University of Virginia Library

Militia est vita hominis.

Sir

Were it your appetite of glory, (which
In noblest times, did bravest soules bewitch
To fall in love with danger,) that now drawes
You to the fate of warre; it claimes applause:
And every worthy hand would plucke a bough
From the best spreading bay, to shade your brow.
Since you unforc'd part from your Ladies bed
Warme with the purest love, to lay your head
Perhaps on some rude turfe, and sadly feele
The nights cold dampes wrapt in a sheete of steele.
You leave your well grown woods: and medows wch
Our Severne doth with fruitfull streames enrich.
Your woods where we see such large heards of Deere
Your meades whereon such goodly flockes appeare.
You leave your Castle, safe both for defence
And sweetely wanton with magnificence
With all the cost and cunning beautified
That addes to state, where nothing wants but pride.
These charmes might have bin pow'rful to have staid
Great mindes resolv'd for action, and betraid
You to a glorious ease: since to the warre
Men by desire of prey invited are,
Whom either sinne or want makes desperate
Or else disdaine of their owne narrow fate.
But you nor hope of fame or a release
Of the most sober goverment in peace,
Did to the hazard of the armie bring:
Onely a pure devotion to the King
In whose just cause whoever fights, must be
Triumphant: since even death is victory.
And what is life, that we to wither it
To a weake wrinckled age, should torture wit
To finde out Natures secrets; what doth length
Of time deserve, if we want heate and strength?
When a brave quarrell doth to armes provoke
Why should we feare to venter this thin smoke
This emptie shadow, life? this which the wise
As the fooles Idoll, soberly despise?
Why should we not throw willingly away
A game we cannot save, now that we may
Gaine honour by the gift? since haply when
We onely shall be statues of men
And our owne monuments, Peace will deny
Our wretched age so brave a cause to dye.
But these are thoughts! And action tis doth give
A soule to courage, and make vertue live:
Which doth not dwell upon the valiant tongue
Of bold Philosophie, but in the strong
Vndaunted spirit, which encounters those
Sad dangers, we to fancie scarce propose.
Yet tis the true and highest fortitude
To keepe our inward enemies subdued:
Not to permit our passions over sway
Our actions, nor our wanton flesh betray
The soules chaste Empire: for however we
To th' outward shew may gaine a victory
And proudly triumph: if to conquour sinne
We combate not, we are at warre within.