University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Wittes Pilgrimage

(by Poeticall Essaies): Through a VVorld of amorous Sonnets, Soule-passions, and other Passages, Diuine, Philosophicall, Morall, Poeticall, and Politicall. By Iohn Davies
Davies, John (1565?-1618)
  
[epigraph]

collapse section 
[section]
  
To the Right noble, and Highly honored Lord Phillip Herbert, Earle of Mountgomery and Baron of Shurland. &c.
  
Againe, To the same truelie-noble Earle, and his most honorable other halfe Sir Iames Haies knight, &c.
  
The Booke to Grauitie.
  
The Author to his Muse.
  
Of my selfe.
collapse section 
[subsection]
 1. 
(1)
 2. 
(2)
 3. 
(3)
 4. 
(4)
 5. 
(5)
 6. 
(6)
 7. 
(7)
 8. 
(8)
 9. 
(9)
 10. 
(10)
 11. 
(11)
 12. 
(12)
 13. 
(13)
 14. 
(14)
 15. 
(15)
 16. 
(16)
 17. 
(17)
 18. 
(18)
 19. 
(19)
 20. 
(20)
 21. 
(21)
 22. 
(22)
 23. 
(23)
 24. 
(24)
 25. 
(25)
 26. 
(26)
 26. 
(26)
 27. 
(27)
 28. 
(28)
 29. 
(29)
 30. 
(30)
 31. 
(31)
 32. 
(32)
 33. 
(33)
 34. 
(34)
 35. 
(35)
 36. 
(36)
 37. 
(37)
 38. 
(38)
 39. 
(39)
 40. 
(40)
 41. 
(41)
 42. 
(42)
 43. 
(43)
 44. 
(44)
 45. 
(45)
 46. 
(46)
 47. 
(47)
 48. 
(48)
 49. 
(49)
 50. 
(50)
 51. 
(51)
 52. 
(52)
 53. 
(53)
 54. 
(54)
 55. 
(55)
 56. 
(56)
 57. 
(57)
 58. 
(58)
 59. 
(59)
 60. 
(60)
 61. 
(61)
 62. 
(62)
 63. 
(63)
 64. 
(64)
 67. 
(67)
 66. 
(66)
 67. 
(67)
 68. 
(68)
 69. 
(69)
 70. 
(70)
 71. 
(71)
 72. 
(72)
 73. 
(73)
 74. 
(74)
 75. 
(75)
 76. 
(76)
 77. 
(77)
 78. 
(78)
 79. 
(79)
 80. 
(80)
 81. 
(81)
 82. 
(82)
 83. 
(83)
 84. 
(84)
 85. 
(85)
 86. 
(86)
 87. 
(87)
 88. 
(88)
 89. 
(89)
 90. 
(90)
 91. 
(91)
 92. 
(92)
 93. 
(93)
 94. 
(94)
 95. 
(95)
 96. 
(96)
 97. 
(97)
 98. 
(98)
 99. 
(99)
 100. 
(100)
 101. 
(101)
 102. 
(102) Inuentions Life, Death, and Funerall.
 103. 
(103)
 104. 
(104)
collapse section 
Other Sonnets vpon other Subiects.
 1. 
(I) The Trinity illustrated by a three-square perspectiue Glasse.
 2. 
(2)
 3. 
(3)
 4. 
(4)
 5. 
(5)
 6. 
(6)
 7. 
(7)
 8. 
(8)
 9. 
(9)
 10. 
(10)
 11. 
(11)
 12. 
In praise of Poesie.
 13. 
(13)
 14. 
(14)
 15. 
(15)
 16. 
(16)
 17. 
(17)
 18. 
(18)
 6. 
(6)
 20. 
(20)
 8. 
(8)
 22. 
(22)
 23. 
(23)
 24. 
(24)
 25. 
(25)
 26. 
(26)
 27. 
(27)
 28. 
(28)
 29. 
(29)
 30. 
(30)
 31. 
(31)
 32. 
(32)
collapse section 
5. Sonnets in ppaise of Emincacy or a publike Life.
 33. 
(33)
 34. 
(34)
 6. 
(6)
 36. 
(36)
 37. 
(37)
 38. 
(38)
 39. 
(39)
 40. 
(40)
 41. 
(41)
 42. 
(42)
 43. 
(43)
 44. 
(44)
 45. 
(45)
 46. 
(46)
 47. 
(47)
 48. 
(48)
collapse section 
[subsection]
  
An amorous Colloqui twixt Dorus, and Pamela.
  
The picture of Formosity.
  
In Loue is no Lothsomnes.
collapse section 
Essaies vpon certaine Sentences.
  
Amans quid cupiat scit, quod sapiat non videt.
  
Be not ielous ouer the wife of thy bozome, neither teach hir by thy meanes an euill Lesson Ecclus. 9. 1.
  
Non est eiusdem & multa & opportuna dicere. Erasmus Chiliad:
  
Qualis vir talis oratio.
  
When the ritch man speakes, euery man holds his tongue and what he saith is praised vnto the Clouds, &c Ecclus. 13. 24.
  
Upon Apparitions in the Night.
  
Suum cuique pulchrum.
  
Stultus stulta loquitur.
  
Candidæ musarum ianuæ
  
Written to my deere Friend Maister Nicholas Deeble.
  
An Epitaph, or what you will, on the death of Maister Meece an harmelesse professed Foole who shall decease, when it shall please God, and him, made at his ernest request.
  
[conclusion]
collapse section 
Other Essayes vpon more serious and sacred Subiects.
  
Mortall Life compared to Post, and Pare.
  
My Corollarie.
  
Written to the Right Noble, and well-accomplished Ladie the Countesse Dowager of Pembroke.
  
Againe to Hir.
  
Written to the right Honorable, and most iuditious Lord William Earle of Pembrooke that now is.
  
Meete not an Harlot, least thou fall into hir Snares. Ecclus. 9. 3.
  
Gratious is the end that ends all our paines.
  
Quotidie est deterior posterior dies.
  
Enuy is blind and can do nothing but dispraise Vertue.
  
Vincit qui pætitur.
  
Againe.
  
In vindicando criminosa est celeritas.
  
Blessed is the Man that doth meditate honest things by Wisedome. Ecclus. 14. 21.
  
Sic transit gloria Mundi.
  
Respice finem.
  
A blind man cannot see the default of his Eyes.
  
There is no greater plague then Boldnesse and Powr, when they are accompanied with Ignorance.
  
In iudicando criminosa est celeritas.
  
Fortuna vitrea est, quæ cum splendet, frangitur. Publi.
  
A Dump vpon the death of the most noble Henrie late Earle of Pembrooke.
  
I said vnto Laughter, what art thou mad? And to Mirth what dost thou? Eccles. 2. 2.
  
Omnium rerum vicissitudo est. Terence.
  
Difficilia quæ pulchra.
  
I long for Life, vnlike to Death.
  
An Ode in commendation of Musick.
  
Nihil tam bene dictum, quod non fuit dictum prius.
  
Inough's as good as a feast.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Wittes Pilgrimage
next section

In praise of Poesie.

Thou that, by force of All-commanding wordes,
Makst all Affections follow thy Commands,
To whome the High'st such height of powre affords
As fully with his grace, and glory stands,
To thee sweet Poesie offer I this Mite
Of Forcelesse words deriu'd from lesser might.
Thou that dost scorne Commers with muddy Braines
Or with oughte lesse then Spirits Angelicall,
Who chaunt inchaunting Soule bewitching straines
Whereof but some includes the Summe of All
To thee I sacrifice these Laudes to leane
In flames of zeale that farre surmount the Meane:
For ô Thou scornst so base as Meane to beare
Sith that the Meane, in Thee, is held but base,
Though other Arts the Meane doe highly reare
Thou holdst the Meane to bee an high disgrace
Then ô with what high Raptures should my Braynes
Entraunced bee to ope thy vertues Vaines?
Which, while I striue to do my Braines do beate
As if they would worke out their Freedome so
Who doe attempt to leaue their narrow Seate,
As if they scorn'd to be the Crowne below
But would be compast in an Angels Crowne
To make thee Angell-bright in deere renowne!
Sweet Helicon, my Braines quite ouerflow:
So shall thy Nectar them intoxicate

And with a firy Wreathe bind thou my Brow,
That mak'st the Muse in Flames to fulminate:
While She, with voice, like Thunder, rattles forth,
The Peales of Praises due to Poesies worth!
From this Foundation might my Muse transcend
The ten-fold Orbs of Heau'n; eu'n to his Throne
That's all in All, there should these praises end,
That higher praises might be His alone:
But, such Transcendents are too high to climb.
For my tir'd Muses Wings, that Lets do lime.
Yet in my Sconce ó make your Rendeuous
All words that may wing Praise with Angels Plumes
And Iudgement ioyne them fast with Arts Mouth-glue
That they may hold past Time that all consumes:
But ò my Wilfull Words hath ouershot
Then, let my silence praise what Words cannot.
previous section Wittes Pilgrimage
next section