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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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Blessed is the Man that doth meditate honest things by Wisedome. Ecclus. 14. 21.

Did Wisedome write, or speake the world to please
Shee were not wisedom in a pleasing Sence:
Then who doth please with any one of these
Doth please vnwisely, but the World, or Sence.
Then are they worldly wise, or sensual
That doe soe write or speake; but none of those
Can be in them whose words can sweeten Gall
Which Sweets do rest where sweetest Soules repose.
And they repose but in the Sweet of Sweets
[God only wise] or Bodies of the Blest:
In whom true Wisedome, Grace and Nature meets,

Whose gracefull VVords are naturally exprest.
If VVords inchaunt the Sense, and not the Soule
That Charme of VVords coniures no holy Spright:
For, Such, such VVords (not Such, such VVords) controule:
Soule-pleasing VVords must, then, bee rare, and right.
Yet though a Sonnet bee as right, as rare
For Number, Measure, VVaight, or Noueltie,
Yet, if it sounds so, but to Senses Eare,
The Soule, as harshe, doth hold that Hermonie.
Then all our Straines that relishe double Loue,
(Sweet double-Relishe, worthie treble praise)
To Soule, and Bodie) Soule and Body moue.
(VVith ioy) to listen, as to Angells Laies!
These bee the Aires that gett the Aire of Fame,
[Of Fame whose Aire, diuinely is refinde]
That feeds, with purest praise immortall Name;
Fitting the nature, of each mightie Minde.
And, they are only mightie that disdaine,
All that, that disagrees with Mightinesse:
As is light Loue, fraile Fancies, Shadowes vaine,
VVeake VVitt, base Blisse, VVorlds weale, or VVretchednes.
Then [as to Nature curst, but kind to Grace]
I here haue made a Rodd my selfe to beate,
VVhose highest reach in Straines of Loue, is base,
Sith Lightnesse measures them with heauie Feete.
Yet if this Lightnesse heauy make the Light
In Summing vp my Numbers totall Summe,
I hope the weight thereof, will bee of weight
Their Lightnesse [if it rise] to ouercome:
For, they are too Light that in Those but waigh
VVhat Lusters, not what Louers ought to say.
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