 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
IX. A brief Reproof of them, who take pleasure in Scandalous Invectives, whereby others are personally defamed.
There is a mangie Humour and an Itch,
(At this day very troublesome) with which
Most men are so infected, that unless
We find a speedy cure, 'twill so increase,
And leave so few from this Contagion free,
That we shall all appear meer Scabs to be.
Now, there is nothing more delights the ear,
Than when it shall those vilified hear,
Whom they affect not, whether they are blam'd
Without just cause, or worthily defam'd;
Especially, if those in ought dissent
From their Opinions, (Although eminent
For many Virtues, and with them agree
In all things, which with Truth essential be.)
And, since our Diffrences did us divide,
Few men there are of note on either side,
Of good or ill desert; but (right or wrong)
They so aspersed are by Pen or Tongue;
And Truth, if spoke, so blended is with lyes,
With fraud, or else with Ambiguities,
That, if what is in Pamphlets published,
Should be hereafter by our Children read,
They'l think this Age (if they do credit it)
Had neither Honour, Honesty, nor Wit;
So scurrilous, and so malevolent
Are their Invectives, and so impudent.
(At this day very troublesome) with which
Most men are so infected, that unless
We find a speedy cure, 'twill so increase,
And leave so few from this Contagion free,
That we shall all appear meer Scabs to be.
Now, there is nothing more delights the ear,
Than when it shall those vilified hear,
Whom they affect not, whether they are blam'd
Without just cause, or worthily defam'd;
Especially, if those in ought dissent
From their Opinions, (Although eminent
For many Virtues, and with them agree
In all things, which with Truth essential be.)
And, since our Diffrences did us divide,
Few men there are of note on either side,
Of good or ill desert; but (right or wrong)
They so aspersed are by Pen or Tongue;
And Truth, if spoke, so blended is with lyes,
With fraud, or else with Ambiguities,
That, if what is in Pamphlets published,
Should be hereafter by our Children read,
They'l think this Age (if they do credit it)
Had neither Honour, Honesty, nor Wit;
So scurrilous, and so malevolent
Are their Invectives, and so impudent.
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There are of Truths and Falshoods put together,
Such medlies made, without respect to either,
And misappli'd in such a barbrous wise,
Mens Persons or their Cause to scandalize,
That, whether they did wickedly, or well,
They, in their outward Fames are parallel;
And, frequently, by seeming to intend
That, which may their Antagonist befriend,
A Foe disguiz'd, destruction doth devise
For them, whom he pretends to patronize:
Shews make of Peace, where they bear no Goodwill,
And, those to save, whom they intend to kill.
Such medlies made, without respect to either,
And misappli'd in such a barbrous wise,
Mens Persons or their Cause to scandalize,
That, whether they did wickedly, or well,
They, in their outward Fames are parallel;
And, frequently, by seeming to intend
That, which may their Antagonist befriend,
A Foe disguiz'd, destruction doth devise
For them, whom he pretends to patronize:
Shews make of Peace, where they bear no Goodwill,
And, those to save, whom they intend to kill.
This Bitterness and Falshood multiplies
Those Discords and those Animosities,
Which have thus far undone us, and this course
Will make that which is bad, grow daily worse,
Until it shall exasperate this Nation
Beyond all means of Reconciliation;
For, till there shall as much respect be shown
To other mens Good-names, as to our own,
And, we are pleas'd to hear good spoke of those
Who well deserve, although they are our Foes,
We never shall be Friends; nor friendship merit
From any, till we qualifie this spirit.
'Tis gentle speaking that appeaseth Wrath;
A bitter language, no such virtue hath.
Those Discords and those Animosities,
Which have thus far undone us, and this course
Will make that which is bad, grow daily worse,
Until it shall exasperate this Nation
Beyond all means of Reconciliation;
For, till there shall as much respect be shown
To other mens Good-names, as to our own,
And, we are pleas'd to hear good spoke of those
Who well deserve, although they are our Foes,
We never shall be Friends; nor friendship merit
From any, till we qualifie this spirit.
'Tis gentle speaking that appeaseth Wrath;
A bitter language, no such virtue hath.
Yet, let none think, this means to usher-in
A Reprehension of reproving Sin,
Or, that, it well beseems not any man
To render Vice as odious as he can:
For, no debasement can make Wickedness
More ugly, than essentially it is.
Though just Reproofs have not allowed been,
Where persons are more aim'd at, than their sin.
Their Practice, Justice doth to none allow,
Who at their Neighbours, from an unseen Bow,
Shoot poysned Arrows; and, Bandetti-like,
The Passengers from such a Covert strike,
That none can truly know how they are nam'd,
Or where those dwell, by whom they are defam'd.
A Reprehension of reproving Sin,
Or, that, it well beseems not any man
To render Vice as odious as he can:
For, no debasement can make Wickedness
More ugly, than essentially it is.
Though just Reproofs have not allowed been,
Where persons are more aim'd at, than their sin.
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Who at their Neighbours, from an unseen Bow,
Shoot poysned Arrows; and, Bandetti-like,
The Passengers from such a Covert strike,
That none can truly know how they are nam'd,
Or where those dwell, by whom they are defam'd.
In taxing Vices, let nor Tongue nor Pen
Act sparingly; but spare alone the men,
(As much as possible) unless they shall
Ingage themselves, by quarrels personal
Against the Truth; Then spare them only so,
That thereby Truth may not receive a blow.
A causless Scandal, nor a Lie, admit,
Though thereby Truth may some advantage get;
For, she or they, will honour lose thereby,
Who think to do her service by a Lie.
Act sparingly; but spare alone the men,
(As much as possible) unless they shall
Ingage themselves, by quarrels personal
Against the Truth; Then spare them only so,
That thereby Truth may not receive a blow.
A causless Scandal, nor a Lie, admit,
Though thereby Truth may some advantage get;
For, she or they, will honour lose thereby,
Who think to do her service by a Lie.
Some Good-men (not a little to their shame)
I fear are this way otherwhile to blame,
As much as they whose refuge is in Lyes,
(And care not by what means they gain their Prize)
For, when that an Impostor doth express
What some-way suiteth with what they profess;
Oft-times by that Wile, guilded Pills are swallow'd
As wholsom, which are poysned and unhallow'd,
And, them deprive, who are deluded so,
Of outward peace, and Peace of Conscience too.
I fear are this way otherwhile to blame,
As much as they whose refuge is in Lyes,
(And care not by what means they gain their Prize)
For, when that an Impostor doth express
What some-way suiteth with what they profess;
Oft-times by that Wile, guilded Pills are swallow'd
As wholsom, which are poysned and unhallow'd,
And, them deprive, who are deluded so,
Of outward peace, and Peace of Conscience too.
Take therfore heed of those, who by their mingling
Truths with apparant Falshoods, and by gingling
Some Silver among Counters, may by shows
Of their befriending that, which they oppose,
Obtrude upon you somewhat that is evil,
Relating unto things Divine or Civil;
At least, to make you hearken with content,
To what brings undeserv'd Disparagement
On other men: For, all things baneful prove,
Wherein there's want of Prudence, Faith, or Love.
Truths with apparant Falshoods, and by gingling
Some Silver among Counters, may by shows
Of their befriending that, which they oppose,
Obtrude upon you somewhat that is evil,
Relating unto things Divine or Civil;
At least, to make you hearken with content,
To what brings undeserv'd Disparagement
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Wherein there's want of Prudence, Faith, or Love.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |