Selected quad for the lemma: master_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A29235
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The honest ghost, or, A voice from the vault
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Brathwaite, Richard, 1588?-1673.
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1658
(1658)
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Wing B4267; ESTC R30243
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148,269
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338
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if her people then inhabiting hee hath here in a Poem industriously discovered where by way of Vision hee râ—…ns division cleanly but closely carried covertly shadowed and smoothly closed Which wee likewise from his owne Originall have faithfully transcribed Wherein of ought bee omitted which might give better light to their discovery wee are to imputâ—…-the error to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboad and want of acquaintance to inform hiâ—… in thesâ—… parts Neither indeede is it possible that hee should amplifie his discourse in every particular or 〈◊〉 out all private abuses secretly lurking in a State For this Taske would require his industry who should apply himselfe to the Survey of one Countrey only Though I confesse so ripe are all States growne in the overspreading growth of all vices as where one Country was observed more for one particular sin then another wee shall now finde one State possessed of all those enormities which formerly were to be sought in many For where as Pride hath beene observed to bee most conversant among the Babilonians Envie among the Jewes Anger among the Thebanâ—… 〈◊〉 among the Tyrians Gluttony among the Sydonians Sorcery among the Egyptians and all Effeminacy among the Cretans this labour now may bee saved for we shall finde some one flourishing-State whose long Peace hath fatted her in prosperitie of all these maladies seazed But to returne to our Author whâ—… it may be thought by some that hee hath sh wâ—… too 〈◊〉 of spleene in the reproofe of sinne they are to understand that no faithfull Relater can be a time-observer and that nothing so much darkens or blemishes the light of Historie as that spreading tetter State-flatterie besides he was a stranger and did little care for any ones Censure which in a Poem of his owne he no lesse â—…logantly expresseth Hee who thinks I can flatter is deceiv'd For in my youth when I instruction sought And some small glimpse of knowledg had receiv'd My Spirit wrestled in me as I thought And so in time upon my weaknesse wrought As I gave way which giv'n she caus'd me write To purge the State and scourge the Parasite Yet so as thou shalt never personate Or high or low or any one in place Lest thou incur the censure of the State Not men but manners thou shalt have in chace Causing shame paint their vices in their face For then this Rule a safer there is none To tâ—…e the sinne but let the man alone Be jealous what thou heares spare in reports For some there he who on this string doe strike How they may vent disgrace on Princes Courts Yet these can closly play the Parasite And with their servile humors force delight Which ere I 'd doe I wish with all my heart I may hang for a Signe at Franck-fort Mart. This well tempred resolution Hee expressed in an Anagram composed on his friends name included 〈◊〉 this Distich Virtue hath but bare credit what 's the matter Because to gain a Kingdom shee 'd not flatter His honest resolution sprung from an inbred â—…sity of mind he likewise manifested to the World in this free attestation which with a constant modest spirit he delivered in a publique resort at the time of his restraint Who can prohibit me abroad to tell The Crimes of such high-peeres as doe not well Why this Obsequious Odious Vicious time That weaves a Cobweb o're a great mans crime But Masters would yee know how I am serv'd Whose honest actions ne're from goodnes swerv'd Sense by Petition hath procur'd that Reason For writing nought but truth should go to Prison His well-composed temper and peaceable disposition he likewise expressed when as being sometimes intangled in Suites of Law about his Patrimonie as One wasted with expence wearied with expectance and impatient of longer attendance he thus concludeth After this Suite as I am now resolved Shall be decree'd determin'd and dissolved 〈◊〉 take a long farwell of my Laws journey â—…nlesse it be by Proxie or Atturney â—…ot who from Hippocrene would Rivers draw â—…ust not imploy his Bucket in the Law â—…rre from Courts clamour then I 'le build my nest â—… smooth-composed line requireth rest Privacy likewise He highly affected though by sunâ—…ie Persons of ranke and quality mainly diswaded Sâ—… as on a time when as Milan a Diet was intended wherein the Peeres and Commons of the Realâ—…e were to be assâ—…mbled redresse of all State-aggrievances generally expected Writs exhibited Bills preferred and he for a Burgesse in the Lower House by generall Suffrage elected yet he rejected this honour privatly retired to his Country mannâ—…ur the reason whereof 〈◊〉 demanded he 〈◊〉 returned this answer One askt of me what might be my intent To leave the Towne in time of Parliament Why answered I â—… because I held it fit When th' City hath ingross'd the Country wit And that scarce seven wise Masters now were left Which were not to the Parliament enfâ—…oft That purposely I to the Country cam Where I am held a nimble-pated man For though a Swâ—…n's a Swan yet when th' Swan'â—… gon A white-plum'd Chough is held a comely one Where this Author now remaines it is diversly conjectured some reporting him to be now at Florence where he is made Remembrancer of the City others report that coasting through the Province of Cecuba upon some disgrace offer'd by him to a Lyrick who contended with him for the masterprize in Poetrie he was by the inhabitants of that place surprized and in a Vinepresse squezed to death for the truth whereof I will not stand much Let this suffice that this Poem now published was writ by hîm in the xxxv yeare of his age which being gratefully accepted shall be by others of his works no lesse usefull if the Manuscripts may be procured hereafter seconded The Draught or Portraict of every Ape with their distinct properties chararacters and differences expressed in severall peeces 1 THE Ape of Honour Is to have a little Flag Banner or Streamer in his claw wherein are to appeare severall Coates Armes Crests c. the Emmet Hedghog Cuckow Seagull Owle c. The principall Crest a Rat-Rampant which is the only Imprezza this Ape of honour hath 2. The Ape of Pleasure Is expressed by sporting with a Marmosite with this Imprezza Dainty content 3. The Ape of Vaine-glory Is Characterized or Emblematized thus Hee is carried by four Apes in a Case resembling a Cabinet windowes of each side and all open to discover him sitting in State his Imprezza Heaven upon Earth 4. The Ape of Fancy is expressed by hastning towards a Lure made of Feathers Ribbands Garters Gloves Rings c. Which Cupid winged and hovering in the Ayre is showne throwing out his Imprezza Love is my Lure 5. The Ape of Fashion is expressed in his doublet and hose phantastically made up a plume of feathers in his head amorously eying himselfe in a glasse his Imprezza I like my humor well 6. The Ape of Observation is expressed looking
sexes both This could I never love and that I loth Aesope I hug and I doe honour him Who in a tale brought Mâ—…mus chasing in And in reproofe of nature did proceed For setting Bulls-horns rather on his head Then on his shoulders being stronge-rpart In which respect preferd he curious art Before the hand of nature for quoth hee Such over sights in Art Wee seldome see His steps I follow for I tartnesse show To th' choicest works of art and nature too Nothing can please me in this globe of earth But others woes whose moans afford me mirth If on a learned worke I chance to looke Though I 've no judgement I can taxe the booke And call the Author for his paines a foole Yet past two Months I never went to Schoole By meancs whereof and home-bred education One taught me th' rules of a Prognostication Streight by direction from an Erra pater I knew ech distinct Planet and his nature Which known I could not brook my Country well But in acquaintance with some Gipsies fell Whose chiefest Bung and Captain now I am And held in Palmistrie the only man Where though I cannot sing the Gipsies song I am as merrie as the day is long For if a Milk-maid come to me and crave I de tell her when she shall a Husband have Or an old Chrone that I to her would show Whether she must out-live her Grub or no Hows'ere their fortune be better or worse My dainty-Doxie nimâ—… away their purse With which we merrie make and bravely rore With some stolne Pullen that we have in store Truth is since I kept square with these I find My selfe and my affections worse inclin'd Then ere they were before nor doâ—… I care They that fare well may reputation spare He must be stain'd consorts with such â—…s these He that lies downe with dogs must rise with flees Thus in each Village I and my ragg'd nation With canting gibrish doe we make our station In Corporations we doe seldome tarrie Because of Statutes to the contrarie For other Coasts such Officers we find That though they see us yet they will be blind For now and then they 'r such kind natur'd men They will not stick to eate with us a Hen. But I repent me I so much have said Lest some that heare me come to learne my trade To the State-Critick WHy who are you whence came you what 's your name That you should taxe the State or touch her fame Is it your manners Sir to chide great men And with your tarter lines to nettle them Admit you meet with some that nere did good As deepe in sinne as they are high in blood What priviledge have you receiv'd from us To mixe your Inke with gall and Copprice thus Are you a man of such account I pray As th' State should notice take of what you say Have we not in this famous Ile one Sage Nor one Wise Master in this latter age That can reprove the errours of our time Without the help of your caprichious Line Is now your rurall straine of Melibaeus Mixt with Thersites humour or Tirteus Are great mens crimes your Subject and must they Tast of your Whippe when they doe goe astray But let us heare how you your spleene expresse Which Sir implyes your male-contentednesse Some have so blushlesse and soshamelesse beene To let their Coach and foot-cloth Horse be seene At common Strumpets dores to rouze a whoor Why I have seene this Critick and much more And vaild my bonnet with Godsave your Honour Just as his Lordship came dismounted from-her And I conniv'd at this and would not see Though light was not more manifest to me Then his Licentious actions now must you Bring these concealements to a publique view I know a Lord with choicest gifts enricht Who as report goes is of late bewitcht And to a Doctor goes to cure those spels But they that know him think ' â—…is something elss And will not stick vnder the Rose to speak That this same Docter is indeed his Tweak But what have they or I to doe with him If it be so 't is but a Lordly Sin Many have beene and so no doubt will be Bewitcht with Objects meaner farre then she Yet I 'me resolv'd they judge not faâ—…re amisse Who say that he 's Bewitcht for so he is For who unlesse drawne in by some impostor Would such a Blâ—…use to his dishonour fostâ—…r Now were it fit like Glow wormes to discover Matings and meetings of so great a Lover Admit you know exâ—…ortion in the Land In officers corruption under hand Symony Brocage Rapine Sacriledge May you not see the Age grant priviledge To such State epidemicall diseases What profit gets it generally pleases Why Sir I see as much as you can see For my whole life is Albions scrutinie In City Court and Country I doe want For no intelligence for I doe hant Wâ—…th circumspection every nooke and angle And how our State-impostors doe intangle Our unexperienc'd New comes I observe it And how they 'r honour'd most that least deserve it All which I could display and draw the lines Of all their actions to succeeding times To make men wonder at but pray thee say Would this reclaime these State moatâ—…s any way Or dart a blush in any of their faces Or make them wearie of their purchas'd places Or strike a terrour in their conscience Or reinstall lost justice to her Bench Would it make one man good that now is evil Or weane one soule from serving of the devill Lasse no Sir Though from God you have your warrant And faithfully perform his sacred arrant When so small benefit is wrought by th' Pulpit Doe you by Satyrizing hope to help it Is all the Tribe of Lâ—…vi so farre short Or shallow to improve reprove exhort As they must silenc'd be while you begiâ—… To taxe their Coat because they taxe not sin You are too bold Sir in your fluent straine And tenders that which none will entertaine For doe you thinke we live in such an Age A Clâ—…rgie man will loose a Parsonage Before he scourge not sinne it cannot be For how should he relieve his familie His hopefull Olive branches with his Spouse With all the holy Meynie of his house If he should not dispâ—…nce with his Creatour And smooth the sinne of his Impropâ—…iatour Or that an Officer in any Court Will rectifie himselfe by your report Or purchase to his soul least hope of blesse By 〈◊〉 of a poore man one fee lesse For though Extortion be I grant a sin This couâ—…se would goe well neere to begger him A place that at â—…o deare a rate is bought Must be imploy'd for gaine not sold for nought Or that a Lawyer should his practise make Lesse for himselfe then for his Clyents sake Or use that glibberie member of his Tongue To further right and not to bolster wrong For so he should grow out of practise quite And wrong himselfe