A Select Second Hvsband for Sir Thomas Overbvries Wife Now a Matchlesse Widow [by John Davies] |
 |
|
| SPECVLVM PRODITORI. |
 | A Select Second Hvsband for Sir Thomas Overbvries Wife |  |
SPECVLVM PRODITORI.
This takes the vulgar Eare
That loues the plaine and cleare!
But, neither mine, nor those
That hugge proude Verse in Prose.
That loues the plaine and cleare!
But, neither mine, nor those
That hugge proude Verse in Prose.
Kings
, Gods on Earth, so call'd by Him of Heau'n,
How dismall is your Deities estate!
Who while you life do giue, are life bereau'n;
And oft, for too much loue, get too much hate:
Whose surest Forecasts, stand on sixe and seauen;
Which, with you (Soueraignes) subiect are to Fate.
What Diu'lls can enuie, then, such Deities,
Whose Heau'ns are hells, of short-sweet-miseries?
How dismall is your Deities estate!
Who while you life do giue, are life bereau'n;
And oft, for too much loue, get too much hate:
Whose surest Forecasts, stand on sixe and seauen;
Which, with you (Soueraignes) subiect are to Fate.
What Diu'lls can enuie, then, such Deities,
Whose Heau'ns are hells, of short-sweet-miseries?
Toyle ye to shield their liues, that shoot at yours;
And make your selues, of Soueraigns, sou'rain slaues?
Spēding your Brains, & strengths, & precious howrs
As if your selues dig'd, for your selues, your graues
For, th' hollow subiect (graue-like) you deuoures;
Whom ye make hollow, oft with welfare's waues.
For, if ye fill Ambition, Spight, or Feare,
Ye fill the Sailes wil quite you ouer-beare.
And make your selues, of Soueraigns, sou'rain slaues?
As if your selues dig'd, for your selues, your graues
For, th' hollow subiect (graue-like) you deuoures;
Whom ye make hollow, oft with welfare's waues.
For, if ye fill Ambition, Spight, or Feare,
Ye fill the Sailes wil quite you ouer-beare.
Men-beasts, borne subiect, yet can neuer beare
Your births allotment! What? O what is it
That makes yee, like vile timber-wormes to weare
The Poasts sustaining you? What grace, or Wit,
Appears in facts, where your owne fals appeare?
Will ye needs rise, to fall? not (sure) still sit?
If needs ye will, foule be your fairest fall;
Sith ye would rise, by ouerthrowing All.
Your births allotment! What? O what is it
That makes yee, like vile timber-wormes to weare
The Poasts sustaining you? What grace, or Wit,
Appears in facts, where your owne fals appeare?
Will ye needs rise, to fall? not (sure) still sit?
If needs ye will, foule be your fairest fall;
Sith ye would rise, by ouerthrowing All.
Cannot the ten times worse then ill successe
Of gracelesse Gowries worse, farre worse assay,
With heaps of horrors so your thoughts oppresse,
That these should freez your souls wt cold dismay.
Dāger & Death (ye heard) could not distress
Our heau'n holp King; who throgh both made his way.
For, kings are Gods, who with a frowne can make
The Arme of flesh, for feare, all force forsake.
Of gracelesse Gowries worse, farre worse assay,
With heaps of horrors so your thoughts oppresse,
That these should freez your souls wt cold dismay.
Our heau'n holp King; who throgh both made his way.
For, kings are Gods, who with a frowne can make
The Arme of flesh, for feare, all force forsake.
Or know you not a crowne is of such weight,
That no disloyall hand can it transferre,
But crusht it is to nothing with it straight?
Cannot this thought your hands from this deterre?
On Treason doth an hell of horrors waite;
Which, in it selfe, against it selfe doth warre.
Then, that which in it selfe is at this stay,
Must fall (else Truth doth lie) and soone decay.
That no disloyall hand can it transferre,
But crusht it is to nothing with it straight?
Cannot this thought your hands from this deterre?
On Treason doth an hell of horrors waite;
Which, in it selfe, against it selfe doth warre.
Then, that which in it selfe is at this stay,
Must fall (else Truth doth lie) and soone decay.
Conspirators haue nought but pale mistrust,
Sad thoughts and terrors euer them attending:
But, Princes, on their sides, haue subiects iust,
Their Guards, their Maiesties, their Lawes defending
(What hart dare, maugre al these, be vniust)
All these their powrs against the traitor bending:
Then how can Traitors be so ouer-bold,
When such great fears their harts do vnderhold?
Sad thoughts and terrors euer them attending:
But, Princes, on their sides, haue subiects iust,
Their Guards, their Maiesties, their Lawes defending
(What hart dare, maugre al these, be vniust)
All these their powrs against the traitor bending:
When such great fears their harts do vnderhold?
Their tyred wits (though beaten night and day)
Can make no shift a traitorous life to saue:
The gultie conscience doth it selfe bewray;
And thoughts turmoild, no staid aduisement haue:
Feare strikes them so, that (tost) they canot stay,
But iudgement makes vncertaine as a waue:
The flowing streames of honied Eloquence
Can nere sustaine the weight of great offence.
Can make no shift a traitorous life to saue:
The gultie conscience doth it selfe bewray;
And thoughts turmoild, no staid aduisement haue:
Feare strikes them so, that (tost) they canot stay,
But iudgement makes vncertaine as a waue:
The flowing streames of honied Eloquence
Can nere sustaine the weight of great offence.
Pure Innocents with vndefiled tongue,
By instinct of Nature, haue perswasiue powre:
But guilty ones, defilde with bloud and wrong,
Their faltring tongues, are euer most vnsure;
So full of Discords is Rebellions Song,
That it no eare in tune can ought allure:
Though Art aid Falshood, with her powrs, yet shal
Truth, naked, trip them; so they needs must fall.
By instinct of Nature, haue perswasiue powre:
But guilty ones, defilde with bloud and wrong,
Their faltring tongues, are euer most vnsure;
So full of Discords is Rebellions Song,
That it no eare in tune can ought allure:
Though Art aid Falshood, with her powrs, yet shal
Truth, naked, trip them; so they needs must fall.
The bended brow of Iustice, sore dismayes
The guiltie, though their wits in glory shine;
And fickle Feare their iudgement still betrayes,
Presenting strange Chimæras to their eyne;
Which so the soule with horror ouer-layes
And Reasons right discourse so wrests in fine,
That all that from the Minde or Mouth proceeds
Within it selfe, then, disagree must needs.
The guiltie, though their wits in glory shine;
And fickle Feare their iudgement still betrayes,
Presenting strange Chimæras to their eyne;
Which so the soule with horror ouer-layes
And Reasons right discourse so wrests in fine,
That all that from the Minde or Mouth proceeds
Within it selfe, then, disagree must needs.
The passions of annoy more strongly worke
Within the mind then those from ioy proceeding:
Now, if sweet Ioys, in merry minds that lurke,
Do hinder Reason, strange distraction breeding,
Much more will feare of pains, all paines exceeding
Reason must then, of force, forsake the Helme,
When waues of woe the bodies barke orewhelme.
Within the mind then those from ioy proceeding:
Now, if sweet Ioys, in merry minds that lurke,
Do hinder Reason, strange distraction breeding,
Much more will feare of pains, all paines exceeding
Reason must then, of force, forsake the Helme,
When waues of woe the bodies barke orewhelme.
Who enter Treasons maze, are like the men
That runne too desperately into the Sea;
If they escape, it wil be iudged then
That they were fortunate the wracke to flee,
And out of Dangers mouth to come agen:
But if they perish, then it said will be,
They cast themselues in, to be cast away,
By desp'rate fore-cast, cause of their decay.
That runne too desperately into the Sea;
That they were fortunate the wracke to flee,
And out of Dangers mouth to come agen:
But if they perish, then it said will be,
They cast themselues in, to be cast away,
By desp'rate fore-cast, cause of their decay.
For, as an Arrow glanceth on a stone
For want of softnesse in the stone to stay it:
So treason lightly will be ouerthrowne,
Though for fit time, Wit willeth to delay it,
And keepe the same the while from all vnknown,
That likely God nor man can well bewray it;
Yet out it will, and like an Arrow glance
Vpon the foyling Flint, or hard mischance.
For want of softnesse in the stone to stay it:
So treason lightly will be ouerthrowne,
Though for fit time, Wit willeth to delay it,
And keepe the same the while from all vnknown,
That likely God nor man can well bewray it;
Yet out it will, and like an Arrow glance
Vpon the foyling Flint, or hard mischance.
A blessed death, a cursed life excuseth;
(For, no man's truly blest before his end)
So, a curst death, a blessed life accuseth:
But, when that life and death, to death doth tend,
It seems the soule, life wilfully refuseth;
For, she in life, and death, doth but offend:
From such a life and death, grace keeps all those
That to Prides Naturals are mortal foes.
(For, no man's truly blest before his end)
So, a curst death, a blessed life accuseth:
But, when that life and death, to death doth tend,
For, she in life, and death, doth but offend:
From such a life and death, grace keeps all those
That to Prides Naturals are mortal foes.
The more that Empire doth enlarge her bounds,
The more is Fortunes empire ouer it;
Who scorns to thrust at slaues, but kings she woūds
And on their Seats doth oft make slaues to sit:
And sitting there, in sport, she them confounds;
So, bandies kings, and slaues, as she thinks fit:
But, slaues are racket, kings are her hand-bals;
Which being greater, haue the harder fals.
The more is Fortunes empire ouer it;
Who scorns to thrust at slaues, but kings she woūds
And on their Seats doth oft make slaues to sit:
And sitting there, in sport, she them confounds;
So, bandies kings, and slaues, as she thinks fit:
But, slaues are racket, kings are her hand-bals;
Which being greater, haue the harder fals.
These seldom meet with siluer-hairs, though care
Doth (for that tincture) Time anticipate;
The Liege that lies on beds, that sumptuous are,
Sleeps more in feare than beggers at his gate:
Whom the gray morne hath seene high, past compare,
The blushing eu'n hath seen in abiect state.
A world of mouthes they feed, & courts they keep
Whose stabbing dreams do make thē start in sleep.
Doth (for that tincture) Time anticipate;
The Liege that lies on beds, that sumptuous are,
Sleeps more in feare than beggers at his gate:
Whom the gray morne hath seene high, past compare,
The blushing eu'n hath seen in abiect state.
Whose stabbing dreams do make thē start in sleep.
The purple robe is oft re-purpelled
With royall blood, that from the heart doth stream;
When homly rags (thogh rent) are nere made red
With th'owners bloud, sith they do range a reame
And yet not rule it, as the Sceptered.
These sleepe secure, in many a golden dreame,
While Princes lie on thorns of pricking feares,
That make their daies to interdict their yeares.
With royall blood, that from the heart doth stream;
When homly rags (thogh rent) are nere made red
With th'owners bloud, sith they do range a reame
And yet not rule it, as the Sceptered.
These sleepe secure, in many a golden dreame,
While Princes lie on thorns of pricking feares,
That make their daies to interdict their yeares.
In toothsom'st dish the banefull baite doth lie;
And Treason diues into the sweetest wine;
At euery bit they feare her treachery, (their fine.
And doubt, each draught they drinke, they drink
O! if as through a glasse we might espy
The swarms of fears, and cares, their hearts confine
We would not stoope to gather vp a crowne,
If as the crowne, the cares must be our owne.
And Treason diues into the sweetest wine;
At euery bit they feare her treachery, (their fine.
And doubt, each draught they drinke, they drink
O! if as through a glasse we might espy
The swarms of fears, and cares, their hearts confine
We would not stoope to gather vp a crowne,
If as the crowne, the cares must be our owne.
The princely Ports no sooner ope are set,
But diuelish Enuie glides through all vnseene:
But hates as hell, the Neat-heards Cabinet
Whilst (Princely Peasant, with his Sommers queen)
Hee frolicks it, as free from dread as debt:
And liuing so, a King himselfe doth weene:
But, if he erre, it is an error sweete,
To meet Kings thoughts, and not their cares to meete.
But diuelish Enuie glides through all vnseene:
But hates as hell, the Neat-heards Cabinet
Whilst (Princely Peasant, with his Sommers queen)
Hee frolicks it, as free from dread as debt:
And liuing so, a King himselfe doth weene:
But, if he erre, it is an error sweete,
To meet Kings thoughts, and not their cares to meete.
In Maple Mazer, or Beach-bowle hee quaffes,
And lifts it not to mouth with shaking hands:
His Loue and Hee, eats, drinks, and sleeps, & laffs,
And shee obeyes, and hee in loue commands:
Twixt them are neither Iealousies nor Chases,
For breaking Wedlock, or Subiections Bands:
But, they enioy Loue, peace, and merriment,
And therewithall, the Kingdom of Content.
And lifts it not to mouth with shaking hands:
His Loue and Hee, eats, drinks, and sleeps, & laffs,
And shee obeyes, and hee in loue commands:
Twixt them are neither Iealousies nor Chases,
For breaking Wedlock, or Subiections Bands:
But, they enioy Loue, peace, and merriment,
And therewithall, the Kingdom of Content.
They fear not Fortunes frowns, nor way her fawns;
Their great'st ambition is to liue to loue:
Much Coyn they need not, much less pretious pawns
That by a Cow can liue, and pleasures proue,
Yea, feede with her, on Sallets in the Launds,
In Weeds yclad, as homely spunne as woue;
Milke being their best meat, & sowr whay theyr wine,
And when they hunger, then they sup & dine.
Their great'st ambition is to liue to loue:
That by a Cow can liue, and pleasures proue,
Yea, feede with her, on Sallets in the Launds,
In Weeds yclad, as homely spunne as woue;
Milke being their best meat, & sowr whay theyr wine,
And when they hunger, then they sup & dine.
They can no skill of States deepe policies,
Nor will they wade in deepes so dangerous:
This makes them liue so free from Tragedies
That are to Heau'n and Earth so odious:
They Actors are in Past'rall Comedies,
That tend to Loue, and Mirth harmonious.
O heauenly-earthly life, life for a King:
That liues with nothing, as with eu'ry-thing.
Nor will they wade in deepes so dangerous:
This makes them liue so free from Tragedies
That are to Heau'n and Earth so odious:
They Actors are in Past'rall Comedies,
That tend to Loue, and Mirth harmonious.
O heauenly-earthly life, life for a King:
That liues with nothing, as with eu'ry-thing.
They seeldome passe the vnreturned wayes
That leade t'infernall loues Dominions.
Their silly Soule (with hopes assurance) stayes
On CHRIST his Crosse, & Faith's Conclusions:
They doo distaste the delicate Assayes
Of Schoolemens Craft, and nice distinctions:
Nature and Grace in silence guides them well,
Whilst Doctors deep, dispute thēselues to Hell.
That leade t'infernall loues Dominions.
Their silly Soule (with hopes assurance) stayes
On CHRIST his Crosse, & Faith's Conclusions:
Of Schoolemens Craft, and nice distinctions:
Nature and Grace in silence guides them well,
Whilst Doctors deep, dispute thēselues to Hell.
Grace hates all sinne, with hate most exquisit;
But none, so much (though more, then much, the-least)
As shee doth pride; for, that distracts the wit,
Contracts the Soule to sinne, makes Man a Beast,
Confines Societie, alone to sit;
Makes will a Law, and wrongs the Worst and Best.
This is Ambition, this is damned Pride,
Which God, nor Man, haue patience to abide.
But none, so much (though more, then much, the-least)
As shee doth pride; for, that distracts the wit,
Contracts the Soule to sinne, makes Man a Beast,
Confines Societie, alone to sit;
Makes will a Law, and wrongs the Worst and Best.
This is Ambition, this is damned Pride,
Which God, nor Man, haue patience to abide.
The steppes of Mans ascent, on Fortunes-wheele,
Must needs be slippery, sith it is so steepe:
The Topp's most wau'ring, ready still to reel;
The going downe, is like as in the Deepe
A Shippe goes downe, with ouerturned Keele;
When ore a mounting Billow shee doth sweepe:
And if the fall from High-estate be such,
How dreadfull is it then, to mount too much?
Must needs be slippery, sith it is so steepe:
The Topp's most wau'ring, ready still to reel;
The going downe, is like as in the Deepe
A Shippe goes downe, with ouerturned Keele;
When ore a mounting Billow shee doth sweepe:
How dreadfull is it then, to mount too much?
For, Dignitie on Uertue, grounded is.
Then, if the ground doe faile, and false become,
The more is built thereon, the sooner tis
Sinking to ground, and ruin'd all or some:
The more our Pow'r, the more of Peace we misse,
If Uertue aduerse powres doe not orecome:
That Enuy, which high pride did life-inspire,
Humility must kill, or make retire.
Then, if the ground doe faile, and false become,
The more is built thereon, the sooner tis
Sinking to ground, and ruin'd all or some:
The more our Pow'r, the more of Peace we misse,
If Uertue aduerse powres doe not orecome:
That Enuy, which high pride did life-inspire,
Humility must kill, or make retire.
I knew a Man, vnworthy as I am,
And yet too worthie for a counterfeit
Made once a King; who though it were in game,
Yet was it there where Lords and Ladyes met;
Who honor'd him, as hee had bene the same,
And no subiectiue dutie did forget;
When to him-selfe he smil'd, and said, lo here
I haue for noght, what Kings doe buy so deere.
And yet too worthie for a counterfeit
Made once a King; who though it were in game,
Yet was it there where Lords and Ladyes met;
Who honor'd him, as hee had bene the same,
And no subiectiue dutie did forget;
When to him-selfe he smil'd, and said, lo here
I haue for noght, what Kings doe buy so deere.
No odds there was in shew (and but in show,
Kings are too often honour'd) saue that he
Was but twelue gamesome daies to king it so;
And kings, more yeares of soueraigne misery.
His raigne was short and sweet, theirs long in wo.
He after liu'd: they, with or for theirs, die.
He had a tast of raigne, with powre to leaue;
They cannot tast, but life must take or giue.
Kings are too often honour'd) saue that he
Was but twelue gamesome daies to king it so;
And kings, more yeares of soueraigne misery.
His raigne was short and sweet, theirs long in wo.
He after liu'd: they, with or for theirs, die.
He had a tast of raigne, with powre to leaue;
They cannot tast, but life must take or giue.
Kings for the treasons to them offered
Must offer them that offer it, whereby
The body still may hold vp hie the head,
Lest otherwise they both too low might lye:
Yet by this meanes, blood, oft, with hate, is shed,
If bloud so shed, do fall or much, or hie;
But he without bloud did he behead his foes,
So made him friends indeed, of foes in showes.
Must offer them that offer it, whereby
The body still may hold vp hie the head,
Lest otherwise they both too low might lye:
Yet by this meanes, blood, oft, with hate, is shed,
If bloud so shed, do fall or much, or hie;
But he without bloud did he behead his foes,
So made him friends indeed, of foes in showes.
He sate in state, that mirth, and loue did stay;
They sit in state that hate oft vndermines;
He, without feare, had some to take assay;
But they haue such, for feare of sodaine fines:
He poyson'd some (to play as kings might play)
But twas with Suger and perfumed wines:
He went with guards, yet stabbing feared not:
They go with guards, yet feare the stab or shot.
They sit in state that hate oft vndermines;
But they haue such, for feare of sodaine fines:
He poyson'd some (to play as kings might play)
But twas with Suger and perfumed wines:
He went with guards, yet stabbing feared not:
They go with guards, yet feare the stab or shot.
He could deuise with Ladies, if he could
Deuise with Ladies, without all suspect;
If they do so, they do not as they should,
For 'twill be sayd their honors they neglect:
He could command, and haue all as he would;
But their commands oft haue not that effect.
Then who had better Raigns, iudge all of sense,
Either a king indeed, or in pretence.
Deuise with Ladies, without all suspect;
If they do so, they do not as they should,
For 'twill be sayd their honors they neglect:
He could command, and haue all as he would;
But their commands oft haue not that effect.
Then who had better Raigns, iudge all of sense,
Either a king indeed, or in pretence.
A conscience cleere out-dares Death to the face,
Laughing to scorne his greatest tyranny;
And with vnconquerd patience doth disgrace
His vtmost malice, spight, and villany:
She winneth place of Death, by giuing place,
And by her yeelding, getteth victorie:
Yea, triūphs ouer Death, through vertues might:
For Uertue liues, when Death hath spet his spight.
Laughing to scorne his greatest tyranny;
And with vnconquerd patience doth disgrace
His vtmost malice, spight, and villany:
And by her yeelding, getteth victorie:
Yea, triūphs ouer Death, through vertues might:
For Uertue liues, when Death hath spet his spight.
Neuer did Feare attend on Innocence:
She Wayters scornes, that with her dare not dye.
Though she from wrong and danger seeke defence,
And may (if well shee may) from eyther fly:
Yet is her Courage of that excellence,
That if shee meet them she dares both defie.
Then to be Innocent, is still to dare
Death, Hell, and Vengeance, yea all Deaths that are.
She Wayters scornes, that with her dare not dye.
Though she from wrong and danger seeke defence,
And may (if well shee may) from eyther fly:
Yet is her Courage of that excellence,
That if shee meet them she dares both defie.
Then to be Innocent, is still to dare
Death, Hell, and Vengeance, yea all Deaths that are.
This makes the Prince his person to expose
To Pistoll, Poyson, Dagger, and the like;
Among them all (so arm'd) hee freely goes,
And starts not (as dismayd) when they do strike.
This make thē deem (deer harts) they haue no foes
Because they weene they rule without mislike;
And if some hellish hand them ouer-beare,
They die, as liue they did, without all feare.
To Pistoll, Poyson, Dagger, and the like;
Among them all (so arm'd) hee freely goes,
And starts not (as dismayd) when they do strike.
This make thē deem (deer harts) they haue no foes
Because they weene they rule without mislike;
They die, as liue they did, without all feare.
Within their Count'nance, Mirth, with Grauitie
(Graue for their place & mirth, their grace to show)
In peace doe striue for the precedencie:
Both which so sweetly grace them as they go;
As makes the publike loue, on them to pry:
With Eyes, which teares of ioy (vnfain'd) ore-flow,
While Princely kindenesse doth it selfe imploy,
To ope like Floud-gates, into Seas of Ioy.
(Graue for their place & mirth, their grace to show)
In peace doe striue for the precedencie:
Both which so sweetly grace them as they go;
As makes the publike loue, on them to pry:
With Eyes, which teares of ioy (vnfain'd) ore-flow,
While Princely kindenesse doth it selfe imploy,
To ope like Floud-gates, into Seas of Ioy.
When the sterne Tyrant (with a folded Front,
And Eyes disturbed, through suspicious feare)
Doth starting stalke, as if Death did confront
His steppes, and to his Eyes did still appeare;
His Hand on Hilt hee beares, Death to affront:
Yet ghastly lookes, as hee still flying were;
And whē a Mouse doth crie, or Leafe doth shake,
Out goes the Dagger, yet with feare doth quake.
And Eyes disturbed, through suspicious feare)
Doth starting stalke, as if Death did confront
His steppes, and to his Eyes did still appeare;
His Hand on Hilt hee beares, Death to affront:
Yet ghastly lookes, as hee still flying were;
And whē a Mouse doth crie, or Leafe doth shake,
Out goes the Dagger, yet with feare doth quake.
He feares his life, but more the second-death;
Which death, he doubts, will second death of life:
This makes him strait the dagger so vnsheath
T'incounter the first deaths approching knife;
Lest, being ouerthrowne, he should beneath
Still liue in strife, as he hath liu'd in strife;
The losse of Kingdome, life, and feare of that,
Makes him (as mad) to do he knows not what.
Which death, he doubts, will second death of life:
This makes him strait the dagger so vnsheath
T'incounter the first deaths approching knife;
Lest, being ouerthrowne, he should beneath
Still liue in strife, as he hath liu'd in strife;
The losse of Kingdome, life, and feare of that,
Makes him (as mad) to do he knows not what.
Who would a Scepter hold, in such an hell,
Like a commanding Fiend in horror still,
Where subiects, like his passions, aye rebel
So liue as Sou'raigne of a world of ill?
And in nought, but in naught, so to excell
Is God (as much as in man lies) to kill:
Which is the cause (as proofe hath often told)
It's hard to see an hellish Tyrant old.
Like a commanding Fiend in horror still,
Where subiects, like his passions, aye rebel
So liue as Sou'raigne of a world of ill?
And in nought, but in naught, so to excell
Is God (as much as in man lies) to kill:
Which is the cause (as proofe hath often told)
It's hard to see an hellish Tyrant old.
Imbrude with blood, or else in poyson drencht,
Away wends he the way the others sent;
For with his bloud, his thirst of bloud is quencht;
So, with a plague, repaid what hee hath lent:
Nor shal his bloud, that flowes amaine be stencht,
Sith Heau'n and Earth against him still are bent.
“For, whē both heau'n & earth, pursues the spoyle;
“No place but Hell is left then, to recoyle.
Away wends he the way the others sent;
So, with a plague, repaid what hee hath lent:
Nor shal his bloud, that flowes amaine be stencht,
Sith Heau'n and Earth against him still are bent.
“For, whē both heau'n & earth, pursues the spoyle;
“No place but Hell is left then, to recoyle.
Gods Armies march, some seene, but most vnseen;
Those seene, may be lookt to, but not lookt ore;
And how ere vile, Pride some of them may ween,
Yet men most high, are oft foyld by the low'r:
But th' vnseene Armies haue such Weapons keene
And pow'r to vse them, that all Flesh they gore:
Who are so slye, that no mans wisedome may
Their Ambushments auoyde, or them bewray.
Those seene, may be lookt to, but not lookt ore;
And how ere vile, Pride some of them may ween,
Yet men most high, are oft foyld by the low'r:
But th' vnseene Armies haue such Weapons keene
And pow'r to vse them, that all Flesh they gore:
Who are so slye, that no mans wisedome may
Their Ambushments auoyde, or them bewray.
For, can an Heart be wise that is profane?
(Nay, fleshly wise? wee will dismisse the Spirite?)
It cannot be; for, Wisedome's in the wane
When tis forsaken of the Heauenly light:
A crazed Soule, must needs be Wisedomes bane,
whose pow'rs wāt pow'r to vse their natiue might:
For, when the Soule's vnquiet through offence,
Her fumes blinde Iudgement, and Intelligence.
(Nay, fleshly wise? wee will dismisse the Spirite?)
It cannot be; for, Wisedome's in the wane
When tis forsaken of the Heauenly light:
whose pow'rs wāt pow'r to vse their natiue might:
For, when the Soule's vnquiet through offence,
Her fumes blinde Iudgement, and Intelligence.
We may not doe ill, that thence good may spring;
Nor ceasse to do good, thogh ill thence may grow;
The Ill that growes from good, is no ill thing:
And to reape such, wee still much good shuld sow:
Its ill to haue Gods hate, with loue of King;
And worse, that hate to haue for loue more low.
Then to be good, in Death's to be secure:
And to bee ill, in life's to be vnsure.
Nor ceasse to do good, thogh ill thence may grow;
The Ill that growes from good, is no ill thing:
And to reape such, wee still much good shuld sow:
Its ill to haue Gods hate, with loue of King;
And worse, that hate to haue for loue more low.
Then to be good, in Death's to be secure:
And to bee ill, in life's to be vnsure.
The Sunne sees not a more detested thing
Than is a Traitor, whose fowle Crime is such
That they which loue the Craft, ye Crafts-mā sting
With deadly hate, and words that wound as much:
And he that would of other Crimes be King,
Abhorre, but once this loathed Crime to touch.
That Hand that can behead a Common-weale,
Must haue an heart, to helpe, of Flint or Steele.
Than is a Traitor, whose fowle Crime is such
That they which loue the Craft, ye Crafts-mā sting
With deadly hate, and words that wound as much:
And he that would of other Crimes be King,
Abhorre, but once this loathed Crime to touch.
Must haue an heart, to helpe, of Flint or Steele.
And they that would transforme a Monarchy
(Confirm'd by many faire descents of Kings)
T'an headlesse misproportion'd Anarchy
(That Rule and Order to Confusion brings,
To th'end to giue Misrule more libertie)
Are most condemn'd, if not most damned things.
For, what Man can (though halfe a Diuell) see
All drown'd in Gore, to purple his Degree?
(Confirm'd by many faire descents of Kings)
T'an headlesse misproportion'd Anarchy
(That Rule and Order to Confusion brings,
To th'end to giue Misrule more libertie)
Are most condemn'd, if not most damned things.
For, what Man can (though halfe a Diuell) see
All drown'd in Gore, to purple his Degree?
Traitor! ô word, of force to make a Man
Teare out his Eyes, that they see not the light!
Which All, with bitter Execrations, ban,
And at the very name, do spet in spight.
Traitor! ô gall! which no Gall suffer can,
Odious to Heau'n and Earth, to Day and Night;
The very Aire of such a loathed name,
The Ioynts of strongest Patience can vnframe.
Teare out his Eyes, that they see not the light!
Which All, with bitter Execrations, ban,
And at the very name, do spet in spight.
Traitor! ô gall! which no Gall suffer can,
Odious to Heau'n and Earth, to Day and Night;
The very Aire of such a loathed name,
The Ioynts of strongest Patience can vnframe.
What can the Hart of Man excogitate
More odious, or in nature, or in name,
Than Treason? which eu'n Hell it selfe doth hate,
Although it be aduantag'd by the same.
For Hell holds Traitors more degenerate
From Nature, then her Fiends; so, more to blame:
For Fiends, by nature, are most impious;
But Men most impious are most monstrous.
More odious, or in nature, or in name,
Than Treason? which eu'n Hell it selfe doth hate,
Although it be aduantag'd by the same.
For Hell holds Traitors more degenerate
From Nature, then her Fiends; so, more to blame:
For Fiends, by nature, are most impious;
But Men most impious are most monstrous.
A Sou'raigns bloud is sacred, and of pow'r
To draw down Angels, from their glorious sphears,
With Vialls, full of plagues, on Realmes to powre,
(If it be spilt by spight) Nay Princes hayres
Are numbred, and who makes but one vnsure,
Shal feel that wrath, whose heat the moūtains mears:
O t'is a dreadfull thing but once to dreame,
In Physicke, to make Royall bloud to streame.
To draw down Angels, from their glorious sphears,
With Vialls, full of plagues, on Realmes to powre,
(If it be spilt by spight) Nay Princes hayres
Are numbred, and who makes but one vnsure,
Shal feel that wrath, whose heat the moūtains mears:
O t'is a dreadfull thing but once to dreame,
In Physicke, to make Royall bloud to streame.
Tis Bloud of blouds; for, while it is bloud-warme:
And carries life with it through all the Veines.
It doth preserue the subiects blood from harme,
That cold of feares to freeze else strait constrains:
Then 'tis the life-bloud of a Kingdoms Arme,
Which, while it's liuely, her whole state sustaines:
O then how precious ought (in all mens eyes)
Such bloud to be wherein such vertue lies?
And carries life with it through all the Veines.
That cold of feares to freeze else strait constrains:
Then 'tis the life-bloud of a Kingdoms Arme,
Which, while it's liuely, her whole state sustaines:
O then how precious ought (in all mens eyes)
Such bloud to be wherein such vertue lies?
Words, but in Wormewood steept, ate too too weake
To blazon Treasons bitter tyranny;
None but soule-wounding words for it are meete,
Because it wounds the Soule of Soueraigntie:
Then Treason, thus, my Muse, thy guilt doth greete,
(Which is the quintessence of villany)
Curst be Thought, that thinks but on that Thought,
That thinks thou art not ten times worse than naught.
To blazon Treasons bitter tyranny;
None but soule-wounding words for it are meete,
Because it wounds the Soule of Soueraigntie:
Then Treason, thus, my Muse, thy guilt doth greete,
(Which is the quintessence of villany)
Curst be Thought, that thinks but on that Thought,
That thinks thou art not ten times worse than naught.
The Conclusion to Sir. Thomas Ouerbury.
Thou find'st more honor in th'vntimely Graue
Deere Ouerbury, then a King can haue
With all kings pow'r: for, they can giue no grace
Beyond the span of life; Poore spacelesse-space!
Then, blessed was thy death, how euer bannd
It might be deem'd by thee, for being ban'd:
Sith Death, by poison, did but reaue thy breath;
But with That poyson, thou hast poyson'd Death.
So, from his hand his weapon thou did wrest;
And, for thy safety, sheath'd it in his Brest.
Deere Ouerbury, then a King can haue
With all kings pow'r: for, they can giue no grace
Beyond the span of life; Poore spacelesse-space!
It might be deem'd by thee, for being ban'd:
Sith Death, by poison, did but reaue thy breath;
But with That poyson, thou hast poyson'd Death.
So, from his hand his weapon thou did wrest;
And, for thy safety, sheath'd it in his Brest.
Yet comes thine honor, though it reach thus hie,
Short of thy merit for loues-puritie;
And, for as much besides, as Wit and Art
Can value giue to any Head or Heart.
Thou wast a Pythias to an Anti-Damon,
Who, for thy true loue, prou'd to thee a Demon.
Had he bene Damon in integritie,
A King (perhaps) had made a Trinitie
Of friends with you; for, your loue-Angel-like
Had made him make that Body-politicke;
As whilom-did a Keisar in like case:
But three can nere make one, if one be base,
And two be deare; sith Dissimilitude
Dissolues the knot of Loues beatitude.
Short of thy merit for loues-puritie;
And, for as much besides, as Wit and Art
Can value giue to any Head or Heart.
Thou wast a Pythias to an Anti-Damon,
Who, for thy true loue, prou'd to thee a Demon.
Had he bene Damon in integritie,
A King (perhaps) had made a Trinitie
Of friends with you; for, your loue-Angel-like
Had made him make that Body-politicke;
As whilom-did a Keisar in like case:
But three can nere make one, if one be base,
And two be deare; sith Dissimilitude
Dissolues the knot of Loues beatitude.
Fortune on thee, in him, did smile and lowre;
Smile in his fortunes, in thy wisedomes powre:
But lowr'd on thee, when he (false ladder) rose
For thee to climbe, to both your ouerthrowes.
He rose and fell from thee; and thou by him
Didst rise and fall: but thou, in bane didst swim
Past Læthe; and in bloud and blame he tydes
(As farre beyond, as shame, past shame, abides)
With winds of his owne sighes, without one teare
Of any ruthfull Eye, though nere so neere.
But, sith nought stayd him to thee, but the aire
Of words; who would ascend by such a staire?
Thou being on his brest, through want of stay
For thy worths-weight, from thee he fell away:
But, thou camst first to ground; and, with the fall,
Thy bowels brake, all-pickl'd with thy gall:
Thy Ghost, yet (if she know what mortals do)
Must needs exult; and haue compassion too,
To heare thy praises peald-out as they be;
And see such iustice done, on earth, for thee.
Yea, as thy Ghost had leaue, in wrathfull moode;
To surfet with thy foes delicious-blood,
Which frō the hie in place, still headlong, streams
Through thy late Soueraigns dearst of Diadems,
To fresh the flowres thereof, and her so cloy,
That she, as sicke therewith, is greeu'd with ioy.
So as thy shrill Vindictae's now do ring
With groanes about the Palace of the King;
As if thy Soule, in blisse, in some degree
Did Suffer paine with sufferers for thee.
And if she (plagu'd) in life did hell endure,
Through their close hate who did thy death procure,
T'is openly reueng'd, so home, that all
The world may see thy worth's-weight in their fall.
For, as pure gold best knowne is by the TEST
In fire: so, that deere vertue of thy Brest,
In flames of Loue, and fi'ry-tryals tride,
Doth make thy Worth, in greatnesse, far more wide
Than Time: for, when he (stretcht out) is laid forth
Thy glory shall entombe him in thy WORTH.
Smile in his fortunes, in thy wisedomes powre:
But lowr'd on thee, when he (false ladder) rose
For thee to climbe, to both your ouerthrowes.
He rose and fell from thee; and thou by him
Didst rise and fall: but thou, in bane didst swim
Past Læthe; and in bloud and blame he tydes
(As farre beyond, as shame, past shame, abides)
With winds of his owne sighes, without one teare
Of any ruthfull Eye, though nere so neere.
But, sith nought stayd him to thee, but the aire
Of words; who would ascend by such a staire?
Thou being on his brest, through want of stay
For thy worths-weight, from thee he fell away:
But, thou camst first to ground; and, with the fall,
Thy bowels brake, all-pickl'd with thy gall:
Thy Ghost, yet (if she know what mortals do)
Must needs exult; and haue compassion too,
To heare thy praises peald-out as they be;
And see such iustice done, on earth, for thee.
To surfet with thy foes delicious-blood,
Which frō the hie in place, still headlong, streams
Through thy late Soueraigns dearst of Diadems,
To fresh the flowres thereof, and her so cloy,
That she, as sicke therewith, is greeu'd with ioy.
So as thy shrill Vindictae's now do ring
With groanes about the Palace of the King;
As if thy Soule, in blisse, in some degree
Did Suffer paine with sufferers for thee.
And if she (plagu'd) in life did hell endure,
Through their close hate who did thy death procure,
T'is openly reueng'd, so home, that all
The world may see thy worth's-weight in their fall.
For, as pure gold best knowne is by the TEST
In fire: so, that deere vertue of thy Brest,
In flames of Loue, and fi'ry-tryals tride,
Doth make thy Worth, in greatnesse, far more wide
Than Time: for, when he (stretcht out) is laid forth
Thy glory shall entombe him in thy WORTH.
FINIS.
| A Select Second Hvsband for Sir Thomas Overbvries Wife | |