AN EPITOME OF THE WORLDS WOE, Wherein is perspicuously discouered; the lamentable miseries of the World, in these tempestuous times, the infidelitie of fained friends, and the ficklenesse of deceitefull fortune.
Continued by way of Meditation and Resolution.
By GEO. DICHANTE, Gent.
Ἄπαντε ἐν θαλάςςη κακοῦ πλέομην.
All we (poore Mortals) wade against our will,
In waues of woe, and Seas of surging ill.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Cotes, and Richard Cotes, 1630
THE VVOE OF THE WORLD.
HEauen's high director, and Olympus King,
Whose power doth guid, & gouerne euery thing
Whose blessed bounty doth extend to all,
Whose wealth supplyes each want in generall.
Supply my wants, Great God! thou map of meeknesse,
And let thy power be perfect in my weakenesse:
Oh helpe me to divulge, in these weake times,
The vainnesse, and vexation of these times.
Inspire my Muse, she truely may explaine,
The woes that in this wicked world do raigne:
For at the Altar of thy holy Will,
My Muse doth offer vp her Incense still:
And all the faculties remaine in me
I will addresse and consecrate to thee.
Tis in thy power to rectifie each wrong,
Oh guide me then, and go with me along:
Grant what I write, within this tedious story
May to all's good redound, and to thy Glory.
Since that same season wherein I was borne,
(By sinne originall) a wretch forlorne:
These eyes and eares of mine haue knowne (though young)
Woes; cannot be exprest by pen, nor tongue.
For I protest (yet many thinke not so)
I haue beene witnesse to a world of Woe.
Neere in my life as yet that I could tell;
One intire day remaind I perfect well.
But various passions, still were represented,
Sometimes well-pleased, straightway male-contented
Sometimes fresh ioy, did ouer ioy my heart;
Anone I was possest with pangs of smart:
And when some ouerflowe of fickle Fate,
Had fild my bodies bankes with blisse or State,
The ebbe of that within a little space,
Hath left me in a worse, and weaker case:
And seeing thus my ioyes to ebbe and flowe,
With lofty Surges first, and then sinke lowe.
Leauing the top-full bankes of blisse all dry,
Oh what a wicked world is here (thought I)
Where nothing's firme, but all I here espie,
Of sublunary Subiects, liue to die.
What mortall then, that with the eye of wit?
Descends into the world, but sees that it,
Containeth little that is good within,
For tis a nurse of vice, a sinke of sinne:
A Laborinth of labour, gins, and guiles:
A sacke of sorrowes, wickednesse and wiles.
And In my selfe though all these woes I see,
[...] s [...]ll as me
Each man a little world containes within,
A true compendium of the great worlds sinne:
Where Reason as the Princesse highest sits,
In the bed-chamber of the Bodies wits,
The Sences are Attendants on the Court,
Without whose aide nought passes through the port.
The supreame powers, as Memory and Will,
They are the Peeres, retaining good or ill:
The Parts exterior, and interne Affections
Are Commons that relye o'th Peers protection.
Then violent Passions that (there) will not cease
Are base Disturbers of the Common peace.
And as one Passion is anothers doore
Wherein may enter more and more:
So restlesse Woes continually make roome,
Whereby another Woe may likewise come;
Which dumps and dolors do so terrifie me,
And sors my sences, that no ioy comes nigh me:
For the great griefes, that gaule me euery day,
Surpriz [...] my comfort, bannish blisse away.
I am no Stoicke that no passions loue,
Whose mindes at neither mirth nor sorrow moue:
These Stocke conceits do truly represent,
The ouerthrow of inward gouernment.
But as a Christian heart my God me gaue,
So I' [...] take care to order all I haue.
Then tell, what mortall euer yet could say,
His ioy was constant st [...]ll a compleate day:
Yet true it is that many men haue spent,
[...]
But constantly if it endur'd a day,
And was not crackt by sorrow neere away:
That griefe and ioy so long hath kept a sunder,
I will record it for a worldly wonder.
No, no, the world is meerely all but vaine,
And her best pleasures turne to bitter paine:
For though ioy tary strangely for an houre,
Tis soone consum'd by care, and sorrow sowre.
Whence I extract (which euery one sayes plaine)
That pleasures period, is a passe to paine;
That ioy and gladnesse take their turnes about,
And when the one is in, the others out.
So that in neither, ther's a stable station,
But when its sorrowes Terme, it's ioyes Vacation.
The Poets faine, there was betwixt those two,
A great dissention, and a deale to doo;
Which twix't them selues could not he pacifi'd,
But they must go to Iupiter to tride,
And he all meanes, and motions too did trie,
The variant to reduce to amity.
But when he fee his paines had fruitlesse proou'd,
And that their malice could not be remoou'd:
To venge himselfe, and curbe these solmne sots,
He bound them in, indissoluble knots;
And chan'd them fast, withall decreed so,
These two inseperate for ere should go.
Then tis no wonder that they do surprize
Men in this manner with their miseries:
For euery man hath sure his turne of sorrow,
f glad to day, he's sure of griefe to morrow.
So thus is mankind with their mischeefes crost,
One day payes dolor, that another lost:
I neuer yet with any did remaine,
But euer he of something did complaine.
If Rich, then to augment his state and store,
He would take care to scrape and gape for more;
If poore and nipt with pinching pennurie,
He then must care to ease his miserie.
When Salomon the Mirror of true wit,
Had all experience man could haue of it;
And for his pleasure Orchards daily planted,
Made fish-ponds, craued nought, but it was granted.
Had men and women-seruants borne and breed,
within his house, and there were nourished:
Had stately buildings, costly gemmes and things,
As presents sent from Emperors and Kings.
Bdellium, Ophir gold, all kind of wood,
Gold, Siluer, Frankincense, and all was good:
Nay to be briefe, all solace he had sent,
Could please the eye, or giue the heart content;
Yet did he deeply (lothing them) complaine,
And said, The world and all is vaine.
So let men giue their hearts to glut in pleasures,
To hoord vp Riches, Iewels, Gems, and treasures:
Yet in the end with him they will complaine,
And truely say, The world and all is vaine.
But discontent and hunting still for more,
Not satisfi'd with good enough before:
Men fast pursue to be of all possest,
And till their race be runne can neuer rest.
Which woe indures and the furies fell,
Makes vs thinke earth to be a second hell.
Then cannot this be mended? yes, in store,
God hath laid vp a Salue for euery sore:
And the best Medicine that I finde is this
If any in his Baine would looke for blesse:
When woe and sorrow come, I do not care for't
Because before it come I am prepar'd for't:
And when tis come (for to disgest the smart)
Ile freely welcome woe with all my heart;
But when it goes (it's bitternesse to quell
I looke for't more and bid but halfe, Farewell.
So that in Mirth I maladies do feare;
And in my care I know that comfort's neere.
Oh that my eyes could shed a sea of Teares
For to lament our vnlamented yeeres;
Or could but with my weake and weary straine
Beate all these mischiefes into Mortals buaine:
Then sure some veiwing of its Misery
Would cast all care aside, and learne to dye;
Leaue of all worldly loue, make preparation,
As here he had but one houres habitation.
I do not care (my Minde was neuer such)
Whether I be endow'd with little or much;
If little, my account shall be but small,
How I'ue disposed of this little all:
If much (no Auarice gainst me hath stood,
But I may grant it to the needies good.
And for my part I will confesse that I,
Am very young yet old enough to die.
If that the destinies had decreed it so,
I had beene well content that gate to go:
Then had I beene secure from sinning more,
And past the perill of the pikes before.
But since it stands thus with his holy pleasure,
That to repent, I haue the times leysure:
My Times, at all times like a carefull man,
Ile make the best vse of it that I can.
But as for Fortune and all worldly care,
That daily on this world do make repaire,
I'ue such an Antidote laid vp in store,
As that her hornes shall neuer hurt me more:
For Patience shall arme my body still,
To beare the burthen of her good or ill.
My minde shall meditate on that alway,
That prudent Pompey vsed oft to say:
My friends (quoth he) we haue but little cause,
To trust Fates flatterings, and vaine applause:
For by experience I haue prou'd it true,
(My former state I know was knowne to you)
How the Emperiall Rule I once did gaine,
Before I lookt for or ere wisht the same;
And on a suddaine euery one might see
Twas snarcht away, and taken quite from me.
When I a Mighty Monarch reigned in Rome,
Secure (as then I dreamd) from Care to come;
And climing to attaine the top of all,
I was deposed, and cought this feate full fall.
So Senecca (when banished from Rome,
[...]
Vnto his mother Altine wrote a letter,
That she might beare his banishment the better.
(Mother said he) I n'ere gaue credit to,
Or trusted Fortunes slimme and subtle show
Although 'twixt me and her did often grow,
Great friendlinesse, 'twas fild with fraud I know.
For when she did consent to ought I did,
If any peace or praise in it lay hid:
I knew she did not pitty me at all,
But rais'd me high, to take the greater fall.
So by her liberality what's sent,
Riches, or Honor, I accompt them lent.
All promises that she doth proffer me,
The pleasures, wealth, or what prosperity,
I lay it by within my house by't selfe,
Looking each houre to lose that lastlesse pelfe.
And it doth n'ere my mind at all affright,
Whether she tak't away by day or night:
Ile n'ere lament nor wander still in woe,
But as it came, Ile freely let it goe.
Whence this we see, the prudent and the wise.
Will not presume still on good happ to rise:
Nor all her ficklenesse esteeme a haire,
Because before a change they do prepare.
Yet if I might elect I'd rather buy
Her Amity, then wofull Enmity;
And when I'ue lost wherewith she did relieue me,
Then let her take it, it shall neuer greeue me.
Let her take all I haue, burn't in the fire,
And giue it to some monster, or a man,
Vse all extremities she will or can;
Yet shall not this, nay nor a further smart,
Produce a sigh, or euer greeue my heart.
We read that Philip Macedon likewise,
When he heard tell of three great victories:
Straight kneeled down with folded palmes to'th skies
And vnto heauen lifting vp his eyes
Vtter'd these words; Oh cruell Fates (quoth he)
And gratious, gods, after prosperitie
I humbly pray you you will be content
To moderate my future chastisement:
And let it not be a sad introduction.
Of my great ruine, or my dire destruction:
For I am certaine, that such flowes are vaine,
And after pleasure will insue my paine.
All which examples, truely should be noted
And in our memories well writ and quoted:
That midditating on them we may know,
How little trust to fortune we do owe:
How much we haue to trust the flattering strife,
And fawning happinesses of this life;
For we not taking heed of after claps.
Fall vnawares in number of mishaps.
Yea, if it fortune that some time we find,
Pleasures, and great contentments to our mind:
Then paine his penalty, for pleasure doubles,
And vs ou'r whelmeth, in a gulfe of troubles.
So like right worldlings, thinking for to hold,
Our [...]
In spight of Fortune and her nimble lets,
We're trapt and toyled in misfortunes Nets:
Such is our folly, when we hauing got,
Some bauins blaze of blisse, or little lot:
Our Wits by much presuming on that fate,
Are c [...]ptiuate and drown'd in selfe conceit.
So we become (by running thus astray)
(To froward Fortune, and ill hap) a pray.
O traiterous world, which for a little space,
Dost flatter fawne, and smile on vs apace;
And quickly in the twinkling of an eye,
Bereaues vs of our ioyes and dignitie:
Thou giuest vs occasion to be glad,
And after makes vs dolefull, heauy, sad.
Now thou aduances, and extols vs hie,
Then throwes vs downe, and makes vs lowly lie.
But oh base world, how can we scape thy gins?
Or liuing here extenuate our sinnes.
For why, the more thou knowes a man is glorious
And by's aspiring seekes to be notorious;
To fit his chaps for him thou dost prouide,
Riches, Honor, and many things beside:
As Beauteous Women, I and dainty fare,
That he may surfeit on them wtthout care.
But after all these wished ioyes, and pleasures,
Great dignities, and many precious Treasures;
Euen as a bate is for the Fishes set,
So are we taken in vaine pleasures net.
But as for worldly and these tough Temptations)
(Presented to vs for our iust probations)
They make vs thinkt, vnpossible ere Fate,
Should Metamorphose such a setled State:
Which hardens vs in them to take delight.
And practise nought but pleasures day and night.
Yet I would haue one that's affectionate
Vnto the worldly pleasures, pompe, and state,
Or loues it most, To tell me by his wit
What recompences, or what benefit
After the world deceiues them, they can reape;
Nought but Laments, and for their lust to weepe,
I'ue knowne great dolors, griefe, and lamentations,
In many houses, where's beene exultations,
And many ioyes before, in worldly state,
That haue their losse lamented too too late.
But thinke, the world rewards vs still with euill,
And ruines good things like a demy-deuill:
Tis Vertues Tyrant, enemy to peace,
For base commotions neuer in't will cease:
Errors maintainer, and a freind to warres,
This Souldiers testifie, when scourg'd with skarres:
A graue of ignorance, a field of folly,
That showes vs mirth, yet stor'd with melancholy,
Curst Cares Charibdes, and a dangerous deepe,
Wherein the godly many crosses reape:
A very Scilla wherein our desires,
Do also perish with vaine lucres fires.
For the base vulger makes no accompt of them,
That merit well, or sprung of Noble Stem:
But those that can support and maintaine pleasures,
And onely wade in wealth and [...]da [...]ie treasures
When these bereft of liuing and of state,
Do curse their birth-day, and the faith of fate.
Yet still the base broode, cast a semblance sowre,
Vpon good qualities, if they be poore:
When they fond clues, his outside onely see,
And braue apparell, without honestie:
But care not for all qualities a pin,
Nor the sweete gifts that he retaines within.
When the best Clearkes, did often on it vant,
And banisht Opulence to line in want:
As Bias carried all his wealth about,
And dog'd Diogenes lay in's Tub without;
Poore Irus, Codrus, and a many moe,
That sought things firme, and let the fickle goe.
For plaine experience let these learned see,
Want is the Mistresse of Philosophie.
Their skill and learning told them this for sure,
That riches and preferment would not dure;
But vertues lustre lasteth during breath,
And makes our name Immortall after death.
This should be apprehended of the wise,
Though they seeme sordid in the vulgers eyes.
Their iudgements fallible, and comes not neare,
The true insight, but iudge as things appeare;
When wisedome alway doth of things take heede,
Not as they seeme, but as they be indeed.
So still the noble striue for to surmount,
The Pedants censure and the vulgers count.
For when the brittle state of things they see,
And wh [...] s [...]ll [...]old [...]
They cleaue to that, which brings perpetuall gaine,
And makes men without ruine long to raigne;
But not of riches, friends, or lands to boast,
That long a gathering are, and soone are lost:
Nor great ones loues, for like the Scithian floure,
Their fauours fade, or flourish in an houre.
Did not Aegyptian Ptholomie affect,
Ewsenides with honor and respect:
That what he spake (though he prou'd but a Daw)
It was reputed for a lasting law:
Instal'd in offices, and finally,
He waxt most opulent, and proud thereby;
Reioycing greatly in his happy fate,
He boastingly one time said to his mate.
The King no more can attribute to me,
Then the sole rule of all his Monarchie:
Who answer'd (Sir) be not deceiu'd, thinke how
The Fate that gau't, can tak't againe from you;
And that would prooue (to your eternall strife)
The saddest day you ere had in your life.
Short after Ptholomie did him espie,
Talking with women very wantonly
Whom he affected; Ptolomia anon,
Caus'd all the women poyson drinke vpon:
Ber [...]ft Ewsenides of all's estate,
And lastly hang'd him on the Portall gate.
So by Senerus, Plancina was promoted,
Till in his too much dignity he doted:
For checking of his Princes eldest sonne,
[...]
Then Commodus his man Cleander lou'd,
Whose loue a long time, could not be remoou'd,
For he was wise, yet auarous and greedy,
(And often times these proue but little speedy.)
For when the Souldiers with a warrant came,
To aske their pay, he did deny the same
Though sealed with the Signet of the King.
And when the Souldiers did relate the thing,
For contradiction of the Kings command,
He hastily was hanged out of hand;
His goods confiscate, and his noble name,
Togither with his life, did end in shame.
Constantius to Hortensius had a fauour,
And deerely lou'd him for his good behauiour:
As one, on whom rely'd his chiefe protection,
All his affaires were done by his direction.
Yet when the King receiu'd intelligence,
He was the Auth [...]r of a foule offence
Did touch his person; straight way for the deed,
He was adiudged for to lose his head.
Nay and a number I could mention heere,
Who in great loue and estimation were:
Yet for such triuiall faults were done to death,
And all their blessings blasted with their breath.
Great Alexander in his angry mood,
Slewe Carterus, and basely shed his blood.
Though Cincinnatus was Bittillons friend,
Yet was Bittilion, Cincinnatus end:
So in mens fauours there's no constancy,
For changes come ith [...]i [...]ling of an eye
And if from ancient Stories we descend,
To moderne acts, and marke the timelesse end
Of Fauorites, here I truely might infold,
More presidents, then all this booke can hold.
These represent to our meditations,
Liuely illustrate, this worlds alterations:
And that there is no minute, hour, nor day,
But Woe and Gladnesse, alter still their stay:
For which sage Solons speeches I commend,
And say, No man is happy, till his end.
Another greefe to make my woe amends,
Doth torture me, and that is faithlesse friends:
Who when they see some poore sinister puffe
Of Fate, assault a friend; Oh! thats enough,
And causes good they haue, then to reiect him,
Leaue him to helpe himselfe they'le not respect him.
Some of this stampe I haue, but sure not many,
But of that crew I wish I had not any.
For in a little triall, I haue found,
Their bounties backward, & their hearts hide-bound,
When friends affliction, puts them to the touch,
Then little helpe, or heart is showne from such.
Yet farre be it, our consanguinitie,
Should with vnnaturall affinitie,
Be cloyed thus, though some there be thats ill,
Yet I haue others, that prooue honest still:
And for their parts, thus much I'le boldly say,
For no aduersity they'le turne away.
But for the first, all goodnesse doth forsake them,
Whom God amend or [...]
For as their hearts are hardned to do ill,
So are their hands to propagate their will;
Their infamy and names I might haue noted,
And all their malice in the margent quoted:
But for my present ease, I will forbeare,
And presse them in another place then here.
They are forwarned now, and I protest,
Though they scape hanging yet they shall be prest.
For he indeed ought to be term'd a friend,
whose loue and aide last firme vnto the end:
That willingly doth offer with his heart,
Of a poore penny to his friend a part;
And willingly supplies what he doth lacke,
Meate for his mouth, and cloathing for his backe:
Doth succor him before he asketh aide,
And's fixed to him when all others fade.
For this is true (none dare I thinke deny it)
To beg a thing of friendship is to buy it:
And such as in mens miseries forsake them,
They're monsters made of men, what can you make them.
For while that happy fortune doth in sue
Friends grow, then reckon them, you'l finde enough.
There's goodman get-all, and my neighbour Iane,
Must needes be sent for vnto gratious Lane:
She's very honest, and I meane to meete
Her (as she promis't me) in Gracious streete:
But lauisht out, and you shall see this rag-taile,
Where there no Gold-Finch is, will proue a Wagtaile
Then goodman get-all, and long Iane the Iade,
Will cur [...]e your pouerty like mistrisse Blade.
And they are Iewes that haue a friend indeed
Indued with vertues, though he be in need,
And do restraine their hands, and then forsake him,
When as their furtherance might marre or make him.
For can a man, that truly is possest,
Of vertuous ornaments within his brest?
Can he I say long want, or stand in need,
Though for a time his hopes be buried?
No, he'l be still releeu'd, each noble heart,
(If friends vnwilling prooue) wil soster Art.
For as the sunne when some obscuring cloud,
Doth in her bosome all her splendor shroud:
Though thus I say, he shroud it from our sight,
Yet can he not extenuate his light.
So when a Wise man seemes to suffer need,
And cloudy want doth make his vertues dead
For a small time; that broke and vanisht quite,
Then doth his splendor shine through's learned light:
And a true friend will neuer during breath,
Forsake his friend for feare of paine or death.
Nay after death he will lament the end,
Of such a loyall and a louing friend:
And in the world there's not, nor cannot be,
More perfect loue (then this) and amitie;
That's, for a friend no perils to forsake,
May for the furtherance of his matters make.
This caused Plato often take his way,
From learned Athens to Sicilia:
And for no other end but looke vpon,
His true and trusty louer Phocion.
For of a wiseman to inioy the sight,
The wayes (though long) is short, the labour light.
Tianeus (as some Historians say,
Parted from Rome, past through all Asia:
Saild ouer Nilus with vndanted boldnesse.
Endur'd the blasts of Cancasus his coldnesse:
Waded in cold through her congealed fountaines,
Suffered the heates of all the Riphean mountaines;
And to no other end. but to conferre,
With his Hyarchus the Philosopher.
Agesilans hearing that his friend,
In remote Countries were i'th prison pend,
He set's affaires aside, and went his way,
Longing to finde where his beloued lay:
Whom when he found, vnto the King he went,
And him saluted with this complement.
Redoubted Roy, a friend I haue, and he
Is here captiued by your Royaltie;
Of his distressed case, some pitty take,
And if you please, to free him for my sake;
Or giue him honor, dignity, or pelfe,
I take the deede as done vnto my selfe:
And I assure you Oh most Royall King,
You cannot chastice, nor do any thing
Vnto my friend, but if I hear't or see,
I feele the torment too aswell as hee.
Thus did the noble man, great loue descrie,
Vnto his friend, though in aduersitie;
And of all worldly pompe, riches, and pleasure,
[...]
As a true friend, to whom a man may show,
All secrets, though none but himselfe doth know:
He may recount to him his woes and griefes,
And trustily rely on his reliefes.
In briefe, he may repose (without all doubt)
To him his secrets both within and out:
For he is sure to reape this for his gaines,
And be releiued in his woe and paines:
Counseld in perils and aduersities,
And be reioyc'd with in prosperities.
But such a friend is rare, and hard to finde,
Wherefore to choose one of an honest mind
We must be wary, his condition be,
Godly and good, and ioyn'd with honestie.
Not couetous, vnpatient, or vniust,
Thou maist then be deceiued in the trust:
Seditious factious, nor that mooueth strife,
Presumptuous, nor faulty in his life.
For if he be infected with those crimes,
As many be now in these latter times;
Reiect him, trust him not, nor come not nie him,
And if he proffer loue to thee deny him;
For none will buy a horse, or count him trim,
Vnlesse he see him sound of wind and limme;
Nor none will bargaine for pure silke or cloath,
But he'l first view, that it be free from Moath,
Nor wine, vntill that he can truely tell;
The colour's pure, and it will rellish well.
So none (that's wise) will proffer all his fauour,
To any if he know not his behauiour:
But with Augustus alwayes carefull be,
Whom thou admittest in thy amity.
And when true triall, doth informe that he,
Is euery way compleate for honestie:
Then let thy heart on such a friend take hold,
Reiect him not for siluer nor for gold.
Fot if we will beleeue the Antique stories,
Wherein's recorded, many Monarches glories,
We shall perceiue, how friendship they reputed,
And how sincerely for true friends they suited.
As Alexander, Aristotle lou'd,
King Cyrus, Chylon that so faithfull prou'd:
Great Ptolomie, Pithimon much affected,
And with all reuerence he him respected.
Pyrrus, Satirus, August Symonides,
Traiane, Plutarchus, Scipio, Sophocles:
Which men for friendship haue beene much esteem'd
And mirrors of good manners haue beene deem'd:
The worlds true Worthies were they in their daies,
Wherein their seruice meritted true praise.
But oh! this iron age which we liue in,
True friends are sowne thicke but they come vp thinne.
For in these dayes tis difficult to know,
Whether a man by's words meanes well or woe.
Some Parasite, reiected punckes will praise,
And terme her the true Damsell of our dayes;
Extoll her to the hight, and tell her how
But she, ther's none of any worth liues now:
Insinuating with this base intent,
To let her heare how he can complement▪
Or else with her he gladly would make friends,
For's owne commodity and proper ends:
But step aside, he'l say she is a scab,
And to his neighbour call her scume and drab.
Thus idle heads, that so to sawne deuise,
Do circumuent such with a thousand lies:
And make their promise very large and faire,
But their performance is not worth a haire;
But let the wise take heede. not to relieue them,
And when they speake most faire, the les [...]e beleeue him
Trust not faire language, many oathes not so,
But heare them for a while, than let him go.
Well now Woes tract, and Fickle faith I'ue done,
Wherein a slender course my Muse hath ron [...]e;
Which some may blame me for, when tis well scand,
As too too young to take this taske in hand:
To which I answer now that euen I,
Though twenty yeeres I hardly haue past by,
(Yet Iue obseru'd) sometime that forced teares
Of woe asmuch as some of forty yeeres.
Therefore graue Seniors, and you froward blood.
That grin at goodmen when they wish you good.
Excuse my weakenesse, if you be not coy,
To take instruction from a witlesse boy:
Regard a while and let there grow no griefe,
That here I reckon other woes in briefe.
It is a woe when men of good deserts,
Should vilipended be with meere vpstarts:
Because they want, and men that little know,
[...]
This is the world, a knaue that will not lacke,
A precious outside, for his Asses backe,
Shall be esteem'd, though the foole be mute,
Yet shall he be commended for his suite.
I greeue againe when Petti-foggers be,
So au'rous no conscience they wil see,
But with long Gownes, they keepe their coxcombes warme,
And sell their breath for many a poore mans harme;
For bribes extoll them to a high degree,
Which makes them fare so well and fat (we see.)
But let some begger a petition make,
And pray him double, that for Christ his sake,
With a poore penny he'l relieue his want;
He'l tell him straight, that pennies now are skant,
When he's more hoarded vp then well he knowes
How, or to whom he shall the same dispose.
They make poore Pedants oft to trudge in rags,
When they can sit in silke, and fill their bags.
By vaine delayes, demurres, and needlesse clauses,
They haue a tricke to lengthen easie causes.
Their conscience cares not, so they haue their share,
That makes them blest, and many honest bare.
Its a condition incident to all,
That raise their fortunes by anothers fall:
And as i'th Elephant we may discry,
(Being guilty to his owne deformity)
Dare not looke in the fountaines cleare and good,
But lookes for filthy channels mixt with mudde.
So of their conscience I may moralize,
For bout their soules such base polution lyes
They dare not looke in them, for feare the elues,
Growe desperate, perhaps and hang themselues.
So haue I seene a Patient when his wound,
Hath beene deepe, wide, and rankled all around,
Would not permit the Surgeon to see,
Nor search his wound, so obstinate was he.
I'ue likewise seene a wasting prodigall,
Hath runne ith bookes so farre (by wasting all,
That by no meanes he could abide to heare,
The sable summe the Merchant made appeare;
When it hath beene a prouerbe old and true,
Oft reckning makes long friends with me and you.
But some neere summe their reckonings vp with God
Nor feare the ruine of his wrathfull rod,
But run oth score so long, with large receipts,
They will not heare nor hearken to their debts.
When we should often summe our sinnes vp all,
And see whereto amounts the principall:
Which while I liue with care I will respect,
And then I know, what goodnesse to expect.
Ile feare no Audit then, nor hatch dispaire
Of lawfull payment, when I thus prepare.
I'ue wondred oft, and blusht for very shame,
To read of meere Philosphers great aime,
That had no other guide but onely Nature,
Yet in their manners were so ripe and mature.
They Amity embrac't, and were content,
With fruits and hearbs which mother Tellus sent:
Not riotous, nor lou'd they luxurie,
None they oppressed with damn'd us [...]
And when a hainous crime was ere committed,
'Twas deepely punisht, which no Fee remitted.
Now to inuent sinnes we'r each day beginning,
And crimes commit by custome of much sinning;
Which to portray doth passe my skill and pen,
Since there's as many vices now as men.
But oh the blindnesse of vs Christians now,
That haue the Gospell read and preached too;
Yet suffer them by the dimme candle light
Of nature, to excell vs; though the right
We (fruitlesse) practize: but their liues so spent
May to vs liuers be a president.
The great deceites too of mechanicke men,
Which in their callings they vse now and then:
Would vexe a Saint, when th'honest cannot haue
Their worke dispatched truly for a knaue.
As Taylors that to make their patings large,
Puls of a share, and puts toth conscience charge;
For'th last apparell that I had to make,
A Taylor (that the taske would vndertake)
Came to me with faire language and beseeches,
And told me if pleased he'd make my breeches:
I willingly assented bid him take them,
And told the manner how I'd haue him make them:
These patched vp (a Poxe light on his nose,
He'd stole at least three quarters from my hose;
Which when I found, I did not as some doo,
To fall a scolding, No, he told me how,
His workmanship did most mens workes exceede,
[...]
So many of them, cheefly of that crew,
Will not say God be with you, but adieu.
At euery oath they heare turnes vp their eye,
Hates in religion true conformity;
Leaue the high street & through the corne make way
To seeke new methods both to prate and pray.
This rout (for sooth) they are so holy bent,
In presence they'l not sweare but complement,
With congies, cringies, nay, they'l keepe a stir,
With truly yes, and verily (good Sir)
Vse ceremonies, make a show to pray,
When'th world hath not more hypocrites then they:
And prating thus they can possesse an asse,
Their honesty, all honesties surpasse;
For if a Nouice worke to such men put,
Which he would haue trim'd in the newest cut;
He'l tell him he hath metaphisicke skill,
And sweare to make them neatly, that he will.
He's tractable enough, and then the clowne,
Sweares he doth make the cheapest in the towne;
And sayes Sir vnderstand this by your fauour
I aske but very little for my labour;
Tho others can them larger fees allow,
Nay stretch and steale a great deale more then due,
We hate the humour and these sharking elues,
That neither care for vs nor for themselues;
Which is disgrace to vs and to them too,
This I admire they do not shame to doo:
To vse dissembling in an honest trade,
But tis no matter yours shall be well made
This is the fashion of that gracefull youth
That lyes most, yet must make't (in tirely) truth:
And such a monster well obseru'd of Man,
Who would not take him for a Pewter-can.
He scornes to steale, but for the rips and stitches
(Tho double paid) yet he must pinch the breeches:
For to dissemble, he 'th the exacte Art,
Seemes holy headed, with a hollow heart;
This they effect with many verilies,
And vnder truths pretences cloake most lies.
Now if some Botcher take the same in snuffe,
And face my lines out with a counter-buffe.
Say they are weake, and he doth much dislike it,
Then throw't aside, or with his purse strings strike it:
Possesse the Readers, that it is a toy,
For 'twas composed by a stripling boy.
Yet (Sarrah) contend not now with me to cloak your tricks,
The prouerbe is, none but a gauld horse kicks.
I can reuenge me, but the conquest's base,
That is obtained in so vile a case,
As for the honest workemen of this land,
I gladly would haue them to vnderstand;
That I with all obsequiousnesse respect them,
And (being honest) heartily affect them;
For though my cloth vnto my griefe was gone,
I will not blame all, for the fault of one;
Nor I divulge it, to ecclipse his fame,
That did the deed, for I'le obscure his name.
The Tapsters get vnconscionable gaine,
And for one penny often picke on twaine:
They cosen strangers with halfe nicke and froth,
(These sookes the City, and the Country both)
Their empty halfe-fildings, and cose [...]ning pots,
Make poore men pay whole money for their shots;
And yet the rascall, cheates and cosens still,
For he's a tricke (obserue him when you will)
To fill the iugge halfe full, bring't to the table,
And poures a glasse foorth as't was commendable:
For why, the villaine certainely is loth,
We should perceiue the pot halfe fild with froth.
Well, let them score, and scourge, and brag, and baule
One day will come, will make them pay for all:
And tho they thinke by smothering to conceale it,
He sees that once will make their carkasse feele it.
The cosenning Broker is none of the least,
That most deludes; this fellow in hels-chest
Layes vp his linen, cloth, wooll, and lawne,
Which he for little purchast at a pawne.
They cosen Nouices, and like base Rookes,
Are happy when the honest's in their bookes;
For by extorted rates, they are opprest,
And plagued by exacted interest:
And as they take in others Line or Lawne,
So to the deuill they their soules do pawne:
For if the law will but their crimes allow,
They'le freely hazard soule and body too.
But penalty reformes part of their euils,
Which makes men liue in peace in spight of diuels.
Their grand extortions, and their wounding bils,
Summ'd vp with fabl [...] [...]
They'l either liue in misery to end it,
Gr leaue it to a thriftlesse heire will spend it.
But as Mechannickes vse this vile deceit,
And study how to cosen, aire, or late;
Leaue nought (for lucre) but it is attempted,
Yet few professions are from hence exempted:
For there's no calling vnder Sunne I see,
But tis accrewed with some falsitie.
Our Cleargy they whose liuing should be spent,
Vnto the Laymens pious president,
Are most corrupted with damn'd Symony,
And ignorance is plac'd by bribery.
This makes Sir Iohn procure a liuing fat,
That scarce knowes what is latin for his hat,
And like an Abbey-lubber gets the gaines,
When learnder men liues poore with greater paines.
Such liuings perish with their fat and honey,
That are assigned onely for See-mony:
But if I were not placed by my Art,
Let then who will show-money (take my part)
For if that coyne beare sway and good be gone,
I'le rest me as I am, and neere seeke none.
Then the loose liuing of the Temporall man,
Both Papist, Protestant and Puritane,
The Brownist and more I could reckon now,
(Of vpstart Sects) I'm sure neere thirty two
Are in as bad, or worse predicament,
Riches, and Riots care, kils their content;
No trust is in them, for their faith I say,
With their small conscience th [...] haue chast away.
Nought now is practiz'd, but deceit and strife,
A man dare hardly trust his neerest wife;
The Father not the sonne, nor Sonne the Father,
Some or they' [...] trust their Sire, will hang him rather;
The eldest Son, suites 'gainst his younger brother,
And neither of them dare trust one another;
Thus is all truth, good liuing led astray,
Affections dead, and faith is fled away:
For many now will promise sweare and lye,
To doe a friend, a fauour by and by;
To flatter him in presence, speake him faire,
And bid him make good cheere and take no care,
For they will cure him of that carefull case,
And promise mountaines too before his face;
But turn'd aside, their speciall care growes slacke,
And then they'l wish him hang'd behind his backe.
Oh faithlesse wretches in whose hollow brests,
No confidence, no truth, no honour rests.
Alas is all your conscience gone and pitty too,
That makes it so hard to sinde a parcell now.
But if your liues did any faith afford,
You'd chuse to breake your necke before your word.
It is a woe when true gentility,
Should croutch to vpstarts crept from beggery:
Suite with submission to the fooles for grace,
When such a one inuested in a place,
Is farre more haughty, and more prompt to scorne,
Then Gentlemen that nobly were borne.
The Asse will grow so curious, coy, and ciuill,
And set on horsebacke he'l ride lik [...] [...] [...]ill
But let them clime so, yet, beware a fall,
They slip not backe, and breake their neckes for all:
For I haue knowne some full as fortunate,
That haue beene foiled with the premis'd fate.
It is a woe when wise are vnder rules
Of golden calues, and shallow brained fooles;
Will be commanded by a rustie slaue,
Fawne, flatter him, some kindnesse for to haue;
Doe good or euill, that he would haue done,
Through wet, and dry, he'l either ride or runne.
But I admire that men of noble partes,
Indu'd with many Sciences and Arts,
So basely thus can crouch, vnto a Knaue,
And be officious, tho he money haue;
For such obseruance and obsequiousnesse,
Make qualities contemn'd, loare lou'd the lesse.
Were I the man, that should be tide vnto
One of these mushromes, or I'le chuse to do
Such offices, or marke each puppies becke,
I'le first resolue (i'faith) to breake my necke,
Or to a scoundrell so obsequious be,
As come to kisse her hand, or bend my knee;
To honor her, or humour her conceit,
With vaine applauses from an empty pate:
As many falsly do imploy their pen,
To make a monster, King of mortall men:
And some loose liuing Lady to inherit,
A Paragaues true praise and proper merit.
Out on such Asse-made-Epigrammatists,
That fil [...] their phrases with such filthy fists▪
And make some sordid show, makes foule most faire,
Tels them of Castles (they deserue) i'th aire.
Indeed if that one knew a nobleman,
But these are rare as is the coale-blacke Swan)
That harbor'd honesty, compleat each way,
And that no lyes would either sooth or say;
What is't? but for him I would vndertake,
Euen wade the Sea (if need were) for his sake.
And truly (Mistresse) if we list to scan
Vpon your spouse, he's each way such a man
As I haue mentioned; but what man can tell,
Where such another Mirror now doth dwell.
Repleet with honesty, and good, and grace,
That hath wits image pictur'd on his face:
Free from all falsities and horrid crimes,
Abandonning the basenesse of these times:
The guide of godlinesse, the Man of Men,
Whose glories, had I but a golden pen,
I would record, and sing the same in verse,
That our successors might his worth reh [...]rse.
But while I liue, my Muse and I will striue,
To make his honesty his life suruiue;
In spight of fortune and that fickle fame,
No time, nor ruine shall out raze the same:
And if my lines his true deserts can giue,
In spight of death, for euer he shall liue.
And so farre (Reader) vnder thy correction,
Haue I digrest to show the true affection,
And seruices I owe vnto these two,
Which till I dye (God willing I will doe▪
Praying their happinesse, may neuer wither,
But they may loue, and long time liue together.
And now my Muse being weary of this woe,
By ripping ruines vp, tost too and fro;
And seeing that no practise here is free,
But in some part it tasts of misery:
We'l for this time indeauour for to leaue,
Such things as mention'd further would but greeue.
For had I iron voices, or brasse tongues,
Briarius hands, or large extended lungs,
Or were the Sea all inke, the earth all quils,
'Twere difficult to mention all the ils,
This Microcosme includes: So I intend,
to close my Phamphlet vp, and here to end.
Without end.
If I herein haue er'd, I pray forgiue,
As proper tis for man to erre as liue.
FINIS.