Oxford Historical and Literary Studies Issued under the direction of C. H. Firth and Walter Raleigh: Professors of Modern History and English Literature in the University of Oxford: Volume 5: Henry Tubbe by G. C. Moore Smith |
 |
TO [THE LORD THE MARQUESSE OF HARTFORD?] |
 | Oxford Historical and Literary Studies |  |
TO [THE LORD THE MARQUESSE OF HARTFORD?]
My Lord. You have the Will & Pow'r to doeThat which is good & great; the Knowledge too
Of every Circumstance in every Act,
Which makes the meanest Worke a famous Fact.
That you know how, & where, & when t' apply
Your favour, love, respect; this drawes the Eye
Of the Whole World upon your vertues; all
Admire to see goodnes so rise & fall
As is the object that it workes upon:
Whereby the least things seem the greatest, donne
With such a seasonable grace and measure,
Proportion, & just weight: you take a pleasure
To be exactly vertuous; and your Friends
Wonder, delight, & love to see your Ends.
That you know how to fight, & how to cloath
Your armes in Peace; that you are skill'd in both,
In both alike, is the amazement of
Your Humble Creatures (although they that scoffe
And jeer at Vertue will say this is nought
But a fine trick of State, a handsome Fault)
Because 't is rare; & wee have seldome known
An equall fame, an even, just renown
Accrue to severall Acts. But they that know
Your cleer integritie, can sweare & vow,
That this Dexteritie proceeds from sound
And strong abilities, not from a round,
Smooth, nimble, turning, close & crafty Art:
For in bad wayes you have a silly Heart.
Truth, Sir, is plaine & powerfull: it needs
No shifting tricks to make her glorious deeds
81
A purer gem than those, for wch wee kisse
The painted Face of Vice. Then let mee find
No Wisdome, but what dwells in such a Mind,
Where Greatnes mixt with Goodnes beares the Sway.
That Mind is like Yours, I dare boldly say.
| Oxford Historical and Literary Studies | |