Chance divide The Roses His The Kingdoms are thy Bride 40. The Apocalypse of John Napeir Ninety two years the World continue shall If as thou Calculat'st it stand and fall Why dost not th' End to be more near surmize Lest thou a Lyer should'st be found th' art wise 41. God Man God cannot die nor man Death conquer can But Christ did both he was both God and Man 42. Death Death unto bad men bane to good men bliss An endless Ill or End of all Ill is 43. God God is Immense all measuring alone And He 's Innumerable for but but one 44. Miracle Let others Miracles admire but I Admire their Maker only God on high 45. Adam ' s Fall Mens Bodies Goods and Souls Adam's foul fall To Physick Law Divines did first inthrall 46. To Adam False Eve Death's Parent thee deceiv'd by Fruit And foully ruin'd with a fair salute 47. To Preachers The Cock the Mornings Herald claps his wings To rouze himself before he Crows or Sings Preachers should do the like first should begin To rouze themselves next others raise from sin 48. The Tempter As Mice in Walls so Satan in man's heart Orfinds or makes a way with his black Art 49. Mortification We live to die and die to live O why Then learn we not to die before we die 50. Hodie to Day This Day was yesterday to Morrow nam'd To Morrow shall be yesterday proclaim'd To Morrow not yet come nor far away What shall to Morrow then be call'd To Day 51. Against thee only have I sinned Subjects do sin 'gainst God the King the Laws A King 'gainst God alone A King because 52. Prayer As Christ transpiere'd the Doors fast shut at Even So Prayers pierce th' Impenetrable Heaven 53. Mary Magdalens Tears Vain wandring Eyes sinning by seeing vain Wip'd off by weeping with those Eyes sins stain I err if not that weeping faculty Because th' Eye first did sin 's infus'd in th' Eye 54. Of Hope and Fear Riches and Fear Hope want concomitate Hope 's to be wish'd for Fear 's a froward fate Poor men have Hopes the Rich men Fears But I These Fears had rather than those Hopes apply 55. Mathusalem is dead Life is not long but still to live what profit Is in long life when Death 's the sequel of it 56. Of Law and Justice The way to Law than Justice more we trace Though this the shorter that 's the longer Race 57. Intemperance We who desire long life before we die Why do we shorten it by Luxury We will and will not lengthen our short spans We nill our selves will by Physicians 58. To Ponticus Art poor 't is hard to make thee rich but when Th' art rich 't is easie to be richer then 59. The Pharisees They say but do not 't is our Ages sin First say then do Faith so doth enter in 60. Liberty If happy 's he that all things hath at will Why do men will yet are repining still The best-great'st vertue 's Liberty sole he Can live at will whose will is well to be 61. Christ whence Conceiv'd at Nazareth at Beth'lem born Thy Natures two two Countries did adorn 62. Christ Crucified To th' Erring Dying Sick the Way Life Cure The Crosses Cross Deaths Death didst Cross endure 63. Christs Cross. The Cross bare Christ Christ bare the Cross and thus Christ bare the Cross the Cross Christ all for us 64. Of Religion A pleasant Tree planted in pious breast Whose Root hath labour fruit hath honours Crest Fear first brought Gods into the world no lye For to fear God is the prime Piety In Piety's root 's Gall Honey's above For Fear 's Religion 's Fount the River Love 65. On the Prodigal and Miser This till his death gives nothing that at 's death Hath nothing left to give or to bequeath 66. The Married Let man love's wife let wife submissive be T' her husband he 's her Head his Heart is she 67. Study Students grow mad by studying much to know None mad by studying to be good doth grow 68. Remember Death Death of uncertains hath most certainty Uncertain when but certain once to die None from his birth none from his death is far Yet none of this is a Remembrancer 69. The Blessed Virgin Gods Spouse her Fathers Parent her Sons Child Virgin by man without man Mother stil'd 70. What 's rare not dear A Paradox Vice common is yet nothing is more dear Vertue seems vile yet rare it doth appear 71. A Beast Past hope what 's past sole future hope doth rest Things hopeless pass hopes fruitless with the Beast While past things vex future perplex with care Us men Beasts wiser pleas'd with present are 72. Reason Reason's the Queen of things their Mother's Nature This brings them forth that is their Regulater 73. Nature Wise Nature hath with Reason us supply'd Which wills us to take Nature for our Guide 74. Freedom of Speech Thou seem'st t' have freedom fables to relate But free enough's the Tongue that less doth praâ—â— 75. To Marcus a Problem Be'st good or bad what matter 's it For those Force like the Lawes these Laws like force oppose 76. Upon Old and New Fashions 'T is foolish Envy new things to despise And envious folly new things sole to prize 57. A Christians Death Death like the way leads thee to life and is No dying but an Entrance into Bliss 78. To Christ. Anchor of Hope Faiths Ship Loves shoreless Sea Earth's Salt Heavens Sun the Souls sole saving Plea Death by thy death is kill'd Death dead doth lie Yet who would think that ever Death could die 79. Self-Love Who sees not his own faults but others spies Is wise unt ' others but t' himself unwise 80. Saints Lives 'T is vain Saints Lives to read and not to lead Do both the lives of Saints read lead lead read 81. Our Country A good man 's still at home not in Exile Each Land each Sea is as his native soyle Exile's where ill our Country where contrary In this Good Bad are each ubiquitary 82. Upon an Atheist No faith of past nor hopes of future move Within thy Soul the present's thy sole love 83. Of Hereticks Virgil from Enn'us dross did Gold extract But Hereticks from Gold do dross compact 84. An Encomiastick The Good by praise is better worse the bad The Crafty craftier the fool more mad 85. Not too fast None 's on the sudden good hast not too fast Although in Vertues way thou makest hast Good counsel us'd in hast proves bad we find First recollect and then correct thy mind 86. The Envious and Fool. This wants right Reason that a candid heart This cannot and that will not Truth assert 87. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sermo Speech Gods Speech all Reason's ours all Oraizon So what God speaks and man 's a speaking Tone 88. Opinion None will believe yet all would be believ'd â—o faith like friendship is by gain atchiev'd 89. Art God hath
Prayers want effect Such praying as vain words of one not praying God hears as if he heard not by gainsaying 180. Hell As Art black colours cannot turn to white So from dark Hell none can return to Light 181. To a poor Friend Is' t bad I would 't were worse for at the worst Oft better things succeed than came at first 182. The Parts of the World The world though round is parted in t ' a Square Whereas four Parts so * Jews Christians Mahumetans Pagans four Religions are 183. The Causes of Discord Self-sense Self-reason each man regulates Each his own will his own Faith estimates Each wilful is hence Brethren strive the while Will only wants all strifes to reconcile 184. The Liberal The just man gives unt ' each his own but thou To Rich men theirs to poor must thine allow 185. The Temperate He that things causes knows with Times complies Calms his affects orders his acts is wise 186. The Wise. Fate governs Fools the wise more sublimate Themselves by wisdom govern not by Fate 187. Anonymus an Infant dead before Baptiz'd What dead Al is unnam'd and unbaptiz'd O Christ I nameless must by thee b' agniz'd I' th' Book of Life without a Name me write For in thy name alone mine hope is scire 188. The Flatterer and Carper These differ not in Nature but in Name This Good that Bad maligneth Both to blame 189. Love and Friendship The knot of Friendship 's to be broke for Love But Love for Friendship must not once remove 190. Peter and Paul The Sword keeps Kingdoms Coyn the Keys by which Peter than Paul reputed is more rich Saint Paul in an Epistle saith he 's poor Saint Peter no where doth his wants deplore 191. Socrates Thou nothing knowst this one thing knowst and this One thing is something something nothing is 192. Man Born weeping being born at first didst cry Thou then not pleas'd why now displeas'd to die 193. To Paul inhum'd Thou naked cam'st to th' world from mothers womb With Shirt and Shroud returnst unto thy Tomb More than thou broughtst thou tak'st hence to thy Grave Thou giv'st thy mother more than she thee gave 194. To the Courtly Reader If much for School for Court here 's little note That this for Court that for the School we wrote 195. Wise Simplicity That thou do wrong to none be like a Dove That none thee wrong wise like a Serpent prove 196. The Common-Wealths Eyes Religion and Law conjoin combine That curbs mens hearts their hands this doth confine 197. To Doctor John Gifford a Learned Physician That in Apollo's Art thou skilful art No wonder for thy parts thou knowst apart If Galen saith not this yet wise Apollo Saith Know thy Self his dictates thou dost follow 198. The Daw. No Birds more loquent-eloquent than I The Goose. But I write more than thou canst Crake or Cry 199. Jobs Miseries Satan the Lord permitting did disrobe Of Children Wealth and Health poor-poorest Job When all was gone his wife did yet remain Who vex'd him more than all his loss and pain 200. The Temples of St. Paul in London St. Peter in Westminster At Peter's West th' Exchequer Law Courts are White-Hall the Princes Palace thence not far At Paul's the Preacher things divine declares And Stationers there vend their sacred Wares All things convene here Paul and Peter there Peter more rich more learn'd doth Paul appear 201. Of the Conspirators in the Gun-Powder Treason upon Tuesday the Fifth of November 1605. Heav'n to provoke from Earth and from below Upon the Gods above our threats to throw What is if this be not t' accumulate On Ossa Pelion to fabricate The Tower Babel old Troy new to burn And in t ' a Chaos all things to return 202. Of the same And would you Troynovant to Cinders turn By the same Fate which Phrygian Troy did burn Unfit was Tuesday for such fatal Flashes Ash wednesday is the day design'd for Ashes 203. The King to Britain Fame brought a Rumour of my death to thee O do not credit Fame but credit Me. 204. To England of the uniting of Britain Concord intern-etern Crowns Britains Brow For her three Nations are united now Scotland with Shield Wales doth like Walls immure Thy Land O England thou maist rest secure 205. To Thomas Nevill an hopeful Child Extract from Nevil's Noble Blood the Grace Of both thy Parents shines in thy sweet Face Their Natures not sole Features thou shewst forth Thy Mothers Vertues and thy Fathers worth 206. Upon the Death of Charles Blount Earl of Devonshire 1606. Whether with Eulogies or Elegies With Praise or Tears thy Death to solemnize 'T is doubtful divers men speak divers things Good speak the best malignants wound with Stings 207. To the Reader Reader these Epigrams are short and few For many if though short they long would shew Reader these Epigrams are few and short For few if long a many would import 208. Of speaking and writing Though words be living voices writings dead Yet these survive when those are vanished The End of the Third Books EPIGRAMS OF John Owen AN OXONIAN AND CAMBROBRITAN A Single Book Dedicated To the most Learned Heroine the Lady ARBELLA STUART LONDON Printed by R. White for Nevil Simmons at the Sign of the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard and for Thomas Sawbridge at the three Flower-de-Luces in Little-Britain 1677. John Owen's EPIGRAMS A Single Book 1. To the Lady Arbella-Stuart ILlustrious Virgin sprung from Regal Race Whose Real worth thy Royal Birth doth Grace He that his wits First-fruits thee gave ev'n He Doth tender render now new Fruits to Thee Upon thine * A fair Altar Ara-Bella as most fit I consecrate I sacrifice my wit 2. To the same Thy constant Life doth from thy youth express The Genius of thine Ingeniousness Adverse things quell thee not nor prosp'rous swell Thy Sails thy front and mind are parallel And thy rare signal vertues are the cause That none will think I flatter for applause 3. To his Book Before innum'rous Judges thou must plead Not one or two will censure when they read Perhaps unread thou shalt not censures flee And more Reprovers will than Readers be 4. Union to the Britains 1606. Who unless mad will off'red Gold refuse Here 's Union This Pearl who will not choose 5. Vacuity The Ethicks of vacuities complain But Physicks shew that nothing's made in vain 6. On Zoilus Zoilus is torn with an eternal Verse Though e're two thousand years he lies on 's Hearse Is it because his heirs do never die He 's punish'd for his whole Posterity 7. From the Center to the Circumference Not from the Center to th' Circumference Sole one Line 's yet but one way t' Heaven 's hence 8. Cock-Crowing to the Prince France felt and did our English Forces see No Gallick sound could make our Lion flee 9. Of Quintus Money 's a Noun a Verb to promise he Promis'd a Noun but
thou self distracted didst distract What should'st thou do Famine advis'd that Act. Thee Poverty compell'd thy Books with sweat Compil'd first pen'd after to vend and eat 126. On a Bald Pate Lo not an hair thine heads bald Crown doth Crown Thy Faithless Front hath not one hair thine own Before Behind thine hair 's blown off with Blast What 's left thee to be lost thine Head at last 127. To Claudius and Linus Lewd Claud to make thee good thou want'st sole will Thou Linus want'st sole Power to make thee ill 128. To George (1) Nom. George whether thou desir'st to b' in my Book Wherein a Verse averse is if thou look (2) Gen. Or whether of thy Kindred I should raise Trophys in Verse oft sounding Thine-their Praise (3) Dat. Or whether I to thee would recommend Due thanks my Verse cannot due thanks repend (4) Accus 'T is well no Verse of mine thee doth accuse In this thy Name well pleaseth Me-my Muse. (5) Vocat If generous O George thou would'st be call'd Thou in th' extremest Place shalt still b' install'd (6) Ablat Wo's me that I my Verse cannot inforce Longer to hold with thee a long Discourse 129. A Lover is a Warrior Souldiers with Harlots Aulus well compar'd Mars bodies arm'd Venus unarm'd doth guard 130. The Military Oath The Latines Sacrament call'd sacred Oath Which Souldiers to their Captain did betroth If Sacraments be but an Oath then there More Sacraments than two will soon appear 131. Of Alanus Covetous and Lame Give but a Gift t' Alanus He though Lame Is hundred-handed to receive the same But if for Gift a Gift he must restore He 's Lame that hundred-handed was before 132. The Condition of Kings While This forbears That fears Truth to relate To Kings O miserable Kingly state 133. Vis Jus Force Right to J. C. Vis Force Jus Right are adverse yet the Name Of Vis and Jus inverted is the fame 134. Of Marcus Wives Widows Maids Whores Wenches women-kind Thou lov'st but thine own Wife thou leav'st behind Among so many kinds of Venus sports Why leav'st the lawful lov'st th' unlawful sorts 135. Desperate Debt Who 's not in Debt t' his wise who (1) Solvency or Payment is not to be understood but of one that is able to pay the whole debt Jabol de verb. signif 1. solvendo solvent is None solid but insolvent is in This. 136. Of Culianus Wise men are (1) Cic. de Divin lib. 2. wonders wonders now are none Then now there is no wise man no not one But Culian th' art wise then wonders are Or thou from wisdom Culian art far 137. Of Marcus a man venust or comely Too much of Venus (1) Burnt usted part of Thee That in some Part thou maist Venustus be 138. Of Adrian 5. Derided Epigrams derided Verse Thou writest which with mirth have no commerce No mirth is in them yet the Reader smil'd Because both wit and mirth from them 's exil'd 139. I Thou He. There 's no man but prefers Himself unt ' All Hence the first Person I we count and call Thou fam'st thy present blam'st thine absent Friend He Thou next Me and He next Thee doth tend 140. Petite dabitur vobis Ask and it shall be given you That which was promis'd Askers heretofore Is given now to Givers men no more Will gratis give what 's gratis comes from Heaven Of nought comes nought Give and it shall be given Date dabitur vobiâ— 141. Married Persons Children Parents Husband and wife once two are now but one Once one two now are Father and his Son 142. Of Marcus a Lawyer Thou pleadest for thy self not Client he Not for himself but brings his Gold for thee The certain Laws uncertain Causes cross Thou sure of gain thy Client 's sure of loss 143. To his Father As man more excellent than woman is I so thy son do more excel in this 144. An Italian Th' Italians of their wives as Books comprize The parts incluse-sâ—cluse Monopolize This what God said unt ' Eve the woman gains By this I will multiplicate thy pains 145. What Wife the Author would have I like a woman facile to be lov'd To love difficile comely well approv'd Rivals in love I like deserve she should The love of all not love alone I would 146. To one complaining that his Children were not like him Would'st on thy wife beget a Self-like Child First get a wife like thee compos'd-compil'd 147. To the Married Of Conjugal Love When Adam had espoused Eve his Bride No woman was for him to love beside Love Conjugal is therefore First and best Paternal doth the Second Love attest 148. Sir Francis Drake ' s Epitaph Though Papistry should rage in time to come It would not Drake I think dig up thy Tomb Thou need'st not fear it should thy Body burn For in the water safe from Fire 's thine Urne 149. A Childs Epitaph dying before his Grandfather and Father Death keeps no method Logick's Art denies A Son before his Sire and Grandsire dies 150. Epitaph of Maurus His Soul of 's Corps his Corps of 's Soul 's hereft Maurus wants both his Name is only left 151. Epitaph of Pyramus and Thisbe Death friendly-foe from you that grief remov'd Which brought on Death before because you lov'd 152. Tho. Moor dying Moor had his Head from 's Body severed But would not have his Hair cut from his Head 153. Three Languages Crucified Hebrew Greek Latine First Next Third commixt Sacred Learn'd Roman all three Crucifixt 154. Don Antonio King of Portugal Between thee and thy Kingdom a Divorce Was lately made against thy will by force Now thou maist of thy Kingdom took away What Christ Himself (1) My Kingdom is not of this World did of his Kingdom say 155. Alexander Aristotle He great'st of Kings of Sophists this compleater Great Alexander Aristotle greater This learn'd made Alexander more compleat Great He made Aristotle not more great 156. Of Plato The Bees which swarm'd on Plato's lips do still Distill rare Sweets from his mellistuous Quill 157. Virgil ' s Georgicks Thou Maro writ'st rich Verse of Husbandry And dost manure the Readers wit thereby 158. Persius the Poet. Dark Persius I read but not conceive I' th' dark he doth his Readers lead and leave 159. Tacitus Thee Candor made Truth-telling Nature wise Briefness obscure and Gravity concise 160. To Martial Persons thou know'st to spare to speak of things All thy Conceits are honyed have no Stings 161. To Petrarch While O thy Laura's read the doubt will be Lawrel or Laura whether fitt'st for thee 162. Pliny Englisht by Philemon Holland a Physician Pliny writes many things is long is short Much writing Holland's (a) Because more plene longer (b) Because more plaiâ—â— shorter for't 163. Of Cicero to Catullus What thou didst tell Catullus and foretell Of Cicero was true for it befell
Gold but seldom give They Physick give take none yet healthy live A Diet They prescribe the Sick must for 't Give Gold Each other Thus supply-support 54. Of Lawyers Lawyers are prudent provident beside For prudently They for Themselves provide 55. A Courtier If good Thou mayst be better but not greater If great more great not better nor compleater 56. To Marcus a Monoculist Thou Marcus wantst an Eye Enough 's one Eye Both Eyes may more not better Things espye I have both Ears but hear no Truth now told Both Eyes but can with Them no good behold 57. Of Paulus Thou to preserve thy Fame hast built thy Tomb As if that Tombs should not to ruine come 58. A Secret against Grey Hairs To Bithynicus Lest in old Age thine hairs should silver'd be Thy youth hath made Thee bald O happy Thee 59. Of Theodore Thou newly married didst think th' hadst found A narrow Passage to the Starry Round But that New Passage led t' another Road T' a lower not the strait way but the broad 60. Of Apollo and the Muses The Muses Femes Apollo's Masculine For One Apollo's worth the Muses Nine 61. Of Alanus grown old His Cubit with 's Wives Cubit measuring Alanus said O sweet concubiting 62. The Calends of January Of Olus and Quintus To th' Rich Ole gives not lest his Gifts ask more Nor to the Poor because Himself is poor But Quintus gives expecting by that shift For what He durst not ask a better Gift 63. Of Pontia One wish'd All Cuckolds cast i' th' Sea but t' Him His Wife thus said Learn Husband first to Swim 64. A work of Darkness 'T is to preserve the Species of profit But th' Individuum's th' Opposer of it 65. Thou Lyest Beware t' a Souldier give not the Lye He takes it for the great'st Indignity Ye that the Lye for such Disgrace esteem Why then to Lye so great a grace d' ye deem 66. Of an Hypocrite Thou wilt not swear 't is Sin but thou wilt Lye Is this Religion or Hypocrisie 67. Androgynus Who Venus-like and Mercury's in fight Nor Man nor Woman 's an Hermaphrodite 68. Venus Love like the Sea doth flow doth Ebb again What wonder For Venus sprung from the Main No Trust 's in Her she 's light and plac'd with Mars Among the Planets not the fixed Stars 69. Of Rivals Each unt ' himself would Phillis have but There Doth more of Envy than of Love appear 70. A Woman A woman from mans Womb was ham'd but Eve Did from Mans Bone not Flesh her Form receive 71. The Alliance of Physicians and Lawyers Physicians and Lawyers in their Trade Are like their gain of others loss is made To Patients Those to Clients These apply Their helping-hand but help themselves thereby 72. Of Pamphilus to Philippe Nature doth no Vacuities admit Pamph ' therefore as his Leader follows It. 73. To one Bald. Leaves to the Trees and Grass returns to Ground But not one hair on thy bald pate is found 74. Nilus in the Eyes Aetna in the Heart Cold Nilus entred hath my burning Eyes Mine Heart with Aetna's Flames inflamed fryes No Floods of Tears can quench so great a Fire Nor burning Love can make those Floods retire So though discording Fire and Water be Concording yet They shew their force in me 75. Caeteris paribus The rest alike Of Camilla â—wo Suiters did Camilla love and Court The beautiful in Stature yet but short That other not so fair but taller prov'd The Maid b'ing ask'd which of them best she lov'd â—he looking on the Taller when she spies â—is Nose Arms Leggs Feet all of longest size â—he thus or Impudent or prudent spake â—f all he like I will this long Man take 76. Of Gyants and Dwarfs Giants and Dwarfs are Monsters in their Forms Those are like Elephants and these like Worms 77. Of an Abbat's two Bastards When in the Temple with the rest you pray You two not fictly Abba Father say 78. Of Priests Priests wedded are what thereby gain they more They had as much as that in Tenths before 79. A Participle A Verb if Eras Mus a Noun's declin'd What is Erasmus let the Reader find 80. A Cuse To the Lawyers A Man lies with a Wife which is his own Whom he suppos'd Anothers till 't was known Whether the Child by such mistake begot Be spurious legitimate or not 81. Of the Morning Dost wonder why the Light 's expatiated â— th' Morn before the Sun 't was First created 82. Of the Day Though Night than Argus be more full of Eyes The Day 's One Eye more clearly things descries 83. Of the Night Why doth dark Night put on her black Array It Widow-like mourns for departed Day Should not the Stars inlighten mourning Night Grief would oppress us e're the Mournings light 84. To Marcus Thy Verses praise Me but I think because I should thy Verses praise with mine Applause 85. Of Death Thieves shall restore their Theft Robbers their Prey But Nothing Death For Death takes All away 86. To his Friend Half of thy Dear whom Thou dost dearly love Sith th' art and Half thine own how Mine dost prove Yet writ'st thy self still Mine while having thine Own Wife art scarce thine own how canst be Mine 87. A good Man If what is Rare 's preclare and of Account A good Man doth all Rarities surmount 88. Of a certain Old man Thy Beard once black Age hath made white thy Minâ— Once white 's now black once candid now 's unkind 89. Of Paulinus When I thy Friend a Boon from Thee would borrow Thine Answer is It shall be done to Morrow Wilt that I Thanks condigne should Thee repay Thou shalt have Thanks to Morrow not to day 90. Of painted Ladies You that your Faces paint may well nay must With (1) Horaâ—â— Flaccus say We Shadows are and Dust. 91. Of Cotta Thy Wives Thou Wholly but not solely art She 's solely Thine not wholly but in part 92. A Politician Dissemble Feign Thy Self comport-comply With Humours with the Times 't is Policy If Thou be wise thy Self comply-comport To serve the Times that Times may serve Thee for 't 93. Of Venus Why follows Venus Mars his lawless Flame Because t' his lawful Venus Vulcan's lame 94. Of Marinus None can Two Masters serve without disaster But Thou Two Mistresses dost serve no Master 95. Of Marcus 〈◊〉 Beard doth grow thine hairs from head do fall â—â—â—ve bearded but light-headed th' art withal 96. To Mr. John Hoskins â—â—en I convers'd with Thee my Friend instil'd â—outh at (1) New Colledge in Oxford Oxon (2) Winchester Colledge where the Scholars are called Children Winton at a Child 〈◊〉 without doubts in doubts I found thy love 〈◊〉 Friendship without Fraud I oft did prove 〈◊〉 that thy Love which then thou shew'd'st to Me â—â—mands commends These grateful Lines to Thee 97. Of Death to Epicharmus â—â—y wouldst not die but yet be dead O why â—â—uldst without dying Epicharmus
new Law thou maist not wed what then By th' old thou maist without offending men But twice 'gainst * Levit. 21.7 13 14. Moses Law th' hast done amiss Thy first wife was a whore a widow this 142. Ka'end Jan To Germanicus Instead of Gifts I Verses send to thee Send Gifts instead of Verses unto Me. 143. Sara She that her Maid would unt ' her Husband give As did rare Sara now doth rarely live 144. To D. T. Thy Titles Scholars Servant Masters Lord Mine Envy and my Pity both afford 145. Of Paula an Atheist Whether a Man two Wives or Husbands two A Maid should have 't was ask'd This knot t' undo Thus Paula said A Maid two Men should have Else how can two consist in one Concave 146. In Medio virtus Between two Men a pompous Woman sate Vertue the middle Place hath lost of late 147. Of Acerra He 's blest whom others Horns have made afraid Unwedded A'cer oft t' his Father said 148. To Pinotus Dost ask What I would have a Feminine Not Venale Vendible I would have Mine 149. Of Quintus and Quintina Quintus his Wifes Intreaties for Commands Her words for Laws her Beck for Statute stands She leads she drives at will the silly Sot As if she had an Husband and had not 'Gainst Nature Laws Arts Rules Grammarian Avaunt For Here 's He Woman and She Man 150. A Paradox to his absent Mistress I burn with Love And I the more am burn'd The more remote from me the Fire is turn'd 151. Of Paulina False to the First false to the second Bed Both void She liv'd unblam'd-unblemished Not for the fear of Sin but fear of Shame Preferr'd Her without Blemish without Blame Though many did her treat did her intreat She granted unto none the Vacant Seat 152. Of Gellia If it be Simony to Merchandize And at a price Things consecrate to prize We well may call thee Simoniacal Who sellest Love For Love's Spiritual 153. Of a certain Woman In small time how immense thy Things did grow Of late but Omicron Omega now 154. Aenigma Tell where that Creature is on Hill or Vale Whose Father Female Mother is a Male 155. To Ponticus That Both thine Eyes thou hast I wonder Why Because thy Parents Each had but One Eye 156. Of D. Vitus I know not whether Horn'd I know by signs That th' art a Bull having Three Vitulines 157. Of a Dactyle to a certain Lover Wouldst with a pleasing Verse thy Mistris Court 'T were fit to know what Feet should it support Of all the Measures which a Verse do summon The Dactyle Measure best delights a woman 158. Of Love descending From th' Eyes Love riseth by the Mouth descends Into Loves Center where It hath it's Ends. 159. Of Balba Balba leave taking of her Spouse said Thus Phi-Philip you 'l b' I hope soon-soon with us 160. Of Theft a Problem to Lawyers Who takes a thing â—illing his Lord 's a Thief But what if's Lordess in that Act be Chief 161. Of Ponticus Of Promise thou dost no Performance make Physician-like who gives not yet saith Take 162. Of Cerellia married to an Eunuch Now to the Spartane Customs I agree That Men Maids when they wed should naked be For Cerill having late espous'd a Frank Thiking to gain a Prize got but a Blank 163. Of Horns a Probleme When any Wife betrays the Marriage Bed Why wears her Husband Horns Because he 's Head 164. To Germanicus Calend. Jan. Or give m' a Gift my Verses or restore Which I on that condition gave before 165. Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford Though this imperfect House to ruine tend It s large Quadrangle yet doth it commend 166. Of Phyllis Phyllis pretends my Verse her Fancy moves She loves a Verse but something more she loves 167. Of Himself I spend the Time in Trifles and in Folly Thus lest my Time be lost I lose it wholly 168. To the Reader of Himself My Brevity perchance seems Sloth t' imply Believe me no small labour 's Brevity I not as some speak much in foolish sort Perhaps my Speech is foolish but 't is short 169. Of boasting Thraso Why doth Sir Thraso wear great Spurs Because Glory doth wear great Spurs to gain Applause 170. Of Himself Ask saith Saint James it shall be given thee O that King James would say the same to me 171. Court Musick consisting of two Voices The Favourite's advanc'd and Elah sings Another all his Tunes t' a Cadence brings 172. To the Reader Lest this my Book should make Tobaco vapour Wipe rather thy Posteriours with my Paper 173. To his Book My Book Me living thou maist die perhaps What then A Child doth oft to death elapse Before his Father So then whether I Survive Thee or Thou me We both must die The End of the First Book To M r. Thomas Harvey on his Translation of the First Book of Owen's Epigrams WHen what 's begun tha ' ast finish't Owen shaâ—â— Be the Translation thine th' original Thy Native Tongue the vigour doth express More of his Fancy than his Latine dress So from thy Version he derives this Good To be esteem'd in being understood T. M. THE SECOND BOOK OF THE EPIGRAMS OF John Owen Englished by Thomas Harvey Gent. Incept 10. Novemb. 1672. 1. To the Reader LEst this my Book please Fools whereof are Many I would not have It many please if any Few Readers are enough but One if wise If none do read me none shall me suffice 2. To the Lady Mary Neville The Praise of many's rais'd by Poets Art But all thy Praise springs from thine own desert 3. To the same Thou to thy Foes if any be dost will Dost wish none ill to Friends art Candid still This one thou never dost forget That other Thou never didst remember Maid nor Mother 4. To the same In Tables men fair Faces paint and place There to survive when Fates the Face deface I cannot paint but I can Poetize And Verses can give Life when Picture dies Though sole Apollo sole Apelles able's Thee to describe in Verse to paint in Tables 5. To D. J. H. I am no learned Poet but a Learner No Learner Thou but Poets learn'd Discerner 6. What News The foolish People as I pass the Street Iâ—â—uisitive thus ask when me they meet What News I tell them I know nothing New Or if I knew I say no News I knew 7. The Court. He that complies not in the Princes Hall With All the witty hath no wit at all 8. Of Aulus Wert Knighted that thy wise should love thee more She loves thee less her self more than before Her Garb her Garments must new fashion'd be So that thy Dear will be more dear to thee 9. Of the Chymist The Chymist Gold decocts till leaving none He loseth all his Gold to find a Stone 10. A Trojan Troy lost at last the Trojans Wiser grew What man is not in this a Trojan true 11. Loves Remedy Take Wood
Knowledge Methinks they sole are happy here below That either all things or else no things know 135. Christ. As Morning ends the Night begins the Day So thou Death's End wert and Lifes rising Ray. 136. Who art Thou Whom do mine Eyes behold mine Eyes are blind What sees my mind my mind doth want a mind If my best part my mind it doth not know How can I what I am unto thee show 137. The Kingdom of Heaven Why do so few the Kingdom gain of Heaven Because the way 's so strait uncouth uneven 138. Grief and Pleasure Mans heart and body present Grief doth grieve Future with fear doth vex past doth relieve Present Delight bought with past pain doth please But fear of future pain doth it disease 139. Peter Jerusalems last High Priest Caiaphas was But Romes first High Priest was they say Kephas 140. Of Sleep If Sleep be but as Death Death but as Sleep The more I Sleep the less of Life I keep 141. Rome The world begun Abel was kill'd by Cain Rome Founded Remus was by Rom'lus slain The world and Rome with blood alike stain'd stand Both did begin in blood by Brothers hand 142. Mans Perfection The chief Perfection of ev'ry Creature Is to return t' its principles by Nature Then I shall perfect be when I return My Soul to God my Body to mine Urne 143. Lord increase our Faith Luk. Cap. 17. Faith needs not an increase but a decay Sith scarce so many men as Faiths bear sway Each hath his Faith his Tutor of his own Never more Faiths more faithless men were known Lord diminish our Faith 144. On the Covetous He Hercules Nil ultra doth pass by And Carolus Plus ultra doth apply 145. Good Transcending Good all transcends and boundless is alone None therefore in the world is good not one 146. All is Vanity Heraclite living would our Manners mourn Our Times Democritus would laugh to scorn Though to deride what vain on Earth is seen Democritus hath not enough of spleen Nor to lament poor Mortals miseries Heraclitus hath tears in both his Eyes 147. Of Epicurus Young men complain that short's their youthful sport And old men murmur that their Life 's so short The life of pleasure pleasures life arise Both short who vilipends them both is wise 148. Works Good men shall follow their good works But then Their wicked works shall follow wicked men 149. Wisdoms Beginning None would for Heaven hope if none fear'd Hell Fear in the prudent hope creates 't is well 150. Of Battologus Thou not content to tire the learned ear With words and with vain babbling Time to tear But after a Tautology long spun Dost yet complain that Time too fast did run Return unt ' Oxford and distinguish better Thy Sermon long short time was not thy debtor 151. Of the same Learn'd Tullies long Orations seem not long Nor would thy Sermons couldst thou clip thy Tongue 152. Of Polytheans O foolish folk what madness doth y' insnare To think there be more Gods than worlds there are 153. Of Wit and Study Wit if not whet with Study waxeth null As Knives without the Whetstones help are dull Wit is by Study cherish'd perish'd there As Whetstones make Knives sharp and sharpning tear 154. Know thy Self None knows himself aright yet mind he can Himself a Child when old a younger man 155. Long Art short Life An Age to make one wise doth not suffice Death 's at our backs before we can be wise 156. Of Moranus an old man Not to be learn'd but to be unlearn'd by thee Are many things if thou wilt better be But how thou wilt unlearn or learn wilt thou To be made good thus old is hopeless now 157. To D. T. Twice wretched thou because once fortunate Twice happy 's he who wretched was of late 158. All seek their own The Laick Gain not Christ seeks uncontroll'd And thou O Clerick seek'st not God but Gold 159. Of Brunonius Why doth the Pest as is suppos'd attest God's wrath sith thee the Pest doth not infest The reason 's ready and a solid one Thou to thy Country art a Pest alone 160. Respect thine End Look back on thy beginning and thine End Foresee scorn Earth in Soul unt ' Heav'n ascend 161. Sense Reason Faith Charity God Sense without Reason Reason faithless Dull Faith without love love without God is null 162. Of Prudence Prudence is useful matters to dispence And of three Vertues is the Quintessence For what is Good in Life she doth impart As Logick teacheth what is Truth in Art 163. To his Parents Dear Parents I am of your Flesh and Bone You both are in my Flesh yet Flesh but one 164. Prudence and Fortitude Wise men must ills beware Strong must them bear That those may suffer none these none may fear 165. In the sweat of thy Brows c. He that injoyn'd thee t' eat thy bread in sweat Will not to th' idle give th' eternal Meat 166. Of Faith and Charity As Trees first planted are e're Fruit they bear So where are vertues faith must first appear Life lives by Faith not without Love as poor Do live in hope yet labour more and more Faith's first Love's chief for 't is a vertue great God to believe to love God's more compleat 167. If thy right Eye c. Mat. 5.29 If the Right Eye by sinning oft must out The world would suddenly be blind no doubt 168. Christian Adverbs Adverbs all Adjectives do far excel God less rewards good Deeds than Deeds done well 169. Lifes Brevity T' an unborn Infant and an old man dead Time 's all alike that 's future this is fled Abate time past abate the time to come From both how little then 's Lifes total Summ. 170. Like for like To Aulus Thy Predecessors Facts thou dost not read Strange if Posterity read thine when dead 171. Time Time things Devourer us and all out-wears We wear out Time and thus are we compeers 172. Abundant Caution Not temerous nor timerous nor late Art quickly wary not precipitate Is nature fearful Prudence strength prepares None danger fears of danger that bewares 173. John opposing Though all Antiquities oppose thy sense Thou canst them all with one word No convince 174. Justification Do Faith or Facts sole justifie declare Facts Faith by God sole justified are 175. Doomsday When all for all their works shall t' answer come Sufficeth one day for so great a Doom 176. To Marianus The Good hate sin because they vertue love Few therefore now on Earth good men do prove Vice is so priz'd Vertue so vile reputed That 't is almost a sin to b' unpolluted 177. Mary Magdalens Tears Two fluent Fountains from two Mountains rise Whence flows a double River from mine Eyes 178. Of the Soul The Soul 's from God not drawn from mortal Line For with the Body then it would decline 179. To Marcus In Bed thou prayest with thy Face erect No wonder slothful
and the Cross in Cheap in the Parish of St. Peter Why 's Peter's Golden Paul's a Leaden Cross Why because Golden words Paul's Cross ingross 137. Loves Chronicle A Moment multipli'd amounts t' an Hour A Day 's made up with Hours twenty four Days many make a Month twelve Months a year So with more Times my Love doth more appear 138. Twins Nothing 's unlike in us all 's like sole we Differ in number we two Bodies be 139. Friends We scarce in number differ Two we be Yet One You Twins in Body In Mind we 140. Of the Art of Love Though Naso's Art of Love some prove-approve Yet men unexpert know not what is Love Love is by Nature taught not learn'd by Art By th' Eyes not Ears Love enters in t ' our Heart 140. Seneca the Philosopher Thy Dictates seem like Epigrams almost But that in Numbers they be not ingrost 141. To Attalus Thou saidst once at thy Table as I take it Thou didst not relish Salt but didst forsake it For Salt thou needst not care nor is' t a fault All almost that thy Tongue doth speak is Salt 142. Sir Philip Sidney ' s Life Who while they liv'd writ Books deserving Fame Their Lives need not he writ there lives their Name The Corps not Life of Sidney's in the Tomb His short Lifes longer Glory keeps more room 143. The Bodies Valediction to the Soul I for thy sake did Mother Earth forsake The Soul departing Fool I left God my Father to betake My self to Thee Now call'd I t' him return And leave thee to thy Mother in thine Urn. Till when For we till then shall meet no more Th' Earth Thee to Me God Me to Thee restore 144. A Kingdom divided Two Kingdoms undivided are Heaven Hell As in themselves There Good here Bad do dwell On Earth alone oh shame Division raigns Which Good and Bad promiscuously sustains But time will come when th' Earth shall lie divast When Heav'n and Hell shall both be fill'd at last 145. How Waters Tears prest-exprest do tacite Love declare Love Tears begets Fire Water Strange and Rare 146. Of Wit and Memory To Ponticus 'T is ask'd Why wit is called sharpness Why Because what 's sharp doth pierce more inwardly The Memory is to retain not pierce Thus Vessels are made round and with reverse Whence I supect that or thy Wit is round Or sharp thy Memory Both unprofound 147. Comfort for the Poor To the Rich. Inconstant Fortune various appears Whence Hopes arise to Me to The â— but Fears 148. Of Titius and Gellia One in disgrace did Titius upbraid That 's Wife when first he took her was no Maid What 's that to Me thus Titius repli'd She then was Semprones Daughter not my Bride 149. The Heart Why in the left side rather than the right Is Mans Heart plac'd to Good 'cause opposite 150. The Flesh and Spirit God made mans Body first and when created He with a living Soul it animated Hence the dull Body doth I think deny T' obey the Soul pleads Seniority 151. The Innocents Proto-Martyrs For Christ the Children suff'red death before Christ for the Children shed his precious * Blood Gore 152. To his Friend The Dual Number oft doth Friendship bound Scarce in the Plural Number Love is found 153. To a friend growing old 1607. Thou wert a youth when I a Child And now Thou art grown old while I a youth do grow Thee therefore Death expects and Old Age Me Certain's thy lot though mine uncertain be 154. Of A. G. Thy Name and Face is Mans Wit Animals A Fool in Specie learn'd in Generals 155. Harmony To Divines Of Gospels Harmony have divers writ But who that Harmony Great Labour's it 156. Dissonancy So great discordance doth abound with Men That what Souls Peace is scarce knows One of Ten Here 's Base depress'd There Elah too much rear'd That scarce the Tenor or the Mean is heard 157. To Pontilianus Art jealous of thy Wife Th' art wise in part But art not jealous Then thou wiser art To watch thy Wife is vain That wife loves best That though can will not raise her husbands Crest 158. To Porcia Art thou the Daughter of the Night or Light Born in the Day begotten in the Night 159. An Epitome of the Histories of his Time To Marianus We worse are than our Fathers worser they Than their Fore-fathers apt to run astray If our Posterity prove worse than we Nothing can worse than our Poster'ty be 160. London To J. W. A London Gold-smith As Thames the Rivulets drinks up and drowns So London swalloweth the poorer Towns Though Thames with Flux re-flux Send and resend Its Floods to Sea Th' art still a constant Friend 161. Debtor and Creditor To Will. Cawley A London Merchant Though in my Book thou find if there thou look Thy Name My Name yet is not in thy Book I owe thee nought but Love Of this to thee A Creditor and Debtor still will be 162. Fools and Dwarfs Though we be not accounted men of might Yet are we great mens sport and their delight 163. To Pontilian Poor Irus still was careful why 'Cause poor Croesus was careful why For 's wealth was more One's vex'd because he wants a Wife and thou Because thou hast a wife art vexed now 164. Union To Married Britains One God and Union the World supply Wedlock on Earth was the first Unity 165. The Elements War Though God created all things for mans sake Yet th' Elements against us Wars do make How many have alas been swept from hence With the contagious Air by Pestilence How near hath London felt the Trojan Flames How many have been drench'd and drown'd in Thames Earth stops her Fruits Yet no man doth repent Though Heav'n with Tears and Earth our sins lament Though th' Earth be mollifi'd with moistning showers Yet sin our stubborn hearts more-more obdures 166. An Epithalamy To Tullia By day Thou the sole Object of my Sight Shalt be the Subject of my Love at Night 167. To Sextus an Academian That thou mayst mind thy Grave before th' art dead 'T is said by day thou mak'st for Night thy Bed That in Remembrance thou thy Death mayst keep Why dost not oftner go to Bed and Sleep 168. To his Beloved Thee known I love I lov'd thee when unknown Fame then thy Face hath made me now thine own I now know Love I love not lov'd Yea now I know not to be lov'd to love I know 169. The Younger Brother I m poor My Parents Fault not mine nor other Who did not me beget before my Brother 170. The Firmament Th' Earth stands unmov'd standing there moves the Creature Heav'n moves yet the fix'd Stars move not by Nature 171. The blessed Virgin Although the blessed Virgin we thee call Thou among women blessed art withal I profit nothing by thy Virgin vest But as a Mother Me Thou profitest 172. Hope and Faith Faith is no Faith unless but One firm