THE PRODIGALS PILGRIMAGE.  
A Poem.  
Wherein is contained all the Remarkable Passages occurring from his Birth to his Return.  
Omnis semper Philosophia damnavit  
Mixtas Paenitentiae voluptates.  Sen. 
LONDON, Printed for J. Nutt near Stationers-Hall, Anno Dom. 1698.   

To the much Honoured JOHN TRY, Esq  
SIR,  
THe Prodigal, upon his Return, with great Reason pays his Respects to You, who was Privy to his Departure, (if probably this seem Enigmatical to the Reader, I ask his Pardon, 'tis enough yourself takes my Meaning.) This Person, were be not hugely sensible of your kind Complacency, would still appear as true a Prodigal as ever. In the agitation of Spirit, and search of thought, among many motives for this his Revisitation, he could not determine on a more powerful and prevailing inducement, than the shelter he hopes to find under your Roof, from the storms and injuries of Critical Fortune. You, whose worthy Temper, Ingenuity, and good Humour, (not to open into the Field of your excelling Justice, Integrity, and other numerous Virtues,) delights not in Satirical Reflections, or ill-natured Cavils; but whose Mind is constantly exercised in amicable Offices, in friendly offers, and as friendly acceptations of well-meant applications to you of any sort; not unlike the great Augustus Caesar, who never dismissed any person Discontented or Disobliged.  
Your innate Charity to all in general, and more especially to this relenting Penitent, he assures himself, is so tender of his welfare, that you will Indulge him, if it be but for fear he should grow desperate, and Relapse, and so his last Aberrations, and State, should prove far worse than the first.  
He believes he need say no more on his own behalf, presuming on your mighty Goodness; only this he begs leave to superadd,— That in the declension of his late Meridian Splendour, he, having met with a Person that was immersed in much the same Ill-circumstances with his unfortunate Self, takes the confidence to bring him with him upon the same account of Respect and Homage; well-hoping your inexhausted Generosity, will not refuse to extend your Smiles to him likewise: he goes by the Name of Penseroso.  
The Prodigal has not kept so much Company to be ignorant of, or defective in good Manners; nor has lost his Breeding, together with his Fortunes; but still retains a fit proportion. In Civility therefore to this Friend, a Stranger, he puts him in before him, thus to kiss your hands;  
(and so does, with all due regard, your most faithful humble Servant, R. C.)   

TWO Penseroso.  

TELL me not Youth and Health can give  
This our deceiving Life Content,  
Who-e're we are resolved to Live,  
Their sickly Pleasures all are spent:  
And all the while they burn so bright,  
Only give Lust and Error light.   

II.  
Tell me not there are Charms in Faces,  
A Lip, an Eye, a Blush, an Air;  
With all the other simpering Graces  
Which the Enchanted World calls Fair:  
Whilst I must either burn, or slake  
My Flames in some polluted Lake.   

III.  
Tell me not there are Learned Parts,  
The Mind's Endowments to be had;  
And all the other Bedlam Arts  
With which Grammari'ans can run mad;  
Which bought with loss of Health and Rest,  
Make us wise Gypsies at the best.   

iv  
Tell me not Virtue's Worth can fill  
The Soul's wide Centre, since we know  
No Difference between Good and Ill,  
But as Opinion calls 'em so:  
Since Honesty from Earth is fled,  
And to be Good, is to be Dead.   

V  
Tell me not there are Mines, in which  
Painful and toiling Industry  
May hope with delving to grow Rich,  
Whilst I, condemned by Destiny,  
With kill Envy do behold,  
And worship Mules that carry Gold.   

VI  
Tell me not Power and Government  
Within their bright Sphere do contain  
All that can sweeten and content  
Our wretched Life: The greatest Pain  
Of all my Torment is, to see  
That Beasts must rule and trample me.   

VII.  
Tell me not any thing is Good,  
Just, Fair, or Lovely; if there be  
Something by others understood,  
'Tis so to them, and not to me,  
Who, t' an indifferent Fortune cursed,  
Envy alike the best and worst.    

The AUTHOR to the Beaus of this Age.  
IN these few Lines, you Beaus, you may behold  
The PRODIGAL, his Actions manifold;  
His Lofty Pride, and then his Low Estate,  
And by his Life may learn to guide your Fate.  
And if you chance the selfsame Course to run,  
I wish you would look home, as he hath done,  
And have a serious Eye unto the End,  
'Tis better late, than never, to amend.  Longè vadit, qui nunquam redit.  

THE Prodigals Pilgrimage.  

WHen the full Period of my Time was come,  
That Nature called me from my Mother's Womb  
To visit this Mad World, and placed me here  
Within the compass of this Hemisphere,  
To Act my part upon this Earthly Stage  
Amongst the Children of this sinful Age;  
She took me by the Hand, and gave me straight  
Up to my Nurse, commanding her to wait,  
And carefully to lay me on her Lap,  
Feed me with wholesome Milk, and needful Pap;  
To Swaddle me in Clouts, to keep me warm  
From Cold, from Hunger, or what else might harm  
My tender Limbs, and she herself would be  
Still near at hand to Aid and Comfort me;  
For I, she said, in time must undertake  
A Journey, and a Pilgrimage must make  
Through this wide Desert, this vast Wilderness,  
Where I should meet with many a sad Distress;  
Where I should marry strange Encounters find,  
And violent Assaults to lift my Mind  
Off from its proper Hinges, and to throw  
Into a Gulf of everlasting Woe  
Me and my utmost hopes, that I should stand  
Even as a Mark set up for Fortune's hand  
To shoot her Arrows at; that I should be  
Environed round with that Triplicity  
Of Mortal Enemies, that would be sure  
To seek my Ruin, and my Wrack procure,  
The World, the Flesh, and Lucifer's damned hate,  
Who prosecutes Man's good and hopeful State  
With Malice and Despite in every place,  
Would cross my passage in this dangerous Race,  
And seek to win me by their cunning Art,  
To Consecrate the best of all my Heart  
To their Devotion, and to draw me in  
To be a Slave, or Servant sold to Sin.  
And therefore it was requisite that I  
Should have a careful Nurse, that might supply,  
And make me able to adventure through  
This uncouth Wilderness, where every Bough,  
In this my restless Pilgrimage would stay  
My wearied Steps, and intercept my Way.   

All this my Nurse and Nature did consider,  
And both combined, as I conceive, together  
In Cherishing me up: For I e'er long  
Forsook my Nurse's Lap, I grew so strong,  
And stood alone, and walked without a Stay,  
Or any Hand to guide me in the Way.  
Then, like a cap'ring Frog, I skipped about  
In every Corner of the House throughout,  
And was as nimble as a Mouse that spied  
A Cat prepared to leap upon her Hyde.  
Then would I to my Mother's Breasts resort,  
Offering to Suck them in a wanton Sport;  
And back again returned unto my Play;  
And as an Ape with every gayish Toy  
Is soon surprised; so did I take Delight  
To please my wanton Childish Appetite  
With whatsoever the Object did instill  
Into my Fancy, were it Good or Ill  
Here Nature gave me leave a while to stay,  
And sport myself, than on I took my Way;  
For now she had infused to every Vein  
Hot, Youthful Blood, and filled my wand'ring Brain  
With such a strong imaginary Stream  
Of fond Delights, as I began to dream  
That all this Universe was but a Stage  
Of glittering Pomp, and glorious Equipage,  
Which should for ever last, as if the Wheel  
Of Fortune had been fixed, and could not reel.  
She also had imparted to my Mind  
Some little Understanding, how to find  
Content in what I did: Thus did she ring  
A Alarm to my Senses, gave each Limb  
A quick Agility, to every Part  
An active Vigour, and she crowned my Heart  
With Joy and Gladness, so that I conceived  
Nothing but Mirth had been to me bequeathed.   

She brought me from the House, into the Fields,  
And look what Pleasure or Content that yields,  
I Reaped at full, I Skipped from Place to Place  
Like a young wanton Kid, pursued my Chase  
From Hill to Dale, I ran through Thick and Thin,  
No Limits could contain nor bond me in.  
I Sung, I Danced, I gathered fragrant Flowers,  
Such as fair Virgins beautify their Bowers,  
And deck their Bridal Chambers with, the Rose  
Which in the Spring doth first of all disclose.  
The Honey-Suckle, and sweet Eglantine,  
Love and Hearts-Ease, but good and wholesome Time  
I utterly neglected, and for Rue,  
Or Herbs of Grace, I ever did eschew.  
These healthful Herbs seemed bitter to my Taste,  
Harsh and unsavoury, I therefore cast  
On them a careless Look, and with an Eye  
Full of Disdain and Scorn, I passed them by;  
I washed my Body in the Silver stream,  
Rubbed off the Dust and Sweat, than wiped it clean;  
Then did I many Frisks and Capers make  
Upon the flow'ring Grass, and often shake  
My dewy Locks, so tumbling up and down,  
Laughed out my Days, ne'er dreaming of a Frown.  
I thousand other Recreations took:  
Sometimes I cast my Angle in the Brook,  
And with some Artificial Fly or Gnat  
Deceived those silly Fish that Bitten thereat:  
Then would I set some Spring, or cunning Gin,  
To catch those pretty Birds that peeped therein:  
And sometimes hunt the Fox, or fearful Hare,  
Or use some Art to take them in my Snare;  
And with my nimble and strong scented Hound  
Pursue the Buck, or pull the Stag to ground;  
And from their Misery and hard Distress  
I did receive a kind of Happiness.  
And thus, as in Elysium Fields, my days  
I seemed to spend, ne'er dreaming of those ways,  
Those Rugged, Rough, and dangerous passages,  
Those Brakes, those Briers, and that Wilderness  
I was to Wander through, nor of those Foes  
That lie in wait where e'er poor Mortal goes,  
To strip him of his Richest Ornaments,  
His Faith, his Grace, his spotless Innocence;  
And in their stead, his wretched Soul invest  
With loathsome Rags, which God doth much detest.  
I hitherto was Blind; I could not See,  
Nor understand the Fatal Destiny,  
Which, like the Sword of Damocles, hung down  
Just perpendicular upon my Crown;  
And in the midst of all my Pomp and Cheer,  
Foreshowed my Fall and Ruin to be near;  
My Feet were Fettered yet, and could not Run  
The Race which they most gladly would have done;  
My Hands were also Pinyoned, and my Mind  
Within its Orb and Circle was confined;  
For with a careful Look, and awful Eye,  
My Parents Marked me when I stepped awry,  
And often brought me to the Fold again,  
When I was lost and straggling in the Plain;  
I had besides a Tutor, to Survey  
My wand'ring Steps, and keep me at a Bay;  
At home, and eke abroad, I had a Guide  
To Prop me up, when I began to Slide.  
But when the Rod was Burnt, and winged Time  
Compelled these careful Guardians to Resign,  
And leave me to my Self, as being now  
A Knotty Piece, more apt to Break than Bow;  
When Nature had performed her Work in me,  
And raised me from a Shrub unto a Tree:  
When she had furnished me in every point,  
Made strong each Sinew, knit each slender Joint,  
And with soft Down had so enriched my Chin,  
As new Spring Leaves adorn the Trees in Spring:  
Then did I hoist up Sails, and from the Shoar,  
Into the swelling Ocean with my Oar,  
I forthwith sought to Launch, both Wind and Tide,  
And all black threatening Gusts, I did deride.  
I cast the servile Yoke from off my Neck,  
A Frown seemed harsh to me, much more a Check;  
And from my former Sports I scorned to think  
That e'er my lofty Spirit could stoop to Drink  
At such a pudled Stream: The Court alone  
Presented to my thoughts a glittering Throne,  
Enriched with all Delights; and therefore now  
The Portion which my Birthright did allow  
I laboured to obtain; nor could the kind  
And fair persuasions of my Parents bind  
My refractory Will, but every thought,  
Like an Enchanted Spell, within me wrought,  
Till, like a Pilgrim, labouring in a straight,  
I found the Error of my vain Conceit.  
When I had filled my Bags, and crammed my Purse,  
I bade adieu, fall better, or fall worse;  
So mounting up upon a stately Steed,  
I cried, St. George and Fortune be my speed;  
And as I passed along, where e'er I came,  
My large Expenses Echoed out my Name;  
At last I touched, and Landed at that Shore,  
Where, Tagus like, the Sand with Golden Ore  
Did seem to be Enriched, this place I spied  
Like Ilium in the height of all her Pride.  
For at my first Arrival there I found  
Mirth at its height, and Pleasure to abound;  
The Air with Acclamations loud did Ring,  
The People Danced and Sung, as in the Spring;  
The Winged Choiristers did stretch their Throats,  
To Carrol out a Thousand several Notes;  
The Bells did Ring, the Bonfires up did fly,  
And every House was filled with Melody;  
The very Echo seemed to Rejoice,  
And to this Music tuned her curtailed Voice:  
I saw at every great and spacious Gate  
Wine doled about to People as they sat;  
I saw at every mean and common door  
Beer freely given, both to Rich and Poor;  
I saw a Troop of Coaches in the Street  
Lined with Brisk Beaus, and the proud Horses Feet  
Struck on the Pavement with so loud a din,  
As if it had a rattling Thunder been;  
I heard the Cannons from the Tower to roar,  
As if the whole Foundation would have tore:  
Of all the Stately Buildings, much I mused  
To see these Sights, and hear this Noise confused;  
And presently conceived this was the Cell  
Where all the Gods and Goddesses did dwell;  
Or that it was the Theatre where they  
Descended to behold poor Mortals Play;  
For I had of their Banqueting and Sports  
Read in the Histories, and strange Reports  
Of Ancient Poets, then into an Inn  
I set my Horse, and called the Chamberlain;  
I asked of him from what Triumphant Cause  
Arose that Joy, that Mirth, and great Applause;  
He told me 'twas a Customary thing  
In that great City for the Bells to Ring,  
For Bonfires to be made, nay, many a time  
The very Conduits were to run with Wine;  
And how I daily in that place might see  
Of Sports and Pleasures great Variety.  
I then dismissed him, and began to think  
This was the very Spring where I might Drink  
And swallow in Delight; I felt a Fire  
Surprise my Blood, and with a hot desire  
Inflame my Heart, to put in Practice straight  
Pride, Gluttony, and Lust, that tempting Bait.  
Then did my Flesh suggest unto my Mind,  
That hitherto I had not been so kind  
To Her as She deserved; I had not Fed,  
Nor Richly Clothed Her as She merited;  
And that I should do well now to begin  
To Pamper Her, who had so loving been;  
She bid me cast my wandering Eyes about,  
And look what Beauteous Prize I could find out:  
She charged me with a brisk Result, to make  
A bold Assault, for Gold and Greatness shake  
The strongest Fortress, and will pierce the Heart  
Which seemed Steeled against Cupid's Dart,  
And She would not be wanting to fulfil  
My hot desires, and Execute my Will.  
The World did also to mine Eyes present  
Such glittering Splendour, and so Orient,  
That I stood much Amazed, and looked thereon  
Like one surprised with Admiration.  
She bade me not to Wonder, nor to think  
Her Power and Greatness in a small Precinct  
Was Bounded in, but that her Empire run  
As far as e'er the Golden tressed Sun  
Did stretch his glorious Beams, and I should be  
As Brave as any Object I did see:  
In following Her, not mighty Caesar's state,  
Nor Croesus' Riches, should outshine my Fate.  
With these two Witches came the Devil in,  
And when they ended, then did He begin;  
He showed me in a Vision at one time  
The Situation of this Earthly Clime;  
And brought unto my Sight such Beauty's rare,  
As Rosamond might not with them compare;  
And did present to my Enchanted Eyes  
Such heaps of Gold, and precious Rareties,  
As bright Apollo on his Burning Car  
Appeared to them but like a twinkling Star;  
And told me, what he showed me in a Glass  
In should Enjoy, and really Possess,  
If I would be his Servant, and obey  
What he Commanded both to do and say.  
When they had cunningly my Senses Charmed  
With these illusive Spells, they soon disarmed  
My Soul of all her Heavenly Furniture,  
Which should have been her Guard against their power,  
And I struck Hands with them, a Contract made,  
Protesting to observe what e'er they said,  
And wheresoever I came, no place nor time  
Should make me their three Friendships to resign.  
When Juno, Pallas, and Loves Beauteous Queen  
To Paris in the Vale of Ide were seen,  
And there, as three Corrivals for the Prize  
Of Beauty's favour, and commanding Eyes,  
Stood in Contention, and had made a Vow  
To stand to what his Censure did allow:  
The first proposed a Kingdom and a Crown  
For his Reward, might She be first set down:  
The second told him that He should excel  
All Men in Wisdom, might she bear the Bell:  
The third indeed, who bore the Prize away,  
Told him She had a Spouse as fair as day  
To be his Partner in the Bed of Pleasure,  
Whose Beauty was esteemed so Rich a Treasure,  
That many Kings and Princes for her sake  
Should enter into Arms, and undertake  
A Mortal War; Millions of Souls should spend  
Their Lives for Her, and for no other end.  
Paris was not so much surprised with Wonder  
And Joy, when he began to think and ponder  
Of what these Goddesses to him had said,  
And promised too, as I was well paid  
Of these Bewitching Sirens, whose false Lies  
Infected me with Thousand Vanities.  
Then did I set a Flourish on my Back,  
Called for my Tailor, told him I would lack  
Nothing which now the Fashion did require;  
Thus Pride did first my Senses set on fire.  
Then did I flaunt it in the open Street,  
And justled those whom I did chance to meet;  
My Body clothed in Silk, my Head implumed  
With flaunting Feathers, and my Hair perfumed;  
And quickly was I known, for still I wore  
A Lure about me, which would make Men sore,  
And stoop to me as fast, as when we see  
A well Man'd Falcon from a lofty Tree  
Descend with speed to seize upon his Prey,  
Being sharp and hungry, kept for Sport that day.  
Then to the Ordinary I did frequent,  
Where every one my Bounty did resent,  
And soon my Friendship was endeared to those,  
Who love to be acquainted with good ;  
With Congee and with Cringe, with Duck and Dive  
I was Saluted; every Man did strive  
To be Enrolled amongst those Friends, whom I  
Selected as my choicest Company.  
Thus Flattery, with his Enchanting Song,  
and Incantation, wrought on me so strong,  
And did so powerfully my Mind incense  
With an absurd Belief and Confidence,  
As every Man, in my conceit, did seem  
To hold my Person in a high Esteem:  
For still my Purse was , and out my Crowns  
Flew like the flakes of Snow upon the Downs.  
Then from the City to the Court I went,  
To feel the temper of that Element:  
Then I observed with what a stately Train  
Some Lords passed by, when other Lords were fain  
To stand a loof, and hardly to appear,  
Unless they were unto these Great Ones dear.  
I also then observed the fond and vain  
Conceited Antic of a Courtly strain;  
One Leaped, and Skipped, and Sung, and played the Fool,  
As if he had been in a Dancing-School:  
A second kissed his Hand, and scraped a Leg  
To every one, upon whose lofty Head  
A Feather did but Wag: A third did look  
As big as great Alcides, when he shook  
A Lion by the Beard; all which did seem  
To me no better than a sportful Scene,  
Strange and ridiculous, yet I did fall  
In Imitation to exceed them all;  
For there a while I made my Residence,  
Ruffling in Silk and Gold, my large expense  
Had blown my Fame and Credit long before,  
I soon got Entrance at the Presence Door;  
Here one great Lord did take me by the Hand,  
Another called me Cousin, bid command  
His Love and Service, and Inferiors strove  
To gain my Friendship with obsequious Love.  
Thus did I seem to be endeared to all,  
Embraced and courted far beyond my call;  
And whilst my Head above the Stream did Swim  
I found enough to hold me by the Chin.  
Then to the City I returned again,  
Where I resolved myself to entertain  
With all the Pleasures that I could devise.  
And first, I taught my amorous looking Eyes  
To Court the choicest Beauties, and Enrol  
Their Wanton glances in my lustful Soul;  
And with their piercing Sight to search and try,  
And pick the very Lock of Chastity;  
Whom with large Promises, and ample Gifts,  
I quickly Won; Lust hath a thousand Shifts.  
Then with the rarest Harmony I fed  
My curious Ears, and on a costly Bed  
I laid my Corpse, and served my Amorous touch  
Till I was Cloyed, and thought I had too much;  
And with the richest Aromatic Fume  
I sent the Incense of a sweet Perfume  
Up to my Brain, and did revive my Sense  
Of Smelling, with an infinite Expense:  
I also did supply my Liquorish taste  
With so profuse and Prodigal a waist,  
That in one Night two thousand Crowns did fly,  
To please my wanton Sensuality:  
I gave my Mistress Rings and Jewels store,  
And at my Cost and Charge her Body wore  
Silks of the Richest Die, Silver and Gold,  
Or whatsoever the Mercer's Shop did hold:  
Upon her Alabaster Skin was drawn  
The finest Holland, and the purest Lawn,  
And whatsoever for Money could be bought,  
Or Rich, or Rare, I to my Mistress brought.  
And when her Fancy drew her out to Range,  
To view the Golden Cheap, or glittering Change;  
Or in the Fields to suck the wholesome Air,  
To make her Fairer seem, that seemed most Fair;  
A Rich Caroche, drawn with six Prancers, still  
Stood in a readiness to serve her Will:  
And thus in Wanton Riot and Excess  
I spent my Time, ne'er dreaming of Distress;  
And though my Crowns did shrink, and much abate,  
Yet could not Reason stir me, nor awake  
My Understanding, until all was gone,  
And no Friend left me to rely upon;  
For being cloyed with what I did and saw  
In this great Town, than did my Fancy draw  
My wandering Thoughts to visit Foreign Parts,  
Fashions and Courts of other Potentates.  
To Gravesend than I went, and there I found  
A Vessel under Sail, and ready Bound,  
Which landed me upon the Coast of France,  
Where to the Court I did myself advance;  
Then with the Monsieurs I did flaunt it out,  
Pranc d on my Foot-cloth Paris round about,  
And with the greatest Lords, and mighty Dukes,  
I did consort in rich and costly Suits;  
There I saluted the Parisian Dames,  
And Courted Ladies of the greatest Names,  
And was accounted a brave Cavalier  
Of high Esteem, and to their Persons dear.  
But when my Crowns were spent, and that fair crew  
Of Angels, which so thick about me flew,  
And raised my Person to that high Esteem,  
Had took their flight, and could no more be seen;  
Then did my Reputation quickly crack,  
My Purse grew Sick, the  upon my Back  
Grew Poor, and Threedbare too, my Credit failed,  
I had so far beyond my Compass Sailed;  
And they with whom I had great Empire born  
Looked on me then but with Contempt and Scorn;  
And every one did note my Poverty,  
A Lackey scarce would keep me Company:  
Then was I driven to a narrow strait,  
Where I Commanded I was glad to Wait,  
And where I had my Foot the foremost set  
I shrunk, like dainty Lawn in Water wet;  
And when my Money was all spent and gone,  
As Marygolds at Setting of the Sun  
Shrink in their Heads, so did I hid my Face,  
When that bright Sun was Set that did me Grace:  
Then I resolved to change that luckless Air,  
And once more to my Native Soil repair,  
To visit England's Court, where I in store  
Had many Friends that would not see me Poor.  
So on I came, as fast as well I could,  
Trudging on Foot, for now my Horse was Sold;  
And wandering like a Pilgrim all alone,  
With many a deep fetched Sigh and heavy Groan,  
At last I came unto a Forest side,  
And in I entered without help or guide;  
Where having passed some Miles, I saw in view  
A Troop of Forrest Beasts, a Savage Crew;  
Whereat being much Amazed, and sore Aghast,  
I took a Tree, and Marked them as they passed.  
I saw a Lion march before the rest  
With stately Motion, as became him best;  
And after him a spotted Leopard  
Came stalking like some proud ambitious Lord:  
I saw th'untamed Panther then to come,  
And after him a Unicorn to run:  
I saw a Boar assault another Beast,  
And with his furious Tusks did gore his Breast:  
I saw a cruel Woolf surprise a Deer,  
And pluck him down, and out his Bowels tear:  
I saw a Fox pursue a gentle Lamb,  
That Bleating stood, and cried unto his Dam:  
I saw a Tiger his fierce Visage hid  
So cunningly, as none his falsehood spied,  
And only showed his smooth and dainty Skin,  
Which smelled so Sweet, that many Beasts came in  
To Wonder at him, till at last he got  
His Prey within his reach; then out he shot  
His dreadful Looks, and with a nimble speed,  
As swift as Air, pursued a gallant Steed.  
Lord! how this Spectacle did damp my Mind,  
To see these Beasts so Cruel to their Kind,  
ne'er Dreaming the like Cruelty did rest  
In Manly Shapes, and in a Humane Breast.  
These being past, I did descend again,  
And forwards took my Journey to the Main,  
Where being Mounted on Proud Neptune's Back,  
I found he Roared, and made the Vessel Crack,  
As if he had been Angry at the ill  
I had committed: but we Sailed on still,  
And at the last came to the wished for Shore,  
Where, when I Landed, I had paid my Score;  
My Purse was quite Exhaust, and by the way  
I for my Succour was compelled to Pray;  
At last my tired Legs my Body brought  
Unto that Harbour which my wishes sought,  
And where I hoped a present Cure to find,  
To ease my sad and discontented Mind;  
And therefore with a Resolute intent,  
To see a dear and special Friend I went:  
A special Friend, said I? a special Foe:  
For when I had recounted all my Woe;  
When I had told him all my Care and Grief,  
He seemed to give me Scorn, and not Relief;  
When I had opened and unlocked my Heart,  
Showed him how Fortune had discharged her Dart,  
And shot me through and through, had plucked me bare,  
And left me not a Feather for my share;  
And that I had no Penny to redeem  
My Body from the Rancour of her Spleen;  
He (like a River, whose fair Stream grows dry  
In heat of Summer, when necessity  
Requireth Water most) answered again,  
His Purse was weak to bear up his own Train,  
Much less could prop up the declining state  
Of other Men. Then did I see my Fate  
By my Acquaintance; others than I tried,  
But all I found Infected with like Pride,  
With like Ingratitude; there was not one  
Whose Heart was not Transformed into a Stone.  
Then was I driven, by the hand of Fate  
And hard Necessity, an Alms to take  
Of those, whose Fortunes I had known but Poor,  
And Begged my Bread even at a Beggar's Door;  
And in the Fields I was compelled to stand,  
And ask a Penny at a Stranger's hand.  
Where I had many a Hungry Belly fed,  
Had many Clothed, had many Visited,  
And with my Bounty raised their Spirits up,  
Whom Fortune forced to drink her Bitter Cup;  
Where I had Money in abundance Spent,  
Where I had Moneys given, had Moneys lent,  
I hardly got so much as would suffice  
One Hungry Meal. Then did my Stomach rise,  
And from the deep Abyss, my enraged heart  
Called up Revenge to Act her Tragic part:  
I did implore the Powers of Heaven to Crown  
Their heads with Shame, and Rain such Vengeance down,  
That every Minute might as tedious be  
To them, as they seemed tedious to me:  
I did invoke the Infernal Hags of Hell,  
To sad Despair their Wretched Lives to sell:  
I courted Atropos, at my request,  
To draw her Fatal Sisters to detest  
Their hateful Lives, and to combine in one  
To cut their Thread of Life which they had Spun:  
I charged each Planet, I adjured each Star  
To threaten and denounce Intestine War:  
I Prayed and Sued to every Element,  
To be Prodig'ious and Malevolent:  
I Wooed the Earth to swallow them Alive,  
I Wooed the Air their Mischiefs to contrive;  
I Wooed the Waters, with a Raging Flood  
To overwhelm and Bury them in Mud:  
I Wooed the Fire to descend in Flames,  
And utterly Consume their Rotting Names:  
I Wooed the Thunderbolts to strike them Dead,  
And throw the Sulphurous Lightning on their Head:  
I Wooed the Moon, her Silver Lamp to shroud  
Within the Bosom of a gloomy Cloud:  
I Wooed the Sun to hid his glori'ous Rays,  
I Wooed the silent Night, I wooed the Days,  
To yield them no Relief, but let them run  
From place to place, like Men with Furies stung:  
Thus in a Frantic, Mad, and Bedlam rage,  
The Powers of Heaven and Earth I did engage  
My Quarrel to Revenge, to shoot their Darts  
In my Defence, and Wound their Treacherous Hearts:  
I kicked the Earth, I tore my careless Hair,  
And in a Melancholy sad Despair  
I drew my Sword, his wretched Life to end,  
That had nor Penny left, nor yet a Friend.  
But by the Mercy of the Power Divine  
My furious Hand was stayed, and I resigned  
My Heart to Patience, and began to call  
To strict Account my Life and Actions all;  
I did consider my Offence was great,  
And oftentimes I did the same repeat:  
I did consider that I had done ill,  
And oftentimes that Thought my hopes did kill:  
And yet I thought there could be no Offence  
So great, but that a Father might dispense:  
I thought what ill soever could be done,  
A Father might forgive a Pen'itent Son:  
I will Resolve, I will, quoth I, go home,  
Pour out my Plaints to him, to him make Moan;  
I'll Beg, Entreat, and Supplication make,  
And ask forgiveness for my Sav'iour's sake.  
So homeward to my Father's House I went,  
And e'er I came a Messenger I sent;  
I sent him word a Prodigal was come,  
A Prodigal that once was called his Son;  
But now that Interest I did forgo,  
For why? my Sins deserved it should be so;  
I should be happy if I might retain  
A Hireling's Room, and in his House remain;  
To be admitted to a Servants place,  
I hold exceeding Love, exceeding Grace.  
When of my Coming he did understand,  
My Father ran to me, and shook my Hand,  
Fell on my Neck, and kissed me, brought me home,  
Stripped off those Rags which were so loathsome grown,  
And Clothed me well, my hungry Belly filled,  
Even with the Fatling that for me was killed:  
Upon my Finger put a Ring of Gold,  
And gave me Blessings great and manifold,  
And told me he would all forget, forgive,  
And that I should with him for ever live.  
Then fell I prostrate on my bended Knee  
Before the high Eternal Deity,  
Presenting at his Altar, as a true  
Idea of a Soul refined New,  
My Penitent Tears, which in abundance I  
Shed for my Time consumed in Vanity;  
I did Abjure, Renounce, and cast off clear  
Those Vanities which I had held so Dear;  
In Contemplation I resolved to spend  
The Remnant of my Days, until my End;  
So in a private, solitary Cell,  
I, with Old Timon, bade the World farewell.   
FINIS.