I think vpon at last Without all question they will answere thee We shall repeut our present vanitic 76 Or when thy tongue the hearts interpreter Strikes vp a false Alarum rauishing Thy sences like a wanton Orator With scurrilous impollisht warbling Thinke but on death and it will soone confute Thy strongest arguments and strike thee mute 77 Or when thine eyes immodestly shall gaze On fading beauties curiositie Which either age or accident may raze And make more vgly then deformitie Thinke how that beautie vnderneath doth weare Deaths pale-fac'd Liucery which all mortals feare 78 And she that takes her false intelligence From the deceitfull Index of a glasse Glad to be cozen'd in her owne defence Bid her reflect what euen now she was Before that nature was abus'd by art Helps not when death shall come to play his part 79 'T is not a borrowed looke or wanton glance Of an alluring eye that can diuert Th' ineuitable fury of his Lance Nor all thy Courtly conges though thou wert Equallin beautie breeding and the rest Of womanish additions with the best 80 And thou fond Louer looke into the graue Of thy dead Mistris and her lost condition Behold the Saintly beauty lately gaue Such motiues of respect and adoration To thy inflamed thoughts which did deuise To deifie't thy selfe the sacrifice 81 Calling her eyes the worlds all glorious lights The splendor of whose Goddesse-like complexion Gaue light sufficient to the darkest night Vowing thy selfe a Slaue to her affection Praiting the loucly tresses of her haires Inchanted threds of gold delightfull snares 82 Which held thee captiue in which bondage thou Inioy'dst most freedome as thy selfe wast wont With fearefull protestations to vow Casting each night a most exact account Of her new purchast fauours now intomb'd Lies putrifide to loath fomnesse consum'd 83 Behold her hands vnto thy hands adioyn'd Whose wanton fingers pretily did weaue Themselues with mutuall amitie conioyn'd Within thy fingers whose moist palmes did leaue In thine the witnesse of vnbridled lust Are now consum'd to nothing or to dust 84 Doc but imagine that she were expos'd Set out withall the ornaments of Art For thee to sport thy selfe withall inclos'd Within thine armes to act a louers part Which so delightfull was but euen now Sealing each wanton promise with a vow 85 No sighes would from fond Ielousie arise Within thy breast for feare of her displeasure No obseruations how she cast her eyes On thy corriuall or in what a measure She intertain'd his loue but couldst betide Him to repose in quiet by her side 86 No wanton Poems in her praise are penn'd No fauours worne no drinking of her health No challenges her honour to defend Nor yet nocturnall visits made by stealth No scruants brib'd fond parents to deceiue But free accesse without demanding leaue 87 Where the Earths Common wealths men each poore worme Into her priuate Bed-chamber repaires And rudely rifles her religious vrne Makes no distinction twixt those precious wares So highly priz'd but euen now and those Which nature doth of courser stuffe compose 88 Or when thy lips hands feet shall dare to touch Forbidden fruit or tread vnhallowed patlâ—â—… Or pallet is delighted ouermuch Or limbes with curious dishes wanton bathes Which for the present so thy fancie please In thy dull graue thou shalt find none of these 89 Thinke when thy squemish smell not satisfi'd With such as nature freely doth produce Takes it in snuffe if that it be not cloy'd With forc'd perfumes vnnaturall stil'd iuice Whose stinking carcasse dead a day or two One hardly can approch within the view 90 No maruell then though artificiall care To natures imperfections we giue Since to our selues our selues more lothsome are Then any other creature that doth liue Which if we want with speed we buried are Left our corruption should infect the aire 91 Why are we then so curiously cloth'd With borrowed beauties perriwiggs perfumes Deceitfull dressings that shall soone be loath'd Eu'n of our selues disrob'd of others plumes Put by the vaile which modestly doth hide Immodestnature and behold thy pride 92 That body which was lately entertain'd With all varietie of daintie meate Soft pillowes beds of Downe so richly chain'd Wrapt warme from cold laid open in the heate On which the winds were scarce allow'd to blow Of all the world neglected lies fullow 93 Within the limits of a winding sheet Confin'd both breathlesse and disrob'd of all Those flattring ornaments from head to feet If one lament ten glory in thy fall Who by thy long life haue beene much perplext Although perhaps their owne turne shall be next 94 But yet to die were nothing if we could Our fowle misdeeds and sinfull acts intreate To stay behind vs then no doubt we should Speed well enough but O alas they threate Our euerlasting ruine and will cry To heau'n for veng'ance when we come to die 95 Then drunkennesse will seeme a mortall sinne Which passeth now but for good fellowship And Lechery be solemnly brought in As matter of damnation which doth slip When we are well but for a trick of youth Till death we neuer truly know the truth 96 Detraction then that white-fac'd Deuill sent From hell attired in a Saint-like weed Pretending good more cunningly to vent Her malice and for eu'ry graine of seed Whole measures sowes of Cockell will I feare Like leprosie vpon thy soule appeare 97 Which passeth now for table-talke and serues Them for discourse else knew not what to say To picke a thanke and happily deserues An inuitation the next holi-day From those that listen after nouelties And seldome but take vp with forged lies 98 So easie of beliefe we are in things Tend to another mans disparagement But he that any well-deseruing brings In question if he gaine tacit assent T is all that he must looke for as afraid By others worths our wants should be betraid 99 The violating of a Fathers will Or trust repos'd in one friend by another Dam'd vsury now held a veniall ill Hypocrisie that doth all mischiefe smother As black as hell will in thy sight appeare And with remorse thy very heart-strings teare 100 Each triuiall transgression then will seeme A capitall offence nor shall we be Backward to craue their pardon we esteeme Our chiefest enemies in all things free Both to knowledge and remunerate All iniuries our tender conscience grate 101 O could our liuing actions correspond But with our dying thoughts how seldome then Should we transgresse or violate the bond Which God and nature hath impos'd on men But O our resolutions then too strong When we are well seldome continue long 102 Much like a fellon that 's condemn'd to dye For misdemeanour sues for a repriue An humble knee and pitty mouing eye With heau'd vp hands each to excell doth striue Plead for their Lord with whom they stand or fall Who being inlarg'd proues often worst of all 103 What Casar is it when he comes to lie
the rape 177 When Dauid felt his bosome swell with pride A man according vnto Gods owne heart Thus he began himselfe himselfe to chide Dost thou not know poore creature what thou art Naked thou camst into the world with paine From whence thou naked shall returne againe 178 Philip a King of Macedon we reade With this inscription daily was saluted Leauing his lodgings that he might take heed The better what with his great weaknesse shuted Remember man that thou art mortall still To subiugate a Refractorie will 179 Great Chrales sed fifteene beggers euery day With his owne hands an antidote for pride Which spectacle would Princes duly lay Before their eyes so many would not guide The Sterne of State so Imperiously but know The debt is equall that we mortals owe. 180 Henry the Second King of France was slaine With one poore spill flew from a broken speare In th' hight of triumphs caus'd to entertaine His Daughters Nuptiall when he least did feare Deaths fierce assault who finds as many doores To enter in as we haue nerues and pores 181 Tarquin was merry when a small fish bone Stucke in his throat and choakt him so we reade Of Fabius with one small haire alone Swallow'd in milke was instantly found dead Set these sad spectacles before thine eye And let thy foule misdeeds before thee die 182 Time past thou canst not properly call thine Of that to come thou hast least certaintie Not sure to liue one minute so in fine Amidst of all thy iouiallitie One only point of nimble footed time Is all thou hast to bragge on or call thine 183 How many goe vnto their quiet rest In perfect health of bodie and of minde Resolu'd to be the next day at some feast Or merriment expecting there to find All things that may administer delight Who disappointed are by death that night 184 The ioyfull Bridegroome to the Church repaires With his faire Mistris brighter then the Sunne And for no cost that may delight her spares Proud of the prize with difficulty wonne Who liue not both although together wed To taste the pleasures they imagined 185 The greedie griping Purchaser oft times Giues earnest for the soyle he neere enioyes And he that plants the Vineyard prunes the Vines All his endeuours totally imployes To see it flourish neither tastes the wine Nor eates the grapes for which he spent his time 186 The Clyents fees the Lawyer pleads the cause Rests with the Iudge in his most priuate brest For good or bad successe as he doth pause Vpon the matter death doth him arrest Tels him the verdict vnder hand and seale Against himselfe is past without repeale 187 Nugamur mortemque procul procul esse putamus At medijs latet haec abdita visceribus Scilicet ex illa qua primum nascimur hora Prorepunt iuncto vitaque morsque pede Partem aliquam furtim qua se metitur ipsa De vitae filo quelibet hora rapit Paulatim morimur momento extinguimur vno Vt lampas olco deficiente perit 188 We trifle as if death were nothing nie When it doth lurking in our bowels lie For hand in hand from our first houres birth Death walkes withlife to qualifie our mirth Stealing each minute though perceiu'd by none Part of lifes clue to lengthen out her owne So by degrees we in a moment die As when a Lampe for want of oyle growes drie 189 The Deuill casts such mists before our eyes That what is neerest we thinke farthest of Beliefe soone enters where desire lies Which makes vs looke on Funerals and laffe Although we see our fellowes daily die Promise vnto our selues eternitie 190 Obiecting what caus'd this what that mans death Who else had liued many a faire yeare Reflecting not we draw the selfe-same breath And lyable to those mishaps they weare Nor that the yong sheepe commeth from the fold As soone vnto the slaughter as the old 191 A thiefe condemn'd to die although he goe Vnto the place where he must suffer death Farther then doth his fellowes or more slow Knowes he must die and his protracted breath But multiplies his miseries well knowing Though he goe nere so slowly yet he 's going 192 And when thou waking liest in thy bed How often dost thou heare the passing bell For some departing soule not fully dead Perchance some friend thou louedst deerely well With whom not long before thou oft hadst bin Copartner in some execrable sin 193 When discontents our vexed soules oppresse We value it a happinesse no more To breath this loathsome ayre forgot no lesse Forward in folly then we were before Only those freely may reioyce in death Who with content drew discontented breath 194 How many brought to vse the common phrase During this momentary Pilgrimage Euen to deaths doore returning in a maze Make holy vowes to heauen and engage Their soules for true performance which within One moneths forgot as no such thing had bin 195 Sea-faringmen with timerous passengers Who saile within an inch of death each houre When Neptune rores th' frighted soules deters How Saint like will they out petitions power But calme the waues becomming smooth and euen Drinke drunke and sweare as they 'd pull God from heauen 196 How penitent how humble and submisse A sicknesse shaken sinner thou shalt see That one would sweare he nere would doe amisse Againe for all the world recouer'd hee Sooner forgets it then a childe the rod And violates his plighted troth to God 197 Thrice happy soules who only liue to breath The little time of innocencie forth Whose harmelesse thoughts did euer saile beneath The knowledge of the base worlds little worth He that is borne to day and dies to morrow Looseth some houres of ioy but moneths of sorrow 198 Had Pryam dy'd before the walls of Troy Dismantled weare or Paris Helene scene He had gone to his Sepulchre with ioy Old Hecuba beene buried a Queene Anchises need not to haue sought a shore T'interre his bodie had he dy'd before 199 Doe not we daily heauen importune Though indirectly through a vaine delusion And greedie appetite for wealth which soone Becomes the Author of our owne confusion The humble Cottage pouertie doth guard Nor stands in need of either watch or ward 200 Who would not be a second Cicero Or sweet tongu'd Ouid or Demosthenes Whose too much worth wrought their owne ouer-throw Sick men desire what 's worst for their disease Then death there 's nothing we can lesse endure Yet wish those things which our own deaths procure 201 Preheminencie is but enuies pray Be it in wealth wit beautie eloquence To want pride lust ambition making way ' Gainst which there is no bulwarke of defence Nature nere fram'd an excellence so great Death could not studie some way to defeat 202 T is strange to see what stratagems men vse To propagate decaying Families When nature doth her common helpes refuse By rebaptizing their lost progenies Their names entayling for
craz'd is still most briefe And hangs a true man where there wants a thiefe No foole the prouerbe saith vnto the oldest And euermore blind Bayard is the boldest Thomas Veridicus To the Author vpon his Poem VVHile other Muses wanton Poems sing Thy pen being taken from a Cherubs wing Teacheth the way to blisse where they and we Meet in a quire to adore Eternitie Death must begin our triumph and the dust That hangs vpon our fleshie garment must Be first brush'd of the vanities of life Riches and pleasures that but sweeten strife And to the eye of sense makes death appeare Deform'd by thy diuiner raptures here Are quite destroide the rugged path made eauen And men acknowledge thee the way to Heauen Iames Sherlie To my worthiest friend Master W. C. on his Booke La Dance Machabre FRiend thou do'st ill to ranke me in this place Though I shall honor thee in my disgrace For as choice dainties after grosser food Taste better farre then other wayes they would So men by reading this harsh verse of mine Shall rellish better these sweet straines of thine What boot these lines alasse When euery one May read they prayses written in thine owne Such needlesse things may make weake people deeme Thy Booke wants sureties to beget esteeme Here hath thy sad Muse like a dying Swan Sung a sweet storie of the death of man O may shee liue that glad-deceiued we May heare her often sing such melodie Iohn Crompton Sum quod 〈◊〉 Fui quodes Behould fonde man J am what thou shallt be And as thou art soe was Jonee like thee Death's Duell Mors omnibus communis We must all die 1 OLympick Odes soft layes fond Louers breath Domestick iarres nor forrein broiles I bring Nor crown'd Lyaeus with a frantique wreath Twixt life and death the fatall warre I sing Which whilâ—t I but recite me thinkes from all At euery accent should a salt teare fall 2 Assist yee heau'nly powers no other Muse I inuocate cast downe propitious Eyes My humble genius with such fire infuse Our words may fall like Lightning from the Skyes Striking th' amazed mortals with such terrour They may not loue but liue to see their errour 3 Stay not too fast least thou impose an end To what we briefly haue discours'd vpon Before thou truly know what we intend Too hasty feeding hurts digestion Read note if not to profit What 's compriz'd Herein is meerly but cpitomiz'd 4 We highly prize this noble friend and that This boone Companion and that Parasite Whose smooth tongu'd language euer leuels at Those things which doe administer delight But in conclusion Death 's our truest friend Tels vs what we must trust to in the end 5 Tels vs that we are mortall that we know Our last nights habitation not the next That humane pleasures like sweet Roses grow Amidst a thousand miseries perplext Since ioy and griefe inseperably goe Nor can we reape our pleasures without woe 6 The Twins of Fortune at one instant borne Both Male and Female birth-rites due to neither Like Turtle-doues they re-salute each morne Wander all day and lodge at night together All ages all conditions all estates Know this discouer'd in their seuerall fates 7 The strongest Fort besieg'd with powerfull foes Till victuals and munition waxeth scant May for a time subsist but in the close Must of necessity submit to want So youth and nature bare vp stiffe while But in the end Death giues them â—â—…th the foile 8 The life of man is tripertite the first Of nature which is lyable to death The second after which all good men thirst Of same commencing with our vtmost breath The last eternall consummates our bliffe Whither for Death there no admittance is 9 Blest Heau'ns defend me the Worlds maior part Reflect not on whose arrant they are sent The Stage scarce enterd they forget their part Turne dayes to nights and nights to dayes ill spent Such liberty vnto our selves we giue Till Death we know not truly how to liue 10 The thiefe reflects not what it is to steale Before he sees the Gallowes not the Maid Vntill her belly doe the fact reueale A th'stolne imbraces of her loues dismaid The Prodigall reflecteth not vpon A plentifull estate till he haue none 11 Consider wisely what thou hast to doe In this vaine World with serious meditation How short the time what 's likely to ensue And frustrate not the end of thy Creation Since here is nought whereon thou canst relie But to be borne to labour and to die 12 What though thou do'st enioy a greater measure Of temporall felicitie then those That liue reclus'd for eu'ry dram of pleasure Expect a world of happinesse to lose There 's but one Heau'n then thinke not to reioyce Both here and hence thou must not haue it twice 13 Vnthrifty youth time prodigally spends That flyes away with vndilcouer'd hast Mocking our hopes still future ioyes pretends Takes small content in recreations past Imagination sets our thoughts on fire And what we cannot haue we most desire 14 So little Children wish would we were men Freed from the fetters of our pupill age Growne old they couet to be young againe Pretending in their wayes to be more sage And circumspect what is not we thinke best And others in their meaner fortunes blest 15 The carefull Pilot wafting from the Shoare His ful-fâ—aâ—…ght Vessell sitteth at the Sterne Iudiciously to guide what goes before And from the hoary-headed Pole doth learne Which way to steere and furrow vp the Ocean With a secure though vnsteady motion 16 The World 's the Sea and we the Vessels are Consideration Stearesman and pale death The Sterne in which we haue an equall share Swift-footed time still towards vs beckeneth Dappled with age which careles youth doth know Yet all too late beleeues it to be so 17 But so it is what ere we doe pretend And fondly flatter our Imagination Being as neere vnto our Iourneyes end For ought we know as aged declination Experience tels vs Whence we may presage No certainty in youth nor hope in age 18 The one may liue the other cannot long A possibility on which we build Our certaine ruine and receiue a wrong That 's irrecouerable if we yeild Vnto such reasons nature will produce In her desires euermore pro use 19 He whose pulse beats the strongest hath no more Assurance of his life then he that lies Vpon his death-bed and perhaps before His deare companion whom he mournes for dyes The neere ally'd whose care the sicke attends Ouid. Sicken themselues and die before their friends 20 The Priest doth offer holy sacrifice Vpon the Alter for departing soules Liue to be present at his Obsequies And heare the Sextons Death-bell when it toules So the Physitian while he Physicke giues T'another dies himselfe his Patient liues 21 The forward heire Who thinkes that life too long By which he liues desirous to see His Father canoniz'd whilst he is young And not
a time good stands Vpon their female issue with their lands 203 And sometimes when the lawfull linage that For many ages hath continu'd falls In-steps some bastards peremptory brat And his propostrous progeny installs Death no distinction makes in whose hands lies The certaine ruine of all Families 204 Nor priuate men and Families destroyes But Kings and Kingdomes throwes vnto the ground Hugh Babels bulke Hierusalem and Troyes Admired strength whose memories are found Alone in bookes so thou proud Rome shalt fall Who call'st thy selfe the Supreme head of all 205 Nothing retaines its pristine state but still Some change or mutabilitie is found New Cities built the old decay'd nor will The setleds Kingdome on this massie round Subsist but shall to others be transfer'd By course of time their memories inter'd 206 The World 's the rode and we the passengers Are billeted at seuerall Innes the Crowne Some entertaines and for Embassadors The Angell is reseru'd others goe downe Vnto the Miter or the Cardinals hat Some to the Plough some vnto this some that 207 Our iournies end is either heauen or hell To which we all must first or last attaine Heauen prepar'd for those liue and die well And hell the wicked destin'd to restraine Not for a certaine or prefixed time In this most blest or that accursed clime 208 And doth not this wise Worldlings you concerne Who make religion but a stalking-horse And can at euery alteration Perne Nor eate nor drinke nor sleepe a pin the worse Whom some vntimely death like to a frost In Summer nips so all your glories lost 209 What wouldst thou giue when gifts will not preuaile What wouldst thou do when neither strength nor time Of doings left when death shall thee assaile And blast thy forward hopes euen in their prime Examine the defects of other men And doe those things which they would haue done then 210 You that broach Schisines and damned Heresies Sell your owne soules for sensualitie To magnifie your dunghill progenies Teach others for your owne ends libertie Reflect vpon the doctrine you will teach Vpon your death-beds and the selfesame preach 211 Wrong not the all beleeuing Laitie Strooke with a two houres preach into a qualme Thinke all deuotion zeale and pietie Consisteth in the singing of a Psalme And turning ore the Bible which I feare More in their hands then in their hearts they weare 212 So blind men iudge of colours babies chuse The gaudie out-side of a bitter sweet But good and wholsome sustenance refuse More for their health and weake disgestion meere So did Vlysses cunningly obtaine Achilles armes his armes could not sustaine 213 Be Pastors and not prators feed your sheepe With wholesome harmeles doctrine feed not on them Nor let them wade alone into the deepe If for them you le not pray prey not vpon them It is the chiefest ornament of Art To teach both th'actiue and the passiue part 214 Gull not the World with an vnblest beliefe As great Ones doe if they are not bely'd To thinke an outward Sanctitie the chiefe Perfection Gold before its purifi'd Retaines much drosse nor will for currant goe Although it seeme most perfect to the show 215 Behold fond worldlings one but euen now In prime of nature and contentious wealth Strook with some sudden chance no man knowes how At vnawares death euer comes by stealth Vpon his lamentable death-bed lying With all the postures of a man that 's dying 217 Deepe sighes and grones his colour pale and waune No moysture left to coole his parched tongue The bloud dri'd vp which in his blew vaines ranne His feeble limbes with nerues and arctures strong Vnable to support each other now And in their seuerall offices to bow 216 His eyes growne hollow and his sinewes drie Haire from his head nailes from his fingers fret No part escapes tor mented he doth lie The panges of death distils prodigious sweat Life to the heart for succour straight retyring Who first receiu'd her lastly leaues it dying 217 Meane while th' amazed multitude he wils By his example to be vigilent And carefull in their wayes whose cares he fils With wholsome counsell how they should preuent This mischiefe that occasion he imparts In zeale which neuer penitrates their hearts 218 Through obuious paths his wandring thoughts amazed Sets them on shore amidst his worldly blisses On whose vaine obiects he so fondly gazed And now too late ten thousand times he wishes His shatter'd vessell ready to be split With more discretion he had gouern'd it 219 Then you the witnesse of his youthfull folly Base Adulators and Associates He blames were wont to purge his melancholy For so you call deuotion at such rates As now his guiltie soule forc'd to be gone At so short warning grieues to thinke vpon 220 Doubtfull what the euent will be confides In him alone on whom we all relie Whose mercies more then all his workes besides Who neuer doth a penitent denie That humbly begs though it be nere so late For his transgressions nere so desperate 221 The soule departed what remaines behind A loathsome carcasse by the diligence Of louing neighbours decently inshrin'd Which other wayes would yeild no small offence Hard-hearted creatures that can daily doe Such things which no impression leaue in you 222 Conuaid with expedition to the tombe Dust vnto dust the greedy pillagers And Common-wealths men of our mothers wombe Impatient blame their slothfull Haruengers Who giue vs vp amidst our funerall rites To quench the furie of their appetites 223 Crawling into the seuerall passages Of our dead bodies sometimes throw the head At their owne freedome worke their Voyages Throw heart loines liuer Epicure like fed On which they feast in which each one resides Pitching his tents as since their progresse guides 224 Our Microcosme pillag'd ransackt sackt Raysing the siege leaue only in the roome The stragling ruines of so foule a fact To time which they themselues could not consume Which oft by othersare digg'd vp to find The hidden mysteries are left behind 225 Some deuote person purchaseth thy skull On which in 's Closet he doth meditate Sayes here were lips eyes all these hollowes full Of wanton flesh and sparkling bloud of late Now only serues me for a looking glasse To see that I am now what this once was 226 Thus shalt thou be tormented in thy graue Flowted and geered thy flesh consum'd thy bones Scatter'd abroad on which poore mortals haue No more regard then of so many stones Whose stony hearts such obiects neuer stirre Nor from the least of wickednesse deterre 227 Some sauage beasts deuoure as we doe them To fowles and fishes others are expos'd Who by degrees returne to vs againe First in a thousand seuerall shapes inclos'd For whatsoeuer is compos'd of earth's The same throughout innumerous formes births 228 Suppose thou haue the happinesse to die In thine owne Country at thy proper home And in thy fathers Sepulcher to lie Preseru'd for
his pace Feed him with branne mixe stubble with his hay Drinke from the fountaine sometimes thou maist lace This tender hide disturbe him of his sleepe Such things th'vnruly in subiection keepe 256 If wealth abound be liberall and free No man can serue two masters heauen and earth If pouerty doe pinch let patience be The antidote with a religious mirth Let no disaster daunt thee but relie On stedfast Faith sweet Hope blest Charitie 257 Pieus Mirandula whose learning fam'd Him through the World for depth of speculation Seem'd as it were thereof to be asham'd Little aduancing to his soules saluation Wishing he had the power to vs seemes strange With some deuout old woman to exchange 258 Seeke in the first place what 's first to be sought Nor let thy wandring thoughts at rouers runne He sayles securest that is eas'ly fraught The work 's halfe ended that is well begunne Euen in goodnesse studie by all meanes Much more in other things t' auoid extreames 259 He knowes enough that knowes how to liue well For as men liue most commonly they die And vntill death no mortall power can tell What shall befall him such varietie Of fortunes we are subiect vnto all Let him that stands securest feare to fall 260 Staine not the beautie of thy noble soule With th' vgly foule deformitie of sinue More horrid then the place from whence it stole But if through frailtie it should enter in Permit it not a minute there to dwell We cannot say he liues that liues not well 261 Nor can we say he 's dead although he die According to the common acceptation Whose innocencie doth like incense flie Vp to the Throne of mercie for saluation Steering a course so solid smooth and eauen The finall obiect of his labour's heauen 262 Mors dominos seruis sceptra ligonibus aequat Dissimiles simili conditione trahens The Lord the Slaue the Pesant and the King Vnlike in life in death the selfe-same thing FINIS Vpon the Right Honorable George Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury c. I May expresse a willingnesse to show The dutie to thy memorie I owe But O thy vertues soare a pitch farre higher Then any pen can reach but in desire In whom two distinct attributes accord To be religious and to be a Lord Few such we find amongst our Noble men That grace their honours not their honours them Ambitious thoughts did neuer breake thy sleepe Nor how to get vniustly nor to keepe An humble suiter might know where to find Your Lordships lodging constant as your minde Nor did you his petition sooner reade That had the Groome of your Bed-chamber feed Whose constant seruants better by their owne Then any gaudie Liuerie were knowne Whose Coach and horses did more all the yeare An old Church-doore then a new Tauerne feare No wanton pleasures did thy youth defile Nor vaine delights thy middle-age beguile Old age was not by doting passion led With like discretion either managed So that perseuerance with immortall fame Hath crown'd thy end the glory of thy name And high descent predestinate to be A faire example to posteritie Thy Mannor-house stood not for shew or grace Nor for a Land-marke but a Ianding place Whose inward vniformitie did please More then the golden superficies Insteed of Marble pillers at thy doore We did behold whole multitudes of poore Releeued whose incessant votes did striue To canonize thee for a Saint aliue W. C. AN ELEGIE Vpon the Ladie Marchionesse of Winchester daughter to the right Honourable Thomas Lord Sauage c. INstruct my pen with an immortall verse Whilst holy teares enamell thy sad herse Sweet Saint on earth in Heauen no lesse we know Thy beauty here there goodnesse makes thee so I rather should direct my prayers to thee Then studie to compose an Elegie Teaching the world with confidence they must Performe their vowes to thy religious dust With many a weary step to know what shall Vnto their long protracted hopes befall What new-borne sinne that heauen could not deuise To expiate a meaner sacrifice Then thy deare losse all other doth exceed Raigneth amongst vs who so freely feed The fatall sisters that they made such haste To finish vp their worke with so much waste How many glorious branches might haue sprung From thee so good so beautifull and young They were mistaken in their count I feare And numberd eu'ry vertue for a yeare W. C. AN ELEGIE VPON THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM Lord PAGET Baron of Beaudesert THe best intelligence that we can haue Of greatnesse euer riseth from the graue There are the curtaines drawne and men appeare Not as they seem'd to be but as they were And so do'st thou who rightly vnderstood Thoughtst no addition great but to be good In which alone t' excell thou diddest striue Liuing an absolute contemplatiue Abhorring that vnsetled generation Who make a businesse of their recreation Whose glorious titles serue as a disguise To cast a mist before the vulgars eyes As if that honours essence were to hide Their folly sensualitie and pride No tell-tale Libels after thee are throwne To staine thine honour not so much as one Inuectiue line or murmuring complaint Thy euer happy memorie doth taint We need no marble monument to raise Or recommend thy worth or speake thy praise Vnto succeeding ages shall out-liue All helpes that humane hand or wit can giue In the succession of thy noble line Wherein thy liuing memory doth shine Most glorious whilst with wonder we behold So many goodly Characters enrold Of thee whose growing vertues speake the worth And beautie of the soyle that brought them forth W. C. An Elegie VPON THE HONORABLE Sir IOHN BEAVMONT Knight Baronet A Beanmont dead he forfeiteth his pen That writeth not an Elegie For when The Muses darlings whose admir'd numbers Recorded are amongst our ages wonders Exchange this dull earth for a Crowne of glorie All are ingag'd t'immortalize their storie But thou hast left vs sacred poesie Reduc'd vnto her former infancie Hauing as all things else by long gradation Lost her first lustre till thy reformation Forcing her backe into the ancient streame Taughts thy chast muse diuinitie a theame So farre neglected we did hardly know If there were any but a name or no. Mirror of men who leftst vs not a line Wherein thy liuing honor doth not shine Equall with that of the celestiall Globe Clad in the splendor of her midnight robe Onely that Venus neuer did appeare Within the Circle of thy Hemispheare Which so much addes to thy religous verse Succeding ages shall not dare reherse Without some sacred ceremonie sent Beforehand as a diuine complement The Authours Apologie for the title of his Booke iniuriously conferd by Roger Muchill vpon a Sermon of Doctor Donnes DEath in a furie hath the Fellon tooke That stole my Title Donne to grace thy booke To wrong the liuing and commit a rape Vpon the dead how could he thinke to scape I am but too much honord to be stil'd Th'vn willing Gossip to thy vnknowne child But he that sought so basely my disgrace Behind my backe hath wrong'd thee to thy face I would reuenge thy quarrell but that he That deales with dirt shall but defiled be Liue in thy liuing fame and let this serue Not thine but mine owne honor to preserue An Epitaph vpon Roger Muchill HErelies Much-ill that nere did good who thought To coozen Death in his vntimely vault Harme watch harme catch his auarice was such That at the length he stole a Pot to much But he that would not take his bond before May take his word he shall doe so no more FINIS * Deathâ—… Golliaâ—â—…