Wittes Pilgrimage (by Poeticall Essaies): Through a VVorld of amorous Sonnets, Soule-passions, and other Passages, Diuine, Philosophicall, Morall, Poeticall, and Politicall. By Iohn Davies |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
A blind man cannot see the default of his Eyes.
|
 | Wittes Pilgrimage |  |
A blind man cannot see the default of his Eyes.
Well, what of this? this restlesse toile for State,What is the end of that which Care begins?
And, without Worlds of Guifts, gets Worlds of Hate,
Is this the All Pride (at All casting) wins?
Must Truths Disciples, Graces Officers,
Sacred Apostles (Saints by calling) striue
For Headship by vnciuill ciuil Wars
Though they beleeue they meanly ought to liue?
Nay, but for this, if those resplendant Spirits
That do surround the highst Celestiall Throne
Aduance themselues aboue their place, and Merits
For which they worthily were ouerthrowne,
Then, Iudgement where dost thou enthrone thy State
That should be in the Kingdome of the Braine?
Dost thou that Seate (sith Pride vsurpes it) hate?
And only in the Humble dost thou raigne?
Then, where are they? true Iudgement tel me where?
If neither with the Angels, Saints, nor Men
They may be found, (as it doth well appeare)
Where shall we seek for these so humble then?
Or is the totall Summe of All, but One
Who was made truly humble for vs all?
Leuing vs to our selues to rise, or fall?
Then, woe to vs that mad are for thie want,
And doe we wot not what in what we doe:
Who seeke, for nought, each other to supplant:
For, Lordships haue their Lodes made fast thereto.
We striue for That which bringeth vs but strife
With griefe and care among, oft wrack vvithall:
We venter life, to win a vveary life;
And rise, by all meanes, by all meanes to fall.
So vve be vp but for a day, vve deeme
Our Neck vvel broken; ô its vvorth a Neck
But for an howre a King to Be, or seeme
Vnto his Mates before to giue the Check.
If vve can catch a place aboue our Peers
(Although vve come thereby by peerlesse sin)
We vveen vs no small fooles (as it appeares)
When vve [alas the vvhile] stark mad haue bin.
Such is our Iudgement, snch our temperance,
And such the stare of those that State affect;
Whose State, and Staie hath such continuance
As they that seek it; no time in effect!
Then, ô my Soule since thou canst thus discourse
(As many can whose Courses are stark nought)
Be better staid, or run a better Course
Far from the rise of any mounting thought.
Look in the Inwards of these outward Things;
And note the Lyning of the roialst Robe;
Its powdred Ermyne, pepperd to vvith Stings
That, like a Nettle, makes the vvearer rub.
If thou affect a Kingdome, let it be
Heaun, or the happy Kingdome of CONTENT:
Which blessed Kingdomes are ordaind for Thee
If thou affect but thine owne gouernment.
Be Queen but of thy selfe and thou shalt be
In Heaun Crownd vvith Immortality,
Where Saints, and Angels shall stil honor thee,
For swaying vvel thy little Signiory.
And sith thy Pilgrimage is almost past
Thou needst the lesse Viaticum for it:
For, being tird to lode thy selfe at last,
Care for no more then thou maist beare, with speede,
To beare thy Charges through this Vale of woe.
Superfluous things giue others that haue neede,
The lesse thy Lode the better thou shalt goe.
Little serues soone-suffized Necessity
[Whose Stomack, smal and cold disiests not much)
But nothing can Opinion satisfie,
Which beeing more then ful for more doth grutche.
The greedy-ritch doe want the wealth they hold
Who pine with Tantalus amidst their Store;
And (Midas-like) eu'n famish with their Gold,
The more they haue, their misery thē more.
The next degree to Nothing Nature serues
Sith she wth lesse then Little is content,
The Hedge-rowes meate, the Riuer drinke reserues
To keepe her in good plight, and better bent,
The Birds finde meate for seeking euery where,
The Highest hand stil strowes it in their way;
And so may temprate men stil finde it there
Where ere the Birds doe finde their stomack Staie.
For Cresses, Rootes, Hippes Havves, Sloes, and such Cates,
Are Common, (as the Aire) to take, and eate,
This meate serues Nature though it serue not States,
And longest liuers had no other meate.
Let Gluttons glutt their Gutts vntil they crack
With all the Kickshawes Cookrie can deuise;
And let them lay on lode vpon their Back
Of gaudy Geare; thou needest none; then be wise.
Puft-panch doth soon'st the Kite a pudding yeelde;
Full Gorges belk, if not much rather spue,
Most fulsomely: for being ouerfilled,
It selfe with hate doth then it selfe pursue.
At Best; these ful Ones can themselues but stretche
Vpon their Iuory Bedds, or feede their lust:
For, they must still be feeding til they catche
That which wilfeede on them til they be dust.
And what's a costly Cote but comberous
Vnto the Maker and the Wearer too;
To keepe off cold and heate we Clothes shoulde vse,
Which Howse-wiues cloth doth Without more a doo.
In Clothing of that kind best stir, or stand;
When as these Garments ritch, and ouer gaie
Do rather vs, then vve do them, command.
If Garments must distinguish needs, Degrees
[Though Vertue makes the plainest Coat to shine]
Yet more then needs with no Degree agrees:
So saith King Iames, so saith the Word diuine.
No more of this; ynough, if not too much
(But nere too much against too much is sed)
Is sed hereof, and Great ones will but grutch
Sith with their Busines I am busied:
They hird me not: then, profferd seruice stinks,
No more my Muse; thy Lady on thee winks.
| Wittes Pilgrimage | |