The duty of Lawes and Lawyers.
Crosse sweete Comforts Seale:For Lawyers ought (like Lawes) to make Men good,
And who are in the wronge, or Right, reveale:
Then are they worthy of al liuelyhood,
That make men liue in perfect Brotherhood.
But, that a Petti-fogging prating patch,
That gropes the
Petty-foggers the grād disturbers of good mens quiet.
Law for nothing but for Galles,Should be so prowde as if he had no match,
For tossing Lawes as they were Tennis-Bals,
This vexeth God and Good-men at the Galles:
Yet such there are, (too many such there are,)
Who are the Seedes-men of Litigious Bralls:
And are so prowde that by the Lawes they dare
Contend with Crassus, though they nought cāspare.
I graunt the Law to bee an holy thing,
Worthy of reverence and all regard;
But the abuse of
If hee ought to be punished which offereth to corrupt a Iudge with guiftes, howe much more ought he which goeth about to blind his iudgmēt wi [...]h lies, or eloquence: because a vertuous Iudge wil not be corrupted with the first, but he may be deceived by the last.
Law (and so of King)By such as will abuse both for reward,
Is dam'd; hard tearme! yet that course is more hard:
Can such finde patrones, such course to protect?
They can and doe, but would they might be barr'd
From Barres, or that ore Barres they might be peckt,
El [...] at Barres with as hard a doome be checkt.
Hinc ille Lachrymae! ô griefe of griefes!
My Muse be mute, defile not thine owne Nest:
O let the longest Largs be shortest Briefes
In this discordant Note, and turne the VVrest;
So that this
Pride in whō so ere is notable. for she wil be seene, being still overseene.
Note by thee bee nere exprest:Canst thou my Muse? canst thou my cruel Muse
Make Men, the Muses Minions detest?
Forbeare, forbeare thy Soules loue to abuse,
Or touch that tenderly which thou dost vse.
Ist possible a Poet should bee proude,
That for the most part is past passing poore?
That can paint Vice with & without a Cloude,
And be'ng most vgly, make her vgly more,
Can he be proude? & only
Proud of a conning invectiue against pride.
proude therfore!It cannot be in sense, and Poets are
Sense-masters subtilized by their Lore;
Yet tis too true that scarse one Poet rare
Is free frō Pride, though Back be leane as bare.
Poetry no skil humane.
I cannot but confesse the Skill's divine;For, holy Raptures must the Head entrance,
Before the Hand can draw one lasting Line,
That can the glory of the Muse advance;
And sacred Furies with the thoughts must dance,
To leade them Measures of a stately kinde,
Or iocond Gigges: Then, if Pride with them prance
Shee wil be foremost, then shame comes behinde,
Both which disgrace the motions of the minde.
Wilt thou be lofty Muse? then scale the Mount
Where Ioues high-Alter
On the topp of Olimpus at the foote whereof runs Helicon.
stands; and on the sameOffer thou lowly, that which doth surmount
The reach of Vulgars, in no vulgar Flame:
In lowest depth of high'st humilitie;
Humility is the surest foundation for the highest glory.
Humility that can advance thy name
To highest height of immortalitie,
Embosom'd by diuinest Dëitie.
Art great with yonge with numbers infinite
The least of which hath pow'r to peirce the Skie?
Yet lowly be, that the wombe of thy VVitt
That rare Conception may yeeld readilie,
Their mother so to glad and glorifie;
Thou art from Heav'n my Muse, thē be thou such,
As Heau'nly be, ful of humilitie;
Is thy skill much? be meeke then more thē much,
Humility doth best become the highest knowledge.
Extreame precisenes or affectation in words & stile doth quench the heate of our invention and bridleth the freedome of our witts. Wee must vse words as wee vse Coyne, that is, those that be cōmon and currant; It is dāgerous to coine without priviledg.
For Pride's most dam'd, that heav'nly thinges doth touch.
Plunge thee ore head and eares in Helicon,
Dyue to the Bottome of that famous Fludd,
Although it were as deepe as Acheron,
Thēce make thy fame vp-dive although withstood
With weeds of Ignorance, & Envies Mudd:
But though thy fame faire Sol should equalize
For height and glorie, yet let al thy good
Consist in that, If thou woul'st thou could'st rise,
But lou'st bum-basted mountings to dispise.
Yet let me giue this
Poesie is the Caesar of Speech.
Caesar but his due(Caesar of speech that monarchizeth Eares)
Sweete Poesie, that can al Soules subdue,
To Passions, causing ioy or forcing Teares,
And to it selfe each glorious sp'rite endeeres:
It is a speech of most maiestike state,
As by a wel-pen'd Poëm wel appeeres;
Poesie more perdurable then Pros [...].
Thē Prose, more cleanely coucht & dilicate,
And if wel done, shal liue a longer Date.
For, it doth flow more fluent frō the Tonge,
In which respect it wel may tearmed be,
(Having a Cadence musicall among)
A speech melodious ful of harmonee,
Or Eare-enchanting matchlesse melodee:
Succinct it is, and easier to retaine
(Sith with our
Some Philosophers supposed our soules to be musicke, some others Number.
sp'rits it better doth agree)Then, that which tedious ambage doth containe,
Albe't the VVitt therein did more then raigne.
Its deckt with Coulors fresh, and figures fine,
Which doth the Iudgment ay inveagle so
(Making the Eare to it of force incline)
That
Poesie inveagles [...]he iudgment to assent to her assertion [...].
Iudgment often doth her selfe forgoe,And like VVaxe, bends Opinion to and fro;
In Prose the speech is not so voluble,
Because the Tongue in numbers doth not flo,
Ne yet the accent halfe so tunable,
Then, to our spirites much lesse sutable.
And, for its ofter vs'd, it cloies the Eare
Be'ng not contriv'd with Measures musicall,
And not alow'd that beauty Verse doth beare,
Nor yet the Cadence so harmonicall,
Much lesse the
Relifh, and double-relish words of arte incident to the Soule-inchāting Arte of musicke.
relish so Angelicall:Its not adorn'd with choise of such sweete VVordes
(VVords that haue pow'r to sweeten bitter'st Gall)
Nor licence't that fine Phrase, Arte Verse affords,
Which makes huge Depthes, oft times, of shallow Foorde [...] [...]
Therfore the Poets from the VVorlds first Age,
As best persuaders, whose sweete Eloquence
(They playing best partes on this Earthly Stage)
Was the first retorick borne of Sapience,
Herehence it came that divine Oracles
(Apollos speech of highest excellence)
Were stil exprest in measur'd Syllables,
The voice of VVisdomes truest Vocables.
In which respect, t'was meet'st to make Records
Of memorable Accidents of Time,
Of Princes liues and actions of great Lordes,
Which Poets first did Chronicle in Rime;
And farre aboue Chronography did clyme:
For they were first of al that did observe
(Though Poets now are neither flush nor Prime)
The workes of Nature for Mans vse to serve,
But now gainst Nature their works make thē
They give those mē fame that recompence them with famine.
sterve.They searcht the causes of things generable,
VVith their effects and distinct properties;
And made them (by their skill) demonstrable,
Mounting from thence vnto the loftie skies,
To note their motions and what in them lies:
They first did finde the Heav'ns plurality,
Poets [...]irst found the distinctiō of the Spheares.
And how they did each other so comprise
That in their motion they made melody,
Caus'd by their closnesse and obduracy.
Yea, sought to finde each substance seperate,
And in their search they were most curious
Of divine Essenses to know the state,
VVhich having found [...] were most laborious
Them to expresse in Poems precious:
They were therefore the first Astronomers [...]
Poets were the first Astronomers Metaphisicks, and Philosophers.
(That travell'd through the Heau'ns from house to house)
First Metaphisicks and Philosophers,
Vnfolding Heav'n & Earth, Sun, Moone, & Starre [...].
Thus much for Poets, and sweete Poesie,
In whose praise never can be said too much:
Yet Pride their praise may blemish vtterly,
For she defiles like pitch what she doth tuch:
And maks both heau'n & earth at it to grutch:
For no Perfection can be toucht with pride
But it wil looke as if it vvere not such,
Deform'd in fauour, which none can abide;
For Grace is base being thus double dide.
But that which grates my Galle, and mads my Muse,
Is (ah that ever such iust cause should Bee)
The stewe [...] once stoode where now Play-houses stand.
To see a Player at the put-downe stewesPut vp his Peacockes Taile for al to see,
And for his hellish voice, as prowde as hee;
The Peacock.
What Peacocke art thou prowd? Wherfore? becauseThou Parrat-like canst speake what is taught thee:
A Poet must teach thee from clause to clause,
Or thou wilt breake Pronunciations Lawes.
Lies al thy vertue in thy Tongue stil taught,
And yet art prowd? alas poore skum of pride!
Peacocke, looke to thy legs and be not haught,
No patience can least pride in thee abide;
Neither delighteth he in any mās legs. Psal. 147.10.
Looke not vpon thy Legs from side to sideTo make thee prowder, though in Buskine fine,
Or silke in graine the same be beautifide;
For Painters though they haue no skil divine,
Can make as faire a legge, or limbe as thine.
Good God! that euer pride should stoope so low,
That is by nature so exceeding hie:
Base pride, didst thou thy selfe, or others know,
Wouldst thou in harts of Apish Actors lie,
[Page 215]That for a
Reproofes wher they are wel deserved, must bee well pa [...]ed.
Cue wil sel their Qualitie?Yet they through thy perswasion (being strong)
Doe vveene they merit immortality,
Onely because (forsooth) they vse their
Meant of those that haue nothing to commende them but affected acting, & offensiue mouthing.
Tongue,To speake as they are taught, or right or wronge.
If pride ascende the stage (ô base ascent)
Al men may see her, for nought comes thereon
But to be seene, and where Vice should be shent,
Yea, made most odious to ev'ry one,
In blazing her by demonstration
Then pride that is more then most vicious,
Should there endure open damnation,
And so shee doth, for shee's most odious
In Men most base, that are ambitious.
Players, I loue yee, and your Qualitie,
As ye are Men, that pass time not abus'd:
And
W. S. R B.
some I loue for Simonides saith, that painting is a dumb Poesy, & Poesy [...] a speaking painting.
painting, poesie,And say fell Fortune cannot be excus'd,
That hath for better vses you refus'd:
VVit, Courage, good-shape, good partes, and all good,
As long as al these goods are no worse vs'd,
And though the stage doth staine pure gent [...]e bloud,
Yet
Roscius wa [...] said for his excellēcy in his quality, to be only worthie to come on the stage, and for his honesty to be more worthy thē to come theron.
generous yee are in minde and moode.Your Qualitie, as fa [...]e as it reproues
The VVorld of Vice, and grosse incongruence
Is good; and good, the good by nature loues,
As
[...]her is good vse of plaies & pastimes in a Cōmō-weale for thereby those that are most vncivill, p [...]one to moue war and dissention, are by these recreations accustomed to loue peace & ease. Tac 14. An. Ca 6.
recreating in and outward sense;And so deserving praise and recompence:
But if pride (otherwise then morally)
Be acted by you, you doe all incense
To morta [...]l hate; if all ha [...]e mortally,
Princes, much more Players they vilifie.
But Pride hath skil to vvorke on baser Skils,
For each Bagg-piper, if expert he be,
Pride fils his Soule, as he his Bag-pipe fils,
For he supposeth he and none but hee
Should be advanc'd; For what? For Rogueree.
Hee can repine, and say that men of
Though these words be vnfit [...]or his mouth yet he fits his mouth to these words
partesAre not esteem'd; Goe base Drone, durtie Bee,
Rest thou in dung, too good for thy deserts;
For durt to durt should goe, and praise to Artes.
Though no man can more willingly commende
The Soule-reioycing sound of Musickes voice,
Faire figure of that blisse that nere shall end,
Which makes our sorrowing Soules (like it) reioice;
The ende of Artes giues thē their true valuation.
Yet at the best its but a pleasure choiseTo make vs game, vvhen wee are vvoe-begon;
It is too light graue Artes to counterpoise,
Then no cause is there to bee prowde thereon
Albe't thou wert as good as Amphion.
Pride, vvilt thou still be subiect to my Muse?
Be subiect to her stil, and so to me:
But now shee should (if shee did well) refuse
Longer to haue to doe vvith cursed Thee;
For shee hath found thee in the low'st degree,
The Hangman sav'd, whose ba [...]esse doth surpasse:
Yet he of London, that detested He
Gentlemen should hate Pride [...]owe, sith she is become the Hāgmās loue.
(Whose hart is made of Flint, and face of Brasse)Of decollation brags, but let that passe.
Then pride farewel, base beastly pride farewel,
Or fa [...]e farre worse, then ill in worst degree,
Sith thou scorn'st not in such an hart to dwell,
That by the fruit liues of the Gallow tree:
[Page 217]Who wil not scorne now to be toucht by thee?
Sincke to Earthes Bowels from her burd'ned Brest,
(For on the Earth thou canst no lower bee)
Sith Hell's thy Spheare wher thou should'st ever rest,
Hell, the home of Pride.
For, on the Earth thou mov'st but to vnrest.
Thus having past these Passions of the Soule,
That are as founts from whence the lesser flow;
We are arrived (through faire waies and fowle)
Vnto the third VVombe situate below
The third wombe.
The Midrife; where the growing pow'r doth grow:
But for it is so farre remov'd from thence
From whence the Soule doth her arch-wonders show,
(Namely the Seate of the Intelligence)
Wee'l balke the same for its impertinence.
Referring it vnto Anatomists,
Who marke each Mortesse of the Bodies frame,
The Pynns, the Tenons, Beams, Bolts, VVindings, Iists,
All which they marke when they doe it vnframe:
To these Crafts-masters, I referre the same;
Suffizeth me to looke with my right
Of mine vnderstanding.
Eye(Though it dimme sighted be and so to blame)
Into the Seate of each soules facultie,
Fixt to VVitts wonder-working Ingeny.
Yet as I could I haue the Soule exprest,
If not with proper Coulors, yet with such
As doe distinguish her kinde from the rest,
Which Kind, by kind, in Beasts & Plants doth couch:
But to paint her in each least part were much;
Philosophers haue beene to
All Philosophers have erred touching the Soule.
seeke heerein,Although they sought but sleightly her to touch,
And haue through Error much abused bin,
VVhen her faire Picture they did but begin.
Crates.
For Crates said, there is no Soule at all,But that by Nature, Bodies moued be:
Hippa [...]ch [...]s & Leucippus.
Hipparchus, and Leucippus, Fire it call,With whom (in sort) the Stöickes doe agree:
A firie Sp'rite betweene the Atomee
Democritus.
Democritus wil haue it: and the AireDiogenes.
Some say it is: the Barrell'd Cynick, heeAnd with him others of another haire,
Doe thus depaint the soule, and file her faire.
The soule (say they) is Aire, the Mouth takes in,
Boil'd in the Lights, and temp'red in the Hart,
And so the body it throughout doth rin;
This is the soule (forsooth) made by their Art.
Hippias.
Hippias would haue it water, all or part:Heliodorus.
Heliodorus held it earth confixt;And Epicurus said it was a ( )
Namely, a Sp'rite of Fire and Aire commixt:
And Zenophontes, earth and water mixt.
A diametrical repugnancie of opinions, amōg the Philosophers touching the soul.
Thus (simple Soules!) they make the simple soule fowle,Of simple Elements, or els compound:
Meane-while they make her (most faire creature)
And dimme her glorie which is most renownd,
Through mists of Ignorance, which them surround.
Others, of other substaunce weene it is,
Critias.
For Critias with bloud doth it confound,Hippocrates
Hippocrates (that went as wide as this)Said twas a thin sprite spred through our Bodis.
Some, Flesh would haue it with the senses vse;
Some the complexion of the Elements:
Galen.
And Galen doth not much the same refuse,For to an hot Complexion he assents,
[Page 219]For so's the soule (saith he) and not repents:
Not that Complexion, (some say) but abides
In some point of it; and those Continents
They hold the Hart, or Braine, where it resides
As Queene enthron'd, and all the body guides.
Some Light would haue it, as Heraclitus;
Heraclitus.
Others, some thing tide to no certaine place,
But wholy present in each part of vs;
Which, whether sprong frō the Complexions grace,
Or made by God, yet they weene cleer's the case,
From Natures lap the same of force must fall.
Some others said a Quintessence it was:
Some, an vnquiet Nature moving all:
A number, some, that it selfe moues, it call.
The Caldees say it is a formelesse Force,
Which nerthelesse al forms doth apprehēd;
And Aristotle doth him selfe inforce
Aristotle.
To make the same vpon the Corpes depend;
For these his words do sort out to that end:
It is (saith he) an high perfection
Of bodie, that lifes powre doth comprehende,
Which vnderstanding giues it, sense, & motion;
This in effect is his description.
Plato (surnam'd divine) affirm'd, it is
Plato.
A divine substance which it selfe doth moue,
Indu'd with vnderstanding. He doth misse
Lesse then the rest, though Truth doth all reproue:
And Senec saith the soule is farre aboue
Seneca
The knowledge of the most intelligent;
Which speech of his Lactantius doth approue,
Thus doe they all about the soule dissent,
Aswell for substance, as where resident.
Hippocrates.
For in the braines Hippocrates it puts,Strato.
And Strato, in the space betweene the eies;Diogenes.
In the harts hollow veine the Dog it shuts,That alwaies in a Tub enkenell'd lies:
Stoickes.
The Stoicks say, the Hart doth it comprise:Democritus.
In al the body, saith Democritus:In al the brest, say others as vnwise:
Hierophilus.
In the braines ventricles, saith Hierophilus:Thus al in al were most erronious.
Empedocles.
Empedocles in bloud the [...]ame doth bound:Galen.
Galen would haue each limb a soule to haue:Renowned Galen, how wast thou renown'd,
That didst thy selfe so foolishly behaue!
Thus for the place they with each other straue,
And for the soules continuance no lesse.
Epicures.
The Epicure the bodie makes her Graue,And dies and lies with it. But some confesse
Shee's capable of everlastingnesse.
Pythagoras.
Pythagoras, by transmigrationWil haue it everlasting, or at least
As long as beasts shal haue creation;
Man is the Horizō between Angels and Beasts [...] as far from Beasts as Angels.
For it doth passe (saith he) from Mā to beast:What Foole could more ridiculously iest?
Yet he disciples had, and not a few,
That this grosse doctrine did with ease disgest;
Therefore no Beasts, these more beasts, euer slue
Sith they their frēds souls held, for ought they knew.
The Stoickes, held the meane tvvixt Epicures
And Pythagoreans: for that soule (they say)
That's vicious, vvhilst the body it immures,
Doth die, and vvith the bodie quite decaie:
[Page 221]But if it vertuous be, it liueth aie:
Some partes of it (as Aristotle holdes)
Aristotle.
That haue seates corp'ral, with them fal avvay:
But vnderstanding vvhich no Organ holdes,
(As free from filth) AEternitie infoldes.
Thus for their ending or continuance
Do they contend; & no lesse Christiās striue
Christians differ touching the soules beginning.
For their beginning: some, the same advance
To heav'n, and say they there did ever liue
Since Angels fel. And other some beleeue
That one soule doth another propagate:
Some others, their commencement do deriue
From time that first the Angels were create,
Which sacred Austine doth insinuate.
Others there be, who constantly affirme
That soules created are from day to day,
Thomas Aquinas his opinion touching the soules beginning.
Which he of Aquine boldly doth confirme:
For sith the soule doth forme the bodies clay,
It with the bodie must be made, they say.
Whereto agrees each moderne Schoole-divine:
So that these Men doe from each other stray
Touching the soules birth, which they mis-assigne,
"For they speake ill that cannot wel define.
And Epicures the same doe mortal make:
The Pythagoreans it doe transmigrate;
Some say, the heavens do the same retake:
Diverse opinions concerning the souls continuance.
Some put it into hell, in endlesse date:
Others would haue it earth perambulate.
Some say there's but one vniversal soule,
Whereof particulars participate;
Which saying Plato doth not much cōtrole;
Plato.
But that he would haue either to liue sole.
Some, make each Man two distinct soules to haue,
The Intellective, and the Sensitive,
And that the Sensitiue the parents gave,
But the Creator the Intellective:
Others, the soule doe of the same deprive,
Some make two distinct things of the Soule and vnderstanding.
For they the soule and Vnderstanding part.Some make no difference, but doe beleeue
The Vnderstanding is the chiefest part;
Thus in Conceite they from each other start.
Some suppose that humane soules are portions of the divine nature.
Some, held opiniō Soules are bred in Heav'n,And of the divine Nature portions are,
Deckt with al vertue, by that Nature giv'n,
Togeather with al skill & knowledge cleare,
Which in that nature ever doe appeare:
From whence they did descend to animate
Mens bodies, which by nature filthie were;
Which did those pure Soules so cotaminate,
That they those Skills & vertues quite forgat.
So that they could not vse thē further foorth
Then they were taught, which made thē to suppose
That what skill, vertue, or what other woorth
Our minds do remember Sciences, not learne them. Plato.
The Soule bewrai'd, was but a minding thoseIt had in Heav'n, and so knowes al it knoes:
So that the portions of the divine fire
Be'ng wel neere quēcht by Blood, which thē orefloes,
Must be rekindled and made to aspire
By Doctrine, which the spirit doth desire.
Wheron they do cōclude, that sith the soule
By entring in the Body most vncleane
Is made prodigious, and extreamely fowle,
To Heav'n cānot
Truth it selfe faith, no vncleane thing can enter into the heavens. Galat. 5.21.
returne be'ng so obscene,And decked with the rights of her Birth-right,
Which to regaine, Instruction is the meane:
Or from the Body being parted quight,
They may be purg'd, some saie, though most vnright.
Now, when we ballance al these Arguments
In the sincere Scales of the Sanctuary,
Wee finde them viler then VVitts Excrements,
And lighter then the Skumme of Vanity:
For true it is The Blinde eates many a Fly.
A Proverb.
But that Man hath a Soule, none is so blinde,
But sees her almost with Eyes bodily:
And that shee's endlesse the dymst Eyes of Minde
By Natures dymest light, may lightly finde.
God is a sp'rite, the VVorld a Body is,
God and the world are epitomiz'd in man.
Both which in Man are plaine Epitomiz'd,
Of God hee's Abstract in that soule of his;
And in his Corps the VVorld is close cōpriz'd:
As if the divine VVisedome had devis'd
To bring into a Centers Center all
His greatnesse, that cannot be circuliz'd,
And the huge magnitude of the Earthes Ball;
For Microcosmos men Man fitly call.
Microcosmos.
Who in a Minute can the Earth surround,
And sincke vnto her Center, then ascend
The agilitie, subtilty, and capacity of the Soule.
And cōpasse, with a trice, the Heav'nly Roūd
Yea Heav'n & Earth at once doth cōprehend
Not touching either; But doth apprehend
A thousand places, without shifting place,
And in a moment ascend, and descend
To Heav'n & Hell, & each of them embrace;
It selfe being compast in a little space.
This, Man can doe without the Bodies aide,
Man is said to be man in [...]espect of his humane Soule.
Then must he doe it as a Man he is;And in respect of his soule he is said
To be a Man, for by that Soule of his
And onely by that Soule, he acteth this:
When the Minde is busie the outward Senses be at rest.
Which seeth when the Bodies eyes be clos'd,And when those Eyes bee ope, oft sight doth misse:
It travels whē the Body is repos'd,
And rests whē as the same by Toile's dispos'd.
Th'external senses may loose all their pow'r,
If but the Instruments of them decay,
Yet Life and Reason may continue sure;
But Senses stay not if Life doe not stay,
Life & Sense depend vpon the Soule.
And Life the soule doth stay or beare away:The more the Corpes decaies, so much the more
The soule is strengthned; which sick-men bewray,
Who when their Bodies are most weake and poore,
Their Minds reveale most strength, and riches store.
The Soule is no Quality but a Substāce
Then its a substance and no Qualitee,For Qualities in Substances subsist;
Thē that which makes another thing to Bee,
No Quality can be, but doth consist
In its owne substance, which doth sole exist:
Then sith a man's a man, that is to say
A lyving Creature with right Reason blist,
He hath a soule that forms, & him doth sway,
Else were he but a livelesse Lumpe of Clay.
Which soule is Bodilesse, else could it not
The Soule is of capacity to comprehend Heaven and Earth.
Containe so many Bodies smal and great,By some of which it would be over-shott;
For al this All, were it much more cōpleate,
[Page 225]In it may sit, without place for a Seate.
Yet doth our bodie bound it, which is smal,
But wert a Corps it could not doe that feate;
For that which can containe Heav'n, earth, and all
Which they containe, cannot be corporall.
The more it hath, the more it vvill receiue,
The more it holdes, the more it doth desire,
The more the soule doth the more it may receiue.
The more things bee, it best doth them conceaue,
VVhether they be distinct or els intire;
All which at once may in the Soule retire
Without disturbing or annoying either:
All which t'effect doth such a Soule require,
That infinite had neede be altogither,
The soule is in a sorte infinite.
And in a sort the soule can bee no other.
We may in Minde conceaue anothers Minde;
Then, that which can conceaue things bodylesse
Can be no body (though pure as the winde)
But meerely Sp'rituall, which may haue egresse
Into each Sp'rite, and from thence make regresse,
Without those Sp'rites perceaving of the same:
We may enter into anothers minde with our mind
Then must the substance that makes such accesse
Bee immateriall in deede and name;
The soule therefore is of a sp'rituall frame.
Two formes at once of quite repugnant kinde
No Matter can receaue: but the soule can;
No matter cā hold 2. formes at one instant of contrary kindes.
Black, VVhite, Fire, Frost, Moist, Dry, these place doe finde
Without resistance in the soule of man;
Then soules wee see at Matter nere began:
Nay, sith the lesse with Matter we doe mell,
The lesse flesh the body hath the more wit the soule hath commonly.
The more we vnderstand: it followes than,
That nought can more against the soule rebell
Then matter, which the soule doth hate as Hell.
For, wer't Materiall, whereof ist made?
If of the Elements, how give they sense
That never Life since their creation had?
Much lesse then can they giue Intelligence,
That cannot give Sense that is sēslesse, nor intel [...]igence that is vnintellectual
In whom nor Life nor sense hath residence:A Body's meerely Passive; But the Sp'rite
Is absolutely Active: And from thence
The Bodies Actions doe derive their might,
Or els no Limbe could stirr or wrōg, or right.
And that the soule is an immortall Minde
(Not mortall, like the Body) doth appeere,
That whereas Time in his turnes, vp doth winde
The Bodies substāce, which those turnes doe weare;
The Soule not subiect to Time.
Yet can those motions, the soule nothing steere;But to more staidnesse, they the same doe turne,
And make her more immortall (as it were)
VVho (like the Pow'r divine) can Time adiorne,
Or make it stay, or it quite overturne.
The Time past, present, or to come, are all
(As to the soules sire) present to the soule,
VVhich makes her matterlesse and immortall;
For that which can stay Time, when he doth rowle,
Must be Divine, nought else can Time controule:
Time is the Soules subiect
Then Time is subiect to the soule (wee see)VVhich as his Sov'raigne him doth over-rule,
And though in Time the soule was made to Bee,
Yet shee makes Times turnes to her tunes agree.
The Soules food (Truth) argues shee is immortall like her foode.
Beside, her Food doth her immortall make,For mortall Creatures feede on mortall things,
As Beastes on Grasse, and Beasts mens hunger slake;
But shee doth feede on Truth, which truely bringes
For Truth's as free from al corruption,
As from Tymes Turnes & restlesse alterings,
Thē sith the Soule doth feede on Truth alone,
It needs must be immortall in Reason.
What soule can doubt her immortality,
The doubt of our Soules immortality, prooves their immortality.
But such as is immortal? for that doubt
Doth rise frō Reas'ns discourse ingeniously;
Then if by Reason shee brought that about
That souls are mortal: That soul's not without
The pow'r of Reason: & who hath that pow'r,
Must needs be of that rare Coelestial Route,
Which Iron Teeth of Time cannot devoure:
For Reas'n made Time, and past Time doth endure.
God the Fountaine of Reason.
No Soule humane but covetts stil to Bee,
VVhich could not be if shee but mortal were:
The eternitie past, overwhelmes the Soule as being too great for her capacitie, but that which is to come she can and doth cō ceave.
VVhen shee lookes backe AEternitie to see,
Shee sees she cannot past beginnings beare;
But be'ng begun would faine past Time appeere:
Then how is it that Men are al so faine
If Nature therevnto all doe not steere?
But how ist naturall if it be
Nature made nothing in vaine.
vaine?And vaine it is, if it doe nought obtaine.
If ever thou resolved wer't to dye,
Consider how thy Soule discoursed then:
Coulde shee perswade her selfe that shee must fly
The Soule cā not p [...]ssiblie perswade her selfe that shee is mortall.
(Sith shee was made of nought) to nought agen,
And as Beastes died, so did mortal Men?
Maugre thy soule while shee doth thus discourse,
Shee slipps from al Conclusions, and doth ren
Quite from her selfe by Natures proper force,
To weigh which way she wends, free'd frō her Corse.
The damned Epicurean-Libertine
At Deathes approach, (stirr'd vp by Natures might)
No Athist but would faine dye the death of the righteous.
To Life immortall would his Soule resigne;And in his soule resistlesse reasons fight,
To proue the soule immortal by Birth-right:
Doe what he can his Thoughts to pacifie
Whiles they immortal striue to make his Spright,
He cannot for his soule them satisfie,
But they wil stil beleeve shee cannot die.
If one weake thought say thy soul's but a Blast,
That with thy Breath is vapored to nought;
A stronger thought saith it doth ever last,
For nought can mortal be, that hath that thought:
The Soule is taught by naturall reason, & by the light of nature that shee is immortall.
By Reason thus the soule is inly taught.If wandring thoughts perswade that Soules depend
On that which Nature in the Bodie wrought,
Domestick thoughts against those thoughts contend,
And say, Soules Bodilesse can never end.
They came from God, to him themselues they lift,
They mount as high as they dismounted bee;
Simil.
Ev'n as a Fountaine doth her Current shiftAs high, as it descended, naturallie:
So Soules doe mount to him of whome they Bee.
Beastes know no more but natures partes externe,
But our soules into Natures secrets see;
Nay stay not there, but they thereby doe learne
VVho gaue them sight such secrets [...] to discerne.
Some say the Soule and Bodie are but one,
Because their outward Sense perceaues no more:
They might denie God too by like reason
Because they see him not: yet evermore
[Page 229]They see his deedes, for which we him adore.
Then let the actions of thy soule perswade
The actions of our Soules proue their immortalitie.
Thy thoughts thou hast a soule; & let the lore
Which God in her infus'd, whē he her made,
Teach thee to know that thy soul cānot fade.
The soule consists not by the outward
The Soule is not subiect to the impression of the Senses because she is of an incorporall nature.
sense,But by the soule the outward sense consists:
The outward sense hath no Intelligence,
(VVhich in and by an Instrument subsists)
But as an Instrument sense her assists:
The sense can see a Fort, but if w'inferre,
Men made the same, and it the Foe resists,
This doth surmoūt the outward senses farre,
The Soules discourse surmountes the reach of the outward sense
And doth conclude, our soules aboue thē are.
Our Reason often giues our sense the lye,
Whē sense would misinforme th'Intelligēce:
For sense gaine-saies the Heav'ns pluralitie,
But Reason proues the same by consequence:
Our Reason doth oft correct our erring sense.
The Moone at full hath greatest light saith sense,
But Reason by cleere Demonstration
Doth proue her then to haue least radience:
Then Reason by this illustration
The soule, not sense, makes Her foundation.
The Sunn's one hundred sixtie six times more
The Sunnes magnitude.
Then the Earthes Globe in compasse; but the sense
VVith Tooth and Naile with-stands it evermore,
And saies, (nay sweares) ther's no lesse difference
Then twixt the Center and Circumference:
But Reason by right Rules them both doth meate,
VVhich shee hath made by her experience;
And findes the Sunne (as erst we said) more great
By
Demonstration is the Piller wheron al sciēce depēds.
Demonstration more then most compleate.We by our soules conceaue (as erst was said)
VVisedome and knowledge bee'ng incorporal:
But outvvard sense is altogither stai'd,
On qualities of things meere corporall:
The Soule makes generall rules of many particulers: but se [...]se insists vpon particulers.
The soule, by reason, makes rules generalOf things particuler: but sense doth goe
But to particulers material;
The soule by the effect the cause doth sho,
But sense no more but ba [...]e effectes doth kno.
The true essēce of things is vnknowne; and to man knowne by their accidēts and actions.
The proper essence of things is obscur'd,And by themselues of vs cannot be knowne:
Therefore the knowledge of them is procur'd
By accidents and actions of their owne,
Which to the soule by wits discourse is showne;
Who vnderstādeth his waies? and the storm that no man can see? for the most part of his works are hid Eccle. 16.21.
For, she concludes by Reasons consequents(Though of themselues they meerely are vnknown)
That thus they are; which high experiments
Lie farre aboue the reach of sense ascents.
In them which wil not vnderstand this Truth,
In thē which wil not vnderstand true doctrine ignorance is sinne, and in them which cānot, it is the paine of sinne.
Their ignorance is sinne most pestilent;But they which cannot, (ah the more the ruth)
Their ignorance, of sinne's the punishment:
And who denies a Truth so evident,
Hath neither grace, nor sense; for all may see
The soul's immortal, and divinely bent,
And hath most force when shee from flesh is free,
Which proues her powre and immortalitee.
If soules and bodies then be so distinct,
The soule is free from sin as shee was made by God.
And that the soule, as she of God was made,Is free from sinne, and by her owne instinct
Shee hates that sense that doth to sinne perswade,
[Page 231]How is it then that shee should be so bad?
Sinne deriues her force frō the soule.
For from the soule, sinne doth her force deriue,
Which with her waight the body doth orelade;
To God all things are lawfull that like him, and nothing likes him that is vnlawfull.
Can shee both cause, and yet against sinne striue?
Shee may (quoth All) but few doe it beleeue.
This is a Gulffe that swallowes vp the soule,
And quite confounds her, if shee enters it:
This secret deepe, deepe wisedome did enroule,
In that still-closed booke of secrets, fit
For Her alone to know, not erring wit [...]
Therefore the more presumption we show
In search hereof, the more are we vnfit
A secret so vnknowne as this, to know:
For they know most thereof whose sp'rits are low.
The lesse sobrietie vve vse herein,
The more we
Some certaine things though true are not vttered of God without dāger whō we seem best to knowe when we confesse him and his councels to be incomprehensible.
erre in by-pathes of Offence;And (giddy headed) headlong fal to sinne,
From which we hardly rise by penitence;
For sinnes presumptuous, grace doe most incense.
Then let vs
In doub [...]full matters wherin we may be ignorant without danger, it were better suspend out iudgements then offer occasi [...]n of contention Calv.
curbe our head-strong thoughts, when theyWould run beyond the reach of sapience;
And make them stop, where wisdome points a stay,
That is, to go no further then they
Warrantably.
may.Many a curious Question hath bin mou'd
Touching this
Divine matters are ful of obscu [...]ity. Cat.
secret, and no fewer IarresHath it procur'd; and all to be reprou'd;
Sith ev'ry one his owne conceite preferres,
Th [...]s secret must be lookt vnto not into.
Which to maintaine, stil maintaines wilful warres.Some so desire to know, that faine they would
Breake through the
Faithf [...]ll ignor [...]unce is [...]etter then rash knoweledge.
Bounde that humane knowledge barres,To pry into His brest which doth infold
Secrets vnknowne: These, strange opinions hold
But let it vs suffize thus much to know,
That though the soule cannot be soild with sinne
As God created her; yet sinne doth flow
From
Sinne flowes from Adam to the soule, and enters into her when she first giues motion to the body.
Adam to the soule; and enters inWhen shee the bodie doth to moue begin:
Nor must we make her sinnefull in respect
Shee with the Corpes is Cas'd, as soild therein,
The fault of Adam only infects the soule
But make the Fault of Adam her infect,VVhich is, indeede, sole cause of that effect.
At large to proue her immortalitie,
I should (like her) well-neere be
It is farre off, what may it be? and it is a profoūd deepnesse, who cā finde it? Eccl. 7.26.
infinite;For, if the Image of the Deity
Bee found in Man, in his soule it is right:
And though by Adam shee bee made vnright,
Yet by the second Adam (full of grace)
Shee is againe
Since the elementary & diuine partes of Mā are corrupted one by another and both from Adā, they must be borne againe, by elementary & divine meanes, by Water and the Spirit.
reform'd and made vpright,Which makes her striue when sin would her deface,
To foile it, or at least not giue it place.
Inough my Muse of that, vvhich nere ynough
Can well be said, and let me (restlesse) rest;
For, I must ply my Penne which is my Plough,
Eccl. 25.3.
Sith my lifes sunne is almost in the VVest,And I provided yet but for vnrest:
Time flies avvay, these Numbers number time,
But goodes they number not: for their int'rest
Is nought but Aire, which though to heau'n it clime,
Is but meere Vapor rising but from slime.
There is no end in making many bookes, and much reading is a wearinesse of the Flesh. Eccles. 12.12.
Yet this we doe, and pleasure take in toile
Although we doe but plow the barraine Soile.
FINIS.
An Extasie.
WEther, entranc'd, or in a dreame of dreames,
Procur'd by Fancy in our sleepes extreames,
Or vvhether by a strong imagination,
Bred in the Bowels of deepe Contemplation,
My soule, vvhen as my bodie vvaking was,
Did see, what doth ensue, in Fancies Glasse:
I know not vvell; but this ful wel I know,
If it no substance were, it was a show:
A show whereat my Muse admired much,
Which she with her best sense can scarslie touch;
It was so strange and full of mistery,
Past apprehension of her ingeny.
Me thought I saw, (at least I saw in thought
As on a Rivers side I lay long-straught
Eyeing the VVaters eie-delighting glide)
An heauenly creature more then glorifide
Vpon the waues come tripping towards me,
Who, scarse the water toucht, did seeme to flee:
Her face was louely, yet mee thought shee lookt
As one that had long time and travell brookt.
The Robe she ware was lawne (white as the Swanne)
Which siluer Oes, and Spangles over-ran
That in her motion such reflexion gaue,
As fil [...]'d, with siluer starres, the heav'nly waue.
Her Browes, two hemi-circles did enclose
Of Rubies rang'd in artificiall Roes:
Whose precious haire thereto vvas so confixt,
That golde and Rubie seemed intermixt.
Vpon her head a siluer crowne shee ware,
(Depressing so that rising golden Haire)
In token that shee knew no marriage Bed,
VVhich ne [...]thelesse was richly garnished
With rarest Pearle, that on the arched bents
[Page 234]That rose from that rich Crownes embattlements,
Did shine like that braue party-coulord Bow,
That doth Heav'ns glorie, and their mercy show.
About her Necke hung Natures
Nature sittes in a precious Stone as in her Throne of Maiestie.
Miracle,A Carcanet of glorious Carbuncle;
VVhich did the Sunne ecclipse, and clos'd mine Eyes,
That they could not behold her other guise.
This sight (though glorious) much amated me,
From which, rowzing my selfe, I sought to flee:
But with the offer I fell downe againe,
As one whose Legges could not his Corpes sustaine,
Yet still I off'red (bootelesse) to be gon,
For, Sights divine daunt the stout'st Champion
At the first sight; for, Nature doth not love
To see (fraile Creature) ought her selfe aboue.
VVhen lo, this heau'nly Apparition,
Bad me not feare, with sweete perswasion!
For, I am shee (quoth shee) that lately was
Thy Sov'raigne; frëed from this Earthy Masse:
I now can like an Angell with a trice,
Shift place to serue the Prince of Paradice.
And, I am come to thee by his permission,
That (notwithstanding thy obscure condition)
Thou should'st by me haue light, and cleerely see
(As in a Glasse) what shal hereafter bee
Touching this Land, I did predominate:
Looke in these VVaues (quoth shee) and see her fate.
But I yet fearing lest by some delusion,
I might be drawne to drowne me, in conclusion,
Did backward seeme to doe this later heast,
Though in the premisses I seemed blest.
Then shee (as seeing with immortall eyes
The mortall feare that did my Soule surprise)
And tooke me by the hand, and cheer'd me more.
Her touch, mee thought, sent to my soule such ioy,
As quite expell'd, wh [...]t erst did it annoy.
That hand, mee seem'd, I kist with reverence,
Which yeelded sense-reviving redolence:
I held it fast, and swai'd it as I would,
For shee encourag'd me, and made me bold.
VVhen to my selfe, I wisht I had had might,
T'haue swaid or staid it when it once did write,
VVhen it did (shaking) write Elizabeth,
Name giving Life to be a name of Death.
I often haue held hands, while I haue taught
Those hands to write, as (handsomely) they ought;
But had I held her hand then, when it was,
I would haue taught her hand all hands to passe
In love-procuring skill; and when shee wrate
Elizabeth great R. abridging date
Of Life and Name, shee should haue written thus,
Live live great R: for dying oft for vs.
And though shee had in Earth no interest
Now frëed from it by eternall rest,
Yet, was my soule, mee thought, extreamely glad
So to converse with her immortall Shade:
And to my selfe I said, with submisse voice,
If Princes Shades our Spirits so reioyce;
What will their Substāce where they please to grace?
That, in the Soule must needes haue greater place.
Arise (quoth shee) because the VVater's deepe,
And thou (perhapps) dost feare therein to peepe:
Come follow mee to yonder shadie Grove,
VVhich Zephirus doth gentlie breathing moue,
Vpon the further side of this greene Meade,
Then vp I sprange with rare agilitie,
Which gaue me pow'r, me thought, with her to flie
As swift as thought, to that designed place;
And there she laid me downe, with sweete embrace:
VVhich so entranc'd me, as a while I laie
Engulf'd in ioy, yet all the while did praie
That the Catastrophe of this sweete Scene,
Might answere the beginning and the meane.
Shee feeling with her hand my Pulse to beate
As one whose Soule did seeke to shift her Seate,
Shee chafte my Temples which did showring raine
The liquid Pearle which oft proceedes of Paine:
And with a loving checke shee did controule,
The Passion of my over-passion'd Soule.
I am (quoth shee) no Soule-confounding Fiend,
Assuming Angells forme for wicked end;
But come to grace thee gracelesse forlorne Man
VVith divine favours; why dost feare me than?
VVhereto with trembling Tongue I made reply:
I feare thee not, sense-mazing Maiestie;
But the delight my silly Soule conceaues
For this high grace, my soule of sense bereaves.
VVell then I coniure thee in Loue (quoth shee)
That thou feare not, But marke what thou shalt see.
No sooner these sweete words accented were,
But in our pres [...]nce livelie did appeare
A Ladie of a most maiesticke state,
Cladd like a VVorld-commanding Potentate;
VVith all that might obiect prosperitie,
To VV [...]tt or Observations Eagles Eye:
On whom attended two still-striving Dames,
In manners diverse, diverse too in frames:
In blacke invested, in her hand a Booke:
Her Brest close-clasped vp vnto the Chin,
That no lascivious Eye might prie therein:
A Cipers vaile ore-canapide her face,
Where vnder shone a VVorld of modest grace.
Nothing about her was superfluous,
And nothing wanting, fitte for Natures vse:
I tooke her for some VVorld-despising Dame,
VVhose conversation was not in the same.
The other was the true Arch-tipe of that
Which Men for Levitie doe wonder at.
Neere to her Body shee (fantasticke) ware
A thinne vaile of Carnation coulor'd ware:
On which, with Starrs of gold embost, was drawne
As t'were an vpper Smock of purest Lawne;
Which seem'd as if a Silver Cloude had spredd
Over the face of Phoebus blushing redd:
Vpon all which shee ware a Gabberdine,
For forme as strange, as for stuffe, [...]ich and fine:
To which ther was a certaine kinde of Traine,
Which (vselesse) was turn'd vp threefold againe:
The VVings wherof, (where her Armes out were let)
were of pure gold with Smarags thicke besett:
So were the verges of it sett with stone,
As costlie as the VVhores of B [...]bilon.
On either side from her Armes to her VVast,
It was vnsow'd, and made with Buttons fast
Of orient Pearle, of admirable size,
Which loopes of Azur'd silke did circulize:
So as yee might betweene the Buttons see,
Her smocke out- [...]ft to show her levitee.
The Sleeves whereof were meanely large, yet so
[Page 238]As to the handes it lesse and lesse did gro:
About whose wrists being gath'red in fine pleates,
It was made fast vvith orient Bracëlets
Of Pearle as bigge as Plumbes, and intermixt
VVith other Iemmes, of diuers hues tran [...]fixt;
Which ore her hands hunge as superfluously
As (like the rest shee ware) most combrously.
Morisco-wise her Garment did orehang
Her Girdle, set with stone and many a spang:
VVhich nerethelesse could not be seene at all,
By reason of that Robes orefolding fal:
Saving that when the VVinde blew vp the same
It might be seene like lightnings sodaine flame.
This Garment though it were but too too long,
Yet too too short, or short'st of all, it hunge.
Her nether Vesture strecht but to her calfe,
Yet lower rought then that aboue, by halfe:
For, shee the vpper tuckt and trebl'd so,
As like a Vardingale the same did sho.
Vpon her legges shee ware a Buskin fine,
Of stuffe that did like cleerest Amber shine,
Downe halfe vvay folded, vvith a Brouch below,
Which on the shinne shee rightly did bestovv.
Her nether smockes or smock-like Petticotes,
Each gale of winde a loft in Aier flotes:
Which she assisted vvith prompt reddynesse,
Glad of so good a coulor (as I guesse)
To show the coulor of her skinne below,
Which scarse the Smocks of modest Matrones know.
Her Brest lay open almost to the VVast,
That by the eie, men might be drawne to taste
The bitter sweetes, vvhich in her did abound;
"For, beautie through the eie the heart doth wound.
To giue the Sight a lustie counterbuffe:
Twixt whom there hung a Iewell of rare Iemmes,
That the eie dazl'd with resplendant beames.
About her Necke a chaine of Pearle shee ware,
That to her Brest did couer all the bare;
Saving that here and there yee might espie
A dy-like Square of polisht Ivorie.
Her Ruffe (or
Rebata.
what you vvill) about her Necke,Was cut and keru'd the more the same to decke:
And in the cuts, betweene the foldes, did lurke
Frogs, Flies, Snakes, Spiders, al of Gold-smithes work;
So liuely made, as that the sight wou [...]d sweare
They were aliue, for each did seeme to steere.
Vpon the hemme vvhereof did looslie hange
Many a glitt'ring siluer-golden spang:
Which, with the motion of her bodie light
Did (twinckling) seeme like starres in winters night.
Her face, though faire, vvas painted cunninglie,
VVhich trebl'd beautie, to bewitch the eie.
In center of her forehead (which did shine
As if the same had beene all christalline)
Betweene rare Pearles, disposed all in fret,
A rich coruscant Rubie in was let.
Vpon the verge of whose gold-stayning haire,
Illustrious Saphires ev'nly ranked vvere:
Saving that here and there [...]owde Pompe did place
Great pointed Diamonds to giue them grace.
Her haire, though faire, yet was it made to line
A curled Periwicke of Haire more fine;
Not haire, but golden wire drawne like the Twist
The Spider spins with her vnfing'red fist.
Behind, the rest was so in tramells folded
That all, like speckl'd Snakes, in Knots was vvound,
And ev'ry one with diverse flowres crownd.
Her gate was painefull, tripping on the Toes,
As if Desire should say, lo, there shee goes.
Shee stood, as if she stood vpon no ground,
But on some water-waue that made her bound;
For, novv shee sinckes on this legge, then aloft
Vpon that other shee advanced oft.
And no lesse oft shee would cast dovvne her eie
Vpon her Ivory paps; and vvantonly
Shee seem'd to smile on beauty without peere,
To dravv all vvanton eies to note it there.
In summe shee vvas such as Voluptusnesse
With all her coulors cannot well expresse.
These damsels straue (as erst I said) to gaine
The loue of her that vvas their Soveraigne:
Who seem'd to each indiff'rently dispos'd;
But after much a doe their strife shee clos'd
With this decree; that vvho her most could moue
By Reasons force, should bee her leefest Loue.
Vertue.
Then Vertue lo, (for so it seem'd shee vvas)With modest looke, and favour full of grace,
Began to tune her tongue vnto that eare
VVhich shee desired to her to indeere.
Albion.
Quoth shee, deere Albion, (so I knew her nameThat first of all into our presence came)
If thou wilt me imbozome, I vvill make
Both Heav'n and Earth to loue thee for my sake.
Thy conscience I wil calme, and in thy brest
Thou shalt perceaue the heav'n of heav'ns to rest.
Thine vnderstandings eie shalbee as bright
As that faire eie that al the VVorld doth light.
As vnto her that giues them eies to see.
Thou shalt reduce to thine obedience
Without the Sword, the Earthes circumference.
The wisemen of the East shal come from farre,
Drawne by thy grace, led by thy vertues sta [...]re,
And offer thee Gold, Mirrh, and Frankensence,
And what els may delight thy Soule or sense.
Thou shalt haue powre to crush the crownes of kings
And with their neighbors swords to clip their wings;
If they shal rise against thee in their pride;
So keepe them downe, and yet thy hands vndide.
God and the VVorld (though it be nere so il)
Shal hold those curst that doe resist thy will.
For, thou shalt nothing wil but what is good,
As long as thou and I, be one in moode.
I wil breake ope Heav'ns gates with might & maine,
And on thy head shal Blessings powre amaine.
Yea, to thy comfort it shal wel appeare
That al desir'd increase shal crowne each yeare.
The golden daies of peaceful Salomon,
Shal ever waite thy blessed yeares vpon.
The sea shal yeeld thee from her liquid VVombe,
VVhat shal enrich thy poore and basest Groome.
Thy Mountaines shal with cattell stil be crown'd,
The whiles the Vales with corne shal [...] ore-abound.
Thy Sonns, & Daughters, shal yeeld comfort to thee,
That whilome did indevour to vndoe thee.
Thy young-men shal see Visions, & thine Old
Shal dreame dreames, by which things shalbe foretold
That shal concerne thy good in times future,
And that prevent, which may thine Ill procure;
Angels shal guard thy walles and on thy strand
To keepe thy Fo-men from assailing thee,
In Battaile rang'd by Heav'ns Divinitie.
Thy Schools shal yeeld thee Saints, which shal direct
In Life, and Doctrine, whatsoever Sect.
Thy Citties like Bee-hives shal stil containe
Men as Bees busie for the Common gaine.
All idle Drones that live by others sweate
They shal cassiere, or not allow them meate.
There shal no Begger in thy Streets be found,
Nor cries of wretches at thy Gates shal sound;
But, with the foizone of Heav'ns blessings all
(By means of me) their Baskets fill they shall.
Thy Peeres shal striue for peace, & who shalbe
In Vertue (not in State) in highst degree.
There shal be no Contention in thy Body,
Which heretofore hath made thy mēbers bloudy.
The Poole of Grace shal overflowe thy Land,
Glyding in Christall streames on Pearly Sand.
The Horrors that consort the hateful Crue,
Shal never come so neere as in thy view.
No humane quarters shal oretopp thy Gates,
For seeking to ore toppe thy Maiestrates.
No Heading, Hanging, Burning, or the like,
Shalt need to vse, ne with the Sword to strike
Those that doe weare good Swords but to badd ends;
For all shal liue in peace like loving friends.
The Worde Oppression, much lesse shall the deede
Be never heard, where all are well agreede.
Each one shal know his place, and in the same
Shal laboure to preserve an honest name.
One Hart, one Hand, one Faith, one Soule, & Mind,
Shal al thy People in one Body binde.
[Page 243]Thou shalt not neede to feare the Chamber-scapes,
The sinnes gainst Nature, and the brutish Rapes,
Which with the godlesse Nations are too rife;
For ev'rie Man shal have his lawful VVife:
Which dulie in an vndefiled Bedd,
Shal gett right Members for their vpright Head.
Thou shalt not neede to pinch thy Peoples Purses,
And so incurre thereby thy Commons curses:
Or money-Bladders seeke, in Seas of Bloud
To beare thee vp, from sincking in that Floud.
For, thou shalt haue Exchequers richly stor'de,
That thou to well deservers maist affoorde
Roiall rewards, without the Commons Cost;
For, Crownes are richly blest, with Peace y-crost.
Taxe-vndergrowne, (ô odious Tyranny!
Bredd in the VVombe of Sensuality)
Shal nere so much as once be nam'd in thee,
But thou shalt punish Kingdomes, where they bee.
The cloudie Piller shall guide thee by daie,
The firie Flame by night shal show thy VVaie.
Beauies of Quailes, and Manna (Angells foode)
Shal showre from Heav'n to doe thy Children good.
Who shal therefore, sing Hymnes of praise divine,
And merry make each one beneath his Vine.
The voice divine shal thunder from on hie,
And talke with thee (belov'd) familierly.
Thou shalt with Moises Rodd divide the Deepes,
And make their raging VVaues to stand on Heapes,
That Man, and Horse which to thee doo belonge,
Shal passe, as on drie Land, those VVaues amonge.
For thine Advantage thou shalt ope the Earth,
And send repyning Rebells quicke beneath,
If any should arise; but doubtlesse Those
If thou wilt vse me, thou wilt vse me still,
For I will please thy Soule, thy VVitt, thy VVill.
And though I seeme t'vncircumcized Sense
But passing plaine, and ful of Indigence,
Yet in my Brest true Glorie is enthron'd,
And al my Friends shalbe with Glorie Crown'd.
On me doe waite the Ministers of Ioy,
To be dispos'd as I shal them imploy.
Death, and Damnation I treade vnderfoote,
And over Lethe lake with ease I flote.
I am the Darling of the TRINITIE,
That ore Sinne, Death, and Hell hath Emperie.
When Heav'n shall melt, & Earth shal meare away,
I in his blessed Bozome live for aie.
If thou through humaine frailtie chance to trippe,
Ile stay thy foote, that downe thou shalt'uot slippe:
Or if in mire of sinne downe flatt thou fall,
Ile wring Teares frō thine Eyes to wash off all.
What shal I say? if thou wilt cherish me,
Ile stil make peace betweene thy God and thee:
That neither Sathan, Sinne, nor ought beside,
Shall haue the pow'r your Vnion to devide.
Thinke what a comfort it wilbe to thee,
By me t'enioy this VVorlds felicitee,
And when Confusion shal dissolve the same,
Thy Soule to live with God, with Saints thy fame:
VVhich al eternity shall comprehend,
In ioy past ioy; thus shee vvith ioy did end.
VVhen lo, the other (painted Butterfly
That lookt too like voluptuous Vanity)
Seem'd greatly chafed with this lōg discourse,
And often mew'd and mop [...]; and which is vvorse
[Page 245]The speech disgraced interruptingly,
VVith VVhat might make the same seeme al a ly.
But now shee gan to face her Countenance,
VVith many a smile and Eye-delighting glance.
And thus with voice, that did her speech become,
Shee brake into her Tales Exordium.
Deere Albïon, whom as my Soule I prize,
In whom (as in my Heav'n) my glorie lies;
If ever thou, by following sound advice,
VVouldst tast the truest ioyes of Paradice,
Thē, listen to me, while I breath such breath,
As shal create a complete Heav'n on Earth.
If thou wilt me imbrace, as did that
Salomon.
PrinceThat was the Sourse of humane sapience,
Who in his wisedome knew wel what he did
(Sith he knew more then al the world beside)
When monge a thouzād Loues, his wisdomes powre
Did choose me for his chiefest Bellamoure:
If therfore thou wilt me indeere to thee,
That but one soule may be twixt thee & mee,
I knowing what such wisdōe high did please,
Wil plunge thy soule in depth of pleasures Seas:
Where thou shalt meete with Ioyes vnsoūded deepe,
To lullabie thy waking Cares asleepe.
But to particulate what they shalbe,
Requires the Tongue of some Divinitee.
Yet coldly, as I can, I wil expresse
This onely heav'n-surmounting happinesse.
Deere sweete, quoth she, (& sweet she lisped foorth)
If thou wilt well conceave thine owne high woorth,
Listen to mee, and I wil tell thee vvhat
Vanity is instant to gett attention because sense is betraide therby.
Shal glad thy Soule, and correspond with that.
As stands thy case, thou well maist prize thy Head,
And sith aboue he raignes in boundles blisse,
Thy blisful raigne below should be like his.
I therefore wil draw VVit, and Industry
(Al vvhose defects my science shal supplie)
To straine their powres to their extreame extent,
So to accomplish thy soules ravishment.
Thou on Triumphant Chariots (like the Sunn's,
That on the cristal Heav'ns in glorie runnes)
By Horses shalt be drawne, as white as milke,
And al thy way shal cover'd bee with silke
Of choisest kinde, and of the Tyrian die,
As wel to show thy state, as please thine eie.
Thy Robes shalbe pure gold ten-times refin'd,
That like the Aire shal gently turne and winde:
Not fac'd with Ermine, but with everie thing
That to the heav'ns bright eie may wonder bring:
Which shal send backe, when that eie on it stayes,
(In counter change) more glittering-glorious Raies!
Thy Horses heades, vvith Phenix feathers deckt,
Shal vvorke on Angels eies the like effect.
The pillers of thy Pallaceis shalbe
Hewne out of rockes of purest Porphyree,
Their wals of Iasper square, and eu'ry Ioint
Dissolued Amber, passing cleere, shal point.
The columnes of thy windowes shalbe Iet,
Inlaide with Pearle, in many a curious fret.
Their Glasse of christ all: in whose vpper part
With stone of price, past price, and matchlesse Art
Shalbe inserted stories of thy deedes;
That both the eie delights and Spirite feedes.
Their Heav'n-high Roofes shalbe embattelled
With Adamant in gold enuelloped.
Mother of pearle their sides shal circulize.
Vpon their crest, as thicke as they may stād,
Saint George on horse-backe with a Lance in hand,
Charging a Dragon, both of precious stone,
To wit, the Emeral'd, and Calcedone.
The roomes within, al rooft in arched wise,
(Like to the Convexe of the vaulted skies)
Shalbe with purest Bice enammeld faire,
Enchas'd with stars, like Ioues etherial chaire!
The chimny-peeces reaching through the sāe
Of glorious Chrysolites, that seeme to flame:
On whose fore-fronts below, cut out shalbe,
In Indian Berill, curious Imageree.
The hangings of thy wals, of that same ware
That Salomon in al his glorie ware.
Thy floores shalbe (most glorious to behold)
Couerd with cloth of Bodkin, Tyssue, Gold.
Thy chaire of state (t'amuse the gazers sight)
Cut out of one vnvalued Margarite
Shal stand on top of Twelue most faire Ascents,
Like that wherein Ioue sits in Parliments.
Each steppe of stone, of richest price, and hue,
Deckt on each ende with beasts, of dreadful view,
(Huge Lyons, Dragons, Panthers, and the like
That in th'aspectors harts doe terror strike)
Shal seeme like that more then celestial Throne,
Which Iupiter in state doth sit vpon.
Thy cloth of state that it ore-canopies,
Shalbe stuffe brought from Earthly Paradise
By sp'rits immortal, which shal waite on thee,
And doe thy Heasts, if thou wilt rule by me.
This precious geare (no name is good ynuffe
With Sunne-like Carbuncles in forme of eies
Shalbe embossed, as if each were spies,
Which vvith their luster creepe in each darke hole,
That thou thereby maist pul thence by the Polle
Who shal vnseene envie thy glorious state,
So, with thy Sword of Iustice pole their Pate:
And, when thou sitt'st vpon that royal seate,
Thou shalt seeme Iupiter, if not more great,
Sitting on his celestial Throne of Thrones
Compas'd about with many thousand Sunnes!
Thy privie chambers (where thou privilie
Shalt glut thy selfe, vvithout satietie,
With what shal tickle al thy vaines with pleasure
Measur'd by loues sweete motions without measure)
Shalbe like Orchards fram'd so by mine Art,
That thou shalt seeme in Heav'n whē there thou art;
There wil I haue an artificial Sunne
In the like Heav'n al daie his course to runne,
That though the daie abroad doe lowre like night,
Thy Sunne within shal shine exceeding bright.
The Moone and stars (like to the lampes of heau'n)
By night shal light thee, set in order ev'n:
And by their constellations and their frames,
Th'astronomer shal cal them by their names.
Al kinde of Trees, of what soeuer sute,
That either Branches beare, or Branch with fruit,
There vvil I cause (or at least, seeme) to grow,
That Nature from her owne them shal not know.
Plūbs, Peares, Dats, Filbeards, Apples, glistering Cherries,
Pomgranats, Peaches, Medlars, & Mulberies,
Lymmons and Orenges, some ripe, some greene,
What shal I say! al fruit that ere were seene
[Page 249]This artificial Eden shal containe,
Thine eie with pleasure stil to entertaine!
Hard by shal runne, from Artificial Rockes.
Confected waters sweete, vvhose falling mockes
The voice of birds; which made by science shal
Tune their sweete notes, to that swee [...]e waters fal.
Here shal arise an hand-erected Mounte,
From whose greene side shal glide a siluer foun [...]
Encreasing breadth, as it runnes, by degrees;
Hemd in with Couslips, Daffadils and Trees
That ore the same an Arche of Bowes shal make,
Through which the Sunne shal parcel-gild the Lake!
Beneath which, in this little siluer Sea
Shal bathe the daughters of Mnemosine:
Singing like Syrens, playing Lyres vpon
Beheav'ning so this hand-made Helicon!
Behinde the Trees coucht, drown'd in Daffadillis
Oxslips, wilde Cullambines, and water Lillis,
Shal Elu [...]s and Fairies their abiding make,
To listen to these Ladies of the Lake!
Actêon here shal metamorphiz'd bee,
Great Obron there shal ring his companee:
And here and there shalbe varietie
Of what so ere may charme the eare or eie!
Vnder a gloomy Bowre of stil-greene Baies,
That stil greene keepe their mortall makers praise,
(Where Eglantines with flowres thrust in their Noses,
Intangled with the slips of damaske Roses,
Stil fresh and flourishing, as month of Maie)
There shalt thou heare of loue the svvetest lay:
Which shall thy greedy sense so much inchaunt,
That where thou art, thou shalt be ignoraunt;
And what thou art thou shalt not much respect,
There, Angells notes shal so inchant thine Eares,
That thou shalt swim in ioy, though sunck in Cares.
Here Lab'rinthes intricate of winding vvalkes,
Of Mirtles filld with Maie-bowes in the Balkes,
Where out shal breath soule-ravishing perfume
(VVhich time wil rather prosper then consume)
Shal lull fraile sense asleepe in pleasures lapp,
From melancholie free'd and al mishapp.
Each foote of grasse-made ground, orelaid shalbe
VVith Natures Daizie-decked Draperee.
And therewith-al, to yeeld the more delight,
Angell-fac'd Fairies (clad in vestures white)
Shal come in tripping blithsome Madrigalls,
And foote fine Horne-pippes, Iigges, and Caterbralls.
That done, the Driads and the Silvane crue,
Successiuelie thy solace to renewe,
In Matecheines, Lavolts, and Burgamasks
Shal hardlie plie these time-beguiling Tasks.
Each Tree shal droppe downe sweete Ambrosia,
Or cordial Spices, Myrrh, and Casia.
The Baies shal sprinkle from their dewey Bowes,
Rose-water cleere to cheere thy handes and Browes.
Nought shal bee wanting in this Earthlie Heav'n,
That Art and Nature to Delight have giv'n;
Or by the pow'r of Spirites may bee fulfill'd,
To ravish sense with al that Heav'n may yeeld!
For I wil dive into th'infernal deep [...]s,
VVhere Pluto Prince of riches revell keepes,
And make him dance attendance on my Traine,
T'effect thy pleasure, deere sweete Soveraigne!
There shalt thou see (without al cause of feare)
The glorious worthies of the world that were:
And Scipio when he Africk had orecome!
There shal the stately Queene of Amazons,
Penthesilea, with her Minions,
Present thee with a Maunde of fruite divine,
Cull'd from the golden Tree of Proserpine!
Hector, Achilles, Priam, Hecuba,
Great Agamemnon, Pyrrhus, Helena,
Or whom soever thou desir'st to see
Shal at a beck doe homage vnto thee!
Ile ripp the Bowells of the subtile Aire
And bring the Sp'rits therin (in fashion faire)
To counterfet the Musick of the Spheares,
And with Heav'ns harmony to fil thine Eares!
To fetch for thee, from the extreame extent
Of Earthes huge Globe, what ere may thee content!
To flie vpon thine errand with a trice,
To fetch thee fruite from Earthly Paradice!
To entertaine thee, when alone thou art,
VVith al the secrets of each hidden Art:
And whatsoere the heav'nly Cope doth cover,
To thee (that thou maist know it) to discover!
The Stone so sought of all Philosophers,
The making of which one, so many marrs,
Thou shalt directly make it at thy pleasure,
T'enrich thy kingdome without meane or measure!
The great Elixer (making small ones great)
Like dust thou shalt make common in the Streete!
And if thou wilt, high waies shal paved bee
With burnisht gold, made onely but by thee!
If thou wouldst haue the Aïer turn'd, and tost,
To strike a terrour in each Clime, or Coste,
These Sp'rits that Lord it ore that Element,
[Page 252]Shal doe the same for thee incontinent!
And when thou wouldst [...]pare their societie,
They, with a vengance, through the Aire shal flie
VVithout the least hurt done to thee, or thine,
Except it be in making you divine!
There shal no kingdomes Cares, that life destroie,
And like Hell-paines the Hart and Minde annoy,
Once dare to ceaze vpon thy blisseful Hart;
For I wil charme them so, by Pleasures Art,
That they shal seeme as dead and never sterr,
Thy solace to disturbe in peace, or vvarre.
Ile reave sweete voyced Boies of what they may
Ill spare, (if spare) to sing thy Cares awaie.
Ile make some others spend their total time,
To make sweete strings expresse the twangs of Rime;
VVhich tickle shal thy hart-strings with such mirth,
That thou shalt saie, ha, this is Heav'n on Earth!
Thy royal-Table shalbe serv'd with Cates
Surmounting farre Coelestial Delicates:
Ambrosia, shalbe thy coursest Cheate,
And Manna (Angells-foode) thy Groomes shal eate!
Delicious VVines, that make sweete Nectar sowre,
Beauties divine in precious Boles shal powre,
To comfort Nature and to glad thy Hart
VVith comfort that surmounteth Natures Art.
The Samos Pecocke, and the Malta Crane,
The dainty Lamprey in Tart [...]sia tane,
The Phrigian Woddcock, and th'Ambracian Gote,
The fine fish Asinellus, hardly gott,
The Oisters of Tarentum, fish of Helops,
The Goldny of Cilicia, Chios Scalopps,
The Nutts of Tasia, and th'AEgyptian Dates,
In few, all kingdomes choisest Delicates
[Page 253]That to the Pallate pleasure may affoord,
Shal ore abound vpon thy bounteous Boord!
When, from a Silver'd Tent, to please thine Eare,
Cornett [...], Recorders, Clarions thou shalt heare:
Whiles to delight thy sight as wel as hearing,
Stately Dumb showes before it shal be sterring:
Which wel tongu'd Mercury shal faire relate
Stil pointing to thy praise, and glorious state.
VVhen, with these Sweetes thou art wel satisfied,
Ile make thee Beds of flowres, divinly dide:
VVhere thou, & thy Loues, (for your Limbs reposes)
May drownd your selues among sweet damask Roses.
And while your rest, the sacred Muses nyne,
(Singing ful sweetely Ditties most divine,
That for Harts ioy wil cause the Eyes to weepe)
Shal lullabie your blisful Soules asleepe.
Continual Iusts, and roial Turnaments,
Furnisht with al Eye-pleasing ornaments:
Mummings, Masks, Plaies; Plaies that shal play with Care
As Catt with Mouse, to kill her comming There.
VVhat booteth it to weare a golden Crowne,
If thorny Cares it line, to make thee frowne:
Away with Care therefore, awaie with thought,
VVhat shouldst thou doe with that, that's good for nought:
Let thē go waite on Byshops, to whose See
They doe belong, but let the Prince be free.
VVilt thou be Servant to the common Trash,
That often leaves their Master in the lash?
Or spend thy VVitte, and Sp'rits for such Riffraffe,
And so consume the Corne to saue the Chaffe?
VVilt thou orewhelme thy selfe in all anoy,
That they may swime aloft in Seas of Ioy?
VVhat! wilt thou place thy pleasure in thy paine,
Wilt loose thy roiall sole prerogatiue,
To make vngrateful base Bash rags to thriue?
O be indulgent to thine owne deere Hart,
And of Heav'ns blessings take a blisful part.
Doe not depriue thy selfe of that rare blisse,
That vnto none but thee peculier is.
And here vpon the sodaine (great mishap)
I found my selfe in Oxford my loues lap.
Where thinking seriously vpon this thing,
I heard some say, God saue king Iames, our King.
And therewithal I heard a Trumpets clang,
That in an vnison that Dittie sang.
Then did I more admire what I had seene,
But griev'd I had so double lost the Queene!
And grieu'd no lesse, sith I saw not the rest
Of that wherein I held me highlie blest!
Had I so blessed bin, t'haue seene th'event,
I should haue thought my time divinely spent.
But as I cannot now diuine vvhat shal
Vnto this Land (orewhelm'd in blisse) befal;
So wil I not suspect the worst; for why?
God, onely good, keepes good Kings company.
JOHN DAVIES.
To the Right Ho. and most most Reverend Father in God my Lord Archb. of Canterb. his grace.
THou temp'rate Soule, that holdst promotion
To be but Vertues meede; and vertuouslie
Dost higher prize the Soules devotion
Proceeding from the low'st humilitie:
Passion-suppressing wel-disposed spirit,
Cleere glasse wherein true Pastors may behold
The hall'wed life that heaven doth inherit,
Whose praises Glorie writes in liquid gold.
O helpeful, harmelesse, vertuous virgin-Priest!
O louing tender-harted gaullesse Doue!
O that Arte could in thy praise so insist
As answere might the measure of my loue!
But for my loue herein surmounts my skill,
Accept this poore show of my rich good-will.
I. D.
To the most gracious Prince the Duke of Lennox, &c.
FOr no respect (great Lord) but for the loue
I owe to grace and greatnesse ioin'd in one,
Doth my weake Pen her strongest vertue proue
To graue thy name vpon this paper-stone;
That if it chance the turnes of Time to brooke,
(Which grinde to pouder all produc'd in Time)
Thy Name at least (which is my most) may looke
Like to it selfe, in my hard-fauour'd Rime.
If voice of those that loue the voice diuine
Bee true (the truth whereof none ought to doubt)
Thou like the Moone, among heav'ns lāps dost shine,
While Sol thy Sov'raigne goes the Globe about.
Long maist thou (as he doth) giue light to all
That pleas'd, or pain'd, doe foote this earthy Ball.
I. D.
To the R. Honorable, and highly valued Lord the Earle of Northumberland. &c.
WHo cannot raigne in height of lofty stile,
That hath so high a subiect for the same
As thy heroicke worth and glorious name,
Is abiect, nay, then abiect farre more vile.
Magnificke thoughts to think on, thoughts doth moūt
Aboue the spheare of common intellect;
The thought of thy thoughts causeth this effect,
Which maks my towring thoughts thēselus surmoūt.
I thinke of thee and them, as of those things
That moue to rest in honors highest Spheare,
Sith vertue is the scale the same to reare,
Which wil make thee as neere, as deere to kings:
As long (great Lord) as Vertue guideth thee,
Thou shalt be blest of God, King, State, and me.
I. D.
To the Right Honorable the Earle of VVorcester, &c.
WErt thou (most noble Lord) a scurge to me
Plagueing my misses vvith an Iron Rod,
Yet vvould I, in my hart, still honor thee;
For, though he punish me; I honor God.
Thou dost hurt no man simplie for his harme,
But as the Surgeon doth, his hurt to heale;
Would wounded, or diseased states did swarme
With no worse Surgeons for their Common-weale!
I honor thee for that vvhich God himselfe
Doth honor Men; that is, for drawing neere
To his great goodnesse (not for Port, or Pelfe)
I honor thee for that, deere Lord; and deere
Shal such be to me for their vertue sake,
Though I thereof no vse at all doe make.
I. D.
To the Right right Honorable the Earle, and Countesse of Rutland.
FOr infinite respectes to thee' (sweete Lord)
My Muse doth consecrate these zealous lines;
Which is the All her nothing can afford,
Serving for nothing but for true loues signes.
To thee that do'st enioy fruite of his loines
From whoseworsts parts proceeded nought but good;
(Whose weakest vvorths, brake Envies strongest foines)
These lines I send; and to his deerest blood.
Sweete couple that haue tasted sweete and sow [...]e,
The sweetest potion worldly weale can taste;
O let each others sweetes that gaull devoure
Which with this sowre VVorlds sweetes is interlac't:
And that you may doe so, your vnknowne yours,
Will praie, so you vouchsafe to call him ours.
I. D.
To the Right Honorable Earle of Cumberland.
Neptunes vice-gerent, Sea-controling Spirit
That makes her pay thee tribute, and thy land;
Of which thou dost, therefore, great honor merit,
And worthy art thou on both to command.
So long thou hast the Northen-pole regarded,
That nature now, hath made that pole thine head:
So, lookes are, with what was lookt for, rewarded;
Then by his light, let thy course still be led.
If so, thy fame the world inviron shall,
For, his light leades to glory infinite;
Then eie him well and his staid motions all,
Yea, draw as neere him as is requisite:
So, Fame thy name will on the Skies enrole.
So shalt thou honor'd be by this North-Pole.
I. D.
To the Right Noble and intirely beloved Earle of Southamton [...] &c.
WElcome to shore vnhappy-Happie Lord
From the deepe Seas of danger and distresse;
Where, like thou wast to be throwne over boord
In every storme of discontentednesse.
O living Death, to die when others please!
O dying Life to live how others will!
Such was thy case (deere Lord) such al thine ease;
O Hell on Earth; can Hell more vex the VVill!
This Hell being harrowed by his substitute
That harrowed Hell, thou art brought forth frō thēce,
Into an Earthly Heaven absolute,
To tast his sweetenesse, see his excellence [...]
Thy Liege well wotts, true Loue that soule must woūd,
To whom Heav'ns grace, & His, doth so abound.
I. D.
To the Right Noble, and no lesse learned then iudicious Lord, VVilliam Earle of Pembrooke. &c.
DEere Lord, if so I could, I would make knowne
How much I longe to keep thee still alive;
These Lines (though short) so lōg shalbe thine owne
As they have pow'r Vitality to giue:
I consecrate this Myte of my devotion
To the rich Treasurie of thy deere fame;
Which shal serve (though nought else worth) as a Notion
For Tyme to sever thy fame from thy name:
WILLIAM, Sons Son of VVilliam dreaded Earle
Of Pembrooke; made by Englands
H. 8.
dreadful'st King:Nephue to Sidney (rare VVorths richest Pearle)
That to this Land her fairest fame did bring:
These VVorthies worthes are treasured in thee,
So three in one, makes one as deere as three.
I. D.
To the same.
VVIthin my Soule I sensiblie doe feele
A motiō, which my Minds attētion markes;
That is, to strike Loues Flint against Truthes Steele
More hard, to kindle thy loue by the Sparkes:
But if the fire come not so freely foorth
As may inflame the Tinder of thy loue,
The tender of my Zeale shalbe hencefoorth
Offred in flames, that to thy grace shal move:
Which is their Spheare where they desire to rest,
And resting there they wil in glorie shine;
I am thine owne by double interrest
Sith once I vow'd my selfe to thee and thine,
O then had I but single loue of you,
I should bee double bound to VV.
Your Honors peculier Iohn Dauies.
To the Right Honorable and highly renowmed Lady the Countesse of Pembrooke, the Vertuous Lady, Lady Anne her daughter, and the Right Worthie and Worshipfull Phillipp Herbert Esquier her Sonne.
THus must poore Debters pay their Creditors,
And share a little, where the due is more;
I owe my selfe to you, great Favorers,
And I am little; so are great Ones, poore:
I owe my selfe vnto my selfe; and so
Doe [...] to those whom as my selfe I loue;
I owe you more; the three in One belowe,
Which I haue honor'd most next That aboue:
If more, what more? sith that's more thē I haue
(for I am not so much mine owne, as yours;)
More by as much as what I else might crave
I wish it mine for you; for, in your powres
All that and more, (if more could be possest)
Should, while you held me yours, yours firmly rest.
I. D.
To the Right Honorable the Earle of Mar. &c.
LOE, how my Muse (inflamed by desire
To winne thy loue in paying thee thine owne)
Doth striue with VVitts dull sword, and loves quicke fire,
To honor thee; but how? that is vnknowne.
And if vnknowne to me, then needs it must,
To All to whom my Thoughts are lesse reveal'd;
In me it's like an Embrio, or like Dust,
Wherein the first Man laie, at first conceal'd:
I am devising how to fash'on it,
God grant I spoile it not in hammering;
And if I doe, Ile sacrifize my VVitt
In fire of Zeale, the while my Muse doth sing,
Like to the Swanne when death the songe ensu'th,
Most blest to die with sweete Mar in her Mouth.
I. D.
To the Right Honorable and Loiall-harted Lord the Earle of Clanricard.
OVR English Crownes approued Irish frend,
That raign'st in our true loue for such thy truth,
Let thine owne rare perfections thee cōmēd,
For, perfect praise, perfection still ensu'th.
I never was so happie as to see thee,
Much lesse to knowe thee, whom I longe to see:
But, in thy predecessor did fore-see thee;
For, if Fame fable not, much like you bee.
To add then to thy glory more bright beames,
Loue His, thy other-selfe, with deerest loue;
For shee hath martir'd bin with greefes extreames,
Deere Innocent, whose vertues all approue.
Her loue to thee doth argue thy hie vvorth
Then loue such loue, that setts thy glory forth.
I. D.
To the Right Honorable and no lesse vertuous Lady the Countesse of Clanricard.
HOnor attend, as vertue guides thy life,
Deere Lady, lou'd of all that are belov'd,
As it hath done thee, virgin, VViddowe, VVife,
For which thou wert of all, in all, approu'd.
By Heav'n assign'd to Natures Miracles,
Mirrors of Manhood, and Heroick partes;
VVorld, Flesh, & Fiends, to such are obstacles,
But God, Saints, Angels guerdō their deserts.
In thee it is, the loue of such [...]'alure,
And binde them to thee with loves Gordian knott;
It is thy grace and reputation pure
That made these worthies fall so to thy Lott:
God give thee ioy of this, for in the rest
Thou seemd'st accurst, because so highly blest.
I. D.
To the most heroick, & meritoriously renowmed Lord, the Lord Mount ioy, Lord Deputy of Ireland.
TO praise thee (noble Lord) were but to doo
What all the world doth; and to doo the same,
Were to offend, and that extreamly too;
And al extreame offence incurrs defame.
Praise is not seemely in a wicked mouth;
The VVorld is wicked, and her mouth is worse,
Ful of detraction, false-praise, and vntruth;
Then, should I praise according to her course?
O no! thy vertue merits more regard;
Let Vertue praise thee, as thou her dost praise;
For, sacred vertue is her owne reward,
And Crowns her selfe, in spight of Fortunes Naye [...]:
She is thy guide, and Glory her attends,
VVhich, her in thee; and thee in her commends.
The true lover of your honor & vertue I. D.
To the Right honorably honored and right wel-beloved yonge Earle of Essex &c.
DEere offspring of that all-belooued One,
Deere vnto all, to whom that one was deere;
The Orphanes God requites thy cause of mone
By Him, that doth to all like God appeere.
Al those that loue you (al-beloued Two)
Will blesse and loue him for it; blest of God
To comfort Innocents, and Orphanes too,
That ruin'd were by fell Disasters Rod.
Liue like His Sonne, that liv'd too like him selfe;
And dide like one, deere to Him without like;
He wrackt his fortunes on false Favors shelfe,
Which are this worlds; that smiles whē it doth strike.
And, that thou mai'st thy country glorifie
No lesse then hee, all pray; then needes must I.
I. D.
To the R. Honorable Sr. Iohn Popham Knight Lord chiefe-Iustice of England, &c.
IVstly seveare, seveare in Mercies cause,
Sith it is mercie, mercie-wanting men
To cut of with the razor of the lawes,
That wounds the wounders of their brethren.
To thee (graue Cato) are these lines adrest,
As proofes of what respect they beare thy fame;
Which, with these VVorthies, shalbe here imprest
By my best Pen, in Honor of thy name.
If best deseruers of the publike weale
Should not be memorized of the Muse,
Shee should her proper vertue so conceale,
And so conceal'd, should that and them abuse:
To free her then, and thee, from so great wrong,
Liue lines with Pophams earned praises long.
I. D.
To the R. Honorable and most learned Lord, the Lord Henry Haward, &c.
WHat hope the noble, vertuous, and the learn'd
May haue, they having now so rare a King,
In thee learn'd, vertuous, noble Lord's discern'd,
In whom these flourisht without cherrishing.
Where vertue raignes, her subiects shal beare rule,
The learn'd, and vertuous, shee wil haue to sway:
For vice wel-learned, is but arm'd Misrule,
By whom the vertuous stil are made awaie.
Honors doe alter manners in [...]those men
That are to honor and good manner foes;
In thee that is not to be feared then,
For each with thee, from thy conception groes.
And sith Apollo now doth water them
They wil grow great togither with the stemme.
I. D.
To the Right Noble, Robert Lord Sidney Baron of Penshurst. &c.
THy vertue, and the conscience of the grace
Thou hast vouchsau'd me, not deserving it,
Doth like two spurres provoke my will and wit,
Thy name with my loues lines to interlace.
Thy honor'd name, name honored of all
That honors grace by man made glorious,
Can of it se [...]fe rowze vp the dullest Muse
To make thereof divine memoriall.
Then, should [...] it commende to Monument,
No miracle should I perfourme thereby,
Sith it by Nature liues eternally,
Such life to Sidneys being incident.
And sith divine Sr Philip liues in thee,
Be thou that Monument; and so ease me.
I. D.
To the Right Honorable the Lord Home, &c.
The place, mē say, thou holdst, (great Lord) in court
Leicester, Essex, Worcest.
Was held before by three Superlatiues;Most wise, most lov'd, most lowly in high port;
The place, I weene, hath such prerogatiues.
Then, were thy vertue not in that degree,
The vertue of the place would it reiect;
But its a powrefull argument to mee,
That thou art vertuous (Lord) in each respect.
The rather, sith thy Liege that plac'd thee there,
Doth heaue vp none so high, but for high worth;
Whose Iudgements eie is admirable cleere,
Which warrants me to put thy praises forth:
My coulors ready are, I lacke but light
(Which I will haue) to paint them out aright.
I. D.
To the Right Honorable, the good Lord of Kinlosse, &c.
Praise that proceedeth from a Poets Pen,
That faines by nature, may want powre perchāce
To adde renowne to the renownes of Men,
Whom goodnesse without glozing doth advance.
If then my Pen (though it too open be
To gloze) disabled be by Envies spight
To register the right that's due to thee,
Yet should it wrong thee to conceale thy right.
Thy VVorld-contēning Thoughts the world do make
(As knowledging the ods twixt good and Ill)
To rev'rence thee for thy rare goodnesse sake,
Which harts with loue, & mouthes with praise doth fill:
They stile that praise but with one only word
Which being, Good, with God doth still accord.
I. D.
To the Right Noble Lady, the Lady Rich.
TO descant on thy name as many doe
(Sith it is sit t'expresse thine excellence)
I should (deere Lady) but allude vnto
That, vvhich with it compar'd, is indigence.
Yet to bee rich was to bee Fortunate,
As all esteem'd, and yet though so thou art,
Thou wast much more then most vnfortunate,
Though richly-well thou plaid'st That haplesse part
Thou didst expresse what Art could never sho,
The Soules true griefe for losse of her Loues soule;
Thine Action speaking-passion made, but ô!
It made thee subiect to a Iailes controule.
But, such a Iaile-bird heauenly Nightingale,
For such a cause, sings best in greatest bale.
I. D.
To the intire Body of the Kinges Maiesties most Honorable Privie Councell.
WHere Loue devided is, shee hardly can
Be like her selfe; But, when shee is intire,
In sacred flames shee burnes more hot then fire,
Bee it in abstract Formes; or mortall Man.
Yet Loue, and reverence are due to those
Whose, wakefull wits still worke for publike good;
So rev'rence I your honor'd Fatherhood,
As Founts from whom our publike proffit floes.
In you wise Pilots of this ioy-fraught Barke
(Barke of our blessed Common-weale) it is
To make her keepe her course in lasting blisse,
Which charge requires your well-directing carke:
You cannot better spend lifes benefit
Then for so good an ende, at Sterne to sit.
I. D.
To my much honored, and intirely beloued Patronesse, the most famous Vniversitie of Oxford.
TO mount aboue Ingratitude (base crime)
With double lines of single-twisted Rime;
I will (though needlesse) blaze the Sun-bright praise
Of Oxford, where I spend some gaining daies:
Who entertaines me with that kinde regard,
That my best words, her worst deedes should reward:
For like a Lady full of roialtie,
Shee giues me Crownes for my Charactery:
Her Pupils crowne me for directing them,
Where like a King I liue, without a Realme:
They praise my precepts, & my Lessōs learne,
So doth the worse the better wel governe.
But Oxford, ô I praise thy situation
Passing Pernassus, Muses habitation!
Thy Bough-deckt-dainty VValkes, with Brooks beset
Fretty, like Christall Knots, in mould of Iet.
Thy sable Soile's like Guians golden Ore,
And gold it yeelds, manur'd; no mould can more.
The pleasant Plot where thou hast footing found,
For all it yeelds, is yelke of English ground.
Thy stately Colledges like Princes courtes,
Whose gold-embossed high-embattl'd Ports
With all the glorious workmanshippe within
Make Strangers deeme they haue in Heaven bin,
When out they come from those celestiall places,
Amazing them with glorie and with graces.
But, in a word to say how I like thee,
For place, for grace, and for sweete companee,
Oxford is Heav'n, if Heav'n on Earth there be.
JOHN DAVIES.
To the most Honorable and Valorous Knight Sir Thomas Erskin &c.
HOny of Hybla if my Pen could dropp
Nay Nectar subtilized to the Spright,
Were not too sweet to varnish Vertues Propp
That holpe t'vphold our staie in Treasons spight.
Gainst Traitors did thy trustinesse appeere,
VVho were the Foiles to make thy T [...]uth to shine,
How blest wert thou that did'st thee so besteere
As made Treas'n pay, for her demaund
Death the fine of al flesh
a Fine?How art thou bound to Opportunity
That put her Fore-locks freelie in thy Fist?
And how ought we to praise thy valiancy
Where through, and through our Kinges, we all are blist!
One hardie Hand ioyn'd to a valiant Kinges
A Tribe of Traitors to confusion bringes!
I. D.
To the thrice Noble and valorous Knight Sir Edward VVingfield.
TO thee Belonas choisest Champion
Whose woundes, if steept in dew of Castalie,
(As they deserve) would make thee such an one
As Pagans vs'd for God to glorifie.
How oft hast thou thy selfe to woūds expos'd
To let in glory through thy gored sides!
That through thy flesh it might be so dispos'd
As in each part thereof it now abides?
How prodigall hast thou bin of thy bloud?
No more is left thē meerely life maintaines:
The fatt Calfe must be kill'd to do thee good
Thy hart to comforrt, and to fill thy Vaines.
O tis a glorious prodigalitie
That spends what not? for God & Conterie!
I. D.
To the Noble, discreete, and wellbeloved Knight Sir Henry Nevill.
THere was a Time when, ah that so there was,
Whie not there is? There is and was a Time,
Whē Men might cal Gold, Gold; & Brasse, but Brasse [...]
And saie it, without check, in Prose or Rime.
Yet should I cal thee Gold, some (Brasse perchance)
VVould saie! err'd because I nere toucht thee,
And so did cal thee through meere ignorance,
Or (which is worse) through abiect Flatteree.
I am too ignorant (I doe confesse)
To iudge thy woo [...]th, which worthiest Men cōmend,
Yet may I say (I hope) and not transgresse,
Th'art Vertue, Valour, Truth, and Honors friend;
All which presume thou art not gilt by guile
Because thy noble name
Ne-vile.
denies the vile.I. D.
To the Right VVorshipfull and most worthy Knight Sir Edward Dyer.
THough Saturne now with Iupiter doth sitt,
Where earst Minerua & the Muse did raigne,
Ruling the Common-wealth of vvill, and vvitt,
Plac'd in the kingdomes of thy hart, and braine:
Those Planetts I adore, whose influence
Insuseth vvisedome, Counsell, gravity;
Min [...]ua & the Muse ioyes my Soules sence,
Sith Soule-delighting lines they multiplie.
In both respects, for that that was and is
I tender thee the service of my Muse,
Which shal not marre thy fame though it may misse
To give the same that which to it accrues;
Yet this Gi [...]t, through thy Gifts, she gives to thee:
Times future, Dyer, die shal never see.
I. D.
To the right worshipfull & venerable Prelate, Doctor Tompson Deane of VVindsor.
MY frend, my father, naie, which is more deere,
My selfe should I, ere thee, (belov'd) forgett,
VVhose loue to mee, to mee doth thee indeere,
Whose
Cōversation
life my will for like on edge doth sett:In the vvombe fashiond for a right Divine,
Pleasing to God, to Angells, and to Men;
In whose face vvitt, and pietie doth shi [...]e,
To leade the blinde, drawe perverse Bretheren.
An hart of flesh, clos'd in a Brest of Brasse,
To feele Mens paines, and paine endure to ease thē;
Charities Mirror, or thick christal glasse,
Wher-through God: Sū-beams burne what doth disease thē.
Good to the good and badd, to great and small,
And my good freind, though I be worst of all.
I D.
Memories tribute due to the most worthie and no lesse learned Gentleman, Edward Herbert of Mountgomeroy Esquier.
CAN I forgett that's aie myne Eyes before?
If so I could, I may not thee forgett,
That vow'd my Memorie to thee of yore,
Then, thou of me maist claime that as thy Debt.
There are in thee partes worth my memorie,
Although it could thy pa [...]tes immortal make:
Who knowes [...]hee wil my iudgement iustify,
If not, he doth both thee and m [...]e mistake.
I cannot iudge of coulors, with such Eyes.
As cannot be deceaved; but I can
Discerne the knowne foole, from th'approved wise,
And without Spectacles, a Beast frō Man:
If then (sweete Sir) shouldst thou but please the sense,
Sense must needs praise thy pleasing excellence.
He in whose Memo [...]ie you shall live, till you saile to be what you are, or it what it is. I. D.
To all the right noble Nobilitie of England.
IF I were not disabled, through Defect,
(For my Inventions Poise, which witt vp-wound,
Lies now, for want of strēgth, stock-still on ground)
No vertuous Peere I would, by name, neglect.
The VVheeles which did my Fancy (working) turne
Are at a stand; O then impute it not
To want of VVill, as if I had forgott
In wilfull wise, to name you in your turne.
But whē my VVitts haue strength recovered
To winde the Poise vp to Inventions height,
Ile doo my best to give each one his right,
Though by your selves you are most honored:
Meane while with Favors Eye looke on my VVill
Which may excuse my present want of skill.
I. D.
To all the right Honorable Earles & Lords of Scotland.
I Want no loue, how ere my skill may faile,
In Honors Catalogue your names to putt,
Yet now am forc'd thē (al vnseene) to shutt
In these straite Lines, as in the Muses [...]aile.
Where Ile detaine thē (not without your leaue)
Till I doe set them foorth with better grace,
Each one in his true Coulors, forme, and place,
And as I found them faire, so them to leave.
When you awhile before my Muse have sate,
(For Painters make thē sitt, whose formes they paint)
Her skill shall faile, but then shee will depaint
According to the Life, your life, and State:
Pictures are vs'd, life, after death to s [...]o,
And youres, my Pen must picture, shalbe so.
I. D.
To the most faire, most fortunate, and no lesse famous Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.
And can I seeme, much lesse then can I be
Grateful, if I should thee, or thine forget,
Whose Head, and Members bind me so to thee,
That thou maist giue or take me as thy debt?
Thy discreete head's a Bond that bindes my head,
My hart, my hand, and vvhat besides is mine
To him for thee, to thee for him, in Deede;
So being bound in Deede, in deede am thine.
The Members of thy body (not of stone
Squar'd by the cunning of a mortall hand,
But living, loving, made by Loue alone)
Haue by their loue, in ever-lasting Band
So tide me to them, that as they doe moue,
So moue I, forc'd by force of mutuall loue.
Againe.
BLest be that Thought, past time beyond al thought,
That first did moue that wise, as holy
William Wainflet Bishop of Winchester.
hart,To reare this Trophey where his vertues fought
And cōquer'd Rage, with whō those
Hen. 6. Ed. 4.
times took part:A sacred Trophey left for Vertues vse,
Not onely (as are others) for meere fame;
But as a nere-dri'd Dugge vnto the Muse,
That times, past time, might suck sweets frō the same.
Sing sweetly (blessed Babes, that sucke the Brest
Of this sweete Nectar-dropping Magdalen)
Their praise in holy Hymnes, by whom yee Feast,
The God of Gods, and VVaineslet best of Men:
Sing in an Vnion with the Angels Quires,
Sith Heav'ns, your house cōtenting your desires.
I. D.
To the VVorld.
PErhaps in Iudgements eie it may appeare
I lou'd Him living whom I honor dead;
Whose loue, I think, to all was no lesse deare,
Sith hee was such as all men honored.
All? that is, some, or rather most of All;
If some did not, the harme I wish to them
Is, that they may deserue loue generall,
Or els made free of new Ierusalem.
No creature bearing God-almighties forme,
But I desire to loue, and wish him vvel;
If good desires, farre worse Affects deforme,
It comes from that for which the fi [...]st Māfel:
But howsoere, I am resolv'd herein,
To wish al grace, in spight of flesh & sinne.
I. D.
To my beloved Mr. Iohn Davies of the Middle-Temple Councellor at the Law.
WHy should it not content me, sith thy praise
Pertaines to me, to whō thy name pertaines;
If thou by Art to heav'n thy fame canst raise?
Al's but Iohn Davies that such glory gaines;
Admit it liues enrol'd in lasting lines
In the Exchequer of the sacred Muse,
Thy name, thy fame vnto my name cōbines
In future times, nor Thou nor I can choose.
For, if Iohn Davies such, such times brought forth,
To wit, these times in vvhich vve both doe liue,
Then must Iohn Davies, share Iohn Davies worth,
For, times to come can no distinction giue.
Then what neede I to beate my tired braines
To make Iohn Davies liue to after Ages,
When thou hast don't by thy praise-worthy paines,
For, were I idle, I haue thy VVorkes wages.
[Page]Or, what if like an intellectual Sprite,
I able were Artes Spirits to purifie,
To ravish VVorlds to come with rare delight
They would with my fame thy name glorifie.
Then may I play sith thou dost worke for me;
And sith thy works do so in beauty shine,
What neede I then for
Eccle. 2. 15.
fame thus busie be,Sith thine is mine, and mine is likewise thine?
It is because my Minde that's aie in motion
Hath to the Muses Measures most devotion.
Againe,
IOhn vnto Iohn, Davies to Davies sends
This little draught of new loues large Demise,
If wordes doe want to passe what it pretends,
Supplie that want, the Grant neede no supplies.
To you, and to your Heires, the same doth runne,
Simplie in loue for aie to hold in fee,
A good estate, you haue, and your Sonnes Sonne;
A kinde acceptance shall your out-rent be:
You Coūcel can your selfe, a fee then saue,
Mende you the draught, loues Deede no fault should haue.
I. D.
The Booke of it selfe.
I am, that was not; and I was, that am;
I was vnmade; that was, in state confus'd:
I am, for Arte hath form'd that formlesse Frame,
Yet form'd my nature was, ere Arte was vs'd.
Mother-Tongue, and VVi [...], Observance, & goodwil
Haue made me what I am, or good, or ill.
Not vnto vs (ô Lord) not vnto vs, but to thy name giue the praise and glory. Psal. 115.1.
Againe: to Envie and Detraction
DEERE Envie and Detractiō, deere to those
That vnto Vertue are immortall foes,
Let me, although I hate you, yet entreate
That I, if good ynough, may be your meate;
You cannot grace me more, then gnaw me still;
For what you spare is too farre spent in ill.
Teare me in peeces with your grizlie fangs,
You Crowne my Soule with glory by such Pangs.
Hee is a Divell that to die detests
In Hel-hounds mouthes, to live in Angells Brests.
IOHN DAVIES.
FINIS.
In loue and affection of Master Iohn Davies, mine approved good friend, and admiration of his excellence in the Arte of VVriting.
THat heavenly Sparke, from which th'immorall Soule
Had her first being, striveth to enroule
Her wondrous Guifts in characters of Brasse,
That when (dissolved from this earthie Masse)
Shee mounts aloft, her never-dying Glorie
May fill the Volumes of a learned Storie;
VVhich after-Ages, reading, may admire,
And (inly burning with the like desire)
To rare Atcheiuements (emulous of Fame
Striving t'immortalize their dying Name)
May bend their Practise, dedicate their Daies;
And, so excited, purchase datelesse Praise.
Our actiue Soule feeles never wearinesse,
[Page]But her true loue to Fame doth best expresse
In hating Idlenesse: whence comes this notion,
Her working Faculties are still in motion.
Ore some then others, greater Soveraigntie
This divine Essence of Humanitie
Hath power to exercise: For baser Swaines
Abhor the check of her immortall Raignes.
Frō whence it is, that Midas brood possesse
The greater Share in earthly Happinesse;
VVhile those pure Mindes, who most submissiue stand
At the least wrentch of her almighty Hand
(Obscurely hidd in Corners at their Booke)
Are hardly grace't so much as with a looke
Of this iniurious World. O wretched Age
VVherein the sacred Artes to Vassalage
Subiected are! while muddy Mindes aspire,
VVhile greater Heroes daine but to admire
And praise (with bootlesse breath) the polisht Lines,
VVherin, Cōceipt hath traveld through the Mines
Of rich Invention, manie a wearie hower
(Spent with the Muses in a gloomie Bower)
To times swift feathers imping greater store,
VVhilst thus they plough the barrain fruictles Shore
Earths brightest Angels, these, ô these be they
VVhose Corps are fram'd of fire, and not of clay!
VVhose either Part, both mortall, and divine
So sweete a Symphonie doth intertwine,
That both accord to prosequute that Fame
VVhich, but for Vertue, stellifies our Name.
Among which Number (famous by Desart)
The Lawrel Crowne be his, whose every Part
[Page]To th'intellectiue Soule (their Soveraigne)
Pay true Subiectiue Dutie, and doe gaine
By restlesse labour that perfection
Which, saue by him, hath bin attain'd by none;
By him (the Subiect of these worthles Rimes)
Whose Art lends luster to our English climes,
Davies, discoverer of hidden Deepes,
True Microcosme, whose peircing Spirit creeps
Into the darkest Cavernes, in-most Denne
Where Wit inhabits mong the sons of Men,
And plucks out Knowledg (by the goldē locks)
From where shee long had slept within the Rocks
Of hard Obscurity, whence every Eie
May iudge it selfe; ô wondrous Mysterie!
Whence we our selues, our selues may truly know,
Which is indeede most hard, how ere in show.
But endlesse were it, and impossible
(Vnlesse my Muse to his were sutable)
Here to delate that Grace in Poesie
VVhich his witt-fraughted workes can testifie.
Cast backe thine Eie, reade, and (admiring) see
The Quintessence of humane Ingenie,
VVay well the rich Conceipt; so shalt thou know
That few, (if any) could haue written so.
Descend we then from that internall Flame,
To Qualities externall: whence the name
Of Excellence hath purchast beene of manie,
But, as of Davies, never yet of anie.
In praising whom, the best my Lines can say
VVill, for his VVorth, be worthlesse every way:
Yet, for I loue his Name, admire his Skill,
[Page]Out of the heate and fervour of Good-will
These colder Lines this frozen passage found,
Force't by the League wherin al Frendes are bound:
And reason tis, those Men that merit Fame
Aboue the rest, should franckly haue the same.
And be it farr from every gentle Hart
To deeme that, Soothing, or a glosing part
VVhen one good Freind an other shal commend
More then that, Hatred, when our speeches tend
In whom we loue, some fault to rectifie
VVhich wrongs himselfe, defames his Progenie.
Praise is the guerdon of a due Desart
Making vs better act the praised Part.
There never Man deserved Memorie
For perfect Science in his Facultie,
If Dauies Name deserue to be forgott,
If, when his mortall Part in earth shall rott,
The riches of his Soule (mans greatest treasure)
Shalbe made subiect to the greedie seasure
Of darke Obliuion, if such Perfection
Shall frō the Graves rude hand haue no protection.
Maugre the Gripe of Time, in spight of Fates
And ought beside that, Fame, determinates,
His Name would liue to all Posteritie
In the fayre lines of his Characterie,
Could any Hand the
A steele [...]nst [...]ument.
graver so commaund,As can, the penne, his vvonder-writing Hand.
But, for no Graver, or stampt Letter can
(Or ought els framed by the Witt of Man)
Shew Times future true proose of such rare Skill
[Page]By demonstration, mine Artlesse Quill
Striues to commende to lasting Memorie
A glimps (though darkely) of that Qualitie.
For (if mine aime Loue hath not much betraid)
This Booke must liue till Time his course hath staid:
So that, to those not yet conceiv'd, I send
This poore effect which my loues cause hath pend,
Neglecting Art, affecting to descrie
Loue to my friend, and to his Qualitie.
Whose Matchlesse Art in managing the Penne
Time neuer equaliz'd; and Times agen
(When his diurnal Howërglasse hath ranne
The dated Minutes of a mortall Man)
Will hardly paralel: for such true Skill
May scarce be purchased by paine, or Will:
Hee that as Davies would as fairely vvrite,
Must of necessitie haue Davies spright.
Who knows not that this wondrous Facultie
Is not conceiu'd by coorse Capacitie,
But maketh there her only Habitation
Where shee doth finde a strong Imagination!
For none habitually can her possesse
That is not made of fire and liuelynesse.
Could neuer Hand so curiously convay
The nice Delineaments, so every vvay
In iust proportion (purest Sumetrie)
Vnlesse directed by a perfect Eie,
And first imprinted in the Phantasie:
Which, weaker Braines can never apprehend,
Much lesse an Actiue Demonstration lend.
The strange Meanders, and the Gordian knots
Now straight, now larger, as the Hand alots;
The curious VVorkemanshippe in every letter,
This pleasing best, that other pleasing better,
A third exceeding both, when euery one
For perfect shape is singular alone;
The rare Diversitie which one selfe-hand
Can, with that little Instrument command,
Doth so bewitch th'amaz'd Beholders eie,
And so delight th'invegled Phantasie,
That vvhat our eies behold our Tongues commend,
Nor, wondring, can admit or meane, or end.
Come lend, yee Lovers of this sacred Art,
Your voice with mine, to celebrate a part
In his deserued Praise, whose matchlesse Skill
To blazon perfectlie, vvould tire the Quill
Of Hermes selfe: for rightly to commende
This Art of VVriting, vvere to comprehende
Within our Numbers her Antiquitie,
And, how through her, the living Memorie
Of famous Worthies hath preserued beene;
Whose VVorkes these latter Ages had not seene,
But (rake't in Darknesse with their Authors head)
VVithout her helpe, had euer perished.
Nor should we slightly touch the Praises Due
Which, through this Art, to Learning still accrue;
Without whose aide, in vaine were Sapience,
In vaine were every other Excellence;
Sith Strangers might not then participate
VVhat Reading, VVit, and Labour had begat,
But greatest Clarks should vainely spend their daies,
Leaving, with Life, their Glory, Name, and praise:
May tell the Vertue of this Mysterie;
Sufficeth me, to runne (though slightly) over
Part of his Parts, whose Penne can best discover
Her fairest Beauty; such, as doth excite
In All that view Her, wonder and delight.
All Characters that ere the Graver wrought
Are obvious to him, and quicklie brought
To decke the Triumph of the golden Penne
VVhich he long since hath merited: for when
(T'approue his Excellence) he challeng'd All
Or English bred, or forraine Nationall
To striue for glorie, and a golden Price
(Which one or both might every sort entise)
Vnanswered, hee Monarchiz'd alone;
What greater Conquest than withstood by None?
The Germanes, skill'd in every curious Art
(VVhose practick Hand doth to the World impart
Such quaint Devises) giving Right his due,
Extoll our Davies, and his Fame pursue
With printed lines, writ in the Latine tongue,
As loth to doe his Cunning so much wrong
In the distastiue Germane Idiom
To leaue that Monument for Times to come,
Because they knew their Dialect too lame
To beare the vvaight of his immortall fame.
O you thrise famoused for Raritie,
The grace and beautie of your
Faire w [...]iting.
Qualitie,That breathe the Aire of Italie, and France,
Come, doe your Homage and Allegiance
[Page]To him whose Pen raignes in faire Paper Reames,
(Content therewith as Kinges with Diadems)
VVhose Subiects Letters are of every Suite
Made all aright by rule most absolute.
To him, from Paris, moue thine antique station
Beauchene, the perfectst Pen-man of thy Nation;
To him, from Venice, bring those Guifts of thine,
Renoun'd for wondrous writing, Camerine;
VVarne thou the Romanes that thou must be gone
To visite England, curious Curion;
Come all at once, that all at once may learne
To mend your Hands, and rightly to discerne
Betweene the Good, and most most-Excellent;
Nor will (perhapps) your Travaile be mispent,
Sith each, in's Natiue Hand, may gaine perfection
By practising His Counsell and Direction.
In former Times, ere wiser Times begatt
(That which for ever Men shall wonder at)
The Printing Mysterie, that curious Hand
VVhich could the Pen most perfectly commaund
Had not a Finger vnbegirt with Gold,
Such meede had Merit in the daies of old:
Had Dauies liu'd, when such Preheminence
VVas onely given to Men of excellence,
The scribling VVriters of that golden Time
Had (wādring) sought some more auspicious Clime;
For none, save He alone, had thriv'd in this,
The guift of Exellence beeing onely his.
To him, from Heaven, descends this Quality:
For, VVill, Desire, all-gaining Industrie,
Time, Promptitude, VVitt, Steadinesse of Hand,
[Page]Swift apprehension, Fingers at command,
Strongest Conceipt, Art Geometricall,
Or ought attain'd by Science naturall,
Poetick Furie, and the Muses ayd,
(All which are Propps whereon this Art is stayd)
Nor these, nor other Adiuments haue power
To purchase that (with manie a toyling hower)
VVhich from aboue, by pure Instinct was sent
To grace our Dauies, Englands
For writing.
Wonderment.In whose deserved Praise, if ardent Zeale
(Striving my neere Affection to reveale)
Hath larger beene then well becomes the Place,
This short Apologie may purchase Grace;
In Vertues praise can nere bee said too much;
Such is our Subiect, his Demeanour such.
NICHOLAS DEEBLE.
In Microcosmum, sive Parvum Ioh. Davisij Heref. Mundum.
DVm Microcosmum scribis, & Parvum vocas
Mundum, libellum: fructus ingenij tui
Magnum, (Davisi) quem vocas Parvum, facit.
Fecisse Mundum gaudeo, immundi at nihil
Metuimus vnde munda sunt orta omnia.
Sed fabricator factus es parcus nimis
Qui munda sed minuta nobis exhibes.
Minuta querimur, quòdmodum supra placent,
Minuta querimur scripta vel mirum in modum.
Si dum occidentem subdis Hispano iugo
Philippe gentem,
Phil. 2. Hisp. Rex.
quereris arctatum suisLimitibus Orbem; nec sat est vni Tibi
Vel totus Orbis: dederit invidia locum
Totus non sufficit O [...]bis.
Si Microcosmū hunc auribus & oculis nimis
Nimis (que) strictum turba doctorum putet.
Prodesse cunctis (sat scio) Davisicupis,
Quin & placere disce iam tandem omnibus;
Placere verò sivelis, doct â manu
Extende Mundum hunc, vel crea Mundos novos.
NVnc scio quòd quaevis pars est habitabilis Orbis,
Sunt in fronte alij, nos sumus Antipodes:
Scribimus hìc, illic; nobis tua nempe (Davisi)
Principio placuit pagina, fine placet.
Me (que) iuvat, nostrum quòd carmen vtrin (que) legatur,
Te vt laudent oriens, occiduum (que) latus.
ED LAPVVORTH.
FINIS.