University of Virginia Library

A Prison.

A prison is a Period of the Law,
A living Sepulcher, where Men do draw
No Air, but what proceeds from sad Complaints:
A Purgatory, from the which no Saints,
But Angels can release them: 'Tis the place,
Where Wildest Men gain the habitual grace,
Of being Staid, and though they are bereft
Of other Chattels, have a House still left
Admits no Sale, which (by the great resort)
May properly be stil'd an Inn's of Court,
Where Under-graduats that never saw
The penal Statutes, here, do study Law,
And prove good Counsellers, for they importune
All Men to Providence by their Mis-fortune:
It is the Rendezvouz of Raggs, a Place
So steril, men are seldom in good Case:
They may be Monsters, for unthankfull Fate
Hath taught them all a trick to be in-Grate;
'Tis (not unfitly) call'd Subtletie's Schole,
Where they can See day at a little Hole;
And some come hither onely for such ends,
As may confer a Triall on their Friends:
A House that little Charity imparts,
For Men do still condemn their own kinde hearts:
They are Vessels in a Calm, but the Fresh Gale
Of a Release, makes them to hoise up Sail,
And lanch into the Deep, till, now and then,
Some crosse Windes force them to their Port agen:
Serjeants are Men of War, and do most slaughter
Upon the Merchants at an Ebbing Water:
A Jailor is the Boat-swain, who still watches
His barbrous time, to stow Men under Hatches:
Juries and Outlaries are Winde and Tide,
The fatal Upper Deck the Masters side;
Anchors are Executions; and Extents
Are the rough Rocks, that many a tall ship rents;
Intricate Cases are the Tacklings, which
Perplex the Minde; and Creditors the Pitch:
The Law to be the Load-stone doth not grudge;
Pursers are Counsellers, a Pilot Judge;
Attachments Cables, a long Term prevails
To be the Mast, Chancery Bils the Sails:
Here, such as have profusely rioted,
May prevent Surfets, and be Dieted
With publique Charity; which I am sure
Did never yet beget an Epicure:
Here, they talk any thing, for still they cry,
They can but be in Prison; and to die
(Their Hopes are come to such a low Decrease)
Daunts not, 'tis but a new word for Release:
The un-hung Chambers, with the numerous Beds,
(Where open-eyed they lay their carefull Heads)
Look like Church-yards, and we may aptly say,
Is a fit Embleme for the latter Day;
Where, wth their naked arms stretch'd to the Clouds,
They rise agen with neither Shirts, nor Shrouds;
The Beds are Dust, Worms are the Lice and Fleas,
The dreadfull Summons, are the Jailors Keyes;
The Bail-dock Purgatory, and Guild-hall
A Judgement-seat, that salves, or ruines all:
All humors in this vacuum are hurl'd,
To make it an Epitome oth' World.
'Tis in it self (though poor) a Corporation;
For the sad Common-wealths men (by gradation)
Do clime to Offices, and, with equal Quarter,
Divide their Power, as if the City Charter
Were made their Fundamental; Here they Marry
Remove their Lodgings, carry, and miscarry,
Buy, sell, (nor do they want the Worlds Exactions)
Hold Controversies, severall Sects, and Factions:
Lend Money upon Pawns, they fight, and stab,
Are cur'd, pay Surgeons, swear, dice, drink, & drab;
Dance, sing, write Books, in Latin, Spanish, French;
Study the Laws, in Chanc'ry, Upper Bench,
And Common Pleas; whilest the Mechanick Blades,
Alter, make, mend, according to their Trades;
Some men have made this place a Counter-charm,
That may protect them from a greater harm;
But (in a Word) all men shall finde (that try)
'Tis any thing that tends to Misery.