skies Not knowing truly what they are I will unto thee now declare If they in wicked hands do light Not Aetna's flames can shew such spight Nor Inundations doe such harm Of this let Consuls power warn Which first ta'ne up for Liberty So great a burthen grew to be Your Fathers sought to lay 't aside As Kings before were for their pride And if by chance as 't is but rare Honours conferr'd on good men are What is in them that can delight But Courtesie and doing right So that there is no honour due To Dignity without Vertue For Vertue only does conferre Honour on those in power are And what is this desired thing What does this glorious Power bring Did you but see you would deride Those poor things to which you preside O things of Clay if among Mice The itch of Honour should intice And one for highest place should croud Would it not make you laugh aloud For if the Body thou look on What poorer thing is made then Man Who oft destroy'd is by a Fly Whom oft a Worm does cause to dy Now none can greater power have Then this poor Body to enslave Or that which far inferior is The goods of Fortune fools chief bliss For no man the free Mind commands Nor moves which firm on Reason stands When once we reade a Tyrant King By cruel torments sought to bring A bold free spirit to relate Who with him did confederate With 's teeth he did his tongue displace And threw it in the Tyrant's face So to his vertue bravely he Did turn the Tyrant's cruelty What to another can one doe That he himself 's not subject to Busiris who his guests did kill His bloud great Hercules did spill And Regulus who oft in bands The Poeni led they bound his hands Then what great power is in man Who his own harms not hinder can Again if that in Dignities Any essential good there lies The wicked could not them attain For these are rules that are certain Things naturally contrary And things oppos'd cannot agree Since bad men then we see oft-time Unto these dignities to climbe We may affirm in them to be No good they do so well agree So may be put on the same score The rest of Fortune's goodly store For that most often they them share Who of all men most wicked are These things may be consider'd too They valiant are valiantly doe Who 's swift we nimble-footed call And Musick makes men musicall Physick Physicians a sweet tongue To Rhetoricians does belong Nature gives all in all respects What 's proper not contrar ' effects And in all things that are her due All opposition does eschew But Wealth can't Avarice repell Nor Power make him not to swell Whom vicious lusts do strongly bind In fetters not to be untwin'd And Dignities which bad men gain Make them not worthy but the stain Of their unworthiness does show That this is so we come to know Because to things a name you rear Which their effects will no way bear For these are neither Wealth nor Might Nor Dignities so call'd of right But if their right names they do bear They are Vexations Trouble Care Lastly who 's wise the like concludes Of all false Fortune's interludes In which as it is manifest There 's nothing good nought that makes blest Which neither to good men are sent Nor make them good to whom they 'r lent What ruines did he make that Rome did fire The Fathers brought to stake and to aspire His Brother's bloud caus'd spill Mother to dy That he might gaze his fill where he did ly Ah! cruell sure was he without a tear Her intrails torn could see that did him bear Yet this man did bear sway from the Sun's rise Vnto where ends the day i' th' western skies From where congeal'd to ice men wine do eat To where the world not nice stark naked treat And would this power vast his mind asswage No he with sword did wast with poison rage Thou know'st said I Ambition ne're To worldly greatness did me rear But being stor'd with Learning I Thought fit in silence not to dy Then she repli'd This is the thing That oftentimes great wits does bring E'en such as at high vertue aime To hazard all on Fortune's game Desire of Glory and high place Puts on a seeming lovely face But how they vile nay nothing are By what I 'le show will plain appear First then by demonstrations all Which we call Astrologicall 'T is plain to heaven's vast extent The whole Earth's bulk is but a point So small that to the Globe if we Compar't it nothing seems to be Of this small point not the fourth part Well known by Geometrick art With living creatures planted is From whence take Lakes and Bogs and Seas Consider this thou wilt find then There 's scarce an atome left for Men. Then if of this small point thou art Shut up within the smallest part How poor a thing is thirst of Fame Or perpetrating of a Name Or how can Glory great be found Coop't up within so narrow bound Next let us adde this one thing more This little point is fill'd with store Of Nations who all are at strife In manners language course of life ' Mongst whom Fame is not greatly spred ' Cause commerce is prohibited Travel is hardly undergone And to be tongue-ty'd's vexation Then for a single Man a name To get is hard when Towns want fame Tully in his time does relate The fame of Rome was not dilate Beyond mount Caucasus yet she Then the World's Mistris seem'd to be Thou then dost see how streight and poor The glory is thou labour'st for That fame dost think Rome could not gain One Roman should to it attain Besides as Nations divers are Their Laws and manners differ far For what one people think worth praise Another with chastisement paies So that whoever takes delight In Fame's high busie-winged flight Which in most Countries can't have vent Let home-spread glory him content That Fame call'd Immortality Must in one Nation tether'd be More famous men forgot have dy'd Then are by Writers dignifi'd Or can Records eternize men No Time consumes Writers and them But you immortal call that same Which is indeed but future fame Consider but th' infinity Of ever-bless'd Eternity And you will find the joy you seek Is not a mote in a bright week Ten thousand Years let be the case With it compare one Moment's space Yet definite both spaces are Though small they some proportion bear Then multiply this manifold Yet no comparison will hold Finite things 'mong themselves may be Compar'd not with Infinity Then though that time do fame long spare It with Eternity compare Thou 'lt find it is not only small But seemeth not to be at all But you think nought can you commend If vulgar praise don't it attend Conscience nor Vertue you regard From vulgar mouths you seek reward Learn how he truly did deride One
THE CONSOLATION OF Philosophy LONDON Printed by James Flesher for the Author 1664. The Preface and Occasion of this Melancholick Divertisement ALthough many may and needs must remember the Sadness of the late Times which called the greatest Knaves on earth Honest men and the justest Loyalty on earth Treason and which rewarded and punished both Titles as preposterously as they named them forgetting the holy Prophet's woes against such Hypocritical Misnomers yet 't is as much to be remembred that all have not the like causes of memory some Families being but so wounded as easily curable others died in the place to others Haeret lateri lethalis arundo Among these last Tho. Coningsby of North-Mimms in the County of Hartford of a most ancient Family and as plentiful Fortune having been high-Sheriff of that County in the year 1638 was upon the Confidence of Loyalty the late Blessed King had found and try'd in him by a Commission sent from Redding again made his Majestie 's high-Sheriff in the year 1642 and together with his Commission received this gracious Letter following under that King 's own hand of Blessed Memory CHARLES R. TRusty and well-beloved We greet you well and do hereby give you Our assurance that although We have at this present made choice of you to be Our high-Sheriff of Our County of Hartford We have done it out of no other respect then as a mark and testimony of Our Favour and Confidence of the utmost of your Service in these Times wherein We intend to imploy Persons of greatest Integrity and known Affections to Us and the good of Our Kingdom of which you have formerly given sufficient testimony And although it may bring upon you great Expence and Trouble yet We are confident you will not value it in regard of Our Service and the good of that Our County which shall not be forgotten by Us on all occasions So We bid you heartily farewell From our Court at Redding this 11 â—h of Novemb. 1642. Soon after he received also a Writ and Proclamation sent from Oxford which declared the late Earl of Essex and his Adherents Traitors and authorised him to array the County for the King's Service The like Command other Sheriffs received and the Sheriff of Essex that then was did thereupon address himself to the Parliament as if he would beg leave of them to execute the Writ against them and intreat their favour to declare them to be what they were Traitors For which treacherous Flattery he had their Fatherhoods thanks was caressed made their Treasurer grew rich and to compleat his reward is now Sir Baronet But Mr. Coningsby of another temper according to his trust and place executes his Writ at S. Albans and was there with the peril of his life happy if he had then perished taken Prisoner by Cromwell who had the thanks of the House too for his exploit is carried to London committed to London-house where he continued Prisoner till the year 1643. and was then adjudged by a then Committee-man now a real Judge to be within their Ordinance for Sequestration though made after his fact by virtue of those words Whoever have or shall as if he could have divined that any such transcendent Impudence would appear in the world as would confirm Wickedness and punish Duty by a Law And yet if he could he could not have failed in his Duty for he knew not fear This was quickly smelt out by that famous Vulture Sir Will. Brereton who alledged it against him and that he had sent one of his Sons into the King's Army true but not proved and thereupon got the Sequestration and Plunder of his Estate robbing him at once of more then two thousand pounds They seised also on his Real Estate which then was not less then fifteen hundred pounds per annum After this he is removed from London-house to the Tower where with much barbarous usage he was held seven years more under several Gaolers when at last broken and languishing in Body through Restraint and Sickness contracted by it his Son by a pious deceit of bribing under-hand and being bound for him who would never have consented to his own Safety on those terms for his Generous Soul scorned to petition Rebels gained him into the Country where he found as great objects for his Grief as he did in thraldom it self For then he saw how during the time of his Imprisonment they had besides his Goods and Rents wasted and destroied his Woods and Houses to the value of more then three thousand pounds and that in this seeming Liberty he did but behold his own and his Familie's Ruine at a nearer view the Sequestrators and their Harpies continuing before his face to prey upon him and their own Masters too the lesser Vermin preying on and cheating the greater converting as was afterwards made appear against them before the King's Commissioners sitting at the Savoy more then two thousand pounds out of his Estate from the general Sink to their own particulars as he in the Satyrist damnatus inani Judicio quid enim salvis infamia nummis Exul ab octavo Marius bibit fruitur Diis Iratis at tu In this just disdain he offers to contest his Right against them at Law But they as if this had been the higher Crime got an Order to imprison him again and breaking open his Daughter's house in the greatest inhumanity imaginable seised on him being very sick and weak inforce him to ride to London in great torment and have him committed Prisoner to the Serjeant's man where growing weaker then ever and more discomposed he is again by the same religious craft gained into the Country by his Son with a nominal Liberty where soon after he was in the year 1654 after twelve years worrying finally released by Death He was the Son of Sir Ralph Coningsby who had for the more immediate Stemme of his House Sir Humphry a Wise and Learned Judge in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh but as to his remoter Root was lineally descended from a long and Noble Race of Ancestors that were Barons of this Kingdom both before and after the Conquest He was of a middle Stature his Hair black his Complexion ruddy his Eyes black full and exceedingly piercing in all so Comely that those who knew his youth would say as the Prince of Poets does of his Deiopeia that he was praestanti Corpore but for his Spirit so great and undaunted that it was not at all to be bowed by Terrors or Miseries disdaining in the whole story of his Life to submit his native and gallant Freedom to the frowns of any that were but his Fellow-subjects though in greater authority as was often proved Once in a long Suit he had about a right of his Predecessors in Enfield Chace with no worse man then King James the Judge then sitting required him to produce his Evidences in Court He said he would produce so much as concerned the
matter in hand The Judge said he would make him produce the whole and that he would if he could pick a hole in them To which he replied That it were better the Skin were pluck'd over his ears then that he should sit on that Bench to that purpose The King being told it and that it was taken as an Affront and Contempt of his Authority swore by his Soul his usual Oath that Coningsby said right and that he should have right He was of a nature so severely and superlatively just that he would wrong no man and though it were to his prejudice did not seldom protect others from wrong and when he observed any man of Power doe wrong he used to say That man has kindled a Fire will burn his own House Out of this apprehension when he was leaving the world though he pardoned all personal Injuries yet he did prophetically bequeath the old Cause and its Fautors to that Destiny some of them came to the Gallows saying as a well-built Christian might That it was impossible that the righteous God should permit them to go unpunished alwaies But Cur bonis viris mala fiant is yet a riddle He was a person of admirable Parts but such are too commonly the more unfortunate and among his Misfortunes it was not the least that he had such Parts and wanted a Profession to stir them and keep his large Soul from rust and Idleness His last and great Character which speaks him born for this trying Age was that he lived and died Honest preferring his Conscience and Loyalty to his Life Liberty and Estate chusing rather to leave his Family which was numerous but dear to him for a better Father never lived poor and distress'd then render'd infamous and stained by any unworthy act of his His Misfortunes ended not with his Life for after his Death his Estate was adjudged by the Rebels to be sold by the name of Tho. Coningsby deceased and his Son could not enjoy it but by purchase by which means together with his Piety in supplying and preserving his Father and his own constant Sufferings he contracted such heavy Debts that he was enforced to sell above one thousand pounds a year with his best House built by his great Grand father Sir Henry Coningsby upon the most noble part of his Inheritance worth more then ten thousand pounds not considerable in purchase Sure no man can think he could doe this without the greatest reluctancy and regret in the world being the sad Presage of the utter extinction and fall of that Family and the just cause of sorrow to succeeding generations which more concerns him then his own Calamity for as to himself he yet inherits his Father's Mind though not his Possessions Fatum sub pedibus dedit superbum In the midst of the Calamitous Times not forgetting his addresses to him who only can help to alleviate his troubled Mind he made English Lipsius his Constantia so deceiving tedious hours til it pleased Heaven to restore the King Many then expected a Law de Repetundis at least against such as were able and fatter Villains but instead of this other things were done in favour of some indeed but to the prejudice which was the foulest Partiality of others as was made too apparent before the Commissioners at the Savoy as before Upon this rush'd in a Deluge of Vices whose rage broke down the former Banks and divided the Affections of those whom former Miseries seemed to have fast bound thereby shewing that Fortune only not Honesty was both their Pilot and Cement and that they held together more out of Destiny then Vertue of all men the most to be detested This did the Son of this suffering Father dearly prove and as sadly consider for that he having better Principles of Honour and Honesty from him whose Bloud he glories in and being willingly defective in what those people boast of Impudence and Falshood he found no worser recompences from any then those should most have assisted him They said he was too great a Sufferer to be relieved and some that had they had Honour should have most lifted him up bandied against him This made him accuse Fortune in the fit But now humble and wiser reflexions on Providence by which it comes to pass that what seems most otherwise proves often for our good and considering the Person and Fate of our most Gracious Sovereign who but a few months before His happy Restauration when He was entertained with the highest Caresses imaginable passed through the States of Holland unregarded and was in other places worse used considering this and the giddy roulings of Fortune with the rude insultations she makes on the Highest and Worthiest of men retiring to recreate himself he as you see put the brave and stout BOETHIVS into an English dress which though ruder and courser then it should have been is so much the more like his own Condition and gives himself satisfaction though not others a poor satisfaction and pitiful comfort to a lost Family yet he leaves it as a Relique of his Honest Mind reposing his trust in Almighty God who when he pleases can raise up those are cast down lowest at least by this Posterity will know how and in what unhappy Times and for what cause it was the Storm came upon him and ruined him and learn to decline the fondness of this mutable World and seek the never-sading Treasure PARENTALIA in memoriam nobilissimi T. C. Arm. Hartford facta COnduntur sub his moenibus sicut decet Templi fulâ—ra Ossa magnanimi Heröis Thomae Radulphi Conings by Militis filii dignissinti Qui talis vivus fait qualem vetat Pictas mori Et vix credent Posteri seculo isthoc vixisse Nisi quòd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gerat certissimum honestam miseriam Summae Probitatis reum summa Infelicitas probat Virúmque ad optima natum quia sustalit pessuma Acerrimus Aequi bonique sed nunquam turbidus Assecla Justitiae cultor strenuus nec non minùs Pacis Assertor Patriae sed nullus desertor Regis Libertatis publicae Vindex sed fine Perduellionc Civis eximius sed non deterior Subditus Pro Jure veteri dimicavit contra novam Praerogativam Quod Jacobus Rex Carolúsque sentiunt diligúntque simul Nempe integram dignoscentes fidem etiam sic con … … tem Ob haec personâ Regiâ indutus quando Regem ipsum Satagit profanum Vulgas vah nefas exuere Non deserit Principem quem prius gravem habuit Minùs oppressum ferens quà m opprimentem Dominum Qui justum expertus neminem aptiorem duxit Justis qui plectat poenis concitatam Plebem Hujus vesanam Rabiem dum coercere accinctus Vicecomes fidus fortiter officio fungitur Eheu rebellibus armis violatus libertate privâ—tur Per Conciliabulum istud quod â—ueri libeâ—os prae se tulit Saevitiam cujus carnificinámque impiam Variis rapinis carceribúsque refertam Quae divina
why tears do'st shed Speak shew thy Reason is not dead If thou l't be cured don 't be shy Thy wounds to shew My mind's force I Collecting then this answer made Does not fell Fortune me invade What need I further it declare This place it self does make 't appear Is this at all like to that place Which thou didst chuse for thy solace My Library where thou and I Oft did descant on the beauty Of things both humane and divine Did I then thus my arms entwine Or did I thus dejected look When we disclos'd hid Nature's book When with thy Jacob's staff thou me Instructed'st in Geometrie And didst describe the spangled Sky That I should guide my life thereby And is this all that they do earn That thee do serve did not I learn From Plato's mouth as thy decree Those Common-wealths should happy be Where either wise men bear the sway Or else where to wise Guardians they Committed are by him also Thou with good arguments dost show That honest men endeavour should To sit at helm and not be fool'd Nor let lewd Citizens to grow Who would the good quite overthrow This thou me taught'st and I desir'd To practice what thou had'st inspir'd Thou and my God who thee did place In wise mens minds are witnesses That nothing but the good o' th' State Brought me to be a Magistrate Hence all my mischiefs grew ' cause I With wicked men could not comply The wicked ones I did offend Though ne're so great I them contemn'd I could not Conigastus brook When he the goods of poor men took How oft Triguilla though he were The King 's great Houshold-officer Have I restrain'd from ills before Such as were past made him restore How often did I interpose My power with hazard to save those Who marked were for sacrifice By the Barbarians cruelties No man did ever me withdraw From doing right that without Law By Pillage and by Taxes rife The people suffer'd was my grief As much as theirs Before the King In a great Famine I did bring The Praetor urg'd the heavy rate Laid on Campania and that State Sav'd from impov'rishing I drew Paulinus Consul when a crew Of ravening wolves did go about Him to devouer safely out When Cyprian Albin did accuse Him till his trial to excuse I did my self to th' hate expose Of his accuser All these foes For others cause I now do prove My safety then should others move Since that there is no way for me Now left by Courtiers to be free ' Cause I was good But by what way Was my fall wrought why even they Who Basil had accus'd before And him displac'd now being poor They him did hire me to accuse Opilio also they did use And lewd Gaudentius two that were For cheating banish'd and for fear Did take Asyle the King advis'd Did judge them to be stigmatiz'd If not soon gone yet these ' gainst me Were heard unheard-of cruelty Was it my cause or their offence Made them so righteous evidence Fortune if not to see me blam'd At least so basely was asham'd But what great Crime in short 't was this I wisht the Senate's happiness And how I stood in the defence O' th' Senate quasht the evidence Prepar'd to make them Traytors all Now judge you whether that I shall Rather this hainous crime deny And so shame thee or justify It as a truth I 'le be no lier I did and ever wil't desire Shall I confess it an offence I then must own the evidence But was 't a crime to wish them well Their own Decrees ' gainst me do tell That it was so but Follie's elf Which ever does bely it self Can't change the merit of the cause Nor ought I by Socratick laws To hide the truth or grant a ly If so then in what fault am I But this to thee and all wise men I leave to judge yet with my pen I 'le write it down that all may know Present and future what I doe Why should I name those Letters feign'd By which I falsly was arraign'd The Roman liberty to hope The craft of them had been lay'd ope If the confession might that day Which in all business most does sway Of my accusers have been ta'ne ' Las hopes of freedome none remain I well may wish but answer'd had In Canius words when it was said By Caius Caesar he was one That wrought the Conjuration Which was contrived against him If I had known 't ' thou hadst not bin But sorrow has not so me dull'd Only to whine because Vice would ' Gainst Vertue strive but I admire Her to o'recome he should aspire Weakness may prompt us unto ill But that we should conceive our Will God seeing against Innocence Should conquer monstrous is to sense From hence one of your family Not ill thus reason'd If there be A God from whence does evil come If none whence good but to come home Grant wicked men who sought the bloud O' th' Senate and of all were good Sought mine who did the Senate serve From them too did I it deserve When did I either say or doe But thou didst me instruct thereto Thou know'st not dreading danger how The Senate's good I did avow Whenas th' insatiate greedy King Did at Verona cause to bring Albinus Treason on them all That in his guilt they all might fall That all these things are true thou know'st That of my self I ne're did boast For he does lessen his good name Who by a brag does catch at fame But see th' event for Vertue true I 'me paid with what to th'Wicked's due When free confession at a Bar Is made those Judges cruel are Who humane frailty don't respect Nor on false Fortune do reflect Had I burnt Churches kill'd the Priests Made righteous bloud run through the streets Yet present I should have been try'd But now five hundred miles aside I by the Senateam condemn'd Because that I did them defend To death and to proscription O worthy that ne're any one Should so offend but they did see Of my great guilt the dignity Which for to blind they did alledge Falsly that I by Sacriledge My conscience had defil'd t' attain My honours but thou know'st that gain Of Worldly things thou far away Didst from my mind remove nor may It be believ'd who in thy sight Does live can such a crime commit This Pythagorean daily thou Into my ears and thoughts didst sow FOLLOW THOU GOD nor was it right That he should use an unclean sp'rite Whose excellence thou mad'st so free That like to God he seem'd to be At home my innocent Retreat Of honest Friends the concourse great The sweet society I held With holy Symmachus dispell'd Even suspicion of such crimes But O the wickedness o' th' times They with this crime did me asperse ' Cause with thy doctrine and manners I was replete so not enough That thou no help shouldst me allow But for me too thou shouldst be
did repeat My Children are my torments great There 's no Condition this can free Thou long hast try'd it true to be That saying of Euripides I do acknowledge me does please Who did proclaim Sterility A happy Infelicity All Pleasure has this great malignity To wound and to torment who have it had like to the Bee Who having lost her Hony does grow mad And stings and swells the robbers though she dy Then suerly there is no doubt But who goes this way does goe out Of 's way to Blessedness nor can These Goods him render Happy man Nay these are Ills I 'le briefly show Dost thou endeavour Rich to grow Thou from another it must gain Wouldst thou to Dignities attain Thou must beseech the giver's grace And to excell thy self debase Dost thou desire Power to have Thou mak'st thy self to plots a slave If thou great Glory do procure Envy thee renders unsecure Wouldst thou a life of Pleasure lead Who would not Luxury down tread And think it base to have his Mind To so base service be confin'd And who the bodie 's Beauty prize How build they on uncertainties Can they the bulk o' th' Elephant Bull 's strength or Tiger's swiftness vaunt See Heaven's firmness space and fire Then leave these low things to admire Nor yet are these worth thy least thought With him compared that them wrought Then Beauty is but a frail thing More fading then the Floweri'th ' Spring Of which learn'd Aristotle cries If one could see with Lynceus eyes And with those eyes could penetrate The intrails nasty sordid state The fair-fram'd Alcibiades Would the beholder nothing please Thou canst not then thy Nature prize But the infirm beholders eyes 〈◊〉 of thy Body be as proud 〈◊〉 thou canst wish so 't be allow'd That three daies Fever can destroy The thing in which you so much joy From which we briefly may collect These Goods which promise such respect Nor can their promise keep nor show That they do any goodness ow So that they men nor bring to rest Nor are at all men by them blest O how does Ignorance Erroneous waies advance You seek not Trees for Gold Nor Vines for Crystalls cold You do not climb a Hill Fishes with nets to kill Nor go to th' Ocean clear To hunt the Fallow-deer You careful are to know The times of ebbe and slow And in what coasts are bred White Pearls where Corrall red What part o' th' Sea the Fin What Shel-fish does ly in But what you most should mind Chief Good in that y' are blind And seek for that below Which 'bove the Starrs does grow They 're curst not to be wise Who Wealth and Honour prize Which when with pain they 've got Then Goods they know they 're not The forms of false Felicity As yet I 've only shew'd to thee Which if that thou do clearly know I will true Bliss now to thee show I see said I that no Wealth can Sufficient be for any man No Kingdoms howsoever great Can give a Power that 's compleat No Dignities full Reverence Nor Glory wish'd for Eminence No Pleasures can give Perfect Bliss Know'st thou the causes of all this Methinks I see a glimmering But you a clearer light may bring The reason 's plain for that 't is try'd That humane Error does divide What 's simple perfect and what 's true And it to Falshood gives as due Dost thou think what 's in nothing scant That the same thing can power want Why no said I. Thou think'st then right For if in ought it want full might In that 't is of necessity It must by others succour'd be That 's true Then the condition Of Power and Enough 's all one So 't seems What think'st thou then is' t sit To slight this or to honour it Why it to honour there 's no doubt Since best of things it brings about Why then unto Sufficiency And Power let 's adde Dignity And then these three but one appear We must it adde if truth we 'le hear And now said she think'st thou that this Obscure and base or famous is Consider too since you do grant That is most glorious nought does want Whether this Glory do want Fame Which to it self it cannot frame And so does seem to come below I must needs grant it Famous too Why then in this we must agree Fame differs not from th' other three We must Then that which nought does want That which in Power is not scant That which has Fame and Glory high That is most pleasant certainly But see said I I no way can How Grief should seise on such a man No by what 's said we must confess That man does perfect joy possess And this too 's of necessity Power Fame Respect Sufficiency And Pleasure have a sev'ral name But all in substance are the same 'T is true 't is of necessity Then this you 'l grant man's pravity Divideth what is simple pure Which while he strives for to procure By part the which no parts contains Nor whole nor part to him remains How 's this said I. Who Wealth would have Flies Want but Power does not crave Had rather live obscure and vile From all delights himself exile Then part with what he cannot hold His dear-beloved darling Gold But by these means most certainly No man can have Sufficiency Whom Power leaves or Cares molest Or Baseness hides can have no rest Again who would to Power rise Wasts Wealth and Glory does despise And without Power Honour too Nor Pleasures can at all him woe And yet when he has all his will There 's many things he wanteth still Sometimes he Necessaries wants Sometimes is vext with Cares and Plaints Of which since he can't rid his mind He wants that Power he design'd With the same reason we may measure All Honour Claritude and Pleasure For since that ev'ry one 's the same With all the rest he is to blame Does unto any one aspire Losing thereby his own desire What then said I. If one address Himself to all can they him bless No we have shew'd they cannot doe 't Since they their promise can't make good Nor can they Bliss bring to effect Since each has singly his respect I do confess that nothing can Then this be truer taught to man The causes then and form said she Thou see'st of false Felicity Now bend thy mind but contrary And thou true Bliss shalt soon espy When thou the causes of false Bliss Didst open thou didst then clear this For if I rightly construe thee That 's perfect true Felicity Which does sufficient render and Gives Pleasure Fame Respect Command Further to make it plain to sight That I do understand thee right I do acknowledge that which shall Doe truely one performs them all And then no doubt but this must be True perfect full Felicity O happy thou that dost think so If one thing more thou'lt adde thereto What 's that said I. Dost think there
to be As it is plain and manifest Thereby most happy and most blest As men by Justice Just are said By Wisdome men are Wise men made So likewise of necessity Men Gods are by Divinity Then who does gain this Blessedness He then a God can be no less I but there can but one God be That 's true in nature verily But yet there may be more then one By God's participation Call you this a Corollary A precious one it is said I. But there is one more precious yet Which Reason does perswade to knit What 's that said I. Since it seems plain That Bliss does many things contain Whether all these do conjugate In Parts to make this Blessed state Or one Part of them does compleat For all the rest this Bliss so great I would said I that thou wouldst clear These things more in particular Why we averre that Blessedness Said she is the chiefest Goodness 'T is true said I. The same thou may'st Said she adde unto all the rest For it is chief Sufficiency Chief Power and chief Dignity Chief Honour and chief Pleasure too And what have all these Goods to doe This Power and Sufficiency And all the rest of that degree Are they but parts of Blessedness Or do they Good intire comprise I see what 't is you go about But how said I will you make 't out Why thus If all these members be Of ever-bless'd Felicity Then each from other far escarts For this the nature is of Parts Of many one entire to frame But these are all one and the same For these indeed no members be For if then this Felicity Would of one member be conjoyn'd Which cannot be That 's true I find But what remains I do desire 'T is plain that all things do aspire To Good therefore Sufficiency Is sought ' cause Good therein does ly And Power deem'd Good to procure The same of Honour Fame Pleasure The summe and cause of all desire Is this then Good for to acquire For what nor Good nor Good is like That has a general dislike And contrary what are not so By nature if they make a show They as true Goods desired are So that the Summe the Scope the Care Of whatsoe're desired is Must be believ'd to be Goodness For for what cause a thing is sought That end to compass must be thought As if a man for Health do ride Though pleas'd his prauncing Horse to guide Yet more th' effect his health does take So all things sought for Goodness sake Are not themselves so much desir'd As Goodness self to be acquir'd But we already did profess That same for to be Blessedness For which all other things are sought That therefore they are sought we taught By which it plainly does appear Goodness and Bliss the same things are I see no reason but 't is so But we did also plainly show That God and Bliss is the same thing You did said I. Thence then does spring That God's whole substance placed is In Goodness self that 's perfect Bliss Come hither all you that are ta'ne In Lust's deceitfull wicked chain Whose minds mind nought but for to gain things terrestriall Here from your labours you may rest Here is a port with quiet blest Here is the refuge that is best for wretches all The Gold that Tagus does afford Nor what rich Hermus banks has stor'd Nor Gemms of which the Indian's lord the Mind can clear But rather it obnubilate For that which here gives best estate And does mens minds most elevate from earth they tear In mines cannot be found that light Which does adorn the Heavens bright And which does pierce with so much might the souls impure Which Light to whom it shall appear Will his dark soul so fully clear That thenceforth he may justly swear the Sun 's obscure With strongest Reason I agree All things said I composed be But how much more wouldst it esteem If Goodness self said she were seen Why infinitely said I then Because by it I God should ken Who Goodness is Why this said she By reasons true I 'le shew to thee Let but those things remain which I Already prov'd have certainly They shall said I. I 've shew'd said she Those things which by most sought for be Nor true Goods nor yet perfect are Because amongst themselves they jarre For if one from another swerve They cannot perfect Good preserve Which only then is true and right When in one form they do unite For that which is Sufficiency The same is Power Dignity Fame and Pleasure If then that these Ben't all the same they 've nought that please Then this a truth all must confess What 's discrepant is not Goodness And if by being one they do Goodness become then it is so That therefore they come good to be By the obtaining Vnity So 't seems said I. Then all that 's good To be good by thee 's understood By Good 's participation So 't is said I. Then to be one And to be good you do declare To be the same for those things are Of the same substance whose effects By nature have the same respects I can't deny 't Know'st thou said she That all that is so long will be As it is one but perishes When Vnity in it does cease As how said I. Why thus said she In Living creatures we it see It does a living thing remain While Soul and Body are the same But if that these asunder fall No longer we do so them call The Body too while we it find With all the parts in one conjoyn'd The humane species seems to be But if divided Vnity Being distraught it is no more The thing that it appear'd before And so all other things we see Are lost by losing Vnity In all things I can think upon This is no supposition Why is there any thing said she That does desire naturally To leave to be and for to come To nothing or destruction In Living creatures then said I Who have nature's activity To will and nill I do not find Unless some outward force them bind For to obey any ' ntention Of free and willing destruction All living things their health defend Shunning to come unto their end But what of things call'd vegetal To think I do not skill at all But this too thou may'st also know When Herbs and Trees thou find'st to grow In Places for their nature fit Wherein if they be firmly set Their nature will not let them dry Nor but by course of Nature dy In Plains on Hills in Fens some spring Others hard Rocks some Sands forth bring Transplant but these and presently They wither do away and dy For Nature every thing does give What 's fit and willingness to live And do not all these things get birth By thrusting down their heads i' th' Earth The which does nourishment infuse To th' Root and that does strength diffuse To th' Stock what part most tender is Within like marrow
agree Which firmly all things govern does And sweetly does the same dispose How these results not only do The height of Reason to me show But thy words placed are so right They give to me a high delight Henceforth then imprudence and folly Will never vye with things so holy Hast thou not heard said she the tale How Giants Heaven did assail But them this power did confound And worthily them threw to ground But wilt thou that I farther yet Thy intellect with reasons whet By this collision there 's no doubt There will some sparks of Truth fly out Doe as you please There 's none said she Doubts God Omnipotent to be None well in 's wits The word is so Omnipotent can all things doe That 's true What then can God doe Ill Why no said I. Then follow will That Ill is nothing since that who Can all things cannot Evil doe Dost me delude me thus to bring Into a Lab'rinth with reasoning Thou me alwaies dost put in doubt While thou thy self go'st in and out At pleasure or dost complicate A winding circular estate Of the simplicity Divine For but ev'n now thou didst define Beatitude chief Good to be And that plac'd in the Deity That God himself is this Goodness As also perfect Blessedness Hence follow'd None can happy be That is not one o' th' Deity Thou said'st the form of this Goodness The very substance of God is This Good to be but one you taught For that by all things it is sought You farther also did decide That God by good this World does guide And that all things do with their will Obey that Nature has no ill To prove all this thou didst not bring Reasons which do at distance spring But such as nigh and proper are One still confirming the other Why then I do not mock said she For by God's help that 's prov'd you see For which we did agree before The heavenly aid for to implore Such is the form of this Divine Substance that it does not decline To outward things nor does at all Accept things that are externall Of which Parmenides does say A round is equall ev'ry way And if that I have not gone far For reasons to prove this matter But only have made use of those Which fitly from it self arose Thou hast no reason me to blame Since Plato taught the very same Speech that to matter is apply'd To th' matter ought to be ally'd Thrice happy is the man that can goodness clearly once behold Thrice happy surely is the man whom earth's ties do not hold Orpheus he Full mournfully his dear-belov'd Wive's death did ' plain While he did play Woods ran away and Rivers fixed did remain The Hinde without all fear did ly close unto the Lion's side Nor was the Hare scar'd with the cry nor when she the Dogs espy'd Yet inwardly The fire did fry and he who all things else could tame Could not appease This fierce disease nor quench this all-devouring flame Full highly then he did complain the Gods without mercy were And his dear Wife for to regain unto Hell he did repair With measur'd feet And musick sweet he did the hel-hounds all disarm His mother she A Goddess free did teach him how he them should charm He did his grief before them lay his lost Love did sadly mourn And Pluto ' s self did humbly pray her to him for to return With his sweet Song The Fiends among he Cerberus did chiefly move Who him let in Then all being for to sollicite for his Love Now Ixtion not turns the Wheel Tantalus his Thirst forgets Nor Titius does the Vulture feel musick all their torments lets The shady King When he did sing could not deny to grant his boon Give him said he Euridice with Musick us he has o'recome But lest that he too high should swell with this law I will him ty If he look back on her in hell he shall lose her instantly But who with law Can Lovers aw Love is a thing that has no bound He by twilight Of her had sight lost her and did himself confound This Fable does all them concern who to vertue do arrive And then forget what they did learn back again to darkness drive Who does know Bliss Yet will with this vain world give trouble to his mind All he did gain With so much pain by looking back he lost will find THE FOURTH BOOK PHilosophy with a sweet voice Did sing this song and kept a choice Decorum both in word and look When I abruptly undertook Not having yet my grief lay'd by To speak O light of truth said I Whatever yet thou hast lay'd forth Appears to be of divine worth By reasons not to be repell'd Thou said'st these were from me with held By extreme grief and yet but so That heretofore I did them know But of my grief the greatest cause Is this to know that God who laws To all does give is good then how Can Ills or be or scot-free goe This which does so much trouble me I leave to be admir'd by thee A greater yet for to be plain Is this while wickedness does reign Vertue has no reward at all But stead thereof the wicked call It Vice and punishments inflict But that it should be a delict And God should see 't who all does know All power has who will not doe Any thing but what 's very good May be admir'd not understood That 's right said she if that it were As thou dost think it would more scare Then sight of ugliest monsters would To think the Heavenly Father should In his well-order'd house respect The basest and the best neglect But 't is not so for if that that thou Our late Conclusions dost avow By his help of whom now we speak Thou 'lt know the Wicked are but weak The Good are potent and that Vice Is punish'd Vertue held in price The Good enjoy a happy state The Wicked are unfortunate More may be said of the like strain Will make thee henceforth not complain And since the forme of perfect Bliss By me unto thee shewed is And that thou know'st where it is plac'd The time I will no longer wast But I to thee the way will show How thou unto thy home may'st goe I will give wings unto thy Mind By which thou shalt a safe way find Set free from all disturbances Unto thy Country with much ease Triumphantly thou home shalt ride My skill and knowledge thee shall guide For I have Wings of subtle make which if the Mind puts on 'T will soon above the Pole ascend and Earth not look upon 'T will soon pass through the Aiery globe and clouds will leave behind With nimble course the Fire 't will pass o' th' Sun that mortals blind The region cold that Saturn rules will not at all it stay 'T will pass the Starrs that paint the sky so bright i' th' Milky way And having past the highest sphear and left the
inferre Necessity For if that there One sit and I him sitting view That he does sit I do think true Again if that my thought be true That he does sit must be true too In both then there 's necessity To sit and also true to be But therefore sure he does not sit Because that I so think of it But therefore I so think of it Because 't is true that he does sit So though the cause of truth proceed But from one part yet there is need Of relative community Or we this point shall ne're agree We must make the like inference Of Future things and Providence Who ' cause things must be does foresee But her foresight don't make them be So necessary it does seem That things to come should be foreseen Or else what things God does foresee Should fall out necessarily So take 't which way soe're you will It must needs overthrow Free-will Besides is' t not preposterous That worldly things should be the cause Of God's eternal Prescience And pray what other is' t in sense To say because that things must be That therefore God does them foresee Then for to say what 's come to pass Of Providence the great cause was Besides if I do know a thing I know also it has being And if that I know ought shall be I know it necessarily Whence follows that no man can shun What in Fore-knowledge must be done Lastly if any one conceive A thing to be that may deceive That is no Knowledge certainly But Opinion's uncertainty Which from the truth of Knowledge is Far discrepant Then truth it is That if a thing be for to be But yet not of necessity It cannot possibly be shown That the same thing could be foreknown For Knowledge is a thing so pure It no false mixture will endure So that if ought conceived be By it it is of certainty For this cause Knowledge cannot ly Because that of necessity Whatever it does apprehend Must be the same unto the end How then by what means can God know That things uncertain will be so For if he thinks that things will be Inev'tably that may not be He is deceiv'd which for to speak Or think of God is wicked weak Again if so that he foresee Things as they are such for to be Or not to be to come to pass Or not to come what skill alas Is this which does not comprehend What stable is or sure i' th' end It as ridiculous must be As was Tiresias Prophecy What e're I say or sure must be Or sure it is it must not be In what does Divine Providence Excell the skill of humane sense If that as men uncertain he Does judge th' event of things to be But if that nought uncertain can Be unto him that is certain Then the event must certain be Of whatsoe're he does foresee Which thing all Liberty expels From humane actions and counsels If all these without falsity The Heav'nly Mind does surely see And them does bind and does constrain Unto events that are certain This granted what confusion Must all humane affairs put on In vain Rewards propounded are To th' good Pains to the ill if there Be no free motion of the mind But Necessity does it bind And that will high Injustice seem Which we most just do now esteem The wicked for to punish or The good reward since neither 's for Their own delict or probity Receiv'd but of necessity Vertue or Vice there will be none But of all things confusion And then then which there nothing can Be more blasphemous thought by man If Providence do all things guide And humane Will to it be ty'd It follows that our Vices must Be laid on him that is most just Nor will there any reason sway Why either we should hope or pray For what does hope or pray'r avail If the determin'd end can't sail No conversation there will be 'Twixt Mortals and the Deity For if no hope at all remain To pray will be esteem'd but vain But if by just Humility We have access to th' Deity And by it do of grace partake Which is the only means can make Us happy and by which men can With God have Conversation By which they to that light are joyn'd Inaccessible by mankind And do there by all good obtain If that I say pray'r be made vain By holding of Necessity Then by what other means shall we Stick fast unto and be made one With the great Prince of Vnion All men it must to ruine bring If as thou didst but lately sing They from their fountain sever'd are And in the Deity don't share How does Erinnys break the league of things What spirit is' t that such contention slings Between two truths such mighty warfare brings How is' t that singly things do clearly stand But joyn'd so dark are none them understand Or is' t that all truths do goe hand in hand No but the Soul that here is but a guest With cloudy members of dull flesh opprest Cannot attain to know what things are best Why should she then with zeal burn like to fire Why hidden waies of Truth should she desire Whenas she here can nought but doubts acquire If she the things that she desires does know Why then with scruples does she vex them so Why does she toil so much them to re-know If she knows not why does she being blind Seek them to know who ever wish'd to find He knew not what or sought to catch the wind What if she find them yet they being found How shall she know their natures for to bound When she herself in ignorance is drown'd Or for that she first came from God above Must all things which here and above do move No Causes have but what she does approve She now with cloudy flesh is mantled or'e And though some things of what she knew before She does retain her knowledge is but poor Yet who seeks Truth he does not doe amiss Though he can't come to know 't yet he gains this That he not wholy thereof ign'rant is Some things he does to memory commit High thingâ—â—e does admire and high wit He scans with reason and retains what 's fit This said she is an old complaint Canvast and scrutin'd by that quaint Distributer of Divination Cicero and thy self art one That much has toil'd in 't but as yet There 's none of you has had the wit Sufficiently to find it out The reason of it is no doubt ' Cause blindness of Humanity Can't see Divine Simplicity Nor comprehend the notions great Of heav'nly things in her conceit To which if that she could attain There would no doubt at all remain But I the same with my best skill Open to lay endeavour will But first I must those doubts remove Are by thee mov'd and do thee move And first I do demand of thee Why thou not reason it to be Dost think that nothing comes to pass ' Cause it Foreseen or