when the season brings A flash of Good doth all things so unframe That earths content doth scarce deserve the name Of common happinesse which like the winde Varies still meeting with a various minde Vnconstant earth what can thy treasure show That is not like thy self unconstant too How full of Change How full of Alteration Nay fixt in nothing but thy meer foundation And like thy self our naturall parent wee Constant in nothing but in loving thee Vers 4 One while we plunge in teares and by and by We rage in laughter yet not knowing why To day the zeal of our affection 's such Vers 8 We burn in love tomorrow hate as much Sometimes we fear not when our ev'lls appear Sometimes affrighted at no Cause of fear One while we should and will not will and should not Nay at the selfe-same moment would and would not Vers 4 Today we feast and quaffe in frolique Bowles To morrow fast and pinch our guilty Soules Row Musick now a Knell salutes our ears At noon we swim in wine at night in tears Ore night our vowes are made our joy concluded To day the danger 's past and heav'n deluded The last six Months our fortune swell'd with store And now they break was never Job so poor Verse 8 Time was that peace enricht our joyfull Land Time is our martiall drum beats warre at hand Vnconstant earth O is it not enough Thy days are ev'll at best and but a puffe At longest At the fruitfullest but vain But sad at merryest and at sweetest pain Is not all this enough enough to make The miserable childe of man forsake The false protection of thy magick eye Without th' addition of inconstancy Is' t not enough that we poor Farmers pay Quit-rent to Nature at the very day And at our dying howre bequeath to thee Our whole subsistence for a Legacie But thou must leave our frailties as a prey To time-born Change that will permit no stay In one estate nor give us leave to lye Sad Patients in a quiet misery O but my soule why dost thou thus contend With thy Creators pleasure Cease to spend This needlesse breath Shall thy disorder'd will Confront his Providence or call that ill Which he thinks good Tell me my soule shall hee That gave thee being be prescrib'd by thee Hee made thee for his glory not to spend Thy days in slavish labour nor to end Thy painfull travell in the shades of death But thou hast tainted that immortall breath Which qualifi'd thy life and made thee free Of heav'n and earth and a joynt Patentee With smooth-fac'd Cherubims And too too proud Of thy short honor warpt thy thoughts and bow'd Thy straight desiers to unknowne delight And wrapt thy glory in the clouds of night Lost thy freewill to good didst overthrow Thy perfect knowledge with desire to know Bereft of wisdome labr'ing to be wise Vers 19 Now peer'd with beasts that only works and dyes Both borne to sorrow breathe the selfe same breath Live both alike both dye the selfe same death Sâ—nce then my soule thy hopes may not aspire To what thou wouldst suit thy supprest desire To what thou mayst and let thy wisdome play Bad Cards with best advantage what the day Brings in by Travell let the frolique night Vers 22 Consume in Mirth and spend in full Delight Take thou to day let others take to morrow He earnes the Solace that endures the sorrow CAP. IV. 1 Vanitie is increased unto men by oppression 4. By envy 5. By idlenesse 7. By covetousnesse 9. By solitarinesse 13. By wilfulnesse Vers 1 MY soule return'd and fixt her thoughts upon The hard oppressions made beneath the Sunne And loe the teares of captives in distresse Cry'd loud for Comfort yet were comfortlesse Great was th'oppressors power yet the griefe Of the opprest was void of all reliefe Vers 2 O then I counted their condition blest Whom death had lull'd in everlasting rest Yea farre more blest then those that live to stand Afflicted patients at th'oppressors hand Vers 3 Nay farre then both are they more blessed whom Conception never hansell'd in the womb Or those Abortives whom untimely birth Excus'd from all the sorrowes of the earth Vers 4 Imus'd againe and found when paines had crackt The harder shell to some Heroick act Pale envy strikes the kernell with taxation O this is vanity and soules vexation Vers 5 The sluggish fool that solitary stands With yauning lips and bosome-folded hands Consumes his empty dayes at last is fed With his own flesh that would not move for bread Vers 6 His idle tongue thus pleading for his sloth Better one hand be fill'd with rest then both Stretch'd forth in travell to prepare full diet With hearts vexation and the foules disquiet Vers 7 Thus pausing Contenplation shew'd mine eye A new prospect of humane vanity Vers 8 There is a lonely man that hath none other To foster then himselfe nor child nor brother Whose droyling hands thinke nothing can supply The greedy wants of his insatiate eye He robs himselfe nor knows for whose reliefe This is a vanity and wounding griefe Vers 9 The single state of him that lives alone Is double griefe Two better is then One For two can share the sorrows that befall To one One's worse then not to beat all Vers 10 If eithers drooping shoulders be betray'd To a sad burden there 's a mutuall ayd Woe to the man whom danger meets alone For there 's no arme to help him but his owne Vers 11 When two divide the comforts of a Bed If one gaines kindly warmth the other 's sped But warmth turnes back to him that lyes alone The steele will yeeld no sparkes without the stone Vers 12 If fury from a stronger arme assails One falls before the foe when two prevails But if a third put in a timely stroke The Cord that 's threefold is not quickly broke Verse 13 To be a poore wise child is judg'd a thing More honorable then to be a King That 's old and foolish and whose disposition Checks at advise and spumes at admonition Vers 14 The low and lanke estates are often knowne To clime from Prisons to the princely Throne And glorious Monarchs have been seen to faile And change their glittering Glory for a Gaole Vers 15 So have I seen the vulgar hearts grow cold To with'ring Greatnesse whilest their eyes behold The blooming heyre to whom Affections runne Like morning eyes to greet the rising Sunne Vers 16 Past Ages quench the fathers fading light In the Sons hopes and future dayes benight The Son in his Succeeders expecation O this is vanity and soules vexation SOLILOQUIE IV. MY soule to what a strange disguized Good Art thou bewitch O how hath flesh and Blood Betray'd thee to a happinesse that brings No comfort but from transitory Things How is thy freedome curb'd How art thou clogg'd With dull mortality beslow'd and bogg'd In thine owne frailty How art thou repos'd In
the Name Of bloody Rome Then shall the spotted Beast Put off her golden Trappings and undrest Of all her glory be turn'd out to graze In uncouth deserts and consume her dayes With Dragons Tigers and those salvage things Now pamper'd with the bloud of Saints and Kings O then the crooked Paths of Error fraud And Candle-light devotion trim'd and straw'd With sweet-lipt Roses shall appear as plain As tide-forsaken Rocks along the Main Then shall true wisdome like fair Sheba's Queen Begin her royall Progesse and now seen In perfect Beauty shall erect her Throne In every breast and every Solomon Shall court her Glory and intranc'd in pleasure Shall smell her spices and divide her treasure CAP. III. 1 Like things happen to good and bad 4 There is a necessity of death unto men 7 Comfort is all their portion in this life 11 Gods providence ruleth over all 13 Wisdome is better then strength Vers 1 ALL this I ponder'd and at length I found All actions whether just or wise are crown'd By secret providence And no man knows Gods love or hate by blessings or by blows Vers 2 All haps alike to all The same things doe Befall the righteous and th'unrighteous too Th'unclean and clean have here the self-same pay And he that prays and he that doth not pray Alike befals to good and bad and both To him that swears and him that fears an oath Vers 3 It is a grief that grates beneath the Sun That like events betide to every one Which makes the desp'rate hearts of men to rave With mischief till they drop into the Grave Vers 4 For the ambition of their hopes extend But to this life and with this life they end Better to be a living dog they plead Then to be known a Lyon that is dead Vers 5 For they that live know well that they shall die And therefore take their time But they that lie Rak'd up in deaths cold Embers they know not Or good or ill Their names are quite forgot Vers 6 They have no friends to love no foes to hate They know no vertue to spit venome at They fell no sweat for gaines nor doe they buy Pleasure with paines or trade beneath the sky Vers 7 Goe then rejoyce and eat Let a full boul Casheire thy cares and chear thy frolick soul What heaven hath lent thee with a liberal hand To serve and chear thy frailty up command Vers 8 Indulge thy carefull flesh with new supply And change of garments of the purest dy Refresh thy limbs annoy'd with sweat and toyle With costly bathes thy head with precious oyle Vers 9 Delight thy self in thy delicious wife All the vain days of thy vain wasting life Of all the works thy painfull hand hath done This this is all the price beneath the Sunne Vers 10 What ere thy hand endeavours that may gain Contentment spare not either cost or pain For there 's no hand to work no pow'r to have No wisdome to contrive within the grave Vers 11 I find the swift not always win the prize Nor strength of arm the battell nor the wise Grow rich in fortunes nor the men of skill In favour all as time and fortune will Vers 12 Man knoweth not his time As Fishes are Snar'd in the net Birds tangled in the snare So be the sons of men surpriz'd with snares When mischief fals upon them unawares Vers 13 This wisdome have I seen beneath the skye Which wisely weigh'd deserves a wise mans eye Vers 14 There was a little City poorly mann'd ' Gainst which a Potent King brought up a band Of Martiall strength besieg'd it and withall Built mighty Bulwarks ' gainst her slender wall Verse 15 In this half conquer'd City there was found A poor wise man whose wisdome did confound Both thē all the works their strength could plant Yet no reward reliev'd this poor mans want Verse 16 O then thought I poor wisdome will at length Discover greater worth then golden strength Yet is the poor mans wisdome poorly priz'd His word 's not heard or being heard despis'd Verse 17 The whisp'ring wise mans tongue prevaileth more Then when the lips of foolish Rulers roare Verse 18 Prudent advice is more transcendent far Then strength of Arm or Instruments of war But rash attempts of a misguided hand Defeat themselves and ruine all the land SOLILOQUIE IX BVt ah my soul what boots it to be wise Verse 2 Or what Advantage what great profit lies In a fair Journy to be well supply'd With all Accoutrements a knowing Guide A metled Steed a sweet and temperate sky Short miles and way-beguiling Company When armed death stands ready to attend Thy parting Stirrop at thy Journies end Thy wisdome cannot save thee ha's no power To keep thee Shotfree or to quit that hower Dull Nabals Howreglasse runs as slow a pace As active Solomons An equally space Divides their minuts Deaths impartiall hand Wounds all alike and death will give no sand What then my soul If wisdome should entaile Our happinesse on this life or fill our Saile In this wilde Ocean with perpetuall breath When should we find a Hav'n If partiall death Should favour wisdome and not exercise Her office there 't were misery to be wise The prudent Pilot whose marinall skill Makes the proud windes obedient to his will And ploughs the Billows with lesse fear then wrong Takes no delight to make his voyage long But with his wise endeavours seeks to guide His slender Pinnace and to curb the pride Of the rebellious waves and doth addresse His care to crown his voyage with successe Our life 's the voyage and this world the Ocean Our cares are waves tost in perpetuall motion Our thoughts are busie windes that often blow Too strong a Gale and tosses to and fro Our crazy Vessels Every soul does bear The office of a Pilot now to stear Now to advise and still to lay commands Vpon th' Affection-Saylors whose rude hands Are always active ready to fulfill The wise directions of the Pilots will It matters not my soul how long or short Thy voyage be if safe they gain the Port With best advantage that in peace arrive With Ribs unshook and all their men alive It lies not in the skilfull Pilots power T avoid tempestuous Seas but to endure 'T is wisdome to endure as well as doe Who bravely suffers is victorious too Then chear my soul Let not the frowns of earth Disturb thy peace or interrupt thy mirth Let not that rude that Apogean storm Of flesh and blood dismay thee or deform The beauty of thy thoughts or cast thy minde Into a base despondence Let the winde Blow where it please a well-prepared brest Will give thee shelter and afford thee rest When worldly crosses tempt thee understand Heav'n tryes thy temper then If then thou stand Vpright in Court and of unshaken mind The Test approves thee and thou art refin'd Then chear my soul Let not the rubs of
Effigies Francisci Quarles Aetatis Suae 52. Pictor adumbravit Vultum guem cernimus ast hic Non valet egregias pingere mentis Opes Has siscire cupis sua consule Carmina in illis Dotes percipies pectoris eximias What heere wee see is but a Graven face Onely the shaddow of that brittle case Wherin were treasur'd up those Gemms which he Hath loft behind him to Posteritie Al Ross W. M sculp SOLOMONS RECANTATION ENTITULED ECCLESIASTES PARAPHRASED VVith a SOLILOQUIE or Meditation upon every Chapter Very Seasonable and Vsefull for these Times By FRANCIS QUARLES Opus posthumum Never before Imprinted WITH A SHORT RELATION OF HIS Life and Death O curas hominum O quantum est in rebus inane LONDON Printed by M. F. for Richard Royston and are to be sold at his shop at the Signe of the Angel in Ivie-Lane 1645. A SHORT RELATION OF THE Life and Death of Mr. Francis Quarles by Vrsula Quarles his sorrowfull Widow THough it be inconsistent with the duty of a wife to be injurious in any respect to her husband yet in this my bold undertaking I fear I shall be so to mine which I doubt not but he would have forgiven if he had been living as proceeding from love and I hope his friends will pardon now he is dead as being the last duty I can perform to a loving husband Those that see with what pen his Works are written will say his life deserved a more skilfull Artist to set it forth which office though many might have been procured to undertake and to which I doubt not but some would voluntarily have offered themselves if they had known that such a thing had been intended yet have I with much zeal though small discretion adventured upon it my self as being fully assured that none can be more sensible of the losse of him then I though thousands might have exprest that losse to the world with more Art and better judgement He was a Gentleman both by birth and desert descended of an ancient Family and yet which is rare in these last and worst times he was an ornament to his Ancestors His Father was James Quarles of Rumford Esquire Clerk of the Green-cloth and Purveyor of the Navie to Queen Elizabeth and yonger brother to Sir Robert Quarles His education was suitable to his birth first at schoole in the Countrey where his school-fellows will say he surpassed all his equals afterward at Christs Colledge in Cambridge where how he profited I am not able to judge but am fully assured by men of much learning and judgement that his Works in very many places doe sufficiently testifie more then ordinary fruits of his University studies Last of all he was transplanted from thence to Lincolns Inne where for some yeares he studied the Laws of England not so much out of desire to benefit himself thereby as his friends and neighbours shewing therein his continuall inclination to peace by composing suits differences amongst them After he came to maturity he was not desirous to put himself into the world otherwise he might have had greater preferments then he had He was neither so unfit for Court preferment nor so ill beloved there but that he might have raised his fortunes thereby if he had had any inclination that way But his mind was chiefly set upon his devotion and study yet not altogether so much but that he faithfully discharged the place of Cup-bearer to the Queen of Bohemia and the office of Secretary to the Reverend and Learned Lord Primate of Ireland that now is and of Chronologer to the famous City of London which place he held to his death and would have given that City and the world a testimony that he was their faithfull servant therein if it had pleased God to blesse him with life to perfect what he had begun He was the husband of one wife by whom he was the father of eighteen children and how faithfull and loving a husband and father he was the joynt tears of his widow and fatherlesse children will better expresse then my pen is able to doe In all his duties to God and Man he was conscionable and orderly He preferred God and Religion to the first place in his thoughts his King and Country to the second his family and studies he reserved to the last As for God he was frequent in his devotions and prayers to him and almost constant in reading or meditating on his holy Word as his Divine Fancies and other parts of his Works will sufficiently testifie For his Religion he was a true sonne of the Church of England an even Protestant not in the least degree biassed to this hand of superstition or that of schisme though both those factions were ready to cry him down for his inclination to the contrary His love to his King and Country in these late unhappy times of distraction was manifest in that he used his pen and powred out his continuall prayers and tears to quench this miserable fire of dissention while too many others added daily fewell unto it And for his family his care was very great over that even then when his occasions caused his absence from it And when he was at home his exhortations to us to continue in vertue and godly life were so pious and frequent his admonitions so grave and piercing his reprehensions so mild and gentle and above all his own example in every religious and morall duty so constant and manifest that his equall may be desired but can hardly be met withall Neither was his good example of a godly life contained only within his own family others as well as we have or at least might have made good use of it For he was not addicted to any notorious vice whatsoever He was courteous and affable to all moderate and discreet in all his actions And though it be too frequent a fault as we see by experience in Gentlemen whose dispositions incline them to the study of Poetry to be loose and debauch'd in their lives and conversations yet was it very far from him Their delight could not be greater in the Tavern then his was in his Study to which he devoted himself late and early usually by three a clock in the morning The fruits thereof are best tasted by those who have most perused his Works and therefore I shall be silent in that particular For though it had been necessary in any other to have spoken somewhat of his writings yet I hope it will not be expected from me seeing that neither the judgement of my sex can be thought competent nor if it were would the nearness of my relation to him suffer me to praise that at commendations whereof from others I have often blushed I shall therefore rather desire leave to speak a work or two concerning the blessed end of my dear husband which was every way answerable to his godly life or rather indeed surpassed it For as gold is purified in the fire
Prince that ever blest a Nation Found all things vain and when enjoy'd Vexation CAP. II. 1 The vanity of humane courses in the works of pleasure 12 Though the wise be better then the foole yet both have but one event 18 The vanity of humane labour in leaving it they know not to whom 24 Nothing better then joy in our labour but that is Gods gift Vers 1 SInce knowledge then affords my soul no rest My roving thoughts try'd mirth and were possest Of all the pleasures earth could lend yet I Found mirth and pleasure all but vanity Vers 2 I laugh'd at laughter as atoyish Antick And counted all my mirth no lesse then frantick Vers 3 My heart but wisely foolish did encline To costly fare and frolick cups of wine That in these pleasures I might find some good To crown the short lif'd days of flesh and blood Vers 4 I built magnifick Palaces did frame Great buildings to the glory of my name I planted Vineyards whose plump Clusters might Rejoyce my heart and lend my soule delight Vers 5 I made me fruitfull Orchards for my pleasure And curious Gardens to refresh my leisure I stored them with trees and these with Bowers And made a Paradise of fruits and flowers Vers 6 I made me standing pooles to entertain My breathlesse guests and all their num'rous train I cut me Aquiducts whose current flees And waters all my wildernesse of trees Vers 7 Armies of servants doe attend my state Both foreiners and borne within my gate Herds I possest and flocks above all them That reign'd before me in Jerusalem Vers 8 Abundant silver gold and precious stones By Kings presented my Exchequer ownes All sorts of Musick earths delight had I To feed mine ear Beauties to please mine eye Vers 9 Such State magnificence and princely store Wondring Jerus'lem never saw before In all this pomp my heart had not forgot The lawfull use My wisdome fail'd me not Vers 10 I gave mine eyes what ere mine eyes requir'd Deny'd my heart no mirth my heart desir'd For my poor hearts delight was all my gains My pleasure was the portion of my pains Vers 11 At length I cast my serious eye upon My painfull works and what my hands have done But loe beneath the Sun no Contentation All all was vanity and soules vexation Vers 12 With that I turn'd my weary thoughts agen On wisdome and the foolishnesse of men Search they that please to search alas there 's none Can search the truth more strict then Solomon Vers 13 When my impartiall Judgement did compare Folly with wisdome this doth ev'n as farre Excell the other as Meridian light Excels the shadows of the darkest night Vers 14 The wise mans eyes are in his head They stand Like Watchmen in the Towre to guard the land But fools haunt darknesse yet my self perceive The self-same lot both fools and wisemen have Vers 15 Ah! then said I if equall fortune lies For fools and me what vantage to be wise What profit hath my wisdome Then thought I The height of wisdome hath her Vanity Verse 16 The foolish Bauble and the learned Bayes Are both forgotten in succeeding dayes Impartiall death shall close the dying eyes Both of the fool and also of the wise Verse 17 Therefore I hated life for from th' events Of humane actions flow my discontents Life spent in action or in contemplation Is all but vanity and souls Vexation Verse 18 I hated all that e'r my hands had done In seeking happinesse beneath the Sunne For what I did I cannot call mine own Anothers hand must reap what mine hath sown Verse 19 Who knows if my successor is to be A wise man or a fool Howe'r 't is he Must spend with ease what I have earn'd with pain And soules Vexation This is also vain Verse 20 For which my soul thus fool'd with vain pursuit Of blossom'd happinesse that bears no fruit Whisper'd despair of all that I had done To purchase perfect good beneath the Sunne Verse 21 Some men there be whose more elaborate gains The fruits of lawfull cares and prudent pains Descend to those that knew nor pains nor Art This is a vanity and afflicts the heart Verse 22 For what reward hath man of all his droyle His ev'ning trouble and his morning toyle His hearts vexation and his griefs that run Through all his labours underneath the Sun Verse 23 His days are sorrows tedious griefs attend His travail hopelesse of a Journies end His restlesse nights afford his closed eye No slumbers This is also vanity Vers 24 There 's nothing sweeter then to take repast Of meats and drinks and now and then to cast Griefs burthen off and gently loose the rains By intermingling pleasures with our pains But this I know lies not in our command It is a blessing from th' Almighties hand Vers 25 For who can eat what mortall can apply His heart to force a pleasure more then I Vers 26 Heav'n gives the just man wisdome knowledge mirth To sinners travell to heap earth to earth Wherewith t' enrich the righteous Generation This is his vanity and soules Vexation SOLILOQUIE II. BVt stay my Soul Art thou resolved than T' abjure delight and turn Capuccian Because thy earth hath thus eclips'd the light Of thy Contentment wilt thou make it night Wert thou condemn'd to sorrows Wert thou born To live in languishment and die forlorn Abuse not thy Creation Thou wert made Not thus to sterve thy blossomes in the shade Of barren melancholy or to wast Thy pensive howres in the boysterous blast Of stormy discontent Come come my soule Vers 1 Hoyst up thy Sailes to mirth Let others houle And whine Let such as always art at wars With their own fortunes curse their ill-fac'd stars Passe thou thy frolique youth in Revels sports And fresh delights frequent the purple Courts Of prosperous Princes Stue thy heart in mirth And crush the childe of sorrow in her birth Vers 2 O but my soule what profit can accrew From lavish mirth What pleasure is' t to skrue An Antick face and grimme or to enforce An empty laughter in a vain discourse Vers 3 Why then my soul Goe winde the Plummets up Of thy down spirits with a chirping Cup Redeem thee from the gripes of Care and rapes Of Grief and drench them in the blood of Grapes I but perchance in that sad heart of thine There is a wound craves rather Oyle then wine If then thy cure prove worse then thy disease That Grief thou dar'st not cure attempt to ease Forget thy sorrows or if rugged sense Will not be woo'd by language to dispence With her provoking foe advise with Art Those stubborn streams thou canst not stop divert And like a pain-afflicted stripling play With some new Toy to while thy grief away Vers 4 Goe raise great works whose structure may impart The Masters wisdome and the Builders Art Build houses whose magnificence may proclaime Thy worth as lasting
man to be possest Verse 12 Who knows what 's good for man in this dull blaze Of life his swift his shadow flying dayes Or who can tell when his short houre is run Th' event of all his toyle beneath the Sun SOLILOQUIE VI. WHat meant that great-creating Pow'r to frame This spatious Vniverse Was not his name Glorious enough without a Witnesse Why Did that corrected Twilight of his eye Vnmussle darknesse and with morning light Redeeme the day from new baptized night What meant that sacred Rower to command Divorce betwixt united Sea and Land Why wrapt heearth as yet untouch with showers In a greene Robe embroid'red all with flowers What meant the Beames of his refulgent eyes To print their Image in the crystall skyes What princely guests with all their num'rous traine Did he expect was he to entertaine That his magnificent his bounteous hand Made such Provision both by sea and land What royall State 's at hand what Potentate On whom must all these Royall armies wait Who worthy of so great a preparation Is th' object of such royall expectation What Prince is to be borne What glorious birth Is to be celebrated Groaning earth Brought forth a lump not much above a span A little naked puling thing cal'd Man Man a poore shiftlesse transitory thing Borne without sword or shield not having wing To fly from threatning danger not an arme To grapple with those num'rous ev'lls that swarme About his newborne frailty warpt aside From faire obedience to rebellious Pride Man whose frame the great Three-One advis'd And with a studied hand epitomiz'd The large voluminous and perfect story Of all his workes The Manuall of his Glory Man in whose soule the all Eternall drew The Image of himselfe for earth to view With feare and wonder in whose sov'raign eye He breath'd the flames of dreadfull Majesty Fill'd him with power entrusted to his hand Earths Empire and the lower worlds command Crown'd him with glory made him little lower Then heav'n-bred Angels that excell in power O but my soule how is that hand asham'd Of his owne work How is this frame unfram'd How is this Manuall blotted Every word How interlin'd How is this Image blurr'd How are those sparkes of Majesty that were So bright now baffled with degen'rous feare How is that power that was bred and borne The earth Commander now become the scorne of dunghill Passion shipwrackt with the Gust of every fatuous and inferiour Lust How is the Sunbright Honor of his Name Eclipst How is his Glory cloath'd with shame Reflect upon thy self my soule Enquire Into the vastnesse of thy vaine desire What would'st thou have which being had may fill Th'unfathom'd Gulf of thy insatiate will Thou level'st at a Good Wherein consists The Good thou level'st at To what strange Lists Is her conceal'd Omnipotence confin'd Where is this will-commanding Saint enshrin'd Is not her royall person gone to view The Mines of Ophir or the rich Peru Or is she gone to oyle the wings of Time With unctious pleasures in some foraine Clime Or is she mounted on the slippery Throne Of staggering Honor there disguis'd unknowne Alas my soule if heaven should suit thy store With thy desire thou wouldst desire yet more Verse 2 Or if spring tides of Gold should a degree Transcend thy wish perchance it would want thee Verse 3 What if a num'rous Off-spring should proclame A perpetuity to th'lasting Name Or if the even-spun ' Twine should be extended Till thou could'st number Nations all descended From thine owne loynes yet if the sparing hand of wayward Providence should chance to brand Vers 5 Thy dayes with poverty th' abortive birth Is more indebted to the gracious earth Then thou whose shadow-grasping hand even tires Vpon the vanity of thy vast desires Nay if both heav'n and earth should undertake T' extract the best from all Mankinde to make One perfect happy man and thou wert Hee Thy finite fortunes still would disagree Vers 7 With thy insatiate soule Some Qualmes of earth Hereditary to thy humane Birth Would print thy pamper'd soule with such a fresh And lively Character of feeble flesh That all thy Joyes doe Fortune what shee can May not exempt thee from the Lot of Man Cap. VII 1 Remedies against vanity are a good name 2 Mortification 7 Patience 11 Wisdome 23 The difficultie of wisdome Vers 1 A good reputed Name is sweeter farre Then breaths of Aromatick Oyntments are And that sad day when first we drew our breath Is not so happy as the day of death Vers 2 Better it is to be a fun'rall guest Then finde the welcomes of a frolick feast There may'st thou view thy end and take occasion T' enrich thy thoughts with fruitful contemplation Vers 3 Better to cloud thy face with griefe then show The lavish wrinkles of a laughing brow For by the sad demeanour of thine eyes The heart 's instructed and becomes more wise Vers 4 The wise mans sober heart is always turning His wary footsteps to the house of mourning But fools consume and revell out the night In dalliance and the day in loose delight Vers 5 The vertue of a wise mans fair reproof Brings greater benefit to a mans behoof Then all those eare-bewitching sweets that can Belch from the language of a foolish Man Vers 6 Look how the crackling thorns under the pot Blaze for a season but continue not Ev'n so doe foolish flatt'ries entertain Our souls with joy but all that joy is vain Vers 7 When wise men turn Oppressors they have crackt Their understandings in the very Act And the acceptance of a Bribe destroyes The grounds of Judgement and it blinds her eyes Vers 8 In all attempts the onset does not lend So sweet a satisfaction as the end And he whose gentle spirit is endow'd With meeknesse is far better then the proud Vers 9 Let not thy hot-mouth'd spirit entertain Too sudden passion with too slack a rain For rash and unadvised anger rests Embosom'd and abides in foolish brests Vers 10 Let not thy murm'ring tongue desire to know Why former dayes were not so bad as now Where heav'n declares a Will no wise mans eye Should search a Cause or lips enquire a why Vers 11 Wisdome is profitable to advance Mans welfare joyned with inheritance By this conjunction profit doth arise To those that toile beneath the sweltring skies Vers 12 Wisdome's a Guard and treasure a defence To supersede our wants reliev'd from thence Vers 13 Wisdom's th'extract of knowledge and convays To the possessor everblasting days O let thy thoughts enquire and understands The well-weigh'd works of the Almighties hand What he hath setled in a crooked state No industry of man can make it straight Vers 14 In thy good day take pleasure and be wise In thy bad day have patience and advise For heav'n gives both by turns to let man see How alterable earthly pleasures bee Vers 15 Much have I seen in this my short-liv'd
not thy hand nor let thy tongue upbraid His sacred Person Hee 's by heav'n appointed To be thy Prince O touch not heav'ns Anointed What if he lend the fulnesse of his pow'r To those imperious Spirits that devour Subjects like bread and drinke the loyall blood Of men like water men not once allow'd To plead for life but silently subscribe To those that cannot judge without a Bribe What if his power pleases to commit His past'rall staffe to such as are more fit To kill and eat or recommend his flocks To such dumb dogs of whom nor wolfe nor fox Will stand in awe or show their feares by flight That have not tongues to bark nor teeth to bite Rebell not thou nor in a hostile way Accoast thy Prince Or suffer or obey What if the Common Favorite of the times Vers 6 The Courtly Fool grown great with count'nance climes Vp to a Lordship when the Man of merit Broke on the wheele of Fortune must inherit Nothing but scorne and want and a poore name Betraid to pity and to empty Fame Be thou thy self let not thine eye be evill To a wise heart both hills and dales are levell Vers 17 How happy is that land how blest the Nation Whose Prince directs by Power not by Passion Whose sacred wisdome knowes how great a price True vertue beares and how to punish Vice Whose royall Majesty and princely love Can both incorporate and joyntly move In a self glorious Orbe and from one Sphear Breathe such rare influence of love and fear Into the hearts of Men that all the land Shall cry a Solomon and sweetly stand Rapt with sweet Peace and sacred admiration How happy is that land how blest the Nation CAP. II. 1 Directions for Charitie 7 Death in life 9 and the day of judgement in the dayes of youth are to be thought on Vers 1 VPon the waters let thy bread be cast And thou shalt finde it when some dayes are past Vers 2 Give lib'rall Almes for it 's unknown to thee How full of wants thy after dayes shall be Vers 3 If clouds be full will they deny to powr Their fruitfull Blessings in a lib'rall show'r Or North or South or wheresoere the Tree Shall fall no question it shall fall to thee Vers 4 He that observes the wind shall never sow Who marks the clouds shall never reap nor mow Vers 5 Like as the Embryo's growth within their wombes Is strange to thee and how the soule becomes The bodies inmate ev'n so all the rest Of Heavn's high workes are strangers to thy brest Vers 6 Cast thou thy morning seed upon the land And at the evening hold not back thy hand For who is he can tell thee which of these Shall prosper best or bring the best encrease Vers 7 'T is true the light is sweet and every one Takes pleasure in the world-rejoycing Sunne Vers 8 But who lives many joyfull yeares if he But count how long his after shades shall be In earths darke bosome how can he refraine To think these short-liv'd flattering pleasures vaine Vers 9 Rejoyce ô young man in thy youthfull wayes Let thy heart cheer thee in thy youthfull dayes Delight thine eyes thy heart and take thy way But know that heavens accompt will finde a day Vers 10 Then banish fals-ey'd mirth Be dispossest Of those lewd fires that so inflame thy brest For childhood youth and all their joyes remain But for a season and they all are vain SOLILOQUIE II. SO now my soul thy wisdome-season'd brest May eat and drink and labour and digest Thy carefull morsels and with holy mirth Disperse the clouds of melancholy earth Now maist thou sit beneath thy clustred Vine And presse thy Grapes and drinke thy frolick wine In soft and plenteous Peace and leave to morrow To beare the burden of her selfe-borne sorrow Now maist thou walke secure from all those threats of peevish Fortune and the sly deceits Of flattering pleasure Plenty cannot drown Thine eyes in mirth nor misery cast thee down If the blew Rafters of the falling skies Should leave their spangled Mansion and surprise Thy feeble strength well may their ruines smite thee And grinde thy clod to dust but not affright thee What want'st thou then my soule that may augment The reall happinesse of a true content What vertue 's wanting now whose absence may Encourage boldfac'd vanity to betray Thy even-spunne dayes to sorrow or occasion Thy faire-contriv'd designes to tast vexation Wouldst thou have Honor thou enjoyst it Treasure Thou hast it wouldst thou gain the greater pleasure Of a true noble Spouse whose life may show Vertues rare quintessence Thou hast that too Wouldst thou have hopefull Sonnes to crowne thy Last With Peace and Honor Such rare Sonnes thou hast Thy Princes favour Or thy peoples love All this thou hast Wisdome in things above Thou hast it Knowledge in these Toyes beneath Thou hast it Skill in th' Arts or curious breath Of whispering State All this thou hast Where then Shall thy new wishes fix Rare Man of men I but my soule one good is wanting still To summe a full Perfection and to fill Thy Cruise with happinesse which if possest Thou hast a Diademe crownes all the rest Hadst thou the tongues of men and couldst thou break Thy lips in Oracles Or couldst thou speak The dialects of Angels when they sing Their sacred Canzons to their soveraigne King A tinkling Cymball or the hideous sounds Of discomposed discords or the Rounds Of frolick midnight madnesse would requite Thy wilde attention with as much delight And breathe as sweetly in the Almighties eare If heart-rejoycing Charity be not there Hadst thou what strength the Parnassean Muse Can blesse thy fancy with or heaven infuse Hadst thou a Faith to make the mountaines fly In the vast Orbe like Atomes in thine eye Lesse then those Atomes would thy Faith appeare If faith-confirming Charity be not there Shouldst thou to purchase heaven renounce thy Right Of all thy goods and turne an Anchorite Or should thy courage to deserve the name Of Martyr give thy body to the flame When that blood pleads heav'n will not lend an eare If heav'n-engaging Charity be not there Since then my soul both Faith and Works lie dead Vers 1 If Charity fail be wise and cast thy bread Upon the Waters As the Waters runne Deal thou thy dole untill thy dole be done Man is Gods Husbandry If then the Plough Of carefull want hath struck the furrow'd Brow Vers 6 And make it fit for seed Hold not thy hand He robs himself that faintly sows the Land Stay not for showres The soile if overflowne Will drown thy seed-corn and return thee none Let not some weeds discourage thee to sow The Plough will root them up or if they grow Too sturdy for the Coulters point to kill Fear not thy harvest A hard Winter will Cast not lank grain upon too lean a ground Fair Crops from off all Corn are