covering neverthelesse the possession of future pleasures honours and commodities never receive contentment is they ought in the present time IN things to fortune Subject when we get What we did long for we anew desire To have wherewith t' uphold the former state Which likewise we obtaining more require For businesse engendreth businesse And hope being th' usher of another hope Our enjoyd ' wishes serve but to make place To after aimes whose purchase to the top Of our ambition never reacheth thus By still aspiring higher we can find No end in miseries that trouble us Turmoyle the body and perplex our mind Although we change with great varietie The matter which procures our miserie 36. The different fruits of idlenesse and vertue in young men AS singing Grashoppers a fond Youth revels In Summer blinks starves when tempests rage But wise men Pismire like enjoy the travels Of their young yeares in th' winter of their age These by their Providence have wealth in treasure While those are pained for their by-gone pleasure 37. To a generously disposed Gentleman who was maine sorrie that he had not wherewith to remunerat the favours by the which he was obliged to the curtesie of a friend YOu have restor'd his kindnesse if you owe It willingly and doth not prove forgetfull For with all Mankind it would hardly goe If no man could with empty hands be gratefull And in what may concerne a benefit 'T is th' onely mind refounds and maketh it 38. The truest wealth man hath it from himselfe IF you from discontents have a desire To live exeem'd the way is ne'r t' importune Your friends with suits but alwaies to require Your riches from your selfe and not from fortune For your dislike affection and opinion Are things still subject to your owne dominion 39. That the impudicity of a Lascivious Woman staines but her owne and not her husbands honour THough of her sacred Matrimoniall Oath Your wife make no account if what be due To a wise Husband you performe she doth Bring to her selfe discredit not to you For others faults can no disgrace impart you Though to your losse they tend and make you sorrie No more then you can by anothers vertue Though it breed joy and gaine reape any glorie 'T is our owne vertu ' vice must praise or blame u 〈…〉 And either make us glorious or infamous 40. Who really are rich and who poore HE that agreeth with his povertie Is truly rich while on the other part He 's poore who 'midst the superfluitie Of wealth in new desires consumes his heart For 't is an empty mind inflicts the curse Of poverty and not an empty purse 41. How to oppose sinister fate IF of misfortune you suppose t' exoner By any other meanes then those of vertue Your troubled spirit you bestow upon her Both your owne skll and weapons to subvert you For that wherewith you ' magine to resist Her furie is already in her hand And which she holds extended to your breast To make you plyable to her command It is not then great friends Nobilitie Health beauty strength nor store of worldly treasure That can preserve you from her blowes for the Of all those things disposeth at her pleasure But you your selfe must furnish with such armes As may defend you against vice and sin And so you shall not need to feare her harmes For being so warded you are happy in The tumults of the world and she unable With all her might to make you miserable 42. The deserved mutability in the condition of too ambitious men AS is the Tortoise used by the Eagle So fortune doth vaine-glorious men inveagle Who carries them upon the wings of honour The higher up that they may breake the sooner 43. That inconveniences ought to be regarded to before hand TO wait for crosses that may happen is The meane whereby to beare them easily They not being much unlike the Cockatrice Which if fore-seene by us dyes instantly While unexpected misadventures kill Joy in the breed and tyrannize the will 44. Concerning those who disdaine to walke on their owne feet when at any rate they may have the convenience to be carried WE will not see with others eyes nor heare so With borrow'd eares yet hath fond custome Prevailed that we take especiall care Upon the feet of others still to goe Although our owne be nere so strong to beare The burthen of our bodies I am sure That no man came into this world in chaire On horseback or in Coach our birth was poore And we must dye in no lesse poore estate But 'twixt those abject ends such pride there is And in so short a course of life so great Forgetfulnesse of both extremities As if enjoying an immortall breath We could not have beene borne nor tast of death Thus endeth the second Booke of Sir THOMAS VRCHARDS Epigrams EPIGRAMS The Third Booke 1. How to behave ones selfe in all occasions NO kind of trouble to your selfe procure And shun as many crosses as you can Stoutly support what you must needs endure And with the resolution of a man Whose spirit is affliction-proofe possesse A joyfull heart in all occurrences 2 That no man to speake properly liveth but he that is Wise and vertuous IF wee lacke vertue and good deeds to hold Our life 〈…〉 True life affords not though it make us old Nor lived he that lives not after death For in good minds the lives of men consist And they alone mortalitie resist 3 We ought always to thinke upon what we are to say before we utter any thing the speeches and talk of solid wits being still premeditated and never using to forerunne the mind OUr tongu 's the hearts interpreter and still In wise discourse hath but the second place The heart should end ere th' tongue begin for while The Legate speakes the Truch-man holdes his peace Which order being inverted we abuse The hearers patience and our selves confuse 4 That Lust and drunkennesse are odious vices Wrath makes a man to sin couragiously And pride doth swell with faire appearances But drunkenesse and too much Leacherie Are sloven filthie villanous and base For by the one Gods image being exil'd His Temple by the other is defil'd 5. A certaine ancient philosopher did hereby insinuate how necessary a thing the administration of Iustice was and to be alwaies vigilant in the judicious distribution of punishment and recompence SEeing by the multitude of those offend The shame of sin 's diminish'd now in such A measure that a common crime in end Will cease to be accounted a reproach I am affrayd that if iniquitie Be suffer'd thus to propagate it will With bad example safer be to stray Then to prove singular in doing well Nor is this grievous inconvenience tho Pernicious to the state to be withstood If any the least care be wanting to Chastise the wicked and reward the good Which Law each Prince should in his bosome nourish That Vice
can be none so poore As he whose mind in plentie longs for more 17 How generous a thing it is not to succumbe to pleasure and sensualitie NO great exploit can be expected from That man who being profoundly plung'd in his Owne sense permits himselfe to be o'rcome B' a foe s'effeminat as pleasure is For mightie minds most pleasures doe conceive When pleasures over them no power have 18 That we ought not to be sorie at the losse of worldly goods THose things which are to us by fortune lent We Should sequestrat and to such a place From whence she may without our discontent Fetch them away againe before our face For if we grudge thereat by any meanes We doe but vexe our selves and lose our paines 19. What is not vertuously acquired if acquired by vs is not properly ours WHos'ever by sinister meanes is come To places of preferment and to walke Within the bounds of vertue takes no pleasure Provideth onely titles for his tombe And for the baser people pratling talke But nothing for himselfe in any measure For fortune doth with all things us befit Save the sole mind of ours and Vice kils it 20. Riches affoord to vertue more matter to worke upon then povertie can doe FOr Temperance and other qualities Of greater moment men have beene respected In riches but in poverty there is This onely goodnesse not to be dejected Whence shunning want we means embrace which yeeld To vertue a more large and spacious field 21. Death maketh us all alike in so farre as her power can reach 'MOngst all the rites that Nature can pretend In Justice this is chiefest and a sequell Which doth on Mortall principles depend That drawing neare to death we are all equall Therefore we otherwise then by the sense Should betwixt man and man make difference 22 A very ready way to goodnesse and true VVisedome Who vertuously would settle his endeavours To mortifie his passions and be wise Must still remember on received favours Forgetting alwaies by-past injuries For that a friend should prove ingrate is strange And mercy is more Noble then revenge 23. We ought not to regard the contumelies and calumnies of Lyars and profane men ASpersions which base people viciously Inflict upon mens credits I contemne That sentence having small authoritie Where he that is condemned doth condemne And to be hated by a wicked spirit Doth argue oftentimes the greater merit 24. No man should glory too much in the flourishing verdure of his Youth LEt none be proud of life nor thinke that longer He then another will because he 's younger Enjoy his pleasures for though old age stand A great way off death alwaies is at hand Who without taking heed to time or yeares No Living creature spares when she appeares 25. That vertue is of greater worth then knowledge to a speculative Philosopher WHy doe you study Morals if you take No paines t' abate your avarice and lust For how can vertues definition make You valiant prudent temperate or just Jf you industriously purge not your mind Of any vice to which you are inclin'd 26 Consolation to a poore man THat you are poore it should not much disheart you For povertie securely keepes your house From theeves Robbers and makes roome to vertue By banishing of pride and the abuse Of riches the losse thereof and feare of losse Surfets and vices that prejudge the health Which being shut out of doores strive to compose Your mind to quietnesse more worth then wealth For without wealth you may have happinesse But not without tranquillitie and ease 27 The bad returnes of ingrate men should not deterre us from being liberall THough you ingrate receivers dayly find Let not their faults make you lesse Noble prove It not being th' action of a gen'rous mind To give and lose so as to lose and give For that a churle may doe in hope of gaine But this partakes of a heroick straine 28 That riches is a sicknesse to those that doe not possesse the good thereof so much as they are possest thereby Some peoples senses wealth doth so bereave That they to nothingelse their minds can frame So have they wealth as men are said to have The Ague when 't is th' ague that hath them For it afflicts them with the maladies Of covetous desire and avarice 29. A truely liberall man never bestoweth his gifts in hope of recompence A Hearty giver will conceive such pleasure In th' onely action of his good intent That though he be not met in the like measure It never breeds him any discontent For when he doth bestow a benefit He meerely lookes to the receivers profit And in the instant that he guideth it Reapes all the vse that he exspected of it Vertue no other recompence allowing The price of honest deeds being in the doing 30 That the setled quiet of our mind ought not to be moved at sinister accidents MAn should for no infortunate event Deprive himselfe of that which fortune is Vnable to restore him the content Of mind ease and tranquilsity of his Reposed spirit for who lacketh those Can nothing else possesse that 's worth to lose 31. As it was a precept of antiquity to leane more to vertue then Parentage so is it a tenet of Christianity to repose more trust on the blood of Christ then our owne merits VErtue not blood was thought of anciently Yet blood more then our vertue ought to please us For we on blood not vertue should rely Not on our vertue but the blood of Iesus His blood being able to make heavenly Kings Of men plagu'd here for lacke of Earthly things 32 Our inclination is so depraved that it is apt enough of it selfe to runne to sin without any instigation whereby to drive it forward OUr mind 's so prone to vice it needs a bridle To hold it rather then a spurre to prick it For left unto it selfe it hardly stands But if perverse enticements find it idle And push it then it runing on a wicked And headlong course no reason understands While at the windows of the eares and eyes Temptations enter which the soule surprise 33 That there is no true riches but of necessary things THe use of mony is to have the meanes Whereby all needfull things may be possess'd Which are but few and small got with ease What we have more then that ' snot wealth but chains Or Fetters of the mind and at the best But heapes of labour feare and carefulnesse 34. The misery of such as are doubtfull and suspicious of their VVives chastitie CLose Jealous men make not so evident In any thing the madnesse of their braines As that the more that they are diligent They have the greater hope to lose their paines For their whole care to search that is imployed Which not to find they would be overjoyed 35. How deplorable the condition of most men is who though they attaine to the fruition of their praeterit projects by
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
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