Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A39707
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Rich. Flecknoe's ænigmatical characters being rather a new work, than new impression of the old.
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Flecknoe, Richard, d. 1678?
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1665
(1665)
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Wing F1214; ESTC R2089
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40,252
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122
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as what betwixt doing and undoing it like Penelope's web she never makes an end nor can any else for her at last she so intangles it and all this onely for want of knowing how much care and thought she is to bestow on things Whence bestowing all she ha's on every thing as long as there 's a world or she is in the world her care must needs be infinite and immense To conclude her minde seems nothing else but an Hospital of sick and diseased thoughts so throng'd and pester'd with 'um as there 's no room for any healthy ones Whence her preposterous lodging all her care and solicitude within doors and her comfort all without she is so unfortunate to have the one still at hand when she needs it least and t'other still to seek when she ha's most need of it Character 73. Of one who troubles himself with nothing HE thanks God for giving him such a minde as he neither cares for what he cannot have nor scarce for any thing others can deprive him of He places all his contentment within himself and suffers nothing without to trouble him He counts it folly to grieve and sorrow for any thing but our sins since grief and sorrow can remedy nothing else He loves easie Company as he does easie Garments and throws off either when they pain and trouble him He so loves his Liberty as he won't be Slave to any much less to his own Passions to have his minde free at least and not still carry his master along with him Even in Friendship he takes the more delightful part and leaves the more troublesome of Adieus and condoling and the like and so hates to be in debt as he loves not to be too much oblig'd by any one He avoids all high wayes of the vulgar and by-wayes in Religion not to erre in Faith nor Opinion and strives so to live in this life as he may have no fear of the other when he comes to dye To enjoy its pleasures more purely he willingly relinquishes all the honours and profit of this world living neither in the higher Region of the Air where storms and tempests are ingendred nor in the lower where they are most subject to them but in the middle where all is quiet and tranquile So lives he in this world as if he were out of it enjoying all its innocent pleasures and for the rest They have most pleasure who enjoy them least Character 74. Of a Iovial Old Nobleman UNder whatsoever Constellation he was born he is all Iovial when others are Saturnine and no man was ever more beholding then he to Nature who even in old Age ha's given him the spirit and vigour of Youth and is so feard he shu'd be ever wholly old as she gives him a youthful minde in an aged body still He is the Scharamacchio of Court and State and is a Statesman and Courtier travesty doing more business with trifling then others with their seriousness and his Grimaces are more worth then all their Gravity for whilst they by laying open siege but allarum men and put them on their defence he by intelligence with the humours of every one suddenly enters their bosoms and takes them by surprize He knows sô how to multiply himself as he is all to all and all to every one especially amongst the Ladies he ha's Kindred and Affinity with every one and he 'l call an old Lady of four-score Wife or Daughter and a young one of fourteen Mother or Grandmother onely to be more merry and facetious He comes in singing goes out dancing still so as 't is impossible to be melancholly where he is and even Heraclitus in his company cu'd not without laughter pass o're this vale of tears In fine he is the Democratis of the Age and whilst others act Tragedies or Trage-Comedies on the Theatre of the world he onely acts Farses and Comedies whilst he lives and when he dyes they shu'd onely write benè per acta fabula he play'd his part well on his Tomb for Epitaph Character 75. Of an old Lady who lookt ill upon him Under the name of Misa Made Anno 1653. NOw what a Devil Misa makes Thee with such Eyes behold me still 'Cause from thee Time thy good looks takes Must I needs theâ—efore have thy ill I prethee Misa don'â— beholâ— Me thus as if I were thy foe For howsoever thou art old I am not Time that made thee so And rather then to quarrel with me As if t' were I had done thee wrong Go quarreâ— with thy Age I prethee Whose fault 't is thou hast liv'd so long Howe're for me thou well mayest spare Thy Anger and thy Frowns may â—â—ase Who for thy good looks little care Do's for thy bad ones care much less Character 76. Another on the same LEt Aâ—tumn paint her withered leaves And Winter dye his snowy Hair Yet he 's a Fool that not perceâ—ves That both but counterfeited are So whilst you 'l needs look young again And still seem fair unto our sight Misa your labour 's all in vain Like his wo'd wash â—he Ethiope white Nature by Art is bâ—tter made Whilst Art ha'â— ground for what it does But when the Grâ—und-work's once decay'd All Art but â—ore deformed shows Who lookt wâ—ll in King James his Reign And iâ—â—ing Charles his old appear'd Will hardâ—y now look young again When â—h ' Commonwealth has got a Beard Then Misa follow my advice And leaving off thy bootless care Striâ—e rather to win Hearts then Eyes And to appear more Good then Fair. Character 77. Of a Valiant Man HE is only a Man your Coward but a Tame and rash a wilde and savage Beast His Courage is still the same and drink cannot make him more valiant nor danger less His Sword is not alwayes out like Childrens Daggers but he is as feard to enter into quarrels as he is fearless when he is in them once He is never in passion and knows no degree beyond clear Courage being alwayes valiant but never furious He holds Boast the Cowards valour and Cruelty the beasts unworthy a valiant man and is onely Coward in this that he dares not do an unhandsome action He is neither quarrelsome nor querulous nor forwards in harming nor too fearful in being harm'd but his Sword in War is the same as Justice's Ballance is in Peace The more fierce he is in the Field the more gâ—ntle he is in the Chamber and he is not all out-side like those Souldiers who are nothing but Buff and Feather but he ha's the inside of a Souldier with the outside of a Courtier and is as gallant amongst the Ladies as in the face of an Enemy they well therefore joyned Mars and Venus together for t'one is too harsh and rough t'other too soft and Effeminate both together make the best Composition of a Valiant man Character 78. Of Mrs Stuart STuart a Royal Name â—hat springs From Race of Calidonian Kings Whose Compositioâ— and fair Frame Addes honour to thaâ— Royal Name What praises can I worthy finde To celebrate thy Form aâ—d Minde The greatest power that is â—n Earth Is given to Princes by their Birth But therâ—'s no pow'r in Earth â—or Heaven More great then what 's to Beaâ—ty given Thâ◠makes not onely men relent When unto Rage and Fury bent Bâ—â— Lions 〈◊〉 and Tygers milde All fâ—erceness from â—heir Breasts exil'd Such wonders yeâ— could ne're be donâ— By Beaâ—tie's force and pow'r aloâ—e Without â—he pow'r and force to boot Of excelleâ—t Goodness addeâ— to 't For just as Dâ—amonds we behold More â—rightly shine wheâ— set in Gold So Beauty shines far brighter yet Iâ— Vertue and in Goodness set Continue then but what you are So admirably Good and Fair Let Priâ—ces by tâ—eir Birth-rights sway You 'l have a Pow'r as great as they I represent this Lady opâ—nly and without Enigma since her Beauty is so bright and Vertue 's so transpâ—rent as they cannot be shaddow'd nor over-clouded and with her conclude thâ—se Characters since I cannot conâ—lude them with a fairer Subject FINIS * The Assembly man pag. 18.