The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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| 4. | THE PRAISE OF
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
THE PRAISE OF Constancie.
The fourth daies worke.
O constancie, thou only kingly thought,
That keepes the spirit in her purest kinde:
And hast against all idle frailty fought,
And like a Mountaine setlest fast the Minde:
Let me conceiue some part of thy content,
Where pleasures spirit is most sweetly spent.
That keepes the spirit in her purest kinde:
And hast against all idle frailty fought,
And like a Mountaine setlest fast the Minde:
Let me conceiue some part of thy content,
Where pleasures spirit is most sweetly spent.
And though I cannot reach that Royall height,
Wherein thy sacred Maiestie doth sit:
Yet as a Seruant let me humbly waite,
To see thine honour, and to speake of it;
And so to speake, that all the world may see
Wisedome, Loue, Honor only liues in thee.
Wherein thy sacred Maiestie doth sit:
Yet as a Seruant let me humbly waite,
To see thine honour, and to speake of it;
And so to speake, that all the world may see
Wisedome, Loue, Honor only liues in thee.
14
The constant Eie hath neuer wandring sight,
The constant Eare hath no vnkindly hearing:
The constant Tongue doth euer speake aright,
The constant Heart hath euer happy chearing:
The constant Minde the fairest thoughts vnfold thee,
The constant Soule on earth and heauen behold thee.
The constant Eare hath no vnkindly hearing:
The constant Tongue doth euer speake aright,
The constant Heart hath euer happy chearing:
The constant Minde the fairest thoughts vnfold thee,
The constant Soule on earth and heauen behold thee.
It neuer hath a thought of iealousie,
Nor stands vpon Opinions Paradox:
Nor runnes a fury into frenzie,
Nor feares the Wolfe, nor joyneth with the Fox:
But like the Phœnix in a sunnie fire,
Findes lifes delight in ashes of desire.
Nor stands vpon Opinions Paradox:
Nor runnes a fury into frenzie,
Nor feares the Wolfe, nor joyneth with the Fox:
But like the Phœnix in a sunnie fire,
Findes lifes delight in ashes of desire.
It loues no change, and breedes the ioy of choise,
It feares no fortune, nor it serues no folly:
It keepes the rule where Reason doth reioice,
And is the substance of contentment wholy:
It is a stay that strengtheneth the Minde,
And knits the sences in a sacred Kinde.
It feares no fortune, nor it serues no folly:
It keepes the rule where Reason doth reioice,
And is the substance of contentment wholy:
It is a stay that strengtheneth the Minde,
And knits the sences in a sacred Kinde.
It is the true foundation of all strength
Which while it holds, the frame can neuer fall:
It is the line that drawes the longest length,
And euer is, that sees the end of all:
It keeps the Rules of heau'ns reuolution.
And doth confirme all Reasons resolution.
Which while it holds, the frame can neuer fall:
It is the line that drawes the longest length,
And euer is, that sees the end of all:
It keeps the Rules of heau'ns reuolution.
And doth confirme all Reasons resolution.
It is the locke vpon the heart of loue,
A Chest that keepes the treasure of the Minde:
Within the soule a Rocke that cannot moue
A Band, that doth the thoughts together binde.
A light where Wisedome Vertues honour seeth
And life where only Grace with loue agreeth.
A Chest that keepes the treasure of the Minde:
Within the soule a Rocke that cannot moue
A Band, that doth the thoughts together binde.
A light where Wisedome Vertues honour seeth
And life where only Grace with loue agreeth.
It keepes the Sunne in his continuall brightnes,
The ayre in coolenes, and the earth in drynesse:
Water in moisture, and the winde in lightnesse
The fire in hotnes, and the flame in highnesse:
The good in goodnes, and the kinde in kindnes,
The minde from madnes, and the eye from blindnes:
The ayre in coolenes, and the earth in drynesse:
Water in moisture, and the winde in lightnesse
The fire in hotnes, and the flame in highnesse:
The good in goodnes, and the kinde in kindnes,
The minde from madnes, and the eye from blindnes:
It was the mouer first of mariage,
And made the first continuance of content:
It set the course of Wisedomes cariage,
And neuer further then affection went:
It is the state of all perfections stay,
And Times all euerlasting holy day.
And made the first continuance of content:
It set the course of Wisedomes cariage,
And neuer further then affection went:
It is the state of all perfections stay,
And Times all euerlasting holy day.
It is the Crowne of Patience kingly care,
The seate where Mercy sits in Maiestie:
The Law wherein all blessed precepts are,
The fame of Loue and League of Amitie:
The learning of the wisest wits instruction,
And sence of the most sweetest thoughts construction.
The seate where Mercy sits in Maiestie:
The Law wherein all blessed precepts are,
The fame of Loue and League of Amitie:
The learning of the wisest wits instruction,
And sence of the most sweetest thoughts construction.
Aboue the Heauens it liueth with the highest,
And in the Heauens it dwelleth with the purest:
And to the Nature of the best the nighest,
And in the sence of all conceits the surest:
And in the Action of all Art the strongest,
And in the length of Time, and Truth the longest.
And in the Heauens it dwelleth with the purest:
And to the Nature of the best the nighest,
And in the sence of all conceits the surest:
And in the Action of all Art the strongest,
And in the length of Time, and Truth the longest.
It keepes the center of the earth from mouing
The swelling Sea from passing of his Bounds:
The Rules of true perfection from Reprouing.
The health of Wisedome from all follies Wounds;
The circle of the World in such a frame,
That Admiration may commend the same.
The swelling Sea from passing of his Bounds:
The Rules of true perfection from Reprouing.
The health of Wisedome from all follies Wounds;
The circle of the World in such a frame,
That Admiration may commend the same.
Oh, how it writes the worthinesse of those
That stroue for honour to the stroke of death:
And how without comparison it showes,
The mouth of Wisedome blessed in her breath:
And how it makes the fame of them to flourish
That with their Bounty vertuous spirits nourish.
That stroue for honour to the stroke of death:
And how without comparison it showes,
The mouth of Wisedome blessed in her breath:
And how it makes the fame of them to flourish
That with their Bounty vertuous spirits nourish.
It is the Mirror of all Martirdome,
And in the faithfull makes a Glorious fight:
And in the day of the Eternall doome,
It will be Gratious in all Glorious sight:
Where hopes continuance in all kindnes care,
Brings humble faith to endlesse happy fare.
And in the faithfull makes a Glorious fight:
And in the day of the Eternall doome,
It will be Gratious in all Glorious sight:
Where hopes continuance in all kindnes care,
Brings humble faith to endlesse happy fare.
And since it is so infinite a Grace,
As may deserue as infinite a praise:
And is the fulnesse of the fairest place,
In all the walke of Wit, and Reasons waies:
Where patience proues the best experience,
Let me a little sing of Patience.
As may deserue as infinite a praise:
And is the fulnesse of the fairest place,
In all the walke of Wit, and Reasons waies:
Where patience proues the best experience,
Let me a little sing of Patience.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |