The poetical works of William Strode ... Now first collected from manuscript and printed sources: to which is added: The floating island a tragi-comedy: Now first reprinted from the original edition of 1655: Edited by Bertram Dobell with a memoir of the author |
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TO SIR JO. FERRERS |
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 | The poetical works of William Strode |  |
TO SIR JO. FERRERS
Gold is restorative: how can I then
Choose but restore you Thanks at least? But when
I weigh your meritt, and then try the Scale
What correspondence I can make withall
My thanks as farre beneath your worth I hold
As this light pindust valued with your Gold.
Gold is a mettle of most heate and weight,
And well deserves like thanks, not cold nor light:
But if my Thanks had so much literall
And proper weight, as metaphoricall,
Then should the Carryer earne his penny better,
And soone might loade a Waggon with one Letter:
But since they have but vertuall thanks alone
Which must depende on Estimation,
Accept, I pray, this Bill of thankfulnesse,
In manner of a Bill: whose nature is
Itselfe noe actuall substance; but doth tie
To all performance in Futuritie.
Some men whose Penne outruns theyr mind as farre
As any Courtyers tongue may thinke they are
Fayrely dischargde by theyr Confession,
Like one that hath bin shrivde: 'tis ten to one
But when they send theyr Thanks they send away
Thankfulnesse too. True thanks, the more wee pay
The more they grow at home: the Letter sent
Is but an Earnest of what else is meant.
Why pleade I thus against myselfe? I knowe
Noe other Argument of making showe
Of thankes but barren words; and this I call
The Schollers treasure; and his coyne is all
One stampe; Thanks good and sterling: Wee restore
This for small Courtesies: we have no more
To pay for greater Benefits. Then grant
Your kinde Acceptance to supply this want,
Untill Occasion serves mee to performe
Some reall Service; when that houre is borne
I shall bee fortunate: for know that still
My utmost power your Tenant is at will.
Meane while may all good Happ upon you shine
So as it may exceed your wish and mine.
Choose but restore you Thanks at least? But when
I weigh your meritt, and then try the Scale
What correspondence I can make withall
89
As this light pindust valued with your Gold.
Gold is a mettle of most heate and weight,
And well deserves like thanks, not cold nor light:
But if my Thanks had so much literall
And proper weight, as metaphoricall,
Then should the Carryer earne his penny better,
And soone might loade a Waggon with one Letter:
But since they have but vertuall thanks alone
Which must depende on Estimation,
Accept, I pray, this Bill of thankfulnesse,
In manner of a Bill: whose nature is
Itselfe noe actuall substance; but doth tie
To all performance in Futuritie.
Some men whose Penne outruns theyr mind as farre
As any Courtyers tongue may thinke they are
Fayrely dischargde by theyr Confession,
Like one that hath bin shrivde: 'tis ten to one
But when they send theyr Thanks they send away
Thankfulnesse too. True thanks, the more wee pay
The more they grow at home: the Letter sent
Is but an Earnest of what else is meant.
Why pleade I thus against myselfe? I knowe
Noe other Argument of making showe
Of thankes but barren words; and this I call
The Schollers treasure; and his coyne is all
One stampe; Thanks good and sterling: Wee restore
This for small Courtesies: we have no more
To pay for greater Benefits. Then grant
Your kinde Acceptance to supply this want,
90
Some reall Service; when that houre is borne
I shall bee fortunate: for know that still
My utmost power your Tenant is at will.
Meane while may all good Happ upon you shine
So as it may exceed your wish and mine.
Now my Apostrophe should humbly bowe
To speake unto my Lady: but I know
Twere but an idle Repitition
To write asunder, seeing both are one:
Twere prophanation of my penne and witt
If I should separate what so is knitt.
To speake unto my Lady: but I know
Twere but an idle Repitition
To write asunder, seeing both are one:
Twere prophanation of my penne and witt
If I should separate what so is knitt.
| The poetical works of William Strode | |