Sâ—leâ—cus sends to his Son Whose obsequies with wondrous pomp was done Next di'd the brave and noble Proâ—emp Renown'd for bounty valour clemency Rich Egypt leâ—t and what else he had won To Philadelpâ—us his more worthy Son Of the old Heroeâ— now but two remain Seleucus and â—yâ—â—machus these twain Must needs go try their fortune and their might And so Lysiâ—machus was slain in fight 'T was no small joy unto Seliucus breast That now he had out lived all the rest Possession of Europe thinks to take And so himself the only Monarch make Whilâ— with these hopes in Greece he did remain He was by Ptolemy Ceraunus slain The second Son of the first Ptolemy Who for Rebellion unto him did fly Seleucus was a Father and a friend Yet by him had this most unworthy end Thus with these Kingly Captains have we done A little now how the Succession run Antigonus Seleucus and Cassander With Ptolemy reign'd after Alexander Cassander's Sons soon after 's death were â—lain So three Successors only did remain Antigonus his Kingdomes lost and life Unto Seleucus Author of that â—triâ—e His Son Demetrius all Cassander's gains And his posterity the same retains Demetrius Son was call'd Antigonus And his again was namâ—d Demetrius I must let pass those many Battels fought Betwixt those Kings and noble Pyrrhus stout And his Son Alexander of Epire Whereby immortal honour they acquire Demetrius had Philip to his Son Part of whose Kingdomes Titus Quintius won Philip had Perseus wâ—o was made a Thrale Tâ— Emilâ—us the Roman General Him with his Sons in Triumph lead did he Such riches too as Rome did never see This of Antâ—gonus his Seed's the â—ate VVhose Empire was subdu'd to th' Roman State Longer Seleucus held the royalty In Syria by his Posterity Antiochus Soter his Son was nam'd To whom the old Berosus so much fam'd His Book of Assurs Monarchs dedicates Tells of their names their wars their riches fates But this is perished with many more VVhich oft we wish was extant as before Antiochus Theos was Soter's Son VVho a long war with Egypts King begun The Affinityes and Wars Daniel sets forth And calls them there the Kings of South North This Thâ—os murther'd was by his lewd wife Seleucus reign'd when he had lost his life A third Seleucus next sits on the Seat And then Antiochus firnam'd the great VVhose large Dominions after was made small By Scipio the Roman General Fourth Seleucus Antiochus succeeds And next Epiphanes whose wicked deeds Horrid Massacres Murthers cruelties Amongst the Jews we read in Machabees Antiochus Eupater was the next By Rebels and Impostors dayly vext So many Princes still were murthered The Royal Blood was nigh extinguished Then Tygranes the great Armâ—niar King To take the Government was called in Lucullus Him the Roman General Vanquish'd in fight and took those Kingdomes all Of Greece and Syria thus the rule did end In Egypt next a little time wee 'l spend First Ptolemy being dead his famous Son Call'd Philadelphus did possess the Throne At Alexandria a Library did build And with seven hundred thousand Volumes fill'd The seventy two Interpreters did seek They might translate the Bible into Greek His Son was Evergetes the last Prince That valour shew'd virtue or excellence Philopater was Evergetes Son After Epiphanes sate on the Throne Philometor Evergetes again And after him did false Lathurus reign Then Alexander in Lathurâ—s stead Next Auletes who cut off Pompeys head To all these names we Ptolemy must add For since the first they still that Title had Fair Cleopatra next last of that race Whom Julius Caesar set in Royal place She with her Paramour Mark Anthony Held for a time the Egyptian Monarchy Till great Augustus had with him a fight At Actium where his Navy â—s put to flight He seeing his hoâ—our lost his Kingdome end Did by his Sword his life soon after send His brave Vâ—rago Aspes sets to her Arms To take her life and quit her from all harms For 't was not death nor danger she did dread But some disgrace in triumph to be led Here ends at last the Grecian Monarchy Which by the Romans had its destiny Thus King Kingdomes have their times dates Their standings overturnings bounds and fates Now up now down now chief then broght under The heavn's thus rule to fil the world with wonder The Assyrian Monarchy long time did stand But yet the Persian got the upper hand The Grecian them did utterly subdue And millions were subjected unto few The Grecian longer then the Persian stood Then came the Roman like a raging flood And with the torrent of his rapid course Their Crowns their Titles riches bears by force The first was likened to a head of gold Next Arms and breast of silver to behold The third Belly and Thighs of brass in sight And last was Iron which breaketh all with might The stone out of the mountain then did rise â—nd smote those feet those legs those arms thighs Then gold silver brass Iron and all the store Became like Chaff upon the threshing â—loor The first a Lion second was a Bear The third a Leopard which four wings did rear The last more strong and dreadful then the rest Whose Iron teeth devoured every Beast And when he had no appetite to eat The residue he stamped under feet Yet shall this Lion Bear this Leopard Ram All trembling stand before the powerful Lamb. With these three Monarchyes now have I done But how the fourth their Kingdomes from them won And how from small beginnings it did grow To fill the world with terrour and with woe My tyred brain leavs to some better pen This task befits not women like to men For what is past I blush excuse to make But humbly stand some grave reproof to take Pardon to crave for errours is but vain The Subject was too high beyond my strain To frame Apology for some offence Converts our boldness into impudence This my presumption some now to requite Ne sutor ultra crepidam may write The End of the Grecian Monarchy After some dayes of rest my restless heart To finish what 's begun new thoughts impart And maugre all resolves my fancy wrought This fourth to th' other three now might be brought Shortness of time and inability Will force me to a confus'd brevity Yet in this Chaos one shall easily spy The vast Limbs of a mighty Monarchy What e're is found amiss take in good part As faults proceeding from my head not heart The Romane Monarchy being the fourth and last beginning Anno Mundi 3213. STout Romulus Romes founder and first King Whom vestal Rhea to the world did bring His Father was not Mars as some devis'd But Aemulus in Armour all disguiz'd Thus he deceiv'd his Neece she might not know The double injury he then did do Where sheperds once had Coats sheep their folds Where Swains rustick Peasants kept their holds A City fair
his mates She gave him poyson formerly 't is thought Which damage both to mind and body brought She now with Polisperchon doth combine To make the King by force his Seat resigne And her young grand-child in his State inthrone That under him she might rule all alone For aid she goes t' Epire among her friends The better to accomplish these her ends Euriâ—ice hearing what she intends In haste unto her friend Cassander sends To leave his siege at Tegea and with speed To save the King and her in this their need Then by intreaties promises and Coyne Some forces did procure with her to joyn Olimpias soon enters Macedon The Queen to meet her bravely marches on But when her Souldiers saw their ancient Queen Calling to mind what sometime she had been The wife and Mother of their famous Kings Nor darts nor arrows now none shoots or flings The King and Queen seeing their destiny To save their lives t' Amphipolis do fly But the old Queen pursues them with her hate And needs will have their lives as well as State The King by extream torments had his end And to the Queen these presents she did send A Halter cup of poyson and a Sword Bids chuse her death such kinâ—ness she 'l afford The Queen with many a curse and bitter check At length yields to the Halter hâ—r fair neck Praying that fatal day might quickly haste On which Olimpias of the like might taste This done the cruel Quâ—en rests not content ' Gainst all that lov'd Cassander she was bent His Brethren Kinsfolk and his chiefest friends That fell within her reach came to their ends Dig'd up his brother dead ' gainst natures right And threw his bones about to shew her spight The Courtiers wondring at her furious mind Wisht in Epire she had been still confin'd In Peloponesus then Cassander lay Where hearing of this news he speeds away With rage and with revenge he 's hurried on To find this cruel Queen in Macedon But being stopt at streight Thermopoly Sea passage gets and lands in Thâ—â—aly His Army he divides sends post away Polisperchon to hold a while in play And with the rest Olimpias pursues For all her cruelty to give her dues She with the chief o' th' Court to Pydna flyes Well fortifi'd and on the Sea it lyes There by Cassander she 's blockt up so long Untill the Famine grows exceeding strong Her Couzen of Epire did what he might To raise the Siege and put her Poes to flight Cassander is resolved there to remain So succours and endeavours proves but vain Fain would this wretched Queen capitulate Her foe would give no Ear such is his hate The Souldiers pinched with this scarcity By stealth unto Cassander layly fly Olimpias means to holâ— out to the last Expecting nothing but of death to tast But his occasions calling him away Gives promise for her life so wins the day No sooner had he got her in his hand But made in judgement her accusers stand And pleaâ— the blood of friends and kindreds spilt Desiring justice might be done for guilt And so was he acquitted of his word For justice sake she being put to th' Sword This was the end of this most cruel Queen Whose fury scarcely parallel'd hath been The daughter sister Mother Wife to Kings But Royalty no good conditions brings To Husbands death 't is thought she gave consent The murtherer she did so much lament With Garlands crown'd his head bemoan'd his fates His Sword unto Apollo consecrates Her Outrages too tedious to relate How for no cause but her inveterate hate Her Husbands wives and Children after 's death Some slew some fry'd of others stopt the breath Now in her Age she 's forc'd to tast that Cup Which she had others often made to sup Now many Towns in Macedon supprest And Pâ—llas fain to yield among the rest The Funerals Cassander celebrates Of Aâ—â—daeus and his Queen with State Among their Ancestors by him they 're laid And shews of lamentation for them made Old Thebes he then rebuilt so much of fame And Cassandria rais'd after his name But leave him building others in their Urne Let 's for a while now into Asia turn True Eumenes endeavours by all Skill To keep Antigonus from Shushan still Having command o' th' Treasure he can hire Such as no threats nor favour could acquire In divers Battels he had good success Antigonus came off still honourless When Victor oft he 'd been and so might still Peucestes did betray him by a wile T' Antigonus who took his Life unjust Because he never would forgoe his trust Thus lost he all for his fidelity Striving t' uphold his Masters Family But to a period as that did haste So Eumâ—nes the prop of death must tast All Persia now Antigonus doth gain And Master of the Treasure sole remain Then with Seleuâ—us streight at odds doth fall And he for aid to Ptolomy doth call The Princes all begin now to envy Antigonus his growing up so high Fearing his force and what might hap e're long Enters into a Combination strong Sâ—â—â—câ—â— â—tolemy Cassander joynes Lysimachus to make a fourth combines Antâ—â—onus desirous of the Greekâ— To make Cassander odious to them seeks Sends forth his declarations near and far And clears what cause he had to make this war â—â—ssâ—nders outrages at large doth tell Shews his ambitious practises as well The mother of their King to death he 'd put His wife and son in prison close had shut And aiming now to make himself a king And that some title he might seem to bring Thessalonica he had newly wed Daughter to Philip their renowned head Had built and call'd a City by his name Which none e're did but those of royal fame And in despight of their two famous Kings Hatefull Olinthians to Greece rebrings Rebellious Thebes he had reedified Which their late King in dust had damnified Requires them therefore to take up their arms And to requite this traitor for these harms Then Ptolemy would gain the Greeks likewise And he declares the others injuryes First how he held the Empire in his hands Seleueuâ— driven from Goverment and lands The valiant Eumenes unjustly slain And Lord of royal Shusâ—an did remain Therefore requests their help to take him down Before he wear the universal Crown These princes at the sea soon had a sight Where great Antigonus was put to slight His son at Gaza likewise lost the field So Syria to Ptolemy did yield And Seleucus recovers Babylon Still gaining Countryes eastward he goes on Demetrius with Ptolemy did fight And coming unawares put him to flight But bravely sends the prisoners back again With all the spoyle and booty he had tane Courteous as noble Ptolemy or more VVho at Gaza did the like to him before Antigonus did much rejoyce his son VVith victory his lost repute had won At last these princes tired out with warrs Sought for a peace and laid aside their jarrs The terms
after death might make him falsly seem Such as in life no man could justly deem Well known and lov'd where ere he liv'd by most Both in his native and in foreign coast These to the world his merits could make known So needs no Testimonial from his own But now or never I must pay my Sum While others tell his worth I 'le not be dumb One of thy Founders him New-England know Who staid thy feeble sides when thou wast low Who spent his state his strength years with care That After-comers in them might have share True Patriot of this little Commonweal Who is' t can tax thee ought but for thy zeal Truths friend thou wert to errors still a foe Which caus'd Apostates to maligne so Thy love to true Religion e're shall shine My Fathers God be God of me and mine Upon the earth he did not build his nest But as a Pilgrim what he had possest High thoughts he gave no harbour in his heart Nor honours pufft him up when he had part Those titles loath'd which some too much do love For truly his ambition lay above His humble mind so lov'd humility He left it to his race for Legacy And oft and oft with speeches mild and wise Gave his in charge that Jewel rich to prize No ostentation seen in aâ—l his wayes As in the mean ones of our foolish dayes Which all they have and more still set to view Their greatness may be judg'd by what they shew His thoughts were more sublime his actions wise Such vanityes he justly did despise Nor wonder 't was low things ne'r much did move For he a Mansion had prepar'd above For which he sigh'd and pray'd long'd full sore He might be cloath'd upon for evermore Oft spake of death and with a smiling chear He did exult his end was drawing near Now fully ripe as shock of wheat that 's grown Death as a Sickle hath him timely mown And in celestial Barn â—ath hous'd him high Where storms nor showrs nor ought can damnifie His Generation serv'd his labours cease And to his Fathers gathered is in peace Ah happy Soul ' mongst Saints and Angels blest VVho after all his toyle is now at rest His hoary head in righteousness was found As joy in heaven on earth let praise resound Forgotten never be his memory His blessing rest on his posterity His pious Footsteps followed by his race At last will bring us to that happy place Where we with joy each others face shall see And parted more by death shall never be His Epitaph Within this Tomb a Patriot lyes That was both pious just and wise To Truth a shield to right a Wall To Sectaryes a whip and Maul A Magazine of History A Prizer of good Company In manners pleasant and severe The Good him lov'd the bad did fear And when his time with years was spent If some rejoyc'd more did lament An EPITAPH On my dear and ever honoured Mother Mrs. Dorothy Dudley Who deceased Decemb. 27. 1643. and of her age 61 Here lyes A Worthy Matron of unspotted life A loving Mother and obedient wife A friendly Neighbor pitiful to poor Whom oft she fed and clothed with her store To Servants wisely aweful but yet kind And as they did so they reward did find A true Instructor of her Family The which she ordered with dexterity The publick meetings ever did frequent And in her Closet constant hours she spent Religious in all her words and wayes Preparing still for death till end of dayes Of all her Children Children liv'd to see Then dying left a blessed memory CONTEMPLATIONS SOme time now past in the Autumnal Tide When Phoebus wanted but one hour to bed The trees all richly clad yet void of pride Where gilded o're by his rich golden head Their leaves fruits seem'd painted but was true Of green of red of yellow mixed hew Rapt were my sences at this delectable view 2 I wist not what to wish yet sure thought I If so much excellence abide below How excellent is he that dwells on high Whose power and beauty by his works we know Sure he is goodness wisdome glory light That hath this under world so richly dight More Heaven then Earth was here no winter no night 3 Then on a stately Oak I cast mine Eye Whose ruffling top the Clouds seem'd to aspire How long since thou wast in thine Infancy Thy strength and stature more thy years admire Hath hundred winters past since thou wast bornâ— Or thousand since thou brakest thy shell of horn If so all these as nought Eternity doth scorn 4 Then higher on the glistering Sun I gaz'd Whose beams was shaded by the leavie Tree The more I look'd the more I grew amaz'd And softly said what glory 's like to thee Soul of this world this Universes Eye No wonder some made thee a Deity Had I not better known alas the same had I. 5 Thou as a Bridegroom from thy Chamber râ—â—hes And as a strong man joyes to run a race The morn doth usher thee with smiles blushes The Earth reflects her glances in thy face Birds insects Animals with Vegative Thy heart from death and dulness doth revive And in the darksome womb of fruitful nature dive 6 Thy swift Annual and diurnal Course Thy daily streight and yearly oblique path Thy pleasing fervor and thy scorching force All mortals here the feeling knowledg hath Thy presence makes it day thy absence night Quaternal Seasons caused by thy might Hail Creature full of sweetness beauty delight 7 Art thou so full of glory that no Eye Hath strength thy â—hining Rayes once to behold And is thy splendid Throne erect so high As to approach it can no earthly mould How full of glory then must thy Creator be Who gave this bright light luster unto thee Admir'd ador'd for ever be that Majesty 8 Silent alone where none or saw or heard In pathless paths I lead my wandring feet My humble Eyes to lofty Skyes I rear'd To sing some Song my mazed Muse thought meet My great Creator I would magnifie That nature had thus decked liberally But Ah and Ah again my imbecility 9 I heard the merry grashopper then sing The black clad Cricket bear a second part They kept one tune and plaid on the same string Seeming to glory in their little Art Shall Creatures abject thus their voices raise And in their kind resound their makers praise Whilst I as mute can warble forth no higher layes 10 When present times look back to Ages past And men in being fancy those are dead It makes things gone perpetually to last And calls back moneths and years that long since fled It makes a man more aged in conceit Then was Methusilah or 's grand-sire great While of their persons their acts his mind doth treat 11 Sometimes in Eden fair he seems to be Sees glorious Adam there made Lord of all Fancyes the Apple dangle on the Tree That turn'd his
shall sade Nor death shall see but are immortal made This pearl of price this tree of lâ—â—e this spring Who is possessed of shall reign a King Nor change of state nor cares shall ever see But wear his crown unto eternity This satiates the Soul this stayes the mind And all the rest but Vanity we find FINIS The Author to her Book THou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain Who after birth did'st by my side remain Till snatcht from thence by friends less wise then true Who thee abroad expos'd to publick view Maâ—e thee in raggs halting to th' press to trudg Where errors were not lessened all may judg At thy return my blushing was not small My rambling brat in print should mother call I cast thee by as one unfit for light Thy Visage was so irksome in my sight Yet being mine own at length affection would Thy blemishes amend if so I could I wash'd thy face but more defects I saw And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw I stretcht thy joynts to make thee even feet Yet still thou run'st more hobling then is meet In better dress to trim thee was my mind But nought save home-spun Cloth i' th' house I find In this array ' mongst Vulgars mayst thou roam In Criticks hands beware thou dost not come And take thy way where yet thou art not known If for thy Father askt say thou hadst none And for thy Mother she alas is poor Which caus'd her thus to send thee out of door Several other Poems made by the Author upon Diverse Occasions were found among her Papers after her Death which she never â—ednt should come to publick view amongst which these following at the desire of sâ—me friends that knew her well are 〈◊〉 insâ—rted Upon a Fit of Sickness Anno. 1632. Aâ—tatâ—s suae 10. TWice ten years old not sully told Since nature gave me breath My race is run my thread is spun lo here is fatal Death All men must dye and so must I this cannot be revok'd For Adams sake this word God spake when he so high provok'd Yet live I shall this life 's but small in place of highest bliss Where I shall have all I can crave no life is like to this For what 's this life but care and strife since first we came from womb Our strength doth waste our time doth hast and then we go to th' Tomb. O Bubble blast how long can'st last that alwayes art a breaking No sooner blown buâ— dead and gone ev'n as a word that 's speaking O whil'st I live this grace me give I doing good may be Then deaths arrest I shall count best because it 's thy decree Bestow much cost there 's nothing lost to make Salvation sure O great 's the gain though got with pain comes by profession pure The race is ran the field is won the victory 's mine I see For ever know thou envious foe the soyle belongs to thee Vpon some distemper of body In anguish of my heart repleat with woes And wasting pains which best my body knows In tossing slumbers on my wakeful bed Bedrencht with tears that slow'd from mournful head Till nature had exhausted all her store Then eyes lay dry disabled to weep more And looking up unto his Throne on high Who sendeth help to those in misery He chac'd away those clouds and let me see My Anchor cast i' th' vale with safety He eas'd my Soul of woe my flesh of pain And brought me to the shore from troubled Main All things within this fading world hath end Adversity doth still our joyes aâ—â—end No tyes so strong no friends so dear and sweet But with deaths parting blow is sure to meet The sentence past is most irrovocable A common thing yet oh inevitable How soon my Dear death may my steps attend How soon't may be thy Lâ—t to â—ose thy friend We both are ignorant yet love biâ—s me These farewell lines to recommend to thee That when that knot â—s untyâ—e that made us one I may seem thine who in effect am none And ill see not half my daye that 's due What â—â—ture would God grant to yours and you The many faults that well you know I have Let be inâ—err'd in my oblivions grave Many worth or virtue were in me Let that live freshly in thy memory And when thou feel'st no grief as I no harms Yet love thy dead who long lay in thine arms And when thy loss shall be repaid with gaâ—ns Look to my little babes my dear remains And if thou love thy self or lovedst me These O protect from step Dames injury And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse With some sad sighs honour my absent Herse And kiss this paper for thy loves deaâ— sake Who with salt tears this last Farewel did take A. B. To my Dear and loving Husband IF ever two were one then surely we If ever man were lov'd by wife then thee If ever wife was happy in a man Compare with me ye women if you can I prize thy love more then whole Mines of gold Or all the riches that the East doth hold My love is such that Rivers cannot quench Nor ought but love from thee give recompence Thy love is such I can no way repay The heavens reward thee manifold I pray Then while we live in love lets so persever That when we live no more we may live ever A Letter to her Husband absent upon Publick employment My head my heart mine Eyes my life nay more My joy my Magazine of earthly store If two be one as surely thou and I How stayest thou there whilst I at Ipswich lye So many steps head from the heart to sever If but a neck soon should we be together I like the earth this season mourn in black My Sun is gone so far in 's Zodiack Whom whilst I'joy'd nor storms nor frosts I felt His warmth such frigid colds did cause to melt My chilled limbs now nummed lye forlorâ— Return return sweet Sol from Capricorn In this dead time alas what can I more Then view those fruits which through thy heat I bore Which sweet contentment yield me for a space True living Pictures of their Fathers face O strange effect now thou art Southward gone I weary grow the tedious dâ—y so long But when thou Northward to me shalt return I wish my Sun may never set but burn Within the Cancer of my glowing breast The welcome house of him my dearest guest Where ever ever stay and go not thence Till natures sad decree shall call thee hence Flesh of thy flesh bone of thy bone I here thou there yet both but one A. B. Another Phoebus make haste the day 's too long be gone The silent night 's the fittest time for moan But stay this once unto my suit give ear And tell my griefs in either Hemisphere And if the whirling of thy wheels don't drown'd The woful accents of my doleful sound If in thy swift
SEVERAL POEMS Compiled with great variety of Wit and Learning full of Delight Wherein especially is contained a compleat Discourse and Description of The Four ELEMENTS CONSTITUTIONS AGES of Man SEASONS of the Yeaâ— Together with an exact Epitome of the three first Monarchyes Viz. The ASSYRIAN PERSIAN GRECIAN And beginning of the Romane Common-wealth to the end of their last King With diverse other pleasant serious Poems By a Gentlewoman in New-England The second Edition Corrected by the Author and enlarged by an Addition of several other Poems found amongst her Papers after her Death Boston Printed by John Foster 1678. Kind Reader HAd I opportunity but to borrow some of the Authors wit 't is possible I might so trim this curious work with such quaint expressions as that the Preface might bespeak thy further Perusal but I fear 't will be a shame for a Man that can speak so little To be seen in the title page of this Womans Book lest by comparing the one with the other the Reader â—hould pass his sentence that it is the gift of womâ—n not only to speak most but to speak best I shall leave therefore to commend that which with any ingenious Reader will too much commend the Author unless men turn more peevish then women to envy the excellency of the inferiour Sex I doubt not but the Reader will quickly find more then I can say and the worst effect of his reading will be unbelief which will make him question whether it be a womans work and aske Is is possible If any do take this as an answer from him that dares avow it It is the Work of a Woman honoured and esteemed where she lives for her gracious demeanour her eminent parts her pious conversation her courteous disposition her exact diligence in her place and discreet managing of her Family occasions and more then so these Poems are the fruit but of some few houres curtailed from her sleep and other refreshments I dare adde little lest I keep thee too long if thou wilt not believe the worth of these things in their kind when a man sayes it yet believe it from a woman when thou seest it This only I shall annex I fear the displeasure of no person in the publishing of these Poems but the Author without whose knowledg and contrary to her expectation I have presumed to bring to publick view what she resolved in such a manner should never see the Sun but I found that diverse had gotten some scattered Papers affected them well were likely to have sent forth broken pieces to the Authors prejudice which I thought to prevent as well as to pleasure those that earnestly desired the view of the whole MErcury shew'd Apollo Bartas Book Minerva this and wisht him well to look And tell uprightly which did which excell He view'd and view'd and vowâ—d he could not tel They bid him Hemisphear his mouldy nose With 's crackt leering glasses for it would pose The best brains he had in 's old pudding-pan Sex weigh'd which best the Woman or the Man He peer'd and por'd glar'd said for wore I 'me even as wise now as I was before They both 'gan laugh and said it was no mar'l The Auth'ress was a right Du Bartas Girle Good sooth quoth the old Don tell ye me so I muse whither at length these Girls will go It half revives my chil frost-bitten blood To see a Woman once do ought that 's good And chode by Chaucers Boots and Homers Furrs Let Men look to 't least Women wear the Spurrs N. Ward To my dear Sister the Author of these Poems THough most that know me dare I think affirm I ne're was born to do a Poet harm Yet when I read your pleasant witty strains It wrought so strongly on my addle brains That though my verse be not so finely spun And so like yours cannot so neatly run Yet am I willing with upright intent To shew my love without a comâ—lement There needs no painting to thaâ—â—â—mely face That in its native beauty hath such grace What I poor silly I prefix therefore Can but do this make yours admir'd the more And if but only this I do attain Content that my disgrace may be your gain If women I with women may compare Your works are solid others weak as Air Some Books of Women I have heard of late Perused some so witless intricate So void of sense and truth as if to erre Were only wisht acting above their sphear And all to get what silly Souls they lack Esteem to be the wisest of the pack Though for your sake to some this be permitted To print yet wish I many better witted Their vanity make this to be enquired If Women are with wit and sence inspired Yet when your Works shall come to publick view 'T will be affirm'd 't will be confirm'd by you And I when seriously I had revolved What you had done I presently resolved Theirs was the Persons not the Sexes failing And therefore did be-speak a modest vailing You have acutely in Eliza's ditty Acquitted Women else I might with pitty Have wisht them all to womens Works to look And never more to meddle with their book What you have done the Sun shall witness bear That for a woman Work 't is very rare And if the Nine vouchsafe the Tenth a place I think they rightly may yield you that grace But least I should exceed and too much love Should too too much endear'd affection move To super-adde in praises I shall cease Least while I please my self I should displease The longing Reader who may chance complain And so requite my love with deep disdain That I your silly Servant stand i' th' Porch Lighting your Sun-light with my blinking Torch Hindring his minds content his sweet repose Which your delightful Poems do disclose When once the Caskets op'ned yet to you Let this be added then I 'le bid adieu If you shall think it will be to your shame To be in print then I must bear the blame If 't be a fault 't is mine 't is shame that might Deny so fair an Infant of its right To look abroad I know your modest mind How you will blush complain 't is too unkind To force a womans birth provoke her pain Expose her labours to the Worlds disdain I know you I say you do defie that mint That stampt you thus to be a fool in print 'T is true it doth not now so neatly stand As if 't were pollisht with your own sweet hand 'T is not so richly deckt so trimly tir'd Yet it is such as justly is admir'd If it be folly 't is of both or neither Both you and I we 'l both be foâ—â—s together And he that sayes 't is foolish 〈◊〉 my word May sway by my consent shall make the third I dare out-face the worlds disdain for both If you alone profess you are not wroth Yet if you are a Womans wrath is little When
town Then by assault to gain one not our own And if Marcellus bold be call'd Romes sword Wise Fabius is her buckler all accord And if thy hast my slowness should not temper 'T were but a mad irregular distemper Enough of that by our sisters heretofore I le come to that which wounds me somewhat more Of learning policy thou wouldst bereave me But 's not thine ignorance shall thus deceive me What greater Clark or Politician lives Then he whose brain a touch my humour gives What is too hot my coldness doth abate What 's diffluent I do consolidate If I be partial judg'd or thought to erre The melancholy shake shall it aver Whose cold dry head more subtilty doth yield Then all the huge beasts of the fertile field· Again thou dost confine me to the spleen As of that only part I were the Queen Let me as well make thy precincts the Gall So prison thee within that bladder small Reduce the man to 's principles then see If I have not more part then all you three What is within without of theirs or thine Yet time and age shall soon declare it mine When death doth seize the man your stock is lost When you poor bankrupts prove then have I most You 'l say here none shall e're disturb my right You high born from that lump then take your flight Then who 's mans friend when life all forsakes His Mother mine him to her womb retakes Thus he is ours his portion is the grave But while he lives I 'le shew what part I have And first the firm dry bones I justly claim The strong foundation of the stately frame Likewise the usefull Slpeen though not the best Yet is a bowel call'd well as the rest The Liver Stomack owe their thanks of right The first it drains of th'last quicks appetite Laughter thô thou say malice flows from hence These two in one cannot have residence But thou most grosly dost mistake to think The Spleen for all you three was made a sink Of all the rest thou 'st nothing there to do But if thou hast that malice is from you Again you often touch my swarthy hue That black is black and I am black t is true But yet more comely far I dare avow Thâ—n is thy torrid nose or brazen brow But that which shews how high your spight is bent Is charging me to be thy excrement Thy loathâ—ome imputation I defie So plain a â—â—nder needeth no reply When by thy heat thou 'st bak'd thy self to crust And so art call'd black Choler or adust Thou witless think'st that I am thy excretion So mean thou art in Art as in discretion But by your leave I 'le let your greatness see What Officer thou art to us all three The Kitchin Drudge the cleanser of the sinks That casts out all that man e're eats or drinks If any doubt the truth whence this should come Shew them thy passage to th' Duodenum Thy biting quality still irritates Till filth and thee nature exonerates If there thou' rt stopt to th' Liver thou turn'st in And thence with jaundies saffrons all the skin No further time I le spend in confutation I trust I 've clear'd your slanderous imputation I now speak unto all no more to one Pray hear admire and learn instruction My virtues yours surpass without compare The first my constancy that jewel rare Choler 's too rash this golden gift to hold And Sanguine is more fickle manifold Here there her restless thoughts do ever fly Constant in nothing but unconstancy And what Flegme is we know like to her mother Unstable is the one and so the other With me is noble patience also found Impatient Choler loveth not the sound What sanguine is she doth not heed nor care Now up now down transported like the Air Flegme's patient because her nature's tame But I by virtue do acquire the same My Temperance Chastity is eminent But these with you are seldome resident Now could I stain my ruddy Sisters face With deeper red to shew you her dsgrace But rather I with silence vaiâ—e her shame Then cause her blush while I relate the same Nor are ye free from this inormity Although she bear the greatest obloquie My prudence judgement I might now reveal But wisdom 't is my wisdome to conceal Unto diseases not inclin'd as you Nor cold nor hot Ague nor Plurisie Nor Cough nor Quinsey nor the burning Feaver I rarely feel to act his fierce endeavour My sickness in conceit chiefly doth lye What I imagine that 's my malady Chymeraes strange are in my phantasy And things that never were nor shall I see I love not talk Reason lies not in length Nor multitude of words argues our strength I 've done pray sister Flegme proceed in Course We shall expect much sound but little force Flegme Patient I am patient I 'd need to be To bear with the injurious taunts of three Though wit I want and anger I have less Enough oâ— both my wrongs now to express I 've not forgot how bitter Choler spake Nor how her gaul on me she causeless brake Nor wonder 't was for hatred there 's not small Where opposition is Diametrical To what is Truth I freely will assent Although my Name do suffer detriment What 's slanâ—erous repell doubtful dispute And when I 've nothing left to say be mute Valour I want no Souldier am 't is true I 'le leave that manly Property to you I love no thundring guns nor bloody wars My polish'd Skin was not ordain'd for Skarrs But though the pitched field I've ever fled At home the Conquerours have conquered Nay I could tell you what 's more true then meet That Kings have laid their Scepters at my feet When Sister sanguine paints my Ivory face The Monarchs bend and sue but for my grace My lilly white when joyned with her red Princes hath slav'd and Captains captived Country with Country Greece with Asia fights Sixty nine Princes all stout Hero Knights Under Troys walls ten years will wear away Rather then loose one beauteous Helena But 't were as vain to prove this truth of mine As at noon day to tell the Sun doth shine Next difference that 'twixt us twain doth lye Who doth possess the brain or thou or I Shame forc'd the say the matter that was mine But the Spirits by which it acts are thine Thou speakest Truth and I can say no less Thy heat doth much I candidly confess Yet without ostentation I may say I do as much for thee another way And though I grant thou art my helper here No debtor I because it 's paid else where With all your flourishes now Sisters three Who is' t that dare or can compare with me My excellencies are so great so many I am confounded fore I speak of any The brain 's the noblest member all allow Its form and Scituation will avow It s Ventricles Membranes and wondrous net Galen Hippocrates drive to a
My high-born soul so straightly was confin'd That its own worth it did not know nor mind This little house of flesh did spacious count Through ignorance all troubles did surmount Yet this advantage had mine ignorance Freedom from envy and from arrogance How to be rich or great I did not cark A Baron or a Duke ne'r made my mark Nor studious was Kings â—avours how to buy With costly presence or base flattery No office coveted wherein I might Make strong my self and turn aside weak right No malice bare to this or that great Peer Nor unto buzzing whisperers gave ear I gave no hand nor vote for death or life I 'd nought to do 'twixt King and peoples strife No Statist I nor Martilist in 'th field Where ere I went mine innocence was shield My quarrels not for Diadems did rise But for an apple plum or some such prize My strokes did ' cause no blood no wounds or skars My little wrath did end soon as my Warrs My Duel was no challeng nor did seek My foe should weltring in his bowels reek I had no suits at law neighbours to vex Nor evidence for lands did me perplex I fear'd no storms nor all the wind that blowes I had no ships at sea nor fraights to loose I fear'd no drought nor wet I had no crop Nor yet on future things did set my hope This was mine innocence but ah the seeds Lay raked up of all the cursed weeds Which sprouted forth in mine ensuing age As he can tel that next comes on the stage But yet let me relate before I go The sins and dangers I am subject to Stained from birth with Adams sinfull fact Thence I began to sin as soon as act A perverse will a love to what 's forbid A serpents sting in pleasing face lay hid A lying tongue as soon as it could speak And fifth Commandment do daily break Oft stubborn peevish sullen pout and cry Then nought can please and yet I know not why As many are my sins so dangers too For sin brings sorrow sickness death and woe And though I miss the tossings of the mind Yet griefs in my frail flesh I still do find VVhat gripes of wind mine infancy did pain VVhat tortures I in breeding teeth sustain VVhat crudityes my stomack cold ' hath bred VVhence vomits flux and worms have issued VVhat breaches knocks and falls I daily have And some perhaps I carry to my grave Sometimes in fire sometimes in water fall Strangly presev'd yet mind it not at all At home abroad my dangers manifold That wonder t is my glass till now doth hold I 've done unto my elders I give way For t is but little that a child can say Youth My goodly cloathing and my beauteous skin Declare some greater riches are within But what is best I 'le first present to view And then the worst in a more ugly hue For thus to doe we on this stage assemble Then let not him that hath most craft dissemble My education and my learning such As might my self and others profit much VVith nurture trained up in virtues schools Of science arts and tongues I know the rules The manners of the court I also know And so likewise what they in 'th Country doe The brave attempts of valiant knights I prize That dare scale walls and sorts rear'd to the skies The sâ—orting Horse the trumpet Drum I like The glitt'ring sword the Pistol and the Pike I cannot lye intrench'd before a town Noâ— wait till good success our hopes doth crown I scorn the heavy Corslet musket-proof I fly to catch the bullet that 's aloof Though thus in field at home to all most kind So affable that I can suit each mind I can insinuate into the breast And by my mirth can raise the heart deprest Sweet musick raps my brave harmonious soul My high thoughts elevate beyond the pole My wit my bounty and my courtesie Make all to place their future hopes on me This is my best but Youth is known Alas To be as wild as is the snuffing Ass As vain as froth or vanity can be That who would see vain man may look on me My gifts abusâ—d my education lost My wofull Parents longing hopes are crost My wit evaporates in merriment My valour in some beastly quarrell 's spent My lust doth hurry me to all that 's ill I know no law nor reason but my will Sometimes lay wait to take a wealthy purse Or stab the man in 's own defence that 's worse Sometimes I cheat unkind a female heir Of all at once who not so wise as fair Trusteth my loving looks and glozing tongue Untill her friends treasure and honour 's gone Sometimes I sit carousing others health Untill mine own be gone my wit and wealthâ— From pipe to pot from pot to words and blows For he that loveth wine wanteth no woes Whole nights with Ruffins Roarers Fidlers spend To all obscenity mine ears I lend All Counsell hate which tends to make me wise And dearest friends count for mine enemies If any care I take t is to be fine For sure my suit more then my virtues shine If time from leud Companions I can spare 'T is spent to curle and pounce my new bought hair Some new Adonis I do strive to be Sardanapalus nâ—w survives in me Cards Dice and Oathes concomitant I love To playes to masques to â—averns still I move And in a word if what I am you 'd hear Seek out a Brittish bruitish Cavaleer Such wretch such Monster am I but yet more I have no heart at all this to deplore Remembring not the dreadfull day of doom Nor yet that heavy reckoning soon to come Though dangers do attend me every hour And gastly Death oft threats me with his power Sometimes by wounds in idle Combates taken Sometimes with Agues all my body shaken Sometimes by fevers all my moisture drinking My heart lies frying mine eyes are sinking Sometimes the Quinsey painfull Pleurisie With sad affrighrs of death doth menace me Sometimes the two fold Pox me sore be marrs With outward marks inward loathsome scarrs Sometimes the Phrenzy strangly mads my brain That oft for it in Bedlam I remain Too many my diseases to recite That wonder t is I yet behold the light That yet my bed in darkness is not made And I in black oblivions Den now laid Of aches full my bones of woe my heart Clapt in that prison never thence to start Thus I have said and what I 've been you see Childhood and Youth are vain ye vanity Middle Age. Childhood and Youth forgot I've sometimes seen And now am grown more staid who have bin green What they have done the same was done by me As was their praise or shame so mine must be Now age is more more good you may expect But more mine age the more is my defect When my wild oates were sown ripe and mown I then receiv'd an harvest of mine
own My reason then bad judge how little hope My empty seed should yield a better crop Then with both hands I graspt the world together Thus out of one extream into another But yet laid hold on virtue seemingly Who climbs without hold climbs dangerously Be my condition mean I then take pains My Family to keep but not for gains A Father I for children must provide But if none then for kindred near ally'd If rich I 'm urgâ—d then to gather more To bear a port i' th' world and feed the poor If noble then mine honour â—o maintain If not riches nobility can gain For time for place likewise for each Relation I wanted not my ready allegation Yet all my powers for self ends are not spent For hundreds bless me for my bounty lent Whose backs I 've cloth'd and bellyes I have feâ— With mine own fleecâ— with my houshold bread Yea justice have I done was I in place To chear the good and wicked to deface The proud I crush't th' oppressed I set free The lyars curb'd but nourisht verity Was I a Pastor I my Flock did feed And gently lead the Lambs as they had need A Captain I with Skill I train'd my Band And shew'd them how in faâ—e of Foes to stand A Souldier I with speed I did obey As readily as could my leader say Was I a labourer I wrought all day As cheerfully as e're I took my pay Thus hath mine Age in all sometimes done well Sometimes again mine Age been worse then Hell In meanness greatness riches poverty Did toyle did broyle oppress'd did steal and lye Was I as poor as poverty could be Then baseness was Companion unto me Such scum as hedges and high-ways do yield As neither sow nor reaâ— nor plant nor build If to Agriculture I was orâ—ain'd Great labours sorrows Crosses I sustain'd The early Cock did summon but in vain My wakeful thoughts up to my painful gain My weary Beast rest from his toyle can find But if I rest the more distrest my mind If happiness my sordidness hath found 'T was in the Crop of my manured ground My thriving Cattle and my new-milch-Cow My fleeced Sheep and fruitful farrowing Sow To greater things I never did aspire My dunghil thoughts or hopes could reach no higher If to be rich or great it was my fate How was I broyl'd with envy and with hate Greater then was the great'st was my desire And thirst for honour set my heart on fire And by Ambition's sails I was so carâ—ied That over Flats and sands and Rocks I hurried Opprest and sunk and stav'd all in my way That did oppose me to my longed Bay My thirst was higher then nobility I oft loâ—g'd sore to tast on Royalty Then Kings must be depos'd or put to flight I might possess that Throne which was their right There set I rid my self straight out of hand Of such Competitors as might in time withstand Then thought my state firm founded sure to last But in a trice 't is ruin'd by a blast Though cemented with more then noble bloud The bottom nought and so no longer stood Sometimes vain glory is the only baite Whereby my empty Soul is lur'd and caught Be I of wit of learning and of parts I judge I should have room in all mens hearts And envy gnaws if any do surmount I hate not to be held in high'st account If Bias like I 'm stript unto my skin I glory in my wealth I have within Thus good and bad and what I am you see Now in a word what my diseases be The vexing stone in bladder and in reins The Strangury torments me with sore pains The windy Cholick oft my bowels rend To break the darksome prison where it 's pen'd The Cramp and Gout doth sadly torture me And the restraining lame Sciatica The Astma Megrim Palsy Lethargie The quartan Ague dropsy Lunacy Subject to all distempers that 's the truth Though some more incident to Age or Youth And to conclude I may not tedious be Man at his best estate is vanity Old Age. What you have been ev'n such have I before· And all you say say I and somewhat more Babes innocence youths wildness I have seen And in perplexed middle Age have been Sickness dangers and anxieties have past And on this stage am come to act my last I have been young and â—rong and wise as you But now Bis pueri seneâ— is too true In every Age I 've found much vanity An end of all perfection now I see It 's not my valour honour nor my gold My ruin'd house now falling can uphold It 's not my learning Rhetorick wit so large Hath now the power death's warfare to discharge It 's not my goodly state nor bed of downe That can refresh or ease if Conscience frown Nor from Alliance can I now have hope But what I have done well that is my prop He that in youth is godly wise and sage Provides a staff then to support his Age. Mutations great some joyful and some sad In this short pilgrimage I oft have had Sometimes the Heavens with plenty smil'd on me Sometime again rain'd all Adversity Sometimes in honour sometimes in disgrace Sometime an Abâ—â—ct then again in place Such private changes oft mine eyes have seen In various times of state I 've also been I 've seen a Kingdome flourish like a tree When it was rul'd by that Celestial she And like a Cedar others so surmount That but for shrubs they did themselves account Then saw I France and Holland sav'd Cales won And Philip and Albertus half undone I saw all peace at home terror to foes But ah I saw at last those eyes to close And then methought the day at noon grew dark When it had lost that radiant Sun-like Spark In midst of griefs I saw our hopes revive For 't was our hopes then kept our hearts alive We chang'd our queen for king under whose rayes We joy'd in many blest and prosperous dayes I 've seen a Prince the glory of our land In prime of youth seiz'd by heavens angry hand Which fil'd our hearts with fears with tears our eyes Wailing his fate our own destinies I 've seen from Rome an execrable thing A Plot to blow up Nobles and their King But saw their horrid fact soon disappointed And Land Nobles sav'd with their anointed I 've Princes seen to live on others lands A royal one by gifts from strangers hands Admired for their magnanimity Who lost a Prince-dome and a Monarchy I 've seen designs for Ree and Rochel crost And poor Palatinate for ever lost I've seen unworthy men advanced high And better ones suffer extremity But neither favour riches title State Could length their dayes or once reverse their fate I 've seen one stab'd and some to loose their heads And others fly struck both with gilt and dread I 've seen and so have you for t is but late The desolation of a goodly
the father as the son This sound advice at heart pleas'd Alexander Who was so much ingag'd to this Commander As he would ne're confess nor yet reward Nor could his Captains bear so great regard Wherefore at once all these to satisfie It was decreed Parmenio should dye Polidamus who seem'd Parmenio's friend To do this deed they into Media send He walking in his garden to and fro Fearing no harm because he none did doe Most wickedly was slain without least crime The most renowned captain of his time This is Parmenio who so much had done For Philip dead and his surviving son Who from a petty King of Macedon By him was set upon the Persian throne This that Parmenio who still overcame Yet gave his Master the immortal fame Who for his prudence valour care and trust Had this reward most cruel and unjust The next who in untimely death had part Was one of more esteem but less desert Clitus belov'd next to Ephestian And in his cups his chief companion When both were drunk Clitus was wont to jeer Alexander to rage to kill and swear Nothing more pleasing to mad Clitus tongue Then 's Masters Godhead to defie and wrong Nothing toucht Alexander to the quick Like this against his Diety to kick Both at a Feast when they had tippled well Upon this dangerous Theam fond Clitus fell From jest to earnest and at last so bold That of Parmenio's death him plainly told Which Alexanders wrath incens'd so high Nought but his life for this could satisfie From one stood by he snatcht a partizan And in a rage him through the body ran Next day he tore his face for wâ—at he 'd done And would have slain himself for Clitus gone This pot Companion he did more bemoan Then all the wrongs to brave Parmenio done The nâ—x of worth that suffered after these Was learned virtuous wise Calisthenes VVho lov'd his Master more then did the rest As did appear in flattering him the least In his esteem a God he could not be Nor would adore him for a Diety For this alone and for no other cause Against his Sovereign or against his Laws He on the Rack his Limbs in pieces rent Thus was he tortur'd till his life was spent Of this unkingly act doth Seneca This censure pass and not unwisely say Of Alexander this th' eternal crime VVhich shall not be obliterate by time VVhich virtues fame can ne're redeem by far Nor all felicity of his in war VVhen e're 't is said he thousand thousands slew Yea and Calisthenes to death he drew The mighty Persian King he overcame Yea and he kill'd Calistâ—hâ—nâ—s of fame All Countryes Kingdomes Provinces he wan From Hellispont to th' farthest Ocean All this he did who knows ' not to be true But yet withal Catisthenes he slew From Macedon his Empire did extend Unto the utmost bounds o' th' orient All this he did yea and much more 't is true But yet withal Catisthenes he slew Now Alexander goes to Media Finds there the want of wise Parmenio Here his chief favourite Ephestian dies He celebrates his mournful obsequies Hangs his Physitian the Reason why He suffered his friend Ephestian dye This act me-thinks his Godhead should a shame To punish where himself deserved blame Or of necessity he must imply The other was the greatest Diety The Mules and Horses are for sorrow shorne The battlements from off the walls are torne Of stately Ecbatane who now must shew A rueful face in this so general woe Twelve thousand Talents also did intend Upon a sumptuous monument to spend What e're he did or thought not so content His messenger to Jupiter he sent That by his leave his friend Ephestion Among the Demy Gods they might inthrone From Media to Babylon he went To meet him there t' Antipater he 'd sent That he might act also upon the Stage And in a Tragedy there end his age The Queen Olimpias bears him deadly hate Not suffering her to meddle with the State And by her Letters did her Son incite This great indignity he should requite His doing so no whit displeas'd the King Though to his Mother he disprov'd the thing But now Antipater had liv'd so long He might well dye though he had done no wrong His service great is suddenly forgot Or if remembred yet regarded not The King doth intimate 't was his intent His Honours anâ— his riches to augment Of larger Provinces the rule to give And for his Counsel near the King to live So to be caught Antipater â—s too wise Parmenio's death 's too fresh before his eyes He was too subtil for his crafty soe Nor by his baits could be insnared so But his excuse with humble thanks he sends His Age and journy long he then pretends And pardon craves for his unwilling stay He shews his grief he 's forc'd to disobey Before his Answer came to Babylon The thread of Alexanders life was spun Poyson had put an end to 's dayes 't was thought By Philip and Cassander to him brought Sons to Antipater and bearers of his Cup Lest of such like their Father chance to sup By others thought and that more generaâ—ly That through excessive drinking he did dye The thirty third of 's Age do all agree This Conquerour did yield to destiny When this sad news came to Darius Mother She laid it more to heart then any other Nor meat nor drink nor comfort would she take But pinâ—d in grief till life did her forsake All friends she shuns yea banished the light Till death inwrapt her in perpetual night This Monarchs same must last whilst world doth stand And Conquests be talkt of whilest there is land His Princely qualities had he retain'd Unparalled for ever had remain'd But with the world his virtues overcame And so with black beclouded all his fame Wise Aristotle Tutor to his youth Had so instructed him in moral Truth The principles of what he then had learn'd Might to the last when sober be discern'd Learning and learned men he much regarded And curious Artist evermore rewarded The Illiads of Homer he still kept And under 's pillow laid them when he slept Achilles happiness he did envy ' Cause Homer kept his acts to memory Profusely bountifull without desert For such as pleas'd him had both wealth and heart Cruel by nature and by custome too As oft his acts throughout his reign doth shew Ambitious so that nought could satisfie Vain thirsting after immortality Still fearing that his name might hap to dye And â—ame not last unto eternity This Conqueror did oâ—t lament t is said There were no more worlds to be conquered This folly great Augustus did deride For had he had but wisdome to his pride He would have found enough there to be done To govern that he had already won His thoughts are perisht he aspires no more Nor can he kill or save as heretofore A God alive him all must Idolize Now like a mortal helpless man
rescued not with life that life of thine But yet impartial Fates this boon did give Though Stancy di'd his valiant name should live And live it doth in spight of death through fame Thus being overcome he overcame Where is that envious tongue but can afford Of this our noble Scipio some good word Great Bartas this unto thy praise adds more In sad sweet verse thou didst his death deplore And Phaenix Spencer doth unto his life His death present in sable to his wife Stella the fair whose streams from Conduits fell For the sad loss of her dear Astrophel Fain would I shew how he fames paths did tread But now into such Lab'rinths I am lead VVith endless turnes the way I'find not out How to persist my Muse is more in doubt VVhich makes me now with Silvester confess But Sidney's Muse can sing his worthiness The Muses aid I crav'd they had no will To give to their Detractor any quill VVith high disdain they said they gave no more Since Sidney had exhausted all their store They took from me the scribling pen I had I to be eas'd of such a task was glad Then to reveng this wrong themselves engage And drave me from Paâ—nassus in a rage Then wonder not if I no better sped Since I the Muses thus have injured I pensive for my fault sate down and then Errata through their leave threw me my pen My Poem to conclude two lines they deign Which writ she bad return't to them again So Sidneys fame I leave to Englands Rolls His bones do lie interr'd in stately Pauls His Epitaph Here lies in fame under this stone Philip and Alexander both in one Heir to the Muses the Son of Mars in Truth Learning Valour Wisdome all in virtuous youth His praise is much this shall suffice my pen That Sidney dy'd 'mong most renown'd of men In honour of Du Bartas 1641. Among the happy wits this age hath shown Great dear sweet Bartas thou art matchless known My ravish'd Eyes and heart with faltering tongue In humble wise have vow'd their service long But knowing th'task so great strength but small Gave o're the work before begun withal My dazled sight of late review'd thy lines Where Art and more then Art in nature shines Reflection from their beamâ—ng Altitude Did thaw my frozen hearts ingratitude Which Rayes darting upon some richer ground Had caused flours and fruits soon to abound But barren I my Dasey here do bring A homely flour in this my latter Spring If Summer or my Autumn age do yield Flours fruits in Garden Orchard or in Field They shall be consecrated in my Verse And prostrate offered at great Bartas Herse My muse unto a Child I may compare Who sees the riches of some famous Fair He feeds his Eyes but understanding lacks To comprehend the worth of all those knacks The glittering plate and lewels he admires The Hats and Fans the Plumes and Ladies tires And thousand times his mazed mind doth wish Some part at least of that brave wealth was his But seeing empty wishes nought obtain At night turns to his Mothers cot again And tells her tales his full heart over-glad Of all the glorious sights his Eyes have had But finds too soon his want of Eloquence The silly pratler speaks no word of sense But seeing utterance fail his great desires Sits down in silence deeply he admires Thus weak brain'd I reading thy lofty stile Thy profound learning viewing other while Thy Art in natural Philosophy Thy Saint like mind in grave Divinity Thy piercing skill in high Astronomy And curious insight in Anatomy Thy Physick musick and state policy Valour in warr in peace good husbandry Sure lib'ral Nature did with Art not small In all the arts make thee most liberal A thousand thousand times my seâ—sless sences Moveless stand charm'd by thy sweet influences More sensless then the stones to Amphioâ—s Lute Mine eyes are sightless and my tongue is mute My full astonish'd heart doth pant to break Through grief it wants a faculty to speak Volleyes of praises could I eccho then Had I an Angels voice or Bartas pen But wishes can't accomplish my desire Pardon if I adore when I admire O France thou did'st in him more glory gain Then in thy Martel Pipin Charlemain Then in St. Lewes or thy last Henry Great Who tam'd his foes in warrs in bloud and sweat Thy fame is spread as far I dare be bold In all the Zones the temp'rate hot and cold Their Trophies were but heaps of wounded slain Thine the quintessence of an heroick brain The oaken Garland ought to deck their brows Immortal Bayes to thee all men allows VVho in thy tryumphs never won by wrongs Lead'st millions chaind by eyes by ears by tongues Oft have I wondred at the hand of heaven In giving one what would have served seven If e're this golden gift was showr'd on any Thy double portion would have served many Unto each man his riches is assign'd Of Name of State of Body and of Mind Thou hadst thy part of all but of the last O pregnant brain O comprehension vast Thy haughty Stile and rapted wit sublime All ages wondring at shall never climb Thy sacred works are not for imitation But Monuments to future Admiration Thus Bartas fame shall last while starrs do stand And whilst there 's Air or Fire or Sea or Land But least mine ignorance should do thee wrong To celebrate thy merits in my Song I 'le leave thy praise to those shall do thee right Good will not skill did cause me bring my Mite His Epitaph Here lyes the Pearle of France Parnassus Glory The World rejoyc'd at 's birth at 's death was sorry Art and Nature joyn'd by heavens high decree Now shew'd what once they ought Humanity And Natures Law had it been revocable To rescue him from death Art had been able But Nature vanquish'd Art so Bartas dy'd But Fame out-living both he is reviv'd In Honour of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth OF HAPPY MEMORY The Proeme ALthough great Queen thou now in silence lye Yet thy loud Herald Fame doth to the sky Thy wondrous worth proclaim in every Clime And so hath vow'd while there is world or time So great 's thy glory and thine excellence The sound thereof rapts every humane sence That men account it no impiety To say thou wert a fleshly Diety Thousands bring offerings though out of date Thy world of honours to accumulate ' Mongst hundred Hecatombs of roaring verse Mine bleating stands before thy royal Herse Thou never didst nor canst thou now disdain T' accept the tribute of a loyal brain Thy clemency did yerst esteem as much The acclamations of the poor as rich Which makes me deem my rudeness is no wrong Though I resound thy praises ' mongst the throng The Poem No Phoenix pen nor Spencers poetry No Speeds nor Cambdens learned History Elizahs works warrs praise can e're compact The World 's the
Sovereign to a naked thral Who like a miscreant's driven from that place To get his bread with pain and sweat of face A penalty impos'd on his backsliding Race 12 Here sits our Grandame in retired place And in her lap her bloody Cain new born The weeping Imp oft looks her in the face Bewails his unknown hap and fate forlorn His Mother sighs to think of Paradise And how she lost her bliss to be more wise Believing him that was and is Father of lyes 13 Here Cain and Abel come to sacrfiice Fruits of the Earth and Fatlings each do bring On Abels gift the fire descends from Skies But no such sign on false Cain's offering With sullen hateful looks he goes his wayes Hath thousand thoughts to end his brothers dayes Upon whose blood his future good he hopes to raise 14 There Abel keeps his sheep no ill he thinks His brother comes then acts his fratricide The Virgin Earth of blood her first draught drinks But since that time she often hath been cloy'd The wretch with gastly face and dreadful mind Thinks each he sees will serve him in his kind Though none on Earth but kindred near then could he find 15 Who fancyes not his looks now at the Barr His face like death his heart with horror fraught Nor Male-factor ever â—elt like warr When deep dispair with wish of life hath sought Branded with guilt and crusht with treble woes A Vagabond to Land of Nâ—d he goes A City builds that wals might him secure from foes 16 Who thinks not oft upon the Fathers ages Their long descent how nephews sons they saw The starry observations of those Sages And how their precepts to their sons were law How Adam sign'd to see his Progeny Cloath'd all in his black sinfull Livery Who neither guilt nor yet the punishment could fly 17 Our Life compare we with their length of dayes Who to the tenth of theirs doth now arrive And though thus short we shorten many wayes Living so little while we are alive In eating drinking sleeping vain delight So unawares comes on perpetual night And puts all pleasures vain unto eternal â—light 18 When I behold the heavens as in their prime And then the earth though old stil clad in green The stones and trees insensible of time Nor age nor wrinkle on their front are seen If winter come and greeness then do fade A Spring returns and they more youthfull made But Man grows old lies down remains where once he 's laid 20 By birth more noble then those creatures all Yet seems by nature and by custome curs'd No sooner born but grief and care makes fall That state obliterate he had at first Nor youth nor strength nor wisdom spring again Nor habitations long their names retain But in oblivion to the final day remain 20 Shall I then praise the heavens the trees the earth Because their beauty and their strength last longer Shall I wish there or never to had birth Because they 're bigger their bodyes stronger Nay they shall darken perish fade and dye And when unmade so ever shall they lye But man was made for endless immortality 21 Under the cooling shadow of a stately Elm Close sate I by a goodly Rivers side Where gliding streams the Rocks did overwhelm A lonely place with pleasures dignifi'd I once that lov'd the shady woods so well Now thought the rivers did the trees excel And if the sun would ever shine there would I dwell 22 While on the stealing stream I â—ixt mine eye Which to the long'd for Ocean held its course I markt nor crooks nor rubs that there did lye Could hinder ought but still augment its force O happy Flood quoth I that holds thy race Till thou arrive at thy beloved place Nor is it rocks or shoals that can obstruct thy pace 23 Nor is' t enough that thou alone may'st slide But hundred brooks in thy cleer waves do meet So hand in hand along with thee they glide To Thetis house where all imbrace and greet Thou Emblem true of what I count the best O could I lead my Rivolets to rest So may we press to that vast mansion ever blest 24 Ye Fish which in this liquid Region ' bide That for each season have your habitation Now salt now fresh where you think best to glide To unknown coasts to give a visitation In Lakes and ponds you leave your numerous fry So nature taught and yet you know not why You watry folk that know not your felicity 25 Look how the wantons frisk to tast the air Then to the colder bottome streight they dive Eftsoon to Nâ—ptun's glassie Hall repair To see what trade they great ones there do drive Who forrage o're the spacious sea-green field And take the trembling prey before it yield Whose armour is their sâ—ales their spreading sins their shield 26 While musing thus with contemplation fed And thousand fancies buzzing in my brain The sweet-tongu'd Philomel percht ore my head And chanted forth a most melodious strain Which rapt me so with wonder and delight I judg'd my hearing better then my sight And wisht me wings with her a while to take my flight 28 O merry Bird said I that fears no snares That neither toyles nor hoards up in thy barn Feels no sad thoughts nor cruciating cures To gain more good or shun what might thee harm Thy cloaths ne're wear thy meat is every where Thy bed a bough thy drink the water cleer Reminds not what is past nor what 's to come dost fear 28 The dawning morn with songs thou dost prevent Sets hundred notes unto tâ—â— featâ—ered crew So each one tunes his pretty instrument And warbling out the old begâ—n 〈◊〉 And thus they pass their youth in summer season Then follow thee into a better Râ—gâ—â—n where winter's never felt by that sweet airy legion 29 Man at the best a creature frail and vain In knowledg ignorant in strength but weak Subject to sorrows losses sickness pain Each storm his state his mind his body break From some of these he never finds cessation But day or night within without vexation Troubles from foes from friends from dearest near'st Relatiâ—â— 30 And yet this sinfull creature frail and vain This lump of wretchedness of sin and sorrow This weather-beaten vessel wrackt with pain Joyes not in hope of an eternal morrow Nor all his losses crosses and vexation In weight in frequency and long duration Can make him deeply groan for that divine Translation 31 The Mariner that on smooth waves doth glide Sings merrily and steers his Barque with ease As if he had command of wind and tide And now become great Master of the seas But suddenly a storm spoiles all the sport And makes him long for a more quiet port Which ' gainst all adverse winds may serve for â—ort 32 So he that saileth in this world of pleasure Feeding on sweets that never bit of th' sowre That 's full of friends of honour and
knows but this may be my overthrow Oh pity me in this sad perturbation My plundred Towns my houses devastation My weeping Virgins and my young men slain My wealthy trading fall'n my dearth of grain The seed-times come but ploughman hath no hope Because he knows not who shall inn his Crop The poor they want their pay their children bread Their woful Mothers tears unpittied If any pity in thy heart remain Or any child-like love thou dost retain For my relief do what there lyes in thee And recompence that good I 've done to thee New-England Dear Mother cease complaints wipe your eyes Shake off your dust chear up and now arise You are my Mother Nurse and I your flesh Your sunken bowels gladly would refresh Your griefs I pity but soon hope to see Out of your troubles much good fruit to be To see those latter dayes of hop'd for good Though now beclouded all with tears and blood After dark Popery the day did clear But now the Sun in 's brightness shall appear Blest be the Nobles of thy noble Land With ventur'd lives for Truths defence that stand Blest be thy Commons who for common good And thy infringed Laws have boldly stood Blest be thy Counties who did aid thee still With hearts and States to testifie their will Blest be thy Preachers who do chear thee on O cry the Sword of God and Gidâ—on And shall I not on them wish Mâ—ro's curse That help thee not with prayers Arms and purse And for my self let miseries abound If mindless of thy State I e're be found These are the dayes the Churches foes to crush To root out Popelings head tail branch and rush Let 's bring Baals vestments forth to make a fire Their Mytires Surplices and all their Tire Copes Rotchets Crossiers and such empty trash And let their Names consume but let the flash Light Christendome and all the world to see We hate Romes whore with all her trumpery Go on brave Essex with a Loyal heart Not false to King nor to the better part But those that hurt his people and his Crown As duty binds expel and tread them down And ye brave Nobles chase away all fear And to this hopeful Cause closely adhere O Mother can you weep and have such Peers When they are gone then drown your self in tears If now you weep so much that then no more The briny Ocean will o'reflow your shore These these are they I trust with Charles our King Out of all mists such glorious dayes shall bring That dazled eyes beholding much shall wonder At that thy setled peace thy wealth and splendor Thy Church and weal establish'd in such manner That all shall joy that thou display'dst thy Banner And discipline erected so I trust That nursing Kings shall come and lick thy dust Then Justice shall in all thy Courts take place Without respect of person or of case Then Bribes shall cease Suits shall not stick long Patience and purse of Clients oft to wrong Then high Commissions shall fall to decay And Pursivants and Catchpoles want their pay So shall thy happy Nation ever flourish When truth righteousnes they thus shall nourish When thus in peace thine Armies brave send out To sack proud Rome and all her Vassals rout There let thy Name thy fame and glory shine As did thine Ancestors in Palestine And let her spoyls full pay with Interest be Of what unjustly once she poll'd from thee Of all the woes thou canst let her be sped And on her pour the vengeance threatned Bring forth the Beast that rul'd the World with 's beck And tear his flesh set your feet on 's neck And make his filthy Den so desolate To th' stonishment of all that knew his state This done with brandish'd Swords to Turky goe For then what is' t but English blades dare do And lay her waste for so 's the sacred Doom And do to Gog as thou hast done to Rome Oh Abraham's seeâ— lift up your heads on high For sure the day of your Redemption's nigh The Scales shall fall from your long blinded eyes And him you shall adore who now despise Then fulness of the Nations in shall flow And Jew and Gentile to one worship go Then â—ollows dayes of happiness and rest Whose lot doth fall to live therein is blest No Canaanite shall then be found i' th' Land And holiness on horses bells shall stand If this make way thereto then sigh no more But if at all thou didst not see 't before Farewel dear Mother rightest cause prevail And in a while you 'le tell another tale An Elegie upon that Honourable and renowned Knight Sir Philip Sidney who was untimely slain at the Siege of Zutphan Anno 1586. WHen England did enjoy her Halsion dayes Her noble Sidney wore the Crown of Bayes As well an honour to our British Land As she that sway'd the Scepter with her hand Mars and Minerva did in one agree Of Arms and Arts he should a pattern be Calliâ—pi with Terpsichorâ— did sing Of Poesie and of musick he was King His Rhetorick struck Polâ—mina dead His Eloquence made Mercury wax red His Logick from Euterpe won the Crown More worth was his then Clio could set down Thalia and Melpomene say truth Witness Arcadia penned in his youth Are not his tragick Comedies so acted As if your ninefold wit had been compacted To shew the world they never saw before That this one Volume should exhaust your store His wiser dayes condemn'd his witty works Who knows the spels that in his Rhetorick lurks But some infatuate fools sâ—on caught therein Fond Cupias Dame had never such a gin Which makes severer eyes but slight that story And men of morose minds envy his glory But he 's a Beetle head that can't descry A world of wealth within that rubbish lye And doth his name his work his honour wrong The brave refiner of our British tongue That sees not learning valour and morality Justice friendship and kind hospitality Yea and Divinity within his book Such were prejudicate and did not look In all Records his name I ever see Put with an Epithite of dignity Which shews his worth was great his honour such The love his Country ought him was as much Then let none disallow of these my straines Whilst English blood yet runs within my veins O brave Achilles I wish some Homer would Engrave in Marble with Characters of gold The valiant feâ—s thou didst on Flanders coast Which at this day fair Belgia may boast The more I say the more thy worth I stain Thy fame and praise is far beyond my strain O Zutphen Zutphen that most fatal City Made famous by thy death much more the pity Ah! in his blooming prime death pluckt this rose E're he was ripe his thread cut Atropos Thus man is born to dye and dead is he Brave Hector by the walls of Troy we see O who was near thee but did sore repine He