sixe-score It is so infinite for to vnfold Although that I did speake til I were old Yet should I leaue vnnam'd I 'me sure ee'n than Many a humor I haue seene in Man And yet I must needes say in him there be A thousand times more trickes then I can see T is wonderfull and my immagination Is almost ouerwhelm'd with admiration Indeed it is so deep 's mans heart but yet Since either want of yeares or want of wit Or lack of worke or lack of all hath brought me To be more heedful then a number thought me Since it some time and study too hath cost me And many a humor of mine owne hath lost me Since it hurts none and since perhaps some may Be benefitted by 't another day Although it be a taske that 's not alone Too huge for to be done by any one But more then al the world can well dispatch Yet looke what my weake memory could catch I le heer relate and nothing of it spare Saue things vnfit and such as neeedlesse are Now some will say t were fit I held my tongue For such a taske as this I am too young He ne're had dealings in the world with men How can he speak of their conditions then He cannot they conclude strong reasons why Know none how market goes but such as buy We see it happens that a shifting Knaue A sly deceitfull Connicatching slaue Playing at Cards with some vnskilfull gull Whose purse is lin'd with Crownes and penniful May put a nimble feat for to deceiue Which though a cunning gamester nere perceiue He peraduenture may the same descry That is no player but a stander by So I aloofe may view without suspition Mens idle humours and their weake condition Plainer perhaps then many that haue seene More daies on th' earths stage haue Actors been And t is no maruaile for employment takes them Quite from themselues and so dim-sighted makes them They cannot see the fooleries they doe Nor what ill passions they are subiect to Then who er'e carpe the course I haue begunne In spight of them I wil God helping runne And least th' exordium hath too tedious bin My Obseruations loe I now begin OF MAN MOunted aloft on Contemplations wings And noting with my selfe the state of things I plainely did perceiue as on a stage The confus'd actions of this present age I view'd the World and I saw my fill Because that all I saw therein was ill I weigh'd it well and found it was the Scoene Of Villany of Lust and all vncleane And loath'd corruption Seeing which my Mind That by some inspiration ganne to find The place was not in fault for this search't on To find the cause of this confusion And noting euery Creature there I found That only Man was the chiefe spring and ground Of all this vproare Yea I soone did see He there was all in all and none but he Then being also willing for to know What thing man was I did begin to grow Yet more inquisitiue An old Record At last I hapt vpon which did afford Much sacred light It shewed Man was a Creature First made by God Iust and vpright by nature In his owne Likenesse That he was compounded Of soule and body That this last was founded Of earth The first infus'd by inspiration And that the finall cause of his creation Was to set forth the glory of his maker And with him to be made a ioynt-partaker Of enldes happines Growne much amazd To read this of him for a time I paus'd And finding now in man no marke or signe That ere he was a Creature so deuine I knew not what to thinke vnlesse the same Meant any other Creature of that name But prying further on I there found out The resolution of my present doubt I saw the cause of 's fall How with free-will He fell from his first goodnes vnto ill I saw how he from happines did slide Through disobedience and vnthankfull pride Yea and I found how by that cursed fall He was bereaued and quite stript of all That so adornd him his first holinesse Was chang'd to a corrupted filthinesse Then he began to draw a paineful breath And was a slaue made captiue vnto Death His body was expos'd to labour sweate And much disquieting He got his meat With sorrow care and many perturbations And then his soule grew subiect vnto Passions And strange distemperatures More-ouer he So perfect miserable grew to be That if he had not a Re-generation Nothing was left him but meere desperation Hauing seene this I made no question than But this was spoken of the Creature Man Which I sought after Serching further yet On some Apâ—criphall Records I hit The workes of wise Philosophers from whence I haue receiued more intelligence Concerning him for there they do vnfold Each part about his body and haue told Secrets of Nature very rare to finde Besides they haue considered of the Mind The vnderstanding part and do relate The Nature of his soule and her estate Deepe misteries indeed But cause that I Cannot diue into that Philosophy So farre as these And since I shall but tell Those things which no men can explane so well As they themselues I leaue you to their bookes In which he that with good aduisement lookes Shal find it largely handled As for me I meane to speake but what I know and see By tri'd experience which perhaps may giue Although I haue but now begun to liue Some profitable notes First I avow What euer Man hath beene that he is now A Reasonable liuing Creature who Consisteth of a soule and body toe His Bodye's flesh and blood subiect to sinning Corrupting euen in his first beginning And ful of al vncleannesse Then his soule Is a pure lasting substance yet made foule Through th' others filthines much supprest By diuers hurtful passions which molest And hinder hir proceedings yea hee 's this A Creature that exceeding wretched is And that he may be sure no fault to want Vaine Fickle Weake and wondrous Arogazt And though his nature heretofore were pure Now nothing is more fading or vnsure But I le omit at this time to relate The curses Iu'e obseru'd in 's outward state For though the body that before the fall Susteind no sorrow were it ner'e so small Doth now feele hunger with heat thirst and cold A feeble birth defects in being old With thousands more and though each gaspe of breath In misery he draw vntil his death Yet al this outward change which I do find Is nothing when I do behold the mind For there as I haue said abused passion Keepes Vmpire and hath got predomination Vertues depos'd thence and Vice rule obtaines Yea Vice from Vice there by succession raignes Thrusting out those that Vertues presence grac't And in their steeds these hurtful monsters plac't Fond Loue and Lust Ambition Emnity Foolish Compassion Ioy and Iealousie Feare Hope Despaire and Sadnesse with the Vicâ— Cal'd Hate
for euery sex for each degree And in all causes as if they had beene In euery thing or at least all things seene If need be they can like a Lawyer prate Or talke more grauely like a man of State They 'l haue a Tradesmans tongue to praise their ware And counterfet him right but they 'le not sweare The curioust Phisicians if they please Shall not quoine words to giue their patients ease So well as they And if occasion vrge They 'l Choller yea and Melancholly purge Onely with charmes and words and yet it shall Be honest meanes and meerely naturall Are they dispos'd to gossip't like a woman They 'l shew their tricks so right that almost noman But would so thinke them Virgins that are purest And Marrons that make shew to be demurest Speake not so like chast Cynthia as they can Nor Newbery so like a Curtezan They 'l giue words either fitting for a Clowne Or such as shall not vnbeseeme a Crowne In show they will be chollerick Ambitious Dâ—sperate Iealous Mad or Enuious In sorrow or in any Passion be But yet remaine still from all passions free For they onely to this end exprest them That men may see them plainer and detest them But some will say that these haue on the stage So painted out the vices of this age That it not onely tels that they haue bin Experienc't in euery kind of sinne But that it also doth corrupt and show How men should act those sins they did not know Oh hatefull saying not pronounc't by chance Bnt spew'd out of malicious Ignorance VVeigh it and you will either thinke these weak Or say that they doe out of enuy speake Can none declare th' effect of Drunkennes Vnlesse they vsed such-like bestlinesse Are all men ignorant what comes by lust Excepting those tht were themselues vniust Or thinke they no man can describe a sin But that which he himselfe hath wallawed in If they suppose so I no cause can tell But they may also boldly say as well They are apprentices to euery trade Of which they find they haue descriptions made Or for because they see them write those things That do belong to rule best say th' are Kings As though that sacred Poesie inspir'd No other knowledge then might be acquir'd By the dull outward sence yes this is Shee That showes vs noâ— alone all things that be But by her power laies before out view Such wondrous things as Nature neuer knewe And then whereas they say that men are worse By reading what these write 't is their owne curse For is the flower faulty cause we see The loathsome spider and the painefull Bee Make diuers vse on 't No it is the same Vnto the spider though she cannot frame Like sweetnes as the Bee thence But indeed I must confesse that this bad age doth breed Too many that without respect presume This worthy title on them to assume And vndeseru'd base fellowes whom meere time Hath made sufficient to bring forth a Rime A Curtaine ligge a libell or a ballet For Fidlers or some Roagues with staffe and wallet To sing at doores men only wise enough Out of some rotten old worme-eaten stuffe To patch vp a bald witlesse Comedy And trim it heere and there with Ribaldry Learn'd at a baudy house I say there 's such And they can neuer be disgrac't too much For though the name of Poet such abuses Yet they are enemies to all the Muses And dare not sort with them for feare they will Tumble them headlong downe Parnassus hill Why then should their vsurping of it wrong That Title which doth not to them belong And wherefore should the shame of this lewd crew Betide them vnto whom true honors due It shal not for how ere they vse the name Their works wil show how they do merit fame And though it be disgrac't through ignorance The generous will Poesie aduance As the most Antique Science that is found And that which hath been the first root ground Of euery Art yea that which only brings Content and hath beene the delight of kings Great IAMES our King both loues liues a Poet His bookes now extant do directly show it And That shall adde vnto his worthy name A better glory and a greater fame Then Britaines Monarchy for few but he I thinke will both a King and Poet be And for the last although some fooles debase it I 'me in the mind that Angels do imbrace it And though God giu 't heere but in part to some All shall hau 't perfect in the world to come This in defence of Poesie to say I am compel'd because that at this day Weaknesse and Ignorance hath wrong'd it sore But what need any man therein speake more Then Diuine Sidney hath already done For whom though he deceas'd ere I beguâ— I haue oft sighed and bewaild my Fate That brought me forth so many yeeres too late To view that worthy And now thinke not you Oh Daniell Draiton Iohnson Chapman how I long to see you with your fellow Peeres Matchlesse Siluester glory of these yeeres I hither to haue onely heard your fames And know you yet but by your workes and names The little time I on the earth haue spent Would not allow me any more content I long to know you better that is the truth I am in hope you 'l not disdaine my Youth For know you Muses Darlings I le note raue A fellowship amongst you for to haue Oh no for though my euer willing heart Haue vow'd to loue and praise You and your Art And though that I your stile doe now assume I doe not nor I will not so presume I claime not that too-worthy name of Poet It is not yet deseru'd by me I know it Grant me I may but on your Muses tend And be enrould their Seruant or their Friend And if desert hereafter worthy make me Then for a Pellow if it please you take me But yet I must not here giue off to speake To tell men wherein I haue found them weake And chiefely those that cannot brooke to heare Mention of Death but with much griefe and Fearâ— For many are not able for to take That thought into them but their soules will quake Poore feeble spirits would you nere away But dwell for euer in a peece of Clay What find you heere wherein you doe delight Or what 's to seeing that 's worth the sight What doth the heauens thy endeauors blesse And wouldst thou therefore liue for to possesse The Ioy thou hast seek't not perhaps to morroâ— Thou l't wish to haue di'd to day to scape the sorroâ— Thou then shall see for shame take stronger Hearts And adde moâ—e courage to your betteer Parts For Death 's not to be feard since t is a Friend That of your sorrowes makes a gentle end But here a qualitie I call to minde That I amongst the Common-people finde This 't is a weake one to when they perceiue A
heads by secret meanes to crosse My wisht desire and to procure my losse But hauing noted this their hollownesse And finding that meere Country businesse Was not my Calling to auoyd their spight Which at that season was not showne outright I to the City often did resort To see if either that place or the Court Would yeeld preferment but in vaine I sought Ill fortune still my hopes confusion wrought Which though for an ill signe some vnderstood Yet I presum'd vppon some future good For though I scarce am wisht so well of some I hope I haue a happy time to come Which when I haue most need of comfort shall Send me true Ioy to make amends for all But say it be not whilst I draw this ayre I haue a heart I hope shall nere dispaire Because there is a God with whom I trust My soule shall triumph when my bodie 's dust But when I found that my endeauours still Fell out as they would haue 't that wisht me ill And when I saw the world was growne so coy To deeme me then to young for to employ And that her greatnes thought she did not want me Or found no Calling bad enough to grant me And hauing scapt a thrall which I le not touch Here in this place for feare I haue too much Spoke on 't elsewhere I say well weighing this Together what a foule reproch it is To be still idle and because I spide How glad they would be that my state enuide To find me so although the world doth scorne T' allow me action as if I were borne Before my time yet for to let them see In spight of fortune I le employed be Casting Preferments too much care aside And leauing that to God for to prouide The times abuses I obseru'd and then In generall the state and tricks of men Wherein although my labour were not seene Yet trust me the discouery hath been My great content and I haue for my paine Although no outward yet an inward gaine Of which because I can with all my heart Allow my Country-men to haue a part And cause I thinke it may do some a pleasure On opportunity I le now take seisure And summon vp my Muse to make relation I may b' imploid ere long now 's my Vacation AN INTRODVCTION COme then Inuention and call Iudgement in Knowledge and Reason fie where haue you bin Goe whistle off my Muse that wanton plaies With Epigrams Loue-Sonnets Roundelaies And such like trifling game Bid her come on I haue found brauer prey to seaze vppon â—ome new inspiring prayer warmes my heart And addes fresh courage vnto euery part New blood hath fild vp all my loue-dri'd veines â— sacred Fury hath possest my braines And something too there is that swels my breast â—il that be vtter'd I expect no rest For full with matter like a Sibill Nun I shall grow furious till this taske be done Then rouse thee Muse each little Hobby plies At Scarabes and painted Butterflies Leaue thou such trash it is not now for vs To flye for pleasure wee le in earnest trusse But thou lookst dull vnfit for lofty things Thy wanton flight I feare hath tir ' de thy wings Least therefore thou should'st faint forsake thâ—efist And turne thy selfe into a Satyrist Not of the roughest nor the mildestsort Be most in earnest but sometimes in sport What e're thou find to speake be not affrayd And for assistance craue Iehouahs ayd Vse all thy art for why thou must vnfold The strangest Nature that was euer told At ripping vp whereof some smart will be Yet goe thou foreward still who dares touch thee Diue if thou canst til thou the bottome sound Yet not too farre least thou thy selfe confound Mistake me not I meane not thou shouldst goe To search th' earths center what lies hid below Or vndermine it for ritch Mineralls Thou shalt not haue to do with Vegetalls Strange natures haue both Stones Trees Herbes and Plants Which let him speake of that a Subiect wants There is an Herb indeeed whose vertues such It in the pasture only with a touch Vnshooes the new-shod steed within the North The Scottish Iles cald Oreades brings forth Trees or else writers faine it from whose seeds A certaine kind of water-foule proceeds The Loadstone also drawes the steele vnto it Yet hath not ginne or instrument to doe it Rare properties you see but neither these Nor what lies hidden in the vast wide Seas Meane I to speake off I no knowledge haue What Monsters play with Neptunes boistrous waue Nor quality of birds nor beasts I found For why their natures may be quickly found Indeed we may by little inquisition Find out the bruitish creatures true condition As for example we for certaine know The Elephant much loue to man wil show The Tygers Woolues and Lyons we do find Are rauenous fierce and cruell euen by kind We know at caryon we shal find the crowes And that the roost-cock wheÌ„ t is mid night knowes By a few dayes experience we may see Whether the mastife curst or gentle be And many other natures we find out Of which we haue no cause at all to doubt But there 's another Creature called Man Note him who wil and tel me if he can What his condition is obserue his deeds His speach his rayment yea and how hee feedes Try him a month a yeare an age and when You haue so tride him say what is he then Retaines he either vnto Praester Iohn Or else vnto the whore of Babilon If that you know not which of them to grant Is he a Brownist or a Protestant If in an Age you cannot find out wheither Are you so much as sure that he is either Is his heart proud or humble know you where Or when he hates or loues or standes in feare Or who can say in Conscience I think none That this mans words and deeds thoughts are one Where shall you him so well resolued find That wants a wandring and a wauering mind Nay he of whom you haue most triall when You see him dying will you trust him then Perhaps you may yet questionlesse he leaues you A mind misdoubting still that he deceiues you And no great wonder for hee s such an else That euer is vncertaine of himselfe He is not semper idem in his will Nor stands on this or that opinion still But varies he both will and wil not too Yea euen the thing he thinkes and sweares to doe He many times omits Now God forgiue him I wonder how another should beleeue him But this same diuers and inconstant creature That so contrary is in his owne nature 'T is him my new-inspired Muse here tries Whilst he is liuing to Anotomize T is his abuses and condition Although it be beyond all definition I labour to discouer But aswell I may againe dragge Cerberus from hell Alcydes toyles were much yet this is more Yea if his twise-sixe had beene twise
Margent here I thought to place it But that perhaps would Vengeance counted be Whereas it shall not be reueng'd for me Yet Gallants you may see I wish you to No other thing then I my selfe would doe You heare that I was wrong'd and yet withstood My owne mad Passion in the heate of bloud And am not I in as good case as those That haue reueng'd themselues with stabs blows In my opinion it is as well As if that I should pack his soule to hell With danger of mine owne and heere remaine To greeue and wish he were aliue againe Nay now t is best for why he may repent And I with a safe conscience liue content Ther 's some perhaps misdeem'd my innocence Because they saw that I with Patience Indur'd the wrong t is thought that I did know My selfe in fault because I tooke it so Indeed t is true I let him scot-free passe What should I doe vnto him say an Asse Had strooke me with his heeles how should I quiâ— The harme he doth me you would blame my wit If I should kill him If I went to law Who would not count me the most asse a daw The worst of fooles I pray what were I lesse If I had don 't to his vnworthinesse One that 's more ignorant of his offence And seemes as if he had no sparke nor sence Of humane goodnesse one whom if I touch Or offer to lay hands on t is as much As if I in my anger would begin To breake the stoole that erst had broke my shin I knew in this and that the case was one And therefore I did let Reuenge alone Yet will I note him for this cause indeed That other men may know him and take heed And therefore marke the greatest feast i th' yeare And ioyfullest his name at full doth beare A sacred syllable makes the first part Which since t is there alone and not in 's heart Take it from thence with the ensuing letter And the remainder will befit him better Hereof enough for why there doth remaine Some more of these mad humors to explaine Besides those I first nam'd for their brother They cannot their Reuengefull Nature smother And for because they dare not deale with swords Like valiant Champions fight it out with words Such fraies haue made me oftentimes to smile And yet they proue shrewd combats other while For from such braules do sodaine stabs arise And somtime in reuenge the quart-pot flies Ioyne-stooles and glasses makes a bustling rumor Yea this is growne a Gentleman-like humor But in my mind he that so wel can fight Deserues for to be dubd an Ale-house knight I st not a shame that men should at their meeting Welcome each other with a friendly greeting As I haue seene and yet before they part Bandy their swords at one anothers heart Wondrous inhumane the Sauage bore The wild Armenean heards wil do no more Sure such beleeue not it is God hath said Vengeance is his and must by him be paid For if they did I thinke there would not be Such caruers for themselues But we may see The Diuel doth so much possesse them than They haue no honest thought of God or Man As in this Humor you shall see 't explain'd Two falling out would fight but are restrain'd Yet stil they striue to be each others fall Which shewes their loue to man-kind none at all But curbed of their wills through standers by Forth breakes their fury and they straight let flye Such horrid bloody fearefull cannon oathes As their 's no honest Christian eare but loathes Almost to heare them nam'd they seeme to teare Christs Man-hood peece-meal from him when they sweare For foot heart nailes stil vsing God withall Their foule-mouth'd-rackets like a tennise ball Doth bandy too and fro His blood and wounds Set forth their vaunts they think with brauest sounds And makes the simple people to admire Their courage which is but as a flame on fire Thrice valiant Champions whereby should one gather They haue a thought of God that 's good but rather That they are vile blasphemers for when they Cannot haue Vengeance they desired why As if they scorn'd th' Almighties fearefull rod Thus thinke they to auenge themselues on God Who were he not as merciful as iust Might with a blast consume them into dust OF CHOLLER SATYR 6. BVt now the cause of mens Reuengefull thirst Proceeds from rash vnbridled choller first Which Passion flowes from imbecillity And brings vs vnto much absurdity Yea those that are infected with this crime Are in a manner mad-men for the time 'T is a short Fury where-with man possest Resembles most a wild vntamed beast It makes him foolish quite besides his wit Doing and speaking many a thing vnfit Those men in whom I find this Passion raigne I haue oft seene to storme for things but vaine Yea and as if they had some greeuous crosse Chafe out of measure for a penny losse And fret as much in loosing of some toy As if therein consisted all their ioy This too I noted in a Chollerick man Let any one disproue me if he can They are not onely apt for to beleeue Any report that may occasion giue But in light matters if they should contend Would pick a quarrell with their dearest friend Yea I haue seen where friends nay more where brothers That should haue bin dearer far theÌ„ others These I haue knowne in choller e'ne like foes Mingling sharpe words with farre more sharpned blows When they are in their fit they do not spare Any degree No reuerence nor care Doth then remaine Thei 'le speake though they be sure Their heedlesse words not foes alone procure But loose their friends nor doe they in that case Respect the Time the company nor place Besides there is this ouersight in some Where Choller doth the Reason ouercome They doe not onely blame him that offends But are displeased euen with their friends And all that are in presence or in view I haue obseru'd it often to be true Then if that any should but tell these men Their anger were without iust Reason then Although it be so and thy know it right Their fury is the more increast with spight They cannot brooke â—ontroule nor yet can they Endure that a man should nothing say For then indeed t is presently suspected He cares not and his anger is neglected And in some Masters I haue noted this Wherein they doe in my conceit amisse If they but thinke their seruant doth offend He must not his suspected crime defend Guilty or no but yeild it an offence As if men still were slaues but surely hence Springs this abuse in whom this humour passes Choller beares sway and they are wayward Asses Who though they haue read some strict rules in Catâ— Were neuer Schollers to diuiner Plato Oh Anger is a wondrous headstrong Passion That hath a beastly frantick operation From which how can we any man release
enter league with new Who at their parting thought for to haue kist her But were so drunken that they euer mist her For there they quaft so long they did not know Which way nor whether nor yet when to goe That some suppose yea and they think so still Their horses brought thē thence against their will For if so bee that they had wanted wit To come themselues the fooles had been there yet If you 't was made by read with discontent You are too blame none knowes by whom 't was ment There is no cause you should dislike my Rime That learnes you wit against another time When others are thus vaine could you forbeare it And note the follies in 't you would forsweare it As kind's your Hostesse seemes yet this is plaine Shee 'l flout and vse the next as wel for gaine Now what do you vnto these Gallants say Were they not pretty witty ones I pray It may be they wil frowne at this 't were fit And I am very sorry for 't but yet One humor more which I haue noted vaine For to be told of they must not disdaine It may anoy them if they do not mend it Yea notwithstanding they so much defend it 'T is this they too much of their valour vaunt And so extreamely for vaineglory haunt That for to get themselues a valiant name Or peraduenture halfe an howers fame Thei 'l hazard life and limbe yea soule and all Rather then in their brauery thei 'l let fall That vaine Repute Oh silly sencelesse men What wil the breath of fame auaile you when You lye in dust and molded vp in clay Perhaps you shall be spoken of a day In some poore village where your bodies lye To all the earth besides your fame shall dye And it may be whereas you looke for glory You shall but serue for to make vp the story Of hare-brain'd fooles so how soere some deem you Men that haue vnderstanding wil esteeme you But yet there is a crew that much anoyes The Common-weale some call them Roaring-Boys London doth harbour many at this time And now I think their Orders in the Prime And flourishing estate Diuers are proud To be one of that Brotherhood alow'd And reason too for why they are indeed No common fellowes but they all exceed They do but oh Now wherein is it think ye In villanies for these be they wil drink yee From morne til night from night till more againe Emptying themselues like Conduits and remaine Ready for more stil Earth drinks not the showers Faster then their infernal throat deuoures Wine and strong liquors These be they wil sweare As if they would the veile of heauen teare And compell God to heare their blasphemy These are the Patrons of all villany VVhoores Champions Deceit and trechery With the most loathsome vice of lechery Is all their practise Thunder when it roares Ioynd with the raging waues that beat the shoares Together with the winds most rude intrusion Make not a noyse more full of mad confusion Then do these helhounds where they vse to houze Or make their most vnciuill rendeuouze For a more Godlesse crew their cannot well Be pickt out of the boundlesse pit of hell Yet these base fellowes whom I must confesse I cannot find words able to expresse Are great mens darlings As some vnderstand The absolutest Gallants in this land And onely men of spirit of our time But this opinion's but a vulgar crime For they which vnderstanding haue see plaine That these and all their fauorites are vaine And sure 't were good if such were forc't to giue A strict account by whom and how they liue Thus haue I brought to light as wel's I can Some of the Vanities I 'ue seene in man But I do feare in taking so much paine I haue but showne my selfe to be most vaine Because I haue spent time and reprehended That which will ne're the sooner be amended But yet there 's hope it may and therefore I Will say thus much more that this Vanity Consisteth not alone in words and workes It hath tane root within and also lurkes About the heart and if it there be sought I know it also may be found in thought And that it is makes one man sit and plot What is by traffick with Virginea got What it may cost to furnish him a fleet That shall with all the Spainish Nauy meete Or how he may by Art or practise find A nearer passage to the Easterne Inde When as perhaps poore foole besides his coate He is not worth a Portsmouth passage boate Nor neuer meanes to trauell so much sea As from High-ferry to South-hamp on-key Another wood-cocke is as fondly vayne And to no purpose doth molest his braine To study if he were a Nobleman What kind of carriage would befit him than How and in what set wordes he would complaine Of the abuses that he now sees raigne Where he would make his place of residence How he would keep his house with Prouidence And yet what plenty daily at his dore Should be distributed vnto the poore What certaine Sheepe and Oxen should be slaine And what prouision weekly to maintaine His Lordly port How many seruing-men He meant to keep and peraduenture then What pleasure he will haue as haukes and hounds What game he wil preserue about his grownds Or else he falls to cast what profits cleare His giftes and bribes wil come to in a yeare How hee 'le put off his hat cause people than Shall say he is a courteous Noble-man Then vpon this againe he falls to plot How when that he the peoples loue had ' got If that the King and all his kindred dye And if none may be found for to supply That Regall office the respect they beare him Vnto that Princely dignity may reare him Then too his thoughtes on that estate so feed That he forgets quite what he is indeed And if a man could hit so iust a time To come vpon him when his thoughts in Prime And giue him vnawares a sodaine knock Conceit his vnderstanding so would lock That I suppose because it stands with reason He would go neere hand for to call out Treason For oftentimes mens hearts are so anoyd VVith those vaine thoughts whereon they are imploid That for a time they so forgetfull grow Nor what they are nor where they do not know But now since you may see there doth remaine Nothing in man but is in some sort vaine And since I must be driuen to confesse His vanities are great and number-lesse I 'le go no farther in this large Suruey For feare Discourse should carry me away And peraduenture so I may become Lesse pleasing and more tedious to some VVhich to auoyd though I no end espy Yet heare I end to treat of Vanity OF IN CONSTANCY SATYR 2. YEt there 's another property in men That meanes to set my Muse to work agen In constancy and that no other is Vnlesse I vnderstand
friend neare death and ready for to leaue This wretched life and if they heare him say Some parâ—ing words as if he might not stay Nay say not so these comforters reply Take heart your time 's not come ye shall not die What man and grace of God you shal be stronger And liue no doubt yet many a faire day longer Thinke not on Death with many such like words Such as their vnderstanding best affoords But where is now become this peoples wit VVhat doth their knowledges esteeme more fit Then death to thinke on chiefly when men be About to put off their Mortalâ—tie Me thinkes they rather should perswade them then Fearelesse to be resolu'd to die like Men. For want of such a resolution stings At point of Death and dreadfull horror brings â—e'ne to the soule cause wanting preparation She lies despairing of her owne saluation Yea and moreouer this full well know I He that 's at any time afraide to die â—s in weake case and whatso'ere he saith Hath but a wauering and a feeble Faith But what need I goe farther to relate The frailty I haue seene in Mans estate Since this I haue already said makes cleere That of all Creatures God hath placed here Prouided we respect them in their kind VVe cannot any more vnable finde For of our selues we haue not power to speake No nor to frame a thought we are so weake Against our bodies eue'ry thing preuailes And oft our knowledge and our iudgement failes Yea if that one mans strength were now no lesse Then all men doe in generall possesse Or if he had attaind to ten-times more Then all Gods creatures ioyn'd in one before Yet would his power be eauen then so small When he stands surest he 's but sure to fall 'T is onely weakenesse that doth make vs droupe And vnto Crosses and diseases stoupe That makes vs Vaine Inconstant and Vnsure Vnable any good things to endure It brings vs to the seruile base subiection Of all loose Passion and vntam'd affection It leads vs and compels vs oft to stray Both beside Truth and out of Reasons way And lastly we and that because of this Either doe Nothing or do all amisse Which being so we may with Dauid then Confesse that we are rather Wormes then men OF PRESVMPTION SATYR 4. SOft heedlesse Muse thou no aduisement tak'st Wast not of Men that last of al thou spak'st It was and of the weaknessâ— too of men Come then with shame now and denie 't agen Recaâ—t for so the matter rhou didst handle Thou maist be curst for t with Bell Booke Candle Is mankind weake who then can by their powers Into the Aire hurle Palaces and Towers And with one blaste'ne in a moment make Whole Kingdomes and braue Monarchies to shake Or what are they that dare for toaspire Into Gods seat and if it might be higher That forgiue sinnes as fast as men can do them And make Iehouah be beholding to them I 'ue heard of such what are they would I wist They can make Saints they say of whom they list And being made aboue the Stars caÌ„seat them Yea with their own hands make their Gods eat theÌ„ Ha are they men How dar'st thou then to speake Such Bâ—asphemy to say mankinde is weake I tell thee this Muse either Man is strong And through thy babling thou hast done him wrong Or else beyond his limits he doth erre And for presumption puts downe Lucifer I st so Nay then I prethee Muse goe on And let vs heare of his presumption For I doe know cause I haue heard him vaunt That he 's a Creature proud and Arrogant And it may be he is not of such might As he makes show for but vsurps some's right There't goe's indeed for though he be so base So weake and in such miserable case That I want words of a sufficient worth To paint his most abhorred vilenesse forth Yet such is also his detested Pride That I suppose the Diuell is belide By euery man that shall affirme or say He is more proud for doe but marke I pray This Creature man did Natures powerfull King God that of nothing framed eu'ry thing Mâ—uld out of Clay a peece which he had rent E'ne from the Earth the basest Element And whereas he might haue beene made a Thrall Yea and the very Vuderling of all That God with title of Chief Ruler grac't him And as a Steward ouer all things plac't him Gaue him a pleasant garden for to till And Leaue to eate of eu'ry tree at will Onely of one indeed he did deny him And peraduenture of that one to try him But see his insolence though God did threat Death if he eate and though that God was great And so exceeding Iust that he well knew All that he threatned doubtles would ensue Thogh God were stroÌ„g could had maÌ„ bin prouder Pore clay-bred worm haue stampt him into pouderâ— Yet not withstanding all this same did he Presume to tast of that forbidden tree A rash beginning but he sped so ill D' yee thinke he held on this presumption still To heare he had left that offence 't were newes But Cain and Nimrod Pharaoh and the lewes Shew'd it continued and grew much more Rather then lesser then it was before Caine in his murther and his proud replie Nimrod in that he dar'd to build so high Pharaoh by boldly tempting God to shew His sundry plagues to Egypts ouerthrow And many waies the last but what need I Recite examples of Antiquitie Or for to taxe old ages for that crime Since there was nere a more presumptuous time Then this that 's now what dare not men to doe If they haue any list or minde thereto Their fellow creatures they doe much contemne Vaunting that all things were ordain'd for them Yea both the gladsome daies and quiet nights Sun Moone Heauen with those glorious lights Which so be spangle that faire azure roofe They thinke were onely made for their behoofe When as alas their poore and weake command Cannot extend so farre for to withstand The least Starres force and them and their estate Sunne Moone and starres too do predominate Before our fall indded we did excell All other creatures that on earth did dwell But now I thinke the very worst that be Haue iust asmuch to boast vpon as we Our soule 's defil d And therefore if in Sence We place our worth and cheefe prehemmence T is knowne that there be diuers Creatures then VVill haue the vpper hand for they passe men And though we still presume vpon 't t is vaine To challenge our old Soueraingty againe For when that we from our obedience fell All things against vs also did rebell Lyons and Beares and Tigers sought our blood The barren earth deny'd to yeeld vs food The clouds raignd plagues and yet dare we go on We find such pleasure in Presumption But for because there 's some do scarcely know How we do in that
Indeed if by that name you vnderstand Those that the vulgar Atheists of this land Do daily terme so that is such as are Fore-named heere and haue the greatest care To know and please their maker then 't is true I loue them well for loue to such is due But if you meane the busie headed sect The hollow crew the counterfeit Elect Our Dâ—gmatists and euer-wrangling spirits That doe as well contemne good workes as merits If you meane those that make their care seem great To get soules food when 't is for bodies meate Or those all whose Religion doe depend On this that they know how to discommend A Maygame or a Summerpole defie Or shake the head or else turne vp the eye If you meane those how euer they appeare This I say of them would they all might heare Though in a zealous habit they doe wander Yet they are Gods foes and the Churches slander And though they humble be in show to many They are as haughty euery way as any What need I here the lewd presumptions tell Of Papists in these daies t is knowne to well For them there of each peasant now conuinces In things as well concerning God as Princes Other I find toe that doe dare presume The Office of a Teacher to assume And being blind themselues and gone astray Take on them to shew other men the way Yea some there be who haue small guifts or spirit No kind of knowledge and as little merit That with the world haue made a firme coÌ„iunctioâ— Yet dare to vndergoe the sacred function Of Christ his Pasâ—or Yea such is their daring That neither for their Charge nor Duty caring Insteed of giuing good and sound Instruction They lead themselues and others to Destruction We read that Ieremy and Moses both To vndertake their charge were wondrous loth The greatnes of the same so much appal'd them Yea though that God himselfe directly cal'd them But our braue Clarkes as if they did condemne The two much bashfull backwardnes of them Or else as if themselues they abler thought Those Diuine Callings haue not onely sought Without respect of their Ability A Câ—ristian Conscience or Ciuility But being of old Simon Magus tribe Purchase it often with a hateful bribe VVhich showes that they such places do desire Not for the good of others but their hire But Patrons feare yee neither God nor hell Dare ye the Churches patrimony sell For filthy lucre in despite of Law Sacred or humane Pedants dare yee hah Dare you buy 't of them by Gods help vnlesse This villany ere long haue some redresse I le find a meanes or else let me haue blame To bring some smart or else eternal shame Vpon you for 't it may be you do sent it But all your pollicy shall not preuent it What do you look for Hell and your Dâ—mnation VVel you shall haue it by Impropriation I know now you haue enter'd Simony You le double damne your selues with Periury For they as oft together may be seene As is the chilling feauer and the spleene But oh deare Countrymen be more aduis'd Thinke what God is he may not be dispis'd Could you well weigh his Iustice and his power How many infinites it passeth ouer And knew his iudgements we would not dissemble An outward fained reuerence but tremble And shake with horror you 'd not dare to venter Sanctum Sanctorum so vnfit to enter His Churches good you rather would aduance Then rob it thus of her inheritance Or make the same as men stil vnbeleeuing Like to a house of Merchandise and Theeuing You to whom deeds of former times are knowne Marke to what passe this age of ours is growne Euen with vs that strictest seeme to be In the professing Christianity You know men haue been carefull to augment The Churches portion and haue beene content To adde vnto it out of their estate And Sacriledge all Nations did so hate That the meere Irish who seem'd not to care For God nor Man had the respect to spare The Churches profits yea their heed was such That in the time of need they would not touch The knowne prouisions they daily saw Stor'd vp in Churches in such feare and awe The places held them though that they did know The thinges therein belonged to their foe But now the world mans good natures chang'd From this opinion most men are estrang'd We rob the Church and what we can attaine By Sacriledge and theft is our best gaine In paying dues the refuse of our stock The barrennest and leanest of our flock Shall serue our Pastor whom for to deceiue We think no sin nay further by your leaue Men seeke not to impropriate a part Vnto themselues but they can find in heart T' engross vp all which vile presumption Hath brought Church-liuings to a strange consumption And if this strong disease do not abate 'T wil be the poorest member in the State No maruaile though in steed of learned Preachers We haue beene pester'd with such simple Teachers Such poore mute tong-tide readers as scarce know Whether that God made Adam first or no Thence it proceeds and ther 's the cause that Place And Office at this time incurs disgrace For men of iudgement or good dispositions Scorne to be tyde to any base conditions Like to our hungry Pedants who 'le engage Their soules for any curtold Vicarage I say there 's none of knowledge wit or merit But such as are of a most seruile spirit That will so wrong the Church as to presume Some poore-halfe-demi-Parsnage to assume In name of all no they had rather quite Be put beside the same than wrong Gods right Well they must entertaine such Pedants then Fitter to feed swine then the soules of men But Patrons thinke such best for there 's no feare They will speake any thing they loath to heare They may run foolishly to their owne damnation Without reproofe or any disturbation To let them see their vice they may bee bold And yet not stand in doubt to be contol'd Those in their houses may keepe priuate Schooles And either serue for Iesters or for fooles And will suppose that they are highly grac't Be they but at their Patrons table plac't And there if they be cal'd but Priests in scoffe Straight they duck down and al their caps come off Supposing it for to be done in kindnes Which shows their Weaknes apparant Blindnes Moreouer 't is well knowne that former time Held it to be a vild presumptuous crime Such men in sacred Offices to place Whom they knew toucht with any foule disgrace Or to allow those whom they did suspect To haue an outward bodily defect But be they now not only crooked lame Dismembr'd and of the vnshapeliest frame That euer Nature form'd though they be blind Not in sight onely but as well in mind Though they be such who if they come to shreeuinâ— Might confess murder whordom slander theeuing And all damb'd villany yet
good conscience before God for Si Deus tecum quis contrate but if now hauing made the World thine enemie exposed thy selfe to the malice thereof and hauing so many Legions of foes without thee thou shouldest also by thy negligence suffer the inuincible fortresse of a sound Conscience to be crazed within thee the Diâ—ell that is alway watching such aduantages would quickly possesse it with an vnmercifull troupe of Horrors Feares and Desperations that without Gods miraculous assistance thou wouldest grow wholly past either comfort or recouery For all the World cannot defend thee against thy Conscience but that beeing with hee thou maist preuaile against all the World Beware then doe not like the Zibeâ—hum yeeld a perfume to sweeten others and be thy selfe a stinking vermine but let this thy owne worke bee first confirmed by thy life and conuersation yea let it be a President to thy selfe for Tanâ—i erit aliis quanti tibi fuerit but if not I say if the World mis-esteeme either it or thee yet doe not thou therefore esteeme the lesse either of thy booke or of thy selfe but rather let them know That thou hast learned still thy care shal be A rush for him that cares a straw for thee But now though for these and diuers oother Reasons I haue to thee my Owne-selfe committed the protection and made the Dedication of this booke yet my meaning is not that thou shouldst keepe it wholly to thine owne vse But rather seeing it is honourable to giue though none will giue thee any thing I haue bestowne this oâ— thee that if thou canst in this corrupted age finde any whom desert and thy loue may make so deare vnto thee or whomâ— thou art perswaded will gratifie or but thinke well of thy honest endeauours thou maist bee liberall to them both of these thy labours and expences But this I coniure thee to be they neuer so great yet flatter not or if he be a man whom thou knowest the World speakes any way iustly ill of either tell him his fault or leaue him wholly out of thy Catalogue But because I begin to grow tedious to my owne-selfe and since I shall haue Opportunity enough to consider with thee what is further needfull without an Epistle with my prayers for my Prince my Country my friends and my â—wne prosperitie without any leaue taking or Commendations of my Selfe I heartily wish my owne Soule to fare-well Thy Princes thy Countries thy friends and thine i. thine owne whilst Reason masters Affection GEO. WITHER To the Reader REaders I speake to you that haue vnderstanding when these first fruits of my conuerted Muses shall come to your iudicious censures Do not look for Spencers or Daniels wel composed numbers or the deep conceits of now florishing Iohnson no say t is honest plain matter there 's as much as I look for If I haue seem'd to err in any thing suppose me not so obstinate or wel conceited of my own opinions but that I may be perswaded by any that shal produce stronger reasons to the contrary If any thing may seeme to haue a doubtfull interpretation assure your selues the honestest meaning in it is mine and although some may think I haue not so wel ioyned things together as I might haue done I know wheÌ„ you haue considered the nature of the Subiect the diuersity of things therin haÌ„dled you wil accept my good wil let my yeeres be an excuse for that al other ignorant ouer-sights whatsoeuer Some no doubt will mistake my plainnes in that I haue so bluntly spoken what I haue obserued without any Poeticall additions or fained Allegories I am sorry I haue not pleased them therein but should haue been more sorry if I had displeased my selfe in doing otherwise for I know if I had wrapt vp vy meaning in dark riddles I should haue been more applauded and lesse vnderstood which I nothing desire I neither feare nor shame to speake the Trurh and therefore haue nakedly thrust it forth without a couering To what end were it if I as some do had appareld my mind in darke Parables that few or none might haue vnderstood mee I should doe better to be silent but if it be more in request I may hereafter be obscure enough yet in this t is not my meaning for indeed if I knew how my desire is to be so plaine that the bluntest Iobernole might vnderstand mee Our Grand-villaines care not for a secret ierk well wee may shew an honest wit in couertly nipping them but either 't is in vaine cause they perceiue it not or else ridiculous seeing they only vnderstand it who will but either malice or flout vs for our labors Many may dislike the harshnes of the Verse but you know although it be not stately yet it we enough befits the matter and whereas I may seem blame-worthy in mixing Diuinity with Humanity yet when you haue found my generall ayme considered with what reuerent respect I haue done it and what commendable authorities I may haue for it I nothing misdoubt your approbation Those things which concerne my selfe may seeme childish nothing pleasing but you must consider I had a care to please my selfe aswel as others and if the World blame mee as to sawcy with her 't is for want of manners but her owne fault that would allow mee no better education To bee briefe if I haue any way offended I am so well perswaded you wil mildly conster my errors and infirmities that I rest wholly and onely on your sound and incorrupted Iudgements * But* Readers I meane you that are no more but Readers I make no question if this book come to your spelling it will haue many halting verses and disioynted sentenses for I haue had experience of your insufficiencie yet haue I striu'd to bee for your sakes I tell you because I would if it were possible bee vnderstood as plaine as they say as a pack-saddle and now the doubt is then fooles will ride me If they doe certainly I shall be rough vneasie for their tendernes Though you vnderstand them not yet because you see this wants some fine Phrases flourishes as you find other mens writings stuft withal perhaps you wil iudge me vnlearned Wel and right enough Yet you will be counted but saucy Coblers to go beyond your Lasts And if that be a fault did not the subiect and your ignorances require me to be in that sort faulty I could with ease haue amended it for it cost me I protest more labour to obserue this plainenesse then if I had more Poetically trim'd ii but for feare if I speake much I confound your Memories I will say no more but this Read and welcome but Censure not for your iudgement is weake and I vtterly renounce it Valete George Wither To Time EPIGR. 1. NOw swift-deuouring bald and ill fac't Time Dost not thou blush to see thy selfe vncloak't Oh that I knew but how to laugh in
imparts A thousand seuerall Sciences and Arts A Christall fount whose water is by ods Far sweeter then the Nectar of the Gods Or for to giue 't a title that befits It is the very Nurcery of wits There once arriued cause my wits were raw I fell to wondring at each thing I saw And for my learning made a monthes vacation In nothing of the places scituation The Palaces and Temples that were due Vnto the wife Mineruaes hallowed crew Their cloisters walkes and groues all which suruei'd And in my new admittance well apaid I did as other idle Freshmen doe Long for to see the Bell of Osney to But yet indeed may not I grieue to tell I neuer dranke at Aristotles Well And that perhaps may be the reason why I know so little in Philosophy Yet old Sir Harry Bath was not forgot In the remembrance of whose wondrous shot The Forrest by beleeue it they that will Retaines the surname of shot-ouer still Then hauing seene enough and therewithall Got some experience at the Tennisball My Tutor telling me I was not sent There to be idle but with an intent For to encrease my knowledge cald me in And with his graue instructions did begin To teach And by his good perswasions sought To bring me to a loue of what he taught Then after that he gan for to impart The hidden secrets of the Logick Art In steed of grammer rules he taught me than Old Scotus Seton and new Keckerman He shew'd me which the Predicables be As Genus Species and th' other three So hauing said enough of their contents Handles in order the ten Praedicaments Then Post praedicaments with Priorum Perhermenias and posteriorum He with the Topicks opens and descries Elenchi full of subtile falacies These to vnfold indecd he tooke some paine But to my dull capacity in vaine For all he spake was to as little passe As in old time vnto the vulger was Their Latine seruice which they vnderstood Aswel as did a horse to do them good And I his meaning did as neere coniecture As if he had beene reading Hebrew lecture His Infinites Indiuiduitâ—es Contrari's and Subcontrarieti's Diuisions Subdiuisions and a crew Of tearmes and wordes such as I neuer knew My shallow vnderstanding so confounded That I was grauel'd like a ship that 's grounded And in despaire the mistery to gaine Neglecting all tooke neither heed nor paine Yea I remaind in that amazed plight Till Cinthia sixe times lost her borrowed light But then ashamd to find my selfe still mute And other little Dandiprats dispute That could distinguish vppon Rationale Yet scarcely heard of Verâ—um Personale And could by heart like Parots in the Schooles StaÌ„d pratling those me thought were pretty fooles And therefore in some hope to profit so That I like them at least might make a show I reacht my bookes that I had cast about To see if I could pick the meaning out And prying on them with some diligence At length I felt my dull intelligence Begin to open and perceiued more In halfe an houre then halfe a yeare before And which is strange the thinges I had forgot And till that very day remembred not Since first my Tutor read them those did then Returne into my memory agen â—o that with which I had so much to do A weeke made easie yea and pleasing too But then with that not thoroughly content â—practis'd to maintaine an Argument And hauing waded thorough Sophistrie â—ell vnto reading of Philosophy And thinking there the Ethicks not enough â— also had a longing for to know The cause of snow haile thunder frost and raine â—he lightenings meteors and what here 't were vaine For me to speake of since I shall but show-it â—o those that better then my selfe do know-it Then from the causes of thinges naturall â—went to matters Metaphisical Of which when I a little newes could tell â— as the rest did vnto wrangling fell And as the fashion was for to disgrace her When I oppos'd the truth I could out-face her â—ut now ensues the worst I getting foot â—nd well digesting Learnings bitter Root â—eady to tast the fruit and when I thought â—hould a Calling in that place haue sought â—ound I was for other ends ordain'd â—ea to forsake this course I was constrain'd â—or fortune that full many a boone hath lost me â—hus in the reaping my contentment crost me â—u sir quoth she that I must make my slaue â—or whom in store a thousand plagues I haue â—ome home I pray and learne to hold the plough â—or you haue read Philosophy enough If wrangling in the schooles be such a sport Go to those Ploydens in the Inns of Court For aske your parish-neighbors they can tell Those fellowes do maintaine contention well For Art in numbers you no coile need keep A little skill shall serue to tell your sheepe Seeke not the Stars thy euils should relate Least when thou know them thou grow desperate And let alone Geometry t is vaine I le find you worke enough to marre your braine Or would you study Musique else 't were pitty And yet it needs not you shall find I le fit ye I le teach you how to frame a song and will Prouide you cares to be the subiect stil This Fortune or my Fate did seem to tel me And such a chance indeed ere long befell me For ere my yeares would suffer me to be Admitted for to take the lowest degree By Fates appointment that no stay can brook The Paradise of England I forsooke And seing I was forc't to leaue those mountaines Fine groues faire walks sweet delightful fountains And since it might not vnto me be granted To keepe those places where the Muses hanted I home returned somwhat discontent And to our Bentworth beechy shadowes went Bewailing these my first endeauors lost And so to be by angy fortune crost Who though she dayly do much mischiefe to me Can neuer whilst I liue a greater do me And yet in that ere she procur'd her will I learnt enough to scorne a Fortune still Yea vse hath made her enuy seeme so vaine That I am almost proud in her disdaine But being back returnd as I haue said Hauing a little in the Country stai'd I there espi'de as I had long suspected I vndeseru'd of some was ill affected And that by those t is thought my friends had been But though they kept ther mallice long vnseene And made faire showes as if they sought my good Yet they the same of all men most with-stood For seeming kind they often did perswade My friends to learne me some Mechannick trade Vrging expence perhaps and telling how That Learning is but little made of now When t was through mallice cause they feard that I Might come to vnderstand my state thereby Exceed their knowledge and attaine to do My selfe more good then they could wish me to For that a worse or some such scuruy end This selfe-conceited crew did euer bend Their spitefull
conceale it For they themselues will to their shames reueale it There 's others who disliking so to vaunt VVill si non castè tamen cautè grant For that 's their Motto they make modest showes But what they doe in secret man nere knowes Some make a Baud of their diuine profession Like Shauelings in Auricular-confession Th' other are bad and sure of God accurst But of all others these I deeme the worst There 's other Gallants would desire but this VVithout suspition for to talke and kisse For other pleasures they do neuer craue them Nay if they might they sweare they will not haue them So mean perhaps but time brings alteration And a faire woman is a shrewd temptation Then many make their fained loue to be A cloake to couer their immodestie These will protest and vow and sweare their life Consists in hauing whom they wooe to wife Yet if the villaines can their lust fulfill They will forsweare them and be liuing still Some doe court all and not alone doe proue But for because with all they are in loue With such deep passion that they cannot smother Their hot affection till they meete another But why will man against himselfe and Reason Consent to such a Tyrant in his treason Why will he so his liberties foregoe To be a slaue to such a monstrous foe For what is this same passion We call lust I st not a Brutish longing and vniust And foule desire of the soule to gaine Some euill pleasure Or to speake more plaine A furious burning passion whose hot fumes Corrupts the vnderstanding and consumes The very flesb of man then what 's the fact What may I terme that vile and shamefull act But this The execution of an ill Out of set purpose and with a good will In spight of Reason Tell me i st not base When men shall so their worthy sex disgrace To giue their bodies in a deed vncleane With a foule nasty prostituted queane Or in their vnderstanding be so dull As to obserue on idle short-heeld trull A puling female Diuell that hath smiles Like Syrens songs and teares like Crocadiles Yet there be some I will not name them now Whom I haue seene vnto such Puppits bow And be as seruiceable as a groome That feares another man will beg his roome They had beene glad ful oft to please their pride With costly gifts and forc't for to abide Imperious scoffs with many scornefull words Such as the humors they are in affords And yet for these thei 'le venter Honors liues If they command it when for their poore Wiues Though they in Beauty loue and true delight Exceed them more then day-time doth the night They le scarcely take vppon them for to speake In any case of theirs their loues so weake Yea and their lust doth wrap them in such blindnes They cannot giue them one poore look in kindnes Moreouer for their lust they haue not laid Base plots alone like him that was conueyd In a close trunk because in secrecy He would vnseene enioy his venery I say not only therein haue they retcht Their damn'd inuentions It hath also stretcht Vnto strange lusts of which I wil not speake Because I may offend the minde that 's weake Or least I to some simple one should show Those sinnes by naming he did neuer know And here I leaue there 's lurking holes such store This stinking Vermin I wil hunt no more OF HATE SATYR 3. BVt I haue rous'd another here as bad They call it Hate A worse I neuer had Before in chase I scarce can keepe insooth My selfe from danger of his venom'd tooth This is the Passion that doth vse to moue The mind a cleane contrary way to loue It is an inspiration of the Divel That makes men long for one anothers euill It cankers in the heart and plagueth most Not him that 's hated but the hateful host And yet there 's too too many I do know Whose hearts with this soule poyson ouer-flow Of which I haue a true intelligence By the sharpe scoffs and slanders springing thence For where it rules they cannot well conceale it But either wordes or deeds or both reueale it Were it iust causes that did stil engender This passion in them or if they could render A reason fort 't were somwhat but their will Carries them on in spight of Reason still These are their humors for a slight offence Thei 'le hate th' offender for a recompence Some malice all that any way excell In which who thinkes but they do very well And many haue abhorred God amend them The stranger that did neuer yet offend them VVhich they are not asham'd for to confesse Yet in their hate continue ner'e the lesse But though that they can yeeld no reason why They beare them causlesse mallice yet can I Their hearts are il and it is seldome knowne That a sweet broâ—ke from bitter springs hath flowne There 's some to when they see a man respected More then themselues though they be not neglected They inly grudge and outwardly disdaine Being alike condition'd as was Caine Some hate their friends that loue and count them deare As by the sequel plainely shal appeare One that a seeming friendship had profest me Vpon a time did earnestly request me That I would plainely my opinion shew What I of his conditions thought or knew And that I would without exceptions tel What acts of his did not become him well I scorning flattry with a louing heart Twixt him and me my mind did soon impart And as a friend that is vnfaigned ought Left nothing vnreueald of what I thought Yea without feare I boldly reprehended If I perceiud he any way offended Provided alwayes that I did not swerue From a decorum fitting to obserue But marke Mans nature he perceiuing I Had taken note of some infirmity He would not haue vnript And seeing toe I espide more then he wisht I should doe Of his ill humours though I must confesse Being my friend I lou'd him nothing lesse In steed of thankes and liking for my paines My company and sight he now refraines And for my kindnes like a thanklesse mate Doth ill repay me with a lothing hate This one I know and by that one I finde That there be many beare as bad a minde But let vs for their true conuersion pray For we alasse may very iustly say Quod nulla est in terra Charitas Et Odium parit ipsa Veritas Againe the wicked hates beyond all measure The righteous man that contradicts his pleasure And that 's the fundamentall cause I know That many men doe hate their teachers so These common humors are obseru'd of few Yet may a yong experience find them true And boldly say that all in whom th' are found Haue poysoned hearts polluted and vnsound But they corrupted aboue all the rest Which hate their friends they should account of best But let Men striue and study to remoue This passion from
their hearts and graffe on Loue. Let them not harbor such a hellish sinne Which being entred marreth all within Nor let them thinke my counsell merits laughter Since Scripture saies to hate our brother's slaughteâ— OF ENVY SATYR 4 THen some enuenom'd with an enuious touch Think eu'ry thing their neighbor hath to much O Lord say they if in the field they be What goodly corne and wel-fed beasts hath he If in the house they neuer in their liues Saw fairer women then their neighbours wiues T is pitty shee that puts so many downe Should be embraced by so rude a clowne That house is too well furnisht or doth stand Better then his or it hath finer land This farme hath profits more then his by much For wood and water he had neuer such Yea so he grudges inwardly and frets At euery good thing that his neighbour gets Of these besides there are that when they see Any beloued or in fauour be Especially in Courts and great mens houses Then the heart swelleth and the Enuious rouses Ne're resting till that like a spightfull elfe He doe displace them or disgrace himselfe Now some are in the minde that hate and This Still goe together and one Passion is Indeed they soule iniurious Humors be So like they seeme to haue Affinitee But if 't were so me thinks betwixt them both There should arise more wrangling them there doth So t is with kinsmen they enuy the good Of those that are the same in flesh and bloud But here may be the difference and it shall Hate doth extend to some and this â—o all Yet enuious men doe least spight such as be Of ill report or of a low degree But rather they doe take their ayme at such Who either wel-be-loued are or rich And therefore some doe fitly liken these Vnto those flies we terme Cantharides Cause for the most part they alight on none But on the flowers that are fairest blowne Or to the boisterous winde which sooner grubs The stately Cedar then the humble shrubs But yet that sometimes shakes the bush below And moues the leafe that 's Wither'd long agoe As if he had not showne sufficient spight Vnlesse it also could orewhelme him quite And bury it in earth So I haue found The blast of enuy flies as low's the ground And though it hath already brought a man Euen vnto the meanest state it can Yet t is not satisfi'd but still deuising VVhich way it also may disturbe his rising This I know true or else it could not be That any man should hate or enuy me Being a creature one would thinke that 's plast Too low for to be toucht with enuies blast And yet I am I see men haue espi'd Some-thing in me too that may be enui'd But I haue found it now and know the matter The reason they are rich and I le not flatter Yes and because they see that I doe scorne To be their slaue whose equall I am borne I heard although 't were spoken in a cloud They censure that my knowledge makes me proud And that I reach so farre beyond my calling They euery hower doe expect my falling With many a prayer and prognostication To shew their loue not worthy Reuelation But what care I to quit their good surmising I doe desire my fall may be their rising Which say should once be as I hope t will neuer I trust to God it shall not be for euer And for because I know it cannot be Much lower then it is it greeues not me And where they say my wit augments my pride My conscience tels me that I am belide For knowledge of my wants doth greeue me so I haue small ioy to boast of that I know But let them scandall as I heare they doe And see whose lot the shame will fall vnto The shafts are aim'd at me but I le reiect them And on the shooters too perhaps reflect them I care not for their enuy since they show it Nor doe I feare their mallice now I know it For to preuent the venome of their throat I le of this poyson make an Antidote And their presaging though it be abuse I hope wil serue me to an excellent vse For where before I should haue tooke no heed Their wordes shall make me circumspect indeed Yea I wil be more careful to do wel Which were a plague as bad for them as hel Some I do know yea too too well I know them And in this place do a remembrance owe them These when that through their enuy they intend To bring one out of fauour with his friend Wil make as though they some great vices knew That he is guilty of and not a few Thei le shake their heads as if they did detest The course he followes and that not in iest If to the Father they dispraise the sonne It shall be slily indirectly done And thus I hope there 's some wil vnderstand He liues I tel you at a sâ—cond hand Should I say al I know 't would much offend you But more such children I pray God neu'r send you With other words of doubt to breed suspition But dare not being of a base condition To name them any fault And good cause why It may be prou'd vnto their shames a ly Now t is a quality I do dispise As such a one doth him whom he enuies If therefore any do that loue professe me Lord from their friendship I beseech thee blesse me Some crafty ones wil honor to their face Those whom they dare not openly disgrace Yet vnder-hand their fames they 'l vndermine As lately did a seeming friend of mine They 'l sowe their slanders as if they with griefe Were forc't to speake it or that their vnbeliefe Were loth to credit it when 't is well knowne The damn'd inuention was at first their owne Some doe not care how grosly they dispraise Or how vnlikely a report they raise Because they know if 't be so false an ill That one beleeues it not another will And so their enuy very seldome failes But one way or another still preuailes Oh villanous conceit an engin bent To ouerthrow the truest innocent For well they know when onee a slander's sowne And that a false report abroad is blowne Though they would wipe it out yet they can neuer Because some scar will stick behind for euer But what is this that men are so inclind And subiect to it how may 't be defin'd Sure if the same be rightly vnderstood It is a griefe that springs from others good And vexes them if they doe but heare tell That other mens endeauors prosper well It makes them grieue when any man is friended Or in their hearing praised or commended Contrariwise againe such is their spight In other mens misfortunes they delight Yea notwithstanding it be not a whit Vnto their profit not their benefit Others prosperity doth make them leane Yea it deuoureth and consumes them cleane But if they see them in
Since we must neither speake nor hold our peace Some will be angry if they cannot make Another their opinions for to take Others haue meanings but they cannot shew them Yet are displeas'd with those that doe not know And I haue seene that anger may be holy them A good man mooued for anothers folly Yet in such cases let not any chafe But pray as I doe they may mend and laugh Me thinkes they should be men vnfit to weild The sword of Iustice that do basely yeild Vnto so brute a passion yet haue we Some Gouernours that ouer-ruled be By this and worse affections yea some now Haue charge of others that doe worse know how To guide themselues the angry Magistrate To be aueng'd on him whom he doth hate For priuate causes drawes the publike sword And all the Rigor that the lawes affoord Must serue his Choller such there be so many You cannot misse one though I name not any Now diuers doe affirme such men as be Hasty so they tearme this infirmitie Are the best natur'd who that lesson taught If they be best I le sweare the best be naught Moreouer there be many doe suppose It is a signe of courage what meane those Where is their iudgements they me thinkes should gather That it were weakenesse did produce it rather Or else why should the feeble and the sicke Women and children be most chollerick Againe there 's some whose iudgement is as rude Doe thinke that Anger quickens fortitude But that 's a vertue surely will deny With such a Vice to haue affinity Thou that hast iudgement tell me can it be That Fortitude and Anger may agree I thinke it not for why the one is steady And rul'd by reason t'other rash and heady The one doth nothing but on consultation The other cannot take deliberation And therefore if that we be well aduis'd It is a humor ought to be despis'd And though some thence much help may seeme to gather To whet on Fortitude it hinders rather Yea t is a strange vnreasonable Passion That brings the owner cleane beside all fashion Making him speake if ought but discontent him Yea doe the thing of which he shall repent him And of a friend if I might chuser be I 'de rather haue a man that 's mad then he Some say 't is inflamation of the blood And may with carefull heed be soone withstood But their 's so few that seeke to stop this ill That most do let it runne at randome stil And very faintly yeeld to the inuasion Of this wild Passion on the least occasion But he indeed that would a medcine find For this disease must haue a setled mind Not giuing credit vnto all reports Nor yet delighting in vaine toyes nor sports On dogs or hawkes his mind must not be set So much as for their losse to chafe or fret He should not fancy fuch fond idle trash But euer taking heed of being rash Athenodorus good aduice embrace And follow Cotis that wise King of Thrace Whereby he best shall quench this Passions tinder And many an Angry fumish fit may hinder OF IEALOVSIE SATYR 7 BVt though these angry-ones soon breed a braule And are pernicious to conuerse with-all Not one â—ot better is the iealous-head That thinks his friend and 's wife are still a-bed This Passion as it plainely doth appeare Proceeds out of a too-much loue with feare Loue in a match procures the highest bliss That for vs men on earth ordained is But adde a feare of loosing of our ioy And that we loue so dearely 't will destroy All our delights and strewing good with ill Makes that seeme lost which we haue with vs still Thus doth it often with the Iealous proue VVho carefull in the choosing of his loue Hath gotten her that is not faire alone But modest wise and curteous hating none Nor yet affecting any but her peere For which good parts her husband counts her deere As well he may her vertues he 'll vphold Dares sweare she will not be allur'd with gold Honor nor beauty but as she is chast So hee 's perswaded will be to the last And to himselfe so well he seemes to thriue He thinkes his owne the happiest choise aliue 'T is good Thus for no hurt he wiued well But soft there there is an after part to tell This man when he by daily proofe doth see His wife no other then a wife should be It so augments his Loue to that extreame He knowes not if he be awake or dreame Now doth this Loue for Loue will euer doe it For a Companion take in Feare vnto it A feare of loosing what he loues so much And then the nature of this feare is such That it begets suspect which creeping in Doth by a little at the first begin To make him doubt his spouse doth loosely liue Whereto vpon a slight report to giue Firme credence he seemes loth but yet ere long He doth but think perhaps she doth him wrong Which if he doe that one false thought 's enough To giue all former truths the ouerthrow And why Suspect growes thereupon so great See thrusts true iudgement quite besides her seat Which being done then straight begins to wane The good conceit he of his bliss had tane For if his friend doth to his house repaire He thinkes t is onely cause his wife is faire But if 't be strangers he durst pawne his life There 's some compact betweene them his wife Yea though their busines to himselfe he find He thinks t is bâ—t a hood to keep him blind Then all the sweet he had is turn'd to sowre Faine would he think well but hath not the powre Much care torments his heart and yet he will Be prying farther to encrease it still Yea he will seeke although he truely know The more he seekes the more he findes his woe Beside suspect receiueth in the head All things that may be mis-interpreted And the best thought her vertue 's like to winne Is onely this It seru'd to cloake her sinne In briefe his liking thus he marreth quight And there he loath's where once he tooke delight But wherefore Onely cause he doth mistrust And not on any proofe that she 's vniust Vnhappy woman haplesly to wed So meere a sot and such a Iealous head An owle-eyed buzzard that by day is blind And sees not things apparant yet can find That out which neuer was The feare to loose The Iewell he aboue all Iemms did chuse That feare I say of wit doth so bereaue him He thinks that 's gone which means not yet to leaue him Oh foolish man that hauing gain'd a bliss Doost mak 't a curse by vsing it amiss If iudgement be not blinded in thee looke Try if thou hast not all this while mistooke Is not thy wife still faire and to the eye Seemes she not yet to haue that modesty Thou didst commend her for Is she not wary With whom she walks or speaks or
years we do take a view Or count the number of our able men Flattring our selues there with as if that then Hauing so great and huge a multitude Though we were nere so inexpert and rude There were no cause of feare but a Realmes might Consists not in the number that must fight More in their skill for of good souldiers ten Will foile a hundred vnexperienc't men Such as we are For 't is a shame to speake How wonderfull vnfitty and how weake This ignorance makes most of vs except VVhom braue South-hamptons gouernment hath kept In warlike order I doe meane indeed Our Hampshire Ilanders of whom for need A hundred boyes that nere had haire on chin Shal from fiue hundred of vp-landish win Both field and Towne By which it may appeare Good gouernment with profitable feare VVithin a few short yeares so wel wil thriue One shal become to haue the odds of fiue These therefore that haue wisedome for to tell When they do any thing amisse or well Stil in this Passion obserue a meane And not to feare nor to presumption leane OF DESPAIRE SATY 11. NO more of feare for lo his impious brat Lookes now to be admitted this is that We call Dispaire with ghastly looks he stands And poisons ropes or poin-yards fills his handes Still ready to do hurt one step no more Reaches from hence vnto dam nations dore This is that Passion giues a man instruction To wrest the Scriptures to his owne destruction And makes him think while he on earth doth dwel He feeles the very torturing pangs of hell It makes men rage like furies screeeh and houle With exclamations horrible and foule Like Monsters more then men Onely damnation Is in their mouthes no mercy nor saluation They seeme to hope for they extreamely feare Some monstrous shapes which seeme for to appeare Through their imaginations and the paine That they in soule and conscience do sustaine All earthly tortures doth so much exceed That they haue thought them selues in hell indeed Oh what repentant liues some vow to liue If God would but once more vouchsafe to giue Their health and hope againe then they would spend Their liues and good vnto no other end But wholly for his glory yet there 's now Some liuing that haue quite forgot that vow God giue them grace to looke into their error Or they wil one day find a double terror Some in this agony haue little will To any thing vnlesse it be to kill Or make themselues away whereto the Diuell The author and chiefe causer of this euill Vnlesse that God in mercy him preuents Is ready to prouide him instruments I euen quake to thinke what humors be Attending on this hellish maladee And for some cause I mean not here to shew them But pray that all had grace for to eschew them Now some do thinke this passion being taken Can very hardly be again forsaken But let none thinke so for why God in distresse Doth neuer leaue man quite without redresse Nor can we say that he hath left vs voyd Of helpe for this when ere we are anoy'd Through Satans guile for pittying our case He leaues vs hope of fauour and of grace If wee 'l lay hold on 't which to make more cleare He let his euerlasting loue appeare In highest measure by the sacrifice Of CHRIST his sonne for our iniquities And also did not sinne thus make vs blind For euery greefe of body and of mind He hath ordain'd a salue All Christians know Or should at least the spring from whence doth flow A pretious liquor that will quickly cure Our strongest Passions if the cup be pure Or if we do not so presume as stand And lap it here and there with our owne hand For that 's the way to sooth vp many a passion And the all-only cause of Desperation Which from all good-men I do wish as farre As earth's low center from the highest star But now dispaire or distrust is twofold One sort of which I haue already told Being concerning matters of saluation The horriblest and feareful'st desperation But th' other is alone of earthly things Yet mighty disaduantage with it brings VVhere it gets entrance this makes many loath To vndertake great matters cause through sloth They do dispaire to reach them yea it breeds A carelessnesse in man and thence proceeds Not a few treasons for the breach of law Makes many times the subiect in such awe That he dispaires of pardon for his ill And therefore not alone remaines in 't still But being guilty for to salue one sore Incurs the danger of a thousand more And for because he thinkes himselfe vndone Wil for assurance to Rebellion runne Besides there 's some dispairing of their cause And being brought to triall by the lawes For some offence are obstinately mute To these forsooth the commons do impute A manly Resolution cause thereby They saue their landes to their posterity But sure there is no wise-man wil commend Him that so desperately seekes his end And wilfully doth cast away himâ—elâ—e Body and soule perhaps to saue his pelfe To some suruiuors where as if he bide On hope and not dispaire for to be tride According to the lawes he may be cleer'd And quitted of the danger he so fear'd As some haue beene Besides if we indure But a small paine if we despaire of cure Ease or amends 't wil make it seem to be Vnsufferable whereas if that we Haue any Hope the ease we looke to win VVill mittigate the torture we are in His winter toyle what Ploughman could sustain If he despaired of his haruest gaine And the strong'st army needs must faint and â—ly If it despaire before of victory But to conclude it must be vnderstood Dispaires a Passion that is no time good 'T is alway hurtfull and I can obserue Nothing whereto a man may make it serue Vnlesse to helpe a troope of coward fight For could a man lead them past hope of flight VVhere they should see there were no remedy But they must dye or get the victory Despaire in that case may giue them the day That would haue lost it to haue run away OF HOPE SATY 12. THrice welcome Hope the diuel keep home the tother Dispaire feare ar sitting for no other This is the Passion that of all the rest We haue most reason to esteme of best For if it be with good aduise applide A salue it is God did himselfe prouide To ease not onely euery outward greife But when the very soule doth want releefe It wil redresse her paine although it were The shaking of that hideous monster feare Oh precious Balme Yea if that man had power To take it to himselfe at such an hower When black Dispaire doth pinch him that indeed Would quite expell it and he should not need Apothecary drugs But what can wee Apply aright and not instructed be By Gods good inspiration Nay 't is true We are so farre vnlike for to
they know it so they cannot keep Their melting eyes from teares but they must weep I might touch Parents chiefly in the City That mar their children by their cockering pitty But other Passions call me now away And yet before I leaue thus much I le say Those fond-kind Parents that take rods from schooles Haue almost fild the land with knaues and fooles And those that think we need no pitty rue Let them not hold so stil for this is true Fond pitty rests in no true manly breast And therefore you that are or would at least Be counted men be not therewith ore ' borne For t is a Passion that novv Women scorne OF CRVELTY SATYR 14. BVt here 's another beares vs farther wide If we embrace it on the other side And therefore whilst we seeke for to beware Of foolish Pitty we must haue a care Least this do ouer-run vs t is a thing Whose very name doth seeme enough to bring All men in the opinion to confesse T is an inhumaâ—e hellish wickednes A monstrous Passion so vnfit to rest Or harbor in a reasonable brest That beasts in whom it rather should remaine Doe for the greatest part the same refraine And yet as odious as it doth appeare Vnlesse men looke to their affections neere 'T will steale vpon them and they shall begin Not only to be quickly snar'd therein Although at first they doe abhorre it much â—ut more the nature of this Passion 's such It will begin delightfull and it makes So deepe impression in the heart and takes So sound a root 't will hardly be displac't Whilst that the body by the soule is grac't And yet some doe supposer iâ— may with ease Be left or tooke as eu'ry one shall please But they are wide like them that ouer-bold And trusting to their proper strength vphold We neede not this same Passion discommend Nature sufficient is to reprehend That fault they say And they detest it so Reason can neere haue such an ouerthrow That they should liue themselues for to defile With any passion that they know so vile Indeed it is a monstrous villany And most I thinke can raile at cruelty Yet let none be so carelesse for 't is true The odious vices we doe most eschew Grow pleasing by degrees When Hasael VVas told what he should doe to Israel Full little thought he then his gentle heart Should euer giue consent to act a part Of such a Tragick Scaene and yet we find He became after of another mind For our intents and best affections be Exceeding subiect to vncertaintie Those we thinke surest and vnlesse each hower We be remembred such a state is our We should forget our selues Philip the Sire Of that bold Grecian King that did aspire To be the worlds third Monarch knew full well Himselfe to be a Man yet could not tell Whereto he might through humane frailty fall And therefore wil'd his seruant for to call Thus at his window ere the day began Philip Remember that thou art a man And e'ne as hatefull as this Passion is To be remembred so 't were not amisse But men are stronger now they thinke then he And much lesse prone to imbecillitie But you that thinke so and you that vphold This needs no warning 'pray let me be bold For to demand some questions since there be So few as you thinke stain'd with cruelty Is he not mercilesse that without shame Doth rob his neighbour of his honest name By raising false reports doth not that Lord That to his Tenant grudges to afford What Loue and Conscience giues or he that takes The common profit to himselfe and makes His owne good of it when he knowes thereby Many a poore man 's brought to Beggery Doth not I say that Landlord hardly deale And is he not vnto the common weale A cruell foe some damned Vsurers That are I thinke the Diuels Treasurers For by the small vse they of riches make They for another seeme their care to take Are they not cruell when they cannot be Contented with their Statute Vsuree But must encrease their gaines by bribes and guifts With many subtile and vnlawfull shifts Pinching poore debtors till their greedy hands Haue got possession both of goods and lands What are out Lawyers that can brooke to see Christians like Beasts that still a wrangling be And yet when it lies in their power to part them Will for their owne gaine vnto discord hart them Keeping them still at strife by adding fuell To maintaine an ill flame Are they not cruell Yes verily and so are not alone The mercilesse offenders but each one Who when he doth perceiue that there is need Is slacke to doe a charitable deed And what may they be that employ their care To pamper vp the flesh with curious fare Largely prouiding for the Bodies good Whilst the poore Soule is hunger-steru'd for food They are not cruell No t is like that such That can take pittie on themselues so much Are mercifull to others You will say To poison men 't were ill then what are they That by false doctrine fraught with errors foule Seeke to enuenome and infect the soule Cruell they are I know you must confesse But then you 'le say t is not that Cruelnesse You vnderstood As if you did suppose None through this Passion did offend but those That murtherers be In truth I thinke that this I here recite not principallest is For it from other causes doth proceed Whereas true proper Cruelty indeed Is when a man delights and longs to see Or doe some deed that 's full of Crueltee Iust such was his that out of a desire To see how Troy burn't when it was on fire Caus'd Rome in many places for to flame And longing to behold from whence he came Ript vp his mothers wombe a passiue right VVas also his that tooke so much delight For to behold men strangely tortured That he out of his bounty promised A large reward to him that could inuent The cruel'st and vnusuall'st punishment VVhich Phalaris demanding was therefore The first that made his Brazen Bull to roare And like to this are those mens humors to That vncompel'd would make no more a doe To murther till a Country were vnman'd Then doth a schoole-boy with a walking wand To lop downe thistles tops Now these men be Passiuely cruell in the high'st degree And though the first rehearsed be not so Yet thereto they may very quickly grow Vnlesse they haue oft warning to beware Since they already halfe-way entred are Especially the greedy hungry elfe That would for profit gladly damne himselfe For Auarice doth harden so the heart In any mischiefe he may beare a part No cruelty the Couetous refraines Murther nor Treason so he may haue gaines If that I thought 't would any thing auaile Against this Passion I could further raile But as it raignes in man experience showes So that 't is euill there is none but knowes Wherefore I 'le say
that he is sure to finde Himselfe to morrow in that very minde Hee 's in to day though he not onely know No reason wherefore he should not be so But also though he plainly do perceiue Much cause he should not that opinion leaue May no man do it who then iustly can Be forced to rely or trust in Man Whose thoughts are changing and so oft amisse That by himselfe himselfe deceiued is Who is so sottish as to build Saluation On such a feeble tottering foundation As Man who is 't that hauing a respect To his soules safety will so much neglect That precious assurance as to lay His confidence on that false peece of clay Which being fickle merits farre lesse trust Then letters written in the sand or dust Do they not see those they haue soundest deem'd And for their constants writers still esteem'd All wauering in assertions yea but looke And you shall finde in one and the same booke Such contradiction in Opinion As shewes their thoughts are scarce at Vnion Where finde you him that dares be absolute Or alwaies in his sayings resolute Ther 's none I by my owne experience speake I haue a feeling that we men are weake Whereon much musing makes me inly mourne And grieue at heart that I a man was borne Yet herevpon I do desire that no man VVould gather that I long to be a woman Alas how often had I good Intendments And with my whole heart vow'd and sworn amendments Yea purpos'd that wherein I once thought neuer Vnconstancy should let me to perseuer And yet for all my purpose and my vow I am oft alter'd ere my selfe knowes how But therefore since it is not I alone Or any certaine number that is knowne To be vn-stable but e'ne all that be Since none I say is from this frailty free Let vs confesse it all and all implore Our nere repenting God that euermore Remaines the same we may be as we ought More certaine both in Word and Deed Thought That he will keep vs from Inconstancy Yea from all damned lewd Apostasie But howsoeuer our affections change And we in slight opinions hap to range Yet pray his Truth in vs be so ingraued Continuing to the end we may be saued OF WEAKNES SATYR 3. BVt oh looke here for I haue surely found The Maine chiefe Root the very spring and Ground Of our Inconstancy It is not Chance That so dis-ables our perseuerance But a base Weaknesse which to terme aright Is meerely a priuatâ— on of that might Or a detraction from that little power Which should be in those limbs and minds of our We boast of strength but tell me can our daies Affoord a Milo or a Hercules Can all the world and that is large enough A match for Hector or Achilles show Haue we a Champion strong enough to weild This Buckler or Sir Aiax seauen-fold-Shield I thinke we haue not but I durst so grant There be some liuing shall with Aiax vaunt Nay now in these daies it is doubted much VVhether that any former age had such As these fore-named but indeed our faith Binds vs to credit that as Scripture saith There was a Samson who could fright whole hosts And rent downe Azaths barred gates and posts Whose mighty Arms vnarm'd could bring to passe E'ne with the rotten iaw bone of an Asse A thousands ruine and yet 't will be long Er'e he shall thereby proue that Maâ— is strong For first the strength he seem'd to haue was known To be the Spirit of God and not his owne And then his proper weaknesse did appeare When after his braue actiheihad wel-neare Been dead for thirst whereas if he in spight Of Nature had been able by his might Out of this little Stony-rocke to wring To quench his present thirst some flowing Spring As did a Stronger one or if his power Could haue compel'd the melting clouds to shower For present need such plenteous drops of raine He might haue had no cause for to complaine Or craue more aid Sure then we might at length Be brought for to beleeue that Men had strength But ne're till then Hee 's mighty that can make The Heaueus Earth Hell with 's breath to shake That in his spheare the Suns swift course can stop And Atlas with his burthen vnder-prop He that with ease his massy globe can rowle And wrap vp Heauen like a parchment scrowle He that fot no disease or paine will droop Nor vnto any plague infernall stoop He that can Meat and Drinke and sleepe refraine Or hath the power to dye and rise againâ— Hee 's strong indeed but he that can but teare Or rent in two a Lyon or a Beare Or doe some such like act and then goe lye Himselfe ore-come by some infirmitte How ere with vants he seemes his deedes to grace He is both miserable weak and base What Creature is there borne so weake as Man And so vn-able tel me he that can Or if that they could number'd be by any Count his disease and what hath so many Or else what creature is there if he be In bone and flesh of the same quantity So fraile as Man or that can worse sustaine Hunger or thirst or cold or heat or paine Sure none and yet in Histories we find Til Luxury hath weakened thus mankind They weare much stronger could indure the heat Trauel a long time without Drink or meat And their best dainty was no costlier thing Then a wild-root or water from the Spring With which small Commons Nature was content Yea in our Climate people naked went And yet no question felt as little cold As we wrapt vp in halfe a dozen fold They had no wast-coats night-caps for their heads Nor downy pillowes nor soft feather-beds They scorn'd as much to haue such thinges about theÌ„ As we in this Age scâ—rne to be without them Their heads some stone bare vp their brawny sides VVith ease the hardnes of the earth abides Gluttonous fare that so the pallat pleases Nere fild their bodies full of foule diseases Nor any pleasing liquors with excesse Made them grow weak through beastly drunkennes No lust-prouoking meats made them vnchaste Nor vnto carnall copulaâ—ton haste For I am in the minde they ne're requir'd it Till Nature come to herfull strength desir'd it And that it is alone which made them be More stout more strong and brauer men then we It was a noble care in them indeed but how Are we become such Dwarfes and Pigmies now How are our limbs so weake and feeble growne I thinke I need not tell it 't is well knowne Nice tender breeding which we well might spare Much drunkennes and our luxurious fare Which ads not strength as some doe vainely say But rather takes both strength and health away Yet chiefely this same imbecility Comes by too soone and frequent venery A beardlesse Boy now cannot keep his bed Vnlesse that he be of his Night-geere sped And many Giglets I haue married
Fate with such a weakling place it Who hath no helpes of Nature for to grace it Or one whose proper Knowledge is so small He is beholding to his Booke for all It onely breeds vnlesse it be some Treasons Cripled Opinions and prodigious Reasons Which being fauour'd brings in the Conclusion Publike Dissentions or their owne Confusion For I may liken Learning to a Shield With a strong Armor Lying in a field Ready for any man that hath the Wit To take it vp and arme himselfe with it Now if he be a man of strength and might That happens on that furniture to light He may doe wonders As offend his foe And keep himselfe and his from ouerthrow But if a weake and feeble man should take These instruments of Mars what would they make For his aduantage Surely I should gather They would goe neere to ouerthrow him rather For they would loade him so a man more strong Although he be vnarm'd may doe him wrong So he that is depriu'd of Natures guifts With all his Learning maketh harder shifts Through his owne weakenes incurs more shames Then many that want Art to write their Names We haue some Fellowes that would scorne to be Term'd Weake I know especially by Me Because they see that my vngentle Fate Allow'd me not to be a Graduate Yet whatsoeuer they will say vnto it For all their scorning I am like to doe it And to be breefe they are no simple fooles But such as haue yauld Ergo in the schooles Who being by some men of worship thought Fit men by whom their children may be taught And learnd enough for that they are allowd The name of Teachers whereof growing proud Because perhaps they heare that now and then They are admired at by the seruing-men Or else by reason somthing they haue said Hath beene applauded by the Chamber-maid They therevppon suppose that no man may Hold any thing for truth but what they say And in discourse their tongues so much wil walke You may not heere a man of reason talke They are halfe Preachers if your question be Of matters that concerne diuinity If it be law I 'le warrant they 'l out-face A dozen Pâ—oydens to maintaine their case But if it be of Physick you contend Old Galen and Hypocrates may send For their opinion nay they dare professe Knowledge in al things though there 's none know less Now I should wonder they preuaild so much Did not the Common-people fauour such But they are knowne although their verdit passes Proud Dogmatists and self-conceited Asses Whom I may tearme though I cannot out-scold them Weake simple fooles and those that doe vphold them Moreouer some but foolishly precise And in my iudgement far more weake then wise Misiudge of Poetry as if the same Did worthily deseâ—ue reproach and blame If any booke in verse they hap to spy Oh out vpon 't away prâ—fane they cry Burn't reade it not for sure it doth containe Nothing but fables of a lying braine Al-asâ— take heed indeed it oft pollutes The out-side of thy false-vaine glorious sutes And to the blinded people makes it plaine The Coulour thou so counterset'st will staine Because we see that men are drunke with wine Shall we contemne the liquor of the Vine And since there 's some that doe this Art misuse Wilt therefore thou the Art it selfe abuse 'T were meere iniustice For Diuinitie Hath with no Science more affinitie Then this and howsoe're this scruple rose Rime hath exprest as sacred things as prose When both in this age and in former time Prose hath been ten-times more profane then rime But they say still that Poetry is lies And fables such as idle heads deuise Made to please fooles but now we may by this Perceiue their weaknes plainely what it is Yea this both weake and ignorant doth proue them In that thei 'l censure things that are aboue them For if that worthy Poets did not teach A way beyond their dull conceited reach I thinke their shallow wisedomes would espy A Parable did differ from a lie Yea if their Iudgement be not quite bereft Or if that they had any reason left The precious Truths within their fables wrapt Had not vpon so rude a Censure hapt But though that kind of teaching some dispraise As there 's few good things lik't of now adaies Yet I dare say because the Sâ—riptures show it The best e're taught on earth taught like a Poet And whereas Poets now are counted base And in this worth-lesse age in much disgrace I of the cause cannot refraine to speake And this it is mens Iudgements are growne weake They know not true desert for if they did Their well deseruings could not so be hid And sure if there be any doth despise Such as they are it is cause he enuies Their worthines and is a secret foe To euery one that truely learnes to know For of all sorts of men here 's my beliefe The Poet is most worthy and the chiefe His Science is the absolut'st and best And deserues honor aboue all the rest For 't is no humane knowledge gain'd by art But rather 't is inspir'd into the heart By diuine meanes and I doe muse men dare Twixt it and their professoins make compare For why should he that 's but Philosopher Geometrician or Astrologer Physitian Lawyer Rhetorician Historian Arithmetician Or some such like why should he hauing found The meanes but by one Arâ— to be renown'd Compare with him that claimes to haue a part And interest almost in euery Art And if that men may adde vnto their name By one of these an euerlasting fame How much more should it vnto them befall That haue not onely one of these but all As Poets haue for doe but search their works And you shall find within their writing lurks All knowledge if they vndertake Of Diuâ—ne matters any speech to make You 'l thinke them Doctors if they need to tell The course of starres they seeme for to excell Great Ptolomey entend they to perswade You 'l thinke that they were Retoricians made VVhat Law what Phisick or what History Can these not treat of Nay what mistery Are they not learn'd in If of Trades they write Haue they not all tearms and words as right As if he had seru'd an Apprentiship Can they not name all tooles for workemanship We see t is true If once they entreat of wars Of cruell bloudy fraies of wounds of scars VVhy then he speaks so like a souldier there That he hath beene begot in armes thou 'lt sweare Againe he writes so like a Nauigator As if they had seru'd Neptune in the water And thou wouldst thinke he might of trauaile make As great a Volume as our famous Drake Old Proteus and Vertumnus are but Apes Compar'd to these for shifting of their shapes There is no humorous Passion so strange To which they cannot in a moment change Note but their Drammaticks and you shall see They I speake
these men will be Admitted to the sacred Ministry But most of vs do now disdaine that Place Accounting it vnworthy meane and base Yea like to Ieroboams Priests we see They of the lowest of the people he And though we know the Israelites allow'd God the first-borne for his we are so proud Vnlesse they either do want shape or wit Or seeme for worldly busines vnfit Few thinke Gods seruice worthy the bestowing Their Child about it or such duty owing Vnto the same but rather that Vocation They count a blemish to their reputation But where 's your vnderstanding oh you men Turne from your bruitish dulnes once agen Honour Gods Messengers for why t is true To them both Reuereâ—ce and Honour 's due Think what they are and be not still selfe-minded Suffer not reason to be so much blinded If not for loue that you to Iustice beare Yet follow her although it be for feare And see that this presumption you amend Or looke some heauy plague shal be your end Then it is also a presumptuous act With knowledge to commit a sinfull fact Though ne're so small for sin 's a subtill else That by degrees insinuates it selfe Into our soules and in a little space Becomes too-huge a Monster to displace Yea it is certaine that one sinne though small Will make entrance great enough for all And what is 't but presumption to abuse And without-feare and reuerence to vse Gods sacred Word yet we that Christ professe Thinke it no fault or that there 's no fault lesse Else sure we would not in our common talke Let our loose tongues so much at randome walke We would not dare our Iests of that to make At vttering whereof the Heauens shake For if God had reueal'd his Gospel newes To vs as heeretofore vnto the Iewes He did the Law who heard him to their wonder Speaking through fearefull fiery flames and thunder We would more dread in any euill fashon To vse that sacred meanes of our suluation Our cursed Pagan vnbeleeuing foe I meane the Turke more reuerence doth show In those his dam'nd erroneous Rites then we In the true worship for 't is knowne that he Wil not so much as touch his Alcharon That doth containe his false Religion With vnwasht handes nor till he hath o'rewent All that his vaine and confus'd rablement Of Ceremonies vs'd much lesse dares looke On the Contents of that vnhallowed booke But we in midst of all our villany In our pot-conference and ribaldry Irreuerently can the same apply As if 't were some of Pasquils Letany But soft my Muse in her perambulation Hath hapt vpon an Excomunication And though that her Commission she wanted Yet she made bold to search wherefore 't was granted Which if you would know too why it may be Some were so pleas'd because they lack't a fee For had the Officers bin wel contented They say the matter might haue been preuented But you that haue the wisdomes to discerne When abuse is pray tel me I would learne Misuse we Excommunication You know it is a Separation From God and a most fearefull banishment From the partaking of his Sacrament And good mens fellowship a sad exile Perhaps for euer at the least a while From the true Church and oh most horrid euill A giuing of Men ouer to the Diuell And therefore was ordain'd in better times Onely for such who in their hainous crimes With hardned obstinacy did persist As may appeare but now we at our list As if the same but some slight matter were For euery trifle to pronounce it dare And peraduenture to on such as be More honest far and better much than we But since my Muse hath her endeauour done To note how men into this fault do run I will be bold to let you vnderstand One strange Presumption noted in our land Worth the amending and indeed 't is this Readers pray iudge how dangerous it is We seeing God hath now remooued far From this our Country his iust plague of war And made vs through his mercy so much blest VVe do in spight of all our foes yet rest Exempt from danger by vs it appeares Through the great blessing of these quiet yeares We are so feare-lesse care-lesse and secure In this our happy peace and so cock-sure As if we did suppose or heard it sed Oulâ— Mars were strangled or the Diuel dead Else can I not beleeue we would so lightly Esteeme our safely and let passe so slightly Our former care of Martiall discipline For excercises meerely Feminine VVe would not see our Armes so soild in dust Nor our bright blades eat vp with cankred rust As now they be our Bowes they lye and rot Both Musket and Caliuer is forgot And we lye open to all Forraine dangers For want of Discipline 't is knowne to Strangers Though weel 'e not see 't Alas will not our pleasure Let vs be once in seauen yeares at leasure To take a muster and to giue instruction No rather Pleasure will be our destruction For That first caus'd the Law that now preuents And barres the vse of Pouder-instruments To be enacted why for to preserue An idle Game the which I wish might sterue Amids our plenty so that with their curse The land and people might be nothing worse Cause for that trifle to the Realmes abuse The hand-gun hath been so much out of vse Scarce one in forty if to proofe it came Dares or knowes how for to discharge the same Oh valiant English we are like to hold The glory that our fathers had of old But sure I think some vndermining hand That studies for the ruine of the land Is cause of this in hope thereby at length To weaken ours and let in forraine strength What do we think cause theirs a truce with Spaine That we are safe Alas that thought is vaine Our dangers rather more for while they dar'd To proffer wrong they found vs still prepar'd The profitable feare that we were in Preuented danger that might else haue bin But now the cause of former feare is gone We haue not only let all care alone But also are so drunken with delights And drownd in pleasure that our dulled sprites Are so o'reclog'd with Luxury we droope More fit for Venus then for Mars his troope That if our foes should now so ventrous be For to inuade the lanâ— vnlesse that wee With speed amend this error heere 's my mind The way to worke our ruine thei 'le soone find For iust the Troians last nights watch wee keepe Who then were buried all in â—ine and sleepe We read when Cato should a Captaine chuse For the Panonian fight he did refuse His kins-man Publius cause that from the war He often had return'd without a scar And went perfum'd but if such faults as these Displeasd the Censor sure then in our dayes He scarcely would in towne or country find A man with vs according to his mind Such is our daintinesse Besides to strangers
Of all presumptions the most accurst And fulst of Danger Silly man take heed Do not before thy selfe an euill deed For when God wil forgiue and man forget Thy owne ill Conscience will oppose and set Her selfe against thee tell thee thine offending And keep thee back from euer apprehending Grace of forgiuenesse neither wil affoord The smallest comfort of the sacred word But rather to thy sad remembrance call Each saying that may serue to prooue thy fall And though that fire wondrous torture brings Vnto the body yet when conscience stings Nor fire nor sword nor hell it selfe can yeeld Aworser to ment God defend and shield Me from the like and giue me grace to feare So that I may preserue my Conscience cleare In all my actions And then I shall be In better case a thousand fold then he That vnto wealth and honour hath obtaind With a craz'd Conscience that is blurd and stain'd Alas how easie wert to climbe or mount To worldly Reputation and Account How soone could I if I had an intention For to contriue or plot a damn'd inuention Get golden heapes yea and so priuily That though t were done by craft and villany I by the blinded World would yet be deem'd Perhaps more honest but much more esteem'd Then now I am But God forbid that I Such base vaine trash and dunghil stuffe should buy At such a rate for there 's no Iewell dearer Nor any losse a man can haue goe nearer Then peace of Conscience which for to be true The ancient Poets very wisely knew And therefore fain'd their Fâ—ries with intent For to declare the inward punishment Of guilty mindes which sure they might do well For there is in them Diuels yea and hell With all her torture what else was the cause Nero who knew no God nor feared lawes When he had kil'd his mother tooke no rest But thought he saw her comming to molest And plague him for 't What made him to surmise He was still tortur'd in such hellish wise That furies did to his appearance scorch His liuing body with a burning torch Wast not his Conscience that had priuy beene Vnto the fact was not the cause within His owne bad selfe If t were let 's to amending Of our presumptuous sinnes aud bold offending If neither in regard of God nor men Oh le ts for feare of our owne Conscience then Yet there 's another thing which wert wel weighd Our rash presumption would be som-what staid The End of life with the ne're-ending paine God for presumptuous sinners doth ordaine Could we note that with deaths vncertaine times And how it takes men acting of the crimes Euen in the very nick of their offence And beares them ere they can repent them hence To such a place where nothing shall appeare But all the Gastly obiects of grimme feare Whereas each sense shall seuerally sustaine The miserable smart of endlesse paine The tender feeling shall in euery part Be subiect to th' intollerable smart Of hellish flames commixt with chilling cold Tortures beyond conceit not to be told The dainty mouth that had the Curioust tast And of the choysest cates still made repast Shall be fild vp yea belly throat and all With filth more loath-some then the bitterest gall The once perfumed Nostrill there shall drinke Foule noysome smels beside the sulpherous stinke Of choaking flames and there the listning eare Fed with the sound of pleasing Musicke heare Shall change it for the wofull screeching cry Of Damned soules that in hels torture lye VVhose hydeous howlings can by no defence Be kept from percing that amazed sence And then while they shal trembling thinke to flye From those amazements that do seeme so nigh To there the feareful'st obiects of the sight Their quite despairing mindes shall more affright For garish formes of foule mishapen fiendes And vgly Bugs for euermore attends To thwhart each looke But if this do not make Thy ouer hardened heart oh man to quake If this relation be too weake to win Or to reclaime thee from thy wonted sinne Reader if this do no impression leaue So that thou canst not any feare conceiue Through this description thinke vpon t at night Soone in thy bed when earth 's depriu'd of light I say at mid-night when thou wak'st from sleepe And lonely darknesse doth in silence keep The Grim-fac't night And but immagine then Thou wert borne all alone to some darke den And there set naked though thou felts no paine Yet seeing no way to get out againe If thou shouldst in that naked loneness heare Some yelling voyce or some strange noyse drawneâ—â— VVith threatning or but calling on thy name Oh with what Patience couldst thou bide the samâ— But if withall thy wandring eyes should marke And now and then see pearing through the darâ— Some monstrous visages or vgly faces VVhich shold make proffer of some rude embrâ—â—â— And smetime seeme as if they would begin VVith griping pawes to ceize thy trembling skiâ— Or but suppose that in thy Chamber there Where cannot be the hundreth part of feare Because to thee the place well knowne will be And thou must haue wherewith to couer thee Yet there I say suppose thou shouldst behold Nor such grim obiects as are heere foretold But Onely heare the dolefull voyce of men Complaining in the darke And now and then Behold the ghastly shape of friends long dead Wrapt in their sheetes as they were buried Or else from out thy Chamber floore to rise A troupe of bony pickt Anatomies Come pointing to thee as if thou wert he That must ere long their bare companion be Then thou wouldst feare I know and think on him Whose might fearful power thou didst contemn Thou wouldst consider better of the feare And hellish horror I haue mention'd heare That Dungeons estate thou would'st conceiue And somewhat thy presumptuous actions leaue Thou wouldst not so cast all thy care behind thee But watch thy self for feare least death shold finde thee Doing some il nor wouldst thou thus delay Times of repentance still from day to day But oh show should I hope that this I plead Will worke in them that shall but barely read What I haue writ Since I my selfe that know And haue some inward seeling of that woe For get my selfe I thought when I shall be From such and such like cares and troubles free Then wil I all my vanities forsake A better course of life I le vndertake And only seeke the glory of his name By whom I liue That day ere long time came Then I had other lets but if that they As I did seeke they might were once away I would indeed my duty better doe Well so it pleas'd God I orepast them too Yet somthing hindred still that I could neuer In my intended Christian course perseuer But euer found vnto my griefe and sorrow That I was bad to day and worse to morrow But oh thou God that knowst my hearts desire Do not oh