The works of Sr William Davenant ... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies |
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To Doctor Cademan, Physitian to the Queen.
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
To Doctor Cademan, Physitian to the Queen.
For thy Victorious cares, thy ready heart;Thy so small tyranny to so much Art;
For visits made to my disease
And me, (alas) not to my Fees:
For words so often comforting with scope
Of learned reason not perswasive hope:
For Med'cines so benigne, as seeme
Cordials for Eastern Queens that teeme.
For setting now my condemn'd body free,
From that no God, but Devil Mercurie:
For an assurance I ne'r shall
A forfeit be to' th'Admiral
Like those in Hospitals, who dare presume
To make French Cordage now of English Rhume;
Or slender Ropes, on which instead
Of Pearle, Revolted Teeth they thred;
For limiting my Cheekes, that else had been
Swoln like the signe, o'th Head 'oth Saracen;
For preservation from a long
Concealment of my Mother-Tongue;
Whilst speechless, sow'd in Hoods I should appear,
An Antarminian, silenc'd Minister;
Or some Turks poyson'd Mute so fret
So some at mouth, make signs and spet.
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More forc'd, than Quailes t'each full-cramm'd Isralite
Whose angry swollowing denotes
They lay at Flux, and had sore throats.
For these deliverances, and all the good
My new return of Sences, strength, and blood,
Shall bring, for all I mine can boast,
Whilst my Endimion is not lost,
By th' feeble influence of my Starre; or turns
From me, to one whose Planet cleerer burnes,
May (thou safe Lord of Arts) each spring
Ripe plenty of Diseases bring
Unto the rich; they still t'our Surgeons be
Experiments, Patients alone to thee:
Health to the Poor; least pitty shou'd
(That gently stirs, and rules thy blood)
Tempt thee from wealth, to such as pay like me
A Verse; then think, they give Eternity.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |