Renowne And euen as he with an Insatiate sight Beheld a beautious Face a sparkling Eye Admir'd a pleasant wit as Loues delight And still adored Cupids Deitie So I enslam'd with Glories Appetite Did Court the shining Beames of Maiestie Priz'd Policie Altars to Fortune rear'd He study'd to be lou'd I to be fear'd Clarence his Life in Fortunes tickle wheele Had now a slipperie Stand for dreadlesse He In sound Estate of Health began to recle As Natures Powre must yeeld to Tyranny My Adamant had pointed to his Steele And subtly drew him to his Destinie I had a Craft to vndermine each State My Engines were the Instruments of Fate For why an Ignorant Wisard taught by Me That neuer knew a Letter in the Rowe From his Spell'd Lesson tooke the Letter G To worke my rising and his ouerthrow And by a foolish childish Prophesie As Fooles and children still tell all they know Insinuates with the fearefull King that G Should put to death his Royall Progenie So harmelesse Clarence superstitiously In sent to close Death to the Fatall Tower But I that charm'd fulfill'd the Augurie So Polliticks kill farre off with vnseene Powre VVith sheathed Points I wrought my Tyranny Thus could I whet prepare feed and deuoure Concoct Euacuate with most nimble hast Blood was my Cheare and other Feasts my Fast. So George rid post and at his Iourneyes end To quench his Thirst and coole his bloody Sweate His gentle Host being my secret friend Did broach a Butt t' allay his dangerous heate But so he sow'st him in 't that he did send Poore George to rest in euerlasting Seate Yet no tart VVine But Malmsey stopt his Breath So dyde he not the sharp'st but sweetest Death Next Time an other Point begins t' attaine VVhen Edward past the Solstice of his yeares With necessarie change begins to wayne And I thrust in to vndergoe his cares Life sencible of Pleasure now feeles paine Earth must to Earth as natures course out-weares His Scene is done Death strikes him to the Hart So parts the Stage and now begins my part Now Back-steel'd Buckingham I made my Friend Him I sustain'd with hope and fed with Ayre To further me in my aspyring End In whom I found will power and faithfull care I shot the Shaft and he the Bowâ— did bend And both could runne with Hound and hold with Hare And though to crosse his Ayme I had a Clause Yet strongest Agents back the weakest Cause Next Riuers Vaughan Gray that stood in light And iustly enterpos'd my vniust Ayme Did feele the vengeance of my fell despite VVhose Deaths did more secure my lawlesse Claime Poore simple soules they were to stand for Right Not hauing Strength for Vertues power is lame 'T is desperate folly to oppose not strong Then sinke with Right 't is better winke at wrong So Regent made Protector to the Princes Bare Heads bent Knees sooth Mischiefe second hope Religious shewes doe couer close Preâ—enses More Towres more Titles are my Fancies scope Now I contract my wits summon my Sences To smooth the rugged VVay the Dores to ope That leade to State the Law being in my VVill I had a Licence to make good my Ill. I plaid with Law as with a waxen nose Now made it crookt then straight then saddle wise And its firme brow I bent vnto the toes To make a foot-stoole on 't for me to rise VVhat Wisdome stablisht pollicy ore'throwes Corrupts her pure Soule bleares her fairest eyes Law 's a mute female Iudge Guifts Wit and Tongue Oft prostitute her parts to lust and wrong Truth had a tattering stand I made Commander Tyrants are euer fearefull of the good And Innocence in vaine opposeth slander VVhom I accus'd or censur'd who withstood My Brayne was as an intricate Meander VVhence horror issu'd and the streames of blood My Soule like Stix and Ioue might sweare by me As nought more aduerse to his Detty Now whiles I trembled in an Agony Sole Soueraignty with safest meanes contriuing My working head my Counsells Consistory Debates how I might raigne the Princes liuing My powers disioyn'd and for security Neither to other a sure Hostage giuing But in this doubtfull conflict leâ—t me still Betweene my Reason and my sensuall Will Reason obiects to countercheck my pride How Kings are natures Idols made of clay And though they were by mortalls Deifide Yet in the Graue Beggers as good as they That Sence was slauish and for man no guide That Reason should Command and Will obey And that with all worlds pompe and Fortunes good VVe still were nothing else but flesh and blood Reason infer'd Men in effect were Kings If they could rule themselues and conquer Passion And that Desire soar'd with Icarus Wings When it out-stript her Bounds of limitation That Her Powre onely could distinguish things Shew what was Reall what but Forme and Fashion Suggests likewise â—hat man was ouerthrowne Not more by others Flatterie then his owne Farther She vrg'd that Fortune had no Power But in Mens Ignorance although Shee boast To blesse or crosse as Shee doth smile or Lowre And to make Fooles of those Shee Flatters most That Vertue onely was the Mindes rich Dowre By Wealth not bought by Pouertie not lost VVhich who so had not euer purchast losse His Pompe was Bane and Titles but his Crosse. This Reason doth suggest which I conuince And proue those Grounds for idle false and vaine I knew her Powre was in decay of sence Which Age not Youth did Foster and maintaine And though your sagest Morrallists from hence Gaue Humane Precepts with much thanklesse paine Such meager Wisedome writ with Death-like clawes I held as foolish as your old VViues Sawes Low Thoughts in high-pitcht Hopes despaire do bring And as one walking when the stars appeare Night fils his Eye whence Shapes of Darknes spring And all his Thoughts proue Visions by his Feare But when Aurora sets the Day on VVing And driues the Rauen-black Night from Heau'ns bright sphere Then Flowers and Trees spangled with dewes he spies And worlds of Glories glitter in his Eyes So when great Spirits doe shrinke in cloudy Feares Loosing their strength diminishing their Pleasures Then Wealth and Glorie and what else is theirs In darkest Womb doe bury all their Treasures But when a Kingly boldnes them vpreares Treading on cloth of state their solemne Measures Then doe they graspe in vigor of their Powres The Globe and Scepter and kisse Heauen with Towres Now then quoth I let tastlesse liues Define Vertue and her Reward in after Time Richard thou hast an Essence more Diuine VVhich Glories Flame hath purg'd from grossest Slime Crownes be thy Obiects and those Eares of thine Rellish no Musick but a Sphere-like Chime Thus coucht I Reason with my Eagles wings If Reason rulâ—d Men then what need of Kings No I look't vp Nature bid me aspire So taught the firie Essence of my soule Harts are small Things but infinite in Desire VVhich neither bounds
with one Eye He went a Burding strikes Fowles as they fly And has the very Art of Foulerie Which Art you must not enuie be you pleas'd To hit Desert fly others as diseas'd Whose being pierst is but to be infected And as bold Puritans esteem'd elected Keep from no common Plague which so encreases So these feed all Poeticall Diseases Best Ayre lest dwellers hath yet thinke not I Fore-speake the sale of thy sound Poesie But would in one so worth encouragement The care of what is counted worst preuent And with thy cheerefull going forth with this Thy Muse in first Ranke of our Muses is Non datur ad Musas currere lata via GEOR CHAPMAN To his worthy and ingenious Friend the Author SO farre as can a Swayne who then a Rounde On Oaten-pipe no further boasts his skill I dare to censure the shrill Trumpets sound Or other Musick of the Sacred hil The popular applause hath not so fell Like Nile's lowd Cataract possest mine eares But others songs I can distinguish well And chant their praise despis'd Vertue reares Nor shall thy buskind Muse be heard alone In stately Pallaces the shady woods By me shall learn't and Echho's one by one Teach it the hils and they the siluer floods Our learned Shepheards that haue vs'd tofore Their happy gifts in notes that wooe the plaines By rurall ditties will be knowne no more But reach at Fame by such as are thy straines And I would gladly if the Sisters spring Had me inabled beare a part with thee And for sweet groues of braue Heroes sing But since it fits not my weake melodie It shall suffice that thou such meanes do'st giue That my harsh lines among the best may liue W. BROVVNE Int Temp. Ad Lectorem de Libro HIc nihil inuenies quod carpas mentior ecquid Carpere quod pigeat tam bonus Hortus habet Hinc carpat quisquis gratos vult carpere Flores At Dextrà carpat carpere si quis amat FR. DYNNE Int Temp To his friend the Author vpon his Poem NOt for thy Loue to me nor other merit Doe I commend thy Poems forme or Spirit For though I know thou art a Friend of mine I praise this for it owne sake not for thine Here haue I seen Character'd the Condition The Life and End of a meere Polititian From which I learne T is no good Policy On any termes to part with Honesty And the Opprest may view to his content How sweet it is to be an Innocent Or by contraries learne with what deare rest The Soules of harmelesse dying men are blest So may the bloody Tyrant heere attend What Horror and Despaire pursues his End And those that liuing loath their faults to heare May reading this perhaps repent for feare Since though reproofes they scorne now here they dwell Thus their owne Ghosts proclaime their shames from Hell George Wythers To the Author vpon his Poem I know thou art tâ—â— knowing to enqâ—ire This Title to thy Praise which doth require A Hart so constant and a Brow so chast That vertue must not fall how e'râ— low plac't Who this way merits 〈◊〉 must looke to bring Onely a Flower to an intemp ' rate Spring Which howsâ—e ' 〈…〉 Must feele the Earth-bred Blasts in barren wants Of ruder Elements oft suffring spoile To snew such Hearbs grow not on naturall soile Nor can't be aptlier said of Verse and Rimes They are but Strangers to these wau'ring Times For as men shift their fashions for new Shapes They are in Soules the same Inconstant Apes Which each Boâ—kâ—-seller knowes for as to day Your Pasquill like a mad-cap runnes away To morrow Playes the next day History Mor strange another time Diuinitie And in my Age which is indeed most rare I haue knowne Gallants buy vp Bookes of Prayer But they were Gamsters loosing aâ—l in swearing Try'd a contrarie way in their vprearing To this my common obseruation Thou Hast tooke a course which I must needs allow T' include them all in one to catch their Eyes That soone are dym'd without varieâ—ies Wherein I will not flatter thee to tell Ther 's much of good and what is worst is well ROBERT DABORNE To his friend the Author vpon his Richard VVHen these and such their voices haue employd What place is for my testimony void Or to so many and so Broad-seales had What can one witnesse and a weake one add For such a worke as could not need theirs Yet If Praises when th' are full heaping admit My suffrage brings thee all increase to crowne Thy Richard rais'd in song past pulling downe BEN IONSON THE GHOST OF RICHARD THE THIRD His Character WHat Magick or what Fiends infernall hand Reares my tormented Ghost from Orcus Flame And lights my Conscience with her burning Brand Through Death and Hell to view the Worlds faire Frame Must I againe regreete my Natiue Land Whose Graues resound the horror of my Name Then gaspe those Marble Iawes and Birds of Night Perplex my passage to the loathed Light Some Consciences with soules may hope for Peace When all their veniall and their petty Crimes Are expiate but mine will neuer cease T' augment my Torment past all Worlds and Time Damn'd deeds in life damn'd pennance doth encrease Mens soules may fly their bodies putrid Clymes But horrid paines still cleaue to foule offence Nor will the sinne forsake the Conscience Giue way Times Pageants Bubbles but a Blast Obiects for idle spirits whose vanitie Feede Streames of Humors in this Sea of Waste Where Carpet Courtlings swim in Brauery Such Comick Puppets are not Things to last Subiects vnfit for Fame or Memory But Time nor Age can paralell or stayne My Bloudy scoeâ—es which Death hath dyde in grayne Vale Natures â—urselings Fortunes Fauorites Whose percell-guylt my Touch will not endure Fostrers of Fooles and glib-Tongu'd Parasites Sick of Times Lethargie past hope of Cure Cameleons in your Change of gaudy Sights How wanton Salmasis with Lust impure Cleaues to your soules proues ye of two fold Kind Male in the Body Female in the Mind Wallow in Wast still iet in sumptuous Weeds Waue feathered Gulls with Wind shrinck with Raine Buskin'd ye are but not for lofty deeds No stately Matter e're inspyr'd your Braines Nought but soft Loue your great Ambition Feeds None sencible of Pleasure but of Paine Must looke on me such whose high Thoughts are fed With spirit and Fame from dust of Bodies dead Thinke Ye that Graues and hollow Vaultes inherit Nought but Obliuion and Impotence Doth not from Death arise an other spirit Of high Resolue th'extracted Quintessence Fame is the Agent to substantiall merit And beares about the Worlds Circumference All deeds notorious which Time remembers Thus Phoenix like Life springs from down-trod Eâ—â—bers Then as th' Almighty Thundeâ—er doth shake With selfe-bred Fumes th'Immense and Massie Earth No lesse amazement may my Fury make In my Liues horror from my Monstrous Byrth And since I 'm raised from
Hells burning Like I le fright the World and chase all Formes of Mirth From this now Mimick and ridiculous stage I sing of Murther Tyrany and Rage Then let the Canker'd Trumpets of the Deepe Proclaime my Entrance to this stagie Round That I may startle Worldlings from their sleepe Their sences in security fast bound My Tongue in firie Dragons Spleene I steepe That Acts with Accents Cruelty may â—ound As once the Furies snakes hist in my Breath When I kist Horror and engender'd Death And that my Deuilish Braine may not be dull But touch the quick of each ambitious Soule I take the Wittiest Polliticians Skull That euer Hells black Booke did yet enroule His Mazor fill'd with Stygian Iuice brym-full And innocent Blood fit for an Ebon Bowle I quaffe to all damn'd spirits and I know well They 'l pledg me though they drinke as deepe as Hell All yee then that are flesh't in Tyranny View me your ruthlesse President and Mirror Now all Earths glewâ—d together villany Dissolue and melt with pale and gastly Terror Loe I vnclaspe the Booke of Memory Rowze bed-rid Age fowle sinne and smooth fac'd error And with all these awake Antiquity To sing my Actions to Posterity In my Conception Nature stroue with Kinde When in the heaâ—e of Blood and Lusts desire Imagination mou'd a part of Mind And with the Seede commixt an ardent Fire A strange Effect these Powres should be combyn'd The Mortall with th' Immortail Part Conspire To forme a Prodegy the World to fright To blemish Humanes and distayne the Light For Why my Mother in the strength of Thought Propos'd vnto her Apprehensiue Powre Some monstrous Birth by Natures Error wrought On which all Plannets of good luck did lowre My Syre Corruption to this Fancy brought My Mother languish't many a tedious houre Trauell brought Sweate and Grones Shee long'd to see Her burth'nous Fraught at last She brought forth Me. My Legges came formost an vnequall Payre Much like the Badgers that makes swiftest speede In waies vneuen which shew'd that no course faire Should crowne my Life and actions to succeed Hollow my Cheekes vpon my Brest black Hayre The Characters of spleene and virulent deeds My Beetle-Brow and my fire-cyrcled Eye Foreshew'd me Butcher in my Cruelty Then as a Brow bent Hill much vndermin'd Casts scowling Shadowes o're the neighb'ring Plaines Which th'approchers feare as being enclyn'd To bury all his spatious Reach containes So Mountaine-like was I contract behind That my stretch't Armes plumpe with ambitious veines Might crush all Obstacles and throw them downe That stood betwixt my Shadow and a Crowne And as a Rauens Beake pointed to the South Crokes following Ill from sharpe and rau'nous maw Such cry Yorkes Bird sent from a fatall mouth Boading confusion to each wight I saw To adde to these as Token of more Ruth Th' amazed Women started for each Iaw Appear'd with teeth which Mark made these Ils good That I should woorry Soules suck humane Blood My Father rau'd my Mother curst her Wombe Th'impris'ned winds shooke Earth burst their Caues And Time swolne big with sad Euents to come Did send forth Throes eccho'd by gasping Graues The Lights of Heauen dropt on the worlds darke Tombe Horror inuades the Maine whose raging Waues Doe foame and swell aboue their bounds the Earth These fatall Signes raign'd at my fearefull Byrth In progresse of my Childhood with delight I taught my Nature to see Fowles to bleede Then at the Slaughter-house with hungry sight Vpon slaine Beasts my sensuall part did feede And that which gentler Natures might affright I search't their Entrayles as in them to reade Like th' Ancient Baâ—ds what fate should thence beâ—ide To cherish Sin and propagate my Pride Then as I waxed in Maturity I would frequent the Sessions and those Places Where guilty Men receiu'd their doomes to Dye As well to note the Gestures and the Graces Of those were cast as of the Iudges Eye How these looke pale the others Front out-faces Eene death it selse and hence I learned how To conquer Pitty with a bended Brow Now to confirme these Notions in my Braine And to chase thence all Naturall Formes of Good To presse to Executions sooth'd my vaine To see men reeking in their Sweate and Bloud O how remorslesse was I of their Paine It was my Cordiall and my nourishing â—ood These ruthles Thoughts were in my hart so rise That I could laugh at Death and sport with Life Aâ— Butchers and loath'd Hang-men in their Life Through Bent of Mind and instrumentall partes Being often vs'd vnto the bloody Knife Make Blood and Death the habits of their Harts And therefore since with them such Acts are riâ—e The Lawes of Kinde in Liew of their deserts â—xempted haue from Life and Deaths sterne Iewries Who for their Natures might well ranke with Furies So this habituall Custome euer breeds Such fixt impression in th' Affects and Sence That thence the Minde receaues Corruptiue Seedes Nor doth sincerely take the difference Twixt Cruell actions and compassionate deeds So Man and Beast with Guylt and Innocence Are all alike to Tyrants in their swayes Where sensuall Will commands and not obaies Thus as Contagious Ayre breeds some disease Which all vnseene creeps on in fowle infection Till at the lat the vitall parts it ceaze And in his Mortall kind attaines perfection So by Corruption of such Thoughts as these And giuing way to Humor and Affection Pernitious Ills encreas'd and thus I found How Pitty lost and Cruelty won her Ground Now for I knew great spirits in Ignorance Were farre vnfit to sway or to Command Since cunning Arts do Pollitick Ends aduance I sought to ioyne their Strengths into one Band And t'arme my selfe against the Threats of Chance I gaue my selfe corruptly t' understand Letters and Artes whoâ—e superficiall Skill Might lay the Ground to propagate my Ill. Hence were my Organs apt and Parts dispos'd To giue my Intellect the Formes of Things Hence was the Chaoâ— of my Braine disclos'd That through each sence conueâ—'d their hidden springs Their winding Streames yet in my Sea were Cloz'd Which made me swell in state and surge with Kings Yet with no Lyne or Plummet to be sounded Nor in no Limit but a Crowne be bounded In my Designes I bore no wexen face To take the Print of any Formes within I had a Forge that temper'd it like Brasse Not by my Tongue my Hart was knowne or seene Betweene these two there was so ample space That Words and Thoughts were neuer of a kin With Threats I could allâ—e smile when I fround Kisse when I kil'd and heale when I did wound From Schoole-mens Customes I obseru'd some Skill What 's their nice Learning and their wrangling Sâ—râ—fe But Gaine or Glory to turne Good to Ill As if from Reason Passion we deriue Then since these Enâ—s in Sciences raigne still And few professe them for an after Life As they tooke swindge then from their Polliticke
schools So I tooke Licence from their Positiue Rules What Midas toucht turnd Gould such learnings vse For like the Spider and Industrious Bee What one makes Good the other turnes t' abuse Such was the Nature of my Subtilty With Good and Ill so play'd I fast and loose Conuerting Things of most Indifferency To the peculiar Habit of my minde And to my forecast thought all others blinde I did allow of Colledges and Schooles And learn'd their Logicall distinction Yet I perceau'd the greatest Clarkes but Fooles In Iudgement rawe weake in Preuention I heard their Lectures could digest their Rules And make good vse of their Diuision Yet like to Wards in Nonage still I held them Though they were witty yet could Wisdom weild theÌ„ Religion I profest as most men saw But in my Hart deny'd it Reuerence For I esteem'd it as a Penall Law To curb and keepe Men in obedience Yet from her Ground such Notions I would drawe To touch my Wished poynt of Eminence That I in others would exact her Breach As Great Ones in their Lyues such Doctrine teach Arts raise their Collumnes vpon Natures Bases And but obserue and play what Shee propounds And euery Act of science enterlaces Humors and Mirth among their scoenes profound But Cunning onely is the Art that graces And most affects in this Conspicuous Round Which hauing shewne with Fame we part the stage And others enter mou'd with selfe same Rage I saw it was a Worke of Natures Kind Ambitiously to prick-men on to state By Force or Cunning to make way or Wind Through any Course whose End might make them Great Humaâ—ity by good sence I did finde To be compact of Powre and â—lye Deceats Proposing Rules to our owne wish in Fortune Thus each Mans selfe-good did him most importune All ayme at Welth or Pompe so catch at Fame Vertu 's inuisible therefore not knowne Few Loue Her for herselfe but for her Name Yet what 's without vs we would haue our owne And Honor being vsurp't by Vertues Clayme Seemes but an Accident in Vertue growne If Accidents by substance only liue Take vertue from vs what can Honor giue I was not one of Vertues fond Approuers That Courted her Imaginary Face I saw her Seruants and her doting Louers Were poore and bare exempt from State or Place I saw that he her Collours that discouers And beares th' opinion only of her Grace Did make most shew with Truth to be entyre To be is vaine to seeme men most desire It was not in my Daies as once of old When Vertue had the Worlds faire Emperie Then was that â—nnocent Time the Age of Gold Whose Coyne was Truth whose stampe Integrity Now monies loue proues vs of baser Mould For as the Ages fell successiuely From Gold to Siluer thence to Brasse now worse So men translate their chiefe good to the Purse He that insinuates with Pollicy That Hats and Harts with admiration drawes That shadowes Tyrannous Thoughts with Clemency And keepes his height with populare applause Intycles Goodnesse with Prâ—sperity And makes his Acts authenticall as Lawes Proues Actions fortunate though nere so vile To get the Type of â—ame and Vertues Style Then each Mans Deeds hath Praâ—se his Actions Grace If squar'd by Forme and ru'ld by Imitation And Honor got by Blood by Wealth or Place Will hold his die iâ— glost by Oâ—tentation But where both Truth and Colours want all 's base Then if we vse the Vertue most in Fashion Honor attends vâ— Grace will neuer swerue All striue to haue but few men to deserue Clours not Truth then winne the Worlds reward For like th' obsequious mercenary Minde Few loue the Merrit all affect Reward And so for Currant Counterfeits are Covn'd Then no Ascent so steepe no Doore so baâ—'d But he that with Deceite the World can blinde May make his way though stradling in his Gate Through Heads vncouer'd to the Chayre of state And such was I for Wit and Fortune make Crooked Things straite to these Opinion cleaues Which Alchimy for Currant Golde doth take And like the busie Spynner euer Weaues Slight Webs of Praise and all for Greatnesse sake And thus we see how slye Deceite deceaues The credulous Route Whose suffrage though but Breath Yet from that Ayre Greatnesse takes Life or Death Proud of this Knowledge I scru'd into the state And of that Nature got intelligence There saw I publike Fortunes priuate hate In seuerall tempers of impatience One stirres too soone and brings on his hard sate Others subdue with time and prouidence Some mixe their blouds to gaine theÌ„ powerfull friends And by that meanes worke safest to their ends I saw in Friendship Vertue best did suite In Factions Powre and the most pollitick Head Since it can only plot not execute With meaner Fortunes best was seconded Some Wise some Valtant some of base repute And all like seuerall simples tempered Which well prepar'd by a proiecting Braine Giue Greatnesse strength Ambitious hopes maintaine I noted Statesmen in their Agitations How they dispatched suters that implor'd them The Followers of their Fortunes and their Fashions How like to Demy-Gods they did adore them I saw in offer'd Cause of seuerall Passions With what vnmoued Countenance they bore them Griefe cast not downe Ioy spritned not their Eyes Rage bent no Brow their very Feare seem'd wise This taught my spleene should neuer ope too fast That Pollici 's not sound if full of Pâ—ares What 's violent in Ambition will not last The Foord is shallow'st where the Channell roares I saw by them 't was waine to spend my Blast For first we must take in then shut the Doores And but by secret Posterns to conuey Our Aymes by close and vndiscouer'd way I learn'd like-wise t' appease an Enemy In Termes without Hostility and Warre To win an Agent without Iealousie And make him tractable and Regular To hold Affection in Confederacy Without Expense and to preuent or barre Seditious Tumults without violence And keepe Men longing still in Patience To get close Friends about a Forraine Prince To further home designes with Secresie And to relieue the priuate State Expense Make publique Purses fill the Treasurie In this they vs'd Natures Intelligence That as the clouds do render plenteously The Sunne exhaled Steames to Earths encrease So subiects change base drosse for welthy peace This is the Wisedome saith the ancient Sawe That rules the Stars outworkes the Wheele ef Chance And from this Modell did I seeke to draw Sound Principles my Hopes with Haps t' aduance And as ill manners first made soundest Law So these Instructions chasing Ignorance Mine owne corrupt Ends prompted me t' acquire Not Lawes to curb but Groundâ— orkes to aspire Also in counsell I obseru'd and noted How 〈◊〉 tooke Fire and Blase From others Light Whose Innocent Margents quoted From their Orâ—ginals did win them Praise How some by Grace sat Some againe that doted Through feeble Age yet trac'd in Politick wayes Could help defects
defac't That loosing th' office of his Feete he lyes Shamefull and naked to all â—ober eyes So I in thirst of Glorie Rule and State Drinking excessiuely and past my fill Swinging in Lust and Thoughts intemperate Drunke in Ambition and my â—ensuall will Was so transparent in my latest date And all my Good so swallow'd in my Ill Thâ—t in my staggering Pride and shamefull Fall I grew a Monster and a scorne to all I that once thought that no man could be blest In moderate kinde of Humane blessednes And in my Tyrannous licence did suggest To comprehend in Pompe all Happines Gaue Reignes to Lust and in my Will supprest The rule of Reason mans sole Souereignesse That to the Worlds Doome still prefer'd mine owne And pitcht my hopes no lower then a crowne I that did make no conscience to Plot And perpetrate all Beastiall cruelty That harrow'd Earth and Hell for what I got As if those Tipes would last Eternally In Goodnes cold in Mischiefe euer hot And in my damned Tracts of Pollicie Had sowne mens Harts and with vnfeeling Taints Did dye my Hands in Innocent blood of Saints I that could taint soules with corrupting Breath And from their Brests roote Faith and Pietie Steeling their Spirits for Acts of closest Death And suck the hart of their abilitie Then raise fresh bloods and set the dry beneath Fester'd in conscience of their villany Then rack them with delayes reward with ayre And laugh to see them perish in despaire I that at best held Vertue and Religion No other Things but well mixt Elements Nor Vice nor Ill but Hâ—mors Disposition Depraued by the Bodies Instruments Esteem'd the Soule subiect to Deaths corruption Nor thought all these but naturall Euents And their disorder cur'd by Phisicks Skill And nothing subiect to th' Eternall Will Now did my Conscience that lay smothered Vndâ—r this Pile of Damn'd Impietie And seem'd as with greene fuell Maistered Conceall'd and prison'd in Obscuritie Shew'd that by Sin 't was rather comforted Then any way depriu'd of Facultie And in their Flame did rage so much the more By how much it did seeme restrain'd before Now all my Acts of Murder Sinne and Shame Bred by Ambition and my tyrannous VVill Appear'd vpon my Head like Aâ—tnâ—'s Flame Or like a Beacon fyr'd vpon a Hill Now Rumor giues the Eccho to my Fame Vprores and Insurrections gin to fill All places vast and now in feare I start To fall beneath the mountaine of my Hart. O how I curst my Aspick Flatterie That shed such veâ—ome in my Rationall Powre I curst the Glasse that so corruptedly Did shew the face of vice to smile not lowre Now for each priuiledg'd Mischiefe did I lye A Butt to Torment and a fearefull Showre By the Black vapor of my Sin being bred With blood and vengeance swolne hung o're my head Thus in the VVayning Splendor of my Pride Compast with danger and assaylde with Feares And in my Thoughts all Torments multiply'd That might augment the burthen of my cares I found my selfe so weakely fortifyde Against the powerfull Battery of despaires That I was plung'd into Hels deepe Abisse Secluded from all comfort Ioy or Blisse Nor did the ancient Poets idely faine Erinnis and the damn'd Eumenides Since euen those Furies in their Maske containe The Morall of my tortur'd Tyranies For th' Apparitions of ensuing paine So danted me with their Extremities That I was rack't in terror of my doome And made that present which was but to come Then dreadfull Melanchollâ— did conuert My Nature to the Temper of my Braine Which soaked with my Spleene disturb'd my heart And through my body spred a poisâ—nous Bane It did confound my Sense and eu'ry part Each Muscle Sinnew Artire Ioinâ— and Vaine Had lost their naturall working and prepare To set me it the high-way to despaire Such was the horror of my Malady Distract with feare of that I was t' inherit That it corrupted euery Facultie Congeal'd my Blood and dull'd my actiue Spirit Thus my whole Natureâ—elt â—elt like Sympathy With my despairefull Soâ—le for siâ—full Merit For all the Functions of my Soule and Sence Were maymed by my wounded Conscience My Reason dotes my Soule did idle sit VVanting fit matter of Intelligence Organs deprau'd and stupifyde my Wit My Vnderstanding weake vnsound my Sence And euery part disabled and vnfit To comfort or relieue my Conscience Hopelesse and helplesse all my powers agree In Desperations Gulph to swallow me And as we see the Eye the Eare or Sent Affected long and oueâ— vehemently Retaine their Species in the Instrument Though absent â—e â—he moâ—ing qualitie So the Internall Senceâ— strongly bent To fearefull Obiects of obsâ—â—â—itie To iudge of things by their depraued kinde Giue Passion vigor and make â—eason blind The Sunne the Moone and Planâ—â—â— of â—y Nature So fearefully ecclipsed in their light My inward darknes casting on my Feature Aâ—semblance ghaâ—â—ly pale and full of fright My leprous Soule deformed as my Stature Did in these Tragick Terrors seeme t' excite The thoughtfull presage of my Destinie To be accomplish't in my Tragedie Likewise my Name enter ' d in Hels black Roule So infinite my Actions of Arrest My grim â—ac't conscience ceazing on my Soule And my Tormentor eâ—eâ— in my Brest So not the minde alone but â—ody whole Equally feeling and alike distrest Such watch they kept such clamor they did make That waking I did dreame and sleeping wake Such was my Passion of all faith 〈◊〉 VVhich should apply a Salue vnto my wound That in my Minde Hell onely was conceau'd VVhich did all thought and hope of Heauâ—n confound Thus my despairefull 〈◊〉 weaâ—'d The Web of my affliction and I found My State so desperate and my Sin so great That no repentaâ—t meanes could expiaâ—e Should I haue fill'd the ayre with plainâ—s 〈◊〉 â—ries Haue wrâ—ng my hands in griefe straynd blood in feares Eate into Marble with my still bent knees And all the Center rotted with my teares Such was the clamoâ— of my viâ—â—â—ies And so importunate were my Despaires That nothing as I thought would satisfie Th' offended Iustice of the Deiâ—ie The setled Center easâ—er might aâ—â—ume The heauenly Motion that turnes euer round Huge Whales might sooner fly with feathered plume And Birds like wormes creepe on the baâ—er Ground Ere I could hope or euer might presume By my repentance mercy to haue found For prest with sin and of all Grace bereauen I could not lift one Thought so high as heauen Not Saul that being possest dyde Reprobate Not Esau's selfe that did his Birth-right â—ell Not Iudas mark't for veng'ance by his Fate Not those which were deuoured quick to Hell Not hardned Pharao all as Desperate Nor cursed and forlorne Achitophel Could be more surely seall'd in Heauens iust doome Then I in conscience for the wrath to come Thus blasted with the Whirlewind of Gods Breath And shaken with the Terror of his wrath Veng'ance aboue me and Hell-fire beneath