his disadvantage BE not discouraged at calumnies Which are not at the worst but loads of wind And therefore with a strong and patient mind Most easie to support if you be wise For nat'rally such burthens are but light Unlesse the Bearers weaknesse give them weight Thus endeth the first Booke of Sir THOMAS VRCHARDS Epigrams EPIGRAMS The second Booke 1. No crosse adventure should hinder vs from being good though we be frustrate of the reward thereof BY any meanes with all your might endeavour For honesty whats'ever be th' event Although sinister fortune should dissever Vertue from honour be not discontent For if you be deprived of your due The fault is in the time and not in you 2. Those that have greatest estates are not alwayes the wealthiest men THey 're richer who diminish their desires Though their possessions be not amplified Then Monarchs who in owning large Empires Have minds that never will be satisfied For he is poore that wants what he would have And rich who having nought doth nothing crave 3. The couragious resolution of a valiant man SEeing Nature entred me on this condition Jnto the world that J must leav 't I vow A noble death shall be my chiefe ambition To dye being th' end of all J ought to doe And rather gaine by a prime vertue death Then to protract with common ones my breath 4. How abject a thing it is for a man to have bin long in the world without giving any proofe either by vertue or learning that he hath beene at all THat aged man we should without all doubt Of all men else the most disgracefull hold Who can produce no testimony but The number of his yeares that he is old For of such men what can bee testifyed But that being borne they lived long then dyed 5. That a vertuous mind in a deformed body maketh one more beautifull then a handsome body can doe endowed with a vicious mind EXternal comelinesse few have obtain'd Without their hurt it never made one chast But many'adulterers and is sustain'd By qualities which age and sicknesse waste But that whose lustre doth the mind adorne Surpasseth farre the beauty of the bodie For that we make our selves to this we 're borne This onely comes by chance but that by study Jt is by vertue then that wee enjoy Deservedly the stile of beautifull Which neither time nor Fortune can destroy And the deformed body a faire soule From dust to glory everlasting caries While vicious soules in handsome bodies perish 6. To one whom poverty was to be wished for in so farre as he could hardly otherwise be restrained from excessive ryot and feasting YOu should not be a whit the more dejected That as in former times not being sustain'd Your fare and dyet daily doe decrease For want doing what your modestie neglected It is a happy thing to be constrain'd To that which willingly you ought t' embrace 7. That men are not destitute of remedies within themselves against the shrewdest accidents that can befall them IF you expect to be of toyle and care Sometime exeem'd hope may your griefe diminish And patience comfort you ere you despaire Though both those faile Death will your troubles finish Thus are you fitly served with reliefes 'Gainst Fortunes most elaboured mischiefes 8. What sort of benefits one ought to bestow VVOuld you oblige to you a friend by giving Most cheerfully your favours to acquite Give that which gives content in the receiving And when it is received yeelds delight For if it faile in either of those two It will impaire his thankfulnesse to you 9. To one who did glory too much in the faire and durable fabrick of a gorgious Palace which he had caused lately to be built BOast never of the permanence of that Which neither can prolong your dayes nor houres For that your house is stately strong and great The praise is the artificers not yours Death cares not for your Palace who can climb Without a ladder to the tops of Towers And shortly with a visage pale and grim Will come and turne you naked out of doores But make your body like a Church of Marbre A Castle fit a vertuous mind to harbour 10 That a contented man is rich how litle wealth soever he have HE 's rich who craving nothing else doth find Content in the possession of his owne For in so much as doth concerne the mind Not to desire and have is all but one For if the thoughts thereof be rich we 're sure Fortune hath not the skill to make us poore 6. How dangerous it is to write or speake of moderne times THough all some errors doe commit yet few Having committed them would have them told That talke then being displeasing which is true Who cannot flatter he his peace must hold So hand a thing it is to say or pen Without offence the truth of living men 12. That the most solid gaine of any is in the action of vertue all other emoluments how lucrative they so ever appeare to the covetous mind being the chiefest precipitating pushes of humane frailty to an inevitable losse SUch is the thin and ragged maske of vice That whosoe'r to peevish thoughts are pronest Will know some time b'experience that there is No profitable thing which is not honest Nor can there be to God a man more odious Then he who leaves the good for what 's cōmodious 13. What the subject of your conference ought to be with men of judgment and account LEt the discourse be serious you impart To the grave audience of judicious eares Being either of the common-wealth some art Or science on your owne or friendes affaires For if it can to none of those pertaine It must be idle frivolous and vaine 14. That a truly generous mind had rather give a curtesie then be resting one after the presented opportunity to repay it AS stil a greater care doth men possesse To keepe things well then freely to bestowe them So to a noble spirit it is lesse Laborious to giue benefites then owe them In whom brave actions are more naturall Then to the flame to mount or earth to fall 15 To a certain Lady of a most exquisit feature and comely presentation but who gloried too much in the deceitfull excellencie of these fading and perishable qualities THough you be very handsome doe but stay A litle while and you will see a change For beautie flieth with the tyme away Wherwith it comes nor must you think it strange That hardly being skin deepe in the most faire And but a separable accident Of bodys which but living shadowes are And therfore frayle it is not permanent Be then not proud of that which at the best Decrepit age will spoyle or sicknesse wast 16 Who is truly rich and who poore BY the contempt not value of the matter Of worldly goods true riches are possess'd For our desire by seeking groweth greater And by desiring povertie's increass'd So that on earth there
None of a little burthen should complaine You 're cloth'd with flesh and bones and not supprest A little house a Gyant may containe And little bulks great spirits oft invest For vertue hath not such desire to find The stature of the body as the mind 25. That too much bewailing and griefe is to be avoided at Funerals to one lamenting the decease of a friend IT were more fit that you relinquish'd orrow Then that you should be left by it that may What ever may be done be done to morrow And what to morrow may be done to day We should therefore as soon's we can desist From that wherein we cannot long insist 26. The vertuous speech of a diseased man most patient in his sicknesse MY flesh still having beene an enemy Unto my spirit it should glad my heart That paines which seize now on my body may Be profitable to my better part For though Diseases seeme at first unpleasant They point us out the way we ought to goe Admonish us exactly of our present Estate and t' us at last this favour shew That they enlarge us from that ruinous Close and darke prison which confined us 27. We should not be sorry to be destitute of any thing so long as we have judgments to perswade vs that we may minister to our selves what we have not by not longing for it TO want what J should have shall never make My heart lesse cheerfull reason still requiring That J be pleas'd what 's ' ever things J lacke To furnish to my selfe by not desiring For not to wish for things against the griefe Of feare and frustrate hopes provides reliefe 28. That vertue is better and more powerfull then Fortune VErtue denyeth nought but what to grant Hurts the receiver and is good to want Nor takes she ought away which would not crosse The owner and is lucrative to losse She no man can deceive she lookes not strange Nor is she subject to the meanest change Embrace her then for she can give that which Will without gold or silver make you rich 29. How magnanimous a thing it is in adversity patiently to endure what cannot bee evited VVHat grievous weight so ever be allowed By misadventrous fate wherewith to load ye Shrinke not thereat but yeeld your shoulder to it And with a stedfast mind support your body For valiant spirits can not be o'rcome Though Fortune force their bodies to succumbe 30. That nothing more opposeth the tranquillity of life which is proper and peculiar to Wise-men then to be tyed to a generality of publicke example in all our actions AMongst the causes of our evils this Is one of the most ordinary that We live b'example things which are amisse Supplying oftentimes the place of what Is rightest and most vertuous for there 's no man Scarce holds that error which is done in cōmon 31. A temperate Dyet is the best Physicke TO keepe a moderation in our Dyet Is the chiefe meane to be of health assured For nothing sickens so as too much ryot And Feasts kill more then Galen ever cured Nor is ther Physicke should so fully please us Others expell but this prveens Diseases 32. That all our life is but a continuall course and vicissitude of sinning and being sorry for sinne WE sinne with joy and having fin'd we mourn Then kindle after teares new sinfull fires There being a turne perpetuall and returne 'Twixt our repentance and profane desires For senses to delights are wedded wholly Which purchas'd reason doth bewaile their folly 33. Why our thoughts all the while we are in this transitory world from the houre of our nativity to the laying downe of our bodies in the grave should not at any time exspaciat themselves in the broad way of destruction SEeing the strait lodging of your mothers wombe Brought you to life from whence you must depart To the darke entry of a little tombe Betwixt your birth and Buriall let your heart Tread vertues narrow path till you contract To so strict bounds the pleasures of this wide And spacious world as that you may draw backe The reines of covetous desire hate lust and pride For by so doing you will make your death A blessed passage to eternall breath 34. It is the safest course to entertaine poverty in our greatest riches YOur thoughts in greatest plentie moderate Lest with superfluous things you be insnared Let poverty be your familiar Mate That Fortune may not find you unprepared For so it will not lye into her pow'r T' inflict that crosse which you cannot endure 35. To a Gentleman who was extreamly offended at the defamatory speeches of a base detractor AT his reproachfull words doe not conceive The meanest grudge for curs will still be barking Nor take you notice of him seeing a knave Is like a scabbed sheepe not worth the marking And this your setting him at nought will make him Swell as a Toad till his owne poyson breake him 36. Of Death and Sin Bodies which lack the soules did them inform Turn'd to corruption lose their former grace And out of hearts corrupted breeds a worme Still gnawing upon guilty Consciences As from deceased bodies Death withdrawes The living soules another life t' enjoy So sinne contrary to the divine Lawes In living bodies doth the soule destroy Death is not vanquish'd till the Resurrection Of bodies testifie the soules conjunction And by Regeneration sin's infection Is buri'd in a mortifi'd compunction Lesse then is death then sinne the tomb then hell The more that soules the bodies doe excell 37. The advantages of Povertie IF you have povertie you have no sumptuous But a most easie ghuest secure and quiet Who will preserve your mind from being presumptuous From prodigality excessive ryot From vicious pleasures Robbers and the stealth Of theeves which ills befall to those have wealth 38. How to make all the world peaceable IF so in ev'ry man the flesh would dwell At concord with the spirit that it cease Against its soverainty to rebell The universall world would be at peace For if there were no avarice no hate No pride nor lust there could be no debate 39. One who did extreamly regret his bestowing of a great benefit vpon an ingrate man BY giving moneyes to a thanklesse man You lost the matter of your benefit But the best part thereof doth still remaine Which was your willingnesse in giving it For his repaying of your gratefull action Had made you gaine all that you had received And getting nought you lacke not satisfaction It onely being to give it that you gave it Else in your gifts a bargaine we should find And not the noble acts of a free mind 40. Of wisedome in speech in action in reality and reputation WIsely to talke deserveth much respect Yet to live wisely without doubt is better To be accounted wise is a great matter But it is most to be it in effect Such as would follow wisedome then let them Strive more for deeds then words for
may be supprest and vertue flourish 6. That overweening impedeth oftentimes the perfectioning of the very same qualitie wee are proudest of FOnd selfe-conceit likes never to permit Ones mind to see it selfe with upright eyes Whence many men might have attain'd to wit Had they not thought themselves already wise To boast of wisedome then is foolishnesse For while we thinke we 're wise we 're nothing lesse 7. To one who seemed to be grievously discontented with his poverty LEt never want of money vexe your braine Seeing all contentment is in th' only mind To the which mony doth no more pertaine Then to the Hierarchies of Angel-kind Thus Gold being Earthly and the mind sublime T' abase your spirit is a sort of crime 8. The resolution of a proficient in vertue I Hope so little to transgresse the Law My conscience will endite me or be proud Of wealth and pomp as not to care a straw For Fortunes frownes so that my deeds be good Which eternize my blisse while she makes Kings T' enjoy at best but transitory things 9. That a courtesie ought to be conferred soone and with a good will NO man will from his heart owe that which was Extorted by meere importunity Without regard of true desert because It seemes to have beene giv'n unwillingly Who distributes his benefits that way Needs not then wait for a gratification From him whom he hath dulled with delay And tortured with grievous expectation For we acknowledge gifts according to Th' intent of him who doth the same bestow 10. The best wits once depraved become the most impious THe whitest Lawne receives the deepest moale The purest Chrysolit is soonest stained So without grace the most ingenious soule Is with the greatest wickednesse profaned And the more edge it have apply'd to sin Where it should spare it cuts the deeper in 11. That those employ not their occasions well who spend the most part of their life in providing for the Instruments of living SOme wasting all their life with paine and sorrow To seeke the meanes of life no leasure give Their thoughts from ayming alwaies at to morrow Whereby they live not but are still to live In their whole age the fruits that issue from Their labours being but hopes of times to come 12. An vprightly zealous and truly devout man is strong enough against all temptations THat man in whom the grace of God begins His soule with divine comfort to refresh May the whole heptarchie of deadly sins In spight of all the Devill the World the flesh Are able to suggest enforce to yeeld Christ being his guide and Christian faith his shield 13. That to employ our thoughts on the study of mortality and frailty of our nature is a very necessary and profitable speculation BE not from death by any meanes a stranger But make her your familiar friend that if The cause require it vilipending danger You may step forth t' embrace her without griefe For the more boldly you intend to meet her The relish of your life will prove the sweeter 14. The Generous speech of a Noble Cavallier after he had disarmed his adversary at the single Combate THough with my Raper for the guerdon Your fault deserveth I may pierce ye Your penitence in craving pardon Transpassions my revenge in mercy And wils me both to end this present strife And give you leave in peace t' enjoy your life 15. To one who was excessively cheerefull for being recovered of a Fever wherewith he had beene for a time extreame sorely shaken THat to your health you are restored you May in some sort be joyfull and yet pleased To know your dying day is nearer now Then when you were most heavily diseased For to its Journeyes end your life still goes Which cannot stay nor slow it's pace nor hath Jt any Inne to rest in toyle repose Sicknesse and health being alike steps to death Let this thought then your gladnesse mortifie That once againe you must fall sicke and dye 16. That the most of our contentment while we are upon the Earth consisteth rather in Negatives as not to be perplexed with ment all perturbations outward diseases and other such like life-tormenting crosses then in the reall fruition of any positive delight that can befall vs THere being no possibility that men Can here enjoy a greater delectation Then to possesse a body without paine And mind untroubled by the meanest passion Without desire of further pleasure health And a good conscience should be our chiefe wealth 17. VVhy we must all dye IT being the law of Nations to restore What we have borrow'd ther 's no remedy But being engaged to a Creditor Who will not lose his debt we must needs dye Nor can we plead one halfe a termes delay For when Death craves it we are forc'd to pay 18. Of the covetous and perverse inclination of the greatest part of Mankind WHen profit goes with vertue we respect her So that her very foot-steps we adore But if she walke alone then we neglect her And will not wait upon her any more So basely 'gainst their consciences most men Descend from honour to attend on gaine 19. The Parallel of Nature and Fortune A Fly which is a despicable creature Obtaines beside her wings six feet from Nature Yet foure feet onely she is pleas'd to grant To the huge body of an Elephant So Fortune doth withdraw her gifts from some Whose real worth surpasseth theirs on whom She hath bestowed them as forcibly As Elephants in strenth exceed a fly 20. How we should enjoy the delights we have and contemne such as we have not LEt not the want of pleasures be unpleasant To your remembrance and with moderation Make use of those contentments which are present If you would ne'r be griev'd with expectation For to our owne things absent to preferre Frustrates our hope when it hath bred us feare 21 To one who did confide too much in the sound temperament and goodly constitution of his bodily complexion Boast not of outward health but have a care Your soule be not distemperd for we find The case of them most dangerous who are In wholsome bodies of a sickly mind Vice tyrannizing over flesh and blood In those whose will and judgement are not good 22. A Counsell to be provident and circumspect in all our actions without either cowardise or temeritie DOe nothing tim'rously and yet b'aware You be not rash let prudence therefore guard Your words and deeds for he needs not to feare What 's to be shun'd that shuns what 's to be fear'd Nor in the present time be vex't who from Things past discerne of what is like to come 23. Of foure things in an epalleled way vanquished each by other AS Death o'rthroweth man and cuts his breath And fame most gloriously subdueth Death So gourmandizing time doth fame or'come And to eternity time must succumbe 24. A consolation to those that are of a little stature not to be sorry thereat