And let my couch still witnesse take In teares still steep't that I adore thee still My body I le make pay thee paines Hell iawes shall neuer need to ope Though all loues faile thine euer raignâ—â— Thou art my refuge last and onely hope All glorie to the Father c. PSALME III. Miserere Domine 1. STay now O Lord my bleeding woes The veine growes low and drie O now enough and too much flowes My sinne is swolne too hie 2. What rests for the abhorr'd euent Time wasts but not my woe Woes me poore man my life is spent In asking what to do 3. Pale Death stands fixt before mine eyes My graue gaspes and my knell Rings out in my cold eares the cryes and gnashed teerh of hell 4. How long shall this day mocke my hope With what the next will be When shall I once begin to ope My lockt vp way to thee 5. Ease Lord my still-increasing smart Salue not but cure my wounds Direct the counsels of my heart And giue my labours bounds 6. As in me thou hast skill infusd So will and action breath Lest chidden for thy gifts abusd I weepe and pine to death 7. See bound beneath the foe I lie Rapt to his blasted shore O claime thy right nor let me die Let him insult no more 8. Tell all the ransome I must giue Out of my hourely paines See how from all the world I liue To giue griefe all the raines 9. What is behind in this life aske And in these members sums Before the neuer ending taske And bedâ—id beggerie comes 10. Shew me thy way ere thy chiefe light Downe to the Ocean diues O now t is euening and the night Is chiefly friend to theeues 11. Compell me if thy Call shall faile To make thy straight way mine In any skorn'd state let me wayle So my poore soule be thine All glorie to the Father be And to the Sonne as great as he With the coequall sacred Spirit Who all beginningâ— were before Are and shall be euermore Glorie all glorie to their merit PSALME IIII. Recordari libet 1. ONce let me serue Lord my desire Thy gifts to me recounting and their prise That shame may set my cheekes on fire And iust confusion teare in teares mine eyes Since quite forgetting what I am Adorn'd so Godlike with thy grace I yet neglect to praise thy name And make thy image in me poore and base 2. Thou hast created euen for me The starres all heauen and all the turns of time For of what vse are these to thee Though euery one distinguisht by his clime Thou Sunne and Moone thou Nights and Dayes Thou Light and Darknesse hast disposd Wrapt earth in waters nimble wayes Her vales hils plains with founts floods seas enclosd 3. Her rich wombe thou hast fruitfull made With choyce of seeds that all wayes varied are And euery way our eyes inuade With formes and graces in being common rare In sweete greene herbes thou cloth'st her fields Distinguishest her hils with flowres Her woods thou mak'st her meadowes shields Adorn'd with branches leaues and odorous bowres 4. The wearie thou hast rest prepar'd The hote refreshest with coole shades of trees Which streames melodious enterlar'd For sweete retreats that none but thy eye sees The thirstie thou giu'st siluer springs The hungrie berries of all kinds Herbes wholesome and a world of things To nurse our bodies and informe our mindâ— 5. Now let me cast mine eye and see With what choice creatures strangely form'd and faire All seas and lands are fil'd by thee And all the round spread tracts of yeelding aire Whose names or numbers who can reach With all earths powre yet in thy span All which thy boundlesse bounties preach All laide O glorie at the foote of man 6. Whose body past all creatures shines Such wondrous orders of his parts thou mak'st Whose countenance state and loue combines In him vnmou'd when all the world thou shak'st Whose soule thou giu'st powre euen of thee Ordaining it to leaue the earth All heauen in her discourse to see And note how great a wombe went to her birth 7. Vnnumberd arts thou add'st in him To make his life more queint and more exact His eye eternesse cannot dim Whose state he mounts to with a mind infract Thou shew'st him all the milke-white way Op'st all thy Tabernacles doâ—es Learn'st how to praise thee how to pray To shun and chuse what likes and what abhorres 8. To keepe him in which hallowed path As his companions and perpetuall guides Prayre thou ordainst thy word and faith And loue that all his soule offences hides And to each step his footâ— shall take Thy couenants stand like wals of brasse Which from thy watch towre good to make Thou add'st thine eye for his securer passe 9. All this deare Lord I apprehend Thy Spirit euen partially inspiring me Which to consort me to my end With endlesse thanks I le strew my way to thee Confessing falling thou hast staid Confirm'd me fainting prostrate raisd With comforts rapt me quite dismaid And dead hast quickn'd me to see thee praisd All glorie to the Father bâ— And to the Sonne c. PSALME V. Noctes mea in moerore transeunt 1. YEt Lord vnquiet sinne is stirring My long nights longer grow like euening shades In which woe lost is all waies erring And varied terror euery step inuades Wayes made in teares shut as they ope My lodestarre I can no way see Lame is my faith blind loue and hope And Lord t is passing ill with me 2. My sleepe like glasse in dreames is broken No quiet yeelding but affright and care Signes that my poore life is forspoken Lord couâ—be the ill and good in place prepare No more delay my spent desire T is now full time for thee to heare Thy loue hath set my soule on fire My heart quite broke twixt hope and feare 3. No outward light my life hath graced My mind hath euer bene my onely Sunne And that so farre hath enuie chaced That all in clouds her hated head is runne And while she hides immortall cares Consume the soule that sense inspires Since outward she sets eyes and eares And other ioyes spend her desires 4. She musters both without and in me Troubles and tumults she 's my houshold theefe Opes all my doores to lust and enuie And all my persecutors lends releefe Bind her Lord and my true soule free Preferre the gift thy hand hath giuen Thy image in her crowne in me And make vs here free as in heauen All glorie to the Father be And to the Sonne c. PSALME VI. Circumuallarunt me inimici 1. MY foes haue girt me in with armes And earthquakes tost vp all my ioynts No flesh can answer their alarmes Each speare they manage hath so many points 2. Death arm'd in all his horrors leades Whom more I charge the lesse he yeelds Affections with an hundred heads Conspire with them turne on me their shields 3. Nor looke
I yet Lord to the East Nor hope for helpe where I am will'd Nor as I ought haue arm'd my breast But rust in sloth and naked come to field 4. And therefore hath the host of starres Now left me that before I led Arm'd Angels tooke my pay in waâ—res FroÌ„ whose height falne all leaue me here for dead 5. In falling I discern'd how sleight My footing was on those blest towres I lookt to earth and her base height And so lost heauen and all his aidfull powres 6. Now broke on earth my bodie lies Where theeues insult on my sad fall Spoyle me of many a daintie prise That farre I fetcht t' enrich my soule withall 7. Nor ceasse they but deforme me too With wounds that make me all engor'd And in the desart leaue me so Halfe dead all naked and of all abhorr'd 8. My head and bosome they transfixt But in my torne affections rag'd Wounds there with blood and matter mixt Corrupt and leaue my very soule engag'd 9. There Lord my life doth most misgiue There quickly thy white hand bestow Thou liu'st and in thee I may liue Thy fount of life doth euer ouerflow 10. All this from heauen thy eyes explore Yet silent sitst and sufferst all Since all I well deserue and more And must confesse me wilfull in my fall 11. And hence t is that thou letst me bleed Mak'st all men shun and skorne my life That all my workes such enuie breed And my disgrace giues food to all mens strife 12. But this since Goodnesse oft doth cause And t is Goods grace to heare his ill Since t is a chiefe point in his lawes No thought without our powre to make our wil. 13. Still let the greene seas of their gall Against this rocke with rage be borne And from their height still let me fall Them stand and laugh me lie still and scorne 14. But Lord my fall from thee ô raise And giue my fainting life thy breath Sound keepe me euer in thy waies Thou mightie art and setst downe lawes to death 15. Driue thou from this my ruines rape These theeues that make thy Phane their den And let my innocence escape The cunning malice of vngodly men All glorie to the Father be And to the Sonne as great as he With the coequall sacred Spirit Who all beginnings were before Are and shall be euermore Glorie all glorie to their merit PSALME VII Cogitabam stare 1. WHile I was falne I thought to rise And stand presuming on my thies But thighes and knees were too much broken My haire stood vp to see such bane Depresse presumption so prophane I tremble but to heare it spoken 2. Yet in my strength my hope was such Since I conceiu'd thou vow'dst as much I fain'd dreames and reioyc't to faine them But weighing awake thy vowes profound Their depth my lead came short to sound And now aye me my teares containe them 3. For calmes I into stormes did stere And look't through clouds to see things cleare Thy waies shew'd crook't like speares in water When mine went trauerse and no Snake Could winde with that course I did take No Courtier could so grosly flatter 4. But which way I soeuer bend Thou meet'st me euer in the end Thy finger strikes my ioynts with terrors Yet no more strikes then points the way Which weighing weeping straight I stay And with my teares cleanse feete and errors 5. But of my selfe when I beleeue To make my steps thy waies atchieue I turne head and am treading mazes I feele sinnes ambush and am â—ext To be in error so perplext Nor yet can finde rests holy places 6. I loath my selfe and all my deeds Like Rubarbe taste or Colche in weedâ— I flie them with their throwes vpon me In each new purpose customes old So checke it that the stone I rold Neuer so oft againe fals on me 7. No step in mans trust should be trod Vnlesse in mans as his in God Of which trust make good life the founder Without which trust no forme nor art Faiths loadstarre is a guiltlesse heart Good life is truths most learn'd expounder 8. With which Lord euer rule my skill In which as I ioyne powre with will So let me trust my truth in learning To such minds thou all truth setst opeâ— The rest are rapt with stormes past hopes The lesse for more deepe arts discerning 9. Blesse Lord who thus their arts employ Their sure truth celebrate with ioy And teare the maskes from others faces That make thy Name a cloake for sinne Learning but termes to iangle in And so disgrace thy best of Graces 10. Whereof since I haue onely this That learnes me what thy true will is Which thou in comforts still concludest My poore Muse still shall sit and sing In that sweete shadow of thy wing Which thou to all earths state obtrudest 11. As oft as I my fraile foote moue From this pure fortresse of thy loue So oft let my glad foes deride me I know my weakenesse yet and feare By triall to build comforts there It doth so like a ruine hide me 12. My worth is all but shade I finde And like a fume before the winde I gaspe with sloth thy waies applying Lie tumbling in corrupted blood Loue onely but can do no good Helpe Lord lest I amend not dying All glorie to the Father be And to the Sonne as great as he With the coequall sacred Spirit Who all beginnings were before Are and shall be euermore Glorie all glorie to their merit The end of Petrarchs seuen Penitentiall Psalmes THE I. PSALME more strictly translated 1. O Me accurst since I haue set on me Incenst so sternely my so meeke Redeemer And haue bene proud in prides supreme degree Of his so serious law a sleight esteemer 2. I left the narrow right way with my will In bywaies brode and farre about transferred And euery way found toyle and euery ill Yet still in tracts more rough and steepe I erred 3. Where one or other of the brutish heard My feete encounterd yet more brute affected Euen to the dens of sauage beasts I err'd And there my manlesse mansion house erected 4. I haunted pleasure still where sorrow mournd My couch of ease in sharpest brambles making I hop't for rest where restlesse torment burnd In ruines bosome sleepes securely taking 5. Now then aye me what resteth to be done Where shall I turne me where such dangers treÌ„ble My youths faire flowres are altogether gone And now a wretched shipwracke I resemble 6. That all the merchandise and venture lost Swims naked forth with seas and tempests tost 7. Farre from my hauen I roue touch at no streme That any course to my saluation tenders But waies sinister rauish me with them I see a little which more grieuous renders 8. My inward conflict since my charges passe Vpon my selfe and my sad soule endanger Anger with sinne striues but so huge a masse Of cruell miseries oppresse mine anger 9. That
it confounds me nor leaues place for breath Oft I attempt to flie and meditation Contends to shake off my old yoke of death But to my bones cleaues the vncur'd vexation 10. O that at length my necke his yoke could cleare Which would be straite wouldst thou ô highest will it O that so angrie with my sinne I were That I could loue thee though thus late fulfill it 11. But much I feare it since my freedome is So with mine owne hands out of heart sterued And I must yeeld my torment iust in this Sorrow and labor wring me most deserued 12. Mad wretch what haue I to my selfe procured Mine owne hands forg'd the chains I haue endur'd 13. In deaths blacke ambush with my will I fell And wheresoeuer vulgar brode waies traine me Nets are disposde for me by him of hell When more retir'd more narrow paths containe me 14. There meete my feete with fitted snares as sure I wretch looke downeward and of one side euer And euerie slipperie way I walke secure My sins forget their traitrous flatteries neuer 15. I thought the grace of youth could neuer erre And follow'd where his boundles force wold driue me Said to my selfe Why should th'extremes deterre Before youths season of the meane depriue me 16. Each age is bounded in his proper ends God I know sees this but he laughs and sees it Pardon at any time on prayre attends Repentance still weeps when thy wish decrees it 17. Then vilest custome challengeth his slaue And laies on hand that all defence denies me And then no place reseru'd for flight I haue Subdu'd I am and farre my refuge flies me 17. Die'in my sinne I shall vnlesse my aide Stoopes from aloft of which deserts depriue me Yet haue thou mercie Lord helpe one dismaide Thy word retain from hell moâ—â—h retriue me All glorie to the Father be And to the Sonne as great as he With the coequall sacred Spirit Who all beginnings were before Are and shall be euermore Glorie all glorie to their merit A HYMNE TO OVR Sauiour on the Crosse. HAile great Redeemer man and God all haile Whose feruent agonie tore the temples vaile Let sacrifices out darke Prophesies And miracles and let in for all these A simple pietie a naked heart And humble spirit that no lesse impart And proue thy Godhead to vs being as rare And in all sacred powre as circulare Water and blood mixt were not swet from thee With deadlier hardnesse more diuinitie Of supportation then through flesh and blood Good doctrine is diffusde and life as good O open to me then like thy spread armes That East West reach all those misticke charmes That hold vs in thy life and discipline Thy merits in thy loue so thrice diuine It made thee being our God assume our man And like our Champion Olympian Come to the field gainst Sathan and our sinne Wrastle with torments and the garland winne From death hell which cannot crown our browes But blood must follow thornes mixe w t thy bowes Of conquering â—awâ—ell fast naild to thy Crosse Are all the glories we can here engrosse Proue then to those that in vaine glories place Their happinesse here thy hold not by thy grace To those whose powres proudly oppose thy lawes Oppressing Vertue giuing Vice applause They neuer manage iust authoritie But thee in thy deare members crucifie Thou couldst haue come in glorie past them all With powre to force thy pleasure and empale Thy Church with brasse Adamant that no swine Nor theeues nor hypocrites nor fiends diuine Could haue broke in or rooted or put on Vestments of Pietie when their hearts had none Or rapt to ruine with pretext to saue Would pompe and radiance rather not out braue Thy naked truth then cloath or countnance it With grace and such sincerenesse as is fit But since true pietie weares her pearles within And outward paintings onely pranke vp sinne Since bodies strengthned soules go to the wall Since God we cannot serue and Beliall Therefore thou putst on earths most abiect plight Hid'st thee in humblesse vnderwentst despight Mockerie detraction shame blowes vilest death These thou thy souldiers taughtst to fight beneath Mad'st a commanding President of these Perfect perpetuall bearing all the keyes To holinesse and heauen To these such lawes Thou in thy blood writst that were no more cause T' enflame our loues and feruent faiths in thee Then in them truths diuine simplicitie T were full enough for therein we may well See thy white finger furrowing blackest hell In turning vp the errors that our sence And sensuall powres incurre by negligence Of our eternall truth-exploring soule All Churches powres thy writ word doth controule And mixt it with the fabulous Alchoran A man might boult it out as floure from branne Easily discerning it a heauenly birth Brake it but now out and but crept on earth Yet as if God lackt mans election And shadowes were creators of the Sunne Men must authorise it antiquities Must be explor'd to spirit and giue it thies And controuersies thicke as flies at Spring Must be maintain'd about th' ingenuous meaning When no stile can expresse it selfe so cleare Nor holds so euen and firme a character Those mysteries that are not to be reacht Still to be striu'd with make them more impeacht And as the Mill fares with an ill pickt grist When any stone the stones is got betwist Rumbling together fill the graine with grit Offends the eare sets teeth an edge with it Blunts the pict quarrie so t will grinde no more Spoyles bread and scants the Millars custom'd store So in the Church when controuersie fals It marres her musicke shakes her batterd wals Grates tender consciences and weakens faith The bread of life taints makes worke for Death Darkens truths light with her perplext Abysmes And dustlike grinds men into sects and schismes And what 's the cause the words deficiencie In volume matter perspicutitie Ambition lust and damned auarice Peruert and each the sacred word applies To his prophane ends all to profite giuen And puâ—snets lay to catch the ioyes of heauen Since truth and reall worth men seldome sease Impostors most and sleightest learnings please And where the true Church like the nest should be Of chast and prouident Alcione To which is onely one straight orifice Which is so strictly fitted to her sise That no bird bigger then her selfe or lesse Can pierce and keepe it or discerne th' accesse Nor which the sea it selfe on which t is made Can euer ouerflow or once inuade Now wayes so many to her Altars are So easie so prophane and populare That torrents charg'd with weeds and sin-drownd beasts Breake in lode cracke them sensuall ioyes and feasts Corrupt their pure fumes and the slendrest flash Of lust or profite makes a standing plash Of sinne about them which men will not passe Looke Lord vpon them build them wals
things outward and the sweetest sin That rauisheth the beastly flesh within All but a fiend prankt in an Angels plume A shade a fraud before the wind a fume Hayle then diuine Redeemer still all â—aile All glorie gratitude and all auaile Be giuen thy all deseruing agonie Whose vineger thou Nectar mak'st in me Whose goodnesse freely all my ill turnes good Since y u being crusht straind throgh flesh blood Each nerue and artire needs must tast of thee What odour burn'd in ayres that â—oisome be Leaues not his sent there O then how much more Must thou whose sweetnesse swet eternall odour Stick where it breath'd for whoÌ„ thy sweet breath Thou freely gau'st vp to reuine his death Let those that shrink then as their conscience lodes That fight in Sathans right and faint in Gods Still count them slaues to Sathan I am none Thy fight hath freed me thine y u mak'st mine owne O then my sweetest and my onely life Confirme this comfort purchast with thy griefe And my despisde soule of the world loue thou No thought to any other ioy I vow Order these last steps of my abiect state Straite on the marke a man should leuell at And grant that while I striue to forme in me Thy sacred image no aduersitie May make me draw one limme or line amisse Let no vile fashion wrest my faculties From what becomes that Image Quiet so My bodies powres that neither weale nor wo May stirre one thought vp gainst thy freest will Grant that in me my mindes waues may be still The world for no extreme may vse her voice Nor Fortune treading reeds make any noise Amen Complaine not whatsoeuer Need inuades But heaâ—iest fortunes beare as lightest shades 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poems VIRGILS EPIGRAM of a good man A Good and wise man such as hardly one Of millions could be found out by the Sun Is Iudge himselfe of what stufâ—e he is wrought And doth explore his whole man to a thought What ere great men do what their sawcie bawdes What vulgar censure barks at or applauds His cariage still is chearfull and secure He in himselfe worldlike full round and sure Lest through his polisht parts the slendrest staine Of things without in him should sit and raigne To whatsoeuer length the fierie Sunne Burning in Cancer doth the day light runne How faire soeuer Night shall stretch her shades When Phoebus gloomie Capricorne inuades He studies still and with the equall beame His ballance turnes himselfe weighs to th' extreme Lest any crannie gaspe or angle swell Through his strict forme and that he may compell His equall parts to meete in such asphere That with a compasse tried it shall not erre What euer subiect is is solide still Wound him and with your violent fingers feele All parts within him you shall neuer find An emptie corner or an abiect mind He neuer lets his watchfull lights descend To those sweet sleepes that all iust men attend Till all the acts the long day doth beget With thought on thought laid he doth oft repeate Examines what hath past him as forgot What deed or word was vsde in time what not Why this deed of Decorum felt defect Of reason that What left I by neglect Why set I this opinion downe for true That had bene better chang'd Why did I rue Need in one poore so that I felt my mind To breach of her free powres with griefe declin'd Why will'd I what was better not to will Why wicked that I was preferr'd I still Profite to honestie Why any one Gaue I a foule word or but lookt vpon With count'nance churlish Why should nature draw More my affects then manly reasons law Through all this thoughts words works thus making way And all reuoluing froÌ„ the Euen till Day Angrie with what amisse abusde the light Palme and reward he giues to what was right A great Man A Great and politicke man which I oppose To good and wise is neuer as he showes Neuer explores himselfe to find his faults But cloaking them before his conscience halts Flatters himselfe and others flatteries buyes Seemes made of truth and is a forge of lies Breeds bawdes and sycophants and traitors makes To betray traitors playes and keepes the stakes Is iudge and iuror goes on life and death And damns before the fault hath any breath Weighs faith in falsehoods ballance iustice does To cloake oppression taile-like downward groes Earth his whole end is heauen he mockes and hell And thinkes that is not that in him doth dwell Good with Gods right hand giueÌ„ his left takes t'euil When holy most he seemes he most is euill Ill vpon ill he layes th'embroderie Wrought on his state is like a leprosie The whiter still the fouler What his like What ill in all the bodie politike Thriues in and most is curst his most blisse fires And of two ils still to the worst aspires When his thrift feeds iustice and mercie feare him And Wolf-like fed he gnars at all men nere him Neuer is chearefull but when flatterie trailes On squatting profite or when Policie vailes Some vile corruption that lookes red with anguish Like wauing reeds his windshook coÌ„forts languish Paies neuer debt but what he should not ow Is sure and swift to hurt yet thinks him slow His bountie is most rare but when it comes T is most superfluous and with strook-vp drums Lest any true good pierce him with such good As ill breeds in him Mortar made with blood Heapes stone-wals in his heart to keepe it out His sensuall faith his soules truth keepes in doubt And like a rude vnlearn'd Plebeian Without him seekes his whole insulting man Nor can endure as a most deare prospect To looke into his owne life and reflect Reason vpon it like a Sunne still shining To giue it comfort ripening and refining But his blacke soule being so deformd with sinne He still abhorres with all things hid within And forth he wanders with the outward fashion Feeding and fatting vp his reprobation Disorderly he sets foorth euerie deed Good neuer doing but where is no need If any ill he does and hunts through blood For shame ruth right religion be withstood The markt withstander his race kin least friend That neuer did in least degree offend He prosecutes with hiâ—'d intelligence To fate defying God and conscience And to the vtmost mite he rauisheth All they can yeeld him rackt past life and death In all his acts he this doth verifie The greater man the lesse humanitie While Phebus runs his course through all the signes He neuer studies but he vndermines Blowes vp and ruines with pretext to saue Plots treason and lies hid in th' actors graue Vast crannies gaspe in him as wide as hell And angles gibbet-like about him swell Yet seemes he smooth and polisht but no more Solide within then is a Medlars
with it But he that knowing how diuine a frame The whole world is and of it all can name Without selfe flatterie no part so diuine As he himselfe and therefore will confine Freely his whole powres in his proper part Goes on most god-like He that striues t' inuert The vniuersall course with his poore way Not onely dustlike shiuers with the sway But crossing God in his great worke all earth Beares not so cursed and so damn'd a birth This then the vniuersall discipline Of manners comprehends a man to ioyne Himselfe with th'vniuerse and wish to be Made all with it and go on round as he Not plucking from the whole his wretched part And into streights or into nought reuert Wishing the complete vniuerse might be Subiect to such a ragge of it as he But to consider great necessitie All things as well refract as voluntarie Reduceth to the high celestiall cause Which he that yeelds to with a mans applause And cheeke by cheeke goes crossing it no breath But like Gods image followes to the death That man is perfect wise and euerie thing Each cause and euerie part distinguishing In nature with enough Art vnderstands And that full glorie merits at all hands That doth the whole world at all parts adorne And appertaines to one celestiall borne Of sodaine Death VVHat action wouldst y u wish to haue in hand If sodain death shold come for his coÌ„mand I would be doing good to most good men That most did need or to their childeren And in aduice to make them their true heires I would be giuing vp my soule to theirs To which effect if Death should find me giuen I would with both my hands held vp to heauen Make these my last words to my deitie Those faculties thou hast bestowd on me To vnderstand thy gouernment and will I haue in all fit actions offerd still To thy diuine acceptance and as farre As I had influence from thy bounties starre I haue made good thy forme infusde in me Th'anticipations giuen me naturally I haue with all my studie art and prayre Fitted to euerie obiect and affaire My life presented and my knowledge taught My poore saile as it hath bene euer fraught With thy free goodnesse hath bene ballast to With all my gratitude What is to do Supply it sacred Sauiour thy high grace In my poore gifts receiue againe and place Where it shall please thee thy gifts neuer die But hauing brought one to felicitie Descend againe and helpe another vp c. Height in Humilitie WHy should I speak impeâ—ious courtiers faire Lest they exclude thee at thy Court repaire If they shall see me enter willingly Let them exclude me If necessitie Driue me amongst them and they shut the dore I do my best and they can do no more Gods will and mine then weigh'd I his preferre Being his vow'd lackey and poore sufferer I trie what his will is and will with it No gate is shut to me that shame must fit Shamelesse intruders Why feare I disgrace To beare ill censure by a man of face Will any thinke that impudence can be An equall demonstration of me T is kingly Cyrus said Antisthenes When thou doest well to heare this ill of these But many pitie thy defects in thee I mocke them euer that so pittie me Strangers they are and know not what I am Where I place good and ill nor euer came Where my course lies but their 's the world may know They lay it out onely to name and show If comfort follow truth of knowledge still They meete with little truth for if their skill Get not applause their comfort comes to nought I studie still to be they to be thought Are they lesse frustrate of their ends then I Or fall they lesse into the ils they flie Are they industrious more lesse passionate Lesse faltring in their course more celebrate Truth in their comforts But they get before Much in opinion True they seeke it more For stay in competence THou that enioyst onely enough to liue Why grieu'st thou that the giuer does not giue Foode with the fullest when as much as thou He thinkes him emptie T is a state so low That I am fearefull euerie howre to sinke Well said Vnthankfull fearefull eate and drinke And feare to sterue still Knowst thou not who sings Before the theefe The penurie of things Whither conferres it Drawes it not one breath With great satietie End not both in death Thy entrailes with thy want together shrinke He bursts with cruditie and too much drinke Will not thy want then with a chearefull eye Make thee expect death whom sterne tyrannie Empire and all the glut of thirstie store Shun with pale cheekes affrighted â—uermore Earth is a whore and brings vp all her brats With her insatiate gadflie euen her flats High as her â—ilâ— looke lusting lusting still No earthly pleasure euer hath her fill Turne a new leafe then thirst for things past death And thou shalt neuer thinke of things beneath How should I thirst so hauing no such heatâ— Fast pray to haue it better neuer eate Then still the more thou 〈◊〉 the more desâ—re But wilt thou quench this ouerneedie fire Canst thou not write nor reade nor keepe a gateâ— Teach children be a porter That poore state Were base and hatefull Is that base to thee That is not thy worke That necessitie Inflicts vpon thee that inuades thee to Onely as head-aches and agues do That the great Ordrer of th'vniuerse sees So good he puts it in his master peece But men will scorne me Let them then go by They will not touch thee he that shifts his eye To others eye-browes must himselfe be blind Leau'st thou thy selfe for others t is the mind Of all that God and euery good forsakes If he goes thy way follow if he takes An opposite course canst thou still go along And end thy course Go right though all else wrong But you are learn'd and know Philosophie To be a shift to salue necessitie Loue syllogismes figures and to make All men admire how excellent you spake Your caution is to keepe a studious eye Lest you be caught with carpes of sophistrie To bâ— a man of reading when alas All these are caught in a Plebeians case None such poore fooles incontinent couetous Atheisticall deceitfull villanous Shew me thy studies end and what may be Those weights and measures that are vsde by thee To mete these ashes barreld vp in man Is not the wreath his that most truly can Make a man happie And in short is that Any way wrought more then in teaching what Will make a man most ioyfully embrace The course his end holds and his proper place Not suffering his affections to disperse But fit the maine sway of the vniuerse Of the Will THe empire of the Will is euer sau'd Except lost by it selfe when t is deprau'd Of Man MAn is so soueraigne and diuine a state That not contracted and elaborate The