Love not for lucre marry not for mony Wed not for wealth he who doth love the honey Must fear the sting parents they are most free To those children who least deserving be Where best parts are no need wealth to bestow When fat sows must be greas'd to make them go 29. Write no such lines that others they may be The worse by reading them it is for thee Enough thine own iniquity to beare Too much in others sins to have a share Then neither write nor yet read none of them A lame hand better is then a lewd pen. 30. Do no such actions as thou shouldest feare That any one should see it neither dare To speak that word thou blushest to have shown Nor think that thought thou wouldest not have known But let thy deeds words thoughts be good then Thou need'st not feare to have them known to men 31. Rather let thy memory die and thy name Then by ill acts to eternize the same Though some with Herostratus temples burne To purchase fame rather within thy urne Unmention'd by then for to eternize Thy name lie committing of villanies What profit hast thou though thy name aspire If thou thy selfe lie'st frying in hel fire 32. Despair not though thy sins be great for greater Is God in mercy therefore grant Creator That wee of mercy presume not too far So in like manner wee may not dispaire The Saint thief saved was even at deaths gate To learne's repentance never is too late But least that we should too presumptuous be Wee never read of none so sav'd but he Lord if through frailty I great sins commit Let me hope for mercy not dispaire of it Yet let me not presume to act a sin Because th' art mercifull in pardoning 33. Deferre not thy repentance untill thy Old age least death seize on the suddenly Parents their Children follow to the grave As oftentimes as Children followed have Their Parents as many lambs skins are sold In the market as of Sheepe that are old And who the skulls in Charnell houses see Shall find as many small as great ones be Deferre not then but suddenly repent Least death thy purpose thereunto prevent An Elegie on my deare Wife who deceased in January 1652. MUses that on Pernassus Hill do make Abode assist this work I undertake Rightly do unto her whose vertues shone Transcendent bright in this our Horizon How glorious is she then of life bereaven A Star on earth but now a Saint in Heaven Why strive I then for to describe her worth In vain is art to set perfection forth No I may sooner tell the drops o' th Ocean Surcease the Tides or stop the Planets motion Then to pourtray her vertues to the life As here she liv'd on Earth a maid and wife N'ere did the worlds bright eye Hyperion see Lesse faults in any then he did in shee E're since Christs time so cleer her vertues shone Youths beauty ages wisdome joyn'd in one Mirrour of women in these worst of time As full of goodness as the world of crimes Religious zealous vertuous wise discreet Too good to live on earth for Heaven more meet Her foule is now at rest whilst shee doth sing An Halelujah unto Heavens great King What vertues ere were faign'd or knowne to be In any one comprized were in shee No idle tell-tale for to cause debate Such kinde of Creatures shee did alwayes hate Truth was her aime lying shee did abhor it And truths great God rewarded hath her for it Nor were these vertues lockt up in her brest Like to rich jewells in an iron chest Enclosed fast but evermore in action Your standing water turnes to putrefaction More might be said but when that all is done All words are like a Candle to the Sun Respecting her rare exceellent parts who in The morning of her age did thus begin How glorious had her life been then had shee Attain'd those yeares that ancient men do seel Why weep we then why do our eyes run over In vaine to mourne for what we can't recover Nor think her time on earth to be but small Seeing shee liv'd and di'd belov'd of all Those that unto this age do once attaine An honour 'bove Methusalls age do gaine Not length of dayes but dayes well spent are best Live so thy life that death may give thee rest Expect not the more honor for gray haires Yeares crown our head but goodness crownes our yeares Epitaph REader within this ground enterr'd doth lie Venus beautie Dianas chastity Cornelias learning and Philoeleas swettness Pondoras wisdome and faire Grissels meeknes Briefly whatever other items were Sum'd up in one lie in this Sepulcher True love GReat was the love and friendship that between Damon and Pithias passed scarce ere seen Or ever knowne before or since that as One to die for another but more was The love that God to us Sinners did beare For when by sin his enemies we were Yet he so loved us as that he gave His Son a ransome our poore Soules to save That whosoever do in him believe Sha'nt perish but eternal life receive O love unspeakable O bounty endlesse Love unexpressible and matchlesse kindnesse It 's seldome seen one to dye for another But for one's enemy transcends all other To my Wife NOw twice hath Phoebus run his annual race twice 12 times fair Cynthia chang'd her face Twice Hiems Frosts hath nipt both flowers trees Cloathing old Tellus in a gowne of Freeze Twice hath the husbandman received his gain From grassy Medowes and from Ceres grain Twice hath the Earth been dew'd with Apr. showrs Twice Lady Flora deckt the Fields with flowers Since we in Hymens rites together joyn'd During which time though fortune proves unkind And God hath laid his hand of visitation Heavy upon us and that much vexation We have endured yet let 's not repine Content although with little is a Mine More worth then gold a quiet peaceful life Is better far then much with care and strife Thus let us rest secure since we do lie Too low for envy and for scorne too high On Friends FRiends like to leaves that on the trees do In Summers prosperous state much love will grow But art thou in adversity then they Like leaves from trees in Autumn fall away show He happy is that hath a friend indeed But he more happy that no friend doth need On Eternity THe greatest happinesse of heavenly blisse Is that because the same Eternal is So to the damned 't is the greatest woe Because their miseries no end shall know The Conclusion LIber are our Liberi we do give Life unto them and they make us to live Epigrams To the Reader REader if thou applaud'st all is here writ Thou show'st store of good will but not of wit But if thou doest dislike all here is pen'd Yet cease to carp unless thou canst it mend An old Lecher MEmbrino stradling goes in great distress As if he had the
draw thee in 4. The loathsome sin of drunkennesse detest Which doth transforme a man into a beast Empties the purse of Coine the soul of grace Deformes with vitious Heraldry the face Breedeth diseases and abbreviates life Causeth contention author of all strife Lord give me grace for to eschew this sin Wherein so many now do wallow in 5. Honour thy Parents reverence to them do Nature commands thee and Religion too 6. Do not thou pine because ungodly men Thrive in the world grow rich and wealthy when Many a righteous man can hardly get Cloathes for to hide his shame or bread to eat But thinks upon their ends the one sinkes down To hell the other doth obtain a Crown 7. Hath God with earthly goods inriched thee Bestow them on the poor as liberally Relieve the fatherlesse the hungry fill And cloath the naked know he doth as ill Who spares when Christ doth in his members want it As he who spends to sweare and drink flaunt it 8. Art thou grown poor know'st not how to live Despaire not God will meanes unto thee give Behold the Lillies of the valley they Spin not nor toil with gentle windes do play Yet Solomon in all his royalties Was not arrayed like to one of these If God the fading Lillies doth respect Thinke not that he his creatures will neglect 9. Amongst dishonest men honest to be Deserveth praise in the highest degree But yet I do advise thee come not where Dishonest men or women living are To get such praise by living honestly Thou hast no foe like to bad company 10. Hath God with sorrowes thee encompassed Do cares and feares mightly possesse thy head Hath he by sicknesse ta'ne away thy health Do outward losses much impaire thy wealth Consider crosses unto thee are given To make thee loath the world and wish for heaven Should God here give unto his servants blisse They would desire no other heaven but this But finding here no rest they wish with Paul To be with Christ which is the best of all 11. Unto each idle tell-tale give no eare Nor yet report again all thou do'st heare Let the least part of what thou hearest be The most thou do'st believe those that to thee Of other mens affairs so much do prate Behinde thy back will lies of thee relate Setting those men at strife that liv'd in peace For where tale-bearers want there mischiefs cease 12. Swear not save call'd by a lawful commission But swear not falsly upon no condition Who falsly sweares by Gods most holy name Deserves a double punishment for th' same 'T is a deep sin yea damn'd impiety To call God to be witnesse to a lye 13. See from no man thou any thing purloyn 'T is death by humane lawes and eke divine 14. The company of wicked men forsake Least for a wicked person men thee take For 't is a saying birds that are of a Feather Will the most part accompany together 15. Lye not on no condition for the same Worse then a slanderous tongue will spoyle thy fame He who no conscience of a lye doth make None will believe him when he truth doth speak And the old proverb is as true as briefe A Lyer is far worser then a Thiefe 16. Be not too credulous what others say Least thou for thy credulity do pay Yet for to give them no cause of distrust Seem not to doubt although perhaps thou do'st 17. Avoid those brutish sins those damned crimes Those wicked acts too frequent in these times Of lust and whoredome God himself will be The judge of those that act Adultery Besides it shortens life making thy name To foes a laughter to thy friends a shame Then let these reasons move thee to desist And take advice from th'Epigrammatist Fast much pray oft fly women as the fire Think not on earthly things but think on higher If these work not this medicine doth excel The fire of marriage will lusts fire expel 18. Set thy last end alwayes before thy eye Thou knowest not how where nor when thou shalt die Then let not the thoughts of thy last end be The last end of thy thoughts least suddenlie Death cut thee off that man cannot live ill That is for his last end prepared still Then in thy life provide so for thy end That when death comes to bid him wellcome friend 19. Give not thy minde unto excess of meat Eat onely for to live not live to eat If here on earth thou Dives life do lead To Dives thou must go when thou art dead 20. Accustome not thy selfe in sinne for know Custome in time will unto Nature grow Sinnes that at first distastfull be to thee By frequent acting will delightfull be And 't is as hard to leave what we delight As for to wash an Ethiopian white 21. Do not thou with an over-curious eye Into the secrets of th' Almighty pry But let thy greatest knowledge and thy pride Be for to know Christ Jesus crucifi'd 22. Avoid all sinnes but those especially Which to thy fancie most delightfull be Who will not wanton with a beautifull Faire Virgin will contemne a homely trull So he that leaves the sinnes which most he lov'd Will not with slight temptations sure be mov'd 23. Hath God by sickness thee afflicted sore Think 't is to draw thee unto him the more Said David Gods anointed had I not Been chastened I thy precepts had forgot Afflictions are though in their Nature evill Rods to restraine's from running to the Divell 24. Disclose not that which doth concerne thee nearly Though to a friend that thou affectest dearly Hee 's wise that in his breast close secrets smothers Whil'st there they are thy own if told anothers Besides it bringeth thee in slaverie Not daring to make him thine enemie For feare his malice cause him to reveale What former friendship bound him to conceale 25. If Satan tempts thee to commit a sin Think with thy selfe whose presence thou art in It was the counsell of a heathen man Unto his friend ere that he ought began To think grave Cato or such one one as he Did ready stand his actions to otesee And not to act any thing that he would Ashamed be they should the same behold If heathen men conceited were the sight Of such grave men as Cato would affright A man from acting sin how then dare we Who know that God doth all our actions see Nothing is hid from him as Scripture mentions He knowes our secretest thoughts and hearts intentions 26 Frequent the Church misse not a Sunday there Attentive be Gods sacred word to heare Six dayes thou hast to labour in but thou The seventh unto his service must allow And pitty 't is that man should ever live That one in seven unto him will not give 27. Let not a secret place nor the night be To sin any incouragement to thee For be assured though from mans sight Sin acted be 't will come at last to light
in invention Yet after-ages shall his Verses mention High Sophocles proud veine shall last for ever With Sun and Moon Aratus shall endure Whil'st slaves do cheat fathers hoard bauds be whorish And wantons flatter shall Menander flourish Rude Ennius and Ploutus both shall live Each age of them a fresh applause shall give Of Varroes name what age shall not be told Of Jasons Argos and the fleece of gold Then shall Lueretius lofty lines expire When earth and Seas shall burne in flames of fire Titirus and Aeneas shall be read Whilest Rome of all the conquered world is head Whilest Cupids fires be out and his bow broke Thy Verses deare Tibullus shall be spoke Our Gallus shall be knowne from East to West So shall Licoris whom he loved best The flint and iron both may weate away Verse is immortall and shall nere decay Let Kings give place to it and Kingly showes The banks ore which gold-bearing Tagus flowes Then let base wits vile things admire and dread Bright Phoebus to the Muses springs mee lead The quivering Mirtle winde about my head And of sad lovers I 'le be often read Envie bites not the dead but those that live For after death all men their right receive Then though in funerall fire death take away My bones my better part shall nere decay An Elegie and Epitaph by way of Acrostick upon that religious and vertuous Gentlewoman Mrs. Anne Gibs late wife to Mr. Samuel Gibs of Newman Hall in Effex AWake Melpomene thou mournfull Muse Such cause of sorrow never hadst thou yet Here is a task which if men should refuse The senslesse creatures would it not forget Who loveth vertue now his pen will use Know 't is to vertues memory a debt Her vertues live though she in grave doth lie Your dolefull tunes sweet Muses now apply Never hereafter look for such a one For peerless beauty and rare gifts of mind Nature despaireth now her pattern's gone Weeds grow in each place flowers are hard to find She was a Phenix and therfore but one True to her Mate and to her Neighbours kind Esther for beauty for devoutness Hannah For vertue Ruth for chastity Susanna Goodness within her brest inhabited Her prayers were alwayes at Gods throne attenders Eschewing what he in his Word forbid And what he bids that she as well remembers No unclean thought within her brest lay hid Mary to God and Martha to his Members Contemplative Divine in words discreet Secret in almes in conversttion sweet Injurious Death how dar'st thou be so bold To kill that life that did so many cherish How shall dross do if thus thou usest gold How shall weeds do if thus the flowers perish Should such rare beauty lie in dirty mould Cruell hatd-hearted Death thou art too currish Impartiall Atropos to none favour gives Amiable Anne deceases Audrey lives Boast not faire Ladies then although you do In Natures choicest ornaments excell All 's one to Death the wench of blackest hue As she whose beauty few can parallell Here was a Flower who far excelled you Yet by Deaths sithe this fragrant Flower fell Death is a Pursuivant with Eagles wings That knocks at poor mens doors gates of Kings Sleep blessed soul within thy sacred urn Whil'st we with tears thy absence do deplore Thou singest Hallelujahs whil'st we mourn Praising the Name of God for evermore No man doth know how soon may be his turn To tread the steps which thou hast trod before Death is alwayes attendant upon men Gertain he will come but uncertaine when Epitaph Askest thou Reader who it is lies here No common corps then list and thou shalt heare Goodness rare meekness Zeale pure chastity Inter'd together in this ground doe lie Behold her acts whilest here shee made abode Shee liv'd belov'd of men di'd lov'd of God A Prisoners complaint I Late us'd to resort unto the Brooke To ceach the fish with either net or hooke Whereas these Creatures did learne unto me From danger neither land nor water's free For whilest on fowles fishes and beasts we feed Earth aire and water shall be ransacked The gluttonous belly for to satisfie Thus to preserve one creatures life how many Creatures die I late used to walke abroad i' th fields To take the pleasure Spring and Summer yields Whereas the flowers did denote to mee Of our short life the mutabilitie One day in pomp next day i' th durt they lie This day we live to morow we may die For this our life 's so short and full of sorrow None can assure himselfe to day he shall live till to morrow I once us'd to rise early in the morne To hunt the Fox that enemy to Corne. And chase the timerous Hare and by that way I had both pleasure and somtimes a prey But of those joyes I now am quite bereft And unto mee alas is nothing lest But the remembrance onely poore reliefe To thinke of joyes that now are past to ease my present griefe Walden Bacchanalls PLatoes great yeare returned is we see Things done long since againe now acted be The Bacchanalian Feasts once celebrated In famous Greece to Walden are translated And Venus Feasts here likewise hallowed are Mars being dead that bloudy God of war Venus he unto Bacchus doth assigne So these two do in mutuall friendship joyne Walden they chose to be their randevou Or meeting place Vulcan chanc'd to heare how Venus with Bacchus was to meet so hee To Walden comes amaine but Venus shee And Bacchus with some others so agreed They Vulcan foxt and sent him home with speed Venus being rid of Vulcan doth invite The Gods unto a dancing fit that night Silenus house they chose their repaires The joviall Crew with mirth to banish cares Phoehus himselfe left guiding of the Sun And came at night to see what sports were done But least the world should be without a day He in the morning did depart away Diana thaugh intreated would not come Whereat Venus inrag'd commands her sonne The little Cupid for to bend his bow And make her and her followers to know His skill in archery Venus request Cupid fulfills Dian comes with the rest O Love thou hast a powerfull deitie To make a Lais of Penelope Being thus assembled Bacchus with bowls of Molly Fild them so long untill their wits were jolly That some to dance and leap about began Whilst Pluto sat smoaking Necotian Momus carpt at their doings whil'st the croud Of drunken Fidlers sung and scrap'd alowd Some thought themselves to be a hawking sure For they their buzards did begin to lure Others to show themselves more active fooles Would undertake to leap over three stooles But in performance when as one begins He stumbles at the first and breakes his shins A second tryes his skill and does no lesse A third a fourth a fifth had like successe For Bacchus whimses did posesse their heads And they had got the cramp on either legs Well having leap'd as much