To see a commentary note, click on a blue square. To see the Latin text, click on a green square.
THE FOURTH BOOK OF JOHN OWEN’S EPIGRAMS
1. TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND RIGHT LEARNED LADY ARABELLA STUART 
Illustrious Vergin, sprung from Regal Race,
Whose Real worth thy Royal Birth doth Grace,
He that his wits First-fruits thee gave, ev’n He
Doth tender render now new Fruits to Thee,
Upon thine Ara Bella* (as most fit)
I consecrate, I sacrifice my wit.* A fair Altar.
2. TO THE SAME Thy constant Life doth from thy youth express
The Genius of thine Ingeniousness:
Adverse things quell thee not, nor prosp’rous swell
Thy Sails; thy front and mind are parallel:
And thy rare signal vertues are the cause
That none will think I flatter for applause.
3. TO HIS BOOK Before innum’rous Judges thou must plead,
Not one or two will censure when they read.
Perhaps unread thou shalt not censures flee
And more Reprovers will than Readers be.
4. UNION. TO THE BRITAINS, 1606 Who, unless mad, will off’red Gold refuse?
Here’s Union: This Pearl who will not chose?
5. VACUITY The Ethicks of vacuities complain,
But Physicks shew that nothing’s made in vain.
6. ON ZOILUS Zoilus is torn with an eternal Verse,
Though e’re two thousand years he lies on’s Hearse.
It is because his heirs do never die,
He’s punish’d for his whole Posterity.
7. FROM THE CENTER TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE Not from the Center to th’ Circumference
Sole one Line’s, yet but one way t’ Heaven’s hence.
8. COCK-CROWING. TO H. THE PRINCE France felt and did our English Forces see,
No Gallick sound could make our Lion flee.
9. A GRAMMATICK WAR. OF QUINTUS Money’s a Noun, a Verb, to promise: he
Promis’d a Noun, but gave a Verb to me.
10. THREE DIMENSIONS. ON A., A CHATTERER Of three Dimensions thou but one dost sound,
That’s broad enough, too long, but not profound.
11. TO THE READER. ON THE THREE PREVIOUS BOOKS OF EPIGRAMS As after sev’ral Births a womans womb,
Past Fifty, fruitless, childless doth become:
So my three former Books of better strain
Have stupifi’d, and arifi’d my brain. (Dried out
12. TO SIMON WATERSON, STATIONER Kind Waterson, who first my Book didst take,
And undertake it publick for to make:
Though Monopolies Laws against arise,
Yet thou shalt all my wit Monopolize.
13. THE SEA Salt Meats cause thirst: what’s salter than the Seas?
Fresh waters therefore are drank up by these.
14. THE SOLSTICE. OF PONTICUS, AN ATHEIST Death is Life’s Solstice: the Sun seems t’ our Eyes
To stand, but stands not: man to die, not dies.
15. TO HIS BOOK My little Book by me forewarn’d, forearm’d,
Observe at Court to keep thy self unharm’d.
Perhaps thou there maist find some one thy friend,
And some perchance that thee will reprehend:
If any be too rigid, too severe,
Say thus, “My Master blame, but me forebear.”
16. COURTSHIP. TO HIS FRIEND, A COURTIER Loves thee the King? His Page will then thee love,
As Shadows when the Bodies move, do move:
Frowns but the King? His Page will on thee frown,
As Shadows Bodies when the Sun’s gone down.
17. ON CORBULO Why’s Corbulo so bald upon his Pate
For want of hair? Was it his fault or fate?
18. TO PONTILIAN Pontilian, thee Christ’pher sues at Law:
Not thee, but money ’tis from thee to draw.
19. TO SIR EDWARD HERBERT, RIGHT LEARNED KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH Fame whisper’d that thou didst commend by Layes:
O that I could but equalize this praise!
Thou who dost praise this slender Muse of mine,
Dost merit to be prais’d by th’ Muses Nine.
20. ENVIES GENEALOGIE. TO JOHN HARINGTON, KNIGHT, HEIR OF BARON HARINGTON, A YOUTH OF GREATEST HOPE Vertue brings Envy forth, brought forth descends:
From verue this one-only Vice descends:
Knowst why to hee this Epigram I write?
Thou maist of right expect pale envyes spight.
21. OF VERTUE. A PARADOX Each vertue ’twixt two vices hath its place:
If vice were plac’d there, better were the case.
22. THE SEVEN PLANETS. TO PAULA Among th’ Erratick Stars thou well didst mark
Five Males, two Females wandring in the dark.
23. TO MARCUS More than thy Promise thou must keep, not less:
Hence but one Tongue, two Hands thou dost possess:
But thou dost promise much, performest none,
As if thou two Tongues hadst, and Hands not one.
24. A ROMAN PRIEST Would’st have Adultery not punished
By death? No wonder: th’ art unmarried.
25. A MINISTER OF GENEVA Would’st have Adultery have loss of Life?
No wonder: for thou hast a buxom Wife.
26. SELF-LOVING POET The Moon because of her vicinity,
Though least, seems greatest Planet in our Eye:
So, sith I’m next my self, my self the best (Since
I think of Poets, though I am the least.
27. OF A PENURIOUS CLIENT Wonder’st the Judges Ears are shut to thee,
When unto them thine hands not open be?
28. OF A CERTAIN ASS That I thee call, not name an Ass, dost grieve?
We Names unt’ Horses, not unt’ Asses give.
29. OF THE PICTURE IN THE LOOKING-GLASS Thou smiling, there thine Image seems to smile,
And while thou weep’st, it seems to weep the while.
It winks, thee winking, it thee moving moves:
But though thou speak’st, thine Image speechless proves.
30. GLAUCUS EXCHANGE His Birth-right Esau unt’ his brother sold:
Jacobs Pottage for it gave, not gold.
31. TO A CERTAIN DREAMER Thou sleeping art inspir’d with Mysteries,
Which waking are conceled from thine Eyes:
O how would Death inform thee, sith that sleep, (Since
Deaths Image prompeteth thee with things so deep?
32. WALES AND KENT. TO SIR ROBERT COTTON, A RIGHT LEARNED KNIGHT Wales keeps, though not its name, its ancient Nation:
Kent keeps its name, but not its first Plantation.
33. HEAUTONTIMOROUMENOS. SELF-VEXING. TO HIS KINSMAN, DOMINUS THEODORE PRICE, CLERGYMAN Angels not having Bodies happy are.
And the brute Beasts which Reason want, want care;
Sole man, who soul and body doth possess,
Is wretched, knows and feels his wretchedness:
Yea ev’ry man hath Menedemus Fates,
Whom Reason ruinates, not regulates.
34. OF LINUS Thou bound wert to me, when I did thee lend:
Wilt have me bound to thee? My Coyn repend. (Repay
35. SINGLE LIFE. TO HIS FRIEND DOMINUS ROBERT BOWYER, A BATCHELOR If Heaven to Good works be ascrib’d as Merit,
Thy Single Life hath wherewith Heav’n t’ inherit.
36. WOE TO THE SOLITARY. TO HIS FRIEND JOHN SUCKLING, A MARRIED MAN In the beginning God made Heaven, Earth, Man.
Why? ’cause not to be sole he then began.
37. OF MARCUS Promise, thou sayst, makes rich: but I by thee
Thy promises shall never richer be.
38. OF AULUS, AN ATHEIST When with thee discourse of God and Heaven,
With thee who prized God, at six and seven:
Thou sayst, what’s us above concerns us not:
True: for the lowest hole in Hell’s thy lot.
39. MAN A STAGE-PLAYER Hope is Lifes Argument (for Life’s a Fable):
World, Scene: Faith, Prologue: Acts are Love unstable.
40. TO THE READER Why am I in my Epigrams so brief?
It is, O Reader, for thy sake in chief:
As Gold than Silver is more light to carry,
So than long Epigrams short make less weary.
41. NEW STILE Wherefore doth Rome, which new things so detests,
So dotes on old, ordain new Fasts, new Feasts? (Fasts = calendars
42. TO MARINUS. ON HIS MISTRESS Motion’s the praise of th’ Heavens constant Station,
Earth’s glory fix’d upon a firm foundation:
Whence to thee Phillis seems of heav’nly birth,
Still moveable, she nothing has of Earth.
43. EVE’S FALL The Sun’s not oft: the Moon’s oft in th’ Eclipse:
So women are than men more prone to slips.
44. NOT IN THIS AGE, NOR IN TIME TO COME. OF DAMIANUS Whether I present things, or future mind,
I none more wretched than thy self do find.
Th’ art wicked, future times will thee condemn;
A Fool th’ art: present times do thee contemn.
45. BY WANTING RATHER THAN HAVING. TO PONTICUS Thou knowst what wit, what valour is, if by
Their want, one their true value may descry.
46. MANSLAUGHTER One man himself may kill a thousand men:
But two can scarce beget one man agen.
47. FRIENDSHIP. TO HIS FRIEND DOMINUS THOMAS BRIDGES Why seekst Likes like Friends friend? Because that none
Can long stand stedfast on one foot alone.
48. TO SIR JOHN HARINGTON, SON OF THE LORD HARINGTON, A YOUTH RIGHT GIVEN TO BELLES LETTRES AND TO VIRTUE If vertue may be guess’d at by the front,
Thy Face hath wit and vertue stamp’d upon’t:
And herein is thy Fathers wisdom seen,
That learned Tovey hath thy Tutor been:
Sith all this Isle of Britain, but a few (Since
Tutors like him, Pupils like thee can shew.
49. POLYDORE VIRGIL Two Virgils were; one Maro (soaring higher)
A Poet; next thou, Polydore, a Lyar.
50. UPON MOMUS, A MOST UNJUST CENSURER OF THE FORMER EPIGRAMS Among so many wicked then alive,
Had but Gomorrha found of just men five
It had yet stood. * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And thou, malignant Reader, for a few
Loose Lines, wouldst all the Structure overthrow?
51. ON THE SAME One, whom I know not, infamous by Fame
Diana’s Temple burn’d to get a Name:
So with black Teeth thou dost my Verses bite,
Hoping to have thy name in what I write:
But bite, backbite thy fill, I will deceive
Thine hopes, and thee without a name will leave.
52. UPON A DOMESTICK CARPER And me thy Brother, thou my Brother dear
Woundst with thy tongue, and with thy teeth doth tear.
Why dost maligne my Verse, if praise it merit?
If blame, to spare it ’twere a brothers spirit.
53. A CUCKOLD Why for my Wives close Thefts am I (alas)
Traduc’d? men call me Cuckold as they pass
And point at me: For what I did not sign
(But you, I know not who) I call not mine.
54. A SELF-LOVER “Love, like thy self, thy Neighbour,” saith the Text:
“I do,” thou sayst, “I to my self am next.”
55. FORTUNE ASSISTS THE BOLD Fair women are like Fortune: Neither she,
Nor they love men that slothful-bashful be.
56. LOVE BLIND Love not too fierce at first hath large extent:
For slow things longer last than violent.
Lovers in hast, are like that breeding kind,
Which like blind love, bring forth their younglings blind.
57. LOVE NOT BLIND. TO FIRMICUS Love is not blind: Argus to love is prone,
But Polyphemus blinded loveth none:
Love’s bred by Seeing: therefore Love’s not blind,
Which through th’ Eyes windows doth inflame the mind.
58. TO QUINTUS, A COURTIER Ulysses fear, hast (Quintus) but one Eye.
An hundred hast? Beware of Mercury.
59. EPITAPH OF JUSTICE E’re since Astraea, last of heav’nly Race,
Abandon’d Earth, and took in Heav’n her place,
Laws Altars, Justice Temples are forsook,
And t’ each his Jus* to give, sole knows the Cook.* Jus significes Right, Pottage.
60. A WRIT OF LATITAT. ON MARCUS, AN EPICURIAN Wisely th’ art hid, if hid thine hiding were:
But open thy close hiding doth appear.
61. JESUS COLLEDGE AND CHRIST CHURCH COLLEDGE IN OXFORD, NOT FULLY FINISHED Jesus, one House unfinish’d bears thy Name,
And Christ, thou hast another like the same:
Among so many Noble Structures, those
Thy two, thy former Poverty disclose.
62. MERCHANTS TRUST Poor Irus paid rich Croesus all: now which
Is of the greater credit, Poor or Rich?
63. MUSES MOST SAD. TO HIS KINSMAN, DOMINUS ELLIS WYNN Shorne is Apollo now, unshorne e’re while:
Scarce in a year doth our Apollo smile.
O he mistook who call’d the Muses merry:
Phoebus his Harp’s untun’d, his hand is weary.
64. INCREDULITY Credulity’s an errour, not a fault:
Too much an errour is too little, naught.
65. CREDULITY Him I distrust, who trusteth all by guess:
The more thou me, I credit thee the less.
66. FAITHS OBSEQUIOUSNESS. TO A CERTAIN YOUTH I like Pythagoras his Discipline,
Which seven years Tryal did for Trust assign:
Wilt have th’ unlearn’d thee trust? th’ learn’d trust rather:
Wilt have thy son thee trust? trust then the Father.
67. BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE God giveth, man receiveth (and doth bow).
Never, I think, were fewer Gods than now.
68. OF PONTICUS, A CLIENT Thy Gout i’ th’ hand, thy Lawyer dost not Fee.
His is in’s Feet, he moves no Foot for thee.
69. CARDINAL THOMAS WOLSEY’S “I AND MY KING” “I, and my King” with Grammer Rules comply:
Good Manners teacheth thus, “My King and I.”
This is the way to live, that to discourse,
This in the Court, that in the School’s of force.
70. TO THE GAULS Each drinks in his own Glass, I like it well:
But who’s content with his own wife to dwell?
71. PHILAUTUS TO PHILARISTUS, CALENDS OF JANUARY Thou lookst I should a Gift to thee commend,
I but my self have nothing else to send.
72. PHILARISTUS TO PHILAUTUS Thou nothing sent’st, thy nothing I repell:
Thou gave’st thy self, I give thee back. Farewell.
73. TO HENRY FANSHAW, KNIGHT AND PATRON OF LETTERS Augustus Empire had it been thy Fate
T’ have had, or else Macaenus his Estate,
In these our times had many Maro’s been,
But no Maecenas, nor no Maro’s seen.
74. TO HENRY GOODYEER, KNIGHT, UPON HIS WIFES DECEASE, 1606 Men to command, women t’obey, to bear
Nature injoynes: thy Wife did both, while here
Sh’ obeyed, she bare sweet Pledges, hopeful Sons,
Which props support the Ports of greatest Dons. (Houses??
O happy Good-yeer thrice, four times and more,
If one as good succeed as went before.
75. ULYSSES AND PENELOPE Death’s t’ us Ulysses-like when snatch’d from’s Wife:
As she her Thread, so we spin out our Life.
76. OF MANCINUS, AN ARTLESS MASTER Thou the whole day from Street to Street dost walk,
Yet lest thou shouldst be thought thy Book to baulk, (To omit, ignore intentionally
Thou sleep’st at night by Candle-liight: thine Oyl,
Mancinus, thou wilt lose, but not thy Toyl.
77. UPON A CERTAIN WOMAN Though thy two sons be both unlike to thee,
Each yet with’s Fathers likeness doth agree.
78. THE CELESTIAL ARCHER. TO HIS KINSMAN WILLIAM RAVENSCROFT, LAWYER Thine Arrow, Faith, Bow, Love: thy Bow-string, Hope:
Let Heaven be thy Mark, and God the scope.
79. PONDEROUS THINGS DESCEND. TO HIS FRIEND DOMINUS CHARLES RYVES, DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY No Creature in the World is more sublime
Than Man, why must he slabber in the slime?
Of th’ Elements, of what’s the World within
The solid Earth most pond’rous is, save sin.
What wonder then that man is downward prest?
Sith man is nothing else but sin at best. (Since
80. OF A LITIGIOUS DEBTOR Thou dost not pay me, dost the Lawyer pay:
Thy Folly this, that doth thy Fault display.
81. OF THE SAME Thy care is not to pay thy Debts: thy care
Is not to pay thy Debts what e’re they are.
82. OF THE CHURCH DERIVATIVE. TO HIS FRIEND R. F. Sith that there’s but one Faith, one Church that’s true, (Since}|
Sprung from the Fount of Life, within the new
Jerusalem, what Church doth not derive
It self from thence, erres from the Primitive.
83. FOUR SEAS Britain’s Trine-like, Triangular: why be
Four Seas therein, and yet but Kingdoms three?
84. TO A RICH FRIEND If by the want of things their worth is known,
I know the worth of Wealth, for none’s mine own.
85. THE GENERATION OF ONE IS THE CORRUPTION OF TWO The male and female, in the course of nature,
Corrupt two bodies to produce one Creature.
86. THE WEDDING RING A Ring at Nuptials the Bridegroom gave
The Bride in sign of Love: a custom grave.
The wife should rather give the Ring to th’ man,
Let him reach out his Finger for it than.
87. THE WORLDS OF DEMOCRITUS If Worlds so many were, as doth attest
Democritus, this were the worst o’ th’ rest.
88. OF EPIGRAMS. TO THE DISCRIMINATING READER An Epigram is like a fair-fac’d woman,
Which is, because more beautiful, more common:
But common once her beauty’s out of date,
And then Adulterers it nauseate.
89. TO THE EARTH. TO HIS KINSMAN DOMINUS OWEN GWYN, CLERGYMAN The Heavens, though in motion, constant prove,
For with the self-same motion still they move:
But th’ Earth most inconstant, though fast fixt,
Each Angle of it is with Errors mixt.
90. THE MOON Cynthia th’ art call’d, the Star the rules the Seas.
Thou rather rulest now the Land than these.
91. COVETOUS LIBERALITY. TO ACERRA Thou giv’st to take, not tak’st to give, Acerra:
Thy mark’s Receiving, Giving is thine Arrow.
92. OF PAULA, A FALSE CATHOLICK If any ask of Paula, what’s her Faith,
’Tis Catholick, Apostolick she saith.
I think her love is Catholick unt’ all,
But I would have her Faith Catholical.
93. A PRODIGY Penelope’s chast trust a Proverb was:
But for a Prodigy it now may pass.
94. OF ANNETTA, A FRANCK Nature with very little is content:
But of thy Nature this I think’s not meant.
95. OF MARCUS, A SOULDIER, BLIND AND BLEAR-EYED One of thine Eyes doth, Marcus, yet remain,
Which with continual drops thy Face doth stain:
Why is that Eye with Tears so much imbost?
Because his Brother in the Wars was lost.
96. PEACE IN EUROPE. TO DIVINES Kings war; and Kings in peaceful Leagues combine:
’Tis something yet to’ enjoy sweet peace in Fine:
The Priests with an immortal strife contend,
And their contests nor measure have, nor End.
Hence by Tongues virulence it doth appear
That than the Sword, the Pen is more severe.
97. TO CAROLINA As oft as in the Glass thou view’st thy face,
Lest that thy beauty make thee proud, abase,
Abate thy Pride: think though th’art fair (alas)
Th’ art fraile, though beautiful yet like thy Glass.
98. FLORALS. TO HIS FRIEND, DOMINUS JOHN TOVEY, CLERGYMAN As in the Scene obscene came Cato, thence (The theater
To go: so man comes here, to pass from hence:
And never to come hither from his Urne,
As Cato to the Scene did not return.
99. MAN’S EPITAPH Who lies here? No man: no man here doth lie:
A liveless Corps doth not a man imply.
100. THE SOUL’S HORIZON. TO HIS FRIEND DOMINUS BENJAMIN HEYDEN, DEAN OF WELLS Th’ high Elements we see not, Fire and Air:
Water and Earth we see, the lower pair:
So we know men and beasts with us below:
But God and th’ Angels (ah) we do not know.
101. THE SOULS ECLIPSE As th’ Earth ’twixt Sun and Moon doth stand we see
In her Eclipse: so sin ’twixt God and me.
102. A MERCHANT Plautus a Tale, “the Merchant” call’d, compil’d:
The next, like it, is “the Deceiver” stil’d.
103. WORHIPPER OF IMAGES Who Grandees honour, Idolize: ’tis clear
Sith woman mans, man doth Gods Image bear. (Since
104. ERASMUS HIS DESIRE Erasmus Desiderius I could
Desire; who sole might write what e’re he would.
105. A NEUTER Pompey and I, if Pompey win the Field:
If Caesar, then to Caesar I will yield.
106. SCANDALIZING GRANDEES. TO THE SERVANT OF SERVANTS The Master saith, “I will my Servant have
To be still faithful: how? My Goods to save.
Stand, watch, go, come: perform the most th’ art able,
Th’ art yet a Servant, but unprofitable.”
107. MARS AND VENUS Venus and Mars themselves alike extend,
Mars common Foe, Venus a common Friend.
108. FEBRUARY Thou sole of many Brothers, not one other,
Hast eight and twenty daies, most like thy mother.
109. TO HIS FRIEND EDWARD JONES Thy modesty thee (vertue like) doth praise,
I to thy wit, with leave, would tropheys raise:
But O thy modest Face, and candid spirit
Cause me to praise thee less than is thy Merit.
110. A CIRCLES SQUARE. TO JOSEPH SCALIGER What is a Circles Square? But this alone,
Th’ Earth parted in four parts, at first but One.
111. WHETHER AN ARITHMETICAL UNIT ANSWERETH TO A GEOMETRICAL POINT. TO SIR JOSIAH BODLEY, KNIGHT God than a Point is more, yet is but One:
Like as a Point doth differ from a Mone.* (Monad* Unity
112. FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB Man’s bon to death most certain, which comes on,
As a lean Ox feeds to be fed upon.
113. TO THE KING O of what Force Example’s in a King?
Actest? Thou bidst: forbearst? Forbidst the thing.
A Prince moves principal; a King doth steer.
As Skyes the Stars, so Kings the People bear.
114. THE HEAD AND BODY. TO THE SAME Reason’s i’ th’ Head, there its five Agents ’bid:
Little’s Divine in the whole Man beside.
115. REPORT OF THE DEATH OF HENRY 4, THE FRENCH KING. TO THE FRENCH KING What Kings to hear, and Servants fear to tell,
Fame sounds i’ th’ Ear, To die remember well.
116. LIGHT AND AIR Air, though a Body, is unseen with th’ Eye:
Light hath no body, yet is seen on high.
117. ONE GOD, MANY FRIENDS Though no man can two Masters serve as slave,
What hinders but two Patrons one may have?
One God forbids not to seek many friends,
As one Faith many Arts not discommends.
118. DONNA, DANNO Adam a Rib lost for the womans sake:
And for her sake he laid his Soul at stake.
119. WOMENS TIRE This is more like an house than cov’ring: this
Is not to deck, t’ erect the Head it is.
120. ALL THINGS NOTHING All things who made of Nothing, He’s sole All:
What God of Nothing made, we Nothing call.
121. THE EAST AND WESTERN CHURCH. TO DOMINUS GEORGE RYVES, MOST LEARNED DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY, MOST PRUDENT MAN The right-true Faith i’ th’ Worlds left Part resounds:
Faith sinister i’ th’ Worlds right Part abounds.
122. ANGER, PATIENCE. TO HIS FRIEND JOHN THORIE Ire minds inflames, and Patience cools that Ire:
As Fire doth temper water, water fire.
123. RUINE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH Th’ Earth lowest is, Heav’n highest is of all:
Yet that hath whither, this no where to fall.
124. TO HENRY HOWARD, EARL OF NORTHAMPTON Ally’d unt’ one, Uncle to two great Counts,
Of great Account, thy Fame thy Name surmounts:
Of man, Noble Dukes sprung from the Stemm,
Ones Brother; Nephew unto three of them;
An Earls son, who (but Fates did not so please)
Had been the fourth Duke in this Series:
An Earl thyself: None wonder at thy Fates,
Whom wit conducts, Fortune concomitates. (Accompanies
125. TO PONTIA I from thy sight, which wounds mine Heart, remove,
Not that I love the not, but that I love.
126. TO POLYCARPUS, A STRAYING HUSBAND Adam in Eden was forbid to taste
One Fruit, the rest were all for his Repast.
I wonder, having so much at command,
That He from One could not withhold his hand.
Thou contrary, art All forbid but One,
That thou may’st use, the rest must let alone.
Less strange than Adam, that thou didst decline,
Whose Liberty was greater far than thine.
127. TO THE READER Salt meats cause thirst: O that my verses might
The Reader cause to thirst with Appetite.
128. TO A MARRIED FRIEND Let not thy Wife command, give if she crave;
Make not thy Wife thy Master, nor thy Slave.
129. TO PONTICUS Thy Life’s a Comick, Death a Tragick Story;
Unlike thy Death will be to thy Life’s Glory.
130. OF A CERTAIN MARRIED PRIEST A Levite born, a Levite made, thy Wife
Of Levi’s Tribe, Levitical’s thy Life.
131. OF ANABAPTISTS AND THEIR BROTHERS OF THIS STRIPE You pull down All Things, No Thing you rebuild,
Are you with Zeal, or fiery fury fill’d?
The Spirit, you pretend, doth you compell;
What Spirit is’t? Abaddon,* One from Hell.*Apoc. 9 v. 11. A bad one.
132. OF COTTA God out of Nothing All things did Create,
Thou Chymist All things dost Annihilate.
133. THOMAS EGERTON, CHANCELLOUR OF ENGLAND, AND FRANCIS LEIGH, HIS SON-IN-LAW If any Vertue loves, and Honours Arts,
That Father, and this Son, act both these parts:
Brave Egerton, Brave Leigh the Muses love,
The Son would not unlike the Father prove.
134. CONSUBSTANTIATION. TO THE SAME SIR FRANCIS LEIGH AND LADY MARY HIS WIFE, RIGHT LOVING CONSORTS You have not both one Soul, but both one Mind,
Nor both one Body, but one flesh conjoyn’d:
Man, Wife, in name are two, but one in Troth,
They diff’rent are in Sex, but humane both.
135. FUNERAL SERMONS Good men are wrong’d while living, prais’d when dead;
O black Life, O Death candid-honoured.
136. PAULS CROSS AND THE CROSS IN CHEAP* Why’s Peter’s Golden, Paul’s a Leaden Cross?
Why, because Golden words Paul’s Cross ingrost. (Are written on* In the Parish of St. Peter.
137. LOVES CHRONICLE A Moment multipli’d amounts t’ an Hour,
A Day’s made up with Hours twenty four:
Days many make a Month, twelve Months a year:
So, with more Times, my Love doth more appear.
138. TWINS Nothing’s unlike in us, all’s like; sole we
Differ in number, we two Bodies be.
FRIENDS We scarce in number differ: Two we be,
Yet One: You Twins in Body, In Mind we.
139. OF THE ART OF LOVE. TO HIS FRIEND J. O. B. Though Naso’s Art of Love some prove-approve,
Yet men unexpert know not what is Love:
Love is by Nature taught, not learn’d by Art,
By th’ Eyes, not Ears, Love enters int’ our Heart.
140. SENECA THE PHILOSOPHER Thy Dictates seem like Epigrams almost,
But that in Numbers they be not ingrost (They are not written in meters
141. TO SIR HENRY NEVILLE, SON AND HEIR OF THE LORD OF ABERGEVENNY You saidst once at thy Table (as I take it,)
Thou didst not relish Salt, but didst forsake it;
For Salt thou needst not care, nor is’t a fault,
All, almost, that thy Tongue doth speak, is Salt.
142. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY’S LIFE. TO HIS BROTHER SIR ROBERT SIDNEY, VISCOUNT LISLE Who while they liv’d writ Books deserving Fame,
Their Lives need not be writ, there lives their Name:
The Corps, not Life of Sidney’s in the Tomb,
His short Lifes longer Glory keeps more room.
143. THE BODIES VALEDICTION TO THE SOUL
The Body I for thy sake did Mother Earth forsake.
The Soul Fool, I left God my Father, to betake
My self to Thee: Now call’d, I t’ him return,
And leave thee to thy Mother in thine Urn.
Till when (For we till then shall meet no more)
Th’ Earth Thee to Me, God Me to Thee restore.
144. A KINGDOM DIVIDED. TO DOMINUS GEORGE RYVES, MOST LEARNED DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY AND MOST PRUDENT MAN Two Kingdoms undivided are, Heaven, Hell,
As in themselves: There Good, here Bad do dwell.
On Earth alone (oh shame) Division raigns,
Which Good and Bad promiscuously sustains.
But time will come when th’ Earth shall lie divast, (Devastated
When Heav’n and Hell shall both be fill’d at last.
145. HOT WATERS Tears prest-exprest do tacite Love declare,
Love Tears begets, Fire Water: Strange and Rare.
146. OF WIT AND MEMORY. TO PONTICUS ’Tis ask’d, Why wit is called sharpness? Why?
Because what’s sharp doth pierce most inwardly:
The Memory is to retain, not pierce.
Thus Vessels are made round, and with reverse.
Whence I suspect that or thy Wit is round,
Or sharp thy Memory: Both unprofound.
147. COMFORT FOR THE POOR. TO THE RICH Inconstant Fortune various appears:
Whence Hopes arise to Me, to Thee but Fears.
148. OF TITIUS AND GELLIA Once in disgrace did Titius upbraid
That’s Wife, when first he took her, was no Maid.|
“What’s that to Me,” thus Titius replied,
“She then was Semprones Daughter, not my Bride.”
149. THE HEART Why in the left side rather than the right
Is Mans Heart plac’d? To Good ’cause opposite.
150. THE FLESH AND SPIRIT. OT HIS FRIEND DOMINUS ROBERT NEWMAN, DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY God made mans Body first, and when created,
He with a living Soul it animated.
Hence the dull Body doth, I think, deny
T’ obey the Soul; pleads Seniority.
151. THE INNOCENTS, PROTO-MARTYRS For Christ the Children suff’red death, before
Christ fro the Children shed his precious Gore.
152. TO HIS FRIEND JOHN HOSKINS, A LAWYER The Dual number oft doth Friendship bound:
Scarce in the Plural Number Love is found.
153. TO A FRIEND GROWING OLD, 1607 Thou wert a youth, when I a child: And now
Thou art grown old, while I a youth do grow:
Thee therefore Death expects, and Old Age Me;
Certain’s thy lot, though mine uncertain be.
154. OF A . G. Thy Name and Face is Man’s Wit, Animals,
A Fool in Spirit, learn’d in Generals.
155. HARMONY. TO DIVINES Of Gospels Harmony have divers write:
But who that Harmony? Great Labour’s it.
156. DISSONANCY So great discordance doth abound with Men,
That what Souls Peace is, scarce knows One of Ten;
Here’s Base, depress’d, Th’ Soprano too much rear’d,
That scarce the Tenor, or the Alt is heard.
157. TO PONTILIANUS Art jealous if thy Wife? Th’ art wise in part:
But art not jealous? Then thou wiser art.
To watch thy Wife is vain: That wife loves best
That though can, will not raise her husbands Crest.
158. TO PORCIA Art thou the daughter of the Night, or Light,
Born in the Day, begotten in the Night?
159. AN EPITOME TO THE HISTORIES OF HIS TIME. TO MARIANUS We worse are than our Fathers, worser they
Than their Fore-fathers, apt to run astray:
If our Posterity prove worse than we,
Nothing can worse than our Poster’ty be.
160. LONDON. TO HIS KINSMAN MASTER JOHN WILLIAMS, A LONDON GOLDSMITH As Thames the Rivulets drinks up and drowns,
So London swalloweth the poorer Towns:
Though Thames with Flux, re-flux, Send and resend,
Its Floods to Sea, Th’ art still a constant Friend.
161. DEBTOR AND CREDITOR. TO HIS FRIEND MASTER WILLIAM CAWLEY, A LONDON MERCHANT Though in my Book thou find, if there thou look,
Thy Name, My Name yet is not in thy Book:
I owe thee nought but Love: Of this to thee
A Creditor and Debtor still will be.
162. FOOLS AND DWARFS Thou we be not accounted men of might,
Yet are we great mens sport, and their delight.
163. TO PONTILIANUS Poor Irus still was careful, why? ’Cause poor.
Croesus was careful, why? For’s wealth was more.
One’s vex’d, because he wants a Wife, and thou,
Because thou hast a wife, are vexed now.
164. UNION. TO MARRIED BRITAINS One God and Union the World supplys.
Wedlock on Earth was the first Unity.
165. THE ELEMENTS WAR Though God created all things for mans sake,
Yet th’ Elements against us Wars do make:
How many have (alas!) been swept from hence
With the contagious Air, by Pestilence!
How near hath London felt the Trojan Flames!
How many have been drench’d and drown’d in Thames!
Earth stops her Fruits: Yet no man doth repent;
Though Heav’n with Tears, and Earth our sins lament:
Though th’ Earth be mollifi’d with moistning showers,
Yet sin our stubborn hearts more-more obdures.
166. AN EPITHALAMY. TO TULLIA By day, Thou, the sole Object of my Sight,
Shalt be the Subject of my Love at Night.
167. TO SEXTUS, AN ACADEMIAN That thou mayst mind thy Grave before th’ art dead,
’Tis said, by day thou mak’st for Night thy Bed.
That in Remembrance thou thy Death mayst keep,
Why dost not oftner go to Bed and Sleep?
168. TO HIS BELOVED Thee known I love, I lov’d thee when unknown,
Fame then, thy Face hath made me now thine own:
I now know Love; I love, not lov’d: Yea, now
I know not to be lov’d, to love I know.
169. THE YOUNGER BROTHER I’m poor: My Parents Fault (not mine, nor other,)
Who did not me beget before my Brother.
170. THE FIRMAMENT. TO HIS FRIEND DOMINUS MICHAEL HEYDEN Th’ Earth stands unmov’d, standing here moves the Creature:
Heav’n moves, yet the fix’d Stars move not by Nature.
171. THE BLESSED VIRGIN Although the blessed Virgin we thee call,
Thou among women blessed art withal:
I profit nothing by thy Virgin vest,
But as a Mother, Me Thou profitest.
172. HOPE AND FAITH Faith is no Faith, unless but One, firm fixt:
Nor Hope is Hope, if not with doubts commixt.
173. NOVELTY. NEW FACTIONS AND FASHIONS. TO HIS FRIEND DOMINUS WILLIAM PRYTHERICK, DOCTOR OF CIVIL LAW AND CLERGYMAN Reviv’d are many things which heretofore
Fell, and shall fall, though now they flourish more.
New things now please, but will not still, because
What’s now new will wax old, and full of Flaws.
174. MARCUS, HIS LOOKING-GLASS Why is thy Fool before the still? (All-Ass.)
Thou view’st thy self in him, as in a Glass.
175. TO ONE UXORIOUS The Field’s not always plough’d: Thy Wife’s a Field,
Yet she loves dayly to be duly till’d.
176. TO HIS FRIEND I. O. B. Four years and more, praeter-plu-perfect past,|
First sprung thy love, and then was rooted fast:
In vain thou now dost seek it to remove,
No new young Plant, an old grown Tree’s thy Love.
177. TO PORPHYRIUS We read that Christ wept twice, not laugh’d at all:
Why dost mans Nature Risible then call?
178. TO PONTILIANUS As a Blind Man, by Boy or Woman led,
Ways t’ him unseen-unknown doth often tread:
So Venus or her Boy, thee blind in Love,
Hither and Thither lead, move and remove.
179. LOVE IS BEYOND ALL EXCEPTION. TO A CERTAIN FRIEND Though some new cause old Love may (chance) suspend,
I, by the Laws of Friendships, am thy Friend:
My Love’s beyond Exception unto thee,
Except thou lov’st not, as thou shouldst love me.
180. OF PONTICUS, AGED SIXTY YEARS In all thy Life thou good hast done to none:
When wilt thou now begin? Thou sayst “Upon
My death, I all will to the poor bequeath”:
Too late he’s wise, that is not wise till death.
181. OF NIGELLA, CANDIDATED Rare Bird on Earth thou art, and Swan-like white,
White are thy Cloaths, thy Skin as black as night.
182. LE CARNEVAL DE LA VIE Why doth the Soul abhor the Bodies death?
Fears that to die, when this hath lost its Breath?
Or doth it fear that after death remains
Unt’ it short Judgement, but long lasting pains?
I doubt this doth the Soul in death dismay, (I think
That to the Flesh it cannot farewel say.
183. QUINTINA’S PRAISE Should I thee praise, thou then would’st prouder be:
I praise thee not: Th’ art proud enough I see.
184. EARTH’S SON Heaven looks on us, and we must look on Heaven,
For Stars in Skies, God Eyes to thee hath given:
Thou scarce the thousandth part of Earth canst see:
Half Heaven yet is visible to thee.
Fool, why dost Earth prefer unt’ Heaven rather,
But as some love their Mother more than Father?
185. THE LOWEST SPECIES Though Mankind is the chief, yet him we call,
We account the lowest Species of all:
Heav’n hath but few: More men in Hell do lie.
Who mens unhappiness can then deny?
186. OF ENVY. A PARADOX If Vertue did, Envy would less abound:
For where’s more Vertue, there less Vice is found.
187. JAMES, OF THAT NAME THE SIXTH KING OF SCOTLAND, THE FIRST TO ENGLAND. A GOOD OMEN FOR BRITAIN What hath been often wish’d, scarce hop’d for, came
’Twixt Hope and Fear unto thy royal Name:
King James, the first, the sixth of Regal Line,
Sice Ace, the best chance of the Dice was thine.
188. ONE HEART, ONE WAY. TO JAMES THE FIRST, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, &c. Thine Hand for Crowns, four Scepters doth command,
Four Languages are spoken in thy Land;
The Britains Language though not one, their Heart
Is One, of thy three Kingdoms being part.
At first the Devil did mens hearts divide:
But God their Languages, and all for Pride.
189. KINGS AND PROPHETS Out of his Countrey, no King rules in chief,
No Prophet in his Countrey gains Belief.
190. VERTUE. TO HENRY DANVERS, BARON DAUNTSEY A double Genius (while transitory)
Attends on Vertue, Good, Bad; Envy, Glory.
191. ENVY Envy corrodes men praises (like a Slave),
As Worms corrode their Bodies in the Grave.
192. OF BATTUS Thy many Queries I in brief respond,
Not ’cause so many, but ’cause foolish, fond.
193. SLEEP, DEATH Though in my sleep I seem as dead in sort,
Yet no part of my Life’s the sweeter for’t:
’Tis strange what should in Death so bitter be.
Sith Sleep, Deaths Image, is so sweet to me. (Since
194. THE TRIUMVIRS Clients unto the Lawyer go, because
Wealth, their chief Good’s secured by the Laws:
In Sickness the Physician comes; next Wealth,
The second thing to be secur’d, is Health:
Divines, who first to have been sent for ought,
Come last unto the sick unsent-unsought.
195. LOVERS PATIENCE Lover, wouldst have thy wish? Be patient:
He that will live in Peace, must be content.
196. OF A CERTAIN GRAMMATICASTER Thou Letters knowst, a good Grammarian:
And nothing knowst but them; A learned man.
197. TO A POMPOUS DAME Be like Men’laus or Ulysses Wife,
If thou wouldst famous live beyond thy Life:
For Vice, not only Vertue doth survive:
Helen’s, Penelope’s Names are yet alive.
198. OF AULUS, A GRANDEE Truth-telling Fools speak things to be conceald,
But wise men see what’s fit to be reveal’d:
Aulus to trust his Servants wits afraid,
Keeps fools still about him, for their Aid.
199. GOLD FROM DUNG. TO HIS FRIEND, DOMINUS DU. TR., PHYSICIAN Virgil from Ennius Dung did Gold extract:
What Virgils was, is now Physicians act.
200. LOVES SECRET A Lover’s seldom lov’d: Be loveless. If
Thou wilt not be belov’d, love then in chief.
201. MON TOUT. TO MARCIA Oft thou me call’st all thine: That I deny,
All thine I am not; But thine, all am I.
202. OF QUINTUS AND ORUS Quintus and Orus have of late declar’d
Themselves Papistical: On what regard?
That for their Faiths Antiquity: And this
For Novelty thereof a Papist is.
203. ARIADNE’S THREAD As Theseus by Ariadne’s Thread
Was Led, so Men, One Faith to Truth doth lead.
204. OF WILLS AND VOWS. TO DOMINUS HENRY MARTIN, RIGHT PRUDENT DOCTOR OF CIVIL LAW In Testaments or Wills the Last must stand:
In Vows, if good the first hath chief command.
When God created all things with one vote,
Two Wills or Testaments he made, he wrote.
205. TO A COVETOUS FRIEND The Covetous hath all himself, not giving:
He nothing hath Himself, but wants while living.
206. TO PONTICUS, A LAWYER Part of thy Life thou to thy wife doth give,
Part to thy Client: When to th’ self wilt live?
207. OF PREACHERS AND PLAYERS Preachers and Players check our crimes: With Tears
The Preachers, and the Players with their Jeers:
To that I wretched, foolish seem to this.
This numbers, and that ponders mine amiss.
208. CHRISTMASSE AND MIDSOMMER John in the Summer, Christ in Winter came:
That did Baptize with Water; This with Flame:
Well did those Contraries* Flood, Flames convene:
Our Sins Fire purgeth, Water washeth clean.* The two Baptisms of Christ and John.
209. NO MAN IS HURT BUT FROM HIMSELF None’s free from Crimes, nor Discords: For most times
Our Discords are procur’d by our own Crimes.
210. UPON A BAWLING ASS I do not call thee Momus, ev’ry Ass,
But that which the false Prophet Balaams was.
Nor that which into Salem Christ did carry,
For this was mild and mute, but that contrary.
211. OF HIS HEIR. TO THE LAWYERS None of his wife, but Adam, was secure,
And none but Eve was of her husband sure:
In Wedlock the poor husbands sole defense,
And comfort is, in ’s Wife t’ have confidence.
212. AN HOLLOW TOOTH The Fire, Me cast therein doth not consume,
But I am hollow made by Watrish Rheume.
213. VERTUES PRAISE. TO SIR THOMAS PUCKERING, A YOUTH OF GREATEST HOPE As the Suns constancy consists in Motion,
So Vertue’s force in Action hath best Notion.
214. AESOP’S TONGUE No Member is, that doth to man belong
More Noble, or Ignoble, than the Tongue.
215. TO THE CHILDREN OF WYKEHAM’S WINCHESTER COLLEDGE I am not what I was, once all for Plays;
A child of Festivals and Holy-days.
216. WISDOME LEADING, FORTUNE FOLLOWING. OF ANCUS If Ill advice chance well in vulgar Eyes,
Ancus the Fool, shall be reputed wise:
If good advice come by mischance to nought,
Wise Cato shall himself a Fool be thought.
217. GRIEF Loss present’s to be griev’d, for We bemoan
Past, ah, too late, and future loss too soon.
218. VICISSITUDE Mirth, Mourning ends, and Mourning Mirth concludes,
Hope, Fear, w’ are various by Vicissitudes.
219. TO GERMANICUS Thy Wife hath rais’d the Number of thy Friends,
This her fertility in part commends:
This Benefit in Wedlock doth accrew,
A new Wife gains new Friends, and Friendship new.
220. ARMED WICKEDNESS. OF LINUS As the best Wine makes Vinegar most tart,
So the more witty, thou more wicked art.
221. OPINIONS How, ah, Opinion reigns the World throughout:
The Truth I know not, yet I must not doubt.
Who doubteth errs not: Yet for both prepar’d:
Error b’ Opinion, not by doubt’s declar’d.
222. FAIR MOTHER OXFORD UNIVERSITY Nature was Mother of my Brain, Thou Now:
She dura Mater, pia Mater Thou.
223. THE POET Rewards, not words Maecenas Poets gave.
THE GRANDEE What more than words can I from Poets have?
224. MAN IS TO MAN A GOD A Man’s a Man, though he but sparing lives:
A Wolf that spoils, a God who freely gives.
225. HOMER If that be true, which some of thee do write,
Thou never sawst, thy Books yet see the Light.
226. THREE GHOSTLY FATHRS Thou must to th’ Lawyer thy whole case untwist,
To th’ Doctor thy Disease, thy Sins to th’ Priest.
If thou respect’st thy Soul’s and Body’s weal,
Nothing from this Triumvirate conceal.
227. TO D. G. C. The Gout thee vexeth, and a pest contrary:
Thy Wife makes thee to run, the Gout to tarry.
228. UBIQUITARIES All th’ Earth’s before the poor, where e’re he roam
He’s never exil’d, ever is at home.
229. LOVERS Love is in us, as in the Wood is Fire;
As Fire the Wood, Love burns us with desire:
But Fire in Air, Wood t’ Ashes doth consume:
We ashes are; And what’s our Love but fume?
230. SPEECH A Speech is like to Grief, is like to sport:
If long, ’tis trivial, if grave, ’tis short.
231. ON AN EFFEMINATE OLD MAN Bacchus old age, Venus doth yuth ingage,
This therefore fit for youth, and that for age.
232. ON HARPALUS, A COVETOUS YOUTH The World thy Friendless is, wretch thou t’ adore it.
That’s old, thou youthful, ’tis enough t’ abhorr it.
233. TO THE READER Who writes, is fam’d of these, is blam’d of those;
Himself to censure still he doth expose:
He daily pleads his cause, desisteth Never,
And, Reader, unto Thee, the Judge is ever.
234. OF A LOOKING-GLASS, GIVEN A LOVER BY HIS BETROTHED Thou gav’st m’ a Glass my Face to represent:
One to present thy Face would more content.
235. OF QUINTIA, AN HYPOCRITE Learn’d, Comely, youthful, fair, Benign and Chast:
Thou, if not proud of these, some Goodness hast.
236. A PROBLEME The Prodigal the Miser doth detest.
Why then do Misers Prodigals love best?
237. SLEEP, VENUS Shall I call you Death’s Sisters, or Allies,
Thou pleasing Venus, Thou Sleep, easing Eyes?
You both indulge your Selves on Beds to lie:
And Beds are made your Pleasures to supply.
Dull Sleep, lewd Venus hate the light: And this
Is the Souls Death, the Senses death that is.
238. PASSE-TIME To slothful men the Day, Night, Month and Year
Seem long, though posting on with swift career.
We trifle out our long-thought time in vain,
Why of Life’s shortness do we then complain?
239. THE TREASURY Birds are with Bird-lime caught, both young and old:
So Treasuries like Lime-twigs catch our Gold.
240. THE SELF-LOVING PONTICUS Thy mind and Eye, themselves did never see.
That thou so lov’st thy self, how can it be?
241. SCRUTINY O, that what Christ un’t his Disciples spake,
Prince, Priest and people would their Query make;
What do men say of me?* This askd, in th’ end
Men would their Errors see, and them amend.* Luke cap. 9 v. 18.
242. LIGHT OF GRACE. TO HIS FRIEND, DOMINUS JOHN TOVEY The Moon enlight’ned by the Sun doth shine.
So shines the Soul inspir’d with Grace divine.
243. FAME, ERROR Rumours and Errors further going, grow
Greater and greater like a Ball of Snow.
244. HISTORICAL TRADITION OF KING BRUTUS. TO WILLIAM CAMDEN Books may be burn’d, and Monuments may lie
Demolished, thy works and mine may die:
But a Tradition National, alive,
While is that Nation, will in force survive.
245. TO ROGER OWEN, A LEARNED KNIGHT Thou knowst the Britains Laws, their old, new Rites,
And all that their whole History recites:
In thy Discourse, Th’ art so profoundly read,
A living Library seems in thine Head.
246. ON A COVETOUS MAN Thou wretched man, why for a thousand year
Provid’st, and canst not live one hundred here?
Why such vast sums of Moneys up dost heap,
And seek’st long Joys in this short life to reap?
Thou sayst, “I one day shall be rich, if I
Live close?” Why sayst not, “I shall die one day.”
247. ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE We live upon Deaths shore, our life’s as near
To death, as Seas unto the Shores appear:
Life, Death, are almost one thing in repute,
As Earth and Water one Globe constitute.
248. BRITAINS MERCURY Of mundane things, Moore wrote the best, and good:
Thou writ’st the worst, but Truth, if understood.
249. OF HIMSELF Some say I am no Poet, ’tis no lye:
For I write nothing else than verity.
250. TO WILLIAM BUTLER, PHYSICIAN AT CAMBRIDGE Some to desired Health preferr their Wealth;
Thou sleightest Wealth, thy care’s for cure, for Health.
Of Health, that’s sick: Physick, as Phoebus Heir,
Thou giv’st: I flatter not, the truth I speak;
Nor comes this Praise from one that’s Sick, or weak.
251. ILL HUSBANDRIE. TO PAULUS, A LAWYER Why calls the common Law a Relect her
Whose husband’s dead? To th’ wedded that referr:
No need, a Wife her husband death expect,
To lodge in mournful Bed with Face erect.
252. THE LAST DIVORCE If man to Bliss, to Dis wife pass away,
Or contrary, no more one flesh are they.
253. THE WORLD The Earth is like a Gaol, like Walls the Skies,
The Gaoler’s Sin, the Fetters Womens Eyes.
254. LAWS NULLITY We many Laws have made, almost not any:
For if not any kept, what good’s so many?
That Laws be kept, this one Law more ordain
Which if soon marr’d will soon be made again.
255. THE STATE OF MAN If one Foot down, Then th’ other is above:
Thus one mans Fall, anothers Rise doth prove.
256. TO A CERTAIN MAN Doctor beginning, O begin to be
No Ductior: more learn’d for thy degree.
257. BESIDE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. TO SIR JOHN HARINGTON, A MOST WELL-READ KNIGHT Read through the sacred writ, though they surmount,
Woman and Children pass not in account:*
Women and Children are not Officers,
Nor are they trained up, or arm’d for wars:
Women and Children for their Garments have
Long Coats, they beardless are, and never shave:
Women and Children will Tears quickly shed,
And are by Flatterers soon led-misled.
O with what Arts do you man-kind destroy,
Thou woman Venus, Cupid thou, her Boy?* Mat. 14.21.
258. A NOSE OF WAX Do sacred Scriptures promise good unt’ us?
Our Faith believes it, soon is credulous.
Do they require our duty? Then, O then
’Tis durus sermo, difficult for men. (A harsh statement
259. HEAVENS LADDER*
Y
H
T
I
A
FThree Vertues, as by steps, ascend int’ Heaven,
Good Hope by four, by five Faith, Love by seven.
Hope to the Moon, Faith doth th’ Sun aspire,
But Charity to th’ highest Heav’n, and higher.* 1 Cor.l 3.8.13
260. OF BATTUS Thy Tongue thine Heart interprets. let thine Heart
Be silent, e’re thy Tongue thy Mind impart.
Th’ interpreter must silent stand, as long
As the Embassadour doth use his tongue.
261. THE PRAISE OF THE ASS. BE YE NOT LIKE AN HORSE OR MULE WHICH HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING With Horse and Mule, why was not th’ Ass brought on?
Because he was to carry David’s Son.
262. A PAIR OF IMPAIR COURTIERS (Unlike They well agree not, nor keep equal ways,
This all things praiseth, that doth nothing praise.
263. FOUR CAUSES OF MAN. TO A RIGHT NOBLE YOUTH OF GREATEST HOPE, SIR RICHARD SACKVILLE, GRANDSON OF THE EARL OF DORSET BY HIS FATHER What is Mans form, but a bad mind, vain will?
What Principle Material? But Nil.
Suspect not matter with the form, respect
Th’ Efficient and End: On these reflect.
264. THE LAST LINE Sad Death is of a merry Life last Act;
A serious LIfe doth Joys in Death attract.
265. UPON THE DEATH OF RICHARD VAUGHAN, BISHOP OF LONDON, 1607 I who thee living did most justly praise,
Well knowing that thy worth deserv’d the Bays,
Ah, thee now dead, why praise I not more full?
Joys did my wit make brisk, Grief makes it dull.
While with more Tears, than Verse, I sound thy knell,
My Tears confound my Verse, my words: farewel.
266. OF LIFE AND DEATH One way to Life, to Dath a thousand’s had;
’Tis well Death is a good thing, LIfe a bad.
267. OF DECREPIT PAUL, A BUILDER Thou build’st an House, wherin to die, not dwell:
Whether thine House, or Tomb, thou canst not tell.
268. OF SEXTUS, A PRODIGAL ROBBER We thee confess Munificent, who thine
Not only giv’st, but tak’st from me, what’s mine.
269. ON ZOILUS Thou spar’st the Dead, the Living dost envy:
I will not therefore wish my self to die.
270. A PAIR ROYAL OF FRIENDS. TO THE ENGLISH-SCOTS / SCOTS-WELSH / WELSH-ENGLISH BRITAINS In friendship this doth seem a royal pair,
When three between, one love commands the Chair:
To make a pair in Love, if there be three,
Each of the three must then twice numbered be.
271. A KINGDOM DIVIDED This world hath nothing pertinent: And this
World cannot stand, because divided ’tis.
272. THE RING OF CONCORD. TO THE BRITAINS, 1607 Scotland the Jewel brings, to make the Ring,
England the Gold, the Goldsmith is the King:
Speed Europes Peace, lest else the Ring-like year,
Before the Ring be finish’d, disappear.
273. BRITAIN As thou wert i’ the Beginning, now as then,
So, O so be, World without End: Amen.
274. STEGANOGRAPHY. TO THE CURIOUS READER Why, that my Verses are obscure, dost say,
Not well to b’ understood without a Key?
An Epigrammaticist must not dilate:
’Tis therefore fit he should abbreviate.
275. ONE GOD One Adam was the Father of all Men:
Nor can there be more Gods than Fathers then.
276. TO THE LADY ARABELLA STUART If in bare words were honour, I could raise,
Could write a thousand Verses in thy Praise:
My Muse may by thy worth ennobled be,
But my poor Muse can nothing add to thee.
Go to Book V
