presum'd vnto a King Wâ—th Aesops Flye to seeke an Eagles wing But know I 'me he that entred once the list Gainst all the world to play the Satyrist T was I that made my measures rough and rude Daunce arm'd with whips amid'st the multitude And vnappalled with my charmed Scrowles Teaz'â— angry Monsters in their lurking holes I 'ue plaid with Wasps and Hornets without feares Till they grew mad and swarmd about my eares Iu'e done it and me thinkes 't is such braue sport I may be stung but nâ—re be sorry for 't For all my griefe is that I was so sparing And had no more in 't worth the name of daring He that will taxe these Times must be more bitter Tart lines of Vinegar and Gall are fitter My fingers and my spirits are benum'd My Inke runs forth too smooth t is too much gum'd I d'e haue my Pen so paint it where it traces Each accent should draw bloud into their faces And make them when their villanies â—re blazâ—d Shudder and startle as men halfe amazâ—d For feare my verse should make so loud a din Heauen hearing might raine vengeance on their sin Oh noâ— for sâ—ch a straineâ— would Art could teach it Though life my spirits I consum'd to reach it I d'e learne my Muse so braue a course to flye Men should admire the power of Poesie And those that dar'd her greatnesse to resist Quake euen at naming of a Satyrist But when hiâ— scoâ—rging numbers flow'd with wonder Should cry God blesse vs as they did at thunder Alas my lines came from me too too dully They did not fill a Satyres mouth vp fully Hot bloud and youth enrag'd with passionâ— store Taught me to reach a straine nere touch'd before But it was coldly done I throughly chid not And somewhat there is yet to doe I did not More soundly could my scourge haue yerked many Which I omit not cause I feared any For want of action discontentments rage Base dis-respect of Vertue in this age With other things vnto my selfe a wrong Made me so fearelesse in my carelesse long That had not reason within compasse wonne me I had told Truth enough to haue vndoâ—e me Nay haue already if that her Diuine And vnâ—eene power can doe no more then mine For though fore-seeing warinesse was good I fram'd my stile vnto a milder mood And clogging her thigh-towring wingâ— with mire Made her halfe earth that was before all fire Then being as you saw disguis'd in shew Clad like a Satyre brought her forth to view Hoping her out-side being mis-esteem'd She might haue passed but for what she seem'd Yet some whose Comments iumpe not with my minde In that low phrase a higher reach woulâ— finde And out of their deepe iudgement seeme to know What 't is vncertaine if I meant or no Ayming thereby out of some priuate hate To worke my shame or ouerthrow my state For amongst many wrongs my foe doth doe me And diuers imputations laid vnto me Deceiued in his ayme he doth mis-conster That which I haue enstil'd a Man-like Monster To meane some priuate person in the state Whose worth I thinke to wrong out of my hate Vpbraiding me I from my word doe start Either for want of a good Ground or Heart Cause from his expectation I doe vary In the denying of his Commentary Whereas 't is knowne I meant Abuse the while Not thinking any one could be so vile To merit all those Epithites of shame How euer many doe deserue much blame But say I grant that I had an intent To haue it so as he interprets meant And let my gracious Liege suppose there were One whom the State may haue some cause to feare Or thinke there were a man and great in Court That had more faults then I could well report Suppose I knew him and had gone about By some particular markes to paint him out That he best knowing his owne faults might see He was the Man I would should noted be Imagine now such doings in this Age And that this man so pointed at should rage Call me in question and by his much threatning By long imprisonment and ill intreating Vrge a Confession wer 't not a mad part For me to tell him what lay in my heart Doe not I know a great mans Power and Might Iâ— spight of Innocence can smother Right Colour his Villanies to get esteeme And make the Honest man the Villaine seeme And that the truth I told should in conclusion For want of Power and Friends be my confusion I know it and the world doth know 't is true Yetâ—I protest if such a man I knew That might my Countrey preiudice or Thee Were he the greatest or the proudest Hoe That breathes this day if so it might be found That any good to either might redound So farre I 'le be though Fate against me run From starting off from that I haue begun I vn-appalled dare in such a case Rip vp his foulest Crimes before his face Though for my Labour I were sure to drop Into the mouth of Ruine without hope But such strange farre-fetcht meanings they haue sought As I was neuer priuy to in thought And that vnto particulars would tye Which I intended vniuersally Whereat some with displeasure ouer-gone Those I scarce dream'd of saw or thought vpon Maugre those caueats on my Satyres brow Their honest and iust passage disallow And on their heads so many censures rake That spight of me themselues they 'le guilty make Nor is 't enough to swage their discontent To say I am or to be Innocent For as when once the Lyon made decree No horned beast should nigh his presence be That on whose fore-head onely did appeare A bunch of flesh or but some tuft of haire Was euen as farre in danger as the rest If he but said it was a horned beast So there be now who thinke in that their power Is of much force or greater farre then our It is enough to proue a guilt in me Because mistaking they so think 't to be Yet'tis my comfort they are not so high But they must stoope to thee and equity And this I know though prick't they storme agen The world doth deeme them ne're the better men To stirre in filth makes not the stench the lesse Nor doth Truth feare the frowne of Mightinesse Because those numbers she doth deigne to grace Men may suppresse a while but ne're to deface I wonder and 't is wondred at by many My harmelesse lines should brâ—ed distaste in any So much that whereas most good men approue My labour to be woâ—thy thankes and loue I as a â—illaine and my Countries foe Should be imprison'd and so strictly to That not alone my liberty is bar'd But the resort of friends which is more hard And whil'st each wanton or loose Rimers pen With oily words sleekes o're the sinnes of men Vâ—iling his wits to euery Puppets becke Which e're I 'le doe I 'le ioy to breake my
A SATYRE DEDICATED TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE BY GEORGE VVITHER Gentleman Rebus in aduersis Crescit LONDON Printed for GEORGE NORTON and are to be solde at the signe of the red-Bull neere Temple-barre 1614. THE SATYRE TO THE MEERE COVRTIERS SIrs I doe know your mindes you looke for fees For more respect then needes for caps and knees But be content I haue not for you now Nor will I haue at all to doe with you For though I seeme opprest and you supposâ— I must be faine to crouch to Vertues foes Yet know your fauours I doe now slight more In this distressâ— then er'e I did beforâ— Here to my Liege a message I must tell If you will let me passe yoâ— shall doe well If you deâ—iâ— admittance why then know I meane to haue it where you will or no. Your formall wisedomes which hath neuer beene In ought yet saue in venting fashions seene And deemes that man waâ— borne to no intent But to be train'd in Apish complement Doth now perhaps suppose me vndiscreet And such vn-vsed messages vnmeet But what of that Shall I goe sute my matter Vnto your wits that haue but wit to flatter Shall I of your opinions so much prize To loose my will to haue you thinke me wise Who neuer yet to any liking had Vnlesse he were a Knaue a Foole or mad You Mushromes know so much I weigh your powers I neither value you nor what is yours Nay though my crosses had me quite out-worne Spirit enough I d'e finde your spight to scorne Of which resolu'd to further my aduenter Vnto my KING without your leaues I enter TO THE HONEST COVRTIERS BVt You whose onely worth doth colour giue To them that they doe worthy seeme to liue Kinde Gentlemen your ayde I craue to bring A SATYRE to the presence of his King A show of rudenesse doth my forehead Arme Yet you may trust me I will doe no harme He that hath sent me is a subiect true And one whose loue I know is much to you But now he lies bound to a narrow scope Almost beyond the Cape of all good hope Long hath he sought to free himselfe but failes And therefore seeing nothing else preuailes Me to acquaint my Soueraigne here he sends As one despayring of all other friends I doe presume that you will fauour shew me Now that a Messenger from him you know me For many thousands that his face nere knew Blame his Accusers and his Fortune rue And by the helpe which your good word may dâ—â— He hopes for pitty from his Soueraigne to Then in his presence with your fauours grace me And there 's no Vice so great shall dare out-face me TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY A Satyre Quid tu sipeâ—eo VVHat once the POET said I may avow T is a hard thing not to write Satyres now Since what we speake abuse raignes so in all Spight of our hearts will be Satyricall Let it not therefore now be deemâ—d strange My vnsmooth'd lines their rudenesse do not change Nor be distastfull to my graciouâ— King Though in the Cage my olde harsh notes I sing And rudely make a Satyre here vnfold What others would in neater tearmes haue told And why my friends and meanes in Court are scant Knowledge of curious Phrase and forme I want I cannot bear 't to runne my selfe in debt To hire the Groome to bid the Page intreat Some fauour'd follower to vouchsafe his word To get me a colde comfort from his Lord I cannot sooth though it my life might saue Each fauourite nor crouch to euery Knaue I cannot brooke delayes as some men do With scoffes and scornes and tak 't in kindnesse to For er'e I 'de binde my selfe for some slight grace To one that hath no more worth then his place Orbâ— â—base meane free my selfe from trouble I rather would eâ—â—ure my penance double Cause to be forc'd to what my minde disdaines Is worse to me then tortures rackes and chaines And therefore vnto thee I onely flye To whom there needes no meane but Honesty To thee that lou'st not Parasite nor Minioâ— Should e're I speake possesse thee with opinion To thee that do'st what thou wilt vndertake For loue of Iustice not the persons sake To thee that kno'wst how vaine all faire shewes be That flow not from the hearts sincerity And canst though shadowed in the simplest vaile Discerne both Loue and Truth and where they faile To thee doe I appeale in whom heau'n knowes I next to God my confidence repose For can it be thy grace should euer shine And not enlighten such a cause as mine Can my hopes fixt in thee great KING be dead Or thou those Satyres hate thy Forrests bred Where shall my second hopes he founded then If euer I haue heart to hope agen Can I suppose a fauour may be got In any place when thy Coâ—rt yeelâ—â— it not Or that I may obtaine it in the land When I shall be deni'd it at thy hand Aâ—d if I might should I so fond on 't be To tak 't of otherâ— when I miss't of thee Or if I did can I haue comfort by it When I shall tâ—inke my Soâ—â—raigâ—e did denie it No were I sure I to thy hate were borne The loue of halfe the world beside I 'de scorne But why should I thy fauour here distrust That haue a cause so knowne and knowne so iust Which not alone my inward comfort doubles But all suppos'd me wrong'd that heare my troubles Nay though my fault were Reall I beleeue Thou art so Royall that thou wouldst forgiue For well I know thy sacred Mâ—iestie Hath euer beene admir'd for Clemencie And at thy gentleneâ— the world hath wondred For making Sunshine where thou mightst haue thundred Yea thou in mercy life to them didst giue That could not be content to see thee liue And can I thinke that thou wilt make me then The most vnhappy of all other men Or leâ— thy loyall subiect against reason Be punisht more for Loue then some for Treason No thou didst neuer yet thy glory staine With an iniustice to the meanest Swaine 'T is not thy will I 'me wrong'd nor dost thou know If I haue suffred iniuries or no. For if I haue not heard false Rumours flye Th'aâ—t grac'd me with the stile of Honesty And if it were so as the world thinkes 't was I cannot see how it should come to passe That thou from whose free tongue proceedeth nought Which is not correspondent with thy thought Those thoughts to being fram'd in Reasons mould Should speake that once which should not euer hold But passing it as an vncertaintie I humbly begge thee by that Maiestie Whose sacred Glory strikes a louing-feare Into the hearts of all to whom 't is deare To deigne me so much fauour without merit As reade this plaint of a distempred spirit And thinke vnlesse I saw some hideous storme Too great to be induâ—'d by such a worme I had not thus
necke I say while such as they in euery place Can finde protection patronage and grace If any looke on me 't is buâ— a skaunce Or if I get a fauour 't is by chaunce I must protect my selfe poore Truth and I Can haue scarce one speake for our Honesty Then whereas they can gold and gifts attaine Malitious Hate and Enuie is my gaine And not alone haue here my freedome lost Whereby my best hope 's likely to be crost But haue beene put to more charge in one day Then all my Patrons bounties yet will pay What I haue done was not for thirst of gaine Or out of hope preferments to attaine Since to contemne them would more profit me Then all the glories in the world that be Yet they are helps to Vertue vs'd aright And when they wanting be she wants her might For Eagles mindes ne're fâ—t a Rauens feaâ—her To dare and to be able sute together But what is 't I haue done so worthy blaâ—e That some so eagerly pursue my fame Vouchsafe to view 't with thine owne eyes and try Saue want of Art what fault thou canst espy I haue not sought to scandalize the State Nor sowne sedition nor made publicke bate I haue not aym'd at any good mans fame Nor taxt directly any one by name I am not he that am growne discontent With the Religion or the Gouernment I meant no Ceremonies to protect Nor doâ— I faâ—our any new-sprung sect But to my Satyres gaue this onely warrant To apprehend and punish Vice apparant Who ayming in particular at none In generall vpbraided euery one That each vnshamed of himselfe might view That in himselfe which no man dares to shew And hath this Age bred vp neat Vice so tenderly She cannot brooke it to be touch'd so slâ—nderly Will she not bide my gentle Satyres bites Harme take her then what makes she in their sights If with impatience she my Whip-cord feele How had she raged at my lash of Steele But am I call'd in question for her câ—use Is 't Vice that these afflictions on me drawes And neede I now thus to Apologize Onely because I scourged villanies Must I be faine to giue a reason why And how I dare allow of Honesty Whilst that each flâ—ering Parasite is bold Thy Royall brow vndaunted to behold And euery Temporizer strikeâ— a string That 's musicke for the hearing of a King Shall not he reach out to obtaine as much Who dares more for thee then a hundred such Heauen grant her patience my Muse takes't so badly I feare sheel'â— loose her wits for she raues madly Yet let not my dread Soueraigne too much blame hâ—r Whose awfull presencâ— now hath made her tamâ—r For if there be no Fly but hath her spleene Nor a poore Pismire but will wreake her teene How shall I then that haue both spleene and gall Being vniustly dâ—alt with beare with all I yet with patience take what I haue borne And all the worlds ensuing hate can scorne But 't were in me as much stupidity Not to haue feeling of an iniury As it were weaknesse not to brooke it well What others therefore thinke I cannot tell But he that 's lesse then madde is more then Man Who sees when he hath done the best he can To keepe within the bounds of Innocence Sought to discharge his due to God and Prince That he whil'st villanies vnreproued goe Scoffing to see him ouer-taken so Should haue his good intendments misconceâ—â—'d Be of his dearest liberty bereau'd And which is worse without reason why Be frown'd on by Authorities grim eye By that great power my soule so much doth feare She scornes the stearn'st frownes of a mortall Peere But that I Vertue loue for her owne sake It were enough to make me vndertake To speake as much in praise of Vice agen And practise some to plague these shames of meâ— I meane those my Acâ—usâ—rs who mistaking My true conceitâ— frame some of their owne making But if I list I neede not buy so deeâ—e The iust reuenge I could bring on them here I could frame measures in this my iust fury Should sooner finde them guilty then a Iury Whose â—ords like swords tempred with Art should pierce And hang and draw quarter them in verse Or I could racke them on the wings of Fame And he 's halfe hang'd they say hath an ill name Yea I d'e goe neere to make these spightfull Elues Lycaâ—bes-like be glad to hang themselues And though this Age will not abide to heare Those faults reprou'd vvhom custome hath made deare Yâ—t if I pleased I could write their crimes And stone them vp in walles for after-times For theyl 'e be glad perhaps that shall ensue To see some story of their Fathers true Or should I smother'd be in darknesse still I might not vse the freedome of a quill 'T would raise vp brauer spirits then my owne To make my cause and this their guilt more knowne Who by that subiect should get Loue and Fame Vnto my foes disgrace and endlesse shame Those I do mean whose Comments haue mis-vs'd me And to those Peeres I honour haue accus'd me Making against my Innocence their batteries And wronging them by their base flâ—tteries But of reuenge I am not yet so faine To put my selfe vnto that needlesse paine Because I know a greater power there is That noteth smaller iniuries then this And being still as iust as it is strong Apportions due reuenge for euery wrong But why say some should his too saucy Rimes Thus tâ—xe the wise and great ones of our times It suâ—es not with his yeares to be so bould Nor fits it vs by him to be contrould I must confesse ' â—is very true indeede Such should not of controuling stand in neede But blame not me I saw good Verâ—ue poore Desert amongst the most thrust out of doore Honestie hated Curtesie banished Rich men excessiue Poore men famished Coldnesse in Zeale in Lawes much partiality Friendship but Complement and vaine Formality Art I perceiue contemn'd while most aduance To Offices of worth Rich Igâ—orance And those that should our Lights and Teachers be Liue if not worse as wantonly as we Yea I saw Naturâ— from her course runne backe Disorders grow Good orders goe to wracke So to encrease what all the rest began I to this current of confuâ—ioâ— ran And seeing Age left off the place of guiding Thus plaid the sawcy wagge and fell to chiding Wherein how euer some perhaps may deeme I am not so much faulty as I seeme For when the Elders wrong'd Susannaes honor And none withstood the shame they laid vpon her A Childe rose vp to stand in her defence And spight of wrong confirm'd her innocence To shew those must not that good vndertake Straine curtsey who shall doe 't for manners sake Nor doe I know whether to me God gaue A boldnesse more then many other haue That I might shew the world what shamefull blot Vertue by her lasciuious Elders