 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
70
The Authors Epitaph.
Composed by himself, upon a Common fame Of his being dead and buried. It hath a short Preface prefixed, and an Epilogue added after it, for a Copartment to set it off.
The Preface.
Rumors
of things that shall be, are begun
Sometimes, before they actually are done,
That, we thereby forewarned, may prepare
To entertain them, when in Act they are;
And, four times, at the least, (though yet I am
Surviving it) my death hath been by Fame
Divulged so, that some, no credit give
To those men who affirm that I yet live.
Sometimes, before they actually are done,
That, we thereby forewarned, may prepare
To entertain them, when in Act they are;
And, four times, at the least, (though yet I am
Surviving it) my death hath been by Fame
Divulged so, that some, no credit give
To those men who affirm that I yet live.
At this time also, a Report doth goe
That, I was lately dead and buried too:
Perhaps, not without being fore-design'd
That I, in prison might be hunger-pin'd:
For, having nothing left, that was mine own,
Or ought allow'd, save what should be bestown,
By their compassion, who have me preserved
From being in my close Confinement starved,
I might have dy'd indeed, through want of bread,
Had all my Friends believed me to be dead.
That, I was lately dead and buried too:
Perhaps, not without being fore-design'd
That I, in prison might be hunger-pin'd:
For, having nothing left, that was mine own,
Or ought allow'd, save what should be bestown,
By their compassion, who have me preserved
From being in my close Confinement starved,
I might have dy'd indeed, through want of bread,
Had all my Friends believed me to be dead.
71
It may have likewise, an Ill Consequent,
If, I shall be releast; which, to prevent
I have compos'd this following Epitaph,
Thus Prefaced, with this short Paragraph,
And, sent it to my Friends, that, they may know
I live, and live in hope, that what I owe
To them, repaid (in life or death) shall be,
By GOD, although, not probably by me.
That, also, what this Epitaph expresseth
May mind me of my duty, till life ceaseth;
And, be by others, with some profit read,
Both whilst, that I am living, and when dead.
If, I shall be releast; which, to prevent
I have compos'd this following Epitaph,
Thus Prefaced, with this short Paragraph,
And, sent it to my Friends, that, they may know
I live, and live in hope, that what I owe
To them, repaid (in life or death) shall be,
By GOD, although, not probably by me.
That, also, what this Epitaph expresseth
May mind me of my duty, till life ceaseth;
And, be by others, with some profit read,
Both whilst, that I am living, and when dead.
The Epitaph.
By way of Epitaph, thus sedGeorge Whither, when Fame voic'd him dead.
If, I did scape the dooms of those,
Whose heads and limbs, fed Rats and Crows,
(And, was not thrown into the fire
Or water, when breath did exspire)
Then, here, (or somewhere else) my Bones,
Lie raked up, with Earth and Stones.
Whose heads and limbs, fed Rats and Crows,
(And, was not thrown into the fire
Or water, when breath did exspire)
Then, here, (or somewhere else) my Bones,
Lie raked up, with Earth and Stones.
Their burial place, you shall do well
To learn from those men who can tell,
And in what mode inter'd they were;
For, I do neither know nor care,
Or, what was either sung, or said,
By others, when I there was laid;
Nor any whit, suspitious am
That, they shall be expos'd to shame
Nor fear I troubling of their rest,
By those who living men molest,
Because, how e're the world shall please
To use them, they shall be at ease,
When that, which her despight intends
To me, shall ceaze on her own friends;
As it befel to some, of late,
If that be true, which fame doth prate.
To learn from those men who can tell,
And in what mode inter'd they were;
For, I do neither know nor care,
Or, what was either sung, or said,
By others, when I there was laid;
Nor any whit, suspitious am
That, they shall be expos'd to shame
72
By those who living men molest,
Because, how e're the world shall please
To use them, they shall be at ease,
When that, which her despight intends
To me, shall ceaze on her own friends;
As it befel to some, of late,
If that be true, which fame doth prate.
My Life was nor too long, nor short,
Nor, without Good and Ill Report;
And, profited, as many waies
I was by Scandals, as by praise.
Great foes I had, and very many,
Friends too, a few, as kinde as any,
And, seldome felt their earthly hell,
Who love, and are not lov'd as well:
For, that, whereof they had sharp sense,
I knew, but, by intelligence.
Nor, without Good and Ill Report;
And, profited, as many waies
I was by Scandals, as by praise.
Great foes I had, and very many,
Friends too, a few, as kinde as any,
And, seldome felt their earthly hell,
Who love, and are not lov'd as well:
For, that, whereof they had sharp sense,
I knew, but, by intelligence.
A Wife I had, as fit for me
As any one a live could be;
Yea, as if, GOD, out of each other
Had made us, to be joyn'd together.
And, whilst she lives, what ere is sed
Of my Death, I am but half dead.
As any one a live could be;
Yea, as if, GOD, out of each other
Had made us, to be joyn'd together.
And, whilst she lives, what ere is sed
Of my Death, I am but half dead.
Beside the Issue of my Brain,
I had six children, whereof twain
Did live, when we divided were,
And, I, alive was buried here.
When, Portions, I had none to give
God gave them (as I, did believe
He would) a means, whereby to live:
Which is here mention'd, to this end,
That others, may on him depend.
I had six children, whereof twain
Did live, when we divided were,
And, I, alive was buried here.
When, Portions, I had none to give
God gave them (as I, did believe
He would) a means, whereby to live:
Which is here mention'd, to this end,
That others, may on him depend.
73
I priz'd no Honours, bought or sold,
Nor wish'd for youth, when I was old,
But, what each Age, Place, and Degree,
Might best become, best pleased me.
I coveted nor Ease, nor Wealth
(No, not enjoyment of my health)
Ought further, then it had relation
To GODs praise; and my Souls Salvation.
When I seem'd rich, I wanted more
Then e're I did when deemed poor;
And, when in Body, most confind,
Enjoy'd most freedom in my mind.
I was not Factious or Seditious,
Though thereof, many were Suspitious,
Because, I humor'd not the times,
In Follies, and destructive crimes.
Nor wish'd for youth, when I was old,
But, what each Age, Place, and Degree,
Might best become, best pleased me.
I coveted nor Ease, nor Wealth
(No, not enjoyment of my health)
Ought further, then it had relation
To GODs praise; and my Souls Salvation.
When I seem'd rich, I wanted more
Then e're I did when deemed poor;
And, when in Body, most confind,
Enjoy'd most freedom in my mind.
I was not Factious or Seditious,
Though thereof, many were Suspitious,
Because, I humor'd not the times,
In Follies, and destructive crimes.
In things, that Good or Evil were,
I had abundantly my share;
And, never wish'd to change my Lot
For what another man had got,
Or, that, in any time or place,
My Birth had been, save where it was.
So wise I was not to be mad
Though much opprest; or, to be sad
When my Relations did conceive
I had exceeding Cause to grieve:
For, GOD, in season, still supplide
Those needful things the world denide,
Disposing ev'ry thing, so well
To my content, what ere befel,
That, thankful praise to him was due;
And, will be, for what shall ensue.
I had abundantly my share;
And, never wish'd to change my Lot
For what another man had got,
Or, that, in any time or place,
My Birth had been, save where it was.
So wise I was not to be mad
Though much opprest; or, to be sad
When my Relations did conceive
I had exceeding Cause to grieve:
For, GOD, in season, still supplide
Those needful things the world denide,
Disposing ev'ry thing, so well
To my content, what ere befel,
That, thankful praise to him was due;
And, will be, for what shall ensue.
I sold not Honesty, to buy
A formal Garbe of Sanctity;
Nor to hate any was inclin'd
Because, they were not of my mind;
Nor fear'd to publish Truths in season,
Though termed Heresie or Treason,
But, spake, what I conceiv'd might tend
To benefit both foe and friend;
And, if in Love, they seem'd sincere,
With their Infirmities, could bear.
I practis'd what I did believe,
And pinned upon no mans sleeve,
My Faith or Conscience; for, ther's none
Judgd, by what other men have done.
A formal Garbe of Sanctity;
74
Because, they were not of my mind;
Nor fear'd to publish Truths in season,
Though termed Heresie or Treason,
But, spake, what I conceiv'd might tend
To benefit both foe and friend;
And, if in Love, they seem'd sincere,
With their Infirmities, could bear.
I practis'd what I did believe,
And pinned upon no mans sleeve,
My Faith or Conscience; for, ther's none
Judgd, by what other men have done.
My sins were great, and numerous grown;
My Righteousness, was not mine own,
Yet, more prevail'd by Grace divine,
Then if it had been wholly mine.
I loved all men, feared none
Except my self, and GOD alone;
And, when I knew him, did not make
Esteem of ought, but for his sake.
On him, in life time depended,
By Death are all my troubles ended,
And, I shall live again, ev'n here,
When my Redeemer, doth appear,
Which (by what I have seen and heard)
I know, will not be long defer'd;
Nor that Raign, here on Earth, among
His Saints, which they have look'd for long.
But, that, which we shall then behold,
May better be believ'd then told;
Because, we may presume as well
To put the Sea into a shell,
As to demonstrate, unto men,
Of flesh and blood, what will be then.
My Righteousness, was not mine own,
Yet, more prevail'd by Grace divine,
Then if it had been wholly mine.
I loved all men, feared none
Except my self, and GOD alone;
And, when I knew him, did not make
Esteem of ought, but for his sake.
On him, in life time depended,
By Death are all my troubles ended,
And, I shall live again, ev'n here,
When my Redeemer, doth appear,
Which (by what I have seen and heard)
I know, will not be long defer'd;
Nor that Raign, here on Earth, among
His Saints, which they have look'd for long.
But, that, which we shall then behold,
May better be believ'd then told;
Because, we may presume as well
To put the Sea into a shell,
As to demonstrate, unto men,
Of flesh and blood, what will be then.
75
Nor oft, nor much desire had I,
Long time to live, or soon to die;
But, did the work I had to do,
As I enabled was thereto;
Then, whether lt seem'd Good or Ill,
Left that, and all things, to Gods will;
And, when this mind is not in me,
That, I am dead, assured be.
Long time to live, or soon to die;
But, did the work I had to do,
As I enabled was thereto;
Then, whether lt seem'd Good or Ill,
Left that, and all things, to Gods will;
And, when this mind is not in me,
That, I am dead, assured be.
Do Reader, what I have well done;
What I have err'd in, learn to shun;
And, when I must no more appear,
Let this, be thy Remembrancer.
What I have err'd in, learn to shun;
And, when I must no more appear,
Let this, be thy Remembrancer.
The Epilogue.
This, I perceive will take up too much Room,
Within a Church, or, on a Chappel Tombe;
And, peradventure, need a larger Stone
Then my estate will buy to write it on:
Ile therefore, let it wander on betwixt
The two Poles, till it finds where to be fixt:
For, though it seems brought forth before the time,
It may, whilst it continues in this Clime,
Some way advantage me, by bringing that
Into my minde, which I might else forget,
That, Whilst I live, I might conform thereto
So far forth, as I am oblig'd to do.
Within a Church, or, on a Chappel Tombe;
And, peradventure, need a larger Stone
Then my estate will buy to write it on:
Ile therefore, let it wander on betwixt
The two Poles, till it finds where to be fixt:
For, though it seems brought forth before the time,
It may, whilst it continues in this Clime,
Some way advantage me, by bringing that
Into my minde, which I might else forget,
That, Whilst I live, I might conform thereto
So far forth, as I am oblig'd to do.
Moreover, I shall know, (when this is read)
What will be said of me when I am dead;
Which, that man cannot hear, who shall not have
An Epitaph, till he is in his Grave.
Some part thereof, may likewise useful seem
To others, who my words, now disesteem:
For, through the spatious earth, I know not ought,
That is, or may be said, or done, or thought,
But, hath a tendance, if we heed it will,
Either to what is good or what is ill:
A Single haire, or fluttring of a Bird,
May providentially, sometimes afford
Hints, or precautions, to incline us, to
What we ought to Observe, beleive, or do.
What will be said of me when I am dead;
Which, that man cannot hear, who shall not have
An Epitaph, till he is in his Grave.
76
To others, who my words, now disesteem:
For, through the spatious earth, I know not ought,
That is, or may be said, or done, or thought,
But, hath a tendance, if we heed it will,
Either to what is good or what is ill:
A Single haire, or fluttring of a Bird,
May providentially, sometimes afford
Hints, or precautions, to incline us, to
What we ought to Observe, beleive, or do.
This, also will be, as it were, to some
A Messenger, who from the dead is come,
To Preach what is agreeable to Reason,
(Although it be a Preachment out of season)
But, now, both dead and living Preachers too,
Are sleighted, whatsoe're they say or do.
And, if such Predicants found no regard,
Where Moses and the Prophets were not heard,
What, probably, from those can be expected
Who Christ and his Apostles, have neglected?
Yet, from dead Letters, and from men deceast
There comes (from what in lifetime they exprest)
A voice sometimes, to which men will incline,
A willing ear; and so, there will from mine.
A Messenger, who from the dead is come,
To Preach what is agreeable to Reason,
(Although it be a Preachment out of season)
But, now, both dead and living Preachers too,
Are sleighted, whatsoe're they say or do.
And, if such Predicants found no regard,
Where Moses and the Prophets were not heard,
What, probably, from those can be expected
Who Christ and his Apostles, have neglected?
Yet, from dead Letters, and from men deceast
There comes (from what in lifetime they exprest)
A voice sometimes, to which men will incline,
A willing ear; and so, there will from mine.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |