it is an odious thing To let thy banner flie against thy King VVith scorne he throwes the Standard to the ground VVhen Cheney for his height and strength renown'd Steps forth to couer Richmond now expos'd To Richards sword the King with Cheney clos'd And to the earth this mighty Giant fell'd Then like a Stag whom fences long with-held From meddowes where the Spring in glory raignes Now hauing leuell'd those vnpleasing chaines And treading proudly on the vanquisht flowres He in his hopes a thousand ioyes deuoures For now no pow'r to crosse his end remaines But onely Henry whom he neuer daines To name his foe and thinkes he shall not braue A valiant Champion but a yeelding slaue Alas how much deceiu'd when he shall find An able body and couragious minde For Richmond boldly doth himselfe oppose Against the King and giues him blowes for blowes VVho now confesseth with an angry frowne His Riuall not vnworthy of the Crowne The younger Stanley then no longer staid The Earle in danger needs his present aide VVhich he performes as sudden as the light His comming turnes the ballance of the fight So threatning clouds whose fall the ploughmen feare VVhich long vpon the mountaines top appeare Dissolue at last and vapours then distill To watry showres that all the valleys fill The first that saw this dreadfull storme arise VVas Catesby who to Richard loudly cries No way but swift retreate your life to saue This no shame with wings t' auoide the graue This said he trembling turnes himselfe to flie And dares not stay to heare the Kings replie VVho scorning his aduice as foule and base Returnes this answer with a wrathfull face Let cowards trust their horses nimble feete And in their course with new destruction meete Gaine thou some houres to draw thy fearefull breath To me ignoble flight is worse then death But at th'approach of Stanleyes fresh supply The Kings side droopes so gen'rous Horses lie Vnapt to stirre or make their courage knowne Which vnder cruell Masters sinke and grone There at his Princes foote stout Ratcliffe dies Not fearing but despairing Louell flies For he shall after end his weary life In not so faire but yet as bold a strife The King maintaines the fight though left alone For Henries life he faine would change his owne And as a Lionesse which compast round VVith troopes of men receiues a smarting wound By some bold hand though hinder'd and opprest With other speares yet shghting all the rest Will follow him alone that wrong'd her first So Richard pressing with reuengefull thirst Admits no shape but Richmonds to his eye And would in triumph on his carcase die But that great God to whom all creatures yeeld Protects his seruant with a heau'nly shield His pow'r in which the Earle securely trusts Rebates the blowes and falsifies the thrusts The King growes weary and begins to faint It grieues him that his foes perceiue the taint Some strike him that till then durst not come neare With weight and number they to ground him beare Where trampled down and hew'd with many sword He softly vtter'd these his dying words Now strength no longer Fortune can withstand I perish in the Center of my Land His hand he then with wreathes of grasse infolds And bites the earth which he so strictly holds As if he would haue borne it with him hence So loth he was to lose his rights pretence FINIS An expression of Sibylls Acrostichs 〈…〉 signe that Iudgement comes the Earth shall sweat 〈…〉 times behold the Prince whose might 〈…〉 censure all within his Kingdome great 〈◊〉 â—rue and faithfull shall approach his sight 〈◊〉 feare this God by his high glory knowne 〈◊〉 â—â—â—bin'd with flesh and compast with his Saints 〈◊〉 words diuiding soules before his Throne 〈◊〉 â—eeme the world from Thornes and barren taints 〈◊〉 vaine then mortals leaue their wealth and sinne â—â—â—ong force the stubborne gates of Hell shall tame â—he Saints though dead shall light and freedome winne â—word thriue not wicked men with wrathfull flame â—pprest whose beames can search their words and deeds â—o darkesome brest can couer base desires â—ew sorrow gnashing teeth and wailing breeds â—â—empt from Sunny rayes or Starry quires 〈◊〉 â—eau'n thou art roll'd vp the Moone shall die â—â—om vales he takes their depth from hilles their height â—â—eat men no more are insolent and high 〈◊〉 Seas no nimble ships shall carry weight 〈◊〉 thunder arm'd with heat the earth confounds â—weet Springs and bubbling Streames their course restraine 〈◊〉 heau'nly trumpet sending dolefull sounds â—pbraydes the worlds misdeeds and threatens paine 〈◊〉 gaping earth infernall depths are seene Our proudest â—â—ngs are summon'd by his call â—nto his seate from heau'n with anger keene â—euengefull floods of fire and brimstone fall VIRGIL VIRGIL ECLOG 4. CIcilian Muses sing we greater things All are not pleas'd with Shrubs lowly Spâ—â—â— More fitly to the Consull Woods belong Now is fulfild Cumaean Sibyls Song Long chaines of better times begin againe The Maide returnes and brings backe Saturnes raiâ—â— New progenies from lofty Heau'n descend Thouchaste Lucina be this Infants friend Whose birth the dayes of Ir'n shall quite deface And through the world the golden age shall place Thy brother Phoebus weares his potent Crowne And thou O Pollio know thy high renowne Thy Consulship this glorious change shall breed Great moneths shall then endeuour to proceed Thy rule the steps of threatning sinne shall cleare And free the earth from that perpetuall feare He with the Gods shall liue and shall behold With heauenly spirits noble soules enroll'd And seene by them shall guide this worldly frame Which to his hand his fathers strength doth tame To thee sweet Child the earth brings natiue dowâ— The wandring Iuy with faire Bâ—cchars flowres â—nd Colocasia sprung from Egypts ground With smiling leaues of greene Acanthus crown'd â—he Gotes their swelling vdders home shall beare The Droues no more shall mighty Lions feare For thee thy cradle pleasing flowres shall bring Imperious Death shall blunt the Serpents sting No herbes shall with deceitfull poyson flow And sweet Amomum eu'ry where shall grow But when thou able art to reade the facts Of Worthies and thy Fathers famous acts To know what glories vertues name adorne The fields to ripenesse bring the tender corne Ripe Grapes depend on carelesse Brambles tops Hard Oakes sweat hony form'd in dewy drops Yet some few steps of former fraudes remaine VVhich men to trie the Sea with ships constraine VVith strengthning walles their Cities to defend And on the ground long surrowes to extend A second â—â—phys and â—ew Argo then Shall leade to braue exploits the best of men The warre of Troy that Towne againe shall burne And great Achilles thither shall returne But when firme age a perfect man thee makes The willing Sayler straight the Seas forsakes The Pâ—â—e no more the vse of trade retaines Each Countrie breeds all fruits the earth disdaines The Harrowes weight and Vines the
great By fixing here his Heires perpetuall Seate VVhich eu'ry firme and loyall heart desires May last as long as heau'n hath starry fires Continued blisse from him this Land receiues VVhen leauing vs to vs his Sonne he leaues Our hope our ioy our treasure Charles our King VVhose entrance in my next attempt I sing A Panegyrick at the Coronation of our Soueraigne Lord King Charles AVrora come why should thine enuious stay Deferre the ioyes of this expected day VVill not thy master let his horses runne Because he feares to meete another Sunne Or hath our Northerne Starre so dimm'd thine eyes Thou knowst not where at East or VVest to rise Make haste for if thou shalt denie thy light His glitt'ring Crowne will driue away the night Debarre not curious Phoebus who desires To guild all glorious obiects with his fires And could his beames lay open peoples harts As well as he can view their outward parts He heere should find a triumph such as he Hath neuer seene perhaps shall neuer see Shine forth great Charles accept our loyall words Throw froÌ„ your pleasing eies those conqu'ring swords That when vpon your Name our voyces call The Birds may feele our thund'ring noise and fall Soft Ayre rebounding in a circled ring Shall to the Gates of Heau'n our wishes bring For vowes which with so strong affection flie From many lips will doubtlesse pierce the skie And God who knowes the secrets of our minds When in our brests he these two vertues finds Sincerity and Concord ioyn'd in pray'r For him whom Nature made vndoubted Heyre Of three faire Kingdoms will his Angels send With blessings from his Throne this pompe t' attend Faire Citty Englands Gemme the Queene of Trade By sad infection lately desart made Cast off thy mourning robes forget thy teares Thy cleare and healthfull iupiter appeares Pale Death who had thy silent streets possest And some foule dampe or angry Planet prest To work his rage now from th' Almighties will Receiues command to hold his Iauelin still But since my Muse pretends to tune a song Fit for this day and fit t' inspire this throng Whence shall I kindle such immortall fires From Ioyes or Hopes from Prayses or Desires To prayse him would require an endlesse wheele Yet nothing told but what we see and feele A thousand tongues for him all gifts intreate In which Felicity may claime her seate Large Honour happy Conquest boundlesse Wealth Long Life sweete Children vnafflicted Health But chiefely we esteeme that precious thing Of which already we behold the Spring Directing Wisdome and we now presage How high that vertue will ascend in age In him our certaine confidence vnites All former worthy Princes spreading lights And addes his glorious Father to the summe From ancient times no greater Name can come Our hopefull King thus to his Subiects shines And reades in faithfull hearts these zealous lines This is our Countries Father this is Hee In whome we liue and could not liue so free Were we not vnder him his watchfull care Preuents our dangers how shall we declare Our thankfull minds but by the humble gift Of firme obedience which to him we lift As he is Gods true Image choicely wrought And for our ioy to these Dominions brought So must we imitate celestiall bands Which grudge not to performe diuine commands His brest transparent like a liquid flood Discouers his aduice for publike good But if we iudge it by deceiuing fame Like Semele we thinke Ioues piercing flame No more then common fire in ashes nurst Till formelesse fancies in their errors burst Shall we discusse his counsels We are blest Who know our blisse and in his iudgement rest Of the Princes iourney THe happy ship that carries from the Land Great Britaines ioy before she knowes her losse Is rul'd by him who can the waues command No enuious stormes a quiet passage crosse See how the water smiles the winde breathes faire The cloudes restraine their frownes their sighes their teares As if the Musicke of the whisp'ring ayre Should tell the Sea what precious weight it beares A thousand vowes and wishes driue the sayles VVith gales of safety to the Neustrian shore The Ocean trusted with this pledge bewailes That it such wealth must to the Earth restore Then France receiuing with a deare imbrace This Northerne Starre though clouded and disguis'd Beholds some hidden vertue in his face And knowes he is a Iewell highly priz'd Yet there no pleasing sights can make him stay For like a Riuer sliding to the Maine He hastes to find the period of his way And drawne by loue drawes all our hearts to Spaine Of the Princes departure and returne WHen Charles from vs withdrawes his glorious light The Sunne desires his absence to supply And that we may nothing in darknesse lie He striues to free the North from dreadfull night Yet we to Phoebus scarce erect our sight But all our lookes our thoughts to Charles apply And in the best delights of life we die Till he returne and make this Climate bright Now he ascends and giues Apollo leaue To driue his Horses to the lower part VVe by his presence like content receiue As when fresh spirits aide the fainting heart Rest here great Charles and shine to vs alone For other Starres are common Charles our owne Of the Princes most happy returne OVr Charles whose Horses neuer quencht theâ—â— heate In cooling waues of Neptunes watry seate Whose starry Chariot in the spangled night Was still the pleasing obiect of our sight This glory of the North hath lately runne A course as round and certaine as the Sunne He to the South inclining halfe the yeere Now at our Tropike will againe appeare He made his setting in the Westerne streames Where weary Phoebus dips his fading beames But in this morning our erected eyes Become so happy as to see him rise VVe shall not euer in the shadow stay His absence was to bring a longer day That hauing felt how darknesse can affright VVe may with more content embrace the light And call to mind how eu'ry soule with paine Sent forth her throwes to fetch him home againe For want of him we wither'd in the Spring But his returne shall life in VVinter bring The Plants which wheÌ„ he went were growing greene Retaine their former Liu'ries to be seene VVhen he reuiewes them his expected eye Preseru'd their beauty ready oft to die VVhat tongue what hand can to the life display The glorious ioy of this triumphant day VVhen England crown'd with many thousand fires Receiues the scope of all her best desires She at his sight as with an Earthquake swells And strikes the Heau'n with sound of trembling bells The vocall Goddesse leauing desart woods Slides downe the vales and dancing on the floods Obserues our words and with repeating noise Contends to double our abundant ioyes The VVorlds cleare eye is iealous of his name He sees this He like one continuall flame And feares lest Earth a brighter
here to stay Refusing that sweet change which God prouides To those whom with his rod and staffe he guides Your happinesse consists not now alone In those high comforts which are often throwne In plenteous manner from our Sauiours hand To raise the fall'n and cause the weake to stand But ye are blest when being trodden downe Ye taste his Cup and weare his thorny Crowne On Ascension day YE that to heau'n direct your curious eyes And send your minds to walk the spacious skies See how the Maker to your selues you brings Who sets his noble markes on meanest things And hauing Man aboue the Angels plac'd The lowly Earth more then the Heau'n hath grac'd Poore Clay each Creature thy degrees admires First God in thee a liuing Soule inspires Whose glorious beames hath made thee farre mâ—â—â— bright Then is the Sunne the spring of corp'rall light He rests not here but to himselfe thee takes And thee diuine by wondrous vnion makes What Region can afford a worthy place For his exalted Flesh Heau'n is too base He scarce would touch it in his swift ascent The Orbes fled backe like Iordan as he went And yet he daign'd to dwell a while on earth As paying thankefull tribute for his birth But now this body all Gods workes excels And hath no place but God in whom it dwels An Ode of the blessed Trinitie MVse that art dull and weake Opprest with worldly paine If strength in thee remaine Of things diuine to speake Thy thoughts a while from vrgent eares restraine And with a cheareful voice thy wonted silence breake No cold shall thee benumme Nor darknesse taint thy sight To thee new heate new light Shall from this obiect come Whose praises if thou now wilt sound a right My pen shall giue thee leaue hereafter to be dumbe Whence shall we then begin To sing or write of this Where no beginning is Or if we enter in Where shall we end The end is endlesse blisse Thrice happy we if well so rich a thread we spinne For Thee our strings we touch Thou that are Three and One Whose essence though vnknowne Beleeu'd is to be such To whom what ere we giue we giue thine owne And yet no mortall tongue can giue to thee so much See how in vayne we trie To find some tipe t' agree With this great One in Three Yet can none such descrie If any like or second were to thee Thy hidden nature then were not so deepe and high Here faile inferiour things The Sunne whose heate and light Make creatures warme and bright A feeble shadow brings The Sunne shewes to the world his Fathers might With glorious raies froÌ„ both our fire the spirit spring Now to this toplesse hill Let vs ascend more neare Yet still within the Spheare Of our connat'rall skill We may behold how in our soules we beare An vnderstanding pow'r ioyn'd with effectuall will We can no higher goe To search this point diuine Here it doth chiefly shine This Image must it show These steppes as helpes our humble minds incline T' embrace those certaine grounds which from true Faith must flow To him these notes direct Who not with outward hands Nor by his strong commands Whence creatures take effect While perfectly himselfe he vnderstands Begets another selfe with equall glory deckt From these the Spring of loue The holy Ghost proceeds VVho our affection feeds VVith those cleare flames which moue From that eternall Essence which them breeds And strike into our soules as lightning from aboue Stay stay Parnassian Girle Heere thy descriptions faint Thou humane shapes canst paint And canst compare to Pearle VVhite teeth and speak of lips which Rubies taint Resembling beauteous eies to Orbs that swiftly whirle But now thou mayst perceiue The weakenesse of thy wings And that thy noblest strings To muddy obiects cleaue Then praise with humble silence heau'nly things And what is more then this to still deuotion leaue A Dialogue betweene the World a Pilgrim and Vertue Pilgrim WHat darknes clouds my senses Hath the day Forgot his season and the Sunne his way Doth God withdraw his all-sustaining might And works no more with his faire creature light While heau'n and earth for such a losse complaine And turne to rude vnformed heapes againe My paces with intangling briers are bound And all this forrest in deepe silence drownd Here must my labour and my iourney cease By which in vaine I sought for rest and peace But now perceiue that mans vnquiet mind In all his waies can onely darkenesse find Here must I starue and die vnlesse some light Point out the passage from this dismall night World Distressed Pilgrim let not causelesse feare Depresse thy hopes for thou hast comfort neare Which thy dull heart with splendor shall inspire And guide thee to thy period of desire Cleare vp thy browes and raise thy fainting eyes See how my glitt'ring Palace open lies For weary passengers whose desp'rate case I pitie and prouide a resting place Pilgrim O thou whose speeches sound whose beauties shine Not like a creature but some pow'r diuine Teach me thy stile thy worth and state declare VVhose glories in this desart hidden are World I am thine end Felicity my name The best of wishes Pleasures Riches Fame Are humble vassals which my Throne attend And make you mortals happy when I send In my left hand delicious fruits I hold To feede them who with mirth and ease grow old Afraid to lose the fleeting dayes and nights They seaze on times and spend it in delights My right hand with triumphant crownes is stor'd VVhich all the Kings of former times ador'd These gifts are thine then enter where no strife No griefe no paine shall interrupt thy life Vertue Stay hasty wretch here deadly Serpents dwell And thy next step is on the brinke of hell VVouldst thou poore weary man thy limbs repose Behold my house where true contentment growes Not like the baites which this seducer giues VVhose blisse a day whose torment euer liues World Regard not these vaine speeches let them goe This is a poore worme my contemned foe Bold thredbare Vertue who dare promise more From empty bags then I from all my store VVhose counsels make men draw vnquiet breath Expecting to be happy after death Vertue Canst thou now make or hast thou euer made Thy seruants happy in those things that fade Heare this my challenge one example bring Of such perfection let him be the King Of all the world fearing no outward check And guiding others by his voice or beck Yet shall this man at eu'ry moment find More gall then hony in his restlesse mind Now Monster since my words haue struck thee dumb Behold this Garland whence such vertues come Such glories shine such piercing beames are throwne As make thee blind and turne thee to a stone And thou whose wand'ring feet were running downe Th' infernall steepenesse looke vpon this Crowne Within these folds lie hidden no deceits No golden lures
sibi somnium quid audet Altum effare noëma bello-montis Effatum euge Poëma Bello-montî est Dium castalium nitens politum Libatum salibus lepore tinctum Decurrens velut amnis alti monte Feruet delicijs ruit profundo Beaumontus latice Altiùs resultat Fertur nec tenui nec vsitatâ Pennâ per liquidam aetheram biformis Hic Phoebi deus est decus cohortis Summum Palladiae iubar sororum Ipse flos Venerum resurgo legi Ph. Kin. Vpon the Honored Poems of his Vnknowne Friend Sir Iohn Beaumont Baronet I Knew thee not I speake it to my shame But by that cleare and equall Voyce of Fame VVhich with the Sunnes bright course did ioyntly beare Thy glorious Name about each Hemisphere VVhiles I who had confin'd my selfe to dwell VVithin the straite bounds of an obscure Cell â—oke in those pleasing beames of VVit and VVorth VVhich where the Sunne could neuer shine breake forth VVherewith I did refresh my weaker sight â—hen others bath'd themselues in thy full light â—â—t when the dismall rumour was once spred â—â—at struck all knowing soules of Beaumont dead Aboue thy best Friends 't was my benefit 〈◊〉 know thee onely by thy liuing VVit And whereas others might their losse deplore Thou liu'st to me iust as thou didst before In all that we can value Great or Good VVhich were not in these cloathes of flesh and blood Thou now hast laid aside but in that mind That only by 〈…〉 could be confin'd Thou liu'st to me and shalt for euer raine In both the issues of thy Blood and Braine Ia. Cl. Bosworth Field WITH CERTAINE OTHER POEMS c. THe Winters storme of Ciuill warre I sing Whose end is crown'd with our eternall Spring Where Roses ioyn'd their colours mixe in one And armies fight no more for Englands Throne Thou gracious Lord direct my seeble Pen Who from the actions of ambitious men Hast by thy goodnesse drawne our ioyfull good And made sweet flowres Oliues grow from blood While we delighted with this faire release May clime Parnassus in the dayes of peace The King whose eyes were neuer fully clos'd Whose minde opprest with feareful dreames suppos'd That he in blood had wallow'd all the night Leapes from his restlesse bed before the light Accursed Tirell is the first he spies Whom threatning with his dagger thus he cries How darst thou villaine so disturbe my sleepe Were not the smother'd children buried deepe And hath the ground againe been ript by thee That I their rotten carkases might see The wretch astonisht hastes away to slide As damned ghosts themselues in darkenesse hide And calles vp three whose counsels could asswage The sudden swellings of the Princes rage Ambitious Louell who to gaine his grace Had stain'd the honour of his Noble race Perfidious Catesby by whose curious skill The Law was taught to speake his Masters will And Ratcliffe deepely learn'd in courtly Art Who best could search into his Sou'raignes hart Affrighted Richard labours to relate His hideous dreames as signes of haplesse Fate Alas said they such fictions children feare These are not terrors shewing danger neare But motiues sent by some propitious power To make you watchfull at this early hower These proue that your victorious care preuents Your slouthfull foes that slumber in their tents This precious time must not in vaine be spent Which God your helpe by heau'nly meanes hath lent He by these false coniectures much appeas'd Contemning fancies which his minde diseas'd Replies I should haue been asham'd to tell Fond dreames to wise men whether Heau'n or Hell Or troubled Nature these effects hath wrought I know this day requires another thought If some resistlesse strength my cause should crosse Feare will increase and not redeeme the losse All dangers clouded with the mist offeare Seeme great farre off but lessen comming neare Away ye blacke illusions of the night If ye combin'd with Fortune haue the might To hinder my designes ye shall not barre My courage seeking glorious death in warre Thus being chear'd he calles aloud for armes And bids that all should rise whoÌ„ Morpheus charmes Bring me saith he the harnesse that I wore At Teuxbury which from that day no more Hath felt the battries of a ciuill strife Nor stood betweene destruction and my life Vpon his brest-plate he beholds a dint Which in that field young Edwards sword did print This stirres remembrance of his heinous guilt When he that Princes blood so foulely spilt Now fully arm'd he takes his helmet bright Which like a twinkling starre with trembling light Sends radiant lustre through the darksome aire This maske will make his wrinkled visage faire But when his head is couer'd with the steele He telles his seruants that his temples feele Deepe-piercing stings which breed vnusuall paines And of the heauy burden much complaines Some marke his words as tokens fram'd t' expresse The sharpe conclusion of a sad successe Then going forth and finding in his way A souldier of the Watch who sleeping lay Enrag'd to see the wretch neglect his part He strikes a sword into his trembling heart The hand of death and iron dulnesse takes Those leaden eyes which nat'rall ease forsakes The King this morning sacrifice commends And for example thus the fact defends I leaue him as I found him fit to keepe The silent doores of euerlasting sleepe Still Richmond slept for worldly care and feare Haue times of pausing when the soule is cleare While Heau'ns Directer whose reuengefull brow Would to the guilty head no rest allow Lookes on the other part with milder eyes At his command an Angell swiftly flies From sacred truths perspicuous gate to bring A crystall vision on his golden wing This Lord thus sleeping thought he saw and knew His lamblike Vnkle whom that Tiger slew Whose powerfull words encourage him to fight Goâ—â—n iust scourge of murder vertues light The combate which thou shalt this day endure Makes Englands peace for many ages sure Thy strong inuasion cannot be withstood The earth assists thee with the cry of blood The heau'n shall blesse thy hopes and crowne thy ioyes See how the Fiends with loud and dismall noyse 〈◊〉 Presaging Vultures greedy of their prey On Richards tent their scaly wings display The holy King then offer'd to his view A liuely tree on which three branches grew But when the hope offruit had made him glad All fell to dust at which the Earle was sad Yet comfort comes againe when from the roote He sees a bough into the North to shoote Which nourisht there extends it selfe from thence And girds this Iland with a firme defence There he beholds a high and glorious Throne Where sits a King by Lawrell Garlands knowne Like bright Apollo in the Muses quires His radiant eyes are watchfull heauenly fires Beneath his feete pale Enuie bites her chaine And snaky Discord whets her sting in vaine Thou seest said Henry wise and potent Iames This this is he whose happy Vnion tames The
fires Whose heate the Greeke and Roman works inspires Pure phrase fit Epithets a sober care Of Metaphors descriptions cleare yet rare Similitudes contracted smooth and round Not vext by learning but with Nature crown'd Strong figures drawne from deepe inuentions springs Consisting lesse in words and more in things A language not affecting ancient times Nor Latine shreds by which the Pedant climes A noble subiect which the mind may lift To easie vse of that peculiar gift Which Poets in their raptures hold most deare VVhen actions by the liuely sound appeare Giue me such helpes I neuer will despaire But that our heads which sucke the freezing aire As well as hotter braines may verse adorne And be their wonder as we were their scorne To the glorious memory of our late Soueraigne Lord King Iames. WEepe O ye Nymphes that from your caues may flow Those trickling drops whence mighty riuers flow Disclose your hidden store let eu'ry Spring To this our Sea of griefe some tribute bring And when ye once haue wept your Fountaines dry The heau'n with showres will send a new supply But if these cloudy treasures prooue too scant Our teares shall helpe when other moystures want This I le nay Europe nay the World bewailes Our losse with such a Streame as neuer failes Abundant floods from eu'ry letter rise When we pronounce great Iames our Soueraigne dies And while I write these words I trembling stand A sudden darkenesse hath possest the Land I cannot now expresse my selfe by signes All eyes are blinded none can reade my lines Till Charles ascending driues away the night And in his splendour giues my Verses light Thus by the beames of his succeeding flame I shall describe his Fathers boundlesse Fame The Grecian Emp'rours gloried to be borne And nurst in Purple by their Parents worne See here a King whose birth together twines The Britan English Norman Scottish lines How like a Princely Throne his Cradle stands White Diadems become his swathing bands His glory now makes all the Earth his Tombe But enuious Fiends would in his Mothers wombe Interre his rising greatnesse and contend Against the Babe whom heau'nly troopes defend And giue such vigour in his childhoods-state That he can strangle Snakes which swell with hate This conquest his vndaunted brest declares In Seas of danger in a world of cares Yet neither cares oppresse his constant mind Nor dangers drowne his life for age design'd The Muses leaue their sweet Castalian Springs In forme of Bees extending silken wings Wiâ—h gentle sounds to keepe this Infant still While they his mouth with pleasing hony fill Hence those large Streames of Eloquence proceed Which in the hearers strange amazement breed When laying by his Scepters and his Swords He melts their hearts with his mellifluous words So Hercules in ancient â—ictures fain'd Could draw whole Nations to his tongue enchain'd He first considers in his tender age How God hath rays'd him on this earthly Stage To act a part expos'd to eu'ry eye With Salomon he therefore striues to flie To him that gaue this Greatnesse and demands The precious gift of Wisdome from his hands While God delighted with this iust request Not onely him with wondrous Prudence blest But promis'd higher glories new encrease Of Kingdomes circled with a Ring of Peace He thus instructed by diuine commands Extends this peacefull line to other Lands When warres are threaten'd by shril Trumpets sounds His Oliue stancheth bloud and binds vp wounds The Christian World this good from him deriues That thousands had vntimely spent their liues If not preseru'd by lustre of his Crowne Which calm'd the stormes layd the billowes down And dimm'd the glory of that Roman wreath By souldiers gain'd for sauing men from death This Denmarke felt and Swethland when their strife Ascended to such height that losse of life VVas counted nothing for the dayly sight Of dying men made Death no more then night Behold two potent Princes deepe engag'd In seu'rall int'rests mutually enrag'd By former conflicts yet they downe will lay Their swords when his aduice directs the way The Northerne Climates from dissention barr'd Receiue new ioyes by his discreete award When Momus could among the Godlike-Kings Infect with poyson those immortall Springs Which flow with Nectar and such gall would cast As spoyles the sweetnesse of Ambrosiaes taste This mighty Lord as Ruler of the Quire With peacefull counsels quencht the rising fire The Austrian Arch-duke and Batauian State By his endeuours change their long-bred hate For twelue yeeres truce this rest to him they owe As Belgian Shepherds and poore Ploughmen know The Muscouites opprest with neighbours flie To safe protection of his watchfull eye And Germany his ready succours tries When sad contentions in the Empire rise His mild instinct all Christians thus discerne But Christs malignant foes shall find him sterne What care what charge he suffers to preuent Lest Infidels their number should augment His ships restraine the Pirates bloody workes And Poland gaines his ayde against the Turkes His pow'rfull Edicts stretcht beyond the Line Among the Indians seu'rall bounds designe By which his subiects may exalt his Throne And strangers keepe themselues within their owne This Ile was made the Sunnes ecliptick way For here our Phoebus still vouchsaf'd to stay And from this blessed place of his retreat In diff'rent Zones distinguisht cold and heate Sent light or darknesse and by his Commands Appointed limits to the Seas and Lands Who would imagine that a Prince employ'd In such affaires could euer haue enioy'd Those houres which drawne from pleasure and from rest To purchase precious knowledge were addrest And yet in learning he was knowne t' exceed Most whom our houses of the Muses breed Ye English Sisters Nurses of the Arts Vnpartiall Iudges of his better parts Raise vp your wings and to the world declare His solid Iudgement his Inuention rare His ready Elocution which ye found In deepest matters that your Schooles propound It is sufficient for my creeping Verse His care of English Language to rehearse He leades the lawlesse Poets of our times To smoother cadence to exacter Rimes He knew it was the proper worke of Kings To keepe proportion eu'n in smallest things He with no higher titles can be styl'd When Seruants name him lib'rall Subiects Mild. Of Antonines faire time the Romans tell No bubbles of ambition then could swell To forraine warres nor ease bred ciuill strife Nor any of the Senate lost his life Our King preserues for two and twenty yeeres This Realme from inward and from outward feares All English Peeres escape the deadly stroke Though some with crimes his anger durst prouoke He was seuere in wrongs which others felt But in his owne his heart would quickly melt For then like God from whom his glories flow He makes his Mercy swift his Iustice slow He neuer would our gen'rall ioy forget VVhen on his sacred brow the Crowne was set And therefore striues to make his Kingdome
Starre should breed VVhich might vpon his meate the vapours feed VVe maruell not that in his Fathers Land So many signes of loue and seruice stand Behold how Spaine retaines in eu'ry place Some bright reflection of his chearefull face Madrid where first his splendor he displayes And driues away the Clouds that dimm'd his rayes Her ioyes into a world of formes doth bring Yet none contents her while that potent King VVho rules so farre till now could neuer find His Realmes and wealth too little for his mind No words of welcome can such Planets greete VVhere in one house they by coniunction meete Their sacred concord runnes through many Signes And to the Zodiakes better portion shines But in the Virgin they are seene most farre And in the Lyons heart the Kingly Starre When toward vs our Prince his iourney moues And feeles attraction of his seruants loues When hauing open brests of strangers knowne He hastes to gather tribute of his owne The ioyfull neighbours all his passage fill With noble Trophees of his might and skill In conqu'ring mens affections with his darts Which deepely fixt in many rauisht hearts Are like the starry chaines whose blazes play In knots of light along the milkey way He heares the newes of his approaching Fleet And will his Nauy see his Seruants greet Thence to the Land returning in his Barge The waues leape high as proud of such a Charge The night makes speed to see him and preuents The slouthfull twilight casting duskie tents On roring Streames which might all men dismay But him to whose cleare soule the night is day The pressing windes with their officious strife Had caus'd a tumult dang'rous to his life But their Commander checks them and restraines Their hasty feruour in accustom'd chaines This perill which with feare our words decline Was then permitted by the hand Diuine That good euent might prooue his person deare â—o heau'n and needfull to the people here VVhen he resolues to crosse the watry maine â—ee what a change his absence makes in Spaine The Earth turnes gray for griefe that she conceiues Birds lose their tongues and trees forsake their leaues Now floods of teares expresse a sad farwell Ambitious sayles as with his greatnesse swell To him old Nerâ—us on his Dolphin rides Presenting bridles to direct the Tides He calles his daughters from their secret caues Their snowy necks are seene aboue the waues And saith to them Behold the onely Sonne Of that great Lord about whose Kingdomes run Our liquid currents which are made his owne And with moyst Bulwarks guard his sacred Throne See how his lookes delight his gestures moue Admire and praise yet flye from snares of loue Not Thetes with her beauty and her dowre Can draw this Peleus to her watry bowre He loues a Nymph of high and heau'nly race The eu'ning Sunne doth homage to her face Hesperian Orchards yeeld her golden fruit He tooke this iourney in that sweet pursuit VVhen thus their Father ends the Nereids throw Their Garlands on this glorious Prince and strow His way with Songs in which the hopes appeare Of ioyes too great for humane eares to heare Vpon the anniuersary day of the Princes return October the fifth VVE now admire their doctrine who maintaâ—â—â— The Worlds creation vnder Autumnes reigâ—â— VVhen trees abound in fruit Grapes swell with iuice These meates are ready for the creatures vse Old Time resolues to make a new suruay Of yeeres and ages from this happy day Refusing those accounts which others bring He crownes October as of moneths the King No more shall hoary VVinter claime the place And draw cold proofes from Ianus double face Nor shall the Ram when Spring the earth adornes Vnlocke the gate of heau'n with golden hornes Dry Summer shall not of the Dog-starre boast Of angry constellations honour'd most From whose strong heate Egyptians still begun To marke the turning circle of the Sunne Vertumnus who hath Lordly power to change The Seasons and can them in order range Will from this Period fresh beginning take Yet not so much for his Pomonaes sake Who then is richly drest to please her Spouse And with her Orchards treasure deckes her browes â—t is our CHARLES whose euer loued name Hath made this point of heau'n increase in fame VVhose long-thought absence was so much deplor'd â—n whom our hopes and all our fruits are stor'd He now attaines the shore O blessed day And true Achates waites along his way Our wise Anchises for his sonne prouides This chosen seruant as the best of guides A Princes glory cannot more depend Vpon his Crowne then on a faithfull friend To the most illustrious Prince Charles of the excellent vse of Poems DIuine example of obedient heires High in my hopes and second in my prayers True Image of your Father to the life VVhom Time desir'd and Fates in iealous strife VVith chearefull voices taught their wheeles to runne That such a Father might haue such a Sonne Since God exalts you on this earthly Stage And giues you wisedome farre aboue your age To iudge of men and of their actiue pow'rs Let me lay downe the fruits of priuate houres Before your feet you neuer will refuse This gift which beares the title of a Muse Among your serious thoughts with noble care You cherish Poets knowing that they are The Starres which light to famous actions giue By whom the mem'ries of good Princes liue You are their Prince in a peculiar kind Because your Father hath their Art refin'd And though these Priests of greatnesse quiet sit Amid'st the silent children of their wit Without accesse of sutours or dispatch Of high affaires at which th' ambitious catch They are not idle when their sight they rayse Beyond the present time to future daies And braue examples sage instructions bring In pleasing verses which our sonnes may sing They oft erect their flight aboue the Land When graue Vrania ioyning hand in hand With soft Thalia mix their diff'rent strings And by their musick make celestiall things More fit for humane eares whose winding rounde Are easly fill'd with well digested sounds Pale Enuy and dull Ignorance reproue This exercise as onely apt for loue Deuis'd t' allure the sense with curious Art But not t' enrich the vnderstanding part So might they say The Sunne was onely fram'd To please the eye and onely therefore nam'd The Eye of Heau'n conceiuing not his wheele Of liuely heate which lower bodies feele Our Muses striue that Common-wealths may be As well from barb'rous deedes as Language free The seu'rall sounds in harmony combin'd Knit chaines of vertue in the hearers mind And that he still may haue his teacher by With measur'd lines we please his curious eye We hold those works of Art or Nature best Where Orders steps most fully are exprest And therefore all those ciuill men that liue By Law and rule will to our numbers giue The name of good in which perfection rests And feele their strokes with sympathyzing
our hearts extend our voyce To shew with what affection we reioyce VVhen friends or kinsmen wealth and honour gaine Or are return'd to freedome from the chaine How shall your seruants and your friends my Lord Declare their ioy who find no sound no word Sufficient for their thoughts since you haue got That Iewell Health which Kingdomes equall not From sicknesse freed a Tyrant farre more fell Then Turkish Pirates who in Gallies dwell The Muses to the friend of Musicke bring The signes of gladnesse Orpheus strikes a string VVhich can inspire the dull can cheare the sad And to the dead can liuely motion adde Some play some sing while I whose onely skill Is to direct the organ of my Quill That from my hand it may not runne in vaine But keepe true time with my commanding braine I will bring forth my Musicke and will trie To rayse these dumbe yet speaking Letters high Till they contend with sounds till arm'd with wing My featherd pen surmount Apollo's strings We much reioyce that lightsome calmes asswage The fighting humours blind with mutuall rage So sing the Mariners exempt from feare When stormes are past and hopefull signes appeare So chaunts the mounting Larke her gladsome lay When night giues place to the delightfull day In this our mirth the greatest ioy I finde Is to consider how your noble minde Will make true vse of those afflictions past And on this ground will fix your vertue fast You hence haue learn'd th' vncertaine state of man And that no height of glitt'ring honour can Secure his quiet for almighty God Who rules the high can with his pow'rfull rod Represse the greatest and in mercy daignes With daug'rous ioyes to mingle wholsome paines Though men in sicknesse draw vnquiet breath And count it worst of euils next to death Yet such his goodnesse is who gouernes all That from this bitter spring sweete riuers fall Here we are truly taught our selues to know To pitty others who indure like woe To feele the waight of sinne the onely cause Whence eu'ry body this corruption drawes To make our peace with that correcting hand Which at each moment can our liues command These are the blest effects which sicknesse leaues VVhen these your serious brest aright conceaues You will no more repent your former paine Then we our ioy to see you well againe To the memory of the faire and thrice vertuous Gentlewoman Mistris Elizabeth Neuell ANymph is dead milde vertuous young faire Death neuer counts by dayes or mon'ths or yeeres Oft in his sight the Infant old appeares And to his earthly mansion must repaire VVhy should our sighes disturbe the quiet Aire For when the flood of Time to ruine beares No beauty can preuaile nor parents teares VVhen life is gone we of the flesh despaire Yet still the happy soule immortall liues In heauen as we with pious hope conceiue And to the Maker endlesse prayses giues That she so soone this lothsome world might leaue VVe iudge that glorious Spirit doubly blest VVhich from short life ascends t' eternall rest Of the truly Noble and Excellent Lady the Lady Marquesse of Winchester CAn my poore lines no better office haue But lie like Scritch-Owles still about the graue VVhen shall I take some pleasure for my paine Commending them that can commend againe VVhen shall my Muse in loue-sicke lines recite Some Ladies worth which she of whom I write VVith thankfull smiles may reade in her owne dayes Or when shall I a breathing woman prayse Oneuer Mine are too ambitious strings They will not sound but of eternall things Such are freed-soules but had I thought it fit T' exalt a spirit to a body knit I would confesse I spent my time amisse VVhen I was slow to giue due praise to this Now when all weepe it is my time to sing Thus from her ashes must my Poem spring Though in the race I see some swiftly runne I will not crowne them till the goale be won â—ill death ye mortals cannot happy be VVhat can I then but woe and dangers see If in your liues I write now when ye rest I will insert your names among the blest And now perhaps my Verses may increase Your rising fame though not your boundlesse peace Which if they euer could may they make thine Great Lady further if not clearer shine I could thy husbands highest Styles relate Thy Fathers Earledome and that Englands state VVas wholy manag'd by thy Grandsires brow But those that loue thee best will best allow That I omit to praise thy match and Line And speake of things that were more truely thine Thou thought'st it base to build on poore remaines Of noble bloud which ranne in others veines As many doe who beare no flowres nor fruite But shew dead stocks which haue beene of repute And liue by meere remembrance of a sound Which was long since by winds disperst and drown'd While that false worth which they suppose they haue Is digg'd vp new from the corrupting Graue For thou hadst liuing honours not decay'd With wearing time and needing not the ayd Of Heraulds in the haruest of whose art None but the vertuous iustly clayme a part Since they our Parents memories renew For imitation not for idle view Yet what is all their skill if we compare Their paper works with those which liuely are In such as thou hast been whose present lookes If many such were would surpresse all bookes For their examples would alone suffice They that the Countrey see the Map despise For thee a Crowne of Vertues we prepare The chiefe is Wisdome in thy Sex most rare By which thou didst thy husbands state maintaine VVhich sure had falne without thee and in vaine Had aged Paulet wealth and honours heap'd Vpon his House if strangers had them reapt In vaine to height by safe still steps he climes And serues fiue Princes in most diff'rent times In vaine is he a Willow not an Oke Which winds might easly bend yet neuer broke In vaine he breakes his sleepe and is diseas'd And grieues himselfe that others may be pleas'd In vaine he striues to beare an equall hand 'Twixt Somerset and bold Northumberland And to his owne close ends directing all Will rise with both but will with neither fall All this had been in vaine vnlesse he might Haue left his heires cleare knowledge as their right But this no sonne infallibly can draw From his Descent by Nature or by Law That treasure which the soule with glory decks Respects not birth-right nor the nobler Sex For women oft haue mens defects suppli'd VVhose office is to keepe what men prouide So hast thou done and made thy name as great As his who first exalted Paulets seate Neere dew yet not too neere the thunders blow Some stood 'twixt Ioue and him though most below O well waigh'd dignity selected place Prouided for continuance of his race Not by Astrologie but Prudence farre More pow'rfull then the force of any Starre The Dukes are
gone and now though much beneath His Coronet is next th' Imperiall Wreath No richer signe his flowry Garland drown's Which shines alone aboue the lesser Crownes This thou inioyd'st as sicke men tedious houres And thought'st of brighter Pearles and fairer flowres And higher Crownes which heau'n for thee reserues When this thy worldly pompe decayes and starues This sacred seruour in thy mind did glow And though supprest with outward state and show Yet at thy death those hind'ring clouds it clear'd And like the lost Sunne to the world appear'd Euen as a strong fire vnder ashes turn'd Which with more force long secretly hath burn'd Breakes forth to be the obiect of our sight Aimes at the Orbe and ioynes his flame with light Vpon his Noble Friend Sir William Skipwith TO frame a man who in those gifts excels Which makes the Country happy where hee dwels We first conceiue what names his Line adorne It kindles vertue to be nobly borne This picture of true Gentry must be grac'd With glitt'ring Iewels round about him plac'd A comely body and a beauteous mind A heart to loue a hand to giue inclin'd A house as free and open as the Ayre A tongue which ioyes in Language sweet and faire Yet can when need requires with courage bold To publike eares his neighbours griefes vnfold All these we neuer more shall find in one And yet all these are clos'd within this stone An Epitaph vpon my deare Brother Francis Beaumont ON Death thy Murd'rer this reuenge I take I slight his terror and iust question make Which of vs two the best precedence haue Mine to this wretched world thine to the graue Thou shouldst haue followd me but death too blame Miscounted yeeres and measur'd age by Fame So dearely hast thou bought thy precious lines Their praise grew swiftly so thy life declines Thy Muse the hearers Queene the Readers loue All eares all hearts but Deaths could please and moue Of my deare Sonne Geruase Beaumont CAn I who haue for others oft compil'd The Songs of Death forget my sweetest child VVhich like a flow'r crusht with a blast is dead And ere full time hangs downe his smiling head Expecting with cleare hope to liue anew Among the Angels fed with heau'nly dew We haue this signe of Ioy that many dayes While on the earth his struggling spirit stayes The name of Iesus in his mouth containes His onely food his sleepe his ease from paines O may that sound be rooted in my mind Of which in him such strong effect I find Deare Lord receiue my Sonne whose winning loue To me was like a friendship farre aboue The course of nature or his tender age Whose lookes could all my bitter griefes asswage Let his pure soule ordain'd seu'n yeeres to be In that fraile body which was part of me Remaine my pledge in heau'n as sent to shew How to this Port at eu'ry step I goe Teares for the death of the truly Honourable the Lord Chandos LEt him whose lines a priuate losse deplore Call them to weepe that neuer wept before My griefe is more audacious giue me one Who eu'ry day hath heard a dying grone The subiect of my verses may suffice To draw new teares from dry and weary eyes We dare not loue a man nor pleasure take In others worth for noble Chandos sake And when we seeke the best with reasons light We feare to wish him longer in our sight Time had increast his vertue and our woe For sorrow gathers weight by comming slow Should him the God of life to life restore Againe we lose him and lament the more If Mortals could a thousand liues renew They were but shades of death which must insue Our gracious God hath fitter bounds assign'd And earthly paines to one short life confin'd Yet when his hand hath quench'd the vitall flame It leaues some cinders of immortall fame At these we blow and like Prometheus striue By such weake sparkes to make dead clay aliue Breath flyes to ayre the body falls to ground And nothing dwels with vs but mournfull sound O might his honor'd Name liue in my Song Reflected as with Ecchoes shrill and strong But when my lines of glorious obiects treate They should rise high because the worke is great No Quill can paint this Lord vnlesse it haue Some tincture from his actions free and braue Yet from this height I must descend againe And like the calme Sea lay my Verses plaine When I describe the smoothnesse of his mind Where reasons chaines rebellious passions bind My Poem must in harmony excell His sweet behauiour and discourse to tell It should be deepe and full of many Arts To teach his wisdome and his happy parts But since I want these graces and despaire To make my Picture like the patterne faire These hasty strokes vnperfect draughts shall stand Expecting life from some more skilfull hand Vpon the vntimely death of the Honourable hopâ—full young Gentleman Edward Stafford Sonne and Heire to the Lord Stafford DEad is the hope of Stafford in whose line So many Dukes and Earles and Barons shine And from this Edwards death his kinred drawes More griefe then mighty Edwards fall could cause For to this House his vertue promist more Then all those great Ones that had gone before No lofty titles can securely frame The happinesse and glory of a Name Bright honours at the point of Noone decay And feele a sad declining like the day But he that from the race of Kings is borne And can their mem'ries with his worth adorne Is farre more blest then those of whom he springs He from aboue the soule of goodnesse brings T' inspire the body of his Noble birth This makes it moue before but liuelesse earth Of such I write who show'd he would haue been Complete in action but we lost him greene We onely saw him crown'd with flowres of hope O that the fruits had giu'n me larger scope And yet the bloomes which on his Herse we strow Surpasse the Cherries and the Grapes that grow In others Gardens Here fresh Roses lie Whose ruddy blushes modest thoughts descry In Flowre-de-luces dide with azure hue His constant loue to heau'nly things we view The spotlesse Lillies shew his pure intent The flaming Marigold his zeale present The purple Violets his Noble minde Degen'rate neuer from his Princely kind And last of all the Hyacinths we throw In which are writ the letters of our woe To the Memory of the Learned and Religious Ferdinando Pulton Esquire AS at a ioyfull Marriage or the birth Of some long wished child or when the earth Yeelds plenteous fruit and makes the Ploughman sing Such is the sound and subiect of my string Ripe age full vertue need no fun'rall Song Here mournefull tunes would Grace Nature wrong VVhy should vaine sorrow follow him with teares VVho shakes off burdens of declining yeeres VVhose thread exceeds the vsuall bounds of life And feeles no stroke of any fatall knife The Destinies enioyne their
Catiline with his whole carkase dyes The carefull Mother when she casts her eyes On Venus Temple in soft lowly wise Demands the gift of beauty for her Boyes But askes it for her Girles with greater noyse At common formes her wish she neuer staies But for the height of delicacy prayes And why should'st thou reprooue this prudent choice Latona in faire Phaebe doth reioyce O but Lucretia's haplesse fate deterres That others wish not such a face as hers Virginia her sweet feature would forsake And Rutilaes crook'd backe would gladly take Where sonnes are beautifull the parents vext With care and feare are wretched and perplext So seldome an exact consent betweene Well fauor'd shapes and chastity is seene For should they be with holy manners taught In homely houses such as Sabines wrought Should bounteous natures lib'rall hand bestow Chast dispositions modest lookes which glow With sanguine blushes what more happy thing To Boyes can fauourable nature bring Whose inclinations farre more pow'rfull are Then many keepers and continuall care Yet are they neuer suffer'd to possesse The name of man such foule corrupters presse And by the force of large expences trust To make their Parents instruments of lust No Tyrant in his cruell Palace gelt Deformed Youths no Noble Child had felt Fierce Neroes rapes if all wry leg'd had beene If in their necks foule swellings had been scene If windy tumours had their bellies rays'd Or Camels bunches had their backes disprais'd Goe now with ioy thy young-mans forme affect Whom greater dangers and worse Fates expect Perhaps he shortly will the title beare Of a profest adult'rer and will feare To suffer iustly for his wicked fact Such paines as angry husbands shall exact Nor can he happier be then Mars his Starre T' escape those snares which caught the god of warre Yet oft that griefe to sharper vengeance drawes Then is permitted by th' indulgent lawes Some kill with swords others with scourges cut And some th' offenders to foule torments put But thine Endymion happily will proue Some Matrons Minion who may merit loue Yet when Seruilia him with money hires He must be hers against his owne desires Her richest ornaments she off will take And strip her selfe of Iewels for his sake What will not Hippia and Catulla giue To those that with them in adult'ry liue For wicked women in these base respects Place all their manners and their whole affects But thou wilt say Can beauty hurt the chaste Tell me what ioy Hippolitus did taste What good seuere Bellerophon receiu'd When to their pure intents they strictly cleau'd Both Sthenobaea and the Cretan Queene Asham'd of their repulse stirr'd vp their teene For then a woman breeds most fierce debate When shame addes piercing stings to cruell hate How would'st thou counsell him whom th' Emp'rors wise Resolues to marry in her husbands life The best and fairest of the Lords must dye His life is quencht by Messallinaes eye She in her nuptiall Robes doth him expect And openly hath in her gardens deckt A purple marriage bed nor will refuse To giue a dowre and ancient Rites to vse The cunning Wizzard who must tell the doome Of this successe with Notaries must come Thou think'st these things are hid from publike view And but committed to the trust of few Nay she will haue her solemne wedding drest With shew of Law then teach him what is best He dies ere night vnlesse he will obay Admit the crime he gaines a little stay Till that which now the common people heares May come by rumour to the Princes eares For he is sure to be the last that knowes The secret shame which in his houshold growes Thy selfe a while to her desires apply And life for some few dayes so dearely buy What way soeuer he as best shall chuse That faire white necke he by the sword must luse Shall men wish nothing wilt thou counsell take Permit the heau'aly powers the choyce to make VVhat shall be most conuenient for our Fates Or bring most profit to our doubtfull states The prudent gods can place their gifts aright And grant true goods in stead of vaine delight A man is neuer to himselfe so deare As vnto them when they his fortunes steare We carried with the fury of our minds And strong affection which our iudgement blinds VVould husbands proue and fathers but they see VVhat our wisht children and our wiues will bee Yet that I may to thee some pray'rs allow When to the sacred Temples thou do'st vow Diuinest entrailes in white Pockets found Pray for a sound mind in a body sound Desire braue spirit free from feare of death Which can esteeme the latest houre of breath Among the gifts of Nature which can beare All sorrowes from desire and anger cleare And thinkes the paines of Hercules more blest Then wanton lust the suppers and soft rest Where in Sardanapalus ioy'd to liue I show thee what thou to thy selfe mayst giue If thou the way to quiet life wilt treade No guide but vertue can thee thither leade No pow'r diuine is euer absent there VVhere wisdome dwells and equall rule doth beare But we O Fortune striue to make thee great Plac'd as a Goddesse in a heau'nly seate A funerall Hymne out of Prudentius O God the soules pure fi'ry Spring Who diff'rent natures wouldst combine That man whom thou to life didst bring By weakenesse may to death decline By thee they both are fram'd aright They by thy hand vnited be And while they ioyne with growing might Both flesh and spirit liue to thee But when diuision them recals They bend their course to seu'rall ends Into dry earth the body falls The feruent soule to heau'n ascends For all created things at length By slow corruption growing old Must needs forsake compacted strength And disagreeing webs vnfold But thou deare Lord hast meanes prepar'd That death in thine may neuer reigne And hast vndoubted waies declar'd How members lost may rise againe That while those gen'rous rayes are bound In prison vnder fading things That part may still be stronger found VVhich from aboue directly springs If man with baser thoughts possest His will in earthly mud shall drowne The soule with such a weight opprest Is by the body carried downe But when she mindfull of her birth Her selfe from vgly spots debarres She lifts her friendly house from earth And beares it with her to the Starres See how the empty bodies lyes VVhere now no liuely soule remaines Yet when short time with swiftnesse flyes The height of senses it regaines Those ages shall be soone at hand VVhen kindly heate the bones reuiewes And shall the former house command VVhere liuing blood it shall infuse Dull carkases to dust now worne VVhich long in graues corrupted lay Shall to the nimble ayre be borne VVhere soules before haue led the way Hence comes it to adorne the graue VVith carefull labour men affect The limbes dissolu'd last honour haue And fun'rall Rites with pompe are deckt