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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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[subsection]
  
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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Fortuna vitrea est, quæ cum splendet, frangitur. Publi.

O greatnesse what great Good dost thou containe,
T'allure the VVill to bee in loue with thee?
Ist souraigne-Good to bee a Soueraigne
VVhen high'st degree of Ills threats that Degree?
VVho buyes a Crowne with neuer-ending Care

Buyes Gold too deere by al that Life is worth:
For, Care doth nought but Life to Death prepare,
Yet, vnprepard to meet Death flieth foorth:
For, Kingdoms Cares so many are, and great,
That they constraine the Thought but them to mind;
That though vntimely Death they do beget,
Yet Thought [though free] from thought thereof they bind!
Then, ô my Soule, poore Soule! ritch in Conceit,
(Which dost conceiue Kings glittering misery
To be (as tis) false pomp, true perils Baite)
Suffice thee still with meere Sufficiency.
Make me aswell content to be the least
As others are well pleasd the Greatst to be;
Sith Man in honor liues, and dies a Beast:
For, Men proue oft base Beasts in high degree.
Let mine ambition reach but to Content,
And that Content reach but the Mean to touch:
Thats All; sith its omni-sufficient
More meet for richest Mynds then more then Much
There may I sitt by Vertues surest side,
(For in the Meane shee doth hir selfe install)
Secure from wrack, while those that Scepters guide
Do find no meane betweene their Rise, and Fall,
VVhere I may, all vnseene, see all the rest
Of this Worlds Reuolutions; and make vse
Of Best, and VVorst discreetly for my best
And store my Mind with Matter for my Muse:
Like a Spectator that doth sitt at ease
Secure vpon the Shore, and thence doth see,
How others are neere sincking on the Seas
In ceaslesse Stormes that full of danger bee:
Or like a looker on a Tragedie
VVithin the Middle Roome, among the Meane,
I see the fall of State and Maiesty
VVhile mongst the Presse t'a Piller sure I leane:)
So see I others sorrowes with delight
Though others sorrowes do but make me sadd:
But plagues to see, which on our selues might light,
Free from their fall, makes Nature, grieuing, gladd.
VVhere while I see some Phaeton striue to guide
The Sunne of Souraigntie, I see him set

All, in Combustion; so dissolues, through pride,
All Mouers causing his Ambitions heate.
Where I may see but late-Court-Minions
Liue like to Spunge [hard squizd] aliue, and dead
Through change of Kings, or Kings opinions:
For, when their Heads fall off! off falls their Head.
Or if they find more grace in Fortunes Frownes
To liue (as in an Hell) a Liuing Death
They well may Chronicle what holds in Crownes
Which turne about (like Fanes) eun with a Breath.
There may I Nobles see vnnobly striue
Who shall be greatst in grace, for want of grace,
Who by the damage of each other thriue
And grace themselues b'each others great disgrace.
While (vnperceaud) I laugh to see how thay
(Like Fiends) each other restlestly torment,
And, blesse my state that on their Plagues may play
In my Minds mirry Kingdome of CONTENT.
In few, there may I see how all Estates
That lifted are aboue the myrry Meane
Do, falling stand twixt Dangers and Debates,
Whiles of their Falls I make a swelling Sceane.
So that this World, the Sea of misery,
Becomes my Helicon, and Streames affords,
To make my Muse to flow, stil swelling hie,
In matter far aboue the reache of Words.
Then, you that, shouldring, buckle for the best
Holding the Meane [the best of all] the worst]
Rest you, or else my Muse shall neuer rest
To make your States, and Strifs lothd as accurst.
And you, ô you vnpassiond peacefull Harts
That with me liue secure in meane estate,
Be ioyfull though you play but simple Parts
Ye simply play the best, blithst, freest from hate.
And though these great Ones scorne our Case, and Cote,
Let vs laugh at them sith we know they dote.
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