University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poore Mans passions

And Pouerties Patience. Written By Arthur Warren

collapse section
 
 
 
POVERTIES Patience.



POVERTIES Patience.

Depart yee Discontents like Reprobates,
For Patience all Aduersities indures,
In rarest Disposition imitates
Hearbe Panace, that all diseases cures,
Heales interne maladies of wounded mindes,
And salues the sores that Phisicke saluelesse finds.
Credit not vaine Perswasion, that deludes
Fond Tractability with fallacies,
And such inducements forcibly intrudes
Into Credulitie with Sophistries,
That man, whom Reasons Index should direct,
Suggested is true iudgment to neglect.
Aske Contentation, what's Felicity,
And aske Felicity, what is Content,
Aske life, what is the death of misery,
And aske dumbe death, what makes life permanent:
Peruse the Contents of contented minde,
Thou nought, but Patience registred shalt find.


Tell Expectation, Hap doth frustrate Hope,
Through frowning Fortunes fatall Accident:
Tell Auarice, Vertue hath larger scope,
VVhere to erect the Mansion of Content:
And tell Content, that Suffrance drew the plot,
Fit for foundation of so happy lot.
Tell India, that gold's but yellow earth:
Tell Greece, that words are but a breathed sound;
Tell Ceres, that all Plenties haue their dearth;
Tell stoutest Troy, Hector is mortall found;
And tell thy selfe, that wealth, Art, store, and strength
Prooues frailty, want, errour, and neede, at length.
Discretion, censure which is better found,
Much to possesse, and nethlesse liue in neede;
Or to enioy but little, and abound,
So Competence Necessities may steede:
Brookes satisfie thirst with conuenient store,
The spacious Oceans liquid can no more.
Yes, Seas may swallow, Currents seldome drowne,
This vvorld includs such Gulfes of ouerthrowes,
For vvealths Deluge may ouerwhelme a Crowne,
When Desires flouds to inundations growes,
Sourging and sinking that waue-tossed minde,
VVhich sailes Impossibilities to find.


And therefore Resolution, seale thy thought,
Soone to surrender thy dismembred state,
Because Contents Perfection is not bought,
Such firme Prouiso hath beene made by Fate,
VVhisper Chorebus in the eare, that Clay
Prooues loosing gamster, with a knock to play.
For knowe, Corruption will thee apprehend,
VVhen Sherife Death shall execute arrest,
And to thy sepulchre thee Captiue send,
To soiourne there, till thy Debts be confest,
Till Summes be paid, till thou acquittance haue,
Or Creditors Release thy Credit saue.
Sword, sheath thy sharpe, it's neither edge, nor point,
Nor target, Buckler, shield, nor skill, nor might,
That giues protection to thy safest ioint,
vvhen maistring Destinies proclaime their fight,
Chalenging a Quicunque vult to play
About with them, for Conquest of the day.
Gnatho, Fates haue no eares to entertaine
The sugred phrase of soothing Parasites,
And Ostentations brauings are but vaine,
Ther's no regarde of proudest Thrasonites;
For Adulation proues but idle breath,
Great words small wind, when they sollicite death.


Prostrate thy person Magnanimity.
For Pompey doth, and Potentate thou must,
Can Alexander lease his Chiualry?
No t'is expir'd, and he dissolu'd to dust:
VVhere's he, that would Achilles armour haue?
Aiax in earth, Vlisses lies in graue.
Cyrus his mouth with bowles of bloud hath fill'd,
vvhile Tomyris the royall Butler plaid;
Hell holds the Cob, that bigger barnes would build,
vvith Soule consulting not to be denaide:
So their Desires some augmention ment,
vvhile sleeping thus they dream'd not of content.
But Affectation, I haue past my word
To Iustice Conscience, worlds Court forsake,
vvhose Secretary Feare doth it record,
That in Contents Cell I must Mansion make,
And like a Hermit in that Residence
Be weded, and conuerse with Patience.
And from the many-headed multitude
vvill sequester my presence and estate,
In secret scene my Comedy conclude,
And priuately with Meditation mate,
Then farewell pleasure, and adew delight,
Ile yeild to Fate, that must with fortune fight.


Pompe, Riot, Ease, delicious, costly, vaine,
Glory, gold, my Regeneration see,
Selfe-loue, hope, pleasure, lust, desires, and gaine,
I haue subscrib'd with you at two to be,
Presumption fly with Dedalls son, and fall,
Drown'd in the sea, which men Icarean call.
Intemperance, doe not on Venus looke,
Chastity I haue vow'd to deify,
And register my name in Vestas booke,
And Cupids temples, gods, and Saints denie:
No myrtle, no mellodious warbling string,
Nor payre of Doues for sacrifice will bring.
Tell Danae Virginity repelles
The goldenst shower, that from Heauen falls,
And him, that Ioue in Fortitude excells,
VVhere maidenhood secured is in walls,
VVhen Constancie, Faith, and Perseuerance,
The Castle guard for lifes Continuance.
Rich Tagus Runnet, which with gold dost run,
I will not wash my gilded wish in thee,
Beauty, which shinest to outbraue the Sun,
For thy loue Ile not Prides Corriuall bee:
The Alcumists Ile in defiance hold,
VVhich durst conuert base Obiects into gold.


Inhumane Macheuilles I will abiure,
And not be friend to Vertues enemies,
Troupes of Antagonists I will procure
To depose their presuming villanies,
Constraining them to tergiuerse with mee,
When Contents prowesse shall approoued bee.
Pleasure, on Earth-wormes make intestine pray,
And with thy golden baite delude the blind,
No frauds my circumuented Troy betray,
Though Synon for this Action be assign'd:
So greedily I gape not after gaine,
In short delight to swallow endlesse paine.
Syrens harmonious Sonnets sounding sweete
Send no misinformation to their minde,
Which nauigate their Common-wealth to meete,
And after trauell Ithica to find,
Vlisses to a pillar will be bound,
That so he may escape home safe and sound.
Circe, thy Potions want effectuall power,
To intercept the passage of the wise,
Calipso's dregs cannot retard one houre
The voyage, which Discretion doth deuise:
Bewitching vvorld workes none impediment,
To stop the Mortifides resolu'd intend.


Yet Pouerty seemes title of Contempt,
A gracelesse word, a derogating Name,
VVhich Honours Court from presence doth exempt,
As scandall, which indignifies the same;
I haue none ensignes of apparant worth,
Nor Ornaments, to set my Person forth.
I challenge no possession of a Crowne,
vvhich earthly Realmes or Royaltie bestowes,
I feare not fatall force of Fortunes frowne,
vvhich to the proude Precipitation owes,
I sit meeke, milde, inferiour vnto all,
So low I am, lower I cannot fall.
VVith Vsury I haue no league of loue,
vvith Pride I clayme on Consanguinity,
Yet though I cannot Fortunatus proue,
vvorlds expectation I will fallify,
And one day be possessour of that place,
vvhich holds these fronted titles in disgrace.
Fauour is but fading vncertainty,
Maiesty some decaying Monument,
Loue but a labarinth of misery,
Riches are but Administrations lent,
Then will I scorne Earths excrements, pelfe, drosse,
And, till I come to Heauen, beare my crosse.


Romane Carbilius first refus'd his wife
For Barrennes, but Natures bare defect:
So this world lothes our incommodious life,
Our wedlock by diuorcement to reiect:
Because we doe not yeerely fructifie,
With Fortunes sprowting Prodigalitie.
Campania is not our Natiue seate,
VVhich the Italians iudge their fertill'st lands,
But I about sterilitie must beate,
And for Annuities imploy my hands:
vvhile VVealth in largest seas his ship may put,
vvith slender Hulke the Caspian streights I cut.
Aduauncement, beare an eye vnto thy state,
Securelesse Royaltie, liue circumspect,
Ignorance, no dominion arrogate,
Phaeton, thine Ambition correct,
If Ioue incensed be gainst what's desir'd,
He will confound thee, ere the VVorld be fir'd.
Empires rule not with moderate Content,
Scepters ioyne with terrestriall Diadems,
Mansolus hath but fading Monument;
Then basely I esteeme these Indy Iems,
As for all Treasures found on seas or land,
I admit none of them to touch my hand.


VVhen saw the VVorld me roab'd in rich aray?
Or counterfeit in colours Esopes Py?
Or countermand earths fashions euery day;
Or with the Peacock gaze on brauery:
Or like Lisicrates, gainst Nature black
VVhite haires, that old I might seeme age to lack?
VVhen trauell'd I in vvagon, chariot, Couch?
Or Abbot-like with cushions cockred ease?
Or had of Pleasures any tender touch?
Or eyes with beauteous visions did I please?
Or when my stomack did I fill and feede
vvith choise of meats, or one meale more then neede?
Lesse leafes do fitter lower shrubs become,
And lower sayles lesse boats doe better guide,
Lesse paces sooner bring the lighter home,
And safer we arriue with lower tide:
Great tides haue flouds, flouds waues, waues dangerous be,
Take through the fords, if thou wilt passe with me.
Th' Egyptian Island Chemnis alwaies swimmes,
Tost hether, thether, vp and downe with wind,
So worldly loue, so VVorldlings wandring limmes
Course to and fro Commodities to find:
Acquainted are with rarity of rest,
Feeling disturbance of care-cumbred brest.


The Cercyræi were not more perplexed
vvith warring oppositions of their foes,
Then VVealth is with inquietation vexed,
vvhile it from land to seas a coursing goes,
Sending Inquiry to descry that store,
vvhich makes the Owner to affect the more.
If in a Senate house Content could liue,
Then Office might adorne the Frankize gowne,
If that a kingdome could sufficient giue,
Then Maiestie might dignifie a Crowne:
If Fates surpris'd not men with purging fan,
Presull and Prelate were a happy man.
Centurions then might on their guards be stout,
And Generalls might troupes of Armies hold,
Iustian then were manumist from doubt,
But Death the Sheepheard playes, brings them to fold,
No Magistracie length of life can giue,
Caninus but seau'n houres did Consull liue.
The Oxe, which of Clytumnus Current drinks,
Transformed is into a Colour white,
But who so tasteth of Contentment, thinks,
Earths invitations can him not incite,
To be translated into any minde,
But those Conceyts, which Patience seekes to find.


Although no Bacchanalls I celebrate,
To banish wit by sence-exiling wine,
Though I my stomacke doe not dedicate
To Luxury, and with the Glutton dine;
Yet doth Abstemius Christall water find,
And Curius foote to content Natures minde.
Essei were certaine Religious Iewes,
Abstaining from flesh, women, oiles, and wines,
Contenting Nature but with Dates and dewes,
Neuer kil'd fatlings, neuer robbed vines,
To flatter Palate, or feed Gluttony,
With Cates and Delicates variety.
His Kingdome rauenous Erisicthon sold,
And of so many Millions kept no mite,
Exchang'd his daughter Protea for gold,
To satisfie his Royall Appetite;
Not thus content gainst Nature did rebell,
And of his owne Flesh a deuouring fell.
The Troyan horse, made by Epeus hand,
Had no such Belly Hundreds to containe,
Though it did swallow, Citty and the land,
VVhich Pryam rul'd, during his happy Raigne:
This vvoulfe, his Realme in gourmandizing spent,
Tasting no sweete Ambrosia of content.


Diuine Content, thine Altars Ile frequent,
Offring a mite with hand, talents with hart,
Fortune to greater gifts will not consent,
Then goddesse, let desire stand for desart;
And prooue propitious to thy poorest Saint,
That doth thy godhead with his lot acquaint.
Sweete Vertue, patronize my Patience,
Though but Beggar to Biggers I appeare,
Protect me with thy sacred Prouidence,
Thy Suppliants petitions Ioue-like heare;
And for me Glories paradize prouide,
Aboue the Earth to haue me dignifide.
Dismember limbs from Body of Delight,
vvhich in times processe must disiointed bee,
From Sensualitie my sences right,
vvhich may conglutinate my loue to thee;
Make perfet Vnion twixt Content and Poore,
And knit that Gordion lasting euermore.
Giue not Aboundance, least I should forget
The Giuer, when such surplusage I see,
Giue not too little, least I die in det,
Vnable so to tender Charons fee;
The golden Mediocrity I craue,
To quite the vvorld, and me conduct to graue.


I couet not that penetrable way;
Divulged to the Common Multitude,
Ile not at passage with the Vulgars play,
But steps into the narrow streits intrude,
Not griuing though I leaue my shoes behind,
So I the perfet path to Heauen find.
vvhat ist a pleasant iourney to enioy,
And in a painefull Inne be entertaind?
Cursed are lodges, that the guests annoy,
vvhere Trauells Recreation should be gain'd:
Tread hard by day; so ease at night be sound,
Lament in life so ioyes in death abound.
Imploy me not in Superfluities,
vvhose summes surcharge a well-addicted minde,
vvhich Marthaes conuersation occupies,
To prosecute such earthly sutes assign'd:
Disburthen my Conceipts of worldly cares,
vvhich little Time to thinke on Tempe spares.
Let diuine Contemplations be my treasures,
And sacred songs my choisest harmonie,
And Vertues Recreation my pleasures,
And Hope the Prologue of my Comedie,
Oh with what action would I grace my part,
Had I a scene according to desart.


Pronuntiation should make Pride asham'd,
Such sweetnes in distinction, Art in gesture,
My grauity in face may not be nam'd,
Nor Ornaments imbrodred on my vesture;
That muddie eies, base lamps, and earthy lights,
Durst not behold the Obiects of these sights.
The Mellodie of Cherubins me grace,
And Millions of Martires me attend,
Societies of Angels me embrace,
Their time the Saints Communions with me spend,
And robes of Righteousnes I haue in store,
My person in Ioues presence to decore.
And yet Earths Vulgars me indignifie,
And on my habits cast disdainfull scorne,
Obraid me with odious vndecency;
But worse obiections I then these haue borne;
Better Conceipts I haue of rarer things,
VVhich men vnto the blisse of blissings brings.
Ile conuerse with my priuate Pilgrimage,
Medling with Earth so little, as I may,
Let Solitarines me patronage,
Vntill by Death I Natures due repay;
Yet I with Fortunes hand encounter must,
And beare armes, till I be dissolu'd to dust.


Let Contents Coslet guard besieged life,
Armour of Proofe vpon my Shoulders lay,
Direct me Souldiour in this vale of strife,
On Earth my Captaines ensignes to display,
Though I vnfortunate loose gaines, gaine losse,
Vnder the durance of the hardest crosse.
Its Hart-griefe to suruey my wofull wounds,
Death-passions, but to touch my miseries;
These Troubles taste Digestions strength confounds,
Courage sits daunted at these dolefull cries,
Hell cannot adde one plague vnto my paine,
That circumsept with mischiefes thus remaine.
Earths Dæmogorgon armed gainst me stands,
To ruinate my Castle of Content,
Hellish Briareus with his hundred hands,
Against my Patience hath his forces sent,
But I haue vow'd to loose my life in field,
Ere tergiuerse, or coward weapons yield.
Triumphant Victory shall me attend,
And Confidence mine enterprise embold,
Till gloriously mine Honours doe ascend,
In Maiesties Pallace their Court to hold:
That Admiration wonder shall anew
The miracles of mine exploits to view.


Harpocrates thy Silence strangleth words,
vvhile hote multiplications fire Debate,
Bring flaxe to flame, and proffer Battle swords,
And Authors are of life-suruiuing hate;
There's such Omnipotence in Loyaltie,
That yielding, it obtaines the Victorie.
O it's a bloodlesse Conquest to submit,
No maymes, no martyrdoms therein are found,
Rashnes proues Argument of slender wit,
vvhile Prouidence in whole skinnes sleepeth sound,
vvith Lawrell leafes subduing stoutest foes,
vvhile wild-heads by the eares in armour goes.
Reuenge vvith Cocyx selfe-conceipt confounds,
vvhile Tyme might salue the bleeding'st iniury,
Precipitation scarred is with wounds,
vvhile Suffrance purchaseth Securitie:
O there's such Operation in Content,
That it doth right the wrongfull'st detriment.
Admit I seeme but homely in my House,
My Commons course, my foode no dainty fare,
Not able lodge a Friend, nor feast a Mouse,
Next Neighbour to want Penury and Care;
Nay, Care I leaue to carking Diues charge,
vvhose treasur'd wealth his tortur'd woes inlarge.


Suruay mine head, search if thine eyes can finde
True Testimonie of care-martyrd Hart,
Or Euidence of discontented minde,
Compelling Natures colour to depart,
Planting a White, resembling Northern snow,
vvhich doth possession of griefe-tenures show.
My feature seemes as fayre, as Fatters bee,
As comely, as the grossest of the land,
As healthfull, as the Richest are to see,
Nay they'r diseasd in head, foote, face, and hand,
vvith dropsie, fleame, knobs, plurisy, and gout,
vvith falling euills, itch, and breakings out.
Humors and tumors, botches, byles, and sores
Theyr chiefest sences dang'rously displease,
These are the issues of superfluous stores,
Surburth'ning Nature to prouoke disease,
To suffocate the Conduit of their breath,
vvhile Riot causeth Surfet, surfet Death.
VVealthlings suppose their parting peale they heare,
See Deaths Idea with his maze in hand,
If Bell but whisper in theyr guilty eare,
Dreading that coram nobis they must stand,
And beeing culpable, to feare begin
Ineuitable Iudgment for their sin.


All Obiects theyr Capacitie offend,
Least suddaine perrils should abridge theyr breath,
And Tasters must theyr trencher-meales attend,
Least nutrimentall Dyet hasten death;
A former Mouth must practize on their meate,
And brooke their breakfast, ere they durst to eate.
Rootes, Onions, garlick, and the Hermits meale,
Proues better feasting then this dangerous fare:
vvhich seekes a scratch of Hungers nailes to heale,
And catch a wound, that bleeds with mortall care:
(Digestion) I securely vow to fast,
Ere fearfully feed on so deere repast.
Nay more, the Belly burthned, Braines are dull,
The body glutted, vices load the minde,
The head is empty, when the wombe is full,
The Corpulent doe slender knowledge find,
For Abstinence and Temperance attaine,
The marke of Honour, and the meanes of gaine,
A little Cottage, common cloth, short meales,
Is safest Seate, best Rayment, surest health,
Not chargeably impayring Publique-weales,
And seldome damnify mans priuate wealth.
It's sumptuous lodge, rich vesture, daintie fare,
That robbe the purse, and make Reuenewes bare.


Double and Treble Chimneis mounting faire,
Obserue the single Hospitality,
All spent to build, and buildings to repayre,
vvhich should support oppressed misery,
Great halls, large tables, gold, plate, little meate,
Feed but the eye, while mouth hath nought to eate.
Apollo's diuine Oracle confest,
Aged Aglaus farre more fortunate,
Then was king Gyges in his royall rest,
Amidst the mountaines of his lofty state,
Aglaus ne'er past limits of his land,
Gyges detained all that came to hand.
Agathocles mongst his Sycanian Lords
Did earthen Vessells at his table vse:
Like president Porsenna King affords,
To teach that none Humility refuse:
In iewells their Ability might eate,
But they discern'd it bettred not the meate.
Poyson is powred in the golden Cruce,
The Aconite in richest Bowles is laide,
As with foule treason vnder fairest truce;
So worldlings are in costly Cups betraide,
Fie on those goods, though glorious to be seene,
vvhich haue Efficients of destructions beene.


King Dionisius knew the restlesse state,
VVhich to the perrill Potentates possesse,
Experience taught him in what dangrous gate
They enter, which to Kingdomes haue accesse,
While by a haire the naked Sword hangs downe,
Readie to fall vpon the Princes Crowne.
What prooues Aboundance but aboundant Care?
vvhat's vvealths Plenty but Pouerty of Rest?
Treasures are tortures, which doe neuer spare
vvith ledden thoughts to onerate our brest:
Elect Riches of a diuiner sort,
Choose Burthens which thou better maist support.
Content in Celles seemes richer by degrees,
Then Discontent inthron'd in Courts of Kings;
One dish of fruite more worth then twenty trees,
Sufficient consists not in many things:
Nought is inough for him that wanteth nought,
Much is too little, whereas more is sought.
Resolue me vvorldling, midst thy goods, and ground,
Heards, Flockes, Corne, Oyle, Fruits, Siluer, Gold, & gaine,
What Contentation in this store is found,
But Competence where with life to sustaine?
Will not this gilt prooue Guiltines of minde,
VVhen thine Accompt Ioue shall vnworthy find?


Miser, durst so much on one mouth bestow,
As might a pettie-Commonwealth suffice?
vvhat doth Possession such Reuenewes owe
Vnto one Helluo's hellish Auarice?
Condition knowes, thou hadst it to impart,
Some portion thereof to the needy hart.
So Admiration once beheld an Asse
Loaden with rost, burthned with costly meate,
VVith curbing bit in mouth the plaines to passe,
Finding not nettles, hay or grasse to eate,
His fortunes did some vvorldlings imitate,
That fooles and beggars are in richest state.
That pine in plenty, starue amidst their store,
That want in vvealth, and in aboundance neede,
That maugre Superfluities seeme poore,
And Nature with no Contentation feede:
Mans hart so small gorg'th not a kite one houre,
Yet would it Earths Circumferrence deuoure.
Must Man needs drossy Muck his Maister make,
vvhich Fortune hath apprentiz'd for a slaue?
And can Humanity with Patience take,
That Basenes should of him dominion haue?
I dare not call thee Asse, but aske thy selfe,
VVhat eares thou hast, that harknest so to pelfe.


Doth mony purpose to eneruate might?
Doth vvealth imagine to discredit wit?
Haue Riches Confidence to conquer Right?
Doth gold boue Vertue vndertake to sit!
Fie, will Moria shoote beyond her aime?
And challenge more then iustly she can claime?
How should Humanity it selfe behaue,
And not with Oppositions be opprest,
His scourged ship from Scilla's throte to saue,
In harbour of Security to rest?
Vaine Desperation seemes in misery,
More vaine Presumption in prosperity.
Pryam, that princely Gouernour of Troy,
Father of Sonnes coequallizing Kings,
In the maturity of rarest ioy,
Midst tenure of inualewable things,
vvas slaine, and Time by Destinies defer'd,
To haue his murdred Maiestie inter'd.
Hector his Heire, had Time bestowd successe,
Prince of the vvorthies, Mars for Chiualrie,
vvas impotent Fortunes force to suppresse,
And must shake hands with like Aduersity;
Bearing the burthen of vnprosprous strife,
To make vntimely Period of his life.


The Citty flow'd with teares at this distresse,
Griefe sounded Clamours at his ouerthrow,
And Cordiall Dolours did their harts possesse,
Sith youth did leuy debts, which Age should owe,
An hundred noble Courages did quaile,
And thousand Ladies did his losse bewaile.
No princely Pompe can Potentates secure,
No earthly Kingdomes can eternize life,
Prosperitie no safety can assure,
Sith Fortune hath his frownes, Atrops her knife,
Two too inexorable still haue been,
That blind Director, and that fatall Queene.
These Two vncertaine are, yet certaine bee,
Fortunes pleasd helpe, Fortunes displeased hate,
The Destinies are bribed by no fee,
To lengthen life, or dayes to breuiate:
No terme hath interest in their good will,
They saue in shipwracks, and in harbours kill.
Now Demonax should proue a Puritan,
Instructed by Philosophy to hate,
Siluers receipt in tyme of Adrian,
Vnfit to be these Mony-mongers mate,
vvhich morgage Soules, and their Saluation drowne,
In depth of diuing for a golden Crowne.


Concupiscence with Lucre falls in loue,
Demonica durst Ephesus betray,
If Brennus will a bounteous Briber proue,
Treasons demaunds with treasures sums to pay;
Eryphale will haue her husband sold,
while gold blinds worldlings, worldlings grope for gold.
Temptation, vanish, with seducement die,
vvhich golden Mountaines durst by promise giue,
Suggesting Common-wealths of Dignitie,
vvhile as thy Creditors in scandall liue;
For what proues glory on an Empyre placed,
But plodded meanes to make a man disgraced?
Don Romulus no fallacies could find,
But Brothers death, poore Rhemus must be slaine,
To satisfie his all-affecting minde,
Moeties seemed insufficient gaine,
Daily the Diadem as fayre appeares
Vnto his lustfull eyes, as second yeeres.
Therefore enacts, that such as should ascend
The Romane walls, this scale with death should buy,
To Celer this obseruance doth commend,
Rhemus gets vp, dreading no trechery,
vvhich deare attempt exhausts his dearest life,
Concluding so that twin-borne Brethrens strife.


Mismurdred Rhemus, by this tyme thou knowst
Dignities valew, fading fruits of gaine,
vvhat satisfaction thou to Honour owst,
And what preferment Scepter-sutes attaine;
Oh if that Brother spare not Brothers blood,
At Aliants hands who expects any good?
A vvolfe in woods, them equally did nurse,
But Romulus retain'd the woluish minde,
Lamb-natur'd Rhemus might his fortunes curse,
vvhile Destinies had such euents assign'd,
One kingdome is not capable of twaine,
One Temple cannot Abel hold and Caine.
The beauteous Solstice of a Crowne doth blind
The clearest Argus eyes, that euer liue,
what man is he, that might a kingdome find
And Parents, Children, Brethren, would not giue?
Princedoms seeme sweet pills, pleasant is a Crowne,
He that hath no throat would them swallow downe.
Yet lofty Cedars ouerthrowne are found,
with boistrous blasts of ruine-threatning winde,
when Iunipers stand stedfast on their ground,
And seates of surer Residence doe finde;
Fortune Presumption to preferment calls,
To giue the heedlesse Climbers headlong falls.


Profit prouoketh, bids the Niggard hold;
Pleasure perswadeth, motiue Method speakes,
Diues will hoord, though hange in Hell for gold;
Epicures gourmandize, though Belly breakes:
From sugred baits what caueats can forbid,
Though thousand harmefull hookes lie vnder hid?
Darius will his Horsmans Counsell vse,
Processe of his Direction execute,
vvill not Oebares decretalls refuse,
If his deuise him Ruler constitute,
If Horses bray may him proclyme a King,
He puts in practise the ignoblest thing.
Philoxenus the Parasite did wish
His throat in length a Cranes neck might exceed,
To feele the pleasures of the sweetest dish,
Taste pleasant drinke his appetite to feede:
vvith Phago placing his felicity
And summum Bonum in his gluttony.
Few with Phraortes worship Temperance,
Sardanapalus liues effeminate,
Scyron hardneth his thieuish Countenaunce,
Romane Sarmantus proues a scoffing mate,
And none with Zeno that Content desire,
vvhich Horace of Mecenas did inquire.


VVhen Zancles hundred foure yeares had suruiu'd,
vvhich tearme doth nought but imperfections gaine,
Nature a Miracle in him contriu'd,
Making his iawes young teeth anew retaine,
Such is the Custome of the vvorldly minde,
That loosing life, Aboundance seekes to find.
Yeares Parents are of Mutability,
And Mutability Natures decay,
Time is the Trumpettour of secresie,
Though Reuelation plead vpon delay;
The ey-deluding shewes are shadowes found,
Mortality to Dissolution bound.
Pallaces, Temples, Castells, Citties, Townes,
Towers, and Turrets equall to the skies,
Subuerted by resistlesse fortunes frownes,
Leaue nought, which their memorialls testifies;
Haruest and hooke those fertill furlongs grace,
VVhere vvalls and vvindowes once had royall place.
King Pryams Parlour made an Hearbory,
VVith Floras fauours seemes red, white, and greene;
Those halles with fruits and flowers fructifie,
VVhere quandam Lordings princely to be seene,
Led Courtly dances in their Ladies hands,
Like Thetis tripping on the siluer sands.


Honour is but a worthlesse word of grace,
To sooth Ambitions praise-attending eares:
Beauty but Blossomes in a flouring face;
And Pleasures but delights commixt with feares;
Then Honour, Beauty, and Delight are vaine,
Sith in them all no Certainty doth raigne.
Diogenes once passing neare to Hell
Beheld Mydas, that sometime liu'd a King,
Now in Infernall Beggery to dwell,
Base, ragged, dispossest of eu'ry thing;
And laughing said, ah ah my golden Asse,
Ist possible the vvorld comes thus to passe?
The Sequels of precedent Pleasures mooue
Purification to relinquish drosse,
And earthly approbations to disprooue,
And make concealment of apparant crosse,
Sith Rich are poore, and Poore are rich at last,
VVhen fatall lots are on our limits cast.
Lazarus midst his suts of miseries
Sollicited the Gluttons earelesse gate,
Diues in flames of Phlegeton now cries;
Not heard of him, whom he heard not of late,
The law of Talio like for like doth pay,
To quite all kindnes there succeeds a day.


Sith Cornucopiæ fil'd with fruitfull things
To Penury by Destination turnes:
Sith Riot vnexpected Domage brings,
Sith ceasing Ease in ceaselesse torments burnes:
Pleasures and Plenties Ile not Comforts call,
But Perturbations, and forsake them all.
In sack and Cinders Ile inuested bee,
Part of my limbs vncouerd in the cold,
Ile not my body cloth beneath my knee,
That earthen eies may clayen feete behold;
To note (sith they resemble brittle sand)
That I on Frailties weake foundation stand.
That liuing man may dying mould respect;
Though Power cannot Impotence preuent,
It may repaire some Naturall defect,
That sinfull Soule die not impenitent:
Our manhood weake our matter being dust,
Subiect to Death, to Mother Earth we must.
Nestor suruiuing Natures common length,
Nor Agamemnon with his Maiesty,
Nor Polyphemus with robustous strength
Can countermand the Doome of Destiny:
Fire can the hardest vvood to cinders burne,
And Time the strongest flesh to Ashes turne.


There shall no Parciality be showne,
But Kings and Clownes in one Condition bee;
Twixt Court and Cottage no distinction knowne,
Betweene the high state and the low degree:
For Irus dies, and Cresus doth no lesse,
Wit, Beauty, Honour, VVealth must make a messe.
Then ringed Fingers glorifide with gold,
Then cursed Tresses beautifide by Art,
Then fashions, and ruffes ranked fouresold,
Then locks and lookes witnes of proudest hart,
Then painted Cheekes, roling eies lures of lust,
Shall perrish, rot, consume, and come to dust.
Then Helen lustfull Venery shall rue;
And Clytemnestra abiure homicide,
vvhose murdrous hands her louing husband slue,
That thought in safety with his wife to bide:
And Gyant Cacus curse vnlawfull gaines,
vvhen Pluto paies the stipend of his paines.
And Nero shall lament midst tearfull flood,
VVhose Rigour lifes effusion did affect,
Dayly exhausting many Millions blood,
VVhich Tyrant he in Iustice should protect;
Medea lothe her Necromantick spell,
For Magicke Art when vvitches burne in hell.


Tell Rhodope the Harlot, how she spent
Charaxus patrimony, Chattels, goods,
And him forthwith to Seas a Pirate sent,
His fortunes to experience in the floods;
And aske her, whether there will come a day,
For pleasures and extortions vse to pay.
One Continent must Alexander hold,
VVhom many Prouinces could not containe,
That wept, and weeping his Attendants told,
He grieu'd least he none other World should gaine,
To chronicle the Conquests of his hands,
Because the whole vvorld Phillips subiect stands.
Admonish thus a VVorldlings climbing minde,
That Destinies doe his desires deride;
Thou at his hands Ingratitude shalt find,
And he will thy Directions not abide;
But with the Adder stops indocile eare,
Vnwilling wisest charmers voyce to heare.
Folly hath got a habit on their head,
This head misguides the selfe-conceited will,
The liuing meditate not on the dead,
But full with errours their affections fill,
Yet where is safety, health, ioy, comfort, ease,
Or Contentation, which can last and please?


Then blessed Patience, fortunate Content,
Sitting inferiour to the lowest seate,
Priuiledge from externall Accident,
vvhich doth with Fortunes scourges VVordlings beate:
The Poore's but poore how euer Tempests blow,
But Rich-men may strange alterations know.
What Metamorphosis will then be seene,
vvhen Pilgrims princelike shall inthroned stand,
And shall liue Regents, which haue Vassals beene
Holding a scepter in immortall hand;
Then gold for drosse, and glory for disgrace,
Equall to Saints the meanest shall embrace.
VVhen fading Bale shall ceaselesse blessings bring
Then farewell vvinter of Aduersityes,
vvhen Flora with her euerflowring spring,
All seasons, Sommer, Autumne dignifyes:
Then particolour'd flowers, and the rose,
Shall feede eyes humour, and delight the nose.
Then strained Mellodie shall pierce our eare,
vvhose sence from eare descendeth to the hart,
vvhen songs for sighes, and mirth for mones we heare,
vvho would not wish with vs to beare a part?
Grieue not, though now discords of tunes abound,
This iarring one day will be musick sound.


Soule sequester thy thought from vanitie,
vvorldly Aduauncement in dishonour hold,
And doe not Angerona dignify,
Although she proffer pleasures manifold:
If thy Desires on earth their pleasures take,
Twill cost thy life, before thou canst awake.
An Oracle Protesilaus told,
That what Greeke first entred the Troyan land,
Should die, which danger could not him with-hold
But he first takes this enterprise in hand;
The prophecies accordingly succeede,
For Hector kild him that perform'd that deed.
Beware by this example, how thy minde
Aduenture make for transitory things,
For subtyle Fates the secret'st searcher finde,
And finding him, ad respondendum brings.
Possesse not, but passe through this earthly cell,
vvhere no Contents, but misaduentures dwell.
Here's nought but passions, penury, and paine,
Sicknes, and sorrowes, slaunders, rumours feares,
Drudgings, and grudgings, enuy, strife, disdaine,
Domage, and discontents, frownes, terrours, teares,
Prisonment, poyson, cauills, curse, and crosse,
Seruitude, thralldoms, labours, dolours, losse.


Heer's nought but filth, and frailty, griefes, and galls,
Troubles, and trauels, force, fraud, wrath, and wrong,
Folly, and frensy, snares, cares, climbing, falls,
Shew me a man mongst Mortalls, that's so strong,
vvhich can support the burthen of one day,
That doth all these loads on his shoulders lay.
Atlas, that beareth Heauen on his back,
Presumeth not this waight to vndertake,
Invincible Sampson would sinewes lack,
which for this durance might him able make:
These all so insupportable appeare
That Gyants would their impositions feare.
Hercules toyles in number, Nature, name,
Cannot with these discouragements compare,
Theyr name to tasks, to twelue their number came,
Theyr nature bridled with a little care;
Part wrought with force, part wrought with fallacies,
But these pretend impossibilities.
They seeme as odious as the Gorgons head,
As terrible as ramping Lyons iawes,
Or Cocatrice whose sight brings fatall dread,
As horrible as were the Harpies clawes,
That doubts before, behind misfortunes stand,
Despayre aboue, dangers on eu'ry hand.


Yet Patience in a Castell of content
Wincks at these Obiects, ouer-heares the sound,
But waighes not words of the Impatient,
Whose spirits full of Discontents abound:
Ismile to see the Corpulent still feede,
Laugh to behold the wealthy stand in neede.
Empty-way-faring men with pencelesse purse
Durst sing in thiefes presence dischar'd of feare,
When full Powch doth his Misaduentures curse,
And (will he, nill he) for a passe paies deare,
That Pouerty returneth safer home,
Then Riches with such royalty can come.
Armath'oes ride on rocks, ships sink in sands,
Meet with stormes, tempests, gulfes, vnprosprous winde,
VVhen safely Pinnages arriue to lands,
And wished Calmes for Nauigation find;
Charibdis, Scylla, Syrtes, wracks, and waue,
On lowly Barkes no lofty power haue.
If Adam through forbidden fruite for sooke
Those Eden pleasures of felicity,
If that Lots wife for one retorted looke
In pillar of Salt found such misery;
These Sodome apples I will not behold,
That inward are but dust, though outward gold.


Vertue ioyne hand in hand with Pouerty,
And we will walke secur'd from bonds of feares,
Not surpris'd with preuenting misery,
Till Iubile proclaime those ioyfull yeares,
vvhen we in Heauen shall be resident,
To reape the fruits of Patience and Content.
Arthur Warren.