for the Ghosts my Children are being weake And tender Ey'd helpe of the Moon they seeke For why her Light is gentle moist and Cold Doth ease their Eyes when they do it behold But you with Shadowes fright delude the Sight Like Ghost appeare with gloomy shades of Night And you with Clouds do cast upon my Back A Mourning Mantle of the deepest black That covers me with darke Obscuritie That none of my deare Children I can see Their Lovely Faces mask'st thou from my Sight Which shew most beautifull in the day Light They take delight to View and to adorne And fall in love with one anothers Forme By which kind Sympathy they bring me store Of Children young those when growne up brings more But you are spightfull to those Lovers kind 〈◊〉 their Faces makes their Eyes quite blind Darknesse Is this my thanks for all my Love and Care And for the great respect to you I beare I am thy kind true and constant Lover I all your Faults and Imperfections cov I take you in my gentle Armes of rest With coole fresh Dewes I bath your dry hot Breast The Children which you by the Sun did beare I lay to sleepe and rest them from their Care In Beds of silence soft I lay them in And cover them though black with Blankets cleane Then shut them close from the Disturbing Light And yet you raile against your Lover Night Besides if you had Light through all the yeare Though Beauty great ' twouldnot so well appeare For what is Common hath not such respect Nor such regard for 〈◊〉 doth bring neglect Nought is admired but what is seldome 〈◊〉 And black for change delights as well as green Yet I should constant bee if I might stay But the bright Sun doth beat me quite away For he is active and runs all about Nere dwels with one but seeks new Lovers out He spightfull is to other Lovers 〈◊〉 He by his Light doth give intelligence But I Loves confident am made I bring Them in my Shade to meet and whisper in Thus am I faithfull kind to Lovers true And all is for the 〈◊〉 and Love to you What though I am Melancholy my Love 's as strong As the great Light which you so dote upon Then slight me not nor do 〈◊〉 Suit disdaine But when the Sun is gone me entertaine Take me sweet Love with 〈◊〉 into your Bed And on your fresh green Breast lay my black Head A Dialogue between an Oake and a Man cutting him downe Oake WHY cut you off my Bowes both large and long That keepe you from the heat and scortching Sun 〈◊〉 And did refresh your 〈◊〉 Limbs from sweat From thundring Raines I keepe you free from Wet When on my Barke your weary head would lay Where quiet sleepe did take all Cares away The whilst my Leaves a gentle noise did make And blew coole Winds that you 〈◊〉 Aire night take Besides I did invite the Birds to sing That their sweet voice might you some pleasure bring Where every one did strive to do their best Oft chang'd their Notes and strain'd their tender Breast In Winter time my Shoulders broad did hold Off blustring Stormes that wounded with sharpe Cold. And on my Head the 〈◊〉 of snow did fall Whilst you under my Bowes 〈◊〉 free from all And will you thus requite my Love Good Will To take away my Life and 〈◊〉 kill For all my Care and Service I have past Must I be cut and laid on Fire at last And thus true Love you cruelly have slaine Invent alwaies to torture me with paine First you do peele my Barke and flay my Skinne Hew downe my Boughes so chops off every Limb. With Wedges you do peirce my Sides to wound And with your Hatchet knock me to the ground I mine'd shall be in Chips and peeces small And thus doth Man reward good Deeds withall Man Why grumblest thou old Oake when thou hast stood This hundred yeares as King of all the Wood. Would you for ever live and not resigne Your Place to one that is of your owne Line Your Acornes young when they grow big and tall Long for your Crowne and wish to see your fall Thinke every minute lost whilst you do live And grumble at each Office you do give Ambitien flieth high and is above All sorts of Friend-ship strong or Natur all Love Besides all Subjects they in Change delight When Kings grow Old their Government they slight Although in ease and peace and wealth do live Yet all those happy times for Change will give Growes discontent and Factions still do make What Good so ere he doth as Evill take Were he as wise as ever Nature made As pious good as ever Heaven 〈◊〉 Yet when they dye such Joy is in their Face As if the Devill had gone from that place With Shouts of Joy they run a new to Crowne Although next day they strive to pull him downe 〈◊〉 Why said the Oake because that they are mad Shall I rejoyce for my owne Death be glad Because my Subjects all ingratefull are Shall I therefore my health and life impaire Good Kings governe justly as they ought Examines not their Humours but their Fault For when their Crimes appeare t' is time to strike Not to examine Thoughts how they do like If Kings are never lov'd till they do dye Nor 〈◊〉 to live till in the Grave they lye Yet he that loves himselfe the lesse because He cannot get every mans high applause Shall by my Judgment be condemn'd to weare The Asses Eares and burdens for to beare But let me live the Life that Nature gave And not to please my Subjects dig my Grave Man But here Poore Oake thou liv'st in Ignorance And never seek'st thy Knowledge to advance I 'le cut the downe 'cause Knowledge thou maist gaine Shalt be a Ship to traffick on the Maine There shalt thou swim and cut the Seas in two And trample downe each Wave as thou dost go Though they rise high and big are sweld with pride Thou on their Shoulders broad and Back shalt ride Their lofty Heads shalt bowe and make them stoop And on their Necks shalt set thy steddy Foot And on their Breast thy Stately Ship shalt beare Till thy Sharpe Keele the watry Wombe doth teare Thus shalt thou round the World new Land to find That from the rest is of another kind Oake O said the Oake I am contented well Without that Knowledge in my Wood to dwell For I had rather live and simple be Then dangers run some new strange Sight to see Perchance my Ship against a Rack may hit Then were I strait in sundry peeces split Besides no rest nor quiet I should have The Winds would tosse me on each troubled Wave The Billowes rough will beat on every side My Breast will ake to swim against the Tide And greedy Merchants may me over-fraight So should I drowned be with my owne weight Besides with Sailes and Rapes my
Joy and Discretion Joy GIve me some Musick that my Spirits may Dance a free Galliard whilst Delight doth play Let every Voice sing out both loud and shrill And every Tongue too run what way it will For Feare is gone away with her Pale Face And Paine is banisht out from every place Discretion O Joy take Moderation by the hand Or 〈◊〉 you 'l fall so drunk you cannot stand Your Tongue doth run so fast no time can keep High as a Mountaine many words you heap Your Thoughts in multitudes the Braine do throng That Reason is cast downe and trod upon Joy O wise Discretion do not angry grow Great dangers feares 〈◊〉 you do not know But Feare being past they suddenly are slackt Feare being a string bindes hard when once t is crackt Spirits find Liberty 〈◊〉 run about Hard being 〈◊〉 they suddenly burst out And to recover what they had before When once 〈◊〉 their liberty is more Like Water which was pen't then passage findes Goeth in a Fury like the Northerne windes What gathers on a heap so strong doth grow That when they 're loose far swifter do they go But deare Discretion with me do not scold Whilst you do feele great Feares your Tongue pray hold For Joy cannot containe it selfe in rest It never leaves till some way is exprest A Dialogue betwixt VVit and Beauty Wit MIxt Rose and Lilly why are you so proud Since Faire is not in all Minds best allow'd Some like the Black the Browne as well as White In all Complexions some Eyes take delight Nor doth one Beauty in the World still reigne For Beauty is created in the Braine But say there were a Body perfect made Complexion pure by Natures pensill laid A Countenance where all sweet Spirits meet A Haire that 's thick or long curl'd to the Feet Yet were it like a Statue made of stone The Eye would weary grow to look thereon Had it not Wit the Mind still to delight It soon wonld weary be as well as Sight For Wit is fresh and new doth sport and play And runs about the Humour every way Withall the Passions Wit can well agree Wit tempers them and makes them pleas'd to bee Wit 's ingenious doth new Inventions find To ease the Body recreate the Mind Beauty When I appeare I strike the Optick Nerve I wound the Heart I make the Passions serve Soules are my Prisoners yet love me so well My Company is Heaven my absence Hell Each Knee doth bow to me as to a Shrine And all the World accounts me as Divine Wit Beauty you cannot long Devotion keep The Mind growes weary Senses fall a sleep As those which in the House of God do go Are very zealous in a Prayer or two But if they kneele an houre-long to pray Their Zeale growes cold nor know they what they say So Admirations last not very long After nine daies the greatest wonder 's gone The Mind as Senses all delights in Change They nothing love but what is new and strange But subtle Wit can both please long and well For to the Eare a new Tale Wit can tell And for the Tast meat dresses severall waies To please the Eye new Formes and Fashions raise And for the Touch Wit spins both Silk and Wooll Invents new waies to keep Touch warm and coole For Sent Wit mixtures and Compounds doth make That still the Nose a fresh new smell may take I by discourse can represent the Mind With severall Objects though the Eyes be blind I can create Ideas in the Braine Which to the Mind seem reall though but fain'd The Mind like to a Shop of Toies I fill With fine Concerts all sorts of Humours sell. I can the work of Nature imitate And change my selfe into each severall Shape I conquer all am Master of the Feild I make faire Beauty in Loves Wars to yeild A Dialogue between Love and Hate BOth Love and Hate fell in a great dispute And hard it was each other to confute Which did most Good or Evill most did shun Then Hate with frowning Browes this Speech begun Hate I flye said shee from wicked and base Acts And teare the Bonds unjust or ill Contracts I do abhor all Murther VVar and strife Inhumane Actions and disorder'd life Ungratefull and unthankfull Mindes that shun All those from whom they have receiv'd a Boon From Discords harsh and rude my Eares I stop And what is Bad I from the Good do lop I Perjur'd Lovers brand with foule disgrace And from ill Objects do I hide my Face Things that are Bad I hate or what seemes so But Love is contrary to this I know Love loves Ambition the Mind 's hot Fire And Worlds would ruine for to rise up higher You love to please your Appetite and your Will To glut your Gusto you delight in still You love to Flatter and be flattered too And for your Lust poore Virgins would undo You love the ruine of your Foes to see And of your Friends if they but Prosperous bee You nothing love besides your selfe though ill And with vaine-glorious wind your Braine do fill You love no waies but where your Bias tends And love the Gods onely for your owne Ends. Love But Love in words as sweet as Nature is Said Hate was false and alwaies did amisse For she did Canker-fret the Soule destroy Disturbe the pleasure wherein Life takes joy The VVorld disorder which in Peace would keep Torment the Head the Heart revenge to seek And never rests till she descends to Hell And therefore ever amongst Devils dwell For I said Love unite aud Concords make All Musick was invented for my sake I Men by Lawes in Common-wealthes do joyne Against a common Foe as one combine I am a Guard to watch defend and keep The Sick the Lame the Helplesse Aged weak I for Honours sake high Courage raise And bring to Beautie Shrine Offerings of praise I Pity and Compassion the VVorld throughout Do carry and distribute all about I to the Gods do reverence bow and pray And in their Heavenly Mansions beare great sway Thus Love and Hate in somethings equall bee Yet in Disputes will alwaies disagree A Dialogue betwixt Learning and Ignorance Learning THou Busie Forrester that searchest bout The VVor'd to find the Heart of Learning out Or Perseus like foule Monsters thou dost kill Rude Ignorance which alwaies doeth ill Ignorance O thou Proud Learning that standst on Tip-toes high Can never reach to know the Deity Nor where the Cause of any one thing lies But fill man full of Care and Miseries Learning inflames the Thoughts to take great paines Doth nought but make an Almes-tub of the Braines Learning Learning doth seek about new things to find In that Pursuit doth recreate the Mind It is a Perspective Nature to espie Can all her Curiosity descry Ignorance Learning 's an uselesse paine unlesse it have Some waies or meanes to keep us from the Grave For what is all the World if understood
number'd verse their pastport is But those that strive this happy place to seek Is but to goe to bed and fall asleep Yet what a stir doe Poets make when they By their wit Mercury those soules convey But what cannot the God-head Wit create Whose Fancies are both Destiny and Fate And Fame the thread which long and short they spin The World as Flax unto their Distaffe bring This Distaffe spins fine canvas of conceit Wherein the Sense is woven even and strait But if in knots and snarles intangled be The thread of Fame doth run unevenly Those that care not to live in Poets verse Let them lye dead upon Oblivions Hearse A Description of Shepherds and Shepherdesses THe Shepherdesses which great Flocks doe keep Are dabl'd high with dew following their Sheep Milking their Ewes their hands doe dirty make For being wet dirt from their Duggs doe take The Sun doth scorch the skin it yellow growes Their eyes are red lips dry with wind that blowes Their Shepherds sit on mountains top that 's high Yet on their feeding sheep doe cast an eye Which to the mounts steep sides they hanging feed On short moyst grasse not suffer'd to beare seed Their feet though small strong are their sinews string Which make them fast to rocks mountains cling The while the Shepherds leggs hang dangling down And sets his breech upon the hills high crown Like to a tanned Hide so was his skin No melting heat or numming cold gets in And with a voyce that 's harsh against his throat He straines to sing yet knowes not any Note And yawning lazie lyes upon his side Or strait upon his back with armes spred wide Or snorting sleeps and dreames of Joan their Maid Or of Hobgoblin wakes as being afraid Motion in their dull braines doth plow and sow Not Plant and set as skilfull Gardners doe Or takes his Knife new ground that half was broke And whittles sticks to pin up his sheep-coat Or cuts some holes in straw to Pipe thereon Some tunes that pleaseth Joan his Love at home Thus rustick Clownes are pleas'd to spend their times And not as Poets faine in Sonnets Rhimes Making great Kings and Princes Pastures keep And beauteous Ladies driving flocks of sheep Dancing 'bout May-poles in a rustick sort When Ladies scorne to dance without a Court. For they their Loves would hate if they should come With leather Jerkins breeches made of Thrum And Buskings made of Freeze that 's course and strong With clouted Shooes tyed with a leather thong Those that are nicely bred fine cloaths still love A white hand sluttish seemes in dirty Glove A Shepherds imployment is too meane an Allegory for Noble Ladies TO cover Noble Lovers in Shepherds weeds Of high descent too humble thoughts it breeds Like Gods when they to Men descend down low Take off the reverence and respect we owe. Then make such persons like faire Nymphs to be who 're cloath'd with beauty bred with modesty Their tresses long hang on their shoulders white Which when they move doe give the Gods delight Their Quiver Hearts of men which fast are ty'd And 〈◊〉 of quick flying eyes beside Buskings that 's buckl'd close with plates of gold Which from base wayes their legs with strength doe hold Men Champions Knights which Honour high doe prize Above the tempting of alluring eyes That seeke to kill or at the least to binde All evil Passions in a wandring minde To take those Castles kept by scandals strong That have by errours been inchanted long Destroying monstrous Vice which Vertues eate These Lovers worthy are of praises great So will high Fame aloud those praises sing Cupid those Lovers shall to Hymen bring At Honours Altar joyne both hearts and hands The Gods will seale those Matrimoniall bands Between Shame and Dishonour DIshonour in the house of Shame doth dwell The way is broad and open is as Hell Yet Porter have which Basenesse some doe call And Idlenesse as usher of the Hall The house with dark forgetfulnesse is hung And round about Ingratitude is flung Boldnesse for Windowes which out-face the Light Dissembling as Curtaines drawne with spight VVith Covetousnesse all gilded are the roofes The Weather-cock Inconstancy still moves Pillars of Obstinacies as firmly stands Carved with Perjury by cunning hands And Lust on beds of Luxury doe lye VVhere Chamberlaines of Jealousies out-spy Gardens of riot where the wanton walkes Lascivious Arbours where Obscenenesse talks Store-houses of Theft ill gotten goods lyes in A secret doore bolted with a false pin Bake-house ill Consciences mould and make False hearts as Oven hot those hard doe bake Brew-houses where ill designes are tunned up VVith their light Graines false Measures and corrupt Cellars of Drunkennesse barrels stomacks made And mouthes for Taps where spue for drink out-wades Kitchens of slander where good names they burne Spits of revenge on which ill deeds doe turne The Slaughter-roome of horrid Murder built A Knife of Cruelty by which bloud is spilt In Matrimonial bonds dishonour's linkt With Infamy which is as black as inke The Temple of Honour HOnours brave Temple is built both high and wide VVhose walls are of clear glasse on every side VVhere actions of all sorts are perfect seen VVhere Truth as Priest approves which worthy'st been And on the Altar of the world them layes And offers them with sacrificing praise VVhich offerings are so clean without a speck As Honours God-head cannot them reject As pious Tears with thoughts most chaste and pure And patient minds afflictions to indure Wise-mens brains which bring things to good effect A helping hand without a bribe suspect A tongue which Truth in Eloquence doth dresse And Lippes which worthy praises do expresse Eyes that pry out and spie examples good Feet that in wayes of mischiefe never stood Haire from heads that shav'd for holy vow Which as a witnesse blessing gods allow Breasts from whence proceed all good desires Which lock up secrets if that need requires And hearts from whence clear springs of love do rise Where loyall courage in the bottome lyes Besides here 's spleen' s which never malice bore And shoulders with distressed burthens wore An humble knee that bows to ruling powers And hands of Bounty which on misery showers Kings Crowns which rul'd with Justice Love and Peace VVhose power serv'd from slavery to release Here speculations from much Musing grow Which Reasons proof and Times experience shew Witty inventions which men profit bring Inspiring verse which Poets to gods sing White innocence as Girdles Virgins wear That onely Hymen from their waste doth tear And Hymens Torches which burn bright and clear Shew jealousie and falshood nere came neere Garlands of Laureil which keep ever green Which for the best of Poets Crownes have been The Olive branch which embleame is of peace There offer'd is for the worlds good increase Mirtle for Lovers constant which are true Then for Misfortunes lay the bitter Rue Sighs which from deep compassion
do flow out And faiths which never knew to make a doubt Thus offer'd all with gratefull Hearts in rankes Whereon was sprinckled the essence of thankes Brought was the fire of Love which burnt all 〈◊〉 Holy-water the penitentiall Tear The Priests which were the Cardinall Vertues foure Those Ceremonies executed o're In grave procession honour high 〈◊〉 raise And with their Anthems sweet did sing her praise Fame THen on her wings doth Fame those Actions bear Which flye about and carry'hem every where Sometime she overloaded is with all And then some downe into Oblivion fall But those that would to Fames high Temple go Must first great Honours Temple quite passe through The Temple of Fame THis Temple is divided in two parts Some open lye others obscure as hearts Some light as day others as darke as night By times obscurity worn out of sight The outward rooms all glorious to the eye In which Fames image placed is on high Where all the windows are Triangulars cut VVhere from one face a million of faces put And builded is in squares just like a Cube VVhich way to double hard is in dispute VVherein the Ecchoes do like balls rebound From every corner making a great sound The walls are hung with chapiters all of gold In Letters great all actions there are told The Temple doore is of prospective Glasse Through which a small beame of our eye can passe That makes truth there so difficult to know As for the bright Moone a new world to show The Steeple or Pillars of Goose-quils built And plastered over with white paper guilt The painting thereof with Inke black as jet In severall workes and figures like a Net This Steeple high is and not very light As a faire Evening is 'twixt day and night Five Tongues the five Bells through the world do ring And to each severall eare much newes doe bring The Philosophers Tongue doth give a deep sound But the Historians is no better found The Oratours Tongue doth make a great noyse Grammarians sound harsh as if it had flawes The small Bell a Poets tongue changes oft Whose motion is quick smooth even and soft The ropes they hung by we could not well see For they were long small threads of Vain-glory. But yet when they did ring made a sweet chime Especially when the Poet he did rhime The Belfrey man a Printer by his skill That if he pleases may ring when he will When Priest to Mattens or to Vespers goe To the High Altar they bow downe low This Altar whereon they offer unto Fame Is made of braines armes and hearts without blame On which lyes Wisdome Wit Strength Courage Love Offer'd as sacrifices to Fame above Vertues Arts Sciences as Priest here stands But Fortune Prioresse all these commands Incense of noble deeds to Fame she sends Nothing is offer'd but what she recommends For Fortune brings more into Fames high Court Then all their vertues with their great 〈◊〉 Fames Library within the Temples FAmes Library where old Records are plac'd What acts not here unto oblivion cast There stands the skelves of Time where books do lye Which books are tyed by chaines Of destiny The Master of this place they Favour call Where Care the door-keeper doth lock up all Yet not so fast but Bribery in steals Partialities cousenage truths not reveals But Bribery through all the world takes place And offerings as a bribe in heaven findes grace Then let not men disdaine a bribe to take Since gods doe blessing give for a bribes sake The Fairy Queen THe Fairy Queens large Kingdome got by birth Is in the circled center of the Earth Where there are many springs and running streams Whose waves do glister by the Queens bright beams Which makes them murmure as they passe away Because by running round they cannot stay For they do evermore just like the Sun As constantly in their long race they run And as the Sun gives heat to make things spring So water moyslure gives to every thing Thus these two Elements give life to all Creating every thing on Earths round ball And all along this liquid source that flows Stand Mirtle trees and banks where flowers grows 'T is true there are no Birds to sing sweet notes But there are winds that whistle like birds throats Whose sounds and notes by variation oft Make better Musicke then the Spheares aloft Nor any beasts are there of cruell nature But a slow sost worm a gentle creature Who fears no hungry birds to pick them out Safely they graspe the tender twigs about There Mountains are of pure resined gold And Rocks of Diamonds perfect to behold Whose brightnesse is a Sun to all about Which glory makes Apollo's beams keep out Quarries of Rubles Saphirs there are store Christals and 〈◊〉 many more There polisht pillars naturally appeare VVhere twining vines are clustred all the yeare The Axle-tree whereon the Earth turnes round Is one great 〈◊〉 by opinion found And the two ends which called are the Poles Are pointed Diamonds the Antartick holds And Artick which about the world is rowl'd Are rings of pure refined perfect gold Which makes the Sun so seldome there appear For fear those rings should melt if he came near And as a wheele the Elements are found In even Layes and often turnings round For first the sire in circle as the spoake And then the water for aire is the smoak Begot of both for fire doth water boyle That causes clouds or smoak which is the oyle This smoaky childe sometimes is good then bad According to the nourishment it had The outward 〈◊〉 as the Earth suppose Which is the surface where all plenty flows Yet the Earth is not the cause of turning But the siery spoak not fear of burning The Axle-tree for that grows hard with heat And by its quicknesse turns the wheel though great Unlesse by outward weight it selfe presse down Raising the bottome bowing down the Crown Yet why this while am I so long of proving But to shew how this Earth still is moving And the heavens as wheels do turn likewise As we do daily see before our eyes To make the Proverb good in its due turn That all the world on wheels doth yeerly run And by the turn such blasts of wind doe blow As we may think like Windmils they do go But winds are made by Vulcans bellows sure Which makes the Earth such Collicks to endure For he a Smith set at the sorge below Ordained is the Center-fire to blow But Venus laughs to thinke what horns he wears Though on his shoulders halfe the Earth he bears Nature her mettal makes him hammer out All that she sends through Mines the world about For he 's th' old-man that doth i' th Center dwell She Proserpine that 's thought the Queen of hell Yet Venus is a Tinkers wife we see Not a goddesse as she was thought to be When all the world to her did offerings bring And her high praise
turne Pale when I were published But I hope I shall neither greive nor shame them or give them cause to wish I were not a Branch thereof For though my Ambition's great my designes are harmelesse and my wayes are plaine Honesty and if I stumble at Folly yet will I never fall on Vice T is true the World may wonder at my Confidence how I dare put out a Book especially in these censorious times but why should I be ashamed or affraid where no 〈◊〉 is and not please my selfe in the satisfaction of innocent desires For a smile of neglect cannot dishearten me no more can a Frowne of dislike affright me not but I should be well pleased and delight to have my Booke commended But the Worlds dispraises cannot make me a mourning garment my mind 's too big and I had rather venture an indiscretion then loose the hopes of a Fame Neither am I ashamed of my 〈◊〉 for Nature tempers not every Braine alike but t is a shame to deny the Principles of their Religion to break the 〈◊〉 of a well-governed Kingdome to disturbe Peace to be unnaturall to break the Vnion and Amity of honest Freinds for a Man to be a Coward for a Woman to be a Whore and by these Actions they are not onely to be cast out of all Civill society but to be blotted out of the Roll of Mankinde And the reason why I summon up these Vices is to let my Friends know or rather to remember them that my Book is none of them yet in this Action of setting out of a Booke I am not clear without 〈◊〉 because I have not asked leave of any Freind thereto for the feare of being denied made me silent and there is an Old saying That it is casier to aske Pardon then Leave for a fault will sooner be forgiven then a suite granted and as I have taken the One so I am very confident they will give me the Other For their Affection is such as it doth as easily obscure all infirmity and blemishes as it is fearfull and quick-sighted in spying the Vices of those they love and they doe with as much kindnesse pardon the One as with griefe reprove the Other But I thought it an Honour to aime at Excellencies and though I cannot attaine thereto yet an Endeavour shews a good will and a good will ought not to be turned out of Noble mindes nor be whipt with dispraises but to be cherished with Commendations Besides I Print this Book to give an Account to my Freinds how I spend the idle Time of my life and how I busie my Thoughts when I thinke upon the Obiects of the World For the truth is our Sex hath so much waste Time having but little imployments which makes our Thoughts run wildly about having nothing to fix them upon which wilde thoughts do not onely produce unprofitable but indiscreet Actions winding up the Thread of our lives in snarles on unsound bottoms And since all times must be spent either ill or well or indifferent I thought this was the harmelessest Pastime for lure this Worke is better then to sit still and censure my Neighbours actions which nothing concernes 〈◊〉 or to condemne their Humours because they do 〈◊〉 sympathize with mine or their lawfull Recreations because they are not agreeable to my delight or ridiculously to laugh at my Neighbours Cloaths if they are not of the Mode Colour or Cut or the Ribbon tyed with a Mode Knot or to busie my selfe out 〈◊〉 the Sphear of our Sex as in Politicks of State or to Preach false Doctrine in a Tub or to entertaine my selfe in 〈◊〉 to vaine Flatteries or to the incitements of evill perswasions where all these Follies and many more may be cut off by such innocent worke as this I write not this onely to satisfie you which my Love makes me desire so to doe but to defend my Book from spightfull Invaders knowing Truth and Innocence are two good Champions against Malice and 〈◊〉 and which is my defence I am very confident is a great satisfaction to you For being bred with me your Love is twisted to my Good which shall never be undone by any unkinde Action of Mine but will alwayes remaine Your loving Freind M. N. Madam YOu are not onely the first English 〈◊〉 of your Sex but the first that ever wrote this way therefore whosoever that writes afterwards must own you for their Pattern from whence they take their Sample and a Line by which they measure their Conceits and Fancies For whatsoever is written asterwards it will be bur a Copy of your Originall which can be no more Honour to them then to Labouring Men that draw Water from another mans Spring for their owne use neither can there be anything writ that your Honour have not imployed your Pen in As there is Poeticall Fictions Morall instructions Philosophicall Opinions Dialogues Discourses Poeticall Romances But truely Madam this Book is not the onely occasion to Admire you for having been brought up from my Childhood in your Honourable Family and alwayes in your Ladyships company seeing the course of your life and honouring your Ladyships disposition I have admired Nature more in your Ladiship then in any other Works besides First in the course of your Life you were alwayes Circumspect by Nature not by Art for naturally your Honour did hate to do any thing that was mean and unworthy or anything that your Honour might not owne to all the World with confidence yet your Ladiship is naturally bashful apt to be out of Countenance that your Ladiship could not oblige all the World But truly Madam Fortune 〈◊〉 not so much in her power to give as your Honour 〈◊〉 to bestow which apparently shineth in all Places especially where your Ladyship 〈◊〉 been as France Flanders Holland c. to your everlasting Honour and Fame which will manifest this Relation to be the Truth as well as I who am Madam Your Honours most humble and obedient Servant E. Toppe To Naturall Philosophers IF any Philosophers have written of these Subjects ' as I make no question or doubt but they have of all that Nature hath discover'd either in meere Thought and Speculation or other waies in Observation yet it is more then I know of for I never read nor heard of any English Booke to Instruct me and truly I understand no other Language not French although I was in France five yeares Neither do I understand my owne Native Language very well for there are many words I know not what they signifie so as I have onely the Vulgar part I meane that which is most usually spoke I do not meane that which is us'd to be spoke by Clownes in every Shire where in some Parts their Language is knowne to none but those that are bred there And not onely every Shire hath a severall Language but every Family giving Marks for things according to their Fancy But my Ignorance of the Mother
Throne Nor like the Firmament with Stars thick strowne Makes Hell appeare with a Majestick Face Because there are so many in that Place Fame never could so great a Queen have bin If Wits Invention had not brought Arts in Your Court by Poets fire is made light Quencht out you dwell as in perpetuall Night It heats the Spirits of Men inflames their blood And makes them seek for Actions great and good Then be you just since you the ballance hold Let not the Leaden weights weigh downe the Gold It were Injustice Fame for you to make A Servant low his Masters place to take Or 〈◊〉 that pick the Purse you should preferre Before the Owner since condemn'd they were His are not Servants Lines but what He leaves Theeves steale and with the same the World deceives If so great Fame the World will never care To worship you unlesse you right preferre Then let the best of Poets find such grace In your faire Eyes to choose him first in place Let all the rest come offer at thy Shrine And shew thy selfe a Goddesse that 's divine I at your word will Homer take said Fame And if he proves not good be you to blame Vlisses bowed and Homer kis'd her hands Then were they joyn'd in Matrimoniall Bands And Mercury from all the Gods was sent To give her joy and wish her much content And all the Poets were invited round All that were knowne or in the World were found Then did they dance with measure and in time Each in their turne took out the Muses nine In Numbers smooth their Feet did run Whilst Musick plaid and Songs were sung The Bride and Bridegroome went to bed There Homer got Fames Maiden-head A Dialogue betwixt Man and Nature Man T Is strang How we do change First to live and then to dye Is a great misery To give us sense great paines to feele To make our lives to be Deaths wheele To give us Sense and Reason too Yet know not what we 're made to do Whether to Atomes turne or Heaven up flye Or into new Formes change and never dye Or else to Matter Prime to fall againe From thence to take new Formes and so remaine Nature gives no such Knowledge to Man-kind But strong Desires to torment the Mind And Senses which like Hounds do run about Yet never can the perfect Truth find out O Nature Nature cruell to Man-kind Gives Knowledge none but Misery to find Nature Why doth Man-kind complaine and make such Moane May not I work my will with what 's my owne But Men among themselves contract and make A Bargaine for my Tree that Tree will take Most cruelly do chop in peeces small And formes it as he please then builds withall Although that Tree by me was made to stand Just as it growes not to be cut by Man Man O Nature Trees are dull and have no Sense And therefore feel not paine nor take offence But Beasts have life and Sense and Passion strong Yet cruell man doth kill and doth them wrong To take that life I gave before the time I did ordaine the injury is mine What Ill man doth Nature did make him do For he by Nature is prompt thereunto For it was in great Natures power and Will To make him as she pleas'd either good or ill Though Beast hath Sense feels paine yet whilst they live They Reason want for to dispute or grieve Beast hath no paine but what in Sense doth lye Nor troubled Thoughts to think how they shall dye Reason doth stretch Mans mind upon the Rack With Hopes with Joyes pull'd up with Feare pull'd back Desire whips him forward makes him run Despaire dothwound and pulls him back agen For Nature thou mad'st Man betwixt Extreames Wants perfect Knowledge yet thereof he dreames For had he bin like to a Stock or Stone Or like a Beast to live with Sense alone Then might he eate or drink or lye stone-still Nere troubled be either for Heaven or Hell Man knowledge hath enough for to inquire Ambition great enough for to aspire And Knowledge hath that yet he knowes not all And that himselfe he knoweth least of all Which makes him wonder and thinks there is mixt Two severall Qualities in Nature fixt The one like Love the other like to Hate By striving both hinders Predestinate And then sometimes Man thinks as one they be Which makes Contrariety so well agree That though the World were made by Love and hate Yet all is rul'd and governed by Fate These are Mans feares mans hopes run smooth and high Which thinks his Mind is some great Deity For though the body is of low degree In Sense like Beasts their Soules like Gods shall be Saies Nature why doth Man complaine and crye If he beleives his Soule shall never dye A Dialogue betwixt the Body and the Mind Body WHat Bodies else but Mans did Nature make To joyne with such a Mind no rest can take That Ebbs and slowes with full and falling Tide As Minds dejected fall or swell with Pride In Waves of Passion roule to Billowes high Alwaies in Motion never quiet lye Where Thoughts like Fishes swim the Mind about Where the great Thoughts the smaller Thoughts cate out My Body the Barque rowes in Minds Occan wide Whose Waves of Passions beat on every side When that dark Cloud of Ignorance hangs low And Winds of vaine Opinions strong do blow Then Showers of doubts into the Mind raine downe In deepe vast Studies my Barque of flesh is drown'd Mind Why doth the Body thus complaine when I Do helpe it forth of every Misery For in the World your Barque is bound to swim Nature hath rigg'd it out to trafficke in Against hard Rocks you breake in 〈◊〉 small If my Invention helpe you not in all The Load-stone of Attraction I find out The Card of Observation guides about The Needle of Discretion points the way Which makes your Barque get safe into each Bay Body If I ' seape drowning in the Watry Maine Yet in great mighty Battels I am slaine By your Ambition I am forc'd to fight When many 〈◊〉 upon my Body light For you care not so you a Fame may have To live if I be buried in a Grave Mind If Bodies fight and Kingdomes win then you Take all the pleasure that belongs thereto You have a Crowne your Head for to adorne Upon your Body Jewels are hung on All things are sought to please your Senses Five No Drugge unpractis'd to keepe you alive And I to set you up in high Degree Invent all Engines us'd in Warre to be T is I that make you in great triumph sit Above all other Creatures high to get By the Industrious Arts which I do find You other Creatures in Subjection bind You cate their Flesh and after with their Skinne When Winter comes you lap your Bodies in And so of every thing that Nature makes By my direction you great pleasure takes Body What though my
Gift Twelve Ells of Light to make her Smocks * for shift Which every time he comes he puts on cleane And changes oft that shee may lovely seem And when he goeth from her the World to see He leaves his Sister for her company Cynthia she is though pale yet 〈◊〉 Which makes her alwaies in Dark Cloudes appeare Besides he leaves his Stars to wait for feare His Isle too sad should be when hee 's not there And from his bounty cloaths them all with Light Which makes them twinckle in a Frosty Night He never brings hot Reantes to do her harm Nor lets her take a Cold but laps her warm With Mantles rich of equall 〈◊〉 doth spread And covers her with Colour Crimson red He gives another o're her head to lye The Colour is a pure bright 〈◊〉 Skie And with soft Aire doth line them all within As Furrs in Winter in Summer Satten thin With silver Clouds he fringes them about Where spangled Meteors glistring hang without Thus gives her Change least she should weary grow Or think them Old and so away them throw Nature adornes this Island all throughout With Land-skips Prospects and Rills that run about There Hills o're top the Dales which levell be Covered with Cattell feeding Eagerly Where Grasse growes up even to the Belly high Where Beasts that chew their Cud in Pleasure lye Whisking their Tailes about the Flies to beat Orelse to coole them from the Soultry heat Nature willing to th' Gods her Love to shew Sent plenty in like Niles great overflow Gave temperate Seasons and equall Lights The Sun-shine daies and Dewy Moon-shine Nights And in this pleasant Island Peace did dwell No noise of War or sad Tale could it tell The Ruine of the Island THis Island liv'd in Peace full many a day So long as She unto the Gods did pray But She grew proud with Plenty and with Ease Ador'd her selfe so did the Gods displease She flung their Altars downe her owne set up And She alone would have divine Worship The Gods grew angry and commanded Fate To alter and to ruine quite the State For they had chang'd their Mind of late they said And did repent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Fates wondred much to heare what said the Gods That Mortall Men and 〈◊〉 were at great odds And found them apt to Change they thought it shew'd As if poore Man the Gods had not foreknow'd For why said they if Men do evill grow The Gods foreseeing all Men's Hearts do know Long long before they made or were create If so what need they Change or alter Fate T was in their power to make them good or ill If so Men cannot do just what they will Then why do Gods complaine against them so Since Men are made by them such waies to go If Evil power hath Gods to oppose To equall Deities it plainly shewes Having no Power to keep Obedience long If Disobedient Power be as strong As being ignorant how Men will prove Nor know how strong or long will last their Love But may not Gods decree on this Line run To love Obedience whensoe're it come So from the first Variation creates And for that work made Destiny and Fates Then t is the Mind of Men that 's apt to range And not the Mindes of Gods subject to Change Then did the Fates unto the Planets go And told them they Malignity must throw Into this Island for the Gods will take Even high Revenge since she their Lawes forsake With that the Planets drew up with a Scrue The Vapour bad from all the Earth then view What Place to squeese that Poyson in which all The Venome was that 's got from the Worlds Ball. Which through Mens Veines like molten Lead it came And like to Oile did all their Spirits flame Where Malice boyl'd with rancor Spleen and Spight In War and Fraud Injustice took delight Studying which way might one another rob In open sight do Ravish boldly Stab To Parents Children unnat'rally grow And former Friend-ship now 's turn'd cruell Foe For Innocency no Protection had Religious Men were thought to be stark mad In Witches Wizzards did they put their Trust Extortions Bribes were thought to be most just Like Titans Race all in a Tunsult rose Blasphemous words against high Heaven throwes Gods in a Rage unbind the Windes and blow In forraine Nations formerly their Foe Where they did plant themselves no Brittons live For why the Gods their Lives and Land them give Compassion wept and Virtue wrung her hands To see that Right was banish'd from their Lands Thus Windes and Seas the Planets Fates and all Conspired to work her Ruine and her fall But those that keep the Lawes of God on high Shall live in Peace in Craves shall quiet lye And ever after like the Gods shall be Injoy all Pleasure know no Misery TO POETS THERE is no Spirit firghts me so much as Poets Satyrs and their Faiery Wits which are so subtle aiery and nimble as they passe through every small Crevise and Cranie of Errours and Mistakes and dance upon every Line and round every Fancy which when they find to be dull and sleepy they pinch them black and blew with Robbin-hoods Jests But I hope you will 〈◊〉 me for the Harth is swept cleane and a Bason of water with a cleane Towell set by and the Ashes rake'd up wherefore let my Book sleep quietly and the Watch-light burning clearly and not blew and Blinkingly nor the Pots and Pans be disturbed but let it be still from your noise that the Effemenate Cat may not Mew nor the Masculine Curs bark nor houle forth Railings to disturbe my harmlesse Bookes rest But if you will judge my Book severely I doubt I shall be cast to the Bar of Folly there forc'd to hold up my Hand of Indiscretion and confesse Ignorance to my Enemies dislike For I have no Eloquent Orator to plead for me as to perswade a Severe Judge nor Flattery to bribe a Corrupt One which makes me afraid I shall loose my Suit of Praise Yet I have Truth to speak in my behalse for some favour which saith sirst that Women writing seldome makes it seem strange and what is unusuall seemes Fantasticall and what is Fantasticall seemes odd and what seemes odd Ridiculous But as Truth tells you all is not Gold that glisters so she tells you all is not Poore that hath not Golden Cloaths on nor mad which is out of Fashion and if I be out of the Fashion because Women do not generally write yet before you laugh at me let your Reason view strictly whether the Fashion be not usefull gracefull easie comely and modest And if it be any of these spare your Smiles of Scorne for those that are wanton carelesse rude or unbecoming For though her Garments are plaine and unusuall yet they are cleane and decent Next Truth tells you that Women have seldome or never or at least in these latter Ages written a Book of
when these Garments are growne old and bare With Sicknesse torne Death takes them off with care And folds them up in Peace and quiet Rest So laies them safe within an Earthly Chest. Then scoures them and makes them sweet and cleane Fit for the Soule to weare those Cloaths agen Natures Grange GRounds of losse was plow'd with Sorrowes deep Wherein was sowed Cares a Fertile Seed Carts of Industry Horses of Hopes drew Laden with Expectations in Barnes of Braines they threw Cowes of Content which gave the Milk of Ease Curds prest with Love which made a Friend-ship Cheese Cream of Delight was put in Pleasures Churn Wherein short time the Butter of Joyes come Sweet Whey of Teares from laughing Eyes did run Thus Houswifery Nature her selfe hath done Eggs of Revenge were laid by some designe Chickens of Mischiefe hatch'd with Words divine Nourishment the Poultry fat doth cram And so She doth all Creatures else and Man And Nature makes the Fates to sit and spin And Destiny laies out and brings Flax in For Nature in this Housewifry doth take Great pleasure the Cloath of Life to make And every Garment she her selfe cutsout Disposing to her Creatures all about Where some do weare them long all thread-bare torne And some do cast them off before halfe worne Thus Nature busily doth her selfe imploy On every Creature small till they do dye When any dies that work is done And then a new work is begun Comparing the Tongue to a VVheele THE Tongue 's a Wheele to spin words from the Mind A Thread of Sense doth Vnderstanding twine The Lips a Loom to weave those words of Sense Into a fine Discourse each Eare presents This Cloath 〈◊〉 Chest of Memory 's laid up Untill for Judgments Shirts it out be cut Similizing the Braine to a Garden THE Braine a Garden seemes full of Delight Whereon the Sun of Knowledge shineth bright Where Fancy flowes and runs in Bubbling Streames Where Flowers growes upon the Banks of Dreames Whereon the Dew of sleepy Eyes doth fall Bathing each Leafe and every Flower small There various Thoughts as severall Flowers grow Some Milk-white Innocence as Lillies shew Fancies as painted Tulips colours sixt By Natures Pencils they are iatermixt Some as sweet Roses which are newly blowne Others as tender Buds not full out growne Some as small Violets yet much sweetnesse bring Thus many Fancies from the Braine still spring Their Wit as Butter-flies hot love do make On every Flower fine their pleasure take Dancing about each Leafe in pleasant sort Passing their time away in Amorous sport Like Cupids young their painted Wings display And with Apolloe's golden Beames they play Industry as Bees suck out the sweet Wax of Invention gather with their Feet Then on their Wings of Fame flye to their Hive From Winter of sad Death keeps them alive There Birds of Poetry sweet Notes still sing Which through the World as through the Aire ring Where on the Branches of Delight do sit Pruning their Wings which are with Study wet Then to the Cedars of High Honour flye Yet rest not there but mount up to the Skie Similizing the Heart to a Harp the Head to an Organ the Tongue to a Lute to make a Consort of Musick THE Heart like to a Harp compare I may The Passions strings on which the Mind doth play A Harmony when they just time do keep With Notes of Peace they bring the Soule to sleep The Head unto an Organ I compare The 〈◊〉 as severall Pipes make Musick there Imagination's Bag doth draw then blow Windy Opinions by which the Thoughts go The small Virgin all Jacks which skip about Are severall Francies that run in and out The Tongue a Lute the Breath are Strings strung strong The Teeth are Pegs Words Fingers play thereon These moving all a sweet soft Musick make Wise Sentences as grounds of Musick take Witty light Aires are pleasant to the Eare Straines of Description all Delights to heare In Quavers of Similizing lies great Art Flourishes of Eloquence a sweet part Stops of Reproofe wherein there must be skill Flattering Division delights the Mind still All Thoughts as severall 〈◊〉 these just do play And thus the Mind doth passe its time away Similizing the VVindes to Musick NO better Musick then the Windes can make If all their severall Notes right places take The Full the Halfe the Quarter-Note can set The Base the Tenor and the Treble sit The strong big Base the Northern wind doth sing The East is the sweet soft small Treble String The South and West as Tenors both applied By East by West by South and North divide All that this Musick meets it moves to dance If Bodies yeilding be with a Compliance The Clouds do dance in circle hand in hand Wherein the mids the Worldly Ball doth stand The Seas do dance with Ships upon their back Where Capering high they many times do Wrack As Men which venture on the Ropes to dance Oft tumble downe if they too high Advance But Dust like Country-clownes no measure keep But rudely run together on a Heap Trees grave and civilly first bow their Head Towards the Earth then every Leafe will spred And every Twig each other will salute Embracing oft and kisse each others Root And so each other Plant and Flower gay Will sweetly dance when that the Windes do play But when they 're out of Tune they Discord make Disorder all not one right place can take But when Apollo with his Beames doth play He places all againe in the right way Of a Picture hung in Natures House A Painter was to draw the Firmament A round plump Face the same he did present His Pencils were the Beames shot from faire Eyes Where some of them he in red Blushes dies Which as the Morning when the Clouds are cleare Shewes just so red before the Sun appeare An Azure-blew from Veines he drawes a Skie And for the Sun a faire and great gray Eye A Raine-bow like a Brow doth pencill out Which circles halfe a weeping Eye about From pure pale Complexions takes a White Mixt with a Countenance sad he shades a Night Thus Heaven as faire that doth a Face present Which is adorn'd with Beauty excellent Natures Exercise and Pastime GReat Nature by Variations lives For she no constant course to any gives We find in Change she swiftly runs about To keep her Health and yet long Life no doubt And we are onely Food for Nature Fine Our Flesh her Meat our Blood is her Strong Wine The Trees and Hearbes Fruits Roots and Flowers sweet Are but her 〈◊〉 or such cooling Meat The Sea 's her Bath to wash and cleanse her in When She is weary hot or Journey bin The Sun 's her Fire he serves her many waies His Lights her Looking-glasse and Beauties praise The Wind her Horses paces as she please The Clouds her Chariot soft to sit in ease The Earth's her Ball by which She trundles round
the Sun of Charity did melt Those Icy Wants so Liberty she felt And Oares of honest Industry did row Till gentle Gales of Friend-ship made it go But when the Stormes of Dangers all were past Upon the Coast of it was cast Yet was this Ship so totter'd tome and rent That none but Gods the Ruine could prevent A Lady drest by Love HER Haire with Lovers Hopes curl'd in long Rings Her Braides plaited hard with his Protestings Yet often times those curled Haires went out With Lovers windy Feares and 〈◊〉 of Doubt Strings of threaded Teares about her Neck she wore Dropt from her Lovers Eyes whose Image bore His Sighs as Pendants hung at either Eare Sometime were troublesome if heavie were Of Admiration was her Gowne made on Where Praises high imbroyder'd were upon Ribbons of Verses Love hung here and there 〈◊〉 the severall Fancies were With some the tied her Looking-Glasse of Pride And Fan of good Opinion by her side Sometimes Love Pleasure took a Veile to place Of Glances which did cover all her Face A Souldier arm'd by Mars A Head 〈◊〉 made of Prudence where 's his Eye Of Judgments Dangers or Mistakes to ' spy His breast-plate made of Courage to keep out Bullets of Feare or Blowes of timorous Doubt And on his Hands Gauntlets of active Skill Wherewith he held a Pole-axe of good Will His Sword was a strong and stiff-mettell'd Blade For it was all of pure bright Honour made A 〈◊〉 which Fortune gave his Wast did tye 〈◊〉 thick with Stars of Purple dye A Plume of valiant Thoughts did on his Head-peece 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 Cloake of Merit about him was His Spurs rowell'd with Hope which peirc'd the side Of strong Ambition whereon he did ride Thus he was arm'd and for great Fame did fight She was his 〈◊〉 he her Champion Knight A Lady arest by Youth HER Haire was curles of Pleasures and Delight Which through her Skin did cast a glimmering Light As Lace her bashfull Eye-lids downwards hung A Modest Countenance over her Face was flung Blushes as Corall 〈◊〉 she strung to weare About her Neck and Pendants for each Eare. Her Gowne was by Proportion cut and made With Veines Imbroydered with Complexion laid Light words with Ribbons of Chast Thoughts up ties And loose Behaviour which through Errours 〈◊〉 Rich Jewels of bright Honour she did weare By Noble Actions plac'd were every where Thus drest to Fames great Court strait waies she went There danc'd a Brall with Touth Love Mirth Content A Woman drest by Age. A Milk-white Haire-lace wound up all her Haires And a deafe Coife did cover both her Eares A sober Countenance about her Face she ties And a dim Sight doth cover halfe her Eyes About her Neck a Kercher of course Skin Which Time had crumpl'd and worne Creases in Her Gowne was turn'd to Melancholy black Which loose did hang upon her Sides and Back Her Stockings Crampes had knit Red Worsted Gout And Paines as Garters tied her Legs about A paire of 〈◊〉 Gloves her Hands draw on With 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stitch'd and 〈◊〉 trimm'd upon Her Shoes were Cornes and hard Skin sow'd together Hard Skin were Soles and Cornes the upper Leather A Mantle of Diseases laps her round And thus shee 's drest till Death laies her in Ground The Chorus THus Love and War and Age and Youth did meet In scenes of Poetry and numbers sweet War took out Love and Age did take out Youth And all did dance upon the Stage of Truth The Bride UPon her Head a Crowne of Jewels put And every Jewell like a Planet cut The Diamond Carbuncle and Ruby Red The Saphir Topas and Green Emerald His Face was like the Sun that shined bright And all those Jewels from her Face took Light A Chaine of Gold the Destinies had linckt And every Link a good Effect had in 't And as the Zodiack round the World doth bind So doth the 〈◊〉 about her Body wind A Cloath of Silver 〈◊〉 the Fates did spin Where every Thread was twisted hard therein Her Haire in curles hung loose which Cupid blowes Betwixt those Curles her Shoulders white he shewes Youth strew'd green Rushes to the 〈◊〉 Gate In 〈◊〉 Charriot she rid on in State With great Applause her Charrioteer drove on Eyes of Delight as 〈◊〉 run along And to the Altar this faire Bride was led By Blushing Modesty in Crimson red And Innocence drest in Lilly white And Hymen beares the Torch that burned bright Her Traine was car ried up by Graces Three As lovely Hope and Faith and Charity The Bridegroome THE Bridegroome all was drest by Honours fine And was attended by the Muses Nine Vertue Flowers strew'd of Dispositions sweet In honest waies to walk on gentle Feet A 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 upon his Head And both by Fortitude and Justice lead Over his Crowne a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did set Which Fortune often striv'd away to get And many 〈◊〉 of severall Censures rung And all the Streets was with Inquiry hung And in a Charriot of good Deeds did ride And many thankfull Hearts run by his side To the Temple THus to the Temple the Bride and Bridegroome went Though 〈◊〉 strove the Marriage to prevent Hymen did joyne their Hands their Hearts did tye Not to dislolve untill their Bodies dye The Gods did joyne their Soules in Wedlock-Bands In Heavens Record their Love for ever stands A Masquer drest by Vanity spoke the Epilogue his Dresse HIs Persum'd powder in 's long curles of Haire He made Lime-twigs to catch a Maid that 's faire His Glistring Suit which every 〈◊〉 Pride lac'd Is made a Bawde for to corrupt the Chast. A Cut-work Band which 〈◊〉 had wrought A price by which his Mistresse Love was brought Silk Stockings Garters Roses all of Gold Are Bribes by which his Mistresse Love doth hold His severall colour'd Ribbons which he weares As Pages to his 〈◊〉 Letters beares Feathers like Sailes which wave with every Wind Yet by those Sailes hesindes his 〈◊〉 kind His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deludes a simple Maid Perswades her all is Truth when all 's False he said Vanities Epilogue to the Thoughts NOblest you see how finely I am drest Yet all is Counterfeit that 's here exprest Vanity doth cheat you all and doth take Pride For to allure you from 〈◊〉 Virtues Side TO Silver Ribbens turn'd was every Haire Knots of Experience every one tied there Cover'd his Head was all with Wisedomes Hat Good Managements as Hat-band about that His Garments loose yet Manly did they sit Though Time had crumpl'd them no 〈◊〉 did get His Cloake made of a free and noble Mind And all with Generosity was lin'd And Gloves of Bounty his hands drew on Stich'd with Love free Hearts were trimm'd upon A Sword of Valour hung close by his side To cut of all base Feares and haughty Pride His Boots were Honesty to walk upon And Spurs of good Desires tied them on Thus he was drest by Honour and by Time
strong enough to keep her state If Death befriended had not been by Fate She against Death could make her party good Had not the Fates her happinesse withstood Who spins the thread of life so small and weak That of necessity it needs must break If not they cut it into peeces small And give it Death to make him nets withall To catch in Life when closely she would hide Her selfe from Death but in this net is ty'd Or in the Chains of Destiny is hung The world from side to side about is flung Having no rest nor settlement but flyes About from Death and yet it never dyes Runs into severall forms Death for to shun But he destroyes these Forms that Life in comes Death like a Snake in Natures bosome lyes Like slattering friends but yet in heart envies And Nature seems to Life an enemie Because she still lets Death a Conqueror be Of a Travelling Thought AThought for breeding would a Travellour be The severall Countries in the brain to see Spurr'd with Desires and booted with Hope Cap't with curiosity a patient cloake Thus suited then a horse he did provide Strong imagination he got to ride Sadl'd with Ambition and girted with pride Bridled with doubt resolving stirrups on each side When he was mounted fast away they went In a full gallop of a good intent Some wayes in the brain very ill there were Into deep errours often tumbled th' are High mountains of great fear was forc'd to hide Steep Precipices of Despair down slide Woods of forgetfulnesse they oft past through To find the right way out had much ado In troubles he had travell'd a long way At last he came where Theeves of spight close lay Who coming forth drew out reproachfull words Which wounded Reputation as sharp swords When he did feel the wound to imart drew out From Time's Scabbard Truth which fought full stout With an innocent thrust he left spight dead Wip'd off the bloud of slander purple red Coming to a river of Temptation Deep and dangerow of Tribulation With Temperance he swum got out at last And with security all dangers past At last got to the City of power Whereon stood Tyranny a great Tower With discords populous there 〈◊〉 rules Great Colledges there was to breed up fools Large houses of 〈◊〉 high were built And all with prodigality were gilt Their streets were pitcht with dull and lazy stone Which never hurts the feet when trodden on Markets of plentiful circuits were there VVhere all sorts did come and buy without care Herbs of repentance there were in great 〈◊〉 But roots of ignorance were many more Carts of knowledge brought much provisions in Some understanding bought which truth did bring Yet what is bought proves good or bad by chance For some were couzen'd by false ignorance Then forthwith into shamble row he went Where store of meat hung up for 't was not Lent There lay head with wit and Fancies fil'd And hearts were there which griefe and sorrow kill'd Tongues of Eloquence hung upon an Ear Bladders blown with windy opinions there Weak Livers of great fear lay there to sell And malice spleens which very big did swell Tough lungs of wilsulnesse hard and dry Whole guts of self-conceit did hang thereby Into a Poulterers shop he 〈◊〉 to see What fowl there were if any good there be There lay wild Geese though black and heavy meat Yet some grosse appetite lik'd them to eat The cholerick Turkey and the Peacocks pride The foolish dotterels lay there close beside Capons of Expectation cram'd with hope Swans of large desires lay in the shop Reproachfull words were sold by dozens there And ignorant Guls lay every where Poêtical Birds were many to sell More Fowl which he remembred not to tell But being a Travellour would see all there So straight he went to Churches of great fear Where every one kneel'd upon the knee of pain And prayers said with tongues that were propbane Petitioning tears drop'd from coveting eyes Deceitfull hearts on Altars of disguise Earnest they were to gods that they would give Worldly request not grace for souls to live But travailes of Experience he would see VVhich made him go to the Court of Vanity The Porter Flattery sate at the Gate VVho civill was and carried him in strait First to the Presence-chamber of Beauty went There staid some time with great and sweet content Next to the Privy-chamber of Discourse VVhere Ignorance and Non-sense had great force Then to the Bed-chamber 〈◊〉 Loves delights The Grooms which served there were Carpet Knights From thence to Counsel of Direction went VVhere great Disorder sate as President No sooner that poor stranger he did view Reproachful words out of his mouth he threw Commanding Poverty a Serjeant poor To take that stranger cast him out of door Strait Flattery for him intreated much But he Disorders ear doth seldome touch For cast he was into necessity VVhich is a prison of great misery But Patience got him an expedient Passe So home he went but 〈◊〉 upon an Asse A REGISTER OF MOVRNFVLL VERSES On a Melting Beauty GOing into a Church my prayers to say Close by a Tombe a mourning Beauty lay Her knees on Marble cold were bow'd down low So firme were fix'd as if she there did grow Her Elbow on the Tombe did steady stand Her Head hung back the hind-part in her hand Turning her Eyes up to the Heavens high Left nothing but the white of either eye Upon the lower shut did hang a teare Like to a Diamond pendent in an eare Her Breast did pant as if Life meant To seek her Heart which way it went I standing there observing what she did At last she from her hand did raise her head And casting down her eyes ne're look'd about Teares pull her eye-lids down as they gush'd out And with a gentle Groane at last did speake Her words were soft her voyce sound low and weak O Heavens said she what doe you meane I dare not think you Gods can have a spleen And yet I finde great torments you doe give Creatures to make in misery to live You shew us Joyes but we possesse not one You give us Life for Death to feed upon O cruell Death thy Dart hath made me poore You struck that Heart my Life did most adore You Gods delight not thus me to torment But strike me dead by this deare Monument And let our Ashes mixe both in this urne So as one Phoenix shall we both become Hearing her mourne I went to give reliefe But Oh alas her eares were stopt with griefe When I came neere her bloud congeal'd to Ice And all her Body changed in a trice That Ice strait melted into tears down run Through porous earth so got into that urne On a Furious Sorrow VPon a Grave out-ragious Sorrow set Digging the Earth as if she through would get Her hair unty'd loose on her shoulders hung And every haire with teares like Beads was strung
And when those tears did fail with their owne weight With new-borne tears supplyed their places strait She held a 〈◊〉 secm'd with courage bold Griese bid her strike but Feare did bid her hold Impatience rays'd her voyce and shricking shrill Which sounded like a Trumpet on a hill Her face was flickt like Marble streak'd with red Caus'd by Griefes vapours flying to her head Her bosome bare her garments loose and wide And in this posture lay by Deaths cold side By chance a man who had a fluent tongue Came walking by seeing her lye along Pittying her sad condition and her griefe Did straine by Rhethorisks help to give reliefe Why doe you mourne said he and thus complaine Since grief wil neither Death nor Gods restraine When they at first all Creatures did create And gave them life to death predestinate Your sorrow cannot alter their 〈◊〉 Nor call back life by your impatiency Nor can the dead from Love receive a beat Nor heares the sound of lamentations great For Death is stupid being numb'd and cold No eares to heare nor eyes for to behold Then mourn no more since you no help can give Take pleasure in your Beauty whiles you live For in the fairest Nature pleasure takes But if you dye then Death his triumph makes At last his words like Keyes unlock'd her eares And then she strait considers what she heares Pardon you Gods said she my murmuring crime My griefe shall ne're dispute your Will Divine And in sweet life will I take most delight And so went home with that fond Carpet-Knight On a Mourning Beauty VPon the Hill of Melancholy sate A Mourning Beauty but no word she spake Silent as Night where no Articulate noyse Did once rise up shut close from light of joyes Only a wind of Sighs which doth arise From the deep Cave the Heart wherein those lyes Saa'nesse as a Vaile over her face was flung Sorrow a Mantle black about her hung Her leaning Head upon her hand did rest The other hand was laid upon the Breast Her Eyes did humble bow towards the ground The Earth the object in her Eyes quite drown'd From her soft Heart a spring of tears did rise Which run from the two fountaines of her eyes And where those Showers fell Flowers up sprung No comfort give their Heads for griefe down hung Yet did the Stars shine bright as Tapers by Shadows of light did sit as Mourners nigh At last the Gods did pitty her sad Fate Her to a shining Comet did translate Of Sorrowes Teares INto the Cup of Love poure Sorrowes teares Where every drop a perfect Image beares And trickling down the Hill of Beauties check Falls on the Breast dives through the Heart to meet Which Heart burnt up would be with fire of grief Did not those tears with moysture give reliefe An Elegy on a Widow WIdow which honour to her Husband gave By vertuous life and faithful to her Grave Set Altars on this Hearse for memory And let her Fame live here eternally Here celebrate her Name and bring Your Offerings and all her praises sing For she was one whom Nature strove to make A Pattern fit Ensamples out to take On a Mother that dyed for griefe of her only Daughter which dyed VNto this Grave let unkind Parents come And touch these loving Ashes in this urne All the dislike Parents in Children find Shall vanish quite and be of Nature kind For in this Tombe such pure Love buried lyes None perfect is but what from hence doth rise On a beautifull young Maid that dyed Daughter to the grieved Mother YOu Lovers all come mourne here and lament Over this Grave and build a Monument For Beauties everlasting memory The world shall never such another see Her face did seem like to a Glory bright And when the Sun did rise from her took light The Sun and Moon could ne're eclips'd have been If ere those Planets had her beauty seen Nor had this Isle been subject to dark nights Had not sleep shut her eyes so stop'd those lights No Bodies could infection take her breath Did cleanse the Aire restoring life from death But Nature finding she had been too free In making such a mighty Power as She Used all Industry's powerfull Art and skil Gave Death a greater power this body to kill For if that Nature let this body live She had no work for Death nor Fates to give The Funerall of Calamity CAlamity was laid on Sorrows Hearse And coverings had of Melancholy verse Compassion as kind friends doth mourning goe And tears about the Corps as flowers strow A Garland of deep sighs by pitty made On the sad Corps of Calamity laid Bels of complaints did ring it to the Grave And History a monument of fame it gave OF a Funerall ALas who shall condole my Funerall Since none is neere that doth my life concern Or who shall drop a sacrificing tear If none but enemies my hearse shall bear For here 's no mourner to lament my fall But all rejoyced in my fate though sad And think my heavie ruine far too light So cruell is their 〈◊〉 and their spight For men no pitty nor compassion have But all in savage wildernesse doe delight To wash and bathe themselves in my pure bloud As if they health receiv'd from that red floud Yet will the Winds ring out my knell And shouring raine fall on my hearse And Birds as Mourners sit thereon And Grasse a covering grow upon Rough stones as Scutchions shall adorne my Tombe And Glow worm burning Tapers stand thereby Night sable covering shall me over-spread Elegies of Man-drakes groans shall write me dead Then let no Spade nor Pick-axe dig me up But let my bones lye quietly in peace For who the dead dislodges from their grave Shall neither blessednesse nor honour have An Elegy on my Brother Lill'd in these unhappy VVarres DEare Brother thy Idea in my minde doth lye And is intomb'd in my sad memory Where every day I to thy Shrine doe goe And offer tears which from my eyes doe flow My heart the fire whose flames are ever pure Laid on Loves Altar last till life endure My sorrows incense strew of sighs fetch'd deep My thoughts doe watch while they sweet spirit sleeps Dear blessed soul though thou art gone yet lives Thy fame on earth and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praises give But all 's too smal for thy Heroick minde Was above all the praises of Man-kinde Of the death and buriall of Truth TRuth in the Golden Age was healthy strong But in the Silver Age grew leane and wan i th' Brazen Age sore sick abed did lye And in the last hard Iron Age did dye Measuring and Reckoning both being just She as her two Executors did trust Her goods for to distribute all about To her dear friends as Legacies gave out First usefull Arts the life of men to ease Then those of pleasure which the mind doe please Distinguishments from that to this to shew What 's best to
take or leave which way to goe Experiments to shun or to apply Either for health or peace or what to fly And Sympathies which keep the world unite Aversions otherwise would ruine quite This Will and Testament she left behind And as her Deed of Gift left to Mankinde Mourning she gave to all her friends to weare And did appoint that foure her Hearse should beare Love at the head did hold the Winding-sheet On each side Care and Feare Sorrow the feet This sheet at every corner fast was ty'd Made of Oblivion strong and very wide Naturall affections in mourning clad Went next the Hearse with griefe distracted mad Did tear their hair scracht face and hands did wring And from their eyes fountaines of tears did spring For Truth said they did alwayes with us live But now she 's dead no Truth that we can give After came Kings which all good Lawes did make And power us'd for Truth and Vertues sake Next them came Honour in Garments black and long With blubber'd face and her head down hung Who wisht to dye for life was now a paine Since Truth was dead honour no more could gaine Next these Lovers with faces pale as Death With shame-fast eyes quick Pulse and shortned breath And in each hand a bleeding heart did bring Which hearts within the grave of truth did fling And ever since Lovers inconstant prove They more profession give then reall love Next them came Counsellours of all degrees From Courts and Countries and chiefe Cities Their wise heads were a guard and a strong wall So long as Truth did live amongst them all All sorts of Trades-men using not to swear So long as Truth not Oaths sold 〈◊〉 their ware Physitians came who try new wayes for skil And for Experience sake doe many kil But doe use Simples good which Nature sent To strengthen man and sicknesse to prevent Some Judges were no wrangling Lawyers base For Truth alive did plead decide each case Widowes that to their Husbands kind had swore That when they dyed would never marry more At last the Clergy came who taught Truths way And how men in devotion ought to pray By Morall Lawes the lives of men direct Perswade to peace and Governours respect They wept for grief as Prophets did fore-tell That all the world with fals-hood would rebell Faction will come say they and beare great sway And bribes the Innocent shall all betray Controversies within the Church shall rise And Heresies shall beare away the prize Instead of Peace the Priests shall discords preach And high Rebellion in their doctrines teach Then shall men learn the Laws for to explain Which learning only serves for Lawyers gain For they doe make and spread them in a Net To catch in Clients and their money get The Laws which Wise-men made to keep the peace Serve only now for quarrels to increase All those that sit in Honours stately throne Are counterfeits not any perfect known They put on vizards of an honest face But all their Acts unworthy are and base Friendship in words and complements will live Not one nights lodging in the heart shall give Lovers shall dye for Lust yet love not one And Vertue unregarded sit alone Now Truth is dead no goodnesse here shal dwell But with disorder make each place a Hell With that they all shriekt out lament and cry To Nature for to end their misery And now this Iron Age's so rusty grown That all the Hearts are turn'd to hard flint-stone FINIS THE ANIMALL PARLIAMENT THe Soul called a Parliament in his Animal Kingdom which Parliament consisteth of three parts the Soul the Body and the Thoughts which are Will Imaginations and Passions The Soul is the King the Nobility are the Spirits the Commonalty are the Humours and Appetites The Head is the upper House of Parliament where at the upper end of the said House sits the Soul King in a Kernel of the Braine like to a Chaire of State by himselfe alone and his Nobility round about him The two Arch-Bishops Admiration and Adoration the rest are Apprehension Resentment and Astonishment The Judges are the Five Senses and the Wooll-sacks they sit on are Sight Sound Sent Tast Touch. The Master of the Black Rod is Ignorance understanding the Lord Keeper is alwayes Speaker The Clerke that writes downe all is Memory The lower House of Parliament is the Heart the Knights and Burgesses are Passions and Affections The Speaker is Love The Clerke that writes downe all is Fear The Serjeant is Dislike The severall Writs that are sent out by this Parliament are sent out by the Nerves into every part of this Animall Kingdom and the Muscles execute the power and Authority of those Writs upon the Members of the Common-wealth The lower House presents their Grievances or their desires to the upper House the Braine by the Arteries When they were all set in order and a dead silence through all the House the King made a Speech to the Assembly after this manner following The Kings Speech THe reason why I called this Parliament is not only to rectifie the riotous disorders made by Vanity and to repeale the Lawes of erroneous opinions made in the minde and to cut off the entayles of evil Consciences but to raise Foure Subsidies of Justice Prudence Fortitude and Temperance whereby I may be able to defend you from the allurements of the World as Riehes Honour and Beauty and to beat out incroaching falshoods which make inrodes and doe carry away the innocency of Truth and to quench the rebellion of superfluous words but also to make and enact strict Lawes to a good Life in which I make no question but every one which are in my Parliament will be willing to consent and be industrious thereunto the rest I leave to my Keeper understanding to informe you further of After the King had thus spoken the Keeper made another Speech as followeth The Lord Keepers Speech who is Speaker My Noble Lords YOu may know by the calling of this Parliament not only the wisdome of our gracious King in desiring your aide and assistance in the beginning of danger before the fire growes too violent for your help to quench out but his love and tender regard of your safety Besides he hath shewed the unwillingnesse he hath to oppresse and burthen his good Subjects with heavie Taxes before palpable necessity requires them for he hath not called you upon suppositions and feares but upon visible truths neither was it Imprudence in staying so long for it is as imprudent to disturbe a peaceable Common-wealth with doubts of what may come as to be so negligent to let a threatning ruine run without opposition Thus is our gracious Soveraigne wise in chusing his time valiant in not fearing his enemies carefull in calling the help and advice of his Parliament and most bountifull in that he requires not these Subsidies to spend in his particular delights but for the good and benefit of the