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Epigrams: Divine and Moral

By Sir Thomas Vrchard
Urquhart, Thomas (1611-1660)

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[dedication]
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EPIGRAMS
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EPIGRAMS:
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EPIGRAMS:
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1. How to behave ones selfe in all occasions.
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2 That no man, to speake properly, liveth, but he, that is Wise, and vertuous.
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3 We ought always to thinke upon what we are to say, before we utter any thing; the speeches and talk of solid wits, being still premeditated, and never using to forerunne the mind.
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4 That Lust, and drunkennesse are odious vices.
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5. A certaine ancient Philosopher did hereby insinuate, how necessary a thing the administration of Justice was: and to be alwaies vigilant in the judicious distribution of punishment, and recompence.
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6. That overweening impedeth oftentimes the perfectioning of the very same qualitie, wee are proudest of.
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7. To one, who seemed to be grievously discontented with his poverty.
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8. The resolution of a proficient in vertue.
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9. That a courtesie ought to be conferred soone, and with a good will.
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10. The best wits, once depraved, become the most impious.
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11. That those employ not their occasions well, who spend the most part of their life in providing for the Instruments of living.
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12. An vprightly zealous, and truly devout man is strong enough against all temptations.
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13. That to employ our thoughts on the study of mortality, and frailty of our nature, is a very necessary, and profitable speculation.
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14. The Generous speech of a Noble Cavallier, after he had disarmed his adversary at the single Combate.
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15. To one, who was excessively cheerefull, for being recovered of a Fever, wherewith he had beene for a time extreame sorely shaken.
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16. That the most of our contentment, while we are upon the Earth, consisteth rather in Negatives, as not to be perplexed with mentall perturbations, outward diseases, and other such like life-tormenting crosses, then in the reall fruition of any positive delight, that can befall vs.
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17. VVhy we must all dye.
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18. Of the covetous, and perverse inclination of the greatest part of Mankind.
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19. The Parallel of Nature, and Fortune.
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20. How we should enjoy the delights, we have: and contemne such, as we have not.
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21 To one, who did confide too much in the sound temperament, and goodly constitution of his bodily complexion.
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22. A Counsell to be provident, and circumspect in all our actions, without either cowardise, or temeritie.
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23. Of foure things, in an epalleled way vanquished each by other.
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24. A consolation to those, that are of a little stature not to be sorry thereat.
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25. That too much bewailing, and griefe is to be avoided at Funerals, to one lamenting the decease of a friend.
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26. The vertuous speech of a diseased man, most patient in his sicknesse.
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27. We should not be sorry, to be destitute of any thing: so long as we have judgments to perswade vs, that we may minister to our selves, what we have not, by not longing for it.
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28. That vertue is better, and more powerfull then Fortune.
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29. How magnanimous a thing it is, in adversity, patiently to endure, what cannot bee evited.
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30. That nothing more opposeth the tranquillity of life, which is proper, and peculiar to Wise-men, then to be tyed to a generality of publicke example in all our actions.
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31. A temperate Dyet, is the best Physicke.
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32. That all our life, is but a continuall course, and vicissitude of sinning, and being sorry for sinne.
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33. Why our thoughts, all the while we are in this transitory world, from the houre of our nativity, to the laying downe of our bodies in the grave, should not at any time exspaciat themselves in the broad way of destruction.
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34. It is the safest course to entertaine poverty in our greatest riches.
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35. To a Gentleman, who was extreamly offended at the defamatory speeches of a base detractor.
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36. Of Death, and Sin.
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37. The advantages of Povertie.
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38. How to make all the world peaceable.
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39. One, who did extreamly regret, his bestowing of a great benefit vpon an ingrate man.
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40. Of wisedome, in speech, in action, in reality, and reputation.
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41. To one, who was grieved within himselfe, that he was not endewed with such force, and vigour of body, as many others were.
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42. An encouragement to those of meane Parentage, not to be hindered by the Obscurity of their extraction, from the undertaking of glorious enterprises.
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43. We should not be troubled at the accidents of Fortune: nor those things, which cannot be eschewed.
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44. Age meerly depending on the continuall Flux of time, we have very small reason to boast of a long life, already obtained: or be proud of the hope, hereafter to attaine unto it.
  
[Laud to the Father, with the Son]

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19. The Parallel of Nature, and Fortune.

A Fly, which is a despicable creature
Obtaines, beside her wings, six feet from Nature:
Yet foure feet onely, she is pleas'd to grant
To the huge body of an Elephant:
So Fortune doth withdraw her gifts from some,
Whose real worth surpasseth theirs, on whom
She hath bestowed them, as forcibly,
As Elephants in strenth exceed a fly.
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