^limitations of tye Spenser ^ottetp

10

JUVENILIA

POEMS

BY

GEORGE WITHER

rAINED IX THE COLLKCTIOXS OF HIS JLVKMLJA WHICH Al'l'KARKl; IX l626 AND 163 ^

^

PART II

PRINTED FOR . It;rv

1871

rSr\

PR

1028V28

THE SCOT RGB.

If thou percciue fome, as fome will doe then, Keepe out a many worthy Gentlemen, And let a Laundreffe or a Scoundrell pafTe, Giue him a ierke, and tell him hee's an Affe.

But left thou fpy what may make thee afham'd, (Or fpeake of that for which thou maift be blam'd) Leaue thou the Court, if thine owne felfe thou pitty, And come a while to walke about the City. As foone, as there thou entreft, thou fhalt meet Great ftore of Gallants pafmg out the ftreet. A part, from Dice, or Fence, or Dancing come, And peraduenture, from a whore-houfe fome : Thefe, are good fellowes that will frankly fpend, While Lands doe laft, or any man will lend ; And yet to fee (more fooles the world had neuer) They are fo proud, as if 'twould lafb for euer. And though thefe lightly cannot haue a worfe, Or deadlier fickeneffe, than an empty purfe, Which will enfue ; yet tell them, they muft meet, At the Kings-bench, the Counters, or the Fleet.

Then, ftep vnto the Lawyers : peraduenture They'l by fome Writ command thee not to enter. Yet feare them not ; but looke and thou fhalt fpy Vnder their gownes, a maffe of knauery. Pluck off the maske of Law, that cloaks their drifts, And thou fhalt fee a world of lawleffe fhifts. But, tell them there's a ludge will not be feed : And that perhaps will make their Confcience bleed.

Then tell the Scriueners as thou paffeft by, That they were beft to leaue their forgery,

Y Or

xx 337

3H THE SCOVRGE.

Or elfe, why is't their eares doe fcape fo well ? The Diuell meanes to beare them whole, to hell.

Tell the Phyficians (if thou meet with any) Their Potions and their Drugs haue murther'd many, For which, thou wouldft haue lafht, but doft delay them, Becaufe the Diuell meanes to pay them : But if they'l prooue conclufions, bid them then, Try't on themfelues, and not on other men.

Defire the Brokers that they would not yawne After the forfeit of anothers pawne. It is their right by Law they'l fay, 'tis true ; And fo's their foule, perhaps, anothers due : But fling them ; if their confcience quite be fled, Then fhall they pay, what they haue forfeited.

Entreat the Taylor next, if that he can, To leaue his theft, and proue an honeft man. And if he thinke the matter be too hard, Knocke him about the Noddle with his yard. If he be rich and take the fame in fnuffe, Tell him his fubftance is but ftollen ftuffe : And, that the lay would hardly brooke the weather, If euery Bird mould take away her feather. So hauing whipt him ; let the Prieft goe fhriue him And ( if he haue authoritie ) forgiue him.

Go warne the Crafts-man that he doe not lurke All day at Ale-houfe, and neglect his worke : And then furuey the ware of euery Trade, For much (I tell thee) is deceitfull made. Which if thou find ; I charge thee do not friend it, But call him knaue, and bid him go and mend it.

Oh

338

THE SCOVRGE.

Oh fee, if thou the Marchant-man canft findc, For heele be gone at turning of the winde : Bid him keepe touch, or tell his worfliip how His heart will tremble when the Seas are rough : Defire him too, if he doe trauell thither Where Confcience is, that he would bring fome hither ; Here's little, fome will haue it ; if none will, He fhall gaine by it, though he keepe it ftill : If he bring none, 'twere charity I thinke, To pray fome ftorme may make his veffell finke.

Looke in their fhips, for I haue knowne deceit Hath been in both the owner, and the fraight ; Yea, note them well, and thou (halt find their books Are Woodcocks ginnes, and barbed fifhing hooks : But he thereby great ftore of wealth obtaines, And cares not how, fo he encreafe his gaines : Yet, leaft his riches hap to make him proud, Satyr, I pray thee, tell him this aloud To make him fmart ; that, whilft he like a mome, Playes faft abroad, his wife play es loofe at home : Nor fhall his ill-got maffe of wealth hold out, But he, or his, become a banquerout.

Now to thy reft, 'tis night. But here approaches A troope with Torches, hurried in their Coaches. Stay and behold, what are they ? I can tell, Some bound for Shorditch, or for darken-well : Oh thefe are they which thinke that Fornication, Is but a youthfull, fportfull, recreation : Thefe to hold out the game, maintaine the backe With Marrow-Pies, Potato-roots, and Sacke :

Y2 And

339

THE SCOVRGE.

And when that Nature hath confum'd her part, Can hold out a Luxurious courfe by Art : Goe, ftop the horfes quickely (leaft thou miffe) And tell the Coachmans wanton carriage this, They of their guide muft be aduifed well, For they are running downe the hill to hell. Their Venery, will foone confume their flocks, And bring them to repentance with a pocks.

For other crimes committed without light, Let fuch reueale as fee like Owles by night : For many men a fecret fault can finde, But in apparant roageries are blinde. Or elfe, they will not fee ; but thou wert beft Leaue whipping, and betake thee to thy reft. If in an Inne it be, before thou fup, Will that the Tapfher call his Mafter vp, And bid him kindly, fith there lodge thou muft To vfe plaine-dealing like an honeft Hoft. Diffembling's nought, hard reckonings they are worfe ; Light gaines (they fay) will make a heauy purfe. And let him not (a fault with many rife) For bafe aduantage proftitute his wife ; For many men (who are not what they fhould be,) Do make their wiues more wanton than they would be. Thereby they gaine, their Innes are ill frequented ; But fuch ill courfes are too late repented. So fchoole him well, but, doe thy whip refraine, And fend him to his other guefts againe.

Then thou fhalt fee the nimble Tapfter fly, Still yauling, Here, anon Jir, by and by.

So

340

THE SCOVRGE.

So diligent that time, more knovvne mud make him, Or, for an honcft man thou wilt mifbake him ; His bed reuenue is by Nicke and Froth ; Which priuiledge to loofe, they would be loth. And, there's an old fhift (if they leaue it not) There muft be fomething added to the fhot. But wilt thou fwagger with him for it ? No : But take him as he is, and let him goe.

Now for moll Hoftlers if you hap to try them, Knaues thou maift fay they are, and not belie them ; For, they deceiue the poore dumbe trauelling beaft, And for the fame deferue a ierke at leaft ; Yet, doe thou fpare them : for there is no doubt, Some gueft will find a time to pay the lout.

Well, hauing refbed, and difcharg'd thine Hoft, He fend thee downe into the Country, Poft : For I haue bufmeffe, no man would belieue, With whom d'ye thinke ? e'ne with the vnder-Shrieue : Tell him thou heardft (and that's a fault indeed) That in fome caufes he is double-feed. And that moreouer he deferues a portion With thofe that are indited for extortion ; Yea and for other things as well as that, Tell him the countrey termes him, he knowes what. Whereat if thou perceiue, he make a fport Thou whip him fhalt, till he be forry for't. Say to our Knights ; their much formality, Hath made them leaue their Hofpitality : And fay (although they angry, be therefore^ That many of themfelues ar'not onely poore,

Y3 But

34 1

THE SCOVRGE.

But that they haue to (or they are belied) Quite begger'd their pofterity with pride.

And fith thou art fo neere them ; doe not ceafe Vntill thou fee our luftices of Peace : There, try if thou canft get but fo much fauour, To binde the Country to the good behauiour. And tell them, how, thou haft enformed beene, That they haue granted Warrants vpon fpleene ; Are partiall, and haue ouer-fway'd by might The poore mans caufe that's innocent and right : If this thou finde be true, thou haft permiffion To lafh, or put them out of the Commiffion.

The Conftable, if he were bid, I wiffe, Be good in's office, 'twere not much amiffe : For he, they fay, a many meanes may haue If fo he be difpos'd to play the knaue ; See how he deales, and make thy meffage knowne, For he hath flocks, and whipping-pofts of 's owne.

There are Church-wardens too, I fhame to fee How they runne into wilfull periurie. Partly in fauour, and in part for feare, They winke at much diforder in a yeare : But if thou hap to take them in the lurch, lerke them, as euill members of the Church. If they reply, offenders are fo friended Though they prefent, 'tis little thing amended : Yet tell them 'tis their dutie to difcharge Their confciences in euery thing at large ; Which if they doe, ill dooers fhall be fham'd, Or the corrupted Vifitors be blam'd.

And

342

319 THE SCOVRGE.

And prethee tell the B. Chancellors That thou art fent to be their counfellors : And will them, if they meane not to be ftript, And to be once againe like fchoole-boyes whipt Their worfhips would not fo corrupted be ; To hinder luftice for a fcuruy fee.

Then next goe tell their reuerend good Mafters, That thou and they are like to fall to wafters : Faith ; thou fhalt finde their Doctorfhips, perhaps, Difputing of their Surpleffcs and Caps, About the holy Croffe, a Gowne, a Hood, Or fome fuch matter for the Churches good : But tell them, there are other things to do, A great deale fitter to be lookt into ; And if they pleafe to goe their Vifitation, There's waightier matters looke for reformation. Yea, fay there's many an infirmity Which they both may, and ought to remedy : But touch them with remembrance of their place, And they perhaps will alter then the cafe.

Then bid thofe Dunces in our Colledges, That they prouide them good Apologies ; For 'tis reported lately, they haue both Betooke themfelues to venery, and floth, And feeke not learning onely, as they mould, But are back-friends to many a man that would : Twere fit they made a publique recantation, And were well whipt before a Congregation.

So leauing them their wits for to refine, Thou fhalt be bold to looke on the Diuine ;

Y 4 They

343

320

THE SCOVRGE.

They fay he's growne more carefull of his ftocke, Of profits and of tithes, than of his flocke : Now if thou finde report hath not beli'd him, With good refpect vnto his Calling, chide him.

I had almoft forgot our ciuill Doctors ; I pray thee warne them and their lazie Pro6lors, They would not vfe to make fo many paufes, Before they doe determine poore mens caufes, And let them not fuppofe their fees are fmall, Sith they at laft will get the Diuell and all.

There be Court-Barons, many in thy way, Thus maift thou to the Steward of them fay ; Their policiy in raifmg fines and rents, Hath put poore men befides their Tenements : And tell them (let them anfwer if they can) Their falfe Court-roles haue vndone many a man. Say thou haft feene what to their place belong'd, And knowft oft-times both Lord and Tenants wrong'd : Yet fpare thy whip ; for why ? the peoples curfe Already hath prepared them a worfe.

So when thou thus haft punifht Vices flaues, And roundly ierkt the Country petty knaues, Then march thou to the Campe, and tell thou, there The lufty ruffling, fhuffling Caualere, (Whofe hardned heart can brooke to rob and fpill His friend or foe ; to ruine, wound or kill ) That he will one day finde a mifery Will dog him to reuenge his cruelty : And fee that thou the Ruffians courage quaile, Or lafh him, till the ftocke and whip-cord faile.

Walke

344

32I

THE SCOVRGE.

Walke but the Round, and thou maid hap to catch The careleffe Souldiers fleeping in their watch ; Or in a march perhaps they'l goe aftray : But, if thou fee them out of their array, And without leaue and warrant roming out, To fetch fome defperate booty there about, Remember them ; and for their flout brauado's, See thou reward them with found baftinado's. Then bid the Captaines in their Garifons, Not lay to pawne their rich Caparifons, Nor runne vpon the fcore till they are forc't To be difarm'd for payment, or vnhors't, Nor keepe the Souldiers hire, left they be faine To make an infurrection, or complaine. For, that indeed, proues oftentimes the caufe They doe fo much tranfgreffe the Martiall lawes. Yea, tell them tis a fcandall to be drunke, And drown their valour ; or maintaine a Punke. Then if they mend it not, to blot their fame, In fteed of honour, whip them for't with fhame.

Laftly, there are fome felfe-conceited wits, Whofe ftomacks nought but their owne humor fits ; Detracting Critriks ; who e'ne at the beft, Doe bite with enuy, or elfe fnarle at leaft : And in thy Progreffe if difcern'd thou be, 'Tis out of queftion they will fnap at thee. To fpight them then, the waie's not to out-brawle them : But fay thou car'ft not, and that lafh will gaule them.

Now Satyr, leaue me to my felfe alone ; Thou haft thy meffage, and thou maift bo gone :

Whip

yy 345

322

THE SCOVRGE.

Whip any that fhall offer to withftand thee In executing that which I command thee.

And yet, (fo ho, ho, ho}) come backe againe, Be fure that thou doe vnderftand me plaine. Firft note ; I from my Scourge doe here except The Guard by whom the Kingdomes peace is kept, The vertuous Peeres ; know, that I nothing grutch them And on my bleffing fee thou doe not touch them.

And, if in all our Offices there's any That is an honeft man, among fo many, Him did I euer meane that thou fhould'ft fpare ; Becaufe I know that fuch an one is rare.

Phyficke and Law I honour (as tis fit,) With euery vertuous man profeffmg it ; I doe not ayme at fuch as they : Nor when I flout our Gallants, meane I Gentlemen, That well and decently maintained be According to their fafhion and degree : No, thofe I loue ; and what can I leffe doe, Sith I of them am well-beloued too ?

To blame all Marchants, neuer was my will ; Nor doe I thinke all Trades-mens worke is ill : My meaning muft not fo be vnderftood ; For the laft mooes I had were very good.

Yea, and fo farre am I from fuch a thought Thou fhould'ft againft the Vertuous doe ought : That if thou but an honeft Tapfter fee, Tell him I wifh we might acquainted be ; And He that Hoftler loue, which in amends Will vfe my horfe well, that we may be friends.

And

346

323 THE SCOVRGE.

And to be briefe, Good Satyr vnderftand, That thou maift not miftake what I command : 'Tis not my meaning, neither doe I like That thou at this time fhould'ft in fpeciall ftrike : Becaufe my hatred might appeare as then, Not to the vice, but rather to the men. Which is not fo ; for though fome malice me, With euery one I am in charity.

And if that thou doe euer come to fight, And bring thy yet concealed charge to light ; I wifli it might be tooke as 'twas intended, And then no vertuous man will be offended But, if that any man will thinke amis, Vpon my life that party guilty is : And therefore lafh him. So, get th'out of dore ; Come what come will, He call thee backe no more.

Well now he's gone the way that I direct him, And goe he mail how ere the world refpect him : If any meruaile why he was not bolder, Perhaps he may be when that he is older : He hath too fmooth a chin, a looke too milde, A token that he is not wholly wilde ; But may I reach the yeeres of other men, If this loofe world be not amended then, Fie fend a Satyr rougher than a Beare, That mall not chide & whip, but fcratch and teare ; And fo I'le teach him, he mall be too ftrong. For all your Paris-garden dogs to wrong. This Satyr hath a Scourge, (but it wants weight : Your Spanifli whips were worfe in eighty-eight)

That

347

324 THE SCOVRGE.

That, fhall not onely make them howle for paine, But toufe them, till they hold their peace againe.

Now, if the world doe frowne vpon me for't : Shall I be forry ? No, 'twill mend my fport ; But what if I my felfe fhould hap to ftray Out of my bounds, into my Satyrs way ? Why then ; (and that's as much as I need doo) Fie giue him leaue to come and lafh me too.

So now my Mufe a refling time requires For fhee's o'rewearied, and her Spirit tires.

Sofa

FINIS.

348

.. ,

Certaine Epigrams to the Kings moft excellent Maiefty, the Queene, the

Prince, the Princeffe , and other Noble

and Honourable Perfonages , and

Friends, to whom the Author

gaue any of his Books.

To the Kings Mate/lie. EPIGRAM, i.

LOe here dread Sou'raign, and great Britaines King, Firft, to thy view, I haue prefumd to bring Thefc my Eflaies ; On which but gently looke, I doe not make tJtee Patron of my Booke \ For, 'tis not fit our Faiths-Defender (Jlill) Take the protection of each trifling quill. No, yet becaufe thy wifcdome able is Of all things to make vfe ; I giue thee this : The Pifture of a beaft in Humane JJiape\ Tis neither Monkey, nor Baboone, nor Ape, Though mere conditioned. I haue not fought it In Affrick Deferts, neither haue I brought it Out of Ignota terra, thofe wilde Lands Beyond the far theft Megalanickyflraifcfc

Yecld

349

326 EPIGRAMS.

Yeeld not the like ; the Fiend Hues in this He, And I much mus'd thoufpi'dft not all this while That man-like Monfter. Bttt ( alas \ ) I faw, The looke of Maiejly kept him in awe : He will not, (for he dares not) before thee Shew what (indeed) it is his vfe to be. But, in thy prefence he is meeke, demure Deuout, chajle, honeft, innocent, and pure : (Seeming an Angel, free from thought of ill,) And therefore, thou mujl needs fo thinke himjlill.

But, for becaufe thy Soueraigne place denies The fight of what is viewd by meaner eyes, This I haue brought thee with much care and paine : ' Twas like to haue beene forced backe againe. So loath the world was, that thine eye Jhould view The Portraiture that I haue drawne fo true : Yea, yet (I fear e) JJie findes her felfe fo gall'd, Thatfome willjludie how to haiit recall' d : Bitt tis too late ; for now my Mufe doth truft, When thou haftfeerit, thou wilt approue whafs iujl.

And if I may but once per ceiue, or heare, That this found 's pleafing in thy Kingly eare, He make my Mufes to defcribe him fuller, And paint himfoorth in a more liuely colour. Yea I will to the worlds great JJiame vnfold That which is knowne, but neuer yet was told.

Mean-while, great King, a happy Monarch raigne, Infpight of Rome, the Diuell, Hell, and Spaine.

Another

32?

Another to his Maieftie.

EPIGRAM. 2.

A 5 hce that feeds on no worfe meat tJian Quailes, And with choife dainties pleafeth Appetite, Will neuer haue great lift to gnaw his nailes, Or in a courfe thin diet take delight :

So ttiou great KING thatjlill dojl ouer-looke

The learned works that are mojl deep, mojt rare,

Canft not perhaps my ruder Satyrs brooke,

Nor dojl thou for fuch Jliarp-fangd Criticks care.

Oh doe not yet thy felfe fo much ejlrange

From wonted ctirtcfie to others Jlwwne,

A Countrie dijlt doth of ten feme for change ;

Andfomething Jtere is worthie to be knowne.

Sharpe fauce giues fweetcft meat a better tafte, And though that this to many bitter be, Thou no fuch Jicknejfe in thy Jlomacke Jiaft, And therefore 'tivill be p leafing vnto tJiee.

What, though I neither flatter, fawne, nor footh,

My honeft plaineneffe JJiall more truly praife thee, Than thofe that in Court-language filed fmooth, S trine vnbelceued Tropheis for to raife thee,

My

351

EPIGRAMS.

My toy all heart cannot fo ^vell impart

The loue it beares your Maiefty as others : The want of Time, Encouragement, and Art, My purpofe in the Embrioy?///y mot lhers. Obfcuritie, croffe-Fates, and want of Meanes, Would haue made Rome's great Maro harjhly Jing : But if once Caefar to his Mujicke leanes, His tunes through all the world willfweetly ring. And this made Englijh wits, late famous growne, Eliz'as princely hand did oft perufe, Their well turid Poems ; and her bounty Jhowne f A nd that giues light and life to euery Mufe. Oh ! had I fuch a Star/<?r Pole to mine, Pde reach a Straine Jhould rauijh all the Nine.

To the Queenes Maieftie.

EPIGRAM. 3.

In poffe.

DAughter, Wife, Sifter, Mother to a King. And Empreffe of the North, enrich thy Name ; Yet thou dojl chajlitie and wifedome bring Bountie, and Bounty to make vp thy fame. Which Jith (faire Queene) my Mufe hath vnderjlood, She's bold into thy prefence to intrude ;

Affured

352

329 EPIGRM S.

AJfured, honeft meanings that are good Shall finde acceptance there, though they feeme rude. Looke and behold the Vanities of Men, Their Miferies, their Weakneffes and Pride ; And wJien defcribed by my rural I Pen, Thou each particular haft here efpide, Thinke with thyfelfe how bleft thy Fortunes be, T'enioy fo rare a Prince, that both knowes how To keepe himfelfe from fuch fell Paflion/m', A nd make fo many mad-wilde creatures bow : Indeed Jteere' s Vices tablet plainely made, Not veiled ouer, or obfcurely drawne ; 'Tis in a colour which JJiall neuer fade, That men may bluJJi on fuch a Hag to fawne. But if your Grace will fauotir what 1 Jing, Though Vertue be in durance, He repreeue her, That-now defpifed-Nym]fi\ to honour bring, Set all her hidden beauties forth ; and giue her Sofweet a looke, and fuch a deft attire, Men JJiall grow loue-ficke, and burne with dejire,

To CHARLES, Prince of Wales

EPIGRAM. 4.

SEe heere, faire Offfpring of the Royall Ste What all the world almoft is fubie6l to ;

Z Behold

353

330 EPIGRAMS.

Behold it fo, thou truely mayft contemne, And from thy heart abhorre, what others doe ; Now is the fit and onely time to feafon That yong rare-vnderftanding breaft of thine \\f\t\ifacredprecepts, good adtiice, and reafon. But there's no doubt thou wilt to good incline : Inheritance great Prince will make it thine.

And were Mans nature yet more prone to fall, So to be borne, and taught, would helpe it all.

To the Princeffe.

EPIGRAM. 5.

SWeet Princeffe •; tho my Mufe fmg not the glories Of faire aduent'rous Knights, or Ladies loues :

Though here be no Encomiafticke ftories,

That tender hearts, to gentle pitty moues .* Yet in an honeft homely Rufticke ftraine, She limmes fuch creatures, as may you nere know. Forgiue her, though me be feuere or plaine Truth, that may warrant it, commanded fo.

Yea, view it ouer with beliefe, but than,

I am afraid you will abhorre a man.

And yet you need not ; All deferue not blame, For that great Prince that wooeth to be yours,

If

354

EPIGRAMS.

(If that his worth but equalize his famej

Is free from any Satyr here of ours. Nay, they fhal praife him ; for though they haue whips To make the wicked their offences rue, And dare to fcourge the greateft when he trips, Vertue fhall ftill be certaine of her due.

But for your fake (if that you entertaine him ) Oh would he were a man as I could faine him.

Yet fweet Elizabeth : that happy name, If we loft nothing elfe by lofmg thee, So deare to England is, we are to blame If without teares and fighes we parted be :

But if thou mufh make bleft another Clime ;

Remember Our : and for that though I vfe

A crabbed fubiect and a churlifh rime,

Deigne but to be the Miftris of my Mufe ;

And I'le change Theames, and in a lofty ftile, Keepe thee aliue for euer in this lie.

To the Lords of his Maiefties mod Honourable Prime Councell.

M

EPIGRAM. 6

Oft Jionourd Lords ; I here prefent this book, To your graue Cenfures, not to fhew my Art :

Z 2 Nere

332 EPIGRAMS.

Nere did you on fo rude a matter looke,

Yet, 'tis the token of an honeft heart. I did it not to pleafe or flatter any,

Nor haue I made it for the thirft of gaine ; For I am fure it will not humour many,

And I expect much hatred for my paine. Here, fomething you may fee, that now requires

Your care and prouidence to haue't amended : That is, the height to which my Mufe afpires,

And whereto I haue all my labour tended. It may be, there be fome, out of their hate,

Will mif-interpret what is plainely meant ; Or taxe me as too fawcy with the State,

In hope to make me for the truth be fhent : Yet know Great Lords, I doe acknowledge here,

It is your Wifedomes, that next God maintaines This Kingdomes good ; And from my heart I beare

A reuerent refpect vnto your paines. I doe not, as fuch faine would haue it feeme,

Prefume to teach your Wifedomes what is beft ; I doe not mine owne knowledge fo efteeme :

Vile felfe-conceit I ( from my heart ) deteft. But for becaufe I know the piercingft eye

Can neuer into all abufes fee : And fith the greatefb in authoritie

May not behold fometime fo much as we : What therefore I haue thought to be amiffe,

And worth amending I haue told it here : I know your Hononrs will be pleas'd in this,

Though fome (it may be) cannot rage forbeare :

But

356

333 EPIGRAMS:

But if there's any take this writing badly, Had it told all, it would haue vext him madly.

To HENRY, Earle of South- hampton.

EPIGRAM. 7.

SOuth-hampton ; fith thy Prouince brought me forth, And on thofe pleafant Mountaines I yet keepe, I ought to be no ftranger to thy worth, Nor let thy Vertues in obliuion fleepe. Nor will I, if my fortunes giue me time : Meane while read this, and fee what others be. If thou canft like't, and wil't but grace my Rime, I will fo blaze thy HampJJtire Springs and T/iee, Thy Arle, Teft, Stowre, and Anon fhall mare Fame, Either with Humber, Senerne, Trent, or TJiame.

To W i L L i A M , Earle of

Pembroke.

T

EPIGRAM. 8.

Hou whom no priuate endes can make vniuft, ( True Noble Spirit, free from hate or guile )

Z 3 Thou

357

334 EPIGRAMS.

Thou, whom thy Prince, for thy great care and truft,

Hath plac't to keepe the entrance of this lie,

See heere th' abufes of thefe wicked Times :

I haue expofd them open to thy view,

Thy iudgement is not blinded with like crimes,

And therefore maift perceiue that all is true.

Tak't : for though I feeme a ftranger, I know thee ;

And for thy vertues (Penbroke) this I owe thee.

To the Lord Lijle, Lord Chamberlaine to the Qiteene.

EPIGRAM. 9.

A Sidney being, and fo neere allied To him whofe matchleffe rare immortall pen

Procur'd of Fame to haue him deified,

And Hue for euer in the hearts of men : The loue my foule hath euer borne that name, Would certainely perfwade me for your fake,

In honefb feruice to aduenture blame,

Or any open dangers vndertake : Yet fhall not That, your Titles, nor your Place, Your Honours, nor your Might, nor all you haue, Caufe me to flatter, for regard or grace,

Fortune fhall neuer make my minde a flaue : But feeing that your Vertue fhines apparant, And honourable acts doe fpeake your praife :

Sith

353

335 EPIGRAMS:

Sith Good report hath giuen forth her warrant, Which none ffo much as by himfelfej gaine-fayes, That (and nought elfe but that) compels my Mufe To fmg your worthy and to prefent her owne. If this imperfe6l iffue you'l perufe, Tie make her in a better forme be knowne, And teach her, that is now fo rude and plaine, To foare a pitch aboue the common ftraine.

To the Lady Mary Wroth. EPIGRAM. 10.

MAdame, to call you beft, or the moftfaire, The verttift and the ivifeft in our dayes .• Is now not commendations worth a haire, For that's become to be each hufwiues praife.

There's no degree below Superlatiue, Will ferue fome foothing Epigrammatifts : The Worft they praife, exceeds Comparatiue, And Be/I can get no more out of their fifts.

But Arts fweet Loner (vnto whom I know, There is no happy Mufe this day remaines, That doth not to your worth and feruice owe, (At leaft the beft and fweeteft of his ftraines,)

Z 4 Vouch-

359

336 EPIGRAMS.

Vouchfafe to let this Booke your fauour finde : And as I here haue Mans abufes fhowne, Thofe Mufes vnto whom you are enclinde, Shall make your worth and vertues fo well knowne

While others falfe praife, fhall in one's mouth be, All, fhall commend you, in the high'ft degree.

To the Lord Ridgeway. EPIGRAM, u.

SIR, you firft grac't and gratifi'd my Mufe, Which nere durft try till then what fhe could doe : That which I did, vnto my felfe was newes ;

A matter, I was little vs'd vnto : Had you thofe firft endeauours not approu'd

Perhaps I had for euer filence kept ; But now your good encouragement hath moou'd,

And rous'd my Spirits, that before time flept ; For which, I vow'd a gift that mould be better : Accept this for't, and He be ftill your debter.

Heere you fhall fee the Images of Men Morefauage than the wildeft Irijh kerne :

Abufes whipt andftript, and whipt agen ;

I know your iudgement can the Truth difcerne.

Now

360

337 EPIGRAMS.

Now fo you well will thinke of this my Rime, I'ue fuch a minde yet to Saint Patricks He,

That if my Fate and Fortunes giue me time, I purpofe to re-uifit you a while,

And make thofe fparks of honour to flame high

That rak't vp in obliuions cinders lie.

To his Father.

EPIGRAM. 12.

OThers may glory, that their Fathers hands Haue fcrap't together mighty fums of gold, Boaft in the circuit of new purchaft lands, Or heards of Cattell more than can be told. God giue them ioy ; their wealth He nere enuy, For you haue gotten me a greater ftore, And though I haue not their profperitie, In my conceit I am not halfe fo poore. You learn't me with a little to content me, Shew'd how to bridle paflion in fome meafure ; And through your meanes, I haue a Talent lent me, Which I more value than all Indies treafure. For, when the almoft boundleffe Patrimonies Are wafted ; thofe, by which our Great ones truft To be eterniz'd : when their braueries Shall be forgotten, and their Tombes be duft ;

Then

36

338 EPIGRAMS.

Then, to the glory of your future line,

Your owne and my friends facred memory,

This little, poore, defpifed wealth of mine

Shall raife a Trophee of eternitie :

Which fretting Enuy, nor confuming Time,

Shall ere abolifh or one whit offend :

A topleffe Statue, that to Starres fhall climbe,

Such fortune fhall my honeft minde attend.

But I muft needs confeffe, 'tis true, I yet Reape little profit in the eyes of men. My Talent yeelds fmall outward benefit, Yet Tie not leaue it for the world agen. Though't bring no gaine that you by artfull fleight Can meafure out the Earth in part or whole ; Sound out the Centers depth, and take the height Either of th'Artick, or Antartick Pole ; Yet 'tis your pleafure, it contentment brings : And fo my Mufe is my content and ioy : I would not miffe her to be rankt with Kings, How-euer fome account it as a toy.

But hauing then ( and by your means ) obtain'd So rich a Patrimonie for my fhare, (For which with links of loue Tine euer chain'd) What duties fitting for fuch bounties are.

Moreouer, Nature brought me in your debt, And ftill I owe you for your cares and feares : Your paines and charges I doe not forget, Befides the intereft of many yeeres. What way is there to make requitall for it ? Much I (hall leaue vnpaid doe what I can :

Should

362

339 EPIGRAMS.

Should I be then vnthankfull ? I abhor it,

The Will may ferue, when Power wants in man. This booke I giue you then ; here you fliall finde

Somewhat to counteruaile your former coft :

It is a little Index of my minde ;

Time fpent in reading it will not be loft.

Accept it, and when I haue to my might

Paid all I can to you ; if Powers Diuine

Shall fo much in my happineffe delight

To make you Grandfire to a fonne of mine ;

Looke what remaines, and may by right be due, He pay it him, as 'twas receiu'd from you.

Your louing Sonne

George Wither.

To his Mother. EPIGRAM. 13.

VNgratefull is the childe that can forget The Mothers many paines, her cares, her feares, And therefore, though I cannot pay the debt Due for the fmalleft drop of your kinde teares ; This Booke I for acknowledgement doe giue you, Wherein you may perceiue my heart and minde ; Let neuer falfe report of me more grieue you, And you mail fure no iuft occafion finde

Lone

363

340 EPIGRAMS.

Loue made you apt to feare thofe flanders true, Which in my abfence were but lately fowne ; It was a motherly diftruft in you, But thofe that raifd them are falfe villaines knowne. For though I muft confeffe I am indeed The vileft to my felfe that Hues this time ; Yet to the world-ward I haue tane fuch heed, There's none can fpot me with a haynous crime. This I am forc't to fpeake, you beft know why : And I dare ftrike him that dare fay I lye ?

To his deere Friend, Mafter

Thomas Cranly.

EPIGRAM. 14.

BRother, for fo I call thee, not becaufe Thou wert my Fathers or my Mothers fonne ; Not confanguinity, nor wedlocke lawes Could fuch a kindred twixt vs haue begunne : We are not of one bloud, nor yet name neither, Nor fworn in brother-hood with alehoufe quarts, We neuer were fo much as drunke together : 'Twas no fuch flight acquaintance ioyn'd our harts, But a long knowledge with much triall did it ; ( Which are to chufe a friend the beft directions.) And though we lou'd both well at firft, both hid it, Till 'twas difcouer'd by alike affections,

Since

364

EPIGRAMS.

Since which, thou haft o're-gone me far in fhewing The office of a Friend. Doe fo and fpare not : (Lo, here's a Memorandum for what's owing ; ) But, know, for all thy kinde refpect I care not, Vnlefle thoul't (how how I may feruice doe thee : Then will I fweare I am beholding to thee.

Thine, G. W.

To his louing Friend and Coufen-

German, Mr. William

Wither.

EPIGRAM. 15.

IF that the Standerds of the houfe bewray What Fortunes to the owners may betide ; Or if their Deftinies, as fome men fay, Be in the names of any fignifi'd, Tis fo in thine : for that faire antique Shield, Borne by thy Predeceffors long agoe, Depainted with a cleare pure Argent field, The innocencie of thy line did (how. Three fable Crefents with a Cheueron gul'd, Tels that blacke Fates obfcur'd our houfes light ; Becaufe the Planet that our fortunes rul'd, Loft her owne luftre, and was darkned quite :

And

3*5

342 EPIGRAMS.

And, as indeed our Aduerfaries fay, The very name of Wither fhowes decay . But yet defpaire not, keepe thy White vnftain'd, And then it skils not what thy Crefcents be. What though the Moone be now increaft, now wan'd ? Learne thence to know thy lifes inconftancie ; Be carefull as thou hitherto haft bin, To fhun th' Abufes Man is taxt for here : And then that brightneffe now eclipft with fin, When Moone and Sun are darkned, fhall looke cleare And what fo e're thy name may feeme to threat, That quality braue things doth promife thee ; Ere thou fhalt want, thy Hare will bring thee meat, And to kill care, her felfe thy make-fport be :

Yea, (though yet Enuies mifts do make them dull) I hope to fee the waned Orbes at full.

To

366

343 EPIGRAMS.

To his Schoole-Mafter, Mafter lohn G reams.

EPIGRAM. 16.

IF euer I doe wifh I may be rich (As oft perhaps fuch idle breath I fpend) I doe it not for any thing fo much As to haue wherewithall to pay my Friend.

For, ftruft me,) there is nothing grieues me more

Than this ; that I fhould ftill much kindnefle take, And haue a fortune (to my minde) fo poore, That (though I would) amends I cannot make :

Yet, to be ftill as thankfull as I may ;

(Sith my eftate no better meanes affords.)

What I in deeds receiue, I doe repay

In willingnes, in thanks, and gentle words.

Then though your loue doth well deferue to haue

Better requitals than are in my power ;

Knowing you'l nothing vltra poffe craue Here I haue brought you thefe Ejffaies of our.

You may thinke much (perhaps) fith there's fo many

Learn'd Gradtiats that haue your Pupils been ; I, who am none, and more vnfit than any, Should firft prefume in publicke to be feene :

But you haue heard thofe horfes in the teem

That with their worke are ableft to goe through,

So

344 EPIGRAMS.

So forward feldome as blinde Bayard feeme, Or giue fo many twitches to the plough : And fo though they may better ; their intent Is not, perhaps, to foole themfelues in print.

7!? the captious Reader.

WHat thou maift fay or think now tis no matter : But if thou bufily imagine here, Sith moft of thefe are great ones, that I flatter ; Know, facred luftice is to me fo deare,

Did not their verities in my thoughts thus raife them, To get an Empire by them, I'de not praife them.

FINIS.

PRINCE HENRIES

OBSEQVIES; Or

MOVRNEFVLL ELEGIES

vpon his Death :

With

A fuppofed Inter-locution betweene

the Ghoft of Prince Henry, and Great Britaine.

By GEORGE WITHER.

LONDON,

Printed by T. S. for lohn Budge, dwelling in Pauls-

Church-yard at the Signe of the Greene

Dragon. 1622.

3 b

TO THE RIGHT HONOV-

rable, Robert Lord Sidney of Penshurft,

Vicount Li/ley , Lord Chamberlaine to the

Queenes Maiefty, & L. Gouernour of

VluJJiing, and the Caftle of Ramekins.

GEORGE WITHER prefents thefe Elegiak-

fonnets, and wifheth double Comfort after his

tivo-fold forrow.

Anagramms on the name of Sir William Sidney Knight, deceafed.

Gulielmus Sidneins. En vilis, gelidus fum.

*But* Ei* nil Inge, fidus f urn.

BEJide onr great and Vniuerfall care, ( Wherein you one of our chief e fliarers are) To adde more griefe vnto your griefes begun, Whilft we a Father loft, you loji a Son, Whofe haplejfe want Jtad more apparant bcene, But darkened by the Other 'twas imfcene,

A a 2 Which

348 The Epiftle.

Which well perceiving, loth indeed was I, The Memory ofonefo dearejhould die : Occafwn thereupon, I therefrre tooke Thus to prefent your honour with this Booke, ( Vnfained, and true mournefull Elegies, And for our HE N R Y, my loft ObfequiesJ That he, which did your Sonnes late death obfcure, Might be the Meane to make his fame endure : But, this may but renew your former woe : Indeed and I might well haiie doubted fo, Had not I knowne, that Vertue, which did place you Aboue the common fort did alfo grace you ; With gifts 0/Minde, td make you more excell, A nd farre more able, Paffions rage to quell. You can, and may with moderation moane, For all your comfort is not loft with one : Children you haue, whofe Vertues may reneiv The comfort of decaying Hopes in you. Praifed be f)od, forfuch great blefjings giuing, And happy you, to hatie fitch comforts lining. Nor doe I thinke it can be rightly fed, You are vnhappy in this One that's dead : For notwithjlanding his jirjl Anagram Frights, with * Behold, now cold, and vile I am : Yet in his lajl, he feemes more cheer efull farre t And ioyes, with *Soft, mourne not, I am a Starre. lifli 0Cf this Oh great preferment : what could he afpire Anagram. That was more high, or you could more defire ? Well,fince his foule in heait n fiich glory hath, My Loue bequeathes his Graue, this Epitaph.

Here

372

349

Dedicatorie.

•

EPITAPH.

Heere vnder lies a SIDNEY: And what than ? Dooft thinke heere lies but reliques of a man ? Know ; 'tis a Cabanet did once include Wit, Beauty, Sweetnes, Court fie, Fortitude.

So let him reft, to Memory Jlill deare. Till his Redeemer in the Clowdes appeare. Meane while ; accept his Will, who meaning plaine, Doth neither write for Praife, nor hope of Gaine : And now your Teares, and priuate Griefe, forbeare, To turne vnto our Great and Publique Care.

Your Honours true honorer, George Wither.

373

To the whole world in generall, and more

particularly to the lies of great Britaine

and Ireland, &c.

BIg-fwolne with fighes, and almoft drown'd in teares My Mufe out of a dying trance vp-reares ; Who yet not able to expreffe her moanes, (Indeed of better vtterance) here, groanes. And left my clofe-breaft fhould her health impaire, Is thus amongft you come to take the ayre. I need not name the griefes that on her feaze, Th'are known by this, beyond ^Antipodes. But to your view fome heauy rounds fhe brings, That you may beare the burthen, when fhe fings : And that's but Woe : which you fo high fhould ftraine, That heauens high vault might Eccho't backe againe. Then, though I haue not ftriued to feeme witty, Yet read, and reading note, and noting pitty. What though there's others, fhow in this more Art ? I haue as true ; as forrowfull a heart : What though Opinion giue me not a Name, And I was ne're beholding yet to Fame ? Fate would (perhaps) my Mufe, as yet vnknowne, Should firft in Sorrowes liuery be fhowne. Then, be the witneffe of my difcontent, And fee, if griefes haue made me Eloquent : For here I mourne, for your-our publique loffe ; And doe my pennance, at the Weeping Croffe.

The moft forrowfulli G. W.

375

352

DEath (that by ftealth did wound Prince H. hart) Is now tane Captiue, and doth a6l the part Of one o'recome, by being too too fierce, And lies himfelfe dead vnder Henries hearfe : He therefore now in heauenly tunes doth Sing, Hell, where's thy triumph ? Death where is thy Sting?

376

353

PRINCE HENRIES

Obfequies ;

OR

Mournefull Elegies vpon his death : With

A fuppofed Inter-locution betweene the Ghoft of Prince Henry , and Great Britaine.

Eleg. i.

NOw that beloued Henries glaffe is runne, And others duties to his body fhowne ;

Now, that his fad-fad Obfequies be done,

And publique forrowes well-nigh ouer-blowne :

Now giue me leaue to leaue all loyes at one,

For a dull Melancholy lonelineffe ;

To pine my felfe with a felfe-pining mone,

And fat my griefe with folitarineffe

For, if it be a comfort in diftreffe,

(As fome thinkej to haue fharers in our woes,

Then my defire is to be comfortleffe.

(My Soule in publique griefe no pleafure knowesj Yea, I could wifh, and for that wifh would die, That there were none had caufe to grieue but I.

For

3' 377

354 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 2.

For were there none had caufe to grieue but I, 'Twould from my Sorrowes, many forrowes take ; And I fhould moane but for one mifery, Where now for thoufands, my poore heart doth ake. Bide from me loy then, that oft from me bid'ft, Be prefent Care, that often prefent art ; Hide from me Comfort, that at all times hid'ft, For I will greeue ; with a true-greeuing heart. He glut my felfe with forrow for the nonce, What though my Reafon would the fame gaine-fay ? Oh beare with my vnbridled Paffion once, I hope it fhall not much from vertue ftray, Sith griefe for fuch a loffe, at fuch a feafon, Paft meafure may be, but not out of Reafon.

Eleg. 3.

What need I for th'infernall Furies hallo ? Call vpon darkneffe, and the lonely night ? Or fummon vp Minerua, or Apollo, To helpe me dolefull Elegies endite ? Heere wants no mention of the feares of Stix, Of blacke Cocitus, or fuch fained ftuffe : Thofe may paint out their griefes with forced tricks, That haue not in them reall caufe enough ; I need it not ; yet for no priuate Croffe, Droopes my fad foule, nor doe I mourne for fafhion, For why ? a generall, a publique loffe, In me hath kindled a right wofull Paffion.

Then (oh alas) what need hath he to borrow, That's pinch't already with a feeling forrow ?

Firfl

37«

355 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 4.

Firft, for thy lofle, poore world-diuided He, My eyes pay griefes drink-offering of teares : And I fet-by all other thoughts a while, To feede my minde the better on my cares. I faw, how happy thou wert but of late In thy fweet Henries hopes, yea I faw too, How thou didft glory in thy bleffed ftate : Which thou indeed hadft caufe enough to doe. But, when I faw thee place all thy delight Vpon his worth ; and then, when thou didlt place it, (And thy loy almoft mounted to her height) His hapleffe end fo fuddainely deface it ;

Me thought, I felt it goe fo neere my heart, Mine ak't to, with a fympathizing fmart.

Eleg. 5.

For thee great lames, my fprings of forrow runne, For thee my Miife a heauy fong doth fmg ; That haft loft more in lofmg of thy Sonne, Then they that lofe the title of a King. Needs muft the paines that doe difturbe the head Difeafe the body throughout euery part ; I therefore, fliould haue feem'd a member dead, If I had had no feeling of this fmart ; But oh I grieue : and yet I grieue the lefle, Thy Kingly gift fo well preuail'd to make him Fit for a Crowne of endleffe happineffe ; And that it was th' Almighties hand, did take him, Who was himfelfe, a booke for Kings to pore on : And might haue bin thy BASIAIKON AHPON.

For

379

356 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 6.

For our faire Queene, my griefe is no leffe mouing, There's none could ere more iuftly boaft of childe : For he was euery way moft nobly louing, Moft full of manfull courage, and yet milde. Me thinks I fee what heauy difcontent Be-clouds her brow, and ouer-fhades her eyne : Yea, I doe feele her louing heart lament, An earned thought conueyes the griefe to mine. I fee me notes the fadneffe of the Court, Thinks how that heere, or there me faw him laft : Remembers his fweet fpeech, his gracefull fport, And fuch like things to make her Paffion laft.

But what meane I ? Let griefe my fpeeches fmother, No tongue can tell the forrowes of the Mother.

Eleg. 7.

Nor thine fweet Charles, nor thine Elisabeth, Though one of you haue gain'd a Princedome by't : The griefe he hath to haue it by the death Of his fole brother, makes his heart deny't, Yet let not Sorrowes blacke obfcuring clowd Quite couer and eclipfe all comforts light : Though one faire Star aboue our height doth fhrowd, Let not the Earth be left in darknes quite. Thou Charles art now our Hope, God grant it be More certaine than our laft ; wee truft it will : Yet we mail haue a louing feare of thee ; The burned childe the fire much dreadeth ftill.

But God loues his ; and what ere forrowes threat, I, one day, hope to fee him Charles the Great.

Then

380

357 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 8.

Then droop not Charles to make our griefes the more ; God that to fcourge vs, tooke away thy brother. To comfort vs againe, kept thee in (lore : And now I thinke on't Fate could doe no other. Thy Father both a Sunne, and Phoenix is, Prince Henry was a Sunne and Phoenix too, And if his Orbe had beene as high as his, His beames had fhone as bright's his fathers doo. Nature faw this and tooke him quite away, And now doft thou to be a Phoenix trie ; Well, fo thou (halt (no doubt) another day, But then thy father (Charles} or thou muft die. For 'twas decreed when firft the world begun, Earth fhould haue but one Phoenix, heau'n one Sun.

Eleg. 9.

But fhall I not be-moane the fad Elector ? Yes Fredericke, I needs muft grieue for thee : Thou wooeft with woe now, but our beft prote6lor Giues ioyfull ends where hard beginnings be. Had we no fhowes to welcome thee to Court, No folemne fight but a fad Funerall ? Is all our former Masking and our fport, Transform'd to fighes ? are all things tragicall ? Had'ft thou beene here at Summer, or at Spring, Thou fhouldft not then haue feene vs drooping thus, But now tis Autumne, that fpoiles eu'ry thing : Vulgarly term'd the Fall otlt leafe, with vs. And not amiffe ; for well may't be the Fall, That brings down bloffoms, Fruit, leaues, tree & all,

Then,

358 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 10.

Then, Stranger Prince, if thou neglected feeme, And haft not entertainement to thy State : Our loues yet doe not therefore mif-efteeme ; But lay the fault vpon vnhappy Fate. Thou found'ft vs glad of thy arriuall here, And faw'ft him, whom we lou'd (poore wretched Elues ;) Say : didft thou ere of one more worthy heare ? No, no, and therefore now we hate our felues. We being then of fuch a gem bereft, Beare with our paflions ; and fince one is gone, And thou mufb haue the halfe of what is left ; Oh thinke on vs for good, when you are gone,

And as thou now doll beare one halfe of 's name ;

Helpe beare our griefe, and fhare thou all his fame.

Eleg. II.

See, fee, faire Princeffe, I but nam'd thee yet, Meaning thy woes within my breaft to fmother : But on my thoughts they doe fo liuely beat, As if I heard thee fighing, Oh my Brother : Me thinkes I heard thee calling on his name, With plaining on his too-vngentle Fate : And fure, the Sifters were well worthie blame, To mew fuch fpite to one that none did hate. I know thou fometime mufeft on his face, (Faire as a womans ; but more manly-faire ;) Sometime vpon his fhape, his fpeech, and pafe, A thoufand waies thy griefes themfelues repaire.

And oh ! no maruell, fince your fure-pure loues

Were neerer, dearer, than the Turtle Doues.

How

382

359 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 12.

How often, oh how often did he vow To grace thy ioyfull lookt-for Nuptialls : But oh how wofull, oh how wofull now Will they be made through thefe fad Funeralls ! All pleafing parlies that betwixt you two, Publicke, or priuate, haue exchanged beene, All thou haft heard him promife for to doe, Or by him in his life performed feene, Calls on remembrance : the fweet name of Sifter So oft pronounc't by him feemes to take place, Of Qucene and Emprejfe, now my thoughts do whifper, Thofe titles one day fhall thy vertues grace.

If I fpeake true, for his fweet fake that's dead, Seeke how to raife defected Britaines head.

Eleg. 13.

Seeke how to raife deie6led Britaines head, So flie fhall ftudy how to raife vp thine, And now leaue off thy teares in vaine to fhed, For why ? to fpare them I haue powr'd put mine. Pittie thy felfe, and vs, and mournefull Rhine, That hides his faire banke vnder flouds of griefe, Thy Prince, thy Duke, thy braue Count Palatine : Tis time his forrowes mould haue fome reliefe. Hee's come to be another brother to thee, And helpe thy father to another fonne : He vowes thee all the feruice loue can doe thee ; And though acquaintance hath with griefe begunne, Tis but to make you haue the better taft Of that true bliffe you fhall enioy at laft.

Thy

3*3

360 Prince Henries Obfeqiiies.

Eleg. 14.

Thy brother's well and would not change eftates, With any Prince that raignes beneath the Skie : No not with all the worlds great Potentates, His plumes haue borne him to Eternitie. Saturne He raignes o're Saturne now, that raign'd o're him ; houre of He feares no Planets dangerous afpe<5l : his death. But dotj1 aboue their conftellations clime,

And earthly ioyes, and forrowes both neglect. We faw he had his Spring amongft vs here, He faw his Summer, but he skipt it ouer : And Autumne now hath tane away our deare, The reafon's this, which we may plaine difcouer, He fhall efcape, (for fo the Almighty wils) The ftormy Winter of enfuing ils.

Eleg. 15.

I grieue to fee the wofull face oth' Court, And for each grieued member of the land ; I grieue for thofe that make thefe griefes their fport, And cannot their owne euill vnderftand. I alfo grieue, to fee how vices fwarme, And Vertue as defpis'd, grow out of date : How they receiue moft hurt, that doe leaft harme, And how poore honeft Truth incurreth hate. But more, much more, I grieue that we doe miffe The ioy we lately had ; and that he's gone, Whofe liuing prefence might haue helpt all this : His euerlafting Abfence makes me mone,

Yea moft I grieue, that Britaines hope is fled, And that her darling, braue Prince Henrie's dead.

Prince

3*4

36 1 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 1 6.

Prince Henrie dead / what voyce is that we heare ?

Am I awake, or dreame I, tell me whether ?

If this be true ; if this be true, my deare,

Why doe I flay behinde thee to doe either ?

Alas my Fate compels me, I muft bide

To (hare the mifchiefes of this prefent age,

I am ordain'd to liue till I haue tride

The very worft and vtmoft of their rage :

But then why morne I not to open view,

In fable robes according to the Rites ?

Why is my hat, without a branch of yeugh f

Alas my minde, no complement delights, Becaufe my griefe that Ceremonie lothes, Had rather be in heart, than feeme in clothes. Eleg. 17.

Thrife happy had I been, if I had kept

Within the circuit of fome little Village,

In ignorance of Courts and Princes flept,

Manuring of an honeft halfe-plough tillage :

Or elfe I would I were as young agen,

As when Eliza our laft Phcenix dy'd :

My childifh yeares had not conceiued then,

What 'twas to lofe a Prince fo dignifi'd.

But now I know : and what now doth't auaile ?

Alas, whilft others merry, feele no paine,

I melancholly, fit alone and waile :

Thus fweeteft profit, yeelds the bitterft gaine. By difobedience we did knowledge get, And, forrow, euer fmce hath followed it,

B b When

385

362 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 1 8.

When as the firft fad rumour fill'd my eare Of Henries fickeneffe ; an amazing terror Strucke through my body, with a fhuddring feare, Which I expounded but my frailties error. For though a quick-mifdoubting of the worft, Seem'd to fore-tell my foule, what would enfue : God will forbid, thought I, that fuch a curft Or ill-prefaging thought, fhould fall out true : It cannot fmke into imagination, That He, whofe future glories we may fee To be at leaft all Europes expectation, Should in the prime of age defpoiled be ;

For if a hope fo likely nought auaile vs,

It is no wonder if all other faile vs.

Eleg. 19.

Againe, when one had forc't vnto my eare, My Prince was dead ; although he much protefted, I could not with beliefe his fad newes heare : But would haue fworne, and fworne againe, he iefted. At fuch a word, me thought the towne fhould fmke, The earth fhould downe vnto the Center cleaue, Deuouring all in her hell-gaping chinke, And not fo much as Sea or Hand leaue. Some Comet, or fome monftrous blazing-Starre, Should haue appear'd ; or, fome ftrange prodigie, Death might haue fhown't vs though't had bin afarre, That he entended fome fuch tyranny.

But God (it feemeth) did thereof diflike,

To fhew that he will on a fudden ftrike.

Thus

336

363 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 20.

Thus vnbeleeuing, I did oft enquire Of one, of two, of three, and fo of many : And ftill I heard what I did leaft defire, Yet grounded Hope, would giue no faith to any. Then at the laft my heart began to feare, But as I credence to my feares was giuing A voyce of comfort I began to heare : Which to my fruitleffe loy faid Henrie's liuing ; At that fame word, my Hope that was forfaking My heart, and yeelding wholly to defpaire ; Reuiued ftraight, and better courage taking, Her crazed parts, fo ftrongly did repaire.

I thought me would haue held it out ; but vaine ;

For oh, ere long, me loft it quite againe.

Eleg. 21.

But now my tongue can neuer make relation, What I fuftain'd in my laft foughten field ; My mind affailed with a three-fold paflion, Hope, Feare, Defpaire, could vnto neither yeeld. Feare willed me, to view the skies blacke colour, Hope faid ; Vpon his hopefull vertues looke : Defpaire fhew'd me an vniuerfall dolour, Yet fruitleffe Doubt, my hearts poffeflion tooke : J3ut when I faw the Hearfe, then I beleeu'd, And then my forrow was at full, alas, Befide, to mow I had not caufeleffe grieu'd, I was enform'd that he embowell'd was.

And 'twas fubfcrib'd ; they found he had no gall,

Which I belieu'd : for he was fweetneffe all.

Bb 2 Oh

3-°>7

364 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 22.

Oh cruell and infatiable Death ! Would none fuffice, would none fuffice but he ? What pleafure was it more to flop his breath, Than to haue choakt, or kill'd, or poyfon'd me ? My life for his, with thrice three millions more, We would haue giuen as a ranfome to thee, But fmce thou in his loffe haft made vs poore, Foule Tyrant, it lhall neuer honour doe thee : For thou haft fhowne thy felfe a fpightfull fiend, Yea Death thou didft enuy his happy ftate, And therefore thought'ft to bring it to an end ; But fee, fee whereto God hath turn'd thy hate.

Thou meant'ft to marre the bliffe he had before : And by thy fpight, haft made it ten-times more.

Eleg. 23.

'Tis true I know, Death with an equall fpurne, The lofty Turret, and low Cottage beats : And takes imperially each, in his turne, Yea though he bribes, prayes, promifes, or threats. Nor Man, Beaft, Plant, nor Sexe, Age nor degree Preuailes againft his dead-fure ftriking hand : For then, ere we would thus difpoyled be, All thefe conioyn'd his fury Ihould withftand. But oh ! vnfeene he ftrikes at vnaware, Difguifed like a murthering lefuite : Friends cannot ftop him that in prefence are ; And which is worfe, when he hath done his fpite, He carries him, fo farre away from hence, None Hues, that hath the powre to fetch him thence.

Nor

388

365 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 24.

Nor would we now, becaufe we doe beleeue His God (to whom indeed he did belong,) To crowne him, where he hath no caufe to greeue, Tooke him from death, that fought to doe him wrong. But were this deare, beloued, Prince of ours Liuing in any corner of this All, Though kept by Romes and Mahomets chiefe powers ; They fhould not long detaine him there in thrall : We would rake Europe rather, plaine the Eaft ; Difpeople the whole Earth before the Doome : Stampe halfe to powder, and fier all the reft ; No craft, nor force, fhould him deuide vs from :

We would breake downe what ere fhould him confine, Though 'twere the Alpes, or hilles of Appenine.

Eleg. 25.

But what ? fhall we goe now difpute with God, And in our hearts vpbraide him that's fo iuft ? Let's pray him rather, to withdraw his rod, Left in his wrath he bruife vs vnto duft. Why fhould we lay his death to Fate, or times ? I know there hath no fecond caufes bin, But our loud crying and abhorred crimes, Nay, I can name the chiefeft murth'ring fin : And this it was, how-ere it hath beene hid, Truft not ( faith Dauid) truft not to a Prince ; Yet we hop't leffe, in God ( I feare we did ) In iealoufie he therefore tooke him hence.

Thus we abufe good things, and through our blindnes Haue hurt our felues, & kild our Prince with kindnes. Bb 3 Le

3*9

366 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 26.

Let all the world come and bewayle our lot, Come Europe, AJia, Africa, come all : Mourne Englijh> Iri/h, Brittifh, and mourne Scot, For his, (no I miftake it) for our fall. The prop of Vertue, and mankinds delight, Hath fled the earth, and quite forfaken vs : We had but of his excellence a fight, To make our longings like to Tantalus. What feeke you in a man that he enioy'd not ? Wert't either gift of body or of fpirit ; Nay, which is more, what had he, he imploy'd not To helpe his Countrey, and her loue to merit ?

But fee what high preferment Vertues bring,

He's of a feruant now become a King.

Eleg. 27.

But foft, I meane not heare to blaze his praife, It is a worke too mighty, and requires Many a Pen, and many yeeres of dayes : My humble quill to no fuch taske afpires, Onely I mourne, with deep-deep-fighing grones, Yet could I wifh the other might be done ; Though all the Mufes were imploy'd at once, And write as long as Helicon would runne ; But oh, I feare the Spring's already dry, Or elfe why flags my lazie Mufe fo lowe ? Why vent I fuch dull-fprighted Poefy ? Surely 'tis funke ; I lye, it is not fo :

For how ift likely that fhould want fupplies,

When all we feed it with our weeping eyes ?

May

390

36? Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 28.

May not I liken London now to Troy, As me was that fame day (he loft her Heclor ? When proud A chilles fpoyl'd her of her ioy (And triumph't on her loffes) being Victor \ May not I liken Henry to that Greeke, That hauing a whole world vnto his mare, Intended other worlds to goe and feeke ? Oh no ; I may not, they vnworthy are. Say, whereto England, whereto then fhall I Compare that fweet departed Prince, and thee ? That noble King bewail'd by leremy, Of thee, (great Prince, ) fhall the example be. And in our mourning we will equall them, Of woefull luda and lerufalem.

Eleg. 29.

You that beheld it, when the mournfull traine Paft by the wall of his forfaken Parke, Did not the very Groue feeme to complaine, With a ftill murmure, and to looke more darke ? Did not thofe pleafant walkes (oh pleafmg then Whilft there he (healthfull) vfed to refort) Looke like the fhades of Death, neere fome foule den ? And that place there, where once he kept his Court, Did it not at his parting feeme to finke ? And all forfake it like a Caue of fprights ? Did not the Earth beneath his Chariot fhrinke, As grieued for the loffe of our delights ?

Yea his dumb Steed, that erft for none would tarry, Pac'd flow, as if he fcarce himfelfe could carry.

B b 4 But

368 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 30.

But oh ! when it approach't th'impaled Court,

Where Mars himfelfe enui'd his future glory,

And whither he in armes did oft refort,

My heart conceiued a right tragicke ftory.

Whither great Prince, oh whither doft thou goe ?

fMe thought the very place thus feem'd to fay )

Why in blacke roabes art thou attended fo ?

Doe not (oh doe not) make fuch hafte away.

But art thou Captiue, and in triumph too ?

Oh me ! and worfe too, liueleffe, breathleffe, dead.

How could the Monfter-Death this mifchiefe doe ?

Surely the coward tooke thee in thy bed.

For whilft that thou art arm'd within my lift, He dar'd not meet thee, like a Martialift. Eleg. 31.

Alas, who now fhall grace my turnaments :

Or honour me with deeds of Chiualry ?

What fhall become of all my merriments,

My Ceremonies, fhowes of Heraldry

And other Rites ? who ? who fhall now adorne

Thy Sifters Nuptials with fo fweet a prefence ?

Wilt thou forfake vs, leaue vs quite forlorne,

And of all ioy at once make a defeafance ?

Was this the time pickt out by Defbiny ?

Farewell deare Prince then, fith thou wilt be gone,

In fpight of Death goe Hue eternally,

Exempt from forrow, whilft we mortals mone : But this ill hap inftru<5t me fhall to feare When we are ioyfull'ft, there's moft forrow neare.

Then

392

3^9 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 32.

Then, as he paft along you might efpye How the grieu'd Vulgar that fhed many a teare, Caft after, an vnwilling parting eye, As loth to lofe the fight they held fo deare ; When they had loft the figure of his face, Then they beheld his roabes ; his Chariot then, Which being hid, their looke aym'd at the place, Still longing to behold him once agen : But when he was quite paft, and they could finde No obie<5l to employ their fight vpon, Sorrow became more bufie with the minde, And drew an Armie of fad paflions on ;

Which made them fo particularly mone,

Each amongft thoufands feem'd as if alone.

Eleg. '33-

And well might we of weakeft fubftance melt, With tender paffion for his timeleffe end, Sith (as it feem'd) the purer bodies felt Some griefe, for this their fweet departed friend ; The Sunne wrapt vp in clowds of mournefull blacke, Frown'd as difpleas'd with fuch a hainous deed, And would haue ftaid, or turn'd his horfes backe, If Nature had not fortc't him on with fpeed : Yea, and the Heauens wept a pearly dewe, Like very teares, not fo as if it rain'd. His Grand-fires tombes, as if the ftones did rue Our wofull lofles ; were with moyfture ftain'd :

Yea, either 'twas my eafie mind's beliefe ;

Or all things were difpofed vnto griefe.

Blacke

3' 393

370 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 34.

Blacke was White-hall. The windowes that did fhine, And double-glazed were with beauties bright, Which Sun-like erft did dim the gazers eyne, As if that from within them came the light. Thofe to my thinking feemed nothing faire, And were obfcur'd with woe, as they had been Hung all with facke, or fable-cloth of haire, Griefe was without, and fo 'tappear'd within. Great was the multitude, yet quiet tho As if they were attentiue vnto forrow : The very winds did then forbeare to blow, The Time, of flight, her ftilneffe feem' to borrow. Yea, all the troope pac't flowe, as loth to rend The earth that fhould embrace their Lord & friend.

Elk- 35-

Me thought ere-while I faw Prince Henries Armes Aduanc't aboue the Capitoll of Rome, And his keene blade, in fpight of fheele or charmes, Giue many mighty enemies their doome ; Yea I had niany Hopes, but now I fee They are ordain'd to be anothers taske : Yet of the Stewards line a branch fhall be T' aduance beyond the Alpes his plumed Caske ; Then I perhaps, that now tune dolefull layes, Amongft their zealous triumphs may prefume To fmg at leaft fome petty Captaines praife : Meane-while I will fome other worke affume. Or rather, fith my hope-fulft Patron's dead, Goe to fome Defert, and there hide my head.

Had

394

Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 36.

Had he beene but my Prince and wanted all Thofe ornaments of Vertue that fo grac't him, My loue and life had both beene at his call, For that his Fortune had aboue vs plac'd him : But his rare hopefulneffe, his flying Fame, His knowledge, and his honeft policie, His courage much admir'd, his very name, His publicke loue, and priuate curtefie : loyn'd with religious firmeneffe, might haue mou'd Pale Enuy to haue prais'd him, and fure he, Had he beene of meane birth ; had bin belou'd ; For truft me, his fweet parts fo rauifh't me.

That (if I erre, yet pardon me therefore,)

I lou'd him as my Prince : as Henry more.

Eleg. 37-

Me thought his Royall perfon did fore-tell A Kingly ftatelines, from all pride cleare : His looke maiefticke feemed to compell All men to loue him, rather than to feare. And yet though he were eu'ry good mans ioy, And the alonely comfort of his owne, His very name with terror did annoy His foraine foes fo farre as he was knowne. Hell droopt for feare, the turkie Moone look't pale, Spaine trembled, and the moft tempeftuous fea (Where BcJtcmoth the Babylonijli Whale, Keeps all his bloody and imperious plea)

Was fwolne with rage, for feare he'd flop the tide,

Of her ore-daring and infulting pride.

For

395

372 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 38.

For amongft diuers Verities rare to finde, Though many I obferu'd, I markt none more Than in Religion his firme conftant minde ; Which I fet deepe vpon Remembrance fcore. And that made Romifts for his fortunes forry : When therefore they fhall heare of this ill hap, Thofe Mints of mifchiefes will extreamely glory, That he is caught by him whom none fhall fcape, Yet boaft not Babel, thou infultft in vaine, Thou haft not yet obtain'd the victory ; We haue a Prince ftill, and our King doth raigne, So fhall his feed, and their pofherity.

For know; God that loues his, & their good tenders, Will neuer leaue his faith, without defenders.

Eleg. 39.

Amidft our facred fports that very feafon, Whilft for our Country and beloued lames, Preferued from that hell-bred Powder-treafon, We rung and fung with fhowtes, and ioyfull flames : Me thought vpon the fodaine I efpy'd Romes damned fiends, an anticke dance begin : The Furies led it that our bleffe enuy'd, And at our rites the hel-hounds feem'd to grin. How now thought I / more plots / & with that thought Prince Henry ; dead, I plainely heard one cry : O Lord ( quoth I ) now they haue that they fought, Yet let not our gladft-day, our fadft-day die. God feem'd to heare, for he to eafe our forrow, Reuiu'd that day, to die againe the morrow.

But

396

373 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 40.

But Britaine, Britaine, tell me, tell me this, What was the reafon thy chiefe curfe befell So iuft vpon the time of thy chiefe bliffe ? Doft thou not know it ? heare me then, He tell : Thou wert not halfe halfe-thankfull for his care And mercy that fo well preferued thee ; His owne, he neuer did fo often fpare : Yea he thy Lord himfelfe hath ferued thee, Yet Laodicia thou, nor hot nor cold, 'Secure, and careleffe doft not yet repent, Thou wilt be euer ouer-daring bold, Till thou haft vengeance, vpon vengeance hent. But (oh) fee how Hypocrijle doth raigne : I villaine, that am worft doe firft complaine.

Eleg. 41.

A foule confuming Peftilence did wafte, And lately fpoyld thee England to thy terror ; But now alas, a greater plague thou haft, Becaufe in time thou couldft not fee thy error : Hard Fro/Is thy fields and gardens haue deflowred, Hot Summers hath thy fruits Confumption bin, Fire many places of thee hath deuoured, And all fore-warnings to repent thy fin. Yet ftill thou didft defer't and careleffe fleepe, Which heau'n perceiuing with black clouds did frowne, And into flouds for very anger weepe, Yea the fait Sea, a part of thee did drowne.

She drown'd a part (but oh that part was fmall) Now teares more fait, haue ouer-whelm'd vs all.

Say

397

374 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg, 42.

Say why was Henries Herfe fo glorious f And his fad FuneraU fo full of ftate ? Why went he to his Tombe as one victorious : Seeming as blith as when he liu'd of late ? What needed all that Ceremonious fhow ? And that dead-liuing Image which they bare ? Could not Remembrance make vs fmart enough, Vnleffe we did afrefh renew it there ? What was it, but fome anticke curious rite, Onely to feed the vaine beholders eyes, To make men in their forrowes more delight, Or may we rather on it moralize ?

Yes, yes, it fhew'd that though he wanted breath,

Yet he fhould ride in triumph ouer death.

Eleg. 43.

How welcome now would our deare Henry be, After thefe griefes were he no more than ftraid, And thus deem'd dead ? but fie ! what Fantajle Feedes my vaine thought on ? Fate hath that denay'd. But fmce hee's gone, we now can call to minde, His lateft words, and whereto they did tend : Yea, now our blunt capacities can finde, They plainely did prognofticate his end. Befide, we finde our Prophecies of old, And would perfwade our felues 'twas knowne of yore By skilfull Wizards ; and by them fore-told, But then why found we not fo much before ?

Oh marke this euer, we ne're know our ftate,

Nor fee our loffe before it be too late.

From

393

375 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Eleg. 44.

From paflion thus, to paflion could I runne, Till I had ouer-runne a world of words, My Mufe might fhe be heard would ne're haue done The fubie6l, matter infinite affords, But ther's a meane in all ; with too much greeuing We mufb not of Gods prouidence defpaire Like curfed Pagans, or men vnbeleeuing. Tis true, the Hopes that we haue loft were faire : But we beheld him with an outward eye, And though he in our fight moft worthie feem'd, Yet God faw more, whofe fecrets none can fpye, And findes another whom we leffe efteem'd : So leffes eldeft Sonnes had moft renowne, But little Dauid did obtaine the Crowne.

Eleg. 45.

Let vs our truft alone in God repofe, Since Princes faile ; and maugre Turke or Pope, He will prouide one that mall quaile our foes, We faw he did it, when we had leffe hope : Let's place our loyes in him and weepe for fin, Yea, let's in time amend it, and fore-fee, (If loffe of earthly Hope hath grieuous been) How great the loffe of heau'ns true loyes may be : This if we doe, God will ftretch forth his hand, To flop thofe plagues he did intend to bring, And poure fuch bleffmgs on this mournefull Land, We mall for / O, Halleluiah fmg :

And our deare lames, if we herein perfeuer, Shall haue a Sonne to grace his Throne for euer.

Art

399

Canutus.

AN EPITAPH VPON THE

moft Hopefull and All-vertuous Henry, Prince of Wales.

STay Traueiler, and read ; did' ft neuer heare In all thy iourneyes any newes or tales Of him whom our diuided world efteem'dfo deare, And named Henrie, the braue Prince of Wales.

Looke here within this little place he lies, Eu'n he that was the Vniuerfall Hope : And almoft made this He Idolatrize, See, hee's contented with a little Jcope.

And as the Dane that on Southampton ftrand, His Courtiers idle flatteries did chide, ( Who tcanrid him both the God of fea and land) By Jhewing he could not command the Tide ;

So this, to mocke vaine Hopes, in him began Dyd\ and here lies, to Jhew he was a man.

400

377

^p<9

A Suppofed Inter-locution be-

tweene the Spirit of Prince Henry and Great Britaine.

Br. A Wake braue Prince, thou doft thy Country wrong

-TxShake off thy {lumber, thou haft flept too long, Open thy eye-lids, and raife vp thy head, Thy Countrey and thy Friends fuppofe thee dead. Looke vp, looke vp, the dayes are growne more fhort, Thy Officers prepare to leaue thy Court. The ftaines of Sorrow are in euery face, And CJtarles is call'd vpon to take thy Place. Awake I fay in time, and wake the rather, Leaft Melancholy hurt thy Royall Father. Thy weeping Mother wailes and wrings her hands, Thy Brother and thy Sifter mourning ftands ; The want of that fweet company of thine, Inly torments the louing Prince of Rhine.

The Beauties of the Court are fullied o re, They feeme not cheerefull as they did before. The heauy Clergie, in their Pulpits mourne, And thy Attendants looke like men forlorne.

C c Once

3/

378 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Once more ( I fay ) fweet Prince, once more, arife, See how the teares haue drown'd my watry eyes, All my fweet tunes and former fignes of gladnes Are turn'd to Elegies and Songs of fadnes. The Trumpet with harfh notes the ayre doth wound And Dump is all the cheerefull Drum can found. Through Wales a dolefull Elegy now rings, And heauy Songs of forrow each man fmgs : Deftreffed Ireland to, as fad as we Cryes loud, Oh hone, oh hone, for want of thee. But more Romes Locujls doe begin to fwarme, And their attempts with ftronger Hopes they arme, For taking hold of this thy Tranf-mutation, They plot, againe a damned toleration. Yea Hell to double this our forrowes weight, Is new contriuing of old Eighty-eight. Come then and ftand againft it to defend vs, Or elfe their guile, their plots, or force, will end vs. This laft-laft time, fweet Prince I bid thee rife, Great Britanns droup already : each man flies, And if thou faue vs not from our great foes, They quickly will effect our ouer-throwes. Oh yet he moues not vp his liuing head, And now I feare indeed he's dead. Spi. He's dead. Brit. What voyce was that, which from the valted roofe, Of my lafh words did make fo plaine a proofe ? What was it feem'd to fpeake aboue me fo, And fayes he's dead? waft Eccho, yea or no ? Spi. No. Brit. What is it fome difpos'd to flout my mone ? Appeare : Haft thou a body, or haft none ? Spi. none.

Brit.

402

379 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Brit. Sure fome illufion, oh what art ? come hither My Princes Ghoft, or fiend, or neither. Spi. Neither. Brit. Indeed his Ghoft in heauen refts I know, Art thou fome Angel for him, is it fo ? Spi. So. Brit. Doe not my Reall griefes with vifions feed, In earneft fpeake, art fo indeed ? Spi. Indeed. Brit. What power fent thee now into my Coaft, Was it my Darling Henrie's Ghoft ? Spi. 's Ghoft. Brit. Th'art welcome then, thy prefence gratefull is : But tell me Hues he happily in bliffe : Spi. y's. Brit. If fo much of thee may be vnderftood, Is the intent of this thy comming good ? Spi. Good. Brit. Say, hath he there the Fame that here he had, Or doth the place vnto his glory adde ? Spi. Adde. Brit. May I demand what thy good errants be ? To whom is that he told to thee ? Sp. To thee. Brit. Oh doth he minde me yet, fweet Spirit fay, What is thy meffage ? He obey : Spi. Obey. Brit. I will not to my power one tittle miffe, Doe but command, and fay, doe this : Spi. Doe this. Brit. But ftay, it feemes that thou haft made thy choyfe, To fpeake with Eccko's moft vnperfe6l voyce .* In plainer wife declare why thou art fent, That I may heare with more content : Spi. Content.

c c 2 The

403

38o Prince Henries Obfeqilies.

The Spirit leaues his Eccho and fpeakes on.

Spi.r I AHen here me Britaine, heare me and beleeue

JL Thy Henries there now where he cannot grieue. He is not fubiect to the flye inuafion Of any humane, or corrupted Pafjlon. For then ; ^although he forrow now forbeares) He would haue wept himfelfe, to fee thy teares. But he (as good Saints are,) of ioyes partaker, Is iealous of the glory of his Maker : And though the Saints of Rome may take it to them, (Much helpe to their damnation it will doe them) He will not on his M afters right prefume, Nor his fmal'ft due vnto himfelfe affume. And therefore Britaine in the name of God, And on the paine of his reuengefull rod ; He here coniures thee in thy tribulation, To make to God alone thy inuocation : Who tooke him from thee, that but late was liuing, For too much truft, vnto his weakenes giuing, Yet call'ft thou on thy Prince ftill ; as if he, Could either Sauiour or Redeemer be :

Thou

404

Prince Henries Obfequies.

Thou tell'ft him of the wicked Whore of Rome,

As if that he were ludge to giue her doome.

But thou might'ft fee, were not thy fight fo dim,

Thou mak'ft meane-while another Whore of him.

For what ift for a Creatures ayde to cry,

But fpirits whoredome ? (that's Idolatry. )

Their moft vnpleafmg breaths that fo invoke,

The paffage of th'Almighties mercies choke :

And therefore if thy forrowes (hall haue end,

To God thou muft thy whole deuotions bend.

Then will thy King that he leaue off to mone,

God hath tane His, yet left him more than one.

And that he hath not fo feuerely done,

As when he crau'd the Hcbrewes onely fonne ;

Becaufe, befide this little bleffed ftore,

There's yet a poflibility of more.

Goe tell the Queene his mother that's lamenting,

There is no caufe of that her difcontenting.

And fay there is another in his place,

Shall doe his louing Sifters nuptials grace.

Enforme the Palatine, his Nimph of Thame

Shall giue his glorious Rhine a trebble Fame :

But vnto Charles, to whom he leaues his place,

Let this related be in any cafe.

Tell him he may a full poffeflion take

Of what his Brother did fo late forfake ;

But bid him looke what to his place is due,

And euery Vice in generall efchue :

Let him confider why he was his Brother,

And plac't aboue fo many thoufand other.

Cc 3 Great

405

382 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Great honours haue great burthens if y'are high,

The ftridter's your account, and the more nigh :

Let him fhunne flatterers at any hand,

And euer firmely in Religion ftand,

Gird on his fword ; call for th' Almighties might,

Keepe a good confcience, fight the Lambes great fight ;

For when his Father mail furrender make,

The Faiths protection he muft vndertake.

Then Charles take heed, for thou malt heare a-far,

Some cry, peace, peace, that haue their hearts on war.

Let Policie Religion obey,

But let not Policie Religion fway :

Shut from thy counfels fuch as haue profefb

The worfhip of that Antichriftian beaft.

For howfoe're they dawb'd with colours trim,

Their hands doe beare his marke, their heart's on him,

And though they feeme to feeke the Commons Weale,

'Tis but the Monfters deadly wound to heale.

Banifh all Roinijh Statifts, doe not fup

Of that pyde-painted Drabs infectious Cup,

Yea vfe thy vtmoft ftrength, and all thy power

To fcatter them that would build Babels tower.

Thou muft fometime be iudge of equity ;

And oft furuey e'ne thine owne family :

That at thy Table none partaker be,

That will not at Chrift's boord partake with thee :

The Lords great day is neer ; tis neer at hand,

Vnto thy combat fee thou brauely ftand.

For him that ouercomes, Chrijl keeps a Crowne,

And the great'ft conqueft hath the great'ft renowne.

Be

406

Prince Henries Obfequies.

Be mercifull, and yet in mercy iuft :

Chafe from thy Court both wantonneffe and Iuft.

Difguifed fafhions from the Land cafheare,

Women, may women, and men, men appeare.

The wide-wide mouth of the blafphemer teares

His paflage vnto God, through all the Spheares,

Prouoking him, to turne his peacefull word

Into a bloudy double-edged fword :

But cut his tongue, the clapper of damnation,

He may fright others with his Vhilation.

The Drunkard, and Adulterer, from whence

Proceeds the caufe of dearth and peftilence,

Punifh with loffe of fubftance, and of limbe,

He rather maimed vnto Heauen may climbe

Then tumble whole to Hell, and by his fin,

Endanger the whole ftate he liueth in.

Downe, downe, with Pride, and ouerthrowe Ambition ;

Grace true Deuotion, root out fuperftition,

Loue them that loue the Truth, and Vertue graces,

Let Honefty, not Wealth, obtaine great places,

Begin but fuch a courfe, and fo perfeuer,

Thou malt haue loue here, and true bliffe for euer :

Thus much for thy new Prince ; now this to thee,

Britaine ; It fhall thy charge and duty be,

To tell him now what thou haft heard me fay,

And when foeuer he commands, obey :

So if thou wilt in mind this counfell beare ;

Vnto thy ftate haue due regard and care,

And without ftay vnto amendment hie,

Thou (halt be deare to thofe, to whom I flie.

C c 4 Brit.

407

3*4 Prince Henries Obfeqides.

Brit. Oh ftay, and doe not leaue me yet alone. Spi. My errand's at an end, I mufh be gone. Brit. Goe then, but let me aske one word before. Spi. My fpeech now failes, I may difcourfe no more. Brit. Yet let me craue thus much, if fo I may, By Eccho thou reply to what I fay. Spi. Say. Brit. Firft tell me, for his fake thou count'fb moft deare, Is Babels fall and lacobs rifmg neare ? Spi. Neare. Brit. Canft thou declare what day that worke fhall end, Or rather muft we yet attend ? Spi. Attend. Brit. Some Land muft yeeld a Prince that blow to ftrike, May I be that fame Land, or no, ift like ? Spi. Like. Brit. Then therefore 'tis that Rome beares vs fuch fpight : Is me not plotting now to wrong our right ? Spi. right. Brit. But from her mifchiefes and her hands impure, Canft thou our fafe deliuerance affure ? Spi. Sure. Brit. Then notwithftanding this late loffe befell, And we fear'd much, I truft 'tis well. Spi. 'Tis well. Brit. Then flie thou to thy place, if this be true, Thou God be pras'd, and Griefes adue. Spi. Adue.

A

408

A Sonnet of Death, compofed in Latine

Rimes , and Paraphraftically tranflated into the

fame kinde of verfe ; both, by the

former Author.

HEus, heus, Mors percutit, & importune (, Quam nunquam prceterit vlhis impiine1. A bite Medici, non eft fanabile Hoc vulnus Savarov ; fed incurabile.

Hark, hark, Death knocks vs vp, with importunitie, There's none (hall euer make boaft of impunitie. The Doctor toyles in vaine, mans life's not durable, No med'cine can preuaile, this wound's incurable.

Quid picti Dominum prof tint fauores ? Fitti quid Hominum iuuant amores ? Nee mundi vanitas, nee Pompa Ctiricz, Poteft rejiftere Mortis iniuria.

What will the countenance of Lords, or Noble-men Or idle peoples loue, helpe or auaile thee then ? Nor the worlds brauery, nor yet Court vanitie, Can ftay this Monfters hand, foe to humanitie.

Non curat fplendidum, nee Venerabile\ Nee peclus candidum quamuis amabile ;

Dccumbunt

409

386 Prince Henries Obfequies.

Decumbunt Principes iniquo vulnere. Heu parcit nemini} quin ftrauit puluere.

He knowes no reuerence, nor cares for any ftate, Sweet beauties moue him not, though nere fo delicate, Princes muft ftoope to him, he rides on martially, And fpares not any man, but ftrikes impartially.

Mercede diuitis nil morat ctipidi, Nee prece pauperis (Ji oral] miferi, Et fruftr a falter e tentas ingenio, Surda Rhetorici Mors eft eloquio.

The rich-mans money-bags are no perfwafion, The beggers wofull cry, ftirres vp no paffion, Heel not beguiled be, by any fallacy, Nor yeeld to Rhetoricke, Wit, Art, nor Policy.

AfpecJu pallida, vultu terribilis ; Eft tamen valida, Mors iunincibilis : Etfuas tibias (nee eft formalis) Vir omnis fequitur, Ji Jit mortalis.

His look's both pale and wan, yet doth it terrific, He matters any man (alas what remedy /) He's nothing curious which way the meafures be, But all dance after him, that heare his melodic.

At oh \ oh horrida, Ice tans necando, Ruit incognita ; nonfcimus quando :

Et

410

Prince Henries Obfequies.

Etjlatim perditur hcec mundi gloria : Vita fee fragilis, fie tranjltoria.

But wo / of all the reft this feemes moft terrible, He comes when we know leaft, and then inuifible, Then quite there endeth all worldly profperitie, Such is this lifes eftate, fuch his feueritie.

Ergo vos incolce terrarum timidiy Efte folicitiy vos, oh vos miferi! Sic (quamuis fubita ; ) hcec £ carnalibus, Reddet vosjimiles, dijs immortalibus.

Then oh you wretched men, fith this is euident, See you more carefull be, oh be more prouident, And when he takes this life, full of incertaintie ; You fhall Hue euer-more, to all eternitie.

FINIS,

411

SATYRE,

Written to the K I N G S moft Excellent Maieftie,

BY GEORGE WITHER,

When hee was Prifoner in the Marfhallfey , for his firft

BOOKE.

LONDON:

Printed by T. S. for John Budge, dwelling in Pauls-

Church-yard, at the figne of the Greene

Dragon, 1622.

The Satyre to the

meere Courtiers.

Irs ; / doe know your mindes ; You lookefor

fees, }For more refpefl 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, tJiough I feeme opprejl, and you fuppofe I muft be faine to crouch to Vertues foes ; Yet know, your fauours I doejleight them more In this diftrejje, then ere I did before.

Here

415

A Satyre.

Here to my Liege a meffage I mufl tell\

If you will let me paffe, youfliall doe well ;

If you denie admittance, why then know,

I meane to haue it where you will or no.

Your formall wifedome which hath neuer beene

In ought but infomefond inuention feene,

And you that thinke men borne to no intent,

But to be train d in Apifh complement ;

Doth now (perhaps) fupp of e mee indifcreet,

Andfuch vnufed meffages vnmeet.

But what of tJiat f Shall I goe fute my matter

Vnto your wits, that haue but wit to flatter ?

Shall I, of yoiir opinions fo much prize

To lofe my will that you may thinke me wife,

Who neuer yet to any liking had,

Vnleffe he were a Knaue, a Foole, or mad ?

Yoii Mufhroms know,fo much I weigh your poivers,

I neither value you, nor w/iat is yours.

Nay, though my croffes Jtad me qidte out-worne,

Spirit enough V ^finde your fpight to fcorne :

Of which refolud, to further my aduenture,

Vnto my King, without your leaues I enter.

To

416

To the Honeft

Courtiers.

Vt You, wJtofe onely worth doth colour giue.

To Them, that they doe worthy feeme to

line,

Kinde Gentlemen, your ayde I craue, to bring A Satyre to the prefence of his King: AJhow of rudeneffe doth my fore-head arme, Yet you may trujl him ; he intends no Jiarme. He tJiat Jwthfent him, loyall is, and true, And one, whofe loue (I know) is much to you : But now, he lyes bound to a narrow f cope ; Almojl beyond the Cape of all good Hope. Long hath he fought to free himfelfe, biit failes : And therefore feeing nothing elfe preuailes,

A Me,

•P7

Me, to acquaint his Soueraigne, here he fends, As one def pair ing of all other friends. I doe prefume that you will fauoiir JJiew him, Now that a Meffenger from thence you know him. For many thoufands that his face nere knew, Blame his Accufers, and his Fortune rue : And by the helpe which your good word may doe, He hopes for pitty from his Soueraigne to. Then in his prefence with your fauours grace him, Andtheres no \\zefo great, faall dare oitt-face him.

To

418

To the Kings moft Excellent MAIESTIE.

A S A T Y R E.

Quid tu, ft pereo ?

Hat once the Poet faid, I may auow, i ' Tis a hard thing not to write Satyrs, now. Since, what we fpeake fabufe raigns fo in all,) Spight of our hearts, will be Satyricall. Let it not therefore now be deemed ftrange, My vnfmooth'd lines their rudeneffe do not change ; Nor be diftaftefull to my gracious King, That in the Cage, my old harfh notes I fing : And rudely, make a Satyre here vnfold, What others would in neater tearmes haue told. And why ? my friends and meanes in Court are fcant, Knowledge of curious phrafe, and forme I want. I cannot bear't to runne my felfe in debt, To hire the Groome, to bid the Page entreat, Some fauourd Follower to vouchfafe his word To get me a cold comfort from his Lord. I cannot footh, (though it my life might faue,) Each Fauourite, nor crouch to eu'ry Knaue. I cannot brooke delayes as fome men do, With fcoffes, and fcornes, and tak't in kindnefle to. For ere I'de binde my felfe for fome flight grace, To one that hath no more worth then his place.

Dd 2 Or

419

A Satyre.

Or, by a bafe meane free my felfe from trouble,

I rather would endure my penance double :

Caufe to be forc'd to what my mind difdaines,

Is worfe to me then tortures, rackes, and chaines.

And therefore vnto thee I onely flye,

To whom there needs no meane but Honefly.

To thee, that lou'ft nor Parajlte or Minion,

Should ere I fpeake poffeffe thee with opinion.

To thee, that do'ft what thou wilt vndertake,

For loue of luftice, not the perfons fake.

To thee, that know'ft how vaine all faire fhewes be,

That flow not from the hearts fmceritie ;

And canft, though fhadowed in the fimpleft vaile,

Difcerne both Loue and Truth, and where they faile.

To tJ-iee doe I appeale ; in whom Heau'n knowes,

I next to God my confidence repofe.

For, can it be thy Grace fhould euer fhine,

And not enlighten fuch a Caufe as mine ?

Can my hopes ( fixt in thee great King) be dead ;

Or thou thofe Satyrs hate thy Forrefts bred ?

Where fhall my fecond hopes be founded then,

If euer I haue heart to hope agen ?

Can I fuppofe a fauour may be got

In any place, when thy Court yeelds it not ?

Or that I may obtaine it in the land,

When I fhall be deni'd it at thy hand ?

And if I might, could I delighted be,

To tak't of others, when I mift of thee f

Or

420

A Satyre.

Or if I were, could I haue comfort by it,

When I fhould thinke my Soueraigne did deny it ?

No ; were I fure, I to thy hate were borne,

To feeke for others fauours, I would fcorne.

For, if the beft-worth-loues I could not gaine,

To labour for the reft I would difdaine.

But why fhould I thy fauour here diftruft, That haue a caufe fo knowne, and knowne fo iuft ? Which not alone my inward comfort doubles, But all fuppofe me wrong'd that heare my troubles. Nay, though my fault were Reall, I beleeue Thou art fo Royall, that thou wouldft forgiue.

For, well I know, thy facred Maiefty Hath euer beene admir'd for Clemency, And at thy gentleneffe the world hath wondred, For making Sun-fhine, where thou might ft haue thun- Yea, thou in mercy, life to them didft giue ( dred. That could not be content to fee tJiee Hue. And can I thinke that thou wilt make me, then, The moft vnhappy of all other men ? Or let thy loyall Subiect, againft reafon, Be punifht more for Loue, then fome for Treafon ? No, thou didft neuer yet thy glory ftaine With an iniuftice to the meaneft Swaine. 'Tis not thy will I'me wrong'd, nor doft thou know, If I haue fuffred injuries or no. For if I haue not heard falfe Rumours flie, Th'aft grac'ft me with the ftile of Honejly,

D d 3 And

421

A Satyre.

And if it were fo (as fome thinke it was)

I cannot fee how it fhould come to paffe

That t/iou, from whofe free tongue proceedeth nought

Which is not correfpondent with thy thought.

Thofe thoughts to, being fram'd in Reafons mould,

Should fpeake that once, which fhould not euer hold.

But paffmg it as an vncertainety, I humbly begge thee, by that Maie/ty, Whofe facred Glory ftrikes a louing-feare Into the hearts of all, to whom 'tis deare : To deigne me fo much fauour, without merit, As read this plaint of a diftempered fpirit : And thinke, vnleffe I faw fome hideous ftorme, Too great to be endur'd by fuch a worme, I had not thus prefum'd vnto a King, With ALfops Fly, to feeke an Eagles wing :

Know I am he, that entred once the lift, Gainft all the world to play the Satyrift : Twas I, that made my meafures rough and rude, Dance arm'd with whips amidft the multitude, And vnappalled with my charmed Scrowles, Teaz'd angry Monfters in their lurking holes. I'ue plaid with Wafpes and Hornets without feares, Till mad they grew, and fwarm'd about my eares. I'ue done it, and me thinkes tis fuch braue fport, I may be flung ; but nere be forry for't. For, all my griefe is, that I was fo fparing, And had no more in't, worth the name of daring.

Hee

422

A Satyre.

He that will taxe thefe times muft be more bitter,

Tart lines of Vinegar and Gall are fitter.

My ringers and my fpirits were benum'd,

My inck ran forth too fmooth, twas two much gum'd ;

Tde haue my Pen fo paint it, where it traces,

Each accent, fhould draw blood into their faces.

And make them, when their Villanies are blazed,

Shudder and Jlartle, as men halfe amazed,

For feare my Verfe fhould make fo loud a din,

Heauen hearing might raine vengeance on their fin.

Oh now, for fuch a ftraine ! would Art could teach it.

Though halfe my fpirits I confum'd to reach it.

Ide learne my Mufe fo braue a courfe to flie,

Men fhould admire the power of Poefie.

And thofe that dar'd her greatneffe to refift,

Quake euen at naming of a Satyrift.

But when his fcourging numbers flow'd with wonder,

Should cry, God blejfe vs, as they did at thunder.

Alas ! my lines came from me too-too dully, They did not fill a Satyrs mouth vp fully. Hot blood, and youth, enrag'd with paflions ftore, Taught me to reach a ftraine nere touch'd before. But it was coldly done, I throughly chid not : And fomewhat there is yet to doe, I did not. More foundly could my fcourge haue yerked many, Which I omitted not for feare of any. For want of ac~lion> difcontcntmcnts rage, Bafc dif-refpccl of Vertue (in this agcj

D d 4 With

A Satyre.

With other things which were to Goodneffe wrong,

Made me fo feareleffe in my careleffe Song :

That, had not reafon within compaffe won me,

I had told Truth enough to haue vndone me.

( Nay, haue already, if that her Diuine

And vnfeene power, can doe no more then mine.,)

For though fore-feeing warineffe was good,

I fram'd my ftile vnto a milder mood ;

And clogging her high-towring wings with mire,

Made her halfe earth, that was before all fire.

Though (as you faw) in a difguifed mew

I brought my Satyres to the open view :

Hoping ftheir out-fides, being mif-efteem'dj

They might haue paffed, but for what they feem'd :

Yet fame whofe Comments iumpe not with my minde,

In that low phrafe, a higher reach would finde,

And out of their deepe Judgements feeme to know,

What 'tis vncertaine if I meant or no :

Ayming thereby, out of fome priuate hate,

To worke my fhame, or ouer-throw my ftate.

For, amongfb many wrongs my foe doth doe me,

And diuers imputations laide vnto me,

(Deceiued in his aymej he doth mif-confter

That which I haue enftil'd a Man-like Monfter,

To meane fome priuate perfon in the State,

Whofe worth I fought to wrong out of my hate ;

Vpbraiding me, I from my word doe ftart,

Either for want of better Ground, or Heart.

Caufe

424

A Satyre.

Caufe from his expectation I did vary In the denying of his Commentary, Whereas tis knowne I meant Abufe the while, Not thinking any one could be fo vile To merit all thofe Epithitcs of fhame, How euer many doe deferue much blame. But fay, (\ grant) that I had an intent To haue it fo (as he interprets) meant, And let my gracious Liege fuppofe there were One whom the State may haue iuft caufe to feare ; Or thinke there were a man (and great in Court} That had more faults then I could well report ; Suppofe I knew him, and had gone about By fome particular markes to paint him out, That he beft knowing his owne faults, might fee, He was the Man I would fhould noted be : Imagine now fuch doings in this Age, And that this man fo pointed at, mould rage, Call me in queflion, and by his much threatning, By long imprifonment, and ill-intreating Vrge a Confeffion, wert not a mad part For me to tell him, what lay in my heart ? Doe not I know a great mans Power and Might ; In fpight of Innocence, can fmother Right, Colour his Villanics, to get efteeme, And make the honeft man the Villaine feeme ? And that the truth I told mould in conclufion, For want of Power and Friends be my confufion ?

I know

3 ' 4*5

A Satyre.

I know it, and the world doth know tis true,

Yet, I proteft, if fuch a man I knew,

That might my Country prejudice, or Thee,

Were he the greateft or the proudefb Hee

That breathes this day : (if fo it might be found,

That any good to either might redound.)

So far He be (though Fate againft me run)

From ftarting off from that I haue begun,

I vn-appalled dare in fuch a cafe

Rip vp his fouleft Crimes before his face,

Though for my labour I were fure to drop

Into the mouth of Ruine without hope.

But fuch ftrange farre-fetcht meanings they haue As I was neuer priuie to in thought ; (fought,

And that vnto particulars would tie Which I intended vniuerfally. Whereat fome with difpleafure ouer-gone, (Thofe I fcarce dream'd of, faw, or thought vpon ) Maugre thofe caueats on my Satyrs brow, Their honeft and iuft paffage difallow. And on their heads fo many cenfures rake, That fpight of me, themfelues they'le guilty make.

Nor is't enough, to fwage their difcontent, To fay / am (or to be) innocent. For as, when once the Lyon made decree, No horned beaft mould nigh his prefence be, That, on whofe fore-head onely did appeare A bunch offlejh, or but fome tuft of hair e,

Was

426

A Satyre.

Was euen as farre in danger as the reft,

If he but faid, it was a horned beafl :

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,

Becaufe (miftaking) they fo think't to be.

Yet 'tis my comfort, they are not fo high, But they muft ftoope to Thee and Equitie. And this I know, though prickt ; they florme agen, The world doth deeme them ne're the better men. To Jlirre in filth, makes not the flench the leffe, Nor doth Truth feare the frowne of Mightineffe. Becaufe thofe numbers fhe doth daigne to grace, Men may fuppreffe a while, but ne're deface.

I wonder, and 'tis wondred at by many, My harmeleffe lines fhould breed diftafte in any : And fo, that (whereas moft good men approue My labour to be worthy thankes, and loue,) I as a Villaine, and my Countries foe, Should be imprifon'd, and fo ftri6lly to, That not alone my liberty is barr'd, But the refort of friends fwhich is more hard.,) And whilft each wanton, or loofe Rimers Pen, With oyly words, fleekes o're the finnes of men, Vayling his wits to euery Puppets becke, Which ere Fie doe, Fie ioy to breake my necke. (T fay) while fuch as they in euery place Can finde protection, patronage and grace ;

If

427

A Satyre.

If any looke on me, 'tis but a skaunce

Or if I get a fauour, 'tis by chance.

I muft protect my felfe : poore Truth and /

Can haue fcarce one fpeake for our honejly.

Then whereas they can gold and gifts attaine,

Malitious .Hate, and Ermy is my gaine,

And not alone haue here my Freedome loft,

Whereby my beft hopes likely to be croft :

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 thirft of gaine,

Or out of ho^Q preferments to attaine.

Since to contemne them, would more profit me,

Then all the glories in the world that be :

Yet they are helpes to Vertue, vs'd aright,

And when they wanting be, fhe wants her might.

For Eagles mindes nerefit a Rauens feather,

To dare, and to be able, fute together.

But what is't I haue done fo worthy blame, That fome fo eagerly purfue my fame ? Vouchfafe to view't with thine owne eyes, and trie (Saue want of Art} what fault thou canft efpie. I haue not fought to fcandalize the State, Nor f owne f edition, nor made publike hate: I haue not ayirid at any good mans fame, Nor taxt (direttly) any one by name. 1 am not he that am growne difcontent With the Religion ; or the Gouernement.

I meant

428

A Satyre.

I meant no Ceremonies to protect,

Nor doe I fauour any new-fprung Sect ;

But to my Satyres gaue this onely warrant,

To apprehend and puniJJi Vice apparant.

Who aiming in particular at none,

In generall vpbraided euery one : ^

That each fvnfhamed of himfelfe) might view

That in himfelfe, which no man dares to fhew.

And hath this Age bred vp neat Vice fo tenderly, She cannot brooke it to be touch'd fo flenderly ? Will fhe not bide my gentle Satyres bites ? Harme take her then, what makes fhe in their fights ? If with impatience fhe my Whip-cord feele, How had fhe raged at my lafh of Steele ? But am I call'd in queftion for her caufe ? Is't Vice that thefe afflictions on me drawes ? And need I now thus to Apologize, Onely becaufe I fcourged Villanies ? Muft I be faine to giue a reafon why, And how I dare allow of Honefty ? Whilft that each fleering Parajite is bold Thy Royall brow vndaunted to behold : And euery Temporizer ftrikes a firing, That's Muficke for the hearing of a King ? Shall not he reach out to obtaine as much, Who dares more for thee then a hundred fuch f Heauen grant her patience, my Mufe takes' tfo badly, I feare JJiee le lofe her wits, for/lie raues madly.

Yet

429

A Satyre.

Yet let not my dread Soueraigne too much blame her,

Whofe awfull prefence, now hath made her tamer.

For if there be no Fly but hath her fpleene,

Nor a poore Pifmire, but will wreake her teene ;

How mall I then, that haue both fpleene and gall,

Being vniuftly dealt with, beare with all ?

I yet with patience take what I haue borne,

And all the worlds enfuing hate cznfcorne:

But 'twere in me as much ftupiditie,

Not to haue feeling of an iniurie,

As it were weakeneffe not to brooke it well :

What others therefore thinke I cannot tell ;

But he that's leffe then mad, is more then Man,

Who fees when he hath done the beft he can,

To keepe within the bounds of Innocence :

Sought to difcharge his due to God and Prince.

That he, whilfb Villanies vnreproued goe,

Scoffing, to fee him ouer-taken fo,

Should haue his good endeauours mifconceiu'd,

Be of his dearejt liberty bereau'd ;

And which is worfe, without reafon why,

Be frown'd on by Atithorities grim eye.

By that great Power my foule fo much doth fear e,

Shefcornes the ftearrift frownes of a mortall Peere.

But that I Vertue loue, for her owne fake,

It were enough to make me vndertake

To fpeake as much in praife of Vice agen,

And practife fome to plague \htfejkatnes of men.

I meane

A Satyre.

I meane thofe my Accttfers, who miftaking

My aymes, doe frame conceits of their owne making.

But if I lift, I need not buy fo deere

The iuft reuenge might be inflicted here.

Now could I mcafurcs frame in this iuft fury,

Should fooner finde fome guilty then a hiry :

The words, \\\zzfivords (temper'd with Art} fhould pierce

And hang, and draw, and quarter them in verfe.

Or I could racke them on the wings of Fame,

(And he's halfe hangd (they fayj hath an ill name)

Yea, I'de goe neere to make thofe guilty Elues,

Lycambes-\\\zz, be glad to hang themfelues :

And though this Age will not abide to heare

The faults reprou'd, that Cuftome hath made deare ;

Yet, if I pleafed, I could write their crimes,

And pile them vp in wals for after-times :

For they'le be glad fperhaps) that fhall enfue,

To fee fome ftory of their Fathers true.

Or fhould I fmother'd be in darkneffe ftill,

I might not vfe the freedome of a quill :

'Twould raife vp brauer fpirits then mine owne,

To make my caufe, and this their guilt more knowne.

Who by that fubiecl fhould get Loue and Fame,

Vnto my foes difgrace, and endleffe fhame :

Thofe I doe meane, whofe Comments haue mif-us'd me :

And to thofe Peeres I honour, haue accus'd me :

Making againft my Innocence their batteries,

And wronging them by their bafe flatteries :

But

A Satyre.

But of reuenge I am not yet fo faine, To put my felfe vnto that needleffe paine : Becaufe I know a greater Power there is, That noteth fmaller iniuries then this ; And being ftill as iuft as it is ftrong, Apportions due reuenge for euery wrong.

But why (fome fay) fhould his too faucy Rimes Thus taxe the wife and great ones of our times ? It fuites not with his yeeres to be fo bold, Nor fits it vs by him to be controld. I muft confeffe ('tis very true indeed) Such fhould not of my cenfure ftand in need. But blame me not, I faw good Vertue poore, Defert, among the moft, thruft out of doore, Honeftie hated, Ctirtejle banimed, Rich men exceffiue, poore men famifhed : Coldneffe in Zeale, in Lawes partialitie, FriendJJiip but Complement, and vaine Fonnalitie, Art I perceiue contem'd, while mofb aduance (To offices of worth) Rich Ignorance : And thofe that fhould our Lights and Teachers be Liue (if not worfe) as wantonly as we. Yea, I faw Nature from her courfe runne backe, Diforders grow, Good Orders goe to wracke. So to encreafe what all the reft beganne, I to this current of confujion ranne. And feeing Age, left off the place of guiding, Thus plaid the faucy wagge, and fell to chiding.

Wherein

432

A Satyre.

Wherein, how euer fome (perhaps) may deeme, I am not fo much faulty as I feeme : For when the Elders wrong'd Sufannds honer, And none withftood the Shame they laid vpon her ; A Childe rofe vp to (land in her defence, And fpight of wrong confirm'd her Innocence: To fhew, thofe muft not, that good vndertake, Straine cur? fie, who JJiall ddt, for manners fake. Nor doe I know, whether to me God gaue A boldneffe more then many others haue, That I might fhew the world what fhamefull blot Vertue by her lafciuious Elders got. Nor is't a wonder, as fome doe fuppofe, My Youth fo much corruption can difclofe ; Since euery day the Sunne doth light mine eyes, I am informed of new villanies : But it is rather to be wondred how I either can, or dare be honefl now.

And though againe there be fome others rage, That I fliould dare (fo much aboue mine age) Thus cenfure each degree, both young and old, I fee not wherein I am ouer-bold. For if I haue beene plaine with Vice, I care not, There's nought that I know good, and can, and dare not. Onely this one thing doth my minde deterre, Euen a feare (through ignorance) to erre.

But oh knew I, what thou would'fb well approue, Or might the fmairft refpec~l within thee moue ;

Ee So

3 * 433

A Satyre.

So in the fight of God it might be good,

And with the quiet of my confcience flood :

(As well I know thy true integrity

Would command nothing againft Piety :)

There's nought fo dangerous, or full of feare,

That for my Soueraignes fake I would not dare :

Which good beliefe, would it did not poffeffe thee ;

Prouided fome iuft triall might rebleffe me :

Yea, though a while I did endure the gall

Of thy difpleafure in this loathfome thrall.

For notwithftanding in tins place I lye

By the command of that Authoritie,

Of which I haue fo much refpectiue care,

That in mine owne (and iuft) defence I feare

To vfe the free fpeech that I doe intend,

Left Ignorance, or Rafhnejfe fhould offend.

Yet is my meaning and my thought as free

From wilfull wronging of thy Lawes or Thee,

As he to whom thy Place and Perfons deareft,

Or to himfelfe that finds his confcience cle aeft.

If there be wrong, 'tis not my making it,

All the offence is feme's miftaking it.

And is there any luftice borne of late,

Makes thofe faults mine, which others perpetrate}

What man could euer any Age yet finde,

That fpent his fpirits in this thankeleffe kinde,

Shewing his meaning, to fuch words could tye it,

That none could either wrong, or mif-apply it.

Nay,

•434

A Satyre.

Nay, your owne Lawes, which (as you doe intend) In plain'ft and moft effe<5luall words are penn'd, Cannot be fram'd fo well to your intent, But fome there be will erre from what you meant. And yet falasj I muft be ty'de vnto What neuer any man before could doe ? Muft all I fpeake, or write, fo well be done That none may pick more meanings thence then one ? Then all the world (I hope,) will leaue dif-vnion, And euery man become of one opinion. But fmce fome may, what care foe're we take, Diuers conftru6lions of our Writings make, The honeft Readers euer will conceaue The beft intention's, and all others leaue : Chiefly in that, where I fore-hand proteft My meaning euer was the honefteft, And if I fay fo, what is he may know So much as to affirme it was not fo ? Sit other men fo neare my thoughts to fhow it, Or is my heart fo open that all know it ? Sure if it were, they would no fuch things fee, As thofe whereof fome haue accufed mee. But I care leffe how it be vnderftood, Becaufe the heauens know my intent was good. And if it be fo, that my too-free Rimes Doe much difpleafe the world, and thefe bad times ; 'Tis not my fault, for had I been imploy'd In fomething elfe, all this had now been voyd.

Ee 2 Or

435

A Satyre.

Or if the world would but haue granted me Wealth, or Affaires, whereon to bufie me, I now vnheard of, peraduenture than, Had been as mute as fome rich Clergie-man.

But they are much deceiu'd that thinke my minde Will ere be ftill, while it can doing find ; Or that vnto the world fo much it leanes, As to be curtold for default of meanes. No, though mofh be, all Spirits are not earth, Nor futing with the fortunes of their birth, My body's fubiect vnto many Powers : But myfvuk's as free, as is the Emperours : And though to curbe her in, I oft affay, She'le breake int' action fpite of durt and clay. And is't not better then to take this courfe, Then fall to ftudy mifchiefes and doe worfe ? I fay fhe muft haue action, and fhe fhall : For if fhe will, how can I doe withall f A nd let thofe that dre-bujie thinke me, know, He made me, that knew, why he made me fo. And though there's fome that fay my thoughts doe flie A pitch beyond my ftates fuffi ciency ; My humble minde, I giue my Sauiour thanke Afpires nought yet, aboue my fortunes ranke. But fay it did, wil't not befit a man To raife his thoughts as neere Heaiin as he can ? Muft ti& free fpirit ty'd and curbed be According to the bodies pouerty f

Or

436

A Satyre.

Or can it euer be fo fubiecl to

Bafe Change, to rife, and fall, as fortunes doe ?

Men borne to noble meanes, and vulgar mindes Enioy their wealth ; and there's no Law that bindes Such to abate their fubftance, though their Pates Want Braines, and they worth, to poffeffe fuch ftates. So God to fome, doth onely great mindes giue, And little other meanes, whereon to Hue. What law or confcience then (hall make them fmother Their Spirit, which is their life, more then other To bate their fubftance ? fince if 'twere confeft, That a braue minde could euer be fuppreft, Were't reafon any fhould himfelfe depriue Of what the whole world hath not power to giue ? For wealth is comon, and fooles get it to, When to giue fpirit's more then Kings can do.

I fpeake not this, becaufe I thinke there be More then the ordinareft gifts in me ; But againft thofe, who thinke I doe prefume On more then doth befit me to affume : Or would haue all, whom Fortune barres from ftore, Make themfelues wretched, as fhe makes them poore. And 'caufe in other things fhe is vnkind, Smother the matchlefle bleflings of their minde : Whereas ^although her fauours doe forfake them) Their minds are richer then the world can make them. Why mould a good attempt difgraced feeme, Becaufe the perfon is of meane efteeme ?

E e 3 Vertue's

437

A Satyre.

Vertue's a chafte Queene, and yet doth not fcorne

To be embrac'd by him that's meaneft borne,

Shee is the prop, that Maiejlies fupport,

Yet one whom Slaues as well as Kings may court.

She loueth all that beare affection to her,

And yeelds to any that hath heart to wooe her.

So Vice, /tow highfo e're flie be in place,

Is that rcvhich Groomes may f pit at in dif grace :

She is a ftrumpet, and may be abhorr'd,

Yea, fpurn'd at in the bofome of a Lord.

Yet had I fpoke her faire, I had beene free,

As many others of her Louers be.

If her efcapes I had not chanc'd to tell,

I might haue beene a villaine, and done well :

Gotten fome fpeciall fauour, and not fate

As now I doe, fhut vp within a grate.

Or if I could haue hap't on fome loofe ffcraine,

That might haue pleas'd the wanton Readers vaine :

Or but claw'd Pride, I now had been vnblam'd,

( Or elfe at leaft there's fome would not haue fham'd

To plead my caufe : ) but fee my fatall curfe,

Sure I was either mad, or fomewhat worfe :

For I faw Vices followers brauely kept,

In Silkes they walkt, on beds of Downe they flept,

Richly they fed on dainties euermore,

They had their pleafure, they had all things ftore,

(Whil'ft Vertue begg'd) yea, fauours had fo many,

I knew they brook't not to be touch'd of any :

Yet

438

A Satyre.

Yet could not I, like other men, be wife, Nor learne ffor all this,) how to temporize ; But muft (with too much honefty made blind,) Vpbraid this loued darling of mankind : Whereas I might haue better thriu'd by fayning : Or if I could not chufe, but be complaining, More fafe I might haue rail'd on Vertue fure, Becaufe her louers and her friends are fewer. I might haue brought fome other things to paffe, Made Fidlcrs Songs, or Ballads, like an Afle, Or any thing almoft indeed but this. Yet fmce 'tis thus, Fme glad 'tis fo amiffe ; Becaufe if I am guilty of a crime, 'Tis that, wherein the beft of euery time, Hath beene found faulty (if they faulty be) That doe reproue A bufe and villany.

For what I'me taxt, I can examples mow, In fuch old Authors as this State allow : And I would faine once learne a reafon why They can haue kinder vfage here then I ? I mufe men doe not now in queftion call Seneca, Horace, Perfius, luuenall, And fuch as they ? Or why did not that Age In which they liued, put them in a Cage f If I fhould fay, that men were iufter then, I fliould neere hand be made vnfay't agen : And therefore fure I thinke I were as good Leaue it to others to be vnderftood.

E e 4 Yet

439

A Satyre.

Yet I as well may fpeake, as deeme amiffe, For fuch this Ages curious cunning is, I fcarcely dare to let mine heart thinke ought, For there be fome will feeme to know my thought, Who may out-face me that I thinke awry, When there's no witneffe, but my Confcience by : And then I likely am as ill to fpeed, As if I fpake, or did amiffe indeed.

Yet left thofe who (perhaps) may malice this, Interpret alfo thefe few lines amiffe, Let them that after thee, mail reade or heare, From a ram cenfure of my thoughts forbeare. Let them not mold the fenfe that this containes According to the forming of their braines, Or thinke I dare, or can, here taxe thofe Peeres, Whofe Worths, their Honours, to my foule endeares, (Thofe by whofe loued-fear'd Authority) I am reftrained of my liberty : For left there yet may be a man fo ill, To haunt my lines with his blacke Coment ftill, (In hope my lucke againe may be fo good, To haue my words once rightly vnderftood) This I proteft, that / doe not condemne Ought as vniuft, that hath been done by them ; For though my honeft heart not guilty be Of the leaft thought, that may difparage me ; Yet wheny^/fc men as /, mall \iz\\z fuch foes, Accufe me vifuch crimes, to/uc/i as thofe,

Till

440

A Satyre.

Till I had meanes my Innocence to fhow, Their Injlice could haue done no leffe then fo.

Nor haue I fuch a proud conceited wit, Or felfe-opinion of my knowledge yet, To thinke it may not be that I haue run Vpon fome Errors in what I haue done, Worthy this punifhment which I endure ; (I fay I cannot fo my felfe affure) For 'tis no wonder if their Wifedomes can Difcouer Imperfections in a man So weake as I, (more then himfelfe doth fee) Since my fight dull with infufficiencie, In men more graue, and wifer farre then I, Innumerable Errors doth efpye, Which they with all their knowledge Tie be bold, Cannot (or will not) in themfelues behold. But ere I will my felfe accufe my Song, Or keepe a Tongue fhall doe my Heart that wrong, To fay I willingly in what I penn'd, Did ought that might a Goodmans fight offend ; Or with my knowledge did infert one word, That might difparage a true Honoured Lord ; Let it be in my month a helpelcjfe fore, And neuer fpeake to be beleeued more.

Yet man irrefolute is, vnconftant, weake, And doth his purpofe oft through frailty breake. Left therefore I by force hereafter may Be brought from this minde, and thefe words vnfay,

Here

44i

A Satyre.

Here to the World I doe proclaime before,

If e're my refolution be fo poore,

T'is not the Right, but Might that makes me doe it ;

Yea, nought but fearefull bafenejfe brings me to it ;

Which if I ftill hate, as I now deteft,

Neuer can come to harbor in my breft.

Thus my fault then ( if they a fault imply ) Is not alone an ill vnwillingly, But alfo, might I know it, I entend, Not onely to acknowledge, but amend : Hoping that thou wilt not be fo feuere, To punifh me aboue all other here. But for m'intents fake, and my loue to Truth, Impute my Errors to the heate of Youth, Or rather Ignorance ; then to my Will, Which fure I am was good, what e're be ill, And like to him now, in whofe place thou art, What e're the refidue be, accept the Heart. But I grow tedious, and my loue abusd, Diflurbs my thoughts, and makes my lines confus'd. Yet pardon me, and daigne a gracious eye On this my rude, vnfiTd Apologie. Let not the bluntneffe of my phrafe offend, Weigh but the matter, and not how 'tis penrid ; By thefe abrupt lines in my iuft defence, ludge what I might fay for my innocence. A nd thinke, I more could fpeake, that here I fpare, Becaufe my power fuites not to what I dare.

My

442

A Satyre.

My vnaffecledy?//* retaines (you fee)

Her old Frize-Cloake of young Rujlicitie\

If others will vfe neater tearmes, they may,

Ruder I am, yet loue as well as they :

And (though if I would fmootJi t 1 cannot doof)

My humble heart I bend beneath thy foot :

While here my Mufe her difcontent doth fing

To thee her great Apollo, and my King :

Emploring thee by that high facred Name,

By luftice, by thofe Powers that I could name :

By whatfoe're may moue, entreate I thee,

To be what thou art vnto all, to mee ;

I feare it not, yet giue me leaue to pray,

I may haue foes, whofe power doth beare fuch fway ;

If they but fay Fme guilty of offence,

'Twere vaine for me to pleade my innocence.

But as the Name of God thou bear'ft, I truft Thou imitat'fl him to, in being iuft : That when the right of Truth thou comm'ft to fcan, Thoul't not refpect the perfon of the man : For if thou doe, then is my hope vndone, The head-long-way to ruine I muft runne. For whil'ft that they haue all the helpes which may Procure their pleafure with my foone decay : How is it like that I my peace can win me. When all the ayde I haue, comes from within me ? Therefore (good King) that mak'ft thy bounty fhine Sometime on thofe whofe worths are fmall as mine ;

Oh

44.1

A Satyre.

Oh fane me now from Enuies dangerous JJielfe,

Or make me able, and Pie fane my felfe.

Let not the want of that make me a fcorne,

To which there are more Fooles then Wife-men borne.

Let me not for my Meanneffe be difpif'd,

Nor others greatneffe make their words more priz'd.

For whatfoe're my outward Fate appeares,

My Soule*s as good, my Heart as great as theirs.

My loue vnto my Country and to thee,

As much as his that more would feeme to be.

And would this Age allow but meanes to mow it,

Thofe that mifdoubt it, mould ere long time know it.

Pitty my youth then, and let me not lie Wafting my time in fruitleffe miferie. Though I am meane, I may be borne vnto That feruice, which another cannot doe. In vaine the little Moufe the Lyonfpar'd not, She did him pleafure, when a greater dar'd not. If ought that I haue done, doe thee difpleafe, Thy mifconceiued wrath I will appeafe, Or facrifice my heart ; but why fhould I Suffer for God knowes whom, I know not why ? If that my words through fome miftake offends, Let them conceiue them right and make amends. Or were I guilty of offence indeed, One fault (they fayj doth but one pardon need\ Yet one I had, and now I want one more ; For once I flood accus'd for this before.

As

444

A Satyre.

As I remember I fo long agon,

Snng Thame, and Rhynes Epithalamion'.

When SHE that from thy Royall felfe deriues

Thofe gracious vertues that beft Title giues :

She that makes Rhine proud of her excellence,

And me oft minde her reuerence ;

Daign'd in her great good-nature to encline

Her gentle eare to fuch a caufe as mine ;

And which is more, vouchfaf'd her word, to cleare

Me from all dangers (if there any were,)

So that I doe not now intreate, or fue

For any great boone, or requefb that's new :

But onely this ^though abfent from the Land,)

Her former fauour ftill in force might ftand :

And that her word (who prefent was fo deere)

Might be as power full, as whenjlie was here.

Which if I finde, and with thy fauour may

Haue leaue to fhake my loathed bands away,

( As I doe hope I mall,) and be fet free

From all the troubles, this hath brought on me,

Tie make her Name giue life vnto a Song,

Whofe neuer-dying note fhall lafb as long

As there is either Riuer, Groue or Spring,

Or Downe for Sheepe, or Shepheards Lad to fmg.

Yea, I will teach my Mitfe to touch a ftraine,

That was ne're reach't to yet by any Swaine.

For though that many deeme my yeeres vnripe,

Yet I haue learn'd to tune an Oaten Pipe,

Whereon

445

A Satyre.

Whereon Fie try what muficke I can make me,

(Vntill Bellona with her Trumpe awake me.)

And fmce the world will not haue Vice thus fhowne,

By blazing Vertue I will make it knowne.

Then if the Court will not my lines approue

Tie goe vnto fome Mountain*, or thicke Groue :

There to my fellow Shepheards will I fmg,

Tuning my Reede vnto fome dancing Spring,

In fuch a note, that none fhould dare to trouble it,

Till the Nils anfwere, and the Woods redouble it.

And peraduenture I may then goe neare

To fpeake of fomething thoul't be pleas'd to heare :

And that which thofe who now my tunes abhorre,

Shall reade, and like, and daigne to loue me for :

But the meane while, oh paffe not this fuite by,

Let thy free hand figne me my liberty :

And if my loue may moue thee more to do,

Good King confider this my trouble to.

Others haue found thy fauour in diftreffe,

Whofe loue to thee and thine I thinke was leffe.

And I might fitter for ihy/ermce Hue

On what would not be much for thee to giue.

And yet I aske it not for that I feare The outward meanes of life fhould faile me here : For though I want to compaffe thofe good ends I aime at for my Countrie and my Friends, In this poore ftate I can as well content me, As if that I had Wealth and Honours lent me,

Nor

446

A Satyre.

Nor for my oivne fake doe I feeke to fhunne This thraldome, wherein now I feeme vndone : For though I prize my Freedome more then Gold, And vfe the meanes to free my felfe from hold, Yet with a minde (I hope} vnchang'd and free, Here can I line, and play with miferie : Yea, in defpight of want andjlanerie, Laugh at the world in all her brauerie. Here haue I learn d to make my greatejl Wrongs Matter of Mirth, and fubiec~ls but for Songs : Here can I f mile to fee my felfe neglected, And how the meane mans fuite is dif-refpet~led ; Whir ft thcfe that are more rich, and better friended, Can hane twice greater faults thrice fooner ended.

All this, yea more, I fee and fuffer to, Yet Hue content midft difcontents I do. Which whil'ft I can, it is all one to me, Whether in Prifon or abroad it be : For fhould I ftill lye here diftreft and poore, ItJJiall not make me breathe a figh the more ; Since to my felfe it is indifferent, Where the fmall remnant of my daies be fpent, But for Thy fake, my Countries, and my Friends, For whom, more then my felfe, God this life lends, / would not, could I helpe it, be afcorne, But (if I might} Hue free, as I was borne: Or rather for my Miftris vertues fake, Faire Vertue, of whom mod account I make,

447

A Satyre.

If I can chufe, I will not be debased

In this loft action, left She be difgrac'd :

For 'twas the loue of her that brought me to,

What Spleene nor Enuie could not make me do.

And if \IQY feruants be no more regarded ;

If enemies of Vice be thus rewarded,

And I mould alfo Verities wrongs conceale,

And if none liu'd to whom me dar'd appeale :

Will they that doe not yet her worth approue,

Be euer drawne to entertaine her loue,

When they fhall fee him plagu'd as an Offender,

Who for the loue he beares her, doth commend her ?

This may to others more offenfiue be, Then preiudiciall any way to me : For who will his endeauours euer bend To follow her, whom there is none will friend ? Some I doe hope there be that nothing may From loue of Truth and Honejfy difmay. But who will (that mail fee my euill Fortune) The remedy of Times Abufe importune ? Who will againe, when they haue fmother'd me, Dare to oppofe the face of Villany f Whereas he muft be faine to vndertake A Combat with a fecond Lernean Snake ; Whofe euer-growing heads when as he crops, Not onely two fprings, for each one he lops, But alfo he fhall fee in midft of dangers, Thofe he thought friends turnefoes, at leaft-wifeyfrvw^f/rj.

More

448

A Satyre.

More I could fpeake, but fure if this doe faile me, I neuer fhall doe ought that will auaile me ; Nor care to fpeake againe, vnleffe it be To him that knowes how heart and tongue agree ; No, nor to Hue, when none dares vndertake To fpeake one word for honeft Verities fake. But let his will be done, that beft knowes what Will be my future good, and what will not. Hap well or ill, my fpotleffe meaning's faire, And for thee, this fhall euer be my prayer, That tkou maift here enioy a long-bleft Raigne, And dying, be in Heauen re-croivrid againe.

SO now, if thou haft daign'd my Lines to heare, There's nothing can befall me that I feare : For if thou haft compaffion on my trouble, The loy I fhall receiue will be made double ; And if I fall, it may fome Glory be, That none but I O V E himfelfe did mine me.

Your Maiefties moft loy all Subiett, and yet Pr if oner in the Mar/half ey,

GEORGE WITHER.

Ff

3 >* 449

Rpithalamia :

OR NVPTIALL POEMS

VPON THE MOST BLESSED

AND HAPPY MARRIAGE

betweene the High and Mighty Prince

Frederick the fifth, Cottnt Palatine

of the Rhine , Duke of

Bauier, &c.

AND THE MOST VERTVOVS,

Gracious, and thrice Excellent Princeffe, Elizabeth,

Sole Daughter to ourdreadSoueraigne, lames, by

the grace of God King of Great Britaine,

France and Ireland, Defender of

the Faith, &c.

Celebrated at White-Hall the fourteenth of February. 1612.

Written by George Wither.

LONDON,

Printed by T. S. for lohn Budge, dwelling in Pauls-

Church-yard, at the figne of the Greene

Dragon, 1622.

TO T H E A LL-V E R-

TVOVS AND THRICE EXCELLENT PRINCESSE

Elizabeth, fole daughter to our dread

Soueraigne, lames by the grace of

God, King of Great Britaine,

France and Ireland,

&c.

ANDWIFE TO THE HIGH

AND MIGHTY PRINCE, FREDERICK

the fifth, Count Palatine of the Rheine , Duke

of B aider, &c. Elector, and A rch-feiv er to

the facred Roman Empire, during

the vacancy Vicar of the fame,

and Knight of the mofl hono rable Order of the Garter.

George Wither wifheth all the Health ;

loyes, Honours, and Felicities of this World,

in this life, and the perfeftions of eternity

in the World to come.

453

To the Chriftian Rea ders.

Eaders;for that in my booke ofSz- tyricall Effayes, / haue been dee med ouer Cynicall ; to Jhew, that I am not wholly inclined to that Vaine : But indeede efpecially, out of the loue which in duty I owe to thofe incomparable Princes, I haue in honoiir of their Roy all So lemnities, publijhed thefe JJwrt Epithala- miaes. By which you may perceiue (how e- uer the world thinke of me) I am not of fuck a Churlijh Conftitution, but I can afford Ver- tue her deferued honour \ and haue as well an

Ff 4 affable

455

To the Reader.

affable looke to encourageHonefty, as a ft erne

frowne to caft on Villanie ; If the Times

would fuffer me Jcouldbe aspleafingas others]

and perhaps ere long I will make you amends

for my former rigor] Meane while I commit

this wit o your cenfures ; and bid

youfarewell.

G. W.

456

Epithalamion.

I Right Northerne Starre, and great Mincruaes peere,

Sweete £#*/*> of this Ztoy : £7ra*/ Britaines deere.

Loe thy poore Vajfall, that was erft fo rude, With his moft Rnjlicke Satyrs to intrude, Once more like a poore Silnan now drawes neare ; And in thy facred Prefence dares appeare. Oh let not that fweete Bowe thy Brow be bent, To fcarre him with a Shaft of difcontent : One looke with Anger, nay thy gentleft Frowne, Is twice enough to cafb a Greater downe. My Will is euer, neuer to offend, Thefe that are good ; and what I here intend, Your Worth compels me to. For lately greeu'd, More then can be expreft, or well beleeu'd ; Minding for euer to abandon fport, And Hue exilde from places of refort ; Careleffe of all, I yeelding to fecuritie, Thought to (hut vp my Mufe in darke obfcuritie :

And

457

Epithalamia.

And in content, the better to repofe, A lonely Groue vpon a Mountains chofe. Eaft from Caer Winn, mid-way twixt A rle and Dis, True Springs, where Britains true Arcadia is. But ere I entred my entended courfe, Great ^Eolus began to offer force. •He here re- * The boifterous King was growne fo mad with rage ;

members and «••••«-• 1 i . /->

defcribes the That all the Earth, was but his furies ftage.

late Winter, '_

Ayre, Earth, Sea, were mtermixt in one :

Yet Fire, through Water, Earth and Ayre fhone.

windy. & *

The Sea, as if fhe ment to whelme them vnder,

Beat on the Cliffes, and rag'd more loud then thunder :

And whil'fi: the vales fhe with fait waues did fill,

The Aire (howr'dfattds, that drencht our higheft hill ;

And the proud trees, that would no dutie know ;

Lay ouer-turned, twenties in a Row.

Yea, euery Man for feare, fell to Deuotion ;

Left the whole lie fhould haue bin drencht in th'Ocean.

Which I perceiuing, coniur'd vp my Mufe,

The Spirit, whofe good helpe I fometime vfe :

And though I ment to breake her reft no more,

I was then faine her aide for to implore.

And by her helpe indeed, I came to know,

Why, both the Ayre and Seas were troubled fo.

For hauing vrg'd her, that fhe would vnfold

What caufe fhe knew : Thus much at laft fhe told.

Of late fquoth fhe) there is by powers Diuine\

A match concluded, twixt Great Thame and Rhine.

Tivo

45 «

Rpithalamia.

Two famous Riuers, equall both to Nile : The one, the pride of Europes greateji lie. Tit other difdaining to be clofely pent ; Waflics a great part of the Continent. Yet with abundance, doth the Wants fupply, • Of the Jlill-thirjling Sea, that's neuer dry. And now, thefe, being not alone endear' d, To mightie Neptune, and his watrie Heard : But alfo to the great and dreadfull loue, With all his f acred Companies aboue, Both haue affented by their Loues inuiting : To grace (with their owne prcfence) this Vniting. loue calVd a Summons to the Worlds great wonder, ' Twas that we heard of late, which we thought thunder. The reafon of A tlioufand Legions he intends to fend them, winter.

Of Cherubins and Angels to attend them : And thofejlrong Windes, that didfuch blujlring keepe, Were but the Tritons, fotmding in the Deepe ; To warne each Riuer, petty Streame and Spring, Their aide imto their Soueraigne to bring. The Floods and Showres that came fo plenteous downe, A nd lay entrcncht in cuery Field and Towne, Were but retainers to the Nobler fort, That owe their Homage at the Watrie Court : Or elfe the Streames not pleafd with their owne Jlorc, To grace the Thames, their Miftris, borrowed more. Exacting from their neighbouring Dales and Hills, But by confent all (nought againjl their wills?)

Yet

459

Epithalamm.

Yet now,fmce in this ftirre are brought to ground Many fair e buildings, many hundreds drown' d, A nd daily found of broken Ships great Jtore, That lie difmembred vpon euery JJiore : With diners other mifchiefes knowne to all, This is the caufe that thofe great harmes befall. Whilft other, things in readinejfe, did make, The caufe of aii Hells hatefull Hags from out their prifons brake :

fuch dangers as ° r

faii out during And fpighting at this hopefiul match, began

the diftempera- _ J^ 3 * . ' *

tureoftheayre. 7^ wteake their wrath on Ayre, Earth, Sea, and Man. Some hauingjhapes of ^QK\\V& Jhauelings got, Spewed out their venome ; and began to plot

Which way to thwart it : others made their way

With much dijlraction thorough Land and Sea Extreamely raging. But Almightie loue Perceiues their Hate and Enuie/nwz aboue : Hele checke their fur ie, and in yrons chain' d,

Their libertie abusd, JJiall be rejlrain'd : Hee'le Jhut them up, from comming to moleji

The Meriments of Hymens holy feaft.

Where Jhall be knit thatfacred Gordian knot,

Which in no age to come Jhall be forgot.

Which Policie nor Force Jhall nere vntie, But mujl continue to eternitie :

Which for the whole Worlds good was fore-decree W,

With Hope expected long ; now come indeed. And of whofe future glory, worth, and merit Much I could fpeake with a prophetike fpirit.

Thus

460

Epithalamia.

Thus by my Mufcs deare afliftance, finding

The caufe of this difturbance, with more minding

My Countries welfare, then my owne content,

And longing to behold this Tales euent :

My lonely life I fuddenly forfooke,

And to the Court againe my lourney tooke.

Meane-while I faw the furious Windes were laid ; The rifmgs of the fwelling Waters ftaid. The Winter gan to change in euery thing, And feem'd to borrow mildneffe of the Spring. The Violet and Primrofe frefh did grow ; And as in Aprill, trim'd both Cops and rowe. The Citie, that I left in mourning clad, Drouping, as if it would haue ftill beene fad, I found deckt vp in roabes fo neat and trimme, Faire Iris would haue look't but dale and dimme In her beft colours, had fhe there appear'd, The Sorroives of the Cotirt I found well cleer'd, Their wofull habits quite caft off, and ty'rd In fuch a glorious fafhion : I admir'd. All her chiefe Peeres and choifeft beauties to, In greater pompe, then Mortals vfe to doe, Wait as attendants. luno's come to fee ; Becaufe fhe heares that this folemnitie Exceeds faire Hippodamias fwhere the ftrife 'Twixt tier, Minerua, and lame Vulcans wife Did firft arife,) and with her leades along A noble, (lately-, and a mighty throng.

Venus

He noteth the moft admirable alteration of the weather a while before thefe Nuptials.

The glorious preparation, of this folemnity, the ftate where of is here alle- gorically defcri-

46l

Rpithalamia.

Venus, (attended with her rareft features,

Sweet louely-fmiling, and heart-mouing creatures,

The very fairefb lewels of her treafure,

Able to moue the fenceles flones to pleafure.)

Of all her fweetefh Saints, hath robd their fhrines ;

And brings them for the Courtiers Valentines.

Nor doth Dame Pallas, from thefe triumphs lurke ;

Her nobleft wits, fhe freely fets on worke.

Of late fhe fummond them vnto this place,

To doe your maskes and Reuels better grace.

Here * Mars himfelfe to, clad in Armour bright,

Hath fhowne his furie in a bloudleffe fight ;

waesWmStraTd-ch And both on land and water, fteniely dreft, fiaaiiy perfor- A6led his bloudy Stratagems in iefh :

Which fto the people, frighted by their error,) With feeming wounds and death did ad more terror, Befides, to giue the greater caufe of wonder, loue did vouchfafe a ratling peale of thunder .- The fier-workes Comets and Meteors by the ftarres exhald,

he alludeth to *

thofe exhaiati- Were from the Middle-Region lately cald ; And to a place appointed made repaire, To fhow their fierie Frifcols in the aire, People innumerable doe refort, As if all Eiirope here would keepe one Court : Yea, Ply men in his Safferon-coloured weed, To celebrate his rites is full agreed. All this I fee : which feeing, makes me borrow Some of their mirth a while, and lay downe forrow.

And

462

Rpithalamia.

And yet not this : but rather the delight

My heart doth take in the much hoped fight

Of thefe thy glories, long already due ;

And this fweet comfort, that my eyes doe view

Thy happy Bridegroome, Prince Cottnt Palatine,

Now thy beft friend and trueft Valentine.

Vpon whofe brow, my minde doth reade the ftorie

Of mightiefame, and a true future glorie.

Me thinkes I doe forefee already, how

Princes and Monarchs at his flirrop bow :

I fee him fhine in fteele ; the bloudy fields

Already won, and how his proud foe yeelds.

God hath ordaind him happineffe great ftore :

And yet in nothing is he happy more,

Then in thy loue (faire Princeffc : ) For (vnleffe

Heanen, like to Man, be prone to fickleneffej

Thy Fortunes muft be greater in effect,

Then time makes fhow of, or men can expe6l.

Yet, notwithftanding all thofe goods of fate,

Thy Minde fhall euer be aboue \hy Jlate:

For ouer and befide thy proper merit,

Our laft Eliza grants her Noble fpirit

To be re-doubled on thee ; and your names

Being both one, fhall giue you both one fames.

Oh bleffed thou / and they to whom thou giu'ft

The leaue for to be attendants where thou liu'ft :

And hapleffe we, that muft of force let goe,

The matchleffe treafure we efteeme of fo.

But

463

Epithalamia.

But yet we truft 'tis for our good and thine ;

Or elfe thou fhouldft not change thy Thame for Rhyne.

We hope that this will the vniting proue

Of Countries and of Nations by your loue :

And that from out your bleffed loynes, fhall come

Another terror to the Whore of Rome :

And fuch a flout Achilles, as fhall make

Her tottering Walls and weake foundation fhake .•

For Thetis-\\kQ, thy fortunes doe require,

Thy Iffue fhould be greater then his fire.

But (Gracious Princeffe) now fmce thus it fares,

And God fo well for you and vs prepares :

Since he hath daign'd fuch honours for to doe you,

And fhowne himfelfe fo fauourable to you :

Since he hath chang'd your forrowes, and your fadnes,

Into fuch great and vnexpecled gladneffe :

Oh now remember you to be at leafure,

Sometime to thinke on him amidfb your pleafure :

Let not thefe glories of the world deceaue you,

Nor her vaine fauours of your felfe bereaue you.

Confider yet for all this lollitie,

Y'are mortall, and muft feele mortalitie :

And that God can in midft of all your loyes,

Quite dam this pompe, and fill you with annoyes.

Triumphes are fit for Princes ; yet we finde

They ought not wholly to take vp the minde,

Nor yet to be let paffe ; as things in vaine :

For out of all things, wit will knowledge gaine.

Mufique

464

Rpithalamia.

Mufique may teach of difference in degree,

The beft tun'd Common- Weales will framed bee :

And that he moues, and liues with greateft grace,

That vnto Time and Meafure ties his pace.

Then let thefe things be a Emblemes, to prefent a Hc de_

Your minde with a more lafting true content.

When you behold the infinite refort,

The glory and the fplendor of the Court ;

What wondrous fauours God doth here bequeath you, umdphes,

How many hundred thoufands are beneath you ;

And view with admiration your great bliffe,

Then with your felfe you may imagine this.

'Tts but a blaft, or tranjitory fliade, when we

Which in the turning of a hand may fade. them.

Honours, 'which yon your felfe did neuer winnc, And might (had God been pleas d) another s binne. And thinke, iffliadowes haue fuch maieftie, What are the glories of eternitie ; Then by this image of a fight on Sea, Wherein you heard the thundring Canons plea ; And faw flames breaking from their murthering throts, Which in true skirmifh, fling refiftleffe fhots ; Your wifedome may (and will no doubt) begin, To caft what perill a poore Sonldiers in : You will conceaue his miferies and cares, How many dangers, deaths, and wounds he fhares : Then though the moft pafs't ouer, and neglect them, That Retlioricke will moue you to refpect them.

Gg And

Rpitkalamia.

And if hereafter, you fhould hap to fee Such Mimick Apes (that Courts difgraces be : ) I meane fuch Chamber-combatants ; who neuer Weare other Helmet, then a Hat of Better : Or nere board Pinnace but in filken faile ; And in the fteed of boyfterous fhirts of maile, Goe arm'd in Cambrick : If that fuch a Kite ( I fay ) fhould fcorne an Eagle in your fight ; Your wifedome iudge (by this experience) can, Which hath moft worth, Hermaphrodite, or Man. The nights ftrange * profpects, made to feed the eies, With Artfull fiers, mounted in the skies : Graced with horred claps of fulphury thunders ; May make you minde th' Almighties greater wonders. Nor is there any thing, but you may thence Reape inward gaine ; as well as pleafe the Senfe. But pardon me (oh fair eft) that am bold, My heart thus freely, plainely, to vnfold. What though I know, you knew all this before : My loue this fhowes, and that is fomething more. Doe not my honeft feruice here difdaine, I am a faithfull, though an humble Swaine. I'me none of thofe that haue the meanes or place, With fhowes of coft to doe your Nuptials grace : But onely mailer of mine owne defire, Am hither come with others to admire. I am not of thofe Heliconian wits ; Whofe pleafmg ftraines the Courts knowne humour fits.

But

466

Epithalamia.

But a poore rurall Shcpheard, that for need, Can make fheepe Mufique on an Oaten reed : Yet for my lone (He this be bold to boaft) It is as much to you, as his that's moft. Which, fmce I no way elfe can now explaine, If you'l in midft of all thefe glories daigne, To lend your eares vnto my Mufe fo long, She fhall declare it in a Wedding fong.

G g 2 Epitha-

467

Rpitkalamion.

Ths T TAlentine, good morrow to thee, being one V Loue and feruice both I owe thee tines fay, And would waite vpon thy pleafure ; thor But I cannot be at leafure :

ihowes it

[ owe this day as debter,

To ( a thoufand times ) thy better.

a fuppo- fed Va-

Hymen now will haue effected What hath been fo long expected : Thame thy Miftris, now vnwedded ; Soone, muft with a Prince be bedded. If thou'lt fee her Virgin euer, Come, and doe it now, or neuer.

Where art thou, oh faire Aurora? Call in Ver and Lady Flora : And you daughters of the Morning, In your neat'ft, and feat'ft adorning: Cleare your fore-heads, and be fprightfull, That this day may feeme delightfull.

All

468

Epithalamia.

All you NimpJis that vfe the Mountaines, Or delight in groues and fountaines ; Shepheardcjfes, you that dally, Either vpon Hill or Valley : And you daughters of the Bower, That acknowledge Veftaes power.

Oh you fleepe too long ; awake yee, See how Time doth ouertake yee. Harke, the Larke is vp and fmgeth, And the houfe with ecchoes ringeth. Pretious howers, why neglecl: yee, Whirft affaires thus expe6l yee ?

Come away vpon my blefling, The Bride-chamber lies to drefling : Strow the wayes with leaues of Rofes, Some make garlands, fome make pofes : 'Tis a fauour, and't may ioy you, That your Miftris will employ you.

Where's a Sabrina, with her daughters, a Scucrnc

That doe fport about her waters :

Thofe that with their lockes of Amber,

Haunt the fruitfull hills of * Camber :

We mud haue to fill the number,

All the Nimphs of Trent and Humbcr.

G g 3 Fie

469

Rpitkalamia.

Fie, your hafte is fcarce fufficing, For the Brides awake and rifmg. Enter beauties, and attend her ; All your helpes and feruice lend her : With your quaint'ft and new'ft deuifes, Trim your Lady, faire Thamifis.

See ; fhee's ready : with loyes greet her, Lads, goe bid the Bride-groome meet her : But from ram approach aduife him, Left a too much loy furprize him, None I ere knew yet, that dared, View an Angell vnprepared.

•

Now vnto the Church fhe hies her ; Enuie burfts, if fhe efpies her : In her gertures as fhe paces, Are vnited all the Graces : Which who fees and hath his fenfes, Loues in fpight of all defences.

O moft true maieftick creature ! Nobles did you note her feature ? Felt you not an inward motion, Tempting Loue to yeeld deuotion ; And as you were euen defiring, Something check you for afpiring ?

That's

470

Epithalamia.

That's her Verttie which flill tameth

Loofe defires, and bad thoughts blameth :

For whil'ft others were vnruly,

She obferu'd Diana truly :

And hath by that meanes obtained

Gifts of her that none haue gained.

Yon's the Bride-groome, d'yee not fpie him ?

See how all the Ladies eye him.

Vemis his perfection findeth,

And no more Adonis mindeth.

Much of him my heart diuineth :

On whofe brow all Vertne fhineth.

Two fuch Creatures Nature would not Let one place long keepe : fhe fhould not : One fhee'l haue (fhe cares not whether,) But our Loues can fpare her neither. Therefore ere we'le fo be fpighted, They in one fhall be vnited.

Natitres felfe is well contented, By that meanes to be preuented. And behold they are retired, So conioyn'd, as we defired : Hand in hand, not onely fixed, But their hearts, are intermixed.

G g 4 Happy

Rpithalamia.

Happy they and we that fee it, For the good of Eitrope be it. And heare Heauen my deuotion, a Tyber; Make this RJiync and Thame an Ocean uSer which That it may with might and wonder, by Rome. Whelme the pride of a Tyber vnder.

b white- Now yon b Hall their perfons fhroudeth, Whither all this people croudeth : There they feafted are with plenty, Sweet Ambrojla is no deinty. Groomes quaffe NeElar ; for theres meeter, Yea, more coftly wines and fweeter.

Voting men all, for ioy goe ring yee, And your merrieft Carols fmg yee. Here's of Damzels many choices, Let them tune their fweeteft voyces. Fet the Mitfes to, to cheare them ; They can rauiih all that heare them.

Ladies, 'tis their Highneffe pleafures, To behold you foot the Meafures : Louely geftures addeth graces, To your bright and Angell faces. Giue your a<5liue mindes the bridle : Nothing worfe then to be idle.

Worthies

472

Rpithalamia.

Worthies, your affaires forbeare yee, For the State a while may fpare yee : Time was, that you loued fporting, Haue you quite forgot your Courting ? loy the heart of Cares beguileth : Once a yeere Apollo fmileth.

tn an no ri- Jft Apol.

Fellow Shepheards, how I pray you, Can your flocks at this time flay you ? Let vs alfo hie vs thither, Let's lay all our wits together, And fome Pajlorall inuent them, That may fhow the lone we ment them.

/ my fdfe though meaneft ftated,

And in Court now almoft hated,

Will knit vp my a Scotirge, and venter

In the midft of them to enter ; anT

For I know, there's no difdaining, He ?o-

Where I looke for entertaining. mOdae

of the winter which.

See, me thinkes the very/ea/on, As if capable of Reafon, Hath laine by her natiue rigor, The faire Sun-bcames haue more vigor. They are jEols moft endeared : For the Ayre's ftill'd and cleared.

Fawnes

ZP 473

Epithalamia.

Fawnes, and Lambs and Kidds doe play,

In the honour of this day :

The fhrill Black-Bird, and the Thrujli

Hops about in euery bufh :

And among the tender twigs,

Chaunt their fweet harmonious ijgs.

aJe of™-n Yea, anc* niou'd by this example, thatthis They doe make each Groue a temple : bS dST Where their time the beft way vfmg, maleeforer They their Summer loues are chufmg.

thatyeer. And ynleffe fome ^^ do wrong them>

There's not an od bird among them.

Yet I heard as I was walking, Groues and hills by Ecchoes talking : Reeds vnto the fmall brooks whiftling, Whil'ft they danc't with pretty rufhling. Then for vs to fleepe 'twere pitty ; Since dumb creatures are fo witty.

But oh Titan, thou doft dally, Hie thee to thy Wefterne Valley : Let this night one hower borrow : She fhall pay't againe to morrow : And if thou'lt that fauor do them, Send thy fifter Phcebe to them.

474

Rpithalamia.

But fhee's come her felfe vnasked, And brings & Gods and Heroes masked. None yet faw, or heard in ftorie, Such immortall, mortall glorie. View not, without preparation ; Left you faint in admiration.

Say my Lords, and fpeake truth barely, Mou'd they not exceeding rarely ? Did they not fuch praifes merit, As \iflejh had all beene^/W/f True indeed, yet I muft tell them, There was One did farre excell them.

But (alas) this is ill dealing, Night vnawares away is ftealing : Their delay the poore bed wrongeth, That for Bride with Bride-groome longcth And aboue all other places, Muft be bleft with their embraces.

a By thefc he means the two M afques, one of them be ing pre- fcnted by the Lords, the other by the Gen try.

Reuellers, then now forbeare yee, And vnto your refts prepare yee : Let's a while your abfence borrow, Sleep to night, and dance to morrow. We could well allow your Courting : But 'twill hinder better fporting.

They

475

Rpithalamia.

They are gone, and Night all lonely, Leaues the Bride with Bridegroome onely. Mufe now tell ; (for thou haft power To flie thorough wall or tower : ) What contentments their hearts cheareth ; And how lonely Jhe appear eth.

And yet doe not ; tell it no man, Rare conceits may fo grow common : Doe not to the Vulgar mow them, ('Tis enough that thou doft know them. ) Their ill hearts are but the Center, Where all mifconceiuings enter.

But thou Luna that doft lightly, Haunt our downes and forrefts nightly : Thou that fauour'ft generation, And art helpe to procreation : See their iffue thou fo cherifh, I may Hue to fee it flourim.

And you Planets, in whofe power Doth confift thefe Hues of our ; You that teach vs Diuinations, Helpe with all your Conjlellations, How to frame in Her, a creature, Bleft in Fortune, Wit, and Feature.

Laftly,

476

Rpithalamia.

Laftly, oh you Angels ward them, Set your facred Spels to gard them ; Chafe away fuch feares or terrors, As not being, feeme through errors : Yea, let not a dreamcs molefting, Make them ftart when they are refting.

But T H O V chiefly, mod adored, That fhouldft onely be implored : Thou to whom my meaning tendeth, Whether er'e in fhow it bendeth : Let them reft to night from for row, A nd awake with ioy to morrow.

Oh, to my requeft be heedfull,

Grant them that, and all things needfull.

Let not thefe my ftraines of Folly,

Make true prayer be vnholy :

But if I haue here offended :

Helpe, forgiue, and fee it mended.

Daigne me this. And if my Mufes Haftie iffue ; fhe perufes ; Make it vnto her feeme gratefull, Though to all the World elfe hatefull. But how er'e, yet Soule perfeuer Thus to wifh her good for euer.

Thus

477

Epithalamia.

THus ends the Day, together with my Song ; Oh may the loyes thereof continue long ! Let Hcauens iuft, all-feeing, facred power, Fauour this happy marriage day of your ; And bleffe you in your chaft embraces fo, We Britains may behold before you goe The hopefull Iffue we fhall count fo deare, And whom (vnborne) his foes already feare. Yea, I defire, that all your forrowes may Neuer be more, then they haue been to day. Which hoping ; for acceptance now I fue, And humbly bid your Grace and Court adue. I faw the fight I came for ; which I know Was more then all, the world befide could fhow. But if amongft Apolloes Layes, you can Be pleas'd to lend a gentle eare to Pan ; Or thinke your Country Shepheard loues as deare, As if he were a Courtier, or a Peere : Then I, that elfe muft to my Cell of paine, Will ioyfull turne vnto myflocke againe : And there vnto my fellow Jhepheards tell, Whyjw/ are lou'd ; wherein you doe excell. And when we driue our flecks a field to graze them, So chaunt your praifes, that it fhall amaze them : And thinke that Fate hath new recald from death Their ftill-lamented, fweete Elizabeth. For though they fee the Court but now and then, They know defert as well as Greater men ;

And

478

Epithalamia.

And honord Fame in them doth Hue or die, As well as in the mouth of Maiejlie. But taking granted what I here intreat ; At heauen for you my deuotions beat : And though I feare, fate will not fuffer me To doe you feruice, where your Fortunes be : How ere my skill hath yet defpifed feem'd, (And my vnripened wit been mifefteem'd :) When all this coftly Showe away fhall flit, And not one Hue that doth remember it ; If Enuies trouble let not to perfeuer ; I'le find a meanes to make it knowne for euer.

C E R T A I N E

479

CERTAINE E-

PIGRAMS CON CERNING MAR RIAGE.

Epigram i.

Is f aid] in Marriage aboue all the reft The children of a Kingfinde comforts leaft, Becaiife without refpect of Loue or Hate They muft, and oft be, ruled by the State :

But if contented Loue, Religions care,

Equalitie in State, and yeares declare

A happie Match (as I fuppofe no leffe)

Then rare and great's Elizaes Happinejfe.

Epigram

480

Kpithalamia.

Epigram. 2.

GOd was thefirft that Marriage did ordaine, By making One, Two ; and Two, One againe,

Epigram. 3.

SOuldier ; of thee I aske, for thou canft beft, Hairing knowne forrow, iudge of loy and Reft : What greater bliffe, then after all thy Jtarmes, To hane a wife that's faire, and law full thine \ And lying prif on d 'twixt her luory armes, There tell what thou haft fcapt by powers dinine ? How many round thee thou haft nmrthered feene ; How oft thy foule hath beenc mere hand expiring. How many times thy flefli hath wounded been : WhiFftJhe thy fortune, and thy worth admiring,

With ioy of health, and pitty of thy paine ;

Doth wcepe and kijfe, and kijfe and iveepe againe.

Epigram. 4.

FA ire Helen hauingftairid her husbands bed, And mortall hatred 'twixt two Kingdomes bred ; Had ftill remaining in her fo much good, That Heroes for her loft their dear eft blood:

H h Then

3? 481

Rpitkalamia.

Then if with all that ill, fuch ^vorth may lajl, Oh what is Jhe worthy that's as fair e, and chaft \

Epigram. 5.

OLd Orpheus knew a good wiues worth fo well, That when his dy'd, he followed her to hell, And for her lojfe, at the Elizean Groue, He did not onely Ghofts to pitty moue, But the fad Poet breath' d his fighes fo deepe ; 'Tis faid, the Diuels could not chufe but weepe.

Epigram. 6.

LOng did I wonder, and I wonder much, Romes Church fliould from her Clcrgie take that due \ Thought I, why fiiould flie that contentment grutch ? What, dothjiie all with continence indue? No : But why then are they debar' d that ftate f Is Jlie become a foe vnto her owne? Doth Jhe the members of her body hate? Or is it for fome other caufe vnJJwwne ? Oh yes : they find a womans lips fo dainty ; They tye themfelues from one, caufe they'l haue twenty.

Epigram.

482

Epithalamia.

Epigram. 7.

WOmen, as fome men fay, vnconftant be ; ' Tis like enough, andfo no doubt are men :

Nay, if their fcapes we could fo plainely fee,

I feare thatfcarce there will be one for ten.

Men haue but their owne htfts that tempt to ill:

Women haue lufts, and mens allurements to :

A las, if their Jlrengths cannot citrbe tJteir will ;

What Jhould poore women that are weaker do ? Ok they had need be chaft, and looke about tJtcm, Thatftriue 'gainft lujl within, and knaues without them.

FINIS.

Hh 2

THE

SHEPHEARDS

HVNTING:

Being certaine Eglogues written

during the time of the Authors

Imprifonment in the MarJJialfey.

By George Wither, Gentleman.

LONDON,

Printed by T. S. for loJui Budge, dwelling in Pauls-

Church-yard, at the figne of the Greene

Dragon, 1622.

4S5

To thofe Honoured , Noble, and

right Vertuous Friends, my Vife- tants in the Marjhalfey:

And to all other my vnknowne Fauourers,

who either priuately, or publikely wifhed

me well in my imprifonment.

Oble Friends ; you whofe verities made me firft in lone with Ver- tue ; and whofe worths made mee be thought worthy of your hues: I ham now at laft (you fee} by Gods ajfiftance, and your encouragement, run through the Pur- gatorie of imprifonment ; and by the worthy

H h 4 fauoiir

487

To the Reader.

fauourofa iujl PrmcQ.Jiandfree againe, with- oiit the leaft toitch ofdeiefledbafeneffe. Seeing therefore J was growne beyond my Hope fo fortunate (after acknowledgement of my Crea tors loue, together with the vneq^lal^ d Clemen- cie offo gracious a Soueraigne) I was troubled to thinke, by what meanes I might expreffe my thankefulnes tofo many well-deferuing friends-. No way I found to my defire, neither yet ability toperforme when I found it. But at length con- fidering with my felfe what you were (that is) fuck, whofauoitr honejlyfor no fecondreafon, but becaufeyouyourfehtes are good] and ay me at no other reward \ but the witneffe of a found conscience that you doe well, I found, thatthank- fiilneffe would proue the accept ablejl prefent to fute with your difpofitions ; and that I imagi ned could be no way better exprejfed, then in rnanifeftingyour court efies, and giving confent to your reafonable demaunds. For the fir ft, I

confeffe

488

To the Reader.

confejfe ( with tliankes to the difpofer of all things, and a true gratefiill heart towards you) fo many were the vnexpeffied Vifitations, and •unhoped kindnejfes receyited, both from fome among you of my Acquaintance, and many o- ther vnknowne Well-wilier s of my Caufe, that I was perfwaded to entertaine a much better conceit of the Times, then I lately conceyited, and affitred my felfe , that Vertue had far more followers then I fuppofed.

Somewhat it dijturbed me to behold our ages Fauourites, whilft they frowned on my honeft enterprifes, to take vnto their protections the e- gregioujls fopperies: yet much more was my con tentment, in that I was ref petted byfo many of You, among Jl who there are fome \ who can and may as much dif-ejteeme thefe, as they negleffi me: nor could I feare their Malice or Contempt, whiljllenioyedyourfauours, who (howfoeuer you are wider-valued by Fooles for a time}

Jhall

489

To the Reader.

Jhallleauevntoyaurpqfterityfo noble a memory, that your names Jhall be reuerenced by Kings, when many of thefe who now fiourijh with a Jhew of ' vfurpedGrzaineKt, Jhall eyther weare oztt of being, ordifpoyledofall their patched re putation, grow contemptible in the eyes of their beloited Miftris the World. Yoiir Loue // is that (enabling me with patience to endure what is already paft) hath made me alfo carefull bet ter to prepare my f elf e for all future mifaduen- t^lres, by bringing to my confederation, what the paffion of my iujt difcontentments had almojt quite banijlied from my remembrance.

Further, to declare my tkankefulneffe, innia- kingapparant my willing minde to be comman ded in any f entices ofloue, whichyoujlialthinke fit ( though I want abilitie to performe great matters]yet I haiie according tofome of your re- quefts, been contented to giueway to the printing of thefe Eglogues; which though it to many

feeme

To the Reader.

feeme ajleight matter, yet beingwellconfidered

of, may prouc a ftrong argument ofmyreadineffe

to glue you content in a greater matter: for they

being (as you well know) begotten with little

care, and prefemed with leffe refpe6l,gauefuffi-

cient euidence, that I meant (rather then any

way to deceiueyour truft) togiue the world occa-

fwn of calling my difcretion in queftion,as I now

ajfure myfelfe this will', andthefooner, becaufe

fitch expectations (I perceitie) there are (of I

know not what Indentions] as would haue been

fruftrated, though I had employed the vtmoft

and very beft of my endeauours.

Notwithflanding for your fakes , / haue heere aditentured once againe to make try all of the IVorlds cenfures : and what hath receyiied beemg/rotnyour Loues, I here re-dedicated to yotir Worths, which if your noble difpofitions will like well of\ or if you will but reafonably refpeft what your f elites drew mee vnto, I JJrall

be

491

To the Reader.

be nothing difpleafed at others cauils, but reft- ing my felfe contented with your good opinions, fcorne all the rabble of uncharitable detra- ffiors: For none, I know, willmaligne it, except thofe, who eyther particularly malice my per- fon, orprofeffe themf elites enemies to my former Bookes ; who (failing thofe that were incenfed on others fpeeches) as diners of yon (according toyourproteftations) haue obferued, are eyther open enemies of our Church ; men nolorioujly guilty of fome particular Abufes therein taxt, fuch malicious Critickes who haue the repute of being iudicious , by detracting from others', or at bejt, fuch Guls, as neuer approzte any thing good, or learned, but eyther that which their Jhallow apprehenfions can apply to thefoothing of their owne opinions, or what (indeed rather) they vnderftand not.

Truft me, how illfoeuer it hath been rewar ded , my loue to my Country is inuiolate : my

thanke-

To the Reader.

thankefulneffe to you vnfained, my endeauour to doe euery man good ; all my ay me, content with hone/tie: and this my paines (if it may be fo tearmed] more to auoididleneffe, then for af- feftation ofpraife : and ifnotwithftanding all this, I mnjl yet not onely reft my felfe content that my innocencie hath efcapedwithftrift im- prifonment (to the impayring of myftate , and hinderance of my fortunes) but alfo be conftray- nedtofee my guilt lejfe lines, fuffer the defpight of ill tongues : yet for my further encourage ment, let mee intreate the continuance of your fir ft refpett, wherein Ifliallfindthat comfort as will be fufficient to make mee fet light, and fo much contemne all the malice of my aduerfa- ries, that readie to burft with the venome of their owne hearts, they Jhall fee

My Minde enamoured on faire Vertues light, Tranfcends the limits of their bleared fight, And plac'd aboue their Enuy doth contemne, Nay, fit and laugh at, their difdaine, and them.

But

To the Reader.

But Noble Friends, I make queftion neyther of yours, nor any honeft mans refpefl, and there fore will no further vrge it, nor troiibleyoitr pa tience : onely this lie fay, that you may not think me too well conceited of my felfe ; though the Time were to blame, in ill requiting my honeft endeazwitrs , which in the eyes of the World de- ferued better ; yetfomewhatlam ajfured there was in me worthy that punijhment , which when God JJiallgiuerne grace to fee and amend, I doubt not but tofinde that regard as will be fit ting for fo mtich merit as my endeauors may iuftly chal lenge. Meane while, the better to hold my f elf e in efteeme with you, and amend the worlds opinion 0/*Vertue, Iwillftiidy to amend my f elf e , that I may be yet more worthy to be called

Your Friend,

G E o : WITHER.

494

The Shepheards Hunting. The fir/I Eglogue.

THE A R G v M E N T. Willy leaues his Flocke a ivhile, To lament his Friends exile ; Where, though prif on d, he dothfinde, Heesjlillfree that 's free in Minde: A nd that there is no defence Halfe fo firme as Innocence.

PHILARETE. WILLIE.

Philarete.

Illy, thou now full iolly tun'ft thy Reedes, Making the Nymphs enamor'd on thy ftrains, And whilfl thy harmles flock vnscarred feeds, Haft the contentment, of hils, groues, & plains :

Truft

495

The Shepheards Hunting.

Truft me, I ioy thou and thy Mufe fo fpeedes In fuch an Age, where fo much mifchiefe raignes : And to my Care it fome redreffe will be, Fortune hath fo much grace to fmile on thee.

Willy.

To fmile on me ? I nere yet knew her fmile, Vnleffe 'twere when me purpos'd to deceiue me ; Many a Traine, and many a painted Wile She cafts, in hope of Freedome to bereaue me : Yet now, becaufe me fees I fcorne her guile To fawne on fooles, me for my Mufe doth leaue me. And here of late, her wonted Spite doth tend, To worke me Care, by frowning on ray friend.

Philarete.

Why then I fee her Copper-coyne' s no ftarling, Twill not be currant ftill, for all the guildingj A Knaue, or Foole, muft euer be her Darling, For they haue minds to all occafions yeelding : If we get any thing by all our parling. It feemes an Apple, but it proues a Weilding : But let that paffe : fweet Shepheard tell me this, For what beloued Friend thy forrow is.

Willy.

Art thou, Philarete, in durance heere, And dofb thou aske me for what Friend I grieue ? Can I fuppofe thy loue to me is deere, Or this thy ioy for my content belieue ?

When

496

The Shepheards Hunting.

When thou think'fl thy cares touch not me as neere : Or that I pinne thy Sorrowes at my fleeue ?

I haue in thee repofed fo much truft,

I neuer thought, to find thee fo vniuft.

Philarete.

W I L, why Willy ? Prethee doe not aske me why f Doth it diminifh any of thy care, That I in freedome maken melody ; And think'fl I cannot as well fomewhat fpare From my delight, to mone thy mifcry ? Tis time our Loues fhould thefe fufpe6ls forbeare : Thou art that friend, which thou vnnam'd fhold'ft know, And not haue drawne my loue in queftion fo.

Philarete.

Forgiue me, and Fie pardon thy miftake, And fo let this thy gentle-anger ceafe, ( I neuer of thy loue will queftion make,) Whilft that the number of our dayes encreafe, Yet to my felfe I much might feeme to take, And fomething neere vnto prefumption preafe : To thinke me worthy lone from fuch ^fpirit, But that I know thy kindnefle pad my merit.

Befides ; me thought thou fpak'ft now of a friend, That feem'd more grieuous difcontents to beare, Some things I find that doe in fhew offend, Which to my Patience little trouble are,

li And

497

The Shepkeards Hunting.

And they ere long I hope will haue an end ;

Or though they haue not, much I doe not care : So this it was, made me that queftion moue, And not fufpect of honeft Willies loue.

Willie.

Alas, thou art exiled from thy Flocke, And quite beyond the Defarts here confin'd, Haft nothing to conuerfe with but a Rocke ; Or at leaft Out-lawes in their Caues halfe pin'd : And do'ft thou at thy owne mif-fortune mocke, Making thy felfe to, to thy felfe vnkinde ? When heretofore we talk't we did imbrace : But now I fcarce can come to fee thy face.

Philarete.

Yet all that Willy, is not worth thy forrow, For I haue Mirth here thou would'ft not beleeue, From deepeft cares the higheft ioyes I borrow. If ought chance out this day, may make me grieue Tie learne to mend, or fcorne it by to morrow. This barren place yeelds fomewhat to relieue : For, I haue found fufficient to content me, And more true bliffe then euer freedome lent me.

Willie. Are Prifons then growne places of delight ?

Phil-

49*

The Shepheards Hunting.

Philarete.

'Tis as the confcience of the Prifoner is,

The very Grates are able to affright

The guilty Man, that knowes his deedes amiffe ;

All outward Pleafures are exiled quite,

And it is nothing (of it felfe) but this :

A bhorred loaneneffe, darkcncjfe, fadnejfe, paines, Numn-cold,J1iarpe-hunger,fcJiorching tJdrft and chaines.

Willie. And thefe are nothing ?

Philarete. Nothing yet to mec.

Onely my friends reftraint is all my paine. And fince I truely find my confcience free From that my loaneneffe to, I reape fome gaine.

Willie.

But grant in this no difcontentment be : It doth thy wifhed liberty reftraine : And to ihyfoute I thinke there's nothing nearer, For I could neuer heare thee prize ought dearer.

Philarete.

True, I did euer fet it at a Rate Too deare for any Mortals worth to buy, Tis not our greateft Shepheards whole eftate, Shall purchafe from me, my leaft liberty :

li 2 But

490

The Shepheards Hunting.

But I am fubie<5t to the powers of Fate,

And to obey them is r\vflauery :

They may doe much, but when they haue done all, Onely my body they may bring in thrall.

And 'tis not that (my Willy) 'tis my mind, My mind's more precious, freedome I fo weigh A thoufand wayes they may my body bind, In thoufand thrals, but ne're my mind betray: And thence it is that I contentment find, And beare with Patience this my loade away : Pmejlillmyfelfe, and that I'de rather bee, Then to be Lord of all thefe Dowries in fee.

Willie.

Nobly refohfd, and I doe ioy to hear't, For 'tis the minde of Man indeed that's all. There's nought fo hard but a braue heart will bear't, The guiltleffe men count great afflictions fmall, They'le looke on Death and Torment, yet not fear't, Becaufe they know 'tis rifing fo to fall'.

Tyrants may boaft they to much power are borne, Yet he hath more that Tyranies can fcorne.

Philarete.

'Tis right, but I no Tyranies endure,

Nor haue I fuffered ought worth name of care

Willie.

500

The Shepheards Hunting.

Willie.

What e're thou'lt call't, thou may ft, but I am fure, Many more pine that much leffe pained are : Thy looke me thinkes doth fay thy meaning's pure And by this paft I find what thou do'ft dare : But I could neuer yet the reafon know, Why thou art lodged in this houfe of wo.

Philarete.

Nor I by Pan, nor neuer hope to doe, But thus it pleafes fome ; and I doe guefle Partly a caufe that moues them thereunto, Which neither will auaile me to expreffe, Nor thee to heare, and therefore let it goe, We muft not fay, they doe fo that oppreffe : Yet I mall ne're to footh them or the times, Iniure my felfe, by bearing others crimes.

Willie.

Then now thou maift fpeake freely, there's none heares, But he, whom I doe hope thou do'ft not doubt.

Philarete.

True : but if doores and walles haue gotten cares, And Clofct-whifperings may be fpread about : Doe not blame him that in fuch caufes feares W7hat in his Pajfion he may blunder out :

In fuch a place, and fuch ftricl: times as thefe, Where what we fpeake is tooke as others pleafe.

li 3 But

The Shepheards Hunting.

But yet to morrow, if thou come this way, I'le tell thee all my flory to the end, 'Tis long, and now I feare thou canft not flay, Becaufe thy Flocke muft watred be and pend, And Night begins to muffle vp the day, Which to informe thee how alone I fpend, I'le onely fing a forry Prifoners Lay,

I fram'd this Morne, which though it fuits no fields, Is fuch as fits me, and fad Thraldome yeelds.

Willie.

Well, I will fet my Kit another firing, And play vnto it whil'fl that thou do'fl fmg.

Sonnet.

Philarete.

Ow that my body dead-aliue, Bereaitd of comfort, lies in thrall. Doe thou my foule begin to thriue, nd vnto Hony, turne this Gall: So fltall we both through outzvard wo, The way to imvard comfort know.

As to the Flejh we food do giue ; To keepe in vs this Mortall breath : So, Soules on Meditations Hue, Andjhunne thereby immortal I death :

Nor

502

The Shepheards Hunting.

Nor art tkou eucr neercr reft,

TJien when thou find* ft me moft oppreft.

Firft thinke my Soule ; If I haue Foes That take a pleafure in my care, And to procure thefe outward woes, Haue thus entrapt me vnaware :

Thou JJwuld'ft by mucJi more carcfull bee,

Since greater foes lay waitc for thee.

Then ivhen Mew'd vp in grates of fteelet Minding thofe ioyes, mine eyes doe miffe, Thou find' ft no torment thou dojlfcele, So grieuous as Priuation is :

Mufe how tJie Damnd in flames that glow t

Pine in the lojfe of blijfe they know.

Thoufeeft there s giuen fo great might

To fome that are but clay as /,

Their very anger can affright,

Which, if in any thou efpie. Thus thinke \ If Mortals frowncs ftrike feare, Hoiv dreadfull will Gods wrath appeare ?

By my late hopes that now are croft, Conftder thofe that firmer be : And make the frcedomc I haue loft, A meanes that may remember thee :

I i 4 Had

The Shepheards Hunting.

Had Chrift, not thy Redeemer bin, What horrid thrall thou had' ft been in.

Thefe yron chaines, thefe bolts of fteele, Which other poor e offenders grind, The wants and cares which they doe feele, May bring fome greater thing to mind :

For by their grief e thou Jlialt doe ^vell,

To thinke vpon the paines of Hell.

Or, when through me thon feeft a Man Condemn d vnto a mortall death, How fad he lookes, how pale, how wan, Drawing with fear e his panting breath :

Thinke, if in that, fitch grief e thou fee,

How fad will, Goe yee curfed be.

A game, when he that fear d to Dye (Paft hope) doth fee his Pardon brought, Reade but the ioy that's in his eye, A nd tJien conuey it to thy thought :

There thinke, betwixt thy heart and thee,

How fweet will, Come yee bleffed, bee.

Thus if thou doe, though clofed here, My bondage I fliall deeme the lejfe, I neither Jhall haue caufe to feare, Nor yet bewaile my fad diftrejfe :

For

504

The Shepheards Hunting.

For whether Hue, or pine, or dye, WeJJiall hane blijfe eternally.

Willy.

Truft me I fee the Cage doth fome Birds good, And if they doe not fuffer too much wrong, Will teach them fweeter defcants then the wood : Beleeue't, I like the fubiecl: of thy Song, It fhewes thou art in no diftempred mood : But caufe to heare the refidue I long,

My Sheepe to morrow I will neerer bring, And fpend the day to heare thee talk and fmg.

Yet e're we part, Philarete, areed,

Of whom thou learnd'ft to make fuch fongs as thefe,

I neuer yet heard any Shepheards reede

Tune in mifhap, a ftraine that more could pleafe ;

Surely, Thou do'ft inuoke at this thy neede

Some power, that we negle6l in other layes :

For heer's a Name, and words, that but few fwaines Haue mentioned at their meeting on the Plaines.

Philarete.

Indeed 'tis true ; and they are fore to blame, They doe fo much neglect it in their Songs, For, thence proceedeth fuch a worthy fame, As is not fubiecl: vnto Enuies wrongs : That, is the mod to be refpecled name Of our true Pan, whofe worth fits on all tongues :

And

3' 5°5

The Shepkeards Hunting.

And what the ancient Shepheards vfe to prayfe In facred Anthemes, vpon Holy-dayes.

Hee that firft taught his Muficke fuch a ftraine Was that fweet Shepheard, who (vntill a King) Kept Sheepe vpon the hony-milky Plaine, That is inrich't by lordans watering ; He in his troubles eas'd the bodies paines, By meafures rais'd to the Soules rauifhing : And his fweet numbers onely moil diuine, Gaue firft the being to this Song of mine.

Willy.

Let his good fpirit euer with thee dwell, That I might heare fuch Muficke euery day.

Philarete.

Thankes, Swaine: but harke, thy Weather rings his Bell. And Swaines to fold, or homeward driue away.

Willy.

And yon goes Cuddy, therefore fare thou well : I'le make his Sheepe for mee a little fhay ; And, if thou thinke it fit, I'le bring him to, Next morning hither.

Philarete. Prethee, Witty, do.

FINIS.

506

The Shepheards Hunting. The fecond Eglogue.

THE ARGVMENT. Cuddy here relates, how all Pitty Philarete's thrall. Who, requeued, doth relate The true caufe of his eftate ; Which broke off, becaufe 'hvas long, They begin, a three-man- Song.

WILLY. CVDDY. PHILARETE.

Willy.

LO, Philaret, thy old friend heere, and I, Are come to vifit thee in thefe thy Bands, Whim both our Flocks in an Indofure by, Doe picke the thin grafle from the fallowed lands. He tels me thy reftraint of liberty, Each one throughout the Country vnderflands : And there is not a gentle-natur'd Lad On all thefe Dowries, but for thy fake is fad.

Cuddy.

The Shepkeards Hunting.

Cuddy.

Not thy acquaintance, and thy friends alone, Pitty thy clofe reftraint, as friends fhould doe : But fome that haue but feene thee, for thee moane : Yea, many that did neuer fee thee to. Some deeme thee in a fault, and moft in none ; So diuers wayes doe diuers Rumors goe

And at all meetings where our Shepheards bee, Now the maine Newes that's extant, is of thee.

Philarete.

Why, this is fomewhat yet : had I but kept Sheepe on the Mountaines, till the day of doome, My name fhould in obfcuritie haue flept In Brakes, in Briars, Jhrubbed Furze and Broome. Into the Worlds wide eare it had not crept, Nor in fo many mens thoughts found a roome :

But what caufe of my fufferings doe they know ?

Good Cuddy, tell me, how doth rumour goe ?

Cuddy.

Faith 'tis vncertaine ; fome fpeake this, fome that : Some dare fay nought, yet feeme to thinke a caufe, And many a one prating he knowes not what ; Comes out with Prouerbes and old ancient f awes, As if he thought thee guiltleffe, and yet not : Then doth he fpeake halfe Sentences, then pawfe :

That what the moft would fay, we may fuppofe ;

But, what to fay, the Rumour is, none knowes.

Philarete.

508

The Shepheards Hunting.

Philarete.

Nor care I greatly ; for, it skils not much, What the vnfteady common-people deemes, His Confcience doth not alwaies feele leaft touch, That blameleffe in the fight of others feemes : My caufe is honeft, and becaufe 'tis fuch, I hold it fo, and not for mens efteernes :

If they fpeake iuftly well of mee, I'me glad ;

If falfely euill, it ne're makes me fad.

Willy.

I like that mind : but, Shepheard, you are quite Befide the matter that I long to heare : Remember what you promis'd yefter-night, Youl'd put vs off with other talke, I feare ; Thou know' ft that honeft Cuddies heart's vpright, And none but he, except my felfe, is neere :

Come therefore, and betwixt vs two relate,

The true occafion of thy prefent ftate.

Philarete.

My Friends I will ; You know I am a Swaine, That kept a poore Flocke on a barren Plaine : Who though it feemes, I could doe nothing leffe, Can make a Song, and woe a Shepheardeffe. And not alone the faired where I Hue, Haue heard me fing, and fauours daign'd to giue : But, though I fay't, the nobleft Nymph of f/iame, Hath grac'd my Verfe, vnto my greater fame.

Yet,

The Shepheards Hunting.

Yet, being young, and not much feeking prayfe,

I was not noted out for Shepheards layes :

Nor feeding Flocks, as, you know, others be .-

For the delight that moft poffeffed me

Was hunting Foxes, Wolues, and Beafts of Prey :

That fpoyle our Foulds, and beare our Lambs away.

For this, as alfo for the loue I beare

Vnto my Country, I laid-by all care

Of gaine, or si preferment, with defire

Onely to keepe that ftate I had entire.

And like a true growne Huntfman fought to fpeed

My felfe with Hounds of rare and choyfeft breed,

Whofe Names and Natures ere I further goe,

Becaufe you are my friends I'le let you know.

My firft efteemed Dogge that I did finde,

Was by defcent of olde Afteons kinde ;

A Brachet which if I doe not aime amiffe,

For all the world is iuft like one of his :

She's named Loue, and fcarce yet knowes her duty ;

Her Damme's my Ladies pretty Beagle, Beauty.

I bred her vp my felfe with wondrous charge,

Vntill fhe grew to be exceeding large,

And waxt fo wanton, that I did abhorre it,

And put her out amongft my neighbours for it.

The next is Luft, a Hound that's kept abroad

Mongft fome of mine acquaintance, but a Toad

Is not more loathfome : 'tis a Curre will range

Extreamely, and is euer full of mange :

And

510

The Shepheards Hunting.

And caufe it is infectious, fhe's not wunt

To come among the reft, but when they hunt.

Hate is the third, a Hound both deepe and long :

His Sire is True, or elfe fuppofed Wrong.

He'le haue a fnap at all that paffe him by,

And yet purfues his game moft eagerly.

With him goes Enuie coupled, a leane Curre,

And yet fhe'le hold out, hunt we ne're fo farre :

She pineth much, and feedeth little to,

Yet ftands and fnarleth at the reft that doe.

Then there's Reuenge, a wondrous deep-mouth'd dog,

So fleet, I'me faine to hunt him with a clog,

Yet many times he'le much out-ftrip his bounds,

And hunts not clofely with the other Hounds :

He'le venter on a Lyon in his ire ;

Curft Choller was his Damme, and Wrong his Sire.

This Choller, is a Brache, that's very old,

And fpends her mouth too-much to haue it hold :

She's very teafty ; an vnpleafing Curre,

That bites the very Stones, if they but fturre :

Or when that ought but her difpleafure moues,

She'le bite and map at any one fhe loues.

But my quicke fcented'ft Dogge is laeloufa,

The trueft of this breede's in Italic.

The Damme of mine would hardly fill a Gloue,

It was a Ladies little Dogge, cal'd Loue :

The Sire a poore deformed Curre, nam'd Feare ;

As fhagged and as rough as is a Beare :

And

The Shepheards Hunting.

And yet the Whelpe turn'd after neither kinde,

For he is very large, and nere-hand blinde.

Farre-off, hee feemeth of a pretty culler,

But doth not proue fo, when you view him fuller. ,

A vile fufpitious Beaft ; whofe lookes are bad,

And I doe feare in time he will grow mad.

To him I couple Auarice, ftill poore ;

Yet fhee deuoures as much as twenty more :

A thoufand Horfe fhee in her paunch can put,

Yet whine, as if me had an emptie gut ;

And hauing gorg'd what might a Land haue found,

Shee'le catch for more, and, hide it in the ground.

Ambition is a Hound as greedy full ;

But hee for all the daintieft bits doth cull :

Hee fcornes to licke vp Crumbs beneath the Table,

Hee'le fetch't from boards and fhelues, if he be able :

Nay, hee can climbe, if neede be ; and for that

With him I hunt the Martine, and the Cat:

And yet fometimes in mounting, hee's fo quicke,

Hee fetches falls, are like to breake his necke.

Feare is wel-mouth'd, but fubie<5l to Diftrufi\

A Stranger cannot make him take a Cruft .•

A little thing will foone his courage quaile,

And 'twixt his legges hee euer claps his Taile.

With him, Defpaire, now, often coupled goes,

Which by his roring mouth each hunts-man knowes.

None hath a better minde vnto the game ;

But hee giues off, and alwaies feemeth lame.

My

512

The Shepheards Hunting.

My bloud-hound Cruelty, as fvvift as wind, Hunts to the death, and neuer comes behind ; Who, but file's ftrapt, and mufled to, withall, Would eate her fellowes and the prey and all. And yet, flie cares not much for any food ; Vnleffe it be the pureft harmeleffe blood.

All thefe are kept abroad at charge of meny, They doe not coft me in a yeare a penny. But there's two couple of a midling fize, That feldome paffe the fight of my owne eyes. Hope, on whofe head I'ue laid my life to pawne ; Compajfion, that on euery one will fawne. This would, when 'twas a whelpe, with Rabets play Or Lambcs, and let them goe vnhurt away : Nay, now fhe is of growth, fhee'le now and then Catch you a Hare, and let her goe agen. The two lafl, ley, and Sorrow ; make me wonder, For they can ne're agree, nor bide afunder. Toy's euer wanton, and no order knowes, She'le run at Larkes, or (land and barke at Crowes. Sorrow goes by her, and ne're moues his eye : Yet both doe ferue to helpe make vp the cry : Then comes behinde all thefe to beare the bafe, Two couple more of a farre larger Race, Such wide-mouth'd Trollops, that 'twould doe you good, To heare their loud-loud EccJioes teare the Wood : There's Vanity, who by her gaudy Hide, May farre away from all the reft be fpide,

K k Though

5'3

The Skepheards Hunting.

Though huge, yet quicke, for fhe's now here, now there ; Nay, looke about you, and fhe's euery where : Yet euer with the reft, and ftill in chace, Right fo, Inconjlancie fils euery place ; And yet fo fhrange a fickle natur'd Hound, Looke for her, and fhe's no where to be found. Weakeneffe is no faire Dogge vnto the eye, And yet fhe hath her proper qualitie. But there's Prefumptiont when he heat hath got, He drownes the Thunder, and the Cannon-Jhot : And when at Start, he his full roaring makes, The Earth doth tremble, and the Heauen fhakes : Thefe were my Dogs, ten couple iuft in all, Whom by the name of Satyres I doe call : Mad Curs they be, and I can ne're come nigh them, But I'me in danger to be bitten by them. Much paines I tooke, and fpent dayes not a few, To make them keepe together, and hunt true : Which yet I doe fuppofe had neuer bin, But that I had a Scourge to keepe them in. Now when that I this Kennell firft had got, Out of mine owne Demeanes I hunted not, Saue on thefe Downes, or among yonder Rocks, After thofe beafts that fpoyl'd our Parifh Flockes : Nor during that time, was I euer wont, With all my Kennell in one day to hunt : Nor had done yet, but that this other yeere, Some Beafts of Prey that haunt the Deferts heere,

Did

5*4

The Shepheards Hunting.

Did not alone for many Nights together

Deuoure, fometime a Lambe, fometime a Weather :

And fo difquiet many a poore mans Heard,

But thereof loofing all were much afeard.

Yea, I among the reft, did fare as bad,

Or rather worfe ; for the beft * Ewes I had, * Hopes.

(Whofe breed fhould be my meanes of life and gaine,

Were in one Euening by thefe Monfters flaine :

Which mifchiefe I refolued to repay,

Or elfe grow defperate and hunt all away.

For in a furie fuch as you fhall fee

Hunts-men, in miffing of their fport will be)

I vow'd a Monfter fhould not lurke about

In all this Pronince, but I'de finde him out.

And thereupon without refpect or care,

How lame, how/z///, or how vnfit they were,

In haft vnkennell'd all my roaring crew,

Who were as mad, as if my mind they knew ;

And e're they trail'd a flight-fhot, the fierce Curres,

Had rous'd a Hart, and through Brakes, Bryars, and Furres

Follow'd at gaze fo clofe, that Lone and Fearc

Got in together, and had furely, there

Quite ouerthrowne him, but that Hope thru ft in

Twixt both, and fau'd the pinching of his skin.

Whereby he fcap't, till courfing ouerthwart,

Dejpaire came in, and grip't him to the hart.

I hallowed in the refdue to the fall,

And for an entrance, there I flefh't them all :

Kk 2 Which

The Shepheards Hunting.

Which hairing done, I dip'd my ftaffe in blood And onward led my Thunder to the Wood ; Where what they did, Tie tell you out anon, My keeper calles me, and I muft be gon. Goe, if you pleafe a while, attend your Flocks, And when the Sunne is ouer yonder Rocks, Come to this Caue againe, where I will be, If that my Gardian, fo much fauour me. Yet if you pleafe, let vs three fmg a ftraine, Before you turne your fheepe into the Plaine.

Willie. I am content.

Cuddy. -As well content am I.

Philarete. Then Will begin, and wee'le the reft fupply.

S

ong

Willie.

Hepheard, would thefe Gates were ope, Thou might ft take with vs thy for times.

Phil

The Shepheards Hunting.

Philarete.

No, Pie make this narrow f cope > ( Since my Fate dothfo importune) Meanes vnto a wider Hope.

Cuddy.

Would thy Shepheardeffe were here, Wlw bcloud, louesfo dearely ?

Philarete.

Not for both your Flocks, I fweare, And the game they yeeld you yeerely, Would Ifo much ivrong my Deare.

Yet, to me, nor to this Place, Would Jlie now be long ajlranger : She would hold it in difgrace, (IfJJiefeard not more my danger} Where I am to Jliew her face.

Willie.

Shepheard, we would wijlt no harmes, Butfomething that might content thee.

Philarete.

Wiflt me then within her armes ; And that wijh ivill nere repent me, If your wiflies might prouc charmes.

Kk 3 Willie.

5*7

The Skepkeards Hunting.

Willie.

Be thy Prifon her embrace,

Be thy ay re her fweetejl breathing.

Cuddy.

Be thy profpefl far fweet Face, For each looke a kijfe bequeathing, And appoint thy f elf e the place.

Philarete.

Nay pray, hold there, for I Jhouldfcantly then, Come meete you here this afternoone agen : But fare you welltjlnce wijheshaue no power, Let vs depart and keepe the pointed houre.

The

518

dbdbdb^^

The Shepheards Hunting.

The third Eglogue.

THE ARGVMENT. Philarete with his three Friends, Heare his hunting ftorie ends. Kinde Alexis with much ruth, Wailes the baniJJit Shepheards youth : But hejlighteth For tunes flings, And infpight of Thraldome Jings.

PHILARETE. CVDDY. ALEXIS. WILLY.

Philarete.

SO, now I fee y'are Shepheards of your word, Thus were you wont to promife, and to doe.

Cuddy.

More then our promife is, we can afford, We come our felues, and bring another to : Alexis, whom thou know' ft well is no foe:

Kk 4 Who

The Skepkeards Hunting.

Who loues thee much : and I doe know that he Would faine a hearer of thy Hunting be.

Philarete.

Alexis you are welcome, for you know You cannot be but welcome where I am ; You euer were a friend of mine in (how, And I haue found you are indeed the fame : Vpon my firft reftraint you hither came,

And proffered me more tokens of your loue, Then it were fit my fmall deferts fhould proue.

Alexis.

'Tis ftill your vfe to vnderprife your merit ; Be not fo coy to take my proffered loue, 'Twill neither vnbefeeme your worth we fpirit. To offer court'fie doth thy friend behoue : And which are fo, this is a place to proue.

Then once againe I fay, if caufe there be.

Firft make a try all, if thou pleafe, of me.

Philarete.

Thankes good Alexis ; fit downe by me heere, I haue a taske, thefe Shepheards know, to doe ; A Tale already told this Morne well neere, With which I very faine would forward goe, And am as willing thou fhould'ft heare it to : But thou canft neuer vnderftand this laft, Till I haue alfo told thee what is pad.

Willie.

520

The Shepheards Hunting.

Willy.

It (hall not neede, for I fo much prefum'd, I on your mutuall friendfliips, might be bold, That I a freedome to my felfe affum'd, To make him know, what is already told. If I haue done amifle, then you may fcold. But in my telling I preuifed this, He knew not whofe, nor to what end it is.

Philarete.

Well, now he may, for heere my Tale goes on : My eager Dogges and I to Wood are gon. Where, beating through the Conner ts, euery Hound A feuerall Game had in a moment found : I rated them, but they purfu'd their pray, And as it fell (by hap) tooke all one way. Then I began with quicker fpeed to follow, And teaz'd them on, with a more chearefull hallow : That foone we paffed many weary miles, Tracing the fubtile game through all their wiles. Thefe doubl'd, thofe re-doubled on the fcent, Still keeping in full chafe where ere they went. Vp Hils, downe Cliffes, through Bogs, and ouer Plaines, Stretching their Muficke to the higheft ftraines. That when fome Thicket hid them from mine eye, My eare was rauifh'd with their melodic. Nor croft we onely Ditches, Hedges, Furrowes, But Hamlets, Tithings, Parifhes, and Burrowes :

They

3-v 521

The Shepheards Hunting.

They followed where fo eu'r the game did go,

Through Kitchin, Parlor, Hall, and Chamber to.

And, as they paffd the City, and the Court,

My Prince look'd out, and daign'd to view my fport.

Which then (although I fuffer for it now)

(If fome fay true) he liking did allow ;

And fo much (had I had but wit to ftay)

I might my felfe (perhaps) haue heard him fay.

But I, that time, as much as any daring,

More for my pleafure then my fafetie caring ;

Seeing frefh game from euery couert rife,

(Croffmg by thoufands ftill before their eyes,)

Rufh'd in, and then following clofe my Hounds,

Some beafts I found lie dead, fome full of wounds,

Among the willows, fcarce with ftrength to moue,

One I found heere, another there, whom Loue

Had grip'd to death : and, in the felfe-fame ftate,

Lay one deuour'd by Enity, one by Hate ;

Liift had bit fome, but I foone paft befide them,

Their feftr'd wounds fo ftuncke, none could abide them.

Choller hurt diuers, but Reuenge kild more :

Feare frighted all, behinde him and before.

Defpaire draue on a huge and mighty heape,

Forcing fome downe from Rocks and Hits to leape :

Some into water, fome into the fire,

So on themfelues he made them wreake his ire.

But I remember, as I paff'd that way,

Where the great King and Prince of Shepheards lay,

About

522

The Shepheards Hunting.

About the wals were hid, fome (once more knowne)

That my fell Curre Ambition had o'rethrowne :

Many I heard, purfu'd by Pitty, cry ;

And oft I faw my Bloud-Hound> Cruelty \

Eating her paffage euen to the hart,

Whither once gotten, fhe is loath to part.

All pli'd it well, and made fo loud a cry,

'Twas heard beyond the Shores of Britany.

Some rated them, fome ftorm'd, fome lik'd the game,

Some thought me worthy praife, fome worthy blame.

But I, not fearing th'one, mif-fteeming t'other,

Both, in fhrill hallowes and loud yernings fmother.

Yea, the ftrong mettled, and my long-breath'd crew,

Seeing the game increafmg in their view,

Grew the more frolicke, and the courfes length

Gaue better breath, and added to their ftrength.

Which I one perceiuing, for lone heard their cries

Rumbling amongft the Spheares concauities :

Hee mark'd their courfe, and courages increafe,

Saying, 'twere pitty fuch a chafe fhould ceafe.

And therewith fwore their mouthes fhould neuer waft,

But hunt as long's mortality did laft.

Soone did they feele the power of his great gift,

And I began to finde their pace more fwift :

I follow'd, and I rated, but in vaine

Striu'd to o'retake, or take them vp againe.

They neuer flayed fmce, nor nights nor dayes,

But to and fro ft ill run a thoufand wayes :

Yea,

The Skepkeards Hunting.

Yea, often to this place where now I lie,

They'l wheele about to cheare me with their cry ;

And one day in good time will vengeance take

On fome offenders, for their Mafters fake :

For know, my Friends, my freedome in this fort

For them I lofe, and making my felfe fport

Willy. Why ? was there any harme at all in this ?

Philarete. No, Willy, and I hope yet none there is.

Willy.

How comes it then ?

Philarete.

Note, and Tie tell the how ?

Thou know'ft that Truth and Innocency now, If plac'd with meanneffe, fuffers more defpight Then Villainies, accompan'ed with might. But thus it fell, while that my Hounds purfu'd Their noyfome prey, and euery field laid ftrew'd With Monfters, hurt and flaine ; vpon a beaft, More fubtile, and more noyfome then the reft, My leane-flanckt Bitch, cald Enuy, hapt to light .• And, as her wont is, did fo furely bite, That, though fhee left behinde fmall outward fmart, The wounds were deepe, and rankled to the hart. This, joyning to fome other, that of late, Were very eagerly purfu'd by Hate,

(To

524

The Shepheards Hunting.

(To fit their purpofe hauing taken leafure)

Did thus confpire to worke me a difpleafure.

For imitation, farre furpaffmg Apes,

They laide afide their Foxe and Woluijhjhapes,

And fhrowded in the skinnes of harmleffe Sheepe

Into by-wayes, and open paths did creepe ;

Where, they (as hardly drawing breath) did ly,

Shewing their wounds to euery paffer by ;

To make them thinke that they were fheepe fo foyl'd,

And by my Dogges, in their late hunting, fpoyl'd.

Befide, fome other that enuy'd my game,

And, for their paftime, kept fuch Monfters tame :

As, you doe know, there's many for their pleafure

Keepe Foxes, Beares, & Wolues, as fome great treafure :

Yea, many get their liuing by them to,

And fo did ftore of thefe, I fpeake of, do.

Who, feeing that my Kennell had affrighted,

Or hurt fome Vermine wherein they delighted ;

And finding their owne power by much to weake,

Their Malice on my Innocence to wreake,

Swolne with the deepeft rancour of defpight,

Some of our greateft Shepheards Folds by night

They clofely entred ; and there hauing ftain'd

Their hands in villany, of mee they plain'd,

Affirming, (without Jhame, or honejly^)

I, and my Dogges, had done it purpofely.

Whereat they ftorm'd, and cald mee to a tryall,

Where Innocence preuailes not, nor deny all \

But

5*5

The Shepheards Hunting.

But for that caufe, heere in this place I lie, Where none fo merry as my dogges, and I.

Cuddy.

Beleeue it, heere's a Tale will futen well, For Shepheards in another Age to tell.

Willy.

And thou fhalt be remembred with delight,

By this, hereafter, many a Winters night.

For, of this fport another Age will ring ;

Yea, Nymphes that are vnborne thereof fhall fmg, And not a Beauty on our Greenes fhall play, That hath not heard of this thy hunting day.

Philarete.

It may be fo, for if that gentle Swaine, Who wonnes by Tauy, on the Wefterne plaine, Would make the Song, fuch life his Verfe can giue, Then I doe know my Name might euer liue.

Alexis.

But tell me ; are our Plaines and Nymphs forgot, And canft thou frolicke in thy trouble be ?

Philarete.

Can I, Alexis, fayft thou ? Can I not, That am refolu'd to fcorne more mifery ?

Alexis.

526

The Shepheards Hunting.

Alexis.

Oh, but that youth's yet greene, and young bloud hot, And liberty muft needs be fweet to thee. But, now moft fweet whil'ft euery bufhy Vale, And Groue, and Hill, rings of the Nightingale.

Me thinkes, when thou remembreft thofe/weet layes Which thou would'ft leade thy Shepheardejfe to heare, Each Euening tyde among the Leauy fprayes, The thought of that fhould make thy freedome deare : For now, whil'ft euery Nymph on Holy-dayes Sports with fome iolly Lad, and maketh cheere, Thine, fighes for thee, and mew'd vp from refort, Will neither play her felfe, nor fee their fport.

Thofe Shepheards that were many a Morning wont, Vnto their Boyes to leaue the tender Heard ; And beare thee company when thou didft hunt ; Me thinkes the fport thou haft fo gladly fhar'd Among thofe Swaynes fhould make thee thinke vpon't, For't feemes all vaine, now, that was once indear'd. It cannot be : fmce I could make relation, How for leffe caufe thou haft beene deepe in pajjion.

Philarete.

'Tis true : my tender heart was euer yet Too capable of fuch conceits as thefe ; I neuer faw that ObicEl, but from it, The Pajfions of my Lone I could encreafe.

Thofe

527

The Shepheards Hunting.

Thofe things which moue not other men a whit,

I can, and doe make vfe of, if I pleafe : When I am fad, to fadneffe I apply, Each Bird, and Tree, and Flowre that I paffe by.

So, when I will be merry, I afwell Something for mirth from euery thing can draw, From Miferie, from Prifons, nay from Hell: And as when to my minde, grief e giues a flaw, Beft comforts doe but make my woes more fell : So when I'me bent to Mirth, from mifchiefes paw. (Though ceas'd vpon me) I would fomething cull, That fpight of care, ihould make my ioyes more full.

I feele thofe wants, Alexis, thou doeft name, Which fpight of youths affe6lions I fuftaine ; Or elfe, for what is't I haue gotten Fame, And am more knowne then many an elder Swaine? If fuch defires I had not learn'd to tame, (Since many pipe much better on this Plaine :) But tune your Reedes, and I will in a Song, Expreffe my Care, and how I take this Wrong.

Sonnet.

I

That ereji-while the worlds fweet Ay re did draw, (Gracd by the fair ejl euer Mortallfaw ;)

Now

528

The Shepheards Hunting.

Now clofely pent, with walles of Ruth-lcjfe ftone, Confume my Dayes, and Nights and all alone.

WJien I was wont to Jing of Shepheards loues, My walkes were Fields, andDowncs, and Hits, and Groues: But now (alas) fo ftrict is my hard doome, Fields, Doivnes, Hits, Groues, andal's but onepoore roome.

Each Morne, as foonc as Day -light did appear e, With Natures Muficke Birds would charme mine eare : Which -now (inftead) of their melodious ftr aims, Heare, ratling Shackles, Gyues, and Boults, and C/taines.

But, though that all the world's delight forfake me, I haue a Mufe, andjhefliall Mufecke make me : Whofe ayrie Notes, in fpight of clofejl cages, Shall giue content to me, and after ages.

Nor doe I paffe for all this outward ill, My hearts the fame, aud vndeieclcd ftill \ And which is more thenfome in freedome winne, I haue true reft, and peace, and ioy within.

And then my Mind, that fpight of prifon's free, When ere flie pleafes any where can be \ Sheds in an houre, in France, Rome, Turky, Spaine, In Earth, in Hell, in Heauen, and here againe.

L 1 Yet

529

The Shepkeards Hunting.

Yet there's another comfort in my woe, My caufe is fpread, and all the world may know, My fault's no more, but fpeaking Truth, and Re af on ; No Debt, nor Theft, nor Murther, Rape, or Treafon.

Norjhall my foes with all their Might and Power, Wipe out their J}iame, nor yet this fame of our : Which when they finde, they Jhall my fate enuie, Till they grow leane, andjicke, and mad, and die.

Then though my Body here in Prifon rot, And my wrong' d Satyres feeme a while forgot : Yet, when both Fame, and life hath left thofe men, My Verfe and Pie reuiue, and Hue agen.

So thus enclosed, I beare afflictions load, But with more true content thenfome abroad; For whilft their thotights, doe feele my Scourges Jling, In bands Pie leape, and dance, and laugh, andjing.

Alexis.

Why now I fee thou droup'ft not with thy care, Neither exclaim'ft thou on thy hunting day ; But doft with vnchang'd refolution beare, The heauy burthen of exile away. All that did truely know thee, did conceaue, Thy actions with thy fpirit ftill agree'd ; Their good conceit thou doeft no whit bereaue, But fheweft that thou art ftill thy felfe indeed.

If

530

The Shepheards Hunting.

If that thy mind to bafenefle now defcends, Thou'lt iniure Vertue, and deceiue thy friends.

Willie.

Alexis, he will iniure Vertue much,

But more his friends, and moft of all himfelfe,

If on that common barre his minde but touch,

It wrackes his fame vpon difgraces fhelfe.

Whereas if thou fteere on that happy courfe,

Which in thy iuft aduenture is begun ;

No thwarting Tide, nor aduerfe blaft fhall force

Thy Barke without the Channels bounds to run.

Thou art the fame thou wert, for ought I fee,

When thou didft freely on the Mountaines hunt,

In nothing changed yet, vnleffe it be

More merrily difpos'd then thou wert wont.

Still keepe thee thus, fo other fhall know,

Vertue can giue content in midfb of woe.

And fhe (though mightines with frownes doth threat)

That, to be Innocent, is to be great,

Thriue and farewell.

Alexis. In this thy trouble flourifli.

Cuddy. While thofe that wifli thee ill, fret, pine, and perifli.

The

53'

<$&3$&^^

The Shepheards Hunting. The fourth Eglogue*

THE ARGVMENT. Philaret 0# Willy *»/&, To Jing out his Paftorals : Warrants Y&mzjhall grace his Rimes, Spight of Enuy and the Times ; A ndJJiewes how in care he vfesy To take comfort from his Mufes.

VI

I

PHIL ARETE. WILLIE.

PkilareU.

T)Rethee, W^7/v tell me this, J- What new accident there is, That thou (once the blytheft Ladj Art become fo wondrous fad ? And fo careleffe of thy quill, As if thou had'ft loft thy skill ? Thou wert wont to charme thy flocks, And among the maffy rocks

Haft

533

The Shepheards Hunting.

Haft fo chear'd me with thy Song, That I haue forgot my wrong. Something hath thee furcly croft, That thy old want thou haft loft. Tell me : Haue I ought mif-faid That hath made thee ill-apaid ? Hath fome Churle done thee a fpight ? Doft thou miffe a Lambc to night f Frowns thy faircft Shepheards Laffe ? Or how comes this ill to paffe ? Is there any difcontent Worfe then this my banifhment ?

Willie.

Why, doth that fo euill feeme

That thou nothing worft doft deeme f

Shepheards, there full many be,

That will change Contents with thee.

Thofe that choofe their Walkes at will,

On the Valley or the Hill.

Or thofe pleafures boaft of can,

Groues or Fields may yeeld to man :

Neuer come to know the reft,

Wherewithall thy minde is bleft.

Many a one that oft reforts

To make vp the troope at fports.

And in company fome while,

Happens to ftraine forth a fmile.

LI 3 Feeles

533

The Shepheards Hunting.

Feeles more want, and outward fmart, And more inward griefe of hart Then this place can bring to thee, While thy mind remaineth free. Thou bewairft my want of mirth, But what find'ft thou in this earth, Wherein ought may be beleeu'd Worth to make me loy'd ; or grieu'd ? And yet feele I fnaitheleffej Part of both I muft confeffe. Sometime, I of mirth doe borrow, Otherwhile as much of forrow ; But, my prefent ftate is fuch, As, nor loy, nor grieue I much.

Philarete.

Why, hath Willy then fo long Thus forborne his wonted Song ? Wherefore doth he now let fall, His well-tuned Paftorall? And my eares that mufike barre, Which I more long after farre, Then the liberty I want.

Willy.

That, were very much to grant, But, doth this hold alway lad, Thofe that fmg not, muft be fad f

Did'ft

534

The Shepheards Hunting.

Did'ft thou euer that Bird heare Sing well ; that fings all the yeare ? Tom the Piper doth not play Till he weares his Pipe away : There's a time to flacke the firing, And a time to leaue to fing.

Philarete.

Yea ; but no man now is dill,

That can fmg, or tune a quill.

Now to chant it, were but reafon ;

Song and Mtificke are in feafon.

Now in this fweet iolly tide,

Is the earth in all her pride :

The faire Lady of the May

Trim'd vp in her beft array ;

Hath inuited all the Swaines,

With the Laffes of the Plaines.

To attend vpon her fport

At the places of refort.

Coridon (with his bould Rout)

Hath alredy been about

For the elder Shepheards dole,

And fetch' d in the Summer-Pole :

Whil'ft the reft haue built a Bower,

To defend them from a fhower ;

Seil'd fo clofe, with boughes all greene,

Tytan cannot pry betweene.

L 1 4 Now

535

The Skepheards Hunting.

Now the Dayrie- Wenches dreame Of their Strawberries and Creame : And each doth her felfe aduance To be taken in, to dance : Euery one that knowes to fing, Fits him for his Carrolling : So do thofe that hope for meede, Either by the Pipe or Reede : And though I am kept away, I doe heare (this very day) Many learned Groomes doe wend, For the Garlands to contend. Which a Nimph that hight Defart, ("Long a fbranger in this part) With her own faire hand hath wrought A rare worke (they fayj paft thought, As appeareth by the name, For fhe cals them Wreathes of Fame. She hath fet in their due place Eu'ry flowre that may grace ; And among a thoufand moe, (^Whereof fome but ferue for fhew) She hath woue in Daphnes tree, That they may not blafhed be. Which with Time fhe edg'd about, Leaft the worke fhould rauell out. And that it might wither neuer, I intermixt it with Liue-euer.

Thefe

536

The Shepheards Hunting.

Thefe are to be fhar'd among, Thofe that doe excell for fong : Or their paflions can rehearfe In the fmooth'ft and fweeteft verfe. Then, for thofe among the reft, That can play and pipe the beft. There's a Kidling with the Damme, A fat Weather, and a Lambe. And for thofe that leapen far, Wraftle, Runne, and throw the Barre, There's appointed guerdons to. He, that beft, the firft can doe, Shall, for his reward, be paid, With a Shecp-hookc, faire in-laid With fine Bone, of a ftrange Beaft That men bring out of the Weft. For the next, a Scrip of red, Taffel'd with fine coloured Thred, There's prepared for their meed, That in running make moft fpeede, (Or the cunning Meafures foote) Cups of turned Maple-roote : Whereupon the skilfull man Hath ingrau'd the Loucs of Pan : And the laft hath for his due, A fine Napkin wrought with blew. Then, my Willy, why art thou Careleffe of thy merit now ?

What

537

The Shepheards Hunting.

What doft thou heere, with a wight

That is fhut vp from delight,

In a folitary den,

As not fit to Hue with men ?

Goe, my Willy, get thee gone,

Leaue mee in exile alone.

Hye thee to that merry throng,

And amaze them with thy Song.

Thou art young, yet fuch a Lay

Neuer grac'd the month of May,

As (if they prouoke thy skill)

Thou canft fit vnto thy Quill,

I with wonder heard thee fmg,

At our laft yeeres Reuelling.

Then I with the reft was free,

When vnknowne I noted thee :

And perceiu'd the ruder Swaines,

Enuy thy farre fweeter ftraines.

Yea, I faw the Laffes cling

Round about thee in a Ring :

As if each one iealous were,

Any but her felfe fliould heare.

And I know they yet do long

For the res'due of thy fong.

Haft thee then to fmg it forth ;

Take the benefit of worth.

And Defert will fure bequeath

Fames faire Garland for thy wreath,

Hye thee, Willy, hye away. Willy.

The Shepheards Hunting.

Willy.

Phila, rather let mee ftay, And be defolate with thee, Then at thofe their Reuels bee, Nought fuch is my skill I wis, As indeed thou deem'ft it is. But what ere it be, I muft Be content, and fhall I truft. For a Song I doe not pafle, Mong'ft my friends, but what (alas) Should I haue to doe with them That my Muficke doe contemne ? Some there are, as well I wot, That the fame yet fauour not : Yet I cannot well auow, They my Carrols difalow : But fuch malice I haue fpid, 'Tis as much as if they did.

Philarete.

Willy, What may thofe men be, Are fo ill, to malice thee ?

Willy.

Some are worthy-well efleem'd, Some without worth are fo deem'd. Others of fo bafe a fpirit, They haue nor efteeme, nor merit.

Phil.

539

The Shepheards Hunting.

PhUarete.

What's the wrong f

Willy.

-A flight offence,

Wherewithal! I can difpence ; But hereafter for their fake. To my felfe Tie muficke make.

PhUarete.

What, becaufe fome Clowne offends, Wilt thou punifh all thy friends ?

Willy.

Do not, Phill^ mif-vnderftand mee, Thofe that loue mee may command mee, But, thou know'ft, I am but yong, And the Paflorall I fung, Is by fome fuppos'd to be, (By a ftraine) too high for me : So they kindly let me gaine, Not my labour for my paine. Truft me, I doe wonder why They mould me my owne deny. Though Fme young, I fcorne to flit On the wings of borrowed wit. Tie make my owne feathers reare me, Whither others cannot beare me.

Yet

540

The Shepheards Hunting.

Yet Tie keepe my skill in ftore, Till I'ue feene fome Winters more.

Pillarete.

But, in earneft, mean'ft thou fo ? Then thou art not wife, I trow : Better (hall aduife thee Pan, For thou doft not rightly than : That's the ready way to blot All the credit thou haft got. Rather in thy Ages prime, Get another ftart of Time : And make thofe that fo fond be, (Spight of their owne dulneffej fee, That the facred Mufes can Make a childe in yeeres, a man. It is knowne what thou canft doe, For it is not long agoe, When that Cuddy, Thou, and /, Each the others skill to try, At Saint Dunjlanes charmed well, (As fome prefent there can tell) Sang vpon a fudden Theame, Sitting by the Crimfon ftreame. Where, if thou didft well or no, Yet remaines the Song to fhow, Much experience more Fue had, Of thy skill fthou happy Lad)

And

54'

The Shepheards Hunting.

And would make the world to know it ; But that time will further fhow it. Enuy makes their tongues now runne More then doubt of what is done. For that needs muft be thy owne, Or to be fome others knowne : But how then wil't fuit vnto What thou fhalt hereafter do ? Or I wonder where is hee, Would with that fong part to thee. Nay, were there fo mad a Swaine, Could fuch glory fell for gaine ; Phoebus would not haue combin'd, That gift with fo bafe a minde. Neuer did the Nine impart The fweet fecrets of their Art, Vnto any that did fcorne, We fhould fee their fauours worne. Therefore vnto thofe that fay, Where they pleas'd to fmg a Lay, They could doo't, and will not tho ; This I fpeake, for this I know : None ere drunke the T hef plan fpr ing, And knew how, but he did fmg. For, that once infus'd in man, Makes him fhew't doe what he can. Nay, thofe that doe onely fip, Or, but eu'n their fingers dip

In

542

The Shepheards Hunting.

In that facred Fount (poore Elues) Of that brood will fhew themfelues. Yea, in hope to get them fame, They will fpeake, though to their fhame. Let thofe then at thee repine, That by their wits meafure thine ; Needs thofe Songs muft be thine owne, And that one day will be knowne. That poore imputation to, I my felfe do vndergoe : But it will appeare ere long, That 'twas Enuy fought our wrong. Who at twice-ten haue fung more, Then fome will doe, at fourefcore. Cheere thee (honeft Willy) then, And begin thy Song agen.

Willy.

Faine I would, but I doe feare When againe my Lines they heare, If they yeeld they are my Rimes, They will faine fome other Crimes ; And 'tis no fafe ventring-by Where we fee Detrattion ly. For doe what I can, I doubt, She will picke fome quarrell out ; And I oft haue heard defended, Little f aid, is foone amended.

Phil.

543

The Shepheards Hunting.

Philarete.

See'ft thou not in cleareft dayes,

Oft thicke fogs cloud Heau'ns rayes.

And that vapours which doe breath

From the earths groffe wombe beneath,

Seeme not to vs with black fteames,

To pollute the Sunnes bright beames,

And yet vanifh into ayre,

Leauing it (vnblemifht) faire ?

So (my Willy) fhall it bee

With Detractions breath on thee.

It fhall neuer rife fo hie,

As to fhaine thy Poefie.

As that Sunne doth oft exhale

Vapours from each rotten Vale ;

Poefie fo fometime draines,

Groffe conceits from muddy braines ;

Mifts of Enuy, fogs of fpight,

Twixt mens judgements and her light :

But fo much her power may do,

That fhee can diffolue them to.

If thy Verfe doe brauely tower,

As fhee makes wing, fhe gets power :

Yet the higher fhe doth fore,

Shee's affronted ftill the more :

Till fhee to the high'ft hath paft,

Then fhe refts with fame at laft,

Let

544

The Shepheards Hunting.

Let nought therefore, thee affright :

But make forward in thy flight :

For if I could match thy Rime,

To the very Starres I'de clime.

There begin again, and flye,

Till I reach'd Eternity.

But (alaffej my Mufe is flow :

For thy place fhee flags too low :

Yea, the more's her hapleffe fate,

Her fhort wings were dipt of late.

And poore I, her fortune ruing,

Am my felfe put vp a muing.

But if I my Cage can rid,

Fie flye where I neuer did.

And though for her fake Fme croft,

Though my beft hopes I haue loft,

And knew fhe would make my trouble

Ten times more then ten times double :

I mould loue and keepe her to,

Spight of all the world could doe.

For though banifh't from my flockes,

And confm'd within thefe rockes,

Here I wafte away the light,

And confume the fullen Night,

She doth for my comfort ftay,

And keepes many cares away.

Though I miffe the flowry Fields,

With thofe fweets the Spring-tyde yeelds,

M m Though

545

The Shepheards Hunting.

Though I may not fee thofe Groues,

Where the Shepheards chant their Loues,

(And the Laffes more excell,

Then the fweet voyc'd Philomel}

Though of all thofe pleafures paft,

Nothing now remaines at laft,

But Remembrance (poore reliefej

That more makes, then mends my griefe :

Shee's my mindes companion ftill,

Maugre Enuies euill will.

(Whence fhe fhould be driuen to,

Wer't in mortals power to do.)

She doth tell me where to borrow

Comfort in the midft of forrow ;

Makes the defolateft place

To her prefence be a grace ;

And the blackeft difcontents

To be pleafmg ornaments.

In my former dayes of bliffe,

Her diuine skill taught me this,

That from euery thing I faw,

I could fome inuention draw :

And raife pleafure to her height,

Through the meaneft obiects fight.

By the murmure of a fpring,

Or the leaft boughes rufteling.

By a Dazie whofe leaues fpred,

Shut when Tytan goes to bed ;

Or

546

The Shepheards Hunting.

Or a fhady bufh or tree,

She could more infufe in mee,

Then all Natures beauties can,

In fome other wifer man.

By her helpe I alfo now,

Make this churlifh place allow

Some things that may fweeten gladnes,

In the very gall of fadnes.

The dull loanneffe, the blacke made,

That thefe hanging vaults haue made,

The flrange Muficke of the waues,

Beating on thefe hollow Caues,

This blacke Den which Rocks emboffc

Oucr-growne with eldeft Mofle.

The rude Portals that giue light,

More to Terror then Delight.

This my Chamber of Neglect,

Wall'd about with Difrefpecl,

From all thefe and this dull ayre,

A fit obiecl: for Dejpaire,

She hath taught me by her might

To draw comfort and delight.

Therefore tJwu bejl earthly bliffe,

I will cherifh thee for this.

Poefie ; thou fweeteft content

That e're Heau'n to mortals lent :

Though they as a trifle leaue thcc

Whofe dull thoughts cannot concciuc thec,

M m 2 Though

547

The Shepheards Hunting.

Though them be to them a fcorne, That to nought but earth are borne : Let my life no longer be Then I am in loue with thee. Though our wife ones call thee madneffe Let me neuer tafte of gladneffe. If I loue not thy mad'ft fits, More then all their greateft wits. And though fome too feeming holy, Doe account thy raptures folly : Thou doft teach me to contemne, What make Knaues and Fooles of them. Oh high power ! that oft doth carry Men aboue

Willie.

-Good Philarete tarry,

I doe feare thou wilt be gon,

Quite aboue my reach anon.

The kinde flames of Poefie

Haue now borne thy thoughts fo high,

That they vp in Heauen be,

And haue quite forgotten me.

Call thy felfe to minde againe,

Are thefe Raptures for a Swaine,

That attends on lowly Sheepe,

And with fimple Heards doth keepe ?

Philarete.

548

The Shepheards Hunting.

Philarete.

Thankes my Willie ; I had runne Till that Time had lodg'd the Sunne, If thou had'ft not made me ftay ; But thy pardon here I pray. Lou'd Apolds facred fire Had rais'd vp my fpirits higher Through the loue of Poefie, Then indeed they vfe to flye. But as I faid, I fay ftill, If that I had Willis skill, Enuie nor Detractions tongue, Should ere make me leaue my fong : But I'de fmg it euery day Till they pin'd themfelues away. Be thou then aduis'd in this, Which both iuft and fitting is : Finifh what thou haft begun, Or at leaft ftill forward run. Haile and Thunder ill hee'l beare That a blaft of winde doth feare : And if words will thus afray thee, Prethee how will deeds difmay thee ? Doe not thinke fo rathe a Song Can paffe through the vulgar throng, And efcape without a touch, Or that they can hurt it much :

M m 3 Frofts

549

The Shepheards Hunting.

Frofts we fee doe nip that thing Which is forward'ft in the Spring : Yet at lafl for all fuch lets Somewhat of the reft it gets. And I'me fure that fo maifl thou, Therefore my kind Willie now. Since thy folding time drawes on And I fee thou muft be gon, Thee I earneftly befeech To remember this my fpeech And fome little counfell take, For Philarete his fake : And I more of this will fay, If thou come next Holy-day.

PINTS.

The

550

db^bcdb^

The Shepheards Hunting.

The fifth Eglogue.

1 '»•.';(

THE ARGVMENT. Philaret Alexis moues, To embrace the Mufes loues ; Bids him ncuer car ef nil feeme y Of another s dif-ejlceme : Since to them it may fuffice, They thcmfelucs can iuftly prize.

PHIL ARETE. ALEXIS.

Philarete.

A Lexis, if thy worth doe not difdaine The humble friendfhip of a meaner Swaine, Or fome more needfull bufmeffe of the day, Vrge thee to be too hafty on thy way ; Come (gentle ShepheardJ reft thee here by mee, Beneath the fhadow of this broad leau'd tree : For though I feeme a ftranger, yet mine eye Obferues in thee the markes of courtefie :

M m 4 And

551

The Shepheards Hunting.

And if my iudgement erre not, noted to,

More then in thofe that more would feeme to doe.

Such Vertues thy rare modefty doth hide.

Which by their proper lufter I efpy'd ;

And though long maskt in filence they haue beene,

I haue a Wifedome through that filence feene,

Yea, I haue learned knowledge from thy tongue,

And heard when thou haft in concealement fung.

Which me the bolder and more willing made

Thus to inuite thee to this homely fhade.

And though (it may be) thou couldft neuer fpie,

Such worth in me, I might be knowne thereby :

In thee I doe ; for here my neighbouring Sheepe

Vpon the border of thefe Downes I keepe :

Where often thou at Paftorals and Playes,

Haft grac'd our Wakes on Summer Holy-dayes :

And many a time with thee at this cold fpring

Met I, to heare your learned fhepheards fmg,

Saw them difporting in the fhady Groues,

And in chafte Sonnets wooe their charter Loues :

When I, endued with the meaneft skill,

Mongft others haue been vrg'd to tune my quill.

But, fcaufe but little cunning I had got)

Perhaps thou faw'ft me, though thou knew'ft me not.

Alexis.

Yes Philaret, I know thee, and thy name. Nor is .my knowledge grounded all on fame :

Art

55 2

The Shepheards Hunting.

Art thou not he, that but this other yeere, Scard'ft all the Wolues and Foxes in the Sheere ? And in a match at Foot-ball lately tride ( Hairing fcarce twenty Satyrs on thy fide) Held'ft play : and though affailed kept'ft thy ftand Gainft all the befl-tride Ruffians in the Land ? Did'ft thou not then in dolefull Sonnets mone, When the beloued of great Pan was gone ? And at the wedding of faire Thame and Rhine, Sing of their glories to thy Valentine ? I know it, and I mufl confeffe that long In one thing I did doe thy nature wrong: For, till I mark'd the ayme thy Satyrs had, I thought them oucr-bold, and thee halfe mad. But, fmce I did more neerely on thee looke, I foone perceiu'd that I all had miftooke ; I faw that of a Cynicke thou mad'ft mow, Where fmce, I finde, that thou wert nothing fo ; And that of many thou much blame had'ft got, When as thy Innocency deferu'd it not. But that too good opinion thou haft feem'd To haue of me (not fo to be efteem'd,) Preuailes not ought to flay him who doth feare, He rather mould reproofes then prayfes heare. 'Tis true, I found thee plaine and honeft to, Which made mee like, then loue, as now I do ; And, Phila, though a ft ranger, this to thee He fay, Where I doe loue, I am not coy to ftay.

Phil

553

The Shepheards Hunting.

Philarete.

Thankes, gentle Swaine, that doft fo foone vnfold

What I to thee as gladly would haue told :

And thus thy wonted curtefie expreft

In kindly entertaining this requeft.

Sure, I fhould iniure much my owne content,

Or wrong thy loue to ftand on complement :

Who haft acquaintance in one word begun,

As well as I could in an age haue done.

Or by an ouer-weaning flowneffe marre

What thy more wifdome hath brought on fo farre.

Then fit thou downe, and He my minde declare,

As freely, as if we familiars were :

And if thou wilt but daigne to giue me eare,

Something thou mayft for thy more profit heare.

A lexis. Philarete, I willingly obey.

Philarete.

Then know, Alexis, from that very day, When as I faw thee at thy Shepheards Coate, Where each (I thinke) of other tooke firft note ; I meane that Paftor who by Tauies fprings, Chafte Shepheards loues in fweeteft numbers fmgs, And with his Muficke (to his greater fame) Hath late made proud the faireft Nymphs of Thame.

E'ne

554

The Shepheards Hunting.

E'ne then (me thought) I did efpy in thee

Some vnperceiu'd and hidden worth to bee /

Which, in thy more apparant vertues, fhin'd ;

And, among many, I (in thought) deuin'd,

By fomething my conceit had vnderftood,

That thou wert markt one of the Mufes brood,

That, made me loue thee : and that Loue I beare

Begat a Pitty, and that Pitty, Care :

Pitty I had to fee good parts conceal'd,

Care I had how to haue that good reueal'd,

Since 'tis a fault admitteth no excufe,

To poffeffe much, and yet put nought in vfe.

Hereon I vow'd (if wee two euer met)

The firft requeft that I would ftriue to get,

Should be but this, that thou would'ft mew thy skill,

How thou could'ft tune thy Verfes to thy quill :

And teach thy Mufe in fome well-framed Song,

To fhew the Art thou haft fuppreft fo long :

Which if my new-acquaintance may obtaine,

I will for euer honour this daies gaine.

Alexis.

Alas / my fmall experience fcarce can tell,

So much as where thofe Nymplis, the Mufes, dwell ;

Nor (though my flow conceit ftill trauels on)

Shall I ere reach to drinke of Hellicon.

Or, if I might fo fauour'd be to tafte

What thofe fweet ftreames but ouer-flow in wafte,

And

555

The Shepheards Hunting.

And touch Parnaffus, where it low'ft doth lie, I feare my skill would hardly flag fo hie.

Philarete.

Defpaire not Man, the Gods haue prized nought So deere, that may not be with labour bought : Nor need thy paine be great, fmce Fate and Heauen, That (as a bleffmg) at thy birth haue giuen.

Alexis. Why, fay they had ?

Philarete. -Then vfe their gifts thou muft.

Or be vngratefull, and fo be vnjuft : For if it cannot truely be deni'd, Ingratitude mens benefits doe hide ; Then more vngratefull muft he be by ods, Who doth conceale the bounty of the Gods.

Alexis.

That's true indeed, but Enuy haunteth thofe Who feeking Fame, their hidden skill difclofe : Where elfe they might (obfcur'd) from her efpying, Efcape the blafts and danger of enuying : Cry ticks will cenfure our bell ftraines of Wit, And pur-blind Ignorance mifconfter it.

And

556

The Shepheards Hunting.

And which is bad, (yet worfe then this doth follow) Moft hate the Mu/es, and contemne Apollo.

Philarete.

So let them : why (hould wee their hate efteeme ? Is't not enough we of our felues can deeme ? 'Tis more to their difgrace that we fcorne them, Then vnto vs that they our Art contemne. Can we haue better paftime then to fee Their groffe heads may fo much deceiued bee, As to allow thofe doings beft, where wholly We fcoffe them to their face, and flout their folly ? Or to behold blacke Enuy in her prime, Die felfe-confum'd, whilft we vie Hues with time : And, in defpight of her, more fame attaine, Then all her malice can wipe out againe ?

Alexis.

Yea, but if I appli'd mee to thofe ftraines,

Who fhould driue forth my Flocks vnto the plaines,

Which, whil'ft the Mufcs reft, and leafure craue,

Muft watering, folding, and attendance haue ?

For if I leaue with wonted care to cherifh

Thofe tender lieards, both I and they fhould perifli.

Philarete.

Alexis, now I fee thou doft miftake,

There is no meaning thou thy Charge forfake ;

Nor

557

The Shepheards Hunting.

Nor would I wifh thee fo thy felfe abufe,

As to neglect thy calling for thy Mufe.

But, let thefe two, fo each of other borrow,

That they may feafon mirth, and leffen forrow.

Thy Flocke will helpe thy charges to defray,

Thy Miife to paffe the long and teadious day :

Or whilft thou tun'ft fweet meafures to thy Reed,

Thy Sheepe, to liften, will more neere thee feed ;

The Wolues will fhun them, birds aboue thee fmg,

And Lamkins dance about thee in a Ring.

Nay, which is more ; in this thy low efhate,

Thou in contentment fhalt with Monarks mate :

For mighty Pan, and Ceres, to vs grants,

Our Fields and Flocks mail helpe our outward wants :

The Mufes teach vs Songs to put off cares,

Grac'd with as rare and fweet conceits as theirs :

And we can thinke our Laffes on the Greenes

As faire, or fairer, then the faireft Queenes :

Or, what is more then mod of them mail doe,

Wee'le make their iufter fames laft longer to,

And haue our Lines by greateft Princes grac'd

When both their name and memori's defac'd.

Therefore, Alexis, though that fome difdaine

The heauenly Muficke of the Rurall plaine,

What is't to vs, if they fo'refeenej contemne

The dainties which were nere ordain'd for them ?

And though that there be other-fome enuy

The prayfes due to facred Poefie,

Let

558

The Shepheards Hunting.

Let them difdaine, and fret till they are weary, Wee in our felues haue that (hall make vs merry : Which, he that wants, and had the power to know it, Would giue his life that he might die a Poet.

Alexis. A braue perfwafion.

Philarete.

-Here thou fee'ft mee pent

Within the jawes of ftric~l imprifonment ;

A fore-lorne Sheplieard, voyd of all the meanes,

Whereon Mans common hope in danger leanes :

Weake in my felfe, expofed to the Hate

Of thofe whofe Enuies are infatiate :

Shut from my friends, banifh'd from all delights ;

Nay worfe, excluded from the facred Rites.

Here I doe liue mongft out-lawes markt for death,

As one vnfit to draw the common breath,

Where thofe who to be good did neuer know,

Are barred from the meanes fhould make them fo.

I fuffer, caufe I wifh'd my Country well,

And what I more muft beare I cannot tell.

I'me fure they giue my Body little fcope,

And would allow my Minde as little Hope :

I wafte my Meanes, which of it felfe is (lender,

Confume my Time ^perhaps my fortunes hinder,)

And

559

The Shepheards Hunting.

And many Croffes haue, which thofe that can

Conceiue no wrong that hurts another man,

Will not take note of; though if halfe fo much

Should light on them, or their owne perfon touch,

Some that themfelues (I feare) moft worthy thinke,

With all their helpes would into bafeneffe fhrinke.

But, fpight of Hate, and all that Spight can do,

I can be patient yet, and merry to.

That flender Mufe of mine, by which my Name,

Though fcarfe deferu'd, hath gain'd a little fame,

Hath made mee vnto fuch a Fortune borne,

That all misfortunes I know how to fcorne ;

Yea, midft thefe bands can fleight the Great* ft that bee,

As much as their difdaine mifteemes of mee.

This Caue, whofe very prefence fome affrights,

I haue oft made to Eccho forth delights,

And hope to turne, if any luftice be,

Both fhame and care on thofe that wifh'd it me.

For while the World rancke villanies affords,

I will not fpare to paint them out in words ;

Although I ftill fhould into troubles runne,

I knew what man could act, ere I begun ;

And Tie fulfill what my Mufe drawes mee to,

Maugre all layles, and Purgatories to.

For whim mee fets mee honeft task's about,

Verttie, or fhee, (I know) will beare mee out :

And if, by Fate, th'abufed power of fome

Mufl, in the worlds-eye, leaue mee ouercome,

They

560

The Shepheards Hunting.

They fhall find one Fort yet, fo fenc'd I trow,

It cannot feare a Mortals ouer-throw.

This Hope, and Truft, that great power did infufe,

That firft infpir'd into my breft a Mufe,

By whom I doe, and euer will contemne

All thofe ill haps, my foes defpight, and them.

Alexis.

Th'haft fo well (yong Philaret) plaid thy part, I am almoft in loue with that fweet Art : And if fome power will but infpire my fong, Alexis will not be obfcured long.

Philarete.

Enough kinde Paftor : But oh ! yonder fee

Two honeft Shepheards walking hither, bee

Cuddy and Willy, that fo dearely loue,

Who are repairing vnto yonder Groue :

Let's follow them : for neuer brauer Swaines

Made muficke to their flocks vpon thefe Plaines.

They are more worthy, and can better tell

What rare contents doe with a Poet dwell.

Then whiles our fheepe the fliort fweet graffe do fheare

And till the long fliade of the hils appeare,

Wee'le heare them fmg : for though the one be young,

Neuer was any that more fweetly fung.

Nn

A Pojlfcript.

To the Reader.

| Fyou haue read this , and re- cei^led any content , I am glad y (though it bee not fo much as I could wijh you) if you thinke it idle, why then I fee wee are not likely to fall out \for I am iitft of your minds ; yet weigh it well before you runnetoofarreinyourcenfures, lejl this proue lejfe barren of IVit, then you of court efie. It is very true ( I know not by what chance] that I haue of late been fo highly beholding to Opinion , that I wonder how I crept fo much into her fauour, and if I did thinke it wort hie the fearing] I Jhouldbe af raid that Jhe

fuming

562

To the Reader.

hailing fo vndeferuedly befriended mee beyond my Hope or expectation , will, 'upon as little caufe , ere long , againe pickefomequarrellagainft mee; and it may bee , meanes to make vfe of this, which I know mujt needes comefarre Jhort of their expectation, who by their earneftdefire ofit,feem'dto before-pof- feft with afarre better conceit e, then I can beleeue it prooues worthy of. So much at leaft I doubted, and therefore loth to deceiue the world ( though it of ten beguile me) I kept it to myfelfe, in deed, not dr earning euer to fee itpublifo- ed\ B^tt now, by the ouennuchperfwafi- on of fome friends , Ihaue been conftrai- ned to expofe it to the generall view. Which feeing Ihaue done,fomethings I defire thee to take notice of. Firft, that I am Hee , who topleafure my friend, N n 2 haue

563

A Poftfcript

haue fratrid my felfe a content out of that which would otherwife difcon- tent mee. Secondly , that I haue co- net ed more to effeffi what I thinke true- ly honeft in it felfe , then by a fee- ming Jhew of Art , to catch the vaine blaftes of vncertaine Opinion. This that I haue here written, was no part ofmyfludie , but onely a recreation in imprifonment : and a trifle , neither in my conceit fitting , nor by me intended to bee made common; yet fome, who it Jhould feeme ejteemed it worthy more refpeffi then I did, tookepaines to coppy it out, vnknowne to mee, and in my ab- fence got it both Authorized and pre pared for thePreJfe \fo that if I had not hindred it, laft Michaelmas-Tearme hadbeene troubled with it. I was much blamed by fome Friends for withftan-

ding

to the Reader.

ding it, to whofe requeft I Jhould more eafily haiie confented , but that I thought (as indeed I yet doe} I Jhould thereby more difparage my felfe, then content them. For I doubt J Jhall bee fuppofedone of thofe, who out of their arrogant defire of a littleprepojlerous Fame, thrujl into the world euery vn- feafoned trifle that drops out of their vnfetled braines ; whofe bafenejfe how much I hate , thofe that know mee can witneffe , for if I were fo offered , / might perhaps prefent the World with asmanyfeuerall Poems, as I hauefeene yeeres ; and iuftly make my felfe ap pear e to bee the Author of fome things thatothershauejhamefitllyvfurpedand made vfe of as their owne. But I will be content other men Jhould owne fome of thofe IJfues of the Braine,/^y

N n 3 would

A Poftfcript

would be loath to confeffe all that might in that kinde call me Father. Neither faall any more of them, by my confent, in hajt againe trouble the world, vnleffe I know which way to benefit it with lejfe preiudice to myowne eft ate. And there fore if any ofthofe lejjfeferious Poems which are already difperft into my friends hands ', come among ft you, let not their publication be imputed to me, nor their light neffe be any difparagement to what hath beenftnce moreferious writ ten , feeing it is but fuch fluff e as riper iiidgements ha^le in their farre elder yeeres been much more guilty of.

I know an indifferent Crittick may

finde many faults, as well in theflight-

nejfe of this prefent Subiedl , as in the

erring from the true natitre of an Eg-

logue / moreouer , it altogether con-

cernes

566

to the Reader.

cerne s my f elf .which diners maydijlike. But neither can bee done on iuft caufe : TJiefirfthath bin anfwered already: The laft might confider that J was there where my owne eflate was chiefly to bee looked vnto, and all the comfort I could minifter vnto my felfe, little enough.

Jfany man deeme it worthy his rea ding I faall bee glad: ifhee thinke his paines ill beftowd, let him blame him- f elf e for medling with that concerned him not'. I neither commended it to him, neither cared whether he read it or no ; becaufe I know thofe that were defiroiis of it, willejleeme the fame as much as I expefl they Jhould.

But it is not vnlikelyjome wil thinke I haue in diuers places been more wan- ton(astheytakeif)then befitting a *$>*&- \yet their feiterity If earenot, becaufe

' Nn 4 /

567

A Poftfcript, &c.

Jam ajjured all that leueryet did, was free from Obfcaenity : neyther am I fo Cynical, but that I thinke a modeft ex- prejjlon off^lch amorous conceits asfute with Reafon, will yet very well become myyeeres ; in which not to haue feeling of the power 0/~Loue, were as great an argument ofmuchjlupidity, asanouer- fottijh affection were of extreame folly. Laftly, if you thinke it hath not well an- fwered the Title of the Shepheards Hunting, goe quarrell with the Stati oner , who bid himfelfe God-Father, andimpofedthe Name according to his owne liking ; and if you, or hee, jinde any faults, pray mend them.

Valete. FINIS.

568

FIDELIA:

BY

GEORGE WITHER.

GENT:

LONDON,

Printed by T. S. for lohn Budge, dwelling in Pauls-

Church-yard, at the figne of the Greene

Dragon, 1622.

569

<&*&*sk^^

An Elegiacall Epiftie o

to her vnconftant Friend.

THE ARGVMENT.

This Elegiacall Epiftle, being a fragment of fome greater

Poeme, difcouers the mode/I affections of a difcrcet and con-

Jlant Woman, J/iadowedvndcr the name of Fidelia ; wJierein

you maypercciue the height of their PaJJions,fofarre as they

feeme to agreeivith reafon, and keepe within fuch decent bounds

as bcfcemeth their Sex, but further it meddles not. The occa-

Jionfeemes to proceed from fome mutability in herfriend,ivhofe

obieftions Jlice heereprefuppofmg,confuteth, and in theperfon

of him iujlly vpbraideth all that arefubietl, to the like change,

or ficklenejfe in m inde. A mong the reft, fome more weightie

Arguments then arc (perhaps} expefled in fuch afubiett, are

briefly, andyetfomewhatfcrioujly handled.

Ft I haue heard tel, and now for truth I finde, Once out of fight, and quickly out of minde. And that it hath been rightly faid of old, Loue thafsfoorifthot, is euerfooneftcold.

Or

Fidelia.

Or elfe my teares at this time had not ftain'd

The fpotleffe paper, nor my lines complain'd.

I had not, now, been forced to haue fent

Thefe lines for Nuncio's of my difcontent ;

Nor thus, exchanged, fo vnhappily,

My fongs of Mirth, to write an Elegie.

But, now I muft ; and, fmce I muft doe fo,

Let mee but craue, thou wilt not flout my woe :

Nor entertaine my forrowes with a fcoffe,

But, reade (at leaft) before thou carl them off.

And, though thy heart's too hard to haue companion,

Oh blame not, if thou pitty not my Paffion,

For well thou know' ft (alas, that er'e 'twas knowne)

There was a time (although that time be gone)

I, that for this, fcarce dare a beggar bee,

Prefum'd for more to haue commanded thee.

Yea, the Day was, ( but fee how things may change,)

When thou, and I, haue not been halfe fo ftrange ;

But oft embrac'd each other, gently greeting,

With fuch kinde words, as Turtle, Doue, or Sweeting.

Yea, had thy meaning, and thofe vowes of thine,

Prou'd but as faithfull, and as true as mine,

It ftill had been fo : for (I doe not faine)

I mould rejoyce it might be fo againe.

But, fith thy Lotie growes cold, and thou vnkinde,

Be not difpleas'd I fomewhat breath my minde ;

I am in hope, my words may proue a mirrour,

Whereon thou looking, may'ft behold thine error.

And

572

Fidelia.

And yet, the Hcaucn, and my fad heart doth know,

How griu'd I am, and with what feeling woe

My minde is tortured, to thinke that I

Should be the brand of thy difloyalty :

Or, Hue to be the Author of a line

That fhall be printed with a fault of thine ;

(Since if that thou but (lightly touched be,

Deepe wounds of griefe, and fhame, it ftrikes in me :)

And yet I muft : ill hap compels me to

What I nere thought to haue had caufe to do.

And therefore, feeing that fome angry Fate

Impofes on mee, what I fo much hate :

Or, fmce it is fo, that the Powers diuine

Mee fmiferablej to fuch cares afligne ;

Oh that Loues patron, or fome facred Mttfe,

Amongft my Paffions, would fuch Art infufe,

My well-fram'd words, and aiery fighs might proue

The happy blafts to re-inflame thy loue.

Or, at leaft, touch thee with thy fault fo neere,

That thou might'fl fee thou wrong'fl, who held thee

Seeing, confeffe the fame, and fo abhorre it, (deere :

Abhorring, pitty, and repent thee for it.

But (Deare) I hope that I may call thee fo,

(For thou art deare to mee, although a foe,)

Tell mee, is't true, that I doe heare of thee,

And, by thy abfence, true appeares to bee ?

Can fuch abufe be in the Court of Loue,

Falfe and inconftant now, thou Hee fhould'ft proue ?

Hee

573

Fidelia.

He, that fo wofull, and fo penfiue fate,

Vowing his feruice at my feete of late ?

Art thou that quondam louer, whofe fad eye

I feldome faw yet, in my prefence dry ?

And from whofe gentle-feeming tongue I know

So many pitty-mouing words could flow ?

Was't thou, fo foughtft my loue, fo feeking that

As if it had been all th'hadft aymed at ?

Making me think thy Pajfion without flaine,

And gently quite thee with my loue againe ?

With this perfwafion I fo fairely plac'd it,

Nor Time, nor Enuy, fhould haue ere defac'd it ?

Is't fo ? haue I done thus much ? and art thou

So ouer-cloyed with my fauours now ?

Art wearied fmce with louing, and eftranged

So far ? Is thy affection fo much changed,

That I of all my hopes muft be deceyued,

And all good thoughts of thee be quite bereaued f

Then true I finde, which long before this day I fear'd my felfe, and heard fome wifer fay ; That there is nought on earth fo fweet, that can Long relijh with the curious tafte of Man.

Happy was I ; yea, well it was with mee, Before I came to be bewitch'd by thee. I ioy'd the fweet'ft content that euer Maid Poffeffed yet ; and truely well-a-paid, Made to my felfe (alone) as pleafant mirth As euer any Virgine did on earth.

The

574

Fidelia.

The melody I vfd was free, and fuch As that Bird makes, whom neuer hand did touch ; But, vn-allur'd, (with Fowlers whittling) flies Aboue the reach of humane treacheries.

And (well I doe remember) often then Could I reade o're the pollicies of men ; Difcouer what vncertainties they were ; How they would figh, looke fad, proteft, and fweare ; Nay, faigne to die, when they did neuer proue The flendrcft touch of a right-worthy loue : But had chil'd hearts, whofe dulneffe vnderftood No more of Pajfion, then they did of good. All which I noted well, and in my minde (A generall humour amongft women-kinde) This vow I made ; (thinking to keepe it than) That neuer the faire tongue of any man, Nor his complaint, though neuer fo much grieu'd, Should moue my heart to liking whil'ft I liu'd.

But, who can fay, what me mall Hue to do f I haue beleeu'd, and let in liking to, And that fo farre, I cannot yet fee how I may fo much as hope, to helpe it now ; Which makes mee thinke, what e're we women fay, Another minde will come another day. And that men may to things vnhop'd for clime, Who watch but Opportunity and Time. For 'tis well knowne, we were not made of clay, Or fuch courfe, and ill-temper'd ftuffe as they.

For

575

Fidelia.

For he that fram'd vs of their flefh, did daigne

When 'twas at beft, to new refine't againe.

Which makes vs euer fmce the kinder Creatures,

Of farre more flexible, and yeelding Natures.

And as wee oft excell in outward parts,

So wee haue nobler and more gentle hearts.

Which, you well knowing, daily doe deuife

How to imprint on them your Cruelties.

But doe I finde my caufe thus bad indeed ?

Or elfe on things imaginary feed ?

Am I the laffe that late fo truly iolly,

Made my felfe merry oft, at others folly ?

Am I the Nymph that Cupids fancies blam'd,

That was fo cold, fo hard to be inflam'd f

Am I my felfe ? or is my felfe that Shee

Who from this Tkraldome, or fuch fallhoods free,

Late own'd mine owne heart, and full merry then,

Did fore-warne others to beware of Men ?

And could not, hauing taught them what to doe,

Now learne my felfe, to take heede of you to ?

Foole that I am, I feare my guerdon's iuft,

In that I knew this, and prefum'd to truft.

And yet (alas) for ought that I could tell,

One fparke of goodneffe in the world might dwell :

And then, I thought, If fuch a thing might be,

Why might not that one fparke remaine in thee ?

For thy faire out-fide, and thy fayrer tongue,

Did promife much, although thy yeares were young.

And

576

Fidelia.

And Vcrtue (wherefoeuer fhe be now)

Seem'd then, to fit enthron'd vpon thy brow.

Yea, fure it was : but, whether 'twere or no,

Certaine I am, and was perfwaded fo.

Which made me loth to thinke, that words of fafhion,

Could be fo fram'd, fo ouer-laid with PaJJlon ;

Or fighes fo feeling, fain'd from any bred.

Nay, fay thou hadft been falfe in all the reft ;

Yet from thy eye, my heart fuch notice tooke,

Me thought, guile could not faine fo fad a looke.

But now Fue try'd, my bought experience knowes,

They oft are worft that make the faireftfliowes.

And howfoere men faine an outward grieuing,

' Tis neither worth refpetting, nor bclieuing :

For, fhe that doth one to her mercy take,

Warmes in her bofome but a frozen fnake :

Which heated with her fauours, gather fence,

And flings her to the heart in recompence.

But tell me why, and for what fecret fpight You in poore womens miferies delight ? For fo it feemes ; elfe why d'yee labour for That, which when 'tis obtained, you abhor ? Or to what end doe you endure fuch paine To win our loue, and caft it off againe ? Oh that we either your hard hearts could borrow, Or elfe your ftrengths, to helpe vs beare our forrow:

But we are caufe of all this griefe and fhame, And we haue none but our owne felues to blame :

O o For

577

Fidelia.

For ftill we fee your falfhood for our learning, Yet neuer can haue power to tak't for warning ; But fas if borne to be deluded by you) We know you truftleffe, and yet ftill we try you.

( Alas) what wrong was in my power to doe thee ? Or what defpight haue I er'e done vnto thee ? That thou fhouldft chufe Me, aboue all the reft, To be thy fcorne, and thus be made a ieft ? Muft mens il natures fuch true villaines proue them, To make the wrong thofe mod that moft do loue them ? Couldft thou finde none in Countrey, Towne or Court, But onely Me, to make thy Foole, thy fport ? Thou knowft I haue no wanton courfes runne, Nor feemed eafie vnto lewdneffe wonne. And (though I cannot boaft me of much wit,) Thou faw'ft no figne of fondneffe in me yet. Nor did ill nature euer fo ore-fway me, To flout at any that did woe or pray me, But grant I had been guilty of abufage, Of thee I'me fure I ne're deferu'd fuch vfage. But thou wert grieued to behold my fmilings, When I was free from loue, and thy beguilings. Or to what purpofe elfe didft thou beftow Thy time, and ftudy to delude me fo ? Haft thou good parts ? and dofl thou bend them all To bring thofe that ne're hated thee in thrall ? Prethee take heed, although thou yet inioy'ft them They'l be tooke from thee, if thou fo imploy'ft them.

For

57*

Fidelia.

For though I wifh not the lead harme to thee,

I feare, the iuft Hcauens will reuenged be.

Oh / what of Mce by this time had become,

If my defires with thine had hapt to rome,

Or I, vnwifely, had confented to

What (fhameleffej once thou didft attempt to doe /

I might haue falne, by thofe immodeft trickes,

Had not fome power beene ftronger then my Sex.

And if I fhould haue fo been drawne to folly,

I favv thee a-pt enough to be vnholy.

Or if my weakeneffe had beene prone to fmne,

I poorely by thy ftrength had fuccour'd bin.

You Men make vs belieue you doe but try,

And that's your part, (you fay) ours to deny.

Yet I much feare, if we through frailty ft ray,

There's few of you within your bounds will ftay ;

But, maugre all your feeming Vertue, be

As ready to forget your felues, as we.

I might haue fear'd thy part of loue not ftrong, When thou didft offer me fo bafe a wrong : And that I after loath'd thee not, did proue In mee fome extraordinary Lone. For fure had any other but in thought, Prefum'd vnworthily what thou haft fought, Might it appeare, I fhould doe thus much for him, With afcarce reconciled hate abhorre him.

My young experience neuer yet did know Whether defire might range fo farre, or no,

Oo 2 To

579

Fidelia.

To make true Louers carelefly requefc,

What rafh enioyning makes them moft vnbleft,

Or blindly thorow frailty giue confenting

To that, which done brings nothing but repenting.

But in my iudgement it doth rather proue

That they are fir'd with luft, then warm'd with loue.

And if it be for proofe men fo proceed,

It fhewes a doubt, elfe what doe tryals neede ?

And where is that man liuing euer knew

That falfe diftruft, could be with loue that's true ?

Since the meere caufe of that vnblam'd effect,

Stick an opinion is, that hates fufpeffi.

And yet, thee and thy loue I will excufe, If thou wilt neither me, nor mine abufe. For, He fuppofe thy paffion made thee proffer That vnto me, thou to none elfe would ft offer. And fo, thinke thou, if I haue thee deni'd, Whom I more lou'd then all men elfe befide ; What hope haue they, fuch fauour to obtaine, That neuer halfe fo much refpect could gaine ?

Such was my loue, that I did value thee Aboue all things below eternity. Nothing on Earth vnto my heart was nearer No loy fo prized, nor no lewell dearer. Nay : I doe feare I did Idolatrize ; For which Heauens wrath inflicts thefe miferies, And makes the things which were for bleffmgs lent, To be renewers of my difcontent.

Where

580

Fidelia.

Where was there any of the Naiades,

The Dryad's, or the Hamadryades ?

Which of the BrittiJJi (hires can yeeld againe,

A miftreffe of the Springs, or Wood, or Plaine ?

Whofe eye enioy'd more fweet contents then mine,

Till I receiu'd my ouerthrow by thine f

Where's fhe did more delight in Springs and Rils ?

Where's fhe that walk'd more Groues, or Downs, or Hils f

Or could by fuch faire artleffe profpec~l, more

Adde by conceit, to her contentments ftore

Then I ; whilft thou wert true, and with thy Graces

Didft giue a pleafmg prefence to thofe places ?

But now What is ? What was hath ouerthrowne,

My Rofe-deckt allies, now with Rue are ftrowne ;

And from thofe flowers that honyed vfe to be,

I fucke nought now but iuyce to poyfon mee.

For eu'n as fhe, whofe gentle fpirit can raife, To apprehend Loues noble myfteries, Spying a precious lewell richly fet, Shine in fome corner of her Cabcnet, Taketh delight at firft to gaze vpon The pretty luftre of the fparkling ftone, (And pleas'd in mind, by that doth feeme to fee How vertue fhines through bafe obfcurity ; ) But prying neerer, feeing it doth proue Some relique of her deere deceafed Loue, Which to her fad remembrance doth lay ope, What fhe mofl fought, and fees moft far from hope :

O o 3 Fainting

58'

Fidelia.

Fainting almoft beneath her Paffions weight, And quite forgetfull of her firft conceit : Looking vpon't againe, from thence fhe borrowes Sad melancholy thoughts to feed her forrowes.

So I beholding Natures curious bowers, Seel'd, ftrow'd, and trim'd vp with leaues, hearbes, and Walke pleafed on a while, and doe deuize, (flowers. How on each obie6l I may moralize. But er'e I pace on many fteps, I fee There ftands a Hawthorne that was trim'd by thee : Here thou didfh once flip off the virgin fprayes, To crowne me with a wreath of liuing Bayes. On fuch a Banke I fee how thou didft lye, When viewing of a fhady Mulbery, The hard mifhap thou didft to me difcuffe Of louing Thysbe, and young Piramus : And oh (thinke I) how pleafmg was it then, Or would be yet, might he returne agen. But if fome neighbouring Row doe draw me to Thofe Arbors, where the fhadowes feeme to wooe The weary loue-ficke Paffengery to fit And view the beauties Nature fhrowes on it ; How faire (thinke I) would this fweet place appeare, If he I loue, were prefent with me heere. Nay, euery feuerall obie6l that I fee, Doth feuerally (me thinkes) remember thee. But the delight I vf'd from thence to gather, I now exchange for cares, and feeke them rather.

But

582

Fidelia.

But thofe whofe dull and groffe affe6tions can Extend but onely to defire a Man, Cannot the depth of thefe rare Pajfions know : For their imaginations flagge too low. And caufe their bafe Conceits doe apprehend Nothing but that whereto the flefh doth tend ; In Loues embraces they neere reach vnto More of content than the brute Creatures do. Neither can any iudge of this, but fuch Whofe brauer mindes for brauer thoughts doe touch. And hauing fpirits of a nobler frame, Feele the true heate of Loues vnquenched flame.

They may conceiue aright what fmarting fling To their Remembrances the place will bring, Where they did once enioy, and then doe mifle, What to their foules mod deere and precious is. With mee 'tis fo ; for thofe walkes that once feem'd Pleafmg, when I of thee was more efteem'd, To me appeare moft defolate and lonely, And are the places now of torment onely. Where I the higheft of contents did borrow, There am I paid it home with deepeft forrow.

Vnto one place, I doe remember well, We walkt the eu'nings to heare Phylomcl'. And that feemes now to want the light it had, The fliadow of the Groues more dull and fad, As if it were a place but fit for Fowles, That fcreech ill-lucke ; as melancholy Owles,

Oo 4 Or

5*3

Fidelia.

Or fatall Rauens, that feld' boding good,

Croke their blacke Auguries from fome darke wood.

Then if from thence I halfe defpairing goe, Another place begins another wo : For thus vnto my thought it femes to fay, Hither thou faw'ft him riding once that way : Thither to meete him thou didft nimbly haft thee, Yon he alighted, and eu'n there embrac'd thee : Which whilft I fighing wifh to doe againe, Another obie6l brings another paine. For paffmg by that' Greene, which (could it fpeake) Would tell it faw vs run at Barly-breake ; There I beheld, what on a thin rin'd tree Thou hadft engrauen for the loue of me ; When we two, all one in heate of day, With chafte imbraces draue fwift houres away. Then I remember to (vnto rny fmart) How loath we were, when time compel'd to part ; How cunningly thy Pafjions thou couldft faine, In taking leaue, and comming backe againe : So oft, vntill (as feeming to forget We were departing,) downe againe we fet ? And frefhly in that fweet difcourfe went on, Which now I almoft faint to thinke vpon.

Viewing againe thofe other walkes and Groues That haue beene witneffes of our chafte loues ; When I beheld thofe Trees whofe tender skin Hath that cut out, which ftill cuts me within.

Or

534

Fidelia.

Or come, by chance, vnto that pretty Rill

Where thou wouldft fit, and teach the neighbouring hill

To anfwere, in an Eccho, vnto thofe

Rare Problems which thou often didft propofe.

When I come there fthinke \) if thefe could take

That vfe of words and fpeech which we partake,

They might vnfold a thoufand pleafures then

Which I fhall neuer Hue to tafte agen.

And thereupon, Remembrance doth fo racke

My thoughts, with reprefenting what I lacke,

That in my minde thofe Clerkes doe argue well,

Which hold Priuation the great'ft plague of hell.

For there's no torment gripes mee halfe fo bad,

As the Remembrance of thofe joyes I had.

Oh haft thou quite forgot, when fitting by The bankes of T/tame, beholding how the Fry Play'd on the filuer-waues ? There where I firft Granted to make my Fortune thus accurft ; There where thy too-too earned fuit compeld. My ouer-foone beleeuing heart to yeeld One fauour firft, which then another drew To get another, till (alas) I rue That day and houre, thinking I nere mould need (As now) to grieue for doing fuch a deed. So freely I my curtefies beftow'd, That whofe I was vnwarily I fhow'd : And to my heart fuch paffage made for thee, Thou canft not to this day remoued be,

And

4/ 585

Fidelia.

And what breaft could refift it, hauing feene

How true thy loue had in appearance beene ?

For ( I fhall ne're forget) when thou hadft there

Laid open euery difcontent and care,

Wherewith thou deeply feem'dft to me oppreft,

When thou (as much as any could proteft)

Had'ft vow'd and fworne, and yet perceiu'dft no figne

Of pitty-mouing in this breft of mine :

Well Loue (faid'fl thou) fince neither figh nor vow,

Nor any feruice may auaile me now :

Since neither the recitall of my fmart,

Nor thofe ftrong Pafjions that affaile my heart ;

Nor any thing may moue thee to beliefe

Of thefe my fufferings, or to grant reliefe :

Since there's no comfort, nor defert, that may

Get mee fo much as Hope of what I pray ;

Sweet Loue farewell ; farewell faire beauties light,

And euery pleafmg obiecl of the fight :

My poore defpayring heart heere biddeth you,

And all Content, for euermore, adue.

Then eu'n as thou feemd'fl ready to depart ; Reaching that hand, which after gaue my hart, ( And thinking this fad Farewell did proceed From a found breaft, but truely mou'd indeed) I flayed thy departing from mee fo, Whilft I flood mute with forrow, thou for mow. And the meane while as I beheld thy looke, My eye th'impreflion of fuch Pitty tooke,

That,

586

Fidelia.

That, with the ftrength of Pajfion oucrcome,

A deep-fetcht figh my heart came breathing from :

Whereat thou feuer wifely vfing this

To take aduantage when it offered is)

Renewd'ft thy fute to mee, who did afford

Confent, in filence firft, and then in word.

So that for yeelding thou maift thanke thy wit, And yet when euer I remember it, Truft me, I mufe, and often (wondring) thinke, Thorough what craney, or what fecret chinke That Loue, vn wares, fo like a flye clofe Elfe, Did to my heart infmuate it felfe. Gallants I had, before thou cam'ft to woo, Could as much loue, and as well court me to ; And, though they had not learned fo the fafhion, Of acting fuch well counterfeited Paffwn ; In wit, and perfon, they did equall thee, And worthier feem'd, vnleffe thoul't faithfull be. Yet Mill vnmou'd, vnconquer'd I remain'd : No, not one thought of loue was entertain'd ; Nor could they brag of the leaft fauour to them, Saue what meere curtefie enioyn'd to doe them. Hard was my heart : But would't had harder bin, And then, perhaps, I had not let thee in ; Thou, Tyrant, that art fo imperious there, And onely tak'ft delight to Dominere. But held I out fuch ftrong, fuch oft affailing, And euer kept the honour of preuailing ?

Was

5«7

Fidelia.

Was this poore-breaft from loues allurings free, Cruell to all, and gentle vnto thee ? Did I vnlocke that ftrong affections dore, That neuer could be broken ope before, Onely to thee ? and, at thy interceffion, So freely giue vp all my hearts poffeffion : That to my felfe I left not one poore veine, Nor power, nor will, to put thee from't againe ? Did I doe this, (and all on thy bare vow) And wilt thou thus requite my kindneffe now ? Oh that thou eyther hadft not learn'd to faine, Or I had power to caft thee off againe ! How is it that thou art become fo rude, And ouer-blinded by Ingratitude ? Swar'ft thou fo deeply that thou wouldft perfeuer, That I might thus be caft away for euer ? Well, then 'tis true, that Louers periuries, Among fome men, are thought no injuries : And that me onely hath leaft caufe of griefe, Who of your words hath fmal'ft, or no beliefe.

Had I the wooer bin, or fondly won, This had bin more tho, then thou couldft haue don ; But, neither being fo, what Reafon is On thy fide, that mould make thee offer this ?

I know, had I beene falfe, or my faith fail'd, Thou wouldft at womens fickleneffe haue rail'd ; And if in mee it had an error bin, In thee mall the fame fault be thought no fin ?

Rather

588

Fidelia.

Rather I hold that which is bad in mee,

Will be a greater blemifh vnto thee :

Becaufe, by Nature, thou art made more ftrong,

And therefore abler to endure a wrong.

But 'tis our Fortune, you'le haue all the power,

Onely the Care and Burden muft be our.

Nor can you be content a wrong to do,

Vnleffe you lay the blame vpon vs to.

Oh that there were fome gentle-minded Poet

That knew my heart, as well as now I know it ;

And would endeare me to his loue fo much,

To giue the world ^though but) a (lender touch

Of that fad PaJJicn which now clogs my heart,

And fhew my truth, and thee how falfe thou art :

That all might know, what is beleeu'd by no man,

There's fickleneffe in men, and faith in woman.

Thou faw'ft I firft let Pitty in, then liking, And laftly, that which was thy onely feeking : And, when I might haue fcorn'd that loue of thine, (As now vngently thou defpifeft mine,) Among the inmoft Angles of my breft, To lodge it by my heart I thought it beft ; Which thou haft ftolne to, like a thankeleffe Mate, And left mee nothing but a blacke felfe-hate. What canft thou fay for this, to ftand contending ? What colour haft thou left for thy offending ? Thy wit, perhaps, can fome excufe deuife, And faine a colour for thofe iniuries ;

But

5*9

Fidelia.

But well I know, if thou excufe this treafon, It muft be by fome greater thing then reafon.

Are any of thofe verities yet defac'd, On which thy firft affection feemed plac'd ? Hath any fecret foe my true faith wronged, To rob the bliffe that to my heart belonged ? What then ? fhall I condemned be vnheard, Before thou knoweft how I may be clear'd ? Thou art acquainted with the times condition, Know' ft it is full of enuy, and fufpition, So that the war'eft in thought, word, and action, Shall oft be iniur'd, by foule-mouth'd datraction : And therefore thou (me-thinkes) fhould'fh wifely paufe Before thou credit rumors without caufe. But I haue gotten fuch a confidence In thy opinion, of my innocence : It is not that, I know, with-holds thee now, Sweet, tell mee then ; is it fome facred vow ? Haft thou refolued, not to ioyne thy hand With any one in Hymens holy band ? Thou fhouldft haue done it then, when thou wert free, Before thou hadft bequeath'd thy felfe to mee. What vow doft deeme more pleafmg vnto Heauen, Then what is by vnfained louers giuen ? If any be, yet fure it frowneth at Thofe that are made for contradicting that. But, if thou wouldft Hue chaftely all thy life, That thou maift do, though we be man and wife:

Or,

59°

Fidelia.

Or, if thou long'ft a Pfrgro-death to die, Why (if it be thy pleafure) fo doe I. Make mee but thine, and Fie (contented) be A Virgin flill, yet Hue and lie with thee. Then let not thy inuenting braine affay To mocke, and flill delude mee euery way ; But call to minde, how thou haft deepely fworne Not to negle<5t, nor leaue mee thus forlorne. And if thou wilt not be to mee as when Wee firft did loue, doe but come fee mee then. Vouchfafe that I may fometime with thee walke, Or fit and looke on thee, or heare thee talke ; And I that moft content once aymed at, Will thinke there is a world of bliffe in that.

Doft thou fuppofe that my Defires denies With thy affections well to fympathize ? Or fuch peruerfneffe haft thou found in me, May make our Natures difagreeing be ? Thou knowft when thou didft wake I could not fleepe ; And if thou wert but fad, that I fhould weepe. Yet feuen when the teares my cheeke did ftainej If thou didft fmile, why I could fmile againe : I neuer did contrary thee in ought : Nay, thou canft tell, I oft haue fpake thy thought. Waking ; the felfe-fame courfe with thee I runne, And fleeping, oftentimes our dreames were one.

The Dyall-needle, though it fence doth want, Still bends to the beloued Adamant;

Life

59*

Fidelia.

Lift the one vp, the other vpward tends ;

If this fall downe, that prefently defcends :

Turne but about the ftone, the fteele turnes to ;

Then ftraight returnes, if fo the other do ;

And, if it ftay, with trembling keepes one place,

As if it (panting) long'd for an imbrace.

So was't with mee : for, if thou merry wert,

That mirth of thine, mou'd ioy within my heart :

I fighed to, when thou didft figh or frowne :

When thou wert ficke, thou haft perceiu'd me fwoone ;

And being fad, haue oft, with forc'd delight,

Striu'd to giue thee content beyond my might.

When thou wouldft talke, then haue I talk'd with thee,

And filent been, when thou wouldft filent be.

If thou abroad didft goe, with ioy I went ;

If home thou lou'dft, at home was my content :

Yea, what did to my Nature difagree,

I could make pleafmg, caufe it pleafed thee.

But, if't be either my weake Sex, or youth, Makes thee mifdoubt my vndiftained truth, Know this ; as none (till that vnhappy hower, When I was firft made thinej had euer power To moue my heart, by vowes, or teares expence ; No more (I fweare) could any Creature fmce. No lookes but thine, though aim'd with Pajfions Art, Could pierce fo deepe to penetrate my hart. No name but thine, was welcome to my eare ; No word did I fo foone, fo gladly heare :

Nor

592

Fidelia.

Nor euer could my eyes behold or fee, What I was fmce delighted in, but thee.

And fure thou wouldft beleeue it to be fo, If I could tell, or words might make thee know, How many a weary night my tumbled bed Hath knowne me fleepeleffe : what falt-teares I'ue fhed ; What fcalding-fighes, the markes of foules oppreft, Haue hourely breathed from my carefull breft. Nor wouldft thou deeme thofe waking forrowes faind, If thou mightft fee how fleeping I am paind. For if fometimes I chance to take a (lumber, Vnwelcome dreames my broken reft doth cumber. Which dreaming makes me ftart, ftarting with feares Wakes ; and fo by waking I renew my cares : Vntill my eyes ore-tir'd with watch and weeping, Drownd in their owne flouds fall againe to fleeping. Oh ! that thou couldft but thinke, when laft wee parted, How much I, grieuing for thy abfence, fmarted : My very foule fell ficke, my heart to aking, As if they had their laft Farewels beene taking ; Or feared by fome fecret Diuination, This thy reuolt, and caufeleffe alteration. Didft thou not feele how loth that hand of mine, Was to let goe the hold it had of thine ? And with what heauy, what vnwilling looke I leaue of thee, and then of comfort tooke ? I know thou didft ; and though now thus thou doe, I am deceiu'd, but then it grieu'd thee to.

P p Then,

593

Fidelia.

Then, if I fo with Loues fell paflion vext For thy departure onely was perplext, When I had left to ftrengthen me fome truft ; And hope, that thou wouldft nere haue prou'd vniuft : What was my torture then, and hard endurance, When of thy falfhood I receiu'd affurance.

Alas, my Tongue, a-while, with griefe was dumbe, And a cold fhuddering did my ioynts benumme, Amazement feiz'd my thought, and fo preuailed, I found me ill, but knew not what I ailed. Nor can I yet tell, fmce my fuffering then Was more then could be fhowne by Poets Pen ; Or well conceiu'd by any other hart Then that which in fuch care hath borne a part.

Oh me ; how loth was I to haue beleeu'd That to be true, for which fo much I grieu'd ? How gladly would I haue perfwaded bin, There had bin no fuch matter, no fuch fin. I would haue had my heart thinke that (I knew To be the very truth,) not to be true. Why may not this, thought I, fome vifion be, Some fleeping dreame, or waking phantafie, Begotten by my ouer-blinded folly, Or elfe engendred through my Melancholy ? But finding it fo reall (thought I) then Muft I be caft from all my hopes agen ? What are become of all thofe fading bliffes, WThich late my hope had, and now fo much miffes ?

Where

594

Fidelia.

Where is that future fickle happineffe

Which I fo long expected to poffeffe f

And, thought I to ; where are his dying Paffions,

His honied words, his bitter lamentations ?

To what end were his Sonnets, Epigrams,

His pretty Pofees, witty Anagrams?

I could not thinke, all that might haue been fain'd,

Nor any faith, I thought fo firme, bin ftain'd.

Nay, I doe fure and confidently know,

It is not poflible it fliould be fo :

If that rare Art and Pajfion was thine owne,

Which in my prefence thou haft often fhowne.

But, fmce thy change, my much-prefaging heart

Is halfe afraid, thou fome impoflor wert :

Or that thou didft but (Player-like addreftj

A61 that which flow'd from fome more gentle breft.

Thy puft inuention, with worfe matter fwolne,

Thofe thy conceits from better wits hath ftolne :

Or elfe (I know) it could not be, that thou

Shouldft be fo ouer-cold as thou art now ;

Since thofe, who haue that, feelingly, their owne,

Euer poffeffe more worth conceal'd, then knowne.

And if Lone euer any Mortals touch,

To make a braue impreflion, 'tis in fuch,

Who fworne loues Chaplaines, will not violate

That, whereunto themfelues they confecrate.

But oh you noble brood, on whom the World The flighted burthen of neglect hath hurl'd,

Pp 2 (Bccaufe

595

Fidelia.

f Becaufe your thoughts for higher obie<5ts borne,

Their groueling humors and affection fcorne,)

You, whom the Gods, to heare your ftraines, will follow,

Whilft you doe court the fifters of Apollo.

You, whom there's none that's worthy, can neglect,

Or any that vnworthy is, affect.

Oh let not thofe that feeke to doe you fhame,

Bewitch vs with thofe fongs they cannot frame :

The nobleft of our Sexe, and fairefh to,

Doe euer loue and honour fuch as you.

Then wrong vs not fo much to giue your Pajfion

To thofe that haue it but in imitation :

And in their dull breads neuer feele the power

Of fuch deepe thoughts as fweetly moue in your.

As well as you, they vs thereby abufe,

For (many times) when we our Loners chufe,

Where we thinke Nature, that rich lewell, fets

Which fhines in you, we light on counterfets.

But fee, fee whither difcontentment beares me, And to what vncoth ftraines my Pafjlon reares me : Yet pardon me, I here againe repent, If I haue erred through that difcontent. Be what thou wilt, be counterfeit or right, Be conftant, ferious, or be vaine, or light, My loue remaines inuiolate the fame, Thou canft be nothing that can quench this flame, But it will burne as long as thou haft breath To keepe it kindled (if not after deathj

Nere

Fidelia.

Nere was there one more true, then I to thee,

And though my faith muft now defpifed be,

Vnpriz'd, vnualued at the lowed rate,

Yet this He tell thee, 'tis not all thy ftate,

Nor all that better-feeming worth of thine,

Can buy thee fuch another Lone as mine :

Liking it may, but oh there's as much oddes,

Twixt loue and that, as betweene men and Gods.

It is a purchafe not procur'd with treafure,

As fome fooles thinke, nor to be gaind at pleafure :

For were it fo, and any could affure it,

What would not fome men part with, to procure it f

But though thou weigh't not, as thou ought'ft to do,

Thou knowft I loue ; and once didft loue mee to.

Then where's the caufe of this diflike in thee ?

Suruey thy felfe, I hope there's none in mee.

Yet looke on her from whom thou art eftranged ?

See, is my perfon, or my beauty changed ?

Once thou didft praife it, prethee view't agen,

And marke ift be not ftill the fame twas then :

No falfe Vermilion-dye my cheeke diflaines,

'Tis the poore bloud difperft through pores and vaines,

Which thou haft oft feen through my fore-head flufhing,

To fhew no dawby-colour hid my blufhing :

Nor neuer mall : Verttie, I hope, will faue mee,

Contented with that beauty Nature gaue mee.

Or, ift feeme lefle, for that griefes-vaile had hid it,

Thou threwft it on mee, 'twas not I that did it,

O o 3 And

597

Fidelia.

And canft againe reftore, what may repaire All that's decay'd, and make me far more faire. Which if thou doe, Tie be more wary than To keep't for thee vnblemifht, what I can : And caufe at beft 'twill want much of perfection, The reft fhall be fupply'd with true affe&ion.

But I doe feare, it is fome others riches, Whofe more abundance that thy minde bewitches, That bafer obie6l, that too generall aime, Makes thee my leffer Fortune to difclaime. Fie, canft thou fo degenerate in fpirit, As to prefer the meanes before the merit ? (Although I cannot fay it is in mee) Such worth fometimes with pouerty may be To equalize the match Ihe takes vpon her ; Tho th'other vaunt of Birth, Wealth, Beauty, Honour : And many a one that did for greatneffe wed, Would gladly change it for a meaner bed. Yet are my Fortunes knowne indifferent, Not bafely meane, but fuch as may content : And though I yeeld the better to be thine, I may be bold to fay thus much, for mine ; That if thou couldft of them and me efteeme, Neither thy ftate, nor birth, would mif-befeeme : Or if it did ; how can I help't falas) Thou, not alone, before knew' ft what it was. But I ^although not fearing fo to fpeed) Did alfo difmable't more than need,

And

59$

Fidelia.

And yet thou woo'dft, and wooing didft perfeuer,

As if thou hadft intended Lone for euer :

Yea, thy account of wealth thou mad'fl fo fmall,

Thou had'ft not any queftion oft at all ;

But hating much that peafant-like condition,

Did'ft feeme difpleas'd I held it in fufpition.

Whereby I thinke, if nothing elfe doe thwart vs,

It cannot be the want of that will part vs.

Yea, I doe rather doubt indeed, that this

The needleffe feare of friends difpleafure is.

Yes, that's the barre which ftops out my delight,

And all my hope and ioy confoundeth quite.

But beares there any in thy heart fuch fway

To fhut mee thence, and wipe thy loue away ?

Can there be any friend that hath the power,

To difvnite hearts fo conioyn'd as our ?

E're I would haue fo done by thee ; I'de rather

Haue parted with one deerer then my father.

For though the will of our Creator bindes

Each Childe to learne and know his Parents mindes ;

Yet fure I am, fo iuft a Deitie,

Commandeth nothing againft Pietie.

Nor doth that band of duty giue them leaue,

To violate their faith, or to deceiue.

And though that Parents haue authority,

To rule their children in minority :

Yet they are neuer granted fuch power on them,

That will allow to tyrannize vpon them ;

Pp 4 Or

5! '

Fidelia.

Or vfe them vnder their command fo ill, To force them, without reafon, to their will. For who hath read in all the Sacred-writ, Of any one compeld to marriage (yet f) What father fo vnkinde (thereto requir'd,) Denide his Childe the match that he defir'd, So that he found the Lawes did not forbid it f I thinke thofe gentler ages no men did it. In thofe daies therefore for them to haue bin Contracted without licence had been fin ? Since there was more good Nature among men, And euery one more truly louing then. But now (although we ftand obliged ftill To labour for their liking, and good-will) There is no duty whereby they may tie vs From ought which without reafon they deny vs : For I do thinke, it is not onely meant, Children fhould aske, but Parents fhould confent : And that they erre, their duty as much breaking, For not confenting, as we not for fpeaking. " It is no maruell many matches be " Concluded now without their priuity ; "Since they, through greedy Auarice mifled, " Their intereft in that haue forfeited. For, fome refpectleffe of all care, doe marry Hot youthfull-J/tfj', to cold o\d-Ianuary. Some, for a greedy end, doe bafely tie The fweeteft-faire, to foule-deformitie.

Forcing

600

Fidelia.

Forcing a loue from where 'twas placed late,

To re-ingraffe it where it turnes to hate.

It feemes no caufe of hindrance in their eyes,

Though manners nor affections fympathize.

And two Religions by their rules of ftate,

They may in one made body tolerate ;

As if they did defire that double ftemme,

Should fruitfull beare but Neuters like to them.

Alas, how many numbers of both kindes

By that haue euer difcontented mindes :

And Hue ^though feeming vnto others well)

In the next torments vnto thofe of hell f

How many, defprate growne by this their finne,

Haue both vndone themfelues and all their kinne f

Many a one, we fee, it makes to fall

With the too-late repenting Prodigall.

Thoufands (though elfe by nature gentler giuen,)

To a6l the horridft murthers oft are driuen.

And fwhich is worfe) there's many a carelefle elfe,

(Vnleffe Heauen pitty) kils and damnes his felfe.

Oh what hard heart, or what vnpittying eyes,

Could hold from teares to fee thofe Tragedies,

Parents, by their neglect in this, haue hurld

Vpon the Stage of this refpeftleffe World f

'Tis not one Man, one Family, one Kinne,

No nor one Countrey that hath ruin'd bin

By fuch their folly, which the caufe hath prou'd,

That forraine oft, and ciuill warres were mou'd

By

60 I

Fidelia.

By fuch beginnings many a City lies

Now in the duft, whofe Turrets brau'd the skies :

And diuers Monarchs by fuch fortunes croft,

Haue feene their Kingdomes fir'd, and fpoil'd, and loft.

Yet all this while, thou feeft, I mention not, The ruine, fhame, and chaftity hath got ; For 'tis a taske too infinite to tell How many thoufands that would haue done well, Doe, by the meanes of this, fuffer defires To kindle in their hearts vnlawfull fires : Nay fome, in whofe could breaft nere flame had bin, Haue onely for meere vengeance falne to fin.

My felfe haue feene, and my heart bled to fee't, A wit-leffe Clowne enioy a match vnmeet. She was a Laffe that had a looke to moue The heart of cold Diogenes to loue : Her eye was fuch, whofe euery glance did know To kindle flames vpon the hils of Snow ; And by her powerfull piercings could imprint, Or fparkle fire into a heart of flint ; And yet (vnleffe I much deceiued be) In very thought did hate immodeftie. And (had fh'enioyd the man fhe could haue lou'dj Might, to this day, haue liued vn-reprou'd : But, being forc'd, perforce, by feeming-friends, With her confent, fhe her contentment ends. In that, compel'd, her-felfe to him fhee gaue, Whofe Bed, fhee rather could haue wifht her Graue ;

And

602

Fidelia.

And fmce, I heare, what I much feare is true, Thatfliee hath bidden JJtame and fame adue.

Such are the caufes now that Parents quite Are put befide much of their ancient right : Their feare of this, makes children to with-hold From giuing them thofe dues which elfe they would : And thefe thou fee'ft are the too-fruitfull ils, Which daily fpring from their vnbridled wils. Yet they, forfooth, will haue it vnderftood, That all their ftudy, is their childrens good. A feeming-ZtfW* fhall couer all they do : When, if the matter were well look't into, Their carefull reach is chiefly to fulfill Their owne foule, greedy, and infatiate will : Who, quite forgetting they were euer young, Would haue the Children dote, with them, on dung. Grant, betwixt two, there be true loue, content, Birth not mif-feeming, wealth fufficient, Equality in yeares, an honeft fame, In euery-fide the perfon without blame, And they obedient too : What can you gather Of Loue, or of affection, in that father, That but a little to augment his treafure, (Perhaps, no more but onely for his pleafure, ) Shall force his Childe to one he doth abhor, From her he loues, and juftly feeketh for ; Compelling him (for fuch mif-fortune grieu'd,) To die with care, that might with ioy haue liu'd ?

This

Fidelia.

This you may fay is Lone, and fweare as well, There's paines in Heauen, and delights in Hell : Or, that the Diuels fury and aufterity Proceeds out of his care of our pofterity. Would Parents (m this age) haue vs begin To take by their eyes, our affe6lions in ? Or doe they thinke we beare them in our fift, That we may ftill remoue them as wee lift ? It is impoffible it mould be thus, For we are rul'd by Loue, not Loue by vs: And fo our power fo much ner'e reached to, To know where we mail loue, vntill we doe. And when it comes, hide it awhile wee may, But 'tis not in our ftrengths to driu't away.

Either mine owne eye mould my chufer be, Or I would ner'e weare Hymens Liuery. For who is he fo neare my heart doth reft, To know what 'tis, that mine approued beft ? I haue my felfe beheld thofe men, whofe frame And outward perfonages had nought of blame : They had (what might their good proportion grace) The much more mouing part, a comely face, With many of thofe complements, which we In common men, of the beft breeding fee. They had difcourfe, and wit enough to carry Themfelues in fafhion, at an Ordinary ; Gallants they were, lou'd company and fport, Wore fauours, and had Miftreffes in Court.

And

604

Fidelia.

And euery way were fuch as well might feeme Worthy of note, refpect, and much efteeme ; Yet hath my eye more caufe of liking feene, Where nought perhaps by fome hath noted beene : And I haue there found more content, by farre, Where fome of thefe perfections wanting are ; Yea fo much, that their beauties were a blot To them (me thought) becaufe he had them not.

There fome peculiar thing innated, That beares an vncontrouled fway in this ; And nothing but it felfe knowes how to fit The minde with that which beft fhall fuit with it.

Then why fhould Parents thruft themfelues into What they want warrant for, and power to doe ? How is it they are fo forgetfull growne, Of thofe conditions, that were once their owne f Doe they fo dote amidft their wits perfection, To thinke that age and youth hath like affection ? (When they doe fee 'mong thofe of equall yeares, One hateth what another moft endeares.) Or doe they thinke their wifedomes can inuent A thing to giue, that's greater than Content ? No, neither (hall they wrap vs in fuch blindnefle, To make vs thinke the fpight they doe, is kindnefle. For as I would aduife no childe to ftray From the leaft duty that he ought to pay : So would I alfo haue him wifely know, How much that duty is which he doth owe :

That

605

Fidelia.

That knowing what doth vnto both belong,

He may doe them their right, himfelfe no wrong.

For if my Parents him I lothe fhould chufe,

Tis lawfull, yea my duty to refufe :

Elfe, how mail I leade fo vpright a life,

As is enioyned to the Man and Wife ?

Since that we fee fometime there are repentings,

Eu'n where there are the moft, and beft contentings.

What, though that by our Parents firft we liue ?

Is not life mifery enough to giue ;

Which at their births the children doth vndo,

Vnleffe they adde fome other mifchiefe to ?

Caufe they gaue being to this flefh of our,

Muft we be therefore flaues vnto their power ?

We nere defir'd it, for how could we tell,

Not being, but that not to be was well :

Nor know they whom they profit by it, feeing

Happy were fome, if they had had no being.

Indeed, had they produc'd vs without fin,

Had all our duty to haue pleas'd them bin :

Of the next life, could they affure the ftate,

And both beget vs and regenerate ;

There were no reafon then we fhould withfland

To vndergoe their tyrannou'fb command :

In hope that either for our hard endurance,

We fhould, at laft, haue comfort in affurance /

Or, if in our endeauours we mif-fped,

At leaft feele nothing when we fhould be dead.

But

606

Fidelia.

But what's the Reafon for't that we fhall be Inthral'd fo much vnto Mortality ? Our foules on will of any Men to tye Vnto an euerlafting mifery. So farre, perhaps to, from the good of either, We ruine them, our felues, and altogether.

Children owe much, I muft confefle 'tis true, And a great debt is to the Parents due : Yet if they haue not fo much power to craue But in their owne defence the Hues they gaue : How much leffe then, fliould they become fo cruell As to take from them the high-prized lewell Of liberty in choyce, whereon depends The maine contentment that the heauen here lends ? Worth life, or wealth, nay far more worth then either Or twenty thoufand Hues put all together. Then howfoeuer fome, feuerer bent, May deeme of my opinion, or intent, With that which followes thus conclude I doe : (And I haue Reafon for't, and Confcience to) No Parent may his Childcs iujlfute deny On his bare will, without a reafon why : Nor hefo vsd, be difobedient thought, If vnapproud, lie take the match he fought.

So then if that thy faith vncrazed be, Thy friends diflike (hall be no flop to me : For, if their will be not of force to doe it, They fhall haue no caufe elfe to driue them to it.

What

607

Fidelia.

What is it they againft vs can alleage ?

Both young we are, and of the fitted age,

If thou diffembledft not, both loue ; and both

To admit hinderance in our loues are loth.

'Tis prejudiciall vnto none that Hues ;

And Gods, and humane Law our warrant giues.

Nor are we much vnequall in degree,

Perhaps our Fortunes fomewhat different be.

But fay that little meanes, which is, were not,

The want of wealth may not diffolue this knot.

For though fome fuch prepofberous courfes wend,

Prefcribing to themfelues no other end,

Marr'age was not ordain'd t'enrich men by,

Vnleffe it were in their pofterity.

And he that doth for other caufes wed,

Nere knowes the true fweetes of a marriage bed :

Nor mail he by my will, for 'tis vnfit

He fhould haue bliffe that neuer aym'd at it.

Though that bewitching gold the Rabble blindes, And is the obiecT; of all Vulgar mindes : Yet thofe, me-thinkes, that graced feeme to bee, With fo much good as doth appeare in thee, Should fcorne their better-taught defires to tye To that, which fooles doe get their honour by. I can like of the wealth ( I muft confeffe) Yet more I prize the man, though mony-leffe. I am not of their humour yet, that can For Title, or Eftate, affecl: a Man ;

Or

608

Fidelia.

Or of my felfe, one body deigne to make With him I lothe, for his poffeflions fake. Nor wifh I euer to haue that minde bred In me, that is in thofe ; who, when they wed, Thinke it enough, they doe attaine the grace Of fome new honour, to fare well, take place, Weare coftly cloathes, in others fights agree, Or happy in opinion feeme to bee.

I weigh not this : for were I fure before Of Spencers wealth, or our rich Suttons flore ; Had I therewith a man, whom Nature lent, Perfon enough to giue the eye content : If I no outward due, nor right did want, Which the beft Husbands in appearance grant : Nay, though alone we had no priuate iarres But merry liu'd from all domefticke cares ; Vnleffe I thought his Nature fo incline, That it might alfo fympathize with mine, (And yeeld fuch correfpondence with my mind' Our foules might mutually contentment find, By adding vnto thefe which went before, Some certaine vnexpreffed pleafures more, Such as exceed the ftreight and curb'd dimenfions Of common mindes, and vulgar apprehenfions) I would not care for fuch a match, but tarry In this eftate I am, and neuer marry.

Such were the fweets I hop'd to haue ported, When Fortttne fliould with thee haue made me bleft. My heart could hardly thinke of that content, To apprehend it without rauifhment Each

Qq

4 i 609

Fidelia.

Each word of thine (me-thought) was to my eares

More pleafing then that muficke, which the Spheares

(They fay) doe make the gods, when in their chime,

Their motions Diapafon with the time,

In my conceit, the opening of thine eye.

Seem'd to giue light to euery obiect by,

And fhed a kinde of life vnto my fhew,

On euery thing that was within it view.

More ioy I'ue felt to haue thee but in place,

Then many doe in the mofb clofe embrace

Of their beloued'ft friend, which well doth proue,

Not to thy body onely tends my loue :

But mounting a true height, growes fo diuine,

It makes my foule to fall in loue with thine.

And fure now whatfoe're thy body doe,

Thy foule loues mine, and oft they vifit too.

For late I dream'd they went, I know not whither,

Vnleffe to Heauen, and there play'd together ;

And to this day I nere could know or fee,

'Twixt them or vs the leaft Antipathy,

Then what fhould make thee keepe thy perfon hence,

Or leaue to loue, or hold it in fufpence ?

If to offend thee I vnawares was driuen,

Is't fuch a fault as may not be forgiuen ?

Or if by frownes of Fate, I haue beene checkt,

So that I feeme not worth thy firft refpect,

Shall I be therefore blamed and vpbraided,

With what could not be holpen, or auoyded ?

Tis not my fault : yet caufe my Fortunes doe,

Wilt thou be fo vnkinde to wrong me too ?

Not

610

Fidelia.

Not vnto Thine, but thee I fet my heart,

So nought can wipe my loue out while thou art :

Though thou wert poorer both of houfe and meat,

Then he that knowes not where to fleepe or eat .-

Though thou wert funke into obfcurity,

Become an abiect in the worlds proud eye,

Though by peruerfeneffe of thy Fortune croft,

Thou wert deformed, or fome limbe had'ft loft,

That loue which Admiration firft begot,

Pitty would ftrengthen, that it failed not :

Yea, I fhould loue thee ftill, and without blame,

As long as thou couldft keepe thy minde the fame ;

Which is of Vertues fo compact (I take it)

No mortall change fhall haue the power to (hake it.

This may, and will (I know) feeme ftrange to thofe

That cannot the Abyfs of loue difclofe,

Nor muft they thinke, whom but the out-fide moues

Euer to apprehend fuch noble Loues \

Or more conie6lure their vnfounded meafure,

Then can we mortals of immortall pleafure.

Then let not thofe dull vnconceiuing braines, Who fhall hereafter come to reade thefe ftraines, Suppofe that no loues fire can be fo great, Becaufe it giues not their cold Clime fuch heate ; Or thinke m'inuention could haue reached here Vnto fuch thoughts, vnleffe fuch loue there were : For then they fhall but fhew their knowledge weake, And iniure me, that feele of what I fpeake.

But now my lines grow tedious, like my wrong, And as I thought that, thou think'ft this too long.

Qq 2 Or

6u

Fidelia.

Or fome may deeme, I thruft my felfe into

More then befeemeth modefty to do.

But of the difference I am not vnwitting,

Betwixt a peeuifh coyneffe, and things fitting :

Nothing refpecl; I, who pries ore my doing :

For here's no vaine allurements, nor fond wooing,

To traine fome wanton ftranger to my lure ;

But with a thought that's honeft, chafte, and pure,

I make my caufe vnto thy confcience knowne,

Suing for that which is by right my owne.

In which complaint, if thou doe hap to finde

Any fuch word, as feemes to be vnkind :

Miftake me not, it but from Pafjlon fprung,

And not from an intent to doe thee wrong.

Or if among thefe doubts my fad thoughts breed,

Some fperaduenturej may be more then need

They are to let thee know, might we difpute,

There^ no obiections but I could refute ;

And fpight of Enny fuch defences make,

Thou fhouldft embrace that loue thou doft forfake.

Then do not (oh forgetfull man) now deeme, That 'tis ought leffe then I haue made it feeme. Or that I am vnto this Pafflon mou'd, Becaufe I cannot elfe-where be belou'd : Or that it is thy ftate, whofe greatneffe knowne, Makes me become a futer for my owne : Suppofe not fo ; for know this day there be Some that wooe hard for what I offer thee : And I haue euer yet contented bin With that eftate I firft was placed in.

Banifh

612

Fidelia.

Banifh thofe thoughts, and turne thee to my heart ;

Come once againe, and be what once thou wert.

Reuiue me by thofe wonted ioyes repairing,

That am nigh dead with forrowes and defpairing :

So mail the memory of this annoy,

But adde more fweetneffe to my future ioy ;

Yea, make me thinke thou meantft not to deny me,

But onely wert eftranged thus, to try me.

And laftly, for that loues fake thou once bar'fl me,

By that right hand thou gau'fl, that oath thou fwar'ft me,

By all the PaJJions, and (if any be)

For her deare fake that makes thee iniure me ;

I here coniure thee ; no intreat and fue,

That if thefe lines doe ouer-reach thy view,

Thou wouldft afford me fo much fauour for them,

As to accept, or at leaft not abhorre them.

So though thou wholly cloake not thy difdaine,

I mail haue fomewhat the leffe caufe to plaine :

Or if thou needs muft fcoffe at this, or me,

Do't by thy felfe, that none may witneffe be.

Not that I feare 'twill bring me any blame,

Onely I am loth the world mould know my fhame.

For all that fhall this plaint with reafon view,

Will iudge me faithfull, and thee mod vntrue.

But if Obliuion, that thy loue bereft,

Hath not fo much good nature in thee left,

But that thou muft, as moft of you men doe,

When you haue conquer'd, tyrannize it too :

Know this before, that it is praife to no man

To wrong fo fraile a Creature as a woman.

Qq 3 And

613

Fidelia.

And to infult or'e one, fo much made thine, Will more be thy difparagement then mine.

But oh (I pray that it portend no harmes) A chearing heate my chilled fenfes warmes : lufb now I flafhing feele into my breft, A fudden comfort, not to be expreft ; Which to my thinking, doth againe begin To warne my heart, to let fome hope come in ; It tels me 'tis impoffible that thou Shouldft liue not to be mine, it whifpers how My former feares and doubts haue beene in vaine, And that thou mean'ft yet to returne againe. It faies thy abfence from fome caufe did grow, Which, or I fhould not, or I could not know. It tels me now, that all thofe proofes, whereby I feem'd affur'd of thy diiloyalty, May be but treacherous plots of fome bafe foes, That in thy abfence fought our ouerthrowes.

Which if it proue ; as yet me thinkes it may, Oh, what a burden mall I caft away ? What cares mall I lay by ? and to what height Towre in my new afcenfion to delight ? Sure er'e the full of it I come to try, I fhall eu'n furfet in my ioy and die. But fuch a loffe might well be call'd a thriuing Since more is got by dying fo, then liuing.

Come kill me then, my deare, if thou thinke fit, With that which neuer killed woman yet : Or write to me before, fo fhalt thou giue Content more moderate that I may liue :

And

614

Fidelia.

And when I fee my ftaffe of truft vnbroken,

I will vnfpeake againe what is mif-fpoken.

What I haue written in difpraife of Men,

I will recant, and praife as much agen ;

In recompence He adde vnto their Stories,

Encomiafticke lines to ymp their glories.

And for thofe wrongs my loue to thee hath done,

Both I and it vnto thy Pitty runne :

In whom, if the leaft guilt thou finde to be,

For euer let thine armes imprifon me.

Meane while Tie try if mifery will fpare Me fo much refpite, to take truce with care. And patiently await the doubtfull doome, Which I expect from thee fhould fhortly come ; Much longing that I one way may be fped, And not ftill linger 'twixt aliue and dead. For I can neither Hue yet as I fhould, Becaufe I leaft enioy of that I would ; Nor quiet die, becaufe (indeed) I firft Would fee fome better daies, or know the word.

Then haften Deare, if to my end it be, It mail be welcome, caufe it comes from thee. If to renew my Comfort ought be fent, Let me not loofe a minute of Content. The precious Time is fhort, and will away, Let vs enioy each other while we may. Cares thriue, Age creepeth on, Men are but (hades, loyes leflen, Youth decaies, and Beauty fades ; New turnes come on, the old returneth neuer, If we let our goe paft, 'tis paft for euer. FINIS.

615

A Metricall Paraphrafe

db$bSk><£h<^^

A Metricall Paraphrafe vpon the CREEDE.

Ince it befits, that I account fhould giue

What way vnto faluation / beleeue ;

Of my profeffion here the fumme I gather.

Firft, I confeffe a Faith in God the Father : In God, who (without Helper or Pertaker) Was of himfelfe the Worlds Almighty Maker, And firft gaue Time his being : who gaue birth To all the Creatures, both of Heauen and Earth. Our euerlafting wel-fare doth confift In his great mercies, and in lefus Chrift : fThe fecond perfon of that Three in one ) The Father's equall, and his onely Sonne ; That euer-bleffed, and incarnate Word, Which our Redeemer is, our life, Our Lord. For when by Sathans guile we were deceiued, Chrift was that meanes of helpe, which was conceiued ; Yea, (when we were in danger to be loft,) Conceiued for Vs, by the Holy Ghojl. And that we might not euer be for-lorne, For our eternall fafety he was Borne ; Borne as a Man (that Man might not mifcaryj Euen of the fubftance of the Virgin Mary, And loe, a greater mercy, and a wonder ; He that can make All, fuffer, fuffered wider

The

616

vpon the Creede.

The lewifh fpite (which all the world reuile at)

And Romifh tyrannies of Pontius Pilate.

In him doe I beleeue, who was enuied,

Who with extreameft hate was Crucified'.

Who being Life it felfe (to make affured

Our foules of fafety) was both dead, and buried ;

And that no feruile feare in vs might dwell,

To conquere, Hee dcfcended into Hell :

Where no infernall Power had power to lay

Command vpon him ; but on the third day

The force of Death and Hell he did conftraine,

And fo in Triumph, He arofe againe.

Yea, the Almighty power aduanc'd his head,

Afwell aboue all things, as from the dead.

Then, that from thence gifts might to men be giuen,

With glory, Hee afcendcd into Hcanen :

Where, that fupreame and euerlafling throne,

Which was prepar'd, he climb'd ; andfitteth on

That bleffed feate, where he fhall make abode

To plead for vs, at the right hand of God.

And no where mould he be enthroned rather,

Then there : for, he is God, as is the Father.

And therefore, with an equall loue delight I

To praife and ferue them both, as one Almighty :

Yet in their office there's a difference.

And I beleeue, that lefus Chr\ft.,froin thence,

Shall in the great and vniuerfall doome,

Returne ; and that with Angels Hcjliall come,

To queftion fuch as at his Empire grudge ;

Euen thofe who haue prefumed him to iudgc.

And

617

A Metricall Paraphrafe

And that blacke day fhall be fo Catholicke,

As I beleeue not onely that the quicke

To that afiife fhall all be fummoned ;

But, he will both adiudge them, and the dead.

Moreouer, in the Godhead I conceiue

Another Perfon, in whom / beleeue :

For all my hope of bleffedneffe were loft,

If I beleeu'd not in the holy Ghojl.

And though vaine Schifmatickes through pride & folly

Contemne her power, I doe beleeue the holy

Chaft Spoufe of (Thrift (for whom fo many fearch

By markes vncertaine) the true Cattilike Church.

I doe beleeue (God keepe vs in this vnion,)

That there fhall be for euer the Communion

Of Gods Ele<5t : and that he ftill acquaints

His Children in the fellowfhip of Saints.

Though damned be Mans naturall condition,

By grace in Chrift I looke for the remijjion

Of all my foule mifdeeds ; for, there begins

Deaths end, which is the punifhment ofjinnes.

Moreouer, I the Sadduces infection

Abhorre, and doe beleeue tlie Refurreflion :

Yea, though I turne to duft ; yet through God, I

Expect a glorious rifing of the body ;

And that, exempted from the cares here rife,

I fhall enioy perfection and the life

That is not fubiect vnto change or wafting ;

But euer-bleffed, and for euerlajling.

This is my Faith, which that it faile not when

It moft fhould fteed me, let God fay, Amen.

To

6 i $

vpon the Lords Prayer.

To whom, that he fo much vouchfafe me may, Tims as a member of his Church, I pray :

jjOrd, at thy Mercy-feat, our felues we gather, To doe our duties vnto thee, Our Father. To whom all praife, al honor, fhould be giuen: For, thou art that great God which art in heaue. Thou by thy wifdome rul'ft the worlds whole frame, For euer, therefore, Hallowed be thy Name. Let neuer more delaycs diuide vs from Thy glories view, but let Thy Kingdome come. Let thy commands oppofed be by none, But thy good pleafure, and Thy will be done. And let our promptneffe to obey, be euen The very fame in earth, as 'tis in heauen. Then, for our felues, O Lord, we alfo pray, Thou wouldft be pleafed to Giue vs this day, That food of life wherewith our foules are fed, Contented raiment, and our daily bread. With eu'ry needfull thing doe thou relieue vs : And, of thy mercy, pitty And forgiue vs All our mifdeeds, in him whom thou didft pleafe, To take in offering for our trefpajffes. And for as much, O Lord, as we beleeue, Thou fo wilt pardon vs, as we forgiue ; Let that loue teach vs, wherewith thou acquaints vs, To pardon all them, tJiat trcfpajfe againjl vs.

And

619

A Metricall Paraphrafe, &c.

And though fometime thou findft we haue forgot This Loue, or thee ; yet helpe, And leade vs not Through Soule or bodies want, to defperation Nor let abundance driue, into temptation. Let not the foule of any true Beleeuer, Fall in the time of tryall : But deliuer Yea, faue him from the malice of the Diuell ; And both in life and death keepe vs from euill. Thus pray we Lord : And but of thee, from whom Can this be had ? For thine is the Kingdome. The world is of thy workes the grauen ftory, To thee belongs the power ', and the glory. And this thy happineffe hath ending neuer : But fhall remaineybr euery and for euer. This we confeffe ; and will confeffe agen, Till we fhall fay eternally, Amen.

Thou JJialt write them vpon the pojles of thy houfe, and vpon thy Gates. Deut. 6. 9.

FINIS.

620

Spenser Society

LIST OF MEMBERS, 1870-71.

A DAMS, Dr. Ernest, Anson road, Victoria

*"* park, Manchester

Addis, John, jun., Rustington, Littlehampton, Sussex

Ainsworth, R. F., M.D., Higher Broughton, Man chester

Aitchison, William John, II, Buckingham terrace, Edinburgh

Akroyd, Colonel Edward, M.P., Halifax

Alexander, John, 43, Campbell street, Glasgow

Alexander, Walter, 29, St. Vincent place, Glasgow

BAIN, James, I, Haymarket, London, S.W.

Baker, Charles, F.S.A., II, Sackville street, London, W.

Baltimore, Peabody Institute at (per Mr. E. G. Allen, 12, Tavistock row, Covent garden, London, W.C.)

Barker, Philip, Birch Polygon, Rusholme, Man chester

Beard, James, The Grange, Burnage lane, Man chester

Bidder, George P., 131, Market street, Manchester

Birmingham Central Free Library

Birmingham Library (per Mr. A. Dudley, librarian)

Blackman, Frederick, 4, York road, London, S.E.

Bladon, James, Albion house, Pontypool

Boston, U.S., Athenaeum (per Mr. E. G. Allen)

Boston, U.S., Public Library (per Sampson Low, Son and Co.)

Bremner, John A., Albert street, Manchester, Hon. Sec.

Brooks, W. Cunlifie, M.A., F.S.A., Barlow hall, near Manchester

Brothers, Alfred, 14, St. Ann's square, Man chester

Buckley, Rev. William Edward, M.A., Rectory, Middleton Cheney, Banbury

(~* ALLENDER, William Romaine, jun., F.S.A., ^ Water street, Manchester

Cambridge, U.S., Harvard College Library at (per Mr. H. T. Parker)

Campkin, Henry, F.S.A., librarian, Reform club, London, S.W.

Chamberlain, Arthur, Moor Green hall, Moseley, near Birmingham

Chamberlain, John Henry, Christ Church build ings, Birmingham

Christie, Professor, M.A., Owens College, Quay street, Manchester

Cochrane, Alexander, 2 1 6, Bath street, Glasgow

Coleridge, Sir J. D. C., M. P., 6, Southwick crescent, London, W.

Collie, John, Alderley Edge, Cheshire

Collier, John Payne, F.S.A., Maidenhead

Cook, Jas. W., 72, Coleman street, City, E.G.

Corser, Rev. Thomas, M.A., F.S.A., Rectory, Stand, near Manchester

Cosens, F. W., Clapham park, London, S.W.

Cowper, J. M., Davington, Faversham

Crossley, James, F.S.A., 2, Cavendish place, Ca vendish street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Man chester, President

Croston, James, 6a> St. Ann's square, Manchester

]~)EVONSHIRE, His Grace the duke of, •^ Devonshire house, Piccadilly, London, W. Dodds, Rev. James, The Abbey, Paisley, N.B. Downes, W. W., Bank, Nantwich

"CLT, Charles Henry, I, Noel street, Islington, -1— ' London, N.

Euing, William, 209, West George street, Glasgow

"PAIRBAIRN, Rev. James, Newhaven, Edin- •*• burgh

Falconer, Thomas, Usk, Monmouthshire Feigan, John A., 8 1, King street, Manchester Fletcher, John Shepherd, 8, Lever street, Man chester

Forster, John, Palace-gate house, Kensington, London, W.

LIST OF MEMBERS FOR

Fowle, W. F., Boston, U.S. (per Mr. H. T. Parker)

Fry, Danby P., Poor-law Board, Whitehall, Lon don, S.W.

Furnivall, Frederick J., 3, Old square, Lincoln's inn, London, W.C.

f~* EE, William, High street, Boston, Lincoln-

*-* shire

Gibbs, Henry H., St. Dunstan's, Regent's park,

London, N.W.

Gibbs, William, Tyntesfield, near Bristol Gratrix, Samuel, 25, Alport town, Deansgate,

Manchester

Gray, George, County buildings, Glasgow Guild, James Wyllie, 3, Park circus, Glasgow

LTAILSTONE, Edward, F.S.A., Walton hall,

1 L Wakefield, Yorkshire

Halliwell, James Orchard, F.R.S., &c. &c., 6, Tregunter road, London, S.W.

Hamlin, Charles, 27, Virginia street, Glasgow

Hargreaves, George James, Davyhulme, Manches ter

Harrison, William, F.S.A., Samlesbury hall, near Preston

Hartford, Connecticut, U.S., Watkinson Library at (per Mr. E. G. Allen)

Hatton, James, Richmond house, Higher Brough ton, Manchester

Hayes, Thomas, bookseller, Cross street, Man chester

Haynes, Benjamin, Church park, Mumbles, Swan sea

Hayward, Thomas, bookseller, Oxford street, Manchester

Heron, Sir Joseph, knt, Town hall, Manchester

Hewitt, William, Hill side, Fallowfield

Hill, George W., 97, Ingram street, Glasgow

Hopkins, Hugh, 6, Royal Bank place, Glasgow (7 wo copies.)

Howard, Hon. Richard Edward, Stamp office, Manchester, Treasurer

Hunt, Edward, chemist, Salford

JRELAND, Alexander, Manchester

TACKSON, H. B., Basford house, Whalley •J Range, Manchester Jackson, John, Chancery place, Manchester Jenner, C., Easter Duddington lodge, Edinburgh Johnson, Richard, Langton oaks, Fallowfield,

Manchester Jones, Herbert, I, Church court, Clement's lane,

London, E.G. Jones, Joseph, Abberley hall, Stourport

Jones, Thomas, B.A., F.S.A., Chetham library, Manchester

Jordan, Joseph, F.R.C.S., Bridge street, Man chester.

Jordan, Peter A., 606-614, Sansom street, Phila delphia, U.S.A. (per Triibner and Co., Pater noster row, London, E.G.)

TT'ERSHAW, James, 13, St. Luke's terrace, 1V Cheetham, Manchester Kershaw, John, Audenshaw, near Manchester Kershaw, John, Park house, Willesden lane,

London, N.W.

King, James, 6, Adelaide place, Glasgow Knight, Joseph, 27, Camden square, London,

N.W.

T ANCASHIRE Independent College (per

•*-* Mr. Joseph Thompson, Pin mill, Ard- wick)

Lees, Samuel, junr., Parkbridge, Ashton-under- Lyne

Leigh, Major Egerton, Jodrell hall, near Congle- ton, Cheshire

Leigh, John, Whalley Range, Manchester

Lembcke, Professor, Marburg (per Williams and Norgate, 14, Henrietta street, Covent garden, London, W.C.)

Lingard, J. R., 12, Booth street, Piccadilly, Man chester

Lingard, R. B. M., 12, Booth street, Piccadilly, Manchester

Lockwood and Co., 7, Stationers' hall court, Lon don, E.G.

McCOWAN, David, 7, Lynedoch crescent, Glasgow

Mackenzie, John Whiteford, 16, Royal circus, Edinburgh

Maclure, John William, Bond street, Manchester

Manchester Free Library, Campfield

Marsden, Rev. Canon, B.D., F.R.S.L., Cliff grange, Higher Broughton, Manchester

Martin, William, city treasurer, Town hall, Man chester

Milne- Redhead, R., Springfield, Seedley, Pendle- ton, Manchester

Mounsey, G. G., Castletown, near Carlisle

Mountcastle, William, Market street, Manchester

Murdock, James B., 27, Virginia street, Glasgow

Muntz, George H. M., Grosvenor road, Hands- worth, Birmingham

, George W., 19, Chapel walks, Man- Chester

Neill, Robert, Northumberland street, Higher Broughton, Manchester

LIST OF MEMBERS FOR 1870-71.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Literary and Philosophical

Society (per Mr. Lyall, librarian) New York, Clinton Hall Library at (per Sampson

Low, Son and Marston, 188, Fleet street,

London, E.G.) Nicholl, George W., The Ham, Gowbridge,

Glamorganshire Nichols George W., Augusta house, Rotherhithe,

London, S.E.

OAKEY, John, jun., 172, Blackfriars road, London, S.E.

Owens College Library, Quay street, Manchester Oxford Union Society (per Mr. Thomas Harris, steward)

DAINE, Cornelius, Oak hill, Surbiton, Surrey ••• Palin, Captain, Police office, Manchester Panton, Rev. G. A., 2, Crown circus, Dowanhill,

Glasgow Parker, H. T., 3, Ladbroke gardens, Kensington

park, London, W. (Two Copies.) Paterson, William, 74, Princes street, Edinburgh Paterson, William S., 8, Gordon street, Glasgow Peace, Maskell W., Green hill, Wigan Peel, George, Soho foundry, Manchester Pickering, Basil Montagu, 196, Piccadilly, Lon don, W.

Pocock, C. Innes, Rouge Bouillon, Jersey Portico Library, Mosley street, Manchester Priaulx, O. de Beauvoir, 8, Cavendish square, London, W.

QUARITCH, Bernard, 15, Piccadilly, Lon don, W.

REDFERN, Rev. R. S., M.A., Acton vicarage, Nantwich

Reform Club, London, (per Messrs. Ridgway, Piccadilly)

Reynolds, Rev. G. W., Barr hill, Pendleton

Rhodocanakis, H. H. the Prince, Higher Brough- ton, Manchester

Riggall, Edward, 141, Queen's road, Bayswater, W.

Robinson, Samuel, Black Brook cottage, Wilmslow

Robinson, W. W., New road, Oxford

Ross, Henry, F.S.A., The Manor house, Swans- combe, Kent

Russell, J. R., I, Stanley place, Paisley road, Glasgow

C AUNDERS, J. Symes, M.D., Devon County *-* Lunatic asylum, Exminster, Exeter Schofield, Thomas, I, Apsley terrace, Chester

road, Manchester Scott, James, The Lochies house, Burntisland,

N.B.

Sewell, John C., 3, Bridgwater place, High street

Manchester

Sharp, John, The Hermitage, near Lancaster Sheldon, Stephen (per Mr. T. Hayes) Shields, Thomas, Scarborough Simms, Charles S., King street, Manchester Simpson, A. A., Millington Hope, Higher Crump

sail, Manchester Simpson, Joseph, Millington Hope, Higher

Crumpsall, Manchester Simpson, Walter, Bank parade, Preston Slingluff, C. B., Baltimore (per Mr. B. F. Stevens

London)

Smith, Alexander, 69, St. George's place, Glasgo\ Smith, Fereday, Parkfield, Swinton, Manchester Smith, Charles, Faversham, Kent Snelgrove, Arthur G., London hospital, Londor

Sotheby, Mrs. S. Leigh, Leipzig (per Mr. Good

man, 407, Strand, London, W.C.) Sotheran, Henry, 136, Strand, London, W.C. Steinthal, H. M., Hollywood, Fallowfield Stevens, B. F., 17, Henrietta street, Covent garder

London, W.C.

Stewart, A. B., 5, Buchanan street, Glasgow Suthers, Charles, Riversvale, Ashton-under-

Lyne Swindells, George H., Oak villa, Heaton chapel,

near Stockport

"TANNER, Thomas H., M.D., 9, Henrietta -*• street, Cavendish square, London, W. Taylor, Thomas F., Highfield house, Pembertor

Wigan

Thompson, F., South parade, Wakefield Thompson, Joseph, Pin mill, Ardwick, Mancheste Thorpe, Rev. J. F., Herne hill vicarage, Faver

sham, Kent Timmins, Samuel, F.R.S.L., Elvetham lodge, Bir

mingham Turner, Robert S., I, Park square, Regent's park

London, N.W.

TTEITCH, George Selon, 13, Castle terrace, ^ Edinburgh Vernon, George V., Osborne terrace, Stretfon

road, Manchester Vienna, Imperial Library at (per Asher and Co

13, Bedford street, Covent garden, London

W.C.)

WARD, Henry, 158, Cambridge street, Pimlicc London, S.W. Washington, U.S., Library of Congress at (p€

Mr. E. G. Allen)

Watson, Robert S., 101, Pilgrim street, Newcastle on-Tyne

LIST OF MEMBERS FOR 1 8/0-7 1.

Weston, George, 2, Gray's inn square, London,

Weymouth, R. F., D.Lit., Mill Hill school,

London, N.W.

Wheatley, H. B., 53, Berners street, London, W. Whitehead, Jeffery, Barfield lodge, Bickley, Kent Wilbraham, Henry, Chancery office, Manchester

Woolcombe, Rev. W. W., M.A., Ardwick, Man chester

Wylie, Charles, 3, Earl's terrace, Kensington, London, W.

A/'OUNG, Alexander, 9, Lynedock place,

Glasgow Young, George, 9, Lynedock place, Glasgow

CHARLES SIMMS AND Co., PRINTERS, MANCHESTER.

BINDING SECT. SEP 2 3 1966

PR Wither, George

2392 Juvenilia

J7

1871

pt.2

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