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Epigrams: Divine and Moral

By Sir Thomas Vrchard
Urquhart, Thomas (1611-1660)

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EPIGRAMS
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EPIGRAMS:
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1. No crosse adventure should hinder vs from being good; though we be frustrate of the reward thereof.
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2. Those that have greatest estates, are not alwayes the wealthiest men.
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3. The couragious resolution of a valiant man.
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4. How abject a thing it is, for a man to have bin long in the world without giving any proofe either by vertue, or learning, that he hath lived at all.
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5. That a vertuous mind in a deformed body maketh one more beautifull, then a handsome body can doe, endowed with a vicious mind.
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6. To one, whom poverty was to be wished for, in so farre, as he could hardly otherwise be restrained from excessive ryot, and feasting.
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7. That men are not destitute of remedies, within themselves against the shrewdest accidents, that can befall them.
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8. What sort of benefits one ought to bestow.
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9. To one, who did glory too much in the faire, and durable fabrick of a gorgious Palace, which he had caused lately to be built.
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10. That a contented man is rich, how litle wealth soever he have.
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6. How dangerous it is, to write, or speake of moderne times.
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12. That the most solid gaine of any, is in the action of vertue, all other emoluments, how lucrative they so ever appeare to the covetous mind, being the chiefest precipitating pushes of humane frailty to an inevitable losse.
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13. What the subject of your conference ought to be with men of judgment, and account.
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14. That a truly generous mind, had rather give a curtesie, then be resting one, after the presented opportunity to repay it.
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15 To a certain Lady of a most exquisit feature, and comely presentation: but who gloried too much in the deceitfull excellencie of these fading, and perishable qualities.
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16 Who is truly rich, and who poore.
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17 How generous a thing it is, not to succumbe to pleasure, and sensualitie.
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18 That we ought not to be sorie at the losse of worldly goods.
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19. What is not vertuously acquired, if acquired by us, is not properly ours.
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20. Riches affoord to vertue more matter to worke upon, then povertie can doe.
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21. Death maketh us all alike in so farre, as her power can reach.
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22 A very ready way to goodnesse, and true VVisedome.
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23. We ought not to regard the contumelies, and calumnies of Lyars, and profane men.
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24. No man should glory too much in the flourishing verdure of his Youth.
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25. That vertue is of greater worth, then knowledge. to a speculative Philosopher.
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26 Consolation to a poore man.
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27 The bad returnes of ingrate men should not deterre us from being liberall.
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28 That riches is a sicknesse to those, that doe not possesse the good thereof, so much as they are possest thereby.
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29. A truely liberall man never bestoweth his gifts, in hope of recompence.
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30 That the setled quiet of our mind ought not to be moved at sinister accidents.
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31. As it was a precept of antiquity, to leane more to vertue, then Parentage: so is it a tenet of Christianity, to repose more trust on the blood of Christ, then our owne merits.
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32 Our inclination is so depraved, that it is apt enough of it selfe to runne to sin, without any instigation, whereby to drive it forward.
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33 That there is no true riches, but of necessary things.
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34. The misery of such, as are doubtfull, and suspicious of their VVives chastitie
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35. How deplorable the condition of most men is, who, though they attaine to the fruition of their præterit projects, by covering neverthelesse the possession of future pleasures, honours, and commodities, never receive contentment (as they ought) in the present time.
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36. The different fruits of idlenesse, and vertue in young men.
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37. To a generously disposed Gentleman, who was maine sorrie, that he had not wherewith to remunerat the favours, by the which he was obliged to the curtesie of a friend.
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38. The truest Wealth, man hath it from himselfe.
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39. That the impudicity of a Lascivious Woman staines but her owne, and not her husbands honour.
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40. Who really are rich, and who poore.
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41. How to oppose sinister fate.
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42. The deserved mutability in the condition of too ambitious men.
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43. That inconveniences ought to be regarded to beforehand.
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44. Concerning those, who disdaine to walke on their owne feet, when, at any rate, they may have the convenience to be carried.
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EPIGRAMS:
  
[Laud to the Father, with the Son]

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20 Of Negative, and Positive good.

Not onely are they good, who vertuously,
Employ their time (now vertue being so rare)
But likewise those, whom no necessity,
Nor force can in the meanest vice insnare;
For sin's so mainly further'd by the Devill,
That 'tis a sort of good, to doe no evill.
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