Times curtaine dravvne, or the anatomie of vanitie VVith other choice poems, entituled; health from Helicon. By Richard Bathvvayte Oxonian. Brathwaite, Richard, 1588?-1673. 1621 Approx. 255 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 96 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-07 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A16683 STC 3589 ESTC S106310 99842028 99842028 6651 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A16683) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 6651) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1128:17) Times curtaine dravvne, or the anatomie of vanitie VVith other choice poems, entituled; health from Helicon. By Richard Bathvvayte Oxonian. Brathwaite, Richard, 1588?-1673. [216] p. Printed by Iohn Dawson for Iohn Bellamie, and are to be sould at the south entrance of the Royall-Exchange, London : 1621. In verse. Signatures: A-G H⁴ I-O. The first leaf is blank. "Panedone: or health from Helicon" has separate dated title page; register is continuous. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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VVITH OTHER CHOICE POEMS , Entituled ; Health from HELICON . BY RICHARD BRATHVVAYTH Oxonian . Ille ego qui quondam . LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Iohn Bellamie , and are to be sould at the South entrance of the Royall-Exchange . 1621. TO THE FAMOVS SEMINARY OF ALL ACCOMPLISH'D KNOWLedge , his deare foster-Mother , the Vniversitie of OXFORD ; the happie supplie of iudicious witts , with the encrease of all succeeding HONOVR . TO thee ) deare Mother ) in whose learned lap , I once repos'd , and from whose batt'ning papp I suckt the milke of knowledge , send I these Which if they please , as I could wish then please I 'me honor'd by them , and will still renew My loue to them , because they 'r lik'd by you . But these are feeble , scarce Penfeathered , And like young Lapwings run with shell on head ; Nor can I blame them : for belike they 'ue heard , How I was young when I to you repair'd : Growing in some sort riper ; and these doe Expect the like , that they shall thriue so too : Which I confesse lies onely in your power , For if you smile they liue , die if you loure ; Nor need I feare , for I did neuer know Any darke Cloud sit on your smoother brow . Yours in all endeared observance , R. B. A GRIEFE : PERSONATED IN THE AVTHOR , AND Dedicated to Time , of whom hee Borrowes the Subiect of his PASSION . CAre charming sleepe , thou sonne of sable Night , That cheares our drowping spirits with delight ; Making vs forget care , as if kept vnder By some sweete spell , or some Lethean slumber , Away and leaue me : Thee I brooke not well , " Sorrow best fitteth with a Cloudie cell . And what more cloudy , then where Sun nere shone , Where nought keeps Concord but continu'd mone , Where sighes of Louers , Passions of the minde , Are all the Guests , that you are like to finde ? Poore blubberd Soule , is griefe in her extent ? Or is your source of teares alreadie spent ? Afliction workes distraction ! aye me then , That feeles the most , yet showes the least of men . Yet if thou haue the memorie to relate The poore remainder of thy forlorne state , Expresse it boldly : Men are pleas'd to heare Those griefes discourst , that once were hard to beare . O then attend , and when my speech doth leaue , Say , If ere any had more cause to grieue ! You idle houres , our Calenders of ruth , And time ill spent , the preiudice of youth , Are first presented to my grieued heart , Come then ( as first presented ) act your part , Come , for you can , and well I know you will , Tell me what I haue done or good or ill . Good ; that is recken'd soone : but th' ill I 'ue done , Much doe I feare will not be summ'd so soone . You keepe the score , and chalke from day to day , While I run on in debt , and will not pay ; Yet I must pay , my Creditor will call , Where I must pay both vse and principall . First for the houre : or for the least of time , Minute or instant , for that 's onely mine , What instant is there , or hath euer beene Since I knew sinne , wherein I did not sinne : What moment did I good , or if I did , Was not vaine-glorie in the action hid ? I know it , O I know it but too well , And much it grieues my pensiue soule to tell What shee has done , and gladly would I leaue My tale , and say , I know not how to grieue ; But I must speake , what Time doth presse me too , " For it's lesse shame to speake then shame to doe . Why did I know , if that my knowledge were The onely cause why I so farre did erre ? As sure it was : since sacred discipline Should make our mindes eternally divine ; Not darken'd with Earths substance , but in loue Of her owne Image , seeke for things aboue , From whence her Image came ! blest had I bin ; If , as I knew this , so I had but seene Into the reall glory of my soule , O that had then beene faire , that now is soule . Vnhappie I to care more for the rinde Then for the pith , the bodie then the minde , Vnhappie I to make my wit a baite Vnto my selfe : my knowledge a conceit Too ouer-weening ; O I did not well , Knowing for this , the brightest Angell fell Conceipt is like a shaft shot from a Bow , Which flyes a while aloft , but lighteth low . Low did my iudgement light , when I did ayme , By selfe renowne to purchase me a Name : Whereas ( God-wot ) that worth which was in me , Scarce could redeeme my Name from infamie . For what is humane Eminence , estate , Honour , demerit , an auspicious Fate , Conquest , renowne , Trophies of lasting worth , When they that got them , lie in Bed of earth ? Nothing . 'las nothing : ther 's no good in them , For these yeeld small perfection vnto men ; Saue what the world giues , and that is giuen Oft times on earth , is neuer found in heauen . I meane of merit , where men popular , In their affections vsuallie doe erre , In counting that desert , which hath a show Of goodnesse in it : but is nothing so . For I haue seene , even in these fewer yeares Which I haue liu'd , how many one appeares In show and outward luster to be that Which he is not , if you obserue his state . Now vertues are pretences , where we owe Lesse farre to substance , then wee doe to show . And good we call him ( so the Vulgar deeme ) Who though he be not good , yet good doth seeme . O time for thee I grieue ( thou grieues for me ) And mutuall loue should I expresse to thee : Thou see'st our Errors , wherewith we abuse Thy selfe , that art of all most precious . Thou see'st our vainest pompe , and how we tie , Our admiration onely to the eye Of our Beholder : thou art he , that sees Our Times expence , those great arrerages Which are against vs : and it well appeares , Thou pitties vs , sending out brinie teares In pure remorce , which we , throwne on the shelues Of Desolation , shed not for our selues . Here rides Poppea , Neroes Concubine , In her gilt Chariot ; there rash Catiline , Vnbounded in 's desire ; here Claudius Prest to affections most incestuous ; Here Messalyna , an insatiate whoore ; There Danae wrastling with a golden shower ; Here couetous Midas sold to auarice ; There old Hermocrates with his foure eyes ; Poring on 's Almanacke , cursing the earth , And blessing 's Fate when there ensues a dearth . I le be reveng'd , ere many dayes be done , And 't shall be said nere mother censur'd sonne , With more extended rigour : thus shalt'be . Now in these young dayes of thy iollitie , When pleasures mansion in thee , now when youth Ryots in vaine delight , I with my Syth ( For I can vse Times-Syth ) will cut thee downe , And then ( my Son ) where 's all thy pompe become ? Frolicke a while , like Summer-Butterflies , I am the chest where all thy honour lies ; Nor canst thou passe deaths verdict , nor my doome , I was thy Cradle , I must bee thy Tombe . See see ( vnhappie youth ) the vtmost date Of all thy time , see what thou leuellst at ? A shrowd , a graue ; where then 's thy glory seene ? Of where those shows of honour that haue beene Eminent in thee ? 'lasse they 'ue lost their breath , And are extinguisht in the stroake of death . What is the hight of honour prun'd so soone ? Is our youths May-game with such quicknes done ? O then ( poore soule ) why staiest thou here so long , Or Tuttle-like throbbs not thy dolefull song T' expresse thy Pilgrimage ? Is here a place Euer to dwell in ? No ; so short's the pace Of humane frailtie , that the strong'st of all , Stands not so firme , but he may feare to fall . And is this world such a precious dish , Where few haue what they need , none what they wish , As it deserues our Admiration ? No , What ere the worldling thinke , it is not so . Honours , preferments , riches , and estate Are but as Fewell , which engender hate To the possessour , for who ere was seene Rich , and had none that ever enu●ed him ? Why should I craue to please an outward sence , When reason seekes no more then competence ? And that 's a very little : as some foode To sustaine Nature , and some cloaths , not proud Nor gairish , but such fitting weedes as should Saue vs from Summers heate and Winters cold . For who ( remēbring th' cause why cloths were made ) Even then , when Adam fled vnto his shade For covert of his Nakednesse , will not blame Himselfe to glorie in his Parents shame ? Weepe , weepe ( Phantasticke Minion ) for to thee My grieued passion turnes : O may I be Cause of Conversion to thy selfe , that art Compos'd of Man , and therefore I beare part In thy distracted Habit : ( ougly peece , For so I tearme thee ) Woman-monster cease , Cease to corrupt the excellence of minde , By soyling it with such an odious rinde , Or shamelesse Cover ? waining , wavering Moone , That spends the morne , in decking thee till noone ; Hast thou no other Ornaments to weare Saue such wherein thy lightest thoughts appeare ? Hast thou no other honour , other Fame , Saue roabes , which make thee glory in thy shame ? Lasciuious Idoll , that with painted cheeke , Sinne-drawing eye , thy sacred vow doest breake With thy Creator : hence thy sinne is more , Adoring that which thou shouldst not adore . What ? No conversion yet ? Doest yet persist In thy deprau'd condition ? Pray thee desist From thy deformed Fashion : let that tyme Which thou hast vainely spent to become fine , Be now redeem'd , that after-times may say , Thy Night of pride is turn'd to vertues Day . 'Las what auailes this sleeking of thy sinne , When the cold wombe of earth shall take thee in . To lodge with her ? where for delicious sweetes , Corruption shall embrace thee , and those sheetes Wherein thy lustfull Bodie tooke delight , Shall shrowd thy corps in deaths eternall Night , Yet thou replies : I must obserue the Time : Must I looke darke , when all my sex doth shine In beautie and perfection ? Pray thee heare , If it be darknesse to be graue in weare , Modest in gesture , womanlike in all , Chuse thee that Habit , what so ere befall . It 's Vertues liverie , and will more expresse Of true perfection , natiue excellence In beautie , luster , comelinesse , and show , Then all our light-tail'd huswiues ere shall doe . These are the Deuils Lures , made to ensnare Vnwarie youth , with their dissembled faire . These are those spotted Lepers that defile , The flowrie bosome of this fruitfull I le . These are those smiling Hyenes that confound The spacioust kingdomes , & make curst the ground . These are those Panthers , which with smiling chere , Proue there the worst , where thy the best appeare . These are Niles Crocodyles , which hauing power , Oppresse the people , and the State deuoure . These are those Babells strumpets , with false formes Deceiuing men , yet are surpriz'd by Wormes , The Worme of Conscience , which shall ere abide , And bee a Corasiue for lust and pride . Iniurious staines , if I could but impart The secret hate I beare you in my heart , And had but power to will , not one I sweare Of that adulterate sex should nestle here : Or if they did , they should such Pennance haue , As they might goe true Conuerts to their Graue . For silkes should saccloth , and for powdred haire , Should ashes be their penitentiall weare : So might my doome authenticke be and iust , " Sackcloth on pride , and ashes strow'd on lust . Here Scilla , then whom none could ever be , More friend to 's friend , or foe to 's enemie . Lastly , here 's all that 's * ill : but what is good , Is not at all , or is not vnderstood . Here is no Phocion , Cato Vtican , No trustie Brutus , nor no African , No Thales , Solon , nor no Pistacus , No Periander , nor Cleobulus ; No Bias , Chylo , now the Senate's done , The * Tripod's stolne , and all the sages gone . What my perplexed soule , whither so fast , More fairely on , the faire will not be past : Tutch not Abuses , but with modest lipp , For * some I know were whipt , that thought to whip ; Vnto thine owne : thy errors are enow , And full too many for one page to show . Where in discourse mixe passion with thy line , And hold thy course till that the Sun decline , That now thy passions waking , now asleepe , May weepe and laugh at Time , may laugh & weepe . For oft we see , men troubled with annoy , Doe laugh for anger , and doe weepe for ioy . Time is portrayed bald , yet my young minde , Letting occasion passe , catcht Time behinde , I catcht indeed , but could not apprehend , Which made me sigh for my deplored end . Vnhappie youth ( quoth I ) thus I began , That art endew'd with reason , best of man , Yet armes the best of man , to mans offence , Making thy reason Bond-slaue vnto sence . Thou canst distinguish well of euery Time , And knowes by th' aire when th' Sunne ' gins to decline , Whether faire weather 's like for to ensue , This thou obseru'st , and thy coniecture's true . But 'las how simple art , when thou wouldst finde , The natiue temper of thy sin-sicke minde , How far 's thy knowledge off ? so far , God wot , That tho thou seeme to know 't , thou know'st it not . Nor can thy Ignorance plead for defence , For knowledge has inform'd thy Conscience , Which so afflicts thee , there 's no hope of peace , For Conscience is a thousand witnesses . Seest thou thy shame , and canst thou loue the name Of ougly sinne , that brought thee to that shame ? Seest thou thy forme made glorious at the first , By the pollution of thy sinne accurst ? Seest thou thy selfe and doest not blush to see , The best of Creatures made the worst by thee : Seest thou the Sunne spher'd in his roiall course , How vpon Plants , fruits , mettalls he has force , And with his Beames reflects on euery place , Adorning th' Heauen with his transpierciue grace ? Seest thou this glorious light , and doth thy soule Thinke it will shine on any thing so foule , As thy corruption ? O no : such art thou , In thy enormious actions , as to show The horror of thy sinnes , would craue more Time Then houres thou hast to liue : vnhappie clyme Whose birth doth shame his Countrey , and I see That verdict now to be pronounc'd on me , And that on due desert : for where I might Haue made my Countrie happie : through delight Of vaine affections , wherewith I was tane , My selfe was to my selfe my Countries shame . Vnhappie I to frustrate the desire Of my deare Countrie , which did plant me higher Then my demerits were , yet such was I In my succeeding course , as vanitie Conceited , ' bou● desert , made me so proud As that became worst ill , that seem'd most good . And can presumption yet restraine my pace ? Or is my shame so hardned , as my face Dare view the light ? O impudence in sinne , When in our End , we doe afresh beginne To multiplie offences ! Can yon light ( Yon splendent bodie ) which shows true delight To euery Blossome , can it seeing thee Abide t' expresse her former putitie , Whilest thou art in presence ? no , I know it will Seeing thy shame , glade in some shadie Hill , And quite obscure her luster , that thy crime Might see it selfe in th' absence of her shine . 'Las I doe labour of a fruitlesse birth . And viper-like , makes my poore mother earth , Curse th'time shee bore me : did I not sayes she , Foster thy youth , brought vp too tenderly ? Did I not suffer mine owne Brest be pierc't , The secret cranies of my Bosome searcht , That thou might be refresht ? Did not my loue , Beare vp thy weake lims , when thou couldst not moue From mine owne Centre ? Did not I produce Store in aboundance for thy priuate vse , Of which thou canst not say , thou ere hadst skant , Possessing that which many better want ? Am not I she that cheares thee , when alone , Yet as contemned I am trod vpon ? Am not I shee supports thy feeble stand , And like a nursing mother , with my hand dandles thee on my knee ? yet for all this , Thou kils thy Mother with a Iudas kisse . Affliction to my Age , shall my wrong'd brest Be furrow'd for thy good ? when I 'me opprest More by such Bratts , to whom I fauour shew , Then by such strangers , as I neuer knew : No , no , depraued Issue , for thy name , I hate to tell 't : ●ith it augments my shame . But what ( my Muse ) art thou so lustie growne , As censuring others , thou forgets thine owne ? Come , come expresse thy griefe , make thy complaint And to sad notes tune thy soules dreriment . Let not one line , one accent , or one word Run from thy Pen , that may delight afford Vnto the Reader : but such Notes as force Passion in men , and in thy selfe remorce ; Make those thy best of concord : if ere I Could portray sorrow with a teare-dimd eye , Affliction in her colour , or distresse In natiue Feature , O may I expresse That Image now , and when it 's fully showne , May I enstile't an Image of mine owne . Dissolue thy selfe , and as thou art a man Nere swallowed vp of sinne , let th' Ocean Of thy distreaming eyes assoyle that sinne , Which thou ( poore soule ) art thus emplunged in . What ; no teeres ? sorrow art thou gone from me , As if I stood not any neede of thee ? Is due compassion throwne on shipwrackes shelfe , So ruth-lesse growne , it will not waile it selfe ? Perfidious and accurst that issue is , Whose head-long course conuerts the Parents blisse , Vnto a curse , and am not I that birth Of Desolation that remaines on earth Daring Heauens-maker ? as if he that made Me to his glorious Image , were afraid To enter plea against me ; sinfull wretch Thinks thou that God , who doth the heauens stretch Like to a Curtaine , He whose soueraigne might Produced out of pitchie darknesse , light ; Compos'd the Ball of Earth , bounded with shores The raging Ocean , that it should no more Second her Invndation : who began A little world , in a little man. He who each plant , each blossome , fruit , and spray , cheareth and cherisheth from day to day . He whose transpierciue eyes each thing beholds , And with his eye of knowledge pure , vnfolds The secret of our thoughts , He whose power can Subdue the Lyon , and Leviathan ; He whose exhaled breath convert'd to Ire Throwes downe the wicked to eternall fire ; He whose advanced signall doth retaine A milke-white colour ; like a Tamburlaine , Implying mercie , which if 't doe no good , Next he advanceth , signifieth Blood , Ruine , subversion : He who is the King Of the whole Earth , and swayeth euery thing By lyne of his direction : He whose seate Is in the Clouds , and 's ea●ie to entreate , If he finde true contrition : He whose power Can crop our huma●e Glorie like a flower . He who hath euer beene , is now , shall be . What is it , that he cannot doe with thee ? Wert thou a Giant , yet such is his force . Who like a Giant 's prest to run his course ; That thy aspiring thoughts should soone decline , Like to those Giants were in form●r time . Wert thou of such great power , as some haue beene , Whose populous Armies dryed the Riuers cleane , Yet would that God of hosts , thy power confound , And strow thy slaughterd corps vpon the ground . Wert thou in strength of bodie eminent , Yet lasse how soone is that consum'd and spent With one dayes sicknesse ? Were thy beautie rare , Thy golden Tresses like the Sun-beam'd haire Of grace lesse Absolon : perchance't might be Thy haire would worke thy baine , as well as he . Wert thou as rich as Cresus , yet would Time Interre thee , and that Goulden calfe of thine ; Whil'st Miser-like thou might thy richesse curse , ' Sith th'Deuils mouth is term'd a Mis●rspurse . Wert thou as royall , as Agrippa was , Who seem'd in pompe and glory to surpasse Humane condition , whilest applauses than Should crowne thy state : The voice of God not man. Yet for that luster deckt with varied formes , Wretched thou art , when all cōsum'd with wormes ? Alas distracted soule , What 's fine aray , Or Fare deliciously for euery day : Yea , I doe thinke , if I were forc'd by want , I could in time learne th' Trade of Sycophant : And profit by it , for there 's verie few , " But they liue poore that labour to write true ; Yet can I not if I should burst my gall , Gaine me that good opinion of all . Nor doe I care for 't : for come what can come , I am resolu'd how ere I find their doome : Let this serue for the Proaeme , and now see Your pictures drawne in Times Anatomie : Which seene , you cannot but admire the more , To read me smooth that was so harsh before . TIMES ANATOMIE , DISPLAYED In six distinct Subiects . 1. Riches . 2. Pouertie . 3. Iustice. 4. Iniustice . 5. Fate . 6. Death . BY RICHARD BRATHVVAYTE . Oxonian . — Sic Tempora slemus . Of Richesse . TO thee the Worldlings Idoll , doe I make , These harsh●tund Poems for my countries sake , Which thou hast wrong'd too long , alas for woe , That we should see 't and suffer 't to be so . It 's thou that fosters enmitie , debate , Sedition , faction , and doest ruinate The Noblest states , in haling downe the rod Of Vengeance on thee , that thou art made a God On earth : For who , I pray thee doe but show Deserues a Cap , or bended knee but thou ? Who merites honour , who can's credit stretch So farre as thou , that art esteemed rich ? Nay , let me step yet further , I shall finde , The worldes trash held soueraigne of the minde . For who are wise but Rich-men , or who can Find th' Golden meane , but in a Golden man ? He is Earths darling ; and in time will be , Hells darling too , for who 's so fit as he , Indeed if Riches were sincerely vs'd , And not so much by Cormorants abus'd ; That make their Chest their Christ , then might wee find , In richest States , a charitable minde : Who like good Stewards of what they possesse , Would distribute to th' poore or more of lesse : If not the silks of Sydon , or of Tyre , Yet is their bountie showne by their desire ; For not the gift , but th' mind of him that giues , Accepted is , and his Reward receiues . But 'las how farre off many Rich-men be , From th'bond of loue , or lincke of charitie ? Where Rich-men giue to th'rich , thinking it vaine , To giue to them that cannot giue againe , These will not doe as we in Scripture read , That bids v● on the waters throw our bread . " For then be sure , how ere wee seeme to others , " We would regard our poore distressed brothers . And make his tears which he poore soule sends forth As ●egisters whence we produc'd our birth . For 'las when we shall from this house of Clay , Be cleane dissolved , as we must one day ; How heauie will our doome at that time be , That pitied not our Brothers penurie ? Where shall our po●pe and maiestie be then , Where all those honors we receiu'd ' mongst men ? Where 's our Attendance , where 's our noble birth ? Or where 's our wealth we gloried in on earth ? 'Las we shall then be stript of all we haue , Nought left vs but a Coffin and a Graue : And happie we if so it might befall , The Graue might end our griefe , but this 's not all ; Lower the wretched must of force descend , To that same place where sorrowes haue no end . And doest thou yet ( fond rich-man ) hugg thy pelfe , Which makes thee an Arch-traytor to thy selfe ? Doest thou consume thy dayes , adorning it , That damns thy soule , infatuates thy wit ; Makes thee a Rebell , forcing thee to swerue , From thy Creator , whom thou ought to serue ? Tortures thy guiltie Conscience ( simple foole ) To haue thy state to witnesse ' gainst thy soule . But thou 'l obiect , why should I be so rough 'Gainst thee , that art resolu'd to doe enough Before thou diest : For I doe heare thee still Harpe on a good , and charitable Will. Which shall expresse what thou in life time ment , By thy last will , and finall Testament . Good-wills be good indeed , and worthily Doe they deserue our best of memorie : But much I feare , this good is mixt with ill , And that good wills proceed not from Good will : For if they did methinkes it should not grieue them , To giue them freely , 'fore they 'r forc't to leaue them . And sure methinkes None can be sayd to giue , But such as doe it franckly while they liue . " For when they 'r dead ( as 't shall be after showne ) " That which they giue cannot be call'd their owne . And why should we our Rich-men so commend That giue faire Legacies before their end ; Since Iudus well we know , of all men worst Gaue dying , all he had , yet dy'd accurst : Yet these men giue but part , Iudas gaue all , ( May English - Iewes be warn'd by Iudas fall . ) O then let Time , whose ripe occasion brings A blest successe vnto the best of Kings . Excite you Rich-men , both in life and death , But most in life , to cheare such with your breath ; The breath of life , food , rayment , and the like , As at your doores send out their rufull shrike , Shutnot your Eares , for be you sure of this , Shutting from them , you shall be shut from blisse ; Take them into your houses , for we reede , Some haue receiued Prophet in their weede . For if you open not vnto the poore , How shall you enter when you knocke at door● Of Sions Pallace ? For , approu'd wee see Saints minister to Saints necessitie . Be then your selues , and with Zacheus giue , Not on your Death-beds , but now whilest you liue , And are in health , for such shall haue reward , Though not on Earth , yet surely afterward ; And their reward shall be so much the more As they were open-hearted to the poore . But'las how many Spunges now there be Which soake the needie , and with crueltie Oppresse the silly Orphane ? It is true , Too many be there of this wicked crew , That pester this sweete Iland , with the cryes Of poore distressed soules , whence vengeance hies With fethered speed , to make these great-ones know " There is a God aboue that sees below ; And can discu●se each secret , and has power To punish the rich when they the poore deuoure . Deare Noboth cryes , and none doe pittie him , While Ahab sleepes securely in his sinne ; Naboth must loose his Vineyard , true he must " For what 's vniust , by Greatnesse is made iust . His ground lyes ●itly for him , and he will Either obtaine it , or his Neighbour kill : For if the poore-man chance but to denie it , He meanes with some forg'd Title to come by it ? So as by force he 's stript of land and all , ' For th' Prouerbe holds , the weakest goes to th'wall . But heare me rich-man whom so ere thou be That triumphs thus in others miserie : When thou hast purchast what thou didst desire , Be sure Oppression must not loose her hire ; For there 's a Iudgement , and a sharpe one too , Will startle thee , though thou art carelesse now . Then wil poor Naboth , whom thou here didst wrong Witnesse against thee , while thy faltering tongue Without defence , with silence charm'd shall be , Yeelding to all that is obiect'd 'gainst thee . How fearefull will that sentence then appeare . When death and horror shall be euery where ? When gastly spirits summon thee to hell , And thou art forct to bid thy ioyes farewell : " Where cruel worms shall eate thy hart-strings out " Where grones & grieues , sighs , shrikes sound all about . What is the fruit then of Oppression ? Sure That Vale of Tophet which shall ere endure . And make him draw an euer-loathing breath , Dying in life , and liuing in a death . O then how happie hee that so doth liue As th' one hand knows not , what the other giue . Dispencing freely , what he doth possesse Of all his substance , which doth well expresse His loue to God , whose Mansion is aboue , Bearing his Image such especiall loue ; For God hath promis'd such to liue for euer , " Sith he himselfe doth loue a chearefull Giuer . O that this flowrie I le , whose sacred name Makes her recorded in the Booke of fame ; Where Times - illustrate Trophies show her glory , " So well display'd in many auncient storie ; Would scourge these Gold-adorers for exemple , " All Symmoniacke patrone● out at h Temple : So should the Gospell , Ophyrs purest gold , Be more esteem'd then to be bought or sold ; So should we haue in Sion Shepherds store , VVhich come not in at window , but at dore : So should our Church resume her golden Age ; And learning freely get a Parsonage . So should good Shepherds make their flocks encrease And know their office not to flea nor fleece . So should our Church be as it ought to be , Not subiect to smooth-faced Symonie . So should our Church-men gain them more esteeme , " Seeme what they be , and be the same they seeme . So should th'Donation of 'a Benefice Ayme at a man of Merit , not of price ; So should Gods house be honour'd more then now , Hauing such Pastours as might tell vs how . O Patrones if you knew how ill it were , To make the Church a Mart , or publique faire : Where Magus - like you sell the Churches good , If this I say you rightly vnderstood ; You would accurse the Riches you haue got By such synister meanes : and wish your lot Had beene Employment in the Common-weale , ( Though on the mean'st condition ) then to steale , Purloyne , embezle what the Church doth owe , Which you on lust and ryot doe bestow . Much better were 't to begge from doore to doore , Then being Rich , to make Gods Temple poore . For well I wot the Fathers Symonie , Layes heauie curse on his posteritie . And that foundation which is so begunne , Seldome succeedes from Father to the Sonne . For this we know approu'd by sacred writ , Which comprehends the mysteries of wit ; Not humane but diuine , where Treasures store Are lockt vp from the proud , and ope to th' poore . That though the Rich seeme in aboundance blest , And now Secure sayes , Now soule take thy rest . Yet all this Blisse continues but a day , For Night will come and take his soule away . Yea , though the Rich-men of the world doe seeme , Like a Bay-tree , whose leaues be euer greene ; Yet their foundations stand not on firme ground , " For comming back their place shall not be found . But for the Righteous and his hopefull seede , Who euer saw them forc't to begge their bread . Sure Dauid did not ( as himselfe hath told ) Though he was young and liu'd till he was old . O how the best of Blessings are abus'd , Good in themselues and if discreetly vs'd . Natures indowments , but deprau'd we see , And count them worst of any things that be . For it 's the best of Fortunes complement , To ayme in Riches at the soules content ; Which planted on the soueraigne of blisse , Makes what is ours in Essence one with his . But such as ayme at honour , and by art Of smooth insinuation , make their heart A stranger to their Language , to obtaine A little earthly profit ; What is their gaine But th'Guerdon of Ambition ? Which aspires Too high , to reach the port of her desires . Yea , I may say , if ere we could espie A Cammell haled through a Needles eye ; Or any worke how difficult so ere , Accomplisht by a Pigmey : we may here Produce the like , nay , I may say farre more , For like to this was nere produc'd before . " For it's a Sentence that 's alreadie giuen , It 's hard for Rich-men to inherite heauen . Such men indeed as are by wealth inricht . To make their gold their God , their Chest their Christ. Gold make not rich , whence is that Prouerb growne So common now : Content is worth a Crowne . For many poore-men richer farre we see , Through their content , then such as Richest be . Old Chremes in the Poet rakes for pelfe , And to enrich his heire torments himselfe . Which when his Son has got ( marke th'misers care ) He spends as fast on lust and luscious Fare . Bare were his Fathers dishes , Bedding meane , Home-spun his Coat , his chop-falne cheeks as leane ; Hunger his Sauce , his Recreation paine , To tell his Gold and put it vp againe . Yet see the fruit of 's labour , and his end , What th'Father could not vse , the Sonne can spend . For true it is which was auerr'd by one , " A scraping Father makes a sporting Sonne . Well knowne that maxime is ( tho th'instance euill , Happie 's that sonne whose Father goes to th'Deuill . Many we reade of , that were like to these , As Hermon , Phaedon , and Hermocrates : The first whereof was so enthrall'd to wealth , As he contemn'd the Benefit of health ; And seeing that there was no remedie , But he must yeeld to fraylemortalitie : To shew that Loue he bore to wealth before , He made himselfe his owne Executour . Next Phaedon was , who seeing death at hand , Commanded such as did about him stand ; That when he was departed , streight they should , Stitch in his winding sheete peeces of gold , For sure ( quoth he ) I am , those Iudges three Which be in hell , will soone corrupted be ; If they but see this Gold , and so shall I By bribing Hell obtaine my libertie . But of all others that Hermocrates May be esteemed for the vain'st of these , Who when he saw that fatall time was come , That he must die , command'd them build a Tombe Of purest Gold , and that there should be layd Three bags of Gold as Pillowes for his head ▪ For if ( quoth he ) our death as it 's exprest , Be but a sleepe , in which we seeme to rest , Till that our soules such priuiledge obtaine , To re-assume their Bodies once againe . Small is the rest which I am like to haue , Without this blest companion in my Graue . And heare me friends , good cause I haue to doubt it , Since while I liu'd , sleepe could I nere without it . O if we knew what wealth were in content , And how a verie little 's competent To Nature , we would learne what Scriptures teach , Desiring rather to be good than rich . For goodnesse is a lasting Epithyte , And giues vs knowledge of that Infinite Which is transcendent , if then vnderstood " It is the best of Richesse to be good . And sure methinkes three causes there should be , Might moue vs hate all super fluitie In these respects : First , they inconstant are And subiect to mutation ; next , the care They bring to their possessour : last of all They force vs from Gods Prouidence to fall , Which violation slaueth some we see , Falling from God vnto Idolatrie . For though this Golden Calfe of Horeb stand , Not open to the World , yet this Land Hath many priuate Baalites , I feare , Which more affection to their Idoll beare , Then to their Maker : and though they haue art To hide their Guilt , they worship't with their heart , And hath not then this Iland cause to mourne , To see her people thus to Baals turne , And leaue their God ? Yes , she has cause to show At no time more effects of Griefe then now : Where this Souls-dropsie , thirstie Auarice Enforceth Rich-men to Idolatrise ; Who , when they haue cram'd vp their Chests with store , The more they haue , they couet still the more . And whereto tends all this ? If we might stay , Or going hence beare our estate away : There were some reason of our care to get , And yet no cause of our adoring it . But neither borne to stay , nor beare it hence , Thus to admire it , it is foolishnesse . For know Rich-man a shrowd shall be thy store , " This poore men haue , & Rich-men haue no more . " But haste the Muse to what is knowne of thee , " As thou wast borne to 't , write of Pouertie . FINIS . Of Pouertie . NOw vnto thee that art contemn'd of all , Derided , spurned , forced from the wall Vnto the kennell , do I frame my speech , That I thy selfe some patience might teach . And moue withall such as doe heare thee cry , " But stop their Eares , to some more charitie . Take comfort then , for thou shalt see on earth , Most of thy coate to be of greatest worth . Though not in state , for who ere saw but merit , Was rather borne to begge than to inherit ; Yet in the Gifts of Nature , we shall finde , A ragged Coate oft haue a Royall minde . For to descend to each distinct degree , By due Experience we the same shall see . If to Pernassus where the Muses are , There shall we finde their Dyet very bare : Their houses ruin'd , and their well springs dry , Admir'd for nought so much as Pouertie . Here shall we see poore Aeschylus maintaine His Nighterne studies with his Daily paine ; Pulling vp Buckets ( but 't was neuer knowne ) That filling others , he could fill his owne . Here many more discerne we may of these , As Lamachus , and poore Antisthenes ; Both which the sweetes of Poesie did sipp , Yet were Rewarded with a staffe and scripp : For I nere knew , nor ( much I feare ) shall know it , Any die rich , that liu'd to die a Poet. If to Profession of the Law we goe , We find the best Practisioners proue so ; For such we count the best , as will not be ( For Conscience-sake ) corrupted with a fee ; Whilest others of lesse Conscience farre , than wit , Thinke him not wise , cannot dispence with it . If to the Plow-man , who doth till the Land , And gets himselfe a liuing by his hand : Oft we shall finde for all his early care , Continuall labour , and his slender fare ; His hopefull crop hath not his wisht successe , Or something else mis-carries , more or lesse ; Which questionlesse , is to the Plowman sent , To try him with , and make him patient . Yea , we shall see that Fortune beares a hate , In euery order , ranke , degree , and state : To men of most demerit : th' cause may be , Fortune is blind and cannot merit see : Or for because her selfe is ignorant , Shee giues the wittall , le ts the wittie want , Desiring onely such men to aduance , As honour her and fauour ignorance . And sure me thinkes , an instance may be giuen , Euen in these sacred Ministers of Heauen ; Such I doe meane who honour much the Lord ▪ In Reuerent dispensing of his Word , Breaking the Bread of life with due respect , Yet are Rewarded with a meere Neglect : Reaping for their deserts no other Grace , Then some poore stipend , or a Curates place . This is their hyre , while others lesse deseruing In Conuersation , Graue respect and learning Eate of the fat , Non-residence must serue , Feeding themselues , while their poore flockes doe sterue : Such were those Abby-lubbers who could sleepe , And fleece their Flocks , but seldome feed their sheep . These like to Drones ( for so they seeme to me ) Liue on the Labours of th' Industrious Bee : For while the Bee ( to make her honey-combe ) Romes here and there : these dronelike stay at home , And eate the fruit ( so be these Lubbars fed ) For which the Bee so truely laboured . Call vp thy spirits then , who ere thou be That are distrest by meanes of Pouertie . For this thou see'st descendeth in a Bloud , And claymes possession onely of the Good. It 's not our Vertues , nor the worth of men ●ow rare so euer , can exempt vs then From this Affliction , but it 's in our will ( Dispos'd by God ) to take it well or ill . For he that takes it as from Heauen sent , For 's better Triall and Experiment , " Makes a right vse of what he doth sustaine , " And for his want , shall haue a treble gaine . Some we haue read of Rich , and others poore , Yet being dead , we finde of them no more Then that they were , and being now both gone , Twixt rich and poore the difference is none . And therefore was it shaddow'd well at these , By that same Cynick-doggd Diogenes , Who on a time to make a speciall vse Of humane state , went to a Charnell house , Where store of skulls , and bones he gathered , Of Princes , Peeres , and Beggars that were dead . Which being done , he lay'd them in the way Where Alexander was to passe that day ; Who in Victorious manner passing by , Askt him the reason , why those Bones did lye In such a frequent place ? Quoth he , I know Here be the Bones of Swaynes and Princes too , And I haue sought ( but all I did is vaine ) To know which is the Princes from the Swayne . It 's true indeed that Vertue onely giues Life to our Name , by which it onely liues : For outward States how glorious so ere , Make vs but honour'd onely while we 'r here , For when the hour-glasse of our life is runne , That admiration which we had is done , And all that pompe and beautie of our day By Syth of Fate is taken cleane away . We read of in the Stories of fore tyme , How that Redow●ted Sultane Saladine , After exployts and sundry Victories , With which be had enlarg'd his Seignories ; Brauely at●hieu'd , he fell extreamly sicke , And feeling now the sting of death to pricke , He call'd his Chieftaine to him , who at hand , Drew neere and askt him what was his command . To thee ( quoth Saladine ) as Generall Of my Victorious Armie doe I call , For thou hast seene me with my Persian darts To force a terror in the Easterne parts . Yea well thou know'st I neuer lost the day But still departed Conquer our away : Yet now behold how I am captiue led , And in my Conquests now a● conquered ; For I am forc't by Deaths assault to yeeld , And Coward-like to leaue thee in the feeld . Hie to Damascus , where in th' open streete , In stead of Ensignes rea●e this winding sheete ; And say , Behold great Saladine's berest Of all he had , nought but this sheete is left . Euen he whose Temples , wreaths of Fame adornes , Pray'd to by Kings , becomes a prey to Wormes . Is this the end of Great ones ? ' I as what then Is th'difference twixt them and meaner men ? Little or none , to say I may be bold , Since both had their Creation of one mould , Both haue one forme , one feature , yet we see In Formes alike , what different honours bee . So as we cannot well resemble it To any one similitude more fit Then to some faire Brick-building , where we know Some Brickes are plac't aboue , and some below : These on the Spires and Turrets , whose high seate Implie those men we spake of , that are Great . These on the Eue● , or neere the Pent-house plac't , Shaddow those Men which liue by Time disgras't . Yet when this Building shall be pulled downe , And her aspiring Turrets overthrowne ; Gazing vpon those Ruines with our eye , We cannot iudge which Brickes were low , which hie : Yea those same Brickes perchance at next remoue , Which were below , shall then be plac't aboue . Others there be , these diffrent states expresse , By a Resemblance to a Game at Chesse ; Where some are Kings , some made to guard on thē . Some Peeres and Bishops , others meaner men ; Yet shall you hardly know them which is whether , When they are put vp in a Bagge together . Some haue compar'd these states vnto a Stage , Where each haue roabes that fit their personage : Some Princely Monarcks , others Vassayles be , The Meane-men slau'd to Great-mens libertie . Yet is their play no sooner end'd and done , But they 'r vnstript of th'Garments they put on . And being disrob'd , they are no Princes more , But those same persons which they were before . Though some I know , that will not with their will Put off their Suites , but loue to weare them still ; That they ( belike ) of people might be knowne , Or rather this , cause they haue pawnd their owne ; " But there 's no hope of such in any age , Who make their stew their Tyre-house , streete their stage . But heare me ( starueling ) now to thee I come , That begg'st all day , yet hardly gets a crum , How ere thou seeme afflicted and forlorne , " Thou liu'st not halfe so poore , as thou was borne , Now thou hast rags , tho meane God-wot they be , But at thy Birth th'hadst nought to couer thee : Then , if thou hadst want succour and reliefe , Thou had no tongue to manifest thy griefe , But now thou hast a tongue , and tho none heare thee " Yet there is one aboue that will be neare thee : And can auenge thee , for it 's he that heares Thy ruthfull cryes , and bottles vp thy teares . Besides I see th' Aduantage thou may haue Ore Richer men , in going to thy Graue : For well I know , when they approach their end , They must take leaue of kinsman and of friend ; Which puling come with finger in the eye , And makes them farre vnwillinger to die . Whiles thou in Death feeles soueraigne remedie To all thy Griefes , and through thy Pouertie , Importunes Death when shee doth seeme to stay , And comming meetes him , better halfe the way : For now at last thou thinks the Time is come Wherein thou may'st be equall vnto some That here dispis'd thee ; and indeed thou may " For thou hast lesse to answer for , than they . Be this thy Recluse then , and here repose Thy selfe a while to descant of thy woes , And tell me when th'haste read this Poaeme ore , If thou finde not more solace then before . FINIS . Of Iustice. NOw vnto thee who like the Euening star , Sends forth the rayes of natiue glory far ; Doe I addresse my Muse : ô that she might Haue so much power as to describe thee right ! This is a vertue that doth comprehend All vertues in her , and indeed 's the end Whereat all good men ayme , wherein they trust , For him we count a perfect man that 's Iust. So that of all those Vertues which we call ( For their transcendent Natures ) Cardinall , Then this same Vertue ampler there is none , Including one in all , and all in one , But first , that I may make her better knowne . I will describe her Mansion and her Throne , What she admires , who her attendance be , Which showne , her worth the sooner you may see ▪ First , for her Throne it 's neither high nor low , But in an Equall or a middle row . For high she will not by no meanes abide , Least by her height she should be taxt of pride ; Nor so deiected , as her humble seate , Might cause contempt of Iustice to the Great . Therefore as she 's of Vertues soueraigne Queene , She sits enthroned in a Golden meane . Those she admires be no Magnificoes , No Fliers , no Flirts , nor no Ardelioes , No slie Informers that insinuates , No sharking Lawyers , shifting Aduocates ; No brib'd Atturneys that take dooble fees : No , she 's too good to brooke the best of these . But rather such as Students are in Lawes , To heart their Clients in a righteous cause , Such as when they before her Throne appeare , Neither are brib'd with gold , nor curb'd with feare ; These be her Darlings , these will she desire To consort with , these onely she 'l admire . Those which attend her are deseruing men , And will doe Iustice , right , in spite of them That dare oppose her , for withouten these We should see Iustice often on her knees , Since Iustice though she speake with resolution , Her speech is vaine , not put in Execution : But when her followers readie are at hand , To put in Execution her command , Then Iustice beares a farre more gracious shew , For what she wills , they willing are to doe . Of all the Acts which King Cambyses did , There was no one that better merited ; Then when he ( for abuse of Iustice ) made The skin of Iudge Sysambris to be fleade , And to deterre all others from like wrong Caused it neere the Iudgement-seate be hong . So pure's the Throne of Iustice , and her eye So piercing , as there 's no obliquitie , How small so ere , which seemes to daze her light , But quickly 't is discerned by her sight . Her eyes be euer open , for she knowes That there be many which to th' world showes No lesse then Saints , yet being try'd they 'r nothing , Yea worse then so , they 'r wolues in a sheeps clothing . Well may we thinke then , Iustice had not neede To sleepe , when Foxes 'mongst her Lambkins feed . And subtile Sconces shrowded oft we see Vnder pretences of simplicitie . But to the end I rightly may define Th' professour of a Vertue so diuine , Methinkes he should be one that knowledge had , And awfull power to terrifie the bad ; A graue aspect , mixt with austeritie , Which should be temper'd so with lenitie That in them both he might be vnderstood , A scourge to th' ill , a chearer of the good . Nor is he bound to th' Letter of the Law , For-Summum ius , Summ ' est iniuria . But with a modest exposition may Sweeten his censure , and the sence allay . Nor should he ( as that Iudge we read of ) be , Who heard the Widdow not for equitie But for she was still knocking at his gate , And in her suite was so importunate As he was forc't by her intreaties than , To doe her right , yet fear'd not God nor man. But such an one , as in his Makers sight Desires to doe to euery one what 's right , And with euen Ballance weighs the poor'st that arre As well as those men that be Richer farre ; Deserues to be professour in this time Of such a vertue , noble , and diuine . For if there were respect of persons had , Much doe I feare there 's many would be bad , Who now restrayned are and kept in awe , " Not so much for their God , as for the Law. " For wicked men if ere they finde restraint " Of working ill , it 's feare of punishment . But stay , me thinkes I heare a Supplicant , Whose cause is good , yet for he is in want , His fee-lesse Lawyers neuer are prepar'd To ope his case , and so he 's neuer heard . True there be such , but why doth Iustice sit , But to reforme such grieuances as it ? Is his cause good ? the first in plea is his , And though he come in Forma Pauperis ; Though some for Diues plead , some shall not chuse But shall be forc't to plead for Lazarus . It 's true there shall : but it 's so slightly done , As th' poore mans case being open'd , he is gone , Th' Lawer I meane , for long he will not stay To plead his cause that has no fees to pay ; Or if he plead he doth so post it ore As hauing done , he doe's respect no more , Whether his threed-bare Client loose or win , Then th' Libertine to act a sensuall sinne . But in this place now when I come so neare , I will insert a storie I did heare ; Which being related , though not halfe so well As it was told , may please the Client well . In that last Age when Rome 'gan to decline From her first height , and that there was a time For vicious men to follow their owne will , Where none were great but such as would be ill . That Hydra - headed Snake the Multitude , In publique Court vnto the Synod sude , That such corruptions as by Law were bred Might by their Censures now be punished : The discreete Senate Ioath for to offend Such factious Members , did attention lend Vnto their suite , and granted them free vse To apprehend such as did Law abuse : Which being done , their rage brookt no deniall , But brought these corrupt Lawyers to their tryall : Where such as were found guiltie , and had done Such odious crimes , as made poore-men vndone Were liable to th' Censure of the Court , Which ( as I reade ) proceeded in this sort . Gracchus hold vp thy haud , here art thou tride And guiltie found ( which cannot be denide ) Of many fowle abuses , such as these , Brocage in suites , Demurrers , dooble fees , Corruption , Subornation , nay , what 's worse To leaue the Deuill in thy Clyents purse , Dancing and capring , for the which and more By thee in like sort acted heretofore : Heare what the censure of the Court has done To thee , that hast so many ouerthrowne ; Thou and Catastes thy false Scriuiner Shall in the publique Market-place appeare , Where for example to Posteritie , You both shall stand vpon the Pillorie . Where on your backes shall be endorsed these Three words , - Pro Euertendo Pauperes . Which done , that Ioue may grant you absolution , You shall be forc't to make a restitution , For euery bribe , shift , tricke , deuise , or cheate , Bill , Bond , Release , Indenture counterfeite , Done , to be done , or caused to be done By you , or your's , for friend , foe , father , sonne : Which pennance past for Errors heretofore , The Court awards you nere to practise more , This Iudgement after past on two or three , But still the people prone to mutinie ; Haled out more , nor would they be restraind Till all their Lawyers were ( well neere ) arraind : Good God how many diffrent minds were then , Where there were far more censures then were men ! For Faction ( is so strange a Natur'd Elfe ) As it agrees but seldome with it selfe . Some cried let 's whip them , others cried far lowder , Let 's burne these Vipers of our Realme to powder : Others dislikt of that , and thought not fit , Least as the Phaenyx doth a Phaenyx get By her owne Ashes ; or as we doe reade , The Beetles ordure doth the Beetle breede ; So the Ashes of these Lawyers ( which were pittie ) Might raise a dampe to poyson all the Cittie . For if they liuing such corruption breed , How corrupt will they be when they are dead ? While they were scaning thus , one amongst th' rest , Starting vpright , sayd , he did thinke it best , Since that their Crimes extended but to state Not life , their Substance should be consiscate ; But how , quoth one ? Vnto the Treasorie ; No ( quoth another ) to the Commonaltie : Since well I know ( and manifest it is ) The Commons purses payed well for this . Debating thus , one of the Grauer sort Of Law-professours stood vp in the Court , And after due obeysance ( as was fit ) To such high Peeres as did in Councell sit , He thus began : You Conscript Fathers , you That sit in Iudgement to giue each their due . Thus farre haue heard , what we could speake , what they , Now will it please you heare what I can say ; Diuerse be th' Censures which be giuen on vs , And rightly too , for great is our abuse , Yet well your Honours know no fault 's so great Which easie Glosses may not mitigate ; Yea , it is knowne , some Natures be so bent , Kindnesse doth more with them then punishment . For such to lenitie will oft submit , When rougher termes can neuer mannage it . Know then Graue Senators we doe allot An ample portion of all we haue got By fraud , collusion , or by any way To speciall vses , but not such as they Seeme to inioyne vs : ( no my Lords ) it 's fit That we , who haue encreasd our state by wit , Aduice , wise prouidence , and pollicie , Should not haue such fond Caruers as these be To share our Fortunes , for it may be knowne , They 'l ill keepe ours , that could not saue their owne . Fond Caruers ( quoth the Rabble ) ? Yes , said he ; With that through the Court , there rose a mutinie ; But being represd , he tooke the better heede To moue the Rout : and thus he did proceede . We are content ( therefore ) to giue to th' vse Since we to giue can neither will nor chuse ) Of such as be depriu'd of Natiue sence , Reason and Gouernment a competence For to relieue them , and that there-withall There may prouided be an Hospitall Or house for their abode , we doe agree A Bed-Iem house b'erected speedily . This is our will , and we doe freely giue it , By th' mad we got it , and to th' mad we leaue it . This was no sooner by the Lawyer sayd , Then all approu'd it , and were well appaid ; Where th' Monster-headed Vulgar ope'd her iawes And did confirme this doome with one applause . This good they did that nere did good before , Nor as it's like , will ere doe any more . But this 's a Tale which I haue heard with moe , And I would haue it to be taken so : For all of no Profession's good we see , Nor all of Lawyers , nor shall euer be : Yet if ere Iustice shin'd , may she shine here , And make our Albyon her Hemyspheere . That as we haue a Steward of our owne , Who iustly weld's and beareth vp her Crowne ; So we may haue Dispencers vnder him , Who through their Iustice may discomfit sin . FINIS . Of Iniustice . NOw vnto thee , to speake I must be bold , Who sets the Throne of Iustice to be sold , Who to the Orphanes cry , and Widdows teare , Voyd of remorse of Conscience , stops thine eare ; Who shines in purple , and in it doest show , Farre worse then that , a Purple Conscience too : Thou that doest vayle to Great ones and doest seeke To gratifie their Lordships , I must speake , For if I should be silent , whisht , or doumbe , The stones 'i th stree●es I know would haue a tong . Thou crams thy Coffers with a suites delay , And like an Epicure from day to day Feedes on delicious cates , which thou doest carne To fill thy Maw , while th' poore for Iustice sterue . Thou Philip - like sleepes , when th' widdow cryes For Iustice at thy hands , and rubb'st thine eyes , And rashly doest pronounce ere well prepar'd , Thy Iudgement in that cause thou neuer heard : " For which the Widdow her appeale doth make From Philip sleeping , to Philip awake . Thou Laetharge , thou that for promotion sake , Contemnes thy soule , ruines that soueraigne state , Which giues vs perfect Essence , thou that sleepes When poore mens causes come to plea , but keepes Thine eyes , thine eares , and euery facultie , That thou in them might Rich-men gratifie . For well thou know'st that wretches of this sort , Either haue done , or will annoynt thee for 't . And yet thou snorts on still , making that Th●one Where Iustice vs'd to sit , a place vnknowne To any that professeth her , whose sight Eclipsed is , when right 's put downe by might ; And loe , how right 's supprest by thee proud whoor , That makest the rich to triumph ore the poore . Thou that contemns the weake and desolate , Making them call for vengeance at thy gate : Thou that hoords ire against the day of ire , And shalt sustaine that soule consuming fire , Endlesse in her consumption : it is thou Which ruines ample Prouinces , where grew Trophies of honour once , but through thy shame , Haue lost their greatnesse , honour , worth , and fame . For whence is th' Prouerbe spoke so commonly , " Iustice's a Relique of Idolatry : But as in auncient time when Idols were So much ador'd and reuerenc'd euery where ; And Oracles , predictions of each state , Told foolish people what should be their fate ; These Pagan Gods ( or Deuils ) would not tell Ought good to them , that did not please them well , No more will Iustice ( or Iniustice rather ) ( For this by times obseruance may gather ) Approue of any cause , how firme or iust So ere it be , till shee be bribed first . Or this same Prouerbe may produce good sence , If it be not mis construed from hence ; As simple men thought none could happie be , But such as reuerene'd their Idolatrie ; Offring their Iewels , ornaments , and store , To make their Idols rich , themselues as poore : Supposing them thrice blessed , that could come To heare good tydings from Apolloes tongue ; Whereas in deede if they the truth could seeke , It was their Gifts which made Apollo speake . So may we see men labour to this end , To get , Sir Reuerence , Iustice , for their friend , Which when they haue attain'd , they set no more By all those doubts which they were in before , Then doth the Sea-bit Mariner esteeme , When he ' sa-land , those dangers he hath seene , For why he knowes , he has a Patron got , Who what his cause is , greatly standeth not ; For well he sees the Law is in his will , To make the ill seeme good , the good seeme ill . These be those Spiders that obscure the shine of Iustice , which 's depraued through the tyme Wherein they liue , while Cripple Iustice halts , Entituling th' Seruant to the Maisters faults , For it 's not th' fault of Iustice , but of Time , To taxe the Seruant for the Masters crime . But from Iniustice now must I descend , To others Subiects , wishing that an end Of their depraued Raigne may soone appeare , Who staine with purple sins the Robes they weare ; Thus from thy foule infection I 'le remoue me , Meaning to leaue thee , since I cannot loue thee . FINIS . Of Fate . FAte , sayth the Ethnicke , is a firme decree , Which , though foreseene , may not preuented be Wherby ( poore snakes ) by pur-blind fate they 'r se Like Bedlam fooles , to dance in Errours net . Others haue grounded this opinion too , Which some approue , and others disallow , That in this vale of anguish , euery Man Hath some one Angell for his Guardian ; And that our Fortune good or bad shall be As those same Angels keepe vs companie ; If Good-ones be our Guardians , O then By their attendance we are happie men : If Euill , ruine shall attend our State , So by these two we may collect our Fate ; And from that God to whom all Angels sing , These Angels haue their power , as from their king : For th' good doe nought vnlesse he perfect it , Nor ought the ill , vnlesse he them permit . But late Diuines seeme to expound this place , That this same Angell is the sauing Grace , Which doth assist such as in Faith doe call , And leaueth others to themselues to fall By his iust Iudgement , who in 's Palme containes This globe of Earth , and tries the hearts and reines : 'Mongst other Passengers were ferried ouer , Chanc'd to resort a Pedler and a Drouer , Both at one time ; the Drouer he did bring Sheepe to the Faire , which he was carrying , Of Ewes good store ( right Butcher-ware ) there came And 'mongst the rest a bonnie butting Ram , Whose awfull front the rest securely kept , And all this while the Cup-shot Pedler slept . With many a nod drawne from his drowsie braine , Which th' Ram obserues , and butts at him againe ; The Pedler now , ●eeling belike some smart , With such like words as these began to thwart The carelesse Ram , Sir I am at a word , Butt you at mee , I 'le butt you ouer-boord . And not one word the Pedler could speake more , Till he began to nod iust as before ; Where with th' in censed Ram thinking he ment To push at him , so fierce a stroake him lent As his distemper'd Noddle seem'd dismaid , With violent assault his hornes had made : Yet part through griefe and anguish which he felt , He now resolu'd to wash the Rams white pelt , Which he perform'd , his fury to discouer , And roundly takes the Ram and throwes him ouer ; The louing Ewes seeing their Sweet-hart swim , Resolu'd with one consent to follow him ; Which th' Lawyer in his pleadings noting than , " Brother ( quoth he ) this was a lustie Ram , For much I doubt whether our wiues or no , If we should be thus vs'de would follow so . But to be briefe , not any one was found , Of all the Drouers flocke , which was not drown'd , So as a Suite's commenc'd betwixt these twaine , Wherein the Plaintiffe seemeth to complaine , And by petition humblie doth craue That for his losse he some reliefe may haue ; Which how it was determin'd by the Lawes , Being ( me thinkes ) a Presidentall cause , I will not now insist on , but discusse What Fate decree'd herein , and briefly thus . When th' Pedler met the Drouer , his intent Concurr'd not , questionlesse , with this euent , Nor meant he any harme vnto his sheepe , When he exempt from care fell fast a sleepe ; Nor gaue he the occasion , but the Ram , Who with his furious force awak'd the man , Nor was he to be blam'd when he did ayme To take Reuenge , The worme will turne againe . Where was the fault then ? you will say in Fate ; No , not in her but in the Pedlers pate : Or to ascribe more properly the fault Nor Fate nor Pate were cause of this but Malt. One other instance I will here produce , Which I by way of Supposition vse , A forme which I approue so much the rather , 'Cause from Supposes none offence can gather . A friend inuites another to his house . Whose presence after growes iniurious Vnto his Reputation , for he growes More inward with his wife then each man knowe● And this continues , yet who can descrie The slie effects of Louers priuacie , Obseruing such a watch , as neither wit , Art , or Suspicion may discouer it . Now vnto whom should we impute the blame , To him that caus'd him come , or him that came , 〈◊〉 vnto Fate , since he by accident Vnto the house as one invited went ? If we should skan whence th' first effect did spring , We properly may lay the fault on him Who through the too much confidence he had , Gaue way vnto his wife , and made her bad , So as my Iudgement is , the case so stands , As he may take his hornes in his owne hands ; For nere had he run on Dishonors shelfe , Or gain'd him infamie , but through himselfe . Or else we may ascribe't to Womans will , Which hath a Natiue pronenesse vnto ill ; So as what will be will be , and what man May force a woman doe more than she can ? And my opinion's this , it is no boote To curbe a Wench , that is inclind'd vnto 't , For be shee in restraint or libertie , Her eye still waits for opportunitie ; Which got , she 's so resolu'd as she will venter To taste delight should thousand eyes preuent her . Yea , on my conscience , though I nere haue tride it , I durst protest the more they are denide it , The liker are they when fit time they finde , To serue their iealous husbands in their kinde : For though we force them euer to obey , And to make sure worke , vse both Locke and Key , Italian-like , yet when the time shall come , Be sure we may that they will hitt vs home ; For this my firme Position still shall be , " Hornes can we not preuent , though we foresee . But all too long our Pen seemes to dilate , Vpon this pur-blind Goddesse , Pangan * Fate : If we doe good , as few are our good deedes , Let vs conclude that good from God proceedes : If ill , as many ills doe we commit , Vpon our selues let 's lay the cause of it ; So like true Christians we will euer hate , To take from God that we may adde to Fate . " Thus Fate 's a Panim Idoll ; onely He " Disposeth vs , by whom wee onely be . FINIS . Of Death . DEath is a passage , and if vnderstood , A gratefull messenger vnto the good , By which they passe from this same house of clay To Syons Court , where they shall liue for aye . Why should Death then a terrour be , since it Is made the Meanes , by which we freedome get ? Here are we Pilgrimes , and though store I haue , Yet for all this I am but Fortunes slaue ; Subiect to euery hazard , and am faine To keepe with care , what I haue got with paine . Yea , tell me thou that in all honour liues , And wantest nothing , had'st thou neuer grieues To discontent thee ? Or if thou wer 't free From discontents ; did nere mortalitie Vrge thee to Dissolution ? Thou wilt say , Thou had'st in deede , but soone they went away ; And gone , thou hast forgot those griefes as cleane As if thou nere had felt , what they had beene . Vnhappie wretch , this is thy too-much pride To vaunt of those , should make thee mortifide , For griefes be Passions , which may caution thee , To thinke thou art not where thou ought'st to be ; Which thou may hence collect : A traueller Hauing through many a desert wandred far , And now returning home , he is at rest From th' care with which he was before opprest . But thou wilt say : thou once was of that minde , When thou had no estate to leaue behinde , When thy attendance was of reckoning small , Thy fare but meane , thy honour none at all : When thou in th' eye of worldly men did seeme Of that contempt as if thou hadst not beene ; But now the case is altered , and doest hate To thinke on death , since thou hast raisd thy state . What argument this is , thou streight shall see , Scanning those things which seeme to hinder thee . Me thinkes a Pilgrime farre from his abode , And in his trauayle pressed with a load , Should much desire ( hauing beene wearied With that he bore ) to be disburdened : And so should thou , if thou could'st feele thy selfe , Desire to be disburdened of thy pelfe , Which as a load , to many men is giuen , And makes the way seeme tedious towards heauen . Yea , sure I am , there is no man drawes breath , If he haue hope in after-Time , but death Will seeme as pleasant , and as well accepted , As if he had obtayn'd what hee expected . For well he see 's , his Labours haue an end , His foes are quell'd , and he shall haue a friend , Which will receiue him , where such ioyes appeare , As farre surpasse these comforts he had here . It 's true indeed , that many are dismayd , When they doe see death on a wall portrayd , They like not his proportion , for he breeds Diuerse distractions in their troubled heads : Whence i st we see so many soules depart With eyes deiected , and with heauie heart . For why , Distrust they haue ere to entreate Pardon of God. because their sinn's so great . Wretched these , in that they entertaine , That hideous sinne hatcht first by odious Caine , Crying with him , and with him I must leaue them , " So great 's our sinnes , the Lord can nere forgiue them . More could I speake , for subiect had I more , But some perchance will say I spoke before Of Death in Fate , but these as seemes to me , Should not confounded but distinguishd ' be ; " For this twixt Fate and Death 's the difference , " Fate doth ordaine , Death is the ordinance . FINIS . TO HIM VVHOM TRVE MERIT HATH ENNOBLED ; THE RIGHT HONORABLE IOHN EARLE OF BRIDGE WATER , VICOVNT Brackley , the accomplishment of his selectedst wishes . HAtcht in the nest of Honor , you are blest , In hauing vertues to support your nest ▪ For though you 'r grac'd by birth , and great by Bloud , I more admire this Title , you are good . For this ( as it true greatnesse doth expresse ) Shall Crowne your Honor with all Happinesse . ) But natiue vertue needs no Artfull Bayes ; " Vertue her selfe's her prize , her selfe her prayse . Your HONORS humbly deuoted ; RICH : BRATHVVAYTE . THE AVTHOR CONTINVES HIS FORMER DISCOVRSE , Anatomizing Man more fully in these foure Subiects . 1. Preparation . 2. Securitie . 3. Court-ship . 4. Hospitalitie . Of Preparation . Qui se minus parat , periet . WEll was it spoken by the Oratour , That in each worke we should prepare before We did attempt , least too much rashnesse breede A strange euent , for want of good ●ake heede . It 's true indeed , for if we should dilate On euery Fortune , ranke , degree , and state , We should find out by due experience , Nought fits successe so well as Prouidence . For as in Armies , Chiefetaines doe prepare , To ranke their Souldiers , and haue speciall care That euery Troupe be rightly ordered , To th' end their Hopes may be accomplished . Or as in Builders , ere they will assay To reare the walls , they first will make a way For the foundation , that the ground-worke layd , What they intend may better be assayd . Or as in Plow-men , let this instance be , Though last , yet first for their antiquitie ; First till the ground , as they doe thinke it neede , Before they sow in it their hopefull seede ; So should each man before he doe depart , Till and manure the furrowes of his heart , That th' Earthly seed of his corruption may Put incorruption on another day . And like that holy Father ; whom we reade , That sleeping , waking or what ere he did , He heard this Summons sounding in his eare , " Ariseye Dead to Iudgement come appeare . Or that Denout and Blest Anachorite , Who thought himselfe still in his Sauiours sight ; And therefore fear'd to act ought that was ill , Seeing his Iudge was present with him still . But 'las how few now in the world be , That thinke the Lord their secret sins can see , Whilest working what is ill , they think 't no shame To violate the glorious stile or name Of their profession , ( and it seemes no lesse ) By seeming goodnesse , seeming holinesse . " Many we haue can till the fruitfull ground , " But for mind-tillage few or none are found . How foolish , and how carelesse then are we , To spoyle our soules for want of husbandry ? I know not how some others thinke of it , But sure to me , it were a matter fit , That we should make our preparation here , Now whil'st we liue , least when we shall appeare Before that Throne ( as we of force must come ) Hearing our crimes , we stand ( as men are dumbe ) Nothing to speake , whence shall ensue our hyre , Depart yee hence into eternall fire . Many there be , preparing still we see , To raise a state to their Posteritie ; Which with as prodigall a hand is spent , ( For many times they know not how it went ) As ere their Dung-hill Fathers scraped it , " For what 's ill got should goe as ill , it 's fit . Others there be to gaine their pleasures , will Prepare themselues 't attempt the worst of ill , No worke 's too great , no instrument too fowle , ( Though 't raze their name , & damne their precious soule , ) Is vn-affa●'d , till they their pleasure get , Which once obtain'd , Repentance vshers it . Others , for Honours , with ambitious wings , Soare to the Crownes , and Diadems of Kings : These will prepare their Engines to attaine , What they expect , and what they make their ayme Must be atchieu'd : there is no other way , Hence is't they care by night , and carke by day . And yet behold what fruit Ambition giues , Her care 's her curse , her-selfe of life depriues ; " For of all others , seldome seene I haue , " Ambition goe gray-headed to her graue . Others I see , which I am loath to see , For it includeth Albyons miserie : Prepare themselues , not as those Virgins did , To haue their Lamps with oyle replenished : But with adulterate Beauties , to ensnare Our yongling Gallants , and with brayded hayre In Azur'd brests layd open , painted cheeke , Loose wandring eyes , their lustfull obiects seeke , Which sought & found , that obiect which they spi● , Makes seeming fancie sparkle in their eye . These with as varied formes ( as we doe reade Proteus ere had ) change their phantasticke weed From day to day ( ô Heauen suppresse this sin ) For blest were we , if it had neuer bin . But yet , for all this garish Vanitie , Read but a Lecture of Mortalitie To these She-Sainted Idolls , you shall finde , Some small impressions of a Vertuous minde ; As such as haue their eyes vpon the Booke Of sacred Writ , yet how ere they looke Vpon the Text , the Preacher's busied in , This Text's a Pretext , but to hide their sin : " For how so ere their eyes may seeme to stay , " Fixt on the Text , their heart 's another way . But know ( faire pictures ) though with many formes You deceiue men , you cannot deceiue wormes . Nor will th' account ( that great account ) you owe , For all your trimnes be dispen'st with so . Prepare you better Garments then be these , For these I thinke will not your Maker please : Making you such strange Monsters , as I doubt His doome will be : Away I know you not . Some more I see , which full as busie are How to sow difference , and therefore care Onely to gayne themselues a faire estate , By others wrong , oppression , and debate . These too prepare ( but not as I could wish ) Their Nets , that they in others States may fish , And slily too , lay their pretended Suites , Filling their Clients heads with thousand doubt● ▪ Protesting ( God forgiue them ) it would please Them very well , their Client were at peace : When priuately , with a dissembling heart , They vow as much vnto the aduerse part . Yet this 's a sinne which craues a libertie , Because our Lawes giue it impunitie ; And reason good ( so 's Conscience tyde to pelfe ) As th' best I know , may punish't in himselfe . Many more of this sort I know there is , Which make their preparatio● , but amisse ; Few so exactly doe it , as they should , Which makes me speake more boldly then I would ; But he that curbs Me for 't , I 'le answer him , I know not how to blush in taxing sinne , Nor will I spare him though his splene should burst , " But curse those vices which my God hath curst . Yet with compassion , for I know I am My selfe that writes , as subiect to the same As they to whom I write : Yea I doe know Till I haue pay'd to Nature what I owe , There is no fact how great so ere it be Committ'd by one , but may be done by me , If he who in the heauens hath soueraignes place , Should not preuent me by his speciall grace . Yet I doe wish , and I am sure of this , That Charitie 's producer of my wish , Each would prepare for one , that when we goe From this same Vale of teares , and Sea of woe To the iudicious triall of Gods Throne , Each might be fit to giue account for one . So euery soule might with affiance say Vnto her God , in that same dreadfull day , Thou bad and I obey'd , and being tride , Like ●o fine Gold my soule was purifide : " Thou wil'd , I went , thy loue was my delight , " I sought , thy Grace did crowne me in the fight . If this indeed were weigh'd , as it should be , Men would depart from hence more willingly ; Knowing how Death would be a meanes to giue Life to our soules , and make vs euer liue . Some haue I knowne , who for the same intent Haue in their life time rear'd their Monument , That when so ere they look'd vpon their Tombe , They might conceiue what would of them become . Which Sheb●a did , ( as we in Scripture reade ) Who built his Tombe before that he was dead ; And this proceedes from doubt in many one , Of th' heires neglect when that the Father 's gone ; But see what Fate poore Shebna had , for he Hauing prepar'd a Tombe so gorgeously , As Art and Nature could not both inuent A more exact or curious Monument , Enforced was ( vaine man ) through times disgrace , To take his Buriall in another place . This speake I not for to deterre such men , ( Sith such praise-worthie rites I honour them ) From their Endeuours , as desire to haue Themselues and theirs successors in one graue : For , it 's a custome which may seeme to be , Authoriz'd by diuine authoritie ; Sith auncient Patriarchs , and those which came From Iacob , Isaac , and Abraham , Were ( as in sacred Writ is oft times red ) With their deceased Fathers buried . Yea , there is nought I of my friends doe craue More , then to lye within my Fathers graue : That whom I liuing lou'd , taking my breath From him , I may renew my loue in death . But herein I doe taxe their vanitie , Who doo prepare them Tombs where they may lye In State like Princes , and doe glorie in Those monumentall couers of their sinne ; Yet are respectlesse where their soules shall dwell , This Preparation doth not like me well . For it 's preposterous , this couer should , ( Being compos'd of nothing else then mould ) Haue such exceeding honours to attend it , While th' Soule has not one vertue to defend it . Pure is the Bodies shrine , but filthie foule Is that same shrowd , which doth enfold the soule . This is the cause that makes me to deplore These times so ill , that were so good before : Where vertue raign'd , and as a soueraignesse , Made the Soule glorie in her happinesse . Where pure Deuotion , as an heauenly light , Directed man to doe those things were right : Where th' soule was precious held , and whose chiefe care Was 'gainst the day of Vengeance to prepare . Least vnprepar'd to answer for their sinne , They knocke at gate , but may not be let in . Well did that holy Father thinke of this , ( Which to obserue each of vs I could wish ) Who euery night before he went to bed , To make this due account was ' customed , Goe to my Soule , vse not a slight delay , But answer me , What hast thou done to day ? What hast committed of those workes are ill , Or what omitted that thou shoul'dst fulfill ? Whom hast thou wrong'd , whom hast thou iniured , Where be those hungry , which thou shuld'st haue fed ? Whō hast opprest ? whe●ce comes the orphanes tere , The Widdows prayer ? Soule , I must iudge thee here , Least by deferring Iudgement to the last , I pay more deare , for th' Actions which be last . Thrice happie soule , that is so well prouided , Before his soule from bodie be deuided : With chearefull spirit may he hence depart , With eyes erected , and with light some heart : With soule-renewing comforts , and with peace , With hope , with health , with Saints compleate encrease ; With zeale , with ioy , with hope of libertie , To rest in him who ends our miserie . O may we so liue in vnited loue , That ones example may another moue ; So by Examples we at last shall come , With ioy and triumph to the marriage-roome . FINIS . Of Securitie . Si securus , vres . NO vice I thinke , that euer was , or is , End●gers th' soule of man , so much as this . Which that I may define , it seemes to be The sleepe of sin , or the soules Lethargie , Sencel●e●●e , and carelesse of what ere befall , Secure then , when she should most of all Stand on her guard , nor is she ' fraid a whit Of any harme , till she encounter it . This Vice consorts with such as loue to feede , And cram themselues : where she doth vse to breed These perturbations in the minde of Man , Whence th' Source of our Corruption first began . Lust , ryot , sloth , contempt of Godlinesse , Pride , dissolution , and forgetfulnesse Of what we are , exposing ( O most fowle ) The glorious substance of an heauenly soule , Vnto the basest seruitude , that is , To wit , th' delights of Earthly vanities . Yea , I may say there is no Vice at all That makes th' Soules motion so vnnaturall Vnto her selfe , as doth Securitie : Since th' Soule , which should in action euer be , Becomes by her , slothfull , remisse , and dull , Prest by a Belly that is euer full . Many we haue that labour of this vice , Yea , of this sinne our Great-men haue a spice ; Who with the Rich-man fare deliciously , Are clad in purple , and neglectfully Looke on the poore , while lulled in sinnes lapp , They neuer mind what afterward may happ : These giue no eare vnto the pitious mones , Nor dolefull shrikings of distressed ones ; These are secure of their poore Brothers grieues , " For they haue some sow pillows to their sleeues . Euen Prelates which should peirce the eares of Kings But they doe worse in speaking pleasant things ; For well they finde more profit's to be got By smeering vice , as if they knew it not , Then by displaying vices that are bred , For this hath caus'd some to be silenced . O age ! When men that are the mouths of God , And should not spare to shake the fearefull rod Of his displeasure , will for some light matter , Reuolt from God , and be induc'd to flatter : But of all other , there 's none so secure , Or prone vnto it , as the Epicure . For we may heare him euer bent to cry Let 's eate and drinke , to morrow we shall die . A strange perswasion , and an Argument As 't seemes to me , from Reason different , That shortnesse of our Time should make 's forget Our selues so much , as to be giuen to eate When we should die : if this approu'd might be , " There were some cause of mans Securitie . When after Death , and that our Time is gone , There were no farther matter to be done . But there is something in vs , that doth show , And tell vs plaine , our End must not be so , Which may be prou'd by our Experience , If we haue felt the sting of Conscience . ●ra , what soere our Atheist obiect , ●gainst that high and supreme Archi-tect , ●hough now he feele it not , he must confesse , ●nd that with Gall of inward bitternesse , ●here is a power ( and that a diuine power ) Who will auenge him of the wicked doer . ●ut some I heare to argue in this sort , And with my soule I am much sorry for 't : ) This day we may enioy our pleasures ; true ●●And then you 'l , what , begin next day anew To vse those pleasures which you did before , And so from day to day treasure vp store Of Vengeance ; O how fearefull is this path , To trace you on vnto the day of wrath ? Hence you presume of God : but doe not thinke , " That God doth sleepe , tho he may seeme to winke . For like as in th' old World we doe reade , When they had sported , feasted , married , And now became as those that care-lesse were , Through ryot , and excessiue belly-cheere : The Flood came on them , so as we may see , They were cut off in their Securitie : Euen so may you , that seeme to make delay Of your Conuersion thus , from day to day , Be taken napping in your height of sinne , How fearefull then 's the case that you are in ? I know delight in Sinne , doth Custome bring , And Custome to Securitie's the Spring Which makes vs hardned ( adding to Sinnes store ) Which more in number , seeme lesse then before . But that we may , against this Hydra fight , ' First head we cut off must be sins Delight , Which when we haue lopt off , we may begin To take away the Custome of this sinne . And so through want of Custome , we may free Our selues in time of this Securitie O that we would consider but our dayes , How short they are , and with how many wayes We are enclos'd with Foes on euery side , With inward motions , as with lust and pride : With outward motions , as with bayts of sinne , Where euery Sence doth let a Traytour in . O then we would be wise , and stand in doubt , Least these foes should get in , that now are out . Nor can we be too warie of our foes , Since we are pestered with some of those Which are within our Bosome nourished , And as our life 's more dearely tendred : These be our houshold friends , which sting to death , Depriuing them of life , which gaue them breath . " And of all others none annoy men so , " As doth a priuate or domesticke foe . For he by subtile vnsuspected guile , ( Pretending nought but amitie the while ) Enters the Fort ( and like a cunning Elfe ) Becomes a very Traytor to himselfe . Yet so , as when his practises haue end , This seeming friend , becomes an hellish fiend . Yea , we shall finde his saying true , who sayth , Securenesse brings Apostacie of Faith , Which is approu'd in many a wretched man , As for example in that Iulian , Who through Securitie despis'd the rod Of Iustice , and turn'd Rebell vnto God. Yea , many such euen in this Age we know , Who start a side , like to a broken Bow : And are forgetfull ( as before was said ) For what especiall purpose they were made . Hence may I iustly taxe the Libertine , Who idly spends the most part of his Time , In prophanation of the Sabboth day , And in the Streetes neglectfully doth stay , As if there were no Vineyard where he might Labour one houre at least , before 't be night : And yet I doe not grieue for them so much , As I in due compassion , doe for such , Who haue beene idling , both in youth and age , And now nereth ' End of their frayle Pilgrimage : Are now as farre from God , when they haue done , Nay , farther too , then when they first begun . O misery I that men who reason haue , And now through age , haue one foote in the graue , Should through a wilful blindnes , thus bewray Such mad greene thoughts , now when their heads be gray . ●e thinkes those furrowes which be in their face , Should as a Mirrour tell them here 's no place Long to dwell in , or if they would but see Gray hayres , those Heralds of Mortalitie , Which as predictions , Age is wont to send , Me thinkes they might remember now their end . But this they will not : they 'l endure no Glasse , Lest they should see how soone their time doth passe . Sure I doe thinke , what th' Morall sayd of old , Of all that be nought's viler to behold , Then such a man , who many yeares hath spent , Yet of his yeares can show no Argument , Saue his Gray-haires : for he doth Nature wrong , That shows no fruits how he hath liued long . Yea , we should know great difference appeares Twixt our expence of houres , and of yeares , For many may be aged in the one , Who leaue no Name behind when they are gone : Such is th' Expence of yeares , but happie they , Who by their ●oures doe measure out their day ; For when they die , the vertues of their minde , Like a sweete Oyntment leaue their smell behinde . Thus much in briefe of th' Vice : now't doth remaine To speake , where this Securitie doth raigne . FINIS . Of Court-ship . Et tacuisse nocet . BEfore I enter this secure repose , There comes such store of per●umes to my nose , I am nere sti●led : but I haue a tricke , By meanes of Art will tutch them to the quicke ; And so disperse these sweetly * sented men , As hardly there will one appeare 'mongst ten , And this it is : I 'le canvase vp their Vices . Their braine sicke humors , and their strange de●ices ; Their Courting , Congeing , and their Coniuring , Their Culling , Clipping , C●inging , Capering ; Their garish weares , and apish complement , And so I hope , I shall disperse this sent : Which , if my footing were not all more speedie , Might haue infected well my Brai●e alreadie . Rouse then thy selfe ( my Muse ) and sprightly on Vnto these men are made of Cinnam●n . Which Similee can hardly be denide . Their rind being better then all th' bulke beside . Me thinkes I see a ne● inuented State , Of foure Coach-horses standing at the gate , With distinct Furniture accordingly , To shew his Lordships honors liuery : Next this I see two Irish Lackyes stand , With eyther one a horse rod in his hand , Where with they oft times make the Beggars feele The lash , for following their Lords Coach wheele . Close ●e their Breeches made vnto their thighes , Guarded like two Pie-collor'd Butterflies ; So as to see these Iack-a lents come after , Would make a man halfe dead , burst out with laughter . There straight I see a Prisoner through a grate , Desire their Lord to be compassionate ; While Court like , he , stops his relentlesse eare , And eyther cannot heare , or scorns to heare . Thus in all State goes this Magnifico , With 4 Coach-horse , one Coach-man Pages two , Which ●euen without him make the Number euen With Romes 7 Mounts , for they make likewise seuen . Then must his Trayne be great , it cannot chuse , Being in attendance growne so mountainous : But let him passe , this Errour is but small , To other-some , that I must cope withall . Next thing I see , is one that 's like a man , Yet so disguis'd , discerne him not I can , Nor well distinguish him , by outward shape From some strange Monkey-fac't Arabian Ape . Faces he makes of such a se●erall sort , I cannot show them ▪ to be hanged for 't : But sure I am ( for ought I vnderstand ) He found not such strange faces in our Land , For ciuill Albyon is , and cannot brooke To looke , but as her Maker bids her looke . Yet this same strange proportion'd Caualliere , Or new-Italianated Courtier , Drawes Admiration to him in each place , And by disguises gets especiall grace ▪ For while he has the garbe of forraine Courts , And all the morne he spends in distinct sorts Of French , Italian , Germaine Complement , Zwelan , Ven●tian , Dutch accoutrement : Where he will speake of th' state of euery Court , Yet knowes not but onely by report . Yet would it doe ones heart good to heare , His strange discourse , though he was neuer there . Vp must his fashions goe , which though they seeme Th' ill fauouredst ones , that euer yet were seene . They are in most request , and he 's an Asse , That hates th' fashion , or will let it passe . And now , because there commeth to my minde An auncient Storie , which I chanc't to finde , 'Mongst other workes of serious consequence , I meane to write it , as I tooke't from thence . The Scythians a people stout and bold , Though much annoy'd by violence of cold ; Were euer held ( as by their Acts is showne ) The truest heyres of honour and renowne : Yet in their height of Triumph and Estate , They fell becomming too esseminate . For when the prosperous gailes of Victorie , Had made them proud of their prosperitie , And good successe had so blowne vp their minde , As Fortune like , their Fortune made them blind . They straight begun to cast away their Armes , As if they were secure of after●harmes ; And like new-fangle Humorists , desire To mould themselues into some quaint attire . Which to performe , they presently intend Some odd conceited fellow for to send , To forraine Coasts , that he thereby might come To gaine some fashions , and so bring them home . Straight one addressed was ▪ who forthwith went And compast round the Northerne Continent , Where though he saw strange fashions , yet was he Not so contented but would farther see . At last , inclining South-ward , there he stay de Within an Iland : and so long survayde The Customes , Natures , and the strange attire Of th'people there , as he did much admire ( So sottish was this Scythian Traueller ) The phrenticke habit of the Ilander . Who wore no garment , but from foote to head With plumes of Birds vs'de to be fethered , So as he seem'd ( sayth Storie ) in a word , In forme a man , but clothed like a Bird. This when the curious Scythian had seene , To trauell any farther did not meane ; But with glad heart determin'd to returne , And shew his Country th'fashions that were worne . Yet thought , ere he his iourney would begin , To take some of those fethers 'long with him . And there-withall to take aduice , had care , Of one of th' best experienst Taylors there , How to dispose the fethers , as they lay , Which hauing learn'd , he posted on his way ▪ After long Trauayle he at last arriu'd In his owne Country , which no lesse reuiu'd His long-expecting Country-men , then when There comes repriuall to condemned men . And as we see Birds flocke against ill wether , So all in troupes they crowded in together . Vowing withall , what Country , or what Nation So ere it were , they would obserue the fashion . Forth comes his fethers pluckt from Peacocks , Owles , Wood-cockes , and Phesants , and all fethred Fowles , Directing them how ordered they should be , ( And that of all the Countries he did see ) Though many in strange fashions did excell , Yet none like this did please him halfe so well . No sooner had the barbarous Multitude , Seene these strange nisles , but they forthwith sew'd , That this might be authoriz'd , through the Court , That who so ere ( being of the better sort ) For none saue such admitted were to weare This Bird like weede , should from that time appeare In publique place , vntill they had put on This new-found Roabe , which was agree'd vpon . Then might you see the Garments which of old Were Furrs of Beasts to keepe them from the cold ; Cleare throwne away , and none of ranke there were But did discard their auncient Country-weare . But long they had not vs'd this forraine fashion , But each was troubled with a sundry passion : One with a Sowing-humour in his head , Another was as much distempered With collicke : he , with shortnesse of his breath , This man through cold had nerely catcht his death , For why ; this weare fitt'd not the Scythians , But those tan-skinned Aethiopians , Whose sulphurous heate might better farre allow Of such light weeds , then their sharpe aire could doe . One of the wisest of this Barbarous crew , Now seeing , what was likely to ensue , Command'd forthwith ( experience maks men witty ) Certaine chiefe men to fire a part o' th' Cittie : Which done , an Vprore presently arose Through all the streets , and to the Court-gate goes : The chill-cold Courtiers knew not what it meant , Yet all amazed thought for to preuent This dangerous fire , in hast therefore they came Forth of the Court , to quench this threatning flame : All fethred as they were : but ( see mad Soules ) The flame catcht hold on these tame-fethred Fowles , And th'more they sought by labour to appease it , The more they did by their soft Plumes encrease it : Long had they not about these Fire-workes beene , But there was not a fether to be seene ; Which cing'd and gone , the fire encreas'd no more , But was supprest , that grew so great before . After which time no fashions they 'd retaine , But thought it meete to take their owne againe . I might be taxed for a knavish wit , If I in briefe should seeme to morall it . And therefore haue Resolu'd to let it passe , And be reputed for some Braine-sicke Asse , That spent his oyle and labour for delight , Then to be forc't to answer what I write . For other slight abuses in the Court , Doubting I might be brought in question for 't . If I should taxe the greatest ; I 'me prepar'd , Here to deblaze them briefely afterward . FINIS . Of Hospitalitie . Non eadem est aetas . THou thing out of Request , for vnto thee , That was an honour to our Auncestrie , The poore-mans Supportresse , Trauellers Repose , To thee will I my sorrows now disclose ; For well I know ( if any good there be ) Their very hearts doe bleed with griefe for thee . Where be those many Officers thou had , 'Las they 'r discarded and may run starke mad , But nere be pittied , a flout or mocke Is their Salute , their stoue a whipping stocke ; Their wages lashes , their repast bare Platters , Their wine , pure Conduit-Renish , garments , tatters . O thou that once ( by ●imes eternall Storie ) Was clept our Ilands port , our Englands glorie : Thou that by thy strong ●amily kept out , Iack Straw , Wat Tylor , and that rabble rout Of factious Noualists who sought t'infest , By their distempred heads , our Countries rest ; Thou that supprest such tumults by thy hand , As menaced the quiet of our Land ; How art thou vanisht , or where art become , That thou doest keepe so seldome times at home ? Way-faring men , when they but chanc't to looke , Were glad at heart , to see thy Chymneys smooke . When now as I and many more suppose , Thy Chymney smoke is turned to thy Nose . Yea , such as vs'd by thee to take repast , May sooner breake their neck then breake their fast . B●t whence proceedes this threatning miserie ? From thee ( thou curse of Albyon ) ●surse ; Soule-ranking Poyson , State-deuouring sinne , That makes dice on mens bones , and fleas their skin . Thou lay'st vn●allowed fist on each estate , And makes the poore come cursing to thy gate ; Thou ruines walled townes , and thee 't doth please To turne great houses into cottages . There 's none ( for thee ) can reape content in life Not from the Prince vnto the Oyster wife . It 's thou layes hold vpon each familie , Seazing on persons of all qualities . For where 's the May game , and the Morice dance , The auncient Blew-coate , and his cognisance ; Where 's those Black-iacks which vsed were at first For the way-faring man to quench his thirst ? Vanisht , they 'r vanisht : where ? to the Court , Beleeue me ( poore-men ) I am sorrie for 't . For pittie is it , that a place so great , Should ( of Reliefe ) our needie people cheate . Thus Hospitalitie is banisht cleere , Betwixt the Court , and th'damned Vsurer ; It 's rare to see a man of Worship ride , With more then one poore Lackie at his side ; Or if he haue a man or two at most , He couenants for feare of too much cost , That each of them ( so niggardly's the Else ) Should be at charges to maintaine himselfe . And sure me thinkes , these Great-men that retyre , As I may say , vnto an other's fire ; Shutting vp house , and all , that who should looke That way , should scarcely see a Chymney smooke : Might become rich : for why , they nought bestow , Their meanes be great , the rate they 〈◊〉 at , low ; Small 's their attendance , slender is their port , And shut their Buttery-hatch to barre resort . But why should I thinke so ? as they from th' poore Hold backe their hand , the Lord holds back his store . That Widdow of Sarepta ( as we reade ) Had still her Arke with meale replenished ; And th'more she gaue , she still receiu'd the more , For God encreas'd her much-decreased store . But Naball that rich Churle , who denide To giue to Dauid , seeming to deride This zealous King , with who is Dauid say , That I should giue my coine and meate away ? What end had he ? He was depriu'd of all , His state , his store , his life , his Abigall . And he , whom Naball did deride before , Became the sole possessour of his store . " For he that liuing will not th' poore reward , " Shall be enforc't to giue it afterward . But vnto theo my Muse addresseth first , ( And heauen forbid I blesse what God hath curst ) Who doest consume the Sun-shine of thy dayes In damn'd Oppression , and all workes delayes Of Charitie , and Almes workes till death And desolation choake thy corrupt breath . Thou Earth-mould thou , who a● it seemes to me , Hadst thy beginning from that Familie Of th'Braucadori , which in Florence are , Extorting Bankers , and so Named were , ( Because the Word if rightly vnderstood ) Signifies scrape Gold ( or in briefe ) scrape-Good . It 's thou my Muse shall freely reprehend , Beginning fresh , when seeming at an end ; And heauen I wish , that it were put to me , What punishment should be infflict on thee . For then ( be sure ) of what degree or sort , So ere thou wer 't , that I would plague thee for 't . Yea in an auncient Cannon reade we shall , This ranke denied Christian Buriall . So as their Bones were neuer to be found , Interr'd in any part of holy Ground . And true it is ( for th'Reason is allow'd ) That the confused rout and multitude Of Lawyers and Physitians , which are bred , ( Like Horse flies ) from a State distempered , Are signes of ill-disposed Bodies , sure , And long 's that State not likely to endure . Yea , of these two , I know not whether's worse , To purge the bodie , or to purge the purse : Both strange distempers breed : whence it is meant A Clyent is his Lawyers Patient . But th'Number of our grating Vsurers , Their Factors , and those eare-markt Scriuiners ; While they within our Country are remaining Show a disease that 's fatall 'mongst vs raigning . But hast I must , and passe from Vsurie , The greatest foe to Hospitalitie : And speake a word or two vnto the Court , Showing those wrongs she doth the poorer sort . Thou Princely Seate , whose bountie like a streame Should water each drie corner of our Realme ; Harbour not such , as should themselues expresse By giuing harbour to the harborlesse . Let them not there haue any residence , But banish them ( thou starre of honour ) thence : That in their Country they may once appeare . , Such good House-keepers as their Fathers were . This done , thou shalt bring glorie to thy Court , And needfull Soules relieu'd shall blesse thee for 't . FINIS . And tell thee too when I had made them knowne , Thy vices were not worthie of a Crowne . I haue no Rhetoricke but bluntnesse I , Nor knew I euer how to face a lye ; As many can , yea , and some great ones too , As our Court-Apple-Squires , and fauns can doe : I doe cashiere all priuate Parasites , Lad●e-fied Monkyes , lustful Catomytes , Painting , and pursting , sleeking of the skin , Poudring of hayre , to let temptation in ; Light-fether-dressings , Fardinggalls avant , That makes a wench backt like an Elephant ; Open displayed brests , Sin-tempting eyes , Crocodyles teares , and faithlesse periuries : Vermillion cheeks , bought beauties , I do shun you , For I am madd when I doe looke vpon you : But first to thee will I addresse my way , Who in a Loue-sicke passion thus doest say ; " Loue brookes no sharers , I 'le not suffer Ioue " To be a Riuall in the Wench I loue . You will not S ir ; why , what a Wood-cocke art , To thinke thy-selfe a man of such desert : That any Wench will so her loue confine , To make her-selfe in Essence none but thine ? Herein thou show'st thy owne simplicitie , To thinke a Woman will imprisoned be ; Since it is true which hath beene oft times sed , Nor loue , nor lust can ere be limitted . Why , I will tell thee man I had a Wench , Some thirteene dayes agoe no longer since , And she did vow ( as well I know she can ) Of all she lou'd I was the onely man : ●f I but frown'd , so straitely I did keepe My Wench in aw , she would begin to weepe ; 〈◊〉 I but laugh'd , it cler'd her raynie day , She would laugh too , and wipe her teares away ; In briefe what ere I did ( so kind was she ) One note kept Measure't wixt my loue and me : Yet to ther day ( I pray thee louex heare me ) She that was mine by vow , doth now cashere me , Calling me foole that had so little sence , To thinke that she with faith could not dispence ; Adding withall , that there was nought more cōmon Then breach of faith , and promise with a woman . Yet know ( quoth she ) tho th'greatest Prince assault , " If woman yeeld it is the womans fault . Thus by experience ( Louer ) I was crost , Thus did I loue , thus was my labour lost . If thine be constant , thou hast that reward , Which I few louers euer yet haue heard ; But if she be , of thus much sure I am , She is a Milke-white Crow , a cole-blacke Swan . Next vnto thee , whose gaudie vanitie , Makes thee forgetfull of mortalitie ; Thy glorie is not placed in thy minde , For who the least of beautie there can finde , Sith Vertue has no place , which euer giues Life to the soule , by which it euer liues ; But odious vice , which blemisheth the eye Of vnderstanding with obscuritie ; Thy glorie is in Clothing , yet behold What that diuinest Salomon hath told ; Nought is more vaine then this ? at least thou 'l yeeld In Beautie to the L●●lies of the field , Which neither spin , nor labour , yet they be " Fairer then Salomon in his royaltie . Yea , this Obseruance tells me , which by some Hath beene reputed for an Axiome . " The greatest Princes that are clad in Ermine , " Take them at best , they are but food for vermine . " And why should shapeles forms be so much loth'd , Since Bodies they are but , as they are cloth'd ? This comes not nere the Beautie of the soule , Since th'fairest Bodies are oft times most fowle In th'constitution of the inward man , Which is the best of beautie , sure I am . Vertue adorns her best , nor can she finde Any Complexion purer then the minde : Here , not improperly may I make vse , Of th'Nuptiall song of wittie Claudius , Which was composed for the marriage-bed Of good Honorius to Maria wed . " Tender Honorius , in the purple roome " Borne , to his Fathers glorie now shall come , " And giue that hope to such as see him raigne , " As if that Saturne were return'd againe ; " For little can Porphyras Pallace doe , " If that with Birth we haue not vertues too . " He shall conclude my taske , no more I 'le say , " Pleas'd or displeas'd , this 's my Placentia . FINIS . A CONCLVSIVE EPIGRAM , ENTITVLED The Great-mans Alphabet . Come hither Great-man that triumphs to see , So many men of lower ranke to thee ; That swells with honours , and erects thy state , As high as if thou wer 't Earths Potentate . Thou whose aspiring buildings raise thy Name , As if thou wer 't Sole sonne and heyre of fame ; Thou whose ambition doth on dainties feast , Ayming to be some pettie King at least ; Thou whom oppression hath by wrong made great , Priding thy selfe of thy vsurped seate ; Thou that doest thinke it signe of Noble bloud , Rather to ayme at great then to be good ; Thou whose demerits , though thou beare a port , And canst looke big , are but of th'meanest sort . Thou whose patcht honour , take away thy land Will for an Ordinarie scarce currant stand ; Thou whose best qualities deriued be , Onely from thy command , and not from thee : Heare me ( thou Worlds Atlas ) and discerne What 's best of honour , Greatest men may learne . I haue sought farre , and yet I cannot finde , To what set place their glorie stands confin'de : Who once were famous , and had tongues enow , To ring their Noble acts the World throw . Methinkes that Agamemnon whose renowme , Euen to the eares of sacred Powers did come , To make his fame more lasting , should not be So soone obscur'd in his posteritie ; Nor that same Mirrour of the Myrmidons , Nor braue Thalestris of the Amazons ; Nor Cretan Minos , Ilus , Atreus , , The Persian Cyrus , Trojane Dardanus . Yet see , where be these Heroes ? Now they seeme Through tymes disgrace as if they had not beene : So short's our memorie , that if we haue Nought to preserue our honour in the graue , Saue th'tongs of men to blaze what we haue done , Scarce will our Names be heard in time to come . Yet you will say those Monuments we leaue , Will to our dying Fame true honour giue : As Marble shrines , statues of Iuory , Porphyrite Columns grauen curiously , Arches of lasting mettals , these will show What we were once : and though men would not know Our actious , yet our monuments infuse Knowledge in them , they cannot will nor chuse . Alas how weake's his fame , that do's repose His confidence in any one of those : Soone fading is his Name , and short's his time That 's shut within circumference of a shrine : Yea , frayle's his glorie fitting with his nature , Who hopes to reare his fame by such a matter . For where should we find Tombs now ouergrowne With grasse and rubbish , yea , where-fields are sowne , Vineyards are planted , as it may appeare , It is not knowne where they interred were ? Some say the Caue of Minos , King of Crete , Who afterward had his Iudiciall seate In Hell , as Soueraigne vmpire , founded was On Idas Mount , where though by store of grasse And mouldred ashes , which are haled forth , By the combustiue matter of the earth : His ag'd memoriall was extinguisht clene , Yet some appearance there is to be seene , Which doth expresse that Minos Sepulcher , Vnited was with th'Tombe of Iupiter : And that faire Ida , which so fruitfull grew With euery pleasant Plant ( as Poets shew ) Would decke his flowry Monument with Thyme , With Bayes his Tombe , with luniper his shrine ; So as no Virgin Votaresse there was , Who had that way occasion for to passe , But would ( for so the Cretans did allow it ) " Tender her best of adoration to it . Of such Relations we haue Subiects store , As Aiax Tombe vpon the Rhetian shore , In Oeta great Alcydes , Mytilene A place where many worthies layd haue beene , As Pythacus an auncient Sage of Grece , Alcaus , valiant Antemenydes , Yea though a Statist subtile as a Fox , They will display thy errours with a pox ; If a vaine-humorous Lording , whose creation Came vp the to-ther day along with fashion , Whose onely gracefull neate accoutrement Stands on a little broken complement ; Then some will say , while ore thy graue they passe , " Here lies a Widgin-lord , a foot-cloth Asse . If an imperious Beggar that canst sute For such ones land , and put th' true owner out ; Thou shalt be taxt and censur'd in thy graue , And term'd withall a base collouging slaue . If a spruce Pension-Gallant , that hast nought , ( Saue a phantasticke cringe ) that 's worthie ought , Receiue this Brand ( nor care they if thou scowle ) Of a vaine-glorious , idle , formall foole . If an ambicious Greene wit , thou doe clime , Hoping to scale the seate of Ioue in time : If thou repine that any one should checke Thy soaring flight , till pride shall breake thy necke , Rest well assur'd , they will be bold to tell That Pride did Lackey thee post-hast to hell . Thus then thou seest , how great so-ere thou be , ( If ill ) thou subiect art to infamie ; Nor can the Greatnesse of thy worth or place , Exempt thee from the censure of disgrace , For those who whilest thou liu'd durst hardly mew , ( Now being dead ) will giue thy crimes their due . O then let Vertue be thy monument , For it will keepe thee , when thy life is spent , In a perpetuall Memorie ! for 'las What 's Marble , Iron , Iuory , or Brasse To make thee glorious in the eyes of men , Since of all those , there 's scantly one 'mongst ten , Who plac't their Names in shrines , but were forgot Before the sheete they lay in was halfe rott . Yea such as these , who like the sonnes of Earth , Triumphed liuing , in their noble Birth , Boasting of their discent , yet could make knowne , Not any one good action of their owne To glory in , might well resembled be , In each respect and natiue propertie , Vnto a Lampe , which when the oyle is spent , Sends from her steeming snuffe , a noisome sent ; " Liuing they shone like Lamps , at least they seem'd , ( But all things are not so as they are deem'd ) But dying they doe show what filthie stuffe They were made of , by sending forth their snuffe . But when true Vertue is commixt with bloud , Then Noblenesse must needes be rightly good : For bloud and vertue being ioyn'd together , Makes what agrees with one , accord with eyther . There is no Balme so precious vpon Earth , As Vertue is ▪ for it preserues our worth From times mutation ; no corruption can Enter the Coffin of a Vertuous man ; For though the Syth of Fate haue cut him downe , Yet in his death he is farre better knowne Then in his life , because when men doe misse him , Seeing his workes they 'gin afresh to blisse him . O may thy Great-nesse ( then , ) who ere thou art , Be grounded first vpon a sincere heart , For that will last , when that same guilded honour Will fayle her selfe , and all that trust vpon her . Short is our time , our sorrowes they are long , Fickle our State , our Soule-assailants strong ; Weake's our defence , rude is our Discipline , Rustie our Armes , our Courage feminine : What Recluse then ? Whereto may we repaire , To be secure from imminent despaire ? It 's not our Greatnesse , nor descent of bloud , How high so ere can doe vs any good : No ; It 's our goodnesse , not our greatnesse shall In that same day giue priuiledge to all , Which heauens I wish , that it might once be set On Great-mens brests , and made their Alphabet . FINIS . TO THE HIGH AND ILLVSTRIOVS MONARCH , CHRISTIAN KING of Denmarke a PANEGYRICKE OR Gratulatorie Embleme , with the Successiue continuance of his MAIESTIE . The Embleme . GReat Christian king soueraigne of many hearts , Royall supporting-ATLAS of all arts ; Bellonas Chieftaine , & Minerv●es friend , True worths aduancer : please thee to attend , To one of Albyons Swainelins , who would be Blest in himselfe , writing ought worthie thee . Long may our Whitecliffs , which gaue Albyon name , Prepare themselues such friends to entertaine ; Long may ou● far-fam'd Court her luster show , Made glorious by such royall Friends as thou . Long may our Halcyon daies crowne Albyons King , While prosperous gailes such Friends a shore doe bring . Long may our Cōmerce free to both remain , The Dane with English , English with the Dane . Happie vnited powers confirm'd by loue , And nere-Alliance , as those quires aboue . May you keepe blessed concord , and renew Your yeares by Times successe : O may that dew Destill'd on Hermon , fructifie your Land , S●ielded and shored by the soueraigne hand Of the Almightie : that no forraigne Foe , Nor homebred Innouatour , may vndoe That sacred Vnion , so bequeath'd to eyther , As hand in hand , you may march on together . And thou Triumphant Queene , that dissipates The spacioust Prouinces , and raisest states By vnexpected meanes , ( Great Victorie ) Smile ( O attend my Prayer ) auspiciously , On two religious Kingdomes ! May thy wings Shadow th' atchieuments of two royall Kings : That their propitious Fates enstil'd may be , As Faiths-De●endors , so true heires to thee● O may those auncient monuments of Time , Stucke on their predecessors Hears●s , shine More now then euer , that ' i th age to come The Father may relate vnto his Sonne What conquests and what glory hath beene got , And such renowne as they expected not ! Shine out faire Lampe of honour , and giue way , It 's ●ot the morne , but euening Crownes the day ; May peacefull morning , and victorious Euen , Blesse them on earth , eternize them in Heauen . Nor can I doubt in such apparant sweetes Of reall Goodnesse , where perfection meetes , And makes a well-tun'd Concord , but the earth Will glorie much to haue so great a birth Planted within her Bosome : For the blisse Of earths inhabitants , consists in this , When Princes gouerne with religious eye , And Iustice lodgeth in a Monarchie . There 's no complaint , but with harmonious sound , ( Like heauenly dwellers ) they make blest the ground Where they inhabit : there vnited peace Makes their Barnes ful , giues to their flockes encrease . There sacred Temples are erect'd on high , And praises sung to heauens pure Maiestie : There 's no repining at an-others weal● , All like Sareptahs Widdow haue their meale Renew'd , and re-encreas'd , which still we see , Succeedes to such giues Hospitalitie . For vertues haue their Guerdon , and appeare Bright in heauens eye , to such as soiourne here . O happie then where Maiestie doth shine , If vertues keepe a Tune , or keepe a time : There 's a terrestriall Hierarchie , which doth show Faire in such men , as doe such vertues owe ! In thee ( Rich Mirrour ) I haue heard and sen , What merits admiration in meane men , Much more in Princes , nor can I expresse Imagination freely : yet I guesse Then yet thou art possest of : and it is The best ( Inferiors can doe ) to wish Successiue dayes , continuance of Friends , Renowned liues , and Time-eternis'd ends : To those we are oblig'd to : and to thee ▪ Much are we tyed , accepting Poesie , With such a gracefull aspect , as thy breath , Infuseth life in vs , when meager death Seem'd to surprise vs : should we then forget The best revivour of our vncheer'd wit , The Mirrour of affected Clemencie ? O no , for then vngratefull we should be , And make our workes contemptuous to such men As haue vouch sat'd some time to harbour them : Indeed , if labours could a promise giue , To such as patronize them , ere to liue With fames light-sayles displayed , I know we might Haue far more Patrons , then haue workes to write : But what can Hyble promise that is there , Worthie th'attention of a Princes eare ; Some scattred spraies perchance , which cropt might be . From Adons Garden . or Apolloes tree . Some sweetened dropps drawne from that sacred spring Where all the warbl●ng Nine were wont to sing . For neuer Garden yet was halfe so sweete , As where Apollo , and the Muses meete . Yet what are these ? And what are we that write , Since Kings be choice & must haue choice delight . To cheare their pure affections ? It is true ; Albyons Pernassus has but little new , Or store of pure varieties : yet there be Some that haue sung in th' Eare of Maiestie ; And with acceptance ( though with homely straine ) Which is the cause that now they sing againe . Nor doth the tune , but tenure of the minde Make the best Concord : Which if Princes finde , They cherish it , to make the Consort more , ( For so the royall'st Princes did before ) And to continue what the Auncients did , Our Moderne ages haue authorized What they confirm'd : nor can we glorie lesse , Sith we haue such that can as well expresse , Their Countries Fame , the honour of their King , As well in loftie straines , as Sonnetting , As euer former Bards , and with lesse toyle , For our's more free , their's was a forced soyle . And what esteeme haue Authors of this kind Beene amongst Potentst Monarchs , we shall finde In tymes be●t Mirrour , auncient Historie , Where they reserue dew wreaths for Poesie . The worlds great Viceroy slept not as we reade , Without the workes of Homer vnder 's head ; Augustus lou'd his Maro , Martiall Had a Domitian , and tart Iuuenall No worse Protectour , aged Soph●cles , Sweet-breathing Hesiod , graue Euripide● Passion-affecting Aeschylus , all these Had places to retire to , and could please With smooth , quicke , pithie , various passionate , Choice , natiue , modest , and elaborate , Passions , affections , measures , and delights For men , maids , Matrons , loue-admiring Knights , Campe-royall planters , where no act did passe , Which they engraued 〈◊〉 in leaues of Brasse . Their monumentall Tablets : these were they That could distinguish 'twixt the chearefull day Of Resolution , where 's true vertues light , And recreant spirits clouded with the Night . Of a depressed minde : nought could be done Vnder heauens glorious Cresset , but was showne By an impartiall pen , and did remaine For after● Ages to looke ore againe . And were not these workes for a Princely eare To descant on : when vertue did appeare In naked feature , and 〈…〉 Name To be in Nature and in essence same What she was moulded for ? And she it is That neuer had another Mott but this . If spotlesse Reputation be away , Men are but guilded lime , or painted clay . And what Apelles euer could portray , And pure substance , or so well display The perfect forme of being , as this Art , Or diuine Influence , can describe each part Of honours faire proportion ; this is she That giues a liuing soule to Maiestie , Records the acts of Princes , and sets downe , What 's worth record fr● th' plow-share to the Crowne . Renewing life in death , for by her breath , Selfe-same may liue , that is surpriz'd by death : Making his actions breathing : nor can tyme Impose a period to an Art diuine ; For it 's transparant in obscuritie , Cleare in the silent shade , and loues to be , As vertue is in Action : this being true , What can we doe , but giue this Art 〈◊〉 due , More to her Grace , but as she 's Princely bred , So by a Prince to haue her sheltered . It will erect her spirits , cheare her wings , And make her perch euen on the crest of Kings : Admiring her owne Beautie : and who can Amongst a world of Princes , finde a man Who might her Patronage better beseeme , Then thou great Prince , brother to Albyons * Queene , Whose ripened iudgement aimes at some great end , In reading nought , but it does apprehend . And what more precious ornament can be Worne by a Prince , then such a Theorie ? But 'las how weake's my Muse to set thee forth , That beáres within thy selfe the markes of worth , As Honors natiue Characters ? And best Is Honour showne , when grauen on the brest Of the possessour ? Like adorns thy heart , For speaking thee , who knows not what thou art ? O may it be ( I pray ) the supreame will Of heauen , to adde more glory to thee still , That each succeeding day may giue encrease To a succeeding honour : may sweete peace Smile on thy fruitfull Empire , and extend , Her large Commission to the worlds end . So shall Minerua flourish , and make great The faire foundation of thy Royall seate . Meane time ( Victorious Prince ) gaine the renow●e ▪ And in thy Christian Title , ouer-come . FINIS . AN EMBLEME VPON THE ROYALL MASQVE PRESENted in the King of Denmarkes last being here . Personated regally , shadowed really , and alluded rarely . THrice glorious Spirits , royall in your state , Albyons - faire lusters highly consecrate . To him whom you on Earth doe represent , May you be euer in this Element Of perfect Ioy : that the full height of time May ( as you were presented Masculine ) Cheare vp your man like thoughts , that your great birth ( Being enstil'd no lesse then Gods on earth ) May when your Time 's expir'd ( and long may 't be Ere that time come ) put on eternitie . Your Masque presents a life ( silent you came , So Maskers doe ) and we expresse the same In our Birth-entrie , nothing can we speake Articulate ; onely sends out a shreque , To shew our misery ; the next you beare 'S a vizard , which implyes these robes we weare , Of Flesh , and of Mortalitie ; which when Time shall dissolue , we are no longer men , But Angels : Your disguise may shadow at , That strange desire we haue to immitate Forraine disguised habits , when it 's knowne , We haue more comely habits of our owne . Those Feminine-Mirrors ( Ladies ) you brought in , Shows Adams happinesse , and Adams sinne ; His happinesse , when God to make his state Perfect-delightfull , gaue to him a mate , ●lesh of his owne flesh , and bone of his bone , Thinking't not good that man should be alone . His sinne , when 's mate , wherein he seem'd to be Happie , did haplesse taste th'forbidden tree . Liuely was this exprest , when th'Ladies bore From you those Gemms and Iewells which you wore ▪ Implying that pure Gemme of Innocence , Adam was robd of by Eues negligence . Taking from th' Ladies : thus much did impart , " Men spous'd to women , ●ob them of their heart , For it 's no longer theirs , for theirs is gone , One heart in two , or two reduc't to one . This is my Embleme for the Masculine , Now must our woman-Pen turne Feminine . Delicious moulds of Nature , whose pure forme Was form'd by Nature , chiefely to adorne And beautifie her-selfe : which she did shew , First in her-selfe , examplified by yow . You mask'd , thus much implies , that modestie Innate to Woman-hood , ought most to be Where sexes are immixt : those Princely men , Which you depriu'd and robbed of their Gemmes , Includes your true humilitie : being forc't To take from that Sex , Eue tooke of at first : And that perfection which you haue began , Not from your selues , but from the worth of Man. These ornaments ( are vertues Emblemes ) where Beautie by honour graced do'es appeare More chearefull , and assumeth to it more Of diuine Essence , then it had before . You spoy●'d , portrayes your modest ▪ Princely shame , Scorning to take and not to giue againe ▪ Here is a great minde showne : whose plac't delight , Is nere to take , more then it will requite . Those Virgin-lamps of yours , with oyle sustain'd , Expresse those Virgins , that were entertain'd Into the Bride-chamber : hence you are Compar'd to those wise-virgins that had care To haue their oyle prepared , and might come , With Virgin-glory to the Nuptiall roome . Your Oyle 's the splendour of a vertuous life , And she 's a Virgin , that 's a Virgin-wife ; Making her husband ( linkt by sacred right Vnto her selfe ) sole mate of her delight . The place where you present this Masque of yours , May seeme an Embleme , to those heauenly powers Which shine in Syons-Court : pure mirrors here , And glorious Daughters of perfection there . Your Masque expir'd , includes our frayle lifes-taske , Whence was 't that Prince compar'd it to a maske , Wherein men were disguis'd , nor could one then Discouer right the phisnomie of men , Hauing their face obscur'd : and such be now Those , who are nothing lesse then what they show , Hauing appearance to the out-ward eye , Of seeming that they are not inwardly . But when our Masque of Flesh is stript off cleane , Then is it clearely showne , what we haue beene . Your d●nce ( Times measure ) may be thus exprest , Lifes-action is a dance , which craueth rest ; Your selues th' Ideas of true Excellence , Show what you shall be when you goe from hence . FINIS . TO THE IVDICIOVS And generall approued , HVMFREY DAVMP ORT , Esquire : Practitioner in the Common Lawes ; Whose Subiect , is the goodnesse of the cause ; and whose ayme is to redresse wrong : The accomplishment of his vertuous desires , with the perusall of this Encomiastick POEM . Vpon the worthie and sincere Pro●icients and Professants of the Common Law : an Encomiastick POEM . LAvv is the line , whose levell is dispatch , A Lampe , whose light shows Iustice what is right , A Larke , whose vnseal'd eyes keepe early watch , A Loome , whose frame cannot be sway'd by might , A List , where truth puts iniury to flight ; ( choice list , Straight line , bright Lampe , sweet larke , strong Loome ▪ Guide , shine , shield , guard , and liue Truths Martialist . Law is the Sterne , which steres the Ship of State , The glorious Stem , whence Iustice , Science spring , The chearefull Star , which early shines and late , The Staffe , whose stay supports the languishing , The Streame , whose spring is ever cherishing ; Rare Sterne , rich Stem , cleare Star , firme Staffe , pure steram , Stere , cheare , direct , support , refresh the ●ene . Blest then are you , who labour to redresse The poore mans case , and measure your contents By shielding th' weake from awfull mightinesse , Like graue Professants , good Proficients , Clozing with equitie your ioynt consents ; 'T is you , 't is you , who in this blemish'd time , Send out your lights , while other Starres decline . When Grece in glory flourish'd , shee did reare Some Images neare Iustice sacred throne , Which to be l●me and blind portraid were , As proper Obiects to be look'd vpon , Implying what in Iustice should be done ; Blind to distinguish friend or foe , and lame From taking bribes to staine Astraenas name . Cleere lights , pure lamps , rare stems , rich streams of life , who shine , beame , spring , and draine your Christall course From Iustice throne , to coole the heat of strife By curbing aw with Law , with censure force , To chastise with restraint , cheare with remorce ; Long may you liue , since by your life you giue Iustice new breath , and make her ever liue . Salus ciuitatis sita est in legibus ▪ A PRAYER TO THE HIGH COVRT OF HEAVEN , FOR the high Court of Parliament now assembled : that their Councells and Consultations may bee so directed , As Gods glory may be advanced , and vnitie in Church and Common-wealth established . LORD what am I that I should speake to thee , Or what art thou to bow thine eare to mee That am but dust ? Lord heare not as I am , A sinne-conceived and polluted man , But for thy Christ , who to redeeme his sheepe , Did seeking finde , and till He found did seeke His wandring Lambkins ; heare what I doe pray , " Who art the Pilgrimes staffe , the Shepherds stay . Giue Lord ▪ O giue to all that doe professe Thy glorious name and Gospell , quietnesse , Defeate the malice of thy Syons foes , But specially ( good God ) th' attempts of those Who wish with all their heart to prey vpon This little Eden , flowrie Albyon ; It is thy hedged garden , water it , As to thy sacred wisedome shall seeme ●it ; It is thy fruitfull vine , may it increase Vnto thy glory ( Lord ) and Syon● peace , That ravenous Wolfe or subtill Fox nere may Breake in by force and steale her Grapes away . And for asmuch Confusion needes must breede Where members doe subsist without a heade , Blesse our Drad Soueraigne , Lord , blesse him , that He Both in himselfe and his Posteritie , May stere , support , and guide the sterne of State , That Others eying vs , may wonder at The blessed peace and freedome we obtaine Vnder so wise and good a Soueraigne . And may Hee ever haue one of his owne ( if ' t be thy pleasure ) to sit on this Throne , This peacefull I le to solace and secure , So long as Sunne or Moone shall ere endure . ●lesse the most prudent Councell of this Land , Lord in their Consultations haue a hand ; May Thou and they in Iudgement still consent , But specially th' High house of Parlament , Which by thy will and prouidence divine , To right the State , 's assembled at this time . Lord be amongst them , that whats'ere they doome , May be to th'Weale and Peace of Christendome . May popular Opinion never draw them , May loue to God and Good-men over●aw them : May all their Acts bee a continued Story , To further and advance thy sacred glory : May Prince be pleas'd , State eas'd , and men with men Liue here in Loue , and rest in peace : Amen ▪ FINIS . PANEDONE : OR HEALTH FROM HELICON : CONTAINING Emblemes , Epigrams , Elegies , With other continuate Poems , full of all generous delight ; By RICHARD BRATHVVAYTE Esquire . Licet toto nunc Helicone frui . Mart. Doe not looke on me with a carelesse eye , First read and iudge , then buy or else goe by . LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Iohn Bellamie , and are to be sould at the South entrance of the Royall-Exchange . 1621. The Number and Order of these EPIGRAMS , As they are to follow in this Tract , ENTITVLED PANEDONE . Divided into two parts . The first , dilating it selfe to these Subiects . 1. To the VVorld . 2. Cares cure ; or , a figg for care . 3. An Elegie entituled , Bound , yet free . 4. Free , yet Bound . 5. A Dialogue of Hobbinoll , &c. 6. A Pastorall Eglogue betweene Cuddie and Rowie . 7. The Parrets Spring . 8. Narcissus Embleme . The second Part. 1. Ebrius experiens ; or , the Drunkards humour . 2. The Old-mans Hearse ; or , the Yong mans Iubile . 3. The eye . 4. Vpon Fortune . 5. Vpon Mya . 6. The signe in Cancer . 7. Hymens Eglogue . 8. Hymens Choice . 9. Loues Description . 10. A Nuptiall Hymne . 11. An Elegiack Sonnet . 12. The Widdow-bride . 13. Coridon , or , the Western Huntsman . TO MY TRVELY WORTHIE AND MVCH RESPECTED Friend , Sr THOMAS GAINSFORD Knight : his best wishes . ONce Sr ▪ to lash the World●made't ●made't a sport , And many thought I should be lashed for 't , So as some nere-ones did me much importune To shrow'd my selfe and shield me from mis-fortune But I ( resolu'd to iustifie my Writ ) Did not as others did , recant from it , But still avouch'd vnto that vicious crew , That I would stand to 't , what I wrote was true . Whence euery braine his rackt construction had , While one suppos'd me to be surely madd ; For tell me , thou large Continent of vice , What may be now esteemed of most price , Amongst thy Worldlings ? Honour , honour , thou Art shee to whom they Sacrifices doe ; Thou art that painted Idoll , whose esteeme Some value more then soules , how●ere they seeme : While with ambitious wings they mount so high , As like Icarian fooles they tutch the skie , To make them heires of ruine ; For we know 〈◊〉 ●ates are most secure , which are most low , So this vn●ounded Greatnesse doth expresse it Best in depressing him who doth possesse it . Next this ( for what is 't Greatnesse may not doe ) Is a Grand crime which I 'le deblazon too , cries ; And it 's Oppression , which doth still arise From Widdowes teares , and from poor● Orphanes Here doth a poore 〈◊〉 craue he may haue right , But ' las his Title is kept downe by Might , Good is his cause and yet hee fareth worse , Because l●ane fees doe issue from his Purse . Then what reliefe may to the poore be giuen , Saue to refer him and his cause to heauen ! For shrubbs by these high Pines are so kept vnder , That if they risé they 'r surely broke asunder . Now ye fat Bulls of Basan ( I must speake ) Why doe yee feed and prey vpon the weake , Why doe yee grinde the faces of the poore , To squize their state , their substance to deuoure , As if exempt from Vengeance ▪ Doe yee thinke God's so indulgent Hee will ever winke At your oppression , violence , and wrong ! No , he will strike though he ha's spared long , And in his fury will estrange your Land From you and yours , in turning of a hand . Next partiall-guilt Corruption , I must make Thy staine my Subiect for pure Iustice sake , Whose sacred Shrine polluted by thy meanes , Repines to see those time-eternis'd streames Of Themis , troubled with that puddle stench , Where bribed fists haue sole pre-eminence : Here comes a Plaintiffe with a cause as good As truth can make 't if rightly vnderstood , Yet ' cause he knows not whom or when to fee , Hee 's ouerthrowne against all equitie ; So as this Iustice was compar'd by one , Aptly vnto the Celedoni● stone , Which Stone , as by Historians we are told , Retaines her vertue being rubb'd with gold , So as the Nature of the Stone is such , As gold preserues her vertue with her tutch , For ceasing but with Gold to rub this Stone The secret vertue is extinct and gone . Thrice blessed haue those dayes esteemed bin , Which the renowmed Basill liued in , When during th' time hee sat vpon his Throne , Neither were Plaintiffe nor Defendant knowne , But like Critolaus scale , with such even weight Were all things pois'd , as equitie and right Still gain'd the Conquest , and iniurious wrong Was censur'd too , were th' Client nere so strong . Dem●sthenes being asked , what Men had That most resembled God , hee answered , " Be charitable and embrace the truth , 'T is this that God affects , and this he doth . It is reported that at Athens , there Certaine Graue Images erected were , Which Images had neither hands nor eyes , Implying thence that Iudges should despise Bribes or affection , or divert from right For friends respect to darken Iustice light . O let these Mirrors ( I will say no more ) Which haue divulg'd their fame so long before , Be Annalls or Records for vs to read , That as we imitate them , so our seede , Carefull preservers of our Memorie , May stampe like formes in their posteritie . Next vnto thee thou Vlcer of this Land , Which hales downe Vengeance from th' Almighties hand , Vpon thy impious Contracts , Vsurie , Thou hideous horror , forge of iniurie , Fraud and collusion , thou prodigious pile , Menacing desolation to this I le , And to her flourie borders , doe I come , To giue thee notice of that fearefull doome , Which shall , ( as sure as Heuen ) pronounced be , Vpon those odious Imps that vsher thee ▪ This Canker-worme , as it is registred , Was by Licurgus , Sparta banished ; In Egypt Amasis did punish it , With such severitie as did befit ; Cato did banish't out of Sicilie , Solon condemn'd it in that Nurcerie Of fame-eternis'd Athens , which did heale Many Distractions in the common-weale . If wee from Pagans such examples gather , Who had but light of Nature , how much rather Ought we such horrid crimes to chace away , Who haue bin taught far better things then they ! For we are Christians , and should rather giue Ethnickes example how they ought to liue , Then by a course depraued to expresse That we are least what we by faith professe . Of more ( my Patron ) could I censure thee , As Incest , Sacriledge , Church-symonie , Eare-marked periurie , which in each Coast Sweares men out of their state by knights of th' Post ; With thousand more , but I must now prepare To sing my Canto , styl'd , A fig for care , Wherein I 'le proue ( nor care I if thou scoule ) The greatest Worldling is the greatest foole . FINIS . Cares Cure , OR A figg for Care. HAppie is that stat● of his , Takes the World as it is , Loose hee honour , friendship , wealth , Loose hee libertie or health , Loose hee all that Earth can giue , Hauing nought whereon to liue ; So prepar'd a mind's in him , Hee 's resolu'd to sinke or swim . Some will pule if they but heare , How next Summer will be deare , As th' Engrosser who doth heape Graine , laments when it is cheape : Gallants who haue run their race In all ryot , feare the Mace ; Punkes whose trunkes of lucre smell , Feare the Bridewell more then Hell. But when I remember these , Hermon , and Hermocrates , Lesser flies are quickly tane While the Great breake out againe ; Or so many Schismes and Sects Which foule Heresie detects , To suppresse the fire of zeale Both in Church and Common-weale ! Should I weepe to see some write To adde fuell to delight But no Taske to vndertake Any time for Conscience sake ; Or to mourne to see the Doue Ever censur'd for her loue , While the Puttock flies away Priuiledg'd what ere he say ! Should I grieue when I 'me in place That my foe should be in grace , Or in silent woe lament At my friends his discontent , Or repine that Men of worth Should want meanes to set them forth . Or disdaine my Wench should be kinde to any one but me ! Should I blind my eyes with teares , Or oppresse my heart with feares , When nor teares nor feares auaile Such whose choicest comforts faile , By conuerting that sweete ayre Of delight vnto despaire , For I know no enter-breath Limits these saue onely Death ! Should I sigh for that I see World goes not well with me , Or inveigh 'gainst envious Fate Still to lowre on my estate , Or reproue such as expresse Nothing saue vnthankfulnes . Or expose my selfe to griefe , Cause my woes are past reliefe ! Should I grieue because I giue No contentment where I liue , Though my best endeuours proue That my actions merit loue ; Or repine at others ayme Gaining more then I can gaine , When their vaine mis-guided course Showes their humour to be worse ! Should I pine away and die Or my childish teares descrie 'Cause my Neighbors are vntoward Wilfull wife , and seruants froward , Or exclaime 'gainst destenie Who so crossely matched mee , Or desire no more to liue Since I liue the more to grie●e ! Should I mourne , repine , or mo●● To be left distrest alone , Or wish Death approching nie With a bleered blubb'red eye , Cause my Meanes I scarce can find Of proportion with my Minde , Or breath sadly 'cause my breath Drawes each minute neerer Death ! No there 's nought on Earth I feare That may force from me one teare , Losse of Honour , Fredome , Health , Or that Mortall Idoll , Wealth ; With These Babes may grieued be But they haue no power ore me ; Lesse my substance lesse my share In my feare and in my care . Feare he must that doth possesse Least his substance should grow lesse , Which oft driues him to extreames Both in broken sleepes and dreames ; But so little doe I care For these Fethers in the ayre , As I laugh while others grieue Louing these which they must leaue . Wretched Moles who pore on earth And conceiue no taste of mirth , But in hoording heape on heape What 's the fruit in end they reape Saue returning to that slime Which they tugg'd for all their time ? Sure I am , reduc'd to clay Poorest are as rich as they . Care I would but not for this 'Cause it lessens care of Blisse ; Yet not so as not to care What we spend or what we spare , For this carelesse course we call Meerely vaine and prodigall ; But that Golden meane to keepe As no Care may breake our sleepe . Thus to loue and thus to liue , Thus to take and thus to giue , Thus to laugh and thus to sing , Thus to mount on pleasures wing , Thus to sport and thus to speede , Thus to flourish , nourish , feede , Thus to spend and thus to spare Is to bid , A figg for Care. FINIS . An Elegie , Entituled Bound yet free , speaking of the benefit of Imprisonment . THou whom we call liues death , Captiuity , Yet canst contemplate in the darkest cell ▪ Of thingst aboue the reach of vanitie , Doest in my iudgement Libertie excell , In that thou teachest Man to mortifie His indisposed passions , and canst well Direct him how to mannage his estate , Confin'd to th'narrow Prospect of thy grate . Hee sees the passage of this Globe of earth , And makes right vse of what his sight partakes ; Some hee observes expresse a kinde of mirth , Of which hee this dew application makes ; If they did know the miserie of Birth , With Deaths approch , they would not hazard stak● Of soules eternall glorie for a day Of present Ioy , which one houre takes away . Others he heares , bemoning of the losse Of some deare friend , or 't may be not so well , Decrease of a Fortune , or some other crosse , Which to forgoe they deeme a second Hell , ( So firmely fixed be their mindes on drosse ) As nought smells well , but what of gaine doth 〈◊〉 These He● condemns , and proues that euery way The Captiu'st wretch's in better state then they . Others he notes observing of the time . Mere fashion-mongers , shadow of the great , And these attendance giue where th' Sun doth shine , And like to Isis Asse admire the b seat , More then the Person , 'cause the robes be fine That hang about it : and hee do's entreat Their Absence ; for these cannot well ( saith he ) By liuing , leaue name to Posteritie . Others as base and farre more daungerous Notes hee as Politician Machauells , Who ' count that c gaine which is commodious , Adhering to themselues and to none ells , For These make auncient houses ruinous , And Charitie from out the Realme expells ; Reducing th ' Orphanes teare and Widdows curse , To th' damn'd Elixir of their well-cramm'd purse . Others hee notes and they would noted be , For d painting , pur●ling , smoothing , cerusing , Show they would be obseru'd for vanitie , Starving their Soules by Bodies cherishing ; And these he laughs at for their fool erie , For while They put the Case to garnishing , That Shell of frailtie , They 'r indifferent What shall become of th' Soule the Instrument . Others there be which seeme least what they are , Pretending truth in falshood , and doe gull The world with shadows ; yet doth He compare The passage of Events and finds at full Their end 's attended with an endlesse care , And pregnant wit which seem'd so smooth proues dull , When e thousand Testates shall produced be , For to disclose his close f hypocrisie . Others hee sees and taxeth , for they hold Proportion with the world , and being made After a better Image , yet are sold To all Collusion , making in their trade This vile Position ; who 'l be rich when old Must cheat being young : but see how they 'r displaid , So oft haue they g deceiu'd , as now they must Perforce deceiue themselues by mens distrust . Others as Prollers of the time hee sees , But scorns to take acquaintance , for their h Fate Presageth worst of ills , whose best increase Proceeds from good mens fall ; yet marke their state As indirectly got , so little peace Accrewes in state to any , for the hate Of God and Man attends them ; and how then Should there be peace , wher 's war with God & men ? More hee beholds , and he obserues them too . And numbers their dimensions as they passe The compasse of his Prospect to and fro , For this same Grate he makes his Looking glasse . In which he sees more then the world can show , Conferring what is present with what was ; Extracting this from times experienc'd Schoole , " The Captiue's freer then the Worlds foole . i For by the first , wee show but what we are , And moralize our selues , in being pent Close from the worlds eye , which we compare Vnto a k Prison ; since th' Infranchisement We haue's in l heauen : then howsoere we fare , Though bound , yet free in mind , th'Imprisonment We suffer cannot so our spirits depresse , That th' freedome of our Minds should seeme ought lesse . Ought lesse ; nay more : for we approue as true , What the divine Morall taught , That one may haue A fuller and more perfect enteruiew Of the Starres beautie in a hollow Caue Then on the Superfici●s : for the shew Of pompe distracts our passions , and doth slaue Our m reason to our sence ; whence we may know " The dangers of high States are seene below . Below ; and what more low then to be shut From open aire , n strang'd from the sight of men , Clos'd in Obliuion , linked hand and foote Least their escape gaine libertie ? What then , Shall this enthrall my soule ! it cannot doe 't ; It does aspire aboue the thoughts of them Who shed their o childish teares when they are sent By higher powers to take them to restraint . There is no giddie-headed Want-wit there , Who makes profuser meetings all his blisse ; For such ( for sooth ) must change their e Country ayre Because they are sicke , yet know not whence it is : Here are no mincing Dames who long to goe To Rumford , Hoggsdon , or to Pimlico . Lastly , 'mongst many thousands which my Pen Might here produce , should 't be a f Poets fate ( As no one fate more ominous 'mongst men ) To be accus'd for glancing at the State , Here they 'r exempt from such as censure them , For worst of g Fortune hath exprest her hate To their obscured glory ; so as they May chant high straines , yet none notes what they say . Their tunes are tones and accents of delight , Which pearce the ayre , when most bereft of ayre , And with soule-cheering beames disperse the Night Of their consuming cares : for all their care Is to erect their thoughts vnto that Light Which cannot be eclyps'd but still shines faire : Where glory 's endlesse , boundlesse in content , h Prison a Pallace , freed from restraint . If i life indeed were such a Iubile , That euery houre , day , yeere did promise vs Continuate health , and wealth , and libertie , Then had we better reason to excuse The loue we haue to our Mortalitie ; But since we see , we cannot will nor chuse But must be reft of these , why should we grieue To leaue as Men , what Men are forc'd to k leaue ? Nor skills it much where we be reft of these , Whether in Thrall or Freedome ; but of th' two I 'de rather loose my Fortune where I cease To make resort to any , and must know No more of World or the Worlds prease , But am retired from the Publique show Of this frayle l Theatre , and am confin'd In flesh , to taste true libertie of m mind . A mind as free as is the Bodie thrall , Transcendent in her being , taking Wings Of Morning to ascend , and make that all Of hers immortall ; sphering it with Kings Whose glory is so firme it cannot fall ; Where euery Saint in their reposure sings Triumphant n Peans of eternitie To him whose sight giues perfect libertie . Then whether my restraint enforce or no , I 'le be my-selfe , but more in my restraint ; Because through it I see the end of woe , Tasting in griefe the essence of content : That when from this same o dooble ward I goe , This same entangled Prison , th' Continent Of heauenly Freedome may receiue my soule Which Flesh imprison might but not controwle . Rest then ( retired Muse ) and be thy p owne , Though all thy owne forsake thee ; that when friends , Fortune , and freedome are but small or none , Thy hopes may ayme at more transcendent ends ; So by thy q Bodie in straite Durance throwne , Thy vnconfined Soule may make amends ; For that which shee had in her freedome lost , In that most blest wherein shee seem'd most crost . FINIS . Free , yet Bound . An Epigram Vpon Marriage , dilating vpon the seruile Freedome , or free Servitude of such as are Married . Non sum qui fueram . MARRIED ; what meanes that title ? Servitude ; Who would embrace it then ? Hee that desires To loose his freedome , which so soone expires As hee ioynes hand in hand to her hee su'de : Which firme affiance oft times most is ru'd , Where wanton folly scorch'd with youthfull fires , Plants all content on earth in th' Marriage-bed , And what delight 's to loose a Maiden-head . Poore hair brain'd Louer , little doest thou thinke How thou art fledg'd in Birdlime , and ensnar'd With thousand mazes ; little hast thou car'd What should ensue hereafter , till the brinke Of thy transform'd estate did make thee sinke Into the Verge of care , where thou hast shar'd For an vncaptiu'd minde , a minde in cage , With griefes well suting such a Pilgrimage . Once might thou sing , and though thou little had , Knew well to tune thy Pipe vnto thy eare ; But now how strange those strains of mirth appeare , It 's featur'd in thy looke , for it is sad ; And yet we know thee for the selfe-same lad That thou was once when as thou soiorn'd here : And in a happier case then thou wast then , " For lads are farre inferiour vnto men . True , in conceit and growth of yeares they are , If those alone conferr'd to happinesse , But 'las conceite oft adds to wretchednesse Where Men conceiue th' extremities of care , Which change their minds as yeares doe change their haire , And makes them know that Earth affords no Blesse Like to a minde enfranchis'd , whose free life Takes Contemplation for his wedded wife . A happie wife , whose portion is her-selfe , Not garish in her habit , for her minde Is to a purer subiect still inclin'd , Then admiration of soule-clogging pe●fe ; She steeres her well-rigg'd ship from euery shelfe , And failes with easie tide and happie winde : Her ayme is heauenly , and hows'ere on earth , Shee merry seeme , it 's but a fained mirth . But what a difference there is 'twixt these , A wife Contemplatiue which we doe take , When we for wife our Contemplation make , And such a wife as we must seeke to please , Studies her owne content , delight , and ease ; Whose vanities we must of force partake , And slaue our selues , which is the worst of ill , Vnto a boundlesse and a bendlesse will. And hence the pregnantst witts are so deprest As their aspiring greatnesse must decline , And loose their worth by giuing way to time , Which , if they were themselues , they would detest ; But as worse Fo●tune still pursues the best , So sad events such witts are most divine : Where Mind made weake by want or discontent Is spent with woe which should in worth be spent . And yet , me thinkes , I might obiect 'gainst this , How loue combin'd in one should rather add , And giue a grace vnto the worth we had , Then any way obscure so choice a Blisse ; For one we know may sooner doe amisse , Hauing no firme direction , but is glad To follow his owne motion , then that man " Who ha's one to aduise him all shee can . And thanks to heauen , I haue got such an one , Who though shee be no profest Monitor , Shall as shee merits , be my Counsellour ; For shee is firme aboue comparison , And loues all Musique saue Division : Nor yet assumes shee to her selfe that power As her Instructions were so absolute , That first with Reason shee should not dispute . But 'las how many haue not cast thier lot In such a hopefull field , where euery houre Their wiues shrude tongue like Satans Parretour Summons their splene to vengeance , which made hot With wrath and furie hath oft-times begot Children vniustly fathered ; for the power Of women's such , and so it hath beene still , " The husbands badge is in the Womans will. And rather then they 'l vnrevenged be , They will incurre the shame of Prostitute , Least that their husbands should be destitute Of some fit crest for want of Heraldrie , Where both partakers are of infamie , For one with other equally doe sute ; Shee to bestow and hee for to receaue That which may make men stumble on his graue . On Graue ; no , no , that cannot couer shame ; It 's but the bodies cover , fraylties shrine , Which may remaine as Monument of tyme , But little adds to th' honour of our name , For some thing els perpetuates our fame Then stone or varnish , for they soone decline ; Where * vertues , ( Odor-like ) perfume the Dead , And make them liue when they are buried . What freedome then to Marriage , if that rite Haue right solemnization ; which t' adorne With seemely state consisteth not in forme Onely , but in the Minds affected right , Where eyther takes from other mutuall light , Neither with spite nor spirit ouer-borne , Pure from deprau'd affection , which is bred Forth of a Lust vnto a Marriage-bed . Where Pro●idence makes her to studie wife Ere shee attaine that Title , and doth sit Considering what may that state befit Ere shee betake her to a married life , Resoluing nere to make domesticke strife , Caring for them be got , more then to git ; Briefely , to solemnize this Nuptiall rite , As being ever in her Makers sight . Yea , this were freedome , and so blest a state As Single life were but a painted blisse To such an Essence ; but to instance this Is rare on earth , so hard is humane Fate Which by our wills is growne prevaricate , Training vs sooner farre to doe amisse Then to walke iustly in the way that 's right , " So weake's our will , so feeble is our might . Yet if in one this freedome may be found , Each man 's to hope the best , not to despaire , Because they 'r sowen in euery place so rare , But rather thus his confidence to ground , Though good decrease and ill-ones doe abound , Yet there are ill and foule and good and faire ; Of which , thy fate is ill , if shee thou choose Be so transform'd , as shee be none of those . If worst of these , as foule and ill together , Yet of that foule and ill thou may make vse To better thy defects by her abuse ; And for her lothed foulnesse staying with her May thus resolue , that vice nor blemish neither Can force thee from her whom thou once didst chuse ; And this 's the benefit thou shalt reape hence , Thou shalt ( tho dubb'd ) be crown'd with patience . " Wiues let such marrie then as seeme to need 'em , " And in their bondage make a show of freedome . Sic perit experiens , experiéndo perit . FINIS . A DIALOGVE BETVVEENE HOBBINOLL the Ploughman , and Nathaniell Spruce the Gentleman ; VVHEREIN It is proved , how Rusticitie hath advantage vpon Gentrie in the Libertie of Liuing . Hobb : MAny good morrows to my Land-Lords heire ; Nath : The like to Hobbinoll , but pray thee tell well . What makes my Chuff to looke so fat and faire , Thy plump-cheekes ( Hobb ) mine looke not halfe so well . Hobb : Not yours ( young-maister ) ! there 's no cause they should , Care kills a Cat , there 's not a day you liue But you haue cares , I warrant , twentie folde More then we feele : for first , before you wiue You mun go● common with your neerest kin , And if they thinke it fit her portion be , With other things amang well equalling , Pe●chance they will ( if they be brib'd ) agree . Nath : Brib'd Hobb ! why can none without bribing haue her Hobb : Not fitly Maister ; some-thing has some savour ▪ And councell well deserues to haue his fee , For it 's their liuing , and they must liue by it ; Nath : Friends counsell's free ; Hobb : Nay , whosoere they be This you shall finde probatum , if you 'le trie it , Brains are as good demaines where there be braines And certaine too , as any on our Down . Nath : Indeed where friends make of their friends againe . Hobb : And pray you say , is that but seldome knowne ? Yes , Maister , there is one and one I know , For hee is my doore-neighbour , and indeed A very Cricket , but of late did grow So very rich , that now for store of breed There is no Heardsman like him ; yet his wealth Grew to this height by th' benefit hee made Of his entirest friends : though , since his health 'Gan to decay , hee sorrowes as it 's said , And well he may , for nere did any Swaine In such short time so great revenues gaine . Nath : Sorrow , good Hobbinoll , what causeth it ! Hobb : Why his estate Man , indirectly got ; And he may thanke his over-weening wit For all his griefe . Nath : I tooke him for a Sot , A very Goseling , one that could doe nought But prate of Sheep-skins , or a breeding Ewe ▪ Hobb : Yea , Maister , but if he could profit ought , He would soone make a Goseling-bird of you , So quaint he is , for I haue throughly tride him , ●s scarce a man can keepe his owne beside him . Nath : It makes me wonder ; but good Hobb : proceed , And proue what Libertie you haue ' boue vs That are your Lands-lords . Hob : Shall I Sr indeed ? Nath : Yes pray thee Hobb ; Hob : Then I will proue it thus : We may goe wooe ilke weeke a sundrie Wench , And none talke on 't ; but when you goe to woo● There 's such a stirre as there is no defence Against report , for all must know it too . And than a thousand things are to be done , As Iointures , f●offments , ere the match be made , Which ( wele I wote ) wee never thinke vpon , But locke and like , and then are bargained . And is it not , I pray you Maister say , A shrude vexation to be barr'd our sport , By being cross'd by such a long delay , And kept from that when we came thether for't● Nath : Why man , our state requires mature advice , And better is that Match like to succeede , Where rashnesse hath no sway nor getts no prize Then such as yours that 's finish'd with such speede . Hob : Nay , Maister , for successe 'mongst such as you , If Truth were knowne , we should but finde a few ; But I may safely sweare ere I were crost Of her I lou'd , if shee did fancie mee I would loose whatsoere I prized most , And neuer stand vpon 't so curiously : Roundly to worke wee goe without ere spech Of any feoffments ▪ and we thinke we 're sped Of state enough if wee a Marriage reach , Though foure bare leggs are not enough in bed . Nath : No by my Faith Hob : there is more to doe Then name of Marriage , which is such a state As th'knot we tie wee never can vndoe , Till it be loos'd by th' ordinance of Fate . Hob : Yes Maister , such as you knows to dispence With such good haly things , for if there be Betwixt the married paire a difference , Then streight divorce is sew'd and presently A Separation made ; in which respect Hob must confesse you haue more freedome far Then such as he ; for where we once affect , Without remoouing we are ever there . Nath : Hob you are knavish growne● but let that passe ▪ Proceede to show wherein our libertie Is lesse then yours . Hob : I 'le tell you Sr ; tyme was ▪ But that was clep'd a golden time , when we ( As Sheepherds vs'd ) might sport vs on the Plaine , Where Phyllis danc'd with Coridon the Swaine ; Each Sheepherd culld his deare and colld her too , And in dispite of Fate possest that blisse Where they had time to chat , to sport , to wooe , Where shee did call him hers , and he her his : Then ( ô thrice happie then ) nought was more lou'd Nor worthier louing then a vertuous life ; Where sweete experience onely that approu'd Was free from difference and exempt from strife ▪ Then were our feelds so free we needed not Merestones or Buttells , for none durst approch With violent hands to seaze on that we got , Or by deceite vpon our Bounds incroch . But afterward ( as after-times proue worse ) A greedie kinde of humour did possesse The mindes of Sheepherds , altring quite the course Which they before held : being conscionlesse , Betroth'd to no especiall One , but all In a Communitie ; where small distasts Made them remoue their loue , and so to sall To lavish their affections on Out-casts , Stale-mercenaries that their honour prize No more then Hacknies that are put to hire ; Or l● ke our Neighbour Eliots , who deuise How to fulfill the height of their desire , How sinfull ere the practise be they make Which for their lust they onely vndertake . Thus Sheepherds grew , but for their low estat● Being inferiour to the better sort , Their vices were scarce tax'd or pointed at , Till by report ( what 's swifter then report ) The sundrie mischiefes done vpon the Plaines , As by eye-witnesse daily did appeare , Committed by the practise of those Swaines , Came at the last to great Pandoxus eare . Hee , as a gracefull Guardian , tendring still The state of Sheepherds , yet much discontent His whilome honest Swaines should grow so ill , Sent some choice men to giue them chastisement ; Which they receiu'd and kindly entertain'd , Admitting them to dwell amongst them too , And so they did , where they not long remain'd Till as the Swaines did , they began to doe ; So as these goodly Tutors grew in time As ill , or worse then ere the Sheepherds were ; Vice h●gging-hanting Minions , who in prime And thus Pandoxus argued , nor could he For all his Princely vertues ( as who ere Possessed more ) waine his Nobilitie From th'vicious life wherein they nuzled were . Yet what they did ( as well Pandoxus said ) Was quickly bruted ; but what wee committed The meaner Swaines I meane , was silenced : For wee , whose actions our conditions fitted , Were neuer noted whatsoere wee did ; Yea , what is more , none were more prone to speake Of great-mens errors , which were seldome hid , Then wee , whose liues did like affections seeke . For euery day we drunke our Sheepherds health In Wassell Cupps , not caring for our Heards , How well or ill they far'd , a figg for wealth , Wee made our chopps wagg , and our grisled beards , ( Our Maister-Sheepherds ) still discharg'd our score , And would haue done 't , if 't had bin ten times more . Nath : Why , this was excellent , but pray thee say Were you nere chastis'd for 't ? Hob : No , never Wee ; We plide our merriments from day to day , And past our iollie liues as pleasantly As if wee had beene Lords , and they our slaues Whom wee in dutie seru'd ; yea , I may sweare I nere receiu'd from Thyrsus any braues , But was esteem'd of him and his so deare , That some haue ask'd , seeing him vse me so Whether I was his owne , or that he meant On Hobbinol some doughter to bestow , And that , I 'me halfe perswad'd was his intent , For wee were halfe agree'd . Nath : Pray thee tell true ; Hob : Yes marie Maister , it may well appeare That wee were halse agree'd , I 'le say to you , For I was well agreed to marrie her . Nath : What Hob conceited growne ! but I will yeeld To thy Discourse , for I haue oft times found By due experience , that the priuate field , Where th' carefull husbandman manures his ground , Makes her poore farmer in a better state Then the Prime Lord : for he may merry be , Yet shall his actions nere be glanced at , For his low ranke makes him from Rumor froe . Hob : Yea Maister , I 'le ensure you , if hee should ( As when the drinke i● in the wit is out ) Throw house quite out at Windows , yet hee would Be little talk'd of : but if you should doe 't Your name would soone be rumord , for your place Would make men note you . Nath : Most certaine Hobbinol , Which should induce men of more generous race Choice and select socitie to cull , Since th' veriest slaue that makes of time abuse , With vs compar'd , advantage hath of vs. FINIS . A Pastorall Eglogue betweene Cuddie and Rowie . Rowie . WELE mett is Cuddie man of ●ickle la'er , And mare he leues may hee haue ●ver mare , For hee 's a bonnie ging . Cuddie . Rowie for shame Why doest thou ruse me , Thou art far to blame ; Smaw is my la'er , my knawledge lile worth , When sike an ane as Rowie bouteth forth . Rowie . Ha Cuddie , but if anie did but mell And tanke sae barely on thee but the sell , We le siker I'se that thou would pout full soure , And ought or laug there would be capps at h floor . Cuddie . Thou's far misled ; if I were sike an ane I reede thee Rowie , I cudd haue a Swaine A buxom Hussie , that for tougher and good Ther 's nane her fallow , and I her ha woed , And many laikings has shee tane frame , Yet whan wee sud be yoak'd it will not be . Rowie . Why , it 's an aud sain sa , sike men as thou That knaws the maste , knawes lile how to wooe ; For I haue ane a Neibour wonning here wha has a sonn that nere this dozen yere Has bene at farran Scules , and now his Dad Crankie and worne wad haue this Clarkly lad To boun him to a Wife , and sooth to say My daughter Tibb is shee that hee wad ha . But sike a wooing ( Cuddie ) seld was sene , He will not tell my Lasse what he doe's mene , But taukes of Starres , and clipses of the Sun , An on a Man stands sta●ing i th the Moone , Of wether-gaws and many sike as these ; Cuddie . But wele I wate these will not Tibbie please . Rowie . Na Cuddie na , shee 's but an ingrant thing , An lile recks for aw his coniuring : Ya I may sa thus lang hee sought the wance , And I nere saw him busse her mare than ance . Cuddie . The mickle Lummer's swaimish ; Rowie . Hee 's indede , But t will be lang ere sike a Milk-sopp spede : Hee that wull woo and win wha he does wooe , Mun faune on her hee makes his suite vnto , ●●ke Morne and Even hee mun his seruice doe , And be right blith , an shee wull tak it too ; Bukes make not Lovers wise , for hee that can Put himselfe forwardst is the speeding man. Cuddie . Now is I wele avis'd , and sees how lang I 'ue gan● astray and woo'd my Loue a-wrang ▪ For aw the chat I vs'd whan I dud wooe her , Was to make knawn my learning ever to her , And aye I thought that was the way to git her , Whereas I fu● that there was nane vnfitter , For th'S●affish Carri● wad not cum nere hand me ; Rowie . The cause was this , Shee cud not vnderstand thee . Cuddie . Rowie it 's true , and I may rue the day , That I so fondly learn'd the woers way , But wele I trow'd , but se how ill I sped , Wha ere I wooed , I mut as frelie wed . Rowie . A faute wele knawn ' mang th'trimmer gang of men Wha thinke whare they get an● they may get ten , But we sall find , though they 'r na chip the wiser , These elvish Harlottries are oft the nicer . Cuddie . Alesse for wae , I nere knew anie faire , But trow'd themsels far fairer than they were ; For this 's a true said Saw ' mang womanhood , " Shee knaws but lile that knaws not to be proud . Rowie . Ruse women Cuddie , if thou meane to spede , For kindlie words wull stand thee in good stede ; They are th' weaker ging , and yet we see They oft-time proue to be as strang as wee . Cuddie . In will they are . Rowie . Then Cuddie buckle still Sin● they are strangst in wull , to doe their will. THE PARROTTS SPRING . Psittacus vt vocem rapuit Prometheus ignem . Stolne waters be the sweet'st , may th' Parrot say , Whose borrowed note and Coate his truth bewray : But it 's prodigious for Fowls to sing Of Wood-cocks caught within a Parrotts spring . VPON THE OTHER BANKE directly opposite , stood Pan the Arcadian God in Porphyrite , curiously featured : who ●namoured of the beauteous Nimph Syrinx , had her in eager pursuite : vpon the fringe of the Border was this Motto engrauen . Vt vidi vt perij . Pan deus Arcadiae correptus amore , Syringem insequitur , fugit illa , Syrinx hinc fistula dicta est . Englished , The Sheepheards God with * Syrinx beautie ta'ne , Had her in chase , whence pipes from Syrinx came . If pipes proceeded from restraint of ill , Play pipe , mount May-poule , we 'le be frolick still . FINIS . The second part . EBRIVS EXPERIENS ; OR The Drunkards humour . SOme say I drinke too much to write good lines ; Indeed I drinke , more to obserue the Times , And for the loue I beare vnto my friend To hold him chat , then any other end : Yea , my Observance tells mee I haue got More by discoursing sometimes ore a Pot , Then if I had good-fellowship forsooke , And spent that houre in poring on a booke . And this 's the cause ( we see it now and then ) " The greatest Clerkes are not the wisest men : Which is confirm'd by Times-experienc'd Schoole , " The meerest Scholler proues the meerest foole . But canst thou loue ? to satisfie his choice , I told him Yes , faining a Womans voice : For I had so much sense left in my braine , As I resolu'd to trie his Cupping vaine ; Then vp he counts ( tho wine of wit had reft him ) How many farmes his Father now had left him , All which ( quoth he ) must to our heires succeede , Which I found true , for All came vp indeede : Beside , and happie may that word betide , " For of that All came vp , some fell beside , Which , if it had not had a speedie vent , Had gon well niet'haue drown'd his beauteous Saint . Thus lay we long like Images of death , Whilest the fat Lubber prest me vnderneath ; Stirre could I not , so motionlesse was I , Whilest he did coll and kisse melouingly ; Yea , I am perswad'd , if the Drawer had not come , As good hap was , into our forlorne roome , By kisses store ( so kinde a heart had he ) He had gone nere in time to stifle mee , For breathlesse I could neither speake nor moue me , So heauie was the Block that lay aboue me . At last releas'd , and both vpon our feete , To quench the passion of our Loue-sicke heate , On tearmes of friendship , now to make an end , I was coniured by my Kissing friend To pledge him but one Health , and then depart , Which if I did Is ' de ever haue his hart , I gaue assent ; the Health , fiue sences were , ( Though scarce ●ne sence did 'twixt vs both appeare ) Which as he drunk I pledg'd ; both pledg'd & drunk , Seeing him now full-charg'd , behinde I shrunke , Whilest hee his meaning copiously displaide , And in the Chimney all his senses laide . Nay , then good-night ( quoth I ) I will not stay With him that casts his senses so away , For this in me Experience begitts , " He cannot loue his friend that loaths his witts . Yet as a friend I caus'd him to be led , In a magestick sort vnto his bed , For hauing left his senses there behinde him , I plac't him there , that they next Morne might finde him . " Thus much for Humours which so diuerse be , " As in each Subiect there 's varietie , " All which obseru'd with apprehensiue eyes , " May add vnto the knowledge of the wise ; For weake's his iudgement or deprau'd's his will , " Cannot extract good from apparent ill . FINIS . The Old-mans Hearse ; OR The Yong-mans Iubile . Ioy appeares in midst of teares . HEars't thou not Vitulino , who is dead ! Thy father man ; nay , hang not downe thy head Like to a Bull-rush : there 's no cause at all That thou so childishly shuld mone his fal Whose fall's thy rising ; for He wish'd to die . Yea , and to put his Soule in ieopardie , With his iniurious course to make thee rich , Or thy wrong Father'd Imps he car'd not which : But what is that to thee , thou need'st not care , How his sin-pricked-pressed soule doth fare ; The Prouerbe is , how ere th' effect seeme euill , " Happie 's that Sonne , whose Father goes to th' Deuill . Yet shed some fained teares ; but I doe feare , Th' art not so tender-harted , therefore heare What thou shalt doe ; put on a Vergis-looke , And tye an Onion in thy Napkins nooke , Which will enforce thee weepe , ( right sure I am ) And make thee seeme a tender-harted man ? But many things it's fitting thou should haue , To bring Him honestly vnto his Graue ; As first , though He was first that ere exprest , His Gentrie by his Coate or by his Crest , Thou must prouide some Herald that may draw His late-vnknowne descent , and by the Law Of Armes may Gentilize the Pesant so , As you for Gentlemen may after goe . Which , that each thing may be in order done , Let th' Herald ranke the Mourners one by one , Where some poore snakes that cottage on thy Land May carry each a Scutchion in their hand , And seeme to mourne , tho they were much to blame To mourne his death that sought to beggar them . But some Diuine thou must haue to commend His zealous life , and his Religious end ; Which taske , as it thy bountie doth require , " For th' Labourer is worthie of his hyre , Clapp me a brace of Angells in his fist , And that will make him say , Thy Father 's blist , Though his corrupted Conscience say no , For what is it good Angells will not doe ? O how he 'le make the Church ring with his prayse , Entitling Him , the Mirrour of his dayes , A Patron of pure Iustice , one , whose doore Was thronged still with crowding of the poore , ( Without least crum of comfort ) being knowne , To be the Almes-basket of the Towne . And then He ' le faine a teare , and wish to see The happie end of many such as Hee ; And he ha's cause to wish it , for their death Might guild in time his mercenarie breath . Then He ' le descend to mans Mortalitie , Which He ' le dilate on as historically ; " Where 's good Aeneas , Tellus , Ancus he " That was so rich ? as other Mortalls be , " Consum'd to dust , so as that supreme blesse " They plac'd in Wealth , 's reduc'd to rottennesse . And will not this doe brauely ? when a Swine That nere did one good deed in all his time , But grunting in his Stye , or in his Stall , Nere fed * staru'd soule but at his Funerall , Must be canoniz'd Saint ! thrice blessed gold , That art so soueraigne to eternize mould , And make corruption glorious , whose esteeme Can make our foulest vices vertues seeme ! Where an Incarnate Diuell that did shon The sight of God is made an Angell on , Transpos'd from earth to heauen ; yet ten to seuen In all his life He scarce once thought on Heauen . Now when he ha's thy Fathers vertues show'd , Wilt thou not thinke thy Angells well bestow'd ? Yes Vitulino , and will make this vse Of his depraued Doctrine : Timès abuse Drawne from oppression , iniurie , and wrong , May purchase praises from a hyrelings tongue , Sooner then best deseruings ; which may be A motiue to thy owne Securitie , Obseruing how Opinion oft-times giues " Best name to him that most securely liues . This done , & now the s●ope-sleu'd mourning gown● Is from his sable Pulpit comming downe , And thy worme-breeding Father 's to be laide In his last home , there must a Tombe be made Of Porphyrite Marble , or the Thracian stone , To memorise his Worship being gone ; Whereon t'engraue some verse , were not amisse , T' expresse his worth , as such an one as this . " Demas dide rich they say , but 't is not so , " For he dide poore , and was indebted too ; " How should that be ? obserue me & I 'le tell yee " He dide indebted both to backe and bellie , " For all He scrap'd from his Atturneyes fees , " Seru'd but starue his maw with bread and cheese : " So as 'mongst those we rightly may him call . " Whose life spent lesse then did his Funerall . " For all his life his house scarce eate one beast , " Yet dead , his Son makes vp the Churles feast . This Monument when thou erected hast , And on the front a Plate of Brasse hast plas't , With this Inscription , or one of like sort , ( But Epitaphs indeed should be more short ) Let this same Tombe where thou thy Father lay Be th'place of payment on each festiuall day ; For 't would delight the old Chrone but to heare His Sonne and heire to make his Checker there : Besides chinke's a Misers heauen on earth , And therefore now when He is in the dearth Of comfort , it were good t' allay his paine With sight of that would raise him vp againe . But now to thee , who like Stericyd●s Canst draw Sun , Moone , and Starres what way thou please With thy guilt Iacobs staffe , me thinkes I see , By calculating thy natiuitie In thee ( yet I 'me no Wizard ) Midas Fat● " That staru'd himselfe to better his estate . Yet thou'lt descend to th' Lapp of Danae , Mall , Besse , coy Kate , or bashfull Barbarie , In showers of gold , and then will wish and wooe , But still with gold , for else thou know'st not how ; And promise all content , as curious fare , Gorgeous attyre , and pleasures ' boue compare , Destilled ambers , pearled broaths , and th' fruit Which wretched Adam tasted ; for no doubt " Women doe loue that fruit which is denide them " More then all profferd fruit that grows beside them . But what 's this Vitulino ? Doest not know , A wanton Wench will not be pleased so ? A toothlesse Hagg perchance , whose onely Blisse Consists in hoording , will like well of this , And will adore thy Golden-calfe , for shee In other ioyes ha's no felicitie ▪ But such , whose prime of yeares , and pride of youth , Grac'd with a smile as blith , a skin as smooth , Charm'd with Loue-whispring tales , Loue-piercing eyes , Rapt with delight of dreaming fantasies , Wedded to loue , not wealth , content , not gold , Being so free as riches cannot hold , Nor power restraine , scorne with their heeles to haue Their vncontroul'd affections made a slaue To dunge or drosse , where loue is oft-times crost , The most in that where it possesseth most . And yet how soueraigne is't to see a chest Ramm'd with whole heapes of gold ; O shee is blest That may possesse so glorious a Saint ! Indeede shee were if there were no content But in possessing ; but alas we finde There is another Secret in the minde , That passeth earth , such difference doe we feele , 'Twixt Plutoes Court , and Platoes Common-weale . Yet boast thou may , that thou art one of those That hast to guild thy friends , to gall thy foes ; For who will not attend thee and bestow Their best observance on thy t●encher too , And cappe and knee this Isis Asse of wealth , ●and cry , - The Lord preserue your worships health ? But if thou'de looke into the inner man , And th' treasure He enioyes , I doubt me than , Thou wouldst complaine , and thy estate deplore , To see thy Soile so rich , thy Soule so poore , Indeed I must confesse th' hast wealth at will , Store of possessions , and increasest still Thy large-inhanced rents ; but ( pray thee ) can These ( of themselues ) make thee a happie man ▪ No Vitulino , for when Time shall come , Thy pompe must be reduced to a Tombe , A shrowding sheete , a silly clott of clay , And all those Summer-gnats are flowne away , ( Thy fained friends I meane ) wealth cannot bayle thee From those tormenting pangs that shall assayle thee . Where 's then thy * Gold , those Lands lay here and there , Perchance possessed by another Heire Then He for whom thou aym'd them ; yea 't may be That He thou hated most ( as oft we see ) Claimes to be thy Successour ! and can this That adds grace to our foes , include our blisse ▪ It cannot ; therefore heare me ere I leaue thee , My lines shall say , I loue thee , though I grieue thee . Take an * example by that faithlesse Iew , Whose soule I feare ( and ô I doubt too true Is my religious feare ) who had the name Of an Oppressor : though from him thou came , Trace not his stepps ; let charitable deedes Be those renewing and reviving seedes Which blossome in thy soule ; remember hence " No griefe like to a wounded Conscience . Make not the Widdow weepe , the Orphane cry , Sith euery teare that falleth from her eye , Is botteld by the Lord ; relieue the poore Out of the great aboundance of thy store ; Make * restitution with good Zebedee Of what thy Father got iniuriously ; " So Fame acknowledging her selfe thy Debter , " Shall say , ●●nce prou'd the Sonne the Fathers better . FINIS . The Eye . Cleare is my eye and yet my eye is dim , Because the Obiect of my sight is sin . Menippus and Mercator . Menip . HElpe ( Reuerend Chremes ) helpe what shall I doe ? Mine eyes , mine eyes . Mer. How now , what 's matter now ? Menip . Oh Chremes helpe me with your Spectacles , I haue such paine and dimnesse in mine eyes . Mer. Dimnesse my Sonne , some cloud , some pannickle , Some Cataract , perhapps it 's but some pearle . Puluis Benedictus , the Collirium I cleped Ierosollimitanum Were excellent ; Christi's sure . Menip . True , but my sicknesse ha's indeed no cure . Mer. Why thine eyes well . Menip . No , there 's before mine eye A webb , a mist , so rancke , I cannot spie A Thiefe , that takes my Purse before my face ; A Letcher may from 's friend get speciall grace , A winke , a nodd , a foote , a wringe , a kisse , Sent by some Childe , yet I see none of this . The price of Pepper , Cloues and Mace this yeare And what 's like either to be cheape or deare , In each place of the habitable world , Such wondrous helpe these spectacles afford . Thou seest what store of Sables there shall come From Rhezan , spotted Armines from the Donn . Thou seest when warres betwixt the Turke shall rise And Sophie , then , then brasse wil beare good prize . Thou seest the sugar Canes in Chyna too , Silke ranke as grasse , which makes thee hunt out so The North-West passage to preser●e the men That thither may returne , but two of ten From this lov'd Golgatha . A hundred weight Of Sugar six pence ! why , who would not freight With all the elements to get to Iapon , A March-pane three times cheaper then a Capon . Oh happy Eyes , which certainly will soone Discouer next new nations in the Moone , And what commoditie , what quintessence Of newer traffique may be had from thenc● . Mer. What dost thou mocke me now ? Thou meagre spy ▪ Got by consent of some Anatomy , I le teach ye ieast at a Magnifico . Exit . Menip . What are ye gone ? stay , let my blessing goe along with thee ; may , may thy gracelesse sonne , Of all that thou dishonestly hast wonne , Not leaue a groat : let him make duckes and drakes Too of thy money , that their flight may take Into the coffers of safe-keeping Thames , Then let him lauish out all that remaines To lull his sences in a Lethargy Of pleasure curelesse , vntill beggary , Nip him by th'sleeue and make him try a friend In vaine for six-pence ; ( for , but few will lend Great summes to desperate debtors ) : last of all , Let him die leprous in an Hospitall . I. H. FINIS . ¶ Vpon Fortune . FOrtune , who calls thee blinde is not to blame , For so much is imported by thy name ; Worth thou respects not : he that doth inherit Thy blinde estate is one of least demerit ; Who knowes not worth , but 's wont to derogate From style of Man , to better his estate . Fondling that fawnes on greatnesse , I detest To be by thee or thy vaine fauours blest ; For if I should , who liue in Wisedomes Schoole , Would gather hence I were some brain-sicke foole That had no meanes ( for so they would report me ) But iust as purblinde Fortune did support me . And what were I then but a garish Asse , That casts a perfume where he 's wont to passe ; protesting ( vaine protests ) he ha's betraide , A Ladies honour by her Chambermaide ; Sweares by his silken sinnes , he can dispence With faith , friend , promise , soule , and Conscience ; To make his way more cleare , more eminent , Vnto his Courtly Puppet , his faire Saint ; Whose onely glory is to vaunt of sinne , " And as he boasts of her , shee feedes on him ! O World , how vaine is he that doth r●ly Vpon thy fained , forged flattery ; When best deserts ( so thin is merit sowen ) Are to degrees of worst opinion growne ? When Time affords no ioy but vnto such , As are esteem'd for hauing ouermuch ; And younger Brothers , onely heires of wit For want of meanes , are forc'd to silence it ! " Farewell imperious Mole , I doe defie thee , " Since none but wittalls can be fauour'd by thee . FINIS . ¶ Vpon Mya . IF Mya liue , as shee is said to liue , Why doth she dye ? nay , that 's her least of care , If you meane Death ; no , I doe meane her haire , Farre from that dye which Nature did it giue ; For 't was of Iettie hew , which if you note Is colour'd now as white as any Goate . Wonder of ages ; be there any such , As in contempt of Nature garnish art ? Sure such a changelings haire must haue a heart As changing ! true , but this doth little touch Your lustfull sensuall Dame , whose onely ayme , Is to gaine pleasure with the losse of shame . Thou purple-purfled●powdred Idoll thou , Whose Beautie is lusts bootie , and whose skin Is honours staine , whose soule is sold to sin , Expos'd to shame ; thou that erects a stew To brothell in : why wilt thou be aray'd So Strumpet-like , yet would be styl'd a Maid ? Thou that doest woe man with a wandring eye , Bare-bathed brest , which to enforce delight , Is no true natiue but adulterate white , That daily dyes , yet hopes thou nere shall die ; Summe vp thy follies , and try all alone If thou canst answer of a thousand one . But what is this to thee , whose impudence ( So dangerous are habits ) makes thee now , Secure of worlds shame and vengeance too ; For Letharg-like the sensuall loose all sence , Drench'd in the source of pleasures , wch't doth grieue them , Ere to forgoe till they be forc'd to leaue them . And so art Thou ; yet Mya thou hast time , Which vs'd , redeemes the time that thou hast lost , Reform'd in that wherein thou erred most . Which will reuiue that drooping soule of thine : Who in her selfe deiected seemes to be , Because thy Body's more esteem'd then she . FINIS . ❧ The Signe in Cancer . ACrabbed Shrow through sicknes weakly brought , Wish't by all meanes a Doctor might be sought , Who by his Art that hee her griefe might know , Felt both her pulse , and cast her water too ; Which done , He to her Husband turn'd againe , And wish'd him be content , all was in vaine : For when the Signe 's in Cancer shee should die ; To whom her Husband answer'd presently ; " If that my learned Doctor had beene so , She had beene dead beleeue it long agoe : For these ten yeares and odd she ha's beene mine , And I ne're knew yet out of that Signe . FINIS . Hymens Eglogue betwixt Admetus and Menalchas . Menal. WHat makes Admetus sad , what ere it be , Some cause there is that thus hath alter'd thee ; Is it the losse of substance or of friends , Or thy content in discontentment ends : Is it some scruple in thy conscience , Which vnresolu'd doth leaue thee in suspence ; Is it that thou thy long●wish'd Loue should leese ? Admet . No no , Menalchas it is none of these . Menal. Thou art not sicke ; Admet . Nor sicke , nor greatly well . Menal. Where lies thy griefe ? Admet . My countenance will tell ; Menal. Smooth is thy brow , thy count'nanc'e fresh enough : Admet . But cares haue made my wreakefull minde as rough ; Menal. Of cares Admetus ! Admet . Yes I haue my share : Menal. Yet hope of cure ; Admet . No hope of cure to care . Menal. Nay then I se 't is loue that thee doth wring : Admet . Thou errs Menalchas , it is no such thing . Menal. If therefore losse of friends , nor losse of wealth , Want to enioy thy loue , nor want of health , If neither discontent nor griefe doe show Care in thy face , nor sorrow in thy brow , If thou be free , as we all know thee free , Engag'd to none , what is it grieueth thee ? Admet . Wouldst know Menalchas ? Menal. Yes ; Admet . I 'le tell thee than ; " The case is alter'd , I 'me a married man. FINIS . ❧ Hymens Choyce . FAire may shee be , but not opinion'd so , For that opinion euer lackies pride ; Louing to all , yet so , as Man may know , Shee can reserue the proper name of Bride : For weak's that fort , and easie is 't to win , That makes a Breach for all to enter in . I 'de haue her face and blush to be her owne , For th'blush which Art makes is adulterate , Splene may she haue , yet wise to keepe it downe , Passion , yet Reason too to moderate : Comely not gaudy , she and none but she Weares the best clothes , that weares to her degree . FINIS . ❧ Loues Description . LOue , what 's thy name ? a phrensie ; whenc'e thy birth ? From heauen ; how comes it then thou liues on earth ? I liue not there ; yet each vsurps thy name : It 's true indeede , but hence redounds their shame ! I liue not there , my Nature's pure and iust , But lust liues there , and loue 's a foe to lust . FINIS . An HYMNE THALASSICALL , OR NVPTIALL ; implying Two worths included in one Name , Paradoxally intimating the true happie State of contented LOVE . WHat I haue , that I craue , Frank I lost , yet Frank I haue ; Happie am I in possessing Of her that giues Loue a blessing : Blessed loue ' boue earthly ranke , Stated in my style of Franke , Happie style that thinkes no shame In respect of nature , name , Forme , affection , and in all To be Franke , as we her call . Yet so franke , that though shee be Free , it 's in such modestie , As no Creatures are , haue bin , Can , or may taxe her of sin . Pure in Loue , sincere in heart , Faire by Nature , not by Art , Crimson blushes which display ▪ Reddest euen makes cleerest day ; Cleerest , where like Ida's snow Lillies on her cheekes doe grow ; Yet so mixt with true delight , As the red contends with white ; Yet ore'comm'd with Modesty , red ore white gets victory . Thus two Franks in beauty one , Yeelds enough to dote vpon ; Equall both in fauour , feature , Honour , order , name and nature ; Both inclining to one stature , Equall'd by no earthly creature . For if I should paint them out , From the head vnto the foot , I should make you then confesse They were earthly Goddesses : And that Nature made these two , As those Mirrors which might show Her perfection and her store , Challenging , who could giue more ! Thus both equall in one letter , One to either , neither better ; Twin-like seeme as Time had fixt them , As two Spheres not one betwixt them ; Yet if needs one th' best doe craue , In my thoughts it 's she I haue : She , whose vertues doe excell As they seeme imparalell ; Modest , yet not too precise , Wise , yet not conceited wise ; Still in action , yet her will Is so pure it ne're acts ill ; Virgin-modest , yet delights To discourse of Hymens rights ; Yet she blushes when she heares , Ought that 's light sound in her eares ; And with skarlet-die displaies , What to Women yeelds most praise : For praise-worthy 't is in women , To blush at that Act is common ; Since in speech those actions show Ill , which modest are to doe ; For a Maid should be afraid , Hearing th' losse of Maiden-head . With this Poem , and a Pearle Sent to Frank my faithfull Girle ; I conclude with friendly vow , To my Frank her neigbour too . FINIS . An Elegiack Sonnet . IF I onely had beene hee , That had stood so farre aloofe , Or had beene such Armour proofe , Dide I had not as you see Shot by Womans Iealousie . Wretched Woman why should Thou Dote so much on Idoll-beautie , Deeming onely fit to sute thee , When it is not one nor two , Nor a thousand more will doe ? Yet Loue loues not these exchanges , Loue is constant , firme , and pure , Drawne by no eye-charming lure ; It is lust that onely ra●nges , Where new loue old loue estraunges . What is life then but a farme , And the best a farmer is Of this life he counts a Blisse , Where true loue sustaines no harme , Ne●e engag't to Fancies charme ! FINIS . THE VVIDDOVV BRIDE . To the accomplish'd Ladie of his thoughts M. E. T. exquisite receite of all divine vertues ; The complete issue of her selectedst desires . Feeding I famish , fired by thy eye , Which makes me dying liue , and liuing die . FAire shall I name thee , to expresse thy worth ! Nay , thou hast something else to se● thee forth , Then thy externall beautie , which no time Shall ere deface , and that is truely thine . Though outward white grac'd with an inward faire , Vnite in one , exceedeth all compare . For what may glorious Saints , whose divine feature Immortaliz'd aboue an humane Creature , Appropriate vnto themselues saue this , Though they 'r invested with the roabe of blisse ! Pure is their Stole , the State of innocence , Full be their Lamps of divine influence , Complete's their Armour , and their order too , " Thus they attend the Lambe where ere he goe . And thou terrestriall Angell , who canst giue , ( Though young ) example to the old to liue , Divines what thou shalt be : for I doe see , All sacred Gr●ces treasured in thee ; As in some curious artfull Cabbinet , Where Patience shines as a rich Iewellet Set in a precious Tablet , which may best Allusion haue to thy vnspotted brest , Where vertues haue their Mansion : should I speake More freely of thy Merits ? I will seeke No moderne Modell to conforme the State Of my affections , or will imitate Any with affectation , but that grace Which thou reserues in action , speech , and pace . Honour of ages , what a Sympathie Of soule-enthroning vertues workes in thee , To make thee more affected● Where desire Of Moderation tempers th' heat of ire ; Content all selfe-repining , and delight To see another prosper , that base spite Which worldly Moles expresse from day to day , In seeing others flourish more then they . No , thou art Earthly Sainted , and canst taste What fruit's in Mundane pleasure being past , When this same Circle of our humane blesse Qui●e run about , shall end with wretchednesse And is not this aboue th'conceit of Man , That thou the weaker sex shouldst seeme to span , This abstract of thy life with such respect Vnto thy soule form'd by that Architect , Whose glory is thy ayme ? Nay , that thy prime Scarcely arriu'd at th' freshnesse of her time , Should so disvalue Earth , as to bestow Thy heart on Heauen , thy frayler part below . Where life like to a shade , whose vading glorie Summs vp our discontents as in a Storie , Gets disesteeme with thee , fixing thine eye Vpon a more transcendent Emp●rie . But that which shall extend thy dayes more long Then time can limit , is thy suffring wrong , Smiling at iniuries , as if thy brest Were of that temper , griefes could not molest , Nor soile her glorious Mansion , but appeares More eminent by th' Iniuries shee beares . I 'ue heard indeed , some Womans Nature 's such As they can hardly ever beare too much ; The sense whereof , hows'ere our Criticks take it , May be confirm'd in thee ; for thou doest make it The Trophie of thy Triumph , and the Crowne Of all thy Conquest , to be onely knowne Thy selfe in thy affliction , where reliefe " In Soules sole solace giues receipt to griefe . " For Palms pressd downe doe ever rise the more , " And Spices bruis'd smell sweeter then before . So as this Sentence verifide may bee , Thou tyres affliction , not affliction thee . Mirrour of Women , what a triumph 's this , When there is nought how great soere it is That can depresse thy Minde below the Sphere Where it is fixed ! For 't is this I sweare , And onely this , which moues me to affect Thy selfe far more then any light respect , Drawne from the tincture of a moving faire , Which to minds Beautie 's short aboue compare . For I haue knowne the smoothest sleekest skin , Soild with the blemish of so foule a sinne As Beautie lost her lustre by that staine , Which once made blacke could nere be white againe . But Thou in both complete , art such an one As without assentation there is none May glory more of what shee doth possesse , Though on my knowledge none doth glory lesse . And happie hee if hee had knowne his happ , Who might repose in such a Ladies lapp , Secure from censure : but how weake is sence When Reason's darkned through Concupiscence ! Alasse of Error ; that our humane eye , Expos'd to lust and boundlesse libertie , Should derogate from Man : where if wee knew How Woman's to expect from Man her dew ▪ As Man from Woman ; we should streight infer " To thinke of a strange beautie , is to err . He who did till those flowrie fields , which lay Like Adons groue nere to the Mllkie Way , If he had knowne what happinesse it is In mutuall loue t' enioy a mutuall blisse , Where two diuiduate Soules doe selfely moue By one vnited Sympathie in loue ; Hee would haue thus concluded sure I am , " Who dotes on more then 's owne is lesse then Man. But now to thee my lines their loue extend , Making thy selfe their Centre where they end . " Thou mildest mould of Matron Modestie , " Liue as Thou liu'st and gaine eternitie ; Patience shall giue thee convoy , fame renowne , Both which contend to reach thee triumphs Crowne . FINIS . TO HIS MVCH ESTEEMED FRIEND Sr G. D. Knight ; The accomplish'd issue of his best wishes . IF promise be , as it is said to be A Debt , you may expect the like of me ; Which tho it be not pai'd , it shall be don And then your quittance for my Corydon . Receiue him Sr. for trust mee hee 's your owne , And one that will be knowne where you are known ; Whom if you cherish ( as I hope you will ) From yeare to yeare hee 'le better 's running still , And grow in time to be a Dogge of prize , And scorne to spend his mouth in common cries ; For time will come ( as I perswaded am ) When hee 'le be heard and hallow'd too of Pan. Yours assured , R. B. CORYDON , OR The Western-Huntsman . THe game 's a-foot : see how the Huntsmen run , Each capps his Hound , but chiefely Corydon ; Still goes the voice on him , nor doth it rest , Till it disperse it selfe from East to West : To it Western-Huntsman to it , Prize is thine , great Pan doth know it , Who vouchsaf'd to lend his eye , And his Eare vnto the Cry. Blaze not the fame-spred chace of Marathon , Of hillie Oeta , heathie Calidon , For th' chearefull coasts of peacefull Albyon , May show New-market , Roiston , Mar●bon ; And boast as much vpon their game As any one could doe of them , And amongst their Doggs not one Could match matchlesse Corydon . Cease Poets cease , so much to dote vpon The straines of Linus , Orpheus , Amphyon ; What could they doe our Huntsmen cannot doe , moue rocks , tame Tygres , make woods harken too ▪ This they can doe , and more if need Make our heards surcease to feed , Hills to answer to the Plaine Woods to ecco them againe . Nay , what is more , succeeding times may sing , That these delights were followed by a King , And such a King whose knowledge did descry That he was nurst by winged Mercury : Great must this pleasure needes be then , That is esteemed by such men , Whose opinion ought to stand For a Maxime in the Land. And if we should make choyce of any sense To giue content , none hath like excellence Vnto the eare , for it instructs vs how What 's fit know , to heare , to speake , to doe : And yet we haue both eye and eare As equally confined there ; As if Nature these did cull For to make our sport more full . And for their habit , as it seemes to me , They weare their Mothers earths owne liuery , Most comely and least gaudy ; as before Our fig-leau'd Parents in the Garden wore . Thus may we see , if we will see , There 's none ha's like antiquitie , When the first , as forc'd with shame weau'd them greene , and wore the same . To proue of what esteeme these Woodmen were It 's said that Ioue became a Forrester , And thought no colour could more mouing be , To gaine the loue of flame-scorch'd Semele ; Then in a youthfull greene araid To sue for loue vnto the Maid , Though ( fond Girle ) this would not doe Till he came in glory too . The Delian Votresse with her Nimph-like traine Follow their Hounds till that the game be slaine , Where speckled Ibis , mennal'd Dorcas lead , And bloody Rugg with Rhesus coupled ; Make hot pursuit and hold the chace Treble , Meane , countertenure , base , Different size and different note Some cold-sented others hote . Thus eye , eare , habit , colour , and esteeme Makes this delight , as it hath euer beene Princely , where Pan himselfe daigns to descend To cheere his care , and for no other end . Happy you Siluanes that abide , Where such true royall Huntsmen ride , Who awhile doe leaue the Court In the Lawns to haue some sport . make the whole Subiect of their Discourse , invection , or which is worse , personall aspersion . But such , whose inbred loue to goodnesse , hath implanted in them such affection to good men , and such zealous hate to the vicious : that if they were removed from the All-seeing eye of Heauen , and the suspicious search of earth ; yet they would expresse their loue to Goodnesse , in the lowest vault of darknesse . For these I am , and may I ever be their Corriuals : for aspiring to be great in the Court of vertue , is a glorious ambition . Now for such , whose conceits grounded on errour , iudge whatsoever wee write to haue no other ayme then popular : I 'de haue them know , I 'me none of these that seeme To build their hopes on other mens esteeme . As my Obiect is good in generall , so my subiect is free and generous ; far from such mercenarie Factors , or hireling Brokers , who set at sale the stale commoditie of their Labours : for these must taste of vulgar froth , or they are not vendible ▪ yet they will professe ( how odious soere be their profession ) that they haue drunk deepe of the iuyce of Helicon , and by vnvtterable raptures can extract the life and Elixir of Poesie . Such as these ( for these were they who formerly blemished the glory of so divine an Art ) caused one of the Fathers in great indignation to terme Poetrie the Diuells-wine ; venting whatsoever the loue of gaine , or their distempred brains had invented . Excellently might those punishments be moralized , which were inflicted on Stesichorus inveying against Helen , on Aristophanes against Cleon , Eupolus against Alcibiades , Calisthenes against Alexander : where the Satyre pronounc'd on himselfe a censure ; But I will addresse my Pen to such , whose meriting Labours haue gain'd them deserved esteeme . And Aristippus-like ) haue ever grounded their Subiect on vertue ; preferring the minds lustre , before the Bodies cover . Neither affection nor affectation had power to remoue these from their Anchor : for as Passions were the Billows they bickred with , and did encounter ; so vertue was their Land-marke , where , after long Sayle , they expected Harbour . Here shows Homer himselfe an heroick Sophocles ; and there Sophocles a tragicke Homer : where the wide world was their Theater , vice their Subiect of reproofe , vertue their Trophie of renowme . These deserued memorialls aboue the date of time ; Monuments more lasting then Age. Mettalls are of short perpetuitie ; These , because eterniz'd by vertue , succeede to eternitie . My wish is , that my oyle may be so employed , that you ( Gentlemen ) whose judgements are vnblemished , conceits refined , and from vulgar opinion far divided ; may in pervsall of my Workes rest pleased . Times broad-spred Curtaine I haue drawn in part , Next draught shall shadow it with farre more art . Meane time , receiue this , which promiseth a greater , when opportunitie shall afford more leisure . FINIS . ¶ Vpon Censure . WEll , ill , or neither , but indifferent , How ere your censure be I am content ; For hee 's a fauning foole , the Worlds minion , That onely writes to gaine himselfe opinion . Sacra Poaesis Musica mentis . FINIS . ERRATA'ES are growne so familiar with Bookes , as they become their Appendices ; Correct onely such as corrupt the sense ▪ for Literall errors , they march in such ranks and squadrons , as they seeme incorrigible . ERRATA . IN Charact. of Griefe , page 3 ▪ for skin , sin . for banish , vanish ▪ ibid in Riches , Page 2. for adoring , adorning : for but , nor ▪ ibid in Fate , Page vlt. for Pagan , Pangan . ●lacentia , pag. vlt. for He , We ▪ Masque Embleme , Pag. 2. lin . 5. For Bridall-chamber , Bride-chamber . Encomiastick . Pag. 1. for Astrea , Astrena ▪ Bound , yet free , Pag. 2. in marg . for , in titulis , in vtilis . Vpon his name , to whom his Encomiastick vpon the Common Law was Dedicated . Astreas name and yours doe both agree , And both I hit , yet both mistaken bee . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A16683-e550 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EPHA KAI HMEPAI . * Laert : in vit , Philos. * One whom I admire , being no lesse happie for his natiue inuention , then exquisite for his proper and clegant dimension . Notes for div A16683-e6540 * Nisi cor tuum esset fatuum , non crederes Fatum : Aug. Notes for div A16683-e18530 * Ayming onely at such , whose sense consists in sent with reseruation of his best thoughts to the Noble affected Courtier : Notes for div A16683-e26750 Aninstance produced by way of personall allusion . Notes for div A16683-e29890 * This Pae negyrick Poem was wri during the life of our late Queene : whose Princely vertues ( like precious odours ) will euer preserue her sacred Memory . Notes for div A16683-e35080 Cant. 4. . 1● . Psal. 80. ● . Isa. 5. 4. Ioh. 15. 1. Notes for div A16683-e36570 a Aduersis et pro●eris boni ad perfectionem virtu●is acced●●● . Aug. b Hi stupen● in utilis & imaginibus . Annulo magis quam animo credentes . c Alexander Severus would haue smoak'd such sellers of smoake-Xerxes would haue pu●led their skin over their eares . d Quid facit infacie Christianae purpurissus &c. Hierom : ad Furiam de viduit : Servand ; Tom. 1 ●ampla sati● forma pudicitia . Proper ▪ e Fugiet ab agro ad ciuitatem , a publico ad domū , a domo in cubiculum &c. Aug. in E●ar : Sup. 45. Psalm . f Nil interest habere ostiū apertū , vultume clausū . Cic. g The bread of deceit is sweete to a man , but his mouth shall be filled with grauell Pro. 20. 17. h Regitur fatis Mortale genus . Sen● . on Trag. i Vbi pars diuina in homine mersa est . k Omnis vita seruitium est . Sene : de tranq : anim . l Inquilins in terris , in col● in coelis . m Ancillan● dominari & dominā ancillari magna abusio est . Bern. Let Senes become subiect to the soueraig●tie of Reason . n Ae si hismanae so 〈◊〉 tati penitas alicnus esset . o Afranius hearing his effeminate Sonne cry out , alas , me wretched ; replied as severely : If one part grieue thee , would to God all parts did smart alike . 4. ●useul● e Solum coe ●umque mutant , more● tamen eosde retinent vid. Senec. de tranq Et Lips. de constan . Hoc fuco prodire licet , lucemque tueri quae mihi vitae frui , quae caeruisse mori . f Tune Poaetae dignum nomen habes ? habeas cognomen et I●i . g Hinc leges ( inquit So ●ou ) aranearum tel●s si milimas esse ; ● quibus parum difficile est , potentio●ibus elabi : ●●nuoribus ●utem Mustis exceder● , nagis ar●●uum . La. ●rt . in vit . Solon . h Sitanta delect abilia contintat Car●er , qua●ta , qu●so , continere poterit patria ? Aug. Soliloq cap. 21. i Hoc nobis adsert longius vitae spatium , quod plura mala partim videmus , partim sustinemus , partim perpetramus . Nazien . in Funeb : Orat. pro Caesarto . k Non mag num est sua sed se relinquere . l Vniversus Mundus es ercet his 〈◊〉 nem . In quo Mimum vitae agimus . m Animi in perio , corpo ris Seruit● magis vtimur . Salus Seruitute corporis , o● tim● libert● t● mentis fruimur . n Quae 〈◊〉 tica ? quae organa ? qu● cantilenae ? quae ●elodi ▪ tbi sine fine decamātur &c. Aug. in M● nu : cap. vi . o In causa , in qua Deo pla cere cupio , homines non sormido . Greg in indict : 2. Ep ▪ 78. p Caelum So●que mu● , teipsum nmutans : et : de cons : ●ilosop . q The body ●ll chasti●d , the soule ●comes ●eared ; ●aking Af●ction her tercise to ●y her con●ancy , her ●trance to ●r Natiue Countrey , ●er assurace ●a the state of glory . * Solae est atque vnic● virtus ; neque datur dono , neque accipitur ▪ Salust . * Inter 〈◊〉 irgines quae D●s petuntiús solitabantur , aphnidem , assandram ● Syringemrum votis nicè obsti●sse tradi●● est . Notes for div A16683-e50340 T●ssoes Apollogie transcribe wherein a Drunkard Humour 〈◊〉 to life described . * Mi●●m pe●it Lazarus & 〈◊〉 non datur , guttam Diues postulat & non ●uditur . Vpon the late deceased Pinch-gut Demas . * Aurum e●si volueris , forte non h●bebis : Deu● cum vólueris , habebis . Aug. * Sit filiu● ipse p●renti in patris ex●●iplum . * Non remittitur peccatum , donec restituitur ablatum . This is ●poken as 〈◊〉 i● going ●way in a ●hafe : ●xpressing ●he testie Nature of Age. ●mprecatio . It is heere to be vnderstood , the reason why the Satyrist directs his imprecatiō not to himselfe , but to his sonne ; ●t is because nothing can be sayd to an old man , that will so soone moue hi● patience concerning himselfe , being vpon the point of going hence ; as the malediction of his sonne , in vvhom are laid vp all his hopes , and resemblance of a new life in his posterity : in whom he may be sayd to liue after death , as he deriued from him naturally , breath . Notes for div A16683-e63790 ASTREA DAVINPORTA . Anagram . veni , porta ad astra .