Miscellaneous works of George Wither

A Goodly Ship, with precious lading fraught,
Late, in a dark night, near to land was brought.
Through many dangers, and much Blustering weather,
The Providence of God, had brought her thither;
And, by the Waters motions, and some Humming
Among the Shrowds, another storm seem'd coming.
The place ariv'd at, was a dangerous Bay,
From which, into the Port, two Channells lay,
Divided by a Quicksand, with great store
Of Shelvs, and Sharp-rocks, upon either Shore:
She had a brave Commander, Marchants many;
Stout Seamen, Pilots too, as good as any,
With Passengers of all sorts; among whom
Some could (had need been) have suppli'd the room
Of well-experienc'd Sea-men, and advis'd
Such things, as Prudence would not have dispis'd.
But, these among themselvs, divided were,
Through which of these two Channels, they should steer,
One party, thinking that the safest way,
In which the other, thought most danger lay:
And in the dark, it could not well be seen,
In which, the greatest Hazzard would have been.

There was a poor Old man, that time, a board,
To whom, God, had been pleased to afford
A faculty, to see things in the dark,
Which others could not view, or, did not mark;
He, seeing what great straights the Ship was in,
And what their loss was likely to have been,

Call'd out to those, who there had Chief Commmand,
And said; there stands a Rock; here lies a sand,
Another yonder, and, a Whirlpool there;
Be carefull therefore, thither not to steer;
Bear up a little while into the Wind,
(Although a shew of danger there you find)
And take heed, that a causless fear or doubt,
Prevails not now, to make you Tack-about:
Lest all be lost, and, you, upon a steep
Ridge strike; and, over-set into the deep.
Now, by the Starbordside a compass fetch,
Halfe way to yon point, to avoyd that Beach;
And then, upon the Larbordside again
Wheel off, and you the Harbor shall attain.

Thus spake the Old man, for although 'twere night,
He saw as well, as when the Sun gives light;
And then, all they who had a will to see,
Saw how to find the way, as well as hee.
The greater part, not heeding what they heard,
(Nor knowing their own danger) grinn'd and jeer'd;
Suppos'd him mad, to talk, and make a shew
Of Demonstrations, which they could not view;
Crept from the hatches, down into the hold,
And let them look unto the Ship that would.

But, they, who more sought their own will to have,
Then to be counsel'd, or, the Ship to save;
Disdaining that an aged doting fool,
Should put their Wisedom, as it were, to school;
(And, seeing his Relations tend unto,
That, which their Captain had resolv'd to do)
Grew angry; Therefore, though he neither fears
Their wrath, nor much for their disfavour cares;
Hereby, he hath appealed unto you,
Who, are known honest, wise, goodmen, and true;

And, praies you, to be Judges, how he hath,
Or wherein, any way deserv'd their Wrath:
For, here in brief, his Cause is plainly show'n,
And, 'tis to some among you, so well known,
That, if you shall condemne him, hee'l submit
To make what Satisfaction, you think fit.

If this comes forth too late to take effect,
My Conscience knows, it was not my neglect:
For I, my utmost labour, had bestown,
To make it, in a timely-season known.
If, therefore, ought amisse thereby ensue,
There lay the Fault, to whom the Blame is due.

[_]

Here being vacant Pages, the Author hath filled them with a Copie of certain Verses, wherewith he lately inclosed two Petitions to the Parlament, and laid them within their Threshold; hoping by that Expedient, they might have been presented to the House; The Paper was thus Superscribed;

University of Virginia Library

A Cause Allegorically Stated,

With an Appeal therein, to all that are wise and honest, from an injurious censure, lately passed.