keep their credits treasure Where silly things that love vain glory Little respecting fame Make of themselves a blasted story Whilst others get the gain As mercilesse as is the Ocean Is wavering womans mind And to give reason of their motion Is full as hard to find VVho will their properties discern Like heav'ns joyes must know them VVhat they are never none could learn What they are not must shew them And as in heav'n no sin remaines Nor torment want nor passion So womans heart no good containes No firmnesse no compassion Nor doe I yet hereby condemn All women 't were too much But 't is too true that most of them Are over truly such I know they will themselves excuse And tax corrupting men But well they know a chast refuse Is seldome mov'd agen 'T is when we find they entertain And lend a gracious eare That wee pursue though they complain We hope whilst they will heare Sometime perchance to try their strength They 'l suffer siege and battery And sometimes too they 'l yeeld at length Such power have time and flattery Who Loves approaches once hath past As little need shee care In loves play to sit out the last Th' act where most hid they are But silly men why doe we show The paths of love to those That greatest Clerks doe overgoe And blind as they dispose Most expert Souldiers are they all With art to fight Loves field Nor better knows no Generall When to stand out or yeeld If they be strong they open march And brave the husband foe If weak they night and covert search All vantages they know Or by the confidence they claim In their good mans affection Or by example still they gain And colour their election And think not ever they are silly That many entertaine They are not ever the least wily Though often the most vaine They generally kind appeare And freeâ—ome use to all That those who they indeed hold deare In lesse suspect may fall As Keepers by familiar use Of feeding Deere at hand The simple herd doe oft induce To come unto a stand Where freely any one they strike So VVomen freedome use That unexpected when they like They their own game may chuse Such licence hath not ever been And foolish are we men Having had pow'r to keep them in To let them loose agen Faire VVomens love I doe confesse Is a supreame delight But whatsoever they professe 'T is hard to know them right Shee that pretends to love you best VVill now as well expect To see your love in gifts exprest As they that least affect They by the fruit will judge the tree Nor will beleeve you love Except they ample gifts may see Your love their worth to prove As men their wives love ne're the lesse VVhere mony 's the match-making So women will not have you guesse They love the lesse for taking But love farewell since I perceive Such paines and cost you ask And are so giv'n to deceive I 'l seek some other task Nought but assured love alone Can my affection move And since assurance there is none To know when women love My fortunes faith and free estate Shall ne're themselves expose To plead for love and think we hate When w' are but gull'd with shows As they oft meet with the best fortune That carelesse are in play So they that least plain and importune And most neglect are they Who women oftner doe subdue Then pitifull complainers They ever fly from those that sue And make the carelesse gainers Poore wailing lovers cease your hope That teares though void of strength Will by persistance pierce that rock Your Mistris heart at length Your sighs tears vows and rhyming plaints VVith all fond shew of duty Your making of them Idols Saints Sole Empresses of beauty All doth but glory work and pride In their insulting hearts Their own affections women guide Not plaints nor yet deserts LEt worthlesse spirits feare unstedfast love Guilty of defects that cannot love deserve Such apprehension never me shall move My faith and merit shall your love preserve But if change-loving your complection be By nature subject to saciety My love shall slack as well as yours to me Answering natures lov'd variety And though your love most precious to me is Yet have I learn'd to tame affections so That none more constantly shall joy his blisse Nor none lose easier what he must forgo 'T were idlenesse to urge your constancy For future time above our powers extent The wisest knows not what next houre hee 'l be Love's nor by force nor resolution bent But to prevent malignity of time And permanency to our love to gain Give me your heart to keep as you have mine VVhich no pow'r can remove whilst you retain And yours in me such merit shall approve VVe both will fearelesse be of change in love You 'l say they are toyes the fitter are they then For such vain bubbles Fantomes as are men They profit not and wisemen you will say Pleasures foundation on profit lay To them that want not to give nature right Profit it self in truth is but delight Postscript Alasse I cannot love nor will I wrong So much your kind heart or mine own true tongue To play the cheater where no need compels By vowing that I love you and none els 'T is for base foolish minds to undergo To please themselves or others with a show Free spirits in reality delight Loving to give true nature its true right And yet I cannot say I cannot love But she who now can my affection move VVon to affect nothing but for perfection Must be a perfect object of affection She must be unaffected faire ev'n at first sight T' arrest beholders eyes with sweet delight Yet such again where looking you may finde A silent check to a presumptuous minde She must be such as can give due respect To every man without a rude neglect Yet not of such a light and easie strain That her own due respect she not retain She must possesse a wanton modesty Free affability with Majesty VVit without pride a freedome well confin'd Discreet discourse but most a worthy mind VVhereby her actions she must ever frame To paint her beauâ—y with a beauteous name For noblest natures generous and free VVill never build upon a blasted tree She must to this such ayre of face possesse As gives a life to what her words expresse Now calm and carelesse then with spirit bent In silent Rhetorick speaking her intent Shee must be neither fulsome sweet nor sow'r Of ordered yet of free behaviour Accomplished with all most courtly parts Yet not transported with her own desarts Using them only for her own defence Not greedy to bring them in evidence Such a fair Orange tree my love must be Compos'd of such a contrariety So she in private be as Venus free Minerva let her be in company Desir'd of all possest by me alone Guiding her love with such discretion As
levell'd me where God makes strong impression Like silly impatient birds we struggle may But not evade the humour of adustion Possest dispenseth not to disobey Most happy humour how art thou deprav'd And made the bath of spirits most maligne Thou art Faiths sealing-wax and we are sav'd Holding by Faith and mounting by thy wing Take brutish vain delights who will for mee More solid pleasure Lord I finde in thee SWeet Lord above compare thy mercies are More sweet then pleasure I thy grace doe finde Quiet and safety harbour in thy care Thy love alone cures all disease of minde Nor mighty frownes nor flattering applause Nor threats of death nor worldly misery Can least amazement or distemper cause To such as make thee their felicity That is the only necessary thing Which where it dwels all troubles drives away Whilst cares distracting other soules doe wring They in thy peacefull Regions soare and play Arts Sophistry which Natures peace hath kil'd With intricate intanglings which to solve Reason stands lost and our best spirits spil'd Can never now to happinesse resolve But Lord in thee there doe I finde with gain More then I lost ne're to be lost again T Is probable that who discovered first America's rich Coast made losse his gain Nor ere had found it had he not been lost T' enrich himself and feed ambitious Spain Nor had I ever found the promis'd Land Had I not first been wildred sav'd and lost Above my reason by Gods mighty hand Happily ship-wrack'd on that fragrant Coast Coast subject to crosse tydes rocks storms and shelves Its channell narrow turning off and on Where we can ne're arrive left to our selves But only by that Pilot God and mâ—n Wonder works Faith Faith wonders sin is bold Yet fearfull rich yet poore but Lord thy grace Gives full wealth peace joy courage uncontrol'd And makes sin beare what doth it self efface Strangely but ne're was man so hap'ly crost I had been lost Lord had I not been lost VNtill Oh Lord I fonud and turn'd to thee How I was still to seek uuquiet still I shifted place delights and company But till my self was chang'd retain'd my ill Thy shafts stuck in my sides and hunted me T was not a Court a Mistresse game or play Princes sweet presence and society Could chase disease and clouds of cares away I thought the bounty of a bounteous Prince Would never faile to recompence desert But sad experience hath taught me since Saints must be prayed and Courting is an Art Masters and Mistresses too oft are won By flattery more then duty and true love To speed with thee requires but well to run In thy Court merit needs no Saint to move Thy self our Advocate and merit art None happy are but whom thou dost convert WRiting of holy love infused grace And births stupendious of conspiring fate Which make me a self-wonder and disgrace Ses Monument subsisting to relate The matchlesse story of a stormy life And weather-beaten Soule built faire and strong For gazers Comets and to suffer strife Such ground-works oft to Christian Faith belong Gorgons and Harpies Porpoises might here Challenge appearing with mysterious spell Of Chymistry of Caball and such geare More then my story I my Scene might swell My Starres in native posture I present Affecting truth more then fond skill to show Nor fill I with strange shapes my firmament But rather wish my Verse may gently flow In sweet returnes of gratitude for grace Lord till I sing thy praises face to face X Why the letter thou should'st be to spell Christs Character except by mystery Of thy Crosse-figure well I cannot tell But crosses Lord doe best resemble thee Thou wert a man of sorrows and who will Thy souldier be must thy Crusado take And beare thy Crosse fighting thy battailes still Against the world and nature for thy sake T is a hard task but such is Vertues food Fight Victory and Conquest gives a Crown Warfare is none of pleasures Carpet brood Nor sleeps brave honour on a bed of Down They who can raise their thoughts no higher then Soft sensuality beasts let them bee Grazing on short delights unlike to men That either glory doe affect or thee Thy Starres Oh Lord my glory are base pleasures I leave to such as dote on this worlds treasures YOuth thou debauched boyler in thy blood Thou unconsidering domicile of Lust Thou self Idolater senselesse to good Ape of the times proud of thy glasse of dust Unbridled colt subject to all impression But that of grace thy state I doe lament To bring thee on thy knees for sins confession Thou who art stranger to the word repent I grant that if Gods truth such course did urge And policy could Homogeneall prove With true Religion thou needst such a purge Thy Plethorique Luxuriance to reprove Miracles are not ceas'd if we can quit Ourselves for God such change his work must be I have had good affections for a fit But to persist Oh Lord must come from thee I have been young some good I would have done Which now is all to prayer and paper come ZEale of thy Faith my God hath wasted me My errors and thy truth have kept me low Were thy truths errors I would erre to thee Rather then in all earthly pleasures flow Thou gavest me strength of body and of minde But inexperience led me to abuse them The last I over-fed the other pin'd Lord what are gifts except thou teach to use them The strongest mindes their strengths to ruine turn Goodnesse of Nature oft it self o're-throws Feavers to ashes best complexions burn Nature is blinde and knows not where it goes Lord help and pardon our infirmity And let thy Justice upon malice seize Malice is surely thy Antipathy Be reconcil'd to them that seek to please And rather set a period to my fate Then that I ere become thy reprobate Corollary IN dentures are term'd Deeds I seale and signe My part Oh Lord to thee poore fruitlesse part The leading deed originall is thine Deedlesse without thee is my Counterpart Thy seale and hand must give validity Or all our acts will vaine and counter prove Thou only canst give perpetuity To our intentions to our faith and love Thou that hast hardned me to break or dye Rather then bend to basenesse in self-self-love And honour maugre all other love shall I Lesse constant in thy zeale and service prove No thou Omega as well as Alpha art And all thy works wilt to perfection bring As well as thou hast taught my simple heart In this my Alphabet thy Praise to sing Hosanna and Hallelujahs unto thee Shall fill my Soule and my conclusion bee Madam THE Verses which I read to your Ladiship the other day at your then open Casement were occasioned by some disorder of the preceding week and some distemper I had at that instant upon me which made me unfit for such a placing and caused a farther cold which I have since suffered
inquisitive and judicious Reader then much matter and conceit compendiously digested with sufficiency of perspicuity To conclude lines of a farre fetcht and labour'd fancy with allusions and curiosity and in similes of little more fruit or consequence then to ravish the Reader into the writers fine Chamaeleon colours and feed him with aire I approve not so much as heighth and force of spirit sententiously and weightily exhibited wit needs not rack it self where matter flowes embroderies become not a rich stuffe and art is best exprest where it least appeares A strong wing is to be preferred before a painted and good â—ense and matter elegantly delivered before extravagancy of fancy and conceit such unnaturall impertinency serves rather to shadow then illustrate to overwhelme then set forth the subject as well apposite as accurate writing is the Authorsglory Postscript upon occasion of the then young Princes pretended desire to have sight of the following Poems ANd here under pardon to conclude with this further defence of Love the subject of this little work but taking it more large and high I find love to be the most worthy object of the best and most generous dispositions and none but maligne natures that addresse not their thoughts towards it for what good and worthy mind hath its being that is not bent as upon its felicity either to the love of women the most naturall of men the most noble or above all of God the most happy and rewardfull Whither else tend all our studies of comlinesse of glory and noble actions of charity and good deeds Wherein can man so well resemble his great Creator as by worth and goodnesse to win love what more noble end can any man have to study vertue and perfection then thereby to win affection and praise the reward and food of vertue and tribute of God Nay love the essence of God the good spirit and wings of the soule the Mother Child and finall cause of Beauty the begetter and maintainer of the world the life of life by love the Sunne shines and the earth brings forth by love is society and commerce maintained by love the soule dwels with the body and God with the soule by love nature ever works for our preservation when the body and almost the soule are laid in sleep Admirable love without thee life is hatefull man but a wolfe to man the world a second Chaos For thy sake alone who affectest not a decaying Mansion I apprehend losse by growing old yet thus againe am I comforted by thy most divine power that thou never abandonest the dwelling of goodnesse and art successively fruitfull over all the good works of nature to the worlds period so that to the vertuous where the love of women failes the love of men begins and where that by the withering imperfections of age grows cold as the aire to a setting Sunne there for our supreame and infinite comfort begin to shine most clearly the beames of that divinest love which before were too much intercepted by the sensualities and passions of our younger yeares to make us therein eternally happy by that operation of love and contemplation of beauty which at the last must be our soules immortall food and joy Advertisement upon the first Verses I am not ignorant that who keepes the common road falls not into the incumbrances incurred by them who search or by or nearer wayes Writing is a by-path of life I am yet ingaged to it but hope shortly to get out and by the way I give you this Antidote and Rapsody of praecaution and true information concerning the following pieces The reason why I retaine and expose them with others is not so much that I esteem them worthy of view or life as that they were many yeares since Copyed and spread abroad beyond my knowledge then and are now beyond my power to recall they are more Chaffe then Corn fitter to bee ventilated blown away and play in the aire then vented in any Market and commerce of wit and censure they are incorrect if not incorrigible yet I consent to leave them and many other my pieces such as they are to represent unto me the difference 'twixt then and now To attempt to perfect them were to dispersonate their youth and hasty nature and fall into the much frequented stage Error of putting stronger lines and more conceited and elaborate elegancy into weake mouths and strong passions then well comporteth with them let their youth and genuine conception plead their pardon You shall mistake them if you often conceive them not rather the off-spring of fancy then passion But take them at the worst they have something of reason and serious in them and the errours of love are not so foule as the love of errour nor is it impertinent to perswade love in them who have constrained it in you and love may bee such as to become no lesse justifiable then naturall Love is in truth of divers kinds ever an Ebullition of the liver sometimes it is made and forced upon us sometimes wee weave and foole our selves into it sometimes it proceeds from gratitude and good nature of gratification It is generally the child of weaknesse as well as of idlenesse witnesse my selfe in my childish youth and Melancholy humour A vigorous gayety of the heart and mind taken up and busie in other affections and entertainments hardly admits it It is a sad confinement a disease like womens longing where the violent appetite of one object no better then the rest gives relish to that alone whilst a right and undistasted apprehension of every thing in the true kind is the much better and sounder constitution and as in longing after such or such a morsell the consideration is carried by the fancy and tast which have no rule but themselves or as at Table the hearty approbation of some one dish is a provocation to others appetites so in love And as most Dogs will often strive to get away anothers bone though otherwise little desired or when a morsell is offered to bee snatched from them grow greedy of that which before they neglected so in affections I leave the application Sometimes as love hath been tearmed a warfare so is brave Conquest made ambition too many make it their felicity and effeminately bend all their affections towards it Sometimes it is taken up for a fashion and to be in fashion is in idle times of no small importance to idle and gallant persons Sometimes like Coqualuchios and Epidemicall diseases it may much proceed from the disposition of the Ayre as in other kind wee may observe of quarrells that they seldome go alone Our poore volatile ayery affections are strongly wrought upon as well from outward as inward incentives winds and Aspects The first accesse of love is not ever by the eyes it hath often a strong foundation and preocupation begotten at the eare when a noble heart takes impression of a well lodged reputation eminent in fame vertue
sollicited her work to doe Restlesse remaines still labouring in its course Till it may rest where it aspir'd unto 'T is likewise true my love hath mist its end And yet I cannot think my labour lost Though the main faile the By hath been my friend So farre as with content may quit my cost Like to the Alchymist whose golden aime Shoots chiefly at the Philosophick stone Whereof though hee fall short yet doth hee gain Many a pretious found extraction Many a quintessence and Limbeckt oyle To others and himselfe of use and pleasure Nor thinks it an ill guerdon of his toile T' impart unto the world such hidden treasure So I in these conceipts elaborate The wanton babes sprung from an am'rous brain My passions fire and heat evaporate And mine own ease with others pleasure gain And if I please the kind lascivious eare VVith these light ayres for pleasure only tun'd I seek no more nor care how the austere Censure these idle houres in rhyme consum'd They as superfluous banquet stuffe are meant Made but to please the outward sense and tast VVhich though they yeeld no solid nourishment They are not yet a profitlesse repast And if the strictest Stoick on Earths face VVaste not some houres as idly spent as these VVhereof remaineth no account or trace So necessary pleasures are and ease VVithout the which our soules themselves oppresse Then let me be condemn'd but if you find Your selves in pleasure wasting time no lesse Nor shew remaines thereof more then of wind Judge then my time at least as happ'ly spent As theirs that hunting love who little care So they injoy good pastime chase and sent To make the silly purchase of a Hare I Helen sought where Lucrece I did find At least a Lucrece she appeares to mee But were I Paris she perchance as kind VVould prove as Helen Troian youth to thee Oh no I do recant and firmly credit She is as spotlesse chast as perfect faire And thus will flatter hers and mine own merit If she were other I should not despaire And here my Love shall change its former hew And yet Chamaeleon-like remain the same As she is chast my love as chast and true And to like vertuous die it self shall frame Living still hers though only fed with aire And as her beauty won my heart before Finding her now as vertuous as then faire Her inward graces make me love her more Nor was my breast possest with such wild fire Thâ—t nought but Venus milk could quench my flame Hope 's the sole nutriment of my desire VVhere that once failes my flames alone grow tame Nor am I of so strong a faith in love To think where free occasion hath not wanted And free acquaintance hath giv'n means to move VVhat three months have deny'd will e're be granted VVho seeks a woman to his will to move Yet gaines no ground in furthering his desire Not to advance is to go back in love Let him good Souldier like his Siege retire But faire Coelestia since I have concluded Your vertue like your beauty most divine Oh let no sequel prove me now deluded Such subtilty would double that your crime Or be indeed what you appeare to be Or may you still at least seem so to me A FANCIE MY hearts faire Conqu'resse author of my griefe Deny me not to plead for my reliefe If you too cruell will no help impart Yet lend my plaints your eare to ease my heart Offenders capitall that plead for grace Are heard though not relieved in their case 'T is you the winner are cause of my pain Sick men and losers are allow'd to plain You that have made mee love can make mee live And none but you can my disease relieve Should I not then my cure from you demand I accessary to my death should stand Accuse not him who for deare life doth move But blame your selfe who so inforceth love You that have made my heart in love abound Ought not to bee offended with loves sound He that is almost dead for want of meat You must not blame him if hee ask to eat Nor ought you such an echo to condemn As love receiv'd from you resounds agen Nor blame that instrument whose sound is such As your faire hand is pleas'd to give the touch And if your heart to flint-like bee compos'd That to no pity it can bee dispos'd If 't be decreed by my malignant fate That here on earth that curst infernall state Must bee inflicted on me for my pain That I must love and not be lov'd again Yet be not angry Faire or if you 'l chide Chide Cupid that my subject tongue doth guide 'T is that blind little winged childish God That doth so often times deserve the rod For his mis-matching our affections fire With an unsuited different desire But to obey your will which unto me A venerable law shall ever be I 'le rather all on fire within consume Then once to ask a water drop presume And rather over-swoln with love will break Then once to dare of love to you to speak Thus will I inward bleed untill I find Or death or you my Love to me more kind Made in imitation of a Sonnet in Ronsard THough he that loves with unrequited love And finds his heat ingender no reflection Nor that his plaints can her compassion move That is the object of his true affection May uncondemn'd resume his love again And to a more kind subject it apply Himself exempting from unpityed pain Nor doth he wrong whom no desert doth tie Nor doth he faith or constance violate For vertue and folly incompatible be And constant Lovers uncompassionate Are foolish guilty of their miserie Nor breaks that Prince his faith who league hath sworn Of amity with some great Potentate Who will not after the like oath return Of love and faithfull aide unto his State For perfect love in sympathie consists And single Love is but a fatuous fire Yet little merits he who not persists No victory is gotten by retire I 'le love her still though shee unjust doe prove And happier contentment will I find In loving her with unrequited love Then to love one lesse faire though farre more kind IS 't possible you can deny With such unyeilding sleighting heart So small a suite so earnestly Pursu'd by my so true desert That not the cheapest toy you weare As ribban pin or thread of fringe I may with your kind favour beare Love feeds ev'n on the sleightest things Unhappily my heart is plac'd Since for my heart I cannot gaine To be in this slight measure grac'd That I importune to obtaine You feare be like that I will make it An earnest of what I desire No I 'le but as a Relique take it Of you the Saint that I admire And though my true loves due reliefe I hopelesse am e're to attaine Such proofe will comfort yet my griefe In that I reape not your disdaine Welcome at last yet pretty
thred Ne're yet since Love his raigne begun Was such small thing more merited More prized or more hardly won DO not reject those titles of your due VVhich natures art hath stiled in your face The name of Faire onely belongs to you None else that title justly can imbrace You Beauties heire her coate sole spotlesse weare VVhere others all some markes abatement beare T is not their cheeks touch'd with Vermillion red Sâ—ain'd with the tincture of enchanting skill Nor yet the curl'd devises of their head Their breasts display'd their looks fram'd to their will Their quick turn'd eye nor all their proud attire Can make me their perfections to admire All this is done without Natures consent Thy beautie needs no arts inticing ayd Thine nature gave their 's art hath onely lent Thine shall endure when theirs are quite decay'd Thy beautie others doth as much excell As heav'n base earth or earth accursed hell Others are faire if not compar'd to thee Compar'd to them thy beautie doth exceed So lesser Starres give light and shine wee see Till glorious Phoebus lifteth up his head And then as things ashamed of their might They hide themselves and with themselves their light Since Natures skill hath given you your right Do not kind nature and your selfe such wrong You are as faire as any earthly wight You wrong your selfe if you correct my tongue Though you deny her and your selfe your due Yet dutie bids me Faire intitle you VVHen God gave man the high Lieutenancy Of all commanding that on earth should bee Hee yet foresaw no true felicitie Could grow to man without societie Wherefore he made of a refined mould Woman to all his workes as crowne of gold The richest presents are the last bestow'd And arts perfections in the last works show'd Her solely hee intended mans companion Most pleasing object of his conversation Whereby who womans company condemne Highly Gods sacred will and Law contemne And few or none neglect their company But such as want worth or abilitie The worthiest men that most prize reputation Would rather lose mens then their estimation Which made th'al-knowing Solomon compare Their love to things most pretious and most rare 'T is not the vulgar breath as hath been said But womens good opinion that ne're stray'd They wits and vertues whetstones are that give The edge and appetite that makes us strive Each other to excell in show and deed To gaine the love of them that most exceed In feminine prehemenence whose love All noble courages of men doth move Honour from men but fruitlesse pleasure brings But womens love gives happinesse of Kings And onely followes those that do possesse The beauties art and nature doe expresse Other delights that hang but on conceit Are sawce and margent this the Text and meat Our sev'rall senses find their sev'rall pleasure But woman is to every sense a treasure To see to heare to touch and if not tast Tisby a sweeter pleasure farre surpast For taste in deed and every other sweet That wee enjoy by natures benefit Onely conduce unto the worke of love Wherein alone wee serviceable prove To God and nature who each worke beside Of our fantastick pleasure do deride And they that give all pleasure to the mind Are naturelesse distasted and unkind Nature to mee hath beene so much a friend I 'le ever honour her and serve her end But you 'l object that womens company Ought serve alone for mans necessitie And that their idle conversation Is uselesse but for procreation As servile ignorant nor ought of worth Is by their triviall fellowship brought forth But womens worth writers enough affirme Which so well prov'd I need not now confirme As for the fault of ignorance you finde 'T is but your education keeps them blinde Yet mid'st that blindnesse of such art they show As cunning'st wits of men doe overgoe And if their disobedience you mislike Beasts by our fall gain'd freedome they the like Perchance expect and as the Privernate Answer'd the question of the Roman State That rebells did such punishment deserve As they that judge themselves too good to serve VVhich made the gen'rous Roman set them free Communicating Roman libertie Knowing that nature n'ere that State would bear VVhich is commixt with servitude and fear So had I power to alter marriage law Both should be free and both exempt from aw And then this verse you happy true should find No comfort 's likâ— to women that are kind But you my doting ravisht soules delight Soule of your Sex subject of what I write VVhose company affords a second joy To that which heav'nly soules in Gods enjoy And whose privation breeds another hell To those that e're did in your presence dwell VVhere onely to have power to come and see Is happinesse above capacitie VVhose presence charmes our cares like heav'nly wine Infusing height of joy and heate divine To whom all other beauties that give light Are cold and dead as Glow-wormes in the night You a quick sparkling-bright-enflaming fire That kindles all comes neare makes all admire As much more lively pleasing in compare As gliding streames then standing waters are Sole Planet of our Spheare raising our blood As mightily as Cynthia th' Oceanâ—lood â—lood I need not name you you are like the Sun Knowne by the most obscure description Oh! if you could in course as constant prove Too happy should hee bee that joyes your love But you like an unguided Phaeton Take glory onely to bee gaz'd upon And to inflame this lower world with fire Of an unbridled and untam'd desire VVhilst your owne heart as hard and cold as stone Is plac'd above all conflagration Reserv'd I thinke to bee enjoy'd by Iove Disdaining all inferiour earthly love For Leda Europa Danae all in one Come nothing neare you Beauties paragon You surely are a Goddesse nor can bee Injoy'd but by a perfect deitie For men may thinke you love and finde you faire But thinking to imbrace you finde but aire Nature hath beene but niggardly to all That unto you shee might bee prodigall To you true beauties faire originall VVhence others have but counterfeit derivall Men may o're other creatures pow'r pretend But full obedience they to you extend And glory more your sacred power t' obey Then over all things else to carry sway BUt that great President of this faire Round VVee may not 'gainst thy will expostulate Nor dare upon lame humane reasons ground Oppose what thou hast pleas'd to ordinate Our reasons false light else would make us stray And with strong arguments our minds induce Against the marriage sanction to invey VVhence flowes such ruine trouble and abuse Nor can thy institution bee accus'd For that observ'd what now our torture brings Had such felicitie to us infus'd As equalls poorest soules with joy of Kings Matches were first made by consent of love VVhich constant mindes in puritie excelling Did so perpetuate that nought could remove Them from their first affections
the Irish Seas so troublesome and dangerous there is a proportion of bearing beyond which wee sink I was in my prime youth encountered with many unfavourable dysasters c. The great change of the Court and long greatnesse of them whom accident c. My absence in travaile hindering my falling in with those times my retirednesse by that course and over-exact study of language which certainly is proper only to children to whom it comes insensibly and is most troublesome to curious spirits these and much more conspired against me I would when my fortune was whole have matched my Sonne then very young and have assured my Lands upon him for a reasonable portion it could not bee My Predecessor after a long and desperate sicknesse lived just enough to marry me and many stranger things then these have befaln me in the Article of a Catastrophe to my fortune November 2. 1637. TO say something still of diverse ambiguities and perplexities incident to my condition and fortune which besides the accidentall melancholy bred in my body could hardly saile to work an alteration and disease upon a minde curious of avoiding inconveniencies and choosing the best my nature was bent to ordinary pleasures yet morally withdrawn to an observation of decency vertue moderation and improvement of knowledge with an acquisite affectation of Philosophicall Morall Civill and Christian perfection wherein as well for vogue fashion and reputation as truth I could not willingly consent to come short of the best When I grew towards manhood being of myself disposed to forbeare marriage untill I should be thirty yeares old and then not to marry without great choyce in fitting my self and obtaining a fulnesse of fortune to set my self at ease in my quality and that estate â— c I saw the inconvenience but Wife Children and my disease made me unfit for another mans house and though I wished yet I could not resolve a change which to me who could never easily admit a resolution with inconveniencies attending it was ever abhorrent my naturall curiosity whose minde was never quiet till all circumstances and conveniencies were run over and over and accommodated by me made all things especially in a seat of my own most troublesome To the melancholy tainted spirit nothing is more unfit then idlenesse nothing more troublesome then its curious discoursing upon resolutions nothing more unfit then confinement to one place yet nothing more hard then to resolve and digest change and alteration Once marryed I was set to seek how to live where to live my birth and breeding was in the City my affection and chiefe seat in Cambridgeshire but many strong considerations diverting mee from it The Court where I was young entred followed might have kept me from that depth of melancholy whereunto travaile study and retirednesse in care and fancy of what belonged to a house drowned mee but that also by accident was unfit for me yet at length for a strong diversion and under so brave a patronage as that of Prince Henry I readventured upon it but his immature death and much sicknesse of my own following upon it with other disproportions finally aliened me from that course Thus and much more hath my life been a conflict with disease and fortune I have formerly touched many more particulars yet not all nor the worst It is one of the greatest in satisfactions of writing to an ingenuous spirit in most important matters to have least freedome there are many Noli me tangere's The contrast of Gods grace and Religion against the impetuosity of naturall affections hath been many yeares my greatest combat I have fought resolutely but received many foiles yet by the infinite goodnesse of my Saviour I have received such most unexpected succour that to my unvaluable comfort I triumph c. I have dedicated my self next to God wholly to my Son and have many years endevoured his good beyond my own I have now made my self his Pensioner and I wish no worldly happinesse more then his prosperity thus with a running pen I ease my minde which though with no serious exactnesse yet with little prejudice to my health for otherwise the strength of my disease would not suffer me to beare the strength and curiosity of my own discourse He who is subject to melancholy let him shun as a Rock at Sea over-studying or tyring of his thoughts and when he finds conclusions come not off cleerly and that a restinesse of discourse grows upon him let him give over for the present not admitting the least tumultuation till such a good and fit time after as he may return new and fresh to work by this meanes shall hee avoid much hurt of his spirits and attain better to his ends In reading also little and little at once shall dispatch more and that without inconvenience of health then much together to the oppression of the soule Ne quid nimis in all things is an excellent instruction How many a man hath tyred his horse by riding a little too fast who might otherwise have come well to his journies end The like is seen in expence a very little contracting would often have given ease and thrist where a very small overspending hath bred continuall want and ruine By my miserable experience I could give many rules upon this worlds course and melancholy Moderation is good but Gods grace is above all and without it nothing can prosper How lustily doth the root feed a tree whose branches are few and small in respect To the all-seeing God be glory for with us but through him dwels nothing but darknesse errour frailty and ignorance November 4. 1637. MY gracious God the support and guide of us and all our actions since thou hast vouch safed to grant mee a firme and happy faith in Christ and love of thee with a contempt of all earthly and carnall joyes confirm unto me I most humbly beseech thee thy heavenly graces and the comfort of thy good Spirit for I abhorre my self whensoever that joy faileth me or any worldly affections assault me none more then I knows their vanity their unsoundnesse their emptinesse of all true and perfect satisfaction such as left mee ever to seek ever unquiet till such time as I wholly resigned my self unto thee The world is a wildernesse of ravenous beasts there is no path no safety no contentment or protection but through thy favour Sweet Lord impart it unto me and I shall finde that quiet and joy of heart which I have ever wanted Helpe me for I shall hate my self if through the infirmity of my flesh and blood I reap not more joy and complacence in my surrender to thee and in thy grace then ever I did or could finde in the most full and flattering pleasures which this instable world affords I have often found thy most mercifull and miraculous reliefe and support beyond expectation beyond naturall conceit Let thy mercy and grace continue with mee to my end and
hope will come and beare a part To hide my want of voyce my want of Art Corona Alphabeticall in imitation of the 119 Psalme AWay unhallowed spirits fleshly borne Unto the second birth these lines belong Your eyes are full of lust your hearts of scorn You cannot taste a supernatur'd song When in Gods furnace you shall prove refin'd Divinely transubstantiate from above Your Soules contrite your stony hearts calcin'd And him propound sole object of your love Then shall my inspirations finde applause And penetrate your soules as well as mine Then will you finde them both your meat and sauce And warm your spirits at such beams Divine God knows what preparations I have past Oft broken with this Plough to kill my weeds Down melted in a new mould to be cast Macerate fetter'd fitted for new seeds When his magnetique vertue draws you come Till then to what I write be blinde deaf dumb BLest Founder of this earthly Hospitall Sole daily Benefactor to mankinde Lord Paramount of Lords of Kings and all Soule of our Soules controller of the minde Transcendent Essence dazling more our sight Then Sun-beams Owles harder to comprehend Then 't is for Ants to judge and reason right Of men and know whereto their counsels tend Thou who giv'st Faith and Grace spirituall Hearts happiest Center food and notion Who truely art what falsely we doe call Instinct or Nature Father of motion Inspire my soule my spirit animate Thy working power and glory to expresse That these my lines may partly expiate My lives and pens past errors and impresse Thy stampe divine upon my readers heart Assisted by thy holy Spirits Art COntemne not Lord this humble sacrifice This Incense from the censor of my heart Heart which thy quickning Spirit mortifies To live and die to thee a true convert As in my heart so flow into my stile Untie tune cleare my soule that I may sing Thy saving grace and prove most happy while I may one sparkle to thy glory bring None but a power Almighty could create Yet greater wonder our redemption was Nor goes lesse mercy to regenerate That worke nor consummate nor Sabbath has To live fresh fishes in this briny Sea To swim by faith against strong natures streame Beyond our reason and our eyes to see And make thy soule transporting love our theame This Antedates the sweet fruition Of thy most beatifique vision DIspence O Lord that I polluted lame Presume thy power and mercies to display Thy Priest should perfect be and free from blame But thy projection workes on base allay The greatest graces thou hast summon'd all Thy creatures to thy praise their rent to pay Nor can I chuse but answer to thy call Accountable for mercies more then they But yet alas what fruite can I expect From these farre short of lines Apocryphall Since thine owne dictates finde so small effect And Isralites prov'd hypocriticall Yes thou hast wonders wrought on me and canst By thy assistance so my labours blesse Some one at least by me may be advanc'd To feele thy Spirits motion and redresse The course of sinne which flesh cannot withstand Without the succour of thy sacred hand ERect O Lord thy Trophees in my Verse Confound with shame th' Idolatrizing Muse Teach such with me thy praises to rehearse T is better write to save then to seduce Teach them thy beautie riches thou who art Riches and beauties donor cleare their eyes To admire the vertues which thou doest impart To the rich furnish'd earth and guilded skies Thou needst no strain'd conceits nor figures such As they imploy to shew wit and give grace Thou their Hyperbole's exceed'st so much They faint to see invention wants a place Oh that my Verse like Aarons rod had pow'r To overcharme what those inchanters sing And all their strong illusions to devour Or like the Brasen Serpent cure their sting Then might my Muse triumphant Lawrell weare Endu'd with grace no thunder blasts to feare FAther of beautie goodnesse power and love Vertue of vertues spring of eloquence By whom alone we are we live and move And exercise a happy confidence Whose love to us made thee evacuate Thy selfe and glory frailtie to put on Frailtie to hunger die degenerate To man in all but his corruption Oh let thy love like love in us procure And teach us to deny our selves for thee Change which to thee was losse will be our cure Thy hunger food thy death our life will bee Teach us to love and we shall learne to write In Characters of love our hearts will flow Love chafes benummed spirits to endite And ever carries light ' its flames to show Make mee Oh Lord to thee a perfect lover And love will both it selfe and thee discover No wonder else if we prove dull to write For 't is a wonder Lord to love thee right GRieve Oh my heart grieve that thou canst not grieve Grieve that thy streames flow counter to thy will Grieve that thy fraile propensions still survive And thy intemperate nature swayes thee still Shame oh my soule oh shame to see thy shame Shame that nor faith nor reason can prevaile Shame that thou knowest most savage things to came And that thy Art upon thy selfe doth faile Suffer thou doest and justly suffer too In selfe offending wilt thou still befoole Thy selfe in doing what thou should'st not doe And non-proficient prove in thy owne schoole Yes Lord it will be so except thy grace Continually prevent preside restraine In thy least absence nature will take place Nor can against it selfe it selfe containe Children from Nurses are nor safe nor quiet Without thee soule nor body can keepe diet Destroy Oh Lord what foments our annoy Or wild presumption will our health destroy HEaven wert thou no reward Hell but a tale Religion but a waking dreame begot Twixt policie and fancy to prevaile Over fraile flesh and hopes and feares besot Were conscience but a brat of Arts begetting As reall in ' its falshood as in truth A home-spun stuffe as false wrought as selfe fretting A brand impos'd upon our tender youth Yet hath it pleas'd my Lord to manifest So palpably his selfe and love to mee Were nature richer sweeter I le divest And strip my selfe of all for love of thee None more then I th'erroneous print can read Of melancholy and superstition Nor better all their subtile steps untread Distinguishing between Text and Tradition Beleeve me more hath gone me to convert Then either wit or nature can pervert HAbituate maladies are hardly cur'd Relaps proves often mortall worst in sinne To me relaps'd oft and to sinne inur'd Strange hath thy mercy Lord and patience been Insolvable I am for such great grace Yet I ambitious am to make returne What most is mine and others most embrace In gratefull sacrifice to thee I burne Obedience Temperance I here professe Worldly delights and wealth I abdicate No fetter'd votary yet ne're the lesse My selfe to thee I freely consecrate Power
honour riches pleasures sensuall The Idols which the world doth most adore I flight as much and so I master all That others creepe to Nothing I implore Lord but thy grace in that more pleasure rests Then all the base delights that flesh suggests IMagination what thou canst produce By thy prolisique pregnant facultie Is a discourse as subtile as abstruse How thy owne species thou dost multiply In what great distance secret sympathy Through ayre or spirits thou act'st on things remote I cannot say with perspicuitie Nor how thy impertitions are begot Distempers and conceits doe verifie Strong fancied objects outwardly appeare Paying in opticall realitie The intromissions of the impregnat Ayre Woâ—ke then my faith by thy great energy Faith upon others warme with charitie The coldnesse of the times to fructifie By its diffusive vertuous qualitie Rise Lord and sympathetically encline To turne to thee thy enemies and mine KNowledge is sweet and bitter faire and lame A great impotor body fram'd of Ayre A chatting flattering and self-painted Dame More in conceite then reall beautie faire How justly could I raise a mutiny Against our self-deceivings till I finde Our errors are not worth the scrutiny Nor truths true subjects of a sensuall mind God found us in our losse and selfe-bred stormes And with his light his Port exhibited Us to disbryer crown'd himselfe with thornes And made us rich in wares prohibited Forbeare beleeve and love is all hee craves All other knowledge is as false as vaine Wee foole our selves and make our selves true slaves To our false dotage faith alone is gaine Thy constant love oh Lord is all my ayme All other affectations I disclaime LOrd I desire my contract to make good What e're befalls should I a loser prove How e're things passe as they are understood Wee cannot lose if wee can say wee love Though as wee feare so thou shouldest prove offended Though vitious longings satisfied would cure Though I could seise what fancy e're pretended Yet would I stoope to nothing but thy lure Charme what thou canst false world deafe is my eare Thou Lord alone canst fill my greedy heart No other object have my hopes or feare Nature adieu for I will live by Art Lord make me Master in thy Arts divine That this worlds Sophistry I may elude Could I as well demonstrate as define Solve as distinguish vice should not obtrude It selfe for vertue I would make appeare The height of pleasure is thy love and feare MY selfe converted Lord as thou hast will'd Others I would confirme and draw to thee That here more perfect though not yet fulfill'd Thy Lawes obedience and our joyes might bee My sinnes and sufferings my compassion breed To see soules not maligne bewitcht by sinne Let thy wounds Sympathy make their hearts bleed Knock hard O Lord and they will let thee in Their soules have cost thee all as deare as mine Vouchsafe that they may equall favour find Hadst thou not forc'd mee I had ne're been thine Open their eyes or they must still be blind But Lord thy will be done best time thou knowest Thy justice or thy mercies to impart Thou ever in thy favours overflowest Thy justice keepe for the malicious heart Charitie binds us to seeke others good How e're thy will and grace have firmely stood NOr Cynthia Starres nor Roses Violets Nightingales Wrens nor our heart-charming Queene Can so surpasse the vulgar delicates That shine and are in triviall beauties seene As doe thy pleasures Lord the worlds delights Which seeme to feed but leave us hungry still Suggesting false distracted appetites Which satisfied with gall and wind do fill Poore flattering fading pleasures sweet to none But groveling Palats Bubles of the minde Compar'd with them you shew how short you come By the discountenanc'd guilty shame you find As is the Galaxia in the skies A light from many hidden lights proceeding Such constant confluence of joy doth rise From Gods sweet influence of grace succeeding Lord guide me in a refluence to thee And worldly affluence my scorne shall bee OH Lord I know I may be thought to sing Triumph before full victory obtain'd But since thy pardon hath vouchsaf'd to bring Mee to thy feast of conscience unstain'd I nothing doubt mercy compleat to finde Why then my soule art thou perplexed still Stere cleare O Lord and pacifie my minde Since thee to celebrate is all my will But my extent it doth too farre exceed To tell the wonders thou hast wrought for mee Accept oh Lord endeavour for the deed My best expressions must come short of thee Then rest my soule repose in God alone Hee is thy countenance helper and thy Lord His mercy never faileth to his owne Such as beleeve and trust unto his word Yet Lord I care not so thy favour last Though Taper-like I spread my light and wast Or though I like the poore flame-courting flie Seeking thy glory singe my wings and die PRevail'd thou hast my God and made me thine A stubborne knotty peece thou hast mee prov'd Seaventy times seven at least thou didst refine And pardon mee by thy example mov'd To labour others good forgive their ill With courage and with love invincible Wee perish Lord except thou vanquish still And worke us to thy will reducible Great to thy Rebells Lord is thy compassion Which doth to us part in thy conquest yeeld In thee wee triumph over sinnes and passion And chase the strongest lusts out of the field Some live in sinne yet find thy grace at last To thee repentance never comes too late I in thy conflicts all my life have past A moment could not well mee subjugate The hardest conquest is the greatest glory 'T is not the course but end that crownes the story Advance O Lord thy conquest still in mee That I may find sweet triumph still in thee QUarrell no more my caâ—ping soule but yeeld Yeeld to thy mighty conquerer and know 'T is for thy good nature hath lost the field And that thy selfe thou to his grace dost owe. Thou hast thy selfe enrol'd into his pay Nature was false and paid thee in base coyne Oh doe not now thy selfe and him betray But fight against his enemies and thine Undisciplin'd licentious was thy course In thy first warfare natures stinging want And emptie pay led thee from bad to worse Sharking thy pleasure was thy food was scant In shiftings and in change thou didst subsist Thy purchases dissolv'd in wast and griefe Oh joy no more in doing what thou list But joy in thy well disciplining Chiefe Happy who are to his command resign'd All else is as the blind to lead the blind REckon we doe without our Host if wee Dispose Oh Lord our wayes irregulate In carnall appetites neglecting thee Sole Founder and upholder of our State As little reckon I as care to live Thou hast cross-byast me to this worlds pleasure Nature hath been as frank to me to give As unto others but another measure Hath
but by a happy constitution and cleernesse of body maintained by daily exercise I thank God I fear not any violent or long continuance Nay I rather reckon it as an excellent medicinall Physick unto me cold ferments into a heat and heat digests and purifies stormes clear the aire agitation refines and subtilizeth the water and fire and stirring advantageth the earth Evills are said not to goe alone and distempers purge away more then their causes But it is good as well in state as soule and bodies to maintain themselves in such a freedome from over-abounding in evill humors that misaccidents when they come and there can be no security against them may not endanger the whole frame Thus much of cold but what shall we say in surprises of heat and fire wee have lately seen many misfortunes thereby shall we therefore not build or not make fire to warm our selves such resolution were to defraud our selves of the naturall commodities of our reason and discourse which teacheth us rather to confine and moderate the use of things then utterly to decline them It is the property of wilde beasts to feare and fly from fire and of men to use it And now to revert something to our other nights discourse of Love which certainly hath some Divinity in it or otherwise it could never as it doth become a fresh and infinite Theam of our best spirits Love and anger are the fires of the Soule if inordinate as well dangerous as vitious shall we therefore shun them as a Plague whose best antidote is to fly quickly farre and return slowly is love as incompatible with reason as is pretended and may not Religion though supernaturall admit of a naturall and free vertuous affection betwixt the two Sexes Religion saith Be angry but sin not and is rather a rule to rectifie then extinguish affections they are the wings of the Soule without an object they are nothing and without the use of them we fall flat to the ground like disfeathered birds The Lady and Nation of Ladies which your Ladiship mentioned are not reasonlesse not to bee without a servant especially such as are or have been beautifull for it is a commanding Character certainely instituted for a delightfull entertainment and admiration It is an unnaturall stupidity not to be affected therewith and a kinde of injury to its Authour not to exercise such affection I ever mean without abuse but this concludes for women not for men our affections have more fire in them matter more combustible and women are commonly as well in effect as in title too much our Mistresses Children and fooles are not allowed to play with fire it had need be a strong well-prepared and well-habituated Soule that entertaines it we are no Salamanders to thrive and be safe in the flames What now ought a man that would be wise to doe affecting to give as well his nature as Religion their right Platonique Love is exploded Love is corporeall and entreth at the eyes Lust cannot be excluded for an ingredient which yet admitted it follows not that it must be predominant as I discoursed unto you some other over-ruling affection may contain and represse it either in a Religious civill or other self-interessed consideration nay even in a divers prevailing respect towards the very subject of our love I can be affected with the objects of my palat and eye and yet forbeare them burn with a surprizing desire of mortall revenge and yet refrain Fear and awe will prevaile even with dogs and beasts and why not in Love but how farre this is to be allowed in discretion I submit with a good morrow to your Ladiships more refined discourse and judgement I send you the Verses humbly kissing your hands and end with my Paper Your Ladiships c. A promiscuous peece of three houres work in a morning to cleare from further writing Madam IF I deceive not my self there is somewhat of power from above urging my addresse unto you I have now by Gods grace finished that my designe of Verses which I had propounded to my self they are upon presumption of your Ladiships favour to goodnesse and your humble servant their Author at your command expect not the strong Master-pieces and quintessentiall lines which these curious times and the refined ambitious Spirits of our age produce in defiance of Critiques my births are naturall easie and hasty sometimes foure peeces to my breakfast in the beginning of a morning I am as impatient as any woman of a long and painfull labour I haste to my journeys end and can as little hope or goe about to remould any of my first births as your Ladiships your children once brought to light I love not Verses of the ragged staffe but wish them fluent and gentle which was wont to be a commendation If my walls want strength to support themselves in their naturall stuffe and scope they shall rather miscarry then borrow the supports of inwrought strange conceits and butteresses of Art if I would undergoe any affectation it should be to deliver over ingenious notions and materiall instructive rationall conceptions with an ingenuous and genuine elegance and some depth of prospective in my termes and expressions according to the capacity and perspicacity of my Reader But I am now too old and serious for Verses and have wholly given them over only these my late peeces I conceived my self to owe to my Maker and I am sorry they were not my first fruite which are more properly his due Autumnall fruits are neither the most pleasant nor wholesome I have in great retirednesse and confusion employed my time of late in the dissection of my self and fortune our observations in the Anatomy of the body grow from the opening of others but of the minde from our selves as the Starres of heaven and Globe of earth they are as yet in great uncertainty and undiscovered some rules we have attained and Eclipses we can foretell but for sound and infallible knowledge and judgement we daily finde our selves as erroneous as our common Almanack-makers whose prognostiques are as ridiculous as false And now finding my selfe in motion betwixt heaven and earth give me leave to impart a contemplation of Characterizing such a perfection as yours in relation to them in comelinesse and beauty like the Heavens in motion regulate in order faire powerfull in influence A well ordered minde resembles the clearenesse serenity peaceablenesse and harmony of the upper Spheres and Crystalline Heaven a faire built body the beautifull variety of the earth delightfull fruitfull well drest and correspondent to the Heavenly motions in season order and constancy yet such little worlds there are which seem to enjoy in some exemptions a priviledge above the lower heavens and the earth for they are free from storms scorchings of heat nippings of frost inundations and other disorders such Comets are sent sometimes to be admired and to awake the dying vertue and reputation of your sex Phidias an