University of Virginia Library

TO My dear Friend Mr John Tatham, On his Excellent Play, The Distracted State.

I do not write in confidence my fame
May lift you up, or hoist you to a Name:
I of my own defects too knowing am
To hope support you, While my self am lame;
And th' world so well your Merits understand,
They do not need advancement by my hand.
Nor do I labour to be thought a Wit
Because in you I do approve of it.
What makes you shine, does make me not dispair
To hope a glimmering in the self same air:
To Love I'm vow'd too; not that wayward toy
That for these thousand yeers writes himself Boy;
Who makes the Lord and Lady still to meet,
As sure as in a Country Dance wee see't.
'Tis motley, just like Cheeses where I've been,
Checkquer'd, one square of white, and one of green;
'Tis at the best imperfect, such a pair
Like Doublets in the middle joyned are;
While masculine affections, such as mine,
Like Diamonds, entire and cleerly shine.
To Womankind a while I bid adue,
And only now enamour'd am of you.
And certain, 'tis no miracle in me,
T' whom Civill War hath been a nursery,
That I in strict obedience to my fate,
Do fall in Love with your Distracted State