University of Virginia Library

A Noble Spirit.

Is Man in his Sublimity, whom Fate
Can not subject unto a sordid state:
Whom Poverty (with all her needy Train)
Incites not to the slavery of Gain;
Whose Freedom is that Magna Charta, which
Admits no Diminution, though the Rich
Revenue of both Indies, did conclude
To buy the Purchace; One, whose Nobly rude
Unpolish'd Bravery, contains a Jem,
Would dignifie the greatest Diadem;
In whom that Intellectual Essence springs.
Which glorifies the Soveraignty of Kings:
Whose radiant Reason, hath dispers'd all Passion,
To give his Actions free Illumination;
He lends Life unto Honor, and his Name
Fixeth a Title on the Crest of Fame:
His Looks speak Pride, but could you know the Dresse,
He wears within, his Minde shews nothing lesse;
His Garb (indeed) is stately, and he can
Sooner kisse Death, than cringe to a Great man,
Flatter a Prince, or be induc'd to go
Against his Conscience, 'cause the World doth so:
He scorns to strike his Top-sail to the vain
Pride of that Man, who will not vail again:
Though Bloud, Riches, and Dignity accord,
To grace him with the title of a Lord:
And nothing more provokes his discontent,
Then to abridge him a due Complement:
Therefore he meets all men with due Respect,
And is more sensible of a Neglect,
Then some of Blowes, and doth (alike) despise,
Dissimulations and Calumnies:
No man is more the object of his Hate,
Then He that would his Worth extenuate.
Nor is there any Man hath power to cause,
A self-opinion in him, with Applause;
So justly ballanc'd, that the even Beam,
Enclines not to admit of an Extream:
He is a man that lyes so truly square,
Fortune is not his Mistress, nor his Fear:
The glory of her Glance doth not delight him,
Nor can the fury of her Frown affright him:
As no man is more capable then he,
In apprehension of an Injury;
So is it rare to finde a disposition,
Of such propensitie unto Remission:
His Love is fineless, but his fickle Hate,
A Moments time may amply terminate.
Although he be most just in the exaction,
(After a wrong receiv'd) of Satisfaction:
Which is so well contriv'd, he seems to take
Is more for Justice, then for Angers sake:
His Tyranny is exercis'd upon,
None but himself, for if a wrong be done,
By him, unto another, he will nere
Contentedly, forgive the Injurer;
But with incessant Murmur, and Vexation,
Deny himself all hope of Expiation:
He's One shall sooner in a mortal strife
Expire, than poorly be oblig'd for Life:
Not that he would not live, but hates to be
So much engag'd unto his Enemy;
Curiously fearing, that it should be said,
He wears a Life, his Fate had forfeited:
If (in the progresse of his Dayes) he finde,
The Nation's favour gratefully inclin'd,
By adding Honour to his Souls enjoyment,
He sets a Lustre upon all Imployment;
Whose Honorable Actions may exhort
The growing Gallantry of Camp and Court:
And after Ages shall record his Story,
As one that liv'd and dyed his Countries Glory.