 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
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I. To those Friends, unto whom this Author hath been scandalously mis-represented in private, by some false Brethren and others.
Though hereof I have just occasion had,
I do not meerly for mine own sake add
This Crum; but likewise here, for your avail
Insert it, lest my Sland'rers may prevail,
(By bringing me into your disrespect)
To make my Cautions take the less effect.
Give therefore heed to what I now express,
And let GOD move belief as he shall please.
I do not meerly for mine own sake add
This Crum; but likewise here, for your avail
Insert it, lest my Sland'rers may prevail,
(By bringing me into your disrespect)
To make my Cautions take the less effect.
Give therefore heed to what I now express,
And let GOD move belief as he shall please.
As David said, The wrongs of open foes
I could have born, but near my heart it goes,
When I am grosly injured by them,
Who did my loving Friends and Brethren seem,
And cannot chuse (although I do sustain
Ev'n that with patience) but thereof complain,
In hope, it may occasion give to some
Who fail'd in that kind, henceforth to become
So sensible of what was heretofore
Mis-done, that they will so offend no more:
For, unto them, this is the worst design
Which I intend by this Complaint of mine.
I could have born, but near my heart it goes,
When I am grosly injured by them,
Who did my loving Friends and Brethren seem,
And cannot chuse (although I do sustain
Ev'n that with patience) but thereof complain,
In hope, it may occasion give to some
Who fail'd in that kind, henceforth to become
So sensible of what was heretofore
Mis-done, that they will so offend no more:
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Which I intend by this Complaint of mine.
Two sorts of men there are, with both of which
I've had to do; and (though not very much)
More than enough it seems. One sort of these,
Those Persons are, by whose maliciousness,
Most, who are conscientious men reputed,
Are for that cause traduc'd and persecuted;
And (when they thereunto shall be inclin'd)
A staff to beat a dog, who may not find?
'Tis care to scape the venom of their tongue,
So impudent they are in doing wrong,
And brutish in their Censures: yet but few,
Except some like themselves, believe that true
Which they report; and they themselves do know,
That they asperse me with what is not so.
Of such men therefore, here complain I not;
Because, by these, I have not often got
A disadvantage, which would equal'd be
With what might happen by their praising me.
I've had to do; and (though not very much)
More than enough it seems. One sort of these,
Those Persons are, by whose maliciousness,
Most, who are conscientious men reputed,
Are for that cause traduc'd and persecuted;
And (when they thereunto shall be inclin'd)
A staff to beat a dog, who may not find?
'Tis care to scape the venom of their tongue,
So impudent they are in doing wrong,
And brutish in their Censures: yet but few,
Except some like themselves, believe that true
Which they report; and they themselves do know,
That they asperse me with what is not so.
Of such men therefore, here complain I not;
Because, by these, I have not often got
A disadvantage, which would equal'd be
With what might happen by their praising me.
The poysnings of the other, more infect,
Because, receiv'd they are without suspect,
And, vented with a counterfeited shew
Of better ends than those which they pursue.
Some of these being partners with those sinners,
Who were of our late Troubles first beginners,
Did, with a mask of Piety and Zeal
To GOD, the King, and to the Commonweal,
Drive on their own designs; And (having made
Of seeming Godliness, a gainful Trade)
Their opportunities now being gone,
Of preying upon those they prey'd upon,
Would make a prey of them, whom they pretended
In times preceding, much to have befriended.
So feeds the Pickrel, when he cannot find
A Roach or Dace, on fish of his own kind.
And, some of these, because I will not be
Inslav'd to that, from which I should be free,
Have (thereto mov'd by Avarice and Pride)
Without just cause, me lately vilifi'd
To some of my best Friends; ev'n unto them
Whose Charity supports me at this time:
And, should it be believed, might much more
Undo me, than all they who heretofore
Have been my open Foes. Moreover, some,
That I might wholly succourless become,
Are pleas'd to say, I am not so bereft
Of my Estate, but that enough is left
For my support. Wherein, if they speak right,
They render me so gross an Hypocrite,
That I deserve no Friend; And if I am
By them beli'd, then much are they to blame,
VVho have, as far as in them lies, to starving
Exposed me and mine, without deserving.
Because, receiv'd they are without suspect,
And, vented with a counterfeited shew
Of better ends than those which they pursue.
Some of these being partners with those sinners,
Who were of our late Troubles first beginners,
Did, with a mask of Piety and Zeal
To GOD, the King, and to the Commonweal,
Drive on their own designs; And (having made
Of seeming Godliness, a gainful Trade)
Their opportunities now being gone,
Of preying upon those they prey'd upon,
Would make a prey of them, whom they pretended
In times preceding, much to have befriended.
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A Roach or Dace, on fish of his own kind.
And, some of these, because I will not be
Inslav'd to that, from which I should be free,
Have (thereto mov'd by Avarice and Pride)
Without just cause, me lately vilifi'd
To some of my best Friends; ev'n unto them
Whose Charity supports me at this time:
And, should it be believed, might much more
Undo me, than all they who heretofore
Have been my open Foes. Moreover, some,
That I might wholly succourless become,
Are pleas'd to say, I am not so bereft
Of my Estate, but that enough is left
For my support. Wherein, if they speak right,
They render me so gross an Hypocrite,
That I deserve no Friend; And if I am
By them beli'd, then much are they to blame,
VVho have, as far as in them lies, to starving
Exposed me and mine, without deserving.
But, this I fear not: for, if that supply
Shall fail, which I have had by Charity,
He, who by other hands, hath Mercy shown,
VVill from henceforth relieve me by his own:
And, these are thus confuted, without feigning,
If they know ought of mine, that's yet remaining
VVithin my power; Or, but so much as may
(If ever it be mine) my Debts repay,
Save what's yet wholly lost, I give it all
To him, who thereof make discov'ry shall;
And hereby, both confirm this Gift for ever;
And urge him that Discov'ry to endeavour
VVho raised that Report; so he thereby
Shall have some profit, if it be no lye.
Shall fail, which I have had by Charity,
He, who by other hands, hath Mercy shown,
VVill from henceforth relieve me by his own:
And, these are thus confuted, without feigning,
If they know ought of mine, that's yet remaining
VVithin my power; Or, but so much as may
(If ever it be mine) my Debts repay,
Save what's yet wholly lost, I give it all
To him, who thereof make discov'ry shall;
And hereby, both confirm this Gift for ever;
And urge him that Discov'ry to endeavour
VVho raised that Report; so he thereby
Shall have some profit, if it be no lye.
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I do perceive, to have me quite destroy'd
The Devil many Agents hath imploy'd
In sev'ral modes; which that prevent I may,
Nought more or better have I now to say,
Or do, which will avail me, but to fly
To my Protector, to your Charity
VVho know me, and unto that Evidence
VVhich I have given of my Innocence
To you who know me not; in hope you'l do
As in like case you would be done unto:
And that when their malevolence hath wrought
Till it shall purge its own corruption out,
It will abate, and some effects produce,
VVhich both to them and me may be of use.
If me you judge, as you would judged be,
No more needs to be said thereof by me;
Especially to him who truly knows,
VVho giveth deeper wounds, than open foes.
The Devil many Agents hath imploy'd
In sev'ral modes; which that prevent I may,
Nought more or better have I now to say,
Or do, which will avail me, but to fly
To my Protector, to your Charity
VVho know me, and unto that Evidence
VVhich I have given of my Innocence
To you who know me not; in hope you'l do
As in like case you would be done unto:
And that when their malevolence hath wrought
Till it shall purge its own corruption out,
It will abate, and some effects produce,
VVhich both to them and me may be of use.
If me you judge, as you would judged be,
No more needs to be said thereof by me;
Especially to him who truly knows,
VVho giveth deeper wounds, than open foes.
This Case of mine concerneth now and then,
Not me alone, but other honest men.
Such like false brethren, in all Ages were
Among the Saints, and such-like still there are.
Therefore these Lines at this time were bestown,
As justly for their sakes, as for mine own,
Since, of what here I for my self do plead,
Some other, thus abus'd, may stand in need.
Not me alone, but other honest men.
Such like false brethren, in all Ages were
Among the Saints, and such-like still there are.
Therefore these Lines at this time were bestown,
As justly for their sakes, as for mine own,
Since, of what here I for my self do plead,
Some other, thus abus'd, may stand in need.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |