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Epigrams: Divine and Moral

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

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[dedication]
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EPIGRAMS
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To the King.
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2. That those of a solid wit, cannot be puffed vp with applause; nor incensed by contumelie.
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3 A brave spirit disdaineth the threats of Fortune.
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4. How to become wise.
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5. The wise, and noble resolution of a truly couragious, and devout spirit, towards the absolute danting of those irregular affections, and inward perturbations, which readily might happen to impede the current of his sanctified designes: and oppose his already initiated progresse, in the divinely proposed course of a vertuous, and holy life.
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6. That the fellowship of vertuous, or vicious people, contributes much to the bettering, or depraving of the mind.
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7. Riches without further, can make no man happy.
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8. What man it is, that is truly wealthie.
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9. How a valiant man ought to behave himselfe towards those, that basely offer to offend him.
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10 Why the world is at variance.
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11. How to be alwayes in repose.
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12. A wise man onely may properly be said to enjoy life.
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13. Who is not satisfied with his owne fortune, how great soever it be, is miserable.
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14. A certaine old mans expression before his death, to his Son.
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15 To one of a great memory, but depraved life.
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16. how a man should oppose adversitie.
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17. The expression of a contented mind in povertie.
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18. Not time, but our actions, are the true measure of our life.
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19. Ingratitude is such a common vice, that even those who exclame most against it, are not freest of it.
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20 Of Negative, and Positive good.
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21. To one bewailing the death of another.
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22. Why covetous, and too ambitious men prove not so thankfull, as others for received favours.
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23. A counsell not to vse severity, where gentle dealing may prevaile.
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24. That they may be alike rich, who are not alike abundantly stored with worldly commodities.
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25. Uertue, and goodnesse are very much opposed by the selfe-conceit, that many men have of their owne sufficiencie.
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26. How to support the contumelie of defamatorie speeches.
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27. Of Lust, and Anger.
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28. An encouragement to an impatient man in an Ague.
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29 The firme, and determinate resolution of a couragious spirit, in the deepest calamities, inflicted by sinister fate.
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30. That wise men, to speak properly, are the most powerfull men in the world.
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31. To a rich man, become poore.
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32. That if we strove not more for superfluities, then for what is needfull, we would not be so much troubled, as wee are.
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33. The onely true progresse to a blessed life.
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34. That wee ought not to be excessively grieved at the losse of any thing, that is in the power of Fortune.
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35. Wherein true Wealth consists.
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36. How difficult a thing it is, to tread in the pathes of vertue.
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37. A counsell to one oppressed with bondage, and cruell disasters.
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38. How Fortune oftentimes most præposterously pond'ring the actions of men, with a great deale of injustice bestoweth her favours.
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39. When a true friend may be best knowne.
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40. The duty of a husband to his wife.
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41. Concerning those, who marry for beauty, and wealth without regard of vertue.
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42. The speech of a noble spirit to his adversary, whom after he had defeated, he acknowledgeth to be nothing inferiour to himselfe in worth, wit, or valour, thereby insinuating that a wise man cannot properly bee subdued: though he be o'rthrown in body, and worldly commodities.
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43. In how farre men are inferiour to many other living creatures, in the faculties of the exteriour senses.
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44. To one, who was heavily cast downe in Spirit, by reason of some scandalous speeches, blased forth to his disadvantage.
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EPIGRAMS:
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EPIGRAMS:
  
[Laud to the Father, with the Son]

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17

39. When a true friend may be best knowne.

As the glow-worme shines brightest in the darke,
And frankincense smells sweetest in the fire:
So crosse adventures make us best remarke
A sincere friend from a dissembled Lyer;
For some being friends to our prosperity,
And not to us: when it failes, they decay.
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