Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher Containing Salomons Sermons or Commentaries (as it may probably be collected) vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father. Compendiously abridged, and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie, according to the analogie of Scripture, and consent of the most approued writer thereof. Composed by H. L. Gentleman [i.e. Henry Lok]. Whereunto are annexed sundrie Sonets of Christian Passions heretofore printed, and now corrected and augmented, with other affectionate Sonets of a feeling conscience of the same Authors |
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Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher | ||
To the vertuous Lady, the Lady Woollie.
Farre fet, deare bought, doth fit a Lady best;Such you deserue, such would my will bestow:
Good things are rare, rare things esteem'd you know;
Rare should yours be, as you rare of the rest:
Such hold this gift, fetcht from a forraine land,
Which wisest King, as pretious did prouide,
Who viewing all the earth, hath nought espide,
Whose worth (herewith cōpar'd) may longer stand:
The price (I dare assure) is very deare,
As puchasd by your merit and my care,
Whose trauell would a better gift prepare,
If any better worthy might appeare:
Then this accept, as I the same intend,
Which dutie to the dead would will me send.
Certaine poems to the Authour of the worke.
To the worke.
Thee Princes pen, now present to a Prince,And poeme to a princely sprited Muse:
Ye full sound Ethicks of the sweet essence
Of heauenly truth, which all ought to peruse
View all, reape good, leaue ill without excuse.
To the Author.
Whil'st thou doest publisht it: it prayseth thee;
Thing (once cald perfect) further praise denayes,
Because all other words inferior bee.
That could select a subiect of such choyce,
Which hath enforced many more then mee,
With silence (for thy blist attempt) reioyce.
By Passions (patternes of a Christian fight)
But for this worke, yet highest honor stayes,
And therefore henceforth feare no others flight
Thy Zeale, thy theame, thy gift, thy fame to staine,
Which imitate they may, but not attaine.
TO THE QVEENES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE.
To you thrise sacred Princesse of this Ile:By God, By countrie, By true wisdomes praise,
Elect, Annointed, Soueraigne, is the stile,
Religous Empresse, Beautie of our dayes,
His Church you cherish, that your state did raise,
Our peace you purchase, where your throne is plast,
Eternall glorie on your actions stayes;
Rare, Crowned, Vertue: Holy, Humble, Chast,
Whom all heauens high perfections fully grac't,
Whom all earth honors, should, do, will adorne:
VVhom all the Muses haue with loue embrac't:
VVho doth pale Enuie, and blind Fortune scorne;
To you wise kings discourse of blisse I bring,
Renowned Queene, true type of happiest King.
[1. These sacred words king Dauids son did preach, who Israel taught ]
CONSIO I.
Chap. 1.
1.
These sacred words king Dauids son did preach, who Israel taught1.
Who ouer Israels race sometimes did raigne,
Wherewith to vertue he his subiects wonne,
Whilst in Ierusalem he did remaine,
And to instruct them thus did not disdaine.
Those words, no vaine discourse it is I write,
Pend by a Prince, as God did them indite.
But yet the quintessence of holy creed,
Liues pure Elixer, which is sought of all,
T'asswage cares corasiues, in heart that breed,
Of happinesse the generatiue seed,
Of morall speculation practise sound:
Of constant faith the quiet fruit he found.
2.
In minds, in bodies, and in fortunes gifts:
(Which all conioyned seeldome times are found)
But to a vaine conceit the fancie lifts,
And their best Sectaries do lose their drifts;
The crowne it is, of heauens most glorious state,
Earths fruites all vaine: care, folly, and debate.
What euer on earths spatious Orbe below
Hath breath, life, being, sense, or what so moues
By vegetatiue kind: or which doth ow
To nature a declyning state to grow.
Vaine in the roote, in bud, in flower all vaine:
Vaine fruit, whose of-springs vainly vades againe.
4. The earth is firme, whilst mans age past, another age doth runne.
3.
More happie in many points then others be?
Yet truly can you not thereby conclude,
That perfect happie, in all respects is he:
Nor long time can enioy the same we see.
Vpon a tickle point earths blessings stand,
And come and go in turning of a hand.
To man, for all the trauels of his mynd,
Sustained in this life with bodies paines,
Since earth and earthly things all vade by kynd,
As doth a shadow or a puffe of wynd.
No prouidence preuenteth destinie,
Earth and her fruites do liue but for to die.
4.
And like the ship on sea all stormes abyde,
Flies swift as thought, which straight is come and past:
Whose memorie as soone away doth slyde,
As trace which soaring fowle through aire did guyde,
Whose entercourse of change so swift doth go,
That sence can scarce discerne that it was so.
Vntill each part expir'd, the play be done:
So generations newe the world do fill,
And ages newe past ages ouer-runne:
And shall till this worlds end haue new begun
That other world, which neuer shall haue end:
To which we posting thus, our hopes should bend.
6. The wind frō north to south blows roūd, & calmeth with the same.
5.
Though farre more durable then man by kind,
Yet for our vse, in motion still to bee,
And by their change of change put vs in mind,
As in the lightsome sunne we proofe may find;
Whose time in measuring out our time is spent,
Whilst we to marke his motion onely ment.
From his Starchambered pallace of the sky,
Drawne on by mornings wings, betimes doth rouse
Through either Hemi-sphere, and passing by
Th'Antipodes, from East to East doth fly,
With euery step Horizons making new,
Wherewith the earth new bewties doth indew.
6.
Th'all filling essence of vacuitie,
He vnto life the very spright doth giue,
And neuer rests, his presence to applie
To our behoofe: who languishing would lie,
If long he should retire his flagrant breath,
Whose vse (from vs restraind) doth menace death.
In tender care and neighbour loue he owes
Vnto those lower regions, forth doth call
From hils and dales exhaled breaths, whence growes
As many winds as on earths compasse blowes,
Which cleansing clouds, and drying dampish soile,
Do whistling through earths hollow vaults recoile.
8. All is but toyle man sees or heares, with his insatiat wit.
7.
Fro out the Cesterne of the Centors deepe,
Whose winding channels in a wondrous wise,
Through hils and dales, in curbed wise do creepe,
A constant progresse do by nature keepe,
Till they the Ocean (their deere mother) meet,
Whose brackish tears for thē, their drops make sweet.
The yeelding earth, the tribute of her loue,
By sending strayned springs through forced waies,
And Porus passages for mans behoue,
That so her selfe in bounds might mildly moue:
Who yeelds likewise to beare earths heauy brood,
And breeds her selfe some store of humaine food.
8.
Are subiect to this intercourse of change,
But euen the foure pure elements ech one
Doe from themselues, to th'others natures range,
Though contrary by kind, with motion strange:
Earth into water turnes, moist into aire,
Pure aire to fire, Condenst they backe repaire.
Vnto their end, which when they once attaine,
That forme doth chaunge and to another bend,
Which likewise in his time hath end againe,
And nothing in one state doth long remaine;
Whose wondrous frame, in vaine man seekes to find,
Whilst no mans studie can suffise his mind.
10. What may we say is now, the which was not before thinke you?
9.
Who most haue searched natures secret powre?
And you who are conuerst in stories true,
And you obseruers of ech day and howre,
Haue ye not found, that time doth all deuour?
And that new times the like things doth produce,
As any former ages had in vse.
And of inuentions passing former wits,
We thinke our world with wisedome doth abound,
And fame (for knowledge) vs much rather fits,
But ouer-weening thoughts this toy begits:
Their longer liues more temperately led
In holy studie, sure more knowledge bred.
10.
Excepting time it selfe, which still renewes?
New sinnes perhaps this wicked age would breed,
Yet can not other then first age did vse:
The name of new indeede we do abuse,
By calling new the thing we newly know,
Which rather ignorance of skill doth show.
When natures strength was in her youthfull prime,
When Will on Wisedome tended as a Page,
And loue of vertue, banisht many a crime,
When humble thoughts did not for glory clime:
Then all things flourisht sure that now we see,
And actions all, that are, or that may bee.
12. In Ierusalem, Israels king I was, who teacheth thee.
11.
Mans few and euill dayes with cares of mind,
Make many worthy things to dust to fall,
And vs to predecessors grow vnkind,
Whose fames with theirs shall vanish with the wind,
And as our stealing wits would clips their fame,
Deuouring time, shall desolate our name.
To such as others merits doe depraue,
Then that like base contempt, do them insue,
And of successors they like guerdon haue,
And so we see fame leaues vs at the graue:
Build then his happinesse on earth who will,
He but himselfe with care and scorne shall fill.
12.
Did sway the Scepter of the holy seed,
Whose blessed name of peace, true peace did bring,
And publike wealth, which happinesse did breed,
And all delights whereon the world doth feed:
From Dan to Bersaba there, bound before,
And from Euphrates vnto Nylus shore.
In blest Ierusalem Gods dwelling place,
Neare to whereas mount Sion doth arise,
The holy hill, which doth the countrey grace,
Wherein I ruled not a litle space:
For fortie yeares, I raigned still in peace,
And in a ripened age I did decease.
14. My studie found all vnder sunne, to be but griefe of mind.
13.
To find faire wisedomes pallace, that I there
My homage due, might pay vnto her still,
And trophes to her in my heart might reare,
Her loue made me all other loue forbeare:
Welth I and honour, health, and euerything
Disdaind, that did not me true wisedome bring.
To guide my steps in such a holy care,
Who (thenceforth) thereof such a measure gaue,
As none for wisedome might with me compare:
To proue all things I did my heart prepare,
Insatiat still as man by nature is,
Of skill (so doomd) for Adams first amis.
14.
Or skilfull Art by practise could produce,
What euer did to any seeme of worth,
Or for necessitie might seeme of vse,
Was still the obiect of my studious Muse,
Which out of all to gather did desire,
That happinesse whereto we would aspire.
But losse of time and agony of Spright,
A vaine desire, replete with skill more vaine,
A carefull life, disguisd with vaine delight,
A puft vp braine, with dreames of wisedomes sight,
But to my heart vnfruitfull of content,
To wearied life, a lode of time mispent.
16. I thought and said, in power or wit, none like me was or is.
15.
My mind distracted diuersly was led,
In looking to preuent things to insew:
Much care in vaine I tooke, no fruit it bred,
To know the worlds amis, serues to small sted;
When no man can make straight the crooked tree,
Or mend the chance that is ordaind to bee.
Is hard to doe, and litle would auaile:
To stay the Oceans course, he should but goe,
That would support, where nature meanes to faile:
It makes vs but our weaknesse more bewaile,
If any way our wisedome stood in sted,
It would suppresse the vices in vs bred.
16.
For wisedome be reputed mongst the great,
Whose knowledge farre surpassed all the rest,
Before me euer were in Israels seate,
Or any others whom Records repeat:
Yea then was Chalcoll, Darda, or Ethan,
Heman, Maholl, or any liuing man.
That childish blindnesse raigneth ouer all,
The more I knew, I thought I knew the lesse,
My knowledge, ignorance I seem'd to call,
When to the skanning of it I did fall:
As farre to weake true wisedome to behold,
As man vnfit, Gods secrets to vnfold.
18. Much grief, & as much wisedom grew, new cares & woes aboūd.
17.
I bent my selfe to euery students vaine,
To reade each friuolous worke I did not grudge,
As well as writers of more pregnant braine:
The rules of obseruations I did gaine,
Which long experience maketh many see,
And to the vulgar sort instructions bee.
And tasted euerie toy for my delight.
Fond actions made in modest mind a breach:
For will with reason I did arme to fight;
Yet all in fine did but torment my spright.
In wisdoms graue restraint my boūds seeme straight,
On follie, shame, and sorow to awaight.
18.
Which cannot yeeld a man one happie day,
His infant studies seruile feares do quaile,
His youthfull yeares with wantonnesse decay,
His manly thoughts worlds combers weare away:
His yeares of iudgement for true wisedome fit,
Deuoyd of powre, through weakned limbs do sit.
In bodie and in mind haue some delight,
Yet he shall find, when he doth seeme in prime,
A world of woes to march before his sight,
Which past or presently shall with him fight:
Which if he scape, yet many thousands beare,
Whereof whilst yet he liues, he stands in feare.
[Chap. 2.]
2. Mad laughter and short ioy, what ease do ye yeeld to my paine?
1.
I said in mine heart, goe to now, I will proue thee with ioy: therfore take thou pleasure in pleasant things: and behold this also is vanitie.
And in my heart, I said, no more of this:
Now will I try if pleasure I may find,
To cheare my fainting soule in worlds amis:
Perhaps in mirth and ioy is plast true blis,
Let me to counsell, my affections take,
And let them to their likings frolike make.
They ech of them their appetites doe fit,
Each seuerall sense, himselfe seeks to beguile,
And all conspire the wished prise to git,
But (ouer gorg'd) full soone they all do surfit:
For lust complete facietie doth breed,
And vaine the fruite, that growes from such a seed.
2.
The vanitie of these vnconstant ioyes,
For while the foggie myst of lust doth grow,
As through a cloud, we see it so annoyes
Our purest iudgement, euen with childish toyes:
But then (as safe on shore) the storme I saw,
Whose raging billowes did soules perill draw.
More fit for fooles, then temp'rate men to try,
Graue maiestie expelling from the face,
And antike wise disguizing men, whereby
As madnesse, I beganne it to defy:
As forced mirth, which no sweet fruit doth bring,
But to relenting soule a poysned sting.
4. In stately workes, of houses and of vineyards, study spent.
3.
Earths bloud, wits bane, wines best delighting tast,
I gaue my selfe to proue in my vnrest,
To quicken so my sprights, with care defast,
Not glutton like, with drunkennesse disgrast,
But as in prickly bush men Roses take,
So in my plentie I not measure brake.
So limited by wisedomes happy guyde,
That I in them, did Gods offence forbeare,
And in the bounds of temperance firme abyde:
I onely sought by all things to haue tryde,
Where, and what is, that good mans of-spring finds
In life on earth, which so inchaunts their minds.
4.
A vertue fitting well a princely mind,
I built and dedicated (Lord) to thee
A Temple, where thy Arke a rest might find:
A worthlesse present for a God so kind:
Yet best that skilfull Hyrams art could frame,
In seauen yeares time, and cost vpon the same.
Full many cities to withstand the foes,
And Libanus, whose beautie farre and wide,
In fame before all other cities goes:
Besides a Pallace for my Queene, like those
Where mightiest Monarks courts haue erst bin plast,
Which was with many vineyards greatly graft.
6. And Aqueducts to water them, the purest that might bee.
5.
Wherein to solace both my Queenes and mee,
In which all kind of herbes both great and small,
And all such flowers as either pleasing bee
To sight or smell, you there might plentie see,
Or which for health of man had any prayse,
Or for delight might serue him any wayes.
Wherein for shadie walkes and sweete prospects,
Ingenious art had nature so exceld,
That things gainst kind produc'd most kind effects;
All fruitfull trees of tast that man affects,
Were planted plenteously, from Cedar tall
To little shrubbe, that clymbeth by the wall.
6.
I set my fountaine heads and crystall springs,
I forced riuers from the lower vales,
To mount their neighbor hils, whose backs them brings
Vnto those Cesternes, which by spouts them flings,
Like Aprill showers dispersedly to fall,
And so bedeaw those bordering trees withall.
Might coole the pride of sommers scorching rayes,
And cause the happy soyle with frute abound,
Which spring time like, thus flourished alwayes,
Whose ouerplus of streames in chanell stayes:
That euery fish and foule might solace take,
Or men might bath on banke, and banquet make.
8. With Princes treasures, singing folke, I did for pleasure keepe.
7.
As well of Nobles as of seruile kynd,
Yea tributary kings did oft resort,
To doe the homage fealty did bynd,
Of Captiues I had store, vnto my mynd,
And families of these and their of-spring,
To populate a countrey for a king.
Wherewith my royall Court I dayly fed,
Who thirtie Beeues, and fiuescore Sheepe did eat,
Besides such dainties as the countrey bred,
I fortie thousand horse to battell led,
And Charets more I had, I dare well say,
Then any king in Iewry till this day.
8.
Sixe hundreth Talents, sixtie sixe of gold,
Foure hundreth fiftie more, from Ophire due,
And custome for all marchandize was sold,
With tributes more then number well you could:
So that like stones or drosse, I siluer gaue,
And in my raigne for want few needed craue.
Both men and women singers fare of skill,
Whose melodie would cheare the mind most sad,
Whose beauties with delight the eye might fill,
And of these had varietie at will,
And what so euer humaine kind can craue,
To seeke delight therein, my selfe I gaue.
10. I fed my will, my will pleasd me, this fruit my paines did find.
9.
Then any king Ierusalem had knowne:
From farre and neare, great Princes sent and came
To see my greatnesse, which abrode was blowne:
Admir'd I was, and loued of my owne,
Surpassing farre, report that went of mee,
As Saba Queene, confest that came to see.
By wisedomes rule I guided so my life,
That holy Iustice still I leand vnto,
And shielded innocence from Tyrants strife:
And (had I not transgrest through heathnish wife,
Who made me winke at her Idolatry)
Few errors in my life you should espy.
10.
And fed my heart at full with all content,
No sooner did my thought a thing require,
But forward to effect it straight I went:
Thus I my dayes in ioy and solace spent,
Peace gaue me wealth & power, power fed my will,
My will sought happinesse in all things still.
For though in vse of things I seemed glad,
Yet afterward they to me loathing brought,
And things begunne in ioy, were parting sad,
And yet that present ioy was all I had,
In recompence of all my trau'll and paine,
And to haue that, was more then many gaine.
12. Both wit & folly, for of both none knew more: all prou'd bootlesse.
11.
My deare bought pleasure, both begunne and past,
Vnto a reckoning I my iudgement call,
And true account of gaine, of them I cast,
And did suruay my workes, which yet did last,
To see the benefit I reapt thereby,
Because I would the truth of all things try.
And those remaining, subiect to like fate;
I saw a world of vanitie and spight,
Which made me world and all her workes to hate,
As masse of miserie, and vnkind debate,
As they shall find, who thus forwarnd will proue,
Repentance being price of foolish loue.
12.
Twixt sacred wisedome (heauens infused gift)
And humaine wisedome, which doth patterne take
Of presidents, of morall actions drift,
The skill wherein doth worldly minds vp lift,
And this compard with foolish ignorance,
Which in the world doth many sotts aduance.
And that experience be the child of time,
If time her powre do to the studious show,
And labour doth to highest knowledge clime,
If iudgement flourish where these are in prime,
Then who hath me surpast, or shall succeed
In these, whose censure may more credit breed?
14. It sees, that gropes, yet wise and fond, both in one hazard are.
13.
Of ech of them, I will thee truely tell:
I found that folly did a man deceiue,
And woe to them within her snares that fell,
But wisedome did all earthly things excell,
Immortalizing man with worthy fame,
And couering the defects of natures shame.
When he in Zenith of our Hemis-pheres,
Most glorious beames of brightnesse doth display,
Surpasseth darkest nights that winter weares,
In frozen Zone for light some face he beares:
So farre and more, the wise do fooles surpasse,
Or more then precious stones doe brickle glasse.
14.
Obserue the present, future doe fore-see,
Compare effects, whereby they courses find,
And make their actions to best rules agree,
Like Eagle eyes, and Linxes sights theirs bee,
Where fooles as blind-fold, groping misse the way,
And vnto euery daunger are a pray.
The wise and foolish, begger and the king:
All made of earth, againe to dust doe fall,
And euery state is crossed with some thing.
Wisedome breedes care, and folly want doth bring:
Wealth liues in feare, and pouertie in wo:
Honor enuide, base bloud contemn'd doth go.
16. All is forgot in time to come, like death haue all for hire.
15.
If all estates some miserie must haue,
If wise and foolish both of one cup drinke,
If all by death must draw vnto the graue,
If wisedome may not man from daunger saue:
If sicknesse be the common guide to death,
If death the end of all that draweth breath:
With studious trauell, why do I applie
My time, and spend away youthes pleasant dayes
With paine and toyle? why serues seueritie,
And temperance of life, since all must die?
It is meere madnesse to be too precise,
Though fooles be vaine, vaine also be the wise.
16.
If they suppose on earth true blisse to find,
As on a stage, each step they tred awrie
Is markt, and fame defamd by slaunderous kind,
And their best name that they do leaue behind
Is soone forgot, as fooles facts also bee,
As we by daily proofe full well may see.
In length of dayes betwixt the fond and wise?
Can nought protect from death, but must all fall?
As basest sort, so those in honour rise,
Can man no way to lengthen life deuise?
Then vaine is he in them reposeth trust,
Whose ioyes with them so soone determine must.
18. My owne workes were vnpleasing then, possest by one vnment.
17.
And euery circumstance of life to blame,
The day of birth, as day of cursed fate,
The length of life, as heape of woe and shame,
The dayly looke for death, as rotten frame
Of natures weakest building, earth doth beare,
Bred vp and nourished, with care and feare.
With iust laments bewayling future case,
Who impotent, doth hopelesse still remaine,
(If pitie in the parents had not place,
Or foster mothers did him not embrace)
Whose youth sharpe tutors, age the lawes restraine,
Whose vexed soule still carkes and cares in vaine.
18.
By reason of the greatnesse of my state,
With which the meaner sort full often wrings,
(As want, and suffering stroke of mighties hate)
Yet I my cares had in an other rate,
And far more forcible in me they were,
For prosperous states doe worst afflictions beare.
Desire to eternize my name on earth:
Yet nothing more (me thought) my ioy withstood,
Then that I traueld for an others mirth,
For whom, my fruits were gathred ere his birth,
Which made me all my workes of most desert
Hate and disdaine, euen from the very heart.
20. Which as most vain, made me abhor, my works which me deceaue.
19.
In vse of all the wealth and pompe I left,
An infant of mine owne, and proper breed,
Or else a stranger creeping in by theft;
I knew how easly crownes might be bereft,
If kings were Orphanes lacking yeares or wit,
Ne knew I if my child for rule were fit.
Prognosticateth little good at all:
Yet (as vnto mine heire in whom I liue)
I giue what wast he may, and feare he shall;
The fruit euen of my wisest trauels all,
So that the world which witnessed my paine,
May hap record my trauels meerely vaine.
20.
With my affections and my pleased sence,
And gainst my selfe, my selfe my wits to bend,
The loue of all my workes expulsing thence,
And taking on me truths sincere defence,
Said perturbations (which affections guyde)
Should not giue iudgement where her cause is tryde.
Which was imployd, on transitory thing
I made my body graunt, too great the paine
Bestowd on any pleasure life doth bring,
My senses to conclude, there was a sting
And bitter tast attended on delight,
And so resolu'd, worlds loue to banish quight.
22. And no reward himselfe doth find, for all his trauell' and paine.
21.
Or iuster cause to make a man repent
The paines and perils that he did abide,
In honest trade to purchase his intent,
Whereto his wits and diligence was bent:
Then for to thinke he doth for others toyle,
Manures the ground, where others reape the soyle.
Who planteh, but in hope the fruit to tast?
Though birdes and Bees their nests and combs begin,
Though sheepe beare fleece, & Oxe the land haue trast,
In hope of profite, which their masters wast:
Yet wise men grieue to spend in vaine their time,
For others sake the bush to beate or clime.
22.
This night, if he the morrow day shall see,
If he do doubt his dayes cannot endure,
If he foresee his bed, his graue may bee
And yet of world haue care, vnhappie hee,
I meane such care, as doth his powers possesse,
And suffers not his soule, some ioy expresse.
What he enioyd, that only was his owne,
What hath he gain'd, by wealth that comfort cost,
If he not tast his fruits of trauell growne?
Possession best by vse of things is knowne:
Who doth not so, but lost his trauels are,
A heauie burden bootlesse fetched farre.
24. If God yet grants to vse his wealth with ioy: then is he blest.
23.
And seeme vnkind to natures true intent,
Whose bodie feeds not on the view of pelfe,
But on the food the hands to mouth do lend,
Which freely to ech part doth portion send:
He well may thinke his wofull dayes too long,
And trauell grieuous, thus requite with wrong.
Consume in carefull thoughts of greedie mind,
If he for others hoord his comforts best,
And to himselfe (gainst kind) do proue vnkind:
No blessednesse on earth then shall he find,
But like a bubble vanish soone away,
And in his life his vanitie bewray.
24.
But (whilst on earth man yet doth make his stay)
The frutes of earth to vse by which we liue,
And ech dayes care, deferre vnto that day.
These Creatures plenteously enioy we may,
To needfull sustenance of bodies strength,
And to delight the mind, waxt dull at length.
Of Gods abundant blessing shewd therein;
And not forget him whilst they passe the throte,
And them abuse, as instruments of sin,
But for his gifts, with prayse to him begin,
With almes proceed, the needy poore to feed,
And not repine, though oft they stand in need.
26. God makes the iust know ioy, the bad leaue welth for good behind.
25.
And therefore may the better thee aduise,
Which as I now set downe for thy behoofe:
So thereof make thy profit, be thou wise,
He is a foole that counsell doth despise:
And I who counsell thee, sure best could try,
Earths pleasures, and the fruits that come thereby.
As being rich, I ech thing might procure,
As being lou'd, to please me all men fawnd:
As being feard, I might my will make sure:
As being wise, I could make choyse most pure,
If any earthlie thing might breed content,
Then may I say, that God me part hath sent.
26.
I briefly say, as truth requires of mee,
That wisedome as a blessing doth awaight
Vpon the godly, who true knowledge see,
And perfect ioy alone in them can bee:
For God the author of all goodnesse is,
And with his feare associats endlesse blis.
In getting needfull things great wo and care,
In their possession little sweet reliefe,
In laying vp of wealth, a life still bare,
Which for the godly they doe but prepare:
Rent gathrers for the good, the wicked bee,
Vaine vexers of their soules themselues may see.
Chap. 3.
2. At time of birth, and death, to plant, and supplant is assignd.
1
They haue iust cause, to studie to attaine
The hidden course, which nature doth bewray
In interchange of times: which doth remaine
Inrold in writ of many a learned braine,
I will with them awhile conferre, and show
To thee the depth of all the skill they know.
In knowledge of Philosophy indeede,
Such rules profound, by learning fet so farre,
As in the mind doth admiration breed:
But yet that skill doth serue to little steed,
For God hath natures bounds prefixed so,
That from that course art cannot make them go.
2.
With birth of man in mothers wombe conceiu'd,
Which (fortie weekes expir'd) needs forth must send,
And age compels to yeeld the breath receiu'd,
In both of which, the wisest are deceiu'd:
The birth and death of diuerse, diuersely
Preuenting time, of birth and time to dy.
The which the earth brings forth in growing kind,
Although we know the Moone fit seasons brings,
To planted things to prosper, yet we find
They oft miscarie, and we chaunge our mind,
And (be their fruits once ripe) they gathered bee,
And stocke once rotten, we stub vp the tree.
4. To laugh and weepe, a mournfull cheare, and merry hart to show.
3.
And most repugnant to societie,
The life of man by hand of man to fall,
And to shed bloud, wherein his life doth lie,
Yet iustice craues that male factors die,
Aswell as that the sicke, should phisicke haue,
Or salues imployd, the wounded corps to saue.
For safetie vnto men of ciuill sort:
Yet neuer Monarkes seat such fame did beare,
Or citie grow so much with great resort,
But time made cottages of small import
Suruiue their greatnesse, and surpasse them farre,
As Henok, Babell, Troy, true patterns are.
4.
The rigors to alay of worldly care,
Though nothing better for the health we find,
Then mirth (at times we may well for it spare)
Yet in the vse of it we must beware,
And vse it so as if we readie were,
The brunt of greatest crosses straight to beare.
We should impart with neighbours woe and griefe,
For (partners in distresse) doe all desire,
And men suppose thereby they find reliefe
For sinne, so should we mourne, as cause most chiefe:
When Gods offended face, doth threat his rod,
Thus mirth and woe, are both requir'd by God.
6. A season is to seeke, to loose, to keepe, to wast, I say.
5.
And from the bowels of the earth full deepe,
Rayse vp her bones, the stones which neuer saw
The lightsome aire, and them we carued keepe,
To rayse with them our towers, to heauen which peepe,
Which afterward decay, and we are faine,
Their ruines to transport abrode againe.
As nature made it apt for loues imbrace,
So for the worlds increase to yeeld to it,
With due respect of person time and place:
Yet nothing more vnseemely in such case,
As when decrepit age creepes to the graue,
To dote in loue, and seeke a wife to haue,
6.
With diligence indeuour for to gaine
A portion fit, his family to stay,
Although with sweat of browes, and daily paine;
But it were folly to torment his braine,
If losses happe, for there will losses fall,
Vnto most wise, if they haue ought at all.
For who hath most, before he die may need,
And he must spend sometimes that is most bare,
And he may thriue, that doth the needie feed:
Bountie doth loue, and neighbour liking breed:
It is a vertue, placed in a meane,
Although it rather doe to giuing leane.
8. To loue, to hate, to talke of peace, and peace with war to breake.
7.
To couer shame, which sinne made man to see,
Be not so comely held in any land,
But that in other lands, dislikt they bee:
So what one sowes, the other reapes for thee:
Good workes for Taylers that new-fangled are,
None make more fast, then others mending marre.
Not speech it selfe (the Eccho to the hart)
May be so free, but it restrained is
To ciuill rules, and lawes of very art,
The tongues misuse, oft breedes the bodie smart:
We therefore learne, both how and when to speake,
And when we modest silence may not breake.
8.
And sympathy of natures liking good,
(Chast loue) be founded on a iust desire,
And beare such sway as hardly is withstood,
Infecting by the eye, both spirit and blood:
Yet such incounters grow in some respect,
That loue findes hate, best merit, base neglect.
The fire-brand of ambition, hels owne chyld,
The wracke of iustice, value oft abusd
From common wealth may not be well exyld,
Though peace breed welth, welth yet with pride defyld,
Produceth warre; which pouertie doth breed,
To which heauens blessed peace doth yet succeed.
10. To humble mans ambitious mind, God did these paines prepare.
9.
Then would I haue the Gimnosophists wise,
The Magy, Druides, and Stoicks breed,
The Sophis, and most wise of all Rabbies,
And all Philosophers of euery guise,
Who morall rules, and naturall skill did know,
Or iudgements supernaturall did show.
What profit man, most properly may say
He hath, of all his dayes consumde in griefe,
Which he assured is with him shall stay:
The goods of fortune subiect to decay,
The strength of bodie, fayling euery houre,
The minds much more, which worldly cares deuour.
10.
Enuiron man about, from day of birth
Till houre of death, what so about he goes,
With sower sauce, seasoning still his fained mirth,
Cares him accompan'ing vpon the earth,
For needfull things for life, yet foolish he,
With needlesse studies still will medling be.
For our forefather Adams clyming mind,
That humbled so, we might before him fall,
Confessing that we are poore wormes, most blind,
And fly to him where we may comfort find,
Vpon his prouidence our selues to rest,
As thing whereby, we onely may be blest.
12. This only good know I, with ioy, good works in life to show.
11.
And marshald so their musters euery one,
That in them his great wisedome is espied,
And in their season is their beautie showne,
Defect vnto their kind, they suffer none:
No maruell then, if heart of man desire
To see and know their vertue, and admire.
To search for knowledge euer while he liues,
Who therefore beates his braines about it still,
And vseth all endeuour nature giues,
But he in vaine about the matter striues:
He neuer can or shall, the depth attaine
Of Gods decree, his labours are but vaine.
12.
With knowledge of such things as vs befit,
Enioy the blessing God to vs hath sent,
And with contented mind in quiet sit:
His paine and trauell may not farther git,
Then God hath limited, of that be sure,
With patience therefore doe thy selfe indure.
But present vse of blessings I possesse,
With chearefull heart to exercise my dayes,
To good of such, to whom I loue professe,
And deedes which charitie doe best expresse,
And that is all this world to thee can lend,
And vse, why God did them vnto thee send.
14. His wil (most firme) man may not change, but it admire with fere.
13.
Can promise to himselfe the vse to haue
Of what with greatest trauell he doth gaine,
To yeeld the sustenance his life doth craue?
What prouidence so wisely can it saue,
But in a moment it may vade away,
Twixt cup and lip, fall many a slip we say?
And lent but for a time, whereof to yeeld
Account how they are vsed, and how farre
Our confidence and trust on them we build:
For wealth cannot from heauenly iudgement shield;
Let God therefore haue part, the poore haue his,
With temp'rance do thou spend, remaine that is.
14.
And seeing doth foreknow their issues all,
Whose knowledge (when he will) makes things to bee
In such estate, as vnto vs they fall:
Whose prouidence herein some fortune call,
Because effects of cause to vs vnknowne,
By chance (as we suppose) hath to vs growne.
From all beginnings were, and firme must stand,
Examples be, mans frustrate labours still,
If God assist not with his helping hand,
A haire from head, a birdfalles not on land,
But with his heauenly will (which is a law)
And should vs to his feare and reu'rence draw.
16. Yet on the earth, wrong rules for right, and all peruerse doth go.
15.
This spring times clothing, of delightfull greene,
That scorched yellow colour sommer brings,
That tawney hew, in new spent haruest seene,
Those withered pale prospects in winter beene,
When trees and plants to root liues sap retyre,
And euery change, that seasons doe require.
Twixt Sunne and Moone, so needfull to our life,
Of th'one by day, th'other by the night,
Wherein they louingly, like man and wife,
With equall care doe trauell voyd of strife,
By Gods almightie hand were framed so,
Things past, and those to come in order go.
16.
(Whereto by nature onely we are prone,)
Yet for our tryall, or our scourge, he will
Permit sometimes, (as I full oft haue knowne)
That euen his Magistrates, by whom alone
He leaues his lawes of Iustice to be tryde,
Into most foule enormities to slyde.
And Iudges sit in holy Iustice seat,
Whose offices (ordain'd to beat downe vice,)
It fosters, and the Iust do worst intreat,
Which of all plagues to kingdomes is most great,
Yet God (who it permits) can it redresse,
Whose wondrous works therein we must confesse.
18. Who made mā pure, & gaue him wit, though brutish wilbe blind.
17.
Who sees the thoughts, and secrets of the raynes,
Though he a while, permit them in their lust
To range, in pride of their malicious braynes,
Yet when he please, their progresse he restraynes,
And makes them stand before his iudgement seat,
Whose sway on earth doth seeme most powrful great.
To wreke the wrongs that innocents abyde:
Plague, famine, sword, attend vpon him still,
And all mishaps the wicked doe betyde,
Fro out the snares, the iust he safe doth guyde
In his due time, and them with honour crowne,
But their oppressors, headlong plucketh downe.
18.
By deepe consideration of the thing,
To humaine state on earth, each houre and day
Some chaunge, or alteration new to bring
To all estates, to subiects as to King:
And that albeit in creation, we
Were holy and pure, we now corrupted be.
And death with it, all plagues and wants hath brought,
The heauie recompence of parents sin,
By them infusd to vs, by vs still wrought:
Corrupt throughout, in word, in deed, in thought,
With more then brutish sins which in vs raigne,
And in our of-spring alwayes will remaine.
20. Of dust at first, all passe by death, vnto the earth againe.
19.
Or rather doth out passe them farre in ill:
(For Tygers, Wolues, Gotes, Swine, our sins vs make,
When wrath, deceit, lust, glut'ny, rule our will,)
So to our end with them we hasten still,
Foreseeing nothing deaths approaching houre,
Which vs (like them) is readie to deuour.
We liue vncertaine of the houre of death,
Vncertaine thus, securely we doe giue
Our selues to pleasure, till it stop our breath:
When time is come, no art the houre prolongeth,
When we as they, againe returne to dust,
In earth (no more then they) may we haue trust.
20.
Euen earth and slime, the Element most vylde,
Which though our maker for our honour would,
With his owne hands vouchsafe to frame and bylde,
And with infused breath adopt as chyld,
Whilst by his word alone, the others all,
Take essence in the forme they were and shall.
One dissolution of this earthly frame:
Whose matter doth returne vnto the kind,
From whence at first creation forth it came;
The memory whereof, the mind should tame,
Of those ambitious braines vnbounded will,
Which whilst they liue, the world with comber fill.
22. Best then say I, ioy in thy owne: which thee thy knowledge ends.
21.
Which had his being from a cause more pure,
Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed,
And shall in all eternitie endure,
Yet to the eye of man, who can assure
The same, if faith (the light vnto the soule)
Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule?
The same necessities of nutriment,
The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife,
The same abhorred death, hath nature lent
To euery creature that on earth she sent:
And at, and after, parting of the spright,
The carkasses of both, seeme like to sight.
22.
Fit for our bodies, but (whilst here we liue)
With them to cheere our sprights, and purchase peace,
And vnto God for them, due praise to giue,
Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue:
For he and they are subiect as you see
To chaunge, and to earths fraile mortalitee.
Of their successors competent estate,
It is but due, and nature doth it craue,
But for their loue, our selues we ought not hate,
And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate,
What they will proue, or what in time may grow,
We know not, nor should curious be to know.
[Chap. 4.]
2. And therwith thought, thē blessed dead, need not the liuing grudge.
1.
So I turned, & considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and behold, the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth him.
My thoghts with thinking haue forgot my thought,
Whilst (earthly I) with earthly worlds consort,
And to the bodies cares, haue comfort brought,
My meditations haue the heauens sought,
And those eternities which passe my skill,
But now descend to earth againe I will.
Where we a tragedie of woes shall see,
Whilst weaker ones (oppressed by the great)
Are destitute of place, whereto to flee
For succour, since their foes their Iudges bee,
And farre too powrefull, wherewith to contend,
And most men backward, poore men to defend.
2.
That much more happie is the dead mans state,
Then those that in this life such troubles try,
And life like death, my heart begins to hate,
Death vnto endlesse life, is but the gate,
But life is vnto death a longsome way,
Where tyresome troubles vexe vs day by day.
By life it selfe, with care and toyle is sought:
Through perils men to purchase death do run,
And with lifes scorne, holde death but cheaply bought,
Which honour to them selues or countrey brought:
For life could not exempted be from wo,
Whilst dying they, all worldly cares forgo.
4. It vexed me the spight to see, that vertuous workes do draw.
3.
The state of many men is wretched still:
They may most happie seeme, which nere drew breath,
Or infants dyed, neuer knowing ill:
And reason good, for both produce I will:
The ones not being, making them to bee
Incapable of vengeance wicked see.
As being dead, now needing nothing more,
Whose actuall crimes; hels doome could not prepare,
Originall sinnes, by grace were cleansd before,
And mercie guiding them to high heau'ns dore,
Whose want of reason (liuing) knew no wo,
But voyd of feare, to death did mildly go.
4.
A vice (alas) too common in this age,
The more of vertue that he glory can,
The more the baser sort repine and rage,
And with reprochfull slander malice swage,
Depriuing, or deprauing best desart,
Or it Eclipsing with some guilefull art.
Nor to the good, like to the bad we say:
Gods kingdome Beliall seeketh to supplant,
And vertue fayling his another way,
Euen viciously they vertue would betray,
Who herein yet themselues do but disgrace,
For slander can not iust deserts deface.
6. Whilst to a poore (but lasie life) his chosen course inclines.
5.
Vnable or vnwilling to attaine
The trauell which belongs to vertues rights,
Doe poore disgracefull liue, and so remaine,
And caterpiller like, on others paine,
Doe feed and liue, to world improfitable,
Driuen to depend on scraps, of others table.
Who foodlesse are compeld to begge or starue,
Because their idle fingers doe forbeare
The honest trades, which might their liuing serue,
Whose folded hands, no better doth deserue,
But as they to themselues do proue vnkind,
So they of others, should no better find.
6.
They senselesse so in idlenesse delight,
That they their course of life to prayse are bold,
And all virilitie excluding quight,
Their base borne humours glose so well in sight,
As though an humble thought, and peace of mind,
From all industrie did the honest bind.
As if wealth were attain'd with bare desire,
As though they carelesse were that liue in debt,
As if they griefelesse, who not wealth aspire,
As though God did not trauell'of vs require,
As though an humble mind appeard not best,
In modest vse of plentie and of rest.
8. Liues carefull to get vnheird wealth, and pyning liues alone.
7.
Like Hydras heads, which ech way vs assayle,
Man vnto man, a Wolfe with Scorpions sting
Of force by fraud still seeketh to preuayle,
If Sathans forren practises do fayle,
Our selues against our selues he straight doth arme,
With ougly lusts of sinne, which in vs swarme.
Into some other snare, that he hath set,
Into despaire, if our estate be small,
Into presumption, if our power be great:
And euery sinne doth thousands more beget,
And we with euery waue of fortunes wind,
Do swell or sinke, in glorie of our mind.
8.
There is one alone, & there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauell, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doth he thinke, for whom do I trauell and defraud my soule of pleasure: this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauell.
This seemes to me the greatest plague indeed,
When one (of powre) vnto himselfe denies
The lawfull pleasures might his comfort breed,
When he hath no man but himselfe to feed,
Ne child, ne heire, ne any friend at all,
To whom his horded wealth he wisht to fall.
To gather wealth, he knoweth not how nor why,
Which though with plentie God into him fill:
He to himselfe doth natures wants deny,
And of the world, is made a scorne thereby,
Not hauing grace once to his mind to call,
To whom the wealth he gets, is like to fall.
10. A readier helpe (if foot do slip) do find, if need require.
9.
The blessings that his wealth depend vpon,
For did he, he would hold no wealth too deare
To be bestowd in gaine of such a one,
As might his comfort breed, with whom alone
He might recount the secrets of his state,
And partner make, of good and aduerse fate.
Such mutuall frutes doth kindnesse counterchange,
That two as one, like tast of state do proue,
And eithers thoughts do in the other range,
With such a sympathy as seemeth strange,
Whilst gaine of both, to each one doth remaine,
And eithers kindnesse, kindnesse payes againe.
10.
The other readie is to yeeld reliefe,
His perill shall the others perill saue,
And with his yeelding shoulders beare his griefe,
And (which indeed of all is comfort chiefe)
His weale and woe, on th'others shall depend,
And loue in both, both ascend and descend.
Vnknowne and vnregarded quite of all,
Shall liue the obiect vnto all despight,
And helplesse perish, if he hap to fall,
No pittie finding, or but very small:
For who by gratitude, is bound to mone
His case, who carelesse seekes to liue alone?
12. If wrōgd, reliu'd by friend, for three plight cord not lightly cracks.
11.
Vnto a man that in long winters night,
(Through lacke of light) can no earths comfort see,
And in his bed can find no great delight,
When (lacking list to sleepe) he hath no wight,
With whom in speech the time to passe away,
But (wallowing in his bed) doth long for day.
In whom the liues warmth bloud is waxen cold,
Whom when as shiuerings seaze, he seeketh than,
In many furres and clothes himselfe t'infold,
Which not suffising, then he also would
A bed-fellow wish, wherewith to haue withstood
His cold, by others heat of natiue blood.
12.
The solitary man vnhappy is,
Do but mans nature herein truly way,
Which is directly opposite to this,
He in societie reposeth blisse:
Whose maker great, to whom he best was knowne,
Ordain'd a meanes he might not liue alone.
Compels the wise a neighbour helpe to craue,
A single man is soone opprest by twaine,
Whose valour (though right great) will scarce him saue,
For great the strength small twigs in bundell haue,
And closely plighted threeds, strong Cables make,
And force vnited, greater force doth take.
14. From prison to a crown he climbs, that poore king set at naught.
13.
And happiest sure (if worthie Prince haue place)
Hath not all common woes so well expeld,
But often times their crownes do cares imbrace,
(Though God as his owne deputies doth them grace)
For where in vertue and wisedome is defect,
Full hardly can that honour them perfect.
The tyranny of most iniust behest,
Yet doth their minds obedience oft denay,
When they do find that powre hath right supprest,
And then the poore wise child is held more blest,
That yeeldeth to aduice the sage doth bring,
Then ill aduised head-strong aged King.
14.
Of base descent by pedegree of kin,
Abandon'd so of hope, that you would weene
He hardly should his liuing poorely win,
(Much lesse of captiue euer free haue beene:)
Yet so by vertue he hath raysd his state,
In th'end he wore a crowne that pynde of late.
The worthlesse child of many a worthy king,
On predecessors vertues grow so bold,
And to their state so little honor bring,
That from them, natiue right some others wring,
And they vnto the common state of men,
Poore and reiected do returne as then.
16. No trust in peoples loue, now one, now other they will prayse.
15.
Disposeth of these Emperies below,
That as they well or ill their flocke intreat,
He moueth so their subiects harts to grow,
He maketh fierce Adonebesock know
Himselfe, of mightie Prince most wretch aliue,
And captiu'd Ioseph, by his bondage thriue.
That nothing can long time their minds content,
Vnhappy are those men, who vnder-fall
The vulgar censure, which is lightly bent
Vnto new-fangled liking. And who rent
The right of rule from father, to bestow
On child oft times, before he merit show.
16.
So soone we surfet feeding on the best,
So fast the multitude to mischiefe runne,
So hardly can the fonder sort digest
Obedience, where their safest state should rest,
That (monster like) they many heads do reare,
And euery head ten thousand fancies beare.
Vnto a worthy guyder of their state,
He in their likings can not long remaine,
Whilst (causelesse) malcontents turne loue to hate,
Which cares (with many more) their ioyes abate,
And makes their raysed state more deeply way,
That wo, which nature doth on all men lay.
Heare ere thou speake, of sacrifice, of babbling foole beware.
17.
Should in thy mind worlds meere misliking breed,
Which yet perforce, a space thou must indure,
I will thee now with wholesome counsell feed,
With God and man, instructing thee the way
To liue in peace, and worldly cares alay.
I will direct thy steps to God aboue,
Vnto whose seruice when thou art addrest,
Let reuerent feare thy whole affection moue,
Come thou to learne, thy schoole his Temple make,
And fond prescriptious, of thy owne forsake.
CONSIO. II.
Chap. 5.
2. As busied brains (by dreames) so want of wit, by words appeares.
1.
And so prepare thy humble soule thereto,
That thou thy worthlesse state do duely way,
Gods power beleeue, and will, thee good to do,
And then thy needfull wants craue and commend
To his best pleasure, to restraine or send.
All-seeing is, all-powerfull, alwayes prest,
To view our wants, to yeeld what we intreat,
If (as they ought) our prayers be addrest;
Few words (if feruent) will to heauen ascend,
He knowes our thoughts ere hart to pray we bend.
2.
Some vse in prayer, sheweth want of faith,
Like Balaams Priests their passions do appeare,
Whose hope on their enchaunting fury stayeth,
And doth not (as it should) on God depend,
Who knowes the fittest time thy cares to end.
A swarme of aparitions in the night,
Which on the sleeping senses terror drawes,
And doth the tyred body oft affright:
So folly moues the tongue, which vainely speakes,
And vaine that is, which modest measure breakes.
4. It better were, vow were not made, then deede should it denay.
3.
When vnto God thou any thing wilt vow,
Earth is his footstoole, heau'n his throne to dwell,
What need hath he then, of thy presents now?
Yet free will offrings he doth kindly take,
If gratefull heart a lawfull promise make.
But (if thou vow such things) performe the same,
Vntruth with men, but foule defame doth win,
With God it can not then but purchase blame,
Ne ignorance, ne rashnesse may excuse
So foule a fault, refraine it then to vse.
4.
Thy promise, when thou first the same didst make:
Thou wast not then by any law compeld
Thereto, but freely didst it vndertake,
Compulsiue promises, no promise bee,
But vow premeditate, it bindeth thee.
That heauen and earth affordeth vnto man,
Thy hart (as spokes-man) for thee long doth stand,
And God the hearer, who conceiue it can,
Thy selfe (faith breaker) vnto God art found,
If thou performe not then, what vow hath bound.
6. But feare thou God, & count as dreams, those vaine words which abound.
5.
Which is contrary to his holy law,
I rather wish thee it forbeare, then bring
The price of sinne that should more iudgements draw:
Of euils two, the least the wise do chuse,
If vow were wicked, rather it refuse.
That thou no euill thing in vow pretend,
Then how thou canst performe it, see thou way,
And freely then, with speed performe intend,
Least God and Angels witnesse thee vntrew,
And thou and thine, with vengeance for it rew.
6.
How vaine a rash and foolish prayer is,
How daungerous, a heape of words that bee
Impertinent, and vowes that are amisse:
Euen fruitlesse vapors of corrupted braine,
Which like vaine dreames, the rest of soule do staine.
Thy holy thoughts to please thy God aright,
In word and deed, and pray him grace to send,
That thy weake workes be pleasing in his sight,
So (though the world, with wrong and woe abound)
Thy faith and peace of conscience, shall be sound.
8. Earths plenty passeth all the rest, and kings are fed therewith.
7.
Or lawlesse place wherein thou hapst to dwell,
Do sacred Iustice from her Scepter driue,
And make the poore mans life seeme worse then hell,
As though there were no God, nor prouidence
To punish sinne, or yeeld the iust defence?
And though he pacient be, yet (moued long)
He will dismount from heauen where he doth dwell,
To do thee right, and wreke thee of their wrong,
With hoast of Angels, and earths meanes beside,
To powre his wrath on them for lawlesse pride.
8.
Who humbly yeelded vnto Gods decree,
Who with the sweat of browes their liuing gate,
And with liues needfull food contented bee,
Whose trauell on this earth of mans vnrest,
With fruitfull crop, from God aboue is blest.
Voide of the crafts and cares in Courts that bee,
More honest profit, or content not found
In Princes pallace, then in cot with thee,
Kings (without thee) ne liue, ne can be kings,
Thy paine to Court and Countrey plently brings.
10. With wealth charge growes, the owner but, increaseth paine the more.
9.
Be thus transported with a greedy mind,
To purchase wealth, which makes the coward bold,
To search land, sea, and hell, the same to find?
Yet (as it doth increase) so doth desire,
And soone consume as oyle amidst the fire.
As doth debase nobilitie of soule,
Which (made immortal) scornes those things that vade,
And in the wise should earthly' affects controule:
But mouldwarp like, these blindfold grope in vaine,
Vaine their desires, more vaine the fruit they gaine.
10.
The common sort, so charge doth grow with all:
Few with a little sure, may liue as well,
As many may, though greater wealth befall:
It is not wealth, to haue of goods great store,
But wealth to be suffisd and need no more.
Is but a steward to his family,
A purse-bearer for such as neare him dwell,
An Amner to the poore (that helplessely)
He but his share doth spend (though somwhat better)
And what he leaues, he is to world a detter.
12. This plague I see, some with their wealth, their proper mischiefe keepe.
11.
Hath past the toylesome day to gaine to liue,
No surfet hath his stomacke to vpbrayd,
Nor fearefull dreames, which into horror driue
His fraudlesse soule, whilst he the longsome night
Doth rest, and rise (to worke) as day doth light.
Whose surfets vpon surfets buried bee
In his insatiat maw of hellish forge,
In bed no rest can find, but slumbering see
A swarme of visions breed by vapours vaine,
Which from a putride stomacke rise to braine.
12.
The wealthier sort, and which I much lament,
Is that they often times themselues do rew
Their euill gotten wealth, with time mispent
As meanes (for so it proues) of greater care,
And which in end, doth leaue them poore and bare.
Or to the Bee, that hony hath in hyue:
Their wealth is wrong, their hony combe is pluckt
Out of their hord, by which they thought to thryue,
Their liues do for their goods, fare oft the worse,
For enuious eyes pursue the plenteous purse.
14. As naked buried, as were borne, leaue all their trauels gaine.
13.
There are besides, which doth their ioyes bereaue,
Ill gotten goods (we say) not longtime stayes,
And hastie wealth few heires, to heires do leaue:
The getters faults or follies all may lose,
And chance or change of times it new dispose.
By due vicisitude do oft descend
From their aspired greatnesse, hoped then
Vnto the meanest ranke from whence they wend,
Each Crow his feather hath, and naked they,
Their parents sinnes by their mishaps bewray.
14.
Vnto the earth, whence first he naked came:
The sonne (as readie) standeth at the dore
To follow fathers steps, and with the same,
Poore, naked, helplesse state, that borne he was
From all his pompe, vnto his graue to pas.
Of earthly substance that he did possesse,
The soule immortall is, and may not weare,
Nor any vertues that our way addresse
To heauen, they shall suruiue vs after death,
Whē death shal liue, by liues soone smothred breath.
16. His daies in darknes spent, his bread consumd with grief of mind.
15.
That not alone (as poorest man beside)
All naked vnto graue he posting is,
But euen the common pangs must him betide,
That to all flesh at houre of death is rife,
When soule and bodie (parting) finish life.
Who hath no share in all his former gaine,
But what soeuer blisse he did pretend,
His haps (as others chance) do voide remaine:
His hopes (like dust) dispersed with the wind,
Or sownd on sea, where they no root could find.
16.
He pines away the remnant of his dayes,
How much the more he happie did appeare,
The more vnhappy he his state bewrayes,
For contraries, by contraries are showne,
As blacke from white, so good by ill is knowne.
Is scandaled, and pointed at of all,
With shame retyres himselfe in future time,
Least into more disgrace he yet should fall:
And hanging downe his head, doth sigh (alas)
And rage with griefe, so he his dayes doth pas.
18. And whom God giues (with this) his grace, he in Gods loue doth liue.
17.
(For other good, I scarcely any know)
That with those goods thou hast, thou pleased rest,
And for thy owne behoofe thou them bestow,
Such part (I meane) as nature craues to vse,
Euen plenteously: so thou it not abuse.
For that is left, thou seest may be lost:
God gaue the plentie of both corne and wine,
To cheere mans troubled soule, with combers tost:
This if thou hast, and grace to vse it right,
Thou hast earths good, the most on thee may light.
18.
As he ordaines, that did them first bestow:
God was the author of all good to thee,
To him thy life all thankfulnesse doth owe:
So vsing them, they to thee blessings are,
Else wealth breeds woe, peace proues as ill as warre.
Thou seest lusty youth suruyu'd by age,
Thou seest honour stoope to foule disgrace,
And heauy cheere the greatest ioyes asswage,
And (for men do not yeeld the praise of all
To God) these mischiefes do vpon them fall.
Since God doth answere harts desire, to him with ioy and myrth.
19.
With grace, to know and vse his gifts aright,
Sure they more easly may support (I gesse)
The common cares that do to all men light,
For present comforts, cancell passed care,
As pleasures past, do way to woe prepare.
That common cares, seeme but the needfull sauce,
To quicken tast, as peace insuing strife,
More gratefull is, and hath the more applause,
They God in wealth and woe, a father find,
And vnto him will not appeare vnkind.
Chap. 6.
2. Of honor and wealth, yet liue in lacke, a strangers mouth to fill.
1.
For many woes do follow humane kind,
Great were these griefes, but not more great then those
That vnrecorded yet do rest behind:
One mischiefe seldome time alone doth fall,
One care or other sure doth follow all.
To such as heare (not feele) thereof the smart:
Thou (who so happie art) mayst better see,
(By others harme) thy happie peace of hart,
Then heare and learne more happinesse to gaine,
If thou (from others ill) thy selfe refraine.
2.
In show, all blessings nature can bestow;
Lands, honors, wealth, whose wants breeds thee annoy,
Whilst he (to world) doth happy seeme in show,
Not wanting any thing that thou wouldst craue,
Yet some one want makes him small comfort haue.
Or hath them both, but both vngracious proue,
He wants his health, imprisond, or exild,
Or cares of common weale his ioyes remoue:
His restlesse mind thus thirsting midst the streame,
He pines in care, and finds his blisse a dreame.
4. If die contemnd, worse then abortiue child to graue he went.
3.
And liu'd as long, as old Methusalem,
Yet if defame his family do spot,
And he do lack the common loue of men,
And want the honor of his funerall,
How can you any wayes him happie call?
And only measurd is by peace of mind:
What though all earthly blessings do abound?
If that the soule no inward comfort find,
Is not th'abortiue child more happie farre,
Then those that liuing, thus perplexed are?
4.
Is he, whose timelesse birth his life denyes,
Whose mothers wombe vnable him to feed,
Vnperfect him reiects, and doth despise
Vnprofitable burden also long
To beare, that nature hath compounded wrong.
The others seeming proues not so indeed,
This liuelesse humane shape, a man none deemes,
That deemed man with dreames our eyes doth feed:
This neuer being knowen, none knoweth not,
Of all men this admyrd, of all forgot.
6. Two thousand yeres spent, void of ioy, makes death seeme ouer late.
5.
To be a happie man, or so esteemd?
So farre th'abortiue th'other doth surmount,
Though naught it seeme, the other much is deemd:
For (hauing nothing good) it hath no ill,
But his expected good, all woes do fill.
Those woes nere saw, which th'other saw and felt,
His senslesse braine which knoweth no delight,
(Incapable of cares with th'other dwelt)
Makes his estate lesse ill, much better held,
Than his that thus, in wretchednesse exceld.
6.
To the vnhappie, multitude of cares,
Two thousand yeares, to him that dead doth ly,
Are but one moment: all alike he fares,
But hours seem days, daies yeres, yeres millions seeme,
In care, griefe, agony, that spent we deeme.
Whose long and wealthy life, in bootlesse blis,
In life no peace or ioy, enioy he can:
In death not honor haue, that proper is
To such, as by their liues do merit well,
Who dead, in sacred tombe do famous dwell.
8. The foole & wise cā both but liue, the wise (thogh poore) is pleasd.
7.
Which in his pilgrimage on earth he takes?
Sure nothing but a life he doth maintaine,
And as his state permits he dyet makes,
For which (our backes and bellies nutriment)
Our times, our cares, our hopes and feares are spent.
Cannot sustaine our life one longer day,
Then God by prouidence hath it ordaynd:
And when our time is come, we must away,
And though a little food will life sustaine,
Yet long without supply we not remaine.
8.
More then the foole, whereof he may reioyce?
The vse of needfull things, he hath no lesse
That simple is, then who of wit hath choyce:
Both do but eat to liue, and liue to die,
Both like afflictions in their fortunes trie.
More then free spenders honest thrift doth his?
Yet th'one by wretchednesse doth purchase hate,
The others bountie alwayes praysed is:
Both care to liue, both can but liue thereby,
And both of force, must yeeld (ere long) to dy.
10. What art thou mā, to striue with God? his wil thou must sustain.
9.
It is the best to liue with chearefull hart,
And cause of good report the world to giue,
And not for vs to breed our proper smart:
Our daies consume vnpleasing to our selues,
Offensiuely to such as with vs dwels.
No constancie or permanence in either,
The one or other can not life defend,
Both to the graue, are like to go togither:
Vaine and inconstant, is the fruit of all,
Wise, fond, sad, glad, into the earth must fall.
10.
Which he on earth, atchieueth any way,
But euen a name and fame, the which doth bring
A swelling Eccho of his prayse a day,
But is assoone forgotten as is gaynd,
And with a thousand slaunders may be staynd.
The like that many worthies had before,
Their fame is gone, thine cannot long remaine,
If thou be wise expect not any more:
For God thy maker hath ordayned so,
When he sayth yea, flesh may not answere no.
[Chap. 7.]
2. Who knowes his best in life, or what God afterward will send?
1.
Our vanitie appeares in euery thing,
But they best knowledge of the same attaine,
To whom a prosperous state, did plentie bring:
For plenty best affoords to feed our will,
And will most soone, to folly runneth still.
A fruitlesse trauell of a carefull hart,
When midst the choyce of good, the ill we gleane,
And weaue vnto our selues our proper smart,
When wit is captiuated vnto fense,
Which doth produce both Gods and mans offence.
2.
For who discernes aright twixt good and ill,
Whose knowledge truly can you perfect call,
Who (knowing good) effectuates goodnes still:
Mans dayes are few, and like a shadow fly,
In which small good, he many woes doth try.
Of others minds their knowledge is but blind,
Their present actions do them foolish show,
How should man then a solyde knowledge find,
Of future things which after him shall bee,
Since he conceaues not what his eye doth see?
4. In mourning house more good is learnd, then in the house of mirth.
3.
In seeking foorth on earth a happy state:
Let him endeuour rather good to grow,
The fruit and fame whereof cannot abate
Through age or death, but like a sweet perfume,
Will follow man vnto his day of doome.
As path to leade him vnto blisse prepard,
And loath this life, whose cares him so do tyre,
Where vanitie and death is sole reward:
Yea he shall farre preferre the day of death,
Before the houre he first drew liuing breath.
4.
The wise will exercise their eyes and mind,
In contemplation of their states, who do
By death forerun their corse not farre behind:
And (by the view thereof) resolued grow,
The worlds contempt in rest of life to show.
With deepe forgetfulnesse of woes approch,
He will refraine, and rather thinke it harme,
That vnprepared death should him incroch:
(For euils looked for, lesse euill seeme,
And ioyes expected long, we doubled deeme.)
6. The wise delight in grauitie, whilst fooles the same reiect.
5.
We feele a conflict twixt the flesh and spright,
Which lothly would dissolue the old compact,
Which flesh and world, contracted in delight:
Yet sweeter in the end we shall digest
Deathes bitter pill, which nature doth detest.
With euils, which we see so much abound
Within our selues, and for the good that lacks
In vs, and others which the good doth wound:
Yet this a cheerefull mendment will procure,
And rayse our hearts in sinne tofore secure.
6.
A curious Sentinell in all their wayes,
Least death and ruine should vpon them creepe,
And turne to mournfull night their merry dayes,
They do obserue the frailtie of their state,
And rather fawne on death, then feare too late.
Which they vnfitly plast in earths vaine sweet,
And are surprisd with euery small annoy
So sore, that it to beare they are not meet,
And vnder euery aduerse cause do sinke,
Whilst others hope and ioy at perils brinke.
8. As blase of thornes, so vainely passe, the pleasures they do bring.
7.
And each in others eyes a mote can spy)
My best aduice (to do thee good) is this:
That to thy friends reproofe thou do apply,
Yea such a friend, as knoweth good from ill,
And thy misdeeds in thee reproue that will.
Then smoothed actions, flatt'rers do bestow,
Those to amendment do the wiser driue,
By th'others, fooles from ill to worse do grow,
There Syrens songs, do make thee sleepe in sin,
These rougher words, thy soule from ruine win.
8.
In foolish tattle of the lewder sort?
Like crackling bushes in the fire, they make
A blast, and blase foorth straight in their disport,
An outward show of mirth, which ends with smart,
And laugh with mouth, that haue a heauie hart.
They ground their mirth on greater cause of ioy.
They are not so raysd vp with good estate,
Or beaten downe with any'aduerse annoy,
But that they can beare either state aswell,
As time or chaunce, can make them ebbe or swell.
10. But th'end is al, who patient stayes, shal thriue best without faile.
9.
And hardly is digested of the best,
To see how some the lawes to lust do wring,
And how thereby the weaker are opprest,
How wrong for right sometimes doth freely pas,
And no man will, or dare, say bad it was.
To blind the eyes that else would wisely see,
That Lay, and Clergie, great and small, most will
Giue, take, buy, sell, things that most holy bee,
Would make a man of sob'rest spright halfe mad,
And any good man be perplex'd and sad.
10.
And can (as sure they ought) his pleasure stay,
Shall see the plagues that sinne vpon them brings,
And shall according to the prouerbe say,
That that is onely good, and doth excell,
Which doth begin, and also endeth well.
The issue which God hath decreed before,
And as he limits times, his will t'effect,
So till that time be silent euermore:
The rather since their agony and griefe,
Might wo increase, not yeeld one iot reliefe.
12. Muse not why times are chang'd, it doth import but want of wit.
11.
Disquieted, or moued vnto yre,
No though with malice men against thee bent,
With iust offence might kindle cholers fyre:
It is a passion that aboundant is
In fooles, and not reformes the thing amis.
Offended with the euils that abound,
Thou mayst reproue them sure (I say not nay)
And hate the place whereas such sinnes are found,
For fooles they are, and dog-like bite the stone,
That blame offence, yet doer let alone.
12.
Thy God, in gouernment of present age,
By calling him t'account, why not the same
Most hatefull vices, which with vs do rage,
Did not in former times so much excell,
And we with them compare in doing well.
To God and man, and signe of hatefull pride,
In weale or woe we may at nothing grutch,
For through our sinnes those scourges vs betide:
And God that sends the ill, can it amend,
Vpon his will our liking must depend.
14. They calme the minde, yet quiet heart, by wisedome best is wonne.
13.
To vse it alwayes well, in weale and wo:
But who hath wealth withall, in better case
By farre (I do confesse) though few are so:
Few though there be, yet some such may you find,
Though many more, with worldly wealth are blind.
Wealth the temptations wants, to many a sin,
By wealth mens faults are hid, their foes withstood,
Wealth may performe such workes as fauour win:
Which wealth, if (by dissent, not care) we haue
And wisedome both, what can we farther craue?
14.
For pleasant shadow, may compared bee
Vnto an Arbour deckt with fragrant flowers,
Which sweetly from sunne beames protecteth thee,
From wind and raine, that can thee well defend,
And sweet repast vnto thy bodie lend.
Vnto the needfull ends they were ordaynd,
And (as vnwise) you may them well accuse,
That will reiect the goods may well be gaynd:
But wisedome wealth can get, and spends it well,
And wisedome therefore chiefly doth excell.
16. In weale or wo, both (sent from God) do serue the turne he ment.
15.
Come wealth, come woe, take all as God doth send,
Against the Lords decree it's vaine to fight,
He knowes thy need, and giues what thou shalt spend,
More then he hath decreed, thou shalt not haue,
Toyle while thou wilt, and moyle vnto thy graue.
Canst thou recount, the dayes that are behind?
Canst thou pursew the chaffe that flyeth fast?
Canst thou proportion out the waight of wind?
Canst thou make straight the tree once crooked growne?
No nor thy state amend, but God alone.
16.
If wealth abound, with ioy then vse the same,
If lesse thy store, yet thinke not God vnkind,
And to thy portion do thy compasse frame:
In all estates a chearefull heart doth well,
What God intends for thee thou canst not tell.
By want sometimes to purge our humors ill,
And after plentie giues to strengthen vs to
The worke whereto, imploy our powers he will,
By proofe of contraries, to teach vs how
To vse those gifts, as he doth best allow.
18. Muse not hereof too much, least it thee into dumps do driue.
17.
To thee in crossing of thy quiet life,
Assure thy selfe, they are not new at all,
But in my dayes (and long before) were rife,
Euen full of vanities and care, I found
My life, as well as thy life to abound.
Insnared by the wicked, and destroyd,
Their counsels and their actions mockt and scoft,
Their innocencies, cause they were annoyd:
The force, the folly, rapine and the wrong,
The wicked vsd, protect their liues full long.
18.
Sure first the hate, the ill to good do show,
Then Gods decree, whose iustice did require,
Their hidden sins, a publike shame should know,
Some ouerweening wits, do foolish proue,
And cause of these mishaps do fondly moue.
And wise mens small offences haynous seeme,
And busie braines such tickle points may touch,
As vndiscreet you may their iudgement deeme,
Be thou not too precise, nor ouer wise,
But with a modest meane thy gifts disguise.
20. Yet learne things fit, and fearing God, no ill shall thee betyde.
19.
That thereby into scandall thou do fall,
The very wicked so contemne thee will,
And good and bad, will so condemne thee all,
None is so vile, that vice he will commend,
Although his deeds, to little better tend.
For that doth ruine all that it doth vse,
Who will the foole or vndescreet protect,
Or trust to him, or vse him (may he chuse?)
Well may men laugh at him and make disport,
But neuer trust, in cause that doth import.
20.
Twixt two extremes doth sacred vertue dwell,
Who will vnto true heauenly wisedome leane,
Must fly defect, and all excesse expell,
With serpents wisedome must his iudgement see,
With Turtles humble mind, yet clothed bee.
The abiect mind dispaire doth soone perswade,
From wings of Lucifer, this quill is pluckt,
To hatefull serpents den, that leades the trade:
But he whom heauenly wisedome doth inspire,
From both those snares in safetie shall retire.
22. Yet none so perfect liues, their deed no sinne at all vnfolds.
21.
Infusde to guide vs in earths pilgrimage;
Blest is his choice who therewith not vplift,
Doth peace procure, and worldly cares asswage,
Who trusteth in the comfort of her ayd,
In no affliction need to be affrayd.
Then any Princes power that euer was:
Yea Princes ten, combind gainst her to fight,
In force and prowesse shall her no way pas,
The strongest bulwarks that they can erect,
Doth art (by wisedome) soone to earth deiect.
22.
Twixt God and thee, which if thou once attaine,
To feede the same, his grace will neuer ceace,
And that content for euer will remaine:
As for content the world afford thee can,
Its nothing worth, for vaine is euery man.
That man and all his workes vnperfect are,
That on the earth one man thou shalt not find,
That from true righteousnesse not strayeth farre,
Whose peruerse deeds, do oftentimes bewray
The wicked thoughts that in his bosome stay.
24. Thou know'st thy self hast don the like, though it did not appeare.
23.
By words of any one that thee offend:
Yea though euen very neere thy fame they touch,
And to thy great disgrace they seeme to tend:
Let passe like wind the blast of slanderous tong,
And thinke the best, sometimes euen so are wrong.
Or if thou do, seeme as thou diddest not,
Its better farre both deafe and dumbe t'appeare,
Then listening ouermuch, it were thy lot
To heare thy seruant, or some other speake
The thing, that being heard, thy hart would breake.
24.
In like case vnto others absent oft:
And what dislike therefore thou mightst haue wonne,
If that thy speech had not bene vttered soft,
(Or not conceald by such as heard the same)
Which will thee make another lesse to blame.
Our vnderlings, for lauish speech of vs,
When we our betters farre, do more contemne,
Yet lothly would therefore be serued thus:
The rule of Charitie doth will thee do,
As thou thy selfe wouldst faine be done vnto.
26. It is too high and deepe, my reach cannot her secrets see.
25.
And so mayst thou, if that thou way it well,
Apply thy selfe the same then to ensue,
And let her lawes within thy actions dwell,
And of thy wisedome do not ouerweene,
For many times the wise are ouerseene.
By education was instructed much,
A heauenly gift did more my knowledge fill,
And all the world supposd my wisedome such,
As few attaynd, and I supposd no lesse,
But found my folly great, I must confesse.
26.
The past, the present, and the future things,
Whose first in writs record (in part) is showne,
Whose last with deepe obscurenesse blindnesse brings,
In th'one I had but euen a very tast,
In seeking th'other out, I time did wast.
I did obserue, to make my profit by
Did somewhat me instruct, and much more trew
Then passed things forgotten presently,
Or dreamd supposals of succeeding time,
Which for to fetch to heauen my thoughts should clime.
28. And worse thē death a womans snares, I found: God sheld thē fro.
27.
With heart and mind in searching round about,
The true effect of euery thing to know,
And of effects the causes out of doubt
(For happie they are held that can define
Of causes and effect, how they incline.)
Haue their originall and nutriment,
What bounds they haue, and how the soule they kill,
And in the vse of them sought mans intent:
And so of mirth, of folly, and delight,
And what so seemd, most pleasant vnto sight.
28.
Yea euen the sinne which doth most men allure,
The lawlesse loue of women of defame,
Who bitterer plagues (then death) to vs procure,
Insnaring in their bands of beauties gift
The wretched soules, which yeeld vnto their drift.
In idle braine begot, with plentie fed,
Whose smallest sparckles to a flame do passe,
If by the eye the fancie will be led,
But such as God doth loue, shall lust refraine,
Whilst wicked ones intrapped do remaine.
30. Of thousand men scarce one proue good: of women none by kind.
29.
By many a one my selfe haue found it true,
I teach thee this, who best the same could tell,
And for the same with all my hart do rue,
And wish thee by my harme the like beware,
And for their new assaults thy selfe prepare.
At first or last, and ouer many fall,
Thou doest not know thy strength, what may betide,
The wisest sort fall herein most of all:
In any case then trust not to thy strength,
Some dally with the fire, but burne at length.
30.
From equall blame in this so grosse a sinne,
Beseeming not (in truth) their stronger wit,
To yeeld to them whom they from ill should winne,
And in this point, mongst thousands that I know,
One wise and perfect man, I scarce could show.
Do prostrate their affections to their lust,
By my experience, sure I cannot say,
(Though others can perchance, and will I trust)
That one hath so reclaymd her life to good,
As that a new assault would be withstood.
But men (for their originall grace) their owne inuentions take.
31.
Of parents fall, to euill do incline,
He'is best at ease, that doth his sins repent,
And not of others sinnes too much define,
Nor yet his owne excuse: bad is the best,
This sinne, is but one sinne among the rest.
And gaue vs powre in righteousnesse to dwell,
Yet did our wils, so to our senses trust,
That it the vse of reason did expell:
Since which, a swarme of hatefull sinnes increase,
On thought, word, deed, and all our actions prease.
[Chap. 8.]
2. The wise his Princes hests obserues, and to Gods word inclines.
1.
This great calamitie of humane kind,
Another course of life to take in hand,
Then in the practise of the most we find,
And arm'd with wisedome gainst the flesh to fight,
Not yeelding cowardlike to lewd delight.
That doth adorne with honor and with prayse,
Such as sincerely do imbrace the same,
That will transforme their life to better wayes,
And giue them grace with Prince and people still,
And in the end aduance their state it will,
2.
And how with ciuill men he should conuerse,
With neighbours how to haue a kind abode,
Or with a people that are most peruerse:
To know what doth beseeme in euery case,
And how to walke, to win our soueraignes grace.
To be attentiue to thy Prince behest,
To be obsequious also there unto,
So farre as may accord with all the rest,
Of lawes of God, of nature, and of state,
And to attend his pleasure rare and late.
4. His word of power who may withstand the thing he likes to haue?
3.
A thing vnfit, not pleasing vnto thee,
I would not wish thee therewithall retyre,
Or discontent in count'nance ought to bee,
But yeeld with patience rather to the same,
For to obedience, subiects ought to frame.
Offended him, persist not in thy wrong:
Of him it is no shame thy pardon craue,
For vnto Princes homage doth belong,
They haue the power of subiects to dispose,
Thy life and goods, to saue or else to loose.
4.
His will a law, his words are firme decrees,
Their instruments are readie at a breath,
To pull the proudest rebels on their knees,
Such Maiestie and power in them is found,
With euery frowne a loyall hart they wound.
Who to no power in earth inferiour is?
Who will not at his feet all prostrate fall,
Who hath the power to punish his amis?
As deputies to God, on earth they raigne,
And by his sword of Iustice state maintaine.
6. The wise, with iudgement chuseth time, for things, lest trouble grow.
5.
Indeuour most exactly to obserue,
In euery point and tittle to fulfill,
And wittingly in nothing much to swarue:
So shall he for himselfe, best safety find,
And leaue the better name to world behind.
Their duetie, that their natiue lawes not know,
And that their ignorance cannot acquight,
Who may, and will not learne, more wise to grow)
The wise will therefore learne their duties furst:
The good, refraine th'euill, they might and durst.
6.
To guide their actions warily and well:
And proper times and seasons euer chuse
For all they do, before therewith they mell:
(For proper times there are for euery thing,
Which good or ill successe with it doth bring.)
Expediencie of that they take in hand:
From care whereof, whilst some do rashly swarue,
(Because true wifedome they not vnderstand)
They into many mischiefes headlong fall,
Which afterwards too late they would recall.
8. In life, death, battell, sinne cannot protect the wickeds state.
7.
To iudge aright of sequels and euents,
Though (by obseruance of things past) we can
Sometimes right neere coniecture of intents,
As like to haue successe as we desire:
But none can iudge the truth that they require.
So many errors do incounter them:
Those future knowledges for God are fit,
And none but he, that priuileage can claime;
For as for Reuelations few are now,
And diuelish arts, Gods word will not allow.
8.
An others haps or actions, can you thinke,
That not foresaw, what to himselfe befell,
Nor knew his perill being at pits brinke?
Nor could deferre his death or destiny,
With all the care he did thereto apply?
That he in battell flong against his foe?
That cannot saue himselfe amidst the fight,
But beares the brunt (perhaps) of ouerthroe?
No wicked slight or art can sinners saue,
But that they sure (in fine) their merits haue.
10. These wicked die, yet worse succeed: the godly, none to know.
9.
Of that great knowledge we pretend to haue?
My selfe haue tryed the same in euery sort
Of studie, to the which my selfe I gaue,
And yet there is no knowledge so obscure
Or easie, but I did the same inure.
Which euery man can say, and witnesse true,
I groped at, as in obscurest night,
And could not see the reason how it grew:
That men (euen to themselues) most ruine bring,
And Magistrates their owne dependants wring.
10.
From iust dislike of their iniust oppressions,
That liue and dead, they fear'd and praysed are,
And whose posterities get more possessions?
They flourish rather most by doing wrong,
As if the earth, did all to them belong.
Deserued well of world and country all,
Haue bene pursued in life with hate and strife,
And euen at home forgot when death did call,
O vaine affection of the vulgar sort,
That maketh vice and vertue but a sport.
12. Which long deferd, is plagud in fine: when iust men blessed bin.
11.
Of plague and iudgement of these wicked ones,
They do suppose their actions haue not erd,
But wisely were decreed for the nonce,
And so grew bold in practise of the same,
Till all the world, therewith grew out of frame.
And pride their minds in their presumpteous trade,
They are so farre from meaning to repent,
That wrong on wrong vpon the iust they lade,
Euen whilst they able are no more to beare,
So voide they are of any kind of feare.
12.
(For hundred yeares are but a while with God)
Though flatteringly them selues they do beguile,
And feele no smart of Gods correcting rod:
But rather find their dayes prolongd with peace,
As though their happinesse should neuer cease.
With such as in the feare of God do liue,
As in his holy lawes and Church do dwell,
And proofe of their beliefe in life do giue,
That they exempted farre from tyrants rage,
Shall liue and rest in peace an endlesse age.
14. Though wicked men triumph sometimes, & iust men waile alas.
13.
Shall be dismounted from his seat of trust,
Dismayd and desolate, forlorne alone,
Pursu'd by heauen and earth, by iudgement iust:
Of God and man, forsaken and contemnd:
As he the innocent before condemnd.
Like to a flowre, shall vanish and decay,
His life like ruines, downe shall headlong slide,
His fame like to a shadow vade away;
Because he feared not the God of might,
In iustice shall these woes vpon him light.
14.
To see the iust so many woes sustaine,
(Not that I thinke that pitie can haue place
With wicked ones, to make them wrong refraine:
But that the God of iustice doth permit
His seruants, to be subiect vnto it.)
The more afflicted in his worldly state,
The vilest person (worst that find you can)
Most wealthy' and loued most, though worthy hate,
But it is vaine to search Gods mind herein,
Thereof to descant I will not begin.
16. For wisedome made me but behold, mans life more full of care.
15.
Concluding it as I the former did,
I say, that in this life who doth intend,
Himselfe of many combers well to rid,
And to enioy the blisse that earth can giue,
Must cast off care, and seeke in peace to liue.
Which do but multiply a bootlesse care,
And ioy himselfe, when ioy may best be mou'd,
With vse of euery creature, and prepare
To take a plenteous part of them, as gaine
Of all his trauels to him shall remaine.
16.
And man by nature is thereto inclind,
And I my selfe the same did not refuse,
(Euen studies trauell to inrich my mind)
Who knew thereby what studie might attaine,
Or which a forward wit and will might gaine.
And all the accident that world doth yeeld:
Who in my selfe great part of them did try,
On others proofe did likewise knowledge build,
Both day and night applying thereunto
My busie braines, as many others do.
Be'he nere so wise: toile nere so much, their depth cannot be found.
17.
That all my studie was imployd in vaine,
That I in vaine my bookes had turnd and tost,
That my experience did small knowledge gaine,
That out the meanest creature God did make,
I might a new, full many a lesson take.
That we know not the least of truth of them,
That in the principles of art we mis,
That we vniustly name of knowledge claime,
Who only truely know, we nothing know:
As wise men in the end, to see do grow.
CONSIO. III.
Chap. 9.
2. By hap they haue: wise, fooles, good, bad, are subiect to like lot.
1.
I in my former speeches haue begunne,
That I may hit the marke I aymed at,
And so my course vnto your comfort runne,
That I may see that some, haue profit wonne.
The proofes which both by good and bad I make,
Their weale, nor woe, no perfect markes to bee
Of loue or hate of God, from whom we take
All powre, and all successe: and vaine are they
That mens intentions by their issue way.
2.
And like euents to good and bad befall,
To wisest men, as men most grossely blind,
To rich, as poore, and wretchedst man of all,
For in this life you none can happie call.
And marke the most deceitfull man aliue,
Looke on the Athiest most profane by kind,
And holy man, and you shall see them thriue,
Both oft a like, the foule blaspheming wight,
As he that prayes, and serues God day and night.
4. In life is hope, liue dogs, more price (then once dead) Lyons haue.
3.
It is the thing that seemes most strange to me,
That maketh wise men most amazed grow,
And best men most discouraged to bee,
When they their states, as hard as others see.
As subiect vnto paine as wicked men,
Forgotten, be they once in graue below,
Their vertues (as not done) vnthought of then:
So that their cares, and fooles vnquiet dayes,
Both madnesse seeme, both die deuoide of prayse.
4.
That liuing dogge, dead Lyon doth excell,
With princely beast of noble courage bold,
Then, euery barking curre dare sausly mell,
That liuing, durst not come within his smell.
Because he liuing could himselfe relieue:
Life doth in time new hopes and haps vnfold,
But death no hope or earthly hap doth giue;
Time worketh wonders (if our time we take)
Occasion (at our death) doth vs forsake.
6. Their loue & hate is quēcht, the earth more fruit affords thē not.
5.
Whilst yet they liue (and liuing haue the powre
To worke their wils) they proper times do chuse,
To perfect their intent, least death deflowre
Their sweetest hopes, who all things doth deuowre.
The man that now triumphes, to morne to die,
That dead, the foole the wisest will abuse,
And that the wisest then do senslesse lie,
And what vnperfected they left behind,
Neglected, and themselues soone out of mind.
6.
Euen with their liues, expired and at end,
Their hate, their plots of high reuenge and spights,
And euery action that they did pretend,
Dead into graue with them each one descend.
Where they no more the gladsome beames shall see,
Of shining sunne, the comfort of the wights
That in this mortall life yet lingring bee,
Those perturbations ryfe with humane kind,
Their now exchanged state no more shall find.
8. With comely' aray cloth thou thy corps, thou pleasant balmes maist proue.
7.
Thou mayst inioy, I therefore thee aduise,
Vse whilst thou mayest, for death comes speedily,
And crosses vnsuspected oft arise,
As euery mans experience daily tries.
Hurt not, but helpe thou others to thy powre,
And (if God gaue thee meanes aboundantly)
Do not thy selfe the same alone deuoure:
But as God gaue, so freely do thou giue,
Those almes best please, we vse whilst yet we liue.
8.
As some perswade, and onely eat to liue,
Where choyse is set, to chuse in thee it lies,
All things were made for man, God all doth giue,
By bounty vs to thankfulnesse to driue.
For different states of men ordayned were:
For Princes purples, for to please the eyes,
And all the precious gems that earth doth beare;
Yea sweet perfumes, for delicace ordaynd,
(If thou mayst haue them) need not be refraynd.
10. What so thou woldst atchiue dispatch, no works are don in graue.
9.
Which doth delight thy hart, and loue inflame,
If that in lawfull band she proue thy share,
And that vnto thy loue, her loue she frame,
Thou mayst with comfort ioy thee in the same.
Which worldly troubles may on thee inflict,
The sweetest, God or nature could prepare,
Or out of all earths beauties could be pickt,
So great as none can iudge that are vnkind,
And on a single life do set their mind.
10.
In all the world, thou hast a mind vnto,
(So that in vse thereof a measure guide)
Thou art no whit restraind the same to do,
But do it quickly, least death all vndo.
The fury of his force, if once he smight?
To do (what thou woulst do) then take thy tide,
For in the darkesome graue of deadly night
No knowledge, wisedom, powre, there doth remaine,
All is forgot, all purposes are vaine.
12. None knows his houre, as birds in snare are caught, so mē do fall.
11.
The happinesse which I did in part attaine,
But all gaine not the goale, that running bin,
Nor haue the spoyle that fight the field to gaine,
Nor to the wise doth alwayes wealth remaine.
The world, whose wits and industries were good,
Their best indeuours stand on tickle pin,
And consterd are as they are vnderstood,
By such on whom the common wealth doth stay,
And time and chance in each thing beares a sway.
12.
The ordinance of God it should be so,
For well I know, that none can take such heed,
But headlong he into the snare may go,
(Say yea who will) if God alone say no.
And fearelesse fowle that in the ayre are free,
Whose innocencies serue to little steed,
When nets and snares by fraud extended bee:
So man, by time and chance intrapped is,
(If wicked will) though nothing his amis.
14. A city weake of strength and men, by Monarke sieg'd to be.
13.
Improperly we attribute to chance,
His will in time, produceth that to thee
Which thou supposest, fortune did aduance,
So wide, mans wisedome from the truth doth glance.
How to apply thy state, to each euent,
With no aduerse incounter quaild to bee,
But all things take and vse, as God them sent,
And seeing this ingratefull peruerse age,
(By view of others wrongs) thy griefe asswage:
14.
A weake vnfortified citie sieg'd,
By powrefull Prince, who armies great did draw
T'ingirt their wals, and libertie abridge,
That none could scape, though wings were nere so flidge.
By any skirmishes of saly out,
His raised bulwarkes kept them so in awe,
And forside trenches compast so about,
As if the Eagle houering ouer pray,
At pleasure readie were his talents lay.
16. Yet (say I) wisedome more auaild then force: yet boots it not.
15.
A man of small account for wealth or state,
But yet (indeed) both bold and wise was hee,
Who raysd the siege, and so did foes abate,
That towne and people, thereby freedome gate.
(Lo strange vngratitude but common sin)
This worthy man began neglect to bee,
And deeds forgot, as they had neuer bin:
Though all did tast the fruit of his desart,
Not one layd vp his vertues in his hart.
16.
Was such, as I could neuer but admire,
And makes me thinke that they in vaine do fight,
That haue all wealth and powre they can desire,
If pollicie they want, if cause require.
By his apparance outwardly or pealth,
In poore mens words the rich haue small delight,
For they account them fooles that haue not wealth,
Yet at their need, their helpe perforce they vse,
Their owne turne seru'd, to helpe them they refuse.
18. And wisedome passeth powre of armes, & sin brings woes effect.
17.
To be a partiall speech of litle wit,
For tales vnto the foolish wisely told,
Can scarce haue hearing, and small fauour git,
Vnlesse vnto their humors it do fit.
Haue credit, euen as they the truth do know,
I might grow hoarce with preaching if I should,
Seeke some to win to bend vnto my bow:
Few words among the wise, haue greater place,
Then long orations, with vnskilfull race.
18.
That wisedome is a thing of greater powre,
And that a solid reason sooner moues,
If well applyed, in conuenient howre,
Then Cannons shot, that batters on a towre.
(Mistaking or neglecting of his due)
All former wisedome of a man reproues,
And maketh many errors more insue:
For as one bitter herbe the broth doth spill,
So one misdeed may worke to many ill.
[Chap. 10.]
2. Disgrace: but wise men things feresee, though foole insnard he lies.
1.
Dead flies cause to stinke and putrifie the oyntment of the Apothecarie: so doth a little folly him that is in estimation for wisdome and for glory.
Hadst need full warily thy selfe to guide,
For looke how much more high thy fame doth rise,
More sharper censure art thou like to bide,
If in a slender matter thou shouldst slide.
In sweetest droogs Apothecaries make,
Corrupt them so, that men it straight despise,
Which they before, did for most precious take:
So be thou sure one vice shall staine thee more,
Then many vertuous deedes, thee praysd before.
2.
In all assayes, best worthy of esteeme,
Who doth her followers vnto honour bring,
And makes their actions alwayes gracious seeme,
And men their words, like Oracles to deeme.
They find reliefe euen readie at their hand,
When foolish folke (with euery trifle) wring,
And like left-handed helpes amazed stand,
Not knowing how to others helpe to breed,
Nor yet themselues to helpe in time of need.
4. The wise (though Prince offended be) his fitter time he stayes.
3.
They headlong fall, and neuer see the same,
If once they misse the vsuall common way,
Vnto a better course they cannot frame,
But lie and perish to their lasting shame.
Nor to conceale their fault from any one,
Nay they will blase their shame (say who will nay)
To euery one, though done a part alone,
Yea they will boast thereof, and it defend,
If that the standers by will hearing lend.
4.
Be not dismayd, but vse thou wisedome then,
Giue them the honour, for their place is fit,
And then remember that they are but men,
And vse good words, as wisedome teacheth when.
Vnto a plient patience, more to heare,
And patience, fauour more in time begits;
And time forgetfulnesse, if thou forbeare,
And mild forbearance, makes thy fault the lesse,
And him his fault (if grace he haue) confesse.
6. The foole aduanst, the rich and wise reiected most of all.
5.
Nay rather often times it fayleth quight,
(A thing I cannot mend, though it I rue,
And is the thing I hold the greatest spight,
That euer may to common wealth alight.)
And should be guides to other men in good,
Should all the vices of the world insue,
And may not be by any meanes withstood;
By whose examples, many others fall
To ruine; as do shrubs with Cedar tall.
6.
If folly sit in seat of excellence,
Like will to like, and as the bad arise,
Downe goes the good, and vertue 'is banisht thence,
(For wicked ones in wicked seeke defence.)
May wander for protection and for ayde,
For euery one her merits will despise,
Because like gifts, their natures haue denayd,
Thus topsie turnie euery thing will grow,
As cart, the horse: the sterue, ships way should show.
8. But who layes snares, himselfe may fall: and pricks in hedges try.
7.
Then what is oftentimes before your eye?
When you on cockhorse see a prauncing those,
Whose birth and qualities you may despise,
Whilst wise and noble both contemned lies.
In seruing such as know not true desart,
A worser life there could be no way chose,
Or that could more torment an honest hart:
For where shall they expect their paines reward,
Which they to foole all readie see is shard.
8.
To yeeld all honor where God honor giues,
But yet oppressors should in time repent,
For God in heauen a iudge for euer liues,
And to confusion wicked worldlings driues.
And makes them fall into the pit they cast,
Whilst they indeuour others to preuent,
The Serpents sting to martyr them as fast:
For fraud with fraud, is oftentimes repayd,
And wicked snard, in grin for others layd.
10. By slight & force men may do much, but blunt wits cut like lead.
9.
For such as alter auncient bounds of land,
If that poore pilfring hedge-breakers be sure
To sit in stockes, if owners vnderstand,
And euery crime is punisht out of hand.
The mightie ones, to tread the weaker downe,
Nay God the king of kings will not endure,
But in his wrath on them will fiercely frowne,
For though his patient suffring doth excell,
(Yet moued long) he striketh downe to hell.
10.
To hurt of neighbour, or to proper shame,
But let him do the thing he findeth fit,
And let him wisely his intentions frame,
So shall lesse toyle, more sweet insue the same.
Of doubled strength to make it pierce aright,
Yet will (with all thy paines) scarce cut awhit,
Vnlesse thou ioyne thy skill vnto thy might:
So in all actions reason must be guide,
Else no good issue will the same betide.
12. Himselfe he doth deuour: whilst words of wise men do delight.
11.
How thou dost guide thy tongue in any case,
Wherein to find a wise man, it is rare,
Licentious speech hath now so common place,
And slanderous tongues, do find such speciall grace.
Whilst they vncharmed lye in wait for man,
More daungerously do sting: or do prepare
More present poyson, then vile slander can,
If it haue hearing once, and credit lent,
It will destroy the saint most innocent.
12.
Spares no man, nor regardeth what it sayth,
It cuts like to a razor which is whet,
And prickes himselfe which rashly with it playth,
And him that so it vseth, fond bewrayth.
With modestie, and vnto matter good,
Out of their lips no vaine vntruths they let,
They speake distinctly to be vnderstood,
And words accompany'd with matter graue,
For which of all they commendations haue.
14. Increasing words of future things, strange questions he defends.
13.
And with their will they all the words will haue,
They loue to heare themselues, and will defend
Their follies, euen before the wise and graue,
And thinke they (brauely) do themselues behaue.
With vaine and foolish talkes, or lying toyes,
But in the middle they to mischiefe bend,
In fine with madnesse ends he, and annoyes
The honest eare and soule, that heares him speake,
And them compell his senslesse tale to breake.
14.
To highest points of learning and of skill,
In deepe points of diuinitie he showes,
That with best learned clarke compare he will,
And all the world with paradoxes fill.
He prophecies of things yet long to come,
With super-naturall skill he ouerflowes,
And in each science seemeth to haue some,
When silly wretch, his knowledge is but small,
For in those points, the best knowe nought at all.
16. O wretched land, ruld by such child, whose peeres do feast by day.
15.
To vexe their braines, with things for them to hie,
They know that future things none vnderstand,
Yet they their faculties therein will try,
Such wise fooles (fondly wise) the world hath many.
As with the blind that would the seeing guide,
As if one wandring in an vncouth land,
Would those instruct, the way dwell hard beside:
They silly fooles, know not their next way home,
And yet their wits would ouer all things rome.
16.
But speciall wo be to thee land, where they
Do beare the Scepter, least they all do marre,
As ill as infants when they beare the sway,
Who not themselues, much lesse thy state can stay.
If that thy Magistrates (who should aduise
Their Prince in highest points of peace or warre)
To banqueting and surfets early rise,
Neglecting common good, which first of all
With temperate braine, they should to counsell call.
18. By sloth the house decays, & rain through top of roofe doth driue.
17.
Of pedegree of Emp'rors and of Kings
Of auncient honor, which to vertue bends;
Whose rule both peace and plenty to thee brings,
Where through thy fame, mōgst forrē regions rings.
Of noble Peeres and wise, whose watchfull eyes
Thy subiects from all forren foes defends,
And ciuill broyles that might at home arise,
Such do in temperate wise their plentie vse,
And feed for strength, and plenty not abuse.
18.
The land, the treasury of wealths encrease:
Vnto the needy they do worke procure,
And see the poore, with wealthy liue in peace,
And all oppression in the land to cease.
Doth to the people courage giue to toyle,
Gaines to themselues a fame shall aye indure,
Giues to the foe the most disgracefull foyle;
All this with paine and diligence is wonne,
Slouth ruines all, makes all to hauock ronne.
20. Curse not thy king or Peeres in thought, lest birds the same descry.
19.
And peace, of plentie that thou mayest feed,
Thou feedst by them, of best on earth hath growne,
Of fatlings, which thy flocks and heards do breed,
To recreate thy soule at time of need.
They do inrich the land with purest quine,
By which thy trafficke farre and neere is knowne,
And Indian gems, and Arabian drugs are thine,
Gold gayneth all, and Ophire gold thou hast,
Then happie thou, if hap in wealth be plast.
20.
By whom so many benefits we find,
Their many merits, many thankes do craue,
Each honest hart to reuerent loue they bind,
And base backbiters only are vnkind.
The Magistrate should reuerenced bee,
The lawes of man the bounds vnto thee gaue
Of words and deeds, but God the thought doth see,
In deed then, word, and thought them honor aye,
Least flying fowles of ayre, thy guilt bewray.
[Chap. 11.]
2. To seuen & seuen, giue if they need earths wants are great behind
1.
In vsing wealth, then getting of the same,
And that the bounteous mind is most admir'd,
Doth profit others most, and gaines best name,
I therefore wish thereto thy hart to frame.
Nor too respectiue vnto whom to giue,
Some I haue seene for shame haue not desyrde
An almes, whom greatest need to craue might driue:
Though water powred in the sea seeme vaine,
Yet needlesse gift, a gratefull hart may gaine.
2.
Such gifts, I rather bribes, then gifts do call,
Some feare to giue, least they themselues may try
Like want ere long: and so giue nought at all,
Some sometimes giue, but yet their gifts are small.
Vnaskt, sometimes if crau'd, to none denide,
Let none lacke (to thy powre) in need that lye,
And to preuent their need, some goods deuide,
For God all bountie is, and so should we
Dispose our goods, if like him we would be.
4. Who sowes and reapes by rules of wind, but little land he plow'th.
3.
Fro out the deaw-fild clouds on earth distill,
So long as any drops in them remaine,
Wherewith earths dryed cesterns vp to fill,
So in thy almes be thou as forward still.
And euery tree and shrub of deaw hath part,
So thinke thou not thy gift bestowd in vaine,
To whom or when so ere thou giuing art:
And if thy store be great, more mayst thou spend,
If lesse, yet some, vnto more needy lend.
4.
Let euery season for it proper seeme,
The husbandmen that most in skill excell,
Though sometimes they to sow more fit do deeme,
Yet to be too precise, vnfit esteeme.
And feareth euery cloud that is in sky,
But little corne shall sow or reape to sell,
If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby:
So giue thou when thou maist, and thinke thy store
Increast thereby, no whit impaird the more.
6. Thē morn & euen, sow thou thy seed: God knows which best shalbe
5.
The present blessings that thou dost possesse,
Thy charitable workes, from heauen doth see.
And will thy labours in due season blesse,
If thou thy faith, by neighbours loue expresse.
Conceiued are, do grow, do liue, do feed,
And be by birth in time from prison free,
By meanes vnknowne, to mothers them that breed,
Se be assur'd, that God which it hath wrought,
Can wealth restore, by meanes to thee vnthought.
6.
Then do vnto thy power, some almes deed,
Without some others good, let no day slide,
So oft as thou canst find a man hath need,
And who this can performe, is blest indeed.
To know to whom, and when to giue is best,
But who for pittie giues, and not for pride,
Though needlesly some fall among the rest,
Yet some (no doubt) is blessedly bestowd,
And in thy will of good, good worke is showd.
8. Though long life last, yet death maks hast: & times do vainly run.
7.
And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse,
Giue while thou mayst, so mayst thou find in fine,
Well sau'd, what well was spent in liuing dayes,
(For godly worke, with God aye present stayes.)
To death, the end of euery liuing thing:
To yeeld to death, yet needst thou not repine,
If liuing thou to man, no good canst bring:
And hauing left some good by life to men,
More welcome death may be vnto thee then.
8.
And life doth but prepare a man to die,
Liues cares, a daily death in vs renue,
To worke in vs consent to death hereby,
Which else no flesh (with patience) sure would try.
Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight,
Cannot perswade him but that this is true,
That lightsome day will turne to darksome night,
That times most long haue end and what doth vade,
Is little better then a very shade.
10. To clense thy hart, & wicked flesh: graue age, vain youth doth cal.
9.
In youth, in beauty, strength, or wealthy store,
Let him delight himselfe, in vse of these,
And cheare his hart (as cause he hath) therefore
Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore.
That God alone remayneth euer fure,
That only vertue with vs longest stayes,
And can eternall blessednesse procure,
When to the iudgement of a God seuere,
Our workes must come, who all in mind doth beare.
10.
Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind,
The fierce assaults, in death that for vs stay,
And but by faith can strong resistance find,
Since all our other workes come short behind.
And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue,
Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May,
But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue,
But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine,
When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine.
Chap. 12.
Ere croked age all pleasure to thy lothed life denayes.
1.
And as the tree doth fall so shall it rise,
(Whilst yet thou mayst) prepare a quiet way
Vnto thy soule, which in such danger lies,
If thou in time reliefe do not deuise.
Heauen is the harbor, where thy soule doth dwell,
Let not thy hope on earth then longer stay,
But it and workes thereof from hart expell,
Delay no time in hope long life to haue,
Youth may, age must, ere long time go to graue.
Then cloth thy selfe accordingly therefore,
The clogs of worldly loue and lust forsake,
And thinke them burdens to thee euermore,
And in thy life, haue lights of vertue store.
From sinnes of youth, hart burdensome in age,
Remember God account of thee will take,
If thy repentance not his wrath asswage,
Yea leaue thou sinne, ere lust leaue tempting thee,
Thy abstinence else, cannot vertue bee.
3. Whilst keepers of thy house are strong, whose pillers stedfast are.
2.
(Through which their senses did affection proue)
No maruell now, if they take lesse delight
In vaine prospects which they tofore did loue,
Since they the meanes do want doth liking moue.
Can yeeld small comfort to the senslesse corse,
When all thy ioynts begin by day and night,
Do tyre thy life, and breed the soules remorse,
No maruell if thou then, proue continent,
But thou shouldst temp'rance euen in youth frequent.
3.
Wherein thy soule doth soiourne as a guest,
Thy comely body which erecteth aye,
The thought and eyes to heauen as mansion blest,
Grow feeble, and therein thou find no rest.
And brainefalne thighes, and legs bend vnder thee,
When lamed limbs on others strength must stay,
And crouches (in their steed) of force must bee,
What time thou twise a child, shalt weary grow,
That thou the strength of youth didst euer know.
4. And dore shut vp, thy grinding iaws, to chaw haue lost their might.
Those Iuorie teeth which do thy food prepare,
Which lost or loose, their labours not auayle,
But broths and minst-meats must become thy share,
And sharpned knife, thy toothlesse gums must spare.
Whose watchfull sight thy Centinell should bee,
When (christall humor failing) they shall quayle,
And spectacles must teach them now to see,
Or closed windowes force thee take thy leaue
Of worlds vaine shades, which did the soule deceaue.
4.
(In which well formed words should fashion haue)
And corrall lips which haue their portall bin,
And plyant tongue which elocution gaue,
Now faltering signes, for interpretors do craue.
The repercussion causing sweet resound)
Stand firme on rocke of their iaw ioyning chin,
Through which they gracious passage somtimes sound,
And form'd that powrefull gift of eloquence,
The root of sweet content and sharp offence.
5. And high assents, do make thee feard, and almonds bud on face.
Vnto thy tyred bones, and carefull mind,
And comfortlesse the longsome night thou lye
In bed (thy graue) for ease tofore assignd,
And starts at each birds chirpe, or puffe of wind.
Restraine the passage of thy breathing voyce,
Wherewith (resembling heauens true harmony)
Thy musicke notes vsed eares and hearts reioyce,
In liew whereof should hollow coffes succeede,
Which in corrupted loongs obstructions breed.
5.
And clamber small assents on hand and knee,
And stumbling at each straw lyes in the way,
A spectacle of feeble nature bee,
To all that doth thy fearefull fashion see.
Euen griesly haires do blossome on thy chin,
(Which for most part declyning state bewray,
As Almond bud, showes sommer to begin)
Prepare thy selfe, for death the haruest due,
Which after spring time, must of course insue.
Consume, for sure concupiscence, with age doth weare to dust.
Begin to want the wings of warmed blood,
And that thy body yeeld (as once it must)
To age, by which that humor is withstood,
To leaue the vse thereof I thinke it good.
The wanton Grashopper doth quickly grow,
And singes in haruest tide vntill he brust,
So doth lusts pleasure vanish ere you know,
Like to Ephemeris, that Tanaish flie,
Morne bred, noone borne, that very night to die.
Which touched once, straight vnto dust do fall,
Are more deceitfull then this sinne in show,
Nor yet that fruit which first deceiu'd vs all,
Although regard thereof we haue but small.
If that accesse of nutriment abound,
But in a moment straight it waxeth low,
As by experience hath bene euer found:
Not Ammons (of faire Thamor) foule desyre
So fierce, but quencht, with loathing did retyre.
6. Thy siluer cord and golden ewre, and liues pure cesterne worne,
The common cankor of the best concait,
Most powrefull passion that doth reason blind,
And to more brutish sins, th'alluring bait,
And thinke on death which doth on thee awaight.
That thou art in the way vnto thy graue,
Take heed that death thee vnprepar'd not find,
But so in all thy life, thy selfe behaue,
As if thou were the man whose turne is next,
And wouldst not with a sudden death be vext.
6.
Or that thy radick humors all be spent,
That cramps do siluer cords of raynes assaile,
And natures intercourse no more be sent
From liuer hart and braine as earst it went.
And pulslesse leaue thy ouer emptie vaine,
Before the (cesterne made for liues auaile)
Thy stomake now no sustenance retaine,
But all the wheles of nature lacking strength
To giue them motion, they do faile at length.
8. For all is vaine (the preacher saith) and all will vs forsake.
7.
And flesh dissolued turneth vnto dust,
Then yeeld thereto, before perforce thou bend,
And in thy strength of youth repose no trust,
Nor place thy ioy in earth or earthly lust.
From God, first mouer of all life and grace,
Who therefore doth chiefe interest pretend
In thee and it, and will thy soule imbrace,
Amidst the heauens of his eternall rest,
If faith and loue haue once thy way adrest.
8.
The proposition that I first did make,
That earthly things are vaine in vse and view,
That in them we, can not sound comfort take,
And that in th'end we must them all forsake.
And vertue is the way to happinesse,
Which after death, doth life againe renue,
A life more happie then the world can gesse,
When we shall liue from lewd affections free,
And in that world no vaine delights shall bee.
His people knowledge, for their good, in all his words he sought.
9.
He wrote, for more he knew the more he taught,
Whereby themselues the godly sort might guide,
Vnto the wisedome which they wrongly sought,
And he with care and study dearely bought.
In prouerbs and in adages for skill,
So sound that they worlds censure may abide,
And to a ciuill life reduce thee will,
Without offence of lawes, and with content
Of such with whom thou daily shalt frequent.
He many volumes did compose likewise,
Not curious workes as some profanely will,
Of Alcumy, or iudgements which arise
By heauenly motions, farre aboue the skies.
Within the lawfull bounds of Gods decree,
And therefore many volumes he did fill
With medcinable vse, of things which bee
Abstracted out, of tree, shrub, mettall, stone,
Of beast, fish, fowle, and creatures euery one.
10. And with adorned words, to them he doubly grace did giue.
Aboue the common pitch of earthly men,
And so inflamed were his thoughts thereby,
With holy liking of his loue as then,
That he could not containe his gratefull pen.
The prayses of his sacred soules delight,
In whom sweet peace and loue he did espy,
Which from him, loue of world did banish quight;
Among the which that song of songs by name,
Describes her beautie, did him so inflame.
10.
To teach the world to know how farre they stray,
That do by earthly helpes a meane inuent
To leade their liues vnto a happie day,
Since nature wholy doth the same denay.
And hardly may amongst most wise haue place)
By this most pleasant stile, about he went
To giue to naked truth a comely grace:
For hardly can corrupted man digest
Right wholesome food, vnlesse it well be drest.
12. Vaine bookes and reading shun, they weariness of flesh do bring.
11.
Well fraught with matter couched well by art,
Adornd with words, and figures (whence arise
Content vnto the eare, and moue the hart)
Most soone do worke impressions in each part.
The mind resolued in such fownded ground,
Than any planke or post you can deuise,
With nayle (by hammers) forced nere to sound;
And such this princely Prophets words esteeme,
Which are more waighty far, theē thou woulst deeme.
12.
Which louingly he wrote, I bring to thee,
Be neuer from thy hart so farre exild,
That with the world againe sedust thou bee,
Wherein is nought but wretchednesse you see.
Else is your learning vnto little end,
These many bookes where with this world is fild,
Do slender profit to the readers lend,
Which stuft with words of superficiall show,
But little fruit by them to world doth grow.
14. For God wil iudge ech work, & bring our secret thoghts to vew.
13.
To know the will of God, and it obserue;
To know his will, and yet to walke amis,
A double chastisement must needs deserue,
Then feare henceforth therefro so oft to swarue.
But such as gratefull child to parent owes,
VVho though he feele the smart, the rod will kisse,
Because the fruit of fathers loue he knowes;
And this doth God require of man indeed,
That our obedience should from loue proceed.
14.
When God the searcher of the heart and raines,
Shall vnto reckning with vs for them fall,
And pay our passed ioyes with lasting paines;
For sinfull worke no other guerdon gaines.
VVhose heedfull liues, in holy workes were spent,
The gaine of this their trauell, is not small;
For blessed they the narrow path that went.
And though this narrow gate few enter in,
Yet who runs on this race, the prize shall win.
Adue to worlds vaine delight.
Ye worlds delights (blind guides to blisse) adue,VVeake helpes, which fit a carnall vaine desire:
My soule can find but comfort small in you,
Though (as true blisse) profane sort you admire.
My soule doth will my thoughts from ye retire,
In faith to place my hope of firmer stay;
To gaine true blisse, lesse toyle it doth require,
Then worlds vaine pleasure doth, by farre away.
Your false and fickle grounds do well bewray,
Your liking, base effect of fond desire:
The earth (your seat) doth perfectnesse denay.
My soules true hope (inspir'd with heauenly fire)
There seekes to liue, where blisse is firme and true,
And by reformed life, would heauen pursue.
Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse, as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer; by the same Author.
Psalmes 27.
The Lord he is my sauing light, whom should I therefore feare?He makes my foes to fall, whose teeth would me in sunder teare.
Though hosts of men besiege my soule, my heart shall neuer dread:
So that within his Court and sight, my life may still be lead.
For in his Church from trouble free, he shall me keepe in hold:
In spight of foes his wondrous prayse, my song shall still vnfold.
Haue mercie (Lord) therefore on me, and heare me when I cry;
Thou badst me looke with hope on thee, for helpe to thee I fly.
In wrath therefore hide not thy face, but be thou still my aide;
Though parents fayle, thou wilt assist, thy promise so hath said.
Teach me thy truth, and thy right path, least that the enemy
Preuaile against my life, whose tongues intrap me trecherously.
My heart would faint for feare, vnlesse my faith did build on thee,
My hope, my God, and comforts strength, who will deliuer mee.
Psalme. 71.
In thee (ô Lord) I trust, therefore from shame deliuer mee;Performe thy promise, saue thou me, who call for helpe to thee.
Be thou my rocke of strength and shield, whose powre is great & might.
Deliuer me from wicked men, and put my foes to flight.
For in thee onely from my youth, haue I my trust reposd;
Thou hast had care of me, whilst yet in wombe I was inclosd.
Thee will I praise, who art my helpe, when men at me do scorne;
My mouth thy mercies still records, who helpst the mind forlorne.
In time of age forsake me not, or when my strength doth faile,
Least that the counsels of my foes, against my soule preuaile.
Who say, my God hath me forgot; they therefore me pursue:
But be thou Lord at hand to me, who canst my strength renue.
Shame and reproch let be their share, which my destruction seeke;
But on thee alwayes will I waite, with humble hart and meeke.
My mouth thy mercies shall rehearse, whose measure doth excell:
And in thy trust my steps shall walke, and tongue thy truth shall tell.
Euen from my youth thou hast me taught, thy wonders well I know:
And whilst I liue, (if thou assist) I will thy iudgements show.
Thy iustice Lord I will exalt: whose workes are like to thine?
Who threw'st me downe, and raisd me vp, who else in dust had leine.
Thou canst mans honor soone increase, and shew thy chearefull faces
Vpon the Vyall will I sing thy prayse, ô God, of grace.
My lips shall ioy to talke of thee, who hast my safety wrought:
My freed soule, shall still confesse, who hath my safety bought.
Psalme. 119.
[Part. 1.]
Blessed are those whose wayes are right, and in Gods lawes do walke,Whose heart obeyeth to his will, and lips thereof do talke.
Such do not worke iniquitie, but so their wayes direct,
That in their life, by straying steps thy lawes they not neglect.
O would to God, my deedes therefore, so straightly I might frame,
That with regard of thy precepts, I might be free from blame;
Then shold I prayse with vpright hart, thy righteous iudgemēts known
Which whilst I study to obserue, Lord let thy helpe be showne.
Part. 2.
By looking to thy lawes, most soone a man may perfect grow.Since then my heart hath sought the same, astray let me not go.
Thy promises in mind I beare, which me from shine withdraw:
Thou gracious God and blessed guide, teach me thy perfect law:
My tongue hath testifi'd thy prayse, and iustice thou doest vse:
To follow freely thy beheast, I'le worldly wealth refuse.
For of thee will I meditate, and studie whilst I liue;
And to obey thy iust precepts, my mind will wholly giue.
Part. 3.
Be gracious to thy seruant Lord, giue life and powre to mee;Open my eyes, that of thy lawes, I may the wonders fee.
I am a stranger vpon earth, hide not from me thy will:
My heart doth swell with hoat desire to know thy iudgements still.
Thou hast destroyd the proud, and curst are they which go astray:
Shame and contempt yet take from me, who keepe thy lawes alway.
Though Princes hate me for thy truth, yet will I thee obay:
Thy lawes shall be my studie still, and comfort night and day.
Part. 4.
My soule with sorrow is opprest, giue me thy promist aide:Thou knowst my sinnes I do confesse, thy wrath makes me affraid.
But teach thou me thy truth, that I thy wonders may admire:
For shame of sinne so daunts my hope, it dares not helpe desire.
If thou redresse my blinded steps, and teach to me thy will,
Thy ordinances will I keepe, and looke vpon them still.
Thou art the portion I do chuse, ô Lord confound me not,
But guide my steps to run that race, the which thy lawes alot.
Part. 5.
Teach thou thy statutes vnto me, that I may keepe them all;Giue thou the knowledge of thy will, and turne my hart withall
Direct me in thy path, ô Lord, therein is my delight:
Incline my mind vnto thy word, and sinne put thou to flight.
Turne thou my eyes from vanities, and do thou quicken mee:
Performe thy promise made to me, whose hope depends on thee.
Preuent the shame I feare, because thy iudgements all are iust;
Behold I would performe thy will, thy grace relieue me must.
Part 6.
Then let thy promise kindly made (O Lord) fulfilled be:So shall I scuse my iust rebuke, and giue the praise to thee,
Take not away from me thy truth, for on thee I attend;
But let my lips speake of thy praise, vntill my life doe end.
My feete shall freely follow thee, vntill the truth I find.
I will not shame, to Kings thy truth to preach, with constant mind;
Yea all my solace shall be still, my loue of thee t'expresse:
My lifted handes vnto the heauens, thy glory shall confesse.
Part. 7.
Remember then thy promise made, wherein thy seruant trusts;In trouble it doth comfort me, my soule thereafter lusts.
The wicked haue derided me, thy lawes yet haue I kept:
I cald to minde thy iudgements past, whereby in peace I slept.
Sorrow and feare afflicted me, to see how wicked men
Thy lawes transgresse, in pilgrims life yet sing I to thee then:
In darknesse and by night thy name and lawes I keepe and feare;
Which blessing thou bestowed on me, thy will in mind to beare,
Part. 8.
O Lord thou art my portion, I thy law will still obserue;My hearty prayers made to thee, and promise thine preserue,
I haue reform'd my wayes, and will to thy behests obay:
With speed I will my life amend, and make no more delay.
The wicked haue inticed me, but I will turne againe:
At midnight will I rise to pray, till iustice I attaine.
My company shall such be still, as do thy precepts know;
Thy mercie fils the earth ô Lord, to me thy pleasure show.
Part. 9.
According to thy word (ô Lord) thou graciously hast dealt;Teach wisedome to thy seruant Lord, who in thy law hath dwelt:
Before I felt thy scourge, as then my feete did go astray,
But gracious God direct me now, that keepe thy lawes I may.
The proud against me worke deceipt, yet will I follow thee:
Their hart on folly feedes, thy lawes yet shall my comfort bee.
This fruit affliction brought to me, which made me learne thy law,
A greater treasure my mind, then heretofore I law.
Part. 10.
Thy hand heth fashioned me, therefore teach me thy holy will:So shall thy seruants all reioyce, and I obey thee still:
Thy iudgements Lord (I graunt) are iust, I did thy wrath deserue;
Haue mercie yet and pardon me, thy promise cannot swarue.
Lord let me liue I thee beseech, thy law is my delight:
Bring thou to shame my foes, and driue the wicked out of sight;
And let thy seruants all behold, thy mercies showd to me,
Who walking in thy statutes iust, shall not ashamed be.
Part. 11.
My soule is almost faint for feare, yot on thy word I trustMy eyes are dim with looking sore; send me thy comfort iust.
My bones are withered with despaire, till thou thy promise pay:
My life is short, thy iustice on the wicked Lord betrays,
By fraud they seeke to take my life, contrary vnto right;
But thou art iust, vniust are they, therefore put them to flight.
They had almost consumed me, my faith yet did not faint:
Reuiue thou me, and with thy truth, my mouth I will acquaint.
Part. 12.
O Lord thy word immutable in heauen doth still indure:Thy truth from euer was, thou laidst the earths foundation sure.
All things continue at a stay, and do thy people serue:
Vnlesse thy word did comfort me, my faith with griefe would sterue.
I neuer therefore will forget, thy lawes which quicken me;
I am thy seruant, saue thou me, who vnto thee do flye.
The wicked seeke me to destroy, but in thoe will I trust,
Thy truth endures for aye, but elso all things returne to dust.
Part. 13.
So much I loue thy law ô Lord, I studie on it still:Thy grace beyond my enimies doth me with true knowledge fill.
I better vnderstand thy will, then they which do me teach;
I better know thy lawes to keepe, then they which should them preach.
That I thy word might keepe; my feete refraine each euill way:
My iudgement grees vnto thy law, which taught me what to say.
Then hony combe vnto my tast, thy word is far more sweet,
Thereby thy will I learne and falshood shun at most vnmeet.
Part. 14.
Thy word is light vnto my feete, and guides me in my way:My hart hath sworne, I will performe, thy statutes night and day.
My soule is sore opprest ô Lord do thou me ioy now send;
Teach me thy will, so, my request a gratefull hearing lend,
Though I in daunger daily be, thy lawes I not forget,
But keepe them still, while me to snare, the prow'd a bayt haue see.
They are the portion I haue chose, they are my harts delight;
My hart is vowd thy lawes to keepe with all my power and might.
Part. 15.
Thy word I loue, but do detest the vanities of minde:My shield thou art, my refuge safe, in whom I trust do finde.
Away from me ye wicked men, my God alone I serue,
He will performe my hope, his word from truth doth neuer swerue.
Support thou me, then am I safe, in thee is all my trust:
Thou hast supprest the proud, and such as follow worldly lust.
I loue thee Lord, because thou doest from earth the vaine remoue,
Yet do I feare thy iudgements Lord, which shall my sinnes reproue.
Part. 16.
Let me not then oppressed be, I iustice do obserue:Plead thou my cause gainst wicked men, which frō thy will do swerue
My eyes are dim with longing Lord to see thy promist ayde;
Teach me my God, and let thy seruant be with mercy payd.
I wait on thee, let me therefore of wisedome thine haue part:
Helpe Lord in time, for all the world do from thy lawes depart.
Yet do I thy precepts esteeme, more then the richest gold:
Most iust: are they, but such I hate as vnto sinne are sold.
Part. 17.
Thy testimonies I admire on them my soule doth muse:The wayes thereto do shine so bright, the simple it may chuse.
The zeale I bare vnto thy law, did make my hart to moue,
Looke on me then in mercy Lord, because thy law I loue.
Direct my deedes, so that no sinne may beare in me a sway:
I keepe thy will, to wicked men let me not be a pray.
Thy shining face vnto me turne, thy statutes teach thou mee:
With teares my eyes do daily flow, because they trespasse thee.
Part. 18.
Thou righteous God, most iust indeed thy iudgements all are found;To truth aud equitie alone, thy lawes thy seruants bound.
My zeale doth burne, because my foes thy lawes haue cleane forgot,
Thy word we finde most pure, and I haue chose it to my lot.
Though I be poore and in contempt, I do remember well,
Thy righteous precepts, which for aye, in glorious truth excell.
Anguish and cares vpon me come, thy law yet do I loue:
Teach me thy truth, that I may liue eternally aboue.
Part. 19.
Heare me ô Lord, to thee I cry, thy statutes I will keepe:Saue me, and grant that in thy house, I may in safetie sleepe.
Before the twylight vnto thee I call, and wait thy will:
By night I watch, to meditate and studie of thee still.
Heare me ô gracious God in time, and quicken thou my spright:
They are at hand that hate thy law, and me pursue with spight.
Thy promises assure me Lord, that thou art nigh at hand:
I knew long since thy high decree, should firme for euer stand.
Part. 20.
Behold my sorrowes then and helpe: thy pleasure I obay;Plead thou my cause, deliver me, vpon thy word I stay:
The wicked they are farre from helpe, which do not thee regard:
But for thy seruants we do know, thy mercy is prepard.
Many they are that me pursue, yet will I follow thee:
I see the wicked scorne thy word, and much it grieueth mee.
Consider Lord my loue to thee; so quicker thou my mynde:
For, from for aye, thy word of truth, and righteousnesse I finde.
Part. 21.
Princes of might do me pursue, yet onely thee I feare:Thy word delights my hart, as if my richesse great it weare.
Thy law I loue, but do abhorre all falshood and deceit.
Seauen times a day I praise thy name, and on thee alwayes wait.
The keepers of thy law, shall stand from danger alwayes free;
I keepe thy heasts, because I hope thy sauing health to see.
Yea for the loue I beare to them, I will them not transgresse.
Thou seest (ô Lord) in all my wayes, thy name I do confesse.
Part. 22.
Let then my plaint before thee come, and be thou still my guide:Giue eare vnto my sute, and let thy promise firme abide.
When thou hast me thy statutes taught, my lips shal speake thy praise;
My tongue shall tell thy word of truth, and walke thy righteons wayes.
Helpe with thy hand, for I entend, thy precepts to pursue:
Thy sauing helpe and law I seeke, Lord do my faith renue.
Let liue my soule, to praise thy name, thy mercie me vphold.
I feare thy law, then clense my sinnes, and bring me to thy fold.
Psalme. 121.
Vnto the hils I lift my eyes, from whence my helpe shall grow;Euē to the Lord which fram'd the heauens, & made the deeps below.
He will not let my feete to slip, my watchman neither sleepes.
Behold the Lord of Israell still his flocke in safety keepes.
The Lord is my defence, he doth about me shadow cast;
By day nor night, the Sunne nor Moone, my limbs shall burne or blast.
He shall preserue me from all ill, and me from sinne protect;
My going in and comming forth, he euer shall direct.
Psalme. 130.
From pit of deepe perplexities to thee for helpe I cry,O Lord giue eare vnto my plaint, and aide me speedily.
If strictly thou my sinnes behold; ô Lord, what flesh is iust?
But mercy proper is to thee, and thereto do we trust.
Vpon thy promise I attend, thy word is alwayes true,
With morning and with euening watch, I will my sute renue.
Thy seruant must depend on thee, in thee is mercie found,
Thou wilt redeeme their soules from death, thy grace doth so abound.
Lords Prayer.
Ovr Father which in heauen art, Lord halowed be thy name.Thy knigdome come: thy will be done, in heauen and earth the same:
Giue vs this day our daily bread: our trespasses forgiue,
As we for other mens offence, do freely pardon giue:
Into temptation leade vs not, but liuer vs from ill.
For thine all kingdome, glory, powre, is now and euerwill.
Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher | ||