Miscellaneous works of George Wither :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thus, otherwhile, Remembrances I scatter,
As, GOD, and Man's proceedings, offer matter;
Not without some discernable effect:
(Though neither they, nor I, gain much respect.)
For, on my Self, they have an operation
Not needlesse; yea, the lesse good acceptation,

They have with others, they, thereby, to me
The more effectual, sometimes rendred be;
And, teach me to be quiet, and to beare
What misbefals me, with more Joy, then Care.

Thus, when the Bowes of Malice are ful bent,
And, poys'ned shafts, made ready to be sent
Against th'upright in heart; I, interpose
Minerva's sheild, sometimes, unknown to those
Whom it secures; and, when, for what was done,
Others, with all the thanks, away have gone.

Long since, with suchlike Spels, and Charmes as these,
I did assay, to cure the Kings disease;
But, either, he was over-deaf to heare,
Or else, not strong enough, my Charmings were.
Oft, afterward, I sung unto the State,
Some Lessons which, when 'twas a day too late,
Were called for; and frequently there fell
Much ill to me, for wishing others well.
Sometimes, I, to the Common-people fidle
To still their madnesse; and, oft foole, and riddle
To make them wiser: but, with little gaines,
To them; and, losse of labour, for my paines.

And now, to charme those, I endeav'ring am,
Who seek to turne his Glory, into shame,
Whom GOD, hath honour'd; That, I might make lesse
(If possible) their sottish bruitishnesse,
Who wound themselves, through him; and scoff and jear
At Mercy, shown to their Deliverer,
In such a Danger, as could be, by none
Removed, but, by an Almighty-one.

Vaine sons of men, how long, will ye despise
Good Counsel! and, still, follow after Lies!

Not knowing, or not heeding, that, GOD hath
Maugre your Spite, your Envie, and your Wrath,
Made him to be your Lord, whom you contemn;
To Supream honours height, advanced him;
Laughs you to scorn; Turns al your oppositions,
To his advantage and your own perditions:
Not heeding, GOD, hath given all these Lands;
All these three Nations, up, into his hands;
And, him, on them bestow'd; to make proof, whether
He, or else They; or, both of them, or neither,
Will hearken to his Voice: that, he may do,
What their proceedings will incline him to.

Fooles! 'tis not as you dream: But, whatsoe're
He Was, or Is, or, shall to you appear,
GOD, from among your selves, did him advance,
To gard his Flocks, and his Inheritance;
To be a friendly comforter of those,
Who are his Friends; A terror to his Foes:
And, what, you fret and storme at, was not done,
By mans designments; but, by GOD, alone.

Through all these Islands, be it therefore known;
And, to all persons, every where, which own,
Relation to this Empire; that, by him,
Who hath dispose of every Diadem,
(Of Scepters, Crowns, & Thrones) the change was made,
Which did remove the Government we had;
(When our great sins deserv'd to be bereft,
Of all those Priviledges, which are left)
And, that, GOD, in meer mercy, did translate
The Power, which was in other men, of late,
To be with him intrusted, who is now
Stil'd, your PROTECTOR. Know, likewise, that, you

Are bound, by Law and Conscience, to obay;
And humbly at his Throne, your selves to lay
On those Conditions, only, whereon, he
Hath your Protector, undertook to be.

Moreover, Be it known, that, if he shall
Performe his Part; and, you perversly fall
Into rebellious actings; or, not cease
From those, which may disturbe the common-peace;
His Scepter, shall, perforce, your stif necks bend
To that, which he doth Righteously intend;
And, either thereunto obedient make you,
Or, therewith, bruise; or, else, to peeces break you:
Lest, your perversnesse, bring a Tirant hither,
To break us; never to be set together.
And, that, if prudently you do comply,
He may, at last, improve his Sov'raignty,
To make you farre more happy, and more free,
Then else, you had been, or had means to be.

And, now great OLIVER, to thee, likewise,
Let this be known; and, do not thou despise
The Publisher; GOD, doth expect to have
Honour from them, to whom he honour gave:
That, such, who have the rule o're men, be just:
That, they their Vowes infringe not, nor his trust:
That, they consider, he bestowes large measure,
Of Power upon them, not to act their pleasure,
Or to fulfill their lust; but, doth inlarge
His Bounty, that their Place, they may discharge
With Courage: That, he Riches doth provide,
Lest Avarice, might draw their hearts aside;
Or, wants, to do injustice, them compell:
That, he gives honours, not to make them swell

Above their Brethren; but, them, to exempt
From what, may fall upon them, by contempt:
And, that, all these things, are on them bestown,
Much more, for others sakes, then for their own.

Know SIR, that, GOD, from persons in your place,
Expects all this; and thereto offers Grace,
And Power, for asking: That, (what ere some say)
He, none necessitates to go astray;
Nor leaves, nor hardens any (not the worst)
Till, Love to selfnesse, makes them, leave him first.

If, this, thou well considering, shalt act
Accordingly; performing thy Contract,
With GOD, and with his People; he, shall then,
Give thee the Love, and Hearts, of all Good men:
Fixe thee as firmly, as the Rocky shoares,
Which sleight the Ocean, when it foames and roares:
And brighter make thy Fame, and spread it more,
Then any mans renowned heretofore:
For, in Fames Book, thou maist inrolled be
The first, who, made a People truly free:
And first-borne, of those Viceroyes, who, shall take
Their Throns from HIM, whose Kingdom down will break,
All Monarchies of Tirants; with all those,
Who, help patch up, the Clay and Iron toes,
The Reliques of that Image, which hath bin
The prop of him, that's call'd, the man of sin.
All this may be: and, if thou strive to go
The way, that open lies; It shall be so.
Oh! lose not this advantage, for a Buble,
Which, in vain hope, begins, & ends with trouble.

And, lastly, Be it known, (not by event
Which may be to thy future detriment,

But, by pre-caution) that, if faile thou shalt
Without this Peoples obstinate default,
Of what they, justly may from thee expect,
Who art advanc'd their freedomes to protect;
Or shalt abuse thy Power, them, to oppresse;
Or, leave them unreliev'd, in their distresse,
So, that, they must be forc'd to cry, and call,
To GOD, for help: GOD, hear, and help them shall:
Search what is done: And, though their former sin,
Hath great, and full of provocations bin,
He, for the present time, will passe it by,
And on thy failings, only, cast an eye:
Avenge their Cause; call thee, accompt to give,
Of all those Favours, which thou didst receive;
(Of that late Mercy, too, among the rest,
Which hath occasion'd, what, is here exprest)
And, with much indignation, cast thee down,
When, to its height, thy Confidence is grown.
Yea, they, who shall most flatter, and with whom
Thou, shalt, then, think most safe thou mayst become,
Will help destroy thee: And, this, shall to Thee
A sad presage, of thy destruction be,
Which, may be made a Prophecie Divine,
Of Everlasting Good, to Thee, and Thine.
But, to his Saints, GOD, gives a blessed close;
And, keeps his Vengeance, only, for his Foes.