The Digestion of the whole History.
1 In Prosperity.
Thou, whose lank fortunes heav'n hath swel'd with store,
Make not thy selfe, by over-wishing, poore,
Husband that good, which else, abuse makes bad,
Abstracting, where thy base desire would adde:
Lines flowing from a Sophoclean quill,
Deserve no Plaudit, being acted ill.
2 In Adversity.
Hath heav'n withdrawn the talent he hath giv'n thee
Hath envious Death of all thy Sons bereaven thee?
Have foule Diseases foil'd thee on the floore?
He earnes no sweet, that never tasted sowre:
Thou art a Scholler; if thy Tutor doe
Pose thee too hard, he will instruct thee too.
3 In Tentation.
Art thou oppos'd to thine unequall Foe?
March bravely on; thy Gen'rall bids thee goe;
Thou art heav'ns Champion to maintain his right;
Who cals thee forth, wil give thee strength to fight.
God seekes, by conquest, thy renowne, for He
Will win enough: Fight thou, or Faint, or Flee.
4 In Slander.
If Winter fortunes nip thy Summer Friends,
And tip their tongues with Censure, that offends
Thy tender Name, despaire not, but be wise,
Know Heaven selecteth, whom the world denies:
Thou hast a milke-white Thisby that's within thee,
Will take thy part when all the world's agin thee.
5 In Re-advancement.
Art thou advanc'd to thy supreme desier?
Be still the same; Feare Lower, aime no higher:
Mans Play hath many Sceanes, but in the last,
Heaven knits up all, to sweeten all that's past:
Affliction is a Rod, to scourge us home,
An' a painfull earnest of a Heaven to come.
