 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
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.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |