 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
74
A Postscript to the Preceding Verses.
They, who to neither Side, nor Back, nor Further;
Can turn, or pass, need no Restraints by Order.
Nor greatly be afraid what next will come,
Their, just resolvings, to divert them from;
And, that, whereto necessities compell,
Is done excusably, though not done well.
Can turn, or pass, need no Restraints by Order.
Nor greatly be afraid what next will come,
Their, just resolvings, to divert them from;
And, that, whereto necessities compell,
Is done excusably, though not done well.
If much oppression, cracks a wiseman's brain,
Who knows, whereto, it may a fool constrain?
They, whom delay of Justice doth make poor,
Do lose but their estates, and, may get more:
If, therewithall, they are of life depriv'd,
They feel not, what to feel, they might have liv'd:
But, he who doth in life-time, thereby lose
Both wealth and credit, shall to friends and foes
Become a scorn; whereat, if mad he be,
And, makes ten thousands grow as mad as he,
The fault is theirs, who, without mercy, stretch,
A weak man's patience, farther then 'twil reach;
As if, he, of his suff'ring sense had none,
Because, they no more feel it, then a stone.
Who knows, whereto, it may a fool constrain?
They, whom delay of Justice doth make poor,
Do lose but their estates, and, may get more:
If, therewithall, they are of life depriv'd,
They feel not, what to feel, they might have liv'd:
But, he who doth in life-time, thereby lose
Both wealth and credit, shall to friends and foes
Become a scorn; whereat, if mad he be,
And, makes ten thousands grow as mad as he,
The fault is theirs, who, without mercy, stretch,
A weak man's patience, farther then 'twil reach;
As if, he, of his suff'ring sense had none,
Because, they no more feel it, then a stone.
My principle (which makes me oft abus'd)
Injoins me, when I scurvily am us'd
Where I expect relief, to shew my wrongs;
And, vengeance leave, to whom the same belongs;
But, some men, cannot be content to stay
GOD's leisure, or, for Justice, in his way;
And, what, their wants, neglects, and indignation
May tempt them to, is worth consideration.
There is to all things, an appointed date;
And, they are unwise, who are wise too late.
Injoins me, when I scurvily am us'd
Where I expect relief, to shew my wrongs;
And, vengeance leave, to whom the same belongs;
But, some men, cannot be content to stay
GOD's leisure, or, for Justice, in his way;
And, what, their wants, neglects, and indignation
May tempt them to, is worth consideration.
There is to all things, an appointed date;
And, they are unwise, who are wise too late.
Necessitas, & indignatio quid non possunt?
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |