University of Virginia Library

The Authors first Epistle Dedicatory.

Led by the swift report of winged Fame,
with siluer trumpet, sounding forth your name
To you I dedicate this merry Muse,
And for my Patron, I your fauour chuse:
She is a Lady, she must be respected:
She is a Queene, she may not be neglected.
This is the shadow, you the substance haue,
Which substance now this shadow seems to craue.

The Combat betvvixt Conscience and Couetousnesse, in the minde of Man.

Now had the cole-black steeds, of pitchie Night,
(Breathing out Darknes) banisht cheerfull light,
And sleepe (the shaddow of eternall rest)
My seuerall sences, wholy had possest.
When loe, there was presented to my view,
A vision strange, yet not so strange, as true,
Conscience (me thought) appeared vnto me,
Cloth'd with good Deeds, with truth and Honesty,
Her countenance demure, and sober sad,
Nor any other Ornament she had.
Then Couetousnesse did incounter her,
Clad in a Cassock, like a Vsurer,
The Cassock, it was made of poore men skinnes,
Lac'd here and there, with many seuerall sinnes:
Nor was it furd, with any common fur,
Or if it were himselfe he was the fur.
A Bag of money, in his hand he held,
The which with hungry eie he still beheld.
The place wherein this vision first began.
(A spacious plaine) was cald The mind of Man.
The Carle no sooner, Conscience had espyde
But swelling like a Toad, (puft vp with pride)
He straight began against her to inuey;
These were the words which Couetise did say.
Conscience (quoth he) how dar'st thou be so bold,
To claime the place, that I by right do hold?
Neither by right, nor might, thou canst obtaine it;
By might (thou knowst ful wel) thou canst not gain it
The greatest Princes are my followars,
The King in Peace, the Captaine in the Wars;
The Courtier, and the simple Countrey-man:
The Iudge, the Merchant, and the Gentleman:
The learned Lawyer, and the Politician:
The skilfulll Surgeon, and the fine Physician;
In briefe all sortes of men me entertaine,
And hold me as their Soules sole Soueraigne,
And in their quarrell they will fight and die,
Rather then I should suffer iniurie.
And as for title, interest, and right,
He proue its mine by that as well as might.
Though Couetousnesse, were vsed long before,
Yet Iudas Treason made my fame the more;
When Christ he caused, crucifide to bee,
For thirtie pence, man solde his mind to me:
And now adaies, what tenure is more free,
Then that which purchas'd is, with Gold and fee?
Conscience.
With patience, haue I heard thy large Complaint,
Wherein the Diuell, would be thought a Saint:
But wot ye what, the Saying is of olde?
One tale is good, vntill anothers tolde.
Truth is the right, that I must stand vpon,
(For other title hath poore Conscience none)
First I will proue it, By Antiquitie,
That thou art but an vp-start, vnto me;
Before that thou wast euer thought vpon
the mind of Man, belongd to me alone.
For after that the Lord had Man Created,
And him in blisse-full Paradice had seated;
(Knowing his Nature was to vice inclynd)
God gaue me vnto man to rule his minde.
And as it were his Gouernour to bee,
To guide his mind, in Trueth, and Honesty.
And where thou sayst, that man did sell his soule;
That Argument J quicklie can controule:
Jt is a fained fable, thou dost tell,
That, which is not his owne, he cannot sell;
No man can sell his soule, although he thought it:
Mans soule is Christs, for he hath dearely bought it.
Therefore vsurping Couetise, be gone,
For why, the minde belongs to me alone.

Couetousnesse.
Alas poore Conscience, how thou art decay'd?
As though of senses, thou wert quite bereaud.
What wilt thou say (that thinks thou canst not erre)
If J can proue my selfe the ancienter?
Though into Adams mind God did infuse thee,
Before his fall, yet man did neuer vse thee.
What was it else but Auarice in Eue,
(Thinking thereby, in greater Blisse to liue)
That made her tast, of the forbidden fruite?
Of her Desier, was not I the roote?
Did she not couet? (tempted by the Diuell)
The Apple of the Tree, of good and euill?
Before that man vsed Conscience, she did couet:
Therefore by her Transgression, here I proue it,
That Couetousnesse possest the mind of man,
Before that any Conscience began.

Conscience.
Euen as a counterfeited precious stone,
Seemes to be far more rich, to looke vpon,
Then doeth the right: But when a man comes neer,
His basenes then, doeth euident appeare,
So Couetise, the Reasons thou dost tell,
Seeme to be strong, 'but being weighed well.
They are indeed, but onely meere Illusions,
And doe inforce but very weake Conclusions.
When as the Lord (fore-knowing his offence)
Had giuen man a Charge, of Abstinence,
And to refraine, the fruit of good and ill:
Man had a Conscience, to obey his will,
And neuer would be tempted thereunto,
Vntill the Woeman, she, did worke man woe.
And made him break, the Lords commaundement,
Which all Mankind, did afterward repent:
So that thou seest, thy Argument is vaine,
And I am prov'd, the elder of the twaine.

Couetousnesse.
Fond Wretch, it was not Conscience but feare,
That made the first man (Adam) to forbeare
to tast the fruit, of the forbidden tree,
Lest, if offending he were found to be,
(According as Jehouah saide on hie,
For his so great transgression, he should die.
Feare curbd his minde, it was not Conscience then,
(For Conscience freely, rules the harts of men)
And is a godly motion of the mind,
to euerie vertuous action inclind,
And not enforc'd through feare of Punishment,
But is to vertue voluntary bent:
then (simple trul) be packing presently,
For in this place, there is no roome for thee.

Conscience.