Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age Described in sundry Poems intermixedly placed after certaine other Poems of more speciall respect: And before the same is an Oration or speech intended to haue bene deliuered by the Author hereof unto the Kings Maiesty [by Edward Hake] |
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The Authors Prologue to such of his Poems in this booke as concerne Golds Kingdome. |
 | Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age |  |
The Authors Prologue to such of his Poems in this booke as concerne Golds Kingdome.
Although that Gold can closely creepewhere th'aire could neuer come,
And cause that vice and vertue be
of equall poise with some,
Yet noble and true gentle minds
with Gold will not be won,
To do the thing that is vniust
or leaue good things vndone.
A proofe hereof me selfe haue seene
in one that noble is,
And holdeth place of high respect
as he well worthy is:
A poore man with Petition
annexed to his case
To him repaires, not hauing helpe
of any friend in place:
Which when he had exhibited,
although that noble man
Had great imployments of the State
yet marke what followd than:
Not full two dayes expyrd, before
the poore man did receaue
An Answer to his full content,
And thence did take his leaue,
Not rendring gifts to any one
nor Secretaries fees,
But hasting home vnto his Hiue,
reioyced with his Bees.
A yeare thence after, troubles came
about that passed gift,
As that some sought to frustrate it
by friends or fained shift.
The poore man for his helpe againe
preferreth his complaint,
And by his onely writing doth
that Lord therewith acquaint,
Himselfe vnable through disease
in person to be seene.
had then like present bene,
What he had passed carst before,
Confirmes with greater force:
Right noble surely was this deed
and full of true remorse.
Yea, as before, no peny went
out of the poore mans purse,
So now againe, no peny he
to any did disburse.
Patron to pupils is that Lord,
(so doth his office lie)
Amongst whose vertuous deedes this one,
the poore mans case did try.
And sith that I an Actor was
to pen that poore mans case,
I therefore write it as a note
of vertue in that place.
The rather, for because this Age
vnhelping is, and why?
Few men will helpe in cases where
they see no profit lie.
So that to speake what I conceiue,
I feare, no Gold, no Good,
No, not perhaps for such as haue
aduentured their bloud.
And for the man at home, who hath
of good deseruing bene,
Nor workes nor worth can him aduance
if Gold come not betweene:
For now, as good to beate the ayre
as fill the eares of some
Who Sutes preferre: Nay, fill their hands,
else looke to find them Mum.
Yet write I not with mind to touch
men of superiour place:
Nor do I know particulers
that any should deface.
Many complaine and many cry:
God knoweth where the fault doth lie.
| Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age | |