University of Virginia Library


236

HIS ODES:

OR, PHILOMELS TEARES.

[Odes in straines of sorrow tell]

Odes in straines of sorrow tell
Fate and fall of euery fowle,
Mounting Merlin, Philomel,
Lagging Lapwing, Swallow, Owle;
Whence you may obserue how state
Rais'd by pride, is raz'd by hate.

237

TO THE GENEROVS, INGENIOVS, AND IVDICIOVS Philalethist, Thomas Ogle Esquire: the succeeding issue of his diuinest wishes.

Vnknowne to you I am, yet knowne I am
To th' better part of you, your vertuous name;
Which like a precious odour hath infus'd
Your loue so much in me, as I haue chus'd
Your selfe, to patronize what I haue writ,
Whose name I thought had power to shelter it.
I grant indeed, Smooth Eagle for your name,
Includes that Sun-reflecting (Anagram)
These birds which in my Odes their fates display,
Are some night-birds, as others of the day;
Which in my iudgement, tenders more delight,
To see how sin's orecurtained by night,
Whereas the day sends forth his golden raies,
And shewes such birds as chant their makers praise.
Which Morall, is it suites these times of ours,
I do disclaime my right in't, it is yours,
If you esteeme it worthie to obtaine
Your approbation: This is all our ayme.
R. B.

245

THE TRAVELLOVR,

DILATING VPON THE sundrie changes of humane affaires, most fluctuant when appearing most constant.

AN ODE.

Tell me man, what creature may
Promise him such safe repose,
As secure from hate of foes,
He may thus much truly say,
Nought I haue I feare to lose,
No mischance can me dismay;
Tell me, pray thee (if thou can)
If the woreld haue such a man!
Tell me, if thou canst discerne
By thy reasons excellence,
What man for his prouidence,
Of the Pismire may not learne:
Yet that creature hath but sense,
Though she do her liuing earne,
Spare, not costly, is her fare,
Yet her granar shewes her care!

246

Tell me, canst thou shew me him,
That exact in each deuice,
Is at all times truly wise,
And is neuer seene to swim
(For in this his iudgement lies)
Gainst the current of the streame,
But seemes to haue full command,
Of each thing he takes in hand!
Tell me, was there euer knowne
Such a man that had a wit,
And in some part knew not it,
Till at last conceited growne,
He grew prowder then was fit,
Euer boasting of his owne;
For that Maxime true we know,
“He that's wittie, knowes him so!
Tell me, is that man on earth,
Whose affaires so stable are,
As they may for all his care,
Fall not crosse and crabdly forth,
And of sorrowes haue no share,
Which descend to man by birth;
What is he can promise rest,
When his mind's with griefe opprest!
Tell me, is there ought so strong,
Firmely-constant, permanent,
Or on earth such true content,
As it fadeth not ere long:
Is there ought so excellent,

247

As it changeth not her song
And in time that all deuoures
Mixeth sweets with sharpest soures!
Tell me, who is he that shines
In the height of Princes loue;
Sitting minion-like with loue,
Glorying in those golden times,
But he feares something may moue
His distast by whom He climbes:
Wherefore he that feares to fall,
Should forbeare to climbe at all!
Tell me, where is Fortune plac'd,
That she may not men beguile,
Shrowding frownes with fained smile;
Where is He so highly grac'd,
Shewing greatnesse in his stile,
Hath not bene in time out-fac'd,
By some riuall, where still one
Striues to put another downe!
Tell me, then what life can be
Moresecure, then where report
Makes vs onely knowne to th' Court,
Where we leade our liues so free,
As we're strangers to resort,
Saue our priuate familie;
For I thinke that dwelling best,
Where least cares disturbe our rest!

244

THE NIGHTINGALL.

2. ODE.

Ivg , IVg; faire fall the Nightingall,
Whose tender breast
Chants out her merrie Madrigall,
With hawthorne prest:
Te'u, Te'u, thus sings she euen by euen,
And represents the melodie in heauen;
T'is, T'is
I am not as I wish.
Rape-defiled Phylomel
In her sad mischance,
Tells what she is forc'd to tell,
While the Satyres dance:
Vnhappie I, quoth she, vnhappie I,
That am betraide by Tereus trecherie;
T'is, T'is,
I am not as I wish:
Chast-vnchast, defloured, yet
Spotlesse in heart,
Lust was all that He could get,
For all his art:
For I nere attention lent
To his suite, nor gaue consent:
T'is, T'is,
I am not as I wish.

245

Thus hath faithlesse Tereus made
Heartlesse Phylomele
Mone her in her forlorne shade,
Where griefe I feele:
Griefe that wounds me to the heart,
Which though gone, hath left her smart;
T'is, T'is,
I am not as I wish.

THE LAPWING.

3. ODE.

Vnhappie I to change my aerie nest,
For this same marish dwelling where I rest,
Wherfore my song while I repeate,
I'le close it vp;
Rue yet, rue yet,
Euery Cowheard driuing his beasts to graze,
Disturbs my rest, me from my nest doth raise,
Which makes my young take vp this song,
To wreake my wrong;
Rue yet, rue yet.
Thou subtile Stockdoue that hast cheated me,
By taking vp thy nest where I should be,
Hast me and mine in perill set,

246

Whose song is fit;
Rue yet, rue yet.
Solely-retired, see I liue alone,
Farre from recourse or sight of any one,
And well that life would suite with me,
Were I but free;
Rue yet, rue yet.
Young-ones I haue, that thinking I am fled,
Do leaue their nest, and run with shell on head,
And hauing found me out we cry,
Both they and I;
Rue yet, rue yet.
Crest-curled mates why do you beare so long
The Stockdoues pride, that triumphs in your wrong
Let vs our signals once display,
And make him say;
Rue yet, rue yet.
Too tedious hath our bondage bene I wis,
And onely patience was the cause of this,
Where if we would contract our power,
We'de sing no more;
Rue yet, rue yet.
March on then brauely, as if Mars were here,
And hate no guest so much as slauish feare,
Let the proud Stockdoue feele your wing,
That he may sing;
Rue yet, rue yet.

247

Let none escape, though they submissiue seeme,
Till you haue spoil'd and quite vnfether'd them,
So you shall make them vaile the wing,
And henceforth sing;
Rue yet, rue yet.

THE OWLE.

4. ODE.

I a Kings daughter, see what pride may do,
In fatall yewe takes vp my forlorne seate,
The cause wherof was this, if you would know,
I would haue better bread then grew on wheate,
Though now a Mouse be all the food I eate,
And glad I am when I can feed of it.
Ruff-curled necke, see I reserue some show
O what I was, though far from her I was,
Wherein my boundlesse pride so farre did grow,
That as in place I did the rest surpasse,
So in the purest beautie of my face,
Courting my selfe in fancies looking glasse.
Milke-bathed skin, see wantons what I vs'd,
To make my skin more supple, smooth, & sleeke

248

Wherein my natiue hue by Art abus'd,
I lay a new complexion on my cheeke,
Sending my eyes abroad suters to seeke,
And vying fashions with each day i'th weeke.
Nought I affected more then what was rare,
“Best things (if common) I did disesteeme,
Seld was I breathd on by the publike ayre,
“For those are most admir'd are seldome seene,
Which is, and hath a custome euer bene,
“Such as come oft abroad, we vulgar deeme.
Thus selfe-admir'd I liu'd, till thus transform'd,
I got a feature fitting with my pride:
For I that scorned others now am scorn'd,
Had in disgrace; and in pursuite beside;
May the like fate like spirits aye betide,
So worthlesse honour shall be soone descride.
For ruff thick-set, a curle-wreathed plume,
Round 'bout my necke I weare, for tyres of gold
A downie tuft of feathers is my crowne,
For fan in hand my clawes a pearch do hold,
And for those cates and dainties manifold,
“A mouse I wish, but wants her when I would.
Be well aduis'd then Minions, what you do,
“Portray my feature, and make vse of it,
What fell to me may likewise fall to you,
And then how daring-high so ere you fit,
Nought but dishonour shall your pride begit,
“Dead to report of Uertue as is fit.

249

THE MERLIN.

5. ODE.

Whence Nisus, whence,
Is this the fate of kings,
For arme on Scepter,
To be arm'd with wings?
Poore speckled bird, see how aspiring may
Degrade the high, and their estate betray.
Once Fortune made
Nisus her fauorite,
And rer'd his throne
To such vnbounded height,
That forreine states admir'd what he possest,
Till slie ambition nestled in his breast
Till then how blest,
And after see how base
His greatnesse fell,
When rest of Princely grace;
Those many fleering Parasites he gain'd,
In his successe, not one in want remain'd
Chesses he weares
Now on his downie feete,

250

Where once guilt spurs,
With store of pearle set
Adorn'd his nimble heeles, and hooded now,
His beuer wants: this can ambition do.
Vp still he mounts,
And must a pleasure bring,
That once was king,
To meaner then a king;
Where he, who once had Falkners at command,
Is faine to picke his meate from Falkners hand.
Imperious fate,
What canst not thou effect,
When thou perceiues
In man a dis-respect
Vnto thy honour, which we instanc'd sed,
In no one Nisus better then in thee!
But stow bird stow,
See now the game's a foote,
And white-maild Nisus,
He is flying to't;
Scepter, Crowne, Throne & all that Princely were
Be now reduc'd to feathers in the ayre.

251

THE SWALLOW.

6. ODE.

You chatt'ring Fleere, you Faune, you sommer-friend,
Not following vs, but our successe,
Will this your flatt'ring humour nere haue end,
Of all other meritlesse?
Flie I say, flie, be gone,
Haunt not here to Albion:
She should be spotlesse, as imports her name,
But such as you are borne to do her shame.
How many faire protests and solemne vowes,
Can your hatefull consorts make,
Wheras (heauen knows these are but only shows
Which you do for profit-sake?
O then leaue our coast and vs,
Blemish'd by your foule abuse,
Vertue can haue no being, nor could euer,
Where th' Parasite is deem'd a happy liner.
Tale-tattling gossip, prone to carrie newes,
And such newes are euer worst,
Where false report finds matter, and renewes
Her itching humour till it burst,

252

Where each euen finds tale's enough,
All the gloomie winter, through,
To passe the night away, and oft-times tries,
That truth gets friendship seldomer then lies.
Spring-time when flowers adorne the chearefull mede,
And each bird sings on her spray,
When flowry groues with blossoms checkered,
And each day seemes a marriage day,
Chattiring Swallow thou canst chuse.
Then a time to visit vs;
Such are these fained friends make much vpon vs,
When we are rich, but being poore they shun vs.
The stormie winter with his hoarie locks,
When each branch hangs downe his head,
And icie flawes candies the ragged rocks,
Making fields discoloured,
Driues thee from vs and our coast,
Where in spring-time thou repo'st;
Thus thou remaines with vs in our delight,
But in our discontent th' art out of sight.
Time-seruing humorist that faunes on Time,
And no merit doest respect,
Who will not loath that sees that vaine of thine,
Where deserts are in neglect,
And the good is priz'd no more
Then the ill, if he be poore?
Thou art the rich mans claw-backe, and depends
No more on men, then as their trencher-friends.

253

Go turne-taile go, we haue not here a Spring
For such temporizing mates,
Pan's in our Ile, and he scornes flattering;
So those Guardians of our States,
Who are early vp and late,
And of all, this vice doth hate:
Flie tell-tale, flie, and if thou wilt, complaine thee,
That Albyon's harsh and will not entertaine thee.

THE FALL OF THE LEAFE.

7. ODE.

Flora where's thy beauty now,
Thou was while'om wont to show?
Not a branch is to be seene,
Clad in Adons colour greene;
Lambkins now haue left their skipping,
Lawn-frequenting Fauns their tripping;
Earths bare breast feeles winters whipping,
And her brood the North-winds nipping.
Though the Boxe and Cypresse tree,
Weare their wonted liuerie,
And the little Robin scorne
To be danted with a storme,
Yet the Shepheard is not so,
When He cannot see for snow,
Nor the flocks which he doth owe,
And in drifts are buried low.

254

Nor the Grazer, discontent
That his fodder should be spent,
And when winter's scarce halfe-done,
All his stacks of hay are gone;
Nor the Lawyer, that is glad
When a motion's to be had,
Nor poore Tom, though he be mad;
“Cold makes Tom a Bedlam sad.
Nor the Webster, though his feete
By much motion get them heate,
Nor the knaue that curries leather,
Nor the cross-ledgg'd Taylor neither,
Nor at glass-worke, where they doubt
Left their costly fire go out,
Nor the carefull carking Lout,
That doth toyle and trudge about.
No, nor th' Ladie in her coach,
But is muff'd when frosts approach,
Nor the crazie Citizen,
But is furrd vp to the chin,
Oister-callet, slie Vpholster,
Hooking Huxster, merrie Malster,
Cutting Haxter, courting Roister,
Cunning Sharke, nor sharking foister.
Thus we see how Fall of th' leafe,
Adds to each condition griefe,
Onely two there be, whose wit
Make hereof of a benefit;
These, conclusions try on man,

255

Surgeon and Physician,
While it happens now and than,
Kill then cure they sooner can!
Now's their time when trees are bare,
Naked scalps haue lost their haire,
Teeth drop out and leaue their gumms,
Head and eyes are full of rheumes,
Where if Traders strength do lacke,
Or feele aches in their backe,
Worse by odds then is the racke,
They haue drugs within their packe.
Thus the harshest seasons come
In good season vnto some,
Who haue knowne (as it is meete)
Smell of gaine makes labour sweet:
But where labour reapeth losse,
There accrews a double crosse;
First, fond cares his braine doth tosse,
Next, his gold resolues to drosse.
FINIS.

256

To my knowing and worthie esteemed friend Avgvstine Vincent, all meriting content.

May you be in
Your actions prosperous,
And as ingenious,
So victorious;
So may your fate,
Smile on your happie name,
And crowne you with,
A glorious Anagram:
While Vertue,
(Mans best lustre) seemes to be,
That style, which stamps
You deepe in Heraldrie.

257

BRITTANS BLISSE.

A Pean of thanksgiving for our long enioyed peace vnder a gracious Soueraigne.

Peace, Plentie, Pleasure,
Honour, Harbour, Health,
Peace, to encrease
In substance and in wealth;
Plentie, to praise,
Heauens Soueraigne the more,
Pleasure, to solace vs
Amidst our store,
Honour, to guerdon
Merit in our time,
Harbour, to fit
Each vnder his owne vine,
Health, to enioy
A blessing so deuine,
Deriu'd from Iesses roote
And Dauids line.

258

Health, Harbour, Honour,
Pleasure, Plentie, Peace,
Which from our Soueraigne
Haue their prime increase;
Health, to performe
Our distinct offices,
Harbour to shroud vs
From extremities,
Honour, to crowne
The temples of desert,
Pleasure, to cheare
The intellectuall part,
Plentie, to store
Our hopes with all successe,
Peace, to accomplish
Our full happinesse.
All which, by heauens hand powr'd on Albyon,
Make vp a Catalogue to looke vpon;
That for so many quiet Halcyon dayes,
Her precioust prize, might be her Makers praise.
Pacis, honoris, amoris, Edena Britannica nostri, Regeregente bono, leta trophæa gerit.

259

Vpon the worthie and sincere Proficients and Professants of the common Law; an Encomiastick Poem.

Law is the line,
Whose leuell is dispatch,
A lampe, whose light shewes
Iustice what is right,
A larke, whose vnseal'd eyes
Keepes early watch,
A loome, whose frame
Cannot be sway'd by might,
A list, where truth
Puts iniury to flight;
Streight line, bright lampe,
Sweete larke, strong loome, choice list,
Guide, shine, shield, guard,
And liue truths Martialist.
Law is the sterne,
Which steares the ship of state,
The glorious stem
Whence Iustice sciens spring,
The chearefull starre,
Which early shines and late,

260

The staffe, whose stay
Supports the languishing,
The streame, whose spring
Is euer cherishing;
Rare sterne, rich stem, cleare starre,
Firme staffe, pure streame,
Steere, cheare, direct, support,
Refresh the meane.
Blest then are you,
Who labour to redresse
The poore mans case,
And measure your contents
By shielding th' weake
From awfull mightinesse,
Like graue Professants,
Good Proficients,
Clozing with equitie
Your ioynt consents;
'Tis you, 'tis you,
Who in this blemishd time,
Send out your lights
While other starrs decline.
When Greece in glory flourish'd,
She did reare
Some Images neare
Iustice sacred throne,

261

Which to be lame and blind
Portrayed were,
As proper obiects
To be look'd vpon,
Implying what
In Iustice should be done;
Blind to distinguish
Friend or foe, and lame,
From taking bribes,
To staine Astræas name.
Cleare lights, pure lamps,
Rare stemms, rich streames of life,
Who shine, beame, spring,
And draine your christall course
From Iustice throne,
To coole the heate of strife,
By curbing aw with law,
With censure, force,
To chastise with restraint,
Cheare with remorse;
Long may you liue,
Since by your life you giue
Iustice new breath,
And make her euer liue.
Salus ciuitatis sita est in legibus.