Hunting goe quarrell with the Stationer who bid himselfe God-Father and imposed the Name according to his owne liking and if you or hee finde any faults pray mend them Valete FINIS FIDELIA BY GEORGE WITHER GENT LONDON Printed by T. S. for Iohn Budge dwelling in Pauls-Church-yard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1622. An Elegiacall Epistle of Fidelia to her vnconstant Friend THE ARGVMENT This Elegiacall Epistle being a fragment of some greater Poeme discouers the modest affections of a discreet and constant Woman shadowed vnder the name of Fidelia wherein you may perceiue the height of their Passions so farre as they seeme to agree with reason and keepe within such decent bounds as beseemeth their Sex but further it meddles not The occasion seemes to proceed from some mutability in her friend whose obiections shee heere presupposing confuteth and in the person of him iustly vpbraideth all that are subiect to the like change or sicklenesse in minde Among the rest some more weightie Arguments then are perhaps expected in such a subiect are briefly and yet somewhat seriously handled OFt I haue heard tel and now for truth I finde Once out of sight and quickly out of minde And that it hath been rightly said of old Loue that 's soon'st hot is euer soonest cold Or else my teares at this time had not stain'd The spotlesse paper nor my lines complain'd I had not now been forced to haue sent These lines for Nuncio's of my discontent Nor thus exchanged so vnhappily My songs of Mirth to write an Elegie But now I must and since I must doe so Let mee but craue thou wilt not flout my woe Nor entertaine my sorrowes with a scoffe But reade at least before thou cast them off And though thy heart 's too hard to haue compassion Oh blame not if thou pitty not my Passion For well thou know'st alas that er'e 't was knowne There was a time although that time be gone I that for this scarce dare a beggar bee Presum'd for more to haue commanded thee Yea the Day was but see how things may change When thou and I haue not been halfe so strange But oft embrac'd each other gently greeting With such kinde words as Turtle Doue or Sweeting Yea had thy meaning and those vowes of thine Prou'd but as faithfull and as true as mine It still had been so for I doe not faine I should rejoyce it might be so againe But sith thy Loue growes cold and thou vnkinde Be not displeas'd I somewhat breath my minde I am in hope my words may proue a mirrour Whereon thou looking may'st behold thine error And yet the Heauen and my sad heart doth know How griu'd I am and with what feeling woe My minde is tortured to thinke that I Should be the brand of thy disloyalty Or liue to be the Author of a line That shall be printed with a fault of thine Since if that thou but slightly touched be Deepe wounds of griefe and shame it strikes in me And yet I must ill hap compels me to What I nere thought to haue had cause to do And therefore seeing that some angry Fate Imposes on mee what I so much hate Or since it is so that the Powers diuine Mee miserable to such cares assigne Oh that Loues patron or some sacred Muse Amongst my Passions would such Art infuse My well-fram'd words and aiery sighs might proue The happy blasts to re-inflame thy loue Or at least touch thee with thy fault so neere That thou might'st see thou wrong'st who held thee deere Seeing confesse the same and so abhorre it Abhorring pitty and repent thee for it But Deare I hope that I may call thee so For thou art deare to mee although a foe Tell mee is 't true that I doe heare of thee And by thy absence true appeares to bee Can such abuse be in the Court of Loue False and inconstant now thou Hee should'st proue He that so wofull and so pensiue sate Vowing his seruice at my feete of late Art thou that quondam louer whose sad eye I seldome saw yet in my presence dry And from whose gentle-seeming tongue I know So many pitty-mouing words could flow Was 't thou so soughtst my loue so seeking that As if it had been all th'hadst aymed at Making me think thy Passion without staine And gently quite thee with my loue againe With this perswasion I so fairely plac'd it Nor Time nor Enuy should haue ere defac'd it Is 't so haue I done thus much and art thou So ouer-cloyed with my fauours now Art wearsed since with louing and estranged So far Is thy affection so much changed That I of all my hopes must be deceyued And all good thoughts of thee be quite bereaued Then true I finde which long before this day I fear'd my selfe and heard some wiser say That there is nought on earth so sweet that can Long relish with the curious taste of Man Happy was I yea well it was with mee Before I came to be bewitch'd by thee I ioy'd the sweet'st content that euer Maid Possessed yet and truely well-a-paid Made to my selfe alone as pleasant mirth As euer any Virgine did on earth The melody I vs'd was free and such As that Bird makes whom neuer hand did touch But vn-allur'd with Fowlers whistling flies Aboue the reach of humane treacheries And well I doe remember often then Could I reade o're the pollicies of men Discouer what vncertainties they were How they would sigh looke sad protest and sweare Nay faigne to die when they did neuer proue The slendrest touch of a right-worthy loue But had chil'd hearts whose dulnesse vnderstood No more of Passion then they did of good All which I noted well and in my minde A generall humour amongst women-kinde This vow I made thinking to keepe it than That neuer the faire tongue of any man Nor his complaint though neuer so much grieu'd Should moue my heart to liking whil'st I liu'd But who can say what she shall liue to do I haue beleeu'd and let in liking to And that so farre I cannot yet see how I may so much as hope to helpe it now Which makes mee thinke what e're we women say Another minde will come another day And that men may to things vnhop'd for clime Who watch but Opportunity and Time For 't is well knowne we were not made of clay Or such course and ill-temper'd stuffe as they For he that fram'd vs of their flesh did daigne When 't was at best to new refine't againe Which makes vs euer since the kinder Creatures Of farre more flexible and yeelding Natures And as wee oft excell in outward parts So wee haue nobler and more gentle hearts Which you well knowing daily doe deuise How to imprint on them your Cruelties But doe I sinde my cause thus bad indeed Or else on things imaginary feed Am I the lasse that late so truly iolly Made my selfe merry oft at others folly Am I the Nymph that
I might shew the world what shamefull blot Vertue by her lasciurous Elders got Nor is 't a wonder as some doe suppose My Youth so much corruption can disclose Since euery day the Sunne doth light mine eyes I am informed of new villanies But it is rather to be wondred how I either can or dare be honest now And though againe there be some others rage That I should dare so much aboue mine age Thus censure each degree both young and old I see not wherein I am ouer-bold For if I haue beene plaine with Vice I care not There 's nought that I know good and can and dare not Onely this one thing doth my minde deterre Euen a feare through ignorance to erre But oh knew I what thou would'st well approue Or might the small'st respect within thee moue So in the sight of God it might be good And with the quiet of my conscience stood As well I know thy true integrity Would command nothing against Piety There 's nought so dangerous or full of feare That for my Soueraignes sake I would not dare Which good beliefe would it did not possesse thee Prouided some iust triall might reblesse me Yea though a while I did endure the gall Of thy displeasure in this loathsome thrall For notwithstanding in this place I lye By the command of that Authoritie Of which I haue so much respectiue care That in mine owne and iust defence I feare To vse the free speech that I doe intend Lest Ignorance or Rashnesse should offend Yet is my meaning and my thought as free From wilfull wronging of thy Lawes or Thee As he â—o whom thy Place and Persons dearest Or to himselfe that finds his conscience cle aest If there be wrong 't is not my making it All the offence is some's mistaking it And is there any Iustice borne of late Makes those faults mine which others perpetrate What man could euer any Age yet finde That spent his spirits in this thankelesse kinde Shewing his meaning to such words could tye it That none could either wrong or mis-apply it Nay your owne Lawes which as you doe intend In plain'st and most effectuall words are penn'd Cannot be fram'd so well to your intent But some there be will erre from what you meant And yet alas I must be ty'de vnto What neuer any man before could doe Must all I speake or write so well be done That none may pick more meanings thence then one Then all the world I hope will leaue dis-vnion And euery man become of one opinion But since some may what care soe're we take Diuers constructions of our Writings make The honest Readers euer will conceaue The best intention's and all others leaue Chiefly in that where I fore-hand protest My meaning euer was the honestest And if I say so what is he may know So much as to affirme it was not so Sit other men so neare my thoughts to show it Or is my heart so open that all know it Sure if it were they would no such things see As those whereof some haue accused mee But I care lesse how it be vnderstood Because the heauens know my intent was good And if it be so that my too-free Rimes Doe much displease the world and these bad times 'T is not my fault for had I been imploy'd In something else all this had now been voyd Or if the world would but haue granted me Wealth or Affaires whereon to busie me I now vnheard of peraduenture than Had been as mute as some rich Clergie-man But they are much deceiu'd that thinke my minde Will ere be still while it can doing find Or that vnto the world so much it leanes As to be curtold for default of meanes No though most be all Spirits are not earth Nor suting with the fortunes of their birth My body 's subiect vnto many Powers But my soule 's as free as is the Emperours And though to curbe her in I oft assay She 'le breake in t ' action spite of durt and clay And is 't not better then to take this course Then fall to study mischiefes and doe worse I say she must haue action and she shall For if she will how can I doe withall And let those that o're-busie thinke me know He made me that knew why he made me so And though there 's some that say my thoughts doe flie A pitch beyond my states sufficiency My humble minde I giue my Sauiour thanke Aspires nought yet aboue my fortunes ranke But say it did wil 't not befit a man To raise his thoughts as neere Heau'n as he can Must the free spirit ty'd and curbed be According to the bodies pouerty Or can it euer be so subiect to Base Change to rise and fall as fortunes doe Men borne to noble meanes and vulgar mindes Enioy their wealth and there 's no Law that bindes Such to abate their substance though their Pates Want Braines and they worth to possesse such states So God to some doth onely great mindes giue And little other meanes whereon to liue What law or conscience then shall make them smother Their Spirit which is their life more then other To bate their substance since if 't were confest That a braue minde could euer be supprest Were't reason any should himselfe depriue Of what the whole world hath not power to giue For wealth is comon and fooles get it to When to giue spirit's more then Kings can do I speake not this because I thinke there be More then the ordinarest gifts in me But against those who thinke I doe presume On more then doth befit me to assume Or would haue all whom Fortune barres from store Make themselues wretched as she makes them poore And ' cause in other things she is vnkind Smother the matchlesse blessings of their minde Whereas although her fauours doe forsake them Their minds are richer then the world can make them Why should a good attempt disgraced seeme Because the person is of meane esteeme Vertue 's a chaste Queene and yet doth not scorne To be embrac'd by him that 's meanest borne Shee is the prop that Maiesties support Yet one whom Slaues as well as Kings may court She loueth all that beare affection to her And yeelds to any that hath heart to wooe her So Vice how high so e're she be in place Is that which Groomes may spit at in disgrace She is a strumpet and may be abhorr'd Yea spurn'd at in the bosome of a Lord. Yet had I spoke her faire I had beene free As many others of her Louers be If her escapes I had not chanc'd to tell I might haue beene a villaine and done well Gotten some speciall fauour and not sate As now I doe shut vp within a grate Or if I could haue hap't on some loose straine That might haue pleas'd the wanton Readers vaine Or but claw'd Pride I now had been vnblam'd Or else at least there 's some would not haue sham'd To plead
is something more Doe not my honest seruice here disdaine I am a faithfull though an humble Swaine I 'me none of those that haue the meanes or place With showes of cost to doe your Nuptials grace But onely master of mine owne desire Am hither come with others to admire I am not of those Heliconian wits Whose pleasing straines the Courts knowne humour fits But a poore rurall Shepheard that for need Can make sheepe Musique on an Oaten reed Yet for my loue Ile this be bold to boast It is as much to you as his that 's most Which since I no way else can now explaine If you 'l in midst of all these glories daigne To lend your eares vnto my Muse so long She shall declare it in a Wedding song Epithalamion VAlentine good morrow to thee Loue and seruice both I owe thee And would waite vpon thy pleasure But I cannot be at leasure For I owe this day as debter To a thousand times thy better Hymen now will haue effected What hath been so long expected Thame thy Mistris now vnwedded Soone must with a Prince be bedded If thou 'lt see her Virgin euer Come and doe it now or neuer Where art thou oh faire Aurora Call in Ver and Lady Flora And you daughters of the Morning In your near'st and fear'st adorning Cleare your fore-heads and be sprightfull That this day may seeme delightfull All you Nimphs that vse the Mountaines Or delight in groues and fountaines Shepheardesses you that dally Either vpon Hill or Valley And you daughters of the Bower That acknowledge Vestaes power Oh you sleepe too long awake yee See how Time doth ouertake yee Harke the Larke is vp and singeth And the house with ecchoes ringeth Pretious howers why neglect yee Whil'st affaires thus expect yee Come away vpon my blessing The Bride-chamber lies to dressing Strow the wayes with leaues of Roses Some make garlands some make poses 'T is a fauour and 't may ioy you That your Mistris vvill employ you Where 's Sabrina with her daughters That doe sport about her waters Those that with their lockes of Amber Haunt the fruitfull hills of Camber We must haue to fill the number All the Nimphs of Trent and Humber Fie your haste is scarce sufficing For the Bride 's awake and rising Enter beauties and attend her All your helpes and seruice lend her With your quaintst and new'st deuises Trim your Lady faire Thamisis See shee 's ready with Ioyes greet her Lads goe bid the Bride-groome meet her But from rash approach aduise him Lest a too much Ioy surprize him None I ere knew yet that dared View an Angell vnprepared Now vnto the Church she hies her Enuie bursts if she espies her In her gestures as she paces Are vnited all the Graces Which who sees and hath his senses Loues in spight of all defences O most true maiestick creature Nobles did you note her feature Felt you not an inward motion Tempting Loue to yeeld deuotion And as you were euen desiring Something check you for aspiring That 's her Vertue which still tameth Loose desires and bad thoughts blameth For whil'st others were vnruly She obseru'd Diana truly And hath by that meanes obtained Gifts of her that none haue gained Yon 's the Bride-groome d' yee not spie him See how all the Ladies eye him Venus his perfection findeth And no more Adonis mindeth Much of him my heart diuineth On whose brow all Vertue shineth Two such Creatures Nature would not Let one place long keepe she should not One shee 'l haue she cares not whether But our Loues can spare her neither Therefore ere we 'le so be spighted They in one shall be vnited Natures selfe is well contented By that meanes to be preuented And behold they are retired So conioyn'd as we desired Hand in hand not onely fixed But their hearts are intermixed Happy they and we that see it For the good of Europe be it And heare Heauen my deuotion Make this Rhyne and Thame an Ocean That it may with might and wonder Whelme the pride of Tyber vnder Now yon Hall their persons shroudeth Whither all this people croudeth There they feasted are with plenty Sweet Ambrosia is no deinty Groomes quaffe Nectar for there 's meeter Yea more costly wines and sweeter Young men all for ioy goe ring yee And your merriest Carols sing yee Here 's of Damzels many choices Let them tune their sweetest voyces Fet the Muses to to cheare them They can rauish all that heare them Ladies 't is their Highnesse pleasures To behold you foot the Measures Louely gestures addeth graces To your bright and Angell faces Giue your actiue mindes the bridle Nothing worse then to be idle Worthies your affaires forbeare yee For the State a while may spare yee Time was that you loued sporting Haue you quite forgot your Courting Ioy the heart of Cares beguileth Once a yeere Apollo smileth Follow Shepheards how I pray you Can your flocks at this time stay you Let vs also hie vs thither Let 's lay all our wits together And some Pastorall inuent them That may show the loue we ment them I my selfe though meanest stated And in Court now almost hated Will knit vp my Scourge and venter In the midst of them to enter For I know there 's no disdaining Where I looke for entertaining See me thinkes the very season As if capable of Reason Hath laine by her natiue rigor The faire Sun-beames haue more vigor They are Aeols most endeared For the Ayre 's still'd and cleared Fawnes and Lambs and Kidds doe play In the honour of this day The shrill Black-Bird and the Thrush Hops about in euery bush And among the tender twigs Chaunt their sweet harmonious ijgs. Yea and mou'd by this example They doe make each Groue a temple Where their time the best way vsing They their Summer loues are chusing And vnlesse some Churle do wrong them There 's not an od bird among them Yet I heard as I was walking Groues and hills by Ecchoes talking Reeds vnto the small brooks whistling Whil'st they danc't with pretty rushling Then for vs to sleepe 't were pitty Since dumb creatures are so witty But oh Titan thou dost dally Hie thee to thy Westerne Valley Let this night one hower borrow She shall pay 't againe to morrow And if thou 'st that fauor do them Send thy sister Phabe to them But shee 's come her selfe vnasked And brings Gods and Heroes masked None yet saw or heard in storie Such immortall mortall glorie View not without preparation Lest you faint in admiration Say my Lords and speake truth barely Mou'd they not exceeding rarely Did they not such praises merit As if flesh had all beene spirit True indeed yet I must tell them There was One did farre excell them But alas this is ill dealing Night vnawares away is stealing Their delay the poore bed wrongeth That for Bride with Bride-groome longeth And
mind by that doth seeme to see How vertue shines through base obscurity But prying neerer seeing it doth proue Some relique of her deere deceased Loue Which to her sad remembrance doth lay ope What she most sought and sees most far from hope Fainting almost beneath her Passions weight And quite forgetfull of her first conceit Looking vpon 't againe from thence she borrowes Sad melancholy thoughts to feed her sorrowes So I beholding Natures curious bowers Seel'd strow'd and trim'd vp with leaues hearbes and flowers Walke pleased on a while and doe deuize How on each obiect I may moralize But er'e I pace on many steps I see There stands a Hawthorne that was trim'd by thee Here thou didst once slip off the virgin sprayes To crowne me with a wreath of liuing Bayes On such a Banke I see how thou didst lye When viewing of a shady Muthery The hard mishap thou didst to me discusse Of louing Thysbe and young Piramus And oh thinke I how pleasing was it then Or would be yet might he returne agen But if some neighbouring Row doe draw me to Those Arbors where the shadowes seeme to wooe The weary loue-sicke Passenger to sit And view the beauties Nature strowes on it How faire thinke I would this sweet place appeare If he I loue were present with me heere Nay euery seuerall obiect that I see Doth seuerally me thinkes remember thee But the delight I vs'd from thence to gather I now exchange for eares and seeke them rather But those whose dull and grosse affections can Extend but onely to desire a Man Cannot the depth of these rare Passions know For their imaginations flagge too low And cause their base Conceits doe apprehend Nothing but that whereto the flesh doth tend In Loues embraces they neere reach vnto More of content than the brute Creatures do Neither can any iudge of this but such Whose brauer mindes for brauer thoughts doe touch And hauing spirits of a nobler frame Feele the true heate of Loues vnquenched flame They may conceiue aright what smarting sting To their Remembrances the place will bring Where they did once enioy and then doe misse What to their soules most deere and precious is With mee 't is so for those walkes that once seem'd Pleasing when I of thee was more esteem'd To me appeare most desolate and lonely And are the places now of torment onely Where I the highest of contents did borrow There am I paid it home with deepest sorrow Vnto one place I doe remember well We walkt the eu'nings to heare Phylomel And that seemes now to want the light it had The shadow of the Groue's more dull and sad As if it were a place but fit for Fowles That screech ill-lucke as melancholy Owles Or fatall Rauens that seld ' boding good â—â—â—ke their blacke Auguries from some darke wood Then if from thence I halfe despairing goe Another place begins another wo For thus vnto my thought it semes to say Hither thou saw'st him riding once that way Thither to meete him thou didst nimbly hast thee You he alighted and eu'n there embrac'd thee Which whilst I sighing wish to doe againe Another obiect brings another paine For passing by that Greene which could it speake Would tell it saw vs run at Barly-breake There I beheld what on a thin rin'd tree Thou hadst engrauen for the loue of me When we two all one in heate of day With chaste imbraces draue swift houres away Then I remember to vnto my smart How loath we were when time compel'd to part How cunningly thy Passions thou couldst faine In taking leaue and comming backe againe So oft vntill as seeming to forget We were departing downe againe we set And freshly in that sweet discourse went on Which now I almost faint to thinke vpon Viewing againe those other walkes and Groues That haue beene witnesses of our chaste loues When I beheld those Trees whose tender skin Hath that cut out which still cuts me within Or come by chance vnto that pretty Rill Where thou wouldst fit and teach the neighbouring hill To answere in an Eccho vnto those Rare Problems which thou often didst propose When I come there thinke I if these could take That vse of words and speech which we partake They might vnfold a thousand pleasures then Which I shall neuer liue to taste agen And thereupon Remembrance doth so racke My thoughts with representing what I lacke That in my minde those Clerkes doe argue well Which hold Priuation the great'st plague of hell For there 's no torment gripes mee halfe so bad As the Remembrance of those joyes I had Oh hast thou quite forgot when sitting by The bankes of Thame beholding how the Fry Play'd on the siluer-waues There where I first Granted to make my Fortune thus accurst There where thy too-too earnest suit compeld My ouer-soone beleeuing heart to yeeld One fauour first which then another drew To get another till alas I rue That day and houre thinking I nere should need As now to grieue for doing such a deed So freely I my curtesies bestow'd That whose I was vnwarily I show'd And to my heart such passage made for thee Thou canst not to this day remoued be And what breast could resist it hauing seene How true thy loue had in appearance beene For I shall ne're forget when thou hadst there Laid open euery discontent and care Wherewith thou deeply seem'dst to me opprest When thou as much as any could protest Had'st vow'd and sworne and yet perceiu'dst no signe Of pitty-mouing in this brest of mine Well Loue sald'st thou since neither sigh nor vow Nor any seruice may auaile me now Since neither the recitall of my smart Nor those strong Passions that assaile my heart Nor any thing may moue thee to beliefe Of these my sufferings or to grant reliefe Since there 's no comfort nor desert that may Get mee so much as Hope of what I pray Sweet Loue farewell farewell faire beauties light And euery pleasing obiect of the sight My poore despayring heart heere biddeth you And all Content for euermore adue Then eu'n as thou seemd'st ready to depart Reaching that hand which after gaue my hart And thinking this sad Farewell did proceed From a sound breast but truely mou'd indeed I stayed thy departing from mee so Whilst I stood mute with sorrow thou for show And the meane while as I beheld thy looke My eye th' impression of such Pitty tooke That with the strength of Passion ouercome A deep-fetcht sigh my heart came breathing from Whereat thou euer wisely vsing this To take aduantage when it offered is Renewd'st thy sute to mee who did afford Consent in silence first and then in word So that for yeelding thou maist thanke thy wit And yet when euer I remember it Trust me I muse and often wondring thinke Thorough what craney or what secret chinke That Loue vnwares so like a slye close Else Did to my heart insinuate it selfe Gallants I had
before thou cam'st to woo Could as much loue and as well court me to And though they had not learned so the fashion Of acting such well counterfeited Passion In wit and person they did equall thee And worthier seem'd vnlesse thou l't faithfull be Yet still vnmou'd vnconquer'd I remain'd No not one thought of loue was entertain'd Nor could they brag of the least fauour to them Saue what meere curtesie enioyn'd to doe them Hard was my heart But would 't had harder bin And then perhaps I had not let thee in Thou Tyrant that art so imperious there And onely tak'st delight to Dominere But held I out such strong such oft assailing And euer kept the honour of preuailing Was this poore breast from loues allurings free Cruell to all and gentle vnto thee Did I vnlocke that strong affections dore That neuer could be broken ope before Onely to thee and at thy intercession So freely giue vp all my hearts possession That to my selfe I left not one poore veine Nor power nor will to put thee from 't againe Did I doe this and all on thy bare vow And wilt thou thus requite my kindnesse now Oh that thou eyther hadst not learn'd to faine Or I had power to cast thee off againe How is it that thou art become so rude And ouer-blinded by Ingratitude Swar'st thou so deeply that thou wouldst perseuer That I might thus be cast away for euer Well then ' as true that Louers periuries Among some men are thought no iniuries And that she onely hath least cause of griefe Who of your words hath smal'st or no beliefe Had I the wooer bin or fondly won This had bin more tho then thou couldst haue don But neither being so what Reason is On thy side that should make thee offer this I know had I beene false or my faith fail'd Thou wouldst at womens ficklenesse haue rail'd And if in mee it had an error bin In thee shall the same fault be thought no sin Rather I hold that which is bad in mee Will be a greater blemish vnto thee Because by Nature thou art made more strong And therefore abler to endure a wrong But 't is our Fortune you 'le haue all the power Onely the Care and Burden must be our Nor can you be content a wrong to do Vnlesse you say the blame vpon vs to Oh that there were some gentle minded Poet That knew my heart as well as now I know it And would endeare me to his loue so much To giue the world though but a slender touch Of that sad Passion which now clogs my heart And shew my truth and thee how false thou art That all might know what is beleeu'd by no man There 's ficklenesse in men and faith in woman Thou saw'st I first let Pitty in then liking And lastly that which was thy onely seeking And when I might haue scorn'd that loue of thine As now vngently thou despisest mine Among the inmost Angles of my brest To lodge it by my heart I thought it best Which thou hast stolne to like a thankelesse Mate And left mee nothing but a blacke selfe hate What canst thou say for this to stand contending What colour hast thou left for thy offending Thy wit perhaps can some excuse deuise And faine a colour for those iniuries But well I know if thou excuse this treason It must be by some greater thing then reason Are any of those vertues yet defac'd On which thy first affection seemed plac'd Hath any secret foe my true faith wronged To rob the blisse that to my heart belonged What then shall I condemned be vnheard Before thou knowest how I may be clear'd Thou art acquainted with the times condition Know'st it is full of enuy and suspition So that the war'est in thought word and action Shall oft be iniur'd by foule-mouth'd datraction And therefore thou me-thinkes should'st wisely pause Before thou credit rumors without cause But I haue gotten such a confidence In thy opinion of my innocence It is not that I know with-holds thee now Sweet tell mee then is it some sacred vow Hast thou resolued not to ioyne thy hand With any one in Hymens holy band Thou shouldst haue done it then when thou wert free Before thou hadst bequeath'd thy selfe to mee What vow dost deeme more pleasing vnto Heauen Then what is by vnfained louers giuen If any be yet sure it frowneth at Those that are made for contradicting that But if thou wouldst liue chastely all thy life That thou maist do though we be man and wife Or if thou long'st a Virgin-death to die Why if it be thy pleasure so doe I. Make mee but thine and I 'le contented be A Virgin still yet liue and lie with thee Then let not thy inuenting braine assay To mocke and still delude mee euery way But call to minde how thou hast deepely sworne Nor to neglect nor leaue mee thus forlorne And if thou wilt not be to mee as when Wee first did loue doe but come see mee then Vouchsafe that I may sometime with thee walke Or sit and looke on thee or heare thee talke And I that most content once aymed at Will thinke there is a world of blisse in that Dost thou suppose that my Desires denies With thy affections well to sympathize Or such peruersnesse hast thou found in me May make our Natures disagreeing be Thou knowst when thou didst wake I could not sleepe And if thou wert but sad that I should weepe Yet euen when the teares my cheeke did staine If thou didst smile why I could smile againe I neuer did contrary thee in ought Nay thou canst tell I oft haue spake thy thought Waking the selfe-same course with thee I runne And sleeping oftentimes our dreames were one The Dyall-needle though it sence doth want Still bends to the beloued Adamant Lift the one vp the other vpward tends If this fall downe that presently descends Turne but about the stone the steele turnes to Then straight returnes if so the other do And if it stay with trembling keepes one place As if it panting long'd for an imbrace So was 't with mee for if thou merry wert That mirth of thine mou'd ioy within my heart I sighed to when thou didst sigh or frowne When thou wert sicke thou hast perceiu'd me swoone And being sad haue oft with forc'd delight Striu'd to giue thee content beyond my might When thou wouldst talke then haue I talk'd with thee And silent been when thou wouldst silent be If thou abroad didst goe with ioy I went If home thou lou'dst at home was my content Yea what did to my Nature disagree I could make pleasing cause it pleased thee But if 't be either my weake Sex or youth Makes thee misdoubt my vndistained truth Know this as none till that vnhappy hower When I was first madethine had euer power To moue my heart by vowes or teares expence No more I sweare could any Creature since No lookes but thine
feare it is some others riches Whose more abundance that thy minde bewitches That baser obiect that too generall aime Makes thee my lesser Fortune to disclaime Fie canst thou so degenerate in spirit As to prefer the meanes before the merit A though I cannot say it is in mee Such worth sometimes with pouerty may be To equalize the match she takes vpon her Tho th' other vaunt of Birth Wealth Beauty Honour And many a one that did for greatnesse wed Would gladly change it for a meaner bed Yet are my Fortunes knowne indifferent Not basely meane but such as may content And though I yeeld the better to be thine I may be bold to say thus much for mine That if thou couldst of them and me esteeme Neither thy state nor birth would mis-beseeme Or if it did how can I help't alas Thou not alone before knew'st what it was But I although not fearing so to speed Did also disinable't more than need And yet thou woo'dst and wooing didst perseuer As if thou hadst intended Loue for euer Yea thy account of wealth thou mad'st so small Thou had'st not any question of 't at all But hating much that peasant-like condition Did'st seeme displeas'd I held it in suspition Whereby I thinke if nothing else doe thwart vs It cannot be the want of that will part vs. Yea I doe rather doubt indeed that this The needlesse feare of friends displeasure is Yes that 's the barre which stops out my delight And all my hope and ioy confoundeth quite But beares there any in thy heart such sway To shut mee thence and wipe thy loue away Can there be any friend that hath the power To disvnite hearts so conioyn'd as our E're I would haue so done by thee I 'de rather Haue parted with one deerer then my father For though the will of our Creator bindes Each Childe to learne and know his Parents mindes Yet sure I am so iust a Deitie Commandeth nothing against Pietie Nor doth that band of duty giue them leaue To violate their faith or to deceiue And though that Parents haue authority To rule their children in minority Yet they are neuer granted such power on them That will allow to tyrannize vpon them Or vse them vnder their command so ill To force them without reason to their will For who hath read in all the Sacred-writ Of any one compeld to marriage yet What father so vnkinde thereto requir'd Denide his Childe the match that he desir'd So that he found the Lawes did not forbid it I thinke those gentler ages no men did it In those daies therefore for them to haue bin Contracted without licence had been sin Since there was more good Nature among men And euery one more truly louing then But now although we stand obliged still To labour for their liking and good-will There is no duty whereby they may tie vs From ought which without reason they deny vs For I do thinke it is not onely meant Children should aske but Parents should consent And that they erre their duty as much breaking For not consenting as we not for speaking It is no maruell many matches be Concluded now without their priuity Since they through greedy Auarice misled Their interest in that haue forfeited For some respectlesse of all care doe marry Hot youthfull May to cold old Ianuary Some for a greedy end doe basely tie The sweetest-faire to soule-deformitie Forcing a loue from where 't was placed late To re-ingraffe it where it turnes to hate It seemes no cause of hindrance in their eyes Though manners nor affections sympathize And two Religions by their rules of state They may in one made body tolerate As if they did desire that double stemme Should fruitfull beare but Neuters like to them Alas how many numbers of both kindes By that haue euer discontented mindes And liue though seeming vnto others well In the next torments vnto those of hell How many desprate growne by this their sinne Haue both vndone themselues and all their kinne Many a one we see it makes to fall With the too-late repenting Prodigall Thousands though else by nature gentler giuen To act the horridst murthers oft are driuen And which is worse there 's many a carelesse else Vnlesse Heauen pitty kils and damnes his selfe Oh what hard heart or what vnpittying eyes Could hold from teares to see those Tragedies Parents by their neglect in this haue hurld Vpon the Stage of this respectlesse World 'T is not one Man one Family one Kinne No nor one Countrey that hath ruin'd bin By such their folly which the cause hath prou'd That forraine oft and ciuill warres were mou'd By such beginnings many a City lies Now in the dust whose Turrets brau'd the skies And diuers Monarchs by such fortunes crost Haue seene their Kingdomes fir'd and spoil'd and lost Yet all this while thou seest I mention not The ruine shame and chastity hath got For 't is a taske too infinite to tell How many thousands that would haue done well Doe by the meanes of this suffer desires To kindle in their hearts vnlawfull fires Nay some in whose could breast nere flame had bin Haue onely for meere vengeance falne to sin My selfe haue seene and my heart bled to see 't A wit-lesse Clowne enioy a match vnmeet She was a Lasse that had a looke to moue The heart of cold Diogenes to loue Her eye was such whose euery glance did know To kindle flames vpon the hils of Snow And by her powerfull piercings could imprint Or sparkle fire into a heart of flint And yet vnlesse I much deceiued be In very thought did hate immodestie And had sh'enioyd the man she could haue lou'd Might to this day haue liued vn-reprou'd But being forc'd perforce by seeming friends With her consent she her contentment ends In that compel'd her-selfe to him shee gaue Whose Bed shee rather could haue withâ— her Graue And since I heare what I much feare is true That shee hath hidden shame and fame adue Such are the causes now that Parents quite Are put beside much of their ancient right Their feare of this makes children to with-hold From giuing them those dues which else they would And these thou see'st are the too-fruitfull ils Which daily spring from their vnbridled wils Yet they forsooth will haue it vnderstood That all their study is their childrens good A seeming Loue shall couer all they do When if the matter were well look't into Their carefull reach is chiefly to fulfill Their owne foule greedy and insatiate will Who quite forgetting they were euer young Would haue the Children dote with them on dung Grant betwixt two there be true loue content Birth not mis seeming wealth sufficient Equality in yeares an honest fame In euery-side the person without blame And they obedient too What can you gather Of Loue or of affection in that father That but a little to augment his treasure Perhaps no more but onely for his pleasure Shall
my cause but see my fatall curse Sure I was either mad or somewhat worse For I saw Vices followers brauely kept In Silkes they walkt on beds of Downe they slept Richly they fed on dainties euermore They had their pleasure they had all things store Whil'st Vertue begg'd yea fauours had so many I knew they brook 't not to be touch'd of any Yet could not I like other men be wise Nor learne for all this how to temporize But must with too much honesty made blind Vpbraid this loued darling of mankind Whereas I might haue better thriu'd by fayning Or if I could not chuse but be complaining More safe I might haue rail'd on Vertue sure Because her louers and her friends are fewer I might haue brought some other things to passe Made Fidlers Songs or Ballads like an Asse Or any thing almost indeed but this Yet since 't is thus l'me glad 't is so amisse Because if I am guilty of a crime 'T is that wherein the best of euery time Hath beene found faulty if they faulty be That doe reproue Abuse and villany For what I 'me taxt I can examples show In such old Authors as this State allow And I would faine once learne a reason why They can haue kinder vsage here then I I muse men doe not now in question call Seneca Horace Persius Inuenall And such as they Or why did not that Age In which they liued put them in a Cage If I should say that men were iuster then I should neere hand be made vnsay't agen And therefore sure I thinke I were as good Leaue it to others to be vnderstood Yet I as well may speake as deeme amisse For such this Ages curious cunning is I scarcely dare to let mine heart thinke ought For there be some will seeme to know my thought Who may out-face me that I thinke awry When there 's no witnesse but my Conscience by And then I likely am as ill to speed As if I spake or did amisse indeed Yet lest those who perhaps may malice this Interpret also these few lines amisse Let them that after thee shall reade or heare From a rash censure of my thoughts forbeare Let them not mold the sense that this containes According to the forming of their braines Or thinke I dare or can here taxe those Peeres Whose Worths their Honours to my soule endeares Those by whose loued-fear'd Authority I am restrained of my liberty For lest there yet may be a man so ill To haunt my lines with his blacke Coment still In hope my lucke againe may be so good To haue my words once rightly vnderstood This I protest that I doe not condemne Ought as vniust that hath been done by them For though my honest heart not guilty be Of the least thought that may disparage me Yet when such men as I shall haue such foes Accuse me of such crimes to such as those Till I had meanes my Innocence to show Their Iustice could haue done no lesse then so Nor haue I such a proud conceited wit Or selfe-opinion of my knowledge yet To thinke it may not be that I haue run Vpon some Errors in what I haue done Worthy this punishment which I endure I say I cannot so my selfe assure For 't is no wonder if their Wisedomes can Discouer Imperfections in a man So weake as I more then himselfe doth see Since my sight dull with insufficiencie In men more graue and wiser farre then I Innumerable Errors doth espye Which they with all their knowledge I 'le be bold Cannot or will not in themselues behold But ere I will my selfe accuse my Song Or keepe a Tongue shall doe my Heart that wrong To say I willingly in what I penn'd Did ought that might a Goodmans sight offend Or with my knowledge did insert one word That might disparage a true Honour'd Lord Let it be in my mouth a helpelesse sore And neuer speake to be beleeued more Yet man irresolute is vnconstant weake And doth his purpose oft through frallty breake Lest therefore I by force hereafter may Be brought from this minde and these words vnsay Here to the World I doe proclaime before If e're my resolution be so poore T' is not the Right but Might that makes me doe it Yea nought but fearefull baseuesse brings me to it Which if I still hate as I now detest Neuer can come to harbor in my brest Thus my fault then if they a fault imply Is not alone an ill vnwillingly But also might I know it I entend Not onely to acknowledge but amend Hoping that thou wilt not be so seuere To punish me aboue all other here But for m'intents sake and my loue to Truth Impute my Errors to the heate of Youth Or rather Ignorance then to my Will Which sure I am was good what e're be ill And like to him now in whose place thou art What e're the residue be accept the Heart But I grow tedious and my loue abusd Disturbs my thoughts and makes my lines confus'd Yet pardon me and daigne a gracious eye On this my rude vnfil'd Apologie Let not the bluntnesse of my phrase offend Weight but the matter and not how 't is penn'd By these abrupt lines in my iust defence Iudge what I might say for my innocence And thinke I more could speake that here I spare Because my power suites not to what I dare My vnaffected stile retaines you see Her old Frize-Cloake of young Rusticitiê If others will vse neater tearmes they may Ruder I am yet loue as well as they And though if I would smooth't I cannot doo 't My humbel heart I bend beneath thy foot While here my Muse her discontent doth sing To thee her great Apollo and my King Emploring thee by that high sacred Name By Iustice by those Powers that I could name By whatsoe're may moue entreate I thee To be what thou art vnto all to mee I feare it not yet giue me leaue to pray I may haue foes whose power doth beare such sway If they but say I 'me guilty of offence 'T were vaine for me to pleade my innocence But as the Name of God thou bear'st I trust Thou imitat'st him to in being iust That when the right of Truth thou comm'st to scan Thou l't not respect the person of the man For if thou doe then is my hope vndone The head-long-way to ruine I must runne For whil'st that they haue all the helpes which may Procure their pleasure with my soone decay How is it like that I my peace can win me When all the ayde I haue comes from within me Therefore good King that makst thy bounty shine Sometime on those whose worths are small as mine Oh saue me now from Enuies dangerous shelfe Or make me able and I 'le saue my selfe Let not the want of that make me a scorne To which there are more Fooles then Wise-men borne Let me not for my Meannesse be dispis'd Nor others greatnesse make
aboue all other places Must be blest with their embraces Reuellers then now forbeare yee And vnto your rests prepare yee Let 's a while your absence borrow Sleep to night and dance to morrow We could well allow your Courting But 't will hinder better sporting They are gone and Night all lonely Leaues the Bride with Bridegroome onely Muse now tell for thou hast power To flie thorough wall or tower What contentments their hearts cheareth And how louely she appeareth And yet doe not tell it no man Rare conceits may so grow common Doe not to the Vulgar show them 'T is enough that thou dost know them Their ill hearts are but the Center Where all misconceiuings enter But thou Luna that dost lightly Haunt our downes and forrests nightly Thou that fauourst generation And art helpe to procreation See their issue thou so cherish I may liue to see it flourish And you Planets in whose power Doth consist these liues of our You that teach vs Diuinations Helpe with all your Constellations How to frame in Her a creature Blest in Fortune Wit and Feature Lastly oh you Angels ward them Set your sacred Spels to gard them Chase away such feares or terrors As not being seeme through errors Yea let not a dreames molesting Make them start when they are resting But THOV chiefly most adored That shouldst onely be implored Thou to whom my meaning tendeth Whether er'e in show it bendeth Let them rest to night from sorrow And awake with ioy to morrow Oh to my request be heedfull Grant them that and all things needfull Let not these my straines of Folly Make true prayer be vnholy But if I haue here offended Helpe forgiue and Ice it mended Daigne me this And if my Muses Hastie issue she peruses Make it vnto her seeme gratefull Though to all the World else hatefull But how er'e yet Soule perseuer Thus to wish her good for euer THus ends the Day together with my Song Oh may the Ioyes there of continue long Let Heauens iust all-seeing sacred power Fauour this happy marriage day of your And blesse you in your chast embraces so We Britains may behold before you goe The hopefull Issue we shall count so deare And whom vnborne his foes already feare Yea I desire that all your sorrowes may Neuer be more then they haue been to day Which hoping for acceptance now I sue And humbly bid your Grace and Court adue I saw the sight I came for which I know Was more then all the world beside could show But if amongst Apolloes Layes you can Be pleas'd to lend a gentle eare to Pan Or thinke your Country Shepheard loues as deare As if he were a Courtier or a Peere Then I that else must to my Cell of paine Will ioyfull turne vnto my flocke againe And there vnto my fellow shepheards tell Why you are lou'd wherein you doe excell And when we driue our flocks a field to graze them So chaunt your praises that it shall amaze them And thinke that Fate hath new recald from death Their still-lamented sweete Elizabeth For though they see the Court but now and then They know desert as well as Greater men And honord Fame in them doth liue or die As well as in the mouth of Maiestie But taking granted what I here intreat At heauen for you my deuotions beat And though I feare fate will not suffer me To doe you seruice where your Fortunes be How ere my skill hath yet despised seem'd And my vnripened wit been misesteem'd When all this costly Showe away shall flit And not one liue that doth remember it If Enuies trouble let not to perseuer I 'le find a meanes to make it knowne for euer CERTAINE EPIGRAMS CONCERNING MARRIAGE Epigram 1. T Is said in Marriage aboue all the rest The children of a King finde comforts least Because without respect of Loue or Hate They must and oft be ruled by the State But if contented Loue Religions care Equalitie in State and yeares declare A happie Match as I suppose no lesse Then rare and great 's Elizaes Happinesse Epigram 2. GOd was the first that Marriage did ordaine By making One Two and Two One againe Epigram 3. SOuldier of thee I aske for thou canst best Hauing knowne sorrow iudge of Ioy and Rest What greater blisse then after all thy harmes To haue a wife that 's faire and lawfull thine And lying prison'd 'twixt her Iuory armes There tell what thou hast scapt by powers diuine How many round thee thou hast murthered seene How oft thy soule hath beene neere hand expiring How many times thy flesh hath wounded been Whil'st she thy fortune and thy worth admiring With ioy of health and pitty of thy paine Doth weepe and kisse and kisse and weepe againe Epigram 4. FAire Helen hauing stain'd her husbands bed And mortall hatred 'twixt two Kingdomes bred Had still remaining in her so much good That Heroes for her lost their dearest blood Then if with all that ill such worth may last Oh what is she worth that 's as faire and chast Epigram 5. OLd Orpheus know a good wiues worth so well That when his dy'd he followed her to hell And for her losse at the Elizean Groue He did not onely Ghosts to pitty moue But the sad Poet breath'd his sighes so deepe 'T is said the Diuels could not chuse but weepe Epigram 6. LOng did I wonder and I wonder much Romes Church should from her Clergie take that due Thought I why should she that contentment grutch What doth she all with continence indue No But why then are they debar'd that state Is she become a foe vnto her owne Doth she the members of her body hate Or is it for some other cause vnshowne Oh yes they find a womans lips so dainty They tye themselues from one cause they 'l haue twenty Epigram 7. VVOmen as some men say vnconstant be 'T is like enough and so no doubt are men Nay if their scapes we could so plainely see I feare that scarce there will be one for ten Men haue but their owne lusts that tempt to ill Women haue lusts and mens allurements to Alas if their strengths cannot curbe their will What should poore women that are weaker do Oh they had need be chast and looke about them That striue ' gainst lust within and knaues without them FINIS THE SHEPHEARDS HVNTING Being certaine Eglogues written during the time of the Authors Imprisonment in the Marshalsey By George Wither Gentleman LONDON Printed by T. S. for Iohn Budge dwelling in Pauls-Church-yard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1622. To those Honoured Noble and right Vertuous Friends my Visitants in the Marshalsey And to all other my vnknowne Fauourers who either priuately or publikely wished me well in my imprisonment NOble Friends you whose vertues made me first in loue with Vertue and whose worths made mee be thought worthy of your loues I haue now at last you see by Gods assistance and your
encouragement run through the Purgatorie of imprisonment and by the worthy fauour of a iust Prince stand free againe without the least touch of deiected basenesse Seeing therefore I was growne beyond my Hope so fortunate after acknowledgement of my Creators loue together with the vnequall'd Clemencie of so gracious a Soueraigne I was troubled to thinke by what meanes I might expresse my thankefulnes to so many well-deseruing friends No way I found to my desire neither yet ability to performe when I found it But at length considering with my selfe what you were that is such who fauour honesty for no second reason but because you your selues are good and ayme at no other reward but the witnesse of a sound conscience that you doe well I found that thankfulnesse would proue the acceptablest present to sute with your dispositions and that I imagined could be no way better expressed then in manifesting your courtesies and giuing consent to your reasonable demaunds For the first I confesse with thankes to the disposer of all things and a true gratefull heart towards you so many were the vnexpected Visitations and vnhoped kindnesses receyued both from some among you of my Acquaintance and many other vnknowne Well-willers of my Cause that I was perswaded to entertaine a much better conceit of the Times then I lately conceyued and assured my selfe that Vertue had far more followers then I supposed Somewhat it disturbed me to behold our ages Fauourites whilst they frowned on my honest enterprises to take vnto their protections the egregiousts fopperies yet much more was my contentment in that I was respected by so many of You amongst whō there are some who can and may as much dis-esteeme these as they neglect me nor could I feare their Malice or Contempt whilst I enioyed your fauours who howsoeuer you are vnder-valued by Fooles for a time shall leaue vnto your posterity so noble a memory that your names shall be reuerenced by Kings when many of these who now flourish with a shew of vsurped Greatnesse shall eyther weare out of being or dispoyled of all their patched reputation grow contemptible in the eyes of their beloued Mistris the World Your Loue it is that enabling me with patience to endure what is already past hath made me also carefull better to prepare my selfe for all future misaduentures by bringing to my consideration what the passion of my iust discontentments had almost quite banished from my remembrance Further to declare my thankefulnesse in making apparant my willing minde to be commanded in any seruices of loue which you shal thinke fit though I want abilitie to performe great matters yet I haue according to some of your requests been contented to giue way to the printing of these Eglogues which though it to many seeme a sleight matter yet being well considered of may proue a strong argument of my readinesse to giue you content in a greater matter for they being as you well know begotten with little care and preserued with lesse respect gaue sufficient euidence that I meant rather then any way to deceiue your trust to giue the world occasion of calling my discretion in question as I now assure my selfe this will and the sooner because such expectations I perceiue there are of I know not what Inuentions as would have been frustrated though I had employed the vtmost and very best of my endeauours Notwithstanding for your sakes I haue heere aduentured once againe to make tryall of the Worlds censures and what hath receyued beeing from your Loues I here re-dedicated to your Worths which if your noble dispositions will like well of or if you will but reasonably respect what your selues drew mee vnto I shall be nothing displeased at others cauils but resting my selfe contented with your good opinions scorne all the rabble of vncharitable detractors For none I know will maligne it except those who eyther particularly malice my person or professe themselues enemies to my former Bookes who sauing those that were incensed on others speeches as diuers of you according to your protestations haue obserued are eyther open enemies of our Church men notoriously guilty of some particular Abuses therein taxt such malicious Critickes who haue the repute of being iudicious by detracting from others or at best such Guls as neuer approue any thing good or learned but eyther that which their shallow apprehensions can apply to the soothing of their owne opinions or what indeed rather they vnderstand not Trust me how ill soeuer it hath been rewarded my loue to my Country is inuiolate my thankefulnesse to you vnfained my endeauour to doe euery man good all my ayme content with honestie and this my paines if it may be so tearmed more to auoid idlenesse then for affectation of praise and if notwithstanding all this I must yet not onely rest my selfe content that my innocencie hath escaped with strict imprisonment to the impayring of my state and hinderance of my fortunes but also be constrayned to see my guiltlesse lines suffer the despight of ill tongues yet for my further encouragement let mee intreate the continuance of your first respect wherein I shall find that comfort as will be sufficient to make mee set light and so much contemne all the malice of my aduersaries that readie to burst with the venome of their owne hearts they shall see My Minde enamoured on faire Vertues light Transcends the limits of their bleared sight And plac'd aboue their Enuy doth contemne Nay sit and laugh at their disdaine and them But Noble Friends I make question neyther of yours nor any honest mans respect and therefore will no further vrge it nor trouble your patience onely this I le say that you may not think me too well conceited of my selfe though the Time were to blame in ill requiting my honest endeauours which in the eyes of the World deserued better yet some what I am assured there was in me worthy that punishment which when God shall giue me grace to see and amend I doubt not but to finde that regard as will be fitting for so much merit as my endeauors may iustly challenge Meane while the better to hold my selfe in esteeme with you and amend the worlds opinion of Vertue I will study to amend my selfe that I may be yet more worthy to be called Your Friend GEO WITHER The Shepheards Hunting The first Eglogue THE ARGVMENT Willy leaues his Flocke a while To lament his Friends exile Where though prison'd he doth finde Hee 's still free that 's free in Minde And that there is no defence Halfe so firme as Innocence PHILARETE WILLIE Philarete WIlly thou now full iolly tun'st thy Reedes Making the Nymphs enamor'd on thy straine And whilst thy harmles flock vnscarred feeds Hast the contentment of hils groues plains Trust me I ioy thou and thy Muse so speedes In such an Age where so much mischiefe raignes And to my Care it some redresse will be Fortune hath so much grace to smile
Both in shrill hallowes and loud yernings smother Yea the strong mettled and my long-breath'd crew Seeing the game increasing in their view Grew the more frolicke and the courses length Gaue better breath and added to their strength Which Ioue perceiuing for Ioue heard their cries Rumbling amongst the Spheares concauities Hee mark'd their course and courages increase Saying 't were pitty such a chase should cease And therewith swore their mouthes should neuer wast But hunt as long 's mortality did last Soone did they feele the power of his great gift And I began to finde their pace more swift I follow'd and I rated but in vaine Striu'd to o'retake or take them vp againe They neuer stayed since nor nights nor dayes But to and fro still run a thousand wayest Yea often to this place where now I lie They 'l wheele about to cheare me with their cry And one day in good time will vengeance take On some offenders for their Masters sake For know my Friends my freedome in this sort For them I lose and making my selfe sport Willy Why was there any harme at all in this Philarete No Willy and I hope yet none there is Willy How comes it then Philarete Note and I 'le tell thee how Thou know'st that Truth and Innocency now If plac'd with meannesse suffers more despight Then Villainies accompan'ed with might But thus it fell while that my Hounds pursu'd Their noysome prey and euery field lay strew'd With Monsters hurt and slaine vpon a beast More subtile and more noysome then the rest My leane-flanckt Bitch cald Enuy hapt to light And as her wont is did so surely bite That though shee left behinde small outward smart The wounds were deepe and rankled to the hart This joyning to some other that of late Were very eagerly pursu'd by Hate To fit their purpose hauing taken leasure Did thus conspire to worke me a displeasure For imitation farresurpassing Apes They laide aside their Foxe and Woluish shapes And shrowded in the skinnes of harmlesse Sheepe Into by-wayes and open paths did creepe Where they as hardly drawing breath didly Shewing their wounds to euery passer by To make them thinke that they were sheepe so foyl'd And by my Dogges in their late hunting spoyl'd Beside some other that enuy'd my game And for their pastime kept such Monsters tame As you doe know there 's many for their pleasure Keepe Foxes Beares Wolues as some great treasure Yea many get their liuing by them to And so did store of these I speake of do Who seeing that my Kennell had affrighted Or hurt some Vermine wherein they delighted And finding their owne power by much to weake Their Malice on my Innocence to wreake Swolne with the deepest rancour of despight Some of our greatest Shepheards Folds by night They closely entred and there hauing stain'd Their hands in villany of mee they plain'd Affirming without shame or honesty I and my Dogges had done it purposely Whereat they storm'd and cald mee to a tryall Where Innocence preuailes not nor denyall But for that cause heere in this place I lie Where none so merry as my dogges and I. Cuddy Beleeue it heere 's a Tale will suten well For Shepheards in another Age to tell Willy And thou shalt be remembred with delight By this hereafter many a Winters night For of this sport another Age will ring Yea Nymphes that are vnborne thereof shall sing And not a Beauty on our Greenes shall play That hath not heard of this thy hunting day Philarete It may be so for if that gentle Swaine Who wonnes by Tauy on the Westerne plaine Would make the Song such life his Verse can giue Then I doe know my Name might euer liue Alexis But tell me are our Plaines and Nymphs forgot And canst thou frolicke in thy trouble be Philarete Can I Alexis sayst thou Can I not That am resolu'd to scorne more misery Alexis Oh but that youth 's yet greene and young bloud hot And liberty must needs be sweet to thee But now most sweet whil'st euery bushy Vale And Groue and Hill rings of the Nightingale Me thinkes when thou remembrest those sweet layes Which thou would'st leade thy Shepheardesse to heare Each Euening tyde among the Leauy sprayes The thought of that should make thy freedome deare For now whil'st euery Nymph on Holy-dayes Sports with some iolly Lad and maketh cheere Thine sighes for thee and mew'd vp from resort Will neither play her selfe nor see their sport Those Shepheards that were many a Morning wont Vnto their Boyes to leaue the tender Heard And beare thee company when thou didst hunt Me thinkes the sport thou hast so gladly shar'd Among those Swaynes should make thee thinke vpon 't For 't seemes all vaine now that was once indear'd It cannot be since I could make relation How for lesse cause thou hast beene deepe in passion Philarete 'T is true my tender heart was euer yet Too capable of such conceits as these I neuer saw that Obiect but from it The Passions of my Loue I could encrease Those things which moue not other men a whit I can and doe make vse of if I please When I am sad to sadnesse I apply Each Bird and Tree and Flowre that I passe by So when I will be merry I aswell Something for mirth from euery thing can draw From Miserie from Prisons nay from Hell And as when to my minde griefe giues a flaw Best comforts doe but make my woes more fell So when I 'me bent to Mirth from mischiefes paw Though ceas'd vpon me I would something cull That spight of care should make my ioyes more full I feele those wants Alexis thou doest name Which spight of youths affections I sustaine Or else for what is 't I haue gotten Fame And am more knowne then many an elder Swaine Iâ— such desires I had not learn'd to tame Since many pipe much better on this Plaine But tune your Reedes and I will in a Song Expresse my Care and how I take this Wrong Sonnet I That ere'st-while the worlds sweet Ayre did draw Grac'd by the fairest euer Mortall saw Now closely pent with walles of Ruth-lesse stone Consume my Dayes and Nights and all alone When I was wont to sing of Shepheards loues My walkes were Fields and Downes and Hils and Groues But now alas so strict is my hard doome Fields Downes Hils Groues and al 's but one pooreroome Each Morne as soone as Day-light did appeare With Natures Musicke Birds would charme mine eare Which now instead of their melodious straines Heare ratling Shackles Gyues and Boults and Chaines But though that all the world's delight forsake me I haue a Muse and she shall Musicke make me Whose ayrie Notes in spight of closest cages Shall giue content to me and after ages Nor doe I passe for all this outward ill My hearts the same and undeiected still And which is more then some in freedome winne I haue truerest and peace and ioy
Cupids fancies blam'd That was so cold so hard to be inflam'd Am I my selfe or is my selfe that Shee Who from this Thraldome or such falshoods free Late own'd mine owne heart and full merry then Did fore-warne others to beware of Men And could not hauing taught them what to doe Now learne my selfe to take heede of you to Foole that I am I feare my guerdon's iust In that I knew this and presum'd to trust And yet alas for ought that I could tell One sparke of goodnesse in the world might dwell And then I thought If such a thing might be Why might not that one sparke remaine in thee For thy faire out-side and thy fayrer tongue Did promise much although thy yeares were young And Vertue wheresoeuer she be now Seem'd then to sit enthron'd vpon thy brow Yea sure it was but whether 't were or no Certaine I am and was perswaded so Which made me loth to thinke that words of fashion Could be so fram'd so ouer-laid with Passion Or sighes so feeling fain'd from any brest Nay say thou hadst been false in all the rest Yet from thy eye my heart such notice tooke Me thought guile could not faine so sad a looke But now I 'ue try'd my bought experience knowes They oft are worst that make the fairest showes And howsoe're men faine an outward grieuing 'T is neither worth respecting nor belieuing For she that doth one to her mercy take Warmes in her bosome but a frozen snake Which heated with her fauours gather sence And stings her to the heart in recompence But tell me why and for what secret spight You in poore womens miseries delight For so it seemes else why d' yee labour for That which when 't is obtained you abhor Or to what end doe you endure such paine To win our loue and cast it off againe Oh that we either your hard hearts could borrow Or else your strengths to helpe vs beare our sorrow But we are cause of all this griefe and shame And we haue none but our owne selues to blame For still we see your falshood for our learning Yet neuer can haue power to tak 't for warning But as if borne to be deluded by you We know you trustlesse and yet still we try you Alas what wrong was in my power to doe thee Or what despight haue I er'e done vnto thee That thou shouldst chuse Me aboue all the rest To bethy scorne and thus be made a iest Must mens il natures such true villaines proue them To make thē wrong those most that most do loue them Couldst thou finde none in Countrey Towne or Court But onely Me to make thy Foole thy sport Thou knowst I haue no wanton courses runne Nor seemed easie vnto lewdnesse wonne And though I cannot boast me of much wit Thou saw'st no signe of fondnesse in me yet Nor did ill nature euer so ore-sway me To flout at any that did woe or pray me But grant I had been guilty of abusage Of thee I 'me sure I ne're deseru'd such vsage But thou wert grieued to behold my smilings When I was free from loue and thy beguilings Or to what purpose else didst thou bestow Thy time and study to delude me so Hast thou good parts and dost thou bend them all To bring those that ne're hated thee in thrall Prethee take heed although thou yet inioy'st them They 'l be tooke from thee if thou so imploy'st them For though I wish not the least harme to thee I feare the iust Heauens will reuenged be Oh! what of Mee by this time had become If my desires with thine had hapt to rome Or I vnwisely had consented to What shamelesse once thou didst attempt to doe I might haue falne by those immodest trickes Had not some power beene stronger then my Sex And if I should haue so been drawne to folly I saw thee apt enough to be vnholy Or if my weakenesse had beene prone to sinne I poorely by thy strength had succour'd bin You Men make vs belieue you doe but try And that 's your part you say ours to deny Yet I much feare if we through frailty stray There 's few of you within your bounds will stay But maugre all your seeming Vertue be As ready to forget your selues as we I might haue fear'd thy part of loue not strong When thou didst offer me so base a wrong And that I after loath'd thee not did proue In mee some extraordinary Loue. For sure had any other but in thought Presum'd vnworthily what thou hast sought Might it appeare I should doe thus much for him With a scarce reconciled hate abhorre him My young experience neuer yet did know Whether desire might range so farre or no To make true Louers carelesly request What rash enioyning makes them most vnblest Or blindly thorow frailty giue consenting To that which done brings nothing but repenting But in my iudgement it doth rather proue That they are fir'd with lust then warm'd with loue And if it be for proofe men so proceed It shewes a doubt else what doe tryals neede And where is that man liuing euer knew That false distrust could be with loue that 's true Since the meere cause of that vnblam'd effect Such an opinion is that hates suspect And yet thee and thy loue I will excuse If thou wilt neither me nor mine abuse For I le suppose thy passion made thee proffer That vnto me thou to none else wouldst offer And so thinke thou if I haue thee deni'd Whom I more lou'd then all men else beside What hope haue they such fauour to obtaine That neuer halfe so much respect could gaine Such was my loue that I did value thee Aboue all things below eternity Nothing on Earth vnto my heart was nearer No Ioy so prized nor no Iewell dearer Nay I doe feare I did Idolatrize For which Heauens wrath inflicts these miseries And makes the things which were for blessings lent To be renewers of my discontent Where was there any of the Naiades The Dryad's or the Hamadryades Which of the Brittish shires can yeeld againe A mistresse of the Springs or Wood or Plaine Whose eye enioy'd more sweet contents then mine Till I receiu'd my ouerthrow by thine Where 's she did more delight in Springs and Rils Where 's she that walk'd more Groues or Downs or Hils Or could by such faire artlesse prospect more Adde by conceit to her contentments store Then I whilst thou wert true and with thy Graces Didst giue a pleasing presence to those places But now What is What was hath ouerthrowne My Rose deckt allies now with Rue are strowne And from those flowers that honyed vse to be I sucke nought now but iuyce to poyson mee For eu'n as she whose gentle spirit can raise To apprehend Loues noble mysteries Spying a precious Iewell richly set Shine in some corner of her Cabenet Taketh delight at first to gaze vpon The pretty lustre of the sparkling stone And pleas'd in
A SATYRE Written to the KINGS most Excellent Maiestie BY GEORGE WITHER When hee was Prisoner in the Marshallsey for his first BOOKE LONDON Printed by T.S. for Iohn Budge dwelling in Pauls-Church-yard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1622. The Satyre to the meere Courtiers SIrs I doe know your mindes You looke for fees For more respect then needes for caps and knees But be content I haue not for you now Nor will I haue at all to doe with you For though I seeme opprest and you suppose I must be faine to crouch to Vertues foes Yet know your fauours I doe sleight them more In this distresse then ere I did before Here to my Liege a message I must tell If you will let me passe you shall doe well If you denie admittance why then know I meane to haue it where you will or no Your formall wisedome which hath neuer beene In ought but in some fond inuention seene And you that thinke men borne to no intent But to be train'd in Apish complement Doth now perhaps suppose mee indiscreet And such vnused messages vnmeet But what of that Shall I goe sute my matter Vnto your wits that haue but wit to flatter Shall I of your opinions so much prize To lose my will that you may thinke me wise Who neuer yet to any liking had Vnlesse he were a Knaue a Foole or mad You Mushroms know so much I weigh your powers I neither value you nor what is yours Nay though my crosses had me quite out-worne Spirit enough I 'de finde your spight to scorne Of which resolu'd to further my aduenture Vnto my King without your leaues I enter To the Honest Courtiers BVt You whose onely worth doth colour giue To Them that they doe worthy seeme to liue Kinde Gentlemen your ayde I craue to bring A Satyre to the presence of his King A show of rudenesse doth my fore-head arme Yet you may trust him he intends no harme He that hath sent him loyall is and true And one whose loue I know is much to you But now he lyes bound to a narrow scope Almost beyond the Cape of all good Hope Long hath he sought to free himselfe but failes And therefore seeing nothing else preuailes Me to acquaint his Soueraigne here he sends As one despairing of all other friends I doe presume that you will fauour shew him Now that a Messenger from thence you know him For many thousands that his face ne're knew Blame his Accusers and his Fortune rue And by the helpe which your good word may doe He hopes for pitty from his Soueraigne to Then in his presence with your fauours grace him And there 's no Vice so great shall dare out-face him To the Kings most Excellent MAIESTIE A SATYRE Quid tu si pereo WHat once the Poet said I may auow 'T is a hard thing not to write Satyrs now Since what we speake abuse raigns so in all Spight of our hearts will be Satyricall Let it not therefore now be deemed strange My vnsmooth'd lines their rudenesse do not change Nor be distastefull to my gracious King That in the Cage my old harsh notes I sing And rudely make a Satyre here vnfold What others would in neater tearmes haue told And why my friends and meanes in Court are scant Knowledge of curious phrase and forme I want I cannot bear 't to runne my selfe in debt To hire the Groome to bid the Page entreat Some fauourd Follower to vouchsafe his word To get me a cold comfort from his Lord. I cannot sooth though it my life might saue Each Fauourite nor crouch to eu'ry Knaue I cannot brooke delayes as some men do With scoffes and scornes and tak 't in kindnesse to For ere I 'de binde my selfe for some slight grace To one that hath no more worth then his place Or by a base meane free my selfe from trouble I rather would endure my penance double Cause to be forc'd to what my mind disdaines Is worse to me then tortures rackes and chaines And therefore vnto thee I onely flye To whom there needs no meane but Honesty To thee that lou'st nor Parasite or Minion Should ere I speake possesse thee with opinion To thee that do'st what thou wilt vndertake For loue of Iustice not the persons sake To thee that know'st how vaine all faire shewes be That flow not from the hearts sinceritie And canst though shadowed in the simplest vaile Discerne both Loue and Truth and where they faile To thee doe I appeale in whom Heau'n knowes I next to God my confidence repose For can it be thy Grace should euer shine And not enlighten such a Cause as mine Can my hopes fixt in thee great King be dead Or thou those Satyrs hate thy Forrests bred Where shall my second hopes be founded then If euer I haue heart to hope agen Can I suppose a fauour may be got In any place when thy Court yeelds it not Or that I may obtaine it in the land When I shall be deni'd it at thy hand And if I might could I delighted be To tak 't of others when I mist of thee Or if I were could I haue comfort by it When I should thinke my Soueraigne did deny it No were I sure I to thy hate were borne To seeke for others fauours I would scorne For if the beft-worth-loues I could not gaine To labour for the rest I would disdaine But why should I thy fauour here distrust That haue a cause so knowne and knowne so iust Which not alone my inward comfort doubles But all suppose me wrong'd that heare my troubles Nay though my fault were Reall I beleeue Thou art so Royall that thou wouldst forgiue For well I know thy sacred Maiesty Hath euer beene admir'd for Clemency And at thy gentlenesse the world hath wondred For making Sun-shine where thou mightst haue thundred Yea thou in mercy life to them didst giue That could not be content to see thee liue And can I thinke that thou wilt make me then The most vnhappy of all other men Or let thy loyall Subiect against reason Be punisht more for Loue then some for Treason No thou didst neuer yet thy glory staine With an iniustice to the meanest Swaine 'T is not thy will I 'me wrong'd nor dost thou know If I haue suffred iniuries or no. For if I haue not heard falfe Rumours flie Th' ast grac'st me with the stile of Honesty And if it were so as some thinke it was I cannot see how it should come to passe That thou from whose free tongue proceedeth nought Which is not correspondent with thy thought Those thoughts to being fram'd in Reasons mould Should speake that once which should not euer hold But passing it as an vncertainety I humbly beggethee by that Maiesty Whose sacred Glory strikes a louing-feare Into the hearts of all to whom 't is deare To deigne me so much fauour without merit As read this plaint of a distempered spirit And thinke
vnlesse I saw some hideous storme Too great to be endur'd by such a worme I had not thus presum'd vnto a King With Aesops Fly to seeke an Eagles wing Know I am he that entred once the list Gainst all the world to play the Satyrist T was I that made my measures rough and rude Dance arm'd with whips amidst the multitude And vnappalled with my charmed Scrowles Teaz'd angry Monsters in their lurking holes I 'ue plaid with Waspes and Hornets without feares Till mad they grew and swarm'd about my eares I 'ue done it and me thinkes t is such braue sport I may be stung but nere be sorry for 't For all my griefe is that I was so sparing And had no more in 't worth the name of daring He that will taxe these times must be more bitter Tart lines of Vinegar and Gall are fitter My fingers and my spirits were benum'd My inck ran forth too smooth t was two much gum'd I 'de haue my Pen so paint it where it traces Each accent should draw blood into their faces And make them when their Villanies are blazed Shudder and startle as men halfe amazed For feare my Verse should make so loud a din Heauen hearing might raine vengeance on their sin Oh now for such a straine would Art could teach it Though halfe my spirits I consum'd to reach it I de learne my Muse so braue a course to flie Men should admire the power of Poosie And those that dar'd her greatnesse to resist Quake euen at naming of a Satyrist But when his scourging numbers flow'd with wonder Should cry God blesse vs as they did at thunder Alas my lines came from me too-too dully They did not fill a Satyrs mouth vp fully Hot blood and youth enrag'd with passions store Taught me to reach a straine nere touch'd before But it was coldly done I throughly 〈◊〉 not And somewhat there is yet to doe I did not More soundly could my scourge haue yerked many Which I omitted not for feare of any For want of action discontentments rage Base dis-respect of Vertue in this age With other things which were to Goodnesse wrong Made me so fearelesse in my carelesse Song That had not reason within compasse won me I had told Truth enough to haue vndone me Nay haue already if that her Diuine And vnseene power can doe no more then mine For though fore-seeing warinesse was good I fram'd my stile vnto a milder mood And clogging her high-towring wings with mire Made her halfe earth that was before all fire Though as you saw in a disguised shew I brought my Satyres to the open view Hoping their out-sides being mis-esteem'd They might haue passed but for what they seem'd Yet some whose Comments iumpe not with my minde In that low phrase a higher reach would finde And out of their deepe iudgements seeme to know What 't is vncertaine if I meant or no Ayming thereby out of some priuate hate To worke my shame or ouer-throw my state For amongst many wrongs my foe doth doe me And diuers imputations laide vnto me Deceiued in his ayme he doth mis-conster That which I haue enstil'd a Man-like Monster To meane some priuate person in the State Whose worth I sought to wrong out of my hate Vpbraiding me I from my word doe start Either for want of better Ground or Heart Cause from his expectation I did vary In the denying of his Commentary Whereas t is knowne I meant Abuse the while Not thinking any one could be so vile To merit all those Epithites of shame How euer many doe deserue much blame But say I grant that I had an intent To haue it so as he interprets meant And let my gracious Liege suppose there were One whom the State may haue iust cause to feare Or thinke there were a man and great in Court That had more faults then I could well report Suppose I knew him and had gone about By some particular markes to paint him out That he best knowing his owne faults might see He was the Man I would should noted be Imagine now such doings in this Age And that this man so pointed at should rage Call me in question and by his much threatning By long imprisonment and ill-intreating Vrge a Confession wert not a mad part For me to tell him what lay in my heart Doe not I know a great mans Power and Might In spight of Innocence can smother Right Colour his Villanies to get esteeme And make the honest man the Villaine seeme And that the truth I told should in conclusion For want of Power and Friends be my confusion I know it and the world doth know t is true Yet I protest if such a man I knew That might my Country preiudice or Thee Were he the greatest or the proudest Hee That breathes this day if so it might be found That any good to either might redound So far I le be though Fate against me run From starting off from that I haue begun I vn-appalled dare in such a case Rip vp his foulest Crimes before his face Though for my labour I were sure to drop Into the mouth of Ruine without hope But such strange farre-fetcht meanings they haue sought As I was neuer priuie to in thought And that vnto particulars would tie Which I intended vniuersally Whereat some with displeasure ouer-gone Those I scarce dream'd of saw or thought vpon Maugre those caueats on my Satyrs brow Their honest and iust passage disallow And on their heads so many censures rake That spight of me themselues they 'le guilty make Nor is 't enough to swage their discontent To say I am or to be innocent For as when once the Lyon made decree No horned beast should nigh his presence be That on whose fore-head onely did appeare A bunch of flesh or but some tuft of haire Was euen as farre in danger as the rest If he but said it was a horned beast So there be now who thinke in that their power Is of much force or greater farre then our It is enough to proue a guilt in me Because mistaking they so think 't to be Yet 't is my comfort they are not so high But they must stoope to Thee and Equitie And this I know though prickt they storme agen The world doth deeme them ne're the better men To stirre in filth makes not the stench the lesse Nor doth Truth feare the frowne of Mightinesse Because those numbers she doth daigne to grace Men may suppresse a while but ne're deface I wonder and 't is wondred at by many My harmelesse lines should breed distaste in any And so that whereas most good men approue My labour to be worthy thankes and loue I as a Villaine and my Countries foe Should be imprison'd and so strictly to That not alone my liberty is barr'd But the resort of friends which is more hard And whilst each wanton or loose Rimers Pen With oyly words sleekes o're the sinnes of men Vayling