 | The Labyrinth Of Mans Life |  |
If th' earth were brasse, my tongue a grauing pen,
I would therein graue fickle states of men
That rise and fall, that change and alter oft,
From basest clowne to Keysar set aloft.
Related words are only winde, and dye,
Letters, transferre them to posteritie.
My subiect sad is mans inconstant lot,
That is to day what yesterday, 'twas not.
No state stands long, but riseth or it fals,
And best resembles tossed tennis bals.
Now striken hye, then lights, and then rebounds,
One now is low, then raised, then redounds.
I would therein graue fickle states of men
That rise and fall, that change and alter oft,
From basest clowne to Keysar set aloft.
Related words are only winde, and dye,
Letters, transferre them to posteritie.
My subiect sad is mans inconstant lot,
That is to day what yesterday, 'twas not.
No state stands long, but riseth or it fals,
And best resembles tossed tennis bals.
Now striken hye, then lights, and then rebounds,
One now is low, then raised, then redounds.
Most strange vicissitudes, of states I see,
Yet not, who happy, or vnhappy be.
Though present wealth or want, seeme grace or griefe,
Few know what hurts, or truely giues reliefe.
For, as earthes creatures liue by contraries,
So, seeming good, or ill, are falacies:
Beginnings good, oft end with ill successe,
Ill seeming ends, may bring most happinesse.
Man, of all creatures that subsede the skye,
Onely partakes, none else eternity.
Guided by Reason hath the vse of Artes,
Of tongues and of diuinest inward partes,
None else hath yet so strange varieties,
Of good and ill, of mirth and miseries.
Yet not, who happy, or vnhappy be.
Though present wealth or want, seeme grace or griefe,
Few know what hurts, or truely giues reliefe.
For, as earthes creatures liue by contraries,
So, seeming good, or ill, are falacies:
Beginnings good, oft end with ill successe,
Ill seeming ends, may bring most happinesse.
Onely partakes, none else eternity.
Guided by Reason hath the vse of Artes,
Of tongues and of diuinest inward partes,
None else hath yet so strange varieties,
Of good and ill, of mirth and miseries.
Who notes how man begins, persists and endes,
May see strange chances on which life depends,
From birth to youth, from youth to mans estate,
He growes vnlike and stil degenerate.
May see strange chances on which life depends,
From birth to youth, from youth to mans estate,
He growes vnlike and stil degenerate.
As yeares encrease, so alters life and lust,
The body, mind, affection, feare and trust:
Man learnes, forgets, he loues, dislikes and liues,
As weaknesse, power, as wit, or folly giues:
The body, mind, affection, feare and trust:
Man learnes, forgets, he loues, dislikes and liues,
As weaknesse, power, as wit, or folly giues:
The heart the fountaine of the vitall spring,
Distilles the bloud that nurseth fancying:
For, though mens soules seeme reasonable all,
All men show not, their soules cælestiall.
As are mens humors and complexions,
By nature so are inclinations:
Where art or grace guide not, there Nature swayes,
But where they rule, there Natures force decayes:
Yet Nature hath a power commanding strong,
Though art, or grace, haue some command among.
As Art helpes Nature, so experience tries,
Where in best artes the most perfection lies:
Hardly can art make straight a crooked mind,
Nor make him see whom Nature brought foorth blind
As fire in flaxe, cannot be long conceil'd,
At length so Nature is though hid reueil'd:
Distilles the bloud that nurseth fancying:
For, though mens soules seeme reasonable all,
All men show not, their soules cælestiall.
As are mens humors and complexions,
By nature so are inclinations:
Where art or grace guide not, there Nature swayes,
But where they rule, there Natures force decayes:
Yet Nature hath a power commanding strong,
Though art, or grace, haue some command among.
As Art helpes Nature, so experience tries,
Where in best artes the most perfection lies:
Hardly can art make straight a crooked mind,
Nor make him see whom Nature brought foorth blind
As fire in flaxe, cannot be long conceil'd,
At length so Nature is though hid reueil'd:
Malancholly, the mother of best artes,
Hath greatest power, (grace absent) in mens hearts,
All humors strong or much defectiue breed,
Both good and bad, fruitfull or fruitles seede,
Mirth, greife, sloth, diligence, superbity,
Feare, Enuy, Folly, sweet tranquillity,
B'instinct of nature, bred and brought to light,
Do show that humors haue commanding might:
Some are opinatiue, gracious, pittifull,
Enuious, louing, feeble, strong, fearefull,
Sober, light, foolish, wise, true, false, lyers,
Quarlous, deceiuers, of vncleane desires.
Strangely affected, all men stand and be,
As humors haue meane, or extreame degree.
By grace some curbe ill disposition,
By discipline and education.
Hath greatest power, (grace absent) in mens hearts,
All humors strong or much defectiue breed,
Both good and bad, fruitfull or fruitles seede,
Feare, Enuy, Folly, sweet tranquillity,
B'instinct of nature, bred and brought to light,
Do show that humors haue commanding might:
Some are opinatiue, gracious, pittifull,
Enuious, louing, feeble, strong, fearefull,
Sober, light, foolish, wise, true, false, lyers,
Quarlous, deceiuers, of vncleane desires.
Strangely affected, all men stand and be,
As humors haue meane, or extreame degree.
By grace some curbe ill disposition,
By discipline and education.
Complexions principall in all but foure,
Their branches infinite, distinct in powre:
Some attribute mens dispositions,
To Starres aspects and Constellations,
That are predominant, at time of birth,
Thence to proceed hartes heauines or mirth.
Some to the clime, where men are borne, and liue,
Some to the tribe, whence men discend, it giue.
Some to the feeblenesse or force of seede,
Some to the Nurse and food whereon men feed,
These much preuaile: not yet of force cheefe cause,
Why men resist, or hold diuiner lawes.
An inward cause there is that workes the will,
As light or darke giues motiues good, or ill.
Their branches infinite, distinct in powre:
Some attribute mens dispositions,
To Starres aspects and Constellations,
That are predominant, at time of birth,
Thence to proceed hartes heauines or mirth.
Some to the clime, where men are borne, and liue,
Some to the tribe, whence men discend, it giue.
Some to the feeblenesse or force of seede,
Some to the Nurse and food whereon men feed,
These much preuaile: not yet of force cheefe cause,
Why men resist, or hold diuiner lawes.
An inward cause there is that workes the will,
As light or darke giues motiues good, or ill.
Two ruling powers are of distinct effects,
Mens mindes are led, as each of these directs:
Of loue diuine th' one, th' other of set hate,
As these preuaile, mens actions perpetrate.
Betwixt these powers is alwayes emnity,
The good confirm'd by contrariety,
For, if there were no feeling fight within,
Law needed not to make a sinne a sinne.
Mens mindes are led, as each of these directs:
Of loue diuine th' one, th' other of set hate,
As these preuaile, mens actions perpetrate.
Betwixt these powers is alwayes emnity,
The good confirm'd by contrariety,
For, if there were no feeling fight within,
Law needed not to make a sinne a sinne.
Nature the mother of all earthly things,
Creates, preserues, by due contraryings,
Without a discord can no concord be,
Concord is when contrary thinges agree:
But these two contraries that guide the mind,
Are so disiunct can neuer be combin'd:
As good and ill, as right and wrong cannot,
Be in one subiect, as may cold and hot:
So heauen and hell, and what partakes their might,
Can neuer be in one without a fight,
Though thinges repugnant may haue vnity
And seeme as one and of one quality;
Though Natures, simples may in one combine,
And one to others quality incline,
Yet one too strong breedes such dissention,
As Nature hardly workes re-vnion.
Nature by art may imitated be,
And contraries by art be made agree:
Of coulours mixed, meerely contraries,
She moldes and makes most pleasing decencies,
The eye beholdes the mixtures with delight,
If they haue beauty, and be exquisite,
But if the growndes, as white, or black, or blew,
Exceed too much, it marres the mixed hew.
Drugges farre vnlike, in hot, cold, moyst and dry,
Are brought by art to true Congruity:
Musicke, the medicine of heauy hearts,
Makes concord, only of discording partes,
As high and low, as longs and shortes agree,
So harsh, or sweet, is musicke found to be.
No contraries appeare in perfect kind,
But seene together, or by art combind,
Vnlike to these are inward qualities,
The hart indureth not her contraries:
But as to good or ill it stands affected,
It harbors one, the other is reiected.
Vertue, and vice, are meerely contraries,
And each is foe, to others qualities.
And neither Art, nor Nature, can bring those,
At one; they are, and will be, mortall foes.
Vice, seekes to blemish mindes best qualified,
Neuer preuailes in persons rectified:
Where Vertue liues, there Vice doth seldome dye:
Vice liues below, vertue aspireth hie.
Vertue in earth, is meerely perigrin
In heauen a naturalized Citizen.
Who so is led, by that celestiall guide,
Confronts all Vice, strong, truely fortifide.
Of inward heart, and not of outward weede,
Doe all effects of good, and ill, proceede.
But what is good, that Enuie doth dispise
Foe to true vertue, friend to vanities.
Creates, preserues, by due contraryings,
Without a discord can no concord be,
Concord is when contrary thinges agree:
But these two contraries that guide the mind,
Are so disiunct can neuer be combin'd:
As good and ill, as right and wrong cannot,
Be in one subiect, as may cold and hot:
So heauen and hell, and what partakes their might,
Can neuer be in one without a fight,
Though thinges repugnant may haue vnity
And seeme as one and of one quality;
Though Natures, simples may in one combine,
And one to others quality incline,
Yet one too strong breedes such dissention,
As Nature hardly workes re-vnion.
Nature by art may imitated be,
And contraries by art be made agree:
Of coulours mixed, meerely contraries,
She moldes and makes most pleasing decencies,
The eye beholdes the mixtures with delight,
If they haue beauty, and be exquisite,
But if the growndes, as white, or black, or blew,
Exceed too much, it marres the mixed hew.
Drugges farre vnlike, in hot, cold, moyst and dry,
Are brought by art to true Congruity:
Musicke, the medicine of heauy hearts,
Makes concord, only of discording partes,
As high and low, as longs and shortes agree,
So harsh, or sweet, is musicke found to be.
No contraries appeare in perfect kind,
But seene together, or by art combind,
Vnlike to these are inward qualities,
The hart indureth not her contraries:
It harbors one, the other is reiected.
Vertue, and vice, are meerely contraries,
And each is foe, to others qualities.
And neither Art, nor Nature, can bring those,
At one; they are, and will be, mortall foes.
Vice, seekes to blemish mindes best qualified,
Neuer preuailes in persons rectified:
Where Vertue liues, there Vice doth seldome dye:
Vice liues below, vertue aspireth hie.
Vertue in earth, is meerely perigrin
In heauen a naturalized Citizen.
Who so is led, by that celestiall guide,
Confronts all Vice, strong, truely fortifide.
Of inward heart, and not of outward weede,
Doe all effects of good, and ill, proceede.
But what is good, that Enuie doth dispise
Foe to true vertue, friend to vanities.
What can best wit, what can deep'st wisedome chuse
Or best performe but Enuie will abuse?
No publike place, no person of estate,
Whom hatefull Enuie will not emulate.
Then I, of lowest rancke, can I be free,
If Enuie heaue at highest in degree?
I will digest, foule Enuies cup of spite,
Sith they tast most, that are most exquisite:
Foule Enuie aymes to hit the innocent,
And wounds her selfe, shee's so maleuolent:
She waxeth leane, seeing another fat,
She kicks at others, she not spurned at.
Or best performe but Enuie will abuse?
No publike place, no person of estate,
Whom hatefull Enuie will not emulate.
Then I, of lowest rancke, can I be free,
If Enuie heaue at highest in degree?
I will digest, foule Enuies cup of spite,
Sith they tast most, that are most exquisite:
Foule Enuie aymes to hit the innocent,
And wounds her selfe, shee's so maleuolent:
She waxeth leane, seeing another fat,
She kicks at others, she not spurned at.
Long haue I trod, this Labyrinth with care,
Yet know I not in it what curuings are:
The wayes and turnings are s'ambiguous,
They make me doubtfull and infatuous.
But who so treades it, with best skill throughout,
Walkes not so wyselie, but findes waies of doubt,
Yet know I not in it what curuings are:
The wayes and turnings are s'ambiguous,
They make me doubtfull and infatuous.
Walkes not so wyselie, but findes waies of doubt,
Two guides are in this maze, most principall,
As are the wayes, two in the generall,
The branches infinite of either be;
All doubtfull, though the entries plaine men see.
They guide the passengers in either way,
The first aright, the second, leads astray.
The first yet narrow, slippie, full of let,
The second faire, broad, full of pleasures set;
The first seemes base, most ignominious,
The second pleasant, and tres-glorious.
But whether so, or meerely contrary,
Successe declares, not wit, or pollicy;
A hidden mistery, vnseene there lyes,
Within this Labyrinth of Destinies.
Wherein scarce two estates, stand equaliz'd
More one then other, hurt, or benefizd.
As many men, so many earthes estates,
From basest begger to great'st potentates.
Some sing, some sigh; some laugh and some lament,
Some fast, some feast, some murmor, some content,
Some fawne, some frowne, some act and some admire;
Some hope, some feare, some runne, and some retyre.
Some grac'd, some griu'd, some wrong, & some complain
Some get, some lose, some take, some giue, and gaine,
Some rise, some fall, some stand, some feede, some pine,
Some heau'd aloft, some lofty ones decline.
Some saile with tide, some swim gainst winde and tide,
Some flote, some sinke, some run and neuer slide,
Some sleeping get, for frutelesse gaine some wake,
Some all men grace, some causlesse all forsake.
Some neitlie tir'd (sotts) held of high desert,
Some basly clad (deseruing) held in erte.
Some bosting, breake into the worlds admire,
Some meeke, though worthy, fildome raysed hier;
Some frowned on in fine regaine regard,
Some fawned, fayle of their vayne hopes reward.
Some lyuing ill, stand yet in wished grace.
Some well yet liue but in penurious case,
Some cruell, tyger-like, some temperate.
Some mild, some mad, some kind, some obstinate,
Some hauty proud, some of an humble mind,
Some louing, hatefull buxsum, some vnkind:
Luxurious some, lustfull, some continent,
Perfidious some, faithfull, some insolent,
As are the wayes, two in the generall,
The branches infinite of either be;
All doubtfull, though the entries plaine men see.
They guide the passengers in either way,
The first aright, the second, leads astray.
The first yet narrow, slippie, full of let,
The second faire, broad, full of pleasures set;
The first seemes base, most ignominious,
The second pleasant, and tres-glorious.
But whether so, or meerely contrary,
Successe declares, not wit, or pollicy;
A hidden mistery, vnseene there lyes,
Within this Labyrinth of Destinies.
Wherein scarce two estates, stand equaliz'd
More one then other, hurt, or benefizd.
As many men, so many earthes estates,
From basest begger to great'st potentates.
Some sing, some sigh; some laugh and some lament,
Some fast, some feast, some murmor, some content,
Some fawne, some frowne, some act and some admire;
Some hope, some feare, some runne, and some retyre.
Some grac'd, some griu'd, some wrong, & some complain
Some get, some lose, some take, some giue, and gaine,
Some rise, some fall, some stand, some feede, some pine,
Some heau'd aloft, some lofty ones decline.
Some saile with tide, some swim gainst winde and tide,
Some flote, some sinke, some run and neuer slide,
Some sleeping get, for frutelesse gaine some wake,
Some all men grace, some causlesse all forsake.
Some neitlie tir'd (sotts) held of high desert,
Some basly clad (deseruing) held in erte.
Some meeke, though worthy, fildome raysed hier;
Some frowned on in fine regaine regard,
Some fawned, fayle of their vayne hopes reward.
Some lyuing ill, stand yet in wished grace.
Some well yet liue but in penurious case,
Some cruell, tyger-like, some temperate.
Some mild, some mad, some kind, some obstinate,
Some hauty proud, some of an humble mind,
Some louing, hatefull buxsum, some vnkind:
Luxurious some, lustfull, some continent,
Perfidious some, faithfull, some insolent,
Thus yeeldes this labyrinth, wherein men liue
It giues some ioy, and some it maks to grieue.
A thousand thousand, strange varieties
Of outward mirth, and inward miseries,
It yeelds to men: yet none true iudgement haue,
To shape their wills, to his who first them gaue.
But feede on vapors of a strange content,
That vanish quite, as soone as they haue vent.
On humaine promise, that is made, and dies:
Clip'st as the Sunne, by blackesse cloudes, that ryse,
Who thinkes all promises will come to passe,
Makes faire, foule fancy, with a flattering glasse,
Fancies farre fetch't, doe feede a feeble heart;
They cure, or comfort, by dissembling art.
As he that's plac'd in highest ranck conceiues,
Him most secure, yet fancie, oft deceiues:
It giues some ioy, and some it maks to grieue.
A thousand thousand, strange varieties
Of outward mirth, and inward miseries,
It yeelds to men: yet none true iudgement haue,
To shape their wills, to his who first them gaue.
But feede on vapors of a strange content,
That vanish quite, as soone as they haue vent.
On humaine promise, that is made, and dies:
Clip'st as the Sunne, by blackesse cloudes, that ryse,
Who thinkes all promises will come to passe,
Makes faire, foule fancy, with a flattering glasse,
Fancies farre fetch't, doe feede a feeble heart;
They cure, or comfort, by dissembling art.
As he that's plac'd in highest ranck conceiues,
Him most secure, yet fancie, oft deceiues:
The Bramble, and the Cedar, neighbors bee,
And farre the stronger is the Cedar tree;
The Bramble bends, breakes not, when tempests rise:
“That soonest falls, that is of greatest sise,
And farre the stronger is the Cedar tree;
The Bramble bends, breakes not, when tempests rise:
“That soonest falls, that is of greatest sise,
Vnder the Cedar, on a mountaine set;
The lower trees, and shrubs, there shelter get:
But when the tempest, tumbles downe the tree,
They bend or breake, that vnder-shelter'd be,
Her stature tall, her massie bodie teares,
And breakes the branches, which the bodie beares.
And vnderlings, which Cedars shelter haue,
Doe bow, or bruse, or others shelters craue.
High Cedar falling, hath no meanes of stay,
His fall affrights, and makes whole woods dismay;
The mountaine whereon Cedar firmely stands,
And woods, when Cedars flourish clap their hands.
The lower trees, and shrubs, there shelter get:
They bend or breake, that vnder-shelter'd be,
Her stature tall, her massie bodie teares,
And breakes the branches, which the bodie beares.
And vnderlings, which Cedars shelter haue,
Doe bow, or bruse, or others shelters craue.
High Cedar falling, hath no meanes of stay,
His fall affrights, and makes whole woods dismay;
The mountaine whereon Cedar firmely stands,
And woods, when Cedars flourish clap their hands.
Some from their birth, left in this maze forlorne,
As fruits abortiue, and vntimely borne,
And he that lookes into Times glasse of steele,
Shall see all states, in earth, as on a wheele
That turnes them all about inconstantly,
Aloft, and lowe, with much vncertaintie.
Glorie, and Basenesse, are the boundaries
Of all estates: all but two contraries.
Betweene them both there is a limit set
And either meane, doth her extreames beget.
And he that from the basest riseth hie,
In selfe-conceit hath most felicitie.
But he, whom Fortune hath aduanced most,
And not true Vertue, hath no cause to boast:
There's no estate, which Vertue founded not,
That hath a certaine, or contented lot.
Fortune, is constant, in vnconstancie,
Most churlish in her seeming clemencie:
For, what she giues to day, too morrow takes,
She comes, and goes, she followes, and forsakes:
As clouds, and cleerenesse, clipse and cleare the Sunne,
By Fortune so, are men made, and vndone.
As fruits abortiue, and vntimely borne,
And he that lookes into Times glasse of steele,
Shall see all states, in earth, as on a wheele
That turnes them all about inconstantly,
Aloft, and lowe, with much vncertaintie.
Glorie, and Basenesse, are the boundaries
Of all estates: all but two contraries.
Betweene them both there is a limit set
And either meane, doth her extreames beget.
And he that from the basest riseth hie,
In selfe-conceit hath most felicitie.
But he, whom Fortune hath aduanced most,
And not true Vertue, hath no cause to boast:
There's no estate, which Vertue founded not,
That hath a certaine, or contented lot.
Fortune, is constant, in vnconstancie,
Most churlish in her seeming clemencie:
For, what she giues to day, too morrow takes,
She comes, and goes, she followes, and forsakes:
As clouds, and cleerenesse, clipse and cleare the Sunne,
By Fortune so, are men made, and vndone.
The vulgar hearts, eyes, sences, all
In thought, in sight, in iudgement partiall.
They iudge vnequally, of this earths lots
The great, earths ornaments, the base, her spots,
Earths highest portions, seeme true pawnes of grace,
Gracefull allotments, haue no seemings bace:
But in these misteries hid matter lies
Which none can see, with his owne natures eyes,
Therefore I leaue it, to euent: And smile;
At Enuies weaknes, and her strong reuile.
Partiall she fawnes, and flatters high estate,
And (false) suggesteth, meane, vnfortunate.
Fortune, and Enuie, are two secret foes
And neither doth her purposes disclose.
For, whom, and when, they seeke to smite they smile:
And still conceale, the substance of their wyle.
Where Fortune fauours, there doth Enuie hate,
Betweene them both, there is no sure estate.
But where true vertues Heroickes, doe stand
Constant, th' incounter these foes, hand, to hand.
But Fortune, taken, in diuiner sence
Is not a foe, but nurse of patience:
It is that power that swayeth all estates
And loues them best, that most she verberates.
In thought, in sight, in iudgement partiall.
The great, earths ornaments, the base, her spots,
Earths highest portions, seeme true pawnes of grace,
Gracefull allotments, haue no seemings bace:
But in these misteries hid matter lies
Which none can see, with his owne natures eyes,
Therefore I leaue it, to euent: And smile;
At Enuies weaknes, and her strong reuile.
Partiall she fawnes, and flatters high estate,
And (false) suggesteth, meane, vnfortunate.
Fortune, and Enuie, are two secret foes
And neither doth her purposes disclose.
For, whom, and when, they seeke to smite they smile:
And still conceale, the substance of their wyle.
Where Fortune fauours, there doth Enuie hate,
Betweene them both, there is no sure estate.
But where true vertues Heroickes, doe stand
Constant, th' incounter these foes, hand, to hand.
But Fortune, taken, in diuiner sence
Is not a foe, but nurse of patience:
It is that power that swayeth all estates
And loues them best, that most she verberates.
Therefore the causes of mens want and weale,
This powre Diuine, daignes not them to reueale,
But lets th' ambitious, holds them onely blest
That winne earths happines; and loose the rest.
No art or eloquence, no feare or loue,
Can from earths loue, their blinded hearts remoue:
Opinion strong, reiecteth Reasons skill,
Feedes foolish Fancie, and peruerts the will.
This powre Diuine, daignes not them to reueale,
But lets th' ambitious, holds them onely blest
That winne earths happines; and loose the rest.
No art or eloquence, no feare or loue,
Can from earths loue, their blinded hearts remoue:
Opinion strong, reiecteth Reasons skill,
Feedes foolish Fancie, and peruerts the will.
A face most ougly, may in selfe-conceit
Seeme fayre, welfauor'd, amiable, neyt,
But when he sees it, in a perfect glasse,
He checkes conceit, misdeeming what it was.
So they that think nought good, but this earths might,
Liue yet in darke, not hauing inward light:
Though this high power do freely it bestow,
Yet for what cause the wisest do not know:
For, Fortune giues but thinges of outward vse,
She giues and takes, for feare frames no excuse,
But he that sees and swaieth all euents,
Heaues somtimes vp, some graceles malecontents.
And who foresees when he is lifted high,
What future perill may succeed thereby,
None see the issue of a thing begun,
Nor how successe of good or ill may run,
False, fond, and rash, are humane arguments,
Of high or low, conceyl'd are all euents,
Somtimes best seemings worse then baser hit,
Which none fore-sees, not one preuenteth it,
The power diuine, oft turnes an ill to best,
And best suppos'd of best oft dispossest.
Seeme fayre, welfauor'd, amiable, neyt,
But when he sees it, in a perfect glasse,
He checkes conceit, misdeeming what it was.
Liue yet in darke, not hauing inward light:
Though this high power do freely it bestow,
Yet for what cause the wisest do not know:
For, Fortune giues but thinges of outward vse,
She giues and takes, for feare frames no excuse,
But he that sees and swaieth all euents,
Heaues somtimes vp, some graceles malecontents.
And who foresees when he is lifted high,
What future perill may succeed thereby,
None see the issue of a thing begun,
Nor how successe of good or ill may run,
False, fond, and rash, are humane arguments,
Of high or low, conceyl'd are all euents,
Somtimes best seemings worse then baser hit,
Which none fore-sees, not one preuenteth it,
The power diuine, oft turnes an ill to best,
And best suppos'd of best oft dispossest.
High powers permit a wicked man to rise,
And by vsurped greatnes tyrranise:
But it's obseru'd, he hath not long to stand,
In his false greatnes, but the selfe same hand
That heau'd him vp, soone hurles him downe againe,
That nought regardes, faire fawnes, or deepe disdaine.
And some that see such changes in Estates,
Hold al successes wrought by fained Fates:
No, no, a power superior sits and swaies,
This Labyrinths right race, and her estraies,
Who doth, ne suffers ought, mong men in vaine,
And yet turnes oft mens wayes of Ioy to paine,
And paine to pleasure if it more befit,
None know thinges issues ere they see them hit,
And by vsurped greatnes tyrranise:
But it's obseru'd, he hath not long to stand,
In his false greatnes, but the selfe same hand
That heau'd him vp, soone hurles him downe againe,
That nought regardes, faire fawnes, or deepe disdaine.
And some that see such changes in Estates,
Hold al successes wrought by fained Fates:
No, no, a power superior sits and swaies,
This Labyrinths right race, and her estraies,
Who doth, ne suffers ought, mong men in vaine,
And yet turnes oft mens wayes of Ioy to paine,
And paine to pleasure if it more befit,
None know thinges issues ere they see them hit,
Astrologers by Planetary skill;
Presume to tell successes good and ill.
If they indeed had deified wits,
They might presage a thing before it hits,
But he that by celestiall influence,
And starres aspects seekes truthes intelligence.
Fore-tels mans lot, and how his end shal make,
May hit by chance; more certainely mistake,
Gaine makes them gaze, vaine-glory makes them speake
They pawne their credits, yet their promise breake:
So they that iudge, by present weale, or woe,
That future ioy, or greefe, must needs be so.
(Though as the cause men deeme th' effect to be)
Their iudgement blind, cause, nor effect can see,
Blind then that iudge of things succeeding well,
By their well-weening, when they cannot tell,
What is that well that men so much desire,
Wealth, honor, beauty, credit, wits aspire
All which compar'd to wel, indeed are found
Base, euil, idle, rotten, and vnsound.
Vnlesse with these concurre hearts humblenesse,
Feare, reuerence, and faithfull thankefulnesse,
True thankfulnesse, chiefe argument of grace:
Of grace diuine, that leades in that right race,
That tendes indeed to truest happinesse,
To earths contentment and heauens blessednesse.
And to that peace that feedeth stil a guest.
That nought remooues but earths care from the brest,
And yet earths care the carnall hearts delight,
That breeds a peace that fosters selfe-despite,
Yet seemeth sweet that seeming yeelds content
The heart mistaking falcifies consent.
As greatest pearles and gemmes of best respect
By humane art are found oft counterfeite.
And he that wants true iudgement of the thing,
Esteemes that base fit Iewell for a King.
The perfect pearle, is precious, permanent;
The counterfeit, decayes incontinent,
In coulour, weight, and value, which doth show
The thing not currant, which doth alter so.
So alter all this lifes felicities,
That fall to good, and bad, and miseries:
They alter oft, and neuer stand secure,
One giues the checke, and lies aloofe the lure.
Th' other stoopes, when men would haue her flye,
And both disdaine all humane policie.
Presume to tell successes good and ill.
They might presage a thing before it hits,
But he that by celestiall influence,
And starres aspects seekes truthes intelligence.
Fore-tels mans lot, and how his end shal make,
May hit by chance; more certainely mistake,
Gaine makes them gaze, vaine-glory makes them speake
They pawne their credits, yet their promise breake:
So they that iudge, by present weale, or woe,
That future ioy, or greefe, must needs be so.
(Though as the cause men deeme th' effect to be)
Their iudgement blind, cause, nor effect can see,
Blind then that iudge of things succeeding well,
By their well-weening, when they cannot tell,
What is that well that men so much desire,
Wealth, honor, beauty, credit, wits aspire
All which compar'd to wel, indeed are found
Base, euil, idle, rotten, and vnsound.
Vnlesse with these concurre hearts humblenesse,
Feare, reuerence, and faithfull thankefulnesse,
True thankfulnesse, chiefe argument of grace:
Of grace diuine, that leades in that right race,
That tendes indeed to truest happinesse,
To earths contentment and heauens blessednesse.
And to that peace that feedeth stil a guest.
That nought remooues but earths care from the brest,
And yet earths care the carnall hearts delight,
That breeds a peace that fosters selfe-despite,
Yet seemeth sweet that seeming yeelds content
The heart mistaking falcifies consent.
As greatest pearles and gemmes of best respect
By humane art are found oft counterfeite.
And he that wants true iudgement of the thing,
Esteemes that base fit Iewell for a King.
The counterfeit, decayes incontinent,
In coulour, weight, and value, which doth show
The thing not currant, which doth alter so.
So alter all this lifes felicities,
That fall to good, and bad, and miseries:
They alter oft, and neuer stand secure,
One giues the checke, and lies aloofe the lure.
Th' other stoopes, when men would haue her flye,
And both disdaine all humane policie.
Are not the lowe, set sometimes all-aloft?
Are not the loftie, hurled downe as oft?
Prophane, Diuine, our owne Domesticals
Are mirrors, of Times true memorials:
Sometimes the great, by base are captiuate
To show that none till death is fortunate.
Are not the loftie, hurled downe as oft?
Prophane, Diuine, our owne Domesticals
Are mirrors, of Times true memorials:
Sometimes the great, by base are captiuate
To show that none till death is fortunate.
The lowe, and hye, stand all, in fickle stay
Like changing actors, in a tragick play:
In this lifes Labyrinth, men rise and fall,
As creekes, and curuings leade, they meet withall.
And nothing more leades passengers awry,
Nor breeds more danger, then Securitie.
Securest, oft things most vniust commit,
Not deeming powers Diuine, consider it.
But when they are, in their securest pride,
Not looking lowe, where danger lyes, they slide.
Like changing actors, in a tragick play:
In this lifes Labyrinth, men rise and fall,
As creekes, and curuings leade, they meet withall.
And nothing more leades passengers awry,
Nor breeds more danger, then Securitie.
Securest, oft things most vniust commit,
Not deeming powers Diuine, consider it.
But when they are, in their securest pride,
Not looking lowe, where danger lyes, they slide.
Earths comforts, are like Phœbus splending rayes,
Her crosses like sad darke, and gloomie dayes:
Prosperitie resembles, Summer spring,
Aduersitie, Autumne, and wintering,
Alternately haue these their turnes to runne,
Shining or shadow'd, as, with clouds, the Sunne.
Which way s'euer, th' inconstant wind doth blow,
It's still full-various, blow it hye or lowe.
And like to it, are Earthly mens estates,
Increasing now, forthwith againe abates.
Her crosses like sad darke, and gloomie dayes:
Prosperitie resembles, Summer spring,
Aduersitie, Autumne, and wintering,
Alternately haue these their turnes to runne,
Shining or shadow'd, as, with clouds, the Sunne.
Which way s'euer, th' inconstant wind doth blow,
It's still full-various, blow it hye or lowe.
Increasing now, forthwith againe abates.
Best wits, doe most affect Ambition:
True Wisedome not, but with condition:
For, if she thinke aduancement dangerous,
She makes a pause, not rashly credulous.
For who sees not whereof high state's compounded,
May thinke it large, till he see how 'tis bounded.
It is great honour, to be set on hye,
But greater wisedome, to shun danger nye.
For Enuie, Vertues blacke infernall foe,
Cannot affect any aduanced so.
True Wisedome not, but with condition:
For, if she thinke aduancement dangerous,
She makes a pause, not rashly credulous.
For who sees not whereof high state's compounded,
May thinke it large, till he see how 'tis bounded.
It is great honour, to be set on hye,
But greater wisedome, to shun danger nye.
For Enuie, Vertues blacke infernall foe,
Cannot affect any aduanced so.
A pleasing step to mount a regall throne,
A wished lot, to be subiect to none.
Yet he that hath the highest step of state
May not be happie, yet seeme fortunate.
The greatest happinesse, is found to be,
In him that liues at large, and euer free.
What care, what trauels, what regard haue Kings,
To manage those, vnder their gouernings?
Kings need but learne this one peculiar art,
Ouer their Subiects, the right ruling part:
To doe themselues, what they would others should
For Subiects mindes, follow the Princes mould,
What loue, what dutie, what affection,
Ought be in those, in their protection?
For whoso liues, and rules, a multitude
May say he liues in Honors seruitude,
Though he command, the inferiour sort obayes,
They censure yet, what ruler doth, or sayes.
If he be iust then censur'd too seuere,
If pittifull, he looseth vulgar feare.
If he reward, as princely liberall,
They taxe him then, as too too prodigall.
If he be sauing, and seeme worldly wise,
Th' accuse him then, as too too couetise,
If he be peacefull, and refraine Debate,
He is a coward, farre, vnfit for state.
If he couragious, princely valarous,
They grudge at this, as too too quarrellous.
If he be graue, then is he proud in show,
If affable, not fit a Prince be so.
If he be sad, then discontent in minde,
If merry, light. Thus vary they as winde.
A wished lot, to be subiect to none.
Yet he that hath the highest step of state
May not be happie, yet seeme fortunate.
The greatest happinesse, is found to be,
In him that liues at large, and euer free.
What care, what trauels, what regard haue Kings,
To manage those, vnder their gouernings?
Kings need but learne this one peculiar art,
Ouer their Subiects, the right ruling part:
To doe themselues, what they would others should
For Subiects mindes, follow the Princes mould,
What loue, what dutie, what affection,
Ought be in those, in their protection?
For whoso liues, and rules, a multitude
May say he liues in Honors seruitude,
Though he command, the inferiour sort obayes,
They censure yet, what ruler doth, or sayes.
If he be iust then censur'd too seuere,
If pittifull, he looseth vulgar feare.
If he reward, as princely liberall,
They taxe him then, as too too prodigall.
Th' accuse him then, as too too couetise,
If he be peacefull, and refraine Debate,
He is a coward, farre, vnfit for state.
If he couragious, princely valarous,
They grudge at this, as too too quarrellous.
If he be graue, then is he proud in show,
If affable, not fit a Prince be so.
If he be sad, then discontent in minde,
If merry, light. Thus vary they as winde.
Can Honour wake, and will fowle Enuie sleepe?
If Vertue rise, will Enuie silence keep?
Who then can see, though vertue be his guide;
What may within this Labyrinth, betide,
Wherein the wisest, oft, amazed stand:
For best successe, to turne on whither hand.
If Vertue rise, will Enuie silence keep?
Who then can see, though vertue be his guide;
What may within this Labyrinth, betide,
Wherein the wisest, oft, amazed stand:
For best successe, to turne on whither hand.
The highest of the highest rancke is set,
To tread this maze, not free from counterlet.
For, Enuie bandes, and doth oppose her skill,
To circumvent as well the good, as ill.
Whom she detracteth, be he hye or low,
Receiues a wound, before he feeles the blow.
But, who pursues, another, in despite,
Hurts more himselfe, then him he aymes to smite.
To tread this maze, not free from counterlet.
For, Enuie bandes, and doth oppose her skill,
To circumvent as well the good, as ill.
Whom she detracteth, be he hye or low,
Receiues a wound, before he feeles the blow.
But, who pursues, another, in despite,
Hurts more himselfe, then him he aymes to smite.
Vertue the loadstarre of a liuely life,
Is free it selfe, by Enuie forc'd to strife.
Where vertue shines, yet, in the outward deed,
By inward light, makes Enuyes heart to bleed:
Yet none can stop the mouthes of Machiauels
That fawne, and whine, yet bite him that excels.
Hardly the highest, and most honourable
Auoide the scandals of those execrable,
Not one, aduanc'd, can tread this maze so right,
But that foule Hagg, will scandalize his might.
The iustest Magistrate, censures not that,
Which will not be, by her, accepted at.
Is free it selfe, by Enuie forc'd to strife.
Where vertue shines, yet, in the outward deed,
By inward light, makes Enuyes heart to bleed:
Yet none can stop the mouthes of Machiauels
That fawne, and whine, yet bite him that excels.
Hardly the highest, and most honourable
Auoide the scandals of those execrable,
Not one, aduanc'd, can tread this maze so right,
But that foule Hagg, will scandalize his might.
Which will not be, by her, accepted at.
Enuy maligneth all, affecteth none,
No, no, not those, of her owne faction.
For if she see her instruments to rise,
She is suspicious, and will tyrannize.
No, no, not those, of her owne faction.
For if she see her instruments to rise,
She is suspicious, and will tyrannize.
To raise and then reiect, is her delite:
She makes a pastime, of her workes of spite.
Yet is her force, but meerely feeblenes,
Her wisedome folly, her wit giddynes.
Self-harme she feares, at others goods she frets,
She eggs to vice, and vertue counterlets.
Desertlesse vpstarts, that from basest rise,
She doth with most desertfull, equalise.
She frames the fancies, of the vulgar so,
As, they giue censure, as is outward show.
The robed in the brauest weeds, they deeme,
Most worthy; base in show, of base esteeme.
They seeme to reuerence, the glorious,
To get their shelter, are obsequious.
To whom, their fawnes, in loue they leuell not.
But to be grac't, by him, that grace hath got.
And some that thus obtaine, the fawning traine,
Thinke it true greatnes: yet, conceal'd disdaine.
She makes a pastime, of her workes of spite.
Yet is her force, but meerely feeblenes,
Her wisedome folly, her wit giddynes.
Self-harme she feares, at others goods she frets,
She eggs to vice, and vertue counterlets.
Desertlesse vpstarts, that from basest rise,
She doth with most desertfull, equalise.
She frames the fancies, of the vulgar so,
As, they giue censure, as is outward show.
The robed in the brauest weeds, they deeme,
Most worthy; base in show, of base esteeme.
They seeme to reuerence, the glorious,
To get their shelter, are obsequious.
To whom, their fawnes, in loue they leuell not.
But to be grac't, by him, that grace hath got.
And some that thus obtaine, the fawning traine,
Thinke it true greatnes: yet, conceal'd disdaine.
The likest way, leades oft to most annoy:
Th' vnlike to grace: This Labyrinth is coy.
For oft their lyes, a bayt, in pleasing'st things,
Inchanted, and men bite, and then it stings.
Sweet first in tast; And yeelds a while content,
The tast, well pleas'd, will, yeeldeth full consent.
And swallowes it: And thinkes it will digest,
To his high happines, and thinkes him blest,
That in this Labyrinth, he found the way,
That others sought; But found not where it lay.
Then he puft vp with vapors of his pride,
Sayles on as he commanded winde, and tyde.
Then fawning some, some flatter, some admire,
Some yeeld al-haile, that hate his haute aspire.
Some emulate, some enuy, some deuise,
To hurle him downe, that they themselues may rise,
By right or wrong, Ambition seldome stayes,
When she begins, she scornes to make delayes:
From lowest step, she lifts her foote aloft,
By large degrees; And he that steppeth oft,
Goes farre: Yet, some, as in a Crane doth raise
Some others hye, by his steps, yet he stayes.
And when the wheele hath mounted some too hye.
The engine fayles, and they fall fearefully.
And standers by, that see them rise, and fall,
Admiring say better not rise at all.
Th' vnlike to grace: This Labyrinth is coy.
For oft their lyes, a bayt, in pleasing'st things,
Inchanted, and men bite, and then it stings.
Sweet first in tast; And yeelds a while content,
The tast, well pleas'd, will, yeeldeth full consent.
And swallowes it: And thinkes it will digest,
To his high happines, and thinkes him blest,
That in this Labyrinth, he found the way,
That others sought; But found not where it lay.
Sayles on as he commanded winde, and tyde.
Then fawning some, some flatter, some admire,
Some yeeld al-haile, that hate his haute aspire.
Some emulate, some enuy, some deuise,
To hurle him downe, that they themselues may rise,
By right or wrong, Ambition seldome stayes,
When she begins, she scornes to make delayes:
From lowest step, she lifts her foote aloft,
By large degrees; And he that steppeth oft,
Goes farre: Yet, some, as in a Crane doth raise
Some others hye, by his steps, yet he stayes.
And when the wheele hath mounted some too hye.
The engine fayles, and they fall fearefully.
And standers by, that see them rise, and fall,
Admiring say better not rise at all.
This mouing world, may well resembled be,
T'a Iacke, or Watch, or Clock, or to all three:
For, as they moue, by weights, or springs, and wheeles,
And euery mouer, others mouer feeles,
So doe the states, of men of all degrees,
Moue from the lowest to the highest fees,
The lesser wheeles, haue most celeritie,
The greatest moue with farre more constancie,
And if there mouings lowest wheeles neglect,
The greatest mouer doth them all correct.
For, if the wheeles, had equall force to moue,
The lowest would checke, the leading wheele aboue.
So, if there were, no difference in estates,
All would be lawlesse, yet al Magistrates:
Therefore hath Art, well ordered the thing,
That best resembles, Subiects and their King.
The spring is set to force the motion
Of the vnequall wheeles; to make distinction:
The wheeles ought moue, but as first mouer will,
If too too fast, or too to slow its ill.
And if the spring, doe tenter string too hye
It breakes: And wheeles runne back confusedly.
Therefore a meane preserues the whole in peace,
And true concordance: yeeldeth sweet increase.
T'a Iacke, or Watch, or Clock, or to all three:
For, as they moue, by weights, or springs, and wheeles,
And euery mouer, others mouer feeles,
So doe the states, of men of all degrees,
Moue from the lowest to the highest fees,
The lesser wheeles, haue most celeritie,
The greatest moue with farre more constancie,
And if there mouings lowest wheeles neglect,
The greatest mouer doth them all correct.
For, if the wheeles, had equall force to moue,
The lowest would checke, the leading wheele aboue.
So, if there were, no difference in estates,
All would be lawlesse, yet al Magistrates:
Therefore hath Art, well ordered the thing,
That best resembles, Subiects and their King.
The spring is set to force the motion
Of the vnequall wheeles; to make distinction:
If too too fast, or too to slow its ill.
And if the spring, doe tenter string too hye
It breakes: And wheeles runne back confusedly.
Therefore a meane preserues the whole in peace,
And true concordance: yeeldeth sweet increase.
The frame of heauen's admir'd, orbes mighty sphere
Doth show, by nature, how arts wheeles should stere:
The princely Planet Sol, hath limits set,
But in his moouing hath no counterlet.
She's onely Mistresse of the Zodiack,
And that she walkes, and weyneth forth and back,
Teaching Earthes potentates to rest content,
Not to vsurp, beyond their set extent.
For if the Sunne should grow, too hye, or low,
Earth's orbe or heau'ns her heat would ouerthrow.
Doth show, by nature, how arts wheeles should stere:
The princely Planet Sol, hath limits set,
But in his moouing hath no counterlet.
She's onely Mistresse of the Zodiack,
And that she walkes, and weyneth forth and back,
Teaching Earthes potentates to rest content,
Not to vsurp, beyond their set extent.
For if the Sunne should grow, too hye, or low,
Earth's orbe or heau'ns her heat would ouerthrow.
Ambition faines, fames period onely lyes
To be Earths Monarch, as sole Sunne in skies:
If one in earth seeme greatest of renowne,
Another thirsteth to depriue his Crowne.
Atchieu'd he holds, not yet his fame compleat,
Seeing some neighbour Diadems so great.
There must no equals, or superiors be,
Ambition scornes, comparatiue degree.
Which makes th' ambitious, rash to vndertake,
Things desperate, for gold, and glories sake.
He thirsts, for bloud, he hungers most for gold,
He ouerleapes mens heads, takes not good hold,
Then Fortune frownes, and giues his pride a check,
Aspiring wings clipt, fals and breakes his neck.
To be Earths Monarch, as sole Sunne in skies:
If one in earth seeme greatest of renowne,
Another thirsteth to depriue his Crowne.
Atchieu'd he holds, not yet his fame compleat,
Seeing some neighbour Diadems so great.
There must no equals, or superiors be,
Ambition scornes, comparatiue degree.
Which makes th' ambitious, rash to vndertake,
Things desperate, for gold, and glories sake.
He thirsts, for bloud, he hungers most for gold,
He ouerleapes mens heads, takes not good hold,
Then Fortune frownes, and giues his pride a check,
Aspiring wings clipt, fals and breakes his neck.
Ambition is the sparke of Enuies fire,
Aspires it selfe, hates others that aspire.
Retaines not any drop of Temperance,
To quench the heat, of hatefull Arrogance.
Aspires it selfe, hates others that aspire.
Retaines not any drop of Temperance,
To quench the heat, of hatefull Arrogance.
Where haute Ambition climes th' inferior fall,
Hard are th-ambitious, and illiberall:
Vnlesse to Agents, in their Tragedies,
Men meerely of infernall qualities.
Who stops their enterprise, by force must downe,
Bloud must make way, to haute Ambitions crowne.
And when the diademe is wonn, and worne,
With highest dignitie, and best adorne:
The Actors of their miscrean pollicies
No longer held their needfull complices.
But seeking surance for their secrecie,
Make agents, patients of their trecherie.
Then like the Sunne resplending in the skies,
In selfe-conceit, th' are glorious in mens eyes.
Then sway they th' earth, as if whole orbe were theirs.
And due to none, but to them and their heires:
As in a dreame puft vp, awak't they fall:
Ambition beates th' ambitious to the wall.
Successiuely, Ambition, raignes by force,
The sword her right, and Rigor, her remorce.
Glorie and gold, are two extreames of lust,
They shine in show awhile: then turne to rust.
Hard are th-ambitious, and illiberall:
Vnlesse to Agents, in their Tragedies,
Men meerely of infernall qualities.
Who stops their enterprise, by force must downe,
Bloud must make way, to haute Ambitions crowne.
And when the diademe is wonn, and worne,
With highest dignitie, and best adorne:
The Actors of their miscrean pollicies
No longer held their needfull complices.
But seeking surance for their secrecie,
Make agents, patients of their trecherie.
Then like the Sunne resplending in the skies,
In selfe-conceit, th' are glorious in mens eyes.
Then sway they th' earth, as if whole orbe were theirs.
And due to none, but to them and their heires:
As in a dreame puft vp, awak't they fall:
Ambition beates th' ambitious to the wall.
Successiuely, Ambition, raignes by force,
The sword her right, and Rigor, her remorce.
Glorie and gold, are two extreames of lust,
They shine in show awhile: then turne to rust.
The vertuous man, will not exchange his state,
With him that seemes, in fame, more fortunate.
For, though the greatest, and the most of might,
Haue this lifes outward, reuerenced hight,
It is vncertaine, nothing permanent,
But mindes, true patience, and the hearts content:
The vertuous is, and will be as he is,
No tossing tide, or tempest comes amisse.
With him that seemes, in fame, more fortunate.
For, though the greatest, and the most of might,
Haue this lifes outward, reuerenced hight,
It is vncertaine, nothing permanent,
But mindes, true patience, and the hearts content:
The vertuous is, and will be as he is,
No tossing tide, or tempest comes amisse.
The riches of the minde, are light and long,
They bring content, and make the owner strong.
Portage, not ponderous, the roomer small,
Where th' owner goes, his riches goe withall.
When th' worlds rich man, hath most he thinks in bank
Vnfolds his bils, and findes Assurance, blanke.
What he possesseth, others posses'd before:
Dead, what he had, others diuide his store.
These riches, rise, and fall, they pitch and flye,
They runne, and rest, as dust, before the eye.
They bring content, and make the owner strong.
Portage, not ponderous, the roomer small,
Where th' owner goes, his riches goe withall.
Vnfolds his bils, and findes Assurance, blanke.
What he possesseth, others posses'd before:
Dead, what he had, others diuide his store.
These riches, rise, and fall, they pitch and flye,
They runne, and rest, as dust, before the eye.
The greedy Miser, is earths moth, and eates,
The fruits of others, he, yet neuer sweates:
Nothing more pest, to publique weale then he:
Nothing more shun'd, of vertuous men can be.
Though gold, nor glorie, in themselues be ill,
If Will, rule them, And they rule not the Will.
Auarice, a Beast, which hardly men can tame,
It brings in pelfe, puts on't a noble name.
But he that least affecteth riches lot,
Hath that best lot, which some rich men haue not.
For, he that is content, possesseth most:
And least distracts his minde, what he hath lost.
Vertue much greeues not, at sad misery:
Nor much insults, at earths felicitie.
But as the powre Diuine, appoints his lot
He rests content: Th' ambitious man can not,
He thirsts to rise, regards not though by wrong,
His triumph short, in vaine, desired long.
The fruits of others, he, yet neuer sweates:
Nothing more pest, to publique weale then he:
Nothing more shun'd, of vertuous men can be.
Though gold, nor glorie, in themselues be ill,
If Will, rule them, And they rule not the Will.
Auarice, a Beast, which hardly men can tame,
It brings in pelfe, puts on't a noble name.
But he that least affecteth riches lot,
Hath that best lot, which some rich men haue not.
For, he that is content, possesseth most:
And least distracts his minde, what he hath lost.
Vertue much greeues not, at sad misery:
Nor much insults, at earths felicitie.
But as the powre Diuine, appoints his lot
He rests content: Th' ambitious man can not,
He thirsts to rise, regards not though by wrong,
His triumph short, in vaine, desired long.
Drinkes are held best, that soonest quench the thirst,
Ambition, drunke, drinkes, more then at the first,
It euer drinkes, yet neuer is but dry,
One clod the mouth. Earthes orbe, fils not the eye.
Ambition, drunke, drinkes, more then at the first,
It euer drinkes, yet neuer is but dry,
One clod the mouth. Earthes orbe, fils not the eye.
Fancie, a Feuer hecttique of the minde,
It sees sometimes, sometimes againe is blind,
Affection, guided, by right rule of grace,
Disgraceth foolish fancie to her face.
Right Reason, glut with Fancies banquettings
Disgorgeth Fancie, and her flatterings.
And bendes her appetite to feed on that,
Is onely good: shunnes ill though delicate,,
It sees sometimes, sometimes againe is blind,
Affection, guided, by right rule of grace,
Disgraceth foolish fancie to her face.
Right Reason, glut with Fancies banquettings
Disgorgeth Fancie, and her flatterings.
Is onely good: shunnes ill though delicate,,
What happines in seeming happy daies,
Sith life begun, immediatly decayes?
Delight, a dreame; his death can no man shun,
Intreat preuailes not when times glasse is run:
Though life beginnes alike in generall,
By diuers meanes fierce death determines all.
Deaths memory a motiue to liue well,
She comes on sodaine, when, disdaines to tel,
Al creatures irrational shew more content,
In Bruitish life: and seeme more continent:
Then many whom true reason should possesse,
As ioy and greefe: by two extreames expresse:
Humane delights are short, repentance long
Weak the resistance; will to vices, strong.
What way soeuer, seemeth sweet men take,
The truely sweet, they wilfully forsake,
Heauens sacred children do the best imbrace,
The worst the wicked by mistaken grace:
Both haue their ioyes, but by two contraries,
Heauens truth the one, th' other earths vanities,
The first hath inward th' other owtward light
The first diuine, that other carnall sight.
Sith life begun, immediatly decayes?
Delight, a dreame; his death can no man shun,
Intreat preuailes not when times glasse is run:
Though life beginnes alike in generall,
By diuers meanes fierce death determines all.
Deaths memory a motiue to liue well,
She comes on sodaine, when, disdaines to tel,
Al creatures irrational shew more content,
In Bruitish life: and seeme more continent:
Then many whom true reason should possesse,
As ioy and greefe: by two extreames expresse:
Humane delights are short, repentance long
Weak the resistance; will to vices, strong.
What way soeuer, seemeth sweet men take,
The truely sweet, they wilfully forsake,
Heauens sacred children do the best imbrace,
The worst the wicked by mistaken grace:
Both haue their ioyes, but by two contraries,
Heauens truth the one, th' other earths vanities,
The first hath inward th' other owtward light
The first diuine, that other carnall sight.
The thinges men see and what they heere possesse,
Is theirs they think, and therein happines,
Thinges present in conceit do profit most,
Past or expected, deemed things but lost.
Is theirs they think, and therein happines,
Thinges present in conceit do profit most,
Past or expected, deemed things but lost.
The greatest men, that spatious buildings haue,
At once, possesse of all, one onely caue,
At once they can, but in one place reside,
Though Gods on earth, in earth not deifi'de
Where so the highest or the lowest bee,
In person are only, as eye doth see.
Thoughts, yet, are hid, hearts, are extrauagant
Hearts hot desires too too, exorbitant.
At once, possesse of all, one onely caue,
At once they can, but in one place reside,
Though Gods on earth, in earth not deifi'de
Where so the highest or the lowest bee,
In person are only, as eye doth see.
Hearts hot desires too too, exorbitant.
The greatest, wise, containe their greatest mind,
And hold themselues, but as them others finde:
Though great in state, true Honor is most milde
Stout yet in heart, most constant, vndefil'd,
To whom inferiors ought all dutie lend,
As members worthy, and most reuerend.
The memories, are still solemnized
By th' vertuous liuing, of the vertuous deed.
And hold themselues, but as them others finde:
Though great in state, true Honor is most milde
Stout yet in heart, most constant, vndefil'd,
To whom inferiors ought all dutie lend,
As members worthy, and most reuerend.
The memories, are still solemnized
By th' vertuous liuing, of the vertuous deed.
Some thinke their glorie, of high mountaine fame,
When lesse then mole-hill others hold the same.
When lesse then mole-hill others hold the same.
Fame arrogate, is but a doubtfull dreame,
A building founded, on a broken beame.
A castle set, nere surges, on the sand.
Which fals forthwith vnder the builders hand.
Desert, preceding hearts desire to rise,
Is onely that, that truely dignifies.
A building founded, on a broken beame.
A castle set, nere surges, on the sand.
Which fals forthwith vnder the builders hand.
Desert, preceding hearts desire to rise,
Is onely that, that truely dignifies.
A fickle trust, or feare, Earths fawne, or frowne,
When Fortune smiles, she plots to hurle Men downe.
And when she frownes, she frownes to try the minde:
If it be constant,, then is she most kinde.
True Constancie, is alwaies, one, the same
In all euents: it holds the force and name.
When Fortune smiles, she plots to hurle Men downe.
And when she frownes, she frownes to try the minde:
If it be constant,, then is she most kinde.
True Constancie, is alwaies, one, the same
In all euents: it holds the force and name.
It's not the thing, that ioyes, or greeues the heart
It is conceit, of best, or worser part.
For, he that is in crosses discontent,
In best estate, was but maleuolent.
The vertuous, in hye, or low estate,
Show not the higher, or the lower rate.
It is conceit, of best, or worser part.
For, he that is in crosses discontent,
In best estate, was but maleuolent.
The vertuous, in hye, or low estate,
Show not the higher, or the lower rate.
Most men, doe most affect, but mortall things,
Blind, not conceiuing, rightly, what it brings:
What future times may be, seeke not to know,
But that, whereby vaine-glorie most may grow.
Affecting that, which seemes in show content,
Like libertie, indeed, imprisonment.
Fetters seeme ornaments, freedome, but guile,
Misery sweet mirth: home hard and harsh exile.
Sicknes of body, crosses, poore estate,
Nothing so hard, as heart infatuate.
Blind, not conceiuing, rightly, what it brings:
What future times may be, seeke not to know,
But that, whereby vaine-glorie most may grow.
Like libertie, indeed, imprisonment.
Fetters seeme ornaments, freedome, but guile,
Misery sweet mirth: home hard and harsh exile.
Sicknes of body, crosses, poore estate,
Nothing so hard, as heart infatuate.
Aspiring mindes that fight for Honors fame
Faint not, but in conceit, atchieue the same.
The gaine that growes, by hearts ambition,
Is but the breath of basest of condition,
VVho by the vapors of their lips al-haile,
Raise fickle blasts, that fill vaine-glories sayle:
But he that best deserues, true glories fame,
Is, that deserues, and seekes to shun the same.
Faint not, but in conceit, atchieue the same.
The gaine that growes, by hearts ambition,
Is but the breath of basest of condition,
VVho by the vapors of their lips al-haile,
Raise fickle blasts, that fill vaine-glories sayle:
But he that best deserues, true glories fame,
Is, that deserues, and seekes to shun the same.
Some great about great princes, seeke for praise:
As doe Heroicks, by martiall essayes.
Yet either may vsurpe, and challenge that,
Which by desert, neither attained at,
High hope of glorie, moues to vndertake,
Things good, and ill, that may them famous make.
Some mindes so mad, and fancies, furious,
They seeke for fame, by actions impious.
Proiect in heart to perpetrate some act,
That soule, and body perish for the fact,
As doe Heroicks, by martiall essayes.
Yet either may vsurpe, and challenge that,
Which by desert, neither attained at,
High hope of glorie, moues to vndertake,
Things good, and ill, that may them famous make.
Some mindes so mad, and fancies, furious,
They seeke for fame, by actions impious.
Proiect in heart to perpetrate some act,
That soule, and body perish for the fact,
Vulgar salutes, and courtly congies flye,
To gaine the beck, that feedes the fawning eye.
Some struggle to be Princes fauorites,
And yet in heart, but fawning parasites,
Some deck them with that vermal excrement,
Of peacock-plume-like, colours orient:
To win worlds wonder, and to gaine the gaze
As th' onely merit-mirrors of this maze.
Aesops plume-stealing Crow, the birds, admir'd
As men admire, the peacock-like attir'd.
But when ech bird, had his fayre plumes re-reft
The poore proud Crow, was naked, plumelesse left.
Then birds admir'd, more her penurious case,
Then her false glorie, and vsurped grace.
A prudent Caueat, fram'd by Esops wit,
Needing no Coment to discourse of it,
Vaine-glorious Habite, some, assume to seeme,
One of the Worthies, highest in esteeme.
But were his heart seene, as his habite is,
Few men would gesse, wit, or the habite his.
The tongue, the gesture, and the habite show,
What fancie feedes the heart, whence these plumes grow:
None, yet can find, depth of conceiled mind,
Linx-persing sight, to hidden hearts is blind,
To gaine the beck, that feedes the fawning eye.
Some struggle to be Princes fauorites,
And yet in heart, but fawning parasites,
Some deck them with that vermal excrement,
Of peacock-plume-like, colours orient:
To win worlds wonder, and to gaine the gaze
As th' onely merit-mirrors of this maze.
Aesops plume-stealing Crow, the birds, admir'd
As men admire, the peacock-like attir'd.
The poore proud Crow, was naked, plumelesse left.
Then birds admir'd, more her penurious case,
Then her false glorie, and vsurped grace.
A prudent Caueat, fram'd by Esops wit,
Needing no Coment to discourse of it,
Vaine-glorious Habite, some, assume to seeme,
One of the Worthies, highest in esteeme.
But were his heart seene, as his habite is,
Few men would gesse, wit, or the habite his.
The tongue, the gesture, and the habite show,
What fancie feedes the heart, whence these plumes grow:
None, yet can find, depth of conceiled mind,
Linx-persing sight, to hidden hearts is blind,
Some shroud a secret guile, by seeming grace,
A doubtful mirror, is a fawning face,
More to be trusted is a threatning foe:
Then he that faynes to loue, and doth not so.
Who thinkes all congies, and fayre lookes are loue,
May much mistake, and of all knees that moue,
The Asse that bare the goddesse Isis frame,
Assum'd the Honor, done vnto her name.
A doubtful mirror, is a fawning face,
More to be trusted is a threatning foe:
Then he that faynes to loue, and doth not so.
Who thinkes all congies, and fayre lookes are loue,
May much mistake, and of all knees that moue,
The Asse that bare the goddesse Isis frame,
Assum'd the Honor, done vnto her name.
Fortunes men haue, gaine, glorie, or disdaine:
Fortunes are coy, but vertues courses plaine.
True vertue scornes, that silly Asse should beare her,
Fortune not, for many asses weare her.
And As-like sottish, who, so much mistake:
The congies, which, men to their garments make:
The wise, indeed, and truely qualifi'de:
Seeke not, but suffer, to be dignifi'de.
But where desire, presumes, before desert,
He may vsurp it, Th' honor, will reuert.
Fortunes are coy, but vertues courses plaine.
True vertue scornes, that silly Asse should beare her,
Fortune not, for many asses weare her.
And As-like sottish, who, so much mistake:
The congies, which, men to their garments make:
The wise, indeed, and truely qualifi'de:
Seeke not, but suffer, to be dignifi'de.
But where desire, presumes, before desert,
He may vsurp it, Th' honor, will reuert.
Admit a man, gaine glorie, and he grow
(By meanes vsurped) hye and looke not low.
He will by his owne weight, and fulnes fall,
And fained friends, and fawtors fayle withall.
And though he stand, and grace vsurp'd possesse,
The outward can not inward part expresse.
None sees, how deepe, how dark, how black, how blind
Is dungeon of dispayre, in doubting minde
Sorrowes-serpents, and griefes-torments lye
Hid in fayre prison, of false dignitie.
(By meanes vsurped) hye and looke not low.
And fained friends, and fawtors fayle withall.
And though he stand, and grace vsurp'd possesse,
The outward can not inward part expresse.
None sees, how deepe, how dark, how black, how blind
Is dungeon of dispayre, in doubting minde
Sorrowes-serpents, and griefes-torments lye
Hid in fayre prison, of false dignitie.
The man that liues in competent estate,
And enuiously, doth others emulate;
If he grow greatest, of his ranke will not
Yet rest content, but still distaste his lot.
The dropsie maladie, is alwayes dry,
A quenchlesse thirst, is auaritious eye.
It alwaies climbes, hath neuer wished hight,
It seemes to loue, yet loden with despite.
And if it loose, or misse, what it would get,
It breakes the heart, it had a counterlet.
And enuiously, doth others emulate;
If he grow greatest, of his ranke will not
Yet rest content, but still distaste his lot.
The dropsie maladie, is alwayes dry,
A quenchlesse thirst, is auaritious eye.
It alwaies climbes, hath neuer wished hight,
It seemes to loue, yet loden with despite.
And if it loose, or misse, what it would get,
It breakes the heart, it had a counterlet.
Some seeme to be, what they in heart deny,
And seeke, and finde, what th' would, but can not fly.
And what they flye, still followes them perforce:
Themselues, selfe foes, haue not yet selfe remorce.
And seeke, and finde, what th' would, but can not fly.
And what they flye, still followes them perforce:
Themselues, selfe foes, haue not yet selfe remorce.
Great men, that hold themselues in seruile state,
Though great in show, thinke slaues more fortunate.
What so man holds him, in estate to be,
Though not in deed, In heart, the same is he.
Opinion ioyes, or grieues at things vnseene,
It workes the Will, Will blindeth Reasons eyne.
One sleepes secure, though perill be his bed;
Another cannot, not endangered,
Some are but prisoners, yet supposed free;
In freedome some, are prisoners in degree:
A reall prisoner hath seene gyued parts,
Distracted mindes, are fetters to mens hearts.
What most distracts, is haut Ambition:
Neuer content, with Earthes fruition,
For had he got, this ample Orbe would yet:
Not rest content, nor bound his will, to get.
Though great in show, thinke slaues more fortunate.
What so man holds him, in estate to be,
Though not in deed, In heart, the same is he.
Opinion ioyes, or grieues at things vnseene,
It workes the Will, Will blindeth Reasons eyne.
One sleepes secure, though perill be his bed;
Another cannot, not endangered,
Some are but prisoners, yet supposed free;
In freedome some, are prisoners in degree:
A reall prisoner hath seene gyued parts,
Distracted mindes, are fetters to mens hearts.
Neuer content, with Earthes fruition,
For had he got, this ample Orbe would yet:
Not rest content, nor bound his will, to get.
The things in earth, that man affecteth most,
Decreasing grieue, increasing, make him boast.
And when he boasteth most of flowing tyde,
It ebbs againe, and back his fortunes slide.
For as the Sea, stands not in one estate,
But at the full it doth forthwith abate.
And as, when Cancer, doth enioy the Sunne,
It fals to Capricorne, where it begunne.
The Moone increaseth, and decreaseth oft,
She new, comes old, now low, forthwith aloft.
So doe the states of men, aloft and low:
Now rise, then fall, now ebbe, and then reflow.
A Father gets, a Sonne spends all, and dyes,
A Father spends, A Sonne doth get, and rise.
No thing is permanent within this maze,
Long'st lasting, passeth as a paper blaze.
And none by nature, rightly sees and shunnes,
Apparent dangers, as, in hast, he runnes.
The strongest striue, to runne before the rest:
The weake sometimes, themselues doe re-inuest.
When partiall censure, doth detract good deeds,
It starues desert, in steede, it Enuie feedes.
No partiall hand, nor tongue, nor eye can be,
In vertues life. In Enuies all the three.
Decreasing grieue, increasing, make him boast.
And when he boasteth most of flowing tyde,
It ebbs againe, and back his fortunes slide.
For as the Sea, stands not in one estate,
But at the full it doth forthwith abate.
And as, when Cancer, doth enioy the Sunne,
It fals to Capricorne, where it begunne.
The Moone increaseth, and decreaseth oft,
She new, comes old, now low, forthwith aloft.
So doe the states of men, aloft and low:
Now rise, then fall, now ebbe, and then reflow.
A Father gets, a Sonne spends all, and dyes,
A Father spends, A Sonne doth get, and rise.
No thing is permanent within this maze,
Long'st lasting, passeth as a paper blaze.
And none by nature, rightly sees and shunnes,
Apparent dangers, as, in hast, he runnes.
The strongest striue, to runne before the rest:
The weake sometimes, themselues doe re-inuest.
When partiall censure, doth detract good deeds,
It starues desert, in steede, it Enuie feedes.
No partiall hand, nor tongue, nor eye can be,
In vertues life. In Enuies all the three.
Right Reason, and true Vertue, are two twyns,
The second doth performe, what'th first begins.
True Vertue, alwaies hath, right Reason guide,
With her consultes, by her is rectifi'd.
A vertue shaped in a forged show,
By seeming true, hath oft the ouerthrow.
The second doth performe, what'th first begins.
True Vertue, alwaies hath, right Reason guide,
With her consultes, by her is rectifi'd.
A vertue shaped in a forged show,
By seeming true, hath oft the ouerthrow.
An Asse attired in a Lyons skin,
May seeme a Lyon, yet an Asse within.
A masked face, implies; true beauties hew:
The maske tooke off: oft, filthy face in view.
So counterfets that vertue falsifie,
Haue but the shadow of integritie.
The substance is, indeed, but seeming right,
Compar'd indeed, to Vertue in the light.
For, if she were in substance, as in show,
Enuy could not but seeke her ouerthrow.
Enuy, a while is to the false, a friend,
But to true vertue, neuer to the end.
May seeme a Lyon, yet an Asse within.
A masked face, implies; true beauties hew:
The maske tooke off: oft, filthy face in view.
So counterfets that vertue falsifie,
Haue but the shadow of integritie.
The substance is, indeed, but seeming right,
Compar'd indeed, to Vertue in the light.
For, if she were in substance, as in show,
Enuy could not but seeke her ouerthrow.
Enuy, a while is to the false, a friend,
But to true vertue, neuer to the end.
In what affaires, can man conuerse and liue,
But must indure, what censure all men giue?
If he doe ill, high Ioue becomes his foe,
By due desert, his conscience tels him so.
If well, the world, and worldlings, enemies.
They will, obrayde him, and him scandalize.
And if he seeke to please the multitude,
(A monster) tamed by no fortitude.
Selfe-pleasing, seemeth sweet, and most secure,
Of all diseases, held the helping cure.
Right Reason yet, condemnes, selfe-loue, as hate
VVho doth not publique good, is detestate.
He's happy'st that best pleaseth powres diuine,
Though he thereby, breake league, with humane line.
But must indure, what censure all men giue?
If he doe ill, high Ioue becomes his foe,
By due desert, his conscience tels him so.
If well, the world, and worldlings, enemies.
They will, obrayde him, and him scandalize.
And if he seeke to please the multitude,
(A monster) tamed by no fortitude.
Selfe-pleasing, seemeth sweet, and most secure,
Of all diseases, held the helping cure.
Right Reason yet, condemnes, selfe-loue, as hate
VVho doth not publique good, is detestate.
He's happy'st that best pleaseth powres diuine,
Though he thereby, breake league, with humane line.
Some hold the Court, the paradice of ease,
Of plenty, pleasure, free, of all disease.
Fain'd Hony drops, of courtly smiles doe feede,
Blind fancy, till it starue, yet feeles no need.
But when the VVell, of sugar promise dryes
VVithout performance: then fond fancie dyes.
Reason reuiues, stir'd vp by sorrowes signes,
Retires, with sighes, to see, vaine hopes declines.
Some wish to leade, a rurall priuate state,
Rusticks some hold, of all, most fortunate:
Domestick crosse, distracts, anothers braine:
Some glorie in a clownish, rustick traine.
The swaine that sweates, at paunch-full table toyle,
Feedes fat, more free, then Master of the soile.
Some sicke of court, and country, seeke to please,
Perturbed fancie, in the doubtfull Seas.
Some hoyse the sayle, for glorie, some for gaine,
Successefull some, some loose both by, and maine.
To see the parts, the persons, and the states,
Of forraine soiles, and mighty Potentates,
Some pilgrim-like, forge habite to haue passe,
Returning know not, what their errand was.
Of plenty, pleasure, free, of all disease.
Fain'd Hony drops, of courtly smiles doe feede,
Blind fancy, till it starue, yet feeles no need.
But when the VVell, of sugar promise dryes
VVithout performance: then fond fancie dyes.
Reason reuiues, stir'd vp by sorrowes signes,
Retires, with sighes, to see, vaine hopes declines.
Rusticks some hold, of all, most fortunate:
Domestick crosse, distracts, anothers braine:
Some glorie in a clownish, rustick traine.
The swaine that sweates, at paunch-full table toyle,
Feedes fat, more free, then Master of the soile.
Some sicke of court, and country, seeke to please,
Perturbed fancie, in the doubtfull Seas.
Some hoyse the sayle, for glorie, some for gaine,
Successefull some, some loose both by, and maine.
To see the parts, the persons, and the states,
Of forraine soiles, and mighty Potentates,
Some pilgrim-like, forge habite to haue passe,
Returning know not, what their errand was.
A multi-linguist, is of such request,
To gaine it. Some, giue carcas little rest.
When all is done, that humane heart can finde
None holds himselfe truely content in minde,
Desire, is so exorbitant and large,
It keepes no meane; of what it hath in charge.
Rich therefore no man, can be truely said,
Whose will with appetite, is ouerswaide.
The seeming best content, will change his state,
With him, seemes more, and is lesse, fortunate.
To gaine it. Some, giue carcas little rest.
When all is done, that humane heart can finde
None holds himselfe truely content in minde,
Desire, is so exorbitant and large,
It keepes no meane; of what it hath in charge.
Rich therefore no man, can be truely said,
Whose will with appetite, is ouerswaide.
The seeming best content, will change his state,
With him, seemes more, and is lesse, fortunate.
This doubtfull Labyrinth, full of varieties,
Amazeth many, with her contraries.
The most men trauers this Labyrinth awry,
Some of selfe will, some of necessitie.
Pretended feare, or shame, leade men awry,
They rightly see, and yet miscast their eye.
They would retire, from hurtfull things they take,
But feare disgrace, their rash exchange would make.
Amazeth many, with her contraries.
The most men trauers this Labyrinth awry,
Some of selfe will, some of necessitie.
Pretended feare, or shame, leade men awry,
They rightly see, and yet miscast their eye.
They would retire, from hurtfull things they take,
But feare disgrace, their rash exchange would make.
Is he not mad that fosters in his brest,
A Viper venemous to make his nest.
Who knowes the thing he perpetrates is ill,
Ers not by chance, but with consent, and will.
The guilty heart, then touched with the same,
Feedes inward viper, to shun outward shame.
Among a thousand, ten haue not the skill,
To curbe conceit, or manage well their will.
A Viper venemous to make his nest.
Ers not by chance, but with consent, and will.
The guilty heart, then touched with the same,
Feedes inward viper, to shun outward shame.
Among a thousand, ten haue not the skill,
To curbe conceit, or manage well their will.
There is a guide, and happy who her findes,
Most ready prest, to best inclined mindes.
Few craue, or haue her (in this maze) direction:
But rashly runne into selfe plagues infection.
Yea they of seeming high and hidden skill,
Doe physicke others, yet themselues doe kill.
Some counsell others to a holesome layre,
Yet they themselues, stay in infected ayre.
Most ready prest, to best inclined mindes.
Few craue, or haue her (in this maze) direction:
But rashly runne into selfe plagues infection.
Yea they of seeming high and hidden skill,
Doe physicke others, yet themselues doe kill.
Some counsell others to a holesome layre,
Yet they themselues, stay in infected ayre.
Whither may one, flye from his inward strife?
Where may he liue, to lead contented life?
The Court hath cares to get and keep what's got,
And feare to loose, what one indeed hath not.
In Country growes, a thousand discontents,
Rurall crosses, Disaster, accidents.
Some seeke content by solitarines,
That yeelds no solace, but sad heauines.
Company, some craue, to moue the minde to mirth:
Short, is that mirth, oft dyeth in the birth.
Some seeke the Desart, some the froathing Seas,
The Warres seeke some: none, yeelds contented ease.
A thousand fantasies possesse the brest,
All promise, yet not one, giues grieued rest.
They flatter all, as fawning Harlots doe,
They hugg, and kisse the weake conceits, they wooe.
They draw the minde, from prays-full constancie
To rash consent, and peeuish leuitie.
For, what the eye doth apprehend and see,
The heart conceiues, and breedeth fantasie.
Fancie affects, or doth reiect the things
That th' artes conceit to th' vnderstanding brings.
Where may he liue, to lead contented life?
The Court hath cares to get and keep what's got,
And feare to loose, what one indeed hath not.
In Country growes, a thousand discontents,
Rurall crosses, Disaster, accidents.
Some seeke content by solitarines,
That yeelds no solace, but sad heauines.
Company, some craue, to moue the minde to mirth:
Short, is that mirth, oft dyeth in the birth.
Some seeke the Desart, some the froathing Seas,
The Warres seeke some: none, yeelds contented ease.
A thousand fantasies possesse the brest,
All promise, yet not one, giues grieued rest.
They flatter all, as fawning Harlots doe,
They hugg, and kisse the weake conceits, they wooe.
They draw the minde, from prays-full constancie
To rash consent, and peeuish leuitie.
For, what the eye doth apprehend and see,
The heart conceiues, and breedeth fantasie.
That th' artes conceit to th' vnderstanding brings.
The heart sometimes in couert policie,
Conceales effect, of hidden fantasie,
As he that seemes, to fly the praise of men,
Seekes it, by shelter, in monastick den.
In show, some, doe deny, what they desire,
Some would goe on in show, yet they retire.
Some set themselues before, by drawing backe,
In show some forward, that in heart are slacke.
Some thirst for honor, that deny to take it,
Some well deserue it, would, can not forsake it,
Some seeme to hide them from societie
Desire it yet, vnder fain'd modestie,
Some are most meeke, in seeming outward pride,
In heart some proudest, seeming mortifide.
No man can iudge anothers minde by gesse,
Though outward gesture seeme it to expresse,
A hart-proud man, may be but base in show,
In heart too hye, in weedes a straine too low.
Conceales effect, of hidden fantasie,
As he that seemes, to fly the praise of men,
Seekes it, by shelter, in monastick den.
In show, some, doe deny, what they desire,
Some would goe on in show, yet they retire.
Some set themselues before, by drawing backe,
In show some forward, that in heart are slacke.
Some thirst for honor, that deny to take it,
Some well deserue it, would, can not forsake it,
Some seeme to hide them from societie
Desire it yet, vnder fain'd modestie,
Some are most meeke, in seeming outward pride,
In heart some proudest, seeming mortifide.
No man can iudge anothers minde by gesse,
Though outward gesture seeme it to expresse,
A hart-proud man, may be but base in show,
In heart too hye, in weedes a straine too low.
If men of worth, of office, place and state,
Be base in show, their grace extenuate.
And bring disgrace vpon the place they vse;
And giue men place, them and their place t'abuse.
The person iust, the minde within vpright
Giue grace, and glorie, to the basest dight,
Gracefull attire, a lawfull ornament;
To him that swayes a place of gouerment.
Although the garment, nothing dignifies
The persons, but the place they exercise:
The meane therefore, (though few it seeke or finde)
Should rule, & curb, the grosse extreames of minde.
Some stand conceited of their owne desert,
Of all mens humors, seeme not in-expert.
But hold them all that flatter truest friends,
He is no foe, whose knee and bonet bends.
Strange thing to see, that he should least suspect,
Anothers fawnes, himselfe most counterfet,
But as he forged coppor coyne, for gold,
With it is paid for fayned fawnes he sold.
Be base in show, their grace extenuate.
And bring disgrace vpon the place they vse;
And giue men place, them and their place t'abuse.
The person iust, the minde within vpright
Giue grace, and glorie, to the basest dight,
Gracefull attire, a lawfull ornament;
To him that swayes a place of gouerment.
Although the garment, nothing dignifies
The persons, but the place they exercise:
The meane therefore, (though few it seeke or finde)
Should rule, & curb, the grosse extreames of minde.
Some stand conceited of their owne desert,
Of all mens humors, seeme not in-expert.
He is no foe, whose knee and bonet bends.
Strange thing to see, that he should least suspect,
Anothers fawnes, himselfe most counterfet,
But as he forged coppor coyne, for gold,
With it is paid for fayned fawnes he sold.
A thousand humors strange man vndergoes,
And dangers infinite, to gaine him foes.
For, what true vertue holdeth not for iust
Proceedes, from in-bred, and forbidden lust.
Lust, inward enemie and rageth most.
In that vaine heart, that outwardly doth boast.
Pompey could not indure, an equall mate,
Nor Cæsar, one in Superiour estate.
Yet neither had a stronger outward foe,
Then inward pride, that bred their ouerthrow.
Antiochus did beare himselfe in hand
That he could foote the seas, and sayle the land,
When will, and power, and Arrogance doe meete,
Vertue is trod, and Reason vnder feete.
As sotted Sabor, that proud Persian King,
Was s'ouerswayd with foolish fancying.
As he the title, King of Kings assum'd,
Companion of the starres, himselfe presum'd.
Brother vnto the Moone, and glorious Sunne,
And they shone not, till his light first begun,
Thus arrogance inflames the fuming brest,
Consumes true peace, depriues the heart of rest:
The errors infinite, of wauing minde:
What pleaseth now, is suddenly repin'd.
Conceit intends, all what it seekes is best,
And had, it holdes it, most accepted guest.
But when a crosse conceit, comes thwart of it,
The first cast off, the second held more fit.
And dangers infinite, to gaine him foes.
For, what true vertue holdeth not for iust
Proceedes, from in-bred, and forbidden lust.
Lust, inward enemie and rageth most.
In that vaine heart, that outwardly doth boast.
Pompey could not indure, an equall mate,
Nor Cæsar, one in Superiour estate.
Yet neither had a stronger outward foe,
Then inward pride, that bred their ouerthrow.
Antiochus did beare himselfe in hand
That he could foote the seas, and sayle the land,
When will, and power, and Arrogance doe meete,
Vertue is trod, and Reason vnder feete.
As sotted Sabor, that proud Persian King,
Was s'ouerswayd with foolish fancying.
As he the title, King of Kings assum'd,
Companion of the starres, himselfe presum'd.
Brother vnto the Moone, and glorious Sunne,
And they shone not, till his light first begun,
Thus arrogance inflames the fuming brest,
Consumes true peace, depriues the heart of rest:
The errors infinite, of wauing minde:
What pleaseth now, is suddenly repin'd.
Conceit intends, all what it seekes is best,
And had, it holdes it, most accepted guest.
But when a crosse conceit, comes thwart of it,
The first cast off, the second held more fit.
The greatest grace, is mighty Princes grace,
His bounties hand, and his affecting face:
When it's at high'st, it harbors yet a feare,
Least fayrest Sunne, presage a tempest neare.
A Lyons fawnes, fed by his keeper showes,
Whence Lyons loue, vnto his Keeper growes,
Though gentle clawings, and oft feeding makes
Fierce Lyon tame, heed yet the Keeper takes,
And fearefully he giues, familiar Lyon foode,
Doubting his fawnes, may turne to fiercer moode.
So Princes fauorites amazed stand,
Lest Prince should frowne, turne, or withdraw his hand.
A Prince may raise, for cause, hurle downe againe,
He's onely absolute, and soueraigne.
But Princes of respectiue clemencie,
Are still the same in princely constancie.
Yet if their fauorites Dependancies,
Proue not of loue, but lust for Dignities.
The Argos-eyed Prince, will soone detect,
The hollow-hearted, and the counterfet.
The Prince then checks them, (ful of treasures fraught)
Wrings out their welth, & brings their fame to naught.
His bounties hand, and his affecting face:
When it's at high'st, it harbors yet a feare,
Least fayrest Sunne, presage a tempest neare.
A Lyons fawnes, fed by his keeper showes,
Whence Lyons loue, vnto his Keeper growes,
Though gentle clawings, and oft feeding makes
Fierce Lyon tame, heed yet the Keeper takes,
And fearefully he giues, familiar Lyon foode,
Doubting his fawnes, may turne to fiercer moode.
So Princes fauorites amazed stand,
Lest Prince should frowne, turne, or withdraw his hand.
A Prince may raise, for cause, hurle downe againe,
He's onely absolute, and soueraigne.
But Princes of respectiue clemencie,
Are still the same in princely constancie.
Yet if their fauorites Dependancies,
Proue not of loue, but lust for Dignities.
The Argos-eyed Prince, will soone detect,
The hollow-hearted, and the counterfet.
The Prince then checks them, (ful of treasures fraught)
Wrings out their welth, & brings their fame to naught.
The way to win, anothers ayde, at need,
Receiuers heart, must correspond the deed.
The Talion-lawe, giues like to like to all,
Preuailing deeds, for loue effectuall.
Fearce-loue procures, a deede of like effect,
Faire in the show, in deed, but counterfet.
Receiuers heart, must correspond the deed.
The Talion-lawe, giues like to like to all,
Preuailing deeds, for loue effectuall.
Fearce-loue procures, a deede of like effect,
Faire in the show, in deed, but counterfet.
When things succeed not to th' expectants minde,
He lookes not where he might th' occasion finde.
His hidden heart, and selfe hypocrisie,
He might, but will not lay before his eye.
But doth accuse, his fained friend, or chance,
Of selfe desert, will take no cognizance.
Some faine that Fortune giues, yet doth not see
She makes at random, high and low degree;
Inconstant, fickle, of Camelion-showes,
A fansie or a dreame, whom no man knowes.
Some faine her, brutish, sottish, and some blind,
None can define her, as she is in kinde.
Her name, nor nature, nor her qualities,
Are truely such as man Philosophies:
For when we say, fortune, or fortunate,
It's prouidence Diuine, we intimate.
This prouidence distributes, as he will,
In outward things, alike, to good, and ill.
To none by chance, Diuinely he fore-sees,
Where great, or lesser portion best agrees.
The greatest portion, and the least may fall,
Alternately, and suddenly to all.
And all for good, vnto the good befals,
The best good thing the wicked most inthralls.
And whether seeming good, or ill men haue,
For good, or ill, the powres Diuine it gaue.
Not ill, in what is giu'n, or him that giues,
The heart doth hurt, mistaking what relieues.
For what is good, blind Nature doth despise,
And likes of bad, pleasing fond fansies eyes.
As is opinion, so is good, and bad,
The good and ill, is as it's held, and had.
He lookes not where he might th' occasion finde.
His hidden heart, and selfe hypocrisie,
He might, but will not lay before his eye.
But doth accuse, his fained friend, or chance,
Of selfe desert, will take no cognizance.
She makes at random, high and low degree;
Inconstant, fickle, of Camelion-showes,
A fansie or a dreame, whom no man knowes.
Some faine her, brutish, sottish, and some blind,
None can define her, as she is in kinde.
Her name, nor nature, nor her qualities,
Are truely such as man Philosophies:
For when we say, fortune, or fortunate,
It's prouidence Diuine, we intimate.
This prouidence distributes, as he will,
In outward things, alike, to good, and ill.
To none by chance, Diuinely he fore-sees,
Where great, or lesser portion best agrees.
The greatest portion, and the least may fall,
Alternately, and suddenly to all.
And all for good, vnto the good befals,
The best good thing the wicked most inthralls.
And whether seeming good, or ill men haue,
For good, or ill, the powres Diuine it gaue.
Not ill, in what is giu'n, or him that giues,
The heart doth hurt, mistaking what relieues.
For what is good, blind Nature doth despise,
And likes of bad, pleasing fond fansies eyes.
As is opinion, so is good, and bad,
The good and ill, is as it's held, and had.
Much ioyes, some man, when he by fraud doth rise
And thinkes him happy in his enterprise,
Such gaine and glory, yet are steps to shame,
Vnlesse true vertue soone, reforme the same.
And thinkes him happy in his enterprise,
Such gaine and glory, yet are steps to shame,
Vnlesse true vertue soone, reforme the same.
True greatnes, growes, by right and not by wrong,
The Iust are great, the contrarie not strong.
Though seeming so, in humane fantasie,
It's but the shadow of felicitie.
For, when the Fates, (by Poets fayn'd) so cal'd,
Depriue againe, what they themselues instal'd.
Then how that greatnes, futurely succeeds,
Soone showes it selfe, by vanitie it breeds.
Fulnes, breeds pride, and pride, breeds libertie,
Libertie gets sinne, sinne brings miserie.
Miserie breeds griefe, Griefe sadnes to the heart,
Sadnes, the gall of out, and inward part.
If outward, and the inward parts sustaine,
For present pleasure, such succeeding paine.
Why should men mourne, when they begin to slide,
From Earths fayre fauour, so oft falsifide?
Assur'd to none, no, none, so great can say,
He stands secure; If powres Diuine say nay.
Where greatnes growes, there emulation breeds,
VVhere Emulation lurkes, there Enuy feeds.
VVhere Enuy liues, there hidden Trecherie,
Seekes to betray by seeming amitie.
It's seldome seene, a man of might to fall,
But some, that seemes to loue, prepares the gall.
Needlesse to quote examples, here by name,
For, full are our times legends of the same.
The Iust are great, the contrarie not strong.
Though seeming so, in humane fantasie,
It's but the shadow of felicitie.
Depriue againe, what they themselues instal'd.
Then how that greatnes, futurely succeeds,
Soone showes it selfe, by vanitie it breeds.
Fulnes, breeds pride, and pride, breeds libertie,
Libertie gets sinne, sinne brings miserie.
Miserie breeds griefe, Griefe sadnes to the heart,
Sadnes, the gall of out, and inward part.
If outward, and the inward parts sustaine,
For present pleasure, such succeeding paine.
Why should men mourne, when they begin to slide,
From Earths fayre fauour, so oft falsifide?
Assur'd to none, no, none, so great can say,
He stands secure; If powres Diuine say nay.
Where greatnes growes, there emulation breeds,
VVhere Emulation lurkes, there Enuy feeds.
VVhere Enuy liues, there hidden Trecherie,
Seekes to betray by seeming amitie.
It's seldome seene, a man of might to fall,
But some, that seemes to loue, prepares the gall.
Needlesse to quote examples, here by name,
For, full are our times legends of the same.
Are not great Cities, by like guile, surpriz'd,
As well as men, the actors long disguiz'd?
How then can men aduanced high be sure,
That they are safe, though they themselues be pure?
Sith inward fauourites may vndermine,
Their hearts deseignes, and couertly combine,
With Enuies Actors, to hurle downe the tree,
Vnder whose beames, themselues safe shelter'd be?
Hate may be hid, vnder true Loues pretence,
And true Loue liue. And yet, but held offence:
The first is subtile, secret, politicke:
The second, simple, ouert, still it like:
The first pretendeth loue, and loueth not,
The second loues, beloued, thinkes it not.
Deceiu'd sometimes, by fained humblenes,
And verball dutie, forged thankefulnes.
The fearefull, milde, stands off, in heart comes neare,
Not faining dutie, If true triall were.
The most officious are not firm'st of trust,
Though forward, and by deep protests most iust.
The habite, face, and tongue, might show the heart,
If it were skil-lesse of dissembling art,
The touch of truth, doth in true triall rest,
Truely tride, dutie showes, transparent brest,
Onely fowle Enuy dissembles that,
May draw the innocent to stumble at.
In words, and deedes, and what men doe proiect,
It much behooues them to be circumspect.
Deeds done are seene, words heard, and thoughts conceil'd
Fooles speake, and doe, yet say, I'le haue't conceal'd.
What's done or said, nay thought, will be disclos'd,
Too late to say, I wish t'were not propos'd.
As well as men, the actors long disguiz'd?
How then can men aduanced high be sure,
That they are safe, though they themselues be pure?
Sith inward fauourites may vndermine,
Their hearts deseignes, and couertly combine,
With Enuies Actors, to hurle downe the tree,
Vnder whose beames, themselues safe shelter'd be?
Hate may be hid, vnder true Loues pretence,
And true Loue liue. And yet, but held offence:
The first is subtile, secret, politicke:
The second, simple, ouert, still it like:
The second loues, beloued, thinkes it not.
Deceiu'd sometimes, by fained humblenes,
And verball dutie, forged thankefulnes.
The fearefull, milde, stands off, in heart comes neare,
Not faining dutie, If true triall were.
The most officious are not firm'st of trust,
Though forward, and by deep protests most iust.
The habite, face, and tongue, might show the heart,
If it were skil-lesse of dissembling art,
The touch of truth, doth in true triall rest,
Truely tride, dutie showes, transparent brest,
Onely fowle Enuy dissembles that,
May draw the innocent to stumble at.
In words, and deedes, and what men doe proiect,
It much behooues them to be circumspect.
Deeds done are seene, words heard, and thoughts conceil'd
Fooles speake, and doe, yet say, I'le haue't conceal'd.
What's done or said, nay thought, will be disclos'd,
Too late to say, I wish t'were not propos'd.
All states of men by nature dangerous,
For all are carnall, too too humerous.
And in their humours, often perpetrate,
Offensiue things, too inconsiderate.
For, though they think, the things they spake, or did,
Could not be knowne (from foes conceal'd and hid.)
That power Diuine discouers secret'st things:
Concealing none, no, not the thoughts of Kings.
He will re-rouze from darke Obliuions pit,
Fare by-past sinne of men forgetting it.
His Maiestie of wisedome infinite
Is patient, but not forgetfull quite.
His long forbearance, no quietus est,
Mercy, and Iudgement, still possesse his brest.
For all are carnall, too too humerous.
And in their humours, often perpetrate,
Offensiue things, too inconsiderate.
For, though they think, the things they spake, or did,
Could not be knowne (from foes conceal'd and hid.)
That power Diuine discouers secret'st things:
Concealing none, no, not the thoughts of Kings.
He will re-rouze from darke Obliuions pit,
Fare by-past sinne of men forgetting it.
His Maiestie of wisedome infinite
Is patient, but not forgetfull quite.
His long forbearance, no quietus est,
Mercy, and Iudgement, still possesse his brest.
The powres Diuine, behold the inward part,
Of Rich and poore: nought hurteth, but the heart:
A poore man proud, A rich man couetous,
The powres Diuine, hold equall odious.
The poore content, The rich man liberall,
In earth betoken, grace spirituall.
Of Rich and poore: nought hurteth, but the heart:
A poore man proud, A rich man couetous,
The powres Diuine, hold equall odious.
The poore content, The rich man liberall,
In earth betoken, grace spirituall.
The Rich, and Poore, resemble two estates,
The one, and other, as ech estimates,
Their ioy and griefe, resemble heauen and hell,
How either stands, none, but himselfe can tell.
Although the Poore seeme heere afflicted most,
The Rich may haue, then he, lesse cause to boast.
The one, and other, as ech estimates,
Their ioy and griefe, resemble heauen and hell,
How either stands, none, but himselfe can tell.
Although the Poore seeme heere afflicted most,
The Rich may haue, then he, lesse cause to boast.
A harder lot, lights, not on men that neede,
A strong commander in the actiue deede:
But in the passiue part, no thing more strong,
Perforce, accepts, and vndergoes all wrong.
But if it would, it can not doe the thing,
May ease the minde, commanded by a King.
A strong commander in the actiue deede:
But in the passiue part, no thing more strong,
Perforce, accepts, and vndergoes all wrong.
But if it would, it can not doe the thing,
May ease the minde, commanded by a King.
When griefe of heart, proceeds of outward need,
Supply reuiues, the inward parts that bleed,
But if it grow, by sinnes felt guiltines.
No outward cure, can ease hearts heauines,
Onely the heart, incountring what is ill,
Not doing ill, but as against the will,
Obtaines the victory: that bringeth peace,
That peace, heales griefe, makes sorrow-feuer cease.
Supply reuiues, the inward parts that bleed,
But if it grow, by sinnes felt guiltines.
No outward cure, can ease hearts heauines,
Onely the heart, incountring what is ill,
Not doing ill, but as against the will,
Obtaines the victory: that bringeth peace,
That peace, heales griefe, makes sorrow-feuer cease.
Hearts nature seekes, to please it selfe below,
Where, what it feeles, pretends, it well doth know:
Yet knoweth not, by present, future things,
Though what too day, not what too morrow brings.
Much lesse by this, the carnall minded see,
What ioy, or griefe, in future time shall be,
What's found in fine, shall be perpetuall,
Here wunne or lost, the best and principall.
But hearts diuinely light doe here foresee,
Of carnall hearts delights, what end will be:
Bondmen of free, these earthly pleasures make,
The wise preponder, what they vndertake.
For, pleasures comming, promise hearts reliefe,
Retain'd, perform'd, and gone, leaue th' hart in griefe.
A man best qualifide, indeed doth ill,
To gaze on that, that may peruert the will.
The eye doth show the obiect of the heart.
The heart then likes or loathes what th' eyes impart.
And when desire, inkindles and consents,
Be't good, or ill, it is the thing contents.
What best contents, is that good thing men craue,
Which they themselues, or which some others haue.
Desire, and Appetite, are blind and strong,
They both command, both leade commanded wrong.
Vnlesse right Reason, daigne to be their guide,
By whom the heart is rightly rectifide.
Not to aspire, against right Reasons will,
To runne and rise, without regard, is ill.
Many hid gulfes, and pits of danger lie,
Which they auoid, that runne aduisedly.
Where, what it feeles, pretends, it well doth know:
Yet knoweth not, by present, future things,
Though what too day, not what too morrow brings.
Much lesse by this, the carnall minded see,
What ioy, or griefe, in future time shall be,
What's found in fine, shall be perpetuall,
Here wunne or lost, the best and principall.
Of carnall hearts delights, what end will be:
Bondmen of free, these earthly pleasures make,
The wise preponder, what they vndertake.
For, pleasures comming, promise hearts reliefe,
Retain'd, perform'd, and gone, leaue th' hart in griefe.
A man best qualifide, indeed doth ill,
To gaze on that, that may peruert the will.
The eye doth show the obiect of the heart.
The heart then likes or loathes what th' eyes impart.
And when desire, inkindles and consents,
Be't good, or ill, it is the thing contents.
What best contents, is that good thing men craue,
Which they themselues, or which some others haue.
Desire, and Appetite, are blind and strong,
They both command, both leade commanded wrong.
Vnlesse right Reason, daigne to be their guide,
By whom the heart is rightly rectifide.
Not to aspire, against right Reasons will,
To runne and rise, without regard, is ill.
Many hid gulfes, and pits of danger lie,
Which they auoid, that runne aduisedly.
Some may mistake, and iudge of men amisse,
Not euery one, aduanc'd, ambitious is.
Whom Vertue rayseth; honorable parts
Will show desert, good deeds, bewray good hearts:
When earthly honor, hath celestiall grace,
Th' inferiour by them, are in gracefull case,
For, as the Sun, shines not, but giues all heate,
So by true honor, meanest, comfort get.
A painted Sunne, may seeme in show to shine,
So may th' ambitious to the outward eyne,
And he that seekes to warne him by that Sun,
Needs not complaine of too much warmth he wun.
A man that scales, fayre Honors mount by might,
Though most vniust, presumes to seeme vpright,
Where vertue daignes not her preuailing hand
To raise: the rais'd, is as a plant in sand,
Though water'd wythers, with the frost of hate,
The blossomes fall, forg'd fayre, and delicate.
As good men grow, and rise to wished grace,
So grow the ill, not iudged by their place.
But by the sword, that in the place they sway,
Th' vse or abuse, whereof their heatrs bewray.
Not euery one, aduanc'd, ambitious is.
Whom Vertue rayseth; honorable parts
Will show desert, good deeds, bewray good hearts:
When earthly honor, hath celestiall grace,
Th' inferiour by them, are in gracefull case,
For, as the Sun, shines not, but giues all heate,
So by true honor, meanest, comfort get.
A painted Sunne, may seeme in show to shine,
So may th' ambitious to the outward eyne,
And he that seekes to warne him by that Sun,
Needs not complaine of too much warmth he wun.
Though most vniust, presumes to seeme vpright,
Where vertue daignes not her preuailing hand
To raise: the rais'd, is as a plant in sand,
Though water'd wythers, with the frost of hate,
The blossomes fall, forg'd fayre, and delicate.
As good men grow, and rise to wished grace,
So grow the ill, not iudged by their place.
But by the sword, that in the place they sway,
Th' vse or abuse, whereof their heatrs bewray.
None are aduanc'd by chance to gouerment,
Nor rise, nor fall, by Fortune, discontent.
But all are set in places high or low,
And wither too, or else more greater grow,
By powres Diuine: The good he sets,
To succour those that haue wrong counterlets.
The ill he sets, that good and ill may see,
How right and wrong, how light and darke agree.
For as all creatures, liue by contraries,
So Common weales, in their societies.
If all were of one disposition,
Law needed not, nor imposition.
But, as the night, and day, are two in show,
And each giues other, changing ouerthrow,
So right, and wrong, are euer in debate,
The second seekes the first to violate.
Yet takes the habite, of the thing she hates,
To faine it good, the thing, she perpetrates.
A wicked man that counterfects his deeds,
Couets to show them, as true vertue's seeds:
At length they show the soyle, wherein they grew,
By bud, or bloome, by branch, or stalke, or hew.
Nor rise, nor fall, by Fortune, discontent.
But all are set in places high or low,
And wither too, or else more greater grow,
By powres Diuine: The good he sets,
To succour those that haue wrong counterlets.
The ill he sets, that good and ill may see,
How right and wrong, how light and darke agree.
For as all creatures, liue by contraries,
So Common weales, in their societies.
If all were of one disposition,
Law needed not, nor imposition.
But, as the night, and day, are two in show,
And each giues other, changing ouerthrow,
So right, and wrong, are euer in debate,
The second seekes the first to violate.
Yet takes the habite, of the thing she hates,
To faine it good, the thing, she perpetrates.
A wicked man that counterfects his deeds,
Couets to show them, as true vertue's seeds:
At length they show the soyle, wherein they grew,
By bud, or bloome, by branch, or stalke, or hew.
It bootes men much, aduanc'd, to haue foresight,
Whom they accept, and shelter by their might,
Yet wish I none to be suspitious,
Without good cause, or too too credulous:
Whom they accept, and shelter by their might,
Without good cause, or too too credulous:
None can forsee, th' euent of future dayes,
His harmes, his helpes, dispatch, or his delayes,
Nought can succeed vnto the good, or ill
Wealth, want or meane, with, or against their will:
As they do will, or as they can foresee
All thinges are done by him whose will is free,
And if men knew what prouidence diuine,
Workes by his will, they would their willes incline
To take it wel; how so their wills were crost,
For oft it's ill, when seeming wisest boast.
His harmes, his helpes, dispatch, or his delayes,
Nought can succeed vnto the good, or ill
Wealth, want or meane, with, or against their will:
As they do will, or as they can foresee
All thinges are done by him whose will is free,
And if men knew what prouidence diuine,
Workes by his will, they would their willes incline
To take it wel; how so their wills were crost,
For oft it's ill, when seeming wisest boast.
If one aduanc'd, be brought to meane estate,
Let him not murmur, rather ruminate,
Re-chaw the cudde of wilful wayes forgot,
Which who forgets the powers diuine do not:
From whose al-seeing eye nothing is hid,
Disclos'd shall be what so the closest did.
Let him not murmur, rather ruminate,
Re-chaw the cudde of wilful wayes forgot,
Which who forgets the powers diuine do not:
From whose al-seeing eye nothing is hid,
Disclos'd shall be what so the closest did.
If Enuy hurt thee, (vertues dismall ghost)
Feare not nor faint, think not thine honor lost:
Where Vertue liues, there Enuy neuer dyes,
Where Enuy lurkes is nest of villanies.
Feare not nor faint, think not thine honor lost:
Where Vertue liues, there Enuy neuer dyes,
Where Enuy lurkes is nest of villanies.
True Honor may be stung, but cannot dye,
Though Enuy hisse the standes and scornes to flye.
True vertue fortefies true Honors seat,
The hart heroycall, that still is great
By inward grace. If by his vice one fell,
Obraid him not, nor wish him greater hell,
For, sinne sufficeth for sinnes punishment,
Without inflict of death or banishment.
Men in this Maze haue sundry greefes and paines,
Yet none that liues, all greefes at once sustaines:
But one with this, with that another pines,
As hart corrupt, or member grosse inclines.
Some crie as did the Shunamite his head,
Some as Antiochus, his belly ill besteed,
With Asa some against the gout complaine,
With Aristarch against the dropsey paine
Th' aflicting feauer shakes some's trembling bones,
The grating Stone inforceth helples groanes,
If theirs and other greefes combin'd in one
And in one body, did insist alone,
They all could not one euill equalize,
A troubled Conscience gulfe of maladies,
Which though men feele not in their pleasures fits:
In fine 'twil try the quintessence of wits,
As riuers run into the Ocean all,
So in the conscience greefes in generall.
To rack the heart that feeles no terror now,
And nought shall ease it, deep'st protest or vow,
Though men of might may deeme them free from ill,
For that none dare to countercheck their will,
A guilty Conscience wil bring miseries,
No boot to plead high lawlesse dignities:
Though Tyrants seeme to haue no feare to fall,
In outward show, within they feed on gall,
The outward lawlesse, haue small inward rest,
Their seeming free, is froth of fretting breast.
Foolish, feeble, faithlesse is vanity,
Yet feedes fond fancy with variety.
Oh slye her truthlesse faining flatteries,
That seekes to sooth men in impieties:
And yet betraies the worthiest wights that loue her,
Thrice happy he that can in time remooue her.
And most vnhappy who imbrace her most,
A Sainct in show, in deed an owgly ghost.
Some great, disguize their guile, by smiling face,
And seeme in show to back the weak with grace:
A strong conceit, of dreamed feast doth feed
As doth a promise of a helples deed.
Resembling th' apple, Tantalus would taste,
That gapes, and bytes, but byteth still in waste.
A promis'd fauour not performed is,
Much like the Apples of Asphaltidis,
Which to the eye are goodly great and faire,
Within all ashes and corrupted ayre.
The fairest promises are farthest tost,
Oft, striken faire, as often nicely crost,
A ball that hath no stuffe to beare it out,
Lights alway short though he that strikes be stout.
Great care ought men of greatest place to haue,
In promise or deny all what men craue,
A quick deniall or a quick consent,
In all demands, yeelds Reason best content.
Lingring performance of a promise made,
Makes Hope to wither in the ripening blade.
Though Enuy hisse the standes and scornes to flye.
True vertue fortefies true Honors seat,
The hart heroycall, that still is great
By inward grace. If by his vice one fell,
Obraid him not, nor wish him greater hell,
For, sinne sufficeth for sinnes punishment,
Without inflict of death or banishment.
Men in this Maze haue sundry greefes and paines,
Yet none that liues, all greefes at once sustaines:
But one with this, with that another pines,
As hart corrupt, or member grosse inclines.
Some as Antiochus, his belly ill besteed,
With Asa some against the gout complaine,
With Aristarch against the dropsey paine
Th' aflicting feauer shakes some's trembling bones,
The grating Stone inforceth helples groanes,
If theirs and other greefes combin'd in one
And in one body, did insist alone,
They all could not one euill equalize,
A troubled Conscience gulfe of maladies,
Which though men feele not in their pleasures fits:
In fine 'twil try the quintessence of wits,
As riuers run into the Ocean all,
So in the conscience greefes in generall.
To rack the heart that feeles no terror now,
And nought shall ease it, deep'st protest or vow,
Though men of might may deeme them free from ill,
For that none dare to countercheck their will,
A guilty Conscience wil bring miseries,
No boot to plead high lawlesse dignities:
Though Tyrants seeme to haue no feare to fall,
In outward show, within they feed on gall,
The outward lawlesse, haue small inward rest,
Their seeming free, is froth of fretting breast.
Foolish, feeble, faithlesse is vanity,
Yet feedes fond fancy with variety.
Oh slye her truthlesse faining flatteries,
That seekes to sooth men in impieties:
And yet betraies the worthiest wights that loue her,
Thrice happy he that can in time remooue her.
And most vnhappy who imbrace her most,
A Sainct in show, in deed an owgly ghost.
Some great, disguize their guile, by smiling face,
And seeme in show to back the weak with grace:
As doth a promise of a helples deed.
Resembling th' apple, Tantalus would taste,
That gapes, and bytes, but byteth still in waste.
A promis'd fauour not performed is,
Much like the Apples of Asphaltidis,
Which to the eye are goodly great and faire,
Within all ashes and corrupted ayre.
The fairest promises are farthest tost,
Oft, striken faire, as often nicely crost,
A ball that hath no stuffe to beare it out,
Lights alway short though he that strikes be stout.
Great care ought men of greatest place to haue,
In promise or deny all what men craue,
A quick deniall or a quick consent,
In all demands, yeelds Reason best content.
Lingring performance of a promise made,
Makes Hope to wither in the ripening blade.
Experience teacheth how to take or shun,
As former good, or ill successe hath runne:
Some men do find by others fortunes fall,
A stronger staffe to stay themselues withall:
He then is happy who can harmes forsake,
By shunning that, some to their hurts did take.
Examples teach to take or to eschew,
And onely steede, as helpes, or harmes ensue.
The best examples may direct awry,
Though in the president no error lye.
As is opinion, so is good or ill,
Mistaken oft, by rash conceiuing will:
Who so pre-ponders how things may succeed,
Before attempts, takes likeliest way to speed.
As former good, or ill successe hath runne:
Some men do find by others fortunes fall,
A stronger staffe to stay themselues withall:
He then is happy who can harmes forsake,
By shunning that, some to their hurts did take.
Examples teach to take or to eschew,
And onely steede, as helpes, or harmes ensue.
The best examples may direct awry,
Though in the president no error lye.
As is opinion, so is good or ill,
Mistaken oft, by rash conceiuing will:
Who so pre-ponders how things may succeed,
Before attempts, takes likeliest way to speed.
Somtimes doth Ignorance, breed most content
Not to foresee some dangers imminent:
It breedes, but terror, anguish greefe, and feare,
A knowne ineuitable danger neere:
It profits nothing danger to fore-show
To him that by no meanes can it foregoe.
Onely it may prepare the hearts consent,
To vndergoe what meanes cannot preuent.
Not to foresee some dangers imminent:
A knowne ineuitable danger neere:
It profits nothing danger to fore-show
To him that by no meanes can it foregoe.
Onely it may prepare the hearts consent,
To vndergoe what meanes cannot preuent.
Sometimes to lack what one desireth most,
Is best: And when a thing held dear'st is lost,
Fond fancies, best, is often worst to haue,
What she affects oft makes a free-man slaue:
Fancy miscarried by a doubtfull guide,
Is much deceiu'd by ignorance or pride,
Rash presumption, and blind ignorance
Are common actors of selfe hinderance.
The one is rash, in selfe-conceit aspires,
The other sottish, may rise, yet retires,
The first conceiueth his deserts so great,
He scornes to seeke: the great should first intreat.
The second knowes not to distinguish who
Is fained friendly, or professed foe:
Without the guidance of celestiall light,
It resteth not in power of mortall wight.
By it the giuer, and the taker knowes,
For what desert the giuen guerdon growes:
This only resteth in true honors breast,
Where neuer Auarice or Enuy rest.
This Honor liues her vertue neuer dyes,
Her fame immortall by true loues Trophies
(Honors renowne) Enuy cannot staine it,
Although she frowne, and in despite disdaine it.
This earthly honor, heauens benedice,
Her vertues life an earthly Paradice.
The garden of content, where growes the seed,
That beares the fruit whereon the poorest feede.
In this fayre Eden, are exalted most,
Who best deserue. Not such as onely boast:
This Honor heares, and iustly arbitrates,
Mens causes, when, the partiall vulnerates.
Sith counterfects cry out likewise for aide,
It doth obserue, how ech mans cause is swaid.
And onl' endeuors truely to descry,
Who feele indeed, and who forge misery.
Is best: And when a thing held dear'st is lost,
Fond fancies, best, is often worst to haue,
What she affects oft makes a free-man slaue:
Fancy miscarried by a doubtfull guide,
Is much deceiu'd by ignorance or pride,
Rash presumption, and blind ignorance
Are common actors of selfe hinderance.
The one is rash, in selfe-conceit aspires,
The other sottish, may rise, yet retires,
The first conceiueth his deserts so great,
He scornes to seeke: the great should first intreat.
The second knowes not to distinguish who
Is fained friendly, or professed foe:
Without the guidance of celestiall light,
It resteth not in power of mortall wight.
By it the giuer, and the taker knowes,
For what desert the giuen guerdon growes:
This only resteth in true honors breast,
Where neuer Auarice or Enuy rest.
This Honor liues her vertue neuer dyes,
Her fame immortall by true loues Trophies
(Honors renowne) Enuy cannot staine it,
Although she frowne, and in despite disdaine it.
This earthly honor, heauens benedice,
Her vertues life an earthly Paradice.
The garden of content, where growes the seed,
That beares the fruit whereon the poorest feede.
Who best deserue. Not such as onely boast:
This Honor heares, and iustly arbitrates,
Mens causes, when, the partiall vulnerates.
Sith counterfects cry out likewise for aide,
It doth obserue, how ech mans cause is swaid.
And onl' endeuors truely to descry,
Who feele indeed, and who forge misery.
That powre diuine that's absolute, and sees,
Both base and big, disposing all degrees.
Sets vp high Cesar, giues him sword and crowne,
He bowes, or breakes, and hurles the proudest downe.
Both base and big, disposing all degrees.
Sets vp high Cesar, giues him sword and crowne,
He bowes, or breakes, and hurles the proudest downe.
To infinite Earths portions infinite
He giues, from Scepter, to the meanest mite,
And whoso grudgeth, at the lowest rate,
Vsurpes, his portion, and bewrayes his hate.
From lowest step, and basest in degree,
Lots rise by rule, vnto the largest fee.
And none mong all, can so compare his lot,
As he may proue he hath what others not.
No, none, by iust comparison, may say,
His lot is like anothers euery way.
For, as mens faces, infinite to see,
Are all vnlike, though some resemblance be;
Yet all compar'd to one, or one to all,
They differ all: So states in generall.
And as they differ, in their hye and low,
So their offence greater, or lesse in show.
For persons, time, and place doe aggrauate
Faults more or lesse, or them extenuate.
For when a great man errs in publique view,
Th' examples drawes offendors to ensue.
Therefore behoues them to beware or shun
Offence: for powres Diuine see how they run.
Who doth reward in substance, not in show;
If it stay long, the heauier is the blow:
He doth discouer by al-seeing light,
Most cunning counterfects, that seeme vpright.
Will future answere counterfect preuaile?
The Iudge is iust, and will accept no baile;
But as the cause deserues, the party findes,
Pardon, or punishment: his sentence bindes:
Affirmatiue, Come, Negatiue, Depart
Without respect of person, but of heart.
The greatest in his sight, vniust, are base:
Vpright, are great: though in penurious case.
This Iudge of Iudges, of true equitie
Forgiues, condemnes; But neither partially.
It's not the basest, not the great'st, in grace,
That can pretend, or challenge greater place,
Nor by his place, fore-showes, his weale or woe,
But by his inward, heart, or outward show.
The one is secret, and from man conceil'd,
The other ouert, sundry waies reueil'd.
Yet neither truely doth appeare to men,
The heart is hid, a deep, and darksome den.
But powres Diuine, well see the closest heart,
The worke, and will, the thought and hidden part.
He giues, from Scepter, to the meanest mite,
And whoso grudgeth, at the lowest rate,
Vsurpes, his portion, and bewrayes his hate.
From lowest step, and basest in degree,
Lots rise by rule, vnto the largest fee.
And none mong all, can so compare his lot,
As he may proue he hath what others not.
No, none, by iust comparison, may say,
His lot is like anothers euery way.
For, as mens faces, infinite to see,
Are all vnlike, though some resemblance be;
Yet all compar'd to one, or one to all,
They differ all: So states in generall.
And as they differ, in their hye and low,
So their offence greater, or lesse in show.
For persons, time, and place doe aggrauate
Faults more or lesse, or them extenuate.
For when a great man errs in publique view,
Th' examples drawes offendors to ensue.
Therefore behoues them to beware or shun
Offence: for powres Diuine see how they run.
If it stay long, the heauier is the blow:
He doth discouer by al-seeing light,
Most cunning counterfects, that seeme vpright.
Will future answere counterfect preuaile?
The Iudge is iust, and will accept no baile;
But as the cause deserues, the party findes,
Pardon, or punishment: his sentence bindes:
Affirmatiue, Come, Negatiue, Depart
Without respect of person, but of heart.
The greatest in his sight, vniust, are base:
Vpright, are great: though in penurious case.
This Iudge of Iudges, of true equitie
Forgiues, condemnes; But neither partially.
It's not the basest, not the great'st, in grace,
That can pretend, or challenge greater place,
Nor by his place, fore-showes, his weale or woe,
But by his inward, heart, or outward show.
The one is secret, and from man conceil'd,
The other ouert, sundry waies reueil'd.
Yet neither truely doth appeare to men,
The heart is hid, a deep, and darksome den.
But powres Diuine, well see the closest heart,
The worke, and will, the thought and hidden part.
This Prouidence, Al-knowing, worketh all,
He hurles downe some, And some he saues from fall,
He feedes som fat; And some he keepes but low:
He cuts downe some, and some he leaues to grow.
He doth dispose, the things, he giues or takes:
Some ignominious, some he glorious makes:
Some Rich as Cræsus, poore as Hecalen,
Some needie, as was Irus Ithacen.
And none can countermand his prouidence,
Policie, nor power, nor haute insolence,
Greife cures not greefe, sad sorrow yeelds no meed,
Content releeues, Conceit doth starue, or feed:
Vaine hope, that hungers for vncertainties,
Feedes fainting heart with helples vanities
Who ties his hope on humane anker-line,
Carnal conceit holdes, that vaine hope diuine.
On humane help yet hope may builded be,
Foundation layd first by diuine decree.
This hope I haue, this anker-hold my rest,
The line of loue hath link't it to my brest:
This line is lent to lead me in the darke,
Of doubtful maze: true duty is my marke.
He hurles downe some, And some he saues from fall,
He feedes som fat; And some he keepes but low:
He cuts downe some, and some he leaues to grow.
He doth dispose, the things, he giues or takes:
Some ignominious, some he glorious makes:
Some Rich as Cræsus, poore as Hecalen,
Some needie, as was Irus Ithacen.
And none can countermand his prouidence,
Policie, nor power, nor haute insolence,
Content releeues, Conceit doth starue, or feed:
Vaine hope, that hungers for vncertainties,
Feedes fainting heart with helples vanities
Who ties his hope on humane anker-line,
Carnal conceit holdes, that vaine hope diuine.
On humane help yet hope may builded be,
Foundation layd first by diuine decree.
This hope I haue, this anker-hold my rest,
The line of loue hath link't it to my brest:
This line is lent to lead me in the darke,
Of doubtful maze: true duty is my marke.
| The Labyrinth Of Mans Life | |