possesse Experience taught him in what dangrous gate They enter which to Kingdomes haue accesse While by a haiâ—…e 〈◊〉 naked Sword hangs downe Readie to fall vpon the Princes Crowne What prooues Aboundance but aboundant Care vvhat 's vvealth Plenty but Pouerty of Rest Treasures are tortures which doe neuer spare vvith ledden thoughts to onerate our brest Elect Riches of a diuiner sort Choose Burthens which thou better maist support Content in Celles seemes richer by degrees Then Discontent inthron'd in Courts of Kings One dish of fruite more worth then twenty trees Sufficient consists not in many things Nought is inough for him that wanteth nought Much is too little whereas more is sought Resolue me vvorldling midst thy goods â—…nd ground Heards Flockes Corne Oyle Fruits Siluer Gold gaine What Contentation in this store is found But Competence where with life to sustaine Will not this gilt prooue Guiltines of minde VVhen thine Accompt loue shall vnworthy find Miser durst so much on one mouth bestow As might a pettie-Commonwealth suffice vvhat doth Possession such Reuenewes owe Vnto one Helluo's hellish Auarice Condition knowes thou hadst it to impart Some portion thereof to the needy hart So Admiration once beheld an Asse Loaden with rost burthned with costly meate VVith curbing bit in mouth the plaines to passe Finding not nettles hay or grasse to eate His fortunes did some vvorldlings imitate That fooles and beggars are in richest state That pine in plenty starue amidst their store That want in vvealth and in aboundance neede That maugre Superfluities seeme poore And Nature with no Contentation feede Mans hart so small gorg'th not a kite one houre Yet would it Earths Circumferrence deuoure Must Man needs drossy Muck his Maister make vvhich Fortune hath apprentiz'd for a slaue And can Humanity with Patience take That Basenes should of him dominion haue I dare not call thee Asse but aske thy selfe VVhat eares thou hast that harknest so to pelfe Doth mony purpose to 〈◊〉 might Doth vvealth imagine to discredit wit Haue Riches Confidence to conquer Right Doth gold boue Vertue vndertake to sit Fie will Moria shoote beyond her aime And challenge more then iustly she can claime How should Humanity it selfe behaue And not with Oppositions be opprest His scourged ship from Scilla 's throte to saue In harbour of Security to rest Vaine Desperation seemes in misery More vaine Presumption in prosperity Pryam that princely Gouernour of Troy Father of Sonneâ—… coequallizing Kings In the maturity of rarest ioy Midst tenure of inualewable things vvas slaine and Time by Destinies defer'd To haue his murdred Maiestie inteâ—…'d Hector his Heâ—…e had Time bestowd successe Prince of the vvorthies Mars for Chiualrie vvas impotent Fortunes force to suppresse And must shake handâ—… with like Aduersity Bearing the buâ—…hen of vnprosprous strife To make vntimely Period of his life The Citty flow'd with teares at this distresse Griefe sounded Clamours at his ouerthrow And Cordiall Dolours did their harts possesse Sith youth did leuy debts which Age should owe An hundred noble Courages did quaile And thousand Ladies did his losse bewaile No princely Pompe can Potentates secure No earthly Kingdomes can eternize life Prosperitie no safety can assure Sith Fortune hath his frownes Atrops her knife Two too inexorable still haue been That blind Director and that fatall Queene These Two vncertaine are yet certaine bee Fortunes pleasd helpe Fortunes displeased hate The Destinies are bribed by no fee To lengthen life or dayes to breuiate No terme hath interest in their good will They saue in shipwracks and in harbours kill Now Demonax should proue a Puritan Instructed by Philosophy to hate Siluers receipt in tyme of Adrian Vnfit to be these Mony-mongers maâ—…e vvhich morgage Soules and their Saluation drowne In depth of diuing for a golden Crowne Concupiscence with Lucre falls in loue Demonica durst Ephesus betray If Brennus will a bounteous Briber proue Treasons demaunds with treasures sums to pay Eryphale will haue her husband sold while gold blinds worldlings worldlings grope for gold Temptation vanish with seducement die vvhich golden Mountaines durst by promise giue Suggesting Common-wealths of Dignitie vvhile as thy Creditors in scandall liue For what proues glory on an Empyre placed But plodded meanes to make a man disgraced Don Romulus no fallacies could find But Brothers death poore Rhemus must be slaine To satisfie his all-affecting minde Moeties seemed insufficient gaine Daily the Diadem as fayre appeares Vnto his lustfull eyes as second yeeres Therefore enacts that such as should ascend The Romane walls this scale with death should buy To Celer this obseruance doth commend Rhemus gets vp dreading no trechery vvhich deare attempt exhausts his dearest life Concluding so that twin-borne Brethrens strife Mismurdred Rhemus by this tyme thou knowst Dignities valew fading fruits of gaine vvhat satisfaction thou to Honour owst And what preferment Scepter-sutes attaine Oh if that Brother spare not Brothers blood At Aliants hands who expects any good A vvolfe in woods them equally did nurse But Romulus retain'd the woluish minde Lamb-natur'd Rhemus might his fortunes curse vvhile Destinies had such euents assign'd One kingdome is not capable of twaine One Temple cannot Abel hold and Caine. The beauteous Solstice of a Crowne doth blind The clearest Argus eyes that euer liue what man is he that might a kingdome find And Parents Children Brethren would not giue Princedoms seeme sweet pills pleasant is a Crowne He that hath no throat would them swallow downe Yet lofty Cedars ouerthrowne are found with boistrous blasts of ruine-threatning winde when Iunipers stand stedfast on their ground And seates of surer Residence doe finde Fortune Presumption to preferment calls To giue the heedlesse Climbers headlong falls Profit prouoketh bids the Niggard hold Pleasure perswadeth motiue Method speakes Diues will hoord though hange in Hell for gold Epicures gourmandize though Belly breakes From sugred baits what caueats can forbid Though thousand harmefull hookes lie vnder hid Darius will his Horsmans Counsell vse Processe of his Direction execute vvill not Oâ—…bares decretalls refuse If his deuise him Ruler constitute If Horses bray may him proclyme a King He puts in practise the ignoblest thing Philoxenus the Parasite did wish His throat in length a Cranes neck might exceed To feele the pleasures of the sweetest dish Taste pleasant drinke his appetite to feede vvith Phago placing his felicity And summum Bonum in his gluttony Few with Phraortes worship Temperance Sardanapalâ—… liues eâ—…minate Scyron hardneth his thiâ—…ish Countenaunce Romane Sarmantus proues a â—…coffing mate And none with Zâ—… that Content desire vvhich Horace of Mecenas did inquiâ—… VVhen Zancles hundred foure yeares had suruiu'd vvhich tearme doth nought but imperfections gaine Nature a Miracle in him contriu'd Making his iawes young teeth a new retaine Such is the Custome of the vvorldly minde That loosing life Aboundance seekes to find Yeares Parents are of Mutability And Mutability Natures decay Time is the Trumpettour of secresie Though Reuelation
THE Poore Mans passions AND Pouerties Patience Written by Arthur Warren Anno. Dom. 1605. AT LONDON Printed by I. R. for R. B. and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Sun To his kindest Fauourer Maister Robert Quarme DIssemble not Pen paint thy naked mind Draw the Anatomy of perfit loue And though Fortune to slender meanes thee bind Affectionate yet to thy Patron proue And tell thy friend if Pouerty may steede He shall not faile to finde a friend at neede Giue him thy Passions and thy Patience And in them both include thy louing hart Inuite him to thy Contents Residence And seast him there to answere his desart That hast no Currant him to satisfie But loue affection and gratuity Europe hath Owners in possession placed Asia for her Subiects taketh care Affrica her Inhabitants hath graced America hath not a foote to spare And Indigence will not make thy Release Till some of these Possessioners decease Tell him the Hand that did this Pen direct If seruiceable shall on him attend Tell him the Hart that doth his loue affect By prayers his Humanity defend Tell him that Passions must his Patience craue Till Pouerty a richer Nature haue Arthur Warren The poore Mans passions TRagicall Hart inuectiue tearmes collect Perturbe the passion of the worldly minde Deluding Obiects of Content reiect Counterfeit pleasures in a bundell binde And ouer-whelme them midst the Oceans waue Or them interre in some Cymmerian caue Resigne possession of regardlesse Toyes That hoodwinke thee in downefalles of distresse Though in apparance superficiall ioyes Yet tryed proue but Counterpanes of blesse I le not bestowe perusing on that lease Whose expir'd Date doth at the sealing cease I Caitife Cressus Royaltie disclayme Discarding golden Crassus choisest store With Enuies darts at Epicures I ayme And Diues Sumptuousnes I disadore For tell the Porter of the proudest state I scorne to knock at the securest gate Yet lowest Fortunes crosse my lostly minde And apprentize my thoughts to seruile lawe VVhich Nature to her Pupils ne'er assig'nde And all to curbe my grand Conceipts in awe Such as lawlesse Necessities impose To gall the shoulder that this yoke would lose I liue yet loth to lead this lothsome life I breath yet doe suspire with painfull breath I stirre yet storme to manage tedious strife And I shall die vntested in my death Doubting least mine Executors refuse The statute of my Testament to vse vvhile Crosse and Losse doe countermand desire vvhile will with want conioines a Combatine As powerfull to set the Seas on fire Making the most gainst Patience to repine That ill Successe in worlds vnhappie state Makes haplesse man much more vnfortunate To controuerse with mine Aduersity Is but with vnarm'd Brest to pierce a sword And so Philautus shall doe iniury Vnto himselfe by his selfe-wild discord And yet these Oppositions who can brooke That with one eye or halfe a face doth looke Can Flesh and Bloud that loues to braue the best Pocket these wrongs and bury such abuse And can Humanity these pilles digest Or like Melancholists get some Recluse To make their Orizons in Saturnes eare That sitting dumbe doth mute petisions heare A man 's a man though he haue but a face A beardlesse face the world for to controle But I in cloke depriud of gard and lace Poore patches for my fortunes must inrole To signifie vnto the Earth what lot The Lack-lands of our lower House haue got To monarchize a wretches woofull state Importeth prowesse though but little power Once to commaund the world seemes fortunate Though but a VVorld conceipted for an houre Indigents may abound though but in dreames Fortune Flowes not to all in Fauours streames Demi-god Argent and the Siluer Saint Passengers in their trauell must protect And with the Tauerner their needes acquaint The Pennilesse no choise of Innes elect Hunger and Thirst needes must we wars proclaime And try the Combat though we take the maime Phisitian Gold doth fortifie the lame VVith Argus eyes illuminates the darke Skilleth to shrowd Sinners apparant shame In ships of Siluer safe we may imbarke To cut the Seas and crosse by eu'ry coast In peace to take all Harbours for our hoast In vaine the Monylesse their mones confesse In vaine the wealthlesse doe their wants repeat In vaine the wretches warble their distresse In vaine the miserable doe intreat For helping hands the Needy to relieue Or mercies minds their much and good to giue To sue sollicite begge beseech intreate To smooth sooth flatter and doe what thou skillest To malice menace mischiefe storme and threat But VVorlds vacuity with ayre thou fillest Requests nought feed the siluer-sucking minde No Penny doth no Pater Noster finde Loue liues by losse Don Lucre all commaunds Pittifull Complaints dolefull passions Sound But are not tuned by relieuing hands VVhile miseries are weakest Motiues found Sonne dutifies father father loues Sonne And all is for Consideration done O would I could by vertues of my voyce The Beggar from my presence but exile And on professions execute my Choise Or to desires my fortunes reconcile Then farewell whip a sop hard to digest And Pill'ry where men take but Pinch-eares rest I would not feare Freedome of Borrough townes Nor strictest Restraints of immured wales Nor seuere presence of Officious gownes Which with Commaunds commend vs to their hales To answere all Obiects with cappe and knee And Abiects all the while reputed bee Vppon our Doome the dull'st will whet his braine If Fortunes Flower but beginne to fade The rau'nous Cormorants will vs constraine A Common top for scourges to be made Lamigers creepe to set on foote our harme The Blind to view our woes about vs swarme Poorelings but Caterpillers they account Their proffits destinated to deuoure That Seas of sorrowes shall our Soules surmount VVhile Pride gainst Poore doth flouds of malice poure Adiudging vs but Burthens of the Earth And Canker-wormes increasing Countries dearth Beares Armes gainst Peace besieging our Contents Muster the troupes of controuersing minds And of our Martyrdomes make monuments Testifie their degenerating kinds Vnnaturallizing peruersest harts To scandallize our lawdable Desarts New-gate the worst gate they protest too good Coldly to entertaine such goldlesse guests These Cowards durst exhaust a Beggers blood And tyrannize in hindring our requests Our serious expectations crosse with toyes Plant obstacles to intercept our ioyes Helpe Heauens poore Harts poorer plaints may poure To carelesse shores and to relentlesse rocks Man is mans Woolfe for man would man deuoure vvhile Brother from Brother compassion locks Yet Trees him shade midst Sol-in-loos heate Beasts minister him foode to be his meate The Christall fountaines quench the thirst of man The Dogges vse dalliance and on him attend The Oxe drawes and the Asse doth what he can The flocks withfleeces him from cold defend Yet goes it gainst the hayre with him to spare The solace which might cure his Brothers care Vnreasonable Creatures can him show
make VVhile vvrits and vvarrants Executions Rests Lurke like Hyenna Debts to apprehend vvhile carefull Creditors perturbe their brest In secresie their Messengers to send Vnto the Bank-rupt that hath broken day And doth not leuie what he ought to pay These troubles are become so common trade That Shoulder-catching doth the vnthrift gall Such Custodies for Euidences made That they deuoure the timber steele and all They must haue double gates before their doore To stop the false and to expell the poore The Needy no key lock chest closet lack They without artificiall continent Include in Belly and support on back vvhat Heauen giues or niggard Earth hath lent No folds for flockes no treasuries for gold But they haue present vse that all can hold Deneers not Duckats are the Summes we make Pence and not pounds the charges we bestowe Slender dole and no large Donations take Gratuity the payments which we owe Yet vvorldly Pompe which doth our eies allure Suggests we should not this disgrace indure Coniecture what we thinke when we behold A vvealth-enobled vvorldling to abound VVith rings and pretious things with gilt and gold As such a second vvorthy were not found How true suppose yet prooues our Poore-mans ey vvhen all these trickes and trims it doth espy How faine it would relinquish homely head And riuet to Obiects so faire in sight VVhose robes and plumes so gloriouslie are spread The gazers to amaze with rare delight My dearest Treasures should be cheaply sold To buy a minute these Rares to behold One of mine eies to ieopard could I brooke On silkes scarses Sattans iewells bracelets chaines On cuffes and ruffes and Nouelties to looke Although the price thereof procure my paines Such difference in my muck-blinded minde I betwixt their worth and my want doe find One of their fingers craues more sumptuous cost Then all my Carkasse to inuest the same So gloz'd with gold with pearle so imbost VVhose pricefull valew they at Hundreds name Almost I am perswaded that it shall Neuer to dust through times oppression fall For Iuries Solomon that did abound With rarest Ornaments that Art hath wrought Nor Scriptures Lilly was so royall found To equallize what shewes they foorth haue brought To make beholders at these sights admire And the Ambitious hange on their desire Caesar whose troupes enforc'd the Earth to grone VVith vvarriours waight in his triumphant daies Numbred no more to gard his regall throne Then doe attend the Rich in all assaies For all the Earth is theirs to be inioyd And all the world are theirs to be imployd The vvinters frost nips not the Rich with colde Their purse preuention gainst all plagues procures Their steeds in stables stand their flocks in folde The Poore poore Hart all Detriments indures VVealth neuer wrincheth griued with the gall Alas it 's want that euer feeles the fall Bare Neede constraines the eldest foote to trot Through frost through flint through fire though legge be bare Ice neuer too cold neuer Sun too hot To worke our woe and to increase our care Although Disease and Death our liues possesse VVealth stands vnmoou'd to pitty our distresse But with a Crucifie they on vs call But with their helpe they adde griefe vnto griefe But with their might they wrest vs to the vvall But with their loues they leaue vs no reliefe Fie on that call helpe might loue and that deede vvhich makes our wounded hart the more to bleed But aske my staffe the witnes of my woes vvhat crackes what knockes and strokes it hath indur'd As secret shield against professed foes By whom my blacke and blewes haue beene procur'd It 's worne it 's torne spoil'd and foil'd cut in twaine To weaken force which would augment my paine But aske my Scrip the Cubbord where I lay My crusts my crumes my Commons victualls meale And it my fortunes will in briefe be wray How niggardly with me these Earthlings deale If fasting fare in diet I surmount For euer me an Hereticke account vvhile Aristippus in the Court doth seede And fats his crammed Corps by flattery I in the Country entertaine my neede vvith herbes and roots of Natures charity And for my priuate foode search common fields vvhich Contents Plenty in abundance yeilds I thinke how Heauens gaue the Desolate Manna and Quailes and Honie from the rockes Beautifide those harts vnfortunate Open'd their Treasuries with Mercies-lockes That thought they Egipts garlicke onions lost They found prouision of a dearer cost I st true Elyas that the Rauens brought Such comfortable Nutriments of meate And so meanes of thy Sustentation wrought vvhen thou hadst nought but secresies to eate Not daring in the worlds apparance stand Fearing Oppressions tyrannizing hand In aire Camelions foster vitall breath In flaming fires the Salamander feeds In Seas the Fish secure themselues from death Mowles in Earths bowells doe expell their needes Then will I not in doubtfull state despaire vvhile I may liue by water fire earth aire These Cobs resemble Saturne that deuour'd The stone Abider in the steede of Ioue And all the flouds of their desires are pour'd To make a Sea of what they chiefely loue They couet drosse and doe contemne the gold Omit the good which men by vertue holde Yet they themselues shrowd in security Gainst aduerse Oppositions fortifide Beare Armes against that trouping miserie Which circumuents my Soule on euâ—…ry side They are not troubled with a touch of woe VVhile we midst Legions of misfortunes goe Seas stormes waues tempests and contrary wind Did poore shipman Acaetes euer crosse In calmest Ocean he did shipwraoke find VVhich did conuert his lucre into losse VVhile wealthy Marchants safely doe arriue And at their pleasdre prosprously athriue Thus Passions get a habit in my life Making it tractable to Fortunes frowne VVhile we liue Souldiours in sinister strife Contending to attaine a Lawrell Crowne Yet Mercenaries find a time to rest vvhich is as much as hapneth to the best Horace did not Cobler Alphenus liue VVhy Vsurer Alphius did no more Yet though the Fates to all like breathing giue Fortune makes them not Stewards of like store The doubtfull lots are so vnequall found That some must want while others doe abound The Seas Amalchi'um alwaies frozen stand vvant flagrant Phaebus to dissolue the same And poore are euer more depriu'd of land vvhose former lot the Senior vvorldlings came On the Philosophers stone they erect The edifice which chiefely they respect And they haue power to turne Fortunes wheele As most contents their auaricious minde They skill choisest Commodities to feele Although their eies with earthly dust are blind Vnable to discerne that royall thing vvhich doth inrich the Beggar grace the King These Sysiphusians haue a stone to turne A wandring thought to rumble vp and downe vvith Tantalus in expectation burne Couet the Country and affect the towne For what they stoop to take too low doth lie And what they reach to catch ascends too hic These with Ancaeus
denie No myrtle no mellodious warbling string Nor payre of Doues for sacrifice will bring Tell Danae Virginity repelles The goldenst shower that from Heauen falls And him that Ioue in Fortitude excells VVhere maidenhood secured is in walls VVhen Constancie Faith and Perseuerance The Castle guard for lifes Continuance Rich Tagus Runnet which with gold dost run I will not wash my gilded wish in thee Beauty which shinest to outbraue the Sun For thy loue I le not Prides Corriuall bee The Alcumists I le in defiance hold VVhich durst conuert base Obiects into gold Inhumane Macheuilles I will abiure And not be friend to Vertues enemies Troupes of Antagonists I will procure To depose their presuming villanies Constraining them to tergiuerse with mee When Contents prowesse shall approoued bee Pleasure on Earth-wormes make intestine pray And with thy golden baite delude the blind No frauds my circumuented Troy betray Though Synon for this Action be assign'd So greedily I gape not after gaine In short delight to swallow endlesse paine Syrens harmonious Sonnets founding sweete Send no misinformation to their minde Which nauigate their Common-wealth to meete And after trauell Ithica to find Vlisses to a pillar will be bound That so he may escape home safe and sound Circe thy Potions want effectuall power To intercept the passage of the wise Calipso's dregs cannot retard one hoâ—…e The voyage which Discretion doth deuise Bewitching vvorld workes none impediment To stop the Mortifides resolu'd intend Yet Pouerty seemes title of Contempt A gracelesse word a derogating Name VVhich Honours Court from presence doth exempt As scandall which indignifies the same I haue none ensignes of apparant worth Nor Ornaments to set my Person forth I challenge no possession of a Crowne vvhich earthly Realmes or Royaltie bestowes I feare not fatall force of Fortunes frowne vvhich to the proude Precipitation owes I sit meeke milde inferiour vnto all So low I am lower I cannot fall VVith Vsury I haue no league of loue vvith Pride I clayme on Consanguinity Yet though I cannot Fortunatus proue vvorlds expectation I will fallify And one day be possessour of that place vvhich holds these fronted titles in disgrace Fauour is but fading vncertainty Maiesty some decaying Monument Loue but a labarinth of misery Riches are but Administrations lent Then will I scorne Earths excrements pelfe drosse And till I come to Heauen beare my crosse Romane Carbilius first refus'd his wife For Barrennes but Natures bare defect So this world lothes our incommodious life Our wedlock by diâ—…orcement to reiect Because we doe not yeerely fructifie With Fortunes sprowting Prodigalitie Campania is not our Naâ—…iue seate VVhich the Italians iudge their fertill'st lands But I about sterilitie must beate And for Annuities imploy my hands vvhile VVealth in largest seas his ship may put vvith slender Hulke the Caspian streights I cut Aduauncement beare an eye vnto thy state Securelesse Royaltie liue circumspect Ignorance no dominion arrogate Phaeton thine Ambition correct If loue incensed be gainst what 's desir'd He will confound thee ere the VVorld be fir'd Empires rule not with moderate Content Scepters ioyne with terrestriall Diadems Mansolus hath but fading Monument Then basely I esteeme these Indy Iems As for all Treasures found on seas or land I admit none of them to touch my hand VVhen saw the VVorld me roab'd in rich aray Or counterfeit in colours Esopes Py Or countermand earths fashions euery day Or with the Peacock gaze on brauery Or like Lisicrates gainst Nature black VVhite haires that old I might seeme age to lack VVhen trauell'd I in vvagon chariot Couch Or Abbot-like with cushions cockred ease Or had of Pleasures any tender touch Or eyes with beauteous visions did I please Or when my stomack did I fill and feede vvith choise of meats or one meale more then neede Lesse leafes do fitter lower shrubs become And lower sayles lesse boats doe better guide Lesse paces sooner bring the lighter home And safer we arriue with lower tide Great tides haue flouds flouds waues waues dangerous be Take through the fords if thou wilt passe with me Th'Egyptian Island Chemnis alwaies swimmes Tost hether thether vp and downe with wind So worldly loue so VVorldlings wandring limmes Course to and fro Commodities to find Acquainted are with rarity of rest Feeling disturbance of care-cumbred brest The Cercyraei were not more perplexed vvith warring oppositions of their foes Then VVealth is with inquietation vexed vvhile it from land to seas a coursing goes Sending Inquiry to descry that store vvhich makes the Owner to affect the more If in a Senate house Content could liue Then Office might adorne the Frankize gowne If that a kingdome could sufficient giue Then Maiestie might dignifie a Crowne If Fates surpris'd not men with purging fan Presull and Prelate were a happy man Centurions then might on their guards be stout And Generalls might troupes of Armies hold Iustian then were manumist from doubt But Death the Sheepheard playes brings them to fold No Magistracie length of life can giue Caninus but seau'n houres did Consull liue The Oxe which of Clytumnus Current drinks Transformed is into a Colour white But who so tasteth of Contentment thinks Earths invitations can him not incite To be translated into any minde But those Conceyts which Patience seekes to find Although no Bacchanalls I celebrate To banish wit by sence-exiling wine Though I my stomacke doe not dedâ—… To Luxury and with the Glutton date Yet doth Abstemius Christall water find And Curius foote to content Natures minde Essei were certaine Religious Iewes Abstaining from flesh women oiles and wines Contenting Nature but with Dates and dewes Neuer kil'd fatlings neuer robbed vines To flatter Palate or feed Gluâ—…ony With Cates and Delicates variety His Kingdome rauenous Erisicthon sold And of so many Millions kept no mite Exchang'd his daughter Protea for gold To satisfie his Royall Appetite Not thus content gainst Nature did rebell And of his owne Flesh a deuouring fell The Troyan horse made by Epeus hand Had no such Belly Hundreds to containe Though it did swallow Citty and the land VVhich Pryam rul'd during his happy Raigne This vvoulfe his Realme in gourmandizing spent Tasting no sweete Ambrosin of content Diuine Content thine Altars I le frequent Offring a mite with hand talents with hart Fortune to greatr â—…ifts will not consent Then goddesse let desire stand for desart And prooue propitious to thy poorest Saint That doth thy godhead with his lot acquaint Sweete Vertue patronize my Patience Though but Beggar to Biggers I appeare Protect me with thy sacred Prouidence Thy Suppliants petitions Ioue-like heare And for me Glories paradize prouide Aboue the Earth to haue me dignifide Dismember limbs from Body of Delight vvhich in times processe must disiointed bee From Sensualitie my sences right vvhich may conglutinate my loue to thee Make perfet Vnion twixt Content and Poore And knit that Gordion lasting euermore Giue not Aboundance least I should forget The Giuer
plead vpon delay The ey-deluding shewes are shadowes found Mortality to Dissolution bound Pallaces Temples Castells Citties Townes Towers and Turrets equall to the skies Subuerted by resistlâ—…sse fortunes frownes Leaue nought which their memorialls testifies Haruest and hooke those fertill furlongs grace VVhere vvalls and vvindowes once had royall place King Pryams Parlour made an Hearbory VVith Floras fauours seemes red white and greene Those halles with fruits and flowers fructifie VVhere quandam Lordings princely to be seene Led Courtly dances in their Ladies hands Like Thetis tripping on the siluer sands Honour is but a worthlesse word of grace To sooth Ambitions praise-attending eares Beauty but Blossomes in a flouring face And Pleasures but delights commixt with feares Then Honour Beauty and Delight are vaine Sith in them all no Certainty doth raigne Diogenes once passing neare to Hell Beheld Mydas that sometime liu'd a King Now in Infernall Beggery to dwell Base ragged dispossest of eu'ry thing And laughing said ah ah my golden Asse I st possible the vvorld comes thus to passe The Sequels of precedent Pleasures mooue Purification to relinquish drosse And earthly approbations to disprooue And make concealment of apparant crosse Sith Rich are poore and Poore are rich at last VVhen fatall lots are on our limits cast Lazarus midst his suts of miseries Sollicited the Gluttons carelesse gate Diues in flames of Phlegeton now cries Not heard of him whom he heard noâ—… of late The law of Talio like for like doth pay To quite all kindnes there succeeds a day Sith Cornucopiae fil'd with fruitfull things To Penury by Destination turnes Sith Riot vnexpected Domage brings Sith ceasing Ease in ceaselesse torments burnes Pleasures and Plenties I le not Comforts call But Perturbations and forsake them all In fack and Cinders 〈◊〉 bee Part of my limbs vncouerd in the cold I le not my body cloth beneath my knee That earthen eies may clayen feete behold To note sith they resemble brittle sand That I on Frailties weake foundation stand That liuing man may dying mould respect Though Power cannot Impotence preuent It may repaire some Naturall defect That sinfull Soule die not impenitent Our manhood weake our matter being dust Subiect to Death to Mother Earth we must Nestor suruiuing Natures common length Nor Agamemnon with his Maiesty Nor Polyphemus with robustous strength Can countermand the Doome of Destiny Fire can the hardest vvood to cinders burne And Time the strongest flesh to Ashes turne There shall no 〈◊〉 be showne But Kings and Clownes in one Condition bee Twixt Court and Cottage no distinction knowne Betweene the high state and the low degree For Irus dies and Câ—…s doth no lesse Wit Beauty Honâ—… VVealth must make a messe Then ringed Fingers 〈◊〉 with gold Then cursed Tresses beautifide by Aâ—… Then fashions and ruffes ranked fouresold Then locks and lookes witnes of proudest hart Then painted Cheekes roling eies lures of lust Shall perrish roâ—… consume and come to dust Then Helen lustfull Venery shall â—…ue And Clytemnestra abiure homicide vvhose murdrous hands her louing husband â—…lue That thought in safety with his wife to bide And Gyant Cacus curse vnlawfull gaines vvhen Pluto paies the stipend of his paines And Nero shall lament midst â—…arfull flood VVhose Rigour lifes effusion did affect Dayly exhausting many Millions blood VVhich Tyrant he in Iustice should protect Medea lothe her Necromantick spell For Magicke Art when vvitches burne in hell Tell Rhodope the Harlot how she spent Charaxus patrimony Chattels goods And him forth with to Seas a Pirate sent His fortunes to experience in the floods And aske her whether there will come a day For pleasures and extortions vse to pay One Continent must Alexander hold VVhom many Prouinces could not containe That wept and weeping his Attendants told He grieu'd least he none other World should gaine To chronicle the Conquests of his hands Because the whole vvorld Phillips subiect stands Admonish thus a VVorldlings climbing minde That Destinies doe his desires deride Thou at his hands Ingratitude shalt find And he will thy Directions not abide But with the Adder stops indocile eare Vnwilling wisest charmers voyce to heare Folly hath got a habit on their head This head misguides the selfe-conceited will The liuing meditate not on the dead But full with errours their affections fill Yet where is safety health ioy comfort ease Or Contentation which can last and please Then blessed Patience fortunate Content Sitting inferiour to the lowest seate Priuiledge from externall Accident vvhich doth with Fortunes scourges VVorldlings beate The Poore's but poore how euer Tempests blow But Rich-men may strange alterations know What Metamorphosis will then be seene vvhen Pilgrims princelike shall inthroned stand And shall liue Regents which haue Vassals beene Holding a scepter in immortall hand Then gold for drosse and glory for disgrace Equall to Saints the meanest shall embrace VVhen fading Bale shall ceaselesse blessings bring Then farewell vvinter of Aduersityes vvhen Flora with her euerflowring spring All seasons Sommer Autumne dignifyes Then particolour'd flowers and the rose Shall feede eyes humour and delight the nose Then strained Mellodie shall pierce our eare vvhose sence from eare descendeth to the hart vvhen songs for sighes and mirth for mones we heare vvho would not wish with vs to beare a part Grieue not though now discords of tunes abound This iarring one day will be musick found Soule sequester thy thought from vanitie vvorldly Aduauncement in dishonour hold And doe not Angerona dignify Although she proffer pleasures manifold If thy Desires on earth their pleasures take T will cost thy life before thou canst awake An Oracle Protesilaus told That what Greeke first entred the Troyan land Should die which danger could not him with-hold But he first takes this enterprise in hand The prophecies accordingly succeede For Hector kild him that perform'd that deed Beware by this example how thy minde Aduenture make for transitory things For subtyle Fates the secret'st searcher finde And finding him ad respondendum brings Possesse not but passe through this earthly cell vvhere no Contents but misaduentures dwell Here 's nought but passions penury and paine Sicknes and sorrowes slaunders rumours feares Drudgings and grudgings enuy strife disdaine Domage and discontents frownes terrours trates Prisonment poyson cauills curse and crosse Seruitude thralldoms labours dolours losse Heer 's nought but filth and frailty griefes and galls Troubles and trauels force fraud wrath and wrong Folly and frensy snares cares climbing falls Shew me a man mongst Mortalls that 's so strong vvhich can support the burthen of one day That doth all these loads on his shoulders lay Atlas that beareth Heauen on his back Presumeth not this waight to vndertake Invincible Sampson would sinewes lack which for this durance might him able make These all so insupportable appeare That Gyants would their impositions feare Hercules toyles in number Nature name Cannot with these discouragements compare Theyr name to tasks to twelue their number came Theyr nature bridled with a little care Part wrought with force part wrought with fallacies But these pretend impossibilities They seeme as odious as the Gorgons head As terrible as â—…ping Lyons iawes Or Cocatrice whose sight brings fatall dread As horrible as were the Hâ—…pies clawes That doubts before behind misfortunes stand Despayre aboue dangers on eu'ry hand Yet Patience in a Castell of content Wincks at these Obiects ouer-heares the sound But waighes not words of the Impatient Whose spirits full of Discontents abound I smile to see the corpulent stil feede Laugh to behold the vvealthy stand in neede Empty-way-faring men with pencelesse purse Durst sing in thiefes presence dischar'd of feare When full Powch doth his Misaduentures curse And will he nill he for a passe paies deare That Pouerty returneth safer home Then Riches with such royalty can come Armath'oes ride on rocks ships sink in sands Meet with stormes tempests gulfes vnprosprous winde VVhen safely Pinnages arriue to lands And wished Calmes for Nauigation find Charibdis Scylla Syrtes wracks and waue On lowly Barkes no lofty power haue If Adam through forbidden fruite for sooke Those Eden pleasures of felicity If that Lots wife for one retorted looke In pillar of Salt found such misery These Sodome apples I will not behold That inward are but dust though outward gold Vertue ioyne hand in hand with Pouerty And we will walke socur'd from bonds of feares Not surpris'd with preuenting misery Till Iubile proclaime those ioyfull yeares vvhen we in Heauen shall be resident To reape the fruits of Patience and Content Arthur Warren FINIS