Visiones Rerum The Visions of Things. Or Foure Poems. 1. Principium & Mutabilitas Rerum. Or, The beginning and Mutabilitie of all things. 2. Cursus & Ordo rerum. Or, Art and Nature. 3. Opineo & Ratio rerum. Or, Wealth and Pouertie. 4. Malum & finis rerum, Or, Sinne and Vertue, concluding with the last Iudgement and end of all things. Wherein the Authour expresseth his inuention by way of dreame. By John Hagthorpe |
 |
Opineo & Ratio Rerum:
|
 |
 | Visiones Rerum |  |
67
Opineo & Ratio Rerum:
Or, A DISPVTE BETWIXT WEALTH AND Pouertie, &c.
1
In Winter time while Boreas with blasts keene,Had stript faire Flora of her liuerie;
And all the Forrests of their beautious greene,
Wrapping all in gray frozen pouertie,
My Muse and I pincht with this miserie,
For want of fire, and meanes good house to keepe,
We went to bed, to cure our cares with sleepe.
2
Sleeping, I dream'd, that in a flintie way,I trauel'd, all with Briers and Thornes beset,
Narrow, vneuen, not tracted euery day
To a great Citie, and on businesse great,
And in this iourney with this vision met;
VVhose circumstances as they fell me there,
I purpose here most briefly to declare.
68
3
Within this path I had not iournide long,Before a knot of trauellers I spide;
A feeble sort God wot, and nothing strong.
Whose names to spare the labour might betide
In vaine demands (were writ on each mans side.
Both the command reste, and her children two,
Friends, Seruants, Horses, Wheeles & Coach had so.
4
She that within the Waggon sat as chiefe,Penia hight, her rayment torne and vile:
Pale wrinckled cheekes she had, through hearty griefe,
Vpon her head a wreath of Gammamile;
Wan were her lips, where mirth did seldome smile;
Two sad slow-moouing eyes, shut casements couerd,
Bout which dark-weeping clouds of woes still houerd.
5
Her children then that there beside her sat,Obedience and Humilitie. Next them
Sat Seruitude, her Page and Fellow-mate.
The Waggoner that did direct this frame,
Was holy Feare: two white Doties drew the same,
Faire Honesty and snowie Conscience:
Her Cart was Care; Wheeles, Hope and Patience.
Digression to shew the house of Pouertie.
That her, or her sib sider I had seeneVpon a Moore, wonning no neighbour neere,
In Cottage poore, and lonesome, I did weene
I cleeped [illeg.], bare and thin of geare:
For but one Dish, one Table was ther there;
One onely Stoole, where each did sit by turne;
And Crumocks dung seru'd them with fire to burne.
69
7
For from her dugs did their whole Market come.A Garden digd to bring an Oaten Cake;
One Christall Fount, whose streame as it did run,
Seem'd as good Musick, as pure Wine to make.
One onely Spade was here, one Sickle, Rake;
One onely Knife, one Trencher, and one Pan;
In stead of Plate, a Cole-black Ebon Kan.
8
One woodden Spoone, one pretious pewter Salt,One Seaue, for Candles here were neuer seene.
And yet if greatnesse had not made her fault,
She would haue liu'd content as Ceres Queene:
For Silence, Loue, and Peace here borne did seeme,
Where Nacke, and Ball, and simple Sim the sonne,
At Bed and Board like deare Friends all were one.
9
Securitie set open here the Gate:For those that nothing haue, can nothing feare.
Here Peace and Loue close in the corner sat;
Content and Silence crown'd with Poppie neere.
A dish of Apples was their high dayes cheere:
Carussa cold, and Lettuce of light cost,
Which entertaine sweet sleepes, and banish Lust.
10
But to returne, Penia onward pastTowards Aretes Temple; so did I:
When streight there came a troope, whose winged hast
Orethrew Penia rudely passing by;
For iust they met where two waies crosse did lie,
This to the Phane of Arete went on,
That vnto Fortune and Argyrion.
70
11
This Gallant in a loftie Coach was plaste,And Opulence was writ vpon her brest,
Her face with quick and sparkling eies were grac't,
Smooth was her front, her cheekes with laughter prest,
Her members poulpous, and her forehead blest
With a proud Coronet, and in her hand
She likewise bore the Ensignes of command.
12
Her costly garments did more colours showThen Iunoes foule, or then th' Camelions thought,
Or those we see in Iris beauteous Bow;
All full of eyes her robes before were wrought
Her worldly circumspection to denote:
Her obiect Pleasure sat, and on each side
As her companions Iocus and Cupid.
13
Vpon her Coach-mans brest I written viewObliuion of God, such was his name.
The Horses then that this her Chariot drew,
Rapine and Fraude were writ vpon the same,
Her Chariot Ease, the Wheeles that it sustaine:
Iniustice had and Auarice insculpt,
Cruelty and Oppression th' last inculpt.
14
Her Children and Attendants followed last,And some on Coursers brauely mounted were,
And some on Palfreys fine and smoothly paest:
And Boasting, Curiositie and Feare,
Hardnes of Heart, Disdaine, Pride, Children were:
Her Tendants, Vaine Delights and Luxuries,
Vulgar Applause, Opinions, Flatteries.
71
15
A thousand Leuits there I did behold;Ten thousand Pleaders each where scatterd lay,
And each of these (a wonder to be told)
VVith Golden Hammers seemd to paue her way,
And as she past, deuoutly did her pray
To thinke on them, her Lacqueys to for bread,
Faire Maias sonnes knit Garlands for her head.
16
Much troubled was Penia with her VVheele,A little crackt, which while she sought to spell,
A bitter iarre betweene them hapt the while:
For the poore Wretch i'th' mire no sooner fell,
But Opulence extreamely gan to swell
Like Dragon fraught with angry poyson showing,
And in her head, her eyes, like Aetnae glowing.
17
A thousand bitter tearmes she did bestowOn poore Penia, making th'earth resound
VVith curses, which from her black mouth did flow:
And with her othes did seeme the Heauens to wound;
And all this fire did from this fault redound,
Because (orethrowne by her) she stopt the way,
And seemd her iourney to retard and stay.
18
She calls her twentie times base beggars brat;Nay more, professeth her, her slaue to be,
Framde onely for her vse; and worse then that,
Accurst by Fate and all her progenie:
Then vaunts she her owne birth and fortunes hie,
And that her constitution doth surpasse
Penia's more, then Dimond common Glasse.
72
19
And that when first God fram'd this beautious Ball,He gaue her as a blessing most diuine,
Both in the earth, in sea, and through them all,
Each where with most resplendant beames to shine:
And that Penia was not knowne that time,
Till Eue by tasting the forbidden tree,
Bred her, the curse of her impietie.
20
In humble sort Penia did replie;She was no slaue, but free, with like price bought:
And, tho she vaunt not of Nobilitie.
If honest, not ignoble to be thought.
Beside their pedigree from one Syre brought,
One matter and like forme, in like springs mouing,
If minds be like, deserues but like approuing.
21
But great impietie thou do'st commit,Thinking my soule (quoth she) like Horses fram'd
To beare thy burthens, tis a vessell fit
To hold diuine things (and how much lesse stain'd
With the worlds dregs more fit) why then is fortune nam'd?
Blood, money, earth, as vantage? who haue start
In betternes tis in their better part.
22
Touching my Birth, thou err'st no lesse in that;For Adam knew me first in Paradise,
While he liu'd naked in his best estate;
Rich in the midst of mundaine pouerties.
I teach Humilitie vnto the wise,
Obedience, and a thousand vertues moe,
Had Adam kept me, he had still liu'd so:
73
23
But lest thou deeme me too contemptiblie,Conceiue it thus. The World's Gods Instrument;
The Rich and Poore, Trebles and Bases be;
Where from the Base, tho deepest sounds be sent,
Yet yeeld the lesser strings much sweete content;
And gently toucht, much harmony beget;
Much griefe if broke, while to the Base they're set:
24
Oh God (quoth Opulence) thou Catife blind,Seest not that I'me the glory of the day?
The beautie of the face, and ioy of mind?
Where thou art, each thing languisheth away;
The flowre doth fade, and beautie doth decay;
A Winter of chill woes nips euery thing,
Of ioy or pleasure is there neuer spring.
25
All lawes of friendship do'st thou violate;Through thee the Syre wishes his children dead.
The wife repines, the brothers grutch and hate,
And oft through thee is sold the Husbands bed.
What's more, through thee all mortall men are led
Into vile courses: Hence these mischiefes comes,
Fraudes, Rapines, Murthers, Thefts, Oppressions.
26
I giue the studeous better meanes to know:Through thee haue perisht many Noble wits:
I giue the bounteous better meanes to shew
Their vertue, in requiting benefits:
But on thy tongue (alas) there onely sits
An emptie thankes, through thee are those ingrate,
Whose better thoughts would else remunerate.
74
27
Excepting thee I thinke iust no where isThe true Torpedo; whom tho none would find,
Yet while they angle for some better fish,
They meet with thee, whose hidden force so binds
Their members, and so manacles their minds,
That streight they seeme transformd to wood & stone,
Like those that earst Medusa lookt vpon.
28
And as the Thunder soures the Milke or Wine,So the best humours are by thee quite chang'd
Into soure Acide, purest sanguine:
But I amongst th' immortall Gods am rang'd
By mortall men: for by me griefe's estrang'd,
And melancholie banisht from each heart;
I mittigate disease, deaths dolerous dart:
29
I powre in men beautie and comlinesse,And with the spright of fortitude them fill.
Tis I that doe with Art and Wisdome blesse,
Refine the wit, and rectifie the will;
Whose parts t'aduance, as thine to ruine still:
I raise them from the dunghill, and doe place
Them many a time in Fortunes highest grace.
30
Tis I that pierce the center, thence to rendEarths hidden treasures, to adorne the shrines.
Tis I that make the Walles, Towres, Spires transcend
Aboue the clouds, which vnto after-times,
Like faire characters may declare the minds
Of those that built them: But with thine remaine
Of Wit or Worth, no past or present Fame:
75
31
It is for me the vtmost Iles are found;For me that Natures closets are made knowne,
To make my Courtly Palaces abound
With ornaments of Glasse, Silke, Wood and Stone:
For me that Neptune doth with burthens grone,
Whilest the good Huswiues of each happie State
Wed Kingdomes, and their wealthes communicate.
32
With this discourse Penia deepely mou'd,Returnd this speech to Oppulence againe:
If what thou sayst by others were opprou'd,
Then shouldst thou need no trumpet to proclaime
Thine owne worth, but thy selfe, nor mine to staine:
But false are thy selfe-praises, and vntrue
Thy scandals, notwithstanding their faire shew.
33
Strange Vertues of thy selfe thou wouldst perswade,That by thy meanes, men polisht are with Artes;
And that by thee mens minds are thankfull made;
By thee endued with loyall louing hearts;
By thee made honest; and by thy good parts:
Enricht with honour, valour, health and wit,
Peace in this life, and heauen succeeding it.
34
A comment faire, if good words could preuaile(Without due circumstance) and bare beliefe:
But doubtlesse here thy credit needs must faile;
For euident it is thou art the thiefe,
That robs mens vnderstandings; Author chiefe
Of wanton pleasures; Enemy to these
Sweete knowledges, that are not got with ease:
76
33
How many thankfull persons canst thou showFor benefits receiued, that may requite
(Hauing got meanes, so often wisht) and doe,
If future vse or seruice not inuite?
I could name thousands that expecting right
And merited reward, at last haue gaind
Nought but disgrace, or death, where loue was aim'd.
34
How many youthfull Heyres are to be found,(Altho their Syres haue toyld hard many a day
And yeare for them, to adde ground vnto ground,
And Coine to Coine) that sit not downe and pray,
Great Iupiter to take them soone away?
Or Wiues that teares for dying Husbands shed,
That wish not pleasures new from wanton bed?
35
No man by thee the honester is made,These qualities vnto the soule adhere
Not things. We see the mightie men inuade
The weaker, and them grind, deuoure and teare.
The poore are curb'd by law, restraind by feare:
Presumpteous greatnesse acteth farre more ill,
Then impotencie vrg'd by want, not will.
36
Thou mayst affoord an honourable name:But these bare shadowes without substance be,
Tis onely vertue that acquires cleare fame:
Which he that wants, is like a fruitlesse tree,
VVhere nothing else but leaues and blossoms be;
Or like an Apple, whose exterior part
Perchance seemes faire, but's rotten at the heart.
77
37
Least needst thou boast of Valour, Health, or Wit;Excesse corrupts the body, dims the mind:
A thousand Feauers, Gouts, and Dropsies sit
VVayting vpon full platters, and we find
An actiue soule but seldome is confind
To full fed body, where the mists and showres
Of daily surfets, suffocates her powres.
38
As touching peace, thou no such thing do'st giue;The sting for wealth extorted, feare to loose,
Anxietie wherein they howerly liue,
Still doubtfull where to leaue't, to these, or those;
Their soules (like beasts in Toyles) so fast enclose,
That both in life and death to earth fast glew'd,
They make it doubtfull that no peace ensu'd.
39
Now for my selfe to answer in excuseThy false obiections, whereby thou wouldst show,
That euery mischiefe which the times produce,
Proceedes from me, that men dishonest grow
Hence onely: I denie that this is so;
Then Fortune were a Goddesse: but we see
VVealth makes not worth, nor want dishonestie.
40
I no man dull whom Nature did not frameOf courser mould; as spuries I rather serue
To prick him on, by vertue to attaine
Those Glories, VVisdome, honestie deserue,
And valour; and what Fortune doth reserue
For her owne children, and to him denie
To make him gaine by worth and industrie.
78
43
Indeed I build no Cities nor proud TowresOf costly things, of Treasures vaunt not I:
I liue in humble Cottages and Bowres
In peace, except I be disturbde of thee:
But thou art cheynd in lou'd captiuitie,
Most strongly gyude, and all that take thy part,
Not loosely by the legs, but by the heart.
44
No rest at all thou giu'st, of peace no taste,Which not in outward things, but in content
And right religion of the soule is plaste.
Thy peace beares euery hower some detriment;
Each losse of Office, fauour, suit, or rent,
Orethrowes it quite; to be in brauerie
Out-shind perchance: a frowne makes diuers die.
45
The vanitie of which did whilome moueThose worthy Pagans, most of all to prize
That kind of peace, my humble state doth proue;
And counting thee the baite of miseries,
Despisde thee so, that Aristippus, wise,
Threw all thy guyts i'th' sea; who sure did find,
That they disturbde his peace, and vext his mind.
46
Xenocrates, and diuers other moe;Diogenes did wholly thee refuse,
Because he held thee vnto peace a foe
And vertue. And euen God himselfe did chuse
My ranke, while he did mortall body vse;
So did his friends and seruants, both by word
And by example, all my praise record.
79
47
Scarce had Penia spoke these words of ours.When Oppulence like some great Riuer swolne
By Winters tempests, and excessiue shoares,
Which beares down Corne and Meadows lately mowne,
And mightie Woods, in many ages growne)
Flew on Penia, and her passion swelling
Ore Reasons bancks) was scarcely held from killing.
80
48
But halfe her cote there from her back she tore,VVhich she did chalenge to her selfe as due
By rights I knew not; and away thence bore,
As trophy of the praise to'er conquest due,
And with her traine in haste away thence flew
So swift, that scarce mine eyes could crackt her pace,
Returning streight vnto her natiue place.
49
Long after whom Penia did not stay,But followed speedily to get redresse
By some petition, or some other way,
VVith weeping cheare, and hearts great pensiuenesse.
I longing much to vnderstand no lesse
The end, then entrance to this tragedie,
To old Eyrema, Artfull VVitch I flie.
50
And her besought out of her powrefull skill,To Oppulentia's Palace me to beare.
VVhich granted, vp we flew, more high then hill,
Higher then th'ayrie dwellers euer were,
From whence great Cities, but small Townes appeare,
And Mountaines, Mose hills. Here she made me view
Faire Belgia's rich I ownes, and Seeples new.
51
But here she said Penia was not knowne;Yet were she there, the liberalitie
And kind compassion should to her be showne.
And various waies for fruitfull industrie,
VVould change her Nature. But from thence flew we
Ouer the vast sea, and the continent
Through strange lands, & to Stambolds City went.
81
52
Neere which she said this Opulentia boad,And had for vse and ostentation raysde
Ten thousand stately buildings. Then she show'd
When on the sight we thorowly had gazde,
Structures indeed deseruing to be praysde,
For richnesse, beautie, pleasure; and by Art
(Vnseene) conueyde me through each secret part.
53
There did she shew a thousand workes diuine,Wrought in white Paros, and red Porpherie,
In Golden Theban, spotted Serpentine
Tables and Collumes throwne most curioslie,
Whole rooms seel'd through with sable Ibonie,
And hung with Clothes, from Niles blest Memphis brought,
Or those more faire, by Virgins fingers wrought.
54
Then show'd she me the Beds in-laid with Gold,And some with richer Stones embellished;
The Sheets perfum'd with Sweets from Bantham sold,
The Flores with costly Carpets ouer-spred,
Through which into the Wardrops me she led,
Where Silke and Cloth for differing seasons fit,
In monstrous shapes, bewray'd her wandring wit.
55
From thence into her Cabbinet she went,And show'd of Ormuz Pearles the costly Chaines,
The sparkling Diamonds from Cambaya sent,
Set in pure Gold, digg'd from rich Congoes veynes,
Which Stella wearing, Iuno's forme reteynes.
Then show'd she all her masks, her muffes, her tyres,
Ruffes, gartets, scarfes, plumes, lotions, pendants, wires.
82
56
Which hauing seene without the least offence,Or notice taken of our being there,
We next obseru'd her great magnificence,
Her state, attendants, and excessiue cheare,
Her traines of seruants euer ready neere,
With humble reuerence, with cap and knee,
And Kookes that still deuising dishes be.
57
Her Cup-boards loaden all with Red and White,And all her vessells wholly of the same,
Loaden with dainties, all that may delight;
Both Venson, Pheasant, Quaile, and all else tane
In Earth and Sea: then Banquets brought from Spaine,
The pretious Perfumes that vast Neptune yeelds
She shew'd me, and the Sweetes of Indian fields.
58
Why should I heare the daintie Syndon touch,Richly perfum'd, and crispt with cost so trim,
That Romes preseruers were not worth so much?
Or the Gellies, vnder which with nimble fin,
In Muskie waues liue little Fishes swim?
Why name I Wines, both Spanish full of fire,
Canarie, Creet, French, Hydelberg, and Spyre?
59
Why should I note her Coaches, and Carosses?Her easie Litter, easier Palamkeen?
The stately Saddles, curious Bits and Bosses,
With Steed: to which the same belonging been;
Some of Arabia next to Palestine,
Some Freezlanders, some Turquish, some of Spaine,
Both Barbaria and Neapolitane?
83
60
Why note I thousands that their times mispend,Onely deuising pleasures new for her?
Those that the Hawkes, or those the Horses tend?
Or else the Doggs Troy, Hector, Ringwood, Pirr?
Or those by Musick that delight conferr,
By toyes, by pastimes, and by flatteries;
By songs, by sceanes, by ieasts and tooleries?
61
All these thus briefly noted as we could,Vnseene into the Gardens streight we goe,
Where curious Labyrinths we next behold,
And Mermaids, frō whose brests fresh fireames still flow;
And Flowres with colours more then Iris Bow;
Then Beasts, and Fowles, and Fruits each where she spies
Brought from each land t'adorne this Paradice.
62
VVhere Arbors greene of huge streight standing brothers,VVith thick wou'n boughs, keep from the Sunnes cleare rayes;
And human eyes, the ioyes of amorous Louers;
VVhere farre-fet Quiresters doe sing the praise
Of powrefull Venus in their warbling Layes,
In vnder-groues, by Art so well design'd,
That feet, nor eyes, forbidden passage find.
63
Much more there was, which then we ouerpast,By reason of some noyse raysde at the Gate,
To know the cause whereof, we went in hast,
And found Penia there in wofull state:
For while she here redresse did impetrate,
Proud Oppulence tore off the tother piece
Of her poore cloake, and left her without fleece.
84
64
But not content with this, because she soughtAnd su'd redresse, and iustice at her doore,
She kickt her downe, treading her vnder-foote;
And while Penia mercy did implore,
Fierce Oppulentia still incenst the more,
And crossing the knowne truthes which she did say,
Did what she could to take her life away.
65
But whilest they stroue thus, from a Saffron cloudCame nimble Mercurie with speedy wing,
Like Lightning that preuents the clamours loud,
But slow reporter of his swift comming,
Who brought this message from the Heauenly King;
And beckning silence both to great and small,
Deliuerd it with wonder of vs all.
66
Mortall (quoth he) from Him, whose powrefull handsSustaines the fabrick of the Worlds wide Frame;
From Him that Thunder and swift Fire commands,
Th'etheriall Regions, and the darker Raigne;
From Him that vnto beeing calls againe
Depriued habits, am I hither sent,
T'impart to thee his will and high intent.
67
To thee (quoth he) that seek'st to tyranizeOre poore Penia, making Will seeme Right,
And not so much to feede thine auarice,
As thy reuenge and proud disdainefull spight;
That tak'st her goods, and treadst her vnder-feete,
Deeming thy selfe alone in Heauens high grace,
And her thy slaue, an abiect poore and base.
85
68
Fond Mortall, I am sent to let thee know,That thou desceau'st thy selfe, to thinke that Ioue
Doth with his Children, as you Mortalls doe,
Which shew most bountie still, where most you loue;
For he the quite contrarie doth approue:
And knowing how abundance spoyles your minds,
Content sometimes, for greatest wealth assignes.
69
And know, he sends Penia to the warreEmptie of luggage gainst her mightie foes,
For her more safetie; and all theirs that are
Found valiant to sustaine these Cannon blowes:
For who in warres doe by the luggage goe,
Are most part common souldiers? but the braue
That are to fight, nought but their Armours haue.
70
His creatures are you both, and both are free,Fram'd for his glory, with one price redeem'd;
Both for your states euen equall debtors be,
Altho of you much otherwise esteem'd:
For Heauens best blessings are by men misdeem'd.
But for her wrongs which here thou do'st impose,
Heauen writes their weight in euerlasting woes.
71
Know therefore thou deceiuer, that hast lull'dThe World asleepe with thine inchanting wiles,
And so from her (like Dallilab) hast pull'd
Her strength and wisdome by thy cunning guiles,
Leauing nought else but shame to her the whiles,
Confusion, weakenes, blind securitie,
In pamperd pride, and beastly Luxurie.
86
72
I must denounce that as thou wert exildLong since from stately Babylon, the Queene
Of Cities, and from the Chaldean field,
VVhere Ceres all her plenties did vnteeme;
And from the fruitfull land of Palestine,
VVhere nothing now of ancient glory rests;
Her soyle turnd sands, inhabitants turnd beasts.
73
So shalt thou for thy wickednes here wrought,Especially for thine oppressions,
Because by thee Iustice is bought and sold,
And the world tortur'd with thy strange transgressions;
Be banisht hence, except the heauenly sessions
Preuent the time: but for Penia she
Shall to thy wrongs no more now subiect be.
74
A Virgin, and a Royall Queene there is,Beyond the VVesterne Oceans surtliest bound,
VVho many a stately kingdome doth possesse,
VVhich doth with all things good and faire abound,
VVith high felicitie and honour cround;
Nothing but one she wants, the chearefull light:
For blind she is, and wrapt in clouds of night.
75
Many faire sisters hath she, that obtaineThe best of Natures gifts; Hesperia
And faire Valencia, proud Iberia's fame,
Peloponesus, rich Natolia,
Braue Persia, and silken rob'd Media.
All which for ample dowries, and rich things,
Haue been the Brides of Cæsars and great Kings.
87
78
For some of these vaunt of their wooll, some silke,Others great portions haue in Corne and VVine;
Some of them haue fat Heards, Honny and Milke;
Some haue the fruitfull Oliue, some rich Mine;
The meanest doth with some faire portion shine:
But their wise Parent amply doth requite
VVith all their gifts, our Virgins want of sight.
79
The loftie Ceaders of Mount Libanon;The Oylie woods in rocky Norway sold,
(VVhere nimble Heards in grounds much fatter run)
The Silkes of China, Furres of Russia cold,
And VVines of Gascoyne, her faire brests doe hold:
The Oyles of Piemont, halfe the Drugs and Dyes,
That the whole world containes, in her lap lyes.
80
Vnto this Queene must I Penia beare,VVho with some certaine words which she must say,
And with her tongue her darkned eyes must cleare,
Which good this Virgin amply will repay;
For which let euery faithfull Brittaine pray.
This said, the wing'd God snatcht her thence, & vanisht;
I wakt, and from my soule all sad thoughts banisht.
| Visiones Rerum | |