 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
135
A THANKFUL RETRIBUTION,
Imprinted 1649.
[_]
This was written to express the Author's gratitude to some few Members of Parliament, who without his seeking, had propounded an expedient whereby to satisfie his just Demands; but being without effect, that which was neglected, is here again revived, as pertinent to consideration at this time.
And my oppressions make me not so poor,
But that I have yet Thanks enough to pay
For Fifty thousand Wishes in one day;
And I much thank you ------
Page the Second.
But truly I expect not yet to see
The World neglect her own, to think on me;
Nor do I ought for my advantage crave,
Whereby the Publick may disprofit have:
I rather wish, That what is truly known
By Service and by Grant to be mine own,
Might be confer'd, or means at least, whereby
My Labours might support my Family
Till I receiv'd my dues. For that would please
My longing more, then all those Offices
Which others covet, and wherein few can
At once grow rich, and be an honest man;
And, wherein (as Affairs are manag'd now)
He that would fain be honest, knows not how.
The World neglect her own, to think on me;
Nor do I ought for my advantage crave,
Whereby the Publick may disprofit have:
I rather wish, That what is truly known
By Service and by Grant to be mine own,
Might be confer'd, or means at least, whereby
My Labours might support my Family
Till I receiv'd my dues. For that would please
My longing more, then all those Offices
136
At once grow rich, and be an honest man;
And, wherein (as Affairs are manag'd now)
He that would fain be honest, knows not how.
I value not my self so high, to set
My heart on what I am not like to get:
No, nor so low, but that (if I had wings
To reach them) I would flye at th'highest things
Your House could give me, or the world could show me,
Yet set them at a distance far below me:
For, he who of himself esteem shall make
By those things which the World may give or take,
(Or he who by his Trappings, or his Place
Doth prize himself) his Manhood doth debase.
My heart on what I am not like to get:
No, nor so low, but that (if I had wings
To reach them) I would flye at th'highest things
Your House could give me, or the world could show me,
Yet set them at a distance far below me:
For, he who of himself esteem shall make
By those things which the World may give or take,
(Or he who by his Trappings, or his Place
Doth prize himself) his Manhood doth debase.
If I well know my heart, I seek no more
Of this Worlds Honour, or of her vast store,
Then what sufficeth to defray the Debts,
Which Duty and Necessity now sets
Upon me; or which may yeeld means to do
Those Works which GOD may seem to call me to,
And keep up that frail part of me which dyes
Or lives unactive, without due supplies.
Yet when I did perceive with what disdain
Some did your friendly motion entertain,
And how they jeer'd thereat, it tempted me
To wish your Motion might vouchsafed be,
That I might see how mad the Fools would grow
With Envy, if they liv'd to see it so.
Of this Worlds Honour, or of her vast store,
Then what sufficeth to defray the Debts,
Which Duty and Necessity now sets
Upon me; or which may yeeld means to do
Those Works which GOD may seem to call me to,
And keep up that frail part of me which dyes
Or lives unactive, without due supplies.
Yet when I did perceive with what disdain
Some did your friendly motion entertain,
And how they jeer'd thereat, it tempted me
To wish your Motion might vouchsafed be,
That I might see how mad the Fools would grow
With Envy, if they liv'd to see it so.
One said the Place was fitter to reward
A Member of your House; and it appear'd
Thereby to me, that he had quite forgot
(As others do) the Self-denying Vote.
Some seem to think, that seeing I am poor,
(Whate're they owe me) they should give no more
Then sutes my present Fortune; as if I
With my Estate had lost my Dignity,
And he had got it, who since t'other day
Is grown Sub-Grandee from a beggar-boy,
By such an Occupation, as hath yet
Neither improv'd his Honesty or Wit:
But, let these make the best of their New Lot,
So mine they wrong not, I envy them not;
And, 'tis my honour, rather then my shame,
Now to be poor; because I poor became
Not by mine own default; and in a time
When to be very rich, implies a crime.
For, who with honour to great Wealth can rise,
When all the Land is full of poor mens cries?
Or, what shame thereby him can seise upon,
Who wants, when Kings and Kingdoms are undone?
Or poor became, because he lent and gave
His whole Estate the Neighbourhood to save?
And what at last will unto such succeed,
Who, when they may, relieve not that mans need?
A Member of your House; and it appear'd
Thereby to me, that he had quite forgot
(As others do) the Self-denying Vote.
Some seem to think, that seeing I am poor,
(Whate're they owe me) they should give no more
137
With my Estate had lost my Dignity,
And he had got it, who since t'other day
Is grown Sub-Grandee from a beggar-boy,
By such an Occupation, as hath yet
Neither improv'd his Honesty or Wit:
But, let these make the best of their New Lot,
So mine they wrong not, I envy them not;
And, 'tis my honour, rather then my shame,
Now to be poor; because I poor became
Not by mine own default; and in a time
When to be very rich, implies a crime.
For, who with honour to great Wealth can rise,
When all the Land is full of poor mens cries?
Or, what shame thereby him can seise upon,
Who wants, when Kings and Kingdoms are undone?
Or poor became, because he lent and gave
His whole Estate the Neighbourhood to save?
And what at last will unto such succeed,
Who, when they may, relieve not that mans need?
I covet not the Place propos'd for me,
(Although as capable thereof as he
Who did possess it) for, I know too well
Wherein that man his Neighbours must excel,
Who hath an aim so high, except there shall
Some extraordinary Change befall:
And, me (I think) it would advance no more
Then did that Office I held heretofore.
For, in these Isles I have already had
A Place more honourable (though not made
So much account of) then 'tis to supply
The greatest Office in your Chancery.
Yea, more then to possess the place of him
Who in that Court is Officer Supream.
And as a mark of Honour, bears about
A Silver Seal in an Embroidered Clout.
I have been honour'd to draw up Records
For him that's King of Kings, and Lord of Lords;
To be unto this Isle Remembrancer,
And, as it were, a Publick Register
To that Supream, High and most awful Court
From whence proceeds no Sentence, no Report,
No Order or Injunction, no Decree,
Edicts or Dooms, but such as Righteous be;
And where the Judg will to no side be sway'd
By Eloquence, or Force, or brib'd, or pray'd
To be more merciful, or more severe
Then Justice and true Clemency may bear.
(Although as capable thereof as he
Who did possess it) for, I know too well
Wherein that man his Neighbours must excel,
Who hath an aim so high, except there shall
Some extraordinary Change befall:
And, me (I think) it would advance no more
Then did that Office I held heretofore.
For, in these Isles I have already had
A Place more honourable (though not made
So much account of) then 'tis to supply
The greatest Office in your Chancery.
Yea, more then to possess the place of him
Who in that Court is Officer Supream.
138
A Silver Seal in an Embroidered Clout.
I have been honour'd to draw up Records
For him that's King of Kings, and Lord of Lords;
To be unto this Isle Remembrancer,
And, as it were, a Publick Register
To that Supream, High and most awful Court
From whence proceeds no Sentence, no Report,
No Order or Injunction, no Decree,
Edicts or Dooms, but such as Righteous be;
And where the Judg will to no side be sway'd
By Eloquence, or Force, or brib'd, or pray'd
To be more merciful, or more severe
Then Justice and true Clemency may bear.
Yea, although at this present heeded not
By many, (and by others quite forgot)
I have enroll'd, and registred to stand
Upon Record, what Mercies to this Land
Have been vouchsaf'd; what ought to have bin done
To keep away the Judgments coming on:
Shown how the King, and how the People might
Have scap't the hands which both of them now smite:
Foretold the War before it came to pass;
Who should begin the Quarrel in this place:
What sad Effects would follow; what regard
My words would find, how they should me reward,
With many other things, which will appear
In those Records, whilst men speak English here:
And thousands will in future time confess
Those things fulfill'd which I did fore-express,
Who shall, it may be, likewise live to see,
That GOD observes who have abused me.
For hitherto, though I despis'd appear,
He spares my life, upholds my Spirit here;
Feeds me by his own hand, sometimes by men,
By Ravens and by Angels now and then.
Twice when my pow'rful Foes had by their might
Deprived me of my Subsistance quite,
He did supply my wants when I nor knew
Nor thought how Oyl or Meal I could renew;
Against proud Prelates, and corrupted Peers,
He did maintain about me many years
A Watchful Guard, which kept me from their Pow'r
When me they did endeavour to devour;
And from my troubles did release me too,
By doing what some thought would me undo:
Yea, when the greatest Lyon loudly roar'd,
And rouz'd against me; when the bloudy Sword
Was drawn upon me; when a Poysonous Pest
Breaths killing Vapours; when I was opprest
On ev'ry side; and when I was forsook
Well nigh of all, GOD notice of me took;
Sav'd me from spoil, from slaughter, from infection,
And honor'd me, ev'n by his own protection.
By many, (and by others quite forgot)
I have enroll'd, and registred to stand
Upon Record, what Mercies to this Land
Have been vouchsaf'd; what ought to have bin done
To keep away the Judgments coming on:
Shown how the King, and how the People might
Have scap't the hands which both of them now smite:
Foretold the War before it came to pass;
Who should begin the Quarrel in this place:
What sad Effects would follow; what regard
My words would find, how they should me reward,
With many other things, which will appear
In those Records, whilst men speak English here:
And thousands will in future time confess
Those things fulfill'd which I did fore-express,
Who shall, it may be, likewise live to see,
That GOD observes who have abused me.
For hitherto, though I despis'd appear,
He spares my life, upholds my Spirit here;
139
By Ravens and by Angels now and then.
Twice when my pow'rful Foes had by their might
Deprived me of my Subsistance quite,
He did supply my wants when I nor knew
Nor thought how Oyl or Meal I could renew;
Against proud Prelates, and corrupted Peers,
He did maintain about me many years
A Watchful Guard, which kept me from their Pow'r
When me they did endeavour to devour;
And from my troubles did release me too,
By doing what some thought would me undo:
Yea, when the greatest Lyon loudly roar'd,
And rouz'd against me; when the bloudy Sword
Was drawn upon me; when a Poysonous Pest
Breaths killing Vapours; when I was opprest
On ev'ry side; and when I was forsook
Well nigh of all, GOD notice of me took;
Sav'd me from spoil, from slaughter, from infection,
And honor'd me, ev'n by his own protection.
This being so, my Scorners whom I hear
At your Proposal do both grudg and jeer,
Have no such cause (as their misdeemings may
Suppose they had) your motion to gain-say:
'Twas fear, perhaps, I might have made the Place
Henceforth less profitable then it was.
For if that Register shall conscience make
At ev'ry Hearing such true Notes to take
Of what is Order'd, and so careful be,
To draw up ev'ry Sentence and Decree,
As not to leave that doubtful which the Court
Intrusts to his discretion and report,
Ambiguous Orders would not so enlarge
The Clients trouble, and his needless charge,
Either by words too many, or too few,
(Or of less weight then to the sense was due)
New motions to beget, and thereupon
New Orders, till both parties are undone.
At your Proposal do both grudg and jeer,
Have no such cause (as their misdeemings may
Suppose they had) your motion to gain-say:
'Twas fear, perhaps, I might have made the Place
Henceforth less profitable then it was.
For if that Register shall conscience make
At ev'ry Hearing such true Notes to take
Of what is Order'd, and so careful be,
To draw up ev'ry Sentence and Decree,
As not to leave that doubtful which the Court
Intrusts to his discretion and report,
Ambiguous Orders would not so enlarge
The Clients trouble, and his needless charge,
140
(Or of less weight then to the sense was due)
New motions to beget, and thereupon
New Orders, till both parties are undone.
When to prevent this, due care shall be took,
You will not so much for great Places look,
To gratifie your Friends, as you will then
To execute them, seek out fitting men.
No Place will then be thought too good for those
Who for your sakeshave made their friends their foes
They shall then get, at least their own again,
Who hitherto have spent themselves in vain;
And out of zeal unto the Common Good,
Adventur'd Liberty, Estates and Bloud,
Whilst others (by their patience, cost and sweat)
Grow, to their Countreys damage, Rich and Great.
Then they who have been innocently wise,
Will see in what their Wealth and safety lies;
And, then it may be, some fair Lot among
My Brethren, will befall me short or long.
You will not so much for great Places look,
To gratifie your Friends, as you will then
To execute them, seek out fitting men.
No Place will then be thought too good for those
Who for your sakeshave made their friends their foes
They shall then get, at least their own again,
Who hitherto have spent themselves in vain;
And out of zeal unto the Common Good,
Adventur'd Liberty, Estates and Bloud,
Whilst others (by their patience, cost and sweat)
Grow, to their Countreys damage, Rich and Great.
Then they who have been innocently wise,
Will see in what their Wealth and safety lies;
And, then it may be, some fair Lot among
My Brethren, will befall me short or long.
When such a Change I find, I shall begin
To doubt almost, what Climate I am in.
I shall not, for a good space after, take
The boldness to profess I am awake,
Or, that a Reformation in hath crept,
Whilst I was either in the dark, or slept;
And shall of our distractions hope to see
A better end, then likely now to be.
Then those things which we yet hear and behold
With fear and sorrow, shall with joy be told;
And then shall I no whit displeased grow,
Whether I sit higher, or more low;
Or, whether they who me should think upon,
Give me that Office, or a worse, or none.
For whatsoe're befalls, I shall be fed,
And so shall mine, whilst other men have bread.
To doubt almost, what Climate I am in.
I shall not, for a good space after, take
The boldness to profess I am awake,
Or, that a Reformation in hath crept,
Whilst I was either in the dark, or slept;
And shall of our distractions hope to see
A better end, then likely now to be.
Then those things which we yet hear and behold
With fear and sorrow, shall with joy be told;
And then shall I no whit displeased grow,
Whether I sit higher, or more low;
Or, whether they who me should think upon,
Give me that Office, or a worse, or none.
141
And so shall mine, whilst other men have bread.
From your well-wishings these expressions flow;
From these perhaps another fruit may grow;
From that another, and from those again
Another, till your wishes you obtain,
And our Endeavours (though what we intend,
Succeed not) shall be prosperous in the end.
From these perhaps another fruit may grow;
From that another, and from those again
Another, till your wishes you obtain,
And our Endeavours (though what we intend,
Succeed not) shall be prosperous in the end.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |