 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
3
To the KING'S MAJESTY, If this Considering-Glass comes accidentally to his View.
Sir, Blest is hee that in Gods Name doth come,
In which Name I pronounce your welcome home;
And, for your Health more heartily do pray,
Than any one who drinks it every day.
As often too, I have you in my thought
As they, who with the first your favour sought;
VVhich, if my heart you could as plainly see
As what you now read, would beleeved bee.
VVhen I had first compos'd what here ensues,
I wisht it where you might the same peruse:
For, men unknown (or known without respect)
So justly are affronted with neglect,
For proffer'd Services to those, that have
More Off'rings daily than they can receive,
That, I committed this to his Dispose
VVho orders ev'ry thing that comes or goes.
In which Name I pronounce your welcome home;
And, for your Health more heartily do pray,
Than any one who drinks it every day.
As often too, I have you in my thought
As they, who with the first your favour sought;
VVhich, if my heart you could as plainly see
As what you now read, would beleeved bee.
VVhen I had first compos'd what here ensues,
I wisht it where you might the same peruse:
For, men unknown (or known without respect)
So justly are affronted with neglect,
For proffer'd Services to those, that have
More Off'rings daily than they can receive,
That, I committed this to his Dispose
VVho orders ev'ry thing that comes or goes.
If Providence hath brought this to your hand,
Give up to REASON straight, the sole command
Ov'r all your Passions; Make her of your Isle,
(Your Isle of MAN) Queen-Regent, all the while
You are perusing it; and let it bee
Read through, else it will wrong both You and Me.
(Or you like Cæsar, unperus'd perchance,
May leave that, which your welfare might advance)
To bee her Subject, but so long endeavour
As till that's done, and then, bee King for ever,
(Reigning with her) as absolute a Prince,
As ever had ov'r men pre-eminence:
For, then shall that, to you more glory add,
Than hitherto from any Pen you had;
And, bee to you, a true Mnemosyne,
When, peradventure, none so dares to bee.
This Glass (though form'd it be of Common matter
And, made by him, who knows not how to flatter
If, to a Prince who needs it, it were sold,
Were worth to him three times his weight in gold,
If he knew how to use it as hee should:
Yet I had rather you for nothing had it,
So that it wrought th'effect for which I made it,
Than, from another, to receive that price
In ready money, paid mee over twice:
For, then, this Book (which hath not to your praise
One single Page) thereto should Trophies raise
More glorious, than, your LONDONS wealth could rear,
If wholly, thereupon consum'd it were.
Your Happiness and Honour it intends:
By not commending, it much more commends,
Than all their Panegyricks who bestrow
Those men with praises whom they do not know;
And, magnifie, when they ascend the Throne,
All Kings alike; which praise is less than none;
For, 'tis a Mock deserving but returns
Of sharp reproofs, or of neglect and scorns.
If, wise and pious, you I had not thought,
I such like Gew-gaws, could to you have brought
To put out of your minde, what GOD for you
Hath lately done; and what you ought to do
For Him and His. But neither self-esteem,
Nor verbal Attributes can perfect him
By whom, here, shall bee an Establishment
Of Justice in a Righteous Government.
For, none else, but a self-denying King,
Shall that great Blessing to these Nations bring;
And, his Name will be thereby honour'd more
Than all his Predecessors heretofore.
And, they, who then live shall fulfill'd behold
What Britains Genius, long ago foretold:
For, I believe, that such a one will bee,
And also, much desire, you may bee hee
Give up to REASON straight, the sole command
Ov'r all your Passions; Make her of your Isle,
(Your Isle of MAN) Queen-Regent, all the while
You are perusing it; and let it bee
Read through, else it will wrong both You and Me.
(Or you like Cæsar, unperus'd perchance,
May leave that, which your welfare might advance)
To bee her Subject, but so long endeavour
As till that's done, and then, bee King for ever,
(Reigning with her) as absolute a Prince,
As ever had ov'r men pre-eminence:
For, then shall that, to you more glory add,
Than hitherto from any Pen you had;
4
When, peradventure, none so dares to bee.
This Glass (though form'd it be of Common matter
And, made by him, who knows not how to flatter
If, to a Prince who needs it, it were sold,
Were worth to him three times his weight in gold,
If he knew how to use it as hee should:
Yet I had rather you for nothing had it,
So that it wrought th'effect for which I made it,
Than, from another, to receive that price
In ready money, paid mee over twice:
For, then, this Book (which hath not to your praise
One single Page) thereto should Trophies raise
More glorious, than, your LONDONS wealth could rear,
If wholly, thereupon consum'd it were.
Your Happiness and Honour it intends:
By not commending, it much more commends,
Than all their Panegyricks who bestrow
Those men with praises whom they do not know;
And, magnifie, when they ascend the Throne,
All Kings alike; which praise is less than none;
For, 'tis a Mock deserving but returns
Of sharp reproofs, or of neglect and scorns.
If, wise and pious, you I had not thought,
I such like Gew-gaws, could to you have brought
To put out of your minde, what GOD for you
Hath lately done; and what you ought to do
For Him and His. But neither self-esteem,
Nor verbal Attributes can perfect him
By whom, here, shall bee an Establishment
Of Justice in a Righteous Government.
For, none else, but a self-denying King,
Shall that great Blessing to these Nations bring;
And, his Name will be thereby honour'd more
Than all his Predecessors heretofore.
5
What Britains Genius, long ago foretold:
For, I believe, that such a one will bee,
And also, much desire, you may bee hee
A King you are, who, now twice born hath been
To Royalty; and therefore, by that Mean
A Childe of honour, by Regeneration
You seem to bee: and in the common fashion
To celebrate your double birth, it could
With your condition no proportion hold;
For that Cause, in a path by no man trod,
I seek to do you honour in this Mode,
Which if accepted, your true praise will be;
And, peradventure no disgrace to mee.
To Royalty; and therefore, by that Mean
A Childe of honour, by Regeneration
You seem to bee: and in the common fashion
To celebrate your double birth, it could
With your condition no proportion hold;
For that Cause, in a path by no man trod,
I seek to do you honour in this Mode,
Which if accepted, your true praise will be;
And, peradventure no disgrace to mee.
For as a Lady looking in a Mirrour,
Puts on her Dress, and Jewels without errour,
Heeding what is misplaced, or forgot,
And to her Handmaid alwayes trusteth not;
So, by this Glass, you may have by reflection
A sight of what pertains to your perfection:
See, not with others, but, with your own eyes,
Whether true Ornaments, or some Disguise,
Bee put upon you, which may render you
Less lovely, when you come in open view.
Herein, a Catalogue to you is shown
Of many long-lost Jewels of the Crown;
And such as add the most Essential Glory
Unto those Crowns that are but transitory.
A Course is offered here, whereby you may
Out-do, all that, which Flatterers can say:
(Or, by but so far forth endeav'ring it,
As Humane Frailties will the same permit)
To praise you here, I do not undertake;
But, that your self praise-worthy you may make
Is my design, by bringing things to minde,
VVhich written in your own heart you shall finde.
This shews the Means to make you honourable
VVith what should alwayes bee inseparable
From your own person, and doth also tend
To your Immortal Glory without end:
It, such an honour gives, as will increase
In their despight, who seek to make it lesse:
An honour which depends not on mens tongues,
VVhich Envy blasteth not, nor Malice wrongs;
VVhich neither Degradations, nor Advances,
Or, any humane Changes or Mischances
Can blemish: for, it will be much more clear
Than that Star, which within our Hemisphear
Shin'd on your Birth-day, whilst the Sun at height
Display'd his beams to hide it from our sight.
Puts on her Dress, and Jewels without errour,
Heeding what is misplaced, or forgot,
And to her Handmaid alwayes trusteth not;
So, by this Glass, you may have by reflection
A sight of what pertains to your perfection:
See, not with others, but, with your own eyes,
Whether true Ornaments, or some Disguise,
Bee put upon you, which may render you
Less lovely, when you come in open view.
Herein, a Catalogue to you is shown
Of many long-lost Jewels of the Crown;
And such as add the most Essential Glory
Unto those Crowns that are but transitory.
A Course is offered here, whereby you may
Out-do, all that, which Flatterers can say:
(Or, by but so far forth endeav'ring it,
As Humane Frailties will the same permit)
To praise you here, I do not undertake;
But, that your self praise-worthy you may make
6
VVhich written in your own heart you shall finde.
This shews the Means to make you honourable
VVith what should alwayes bee inseparable
From your own person, and doth also tend
To your Immortal Glory without end:
It, such an honour gives, as will increase
In their despight, who seek to make it lesse:
An honour which depends not on mens tongues,
VVhich Envy blasteth not, nor Malice wrongs;
VVhich neither Degradations, nor Advances,
Or, any humane Changes or Mischances
Can blemish: for, it will be much more clear
Than that Star, which within our Hemisphear
Shin'd on your Birth-day, whilst the Sun at height
Display'd his beams to hide it from our sight.
Somewhat, by that, perhaps, portended was;
So will there be by this Considering-Glass.
God grant my meaning be so understood.
That, now it may an Omen be for Good,
By great Afflictions you were lately prov'd,
VVhich are in mercy totally remov'd.
At present, by as great prosperities,
Your Temper, and your Faithfulness God tries.
And that things useful slip not out of thought,
This, to your hands, by Providence was brought.
Be pleased seriously to look thereon,
For, you will finde it a true Lydian-stone;
And if you bide the Touch, WORDS are too poor
To celebrate your Worth; who can say more?
So will there be by this Considering-Glass.
God grant my meaning be so understood.
That, now it may an Omen be for Good,
By great Afflictions you were lately prov'd,
VVhich are in mercy totally remov'd.
At present, by as great prosperities,
Your Temper, and your Faithfulness God tries.
And that things useful slip not out of thought,
This, to your hands, by Providence was brought.
Be pleased seriously to look thereon,
For, you will finde it a true Lydian-stone;
And if you bide the Touch, WORDS are too poor
To celebrate your Worth; who can say more?
Your Majesties Loyal Subject, GEO. VVITHER.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |