from her arme I you presum'd to take And with your knot mine owne arme did adorne 'T was then I did my selfe your Pris'ner make And Captive still doe in your bands remaine To bee by her my Saint or sav'd or slaine It 's true I err'd and fondly you restor'd By arguments most happ'ly false abus'd For still the more that I her love implor'd Her strangenesse made it selfe still more accus'd And when acquaintance which should freenesse adde Made her appeare more strange my soule was madde I then consider'd though shee let you goe That shee my keeping you had neere consented And judg'd it sacriledge to take you so From her a Goddesse thereat discontented Hoping my inward peace to re-obtain By rendring backe my Heav'n-stoln fire againe But let us now faire love exâ—ostulate VVhence that your unkind killing strangenesse grew VVas it because by chance I neare you sat In that licentious place of publike view Faire doe not wrong so much your selfe and me To thinke my Company an injury Your vertue from suspition doth you free And many's persons make their acts suspected Whilst they that in opinion guiltlesse bee May doe much more fearelesse to bee detected Nor jealousie nor malice feare you then VVomen were made to company with men Put on the resolutions of your sexe That all backbiting spightfull blasts contemn And like worlds venome nought at all respects Calumnious tongues that good and all condemn For well they know if faire they bee esteem'd 'T was ne're yet seene but faulty some them deem'd To them for free enjoying of their loves The golden age is now return'd againe And who in true confession had those Doves VVhich doe in Court in Towne or fields remain Shall find few Turtles vow'd to one alone But matelesse in loves sweetest pleasures none The world is now out of minority And all inclin'd to doctrine of freewill My selfe alone to superiority And to your pow'rfull law am vowed still Nor wish I to bee free from that command VVherein my sole felicity doth stand Onely extend to mee a kind Aspect And free accesse to gaze upon those eyes VVhich Planet-like my faculties direct VVhose influence my firme obedience ties So shall I happy live and you may prove Contented in the office of my love PRetty precious Curle of haire Late fairly dangling by that eare VVhich Jewell yet did never weare To your worth or beauty neare Captivated now you are To him whose heart you did insnare Pledges unequall in compare Shee hath my heart I but her haire Yet would the hardy youth of Greece Have giv'n his hard-won golden fleece VVith joy and triumph of the prize To clip but such another piece How often hath the wanton wind To gentlest blasts himselfe confin'd VVhilst playing with you too unkind You shooke him off and still untwin'd And coyly turn'd another way Disdaining his unlicenc'd play The God of love dispos'd to stray Oft wrapt in you hides him all day VVhere when his mother him espies The little wanton nimbly hies From thence to cheeks from cheeks to eyes And often there so long hee lies That many a guiltlesse haplesse wight That on her eyes chance cast their sight Are sudden strooke and lose their light Punisht by his discover'd might Thus up and downe the darling skips And after still the Cyprian trips And chaseth him from eyes to lips VVhere Pitho her rich adorn'd Court keeps The next retrait that Cupid winnes It 'twixt her snowy mountaine twinnes VVhere when the goddesse him imprims Hee straight descends and happ'ly inns VVithin the vale of true delight VVhence to her Curles hee aym'd a flight But being overweake in plight His mother caught him and all night They both resolved there to rest VVhere such divine contents them blest That when they solemnize a feast All their delights are there addrest Yet Venus oftner it would use But feares her sonne would her refuse And for his Patron goddesse chuse Her mistrisse of my Curle and muse FOr wondrous rare I late heard told Two Suns at once I might behold That equall glorious equall cleare In one Meridian did appeare VVhich when together I did view I wondred what illusion drew So many judgements so awry But as it fareth with an eye VVhose accidentall weakned sight The masters judgement doth invite A single object to mistake And double seeming doth it make So doe these Aiglets false abus'd And in their seeing pow'r confus'd Reflections into bodies frame And thus they raise injurious fame Against that beautie which divine All others doth as much outshine As Phoebe doth a Starre surpasse As burnisht gold unpured brasse As fairest gardens fallow plaines Or Diamond coursest glasse distaines Inferiour beauties of our skies Shun her faire Spheare if you bee wise So may you shine and wonder move Winne much affection and love From those who to Starre-light confin'd Ne're came where the true glory shin'd But if with them you come in sight VVhere shee extends her dazeling light Like Starres obscur'd by Phoebus rayes Your selves remaine but light decayes And all your lovers at a gaze Like silly birds strooke with a maze To see a great bright shining light Surprize them in their dead of night VVill all about her flie and hover Themselves unable to recover From that attractive forcing charme Alluring them to pleasing harme Some guilty by their owne desire Shall haplesse perish in her fire Others her nets shall captive take And them perpetuall pris'ners make Some sad despaire shall strike to ground Nor shall there any one bee found Of will or power her to leave Till death his pow'r and will bereave Live ever my victorious Sunne And mayst thou those thy triumphs runne Whilst skies the Globe of earth shall cover Or in the world remaine a Lover Sole rule the Spheare of love and mee Poore Orbe that moves alone by thee Whose thoughts doe nothing else aspire But thee to please thee to admire FAirest haire that ever grew Farre beyond my worth or due Yet for zeale and love I dare With the truest heart compare That our mistris powerfull eyes Ever made Idolatrize You are that pretious silken grasse Whence my soules food and comfort passe And you such jewell are to mee As none can give the like but shee Who gave you mee O doe not scorne To bee by mee your captive borne Pris'ners their Fetters weare and I My soule in your enlacing tie You thinke you lose rich beame divine Too much by change of being mine But what you lose by your depart You gaine by thaldome of my heart Prove kindly true to mee and know Shee who did you on mee bestow May finde greater fairer many But more constant true not any Song NOw tell mee Artist can shee love Or loving can shee constant prove Constant shee is and love shee can But hard it is to finde the man What one to please her must hee bee Worthy and perfect such as shee Then must I of her love despaire For shee
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
the ridling humour lately affected by many who thinke nothing good that is easie nor any thing becomming passion that is not exprest with an hyperbole above reason These tormentors of their owne and their Readers braines I leave to bee admired in their high obscure flight while my selfe will bee happy if I can procure but a familiar delight to a superficiall reading they affect to shew more wit then love and in truth so much that whilst they commend beyond reason they shew that either they want reason to commend or their subject to bee commended like ill ranging Spaniells they spring figures and ravished with their extravagant fancies pursue them in long excursions neglecting their true game and pretended affection Bee the matter or the discoursers capacitie never so poore and meane I ever affect a man that maketh right conclusions And for my selfe I would rather bee thought to want invention and knowledge then judgement and good consequence in what I utter The Poetry of these times abounds in wit high conceit figure and proportions thinne light and emptie in matter and substance like fine colored ayery bubbles or Quelque-choses much oâ—â—entation and little food conceits similes and allegories are good so the matter bee carried along in them and not interrupted by them Venus is here drawne by her Doves not Serpents and as I professe my selfe to want art in all things so in matters or love I thinke it may bee best spared as being an affection meerely naturall and where Art is seldome comely but authorised with a native disposition besides Verses of love are commonly made for women whose chiefest beautie consists in being unsophisticated by Art and are the more pleasing in conversation by possessing a free puritie of unadulterated wit And as wee often see that those women that have bestowed on themselves the most Art and costly dressing nay many times that have the best proportion are not yet the most winning So in Verses there is to bee exprest a naturall spirit and moving ayre or accent more alluring and charming the affection then others of a farre more rich faire and curious composition The world in all things is full of Critiques that are sharpe sighted to reprehend and will approve nothing but according to their owne rule many times out of square But for my part I hold the same opinion of Verses as of Ayres in Musick or Houses that let them bee delightfull and pleasant to the first appearance with conveniency to the designe and for the fantasticated rules of Art Architecture and proportion let them observe them that list and commonly who most affects them most failes in the generall delightfulnesse and use Poetry is in truth a kind of Musick the fable of Orpheus expressed as much Musick hath its Anthems Pavens Fantesies Galliards Courantoes Ayres Sarabands Toyes Cromatiques c. And Verses have their Hymmes Tragedies Satyres Heroiques Sonets Odes Songs Epigrams Distiques and Strong lines which are their Cromatiques and of themselves may bee excellent in their Art but long dwelt upon grow harsh and distastefull The commandements and preceptives are none of the poeticall parts of Scripture Though I am no part of a Scholar yet thus much by casuall opening of books I know that Horace in matter of love hates difficulty and though I beleeve it an imitation of his abrupt and harsh veine in his more serious peeces that upon the worthinesse of his name and matter hath debaucht many from the formerly used more open familiar and pleasing manner of versifying yet I finde that even himselfe howsoever either naturally or affectedly rugged except his Lyrick veine when hee uttereth his judgement or prescribeth to others concerning measured compositions no man is more frequent in recommendation of a round current cleare and gracefull delivery but what his morall solid and satyrick matter dispenst with is in slighter stuffe intolerable there shall you find the rough hands but not the voyce and substance let them rather imitate his best then his worst It cannot bee good in limited lines which are a purposed pause to the voyce to carry with a counter-time the period of the sense to the body of the next line much lesse to dismember an innocent word that every child according to nature and use in spelling would put together and words have a naturall ayre accent and quantitie whence to strayne them is to rack both them and the reader Who will set himselfe to daunce or his horse to manage let him seeke to observe good time ayre and fashion no man is fit for all things whose Genius was borne for prose let him write prose rather then affecting Verse to make such unnaturall stuffe as shall bee good neither I pity both in my selfe and others to see the best of our matter in one place so extreamly prest that it is a labour to discover it and yet in another part of the same peece slight and superfluous stuffe dilated at large A Poet should raise light from smoak not blow that which is light with him to carry but smoak to another I am of his Majesties mind that the best eloquence is to make our selves clearely understood and that to him who hath leasure there need no abbreviations I had rather pay for a little more paper then to bee put to the cost of my braine The admirable inventions and matter of your unimitable Uncles extant works flourish in applause of all by a happy and familiar display of their beauties to the meanest including withall such generositie of truely and profoundly extracted conceit to the most inward life of whatsoever hee expresseth that the strongest and clearest seeing judgements may rest satisfied yea transported in contemplation of the most lively and pleasing touches that a soule can apprehend or a pen distill Yet somewhat more to authorise my selfe Lipsius upon perspicuity holds it the greatest misery in writing not onely not to be understood but to be understood with difficulty and the sharp-witted Martial in contempt of the more formall and severe censurers and Writers professeth that hee would have his verses need neither an Apollo nor Grammarian and howsoever some may deny him to be exact himself in his entertainments affects rather to please his Guests then Cooks Verses of love should be verses of pleasure to please in love the smoother fac'd the better I may be crabbed and rugged but will never affect to bee so especially in verses whose true nature and use is to worke a kind of a Charme upon the mind even with slightnesse of matter by the well wrought and exquisite harmony of their Cadence and sound There being to be transfused into verse sometimes such a naturall spirit of magnanimity sometimes such a soft wanton and melting aire of passion that the one shall never faile to affect a generous and heroick mind nor the other to work a kind of tender and relenting disposition in a sensible and well-natur'd constitution neither of which
shines And Sun-like doth in spite of mists expresse Its owne true glory Wisely happy hee Who in this glasse of water viewes this Sun Excelling object which to looke upon Our humane Organs too unable bee What though the Sisters nine my Muse disclaime As an untutor'd Novice new start up That never tasted the Castalian cup Let others invocate their idle name Whilst I by thy divine pow'r set on fire Thy worth on higher Trophees elevate Then e're the greatest Poet Laureate Could her renowne that did his Muse inspire Assist great goddesse then my passions story Thy beauties record thine shall bee the glory To make an Inventory of thy parts By faire resemblance of their forme and hew To Ivory Corall Crystall heavenly blew Hills Pillars Bowes Valleyes and piercing darts Were to detract from that perfection Of teeth of lips of eyes of azure veines Breast neck browes lookes and those delicious plaines Which thou hold'st in most faire connexion Excelling all resemblance all compare And were indeed by cunning to aspire To colour forth the burning heat of fire Or glorious light and dazling beames which are In Phoebus face and fiery Chariot dwelling Thou like the joyes of the Elysian place Which who strives to describe shall but debase Art onely knowne by others all excelling Let then all Pens and Species confesse Their weaknesse thy perfections to expresse Since Cupid to Loves Seas my Barke hath prest My fate once led mee by the Cape of Hope But since alas my agitated Boate Hath past Despaires sad gulfe and its arrest I Anchor cast dysaster to prevent But Anchor hopelesse did and helplesse prove That marble white and red it could not move Whereon I ventur'd it but home was sent Like as do those whom fearefull shipwrack threats Labour for life some harbour good to win Yet crost by wind and tide cannot put in So up and downe my tossed Bottome beates Expecting better fortune and some grace That welcom'st haven that I may recover Which under that Cape once more I discover Center of happinesse most wished place But cruell night why dost thou mee such wrong With thy black cloake to barre mee of that fight My onely marke my soules supreme delight Supplanting my enflamed hope so long That for a fortnight thou dost that remove Fortnight which will as long to mee appeare As if each night contain'd a tedious yeare The onely object of my joy and love For joy without her presence have I none Nor can I love but onely her alone If Art by wishing could obtained bee I would I had the power of Circe's skill Not like to her by poys'ning meanes to kill But by some secret Philters mystery Loves mutuall flames to her I would impart Whose piercing eyes have set my breast on fire Whilst shee I feare remaines without desire Impenetrable to loves powerfull Dart. Bee not unjust great-little God of love Turne not a Tyrant in thy latter raigne Make us not thinke that thou didst love ordaine Our torture but felicitie to prove Justices ballance ever even stands Shoote equall then her heart as well as mine That wee may both adore thy power divine With equall happy love faith joy and bands So shall I ever celebrate thy fame But else have cause to curse thy power and name I wonder much that all this Parliament Your Sex 'gainst you a bill hath never fram'd Wherein me thinkes you justly might be blam'd That contrary to common Lawes intent And common good by your meanes dearth is bred With scarcitie which men incenseth so That some contentlesse some to fury goe And all because you hold monopoled And have ingross'd into your sole possession The masse and stock and beautie of our age A grievance just except you can asswage Their cause of plaint by satisfying impression Whereat me thinkes I see you forth produce Your selfe for Patent beautifully fram'd By God and Natures perfect working hand Whose power to question were prophane abuse And thus your right authoriz'd they confuted Subscribe your Patent n'ere to bee disputed Come on you searching quintessence of wit Limbeck no more your all-exhausted braine To find that delectable place againe Where all things did in first perfection meet Contemplate here this little peece of mould And you will soone acknowledge it at least A perfect modell happily congest Of all delights which that place did enfold Perpetuall Sommer faire doth here reside Harmonious concord is in all things found Flowers fruites perfumes delights do here abound Nor growes there here or nettle thorne or weede Here all in native true perfection growes Nor shall the Gard'ner need to toyle but take Who would not then all earth besides forsake Here to inhabit where all solace flowes Most happy garden earths true Paradise But happier gard'ner whom my soule envies Be not unwilling my request to grant That I your shadow and resemblance have The reason why this favour I do crave Is not for that your pourtraiture I want For were my breast transparent like mine eye You there your selfe enthronized should see Sole Empresse of my heart my thoughts and mee Consecrate trophees of your victory This your Idea feasteth mee within Whilst my poore eyes who first did entertaine You for their welcom'st guest doe now complaine They stâ—rved are distasted of each thing Except your selfe alone deny not then A charitie so superficiall Which when times ruines you can not recall Shall yet your glory shew and shown to men Who nothing will beleeve but what they view Shall force them wonder and accuse their fate That made them lose by sending them too late The happy servitude of seeing you And make them honour verse and pencills skill Which onely can preserve what time would kill Since that my vowes my fortune and my love My course and resolution did ingage To undertake a sacred Pilgrimage To that Saints shrine which sole my soule doth move So haplesse and malignant is my chance That guide and Pilot other have I none Then onely that blind cruell Boy alone Who suffers mee nor rest nor yet advance Thus leads the blind the blind whilst both astray Wander 'mongst thorny thicks looking each hour When fierce untamed passions should devour Like savage beasts my poore soule for their prey Oh pitie now my fairest Saint and Starre The restlesse wildred state wherein I stand And since I seeke but you lend your faire hand To guide my course such morall lessons are That none deny to kindle others light Nor to direct the wandring Pilgrim right That light to light way to the stray we give The reason easie is it nothing costs Nor breeds our diminution or losse And truth to say faire Sun I onely live By that pure light and heat drawne from your eyes VVhose sparkes have so my subject heart inflam'd VVith heav'nly fire so wonderfully fram'd That it to quench in you it onely lies You like Achilles speare which sole imparted Helpe to the hurt it made can sole apply A soveraigne
so perfect is and faire As the best worthinesse in mee Cannot come neere in least degree Shall I then strive to quench my fire No rather love and still admire For shee love's proper subject is Who loves not her doth love amisse I 'le love her then and by her love So perfect I will hope to prove That shee may love what shee hath taught And once bee catcht by what shee caught Song IF you will love know such to be The Lawes of Cupids Monarchy That to refuse Is to abuse Loves government and I declare That such loves Rebells not his subjects are To love is not to bee your owne Love studies to please them alone Whom it affects Without respects Of ought besides and love confin'd Is but by usurpation love defin'd If you did love as well as I You nothing could or would deny But would conceive That you receive What you bestow if this were true Your heart to live in mee and mine in you IF my divining soule and all the Art Loves Schoole hath yeelded me foretell me true I may possesse a parcell of your heart And as I love be lov'd againe by you If fondly I presume and overween And all my arguments fallacious prove Pardon the errour that so oft is seen Of a selfe flattery in desire and love But if my wit my true Informer bee And yours with Sophistry doth not abuse You may be lov'd and honored so by mee As truest and most zealous lovers use If now you show disdaine my hopes are drown'd If smile with highest fortunes they are crown'd To her who shut him in her Closet to breake his hearing of her singing in her upper Chamber with her Teacher made upon the instant to perswade her to bee more free YOu like heav'ns influence beauty constancy And order would bee like in this To hide like themly our heavenly harmonie VVhilst all besides imparted is Yet Heav'ns themselves deny not that to those Whom in their high Spheare they inclose Bee then like heav'ns in all I aske no more They are no niggards of their store Vpon a Brayd of haire FAire thou art nor canst be other That proceed'st from such a Mother Soft and gentle youthfull white Suting her skin and th' eyes delight Such woare Venus and such haire VVeare all that buy to make them faire Silke and silver wrought togethâ—r Show'd so faire nor richly never Loves leading laisse I hope thou art And with thee bring'st to me her heart VVhich to owne imparts more pleasure Then honor beautie knowledge treasure Or all possessions which to gaine Caesar had left Rome Philip Spaine Alexander had forsaken To master earth and undertaken To conquer her whose love alone Had fill'd his vast ambition Triumph my soule in this thy prize Basâ— thee in her lovely eyes And in her joy more height of blisse Then ever fancie knew to wish Let spight and envie swell and burst And jealous frenzie doe its worst VVhilst wee by loves pure fire refin'd Their wits out-shine their malice blind And most securely live above All reach of passion but our love I cannot say I in your service starve Since you affoâ—d me hope to feed upon But if you long confine my food thereon My poore life cannot long it selfe preserve A meate it is so languishing and dry That hourely I diminish pine and faint Unwilling to importune with complaint But that hope bids me rather beg then die Faire flattering hope but oft deceiving guest Unhappy happy Anchor of our soule Which with distractions dost our peace controule VVhere evils known our minds would lesse molest Pity faire Mistris crowne my hopes at last Let me not still roule fruits passions stone And make hel-tortured Tantalus his moane VVho hopes and sees faire fruit but must not tast Best wits indeed at first their favours spare But or discard or ne're long niggards are If my Coelestia bee content to love Faire love mee then to my compleat content Soone will the summer of our yeeres bee spent VVhen life shall but a griefe and penance prove Since you the seeds of love in me have sown VVhich now are ripened by your faire aspect Oh doe not now your harvest due neglect But please your tast in gathering your own Let mee not Torch-like set on fire by you Consume my being in my selfe-fed flame VVhilst you too cruell make my death a game And triumph in my dying fondly true Love vertue like in action doth appeare VVhere words the cheapest Agents of our ends Oft counterfeit yet passe for perfect friends And proof-lesse none or little credit beare That I may thinke you are not one of those VVho for selfe glory are content to faine A glosse of kindnesse and to entertaine Admirers of their worth in verse and prose Give me an actuall argument that firme May you to me my love to you confirm FOrbeare my headstrong Heliotropian thoughts Forbeare your ever gazing on that Sunne Such sense-confounding object learne to shunne As you with naught but sighs and passions fraughts And you my greedy never satiate eyes VVho more you view the more you still desire Your over daring fixed lookes retire For sight subsisteth by varieties Abstaine my feet your hasty steps withhold From her to whom all lovers flock amaine But none are seen back to return againe Better is freedome poore then bands of gold But Traytors all I fondly you reprove Too late your alien'd service I recall Thoughts eyes and feet tongue hands and heart and all Are sole resign'd to her command and love And so inforc'd to love wee all conjoine Suters for grace to her the most divine IT was that gracioâ—s season of the yeare VVhen Husbandmen their welcome harvest inne VVhen fairest fruits are in perfection seene And Courtiers thorough woods chase flying Deere VVhen every swaine requitall due receives For all the care and paines hee had sustain'd VVhen I alone unfortunate remain'd VVhose care and paines no recompence perceives That I imbarqued in the Courtly crew Seem'd all intent on nought but forest sport VVhen oft alasse my heart was farre from Court Conversing most my fairest love with you Mee thought the hunted Deere the Dogges did chase Resembled mee whom my owne thoughts pursue And if a wounded Stagge I chanc'd to view My pierced restlesse heart pity'd his case Sometimes I checkt my thoughts as at a bay VVhich broke by your faire conquering aspect They freshly follow carelesse to be checkt Permitting my repose nor night nor day Sometimes I fly to solitaty shade Hoping to scape 'mongst thicke of letter'd leaves Sometimes in company which grief deceives I thrust my selfe but still my thoughts invade Thus toild by day when night sweet time of rest Cordiall restorative of all that lives Truce to our toile and fainting sorrow gives I tapiss in my bed all care possest VVhere restlesse still exil'd from ease I tosse By those my selfe-bred swift-foote hounds pursu'd VVhose long enjoyed chase hath so indu'd Them with
advantage that no hope of losse Nor hope of life remains except your grace Relieve faire Huntresse my afflicted case INdustrious vertue Mistris of the wise Faire child of nature and of precept born Finding her selfe misprised and forlorn Since shee and beauty have beene enemies Whose quarrell and divorce at first did grow For that her counsell Beauty nought respected And idly nothing but her selfe affected Vertue now pitying eithers overthrow The more esteeme with all and grace to gain A league of late with Beauty hath compact And made it as a part of her contract Both in one mutuall mansion to remain And none so worthy none so faire approving They both united in Coelestia dwell No wonder then that shee doth all excell Love by their vertue or their beauty moving Vertue as her attendants brings along Modesty wisedome courtesie and truth Beauty brings smoothnesse white and red and youth Grace plumpnesse stature feature and that tongue Which like all her perfections void of Art Charmes and subdues even the austerest heart SInce I the fortresse of my heart resign'd That Conqu'resse faire unable to withstand Who here on earth loves forces doth command Cupid hath oft solicited my mind Her glory and his pow'r divine to write VVherein I humbly did his pardon ask Alleadging for excuse it was a task Too great and high for my unlearned might That I a stranger to those lofty straines And smoothly wrought ingenious conceits VVhich Poesie sententiously treats Should more imbase then honor with my paines Whereat my selfe hee will'd mee animate And bade me boldly undertake his will For hee with moving Rhetorick and skill My hearts invention would illuminate And told mee I should need no other book Then those faire Hieroglyphick Characters VVhich shee of worthinesse and glory beares To all eyes visible that on her look VVherewith embold'ned lowly thus I write VVhat Cupid and her eyes to me indite INjurious Time father of ugly vice Mercilesse enemy 'gainst beauty sworn Why mad'st thou not Coelestia to bee born VVhen beauties prize was put to compromise Had shee but then in competition been Ioves golden apple of contention Which caus'd the Goddesses dissention Had nevr glorifi'd the froth-born Queen For shee poore Dame had nothing to procure Their amorous Judge his favour to encline To judge to her that glorious prize divine But beauties bare and casuall fading lure Which with those gifts the other couple vaunted Hearts Idol joyfull wealth by Iuno proffer'd And gracefull wisdome by Minerva offer'd Coelestia all united could have granted She like Pandora doth all grace possesse Wherewith the Gods humanity doe blesse My fortune was the other day My Mistris to surprize Sleeping alone The fairest one That ever closed eyes Or ever Morpheus seis'd for prey Each part so pleasing faire remain'd You easily might discover Their beauty scorn'd To bee adorn'd By borrowing of another Nor wanted what her eyes contain'd Such sleeping conqu'ring grace to see Will certaine credit win That fire of love Doth only move From sightlesse power divine Of Cupid and her Deitie It by this slumbring beauty seem'd Sleep was with her agreed So much to grace Her sleeping face That shee should all exceed Who fairest waking were esteem'd Shee seemed like an Evening cleare VVhen absent is the Sunne Though not so gay More sweet then day Whose scorching heat men shun When th' eye of heaven doth appeare There might I gaze and view at leisure Each parts peculiar grace Brow white and even As snow smooth driven The heaven of her face Faire cover of the under treasure Her cheeks were fresh as blushing morn Nor tincture fetcht from Spain Nor ever art Could like impart True unite Roses stain By those our fatall Houses born Her silken breasts I next espy Faire wrought with heav'nly blew Time truly keeping Amidst her sleeping Blest who may rest on you Where Venus and the Graces lie Thus whilst in ravishment I stand Tempted by her faire lips To steale a kisse VVorlds second blisse In watchfull Argus skips My pleasures progresse to withstand Well Argus wel though then you crost Those my delightfull hopes I nothing doubt To fit you out True tun'd Mercurian notes Pleasures defer'd yet are not lost So happy is the pow'r of Love That wit could ne're prevent Nor care dissolve VVhat two resolve VVith musicall consent Affections mutuall joyes to prove Fond husbands cease your selves to vex True Cornut's onely hee VVhose feare adornes His brow with hornes And thinkes himselfe to bee Giving due right by wrong suspects Iealousie often makes unjust Deceit is taught by feare Who hornes doth watch Hornes may hee catch And faire ones may hee weare Resolv'd to wed resolve to trust MY cruell friend too inconsiderate of my state Why did you not conceale my too injurious fate To tell mee my Coelestia loves and loves not me Unfortunate subsisting eyes that day to see Why am I not like Niâ—be to stone convert Since love and shee prove so unjust to my desert Tell mee my dearest friend what reason what respect What beautious parts in him in mee what lame defect Makes her that frame of vertue so ungratefull prove So ill discerning zeale so to misplace her love If to bee full of feare of passion of desire My blood now over-runne with cold now all on fire If to possesse a passion-spâ—aking heavy eye Which if unfixt on her dejected still doth lie If stead oâ— periods with sighes to interlace All my discourse answers impertinently place If t' have a heart o'rewhelm'd with thoughts ready to breake And yet a â—ongue benumm'd that would and cannot speake If these affects I onely in her presence finde And stupid else with her alone am rapt in minde If in her absence ' stead of pastime mirth and joy I nothing can possesse but thoughts care and annoy A restlesse pensive heart 'twixt hope and feare distraught VVhich full with passions sighes and troubled anguish fraught VVhat late it best approv'd for tastlesse now rejects Nor any company but onely hers affects If sadly shadow'd brow and eyes armes intertwin'd A spirit to retire and solitude confin'd That never rest enjoyes nor joy but in her sight Banisht from all but this heart-easing pen-delight If whilst heavens torch his light doth unto us extend My thoughts to her alone and to her glory bend And when the night invades that gives all creatures rest I restlesse sole remaine my thoughts on her addrest If my enamour'd breast sollicit still my tongue To sound forth chosen stanza's passionately sung And some smooth-sliding well-tun'd eare-inchanting verse That may my love her prizelesse worth and name rehearse If this alas my friend her love cannot deserve Unfortunate I live unfortunate I serve No no you may forbeare an answer to returne Why I for her yet shee doth for another burne I know you will reply the God of love is blinde His arrowes poyson'd such as doe corrupt the minde With headstrong passion and with reasonlesse desire
Which set our weake subdu'd distempered minds on fire Reason is put to flight and appetite beares sway Which blindly leads and blindly forceth us obey And that hee much mistakes who from a womans minde Or reason doth expect or just effects to finde Since passions indigest conceipt meere chance and will Their resolutions and their actions governe still But soft my gall-distilling pen your griefe contain Which howsoever just yet blaphemy refrain Admit her heart of fleshly temper fram'd as mine Bee pierc'd and captivate by Cupids pow'r divine Alas shee rather should bee pitied then accus'd Since what from force proceeds may justly bee excus'd And if indeed my faire Coelestia it bee true That your heart for another burnes as mine for you If you desire to bee so happy in your love That his affections unto you may mutuall prove If you expect your sighs which numberlesse abound Shall eâ—re receive reward or e're with joy bee crown'd Oh! let your your kindnesse then extended unto mee Make you deserve your happy hopes effects to see And faire beware lest if you shew unkind disdaine Loves justice justly yeeld you Talions law againe And if 't bee true that griefe delights in company Then will you love my presence and my sympathy Together wee will sit and comfort one another For griefe is most extreame when we our passions smother Where breathing out at large our due complaints of love Wee 'l both our hearts discharge and pitie learne to move And this lame happinesse of love shall please my mind That though you cannot love you are not yet unkind â—â—t pardon mee deare friend 't is not report alone Can prooflesse my aspiring fixed hope dis-throne But stedfast still in zeale and confidence I dwell As faithfull I love her shee may love mee as well IN fruitlesse expectation to remaine To bee in bed and yet debarr'd of rest To serve where you no favour can obtaine Is saith th' Italian to bee most distrest And these unfortunate effects I prove My faire Coelestia in my fervent love 'T is you detaine my long expected blisse 'T is you that make mee restlesse passe the night 'T is you I faithfull serve yet you it is Mercilesse you with-hold my chiefe delight And know faire creature hee that faithfull serves A costlesse favour ever well deserves Thinke that you have a friend that doth possesse A curious garden plentifully fraught VVith all the pleasures nature can expresse And all delights that ever cunning wrought And all these beauties singularly grac'd By a faire fountaine in the Center plac'd Hee lets you in with welcome entertaine And grants that many wayes your selfe you please Yet midst this ravishment you doe complaine Of thirst extreame which seeking to appease At that faire fountaine which you chance t'espie Your unkind friend his water doth deny And most uncharitable doth permit That part of it should idly slide away And part corrupt by over-keeping it Rather then yeeld a drop your thirst to stay VVhich nothing else can quench and 's onely bred By those dry sweets wherewith hee had you fed Would you now take this party for your friend O no I know you rather would conceive That all his kindnesses did only tend VVith quenchlesse thirst your pleasures to bereave And justly might you wish you ne're had knowne Those joyes whereby your joy is overthrowne That cruell friend faire love are you to me And your perfections that faire garden are VVhither a welcome guest I seeme to bee My senses ravisht all with pleasures rare Of beautie enterchange of words and kisses VVhich yet all breed but thirst and further wishes And those as cheapely you may satisfie As you a water drop may easily give Why cruell faire is't then that you deny That kindnesse without which I cannot live Deale plainly may not this the true cause bee You love my verses better farre then mee And apprehend that if I once obtain The full of my ambitions high desire My love will Moone-like enter on the wain And having won the day straight sound retire O do not so abuse your selfe and mee My love like Phoebus never change shall see My love like Phoebus never change shall see In constant course and heate ever the same And like the Northerne Pole shall fixed bee More firme then can be mov'd by heavens frame Constant to you till death I will remaine For never shall I see so faire againe No faire Coelestia love is Venus sonne Feare not the mother for the child 's destroying Nor is that saying unto you unknowne That th' essence true of love is in enjoying Hee playes the best who holdeth what hee wins The wiser sort still at their end begins If you approve my muses loftie flight And to be fed with change of praises still You must not oft delude her and invite Her to an empty lure that yeelds no fill A Hawke that loftily hath flowne and hard Well merits the best food and best reward Those exhalations that the heavens feed Did they not downe againe distill their rain Coelestiall bodies soone should want and need Those vapours which the earth sends up againe And Iove himselfe should lose his sacrifice But that hee mortals feeds and gratifies No fire can long subsist by smoak alone Flame 's by an oily solid substance fed Who divers times a field hath till'd and sowne Yet findes no profit by his labour bred His folly well deserves to reape but wind Having oft prov'd it barren and unkind Who shoots his arrows up and nothing hits Fooles bolts they prove which their own heads do break One may be ventur'd but he wants his wits That all his Quiver spends one shaft to seek Though vertue ought not foule repulse receive Yet wisdome wils us fruitlesse labours leave Full ill hee sings whose song cannot obtain A draught of drink impatient thirst to swage Though silly Bird I warble many a straine To please your eares imprison'd in your cage Birds long unfed their singing soon neglect No Almes no thankfull language must expect As happy in love are they that give as take Faire pity me and make me happy then Since you your self shall equall happy make VVomen receive farre more delight then men And if you find that I unfaithfull prove Let me be made a reprobate of Love And if you like these off-springs of my brain Whereto your self the Heroine mother are Suffer them not to die with drought but daign To water them from that your fountain faire VVhich true Parnassus spring doth Poets breed And tasted makes their Muse her self exceed It 's true that my affections lately bent And shap't their course that Mid-land straight to win Where Love hath plac'd his uttermost extent His else insatiate conquest to confine And as in nature it is proper known That fire should mount untill it hath attain'd His proper place the concave of the Moon So love untill it hath that center gain'd Whether by natures stimulating force It is
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
overpast No period of contentmentment can bee plac'd Faire-promising little-performing joy That in th'obtaining doth it selfe destroy Our fleshes torture cancker of state and minde Fancies faire weed toy-doting childish kinde That feeds and mads with faire imagin'd showes Rewarded to know least where most it knowes Ape of infinitie that proud aspires Though nature bound to b'endlesse in desires Vext by that woolfe Ambition pride and honour That glitt'ring glasse that snares who dotes upon her That ignis fatuus that who e're pursues Oft meets with inconvenience that hee rues That tickling breath bought at the highest rate Guilt pill that costs so many a broken pate Monster that preyes upon our blood and ease And makes us toyle whom wee contemne to please That britly base strung gem most hardly won Rich lasting stuffe in show but quickly done That pleasant bait that feeds but never fils That Syren that then flatters when it kils That curbe of pleasure sweet of our fond pain Faire instrument ambitions end to gain But Lydia to return again to you I grant 't is hard to know false love from true Your proper art must bee your guiding thred That in loves Lab'rinth you bee not misled In many things we right conclusion take Though wee no certainty of proof can make I proof-lesse think her painted others faire And find faire weather in a threatning aire But venter Lydia she is ne're much wrong'd Who joyes the fruit of love for which shee long'd VVEll women w' are content for modesty You shall dissemble so you 'l be content VVee shall esteem it as a vertuous lie Nor force us to beleeve more then is meant To say you like and love yet have no end Nor any further pleasure doe affect Then such as friend communicates to friend In sight and speech and outward good respect Such may bee friendship but 't was never love Say truly when you doe your Lover kisse Find you no inward kindling sparkles move That you enjoy a more contenting blisse But may it not I feare bee over true That women have forgot to love indeed Nor any such true love is found in you As doth from undissembling hearts proceed And that you may not ignorance pretend VVhat true love is I will to you define That lovers true may reap their loves true end And magnifie a power so divine LOve 's an exhaled Meteor set on fire By beauties Sun in Region of desire A pleasing print nature sets on our heart Of fairest feature which to re-impart Unto the world shee agitates our mind That thereby we perpetuate our kind A longing after inward free commerce VVhere spirits seek with spirits to converse A mutuall blisse most joyfull occupation Where two that like would make one corporation Love is a liking taken to a piece VVhich to make ours we stick not at the price An absent presence businesse full of doubt A guest let in that keeps all others out A peacefull warre a friendly enemy A free State turn'd into a Monarchy Love is an essence all divine and pure A pleasant wound that only one can cure A weeping joy a hopefull sweet despaire An Aprill day Chamaeleon fed with aire A large imprisonment a bold fac'd shame A play where holding out makes lose the game An importuning fancy entertain'd That mutins reason if not well restrain'd An Incubus that sits heavy on the mind Or mewing Cat that hunteth after kind A â—igging to discover hidden treasure Sâ—â—â— union of the minds and bodies pleasure The plesant'st game that ever was invented That sweetest sinne so hard to be repented The happiest gift rich nature doth bestow On them that doe her service undergoe VVorker of wonders father of all things That makes Kings-beggers and makes Beggers kings That makes the Lawyer plead without a fee And the Divine commit Idolatry That makes the daring Souldier to preferre A single combate farre above the warre VVitnesse that Dame who did the Lab'rer win To quit his club and settle him to spin Love makes the Merchant think his home-spun piece Richer then the stuffe of India France or Greece Love turns the Courtiers reason into rime And his sleep houres to curious dressing time Makes him leave Master Horse and Hound and Hare To hunt his Mistris sure above compare And value each kind look kisse of her hand At higher rate then his best field of land Love makes the Sloven turn most neat affected Yet oft the curious carelesse and neglected Love makes the silent speechlesse man to speak Yet oft sets the best Oratour to seek Converts a Papist to a Protestant Whilst he in recompence prayes to a Saint Makes Atheists to acknowledge Deitie Yet holyest Writers profane Piety Makes honest unto one a common whore Yet makes lascivious who was chast before Transformeth women into manly shape Yet maketh men become effeminate Turns age to youth that once again they may In August tast the pleasant fruits of May 'T is Fancies nat'rall child ne're lawfull bred But where by Reason Fancy's seconded Fancy but liking reason love doth make Reasonlesse love of madnesse doth partake But both affections thus concurre in one Fully t' enjoy their object as their owne Nor is it love that seeketh not to prove That sweet which nature makes the end of love Were 't not a silly Bee nay a true Drone That having seis'd a faire flower as her owne Would simply on exteriour pleasure feed Nor seek to gain the inward honey sweet Such withering flowers are we and silly they That gather not their honey whilst they may 'T is natures work who the cold barren mould Makes fruitfull by loves fire species to hould Her mind and pleasures we ought not contemn Fantastick pleasures are not like to them One loves this pleasure th' other loves another But every Son delights to make a Mother FAire give me leave to call you cruell Since cruell I have prov'd you You kind appear'd but to adde fuell To torture him that lov'd you And well you knew your beauty never Could have bewitch'd my mind Nor had you me intangled ever Had you not seemed kind So to seem kind so to dissemble Are but false Syren notes And doe those trait'rous lights resemble That Ships intice to rocks Cruelty often favour proves And favour mischief breeds Hard heart which pity nothing moves More hard which torture breeds Had you at first made firm denyall Nor seem'd to have affected I had not lost with tedious tryall The joy that I expected Loves Card was wont to tell us this That we were neere our Port VVhen women did but heare or kisse But now all rules fall short Like Helens welcome Ile they are Refreshing pleasant ground Where to put in wee ill can spare But are most hardly found Like Proteus daily form they change Never the same remaâ—ning To day most kind to morrow strange Now loving now disdaining The witty yet that can contrive Honour to joine with pleasure Go thorough where they earnest give And
to sing Then the high Trophees of the Swedish King The reason of a Gentlewomans wearing small blacke patches Of another Author I Know your heart cannot so guilty bee That you should weare those â—pots for vanitie Or as your beauties Trophies put one on For every murther which your eyes have done No they are your mourning weeds for hearts forlorne Which though you must not love you could not scorne To whom since cruell honour doth deny Those joyes could onely their misery Yet you this noble way to grace them found When thus your griefe their martyrdome hath crown'd Of which take heed you prove not prodigall For if to every common funerall Of your eyes Martyrs such grace bee allow'd Your face will weare no patches but a clowd Occasioned partly by the Verses above partly by a faire Ladies keeping on her Mask in the house on a hot day I Ne're till now thought patches ornaments Gentile and happy was your Authors muse As gently cruell are her faire intents Who kills and mournes but why doe you refuse Their names who so much wit and fairenesse owne I met that very day you shew'd those lines A beautie such as if it would have shone Would have out pierc'd the parching'st Sun that shines But chamber maskt shee was close mourner to The funerall solemnitie shee wore Innocent guilty sweetly sad as who Resolv'd to intombe her selfe to kill no more It may be also shee did apprehend Another scorching Summer would undoe us And so her selfe o'reclouded to befriend Mortalitie 't was double favour to us But Sun-like beautie know great mischiefes flow From great Eclipses well as blazing Stars Wee die as well except your selfe you show As by your beames or our intestine wars Shine then and triumph still better some die Then this Sphere want its second quickning eye Epigram VVEE cannot scape by masking of your face Wee finde our selves still taken by your grace By your I know not what meere carelesnesse Charmes more in you then others curious dresse Each step and motion of your frame or mind Consists of a composure most refin'd Cheape vertue is confin'd to face yours lies As well in your high spirit as your eyes A Dunghill Cock untry'd will looke as brave So will a Curre a Buzzard Jade or knave As the most vertuous in their severall kind Value consists in temper of the mind In judgement right and resolution strong Ends brave and good thinking nor doing wrong Consulting truth and goodnesse more then will Knowing and daring all but base and ill Diamonds in show are little more then glasse Triviall appearances make men to passe But thorough tryall proves an Asse an Asse Difference in women is no lesse Their goodnesse makes their pretiousnesse True Love and Honour THough you are gracefull brave and faire Beyond your Sexes rate though wit Enoble you as well as blood This nor your fine exalted ayre And prospect knowing all that 's fit Nor that you are rich great but good Subdues mee these to cement well Is that wherein you all excell And if to these you take in love The India's cannot equall prove For me I must not so aspire My part is onely to admire Your vertue vertue to the world supplyes The Sun none ought thinke to monopolize Onely I 'le strive to bee as good as you And so part of your love will prove my due And mine you being good and good to mee Must or be yours or vertuous cease to bee An Elegie upon the Death of the most faire and vertuous Lady Rich which most unhappily happened upon the 24. of August 1638. HAd I least hope complaints could reach our losse Could I the Stars or Sea sand number I would embarque her vertues sea to crosse And to my griefes heighth raise your wonder Could or the world or words such truth receive As to her story doth belong Could any but her self her vertues weave Or sorrow find an equall Tongue Such Ship so fraught such wrack I 'de represent As would the Soveraigne neere surpasse And make you in a Sea of teares lament Shee is not now that Nymph shee was Within without so glorious was her trym Such awe of Odinance shee carried Had shee not by dysaster taken been Neptune alone shee must have married But though her vertues circles just content And her squares just diagonall Numbers can ne're exactly represent Yet by our course Mechanicall Somewhat wee 'l say in lame and short account Our due oblations to discharge Which shall alone all other worth surmount Faithfully drawne though not at large Free from all pride though none but shee had cause Neglecting beautie huswiâ—'ry to minde Wholly resign'd to Gods and marriage Lawes Judicious farre beyond her yeares and kinde Outside and vanitie though most in fashion Wrought not on her strong fram'd and solid soul Shee liv'd by reason as others by their passion And by her goodnesse did all wrongs controul Her presence was a chastisement to sinne Ill time could not corrupt her spotlesse mind Had her pure body of like resistance beene Against the Ayre and season too unkind Wee her sad losse had not so deadly griev'd And shee to our soules joy might still have liv'd Epitaph IN title Rich in vertue all excelling Rare Daughter Mother Sister Friend and Wife Piety seldome had so faire a dwelling Unparallel'd as well in death as life Here now she lies glory of woman kinde Physitians shame the wonder of her time In body faire but fairer in her minde Fitted for heaven and taken in her prime Few rightly knew to value such a Jewell Had death had eyes he had not been so cruell On the same FOule Grief and Death this yeere have play'd their parts And Syrian-like conspire against the best Ayming at one stroke to break all our hearts Their cruell spite ne're met with such a feast They threw and bore the fairest Phoenix born As singular as unique to her friends They never twin'd so strong a Cord to mourn Nor strook so home at ours and their own ends My wound smarts double on the by what where She suff'red how exceeding all repaire How heavy to her friends and mine to beare This multiplies my grief with much despaire My treasure rest well-being all my joy Except what duty and piety require Perisht in her fate can no more destroy Henceforth but love of good and good desire The good is gone which if I cease to grieve Beyond my own death let me cease to live Such life such death so constant Christian brave Never became the triumph of the Grave I erre Triumph was only hers may I Contemplate her both whilst I live and die Her birth-day was her death-day and her death The birth to my discomfort and sad breath A Requiem at the Enterment WHo e're you are Patron subordinate Unto this house of prayer and doe extend Your eare and care to what we pray and lend May this place stand for ever consecrate And may this
Or see men play like busie buzzing flies Venereous skraping still for Ore Upstarts with pride swell'd to the skies Upon their journey to bee seen no more To see a Doctor play the learned foole The ravenous Woolf in justice seat The devill preaching in a coole Glossing the Text to get what he can get An old wife curious in her Curles Pratling and painted like a Jay Wise Gallants led by giddy Girles Triumphing to become a prey To see men love to gather hate Woorying the one the other Losing themselves to get a state And trample on their brother Like Schooleboyes make rods for themselves By turnes to whip each one his marrow Running their mates upon the shelves Shortly to prove their proper sorrow The wiser sort the arrant'st knaves The learn'd make formall workes Full of false method and mistakes Where nor delight nor profit lurkes Curious dissections to confound Things already knowne and plaine Great Treatises on little ground Notions from nothings to attaine Termes which should science easier make To make it harsh and more obscure Like Sprights to fright and make forsake Things usefull else who can endure Youth to vice and basenesse fram'd Impudence for vertue passe Knowledge by ignorance disdain'd Gay trappings on a pamper'd Asse Temporizing wisedome counted Zeale of vertue folly Goodnesse by vice so much surmounted Small good can come from being good or holy Master Pamphlets sweld with words And tumors preternaturall Pageant-dishes for Mayors bords High cry but little flesh or wooll Loftie brave corveting speech Plaine dealing to outface Prauncing over hedge and ditch In stead of keeping even pace Truth a stranger is become Vitious times no more can beare it Flattery and falsehood holds its roome Writers must suffer or forbeare it Selfe conceipt and foolish pride Hypocrisie and jugling showes What sober judgement would abide But that shame meets them in the close Endlesse 1644. Epigramme Full many a want had Ages heretofore Had ours goodnesse and wit we want no more Glimmerings GOd above all thy Neighbour as thy self Lovely Epitome could speculation see And practise thee Iohns Common-wealth Would flourish and we should most happy bee REligion Gods reasonable service is Christs yoke is easie and his burden light This wel-agreed would make the whole world his Pastors and people would walk more upright ALtar 'gainst Altar Clergy against the Lay What may this breed nay what good can it breed T is nine to one yet God can all allay And raise sweet fruit from foul and bitter seed POore creature man that studies to be poore To whom God gave this ready furnisht frame To use not pry rip live on follies score Quit Natures legs to walk in knowledge lame Doe emulate dissect work what you can To Gods works still thou shalt be blinde poore man Some steps affects and squarings thou mayest finde To the full Schematisms thou must be blinde Bacon how-ever short of a clear light Did well to show how farre thou art from right When women marry to be chaste not free When Clerks turn Priests for Gods sake not for gain When King and People love and well agree And all themselves within their Spheres contain Then may we hope to see a happy age Fâ—aud will abate and malice will asswage ILl-Clergy-men have reason to forbid Reading the Scriptures for they them discover So clear that one would think all were kept hid By them as from the Lay so from each other Else would they shame to say and doe so ill As if Religion they profest to spill St. Gregories Complaint two houres work REady to dye though well I know not why You that goe by heare me lament and cry And tell the King who can doe no ill thing 'T was no good ring under St. Paul his wing Gregory to spill who hath stuck to him still And ne're did ill alas by his good will I can prescribe full many a Christmas tide How by his side his Peterman I ride And what disgrace I now bring to this place I cannot guesse unlesse as faln from grace Nor can I see that a true cause should be In my degree and consecrate Antiquity Happy St. Faith whom no mis-hap betray'th My lowly heighth casts me St. Pauls glosse saith But my great crime is Paul I undermine Yet that 's not mine St. Faith take that for thine I will repaire what ever I impaire My cost and care shall make me thorow faire I am no wen except miscall'd by men Mole be I then Moles faces grace have been I am no stain except you overstrain And lay me plain your good work to distain Good works to nurse made good men ope their purse St. Gregories curse may make Pauls fare the worse Make not them glad who wish St. Gregory sad For being the Lad who first turn'd Tables had The Parish cost and rich inside they boast Would not be lost since God loves inside most Though Pauls full age nor sister needs nor page 'T is no vantage To cast old Gregory off in holy rage My Verse breaks measure Great Neighbour Lord of Treasure Assist my Rhymes to those that rule the Times And help if you can well Whil'st I toll my own knell Yet I will not despaire Church ruines ill repaire My Caesar right inform'd My will shall be conform'd His sentence finall be my fate To stand or to lye desolate Now doe not blame my Verse but know it St. Gregory never was a Poet Many a one hath reese by Rhyme O might I so my fall decline St. Gregory to St. Paul MIghty St. Paul help Gregories desire And scorn me not though none of thy great Quire Take heed a second time of Heavens fire If falling late thou now my fall conspire Without thy Buttresses thou canst not stand Accept of me for such and thy command Shall rule me still though small yet neer at hand And next to thee the greatest in the Land A shrub offendeth not a lofty tree An under Oratory let mee bee Thou partly standest by my Charity For that and Gods sake then Oh pitty me My Bells and Western Steeple I will lend To thee that want'st them both I 'le bee thy Friend And stop their mouthes who ill Invectives send Against thy state and wayes and so I end Sick but not dead and dying but not sick About 1635 I Have gotten a little leave of absence from the Parliament to lay hold of your promise for the favour of a visit and I hope notwithstanding all feares the carriage of affaires will be such as to give no suddaine occasion of my recall Gods grace and his Majesties wisdome goodnesse and constancy must be the Authours of our happinesse our distractions and distempers are otherwise such in the State Ecclesiastick Civill and Military our spirits in all parts so peremptorily and uncharitably divided men so superabounding in their own sense and so little indulgent and communicable to others and parties daily growing to a stiffer opposition that without such
generalitie of love and applause attending it there is it already halfe as much subdued as it is ambitious to possesse and subdue to complete I acknowledge the approbation of the eye for a requisite concomitant To draw and quicken sometimes the saying of the shadow is usefully true it flies what followes and pursues what seemes to retire and flie Whether love bee most naturall betweene differing or sutable complections may as well bee a question as the old rule of friendship to consist amongst equalls hath been lately controlled But as friendships are conceived most firme in such relation and tye as there may bee a dependency wrought either by a reciprocation of mutuall benefits and advantages or where at least the good and fortune of the one relies and fastens it selfe upon the other So if the fantasticall existence of love receive not a fixation from some more solid root and consideration such as growes either from a rationall and deliberate election or from such like sympatheticall proportion of mind vertue and affections it will bee easily subject to scatter and blow away in the lightnesse of the soyle that produced it It is a fantastique and hardly to bee concluded on by reason but wee generally see it is specificall as betweene vipers and other creatures in their kind And certainly there is a self-love raigning in us which will not well permit a quick viperine highgusted spirit to fancy one of a dull and flegmatique temper Who ever lov'd that lov'd not at first sight is as false as fine circumstance and opportunities more often beget it and love to shew its extravagant power ordinarily graffs it selfe upon the stock of an unfavourable prejudiciall and crabbed opinion As there is great difference betwixt What will you give and What will you take so is there in seeking and making love or being found and made to it Wise men are said to make more opportunities then they find but in love it holds the other way True love is as passive as active and it is the height of its true art to moderate it selfe as to love and bee wise How blind and unreasonable soever it is supposed as I have otherwhere said a fair kind and sutable object hath much to alledge why it ought to bee loved and it is a peculiar prerogative of faith to transcend our reason you see I affect to write rather obscurely then full and largely what you stick upon to conceive may stick the better with you I have often pitied to see not onely the most beautifull of creatures but the fairest and kindest natures most subject to the excesse and vitious fruite of their love and kindnesse there is belonging to them a kind of goodnesse being as well affected in a gratification of others as the naturall pleasure respecting onely themselves It is as happy that divine and humane Lawes have circumscribed us herein as it is miserable to see how nature by a gallantry of custome hath shaken off her fairer richer girdles and bracelets so farre as to become relapsed into her naked native current common with other creatures almost drowned in her owne whirlpoole and neglecting all other lessons of vertue honour and Religion men may ordinarily learne from women a strength beyond their ordinary in maintaining themselves above the vanitie and levitie of resenting impression from admiring and affecting eyes you may attribute it to their honour lying at stake one way as ours another but well considered men as well in honour as fortune prove the greater losers by such intanglings perfection of one may bee imperfection in another But here let the most unlovely natures and contemners of love find this Paradox that there is none of them all so clay or kay cold but despitâ— of their rigid perverse discourse and disposition I except impotent maleficiat aged and sickly frigidity if they meet with a right a kind and courting subject and bee plyed with warme cloathes it shall put them into such a heate as birds feele in the Spring or Deere in the Autumne yet this I grant that very many not incapable of love wander all their lives without meeting a true steele to their flint or a fatall constellation of the heavenly and earthly stars to their inflammation You know the proverbe of marriage and hanging and old sayings are somewhat authentique Fate may bee easilier slighted then avoyded Gamesters may think to counter-shuffle Fortune out of her course when the poore fooles become in truth her Instruments to shuffle themselves into her noose Reason and discourse were not given to us I confesse in vaine and they are to bee imployed according to good discretion yet such as will leave nothing to fortune are not ever the most successefull As men in ships conceit the earth to move when it is themselves so wee may wittily thinke wee leade and fetter fortune which in spight of our wisedome will prove our guide and steerer There are to us in our courses as to Pilots at Sea certaine insensible currents that force us out of our propounded way and scope Si fortuna volet fies de Rhetore Consul Si volet haec eadem fies de Consule Rhetor. The universall agent is the great and prime wheele by whose motion all thoughts actions and events are commanded It is hee who turnes Ille ego qui quondam from Mantua to Troy or Rome and so it gratiously pleased him to convert my Muse by a better to a better nature St. Paul made us witnesses of his and I am contented by an equall Communication of both kinds to make you witnesses of my better conversion That Eternall and Melior natura I implore to instruct mee to distinguish betwixt him and man true or false Piety and Charitie to preside mee in all my courses and leade mee in his trust to him in whom alone is all true fâ—licitie Amen Amen 1638. Many of these Verses I owne not for I In them was scarce my owne Nor am I hee Who made them but since from such vanitie May grow such change reade through and change with mee AVRORA AWake my silent long reserved Muse Th' allarme of love tumultuous in my heart Summons out all my soules best strength art And doth my weaker faculties confuse What serve you now you precept Sentinells You Rampars fram'd of reason and discourse Against all passions power and intercourse One puts you now to flight who all compells To yeeld unto her all-subduing might 'T is shee may truely say I come I see And captivate the proudest hearts to mee Her power commands mee love admire and write Her glory and my love above compare Wherein great Queene of love accept good will For it exceeds the power of earthly quill Either t' expresse they so transcendent are On then my pen my burd'ned soule to ease Shee absent thou alone my mind must please Not for their worth but for thy worthinesse Accept of these presumptuous ruder lines Where through my weaknesse thy bright beauty
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
fixed dwelling Now â—ordid avarice and swell'd ambition Without respect of love make marriage knot And are the vitious ends which that condition With want of harmony and discord blot In former ages love did marriage draw Where marâ—iage band is now loves motive made Grossely hee erres who thinkes that words or law Can sympathy of heart and love perswade Love rather alien'd is then bred by force An essence tender all divine and free Abhorring bands and compulsory course Fainting at thought of forc'd necessitie Happy those times happy that age of gold And free communitie of Plato's state VVhen love was unconfined uncontroul'd Nor any liv'd with those their heart did hate Then love the Cement of societie Sweet band of peace and musicall consent Failing and turn'd to contrarietie Each free from other to first freedome went And then the faultlesse quiet vertuous wight Did not the undeserved penance beare With an unreason'd snarling jealous sprite The pretious portion of its age t'outweare Nor did they in the sweet of home retrait The matchlesse cordiall of a travail'd minde Where happy love makes happy our receipt A purgatory ' stead of comfort finde Nor did that Phantome honour them restraine Or feare desertlesse husbands to offend Make women their true loves desire refraine Not daring lend their owne to please a friend Nor knew they false-bred squint-ey'd bastardy Nor yet the horror of a loathed bed No the heart-gnawing cares by jealousie Of loosely kept and lockt up honour bred Nor did that poys'ning damn'd Italian art The desperate refuge of th'impatient soule So oft prevaile with the malicious heart That no restraint of vertue can controule And since that many are of such complections That change they must nor ought can lâ—ng affect What misery it is to such affections To plague each other with their loves effect The Romans Iewes and many other Nations Had the advantage to repudiate Unty'd to alledge their accusations VVhich would but scandall breed to eithers state But since our law such licence doth not use Each take their fortune and bee well content A common destiny none ought refuse Stolne flesh oâ—t yeeldeth sweetest nourishment Since faultlesse none let 's beare with one another Brag of the better and the worser smother OH doe not taxe me with a brutish love Impute not lust alone to my desire No such prophane aspersion ought to move From you the sacred author of my fire I seeke your love and if you that deny All joyes that you and all the world can give My love-sick soule would little satisfie VVhich no food but your favour can relieve It is your better pâ—rt I would enjoy Your faire affections I would call mine owne 'T is but a prostitute and bestiall joy VVhich seekes the grosse materiall use alone The Town 's not ours the market place unwon Nor doe I her enjoy whose heart 's not mine Hearts conquest is the worthy ambition Seale of our worth a ravishment divine Invincible to strength of humane hand Union divine of mutuall burning hearts Which both subdu'd tâ—iumphing both command Soveraigne delight that God to man imparts Oh let me in this true joy happy bee Or never may you bee enjoy'd by mee MY love to shew her cold desire Hath clad her selfe in freeze attire VVhilst my loves passion all on fire Melts with her beames that I admire Shee by this habit proves shee needs No helpe externall from her weeds And that shee Phoebus glory exceeds Dimm'd by the covering clouds hee breeds THese things must meete to make my mistris faire A gracefull count'nance of a changing ayre A faire eye that a fairer soule discovers Good lippes full breasts sit play fellowes for lovers Plumpe wrests with hands well fashion'd soft and white Faire statur'd body to give full delight Yet I confesse I oft have pleas'd my mind Where what I mention was not all conjoyn'd TO bee assur'd men love as they professe Lydia it is a mystery I confesse And to discerne the right from counterfeit Is a high knowledge Artists hardly get For art on false things sets the fairest hew To make them bee preferr'd before the true The art of art consists in hiding art Well may you judge parts outward not the heart It is a hidden booke which the most High Can onely read with his all-seeing eye It is the private Closet of the minde Where what wee lay our selves oft hardly finde Noâ— to be robb'd or pickt by cunning'st wit But where weake spirits have the keeping it It is a Sea whose depth was never plumm'd Nor e're the creatures and the treasures summ'd It is a skie where wandring Starres doe move But the Astrologie is hard to prove Best knowledge of it is conjecturall Nor doth it under demonstration fall If outward things deceive expos'd to shew Lesse must wee thinke th' inward remote to know The best Physitian oft failes of his skill And thinking by his art to cure doth kill Nor can the cunning'st Lapidarie tell A true stone from a counterfeit set well Nor can the Goldsmith but by highest test Know an adulterate metall from the best A little truth makes falshood currant passe As little gold by Alchymy doth brasse Man 's growne so basely artificiall That wee have lost our golden naturall Emulous art hath nature overcome And inward peace and truth hath overthrowne Proud man that glories most in reasons use By reason 's growne most subject to abuse And not content with what God him assign'd With pleasures false and false griefe plagues his mind Whilst seeking the felicitie of opinion Still toyles but ne're findes firme foundation For what we build though n'outward force o'rethrowes Yet change of passion quickly overblowes Thus are wee still to seeke whilst other creatures Injoy the sweet content of natures treasures Nor doth th' one servile to the other stand Whilst hee 's indeed most slave that doth command Enough 's a feast to them whilst what wee have Begets in us but appetite to crave Nature assign'd equalitie to all Nor meant her free gifts under sale should fall Nor e're intended wee should bee so mad Having the face of earth so richly clad And so sufficiently for mans full use That wee should labour after things abstruse Subterran metalls wrought by fire of hell Mans happinesse and quiet to expell Making them Idols and the needlesse meanes To purchase all which shee so costlesse sends Whilst beasts enjoy a quiet uncontroul'd Free from the plagues and mischiefes bred by gold Free from warre murther theft and penury False calumnies and damned perjury Which wee old Rebells against natures law Foolish commit without or wit or aw And fettered live by our owne enthralling hands Most witlesse servile to fantastick bands Fooles to the wiser fooles mad in desire Preferring ayry smoake before true fire Subjects of fool-bred scorne passion and envy Malice and boundlesse curiositie Insatiate humor ne're content with well That vainely still importunes to excell Reasons and natures bounds which
reverence in the modern Garb condemns him as much as to speake false Latine in the Universitie or goe naked in the Country where to become every mans acquaintance is to bee none of his owne civill and charitable to every stranger every impudent unchristian Begger incivill uncharitable to himselfe his fortune plentie health ease authoritie pietie and naturall neighbours where thoughts and actions are neither consonant to religion or Philosophy nor language to the thoughts innocency and vanitie are the prey of rapine and deceipt the purse falls into a dysentery good order and conscience to a luxation and the outside of the Platter is all the businesse When I formerly lived in Towne I was at home in my place of birth and education with my Land close by my fortune hath now made it other with mee and foâ— my comfort if time which should improve my judgement abuse me not as it commonly doth the distastednesse of old men the condition of the Towne is altered from what I have known it Prizes continue double upon a sudden and that which is most strange without either scarcity of yeares or plenty of mony penury of wit good oeconomy with abundance of luxury work the effect No ancient brave Romane was ever more free and prodigall of his blood in the way of honour and his Countreys defence then our English gluttonous Gallant and Epicure is easily and insensibly parted with his money another blood to the wise for fashion and sensuality He affects bravery and yet contemns what feeds it Hee seemes indulgent to his Genius and soule yet thinks it base and superstitious to befriend them by looking into his reckonings with God and Man The conscience of the seller prescribes no limits but what he can get nor is the buyer restrained by any rule of discretion or price broad Tables large Diet many courses and dainties make slender fortunes and narrow soules gay houses and outsides ill furnish't mindes wee are I know not how become possest of late with a malus pudor a slacknesse a wretchlesnesse and shamefacednesse to doe what wee ought for our profit and good with a confident glory in our ruine and what we should avoid till God authorized example and wholsome sumptuary laws reform us we shall never mend Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes vitious custome hath prevailed by the discountenance of wisdome and vertue falsification and corruption have so invaded us that we have forgotten and lost the very Arts and Idea's as well as the habit of true working and living To strength of my minde and authority all is easie grosse impunity animates and confirmes offenders and the great feare is we shall never grow wise but with a mischief for my part as I am without power so am I worne out of fashion and acquaintance and I find little new worth the seeking and imbracing friendships are grown rare dissimulation cost and ceremony have extirpated them Generosity is hardly to bee found All distrust cunning pride self-conceited self-affected and never lesse wit judgement courage or vertue to boast of As the World is I cannot blame such as frequent the society and conversation of women they pretend not so much wit and knowledge but have commonly more then men Plus sapiunt quia quantum opus est sapiunt Their study and concernings lying in lesse room they more strongly certainly and perfectly attain and comprehend they exercise not such a falshood of Art trade and conversation as men their Discourse is more free friendly and ingenuous their intelligence none of the worst for they command generally our secrets and what from the pulpit what from our open hearted conference communicate without booke the quintessence of our thoughts and studies they study us as wee our bookes They are the winning common-wealth and society of this our world and like the Jesuites strongly combine and make it good by wit They are greater lovers of worth and valour They are more innocent and lesse dangerous to good men Observe their waies and bargaines and judge if they be not ordinarily more cautious and frugall then our selves they grudge not to take paines and bee at some cost with themselves to please your eye No Confectio Alkermes is so good against melancholy so you surfeit noton their dainties as the diversion and pretty trivial lighter part of their entertainment gratification is the very worst of them and you shall wrong your selfe and them if you condemn them all for the worst amongst them What was ever totally perfect If some bee bad the best are to bee the more esteemed There is I confesse a difference amongst them so also of us therein is our choice and judgement to bee exercised The company of the best men best at leisure is to be enjoyed and found amongst them the very best things are often subject to abuse contain and make a Covenant with your eyes and take but a preservative of ne quid nimis along with you and you are safe and happy They are generally better affected to the times and lesse possest with base and prolling designes then we Their power with us and over us proves their wit to bee above ours finer clearer stronger They are not destitute of Art but are more friends and instruments of nature and shee theirs Thus as I use have I mingled lesse with more serious matter this latter part belongs rather to others then to you I presume of your friendship whom I know indulgent to ingenuity an honest free career and Your most faithfull Friend to serve you Ianuary the 10. 1638. Pathetically if not too Prophetically Inspired upon the death of the late Noble and Brave Prince HENRY An imperfect but true Inventory and Dissection OH how much happier had my fortune been To doe thee service with my Sword then Pen And to have shed my bloud for thee then teares Faire Prince whose life our hope death bred our feares Though thine own vertues have embalm'd thy Fame As farre as planted is the Christian Name And are too beauteous well proportioned To bee by me unskilfull crayoned Yet duty bids me offer at thy hearse The faithfull incense of this mournfull verse Which contrary to common Monuments Is not made faire without for foule contents But poore without such riches doth possesse As budding youth did ne'r so faire expresse Nor feare I now suspect of flattery For to the living such their praise apply Greedy to turne sweet poison to reward Care lesse of duties and of truths regard Thy fresh and well known worth that tax doth free Which livelyer wee shall know by losse of thee Irreparable losse where overthrown Lies our Great British worthy Champion Strong Bulwark of our Peace steel point of warre Loadstone of vertue glorious Northern Starre The Muses love favourer of all good Arts Friend to all good designes and worthy parts Judicious just hardy and temperate Splendide in well ruled managing thy State Too curious frame to last Modell compact
both into one Channell His gifts preferments and undertakings must bee governed more by discretion then passion else hee shall want bee ill served and faile without pitie Reward and punishment are the weapons wherein hee must bee cunning for they are the Instruments of his honour and well being It hath beene an ancient and constant policy to make all benefits to proceed from himselfe and matters of distast from his Officers else doth hee hunt Counter but so shall all the thankes bee his and the blame theirs A good aâ—d cheerefull countenance to well deservers and such as observe respect to him will often spare his purse and make him a gainefull returne To take notice of the worth and capacitie of his servants and most eminent Subjects and to remember them in the distribution of his bountie and imployments will much conduce to his honour and good service To cherish the good and bee constant to his word is not the least reputation As also to enter slowly and with full provision into a warre and not to come off but with advantage To give a free eare to discreet persons about him that love him and his good and to shew an affection to dispence with his particular for the publike is the way to know all and want nothing Hee ought to bee compassionate to the poore and affect the relieving of his people else shall hee bee so far from goodnesse as to bee voyd of common humanitie To bee better content in a small revenue with love then in a great one with hate and groanes for where the â—eople loves the King cannot want Hee will by all meanes avoyd to supply a present want by giving way to a perpetuall mischiefe especially if not urged by the freeing himselfe from some imminent ruine Hee will delight in his people and the expression of their good affections and eâ—teeming the money raised from them as their blood make conscience in the dispending of it Hee will consider what is necessary in a way of constant expence for the good safetie and honour of a State and before all things assigne an infallible certaintie of allowance thereunto In gifts and payments hee will preferre the needy and well-deserving and crying debts before others or matter of bountie In case of defect of ordinary power for government hee will affect to supply it rather by assent of the State then by acts of Councell for they will never deny what shall tend to good government and it will stand more firme and beget better obedience To preserve his just power and Prerogative as well over himself as his Subjects and to use motu proprio as well in effect as in word will maintaine his Majestie in due respect not suffering it and himselfe to bee mâ—de covers of private ends and passions nor interessing it but upon necessary preservation of his Soveraigntie according to the constitution of the State where hee governes Hee will esteeme it as himselfe ordained for Common good and thinke no small Prerogative to be a King though governing according to the rules of those Lawes which make and keepe him so To appoint and observe set times as well for his affaires as recreation will keepe him from becomming a stranger to his office and interest maintaine his servants in their care and duties his Allies and Subjects in due respect and will prevent infinite abuses which might grow upon him nor will it abridge but rather give a relish to his pleasures To conclude hee will thinke that a choyce and great assembly like a great streame can hardly be corrupt and that their happinesse being involved with their King they are likely to give him as good honest safe and wise counsell as any three or foure heads in his Cabbinet Nec minus alienae libertatis quam sua dignitatis memor A good Counsellor A Good Counsellor is one whom nature studie and experience have fitted with abilitie duely to deliberate and resolve upon occurrents of the greatest importance and needs no oath for his conscience wisedome and sinceritie will teach him secrecy and fidelitie Hee will study his Masters honour and benefit and will bee more forward to give advise therein without asking then to move for his owne advantage Hee is a demi-god placed betweene King and People and must steare a course of justice indifferently betwixt both When feare a temporizing humour or private ends make him swerve from truth hee betrayes his owne honour his conscience and his Master Hee must ever affect to bee a good instrument betweene the King his Allies and Subjects for their good affections are the Kings honour and safetie Hee must direct his opinion by the examination of reason and truth and neither by his owne nor other mens affections His Master and the publike good must bee his object farre beyond his private wherewith hee must upon occasion so farre dispence that rather then not to adhere to Justice truth and a good conscience hee must not feare any displeasure or losse of office The more hee hath beene raised by his Masters favour and fortune the more hee will cloath himselfe with courtesie and modesty for that honour is onely true which is given to a man not that which hee arrogates to himselfe Or if hee will exercise a haughtinesse of courage it shall bee onely that brave pride of neither doing nor suffering injury for the other foolish one of selfe conceitednesse and disdaine is ever the issue of folly and parent of reflected contempt and scorne Hee will bee apt to doe good offices and affect dispatch for that will bâ— his honour as to undertake more then hee can performe and delude those that reâ—ie upon him will prove an abuse upon himselfe and his owne reputation Nothing shall bee more prevalent with him then to maintaine his Master in the love of his people for that King that is beloved at home is feared abroad possesseth a secure estate a joyfull heart and quiet sleep with present and immortall fame In which happy effects a good Counsellor reapes no small applause and felicity A good Parliament Man MUst esteem himself an Epitome of the three Estates with a principall relation of duty to the King the head for in respect of Common duty all the members of a Parliament are Homogeneall He is a Physitian of the State and so must indeavour to rectifie all distempers and disorders therein And if like an evill Physitian his ends bee either his own advantage or that he comply with the disease or inordinate humour of his Patienâ— he betrayeth his Prince and Country and is that murtherer thief or whatsoever of evill which is reproached to a Mountebanck Impostor The writs of Summons teach him his calling the King the Church and the Common-wealth are his object his own interest and allegiance will instruct him to affect to please the King but his conscience will lead him to assent only to what is wholsome his sincere judgement and not implicit faith is to be
the onely way of Cure but nothing more ordinarily neglected by such as only affect to say something to draw a Fee but wil be sure not to trouble their own mindes to cure their Patients But from such God deliver me who will as little admit them to the tryall of my disease and constitution as the Law doth a Butcher to be a Juror Purging Medicines shall bee his last refuge after prescription of convenient exercise order and dyet which by some of the best are affirmed to bee sufficient to cure any disease curable Hee will affect chearefulnesse of countenance and fashion for it is a Cordiall to the sick but he will take heed of an unseasonable merriment which is often as absurd as unwelcome to the seriousnesse of a sick man A thousand things have been and might be said to his instruction for no art more requires it but this in summe shall serve my turn who mean only to say something of a good but not to work a cure upou a bad Physitian I conclude that Physick had need have a God as well to the practice as to the invention of it for errors are so grosse and ordinary diseases and symptomes so complicate Indications so crosse nature and constitutions so diversly affected in Crisis and evacuation nor doth she ever powerfully shew her self till she be put to it for life Purging and blood-letting prove so ordinarily diverters impediments and weakners in stead of helpers to nature and seeing by a mistaking we call those our diseases which are in truth the working of nature towards our cure and the discharge of her self as in fits of Agues Collicks the Stone and the like for my part I chuse rather with David to put my self into the hands of God then man whose endeavours of cure and errors make us ordinarily more misreable then our disease it self I end to my good Doctor with that Counsell of the Scripture whereupon it is to bee hoped that hee will guide his practice namely that hee and his Art are to bee employed upon necessity which I think to be for the sense is ambiguous in such Cases where nature and dyet have ever appeared defective to work a Cure and that his art upon infalliblâ— and cleare grounds hath ever been found successefull A Lawyer A Good Lawyer is so fallen in love with my Lady Justice that there is no greater Antipathy in the world then betwixt him and injury nor hateth he any thing more then an undue course of proceeding He will make his Science compatible with conscience and so runne her course that at the length he may bee thought a fit Judge to preside her high Court of Chancery Hee will have a greater feeling of the cause and interest of his Client then of his Fee and entertaining the defence of it for just will affect more the gaining of it to him then to himself reputation His carriage shall not bee onely perfunctory neither in the taking notice nor in the pleading of the Cause but hee will both search and pleade it home without tendernesse either of his paines or of the Judge his displeasure Hee will not so much frame his practise to corru t custome as to honesty nor beare his eyes on the papers of his present Client and his mind on the Fee that presseth at his Closet doore Hee will esteeme his taking no better then theft without the industry of deserving and of himself worse then of a theese if his Client relying upon him hee appeare not in his defence yet goe away with his money Wherefore hee will entertaine no other causes then hee can honestly goe through nor take Fees without a resolution to discharge his dutie for them Though the Law bee an imperious Lady and unsociable yet hee will endeavour to accompany her with the study of other literature whereby to breed her better respect and his owne prevalence and indeed the study being somewhat dry and dull requires other learning wherewith to lard and grace it Hee will rather fast from Imployment then become patron of an unjust cause especially without having first delivered to his Client his opinion of the nature thereof and the probability of the successe Hee will not make a jest of his profession as some of them doe affirming their practise a pretty tricke to get money a contention of wits and purses a politick pastime to entertaine busie braines an a duell where the greatest stroakes are given underhand but will so defend right and Justice as hee would wish to be defended by them in his best titles and innocencie A Souldier TO bee a good Souldier and Commander hee must know well how to obey and command himselfe Hee must temper his judgement with courage and valour with discretion he will not bee greedy of other imployment then such whose issue is likely to breed his honour and though he owe obedience to his King or superiour yet if any such execution shall be imposed upon him as appeares not feazable unto him he will first discharge his duty in discovering the improbability but being pressed by their authority will undergo the charge with all alacritie and forwardnesse Hee is constituted a Corrector of vice and disorder in others and therefore must in no sort admit them in himselfe especially that of drinking which is too ordinarily incident to his profession for if it were possible hee should bee more then a man but that makes him lesse and it is to bee admired how such as professe and are generally in love with honour and reputation so farre as they will venture their lives upon small puntilio's to the maintayning thereof can consent to overwhelme themselves with such a vice as drawes an undervaluing contempt and scorne upon them even from the meanest sort of people Though it bee most unfit for a good Commander to bee prodigall of his owne life or his Souldiers upon an undue hazard yet their condition being such as to have sold themselves to mortall adventure hee will bee ambitious of nothing more then to meet with a faire occasion of dying in the bed of honour and who feareth death will never bee fitting for that profession and therefore will maintaine himselfe prepared for it Hee must in the exercise of his calling bee an enemy to sloth and idlenesse and keepe them from creeping upon him as hee would doe his blade from rust A continuall vigilance must bee the Sentinell of safetie to himselfe and the Troopes under him his taking notice of well deservers his good example and faire promises will animate his Souldiers and he will ever prove himselfe just of his word both to them and the enemy for if he often deceive and forfeit the trust and confidence that ought to be reposed therein he must impute others diffidence to his owne fault and will finde it a perpetuall prejudice unto him He will make it a principall care to well discipline his men before hee bring them into service for that makes the
request and that Moses may have use of his rod. SEventh Henry Roses Kingdomes Iames united Eight Henry in Popes defence a booke endited Which made Romes Bishop stile him faiths defender The stile hee held but made the Pope surrender His Papall power King Charles hath farre outgon him And with his sword taken Bishops cause upon him They owe him more then well they know to pay him If Woolseys Pope liv'd Gar would bee his saying Take heed good Bishops what you goe about Lest Charles hold fast the faith and turne you out Of angry Bees Scotland's a parlous Hive Hedges twixt King and people seldome thrive Wise Jesuits with the Scots tooke little paines Well knowing thence would rise but little gaines Pilgrimage AS I travailed along in my earthly pilgrimage to the heavenly Ierusalem accompanied according to my wishes by a good old Minister or Priest of Queene Elizabeths time I know not now how to terme him there crost upon us in our way a supercilious personage with an high cornerd bonnet his name and nature did little agree who questioning our intentions told us wee were out of our way and that if wee would take him for guide and company hee would carry us a sure smooth and pleasant way to our Journeys end and if wee turned a little aside now and then it should bee at his charges wee should not need to trouble our thoughts hee would take all the care Hee was witty-facetious company and when my old companion would have replyed I told him I thought hee was but in jest and not to be dealt withall in good earnest for whatsoever he pretended hee had a plot upon us for his own advantage and wished to take our leaves of him for hee had a Pistoll by his side that hee trusted to beyond his wit which was great pitie and what ever good companion hee seemed he would make roast-meat of us if wee appeared not in every thing of his mind and that all our good and true heart to God ward would not excuse us whereupon leaving him and walking on there crosses upon us on the other hand as wee found him upon speech a Banbury man who scorned to desire our company but taking notice of our designe told us wee held too much of the left hand that his was the onely right course and whatsoever wee thought not so rough and uneasie as some esteemed it with much more wee thanked him and told him his Sabbath day wayes and ours lay not together and that if hee would have been lesse nice and censorious over good men none of his Brotherhood and more sociably attractive hee might have had more company along with him Then crosseth us againe on the first hand an odde kind of person I knew not well whence hee came nor whither hee would his fashion and habit were likewise ambiguous sometimes formall and cringing and sometimes staggering and licentious hee forsooth would have egged us out of our beaten path into a pretended better discovered by-way of his finding out telling us it would prove much for our ease and forwardnesse wee were thankfull for his good will but told him wee did not love to follow wee knew not whither and that his course sided something too much with the high cornered cap whose company wee had considerately forsaken Our next encounter from the second right hand country was a grave man in the Geneva print a little more conformable and lesse rigid then hee of Banbury hee tooke notice of our voyage and much desired our company intimating unto us that his way lay close by ours but was much more plaine certaine and peaceable as having more of terra firma then the inconstancy of a floting Iland hee said hee had an invariable sure Cart and Compasse to direct us and that hee was sorry to see us English whom hee loved so apt to change that wee might bee as well painted with a paire of sheares in our hand for our Religion as our cloathing that wee never knew when wee were well and that it was ever a great fault with us to bee apt to overdoe that ceremonies and indifferences grew so formall unto us that it was to bee feared Religion it selfe would become at last with us but a ceremonious formalitie Hee wooed us heartily and somewhat to the purpose telling us he had no ends upon us but our journeys end that hee would not trouble us with much complement but much desired our company which if wee refused we should bee in danger of being entised or forced and justled out of our way which was already also growne so little trodden that it was hard to hold with our thankes wee dismissed him telling him that having as sure a Cart and Compasse as himselfe and as learned and pious directors as hee or any other wee doubted not of our way which wee had hitherto found right and good but if wee met with force and opposition wee would carry such an eye towards him that being as well in breath otherwayes called spirit as the best wee would soone overtake him his complement was little ours not much more and so with heartie short and comely prayers for our welfare and industrious instructions which none of the other would afford except the second who was very tedious to us in terror and threats wee parted continuing our way with a resolution not to stumble at every straw nor bee drawne by any zealous example or otherwise to leape over scandalous Christ-masse blocks November 1644. STrict Rhymes stand by and wanton measure All here is out of tune And my selfe more then all A skipping Satyre calls for roome Ruffe wild like him shall be my lines Bring the Fools cap againe And give the world it s owne It ne're was fitter for the times Give me a foure Elbowd Coat There 's no foole to the old That knowes the Fire yet runs into 't And cryes Lord help withhold Kings by your leave and take good heed â—est whilst you shadowes graspe You lose true substance love and ease Showing that you were out of tast States-men study right and peace Bee faithfull plaine and wise And doe not seeke so much to please That all may sinke whilst you may rise Church-men should mend not marre the world Live as your reade in Scriptures then Wee know them now as well as you Thinke not to blind or God or men Good and bad Pastors they set out Bad vent their owne inventions Feeding themselves more then their Flock Bewate of such intentions Judges occasion not the rout By a misguided course To thinke how they may live without Your Furres and never fare the worse Would 't not make the devill laugh To see a masking faith Feed him with Corne and God with Chasse Whilst jugling zeale the truth betrayeth Would you not jeere to see an Ape of clay In Gowne or Doublet jet it to and fro Brisk as a Puppet in a Play Who Mushrome like hath but a week to grow