the concern of men to conceive their present defects and vices worse than such preceded them And yet I am satisfied enough that there have been times as exquisitely bad as ours can be pretended to be The Art of deceit and lying I finde somewhat ancienter than the Trojan Horse and the Poets Sinon notwithstanding the pretended ingenuity and sanctimony of his Character but the mischief is that what they render'd most odious we frequently practise to be more customary and curious in it If I were asked whether I would have trusted a Porter or Groom belonging to our Ancestors before some magnifyed honour and Heroes of this Age I should take leave without asking many of their pardons to grant the affirmative I cannot admire a modish trick or deceit though delivered by the most splendid Tongue or Name Where the Heart has cause to be ashamed there is great reason to blush for our words However we are somewhat beholding to the practises of our time in that a Mediocrity or small degree of vertue is able to pass so well amongst us whereas a stricter Age would be more incompatible in teaching us to be good I could say as much of Wit and other pretended accomplishments but they have been touched elsewhere or not further necessary to be mentioned in this place Of Living and Dying I Will joyn these together because they are considered more than they ought asunder they are too familiarly acquainted to be set at distance and are but the common and evident revolutions of Nature which gets as much by Death as she can do by Life if one thing dye another lives out on 't is too much a common place of Philosophy to be insisted on I will therefore deal here with their effects or similitude though we cannot live after death the same I finde we dye much after the same rate we liv'd the use of life is but to instruct death and as we manage the first so we for the most part conclude with the other If our first acts are good there is some hope of a better at last if not the contrary and thus very generally we leave the world The cure of the Soul when we are to dye is not less difficult than the reparation of the Body To quit a Disease that has been long upon us is not easily done in a few moments A long Journey is troublesome to provide for in too short a warning the very haste does enforce us to leave something necessary behinde us Wherefore might I have my wish I would dye timely and by degrees and I am no less beholding to Nature if my end be so sitted that I be not precipitately thrust out of the world by death either as it respects Youth or Age I cannot but pity it wheresoever I observe it I would be some time a consuming and by parts before I do it altogether I hold it the most familiar way of Nature so to dispose of us and I would not have her purposely go out of her way for me wherefore I am much more desirous to go off with a Consumption than a Feaver the first as a convenient warning of my dissolution which it prepares in part beforehand whereas the other has too much of heat and Distemper Inever affected Drunkenness and I should be loath to have any thing like its humour in my Brain dying I much approve a handsome correspondency of Life and Death I would not be altogether the same dying and living yet not so as to attempt a Metamorphosis of my constitution at the time I am to be transformed by Nature If I have lived a Gentleman I should be loath to turn a Cynick or Capuchine near the minute of my departure if I cannot more mannerly take leave of my self in leaving of the world I shall not endeavour at that time to court Heaven morosely and in a form would not have becom'd me before Besides it shews too much forgetfulness apprehension or despair to put on a disguise or absolutely to personate another Character so near our End A good man has a hard part to Act Living and Dying but I would not expect such a strict Decorum in the last that like a Player's it must needs have an Exit in the greatest word or thing our Wit and Memory are generally too frail especially at that time for extraordinary heights if a mans last day be not much the worst he ought not to be so extraordinary ambitious as by its means to aspire to his best I cannot but observe too many Austerities Surges and windings in the Avenues of Christian practice one while posting over the Alps to Rome another time whip'd and spur'd to Geneva as if Faith must gad out of our own Countrey of necessity besides we are not seldom too remiss and again as rigorous in our devotions Wherefore I could wish our manners and piety were more smooth and facile which were both Ethical and Natural and not as if we had not so much to do for our selves as others for us If this excellency be admired in most of the Ancient Philosophers it does no less highly merit an esteem whose precepts were equally familiar and complaisant to good manners and belief and by consequence could guide themselves accordingly If there were here and there a Diogenes amongst them a Morose or Cynical Christian may look as odly amongst us I would neither choose the confinement of a Tub or a Temple such extraordinary and irregular examples of Living and Dying take me not austerity and sullenness may be as much in its kinde a form or mode as capping of the Hat or cringing the Knee it is one thing to retire wisely as I have instanc'd already and another to be so dogged as to bite our selves I cannot blame any thing so much in the Heroick vertue and constancy of the Romans as their voluntary Deaths and Suicides as if they were obliged to live no longer than they thought fit themselves or when their vertue was not successful or practicable with others or that of necessity they must dye when other men would not be good with them I had as live fee a Childe cry for what he has lost as hear of an Heroick that kills himself for losing that he cannot keep the first I am sure is more natural and this was the case of Cato Brutus and the like What a Tragedy is it to think of Cato's dying and tearing his Bowels in such a displeasure with the world or what was more odious to his severity the sight of Caesar and his good fortune or Vultum Tyrannidis as Cicero calls it We may imagine the same of Brutus when defeated by Augustus and even with disdain and contempt of vertue he had so Stoically serv'd O misera virtus ergo nil nisi verba eras Sed ego te tanquam rem exercebam sed tu Serviebas fortunae Which I judge to be some oversight in so great a man in expecting a certain
would enslave their awe But pass we hence to Scaevola's greater fame Where Tullie's richest words exalt his Name And Lelius did with him of Friendship treat With Caius Fannus soon after di'd the great And warlike Scipio from Affrick not more fam'd Than in this Treatise we have Lelius nam'd Which from me Atticus thy Love requir'd Nor is there subject more my Soul defir'd Than Friendship gives the Gold of Worth and Love Which does mankinde to noblest acts improve Of Cato's prudent age before I writ And thought its Patronage might thee befit He wisely liv'd but flourish'd most in years Which reason Mankind's fâ—mest staff most fears So much his Wisdom did my Soul delight That more his words than mine I strove to write The same for Lelius here my Pen would do Whose sage desert's convey'd with Cato's too Think now he speaks or dictates to my Theam As it admir'd th' immortal Cato's Name Lelius to Scipio-Affrican a Friend What praise or greatness farther can extend And thus to Fannus Lelius had exprest Fan. Who then reply'd Let our discourse not fist With too short mention of his mighty fame That rais'd the honour of our Roman Name Of his and Cato's worth who would not hear To which our Senate such respect did bear Thy graces too for ever Fame must own Not lâ—ss to us than to wise Cato known Gifts of thy minde too great for to compare But with his People Senate held so dear Thou wise from Nature Manners study too What more than these could Cato's merit show Thy Prudence does felicity so place As 't is the Gole for thy swift Vertues race And accidents of man dost so despise That thou instructest Fortune to be wise Of me and Scaevola thy great Friends have sought How Scipio's death did wound thy noble thought Because that in these Nones thou did'st not come To Brutus Gardens the delight of Rome Where no day pass'd but we from thee might hear Thy prudent Comments so divinely rare Appli'd to things most high import mankinde Bestowing thus the Treasures of thy minde Scaev. True I must witness what our Fannus spake When thy Friends griev'd lâ—st Lelius Soul might take Too strict a sorrow for great Scipio's death Or bid adieu to life on wings of breath To which I answer'd though I had observ'd Thou in thy value of him had'st not swerv'd From moderation best declares the wise Yet might thy Soul be pierc'd with humane eyes No grief could there be wanting does become The Friend of Scipio and concern of Rome But for what cause thou hast withdrawn of late To sorrow or thy sickness does relate Lel. Of me kinde Scaevola has justly spoke Nor has my Soul such vain impression took That I can mourn one hapless hour away Which duty to my Countrey bids me pay This Constancy expects and Rome of me Which for no sorrow must neglected be Great Scipio's Friendship I admired more Than my best thoughts can e're his loss deplore His vertue best instructeth me to know How Publick-duty private does allow This in our Zamas Battel was beheld When Romans did their lives to glory yield He wept not in that day one Roman's fall But joy'd their Valours forc'd their Funeral And should I mourn his death who di'd so great ' Twou'd look as if Fate could his Fame defeat But ere I more of his high vertue speak Thy Love does Fannus me too equal make To matchless Cato who chief of Mortals knew What humane Wisdom most became to do Nor think that mighty Sage Apollo chose Before his Prudence could himself propose His deeds and sayings might have added sense To what Greeks feign their Oracles dispense But to my Scipio I will now return And tell you how my Soul his death does mourn Should I depriv'd of him my loss deny 'T were worse than Stoïcal stupidity Touch'd I am deeply and may truly say My Soul's best joy deceas'd in his last day Nor can I hope that man shall ever be Grac'd as I was with such an Amity He dy'd so great that 't were my Friendship 's crime To wish he liv'd to dye a second time Which does present such comfort to my Soul That I the world 's fond way of grief controul No hurt to Scipio could by death accrew His famous loss to me most harm did do Though too much my misfortune to lament Were a concern too great in my content His vertue did arrive to such a height That more Immortal 't is than Stars or light What did he not accomplish man can praise Or who a wish above his deeds would raise How much did Rome his Noble youth admire Majestick great yet full of Martial fire His Unckle Father both great Consuls Slain In one dayes Field fierce Annibal did gain Whose Fate and Carthage were reserv'd to be The fame and glory of his victory Romes Consulship he never did demand His vertue not himself did for it stand Though twice that honour'd office he has grac'd Once before due as soon when due so plac'd Wars present future Triumphs he obtain'd Whil'st Carthage conquer'd what power next remain'd For Empire of the world with Rome durst cope So much his deeds oblig'd her warlike hope His manners to his actions honour were Subduing passions Nature's roughest War He Armies taught the worth of Civil Laws Which more Victorious made Rome's Martial cause 'T were endless all his graces to declare What pious Son his Mother held so dear Liberal to such alli'd to his high blood Just unto all to Friends most kindly good These deeds I doubt not are well known to you And how our City him lamented too That Crown'd his end and who 'd be valu'd more Than him great Rome held worthy to deplore Each year he liv'd more joy his past still brought Who aged di'd yet unimpair'd in thought His Life so great that Death it self took care For his Soul's flight his Bodies pain to spare The day before his last auspicious come When him our Conscript-Fathers waited home To us foreshew'd that Romes rewarding Gods Would soon demand him to their bless'd abodes Who can consider his desert and say Souls dye and live our Bodies Mortal way This made me judge how wise and pious thought Religious rites unto mans practice brought Concluding that Immortal Souls must be Disrob'd of Sense their mean felicity A Theorem our Ancients held Divine And as 't was worthy Scipio's so 't is mine He it confirm'd almost with his last breath To shew he better things did hope by death Wherefore his end my friendship can't lament Since Heaven in him receives a full content Nay could I think that Souls with Bodies dye And felt no more of humane misery 'T is palpable that as death brings no good So it our hurt cannot be understood In Scipio dead I am bless'd as I rejoyce My Soul 's high honour in his Loves great choice From him I learn'd what friendship did import And saw its meanness in the vulgar
praise Few Body-politicks her Ethicks raise The good have ever kept the longest Lent Or mock'd if they bid Luxury repent To Preach down sin is more a use or Trade Too oft with Pulpits Vice has Traffick made O that we could not say our Paths to Heaven Were by our Sacred guides trod more uneven Or that it was not made a pious Curse To yield such superstition to the Purse But men are men and ever will be so Both Coats and Cassocks can one inside show In spite of forms man by himself is lin'd And in all Churches have their motly kind If Spiritual goodness somewhat over-weigh Our Temp'ral Crimes who need for more to pray Much of strict honesty were taxe on Heaven Rome seem'd content two Cato's her were given Others her Members like the worlds prov'd just Unto their Int'rest if not to their trust Why should we then complain that many now Byass themselves unto the publick so Patriots enough are to be cheaply bought Or blush not if they ask before they are sought Men must do something to be more of note Crimes are oft paid when Honesty 's forgot All ages can't alike themselves refine Some most for Vertue some for Riches shine What 's ours I 'le not assert that were to bid My Muse in such course Lines as these be chid 'T is rude in Satyrs if to Courts they stray With such soft leisure they must fear to play Men of their Brain more wise effects may show Than to send Censure where they ought to bow Shall I believe that giddily men feel Their weights told so by Tongues mistake or reel Who seeks a place or who for trust is fit Is too much the Impertinence of Wit Or whether craft or merit makes some great Suits not our search if an Intrigue of State To be well govern'd or to think we are so Does best become us and our Prayers too In Subjects wise and modest sense is shown When they submit their cares unto the Throne For their sakes Princes are with Rule oppress'd T' Obey's the easiest part if not the best Which thought well ponder'd admiration brings That the World has not Crowns to spare for Kings May we believe all those who boldly tell They would amend what others do not well Or is' t because their Vertue is in pain Untill well humour'd or employ'd with gain Such Mountebanks enough Receipts proclaim And most men halt because they 'd have them lame But O the busie Politicks of these dayes State-Counsel's no less censur'd than our Plays Whence is' t such modern Prudence does arise Can Antichristian-Coffee make more wise Than their Fore-fathers soberly could think On States or Turkish Kings without their drink Good Beer and Beef with them could well agree Or for Twelve pence had better Sack than we Judicious men ought for such times to pray No less than Poets who have least to pay Of Change and Death THis Theam without my Muse my thoughts can reach My Soul and Nature do enough me teach To know my end 't is but Death's certain night To which Life's Taper must resign its light Man's breadth and height his Bodies shade can show Death's Metaphor attends on all we do Our rest and sleep nay Love 's espous'd charms Yield to the pale embrace of his cold arms His Sickle of the young a Harvest makes Or old before their strength Life's ague shakes 'T is Nature's kindness if our wrinckl'd brow Shews first the furrows of Death's secret Plough Teaching our Souls and Bodies to prepare For other being when disjoyned here VVhere man's long Love of Luxury and ease Has Nature's cure as 't is her worst Disease How ready men Supinely bad will hope Though undeserv'd of Heaven Life's longest scope As if that Death so busie is withall Would Vice forget or still reprieve its fall The greatest Monarchs spreading thoughts and might Pursu'd by Death and Time confess their flight Could now great Julius his past Conquests see And no place his to seat his Majesty Or Rome's Augustus to the world appear And walk a stately Lord of nothing here How would they mourn their Empires early fall Rais'd to aspire till Nature's Funeral How 〈◊〉 their greatness blush were to them read Theâ—â—â—â—nest thoughts and deeds their Empire dead Th◠〈◊〉 with Caesar now might weep Nâ— for more worlds but this no power can keep Tâ—â—ir meanest Slave as well himself might bring To Rome or Babylon and be their King Man's glories here are like a Stages Scene Beheld but till the next does Intervene If such great acts of men their periods have How soon for others does fame finde a grave So much she Articles against men here They ought not long to hope her future care Man covets future fame himself to cheat Death kills to him what merit Life can get Man's end has most complyance from his will VVhen Conscience keeps no black Records of ill 'T is not the dark like Children that men fear But lest their Impious deeds pursue them there This certain honour does by Death accrew If when it comes 't is bravely welcom'd too Death's must is only man's fit time to end 'T is vain to wish it when it can't attend Not our desire or fear should it procure VVho is on purpose Sick deserves no Cure Heaven grant my end may so my soul comply That least it fear it self when I must dye I could not forbear to annex unto this Contemplation the soft and Pathetick Verse of Ovid which since relating to Age that walks almost hand in hand with Death I finde no less proper for my self than others who have any long acquaintance with Life Jam mihi deterior canis aspergitur aetas Jamque meos vultus ruga senilis arat Jam vigor quasso languent in corpore vires Nec Juveni lusus que placuere Juvant Nec me si subito videas cognoscere posses Aetatis facta est tanta ruina meae Confiteor facere hoc annos c. I think I could add another complaint of his Age which could not but more tenderly concern the Soul of so excellent a Poet. Impetus ille sacer qui vatum pectora nutrit Qui prius in nobis esse solebat abest In Spheram Archimedes Translated out of Claudian WHen Jove this Chrystal Sphear did first behold He smil'd and to Olympus Court thus told Can Mortal powers arrive unto this height That we should take in Humane art Delight The Sacred mov'ment which our Heaven does show This Syracusian wonder tells below Each various order of our Starry Sphear His shining Globe Epitomizeth there The Sun 's bright eye there sees his dayes and years And what a various brow his Phebe wears How was this Artist pleas'd this Globe to make Spangl'd with Stars like ours their Progress take Salmoneas may his feigned Thunder boast Archimedes Skill Heaven's power resembleth most Of Time A Pindaricque Ode FIrst great of Nature thou must surely be Yet never from her Womb
Superintendency of vertue over the mistakes and accidents of the world when very often nothing shifts for its self worse or is more often oppress'd than a righteous Cause Amongst all I have read on I cannot finde a more vertuous Prince or a juster quarrel than what our late King defended and yet the success was no less deplorable As on the other side his magnanimous and equal compliance with the last and worst Exigents of his fate had been as much an example even to Cato and Brutus as it far surpasses all Moral or Christian Heroes But to return I do not finde any thing so commendable in the Ancients putting aside some austere examples as their constancy to themselves and vertues I mean in beginning betime and no less honourable and prudent in concluding their lives They did not set their youth forward in the world with airy and phantastick notions but made their vertue serious and early they did not deny it the most weighty imployments of Age when it flourished with suitable endowments as was seen in Scipio Affrican who at four and twenty years old was thought sufficient for the Prudence and Majesty of a Consul or General and no less successfully managed the War against their most subtile and formidable Enemy Annibal and it was not to be wondred at with them whose manners did accustome and ripen so soon their greatness in all kindes Amongst us as well as some Ages past it is far otherwise our brain has no room for flowers early if we kill some weeds at forty and be reform'd to some sobriety of understanding and manners then 't is passable enough with us nay if we come to be better acquainted with piety in a fit of sickness or take fast hold of our Creed dying 't is pretty well I instance this in respect of our prejudices on all accounts from the inequalities of life For the time of Death I finde one only most suitable and proper that is when we are most willing and best prepared Seneca the Tragedian has it thus Optanda mors est sine metu mortis mori If well invited it cannot be unwelcom whensoever it comes and what might be well ended at such a time perhaps is worse finished in another I would not depend on Age for this contentation of minde absolutely because it is very possible it may arrive much sooner it being usual enough with such as are old to be better satisfied with their years of living than any they can number on the account of vertue In short when we have sum'd all the Actions and Contents of life they do at most but either fill us or weary us which a very few hours can do as well as many nay if we consider diligently the greatest blessings we can perceive or enjoy they are upon the matter but so many repetitions as much ours in one day as in many we are not likely to observe a different order of Nature either in our selves or any thing else Heaven and Earth were the same in our fore-fathers time and are likely to continue so after us and it is no small meanness of Soul not to have enough of the same thing often which we cannot better understand or any wayes more perfectly enjoy When all is done it must be as I have touched already an evenness in living that can best suit and welcome our separation from the world He that has liv'd airily and generous goes off with no good Decorum if his death represent a Satyr or Tragedy against his past life Nor do I judge that Heaven is much pleas'd to behold us so unequally wherefore if such a man does not dye capping of Verses I can allow him some complaisance with Poetry and Wit and perhaps a thought of that kinde so it be useful and Divine may go more smoothly upward from his Genius than a line of the Prophets he has not been so well acquainted with He that thinks he can more agreeably end with Musick than Tears it were severe to deny him let his profession be what it will Though I am far of another judgement than Petronius Arbiter was yet I could pardon most of his Enormites except his being no Christian for his so gentile and delicate embracing of his end in conformity with his life and what he thought was to be esteem'd felicity Audiebatque referentes levia Carmina faciles versus And it is probable enough that such as we call Heathen had a due apprehension of the shame of too great an inequality or tergiversation in themselves a useful thought for Christians who above all should endeavour to live and dye as becomes their belief I cannot deplore death not only as it is so familiar and certain with mankinde but rather finde my self obliged to welcome it in respect of its subserviency to the uses of Providence nay I am assured that had we not our periods set by its means but might live till the world were so over-burthen'd that 's its numbers of men must necessarily be impaired we should do it but madly and Butcher-like of our selves and be glad to receive the natural conveniencies of death for our own sakes I finde and I do not remember where a pretty kinde of merry wish in some-body that he might never dye as arguing that it were nothing for Heaven to exempt from the grave the life of one man But suppose this person might have obtained his desire might not he have been weary of living or abhorr'd its perpetuity in himself which to a determin'd and final comprehension could not be satisfactory I confess I have sometimes admir'd how the efficacy of Nature comes so easily and in a manner contrary to its intention to be untimely frustrated of life in so many several individual things which perish young I see it in Trees and Beasts and what is most deplorable even in the most hopeful of humane youth when removed by Diseases Accidents and the like and yet there is no doubt but to the utmost power and providence of Nature she intends a due continuation But this is a contemplation above thought The most proper and useful consideration that we can have on this subject is not to be wanting to our selves in reflecting on the intemperancies vices and imprudencies of life because these are no less our concern than in our power to remedy As for death as it is of necessity and without us and claims nothing from us that we can call absolutely ours so we are obliged and ought to be prepared to bid it welcom There being no greater imbecility of minde than in being unwilling to leave Life which we neither can or ought to keep Of my Self I Have troubled my Reader with some generalities of my thoughts and I will now with his leave limit some to my self yet so that as much of the world I finde in me he shall take if he please together with me Every man represents a Microcosm or little world is old and
appear in Creatures rul'd by sense How much should reason for man's good dispense Lest it to which his brutal vassals bow Him Tyrant to himself and them does show Our humane being has the chiefest grace Where Friendship 's fair Societies we place Nor had man's vertue e'r such greatness shown If good men had enjoy'd their worth alone A solitary vertue few desire That would not uselessly themselves admire Our Ethicks then attain their Noble height VVhen to our selves and others they have right VVhich bless'd estate man chiefly does possess As his Societies his Love express In this we honest glory pleasure finde And what Crowns all tranquillity of minde VVho ever was so Impious to deny That Friendship gives to man felicity In other things we reason may dispute In this the most Ill-natur'd sense is mute That even all such who vertue most contemn The useful good of Friendship will esteem Such men whose manners were so strictly wise As they could honour pleasures wealth despise Yet no such Cynick amongst these we finde That did reject the Love of all mankinde The good and bad in this alone conspire Since Vice does make this vertue its desire There 's few ill-natur'd vicious that aflect Their manners should oblâ—ge their own neglect Or that their practis'd evil would allow Did none to it or them a kindness show Which tells men would in all estates receive Affection to their lives a life does give If any so Morose and Curst appear That they for man's converse do little care Or to some Solitude with hate retire Yet in that bitterness they 'd soon desire Some one to whom they might their ill express And more rejoyce the evil they confess The worst of men their like will kindness show Who has no Friend lives to himself a foe If man on Earth so happily were plac'd That he a fill of all delights embrac'd And only man's converse deny'd to him VVho lives so bad would this a pleasure deem Nay more could one above the Stars ascend And were so bles'd besides to comprehend The brightest glories Heaven and Nature know Yet even all this unpleasant bliss would show VVithout he could it to some breast impart Kinde to partake the wonders of his heart No blessing reason will receive to be Depriv'd of Man's converse and amity These for our help and comfort she requires And do no less oblige our just desires So many wayes by Nature man is taught How vertues pleasing good should win his thought That to themselves they most absurdly live Who from their Out-law'd Vice commands receive Nor can men Friendship so secure express As nothing shall impede its happiness Some mis-conceptions we may well pass by More to advance our own fidelity Where I admonish it shall be my care Not to offend his Love I bid beware My Ingenious Friend neat Terence has observ'd That flattery more Friends than truth preserv'd Truth does the vicious grieve because their shame Whil'st wise and good improve by taking blame Such more unto their Vice than Friends are kinde That of their Crimes would not be put in minde He is a worthless Friend whose Love is lost In having of his evil manners crost Who 's so offended to himself 's unjust And ruines Friendship to preserve his Lust Who has a wish of good unwilling sees How men Indulge their infelicities If such we flatter we smooth Vices way VVhich slides more fast if not oblig'd to stay Below a Friend or Free-mans-Soul he lives That neither counsels truth or truth receives Where truth distastes or is refus'd an ear There vertues safety we may justly fear Wise Cato this discern'd whose prudence chose Rather to merit the most bitter foes Than Friends that sooth the failings of man's life Or would not with his Vices be at strife From such we truth are never sure to know Whil'st malice or revenge do oft it show Who disapproves the Crimes his Soul do wrong Will joy to hear them from a candid Tongue There 's no concern should men more cautious make Than not for Friend a flatterer to take Truth 's Copy in no paint of sense is known Whose grace simplicity best shows alone How unbecoming Eloquence does show Which pop'lar men on flattery bestow How loath'd are such when we compare their ends With our upright and graver Roman Friends In Scenes of Fiction that which seems to bâ—â—ng The truth to light we hold the highest thing What then is worthy Friendship 's just esteem Which in all actions falshood does condemn An open heart affection does declare Which Truth discovers without search or care Men fruitless Love and are belov'd in vain Unless their Souls improvement thence do gain A Sycophant on him does most prevail Whose heart resembles his that does assail Whil'st such to Parasites betray their ear That sooth themselves or love their praise to hear Vertue her self so wisely understands That all vain-glory has her countermands The seeming good their vertue most do cheat And by dissembling Vice make it more great Such in their feign'd repute will take delight Whose manners unto goodness have least right With these small concord worthy men can hold Whose Tongues to blemish falshood must be bold If one of two obliging truth neglects The other sooths such lyes the first affects Can any judge their hearts are friendly joyn'd When both to truth and vertue are unkind An airy Monster puft up thought is made That vainly owns such worth it never had Or stupid guilt which flatter'd Souls does blinde Who joy what in themselves they cannot finde Though Reason's sight is seldom not so keen That by it open flatt'ry 's unseen The occult and subtle men should most beware Which Serpent-like glide wilely to the ear ' Gainst such our Prudence highly should oppose Who are but seeming Friends are worst of foes Some I have known that would discussions raise Appearing to decline their sweetn'd praise Until they greater blandishments invite And give up reason to their fond delight These from untutor'd sense receive a shock As all vain-glorious Wit it self does mock But pass we these imperfect deeds of men To finish this high Theam which Tully's Pen Gives to the world amongst that useful store Of matchless Eloquence he writ before By whom thus Lelius his discourse now ends Know Scavola and Fannus much lov'd Friends That vertuous Friendship does such worth declare As it's relapse or fall we cannot fear In whose stability our Souls finde rest Though with our passions or deep care opprest A splendent Love that does convey such beams As kindle in mens hearts their mutual flames The highest good that worthy minds can chuse Whil'st bad-mens manners only it abuse Who loves without ends loves his Friend indeed He 's meanly kinde that 's kinde for his own need Vertue does her effects enough dilate Where good 's the cause men need not good intreat The wise and vertuous cannot miss their ends Who prove men worthy e're they call 'em Friends Similitude our appetites rejoyce No less becomes the prudence of man's choice His like in age and manners to delight What suiteth youth in old appeareth light Life's frailty does this just support require That good-men's aid and Love we should desire The worth of Friendship lasts when life does end And so great Scipio dy'd and lives my Friend In Life and Death his vertue is the fame Conspicuous to posterity and fame No great and noble deeds can man atchieve But may a pattern seem which his did give Mens worthy acts by death have their increase Fame most unenvy'd lives at Life's decease Thus I my Age and Memory employ To make my dead and living Friends my Joy Let your Loves also do the same with mine And to your Friendships strictly vertue joyn Without which no good act deserves esteem As its obliging thought shall close this Theam FINIS
minde And told how kinde thy Bloud would be On Lesbia LEsbia laments her Sparrow dead More than her loss of Maidenhead The Bird's death seem'd her tears to try The other thing with Joy did die She gladly there receiv'd a Wound That Love might frolick more profound So when the Teeming Earth men plow The sullow under ground must go Each time her Chirping Bird did couch She ready was to do as much And with her eye had found a trick To winde me up above my nick As none Love's Treasure truly pay Unless they for its Coynage stay This Lustful Bird's short life doth show How swiftly Life and Love do flow Whose death I therefore less repine Since it provok'd her loss with mine Though both to lose must still agree Love's gain is Prodigality The Repetition WIth some weak means but strong desire We blew Loves Embers to a Fire Our Pantings did our Bellows joyn Her Breath did fan one Flame with mines The welcome Heat we yet increase But soon it caus'd Delight to cease I wish'd my Limbs consum'd might be Then now Love's Taper less to see Which by her Limbeck's heat had been Dissolv'd into a smaller thing She smil'd and said it pity was Love's Pomp in so much haste should pass So proud to rise yet pleas'd to fall His States-man onely does them all Of a Servant to an Ancient Lady A Lady that wore Autumn in her face And had no lines that her decays could grace A certain Gallant did so courtly woo As if his Spring of Love could hers renew His Friends at length the Motive did espie He knew her Rich and hop'd she 'd shortly die To Lesbia TOo much my Lesbia goes astray In Nature's wilde Lascivious way The guardian-eyes upon thee set Have seen thee play at thy La-bet And now methinks thou dost begin To long for leave of me to sin Though thy hot guilt I do assigne More to dame Nature's crime then thine Which has on thee bestow'd more heat Then unto vertue had been meet Or else by thee 't is well agreed That unto love Mankind is freed Or that 't is Charity to grant Love which in none should be a want So little of the guilt 's in thee Thou couldst even blush at honesty Which if in any thou dost find Thou call'st it cruel or unkind Thy eyes such languishment do bear That vertue do's her best looks fear Or else do's warm her cold designe By the brisk flame she sees in thine Perhaps thou wilt on me complain And say my love did thine Restrain Too strictly would be understood To make thee its peculiar good Then be thou free as light or air And as thou pleas't Embark thy fare But take a care thou dost not load Too much thy Vessel with a crow'd When every Top-sail it shall guide Will prove thou sink'st below thy pride Or such calm streams provide to steer As may thy dangers most beware Love's Triumph and his Sun-shine's shown Neer but not in his Torrid Zone Howe're to sweeten thy fair fate Thy Eclipse I wish the latest date Since all the good to thee allow'd Is old Retirement to a cloud To a Friend THou tell'st me Friend my Wit more gamesome was Than by the serious Schools is fit to pass Fearâ—ng perhaps its liberty in Toys Should bring Preceptors to Leap-frog with Boys When the smooth Breech does to the Rod so ply As first the Master tastes it with his eye But this no more 's our Crime than that before A many whip'd as well as kiss'd their Whore Lust was still Nature's gayetie and Jest On new and old she loves alike to feast The mirth of Epigrams does most invite When with its Salt we relish our delight Such as the longing Wife is pleas'd to read Or tempts Erection in her Husbands bed Verse that 's too sober savours of that sense That would commend our Nature's Impotence Who gelds my Wit I wish him the disgrace To be disabled in another place To Eunuchs May poles are no pleasant sight Nor blame we such if they our Verses spite Another WHoere reads mine with a Malicious Wit Or Carps or Rails because he knows not it My Muse against him no Revenge shall crave Enough I know him either Fool or Knave Or what is worse let it be still his fate To have less Wit than that provokes his hate Such Censures best their Malice will condemn When Envie is above despising them On Fortitude I Love not Valour that too pronely bends To raise a Trophee where life Rashly ends The Wise and Valiant such will most deride Who shew they have less Fortitude than Pride Give me the man that can arrive to Fame Yet so as for it none his peril blame The Invitation EDila to embrace inviteth me My Wishes haste my Love too fast for me The Flame it self consumes her Love awakes And in a smother almost me forsakes With shame I by her sprightlier heat to stay Until my Post of Love be on his way She yeelds contented and does me implore To curb my Steed if she 's too swift before By which smooth artifice our pleasures joyn Hers in the Van retreat to meet with mine The Deceit WHil'st Chast Levina had so flatter'd fame That her strict Husband her restraint did blame Delights she soon like other Ladies took Whose Husbands keep no Errata in their Book Or else at length the man perceiv'd it vain Longer to keep his longing Wife in pain Bathing in a River HEr Breasts like Swans upon the Billows move Like Leda there she Sung and charm'd her love A youthful Gallant swimming kiss'd these Streams Sustain'd her Person and reflect her beams Then dives into this waters pleasing deep And thence upon Love's sacred Isle do's peep Next rounds her Legs betwixt them next do's glide Wishing he might another thing so guide The Stream she swimming takes and found a way More Mermaid-like with his desires to play VVhat 's done besides is hard to guess or tell If cold Love's heat and moisture could repell Or Love perhaps did here the act forbid Pleas'd by Antiperistasis to be hid The Ruine TIme the shadow of man's dayes VVith neither Youth or Age it stayes Cuts off the weak decayes the strong And most of all things Love do's wrong A Tyrant that do's Beauty rase VVhich lives to dye in VVomans face Could'st thou not with our Loves so play That Beauties life might last decay The fair ones then would less repent Those dying Minutes thou hast lent VVhil'st thou alas dost bid them see Their Spring and Autumns fate in thee Vext to remember they were Fair Above what Art can now repair Or else their Dress or Woman blame For all those mischief 's by thee came Who after Beauties Flowers are spent Perhaps to Love would yet consent Whil'st thou unkindly bid'st them know What unto past delight they owe Which since they cannot now restore Their only hope is to Implore That they in t'other world renew Such
tender breed Or Gods ador'd did cruel victims need Man of his Crimes had made himself afraid When first to Heaven the Lamb and Kid were paid His board the Altar was where these were due Whil'st but himself no Houshold-God he knew Lust has no bounds nor avarice limit knows Taught still to want as they too much propose Excess the Darling is of frail mankinde Though but the painted Peacock of the minde Give me content my reason calls me rich Whil'st passion to no purpose feeds an Itch. Men for their thoughts may large Commissions chuse But still their quantum is how much they use Enough deserves the name of Nature's Feast To which the wise invites himself her Guest What 's humbly good let me think highly great Who Lives suffic'd enjoys a large estate Let Fortune and her Squint-ey'd merit pass Without a grudge when she exalts an Ass Or that his Pomp the world strikes blinde with praise To cheat the eyes that can such Idols raise In Woods and Fields my Muse can bid me dream And whisper verse where glides the Silver stream I 'le call it Noblest Idleness to be Busied with Natures state express'd by thee Her Courts are ever open unto all And of her States-men none lament their fall Her Science best Ambition does Invite Shewing us steps that lead unto her height O Contemplation so Divinely great As are the acts of Nature's high estate Whose Courts the Countreys solitude can raise Above what Parasites to Thrones can praise Men best retir'd her good with theirs may see The world 's not understood felicity Who Rural blessings wisely make their own Live so at least will pawn no Land in Town The World I Write not now for Bayes nor would I bring These Verse like drones to buzze without a sting A Satyrs Lawrel must have Pricks and Briars Some to scratch Gowns some Robes or Silken tires The world 's Broad-back although it do not ply May feel some briny stripes in Verse do lye Satyrs are by Pernassus roughly taught To speak their useful Truths with plainest thought From Woods and Mountains they convey their Song Unto mens soft abodes and Cities throng A bold and piercing Eye on what 's amiss And most does frown where Luxury does kiss Which vice can most be tax'd in this our time When every one is heightn'd by its crime A Civil War Plague Fire have had their course Yet none of these abate our Vices force Can men no surfeit take in being bad But must in War and Peace be equal mad It 's not enough to think on Forty one And all those miseries were then begun Or what preceded that Leap-year of grace Which sanctified the Scoth-man's Oat-meal face How sacred was the Northern Bag-pipe then Resembl'd in our snoching Pulpit-men Till Independants wore the longest Sword And in their Cassock'd-buff did Preach the Word 'T were Sin almost to mention what they did Would it might in Anathema's be hid If fame no further curse that Zeal and Pride By which our best of Kings and Martyrs dy'd His Subjects ruine he could have forgiven Had their revenge not gone with his to Heaven Could Regicides at Tyburn not relent And can we hope their living Sects repent What but such Canting Zeal could e're devise To make its Impudence a Sacrifice Cromwell may smile to meet such Imps in hell Did suit his mischiefs and his death excell Or did they hope succeeding times might be Pos'd to define bold guilt from Piety Already which is which but few discern And teach posterity new Creeds to learn So roundly yet the Presbyterians pray As if they 'd once more Cov'nant the Scotch way In past time Prick-ear'd Presbyters did show Quaint Owen would not so at Oxford go Thus Priests of Priapus did Court the fair When more than Cod-piece long they wore their hair Most Sects have pay'd enough their Zeal and Lust Whil'st Piety's reward was Heaven to trust Might but our manners if not zeal yet mend And not like that from worse to worse extend The Moral light of reason such put out Whom first Phanatick Meteors led about A giddy Luxury will have its grace As well as that which keeps a stately pace Thus Conventiclers by Intrigue can pray Whil'st others raise amours another way All will have modes that best themselves befit Vice were too dully form'd that us'd no wit Some must keep state whil'st others solely trot With a Link-Boy or Page to hide their plot A thousand wayes to false embrace men go As many arts for theirs can Women shew When brisk to exercise that vicious feat Which with stoln pleasure Lust does best repeat Such men whose manners most refuse to trust To Luxury and Vice continue just What mighty shame is' t to him more does prize His vain delights than to be good or wise I envy none their kiss or soft embrace Or wench that useth varnish to her face No more than such whose greasie mode's to eat A Larded dish instead of well-fed meat Or that a gilting-she keeps up her price With Whoring fops as Gamesters live by Dice Others there are some tell of Wit refin'd Will Court a Girl ingeniously assign'd No loathing do such assignations make Which by a pleasing raillery they partake How airy notion'd may we judge all those When such Mercurial leavings fume their Nose Or is it but the quaintness of our age To raise thence wit for our declining stage Where unwash'd Bawdry with applause may pass Like Actress in her Poets Looking-glass Nor can the witless Writer want a Muse Whil'st most of either Sex their turns will chuse But what is it to me who have best writ Or Tom Thumb's stile or Jack Straw's pass for Wit A Satyr's business is not to explore What Wit men have or how much they want more Its reprehensions best on manners light Lines must be Whips if bad men they affright For outward parts and Wit a many go VVhil'st few good deeds or worth of theirs men know Vertue with Pageant-shows is darkn'd most Though for its sake Vice sometimes is at cost To praise good men the bad will soon comply And with smooth fronts thus give themselves the lye VVho has a friend go ask him that does know Of whether Apes and Monkeys have none too The world 's too airy now for solid trust Friendship must have its slips as well as Lust Fancy Astraea come from Heaven again Or new Star seen without a Tail or Main Some such kinde cause may well precede the year VVhen men may safely trust and drink small bear Our times God-wot are so transformed now That Flints and Pebbles must for Diamonds go Be sure take care how deep you view the heart Lest you a Monster finde will make you start Study the Moral wise Vlysses taught You 'l prove the Centaure in man's Breast he sought Half way a man in Vertue would excel Now most all over beast are known too well Long has been Vertue starving with her