vnlesse I saw some hideous storme Too great to be endur'd by such a worme I had not thus presum'd vnto a King With Aesops Fly to seeke an Eagles wing Know I am he that entred once the list Gainst all the world to play the Satyrist T was I that made my measures rough and rude Dance arm'd with whips amidst the multitude And vnappalled with my charmed Scrowles Teaz'd angry Monsters in their lurking holes I 'ue plaid with Waspes and Hornets without feares Till mad they grew and swarm'd about my eares I 'ue done it and me thinkes t is such braue sport I may be stung but nere be sorry for 't For all my griefe is that I was so sparing And had no more in 't worth the name of daring He that will taxe these times must be more bitter Tart lines of Vinegar and Gall are fitter My fingers and my spirits were benum'd My inck ran forth too smooth t was two much gum'd I 'de haue my Pen so paint it where it traces Each accent should draw blood into their faces And make them when their Villanies are blazed Shudder and startle as men halfe amazed For feare my Verse should make so loud a din Heauen hearing might raine vengeance on their sin Oh now for such a straine would Art could teach it Though halfe my spirits I consum'd to reach it I de learne my Muse so braue a course to flie Men should admire the power of Poosie And those that dar'd her greatnesse to resist Quake euen at naming of a Satyrist But when his scourging numbers flow'd with wonder Should cry God blesse vs as they did at thunder Alas my lines came from me too-too dully They did not fill a Satyrs mouth vp fully Hot blood and youth enrag'd with passions store Taught me to reach a straine nere touch'd before But it was coldly done I throughly 〈◊〉 not And somewhat there is yet to doe I did not More soundly could my scourge haue yerked many Which I omitted not for feare of any For want of action discontentments rage Base dis-respect of Vertue in this age With other things which were to Goodnesse wrong Made me so fearelesse in my carelesse Song That had not reason within compasse won me I had told Truth enough to haue vndone me Nay haue already if that her Diuine And vnseene power can doe no more then mine For though fore-seeing warinesse was good I fram'd my stile vnto a milder mood And clogging her high-towring wings with mire Made her halfe earth that was before all fire Though as you saw in a disguised shew I brought my Satyres to the open view Hoping their out-sides being mis-esteem'd They might haue passed but for what they seem'd Yet some whose Comments iumpe not with my minde In that low phrase a higher reach would finde And out of their deepe iudgements seeme to know What 't is vncertaine if I meant or no Ayming thereby out of some priuate hate To worke my shame or ouer-throw my state For amongst many wrongs my foe doth doe me And diuers imputations laide vnto me Deceiued in his ayme he doth mis-conster That which I haue enstil'd a Man-like Monster To meane some priuate person in the State Whose worth I sought to wrong out of my hate Vpbraiding me I from my word doe start Either for want of better Ground or Heart Cause from his expectation I did vary In the denying of his Commentary Whereas t is knowne I meant Abuse the while Not thinking any one could be so vile To merit all those Epithites of shame How euer many doe deserue much blame But say I grant that I had an intent To haue it so as he interprets meant And let my gracious Liege suppose there were One whom the State may haue iust cause to feare Or thinke there were a man and great in Court That had more faults then I could well report Suppose I knew him and had gone about By some particular markes to paint him out That he best knowing his owne faults might see He was the Man I would should noted be Imagine now such doings in this Age And that this man so pointed at should rage Call me in question and by his much threatning By long imprisonment and ill-intreating Vrge a Confession wert not a mad part For me to tell him what lay in my heart Doe not I know a great mans Power and Might In spight of Innocence can smother Right Colour his Villanies to get esteeme And make the honest man the Villaine seeme And that the truth I told should in conclusion For want of Power and Friends be my confusion I know it and the world doth know t is true Yet I protest if such a man I knew That might my Country preiudice or Thee Were he the greatest or the proudest Hee That breathes this day if so it might be found That any good to either might redound So far I le be though Fate against me run From starting off from that I haue begun I vn-appalled dare in such a case Rip vp his foulest Crimes before his face Though for my labour I were sure to drop Into the mouth of Ruine without hope But such strange farre-fetcht meanings they haue sought As I was neuer priuie to in thought And that vnto particulars would tie Which I intended vniuersally Whereat some with displeasure ouer-gone Those I scarce dream'd of saw or thought vpon Maugre those caueats on my Satyrs brow Their honest and iust passage disallow And on their heads so many censures rake That spight of me themselues they 'le guilty make Nor is 't enough to swage their discontent To say I am or to be innocent For as when once the Lyon made decree No horned beast should nigh his presence be That on whose fore-head onely did appeare A bunch of flesh or but some tuft of haire Was euen as farre in danger as the rest If he but said it was a horned beast So there be now who thinke in that their power Is of much force or greater farre then our It is enough to proue a guilt in me Because mistaking they so think 't to be Yet 't is my comfort they are not so high But they must stoope to Thee and Equitie And this I know though prickt they storme agen The world doth deeme them ne're the better men To stirre in filth makes not the stench the lesse Nor doth Truth feare the frowne of Mightinesse Because those numbers she doth daigne to grace Men may suppresse a while but ne're deface I wonder and 't is wondred at by many My harmelesse lines should breed distaste in any And so that whereas most good men approue My labour to be worthy thankes and loue I as a Villaine and my Countries foe Should be imprison'd and so strictly to That not alone my liberty is barr'd But the resort of friends which is more hard And whilst each wanton or loose Rimers Pen With oyly words sleekes o're the sinnes of men Vayling
force his Childe to one he doth abhor From her he loues and justly seeketh for Compelling him for such mis-fortune grieu'd To die with care that might with ioy haue liu'd This you may say is Loue and sweare as well There 's paines in Heauen and delights in Hell Or that the Diuels fury and austerity Proceeds out of his care of our posterity Would Parents in this age haue vs begin To take by their eyes our affections in Or doe they thinke we beare them in our fist That we may still remoue them as wee list It is impossible it should be thus For we are rul'd by Loue not Loue by vs And so our power so much ner'e reached to To know where we shall loue vntill we doe And when it comes hide it awhile wee may But 't is not in our strengths to driu't away Either mine owne eye should my chuser be Or I would ner'e weare Hymens Liuery For who is he so neare my heart doth rest To know what 't is that mine approued best I haue my selfe beheld those men whose frame And outward personages had nought of blame They had what might their good proportion grace The much more mouing part a comely face With many of those complements which we In common men of the best breeding see They had discourse and wit enough to carry Themselues in fashion at an Ordinary Gallants they were lou'd company and sport Wore fauours and had Mistresses in Court And euery way were such as well might seeme Worthy of note respect and much esteeme Yet hath my eye more cause of liking seene Where nought perhaps by some hath noted beene And I haue there found more content by farre Where some of those perfections wanting are Yea so much that their beauties were a blot To them me thought because he had them not There some peculiar thing innated That beares an vncontrouled sway in this And nothing but itselfe knowes how to fit The minde with that which best shall suit with it Then why should Parents thrust themselues into What they want warrant for and power to doe How is it they are so forgetfull growne Of those conditions that were once their owne Doe they so dote amidst their wits perfection To thinke that age and youth hath like affection When they doe see 'mong those of equall yeares One hateth what another most endeares Or doe they thinke their wisedomes can inuent A thing to giue that 's greater than Content No neither shall they wrap vs in such blindnesse To make vs thinke the spight they doe is kindnesse For as I would aduise no childe to stray From the least duty that he ought to pay So would I also haue him wisely know How much that duty is which he doth owe That knowing what doth vnto both belong He may doe them their right himselfe no wrong For if my Parents him I lothe should chuse T is lawfull yea my duty to refuse Else how shall I leade so vpright a life As is enioyned to the Man and Wife Since that we see sometime there are repentings Eu'n where there are the most and best contentings What though that by our Parents first we liue Is not life misery enough to giue Which at their births the children doth vndo Vnlesse they adde some other mischiefe to Cause they gaue being to this flesh of our Must we be therefore slaues vnto their power We nere desir'd it for how could we tell Not being but that not to be was well Nor know they whom they profit by it seeing Happy were some if they had had no being Indeed had they produc'd vs without sin Had all our duty to haue pleas'd them bin Of the next life could they assure the state And both beget vs and regenerate There were no reason then we should withstand To vndergoe their tyrannou'st command In hope that either for our hard endurance We should at last haue comfort in assurance Or if in our endeauours we mis-sped At least feele nothing when we should be dead But what 's the Reason for 't that we shall be Inthral'd so much vnto Mortality Our soules on will of any Men to tye Vnto an euerlasting misery So farre perhaps to from the good of either We ruine them our selues and altogether Children owe much I must confesse 't is true And a great debt is to the Parents due Yet if they haue not so much power to craue But in their owne defence the liues they gaue How much lesse then should they become so cruell As to take from them the high-prized Iewell Of liberty in choyce whereon depends The maine contentment that the heauen here lends Worth life or wealth nay far more worth then either Or twenty thousand liues put all together Then howsoeuer some seuerer bent May deeme of my opinion or intent With that which followes thus conclude I doe And I haue Reason for 't and Conscience to No Parent may his Childes iust sute deny On his bare will without a reason why Nor he so vs'd be disobedient thought If vnapprou'd he take the match he sought So then if that thy faith vncrazed be Thy friends dislike shall be no stop to me For if their will be not of force to doe it They shall haue no cause else to driue them to it What is it they against vs can alleage Both young we are and of the fittest age If thou dissembledst not both loue and both To admit hinderance in our loues are loth 'T is prejudiciall vnto none that liues And Gods and humane Law our warrant giues Nor are we much vnequall in degree Perhaps our Fortunes somewhat different be But say that little meanes which is were not The want of wealth may not dissolue this knot For though some such preposterous courses wend Prescribing to themselues no other end Marr'age was not ordain'd t' enrich men by Vnlesse it were in their posterity And he that doth for other causes wed Nere knowes the true sweetes of a marriage bed Nor shall he by my will for 't is vnfit He should haue blisse that neuer aym'd at it Though that bewitching gold the Rabble blindes And is the obiect of all Vulgar mindes Yet those me-thinkes that graced seeme to bee With so much good as doth appeare in thee Should scorne their better-taught desires to tye To that which fooles doe get their honour by I can like of the wealth I must confesse Yet more I prize the man though mony-lesse I am not of their humour yet that can For Title or Estate affect a Man Or of my selfe one body deigne to make With him I lothe for his possessions sake Nor wish I euer to haue that minde bred In me that is in those who when they wed Thinke it enough they doe attaine the grace Of some new honour to fare well take place Weare costly cloathes in others sights agree Or happy in opinion seeme to bee I weigh not this for were I sure before Of Spencers wealth or
their words more priz'd For whatsoe're my outward Fate appeares My Soule 's as good my Heart as great as theirs My loue vnto my Country and to thee As much as his that more would seeme to be And would this Age allow but meanes to show it Those that misdoubt it should ere long time know it Pitty my youth then and let me not lie Wasting my time in fruitlesse miserie Though I am meane I may be borne vnto That seruice which another cannot doe In vaine the little Mouse the Lyon spar'd not She did him pleasure when a greater dar'd not If ought that I haue done doe thee displease Thy misconceiued wrath I will appease Or sacrifice my heart but why should I Suffer for God knowes whom I know not why If that my words through some mistake offends Let them conceiue them right and make amends Or were I guilty of offence indeed One fault they say doth but one pardon need Yet one I had and now I want one more For once I stood accus'd for this before As I remember I so long agon Sung Thame and Rhynes Epithalamion When SHE that from thy Royall selfe deriues Those gracious vertues that best Title giues She that makes Rhine proud of her excellence And me oft minde her reuerence Daign'd in her great good-nature to encline Her gentle care to such a cause as mine And which is more vouchsaf'd her word to cleare Me from all dangers if there any were So that I doe not now intreate or sue For any great boone or request that 's new But onely this though absent from the Land Her former fauour still in force might stand And that her word who present was so deere Might be as powerfull as when she was here Which if I finde and with thy fauour may Haue leaue to shake my loathed bands away As I doe hope I shall and be set free From all the troubles this hath brought on me I le make her Name giue life vnto a Song Whose neuer-dying note shall last as long As there is either Riuer Groue or Spring Or Downe for Sheepe or Shepheards Lad to sing Yea I will teach my Muse to touch a straine That was ne're reach't to yet by any Swaine For though that many deeme my yeeres vnripe Yet I haue learn'd to tune an Oaten Pipe Whereon I 'le try what musicke I can make me Vntill Bellona with her Trumpe awake me And since the world will not haue Vice thus showne By blazing Vertue I will make it knowne Then if the Court will not my lines approue I 'le goe vnto some Mountaine or thicke Groue There to my fellow Shepheards will I sing Tuning my Reede vnto some dancing Spring In such a note that none should dare to trouble it Till the Hils answere and the Woods redouble it And peraduenture I may then goe neare To speake of something thou l't be pleas'd to heare And that which those who now my tunes abhorre Shall reade and like and daigne to loue me for But the meane while oh passe not this suite by Let thy free hand signe me my liberty And if my loue may moue thee more to do Good King consider this my trouble to Others haue found thy fauour in distresse Whose loue to thee and thine I thinke was lesse And I might fitter for thy seruice liue On what would not be much for thee to giue And yet I aske it not for that I feare The outward meanes of life should faile me here For though I want to compasse those good ends Iaime at for my Countrie and my Friends In this poore state I can as well content me As if that I had Wealth and Honours lent me Nor for my owne sake doe I seeke to shunne This thraldome wherein now I seeme vndone For though I prize my Freedome more then Gold And vse the meanes to free my selfe from hold Yet with a minde I hope vnchang'd and free Here can I liue and play with miserie Yea in despight of want and slauerie Laugh at the world in all her brauerie Here haue I learn'd to make my greatest Wrongs Matter of Mirth and subiects but for Songs Here can I smile to see my selfe neglected And how the meane mans suite is dis-respected Whil'st those that are more rich and better friended Can haue twice greater faults thrice sooner ended All this yea more I see and suffer to Yet liue content midst discontents I do Which whil'st I can it is all one to me Whether in Prison or abroad it be For should I still lye here distrest and poore It shall not make me breathe a sigh the more Since to my selfe it is indifferent Where the small remnant of my daies be spent But for Thy sake my Countries and my Friends For whom more then my selfe God this life lends I would not could I helpe it be a scorne But if I might liue free as I was borne Or rather for my Mistris vertues sake Faire Vertue of whom most account I make If I can chuse I will not be debas'd In this last action lest She be disgrac'd For 't was the loue of her that brought me to What Spleene nor Enuie could not make me do And if her seruants be no more regarded If enemies of Vice be thus rewarded And I should also Vertues wrongs conceale And if none liu'd to whom she dar'd appeale Will they that doe not yet her worth approue Be euer drawne to entertaine her loue When they shall see him plagu'd as an Offender Who for the loue he beares her doth commend her This may to others more offensiue be Then preiudiciall any way to me For who will his endeauours euer bend To follow her whom there is none will friend Some I doe hope there be that nothing may From loue of Truth and Honesty dismay But who will that shall see my euill Fortune The remedy of Times Abuse importune Who will againe when they haue smother'd me Dare to oppose the face of Villany Whereas he must be faine to vndertake A Combat with a second Lernean Snake Whose euer-growing heads when as he crops Not onely two springs for each one he lops But also he shall see in midst of dangers Those he thought friends turne foes at least-wise stranger More I could speake but sure if this doe faile me I neuer shall doe ought that will auaile me Nor care to speake againe vnlesse it be To him that knowes how heart and tongue agree No nor to liue when none dares vndertake To speake one word for honest Vertues sake But let his will be done that best knowes what Will be my future good and what will not Hap well or ill my spotlesse meaning 's faire And for thee this shall euer be my prayer That thou maist here enioy a long-blest Raigne And dying be in Heauen re-crown'd againe SO now if thou hast daign'd my Lines to heare There 's nothing can befall me that I feare For if thou hast compassion on my trouble
The Ioy I shall receiue will be made double And if I fall it may some Glory be That none but IOVE himselfe did ruine me Your Maiesties most loyall Subiect and yet Prisoner in the Marshalsey GEORGE WITHER Epithalamia OR NVPTIALL POEMS VPON THE MOST BLESSED AND HAPPY MARRIAGE betweene the High and Mighty Prince Frederick the fifth Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bauier c. AND THE MOST VERTVOVS Gracious and thrice Excellent Princesse Elizabeth Sole Daughter to our dread Soueraigne Iames by the grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Celebrated at White-Hall the fourteenth of February 1612. Written by George Wither LONDON Printed by T. S. for Iohn Budge dwelling in Pauls-Church-yard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1622. TO THE ALL-VERTVOVS AND THRICE EXCELLENT PRINCESSE Elizabeth sole daughter to our dread Soueraigne Iames by the grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland c. AND WIFE TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE FREDERICK the fifth Count Palatine of the Rheine Duke of Bauier c. Elector and Arch-sâ—w er to the sacred Roman Empire during the vacancy Vicar of the same and Knight of the most honorable Order of the Garter George Wither wisheth all the Health Ioyes Honours and Felicities of this World in this life and the perfections of eternity in the World to come To the Christian Readers REaders for that in my booke of Satyricall Essayes I haue been deemed ouer Cynicall to shew that I am not wholly inclined to that Vaine But indeede especially out of the loue which in duty I owe to those incomparable Princes I haue in honour of their Royall Solemnities published these short Epithalamiaes By which you may perceiue how euer the world thinke of me I am not of such a Churlish Constitution but I can afford Vertue her deserued honour and haue as well an affable looke to encourage Honesty as a sterne frowne to cast on Villanie If the Times would suffer me I could be as pleasing as others and perhaps ere long I will make you amends for my former rigor Meane while I commit this vnto your censures and bid you farewell G. W. Epithalamion BRight Northerne Starre and great Mineruaes peere Sweete Lady of this Day Great Britaines deere Loe thy poore Vassall that was erst so rude With his most Rusticke Satyrs to intrude Once more like a poore Siluan now drawes neare And in thy sacred Presence dares appeare Oh let not that sweete Bowe thy Brow be bent To scarre him with a Shaft of discontent One looke with Anger nay thy gentlest Frowne Is twice enough to cast a Greater downe My Will is euer neuer to offend These that are good and what I here intend Your Worth compels me to For lately greeu'd More then can be exprest or well beleeu'd Minding for euer to abandon sport And liue exilde from places of resort Carelesse of all I yeelding to securitie Thought to shut vp my Muse in darke obscuritie And in content the better to repose A lonely Groue vpon a Mountaine chose East from Caer Winn mid-way twixt Arle and Dis True Springs where Britains true Arcadia is But ere I entred my entended course Great Aeolus began to offer force The boisterous King was growne so mad with rage That all the Earth was but his furies stage Fire Ayre Earth Sea were intermixt in one Yet Fire through Water Earth and Ayre shone The Sea as if she ment to whelme them vnder Beat on the Cliffes and rag'd more loud then thunder And whil'st the vales she with salt waues did fill The Aire showr'd flouds that drencht our highest hill And the proud trees that would no dutie know Lay ouer-turned twenties in a Row Yea euery Man for feare fell to Deuotion Lest the whole Ile should haue bin drencht in th' Ocean Which I perceiuing coniur'd vp my Muse The Spirit whose good helpe I sometime vse And though I ment to breake her rest no more I was then faine her aide for to implore And by her helpe indeed I came to know Why both the Ayre and Seas were troubled so For hauing vrg'd her that she would vnfold What cause she knew Thus much at last she told Of late quoth she there is by powers Diuine A match concluded twixt Great Thame and Rhine Two famous Riuers equall both to Nile The one the pride of Europes greatest Ile Th' other disdaining to be closely pent Washes a great part of the Continent Yet with abundance doth the Wants supply Of the still-thirsting Sea that 's neuer dry And now these being not alone endear'd To mightie Neptune and his watrie Heard But also to the great and dreadfull Ioue With all his sacred Companies aboue Both haue assented by their Loues inuiting To grace with their owne presence this Vniting Ioue call'd a Summons to the Worlds great wonder 'T was that we heard of late which we thought thunder A thousand Legions he intends to send them Of Cherubins and Angels to attend them And those strong Windes that did such blustring keepe Were but the Tritons sounding in the Deepe To warne each Riuer petty Streame and Spring Their aide vnto their Soueraigne to bring The Floods and Showres that came so plenteous downe And lay entrencht in euery Field and Towne Were but retainers to the Nobler sort That owe their Homage at the Watrie Court Or else the Streames not pleas'd with their owne store To grace the Thames their Mistris borrowed more Exacting from their neighbouring Dales and Hills But by consent all nought against their wills Yet now since in this stirre are brought to ground Many faire buildings many hundreds drown'd And daily found of broken Ships great store That lie dismembred vpon euery shore With diuers other mischiefes knowne to all This is the cause that those great harmes befall Whilst other things in readinesse did make Hells hatefull Hags from out their prisons brake And spighting at this hopefull match began To wreake their wrath on Ayre Earth Sea and Man Some hauing shapes of Romish shauelings got Spew'd out their venome and began to plot Which way to thwart it others made their way With much diffraction thorough Land and Sea Extreamely raging But Almightie Ioue Perceiues their Hate and Enuie from aboue He 'le checke their furie and in yrons chain'd Their libertie abus'd shall be restrain'd Hee 'le shut them vp from comming to molest The Meriments of Hymens holy feast Where shall be knit that sacred Gordian knot Which in no age to come shall be forgot Which Policie nor Force shall nere vntie But must continue to eternitie Which for the whole Worlds good was fore-decree'd With Hope expected long now come indeed And of whose future glory worth and merit Much I could speake with a prophetike spirit Thus by my Muses deare assistance finding The cause of this disturbance with more minding â—y Countries welfare then my owne content â—nd longing to behold
this Tales euent My lonely life I suddenly forsooke â—nd to the Court againe my lourney tooke Meane-while I saw the furious Windes were laid The risings of the swelling Waters staid The Winter gan to change in euery thing And seem'd to borrow mildnesse of the Spring The Violet and Primrose fresh did grow And as in Aprill trim'd both Cops and rowe The Citie that I left in mourning clad â—rouping as if it would haue still beene sad â— found deckt vp in roabes so neat and trimme â—aire Iris would haue look't but stale and dimme 〈◊〉 her best colours had she there appear'd The Sorrowes of the Court I found well cleer'd Their wofull habits quite cast off and ty'rd 〈◊〉 such a glorious fashion I admir'd All her chiefe Peeres and choisest beauties to 〈◊〉 greater pompe then Mortals vse to doe Wait as attendants Iuno's come to see â—ecause she heares that this solemnitie â—xceeds faire Hippodamia's where the strife Twixt her Minerua and lame Vulcans wife â—id first arise and with her leades along 〈◊〉 noble stately and a mighty throng Venus attended with her rarest features Sweet louely-smiling and heart-mouing creatures The very fairest Iewels of her treasure Able to moue the senceles stones to pleasure Of all her sweetest Saints hath robd their shrines And brings them for the Courtiers Valentines Nor doth Dame Pallas from these triumphs lurke Her noblest wits she freely sets on worke Of late she summond them vnto this place To doe your maskes and Reuels better grace Here Mars himselfe to clad in Armour bright Hath showne his furie in a bloudlesse fight And both on land and water sternely drest Acted his bloudy Stratagems in iest Which to the people frighted by their error With seeming wounds and death did ad more terror Besides to giue the greater cause of wonder Ioue did vouchsafe a ratling peale of thunder Comets and Meteors by the starres exhald Were from the Middle-Region lately cald And to a place appointed made repaire To show their fierie Friscols in the aire People innumerable doe resort As if all Europe here would keepe one Court Yea Hymen in his Safferon-coloured weed To celebrate his rites is full agreed All this I see which seeing makes me borrow Some of their mirth a while and lay downe sorrow And yet not this but rather the delight My heart doth taken in the much hoped sight Of these thy glories long already due And this sweet comfort that my eyes doe view Thy happy Bridegroome Prince Count Palatine Now thy best friend and truest Valentine Vpon whose brow my minde doth reade the storie Of mightie fame and a true future glorie Me thinkes I doe foresee already how Princes and Monarchs at his stirrop how I see him shine in steele the bloudy fields Already won and how his proud foe yeelds God hath ordaind him happinesse great store And yet in nothing is he happy more Then in thy loue faire Princesse For vnlesse Heauen like to Man be prone to ficklenesse Thy Fortunes must be greater in effect Then time makes show of or men can expect Yet notwithstanding all those goods of fate Thy Minde shall euer be aboue thy state For ouer and beside thy proper merit Our last Eliza grants her Noble spirit To be re-doubled on thee and your names Being both one shall giue you both one fames Oh blessed thou and they to whom thou giu'st The leaue for to be attendants where thou liu'st And haplesse we that must of force let goe The matchlesse treasure we esteeme of so But yet we trust 't is for our good and thine Or else thou shouldst not change thy Thame for Rhyne We hope that this will the vniting proue Of Countries and of Nations by your loue And that from out your blessed loynes shall come Another terror to the Whore of Rome And such a stout Achilles as shall make Her tottering Walls and weake foundation shake For Thetis-like thy fortunes doe require Thy Issue should be greater then his fire But Gracious Princesse now since thus it fares And God so well for you and vs prepares Since he hath daign'd such honours for to doe you And showne himselfe so fauourable to you Since he hath chang'd your sorrowes and your sadnes Into such great and vnexpected gladnesse Oh now remember you to be at leasure Sometime to thinke on him amidst your pleasure Let not these glories of the world deceaue you Nor her vaine fauours of yourselfe bereaue you Consider yet for all this Iollitie Y' are mortall and must feele mortalitie And that God can in midst of all your Ioyes Quite dash this pompe and fill you with annoyes Triumphes are fit for Princes yet we finde They ought not wholly to take vp the minde Nor yet to be let passe as things in vaine For out of all things wit will knowledge gaine Musique may teach of difference in degree The best tun'd Common-Weales will framed bee And that he moues and liues with greatest grace That vnto Time and Measure ties his pace Then let these things be Emblemes to present Your minde with a more lasting true content When you behold the infinite resort The glory and the splendor of the Court What wondrous fauours God doth here bequeath you How many hundred thousands are beneath you And view with admiration your great blisse Then with your selfe you may imagine this 'T is but a blast or transitory shade Which in the turning of a hand may fade Honours which you your selfe did neuer winne And might had God been pleas'd anothers binne And thinke if shadowes haue such maiestie What are the glories of eternitie Then by this image of a fight on Sea Wherein you heard the thundring Canons plea And saw flames breaking from their murthering throts Which in true skirmish fling resistlesse shots Your wisedome may and will no doubt begin To cast what perill a poore Souldiers in You will conceaue his miseries and cares How many dangers deaths and wounds he shares Then though the most pass't ouer and neglect them That Rethoricke will moue you to respect them And if hereafter you should hap to see Such Mimick Apes that Courts disgraces be I meane such Chamber-combatants who neuer Weare other Helmet then a Hat of Beuer Or nere board Pinnace but in silken saile And in the steed of boysterous shirts of maile Goe arm'd in Cambrick If that such a Kite I say should scorne an Eagle in your sight Your wisedome iudge by this experience can Which hath most worth Hermaphrodite or Man The nights strange prospects made to feed the eies With Artfull fiers mounted in the skies Graced with horred claps of sulphury thunders May make you minde th' Almighties greater wonders Nor is there any thing but you may thence Reape inward gaine as well as please the Sense But pardon me oh fairest that am bold My heart thus freely plainely to vnfold What though I know you knew all this before My loue this showes and that
this Mortall breath So Seules on Meditations liue And shunne thereby immortall death Nor art thou euer neerer rest Then when thou find'st me most opprest First thinke my Soule If I haue Foes That take a pleasure in my care And to procure these outward woes Haue thus entrapt me vnaware Thou should'st by much more carefull bee Since greater foes lay waite for thee Then when Mew'd vp in grates of steele Minding those ioyes mine eyes doe misse Thou find'st no torment thou do'st feele So grieuous as Priuation is Muse how the Damn'd in flames that glow Pine in the losse of blisse they know Thou seest there 's giuen so great might To some that are but clay as I Their very anger can affright Which if in any thou espie Thus thinke If Mortals frownes strike feare How dreadfull will Gods wrath appeare By my late hopes that now are crost Consider those that firmer be And make the freedome I haue lost A meanes that may remember thee Had Christ not thy Redeemer bin What horrid thrall thou had'st been in These yron chaines these bolts of steele Which other poore offenders grind The wants and cares which they doe feele May bring some greater thing to mind For by their griefe thou shalt doe well To thinke vpon the paines of Hell Or when through me thou seest a Man Condemn'd vnto a mortall death How sad he lookes how pale how wan Drawing with feare his panting breath Thinke if in that such griefe thou see How sad will Goe yee cursed be Againe when he that fear'd to Dye Past hope doth see his Pardon brought Reade but the ioy that 's in his eye And then conuey it to thy thought There thinke betwixt thy heart and thee How sweet will Come yee blessed bee Thus if thou doe though closed here My bondage I shall deeme the lesse I neither shall haue cause to feare Nor yet bewaile my sad distresse For whether liue or pine or dye We shall haue blisse eternally Willy Trust me I see the Cage doth some Birds good And if they doe not suffer too much wrong Will teach them sweeter descants then the wood Beleeue 't I like the subiect of thy Song It shewes thou art in no distempred mood But cause to heare the residue I long My Sheepe to morrow I will neerer bring And spend the day to heare thee talk and sing Yet e're we part Philarete areed Of whom thou learnd'st to make such songs as these I neuer yet heard any Shepheards reede Tune in mishap a straine that more could please Surely Thou do'st inuoke at this thy neede Some power that we neglect in other layes For heer 's a Name and words that but few swaines Haue mention'd at their meeting on the Plaines Philarete Indeed 't is true and they are sore to blame They doe so much neglect it in their Songs For thence proceedeth such a worthy fame As is not subiect vnto Enuies wrongs That is the most to be respected name Of our true Pan whose worth sits on all tongues And what the ancient Shepheards vse to prayse In sacred Anthemes vpon Holy-dayes Hee that first taught his Musicke such a straine Was that sweet Shepheard who vntill a King Kept Sheepe vpon the hony-milky Plaine That is inrich't by Iordans watering He in his troubles eas'd the bodies paines By measures rais'd to the Soules rauishing And his sweet numbers onely most diuine Gaue first the being to this Song of mine Willy Let his good spirit euer with thee dwell That I might heare such Musicke euery day Philarete Thankes Swaine but harke thy Weather rings his Bell. And Swaines to fold or homeward driue away Willy And you goes Cuddy therefore fare thou well I 'le make his Sheepe for mee a little stay And if thou thinke it fit I 'le bring him to Next morning hither Philarete Prethee Willy do FINIS The Shepheards Hunting The second Eglogue THE ARGVMENT Cuddy here relates how all Pitty Philarete's thrall Who requested doth relate The true cause of his estate Which broke off because 't was long They begin a three man Song WILLY CVDDY PHILARETE Willy LO Philaret thy old friend heere and I Are come to visit thee in these thy Bands Whil'st both our Flocks in an Inclosure by Doe picke the thin grasse from the fallowed lands He tels me thy restraint of liberty Each one throughout the Country vnderstands And there is not a gentle-natur'd Lad On all these Downes but for thy sake is sad Cuddy Not thy acquaintance and thy friends alone Pitty thy close restraint as friends should doe But some that haue but seene thee for thee moane Yea many that did neuer see thee to Some deeme thee in a fault and most in none So diuers wayes doe diuers Rumors goe And at all meetings where our Shepheards bee Now the maine Newes that 's extant is of thee Philarete Why this is somewhat yet had I but kept Sheepe on the Mountaines till the day of doome My name should in obscuritie haue slept In Brakes in Briars shrubbed Furze and Broome Into the Worlds wide eare it had not crept Nor in so many mens thoughts found a roome But what cause of my sufferings doe they know Good Cuddy tell me how doth rumour goe Cuddy Faith 't is vncertaine some speake this some that Some dare say nought yet seeme to thinke a cause And many a one prating he knowes not what Comes out with Prouerbes and old ancient sawes As if he thought thee guiltlesse and yet not Then doth he speake halfe Sentences then pawse That what the most would say we may suppose But what to say the Rumour is none knowes Philarete Nor care I greatly for it skils not much What the vnsteady common-people deemes His Conscience doth not alwaies feele least touch That blamelesse in the sight of others seemes My cause is honest and because 't is such I hold it so and not for mens esteemes If they speake iustly well of mee I 'me glad If falsely euill it ne're makes me sad Willy I like that mind but Shepheard you are quite Beside the matter that I long to heare Remember what you promis'd yester-night Youl 'd put vs off with other talke I feare Thou know'st that honest Cuddies heart's vpright And none but he except my selfe is neere Come therefore and betwixt vs two relate The true occasion of thy present state Philarete My Friends I will You know I am a Swaine The kept a poore Flocke on a barren Plaine Who though it seemes I could doe nothing lesse Can make a Song and woe a Shepheardesse And not alone the fairest where I liue Haue heard me sing and fauours daign'd to giue But though I say 't the noblest Nymph of Thame Hath grac'd my Verse vnto my greater fame Yet being young and not much seeking prayse I was not noted out for Shepheards layes Nor feeding Flocks as you know others be For the delight that most possessed me Was hunting Foxes Wolues and Beasts of Prey
Both in shrill hallowes and loud yernings smother Yea the strong mettled and my long-breath'd crew Seeing the game increasing in their view Grew the more frolicke and the courses length Gaue better breath and added to their strength Which Ioue perceiuing for Ioue heard their cries Rumbling amongst the Spheares concauities Hee mark'd their course and courages increase Saying 't were pitty such a chase should cease And therewith swore their mouthes should neuer wast But hunt as long 's mortality did last Soone did they feele the power of his great gift And I began to finde their pace more swift I follow'd and I rated but in vaine Striu'd to o'retake or take them vp againe They neuer stayed since nor nights nor dayes But to and fro still run a thousand wayest Yea often to this place where now I lie They 'l wheele about to cheare me with their cry And one day in good time will vengeance take On some offenders for their Masters sake For know my Friends my freedome in this sort For them I lose and making my selfe sport Willy Why was there any harme at all in this Philarete No Willy and I hope yet none there is Willy How comes it then Philarete Note and I 'le tell thee how Thou know'st that Truth and Innocency now If plac'd with meannesse suffers more despight Then Villainies accompan'ed with might But thus it fell while that my Hounds pursu'd Their noysome prey and euery field lay strew'd With Monsters hurt and slaine vpon a beast More subtile and more noysome then the rest My leane-flanckt Bitch cald Enuy hapt to light And as her wont is did so surely bite That though shee left behinde small outward smart The wounds were deepe and rankled to the hart This joyning to some other that of late Were very eagerly pursu'd by Hate To fit their purpose hauing taken leasure Did thus conspire to worke me a displeasure For imitation farresurpassing Apes They laide aside their Foxe and Woluish shapes And shrowded in the skinnes of harmlesse Sheepe Into by-wayes and open paths did creepe Where they as hardly drawing breath didly Shewing their wounds to euery passer by To make them thinke that they were sheepe so foyl'd And by my Dogges in their late hunting spoyl'd Beside some other that enuy'd my game And for their pastime kept such Monsters tame As you doe know there 's many for their pleasure Keepe Foxes Beares Wolues as some great treasure Yea many get their liuing by them to And so did store of these I speake of do Who seeing that my Kennell had affrighted Or hurt some Vermine wherein they delighted And finding their owne power by much to weake Their Malice on my Innocence to wreake Swolne with the deepest rancour of despight Some of our greatest Shepheards Folds by night They closely entred and there hauing stain'd Their hands in villany of mee they plain'd Affirming without shame or honesty I and my Dogges had done it purposely Whereat they storm'd and cald mee to a tryall Where Innocence preuailes not nor denyall But for that cause heere in this place I lie Where none so merry as my dogges and I. Cuddy Beleeue it heere 's a Tale will suten well For Shepheards in another Age to tell Willy And thou shalt be remembred with delight By this hereafter many a Winters night For of this sport another Age will ring Yea Nymphes that are vnborne thereof shall sing And not a Beauty on our Greenes shall play That hath not heard of this thy hunting day Philarete It may be so for if that gentle Swaine Who wonnes by Tauy on the Westerne plaine Would make the Song such life his Verse can giue Then I doe know my Name might euer liue Alexis But tell me are our Plaines and Nymphs forgot And canst thou frolicke in thy trouble be Philarete Can I Alexis sayst thou Can I not That am resolu'd to scorne more misery Alexis Oh but that youth 's yet greene and young bloud hot And liberty must needs be sweet to thee But now most sweet whil'st euery bushy Vale And Groue and Hill rings of the Nightingale Me thinkes when thou remembrest those sweet layes Which thou would'st leade thy Shepheardesse to heare Each Euening tyde among the Leauy sprayes The thought of that should make thy freedome deare For now whil'st euery Nymph on Holy-dayes Sports with some iolly Lad and maketh cheere Thine sighes for thee and mew'd vp from resort Will neither play her selfe nor see their sport Those Shepheards that were many a Morning wont Vnto their Boyes to leaue the tender Heard And beare thee company when thou didst hunt Me thinkes the sport thou hast so gladly shar'd Among those Swaynes should make thee thinke vpon 't For 't seemes all vaine now that was once indear'd It cannot be since I could make relation How for lesse cause thou hast beene deepe in passion Philarete 'T is true my tender heart was euer yet Too capable of such conceits as these I neuer saw that Obiect but from it The Passions of my Loue I could encrease Those things which moue not other men a whit I can and doe make vse of if I please When I am sad to sadnesse I apply Each Bird and Tree and Flowre that I passe by So when I will be merry I aswell Something for mirth from euery thing can draw From Miserie from Prisons nay from Hell And as when to my minde griefe giues a flaw Best comforts doe but make my woes more fell So when I 'me bent to Mirth from mischiefes paw Though ceas'd vpon me I would something cull That spight of care should make my ioyes more full I feele those wants Alexis thou doest name Which spight of youths affections I sustaine Or else for what is 't I haue gotten Fame And am more knowne then many an elder Swaine Iâ— such desires I had not learn'd to tame Since many pipe much better on this Plaine But tune your Reedes and I will in a Song Expresse my Care and how I take this Wrong Sonnet I That ere'st-while the worlds sweet Ayre did draw Grac'd by the fairest euer Mortall saw Now closely pent with walles of Ruth-lesse stone Consume my Dayes and Nights and all alone When I was wont to sing of Shepheards loues My walkes were Fields and Downes and Hils and Groues But now alas so strict is my hard doome Fields Downes Hils Groues and al 's but one pooreroome Each Morne as soone as Day-light did appeare With Natures Musicke Birds would charme mine eare Which now instead of their melodious straines Heare ratling Shackles Gyues and Boults and Chaines But though that all the world's delight forsake me I haue a Muse and she shall Musicke make me Whose ayrie Notes in spight of closest cages Shall giue content to me and after ages Nor doe I passe for all this outward ill My hearts the same and undeiected still And which is more then some in freedome winne I haue truerest and peace and ioy
Muse of mine by which my Name Though scarse deseru'd hath gain'd a little fame Hath made mee vnto such a Fortune borne That all misfortunes I know how to scorne Yea midst these bands can sleight the Great'st that bee As much as their disdaine misteemes of mee This Caue whose very presence some affrights I haue oft made to Eccho forth delights And hope to turne if any Iustice be Both shame and care on those that wish'd it me For while the World rancke villanies affords I will not spare to paint them out in words Although I still should into troubles runne I knew what man could act ere I begun And I 'le fulfill what my Muse drawes mee to Maugre all Iayles and Purgatories to For whil'st shee sets mee honest task 's about Vertue or shee I know will beare mee out And if by Fate th' abused power of some Must in the worlds-eye leaue mee ouercome They shall find one Fort yet so fenc'd I trow It cannot feare a Mortals ouer-throw This Hope and Trust that great power did infuse That first inspir'd into my brest a Muse By whom I doe and euer will contemne All those ill haps my foes despight and them Alexis Th' hast so well yong Philaret plaid thy part I am almost in loue with that sweet Art And if some power will but inspire my song Alexis will not be obscured long Philarete Enough kinde Pastor But oh yonder see Two honest Shepheards walking hither bee Cuddy and Willy that so dearely loue Who are repairing vnto yonder Groue Let 's follow them for neuer brauer Swaines Made musicke to their flocks vpon these Plaines They are more worthy and can better tell What rare contents doe with a Poet dwell Then whiles our sheepe the short sweet grasse do sheare And till the long shade of the hils appeare Wee 'le heare them sing for though the one be young Neuer was any that more sweetly sung A Postscript To the Reader IF you haue read this and receiued any content I am glad though it bee not so much as I could wish you if you thinke it idle why then I see wee are not likely to fall out for I am iust of your minds yet weigh it well before you runne too farre in your censures lest this proue lesse barren of Wit then you of courtesie It is very true I know not by what chance that I haue of late been so highly beholding to Opinion that I wonder how I crept so much into her fauour and if I did thinke it worthie the fearing I should be afraid that she hauing so vndeseruedly befriended mee beyond my Hope or expectation will vpon as little cause ere long againe picke some quarrell against mee and it may bee meanes to make vse of this which I know must needes come farre short of their expectation who by their earnest desire of it seem'd to be fore-possest with a farre better conceite then I can beleeue it prooues worthy of So much at least I doubted and therefore loth to deceiue the world though it often beguile me I kept it to my selfe indeed not dreaming euer to see it published But now by the ouermuch perswasion of some friends I haue been constrained to expose it to the generall view Which seeing I haue done somethings I desire thee to take notice of First that I am Hee who to pleasure my friend haue fram'd my selfe a content out of that which would otherwise discontent mee Secondly that I haue coueted more to effect what I thinke truely honest in it selfe then by a seeming shew of Art to catch the vaine blastes of vncertaine Opinion This that I haue here written was no part of my studie but onely a recreation in imprisonment and a trifle neither in my conceit fitting nor by me intended to bee made common yet some who it should seeme esteemed it worthy more respect then I did tooke paines to coppy it out vnknowne to mee and in my absence got it both Authorized and prepared for the Presse so that if I had not hindred it last Michaelmas-Tearme had beene troubled with it I was much blamed by some Friends for withstanding it to whose request I should more easily haue consented but that I thought as indeed I yet doe I should thereby more disparage my selfe then content them For I doubt J shall bee supposed one of those who out of their arrogant desire of a little preposterous Fame thrust into the world euery vnseasoned trifle that drops out of their vnsetled braines whose basenesse how much I hate those that know mee can witnesse for if I were so affected I might perhaps present the World with as many seuerall Poems as I haue seene yeeres and iustly make my selfe appeare to bee the Author of some things that others haue shamefully vsurped and made vse of as their owne But I will be content other men should owne some of those Issues of the Braine for J would be loath to confesse all that might in that kinde call me Father Neither shall any more of them by my consent in hast againe trouble the world vnlesse I know which way to benefit it with lesse preiudice to my owne estate And therefore if any of those lesse serious Poems which are already disperst into my friends hands come amongst you let not their publication be imputed to me nor their lightnesse be any disparagement to what hath been since more serious written seeing it is but such stuffe as riper iudgements haue in their farre elder yeeres been much more guilty of I know an indifferent Crittick may finde many faults as well in the slightnesse of this present Subiect as in the erring from the true nature of an Eglogue moreouer it altogether concernes my self which diuers may dislike But neither can bee done on iust cause The first hath bin answered already The last might consider that I was there where my owne estate was chiefly to bee looked vnto and all the comfort I could minister vnto my selfe little enough If any man deeme it worthy his reading I shall bee glad if hee thinke his paines ill bestow'd let him blame himselfe for medling with that concerned him not I neither commended it to him neither cared whether he read it or no because I know those that were desirous of it will esteeme the same as much as I expect they should But it is not vnlikely some wil thinke I haue in diuers places been more wanton as they take it then befitting a Satirict yet their seuerity I feare not because J am assured all that I euer yet did was free from Obscaenity neyther am I so Cynical but that I thinke a modest expression of such amorous conceits as sute with Reason will yet very well become my yeeres in which not to haue feeling of the power of Loue were as great an argument of much stupidity as an ouer-sottish affection were of extreame folly Lastly if you thinke it hath not well answered the Title of the Shepheards
Cupids fancies blam'd That was so cold so hard to be inflam'd Am I my selfe or is my selfe that Shee Who from this Thraldome or such falshoods free Late own'd mine owne heart and full merry then Did fore-warne others to beware of Men And could not hauing taught them what to doe Now learne my selfe to take heede of you to Foole that I am I feare my guerdon's iust In that I knew this and presum'd to trust And yet alas for ought that I could tell One sparke of goodnesse in the world might dwell And then I thought If such a thing might be Why might not that one sparke remaine in thee For thy faire out-side and thy fayrer tongue Did promise much although thy yeares were young And Vertue wheresoeuer she be now Seem'd then to sit enthron'd vpon thy brow Yea sure it was but whether 't were or no Certaine I am and was perswaded so Which made me loth to thinke that words of fashion Could be so fram'd so ouer-laid with Passion Or sighes so feeling fain'd from any brest Nay say thou hadst been false in all the rest Yet from thy eye my heart such notice tooke Me thought guile could not faine so sad a looke But now I 'ue try'd my bought experience knowes They oft are worst that make the fairest showes And howsoe're men faine an outward grieuing 'T is neither worth respecting nor belieuing For she that doth one to her mercy take Warmes in her bosome but a frozen snake Which heated with her fauours gather sence And stings her to the heart in recompence But tell me why and for what secret spight You in poore womens miseries delight For so it seemes else why d' yee labour for That which when 't is obtained you abhor Or to what end doe you endure such paine To win our loue and cast it off againe Oh that we either your hard hearts could borrow Or else your strengths to helpe vs beare our sorrow But we are cause of all this griefe and shame And we haue none but our owne selues to blame For still we see your falshood for our learning Yet neuer can haue power to tak 't for warning But as if borne to be deluded by you We know you trustlesse and yet still we try you Alas what wrong was in my power to doe thee Or what despight haue I er'e done vnto thee That thou shouldst chuse Me aboue all the rest To bethy scorne and thus be made a iest Must mens il natures such true villaines proue them To make thē wrong those most that most do loue them Couldst thou finde none in Countrey Towne or Court But onely Me to make thy Foole thy sport Thou knowst I haue no wanton courses runne Nor seemed easie vnto lewdnesse wonne And though I cannot boast me of much wit Thou saw'st no signe of fondnesse in me yet Nor did ill nature euer so ore-sway me To flout at any that did woe or pray me But grant I had been guilty of abusage Of thee I 'me sure I ne're deseru'd such vsage But thou wert grieued to behold my smilings When I was free from loue and thy beguilings Or to what purpose else didst thou bestow Thy time and study to delude me so Hast thou good parts and dost thou bend them all To bring those that ne're hated thee in thrall Prethee take heed although thou yet inioy'st them They 'l be tooke from thee if thou so imploy'st them For though I wish not the least harme to thee I feare the iust Heauens will reuenged be Oh! what of Mee by this time had become If my desires with thine had hapt to rome Or I vnwisely had consented to What shamelesse once thou didst attempt to doe I might haue falne by those immodest trickes Had not some power beene stronger then my Sex And if I should haue so been drawne to folly I saw thee apt enough to be vnholy Or if my weakenesse had beene prone to sinne I poorely by thy strength had succour'd bin You Men make vs belieue you doe but try And that 's your part you say ours to deny Yet I much feare if we through frailty stray There 's few of you within your bounds will stay But maugre all your seeming Vertue be As ready to forget your selues as we I might haue fear'd thy part of loue not strong When thou didst offer me so base a wrong And that I after loath'd thee not did proue In mee some extraordinary Loue. For sure had any other but in thought Presum'd vnworthily what thou hast sought Might it appeare I should doe thus much for him With a scarce reconciled hate abhorre him My young experience neuer yet did know Whether desire might range so farre or no To make true Louers carelesly request What rash enioyning makes them most vnblest Or blindly thorow frailty giue consenting To that which done brings nothing but repenting But in my iudgement it doth rather proue That they are fir'd with lust then warm'd with loue And if it be for proofe men so proceed It shewes a doubt else what doe tryals neede And where is that man liuing euer knew That false distrust could be with loue that 's true Since the meere cause of that vnblam'd effect Such an opinion is that hates suspect And yet thee and thy loue I will excuse If thou wilt neither me nor mine abuse For I le suppose thy passion made thee proffer That vnto me thou to none else wouldst offer And so thinke thou if I haue thee deni'd Whom I more lou'd then all men else beside What hope haue they such fauour to obtaine That neuer halfe so much respect could gaine Such was my loue that I did value thee Aboue all things below eternity Nothing on Earth vnto my heart was nearer No Ioy so prized nor no Iewell dearer Nay I doe feare I did Idolatrize For which Heauens wrath inflicts these miseries And makes the things which were for blessings lent To be renewers of my discontent Where was there any of the Naiades The Dryad's or the Hamadryades Which of the Brittish shires can yeeld againe A mistresse of the Springs or Wood or Plaine Whose eye enioy'd more sweet contents then mine Till I receiu'd my ouerthrow by thine Where 's she did more delight in Springs and Rils Where 's she that walk'd more Groues or Downs or Hils Or could by such faire artlesse prospect more Adde by conceit to her contentments store Then I whilst thou wert true and with thy Graces Didst giue a pleasing presence to those places But now What is What was hath ouerthrowne My Rose deckt allies now with Rue are strowne And from those flowers that honyed vse to be I sucke nought now but iuyce to poyson mee For eu'n as she whose gentle spirit can raise To apprehend Loues noble mysteries Spying a precious Iewell richly set Shine in some corner of her Cabenet Taketh delight at first to gaze vpon The pretty lustre of the sparkling stone And pleas'd in
doubts haue beene in vaine And that thou mean'st yet to returne againe It saies thy absence from some cause did grow Which or I should not or I could not know It tels me now that all those proofes whereby I seem'd assur'd of thy disloyalty May be but treacherous plots of some base foes That in thy absence sought our ouerthrowes Which if it proue as yet me thinkes it may Oh what a burden shall I cast away What cares shall I say by and to what height Towre in my new ascension to delight Sure er'e the full of it I come to try I shall eu'n surfet in my ioy and die But such a losse might well be call'd a thriuing Since more is got by dying so then liuing Come kill me then my deare if thou thinke fit With that which neuer killed woman yet Or write to me before so shalt thou giue Content more moderate that I may liue And when I see my staffe of trust vnbroken I will vnspeake againe what is mis-spoken What I haue written in dispraise of Men I will recant and praife as much agen In recompence I le adde vnto their Stories Encomiasticke lines to ymp their glories And for those wrongs my loue to thee hath done Both I and it vnto thy Pitty runne In whom if the least guilt thou finde to be For euer let thine armes imprison me Meane while I 'le try if misery will spare Me so much respite to take truce with care And patiently await the doubtfull doome Which I expect from thee should shortly come Much longing that I one way may be sped And not still linger 'twixt aliue and dead For I can neither liue yet as I should Because I least enioy of that I would Nor quiet die because indeed I first Would see some better daies or know the worst Then hasten Deare if to my end it be It shall be welcome cause it comes from thee If to renew my Comfort ought be sent Let me not loose a minute of Content The precious Time is short and will away Let vs enioy each other while we may Cares thriue Age creepeth on Men are but shades Ioyes lessen Youth decaies and Beauty fades New turnes come on the old returneth neuer If we let our goe past 't is past for euer FINIS A Metricall Paraphrase vpon the CREEDE SInce it befits that I account should giue What way vnto saluation I beleeue Of my profession here the summe I gather First I confesse a Faith in God the Father In God who without Helper or Pertaker Was of himselfe the Worlds Almighty Maker And first gaue Time his being who gaue birth To all the Creatures both of Heauen and Earth Our euerlasting wel-fare doth consist In his great mercies and in Iesus Christ The second person of that Three in one The Father's equall and his onely Sonne That euer-blessed and incarnate Word Which our Redeemer is our life Our Lord. For when by Sathans guile we were deceiued Christ was that meanes of helpe which was conceiued Yea when we were in danger to be lost Conceiued for Vs by the Holy Ghost And that we might not euer be for-lorne For our eternall safety he was Borne Borne as a Man that Man might not miseary Euen of the substance of the Virgin Mary And loe a greater mercy and a wonder He that can make All suffer suffered vnder The Iewish spite which all the world reuile at And Romish tyrannies of Pontius Pilate In him doe I beleeue who was enuied Who with extreamest hate was Crucified Who being Life it selfe to make assured Our soules of safety was both dead and buried And that no seruile feare in vs might dwell To conquere Hee descended into Hell Where no infernall Power had power to lay Command vpon him but on the third day The force of Death and Hell he did constraine And so in Triumph He arose againe Yea the Almighty power aduanc'd his head Aswell aboue all things as from the dead Then that from thence gifts might to men be giuen With glory Hee ascended into Heauen Where that supreame and euerlasting throne Which was prepar'd he climb'd and sitteth on That blessed seate where he shall make abode To plead for vs at the right hand of God And no where should he be enthroned rather Then there for he is God as is the Father And therefore with an equall loue delight I To praise and serue them both as one Almighty â—et in their office there 's a difference And I beleeue that Iesus Christ from thence Shall in the great and vniuersall doome Returne and that with Angels He shall come To question such as at his Empire grudge Euen those who haue presumed him to iudge And that blacke day shall be so Catholicke As I beleeue not onely that the quicke To that assise shall all be summoned But he will both adiudge them and the dead Moreouer in the Godhead I conceiue Another Person in whom I beleeue For all my hope of blessednesse were lost If I beleeu'd not in the holy Ghost And though vaine Schismatickes through pride folly Contemne her power I doe beleeue the holy Chast Spouse of Christ for whom so many search By markes vncertaine the true Cath'like Church I doe beleeue God keepe vs in this vnion That there shall be for euer the Communion Of Gods Elect and that he still acquaints His Children in the fellowship of Saints Though damned be Mans naturall condition By grace in Christ I looke for the remission Of all my foule misdeeds for there begins Deaths end which is the punishment of sinnes Moreouer I the Sadduces infection Abhorre and doe beleeue the Resurrection Yea though I turne to dust yet through God I Expect a glorious rising of the body And that exempted from the cares here rise I shall enioy perfection and the life That is not subiect vnto change or wasting But euer blessed and for euerlasting This is my Faith which that it faile not when It most should steed me let God say Amen A Metricall Paraphase vpon the Lords Prayer To whom that he so much vouchsafe me may Thus as a member of his Church I pray LOrd at thy Mercy-seat ourselues we gather To doe our duties vnto thee Our Father To whom all praise al honor should be giuen For thou art that great God which art in heaueÌ„ Thou by thy wisdome rul'st the worlds whole frame For euer therefore Hallowed be thy Name Let neuer more delayes diuide vs from Thy glories view but let Thy Kingdome come Let thy commands opposed be by none But thy good pleasure and Thy will be done And let our promptnesse to obey be euen The very same in earth as 't is in heauen Then for our selues O Lord we also pray Thou wouldst be pleased to Giue vs this day That food of life wherewith our soules are fed Contented raiment and our daily bread With eu'ry needfull thing doe thou relieue vs And of thy mercy pitty And forgiue vs All our misdeeds in him whom thou didst please To take in offering for our trespasses And for as much O Lord as we beleeue Thou so wilt pardon vs as we forgiue Let that loue teach vs wherewith thou acquaints vs To pardon all them that trespasse against vs. And though sometime thou findst we haue forgot This Loue or thee yet helpe And leade vs not Through Soule or bodies want to desperation Nor let abundance driue into temptation Let not the soule of any true Beleeuer Fall in the time of tryall But deliuer Yea saue him from the malice of the Diuell And both in life and death keepe vs from euill Thus pray we Lord And but of thee from whom Can this be had For thine is the Kingdome The world is of thy workes the grauen story To thee belongs the power and the glory And this thy happinesse hath ending neuer But shall remaine for euer and for euer This we confesse and will confesse agen Till we shall say eternally Amen Thou shalt write them vpon the postes of thy house and vpon thy Gates Deut. 6. 9. FINIS * â—ere reâ—ers and â—ibes the Winter 〈◊〉 was so â—…ing 〈…〉 The reason of the 〈◊〉 Winter 〈◊〉 cause of all 〈◊〉 dangers as 〈◊〉 during 〈◊〉 distemperaâ—… of the ayre He noteth the most 〈◊〉 alteration of 〈◊〉 weather a 〈◊〉 before these Nuptials The 〈…〉 preparation 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 the state whâ—â—… of â—is here â—â—…gorically 〈◊〉 * Meaning the 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 on 〈◊〉 water which 〈◊〉 most 〈…〉 〈…〉 workes 〈…〉 a He declares what vsâ— is to be made of these showes and triumphes and whaâ— meditations the minde may be occupied about when 〈◊〉 behold them * Fire-workes The Marriage being on S. Valentines day the Author showes it by beginning with the salutation of a supposed Valentine a 〈◊〉 b Wales a Tyber 〈◊〉 the Riâ—er which 〈…〉 Rome b White-â—all Semel in anno ridet Apol. a Abuses stript and whipt He noteth the mildnesse of the winter which excepting that the beginning was very windy was as temperate as the spring Moft men 〈◊〉 of opinion â—hat this â—ay euery â—ird doth â—huse her â—ate for 〈◊〉 yeer a By these he means the two Masques one of them being presented by the Lords the other by the Gentry * Hopes See Pro. 30. 8. 9.