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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)
  
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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.
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(102) Inuentions Life, Death, and Funerall.
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Other Sonnets vpon other Subiects.
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(I) The Trinity illustrated by a three-square perspectiue Glasse.
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In praise of Poesie.
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5. Sonnets in ppaise of Emincacy or a publike Life.
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An amorous Colloqui twixt Dorus, and Pamela.
  
The picture of Formosity.
  
In Loue is no Lothsomnes.
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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.
  
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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.

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Stultus stulta loquitur.

Thoughts wel conceiued and words as faire, as fitt
Al souldred with substancial semitry
Best showes the life of Iudgement, Arte and Wit,
Which best Pens haue worst labor to discrye.
This is a grace that glorifies the Pen:
That imps Fames wings to make her further flee,
This is (like god) but seldome seene with men:
Though in men by his power, and grace he be.
Yet al suppose (thot cân but draw a Line
That they can drawe the picture of this Power

And that their workmanship is so diuine
That like that Grace, it euer should endure.
And through that self-conceit That is conceaud
Which they do daily labour (in great paine)
To bring to light, which by the World recean'd,
Makes her Armes wery long it to sustaine.
It often proues such spritelesse heauy Stuffe
(As much mishapt as black, or Mistical:
Yet ween they, They giue Rudenesse such a Cuff
As turns him round, and breaks his neck withal:
For Self-conceit will not perswaded be
But that hir Bird is fairst, though black and fowle;
Cheifly if she in night of Mystery
See best abrode to wander like an Owle.
Pens, whither will you? whither will ye flee
Aboue the Compasse of your natiue powr?
O senselesse Things! will you still Doing be
The Muses, to their shame, thus to deflowr?
Cease, or take Nectar out of Helicon,
And let it flow from you as from that Fount;
Such, only such, do Fames Wings pynion,
But others make but gaggling Geese to mount.
Yet, if you ween you were for Motion made,
And were in motion while in Wings you were
Fall to a Notary, or Scriuners Trade,
Then may you moue right being in your Spheare.
But ô! to register the Acts of Wit
Forbeare, deer Pens, that make your selues so cheape;
Sith for that Office you are far vnfit,
And for your Laboure sowne, but Laughter reape:
But if you'l needs be Lyning, yet take breth
Least all the World do laugh your Lynes to death.
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