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

Mortall Life compared to Post, and Pare.

When well I weigh the state of mortall Life,
Mee seemes it seemes but too like Post, and Pare:
Where eache Man seekes to winn, by ciuill strife;
While most make show of more then what they are.
One, vies it, beeing but a Knaue, perchance,
Against a King, or Queene, or Paires of both,
Our-brauing Cowardize, and Ignorance:
And, others part Stakes, that to lose are loth.
Some, Nothing seeme, to gett Some-thinge by it,
These some, passe all, to goe beyond the rest:
These, better their Good-fortunes by good Witt,
Who crouch, as being worst, till they are best.
Some, some-what giue, to fetch some others in,
That so, at last, they may bee furthest out:
These, little giue, by small guifts, much to winne,
Yet oft so loose they all, to winne a Flout.
Some, beeing Pa-riall, dare to do, what not?
Vy, and re-uy and weene they all shall winn:
When some One other better Cards hath gott,
That they are furthest out, when furthest in!
Some Elders, for re-uies, passe Pare, and Post,
When lo, the Yonger shares, or Doubles it:
Then fretts the VVinner, for his wynning, lost,
Sith foolish Fortune Conny-catched VVitt.

Some, vy, and reuy faceing, so, to foile;
That haue no Games, but game some seem, with griefe:
The while the rest haue game to see their spoile,
Who yet, out-brau'd, do blush, sith they were chiefe.
Some, being Cock, like Crauens giue it ore
To them that haue the worst Cards in the Stock:
For, if the one be ritch, the other poore
The Cock proues Crauen, and the Crauen, Cock!
Some, hauing lost the double Pare and Post,

on in direct helpes


Make their aduantage on the Purrs they haue:
Whereby the Winners winnings all are Lost,
Although at best, the other's but a Knaue.
Pur Ceit deceaues the expectation
Of him, perhaps, that tooke the Stakes away;
Then, to put Tant hee's in subiection:
For, Winners on the Losers oft do play.
Flush is ore-borne oft by a better Flush:
And Kings do conquer Kings but by the hand:
As Stronger do the weaker euer crush:
And still win of them Glory Goods, and Land.
Some, look awry to see if they can spie
Anothers Cards, thereby to make their game,
Then on a Nineten times, perhaps they vy
Knowing the other's blind, though they are lame.
Some Pack, and others Cut, to breake the Pack:
Some, shuffle cunningly, and shift thereby:
Some, take a Card, and some a Card put back
More then they should, to back their vice, and Vie.
Some, haue Confedrates of the Lookers on:
Who look as friends they were to all alike:
Then with a signe of least suspition
They note the Conny which they meane to strike.

And if the Gamsters do play ouer-long,
All, drawne, by all, the Butlers Box doth drawe:
As Lawiers gett all bee it right, or wronge
That's wonne, and lost, if Men bee long in Lawe:
Thus properlie we may this Life compare,
Vnto the bragging game of Post, and Pare.
previous section Wittes Pilgrimage
next section