 | The Sad Condition of a Distracted Kingdome |  |
Now judge who is the Prisoner, who has cause
To grudge, and challenge Gods, and Natures Lawes.
So frantick Man like Absolon takes joy
In that, which shall his happinesse destroy.
The shrub envies the Cedar, and the Oake,
VVhen that stands firme, these feel the thundring stroke
Of angry Heaven. Poore men although despis'd
Are safe, when oft the Rich are sacrific'd.
VVee'd saile in plenty, but our puft up sailes
Are driven as well by rough as prosperous gales;
Those promise shipwrack more then these aport,
The Cottage hath lesse danger then the Court.
Was it not Villers Mothers Adage, shee
Vntill a Courtier ne're knew miserie.
And Straffords Father did advise his Sonne,
To run that race his Ancestors had run.
Had he obayed his prudent sire, and lead
A private life, no Troops had seen his head
Chopt off, and the inconstant Multitude
First thirsting, then triumphing in his bloud,
This Canterbury, conscious of his parts,
How greedily, and with what wilie arts
Got he to be a States-man; with what sweat
And study did he labour to be great?
But whereto serves his Grace, his dignities,
But to make more deplorde the Precipice?
Yet all like Frantick Icarus will flye
Aloft, although they perish in the skye.
And Phaeton will beg to guide the Sunne
A day, although before that day be done
He rue his rash attempt. Such things are sweet
That are prohibited, or else not meet.
God meanes to give us bread not stinging scorpions,
When he raines on us blessings or afflictions.
But we divert his purpose, and misuse
His providence, not knowing how to use
What he intends for blessings. Many are
Like D' Alva's Duke oppressed better far
Then in prosperity. But we will runne
The wild goose chase untill we are undone.
If in adversity say God's unjust;
If in prosperity, follow what lust,
Spleen, avarice, and ambition dictate, look
On lately glorious London. 'Tis a book
Worth the perusall: nay let's trace about
The Circuite of the Kingdome, and find out
What Devill, what Enyo sowed these tares
Amongst us, and engendred all these warres,
That have destroyed our Brittish Isle, and rent
The Kingdome, 'twixt the King and Parliament.
To grudge, and challenge Gods, and Natures Lawes.
So frantick Man like Absolon takes joy
In that, which shall his happinesse destroy.
The shrub envies the Cedar, and the Oake,
VVhen that stands firme, these feel the thundring stroke
Of angry Heaven. Poore men although despis'd
Are safe, when oft the Rich are sacrific'd.
VVee'd saile in plenty, but our puft up sailes
Are driven as well by rough as prosperous gales;
Those promise shipwrack more then these aport,
The Cottage hath lesse danger then the Court.
Was it not Villers Mothers Adage, shee
Vntill a Courtier ne're knew miserie.
And Straffords Father did advise his Sonne,
To run that race his Ancestors had run.
7
A private life, no Troops had seen his head
Chopt off, and the inconstant Multitude
First thirsting, then triumphing in his bloud,
This Canterbury, conscious of his parts,
How greedily, and with what wilie arts
Got he to be a States-man; with what sweat
And study did he labour to be great?
But whereto serves his Grace, his dignities,
But to make more deplorde the Precipice?
Yet all like Frantick Icarus will flye
Aloft, although they perish in the skye.
And Phaeton will beg to guide the Sunne
A day, although before that day be done
He rue his rash attempt. Such things are sweet
That are prohibited, or else not meet.
God meanes to give us bread not stinging scorpions,
When he raines on us blessings or afflictions.
But we divert his purpose, and misuse
His providence, not knowing how to use
What he intends for blessings. Many are
Like D' Alva's Duke oppressed better far
Then in prosperity. But we will runne
The wild goose chase untill we are undone.
If in adversity say God's unjust;
If in prosperity, follow what lust,
Spleen, avarice, and ambition dictate, look
On lately glorious London. 'Tis a book
Worth the perusall: nay let's trace about
The Circuite of the Kingdome, and find out
What Devill, what Enyo sowed these tares
Amongst us, and engendred all these warres,
That have destroyed our Brittish Isle, and rent
The Kingdome, 'twixt the King and Parliament.
| The Sad Condition of a Distracted Kingdome | |