The Muses Sacrifice :: :: University of Virginia Library

Then, deigne t'accept (vnhappy-happy Lord)
this Muddy Stuffe, my creeping Muses Meate;
The rather, sith some ease it may afford
in plaistring Patience if it scorch with Heate:

For, greatest Spirits doe greatest Passion feele
in bearing Crosses, though but small they be;
But vnder great, great Men doe weakly reele,
though greatest Men from weaknesse should be free.

But thou (to thy true glory be it said)
dost crosse expectance, bearing so thy Crosse,
As those that are by Hands of Angels staid;
so, draw'st much winning out of little losse!

For, Libertie to lose, or terrene trash,
(the Minde being free) is better lost than found;
Which oft, on Waues of Weale, their Owners dash
on Rockes vnseene, which eyther part confound.

Now be'ing thus staid, thou canst not rise to fall,
Fortune hath bruiz'd thee, but on Safeties Base;
That now thou canst no longer be her Ball,
to strike thee in Lifes Hazard, for her Chase.

Now maist thou sit securely where thou art,
and see (vnseene) the Worlds Reuoluings still;

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And how men liue by industry, or Art;
and what euents ensue the greatest skill.

So sitting, bound to Safeties Shore, at ease,
thou maist with ioyfull-Sorrow freely see
How other Folke are tost on Dangers Seas,
as they that beare the highest Sailes still be.

Now on the top of some proud Billow borne
as high as Heau'n (while Billow-like they swell)
Then, by a Crosse-Sea is that Billow torne
be'ing at the high'st; so, straight they sincke to Hell.

And they that haue the Winde and Tyde at will,
each Moment feare the Winde may turne about;
And so their good is neuer free from ill,
because their Hopes are euer bound to doubt.

But now thy Will (familiar with thy Crosse,
all Stormes of Passions being ouer-blowne)
Hath euer Calmes that neuer threaten Losse,
that more then now, thou ne'er didst hold thine owne.

Now Mischiefe cannot see thee, though she would
looke ne'er so narrowly to glance at thee:
For, thou art hid in Brittaines strongest HOLD,
where safe thou holdst thy selfe and thy degree.

And some that Life immurde, would haue to chose,
although, as Monarches, they might all controule:

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As greatest Charles his Empire did refuse,
and shut his Body vp, t'enlarge his Soule.

For, that great Priest of Hyppo held but right;
who rather out of Hell his God would see,
Than be in highest Heau'n, and misse that sight;
then Bondage, with that Sight's diuinely free!

And long I wish (great Lord) thou maist be so;
(though short I wish thy Troubles) and that God
That hath perhaps t'vplift thee, brought thee low,
will make a Staffe of that that was thy Rod.

The Hearts of all, in his all-holding HAND,
he wields at will, and Patience will requite;
Then, thy Commanders Heart he may command,
(in time) Sunne-like, to fill thy Moone with light.

Then, when thou hast regain'd this Comforts Sunne,
thou will maist say (as some haue said of yore)
“Th'hadst beene vndone, badst thou not beene vndone
sith then thy Moone shines fuller then before.

For, eu'n as when the Moone is at the full,
she from the Sunne is most remote we see:
So, in thy Wane (perhaps) this Sunne may pull
thee to him neere, to light thy Heart, and thee.

That so it may Ile pray; and pray that thou
maist Grace attract by vertue of thy Grace;

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Meeke Patience can the Heart of Highnesse bowe,
and make selfe Wrath to shew a chearefull Face.

For, when our liues doe please the Lord of Life,
hee'l make our greatest Foes our greatest Friends:
Then shall our Troubles cut the Throate of Strife,
and make our peace to make our paines amends.

Long life is promis'd those that liue aright,
then maist thou all disfauours ouerliue:
“Patience o'er-comes what nought o'ercomes by might,
eu'n God himself, & makes him to forgiue.

But say the worst should hap (which hap's the best)
that thou shouldst liue and die in state confinde,
Thy state's most blessed, sith so little blest
with Freedome, that to Earth enthrals the Minde.

Yet Libertie thou hast as large and free
as highest Vertue (Angel-like) doth craue;
For Men like Angels loue with Christ to be
in's bloudy-sweat alone, or in his Graue.

And, if that fellowes in Affliction make
affliction lesse, thou hast thy fellow-Peeres
In worser plight, whom Death did eu'n forsake,
that they might liue with thee to ease thy Cares.

“A good-mans state scornes Pitie howsoe'er:
for, though it be engulph'd in deep'st distresse,

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Yet his high Vertue him aloft doth reare,
that no Calamitie can him oppresse.

And though he be coupt vp in Little ease,
his spacious Minde to him a Kingdome is;
Wherein he wanders Worlds that most doe please:
for, Heau'n and Earth holds that great Mind of his!

While in his Conscience Theater is plaid
the Comedie twixt his Soules Spouse and her,
How can his Soule but wander all vnstaid
through worlds of ioy, although he cannot stirre!

When as a Cæsar (in all libertie)
bathing in Pleasures, or more sanguine Streames,
Vpon the Racke of Conscience bound, doth dye
extreamest Deaths, in midst of Sports extreames!

O didst thou know some poore spirits Rauishments,
when as (entranc'd) they feele vnbounded Blisse,
Crownes thou wouldst lothe, as crossing those contents,
and let the Crosse quite breake thy Backe for this!

It is not; no, it is not high estate
hath highest Pleasure; but it's onely those,
That, for those Pleasures, fading pleasures hate:
“but they in Hell, no other Heau'n suppose.

While outward Comforts compasse vs about
in Griefes pursuite, we to those Comforts flye;

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But when they breake the Ring, we straight run out,
to finde more fixed ioyes, or (ioylesse) dye.

Then is that sowre Affliction highly blest
that more Perfection brings (like Ligatures,
That hurt to heale, and wring but for our rest)
so, they are blest whom Wals from wracke immures

We Pris'ners are within Heau'ns outward Wals,
and are, by Nature, all condemn'd to die;
To Death we must, when Death (our Heads-man) cals,
some to dye gently; some, more violently.

And though our Prison be as wish we would,
and may, perhaps, therein goe where we will,
Yet (like the strucken Fish) we are in hold;
and are in hold to him that sure will kill.

But here's the ods; those in close-prison pend,
are there with Death much more familiar made;
So that, in fauor, he their griefes doth end
for endlesse ioyes and peace which cannot fade!

But, those that (loosely) haue the World at will,
doe take their swinge, as Fish (if hang'd) desire,
Till they be tirde with Pleasure, paining still,
then gently come to Hand; so, to the Fire.

And see how those that (care consum'd) doe climbe
at Sternes of State (still menac'd to be riu'n)

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How publicke Toyles engrosse their priuate time,
that they can scarse a Moment spare for Heau'n.

And publicke Persons (if they mightie be)
the publicke state, and theirs, they still must eye:
So, to their Soules they scarse haue time to soe;
which, so neglected, oft vnwares doe dye.

Then (noble Lord) if in thy selfe confinde,
thou art most happy thus confinde to be:
And sith our Bodyes doe but Jaile our Minde,
while we haue Bodyes, we can ne'er be free.

Then, if thou weigh'st the volubilitie,
of Time, or Fauour, Fortune, or this ALL,
Thou wilt but lothe their loose vncertaintie:
for, hardly Ought doth rise, but soone to fall.

Who rul'd this Realme three thousand yeeres agone?
so many rul'd it since, that none doth know.
“A Flow-mans bloud, in time, ascends a Throne;
“And Royall Bloud descends vnto the Plow.

Yet, that King knowes not from the Cart he came;
much lesse that Carter knowes he came from Kings:
“But Times vicissitude is Fortunes game,
whose Rest puts vp and downe all earthly Things!

Then if wee looke on Life; how fraile is that?
resembled to a shadow of a Dreame;

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To smoake, t'a thought, to nought, t'I wot not what,
farre lesse then nought, that can so much as seeme!

A Grape-seede one, an Haire another spils:
some Smoak doth choake; meer neesing some destroy:
Some other Choler; and, some laughter kils:
some feare; & (which is strange) some die with ioy!

So that when our last Graine, is running out,
no Graine so small but turnes our flesh to dust;
Be we as Giants, strong; as Lyons, stout;
all's lesse then nothing, then to nought we must.

The Graue (too like a Ierfe) doth nought but fill
his greedy Panch, & straight out-straines the same:
Then fill againe, then straine; then fill it still,
till it all Flesh consumes that Nature frames.

One rots therein to giue another place;
a second to a third, and so, forth on:
Till Earth yeeld vp her dead; and she embrace,
her funerall flame to leaue Corruption.

Then, sith that Life and Flesh so soone decay,
why should our flesh with life be long in loue?
This world is but an Inne; this Life, a Way;
(a wrackfull way) that Wisedome lothes to proue.

Which hath, of yore, made Kings to quit their Crownes
the lighter, so, the Way of life to runne:

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Directed, by the Crosse (o'er Dales and Downes)
in priuate Pathes, the publike Toyles to shunne.

We (like to Fooles or Babes) for Bables long,
wherewith we hurt our selues and others oft;
Yet straight we whyne if they from vs be wroong,
our Natures, towards Folly, are so soft.

But our all-wise-celestiall-louing Sire
takes, or keepes from his Children which he loues,
All that may harme them, though they it desire,
but giues, though it displease them, what behoues.

Some long for State, and what is that but strife,
more full of trouble, then it is of State;
(With dangers mixt) a simple Hell of life;
which none doe loue, but those that rest doe hate?

Some loue to beare the most imbrued Swords
before the Maiestie of Victory;
And what are they but Butchers made of Lords,
that (like fiends) Lord it o'er Calamitie?

Some hidden Artes doe openly desire
and seeke for knowledge onely to be knowne;
But knowledge such, is light but of Hell-fire,
to see (with Eue) such Prides confusion.

Some fame affect, and for it venter farre,
seeking by Sea and Land the same finde;

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“But Fame most followes those that flee from her;
and, oft who meets her, she o'erthrowes with wind.

In summe, both all and some (ô strangest Case!)
haue hurtfull humours, which (if not restrain'd
By him that is the Lord of pow'r, and Grace)
all would to nought, where Grace should ne'er be gain'd

Then, if our Flesh and Sinne-corrupted Blouds
could rightly feele, they well might see that Hand
That made vs, will not marre vs with his goods;
vnlesse our selues his powerfull Grace with-stand.

Our dearest Sense is Sight; yet if the same
offend that Grace, we must pull out our Eyes:
Then must we Limbes, of lesse account, vnframe,
much more Things lesse, if they against It rise.

“The greatest Crosse is neuer to be crost;
“the Way to Heau'n is by the Ports of Hell;
“The Waters most corrupt, that least are tost;
“and their account exceedes, who most excell!

Hee's rich enough for Vertues choisest friend,
that neither needes to flatter, nor to borrow:
To lade our Backes with Baggage till they bend
(wandring in stumbling-wayes) augments our sorrow

“Abundance is a Burden to the Soule,
and strongest Soules can hardly it abide:

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For, Men that, being meane, could Pride controule,
be'ing mightie made, are most controul'd by Pride.

Nature's suffiz'd with Nothing, in respect
of that our Wolfe-like Appetites require;
And they as Naturals great-men reiect,
whose Soules haue not the pow'r of great Desire.

“But greatest Men haue not still greatest Grace;
(ah would they had, then shouldst thou soone be free
From thy restraint) and all desires are base
of Greatnesse, that with Goodnesse disagree.

I wade too farre (perhaps) in Dangers Deepes,
that may o'erwhelme the rash, though ne'er so tall;
But Truth's my Guide; and, Care my Footing keepes
on double Duties Ground, and firme in all!

Yet wot how ill it stands with Policie,
to fancy those whom Times disfauour most;
Sith Fancies such, acquire but Ielousie
(if not much worse) of those that rule the Roste.

For, Wise-men shift their Sailes as Winde doth shift,
and, but whom Fortune fauours, fauour none:
For, if Kings haue with Fortune beene at shrift,
they leaue them to their Penance post alone.

But I conceiue it a prodigious Sinne,
(like that of Iudas (Peters I would say)

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Who left his Lord when trouble he was in,
which (in effect) is meerely to betray.

I feare not Iustice, sith shee doth command,
that we should loue our friends in spight of Fate;
And, to the Alter, with them goe or stand,
though we might (therefore) be o'erthrowne with hate.

Then Iustice warrants me in what I doe;
and I will doe but what selfe-Iustice would:
That's loue my Liege, obey and serue him too;
yet loue that Lord that likes me as I should.

Let him haue neuer friend that leaues his friend,
in shew of sound affection, in distresse:
And let high'st Wit to lowest Hell descend,
that weighs ought more then some friends heauines.

Let those that waite on Fortune weigh the Times
in Scoles of greatest Sculs, I, little i,
Doe little weigh the wayes how other climbes,
sith I would liue as longing well to dye.

Beyond my Birth, hath Fortune beene my foe,
she neuer yet so much as smiled on me;
No force, sith I my selfe the better know;
and see the World while me it doth not see.

Feare they her frowns, that care but for her fawnes;
I feare, nor care for neyther: (being white

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With Cares and Feares) for my Graue open yawnes
to swallow me to saue me, from her spight.

Enough (great Lord) my Proheme is a Feast,
whereat my Muse doth surfet with sowre-sweetes;
Hard to receiue, and harder to digest,
where loue and rashnesse, Rime and Reason meetes;
But if they meet with Griefe that meets with thee,
I grieue with ioy: for, thou art fast and free.