Catiline with his whole carkase dyes The carefull Mother when she casts her eyes On Venus Temple in soft lowly wise Demands the gift of beauty for her Boyes But askes it for her Girles with greater noyse At common formes her wish she neuer staies But for the height of delicacy prayes And why should'st thou reprooue this prudent choice Latona in faire Phaebe doth reioyce O but Lucretia's haplesse fate deterres That others wish not such a face as hers Virginia her sweet feature would forsake And Rutilaes crook'd backe would gladly take Where sonnes are beautifull the parents vext With care and feare are wretched and perplext So seldome an exact consent betweene Well fauor'd shapes and chastity is seene For should they be with holy manners taught In homely houses such as Sabines wrought Should bounteous natures lib'rall hand bestow Chast dispositions modest lookes which glow With sanguine blushes what more happy thing To Boyes can fauourable nature bring Whose inclinations farre more pow'rfull are Then many keepers and continuall care Yet are they neuer suffer'd to possesse The name of man such foule corrupters presse And by the force of large expences trust To make their Parents instruments of lust No Tyrant in his cruell Palace gelt Deformed Youths no Noble Child had felt Fierce Neroes rapes if all wry leg'd had beene If in their necks foule swellings had been scene If windy tumours had their bellies rays'd Or Camels bunches had their backes disprais'd Goe now with ioy thy young-mans forme affect Whom greater dangers and worse Fates expect Perhaps he shortly will the title beare Of a profest adult'rer and will feare To suffer iustly for his wicked fact Such paines as angry husbands shall exact Nor can he happier be then Mars his Starre T' escape those snares which caught the god of warre Yet oft that griefe to sharper vengeance drawes Then is permitted by th' indulgent lawes Some kill with swords others with scourges cut And some th' offenders to foule torments put But thine Endymion happily will proue Some Matrons Minion who may merit loue Yet when Seruilia him with money hires He must be hers against his owne desires Her richest ornaments she off will take And strip her selfe of Iewels for his sake What will not Hippia and Catulla giue To those that with them in adult'ry liue For wicked women in these base respects Place all their manners and their whole affects But thou wilt say Can beauty hurt the chaste Tell me what ioy Hippolitus did taste What good seuere Bellerophon receiu'd When to their pure intents they strictly cleau'd Both Sthenobaea and the Cretan Queene Asham'd of their repulse stirr'd vp their teene For then a woman breeds most fierce debate When shame addes piercing stings to cruell hate How would'st thou counsell him whom th' Emp'rors wise Resolues to marry in her husbands life The best and fairest of the Lords must dye His life is quencht by Messallinaes eye She in her nuptiall Robes doth him expect And openly hath in her gardens deckt A purple marriage bed nor will refuse To giue a dowre and ancient Rites to vse The cunning Wizzard who must tell the doome Of this successe with Notaries must come Thou think'st these things are hid from publike view And but committed to the trust of few Nay she will haue her solemne wedding drest With shew of Law then teach him what is best He dies ere night vnlesse he will obay Admit the crime he gaines a little stay Till that which now the common people heares May come by rumour to the Princes eares For he is sure to be the last that knowes The secret shame which in his houshold growes Thy selfe a while to her desires apply And life for some few dayes so dearely buy What way soeuer he as best shall chuse That faire white necke he by the sword must luse Shall men wish nothing wilt thou counsell take Permit the heau'aly powers the choyce to make VVhat shall be most conuenient for our Fates Or bring most profit to our doubtfull states The prudent gods can place their gifts aright And grant true goods in stead of vaine delight A man is neuer to himselfe so deare As vnto them when they his fortunes steare We carried with the fury of our minds And strong affection which our iudgement blinds VVould husbands proue and fathers but they see VVhat our wisht children and our wiues will bee Yet that I may to thee some pray'rs allow When to the sacred Temples thou do'st vow Diuinest entrailes in white Pockets found Pray for a sound mind in a body sound Desire braue spirit free from feare of death Which can esteeme the latest houre of breath Among the gifts of Nature which can beare All sorrowes from desire and anger cleare And thinkes the paines of Hercules more blest Then wanton lust the suppers and soft rest Where in Sardanapalus ioy'd to liue I show thee what thou to thy selfe mayst giue If thou the way to quiet life wilt treade No guide but vertue can thee thither leade No pow'r diuine is euer absent there VVhere wisdome dwells and equall rule doth beare But we O Fortune striue to make thee great Plac'd as a Goddesse in a heau'nly seate A funerall Hymne out of Prudentius O God the soules pure fi'ry Spring Who diff'rent natures wouldst combine That man whom thou to life didst bring By weakenesse may to death decline By thee they both are fram'd aright They by thy hand vnited be And while they ioyne with growing might Both flesh and spirit liue to thee But when diuision them recals They bend their course to seu'rall ends Into dry earth the body falls The feruent soule to heau'n ascends For all created things at length By slow corruption growing old Must needs forsake compacted strength And disagreeing webs vnfold But thou deare Lord hast meanes prepar'd That death in thine may neuer reigne And hast vndoubted waies declar'd How members lost may rise againe That while those gen'rous rayes are bound In prison vnder fading things That part may still be stronger found VVhich from aboue directly springs If man with baser thoughts possest His will in earthly mud shall drowne The soule with such a weight opprest Is by the body carried downe But when she mindfull of her birth Her selfe from vgly spots debarres She lifts her friendly house from earth And beares it with her to the Starres See how the empty bodies lyes VVhere now no liuely soule remaines Yet when short time with swiftnesse flyes The height of senses it regaines Those ages shall be soone at hand VVhen kindly heate the bones reuiewes And shall the former house command VVhere liuing blood it shall infuse Dull carkases to dust now worne VVhich long in graues corrupted lay Shall to the nimble ayre be borne VVhere soules before haue led the way Hence comes it to adorne the graue VVith carefull labour men affect The limbes dissolu'd last honour haue And fun'rall Rites with pompe are deckt
The custome is to spread abroad VVhite linnens grac'd with splendour pure Sabaean Myrrh on bodies strow'd Preserues them from decay secure The hollow stones by Caruers wrought VVhich in faire monuments are laid Declare that pledges thither brought Are not to death but sleepe conuay'd The pious Christians this ordaine Beleeuing with a prudent eye That those shall rise and liue againe Who now in freezing slumbers lye He that the dead disperst in fields In pittie hides with heapes of molds To his Almighty Sauiour yeelds A worke which he with ioy beholds The same Law warnes vs all to grone VVhom one seuere condition ties And in anothers death to mone All Fun'rals as of our Allies That Reu'rend man in goodnesse bred VVho blest Tobias did beget Preferr'd the buriall of the dead Before his meate though ready set He while the seruants waiting stand Forsakes the cups the dishes leaues And digges a graue with speedy hand Which with the bones his teares receiues Rewards from heau'n this worke requite No slender price is here repaid God cleares the eyes that saw no light While Fishes gall on them is laid Then the Creator would descry How farre from reason they are led VVho sharpe and bitter things apply To soules on which new light is spred He also taught that to no wight The heau'nly Kingdome can be seene Till vext with wounds and darksome night He in the worlds rough waues hath been The curse of death a blessing finds Because by this tormenting woe Steepe waies lye plaine to spotlesse minds VVho to the Starres by sorrowes goe The bodies which long perisht lay Returne to liue in better yeeres That vnion neuer shall decay VVhere after death new warmth appeares The face where now pale colour dwels VVhence foule infection shall arise The flowres in splendour then excels VVhen blood the skinne with beauty dies No age by Times imperious law With enuious prints the forehead dimmes No drought no leanenesse then can draw The moysture from the wither'd limmes Diseases which the body eate Infected with oppressing paines In midst of torments then shall sweate Imprison'd in a thousand chaines The conqu'ring flesh immortall growes Beholding from the skies aboue The endlesse groning of her foes For sorrowes which from them did moue VVhy are vndecent howlings mixt By liuing men in such a case VVhy are decrees so sweetly fixt Reprou'd with discontented face Let all complaints and murmurs faile Ye tender mothers stay your teares Let none their children deare bewaile For life renew'd in death appeares So buried seeds though dry and dead Againe with smiling greenenesse spring And from the hollow furrowes bred Attempt new eares of corne to bring Earth take this man with kind embrace In thy soft bosome him conceiue For humane members here I place And gen'rous parts in trust I leaue This house the soule her guest once felt VVhich from the Makers mouth proceeds Here sometime feruent wisdome dwelt VVhich Christ the Prince of VVisedome breeds A cou'ring for this body make The Author neuer will forget His workes nor will those lookes forsake In which he hath his Picture set For when the course of time is past And all our hopes fulfill'd shall be Thou op'ning must restore at last The limbes in shape which now we see Nor if long age with pow'rfull reigne Shall turne the bones to scatter'd dust And onely ashes shall retaine In compasse of a handfull thrust Nor if swift Floods or strong command Of VVindes through empty Ayre haue tost The members with the flying Sand Yet man is neuer fully lost O God while mortall bodies are Recall'd by thee and form'd againe VVhat happy seate wilt thou prepare VVhere spotlesse soules may safe remaine In Abrahams bosome they shall lie Like Lazarus whose flowry Crowne The rich man doth farre off espie While him sharpe fiery torments drowne Thy words O Sauiour we respect Whose triumph driues black Death to losse When in thy steps thou would'st direct The Thiefe thy fellow on the Crosse The faithfull see a shining way Whose length to Paradise extends This can them to those trees conuay Lost by the Serpents cunning ends To Thee I pray most certaine Guide O let this soule which thee obay'd In her faire birth-place pure abide From which she banisht long hath stray'd While we vpon the couer'd bones Sweet violets and leaues will throw The title and the cold hard stones Shall with our liquid odours flow FINIS
sauage Feudes and shall those lets deface Which keepe the Bordrers from a deare imbrace Both Nations shall in Britaines Royall Crowne Their diffring names the signes of faction drowne The siluer streames which from this Spring increase Bedew all Christian hearts with drops of peace Obserue how hopefull Charles is borne t' asswage The winds that would disturbe this golden age When that great King shall full of glory leaue The earth as base then may this Prince receiue The Diadem without his Fathers wrong May take it late and may possesse it long Aboue all Europes Princes shine thou bright O Gods selected care and mans delight Here gentle sleepe forsooke his clouded browes And full of holy thoughts and pious vowes He kist the ground assoone as he arose When watchfull Digby who among his foes Had wanderd vnsuspected all the night Reports that Richard is prepar'd to fight Long since the King had thought it time to send For trusty Norfolke his vndaunted friend Who hasting from the place of his abode Found at the doore a world of papers strow'd Some would affright him from the Tyrants aide Affirming that his Master was betray'd Some laid before him all those bloody deeds From which a line of sharpe reuenge proceeds With much compassion that so braue a Knight Should serue a Lord against whom Angels fight And others put suspicions in his minde That Richard most obseru'd was most vnkind The Duke awhile these cautious words reuolues With serious thoughts and thus at last resolues â—f all the Campe proue traytors to my Lord Shall spotlesse Norfolke falsisie his word Mine oath is past I swore t'vphold his Crowne And that shall swim or I with it will drowne It is too late now to dispute the right Dare any tongue since Yorke spred forth his light Northumberland or Buckingham defame Two valiant Cliffords Roos or Beaumonts name Because they in the weaker quarrell die They had the King with them and so haue I. But eu'ry eye the face of Richard shunnes For that foule murder of his brothers sonnes Yet lawes of Knighthood gaue me not a sword To strike at him whom all with ioynt accord Haue made my Prince to whom I tribute bring I hate his vices but adore the King Victorious Edward if thy soule can heare Thy seruant Howard I deuoutly sweare That to haue sau'd thy children from that day My hopes on earth should willingly decay Would Glouster then my perfect faith had tryed And made two graues when noble Hastings died This said his troopes he into order drawes Then doubled haste redeemes his former pause So stops the Sayler for a voyage bound When on the Sea he heares the tempests sound Till pressing hunger to remembrance sends That on his course his housholds life depends With this he cleares the doubts that vext his minde And puts his ship to mercy of the winde The Dukes stout presence and couragious lookes Were to the King as falls of sliding brookes Which bring a gentle and delightfull rest To weary eyes with grieuous care opprest He bids that Norfolke and his hopefull sonne Whose rising fame in Armes this day begun Should leade the vantguard for so great command He dares not trust in any other hand The rest he to his owne aduice referres And as the spirit in that body stirres Then putting on his Crowne a fatall signe So offer'd beasts neere death in Garlands shine He rides about the rankes and striues t' inspire Each brest with part of his vnwearied fire To those who had his brothers seruants been And had the wonders of his valour seene He saith My fellow Souldiers though your swords Are sharpe and need not whetting by my words Yet call to minde those many glorious dayes In which we treasur'd vp immortall prayse If when I seru'd I euer fled from foe Fly ye from mine let me be punisht so But if my Father when at first he try'd How all his sonnes could shining blades abide Found me an Eagle whose vndazled eyes Affront the beames which from the steele arise And if I now in action teach the same Know then ye haue but chang'd your Gen'ralls name Be still your selues ye fight against the drosse Of those that oft haue runne from you with losse How many Somersets dissentions brands Haue felt the force of our reuengefull hands From whome this youth as from a princely floud Deriues his best yet not vntainted bloud Haue our assaults made Lancaster to droupe And shall this Welshman with his ragged troupe Subdue the Norman and the Saxon line That onely Merlin may be thought diuine See what a guide these fugitiues haue chose Who bred among the French our ancient foes Forgets the English language and the ground And knowes not what our drums trumpets sound To others minds their willing othes he drawes He tells his iust decrees and healthfull lawes And makes large proffers of his future grace Thus hauing ended with as chearefull face As Nature which his stepdame still was thought Could lend to one without proportion wrought Some with loud shouting make the valleyes ring But most with murmur sigh God saue the King Now carefull Henry sends his seruant Bray To Stanly who accounts it safe to stay And dares not promise lest his haste should bring His sonne to death now pris'ner with the King About the same time Brakenbury came And thus to Stanley saith in Richards name My Lord the King salutes you and commands That to his ayde you bring your ready bands Or else he sweares by him that sits on high Before the armies ioyne your sonne shall die At this the Lord stood like a man that heares The Iudges voyce which condemnation beares Till gath'ring vp his spirits he replies My fellow Hastings death hath made me wise More then my dreame could him for I no more Will trust the tushes of the angry Bore If with my Georges bloud he staine his throne I thanke my God I haue more sonnes then one Yet to secure his life I quiet stand Against the King not lifting vp my hand The Messenger departs of hope deny'd Then noble Stanley taking Bray aside Saith Let my sonne proceede without despaire Assisted by his mothers almes and prayre God will direct both him and me to take Best courses for that blessed womans sake The Earle by this delay was not inclin'd To feare nor anger knowing Stanleyes mind But calling all his chiefe Commanders neare He boldly speakes while they attentiue heare 〈◊〉 is in vaine braue friends to shew the right â—hich we are forc'd to seeke by ciuill fight â—ur swords are brandisht in a noble cause â—o free your Country from a Tyrants iawes â—hat angry Planet What disastrous Signe â—irects Plantagenets afflicted Line â—h was it not enough that mutuall rage 〈◊〉 deadly battels should this race ingage â—ill by their blowes themselues they fewer make And pillers fall which France could neuer shake But must this crooked Monster now be found To lay rough hands on
in the seas Then Richard with these newes himselfe doth pleâ—â— He now diuerts his course another way And with his Army led in faire array Ascends the rising ground and taking view Of Henries souldiers sees they are but few Imperiall courage fires his noble brest He sets a threatning speare within his rest Thus saying All true Knights on me attend I soone will bring this quarrell to an end If none will follow if all faith be gone Behold I goe to try my cause alone He strikes his spurres into his horses side VVith him stout Louell and bold Ferrers ride To them braue Ratcliffe gen'rous Clifton haste Old Brakenbury scornes to be the last As borne with wings all worthy spirits flye Resolu'd for safety of their Prince to dye And Catesby to this number addes his name Though pale with feare yet ouercomne with shame Their boldnesse Richmond dreads not but admires He sees their motion like to rolling fires VVhich by the winde along the fields are borne Amidst the trees the hedges and the corne VVhere they the hopes of husbandmen consume And fill the troubled Ayre with dusky fume Now as a carefull Lord of neighb'ring grounds He keepes the flame from entring in his bounds Each man is warn'd to hold his station sure Prepar'd with courage strong assaults t' endure But all in vaine no force no warlike Art From sudden breaking can preserue that part VVhere Richard like a dart from thunder falles His foes giue way and stand as brazen walles On either side of his inforced path VVhile he neglects them and reserues his wrath For him whose death these threatning clouds would cleare WhoÌ„ now with gladnes he beholdeth neere And all those faculties together brings VVhich moue the soule to high and noble things Eu'n so a Tyger hauing follow'd long The Hunters steps that robb'd her of her young VVhen first she sees him is by rage inclin'd Her steps to double and her teeth to grind Now horse to horse and man is ioyn'd to man So strictly that the souldiers hardly can Their aduersaries from their fellowes know Here each braue Champion singles out his foe In this confusion Brakenbury meetes VVith Hungerford and him thus foulely greetes Ah traytor false in breach of faith and loue What discontent could thee and Bourchier moue Who had so long my fellowes been in Armes To flie to Rebels What seducing charmes Could on your clouded minds such darknesse bring To serue an Out-law and neglect the King VVith these sharpe speeches Hungerford enrag'd T'vphold his honour thus the battaile wag'd Thy doting age saith he delights in words But this aspersion must be try'd by swords Then leauing talke he by his weapon speakes And driues a blow which Brakenbury breakes By lifting vp his left hand else the steele Had pierc'd his burgonet and made him feele The pangs of death but now the fury fell Vpon the hand that did the stroke repell And cuts so large a portion of the shield That it no more can safe protection yeeld Bold Hungerford disdaines his vse to make Of this aduantage but doth straight forsake His massy Target render'd to his Squire And saith Let cowards such defence desire This done these valiant Knights dispose their blades And still the one the others face inuades â—â—ll Brakenburies helmet giuing way â—o those fierce strokes that Hungerford doth lay â—â—brus'd and gapes which Bourchier fighting neare Perceiues and cries Braue Hungerford forbeare Bring not those siluer haires to timelesse end He was and may be once againe our friend But oh too late the fatall blow was sent From Hungerford which he may now repent But not recall and digges a mortall wound In Brakenburies head which should be crown'd VVith precious Metals and with Bayes adorn'd For constant truth appearing when he scorn'd To staine his hand in those young Princes blood And like a rocke amidst the Ocean stood Against the Tyrants charmes and threats vnmou'd Though death declares how much he Richard lou'd Stout Ferrers aimes to fixe his mighty Launce In Pembrokes heart which on the steele doth glaunce And runnes in vaine the empty ayre to presse But Pembrokes speare obtaining wisht successe Through Ferrers brest-plate and his body sinkes And vitall blood from inward vessels drinkes Here Stanley and braue Louel trie their strength VVhose equall courage drawes the strife to length They thinke not how they may themselues defenâ— To strike is all their care to kill their end So meete two Bulls vpon adioyning hills Of rocky Charnwood while their murmur fills The hollow crags when striuing for their bounds They wash their piercing hornes in mutuall wounâ— If in the midst of such a bloody fight The name of friendship be not thought too light Recount my Muse how Byrons faithfull loue To dying Clifton did it selfe approue For Clifton fighting brauely in the troope Receiues a wound and now begins to droope Which Byron seeing though in armes his foe In heart his friend and hoping that the blow Had not been mortall guards him with his shield From second hurts and cries Deare Clifton yeeld Thou hither cam'st led by sinister fate Against my first aduice yet now though late Take this my counsell Clifton thus replied It is too late for I must now prouide To seeke another life liue thou sweet friend And when thy side obtaines a happy end Vpon the fortunes of my children looke Remember what a solemne oath we tooke That he whose part should proue the best in fight Would with the Conqu'rour trie his vtmost might To saue the others lands from rau'nous pawes Which seaze on fragments of a lucklesse cause My fathers fall our house had almost drown'd But I by chance aboord in shipwracke found May neuer more such danger threaten mine â—eale thou for them as I would doe for thine This said his senses faile and pow'rs decay While Byron calles Stay worthy Clifton stay And heare my faithfull promise once againe Which if I breake may all my deeds be vaine But now he knowes that vitall breath is fled And needlesse words are vtter'd to the dead Into the midst of Richards strength he flies Presenting glorious acts to Henries eyes And for his seruice he expects no more Then Cliftons sonne from forfeits to restore While Richard bearing downe with eager mind The steps by which his passage was confin'd Laies hands on Henries Standard as his prey Strong Brandon bore it whom this fatall day Markes with a blacke note as the onely Knight That on the conqu'ring part forsakes the light But Time whose wheeles with various motion runne Repayes this seruice fully to his sonne Who marries Richmonds daughter borne betweene Two Royall Parents and endowed a Queene When now the King perceiues that Brandon striues To saue his charge he sends a blow that riues His skull in twaine and by a gaping hole Giues ample scope to his departing soule And thus insults Accursed wretch farewell Thine Ensignes now may be display'd in hell There thou shalt know
If ought were found whereon they might depend Within the compasse of the gen'rall frame Or if some Sparkes of this Celestiall flame Had not ingrau'd this sentence in their brest In him that made them is their onely rest An Act of Hope SWeet Hope is soueraigne comfort of our life Our Ioy in sorrow and our Peace in strife The Dame of Beggers and the Queene of Kings Can these delight in height of prosp'rous things Without expecting still to keepe them sure Can those the weight of heauy wants endure Vnlesse perswasion instant paine allay Reseruing spirit for a better day Our God who planted in his creatures brest This stop on which the wheeles of passion rest Hath rays'd by beames of his abundant grace This strong affection to a higher place It is the second vertue which attends That soule whose motion to his sight ascends Rest here my mind thou shalt no longer stay To gaze vpon these houses made of clay Thou shalt not stoope to honours or to lands Nor golden balles where sliding fortune stands If no false colours draw thy steps amisse Thou hast a Palace of eternall blisse A Paradise from care and feare exempt An obiect worthy of the best attempt Who would not for so rich a Country fight Who would not runne that sees a goale so bright O thou who art our Author and our end On whose large mercy chaines of hope depend Lift me to thee by thy propitious hand For lower I can find no place to stand Of Teares BEhold what Riuers feeble nature spends And melts vs into Seas at losse of friends Their mortall state this Fountaine neuer dries But fills the world with worlds of weeping eies Man is a creature borne and nurst in teares He through his life the markes of sorrow beares And dying thinkes he can no off'ring haue More fit then teares distilling on his graue We must these floods to larger bounds extend Such streames require a high and noble end As waters in a chrystall Orbe contain'd Aboue the starry Firmament are chain'd To coole the fury of those raging flames Which eu'ry lower Spheare by motion frames So this continuall Spring within thy head Must quench the fires in other members bred If to our Lord our Parents had been true Our teares had been like drops of pleasing dew But sinne hath made them full of bitter paines Vntimely children of afflicted braines Yet they are chang'd when we our sinnes lament To richer Pearles then from the East are sent Of Sinne. WHat pensill shall I take or where begin To paint the vgly face of odious sinne Man sinning oft though pardon'd oft exceeds The falling Angels in malicious deeds When we in words would tell the sinners shame To call him Diuell is too faire a name Should we for euer in the Chaos dwell Or in the lothsome depth of gaping hell We there no foule and darksome formes shall find Sufficient to describe a guilty mind Search through the world we shall not know a thing Which may to reasons eye more horrour bring Then disobedience to the highest cause And obstinate auersion from his Lawes The sinner will destroy God if he can O what hath God deseru'd of thee poore man That thou should'st boldly striue to pull him downe From his high Throne and take away his Crowne What blindnesse moues thee to vnequall fight â—ee how thy fellow creatures scorne thy might Yet thou prouok'st thy Lord as much too great As thou too weake for his Imperiall seate Behold a silly wretch distracted quite Extending towards God his feeble spite And by his poys'nous breath his hopes are faire To blast the skies as it corrupts the aire Vpon the other side thou mayst perceiue A mild Commander to whose Army cleaue The sparkling Starres and each of them desires To fall and drowne this Rebell in their fires The Cloudes are ready this proud Foe to tame Full fraught with thunderbolts and lightnings flame The Earth his Mother greedy of his doome Expects to open her vnhappy wombe That this degen'rate sonne may liue no more So chang'd from that pure man whom first she bore The sauage Beasts whose names his Father gaue To quell this pride their Makers licence craue The Fiends his Masters in this warlike way Make sute to seaze him as their lawfull prey No friends are left then whither shall he flie To that offended King who sits on high Who hath deferr'd the battell and restrain'd His souldiers like the winds in fetters chain'd For let the Sinner leaue his hideous maske God will as soone forgiue as he shall aske Of the miserable state of Man IS man the best of creatures growne the worst He once most blessed was now most accurst His whole felicity is endlesse strife No peace no satisfaction crownes his life No such delight as other creatures take Which their desires can free and happy make Our appetites which seeke for pleasing good Haue oft their wane and full their ebbe and sloud Their calme and stormes the neuer-constant Moone The Seas and nimble winds not halfe so soone Incline to change while all our pleasure rests In things which vary like our wau'ring brests He who desires that wealth his life may blesse Like to a Iayler counts it good successe To haue more pris'ners which increase his care The more his goods the more his dangers are This Sayler sees his ship about to drowne And he takes in more wares to presse it downe Vaine honour is a play of diuers parts Where fained words and gestures please our hearts The slatt'red audience are the Actors friends But lose that Title when the Fable ends The faire desire that others should behold Their clay well featur'd their well temperd mould Ambitious mortals make their chiefe pretence To be the obiects of delighted sense Yet oft the shape and hue of basest things More admiration moues more pleasure brings Why should we glory to be counted strong This is the praise of Beasts the pow'r of wrong And if the strength of many were inclos'd Within one brest yet when it is oppos'd Against that force which Art or Nature frame It melts like waxe before the scorching flame VVe cannot in these outward things be blest For we are sure to lose them and the best Of these contentments no such comfort beares As may waigh equall with the doubts and feares VVhich fixe our minds on that vncertaine day When these shall faile most certaine to decay From length of life no happinesse can come But what the guilty feele who after doome Are to the lothsome prison sent againe And there must stay to die with longer paine No earthly gift lasts after death but Fame This gouernes men more carefull of their name Then of their soules which their vngodly taste Dissolues to nothing and shall proue at last Faire worse then nothing Prayses come too late When man is not or is in wretched state But these are ends which draw the meanest hearts Let vs search
deepe and trie our better parts O knowledge if a heau'n on earth could be I would expect to reape that blisse in thee But thou art blind and they that haue thy light More clearely know they liue in darksome night See man thy stripes at schoole thy paines abroad Thy watching and thy palenesse well bestow'd These feeble helpes can Scholers neuer bring To perfect knowledge of the plainest thing And some to such a height of learning grow They die perswaded that they nothing know In vaine swift houres spent in deepe study slide Vnlesse the purchast doctrine curbe our pride The soule perswaded that no fading loue Can equall her imbraces seekes aboue And now aspiring to a higher place Is glad that all her comforts here are base Of Sicknesse THe end of Sicknesse Health or Death declare The cause as happy as the sequels are Vaine mortals while they striue their sense to please Endure a life worse then the worst disease When sports and ryots of the restlesse night Breede dayes as thicke possest with fenny light 〈◊〉 oft haue these compell'd by wholsome paine Return'd to sucke sweet Natures brest againe And then could in a narrow compasse find Strength for the body clearenesse in the mind And if Death come it is not he whose dart VVhose scalpe and bones afflict the trembling heart As if the Painters with new art would striue For feare of Bugs to keepe poore men aliue But one who from thy mothers wombe hath been Thy friend and strict companion though vnseene To leade thee in the right appointed way And crowne thy labours at the conqu'ring day Vngratefull men why doe you sicknesse loath VVhich blessings giue in Heau'n or Earth or both Of true Liberty HE that from dust of worldly tumults flies May boldly open his vndazled eyes To reade wise Natures booke and with delight Surueyes the Plants by day and starres by night We need not trauaile seeking wayes to blisse He that desires contentment cannot misse No garden walles this precious flowre imbrace It common growes in eu'ry desart place Large scope of pleasure drownes vs like a flood To rest in little is our greatest good Learne ye that clime the top of Fortunes wheele That dang'rous state which ye disdaine to feele Your highnesse puts your happinesse to flight Your inward comforts fade with outward light Vnlesse it be a blessing not to know This certaine truth left ye should pine for woe To see inferiours so diuinely blest With freedome and your selues with fetters prest Ye sit like pris'ners barr'd with doores and chaines And yet no care perpetuall care restraines Ye striue to mixe your sad conceits with ioyes By curious pictures and by glitt'ring toyes While others are not hind'red from their ends Delighting to conuerse with bookes or friends And liuing thus retir'd obtaine the pow'r To reigne as Kings of euery sliding houre They walke by Cynthiaes light and lift their eyes To view the ord'red armies in the skies The heau'ns they measure with imagin'd lines And when the Northerne Hemisphere declines New constellations in the South they find Whose rising may refresh the studious mind In these delights though freedome shew more high Few can to things aboue their thoughts apply But who is he that cannot cast his looke On earth and reade the beauty of that booke A bed of smiling flow'rs a trickling Spring A swelling Riuer more contentment bring Then can be shadow'd by the best of Art Thus still the poore man hath the better part Against inordinate loue of Creatures AH who would loue a creature who would place His heart his treasure in a thing so base Which time consuming like a Moth destroyes And stealing death will rob him of his ioyes Why life we not our minds aboue this dust Haue we not yet perceiu'd that God is iust And hath ordain'd the obiects of our loue To be our scourges when we wanton proue Go carelesse man in vaine delights proceed Thy fansies and thine outward senses feede And bind thy selfe thy fellow-seruants thrall Loue one too much thou art a slaue to all Consider when thou follow'st seeming good And drown'st thy selfe too deepe in flein and blood Thou making sute to dwell with woes and feares Art sworne their souldier in the vale of teares The bread of sorrow shall be thy repast Expect not Eden in a thorny waste Where grow no faire trees no smooth riuers swell Here onely losses and afflictions dwell These thou bewayl'st with a repining voyce Yet knew'st before that mortall was thy choyse Admirers of false pleasures must sustaine The waight and sharpenesse of insuing paine Against abused Loue. SHall I stand still and see the world on fire While wanton Writers ioyne in one desire To blow the coales of Loue and make them burne Till they consume or to the Chaos turne This beautious frame by them so foully rent That wise men feare lest they those flames preuent Which for the latest day th' Almightie keepes In orbes of fire or in the hellish deepes Best wits while they possest with fury thinke They taste the Muses sober Well and drinke Of Phabus Goblet now a starry signe Mistake the Cup and write in heat of wine Then let my cold hand here some water cast And drown their warmth with drops of sweeter taste Mine angry lines shall whip the purblind Page And some will reade them in a chaster age But since true loue is most diuine I know How can I fight with loue and call it so Is it not Loue It was not now O strange Time and ill custome workers of all change Haue made it loue men oft impose not names By Adams rule but what their passion frames And since our Childhood taught vs to approue Our Fathers words we yeeld and call it loue Examples of past times our deeds should sway But we must speake the language of to day Vse hath no bounds it may prophane once more The name of God which first an Idoll bore How many titles fit for meaner groomes Are knighted now and marshal d in high roomes And many which once good and great were thought Posterity to vice and basenesse brought As it hath this of loue and we must bow As States vsurping Tyrants raignes allow And after ages reckon by their yeeres Such force Possession though iniurious beares Or as a wrongfull title or foule crime Made lawfull by a Statute for the time With reu'rend estimation blindes our eies And is call'd iust in spight of all the wise Then heau'nly loue this loathed name forsake And some of thy more glorious titles take Sunne of the Soule cleare beauty liuing fire Celestiall light which dost pure hearts inspire While Lust thy Bastard brother shal be knowne By loues wrong'd name that Louers may him owne So oft with Hereticks such tearmes we vse As they can brooke not such as we would chuse And since he takes the throne of Loue exil'd In all our Letters he shall Loue be stil'd But if true
Loue vouchsafe againe his sight No word of mine shall preiudice his right So Kings by caution with their Rebels treate As with free States when they are growne too great If common Drunkards onely can expresse To life the sad effects of their excesse How can I write of Loue who neuer felt His dreadfull arrow nor did euer melt My heart away before a female flame Like waxen statues which the witches frame I must confesse if I knew one that had Bene poyson'd with this deadly draught and mad And afterward in Bedlem well reclaym'd To perfect sence and in his wits not maym'd I would the feruour of my Muse restraine And let this subiect for his taske remaine But aged wand'rers sooner will declare Their Eleusinian rites then Louers dare Renounce the Deuils pompe and Christians die So much preuailes a painted Idols eye Then since of them like Iewes we can conuert Scarce one in many yeeres their iust desert By selfe confession neuer can appeare But on presumptions wee proceed and there The Iudges innocence most credit winnes â—iue men trie theeues and Saints describe foule sinnes This Monster loue by day and lust by night 〈◊〉 full of burning fire but voyde of light Left here on earth to keepe poore mortals out Of errour who of Hell-fire else would doubt Such is that wandring nightly flame which leades Th'vn wary passenger vntill he treades His last step on the steepe and craggy walles Of some high mountaine whence he headlong falles A vapor first extracted from the Stewes Which with new fewell still the lampe renewes And with a Pandars sulph'rous breath inflam'd Became a Meteor for destruction fram'd Like some prodigious Comet which foretells Disasters to the Realme on which it dwells And now hath this false light preuail'd so farre That most obserue it is a fixed starre Yea as their load starre by whose beames impure They guide their ships in courses not secure Be witcht and daz'led with the glaring sight Of this proud Fiend attir'd in Angels light Who still delights his darksome smoke to turne To rayes which seeme t'enlighten not to burne He leades them to the tree and they beleeue The fruite is sweete so he deluded Eue. But when they once haue tasted of the feasts They quench that sparke which seuers men froÌ„ beasâ—â— And feele effects of our first Parents fall Depriu'd of reason and to sence made thrall Thus is the miserable Louer bound With fancies and in fond affection drown'd In him no faculty of man is seene But when he sighes a Sonnet to his Queene This makes him more then man a Poet fit For such false Poets as make passion wit Who lookes within an emptie caske may see Where once a soule was and againe may be Which by this diffrence from a Corse is knowne One is in pow'r to haue life both haue none For Louers slipp'ry Soules as they confesse Without extending racke or straining presse By transmigration to their Mistresse flow Pithagoras instructs his Schollers so Who did for penance lustfull minds consine To leade a second life in Goates and Swine Then Loue is death and driues the soule to dwell In this betraying harbour which like hell Giues neuer backe her bootie and containes A thousand firebrands whips and restlesse paines And which is worse so bitter are those wheeles That many hells at once the Louer feeles And hath his heart dissected into parts That it may meere with other double harts This loue stands neuer sure it wants a ground It makes no ordred course it findes no bound It aymes at nothing it no comfort tastes But while the pleasure and the passion lasts Yet there are flames which two hearts one can make Not forth ' affections but the obiects sake That burning glasse where beames disperst incline Vnto a point and shoot forth in a line This noble Loue hath Axeltree and Poles Wherein it moues and gets eternall goales These reuolutions like the heau'nly Spheres Make all the periods equall as the yeeres And when this time of motion finisht is It ends with that great Yeere of endlesse blisse A description of Loue. LOue is a Region full of fires And burning with extreme desires An obiect seekes of which possest The wheeles are fixt the motions rest The flames in ashes lie opprest This Meteor striuing high to rise The fewell spent falles downe and dies Much sweeter and more pure delights Are drawne from faire alluring sights When rauisht minds attempt to praise Commanding eyes like heau'nly rayes Whose force the gentle heart obayes Then where the end of this pretence Descends to base inferiour sense Why then should Louers most will say Expect so much th' enioying day Loue is like youth he thirsts for age He scornes to be his Mothers Page But when proceeding times asswage The former heate he will complaine And wish those pleasant houres againe We know that Hope and Loue are twinnes Hope gone Fruition now beginnes But what is this vnconstant fraile In nothing sure but sure to faile Which if we lose it we bewaile And when we haue it still we beare The worst of passions daily Feare When Loue thus in his Center ends Desire and Hope his inward friends Are shaken off while Doubt and Griefe The weakest giuers of reliefe Stand in his councell as the chiefe And now he to his period brought From Loue becomes some other thought These lines I write not to remoue Vnited soules from serious loue The best attempts by mortals made Reflect on things which quickly fade Yet neuer will I men perswade To leaue affections where may shine Impressions of the Loue diuine The Shepherdesse A Shepherdesse who long had kept her flocks On stony Charnwoods dry and barren rocks In heate of Summer to the vales declin'd To seeke fresh pasture for her Lambes halfe pin'd She while her charge was feeding spent the houres To gaze on sliding Brookes and smiling flowres Thus hauing largely stray'd she lifts her sight And viewes a Palace full of glorious light She finds the entrance open and as bold As Countrey Maids that would the Court behold She makes an offer yet againe she stayes And dares not dally with those Sunny rayes Here lay a Nymph of beauty most diuine Whose happy presence caus'd the house to shine Who much conuerst with mortals and could know No honour truly high that scornes the low For she had oft been present though vnseene Among the Shepherds daughters on the Greene Where cu'ry homebred Swaine desires to proue His Oaten Pipe and Feet before his Loue And crownes the cu'ning when the daies are long With some plaine Dance or with a Rurall song Nor were the women nice to hold this sport And please their Louers in a modest sort There that sweet Nymph had seene this Countrey Dame For singing crown'd whence grew a world of fame Among the Sheepecotes which in her reioyce And know no better pleasure then her voyce The glitt'ring Ladies gather'd in a ring Intreate the silly
rapine should his courses guide Though all the world conspire to doe him grace Yet he is little and extremely base If in his heart these vices take their seate No pow'r can make the slaue of passions great Vpon my Lord of Buckinghams Armes BEhold the Ensignes of a Christian Knight VVhose Field is like his minde of siluer bright His bloudy Crosse supports fiue golden Shels A precious Pearle in euery Scallop dwels Fiue Vertues grace the middle and the bounds VVhich take their light froÌ„ Christs victorious wounds Vpon the Top commanding Prudence shines Repressing Temp'rance to the foote declines Braue Fortitude and Iustice are the hands And Charity as in the Center stands VVhich binding all the ends with strong effect To euery Vertue holds the same respect May he that beares this Shield at last obtaine The azure Circle of celestiall raigne And hauing past the course of sliding houres Enioy a Crowne of neuer-fading Flow'rs Vpon my Lord of Buckinghams Shield at a Tilting his Impresse being a Bird of Paradise SEe how this Bird erects his constant flight Aboue the Cloudes aspiring to the light As in a quiet Paradise he dwels In that pure Region where no winde rebels And fearing not the thunder hath attain'd The Palace where the Demigods remaind This Bird belongs to you thrice glorious King From you the beauties of his Feathers spring No vaine ambition lifts him vp so high But rais'd by force of your attractiue Eye He feedes vpon your Beames and takes delight Not in his owne Ascent but in your sight Let them whose motion to the Earth declines Describe your Circle by their baser lines And enuy at the brightnesse of your seate He cannot liue diuided from your heate To the Duke of Buckingham at his returne from Spaine MY Lord that you so welcome are to all You haue deseru'd it neuer could there fall A fitter way to prooue you highly lou'd Then when your selfe you from our sights remou'd The clouded lookes of Brittaine sad appeare VVith doubtfull care ah who can bridle feare For their inestimable gemme perplext The good and gracefull Buckingham is next In their desires they to remembrance bring How oft by mediation with the King You mitigate the rigour of the lawes And pleade the orphans and the widowes cause My Muse which tooke from you her life and light Sate like a weary wretch whome suddaine night Had ouerspred your absence casting downe The flow'rs and Sirens feathers from her crowne Your fauour first th' anointed head inclines To heare my rurall songs and reade my lines Your voyce my reede with lofty musick reares To offer trembling songs to Princely eares But since my Sou'raigne leaues in great affaires His trusty seruant to his Subiects pray'rs I willing spare for such a Noble end My Patron and too bold I speake my friend To the Duke of Buckingham THe words of Princes iustly we conceiue As Oracles inspir'd by pow'r diuine Which make the vertues of their seruants shine And monuments to future ages leaue The sweet consent of many tongues can weaue Such knots of Honour in a flowry line That no iniurious hands can them vntwine Nor enuious blasts of beauty can bereaue These are your helpes my Lord by these two wings You lifted are aboue the force of spite For while the publike Quire your glory sings The 〈…〉 rules them keepes the Musicke right Yoâ—â—â—â—ppy name with noble prayse to greet Gods double Voyce the King and Kingdome meet To my gracious Lord the Duke of Buckingham vpon the birth of his first Sonne GIue leaue my Lord to his abounding heart Whose faithfull zeale presumes to beare a part In eu'ry blessing which vpon you shines And to your glory consecrates his lines VVhich rising from a plaine and countrey Muse Must all my boldnesse with her name excuse Shall Burley onely triumph in this Child VVhich by his birth is truly Happy stil'd Nay we will striue that Eccho with her notes May draw some ioy into our homely Cotes VVhile I to solitary bils retire VVhere quiet thoughts my Songs with truth inspire And teach me to foretell the hopes that flow From this young Lord as he in yeeres shall grow First we behold and neede not to presage VVhat pleasing comfort in this tender age He giues his Parents sweetning eu'ry day VVith deare contentments of his harmelesse play They in this glasse their seu'rall beauties place And owne themselues in his delightfull face But when this flowry bud shall first beginne To spread his leaues which were conceal'd within And casting off the dew of childish teares More glorious then the Rose at noone appeares His minde extends it selfe to larger bounds Instinct of gen'rous Nature oft propounds Great Duke your actiue graces to his sight As obiects full of wonder and delight These in his thoughts entire possession keep They stop his play and interrupt his sleepe So doth a carefull Painter fixe his eyes Vpon the patterne which before him lies And neuer from the boord his hand withdrawes Vntill the Type be like th' Exemplar cause To courtly dancing now he shall incline To manage horses and in Armes to shine Such ornaments of youth are but the seeds Of noble Vertues and Heroick deeds He will not rest in any outward part But striues t' expresse the riches of your heart VVithin a litle modell and to frame True title to succession of your fame In riper yeeres he shall your wisedome learne And your vndaunted courage shall discerne And from your actions from your words and lookeâ— Shall gather rules which others reade in bookes So in Achilles more those lessons wrought Which Peleus show'd theÌ„ those which Chiron taught Vpon the Earle of Couentryes departure from vs to the Angels SWeet Babe whose Birth inspir'd me with a Song And call'd my Muse to trace thy dayes along Attending riper yeeres with hope to finde Such braue endeuours of thy noble Minde As might deserue triumphant lines and make My Fore-head bold a Lawrell Crowne to take How hast thou left vs and this earthly Stage Not acting many Months in tender age Thou cam'st into this world a little Spie Where all things that could please the eare and eye Were set before thee but thou found'st them toyes And flew'st with scornefull smiles t' eternall ioyes No visage of grim Death is sent t' affright Thy spotlesse soule nor darknesse blinds thy sight But lightsome Angels with their golden Wings Ore spread thy Cradle and each spirit brings Some precious Balme for heau'nly Physicke meet To make the separation soft and sweet The sparke infus'd by God departs away And bids the earthly weake companion stay VVith patience in that nurs'ry of the ground VVhere first the seeds of Adams limbes were found For time shall come when these diuided friends Shall ioyne againe and know no seu'rall ends But change this short and momentary kisse To strict embraces of Celestiall blisse To my Lord Vicount Purbeck a Congratulation for his health IF we inlarge
gone and now though much beneath His Coronet is next th' Imperiall Wreath No richer signe his flowry Garland drown's Which shines alone aboue the lesser Crownes This thou inioyd'st as sicke men tedious houres And thought'st of brighter Pearles and fairer flowres And higher Crownes which heau'n for thee reserues When this thy worldly pompe decayes and starues This sacred seruour in thy mind did glow And though supprest with outward state and show Yet at thy death those hind'ring clouds it clear'd And like the lost Sunne to the world appear'd Euen as a strong fire vnder ashes turn'd Which with more force long secretly hath burn'd Breakes forth to be the obiect of our sight Aimes at the Orbe and ioynes his flame with light Vpon his Noble Friend Sir William Skipwith TO frame a man who in those gifts excels Which makes the Country happy where hee dwels We first conceiue what names his Line adorne It kindles vertue to be nobly borne This picture of true Gentry must be grac'd With glitt'ring Iewels round about him plac'd A comely body and a beauteous mind A heart to loue a hand to giue inclin'd A house as free and open as the Ayre A tongue which ioyes in Language sweet and faire Yet can when need requires with courage bold To publike eares his neighbours griefes vnfold All these we neuer more shall find in one And yet all these are clos'd within this stone An Epitaph vpon my deare Brother Francis Beaumont ON Death thy Murd'rer this reuenge I take I slight his terror and iust question make Which of vs two the best precedence haue Mine to this wretched world thine to the graue Thou shouldst haue followd me but death too blame Miscounted yeeres and measur'd age by Fame So dearely hast thou bought thy precious lines Their praise grew swiftly so thy life declines Thy Muse the hearers Queene the Readers loue All eares all hearts but Deaths could please and moue Of my deare Sonne Geruase Beaumont CAn I who haue for others oft compil'd The Songs of Death forget my sweetest child VVhich like a flow'r crusht with a blast is dead And ere full time hangs downe his smiling head Expecting with cleare hope to liue anew Among the Angels fed with heau'nly dew We haue this signe of Ioy that many dayes While on the earth his struggling spirit stayes The name of Iesus in his mouth containes His onely food his sleepe his ease from paines O may that sound be rooted in my mind Of which in him such strong effect I find Deare Lord receiue my Sonne whose winning loue To me was like a friendship farre aboue The course of nature or his tender age Whose lookes could all my bitter griefes asswage Let his pure soule ordain'd seu'n yeeres to be In that fraile body which was part of me Remaine my pledge in heau'n as sent to shew How to this Port at eu'ry step I goe Teares for the death of the truly Honourable the Lord Chandos LEt him whose lines a priuate losse deplore Call them to weepe that neuer wept before My griefe is more audacious giue me one Who eu'ry day hath heard a dying grone The subiect of my verses may suffice To draw new teares from dry and weary eyes We dare not loue a man nor pleasure take In others worth for noble Chandos sake And when we seeke the best with reasons light We feare to wish him longer in our sight Time had increast his vertue and our woe For sorrow gathers weight by comming slow Should him the God of life to life restore Againe we lose him and lament the more If Mortals could a thousand liues renew They were but shades of death which must insue Our gracious God hath fitter bounds assign'd And earthly paines to one short life confin'd Yet when his hand hath quench'd the vitall flame It leaues some cinders of immortall fame At these we blow and like Prometheus striue By such weake sparkes to make dead clay aliue Breath flyes to ayre the body falls to ground And nothing dwels with vs but mournfull sound O might his honor'd Name liue in my Song Reflected as with Ecchoes shrill and strong But when my lines of glorious obiects treate They should rise high because the worke is great No Quill can paint this Lord vnlesse it haue Some tincture from his actions free and braue Yet from this height I must descend againe And like the calme Sea lay my Verses plaine When I describe the smoothnesse of his mind Where reasons chaines rebellious passions bind My Poem must in harmony excell His sweet behauiour and discourse to tell It should be deepe and full of many Arts To teach his wisdome and his happy parts But since I want these graces and despaire To make my Picture like the patterne faire These hasty strokes vnperfect draughts shall stand Expecting life from some more skilfull hand Vpon the vntimely death of the Honourable hopâ—full young Gentleman Edward Stafford Sonne and Heire to the Lord Stafford DEad is the hope of Stafford in whose line So many Dukes and Earles and Barons shine And from this Edwards death his kinred drawes More griefe then mighty Edwards fall could cause For to this House his vertue promist more Then all those great Ones that had gone before No lofty titles can securely frame The happinesse and glory of a Name Bright honours at the point of Noone decay And feele a sad declining like the day But he that from the race of Kings is borne And can their mem'ries with his worth adorne Is farre more blest then those of whom he springs He from aboue the soule of goodnesse brings T' inspire the body of his Noble birth This makes it moue before but liuelesse earth Of such I write who show'd he would haue been Complete in action but we lost him greene We onely saw him crown'd with flowres of hope O that the fruits had giu'n me larger scope And yet the bloomes which on his Herse we strow Surpasse the Cherries and the Grapes that grow In others Gardens Here fresh Roses lie Whose ruddy blushes modest thoughts descry In Flowre-de-luces dide with azure hue His constant loue to heau'nly things we view The spotlesse Lillies shew his pure intent The flaming Marigold his zeale present The purple Violets his Noble minde Degen'rate neuer from his Princely kind And last of all the Hyacinths we throw In which are writ the letters of our woe To the Memory of the Learned and Religious Ferdinando Pulton Esquire AS at a ioyfull Marriage or the birth Of some long wished child or when the earth Yeelds plenteous fruit and makes the Ploughman sing Such is the sound and subiect of my string Ripe age full vertue need no fun'rall Song Here mournefull tunes would Grace Nature wrong VVhy should vaine sorrow follow him with teares VVho shakes off burdens of declining yeeres VVhose thread exceeds the vsuall bounds of life And feeles no stroke of any fatall knife The Destinies enioyne their