would enslave their awe But pass we hence to Scaevola's greater fame Where Tullie's richest words exalt his Name And Lelius did with him of Friendship treat With Caius Fannus soon after di'd the great And warlike Scipio from Affrick not more fam'd Than in this Treatise we have Lelius nam'd Which from me Atticus thy Love requir'd Nor is there subject more my Soul defir'd Than Friendship gives the Gold of Worth and Love Which does mankinde to noblest acts improve Of Cato's prudent age before I writ And thought its Patronage might thee befit He wisely liv'd but flourish'd most in years Which reason Mankind's fâ—mest staff most fears So much his Wisdom did my Soul delight That more his words than mine I strove to write The same for Lelius here my Pen would do Whose sage desert's convey'd with Cato's too Think now he speaks or dictates to my Theam As it admir'd th' immortal Cato's Name Lelius to Scipio-Affrican a Friend What praise or greatness farther can extend And thus to Fannus Lelius had exprest Fan. Who then reply'd Let our discourse not fist With too short mention of his mighty fame That rais'd the honour of our Roman Name Of his and Cato's worth who would not hear To which our Senate such respect did bear Thy graces too for ever Fame must own Not lâ—ss to us than to wise Cato known Gifts of thy minde too great for to compare But with his People Senate held so dear Thou wise from Nature Manners study too What more than these could Cato's merit show Thy Prudence does felicity so place As 't is the Gole for thy swift Vertues race And accidents of man dost so despise That thou instructest Fortune to be wise Of me and Scaevola thy great Friends have sought How Scipio's death did wound thy noble thought Because that in these Nones thou did'st not come To Brutus Gardens the delight of Rome Where no day pass'd but we from thee might hear Thy prudent Comments so divinely rare Appli'd to things most high import mankinde Bestowing thus the Treasures of thy minde Scaev. True I must witness what our Fannus spake When thy Friends griev'd lâ—st Lelius Soul might take Too strict a sorrow for great Scipio's death Or bid adieu to life on wings of breath To which I answer'd though I had observ'd Thou in thy value of him had'st not swerv'd From moderation best declares the wise Yet might thy Soul be pierc'd with humane eyes No grief could there be wanting does become The Friend of Scipio and concern of Rome But for what cause thou hast withdrawn of late To sorrow or thy sickness does relate Lel. Of me kinde Scaevola has justly spoke Nor has my Soul such vain impression took That I can mourn one hapless hour away Which duty to my Countrey bids me pay This Constancy expects and Rome of me Which for no sorrow must neglected be Great Scipio's Friendship I admired more Than my best thoughts can e're his loss deplore His vertue best instructeth me to know How Publick-duty private does allow This in our Zamas Battel was beheld When Romans did their lives to glory yield He wept not in that day one Roman's fall But joy'd their Valours forc'd their Funeral And should I mourn his death who di'd so great ' Twou'd look as if Fate could his Fame defeat But ere I more of his high vertue speak Thy Love does Fannus me too equal make To matchless Cato who chief of Mortals knew What humane Wisdom most became to do Nor think that mighty Sage Apollo chose Before his Prudence could himself propose His deeds and sayings might have added sense To what Greeks feign their Oracles dispense But to my Scipio I will now return And tell you how my Soul his death does mourn Should I depriv'd of him my loss deny 'T were worse than Stoïcal stupidity Touch'd I am deeply and may truly say My Soul's best joy deceas'd in his last day Nor can I hope that man shall ever be Grac'd as I was with such an Amity He dy'd so great that 't were my Friendship 's crime To wish he liv'd to dye a second time Which does present such comfort to my Soul That I the world 's fond way of grief controul No hurt to Scipio could by death accrew His famous loss to me most harm did do Though too much my misfortune to lament Were a concern too great in my content His vertue did arrive to such a height That more Immortal 't is than Stars or light What did he not accomplish man can praise Or who a wish above his deeds would raise How much did Rome his Noble youth admire Majestick great yet full of Martial fire His Unckle Father both great Consuls Slain In one dayes Field fierce Annibal did gain Whose Fate and Carthage were reserv'd to be The fame and glory of his victory Romes Consulship he never did demand His vertue not himself did for it stand Though twice that honour'd office he has grac'd Once before due as soon when due so plac'd Wars present future Triumphs he obtain'd Whil'st Carthage conquer'd what power next remain'd For Empire of the world with Rome durst cope So much his deeds oblig'd her warlike hope His manners to his actions honour were Subduing passions Nature's roughest War He Armies taught the worth of Civil Laws Which more Victorious made Rome's Martial cause 'T were endless all his graces to declare What pious Son his Mother held so dear Liberal to such alli'd to his high blood Just unto all to Friends most kindly good These deeds I doubt not are well known to you And how our City him lamented too That Crown'd his end and who 'd be valu'd more Than him great Rome held worthy to deplore Each year he liv'd more joy his past still brought Who aged di'd yet unimpair'd in thought His Life so great that Death it self took care For his Soul's flight his Bodies pain to spare The day before his last auspicious come When him our Conscript-Fathers waited home To us foreshew'd that Romes rewarding Gods Would soon demand him to their bless'd abodes Who can consider his desert and say Souls dye and live our Bodies Mortal way This made me judge how wise and pious thought Religious rites unto mans practice brought Concluding that Immortal Souls must be Disrob'd of Sense their mean felicity A Theorem our Ancients held Divine And as 't was worthy Scipio's so 't is mine He it confirm'd almost with his last breath To shew he better things did hope by death Wherefore his end my friendship can't lament Since Heaven in him receives a full content Nay could I think that Souls with Bodies dye And felt no more of humane misery 'T is palpable that as death brings no good So it our hurt cannot be understood In Scipio dead I am bless'd as I rejoyce My Soul 's high honour in his Loves great choice From him I learn'd what friendship did import And saw its meanness in the vulgar
Think 't not Inglorious to prevail If by my Tongue I first assail Though all by it I can express Is short of what I bid thee guess Of Loving unadvis'd ASk not my Soul why 't is I love No more than why our Heaven 's above Love has its causes there conceal'd With mysteries to be reveal'd Then think bold Reason that thy Sense Disputes but with Omnipotence Thou't say perhaps I yield too soon So doth our Lives to Death alone Which if it lays on but a Hand Dissolves us straight at its command And shall not Love's immortal fire Kindle more swift then we expire Ask me no more then why or who I love because I must do so Nor need I pity to my heart Pleas'd with Love's wounds alone to smart On a Lady walking in Grayes-Inne-Walks THrice Lovely Maid as thou these Walks dost grace Soft Birds salute thy coming hither More than the Springs whose Beautie 's thine disgrace That blooming May does seem to wither Vexatious Lawyers that for Clients Gold Their wrangling Theams contemplate here Will wish their Tongues at they shall thee behold Had that soft quilt to bribe 〈◊〉 Ear. Or else perhaps unto thy beauteous fame These shades will henceforth Dedicate As once to Cyprus Venus gave a Name Though not of such Immortal date And thus amongst bright Beauties thee I spy'd Such difference have the Stars and Sun As if thy Glories did the rest so guide As they for Beams about him run Some that thou art Brown or Black perhaps will say Though that 's to me than fair more bright And who 'd not give some Blessings of the Day To be the only Queen of Night Forgive me then if charm'd with soft desires And who but wish'd as well as I Who more attempts too boldly do's aspire And by thy frowns deserves to dye Yet I would Ravish all thy pleasing Dreams Of Love when it enjoy'd thy Breast So as my Sleeps might be its actual Theams And thus suppose thou art possest But thou wilt smile at this Platonick boast Thou art so much Woman I dare say As he that thinks to count without his Hoast Will still have something left to pay SONG FAirest Virgin tell my Love but why Thou art at once so Proud and Fair Since few deserve a Victory That can Insult by making War Yet as thou play'st the Tyrant know In looks consists thy greatest might And thus their Charms can Serpents show When they unkindly wound the sight But 't is my guilt as well as thine That makes thee thus In-glorious great I did to Love my Heart resigne And so Conspir'd with my Defeat Whil'st thou though glorying in thy Charms Perhaps at last may'st quit thy strength As Honour treats to lay down Arms So let thy Vertue yield at length To one who slighted his Mistress THou tell'st me that my Love is poor But thine has Land and Coyn I wish Friend so had mine And yet I envy not thy store Though I love Money full well too And know the wonders it can do 2. It Spirits Love and makes it Fine Give 's us best Meat and Wine I ne'r Friend like it knew I dare be sworn as well as you And yet I doat not to behold A Bristow-Stone though set in Gold 3. Then prethee Jack be well advis'd Think not thou art more Wise ' Cause Money brib'd thy Eyes While mine could not be so surpris'd And 't is thy Judgment less than spight Since thou'dst give boot to change a Night Vpon a Lady AS some bold Pencil do's attempt to draw Such bright perfections his frail Skill o're-awe And Nature but presents to let us know We are to wonder and pay duty so Thus is my Pen Ambitiously at strife How to Admire and yet Express the Life Of your fair Vertues which to all appear Pure as the Light Harmonious as the Sphear So great an all as like the Sun you move Quickning at once Divinity and Love But were I Persian and ador'd him too I 'de quit my Faith so I might worship you Your Vertues so dilate as thence mankinde Sum those bright Glories in your Sex they find Such taking greatness and such winning ease That where you scarce will look you more then please As if you gently fear'd our hearts surprize By beaming lustres from your conquering eyes How happy may you make a wounded Breast When Love in all does for your sake contest And Rival wonders which your graces raise In Tongues and Hearts that must adore their praise The Enjoyment or Corinne Concubitus Translated out of Ovid's Elegies WHen Sol's bright Orb gave middle time to day Retir'd from heat stretch'd on my Bed I lay One Window shut the other open stood As light here shadowing pass'd as in a Wood Or Evening twi-lights gentle beams convey Or that soft Instant night salutes the day Such tender glimmerings blushing Virgins Steal Who fear that â—ight will scarce their shame conceal And thus Corinna gently does appear With Robes ungirt in tender folds her hair Such fair Semiramis in Bed does shew Or Laïs dress'd who many Lovers knew Her Robes I sever with a tender hand While she resists that Love she wou'd command Seeming to strive wish'd freedom to restrain But soon betrayes the Conquest Love must gain Thus interposing vailes being now lay'd by How did she ravish both my Heart and Eye What beauteous Limbs and Parts I view and touch Breasts to Impress even Gods might wish for such As smooth a Belly under these did lye 'Twixt spacious Sides next them her youthful Thigh What should I more Re-count that all must praise Then on her Body mine I gently raise Who cannot guess the rest as thus we lay So let Meridians pass with me each day Vpon an Inn that Lodged me on a Journey BEing come to Lodge where night oblig'd my Rest I found an Inn that welcom'd me a Guest But such a one as scarce Arabian Thief Would shelter in though for his Lifes Reprieve Or wilder Scythian but must soon conclude Himself less barbarous than this place was rude And next A surly Sir the Hoast call'd here Drinks Cap't to shew me he dares vouch his Beer Worse far than ever Joyful Barly named As even our Island its vile taste defamed My Course first Serv'd was Mutton but so poor That it might well have ban'd seven years before Then next a Hen with wonder I behold Shrunk into Bones and like the Hostess old What fancy could have fed when every Sense Far'd worse than Pilgrim sent on Penitence These mis-Chiefs to Reprieve to Bed call I Hoping some Damosel with her by and by VVas yet Reserv'd to sweeten my Course fare And make my Bed more soft while she lay there But soon my hopes did wither while appears A Thing for Age might date Chineses years Eve would have blush'd t' have seen a Grandchild prove So Curs'd by Nature and forsook by Love Her Eyes seem'd beg'd of Death her Nose and Chin Kissed and
praise Few Body-politicks her Ethicks raise The good have ever kept the longest Lent Or mock'd if they bid Luxury repent To Preach down sin is more a use or Trade Too oft with Pulpits Vice has Traffick made O that we could not say our Paths to Heaven Were by our Sacred guides trod more uneven Or that it was not made a pious Curse To yield such superstition to the Purse But men are men and ever will be so Both Coats and Cassocks can one inside show In spite of forms man by himself is lin'd And in all Churches have their motly kind If Spiritual goodness somewhat over-weigh Our Temp'ral Crimes who need for more to pray Much of strict honesty were taxe on Heaven Rome seem'd content two Cato's her were given Others her Members like the worlds prov'd just Unto their Int'rest if not to their trust Why should we then complain that many now Byass themselves unto the publick so Patriots enough are to be cheaply bought Or blush not if they ask before they are sought Men must do something to be more of note Crimes are oft paid when Honesty 's forgot All ages can't alike themselves refine Some most for Vertue some for Riches shine What 's ours I 'le not assert that were to bid My Muse in such course Lines as these be chid 'T is rude in Satyrs if to Courts they stray With such soft leisure they must fear to play Men of their Brain more wise effects may show Than to send Censure where they ought to bow Shall I believe that giddily men feel Their weights told so by Tongues mistake or reel Who seeks a place or who for trust is fit Is too much the Impertinence of Wit Or whether craft or merit makes some great Suits not our search if an Intrigue of State To be well govern'd or to think we are so Does best become us and our Prayers too In Subjects wise and modest sense is shown When they submit their cares unto the Throne For their sakes Princes are with Rule oppress'd T' Obey's the easiest part if not the best Which thought well ponder'd admiration brings That the World has not Crowns to spare for Kings May we believe all those who boldly tell They would amend what others do not well Or is' t because their Vertue is in pain Untill well humour'd or employ'd with gain Such Mountebanks enough Receipts proclaim And most men halt because they 'd have them lame But O the busie Politicks of these dayes State-Counsel's no less censur'd than our Plays Whence is' t such modern Prudence does arise Can Antichristian-Coffee make more wise Than their Fore-fathers soberly could think On States or Turkish Kings without their drink Good Beer and Beef with them could well agree Or for Twelve pence had better Sack than we Judicious men ought for such times to pray No less than Poets who have least to pay Of Change and Death THis Theam without my Muse my thoughts can reach My Soul and Nature do enough me teach To know my end 't is but Death's certain night To which Life's Taper must resign its light Man's breadth and height his Bodies shade can show Death's Metaphor attends on all we do Our rest and sleep nay Love 's espous'd charms Yield to the pale embrace of his cold arms His Sickle of the young a Harvest makes Or old before their strength Life's ague shakes 'T is Nature's kindness if our wrinckl'd brow Shews first the furrows of Death's secret Plough Teaching our Souls and Bodies to prepare For other being when disjoyned here VVhere man's long Love of Luxury and ease Has Nature's cure as 't is her worst Disease How ready men Supinely bad will hope Though undeserv'd of Heaven Life's longest scope As if that Death so busie is withall Would Vice forget or still reprieve its fall The greatest Monarchs spreading thoughts and might Pursu'd by Death and Time confess their flight Could now great Julius his past Conquests see And no place his to seat his Majesty Or Rome's Augustus to the world appear And walk a stately Lord of nothing here How would they mourn their Empires early fall Rais'd to aspire till Nature's Funeral How 〈◊〉 their greatness blush were to them read Theâ—â—â—â—nest thoughts and deeds their Empire dead Th◠〈◊〉 with Caesar now might weep Nâ— for more worlds but this no power can keep Tâ—â—ir meanest Slave as well himself might bring To Rome or Babylon and be their King Man's glories here are like a Stages Scene Beheld but till the next does Intervene If such great acts of men their periods have How soon for others does fame finde a grave So much she Articles against men here They ought not long to hope her future care Man covets future fame himself to cheat Death kills to him what merit Life can get Man's end has most complyance from his will VVhen Conscience keeps no black Records of ill 'T is not the dark like Children that men fear But lest their Impious deeds pursue them there This certain honour does by Death accrew If when it comes 't is bravely welcom'd too Death's must is only man's fit time to end 'T is vain to wish it when it can't attend Not our desire or fear should it procure VVho is on purpose Sick deserves no Cure Heaven grant my end may so my soul comply That least it fear it self when I must dye I could not forbear to annex unto this Contemplation the soft and Pathetick Verse of Ovid which since relating to Age that walks almost hand in hand with Death I finde no less proper for my self than others who have any long acquaintance with Life Jam mihi deterior canis aspergitur aetas Jamque meos vultus ruga senilis arat Jam vigor quasso languent in corpore vires Nec Juveni lusus que placuere Juvant Nec me si subito videas cognoscere posses Aetatis facta est tanta ruina meae Confiteor facere hoc annos c. I think I could add another complaint of his Age which could not but more tenderly concern the Soul of so excellent a Poet. Impetus ille sacer qui vatum pectora nutrit Qui prius in nobis esse solebat abest In Spheram Archimedes Translated out of Claudian WHen Jove this Chrystal Sphear did first behold He smil'd and to Olympus Court thus told Can Mortal powers arrive unto this height That we should take in Humane art Delight The Sacred mov'ment which our Heaven does show This Syracusian wonder tells below Each various order of our Starry Sphear His shining Globe Epitomizeth there The Sun 's bright eye there sees his dayes and years And what a various brow his Phebe wears How was this Artist pleas'd this Globe to make Spangl'd with Stars like ours their Progress take Salmoneas may his feigned Thunder boast Archimedes Skill Heaven's power resembleth most Of Time A Pindaricque Ode FIrst great of Nature thou must surely be Yet never from her Womb
did'st spring Thou wert full grown soon as the world and she Waiting to spread thy Immaterial wing And side by side with her to move Before she would her self improve Of thee she Mathematick Counsel took E're she set forward to pursue The mighty measures in her Book Or did one act of wonder do Nor had men known without thy night and day Whether Nature did for ever work or play 2. To all things else she Life and Bodies gave But thou her Incorporeal Childe Mysteriously must neither have Whil'st Death her every individual's Grave Of nothing but thy self 's beguil'd That with her thou might'st live to see Thy life continue her Eternity 3. Through all Horizons of the Universe Thou dost at once thy wondrous self disperse Each Star his Circle by thy Rule does guide Nay who can chuse but think Should'st thou stand still or step aside But that the Sun would leave his Zodiack too And bid his bounteous Eye for sorrow wink If for the worlds sake he no more might know The blessing of his Dayes and Hours And see his Heaven on Earth in Spring and Summer-flowers 4. So far above our Reasons search thou art That all the Idea of thy self men frame Does like some mighty nothing seem Thou motion guid'st and yet no motion art Thy being yet thou never did'st impart So much as in aspiring Poets dream Their busie Pencils can't thy figure take Thou steal'st away both as we sleep and wake Yet thy flight never was too swift or slow In Heaven or Earth one Minute's space Thy unerring Dyals under ground can go Thy silent feet 'twixt Life and Death still trace Keeping account how both Live and Decease Which contraries so far agree That Life and Death alike conversions be Of thine and Nature's living equally 5. VVhen learned Antiquaries search thy Rolls They Ages finde but can't thy Age compute From thy Epocha early thou set'st out E're man could read his being in thy Scrolls VVhil'st he laments thy too profound neglect Since he might have from thee more surely known VVhat did thy being and his own effect VVhether God's fiat man produc'd of clay Or that he started out of Earth some unknown way VVhich Nature by design or chance does ovvn 6. From what stupendious center first was took The point from whence began thy mighty round No Line or Character in Nature's Book Does shew us where thy self is found No more than how this world alas To our sense first produced was Or whence light did proceed to be Guided by the Sun and thee When thy Clocks told the world 't was day Before he durst the morning wake Or wisely could direct his way Who then of men his height did take Or saw his steeds their flaming steps first make 7. We use thee most of things yet know thee not Thou seem'st to us to have thy self forgot Yet best of faculties in the Worlds great Soul Whose Memory does far surmount All but thine own Account The sum of that vast Circles square Which cannot be computed here Unless our measures scale that endless Rule That 's more eternal than the world is old To most Prophetick Reason never yet was told On former Poets THough Death's pale Scepter men obey Their written Wit does last decay Surviving that resistless fate Does Soul and Body separate And of all mortal acts we see Comes nearest Immortality Thus Johnson's Wit we still admire With Beaumont Fletcher's lasting sire And mighty Shakespear's nimble vein Whose haste we only now complain His Muse first post was fain to go That first from him we Plays might know Though in each Muse of theirs we finde VVhat 's now above all humane kinde Our greatest Wit is to allow We cannot write as they could do Which time succeeding proves so good That 't is not yet well understood As if it were our fate to be In Wits perpetual Infancy Strong plots like theirs we can't disgest But like to Children think that best Which trifles with our appetite And judge as ill as now we write Though long our Story boasts great Kings Not every Raign good Poet sings Nature is pleas'd not to permit A propagation of their Wit Confessing that her mighty store Is not so rich as 't was before Poets are Prodigies of men And such she gives but now and then To Gyant-Wit 't is only given T' aspire unto the Muses Heaven If so inspir'd had been the bold We read Olympus storm'd of old Jove would have lay'd his Thunder by And welcom'd their Society To his Muse ENough my Muse thou hast play'd 't is time to rest Now I grow old thou art past or at thy best Thy Wit like Beauty most should Youth inspire With me thou may'st take cold by thy own fire Too much thy Gamesome thoughts I have obey'd Too tart for some thy Salt my Verse has made What Beauty will be Charm'd with what I say Or write of Love if it 's no Part I play Naso's soft Arts his fair Corinna knew And what he Sung 't is thought did practise too Thalia blusheth most in woods to sing When Poets from her Verse receive no spring Tersicore Heroickly does hate The loftiest Muse that Love Invites too late Here pausing thus to me my Muse begun Would'st thou be peevish with my cheerful Song On which the youthful will bestow a smile And to this froward Age commend thy toyle Thy Salt may please th' Ingenious Criticks taste And sleight th' unseason'd jeers which others waste Is' t not enough I do rejoyce thy Song And call thy Love and Verse for ever young My Bays to future time appear most green When nought of Poets but their Souls are seen My pleasing charms the serious entertain And in the Aged youthful Wit maintain From my Records men best their manners read The Comick good which now the Stage does need Waste not thy self or make more tedious Night With high and labour'd Songs I can delight The smooth-writ Elegy or short way The witty Martial with the world did play Rome's Empire's greatness and its crimes are known From that full sense his nimble Line 's have shown The Muses value all proportions fit And what 's call'd little may have much of VVit She ended thus and next presents my Pen VVhich if I finde inspir'd I 'll write agen Miscellanies or Essayes I Thank Heaven that I have taken so far leave of my Muse as to come from Verse to Prose which I take to be somewhat a better way of Writing plain English though I find I can cramp Words as well as another or leave a Line with a foot or two of sense more than it needs and besides that I have as many to 's and do's prove's and love's with such other necessary Implements as the best Toner of them all There 's nothing that I find our Language so plentifully affords or that falls on my pate with so little invocation of my sense as Rhime does I find it fattens the most
or so highly elevated that if I fall I must of necessity break the neck of my happiness in this world is all I wish for I rather choose to fall from my own height on the ground than from Grantham-Steeple If others are ambitious to be placed like Weather-cocks on such sublimities I can stand contentedly below and observe how the wind sits by them Or like this of Horace Auream quisque mediocritatem diligit Tutus caret obsoleti sordibus tecti caret Invidenda sobrius aula I am content with a reasonable estate for my subsistance wishing that I could improve my manners to a suitable Mediocrity of good I would not wish to go much farther but I finde that I am able to spend more pounds than willing to be at the charge of a few good deeds I am free to charge my self home enough though I experience as much the parsimony of vertue in other men But be it with them and me as it may be I will say this for my Theam that I would choose it in all things appertaining to me I may take leave I hope to commend what I cannot improve or practice as well as other of my Theoretical friends To touch a ground of vertue is almost the talent of every Pen but when we come to compose handsomly all her parts the harmony is not much to be admired I was telling my Reader of some satisfactions as to a Medium in my condition of life and now I will tell him in what other particulars I esteem it best In the first place I like it in years that is to say neither too young or too old if Women cannot approve my choice for reasons they are best able to dispute I would not go so far forward with my time but in complaisance to them I would set theirs as much backward my reason is this youth I conceive has so many rambles and is so unsteady for thought that a man lives a fool to himself or perhaps comes to an estate at One and twenty that were fitter for him at forty but my argument is yet more mannerly by understanding what is requisite to a particular accomplishment I mean that also of due respect to others which is indeed the greatest he that looks for either of these from youth may as well expect that a Horse may go away with him in a smooth Amble as soon as back't 'T is well if we have not as much occasion to learn at Forty as at Fifteen I suppose many finde it no contradiction it is a task vain enough to tutor man too early he will ill Husband his Ethicks in spite of fate till time make him more tractable The best that can be said for youth is that it may sometimes yield and ply to amendment where age will not by reason of long continuance and habit And so much for the young As for Age I finde I have as little reason to hope much good from it as to trust youth If Vice be strong in the bud or growth it is odds but it will be more rugged and tough when old as we see in Trees though they be shivered and wind-shaken by time they will have the more firmness and knots 'T is true Age does decay mans strength but not alwayes his appetite He that has been liquorish young 't is odds but he 'll like the same sauce when he is old the fancy will have its luxury and youth when the ability is least There are some Vices that are not so familiar with youth and will six with Age it is apt to be Morose and encrease ill nature abundantly observe it but in covetousness and you 'll finde none so retentive as the old though they are just taking leave of the world A prudent man may well fear his living over-long not only as it enfeebles our bodies and renders them less useful to our Selves our Countrey and Friends but as it weakens the faculties of his Soul and may render him perverse and froward we may call Nature too indulgent when she permits us to live a Child's life twice He that out-lives himself does as much shame the kindness of Providence for giving his life so long a thread Age having such a tincture of the River Lethe that it does manifest an oblivion of our selves in our most especial concernments I have known some that have not onely forgot acquired knowledge and letters but even the common things of conversation and manners At this day I know an ancient man a near Neighbour of mine that ask'd about last Michaelmas whether we should have no May that year he had liv'd to forget the revolution of time though so long his acquaintance I wonder that among the Heroick Acts of the Romans they incouraged no Suicides in Age since they could do it upon accounts of friendship of disgrace on loss of a Battel contempt of their Enemy and the like when perhaps there is no greater affront to the honour of life in many kindes than the folly and imperfection of Age. Had this been allowable with them we had perhaps heard of more of their Heroins than Hero's The apprehension of the ruine and neglect of past beauty had doubtless done much with such objects and I am glad for their sakes there was never no such usage I cannot but chide with Nature when I behold a handsom Lady declining or superannuated I could fervently make it may desire that the lusters of that Sex might still continue and I judge all men obliged to do the same by reason they chiefly would continue such attractions for mans sake If this wish be to little purpose I hope they will allow it obliging and I am over and above paid for the thought To return to my own Sex I have commended a mediocrity in years and I have reason since I have prov'd it best as to my abilities and inclinations I thank Heaven I am now somewhat past it and yet I finde the strength of my Wit and Judgment as firm as ever which gives me as much incouragement to hope as well of my Age as most can of theirs Some defect I finde in my Memory and Hearing the first of which was never good young and therefore I am not to hope its amendment wherefore I would be understood onely to reflect on the failings and imbecilities of youth and Age There is great honour allowable to both when aptly capacitated for the improvement of life he that is young may have a commendable growth toward goodness and he that is old and knowing is more able to direct and practice it They are both excellent in their kindes though a middle state of years does more surely temper judgment and therefore more suitable to a wise man's wish might he alwayes continue so or not be longer a slave to life than he can comfort his years with right understanding And here I cannot but mention that if a Medium of man's being be approveable as to estate and years
Proverbial I finde by my self that I represent Mankinde somewhat broader and larger If I conster my self I can read the world better within me than without me the manners of most men have to do in me whether I will or no there is no Vice or Luxury but my constitution has a twang of in which my Soul does imbibe more venom than it is able to vomit out of me nay I am not ashamed to confess that I write against such enormities that I cannot sufficiently abhor There is no Logician of them all that can better distinguish Vertue from Vice than I though I fail as well as most of them in the general predicament of practice my Soul has the misfortune with others to be more Speculative than good I have invented as many fine things for my self as most have done and I as much blame my ingenuity for troubling me to so little purpose Repentance is but the brocage of ill manners though as dear a Purchase as any man can make for himself there are many cheaper Bargains to be had in Long-Lane if you 'll pardon the meanness of the Metaphor than are to be allowed from Philosophers and Divines the Soul must be at the charge of so many nice and fine Idea's with either of the last that believe me Sense will go near to repent or vitiate her contract another way wherefore I blame em not if they allow better bargains to themselves than other men have from them I am forced to deal with my Soul and Body together do what I can or they for me What I finde exorbitant in my self I am as apt to check as another man yet cannot fall directly foul with Nature for making Vice predominant or more necessary in me than I could wish since she has declared in great part it shall be so in giving me a suitable temperament and being I will not therefore be troubled with her will although I do not absolutely submit my own When I behold a beautiful Woman my inclinations want no alacrity to consider her as a Woman and my self as a Man nay I am ready enough to conclude that Nature has intended her as much for my enjoyment as any others since her Hee 's and Shee 's have no particular appropriation from any record of hers untill I select some more superlative notions to restrain this propensity of mine To deal plainly I finde my appetite so strong or lusty as I may say that I am forced to make use of not only a Curb to it but of a Musrole or Martingale to boot and I assure you I am glad when both are sufficient to serve my turn together If I am able to manage my self soft and fairly on betwixt Vertue and Vice I hold it a good Pilgrimage for my manners where Nature is irregular I cannot but go astray something however my endeavour shall be to break over as few of her Hedges and Pounds as any other Man I cannot for my life allow of that general Maxime from whomsoever it comes that all men are by Nature equally evil or vicious since I finde it as fully contradicted as the complexions and inclinations of men arising from thence can be possibly said to differ It signifies to me all one to hold that men are cold and hot alike that they feed and are equally nourished to one condition or temperament of Body which is sufficient to manifest what ado and scuffle is made by some to fit a more refined Soul and Body together than is capable of subsistance from humane life And here I could make a Query whether man may not reasonably expect a suitable pardon for such of his offences as are more properly the impulsions of Nature than caus'd by himself I finde no way so obvious to distinguish the essential dignity of the Soul from the Body as that I can think or contemplate so much better than I do and here I conceive must be granted an Excellence or a Divine comprehension in the Soul alone and yet I finde that it does so participate of the imperfections of the body that it seems rather to bungle with those Superlative notions and Idea's that are inherent in it than to bestow them fully and expressive on the Intellect For example I am Writing on this Subject which I am beholding to my Soul to deliver but as she conceives it in gross if she were able to go further with me she could declare not only her own being but as clearly things of a Superlative excellence which she being not able to execute is at some stand to discern her self as likewise her apprehension of whatsoever is of a more sublime subsistency Every man may finde that excellency in his Soul that no reason for the impediments above mentioned is able to give account of He may think backward forward fix his consideration on this or that object observe such a continual and uncompell'd motion of all the faculties of his Soul as it seems necessarily to require a more supream and lasting abode than can be given it by the Body nay if a man considers how far he can recollect past thoughts and how early Children are for the most part capable and expressive of such knowledge as could not reasonably be supposed learn'd or taught them it will make a good judgement inclineable to permit the Soul a Divine pre-existence or being Wherefore I cannot believe the Incarnation though held by many so incomprehensible a fundamental of our Faith to be more a Miracle though a greater since they differ no more than that the one is the general Divinity of Mankinde the other a more Supream and Sacred essence in the mystical Union of both Natures in Christ But I will say no more of this particular lest I make my Readers head ake as well as mine Every man has enough to do with the world but I finde that my understanding is more intricately troubled with my self I am not so overseen or mistaken in any other man I know where to have other mens thoughts in greater measure by their Actions as the covetous fraudulent dissemblers and the like I act none of these parts against my self wherefore they are nothing of my business with me where my actions are most common with the rest of Mankinde I finde my thoughts not only different from them but from such other of mine as my Brain is pleased to furnish me with I cannot chuse but perplex my self with what I have found is not to be understood as well as some I am acquainted withall I finde my Soul is willing to instruct me but cannot and yet I am still inviting her to be my Tutress I am so unhappy as never more to doubt my knowledge than when I consider much where I would take it profoundly I find it shallow and I prove it the same in others that have plung'd deepest I very often perceive my conceptions more jarring within themselves than with other mens wherefore I am better
him the better part of me subsists My Soul my Body moves but Loves most his This vertue should man's best esteem create Which does to such Transcendent deeds relate The force of Union here the world maintains Where providence with such high grandure raigns Should it one cause of Concord disunite Twou'd puzzle Heaven to set its works at right To humane life Man's discord is a Curse Which than all beings renders Mankind's worse This the world's reason knows both just and true Though 't is man's crime and fate so bad to do In words who will not worthy acts commend Or him that with his peril serves his Friend But how unworthy are such Ethicks made If of their practice Reason is afraid Orestes Pylades such Friendships make As either sought to dye for eithers sake This fiction we on Theatres behold A Noble Moral in high Language told VVhich to applaud yet live less great and wise Shews that our Fables do our lives despise Our guilty Nature blushing to confess It knows more good than we in deeds express Thus far my speech this Noble Theam has brought And what remains from others may be sought Fan. Too soon a close our Lelius us affords On this high subject heightn'd by his words Fit to prolong the fleeting hours of day And raptures to our nightly sleeps convey The thred of thy discourse yet more extend Though it will length still want when it do send Scaev. Well hast thou Fannus spoke great Lelius worth Thy Love provokes him farther to set forth As once I did when sweetly pass'd the day In Scipio's Gardens whilst with us did stay The accurate Philus gravely argu'd too Yet learn'd from Lelius what was fit to do VVho did so wisely Justice make his cause That it might have been written with Rome's Laws But on our Friendly subject more to touch And briefly to declare what I think such By it the most agreeing Love I mean Or such admits few turns to raise its Scene Which constancy and Justice must defend Who 's various soon may falsly be call'd Friend A worthiness of minde my Love expects From him I love or he my Love neglects Lel. Hard 't were my Scaevola in Friendships cause VVhich of all humane has the kindest Laws T'enact such strict Conformities of life VVhich with our Natures have too high a strife Vertue 't is true we chiefly should allow And yet not Criticize upon it so That no allay should pass amongst its gold VVhil'st we our souls in Bodies do behold Compos'd of dross in which 't were vain to think Our minds can pass Lifes-strands and nothing sink Friendship I can't resist could I not finde A well-deserving Love in humane kinde Vertue in us must this foundation lay Our Friends would else like bribes their Friendship pay As on this subject often I have thought This worthy question by my Soul was brought Whether man's helpless life or want should be Sufficient ground to enter Amity Or whether giving and receiving prove The mutual endearments of his Love Which vertues near affinities express Though more the Beauties of its cause confess That from our Nature's goodness did arise Or from above inspir'd the great and wise VVhose Souls Divinely did themselves prepare To fix such Concords before Friendships were VVhich had I not a Friend it 's worth would show How much beforehand me the world does owe. Our Souls their own internal Love assign'd But scorn'd to be unto themselves confin'd VVhich great instinct diffusive soon was made VVhil'st men did Traffick for their vertues Trade Unburthen'd with the fraight of meaner ends VVhich for design or profit seek out Friends In Friendship nothing feign'd or false should be A choice unmixt of man's felicity Pure as we Souls in Bodies can suppose VVhen to their Vice alone declared Foes How contrary a course the world does run And few there are who are not first undone Before the vertue of their Friend they prove Or his ingratitude does meet their Love A Friend too dearly by his Friend is bought That proudly gives respects or would be sought Expecting for his good deeds to be pray'd VVho takes my Money is less meanly paid Than such a sordid or unkinde return A grief our Souls are most oblig'd to mourn Their best estate of life is then destroy'd VVhen Friendship fails or meanly is enjoy'd My Love I place not to advance my gain But on a worth that may with mine remain In which consists the prudence of our choice VVhen minds are match'd that best themselves rejoyce On vertues lovely-Ethicks man should feast Before his amity deserves a guest Her entertainment highly does invite Our Souls the good of others to delight For whose bright sake we vertuous Friendships show Nay prove its force toward such we do not know Who can great Curius or Fabritius name Though dead and not rejoyce their living fame As much proud Tarquin's memory we hate VVith Cassius Melius vicious in our State Though Martial Pyrrhus did with Rome make VVar Him less than Annibal we hated far His vertue did his Arms more friendly make But how unworthy did Rome's honour take The cruelty of that great Punick foe Our Cities lasting Odium well does show If we th' effects of probitie confess Oblig'd by Enemies its worth express How much a greater power does goodness gain VVhich more familiar we with friends maintain And with our hours such benefits renew As most endear our Loves and Vertues too VVhat 's beneficial we shall surely finde Though 't were a meanness by us first design'd To fly unto our Friends when fate us drives Is like a Pilot in a Port survives VVhich in a calm perhaps he ne'r had sought So in a storm our Souls should not be brought To Friendship 's harbour to which we should steer More to protect our goodness than our fear In our best strengths our amities should meet Not in our froward age or youthful hear But when we wisely obligations weigh Yet need them less than ready such to pay VVhat did my Scipio of his Lelius want Nor did my Fortune more my Friendship scant His vertue I design'd my Loves high choice And his as gratefully did mine rejoyce Large is th' extent of good that does accrew To such who wisely Noble Loves pursue Their profits sure yet enter'd for no gain Nor are they ours of whom we can complain That our concerns oblig'd us to require Such kinder deeds as they should first desire Request 's a bribe good men should seldom take VVho would be sought to can his Friend forsake The fruit and growth our vertue should expect Is that our Friendship greater it effect How then should we contemn that giddy race VVho their unworthy Loves in pleasures place A motive we in sensual creatures see VVhich for such brutal ends as kinde can be No wonder then if we dissent from these Who more their Bodies than their Souls would please Unworthy farther mention to obtain But in a vile contempt
Wherefore to few they goodness would extend Lest to themselves they are too little friend Self-loves security and meaner good Have in their Ethicks well been understood Who judge it too much in our life's estate To suffer with our own anothers fate Others more meanly as we touch'd before For love unto themselves would Love implore And in their hands the staff of Friendship take Less for their friends support than theirs when weak Who thus infirmly would mans Ethicks raise May womans Weakness joyn unto its praise The weak and wretched justly aid require From whence diffusive good is mans desire The Sunshine of whose soul in Love is plac'd As by that Orb of light the world is grac'd When no defects of Charity appear Or interposing of our earthly care The spreading rays of Vertue do obscure Or yeeld no comfort which should others cure This Constitution to my soul I 'd ask To make the love of others still its task No less I grieve mans vice than I rejoyce The life of Vertue when 't is made his choice Such Passion none in prudence can deny It being th' effect of wise Humanity The ornaments of love we soon destroy Should it partake no friendly grief or joy Which man would meanly liken to a beâ—st Or the dull Flint that hides flame in its brest Wherefore we justly rigid Stoicks blame Who give unto hard-hearted vertue Fame And with Heroique pride so fill the minde That Vertue must not help from Passion finde Whilst man to man might thus unuseful be And all his Ethicks but vain Theory Our Souls with practis'd good delighted are Be it Supream we need not passion fear Our Natures something must our Souls relent And not continue vertue useless bent Which should so tractable and feeling move That it must fix concerns with those we love Who wants that sense takes Friendship from his life And has with vertue more than passion strife That does man's amity contract and raise Those graces higher which his Love do praise What 's so absurd as vainly to admire That empty greatness to which men aspire Or that the Body 's neatly trim'd and drest Or under Stately Roofs it feed and rest Whilst the Souls decency they most neglect And no one act that 's comely good effect Such minds the worth of Friendship cannot weigh Nor its returns or just receipts will pay Though most it does all humane-bliss compleat When in obliging others we are great What more Divinely can our Souls embrace Or what 's so like to Heavens sublimer grace Which adds unto such wants we can't supply Or in assisting of our good does lye This I conclude all vertuous will approve Whose upright manners best allure their Love Whil'st thus oblig'd the wise and good select Such objects that like goodness most affect VVhich Nature teaches from her just desire And vertue does for greater strength require Wherefore my Scaevola and Fannus know That to humanity this debt we owe The Fountain whence those streams of Friendship break Nor must men judge that they their goodness make Too vulgar if too many it enlarge Which plac'd on few would seem like Niggard charge The vertue of their Souls most great men see When publick good speaks its utility Which if our charity does not partake We love not mankinde but for Interest sake This cuts the knot which vertuous Friendships hold Rendring man's Love slave to himself and gold No Interest I delight my Friend can give So much as I rejoyce his Friend I live And who 'd so meanly worldly things possess As not to merit Love or Love express This suits a Tyrant's false mistrustful state Who from the good does most suspect his fate No place for Friendship is within his breast Whose Love with thought of his vile guilt 's opprest And from the cause he others gives of fear Does make their just affection his despair Which shews that nothing should our Loves unite But as good Laws and Manners joyn their right Time-serving Friendship 's otherwise we know Whil'st all we can to their obligements owe Is that occasions to our worths they give Though such forgetful or ingrateful live Fortune though deify'd is figur'd blinde And most Infects their sight to whom she 's kinde Who being elated with successful pride Think th' insipid happy none deride How soon good manners do most men lay by As they encrease in Wealth or Dignity And with a prosperous guilt old Friends decline Selecting new for every new design Though such as worldly things do most delight To power or Fortune oft resign their right Whilst worthy Friendships nothing can remit Or chill their vigour with that Ague-fit Which man 's instable temper does embrace That in Disease of vertue good does place Can any such a barbarous life enjoy And it rejoyce though Friendship it destroy Or live a life deserted by his Friends Rather than he 'll neglect unworthy ends Nor must our Loves that mean proportion shew Which does no more than we 'd be done unto Vertue delights in good most unconfin'd And less is to it self than others kinde From which impulse the good such means embrace As they 'd decline to use in their own case Vertue some rigour willingly layes by To raise more comely our humanity Well I remember what great Scipio spake ' Gainst such whose Souls one equal balance make For Love and hatred as if vertues powers Were not above the strength of vices ours With whose high sense so far I 'll mine compleat As whom I once do love I 'll never hate Vertue would else her self too meanly spite It for our passions she declin'd her right What man to Friendship wisely can be brought VVhil'st bad mistrusted wounds his juster thought The good and prudent well their choice foresee And on like worth will place their amity But weak and vicious when they Friendships close Soon by their own defects are turn'd to foes Once more unto my Scipio to return Whose Noble Soul as worthily did mourn Observing how men vertue did despise And their mean interests before Friendships prize VVith how much diligence accounts such keep Of Herds they pasture or their Flocks of Sheep Yet of their Friends-so small a number give As if for men they did not useful live ' Mongst whom 't is rare a generous Love to finde The Phoenix most admir'd of humane-kinde VVhich man 's frail temper seldom does effect VVhil'st to be good and wise the most neglect If many on th' account of sordid gain Their Friendships and their Piety can stain How much a greater part are drawn aside With the vain baits of Luxury and Pride Which their Calamities oft greater make Than those distresses such in Friends forsake A Friends affection none can certain finde But in that change where Fortune's most unkinde In prosperous things most lay their Friendships by And with adverse more rarely will comply Both which conditions of our humane life VVith vertue and our selves are most at
strife VVho constant to his Friend in either is Has in himself the best of humane bliss And like to Heaven in ample goodness moves Not hindred by the fate of those it loves Our Friends oblige our Souls and Bodies trust Which shews how great 's our guilt when prov'd unjust Man's Faith and Love his vertue most refine The brightest Gems in which our Souls can shine Gentle and easie in a Friend I praise With such plain manners Love does smoothly raise To all vain-glorious or of froward sense I least desire my Friendships to dispense Nature has men agreeable design'd Whose Faith and Vertue still continue kinde A constant goodness to it self 's a grace And is the Throne on which my Love I 'd place What 's less becoming of a Friendly Ear Than if it credit what it should not hear Or who 'd delight in accusations brought Much less accuse that would a Friend be thought Such may in front appear Serene and Just Though he 's no Friend that can his Friend distrust Doubt is unworthy of a Noble minde The weak and faithless change in humane-kinde Nor to my Soul a question it can be Did both require an equal amity Whether in Youth or Years my Friends I 'de take No more my reason suits than that we make The Horse or Camel do our service young Whil'st Friendship by long usage grows more strong Do we not see how Custome gives some right To things we use and adds to their delight Who long has known a mountain-seat may finde As much content as when from Sun and Winde Another makes the shade and woods his choice Yet in their us'd abodes alike rejoyce Many the graces are our Souls require To fit that union which our Loves desire Superior place of birth a Friend may claim But in affection must have equal name Of all our Roman Worthies none are known That would precedency in Friendship own Man's vertue should like Parallels comply Whose just extent in one broad line does lye Though ag'd before the youthful he 'll embrace That with grave knowledge will his Friendship grace To Age our wise fore-fathers would submit Which did their youth for War and Councel fit Where we affect in deeds we must it show The hearts untill'd when barren Love does grow Man's goodness is in good of others plac'd Who lives unto himself is meanly grac'd My mind's best Gifts and Fortune I 'll impart Unto all such who have oblig'd my heart The great to meaner Friends support should give He lives divinely for man's aid does live Wisely did Poets in their Fables lay Obliging deeds great men to meaner pay In which we Kings and Hero's often finde Preserv'd by Ruralls that of humane-kinde None should above such obligations live The Cottage sometimes to a Court can give Man's goodness has most Universal right The mean and greatest equal but one height Superiours speak themselves whose good descends He 's to no purpose high that nothing bends As much Interiors by their vertue rise And who is great that can their worth despise Nature in men her own degrees does raise Though headless Fortune gives the worthless praise Some of necessity Supream must be As vertue does advance their dignity Nor must Inferiors be concern'd to finde Fortune and Merit to themselves less kinde Than unto such in both above them plac'd But judge their Friendships are in them best grac'd Though that Ingratitude I have often found Where Pride has swell'd or made the heart unsound How frequent may we hear such men regret The worth of others or meanly else repeat Some Friendly act of theirs did it advance As if 't were meant them less by choice than chance Of all men odious those I hold to be Who on their Love put this Indignity Basely he does his obligations weigh That for them bids his Friend take care to pay No value by th' obliger should be set He meanly takes that can oblig'd forget Such justly may their own neglects believe Who to themselves too great a merit give Or else does only happen unto those Whose manners they suspect will raise them foes Though men opinion'd thus themselves neglect A vertuous Friendship succors that defect Their utmost merit Love will soon allow And no less aids the worth it does avow Yet our affections must their limits see Whose great and Noble cannot therefore be Oblig'd his Friend shall equally partake Things which respect and Nature different make No more than one beloved of a King Should look that it to him a Crown would bring VVe must not more oblig'd our selves desire Than what our just capacities require The prudent will their value duely weigh Who knows his price his worth in part does pay Self-love's a Crime which in our Souls we finde And sometimes Friendship 's too Indulgent kinde VVhen it impedes such deeds men should pursue And to their safeties more than honour true This in the Poet well we may discern Where Lycomedes Love would so concern Neoptolemus who Troy with dangers sought Neglecting kindness he too tender thought Duely he weighs himself and Friend who moves For such respect their vertue more improves No less what 's fit to ask we should conceive Than what becomes a givers worth to give Justly we can't with their desires comply Whose want of merit bids us to deny And is that fate our amities produce When vertue 's disproportion'd for their use The best of cautions men their Souls can give Is not too soon their Friendships to believe Lest our affections meanly we bestow Or place our Love where vertue is a foe Such to endear we wisely should select Whose just desert does first their choice effect He rather violates man's friendly Lawes That does esteem without a vertuous cause Our Charity to all we must allow Whilst Friend to all would vicious Friendship show The worlds ill manners he must needs embrace That his esteem does universal place So few have merit that we must not hope To give our amities too large a scope The mean of men are mans Ignoble foes And all such Friendships sordid Interests close No more of humane good in them we finde Than what appears unto themselves most kinde These for their benefits the richest use As if like lattest beasts they men might chuse Such motives only can our hearts unite That have unto our Souls obliging right Men Love themselves without design or end No less should our respects endear a Friend Which if not mutually transfer'd must be Dâ—sign'd â—or ends of worthless amitie True Friendship such mysterious Ethicks Joyns As it in two one Moral worth defines A Friend unto a Friend 's not less the same Than if both Souls into one Body came 'T is Nature's partial care in Man and Beast That both too sensually themselves love best Yet man no Creature does so brutish finde Whose sense does not instruct it to be kinde So far the meanest Animals agree Nay more invite their like to Amitie If this