Times Cvrtaine Drawne or The Anatomie of Vanitie. With other choice poems, Entituled; Health from Helicon. By Richard Brathwayte |
 |
|
|
| 1. |
An Elegie, Entituled Bound yet free, speaking of the benefit of Imprisonment. |
| 2. |
 | Times Cvrtaine Drawne |  |
An Elegie, Entituled Bound yet free, speaking of the benefit of Imprisonment.
Thou whom we call liues death, Captiuity,
Yet canst contemplate in the darkest cell
Of thingst aboue the reach of vanitie,
Doest in my iudgement Libertie excell,
In that thou teachest Man to mortifie
His indisposed passions, and canst well
Direct him how to mannage his estate,
Confin'd to th'narrow Prospect of thy grate.
Yet canst contemplate in the darkest cell
Of thingst aboue the reach of vanitie,
Doest in my iudgement Libertie excell,
In that thou teachest Man to mortifie
His indisposed passions, and canst well
Direct him how to mannage his estate,
Confin'd to th'narrow Prospect of thy grate.
Hee sees the passage of this Globe of earth,
And makes right vse of what his sight partakes;
Some hee obserues expresse a kinde of mirth,
Of which hee this dew application makes;
If they did know the miserie of Birth,
With Deaths approch, they would not hazard stake
Of soules eternall glorie for a day
Of present Ioy, which one houre takes away.
And makes right vse of what his sight partakes;
Some hee obserues expresse a kinde of mirth,
Of which hee this dew application makes;
If they did know the miserie of Birth,
With Deaths approch, they would not hazard stake
Of soules eternall glorie for a day
Of present Ioy, which one houre takes away.
Others he heares, bemoning of the losse
Of some deare friend, or 't may be not so well,
Decrease of Fortune, or some other crosse,
Which to forgoe they deeme a second Hell,
(So firmely fixed be their mindes on drosse)
As nought smells well, but what of gaine doth smell
These Hee condemns, and proues that euery way
The Captiu'st wretch's in better state then they.
Of some deare friend, or 't may be not so well,
Decrease of Fortune, or some other crosse,
Which to forgoe they deeme a second Hell,
(So firmely fixed be their mindes on drosse)
As nought smells well, but what of gaine doth smell
The Captiu'st wretch's in better state then they.
Others he notes observing of the time,
Mere fashion-mongers, shadow of the great,
And these attendance giue where th'Sun doth shine,
And like to Isis Asse admire the seat,
More then the Person, 'cause the robes be fine
That hang about it: and hee do's entreat
Their Absence; for these cannot well (saith he)
By liuing, leaue name to Posteritie.
Mere fashion-mongers, shadow of the great,
And these attendance giue where th'Sun doth shine,
And like to Isis Asse admire the seat,
More then the Person, 'cause the robes be fine
That hang about it: and hee do's entreat
Their Absence; for these cannot well (saith he)
By liuing, leaue name to Posteritie.
Others as base and farre more daungerous
Notes hee as Politician Machauells,
Who 'count that gaine which is commodious,
Adhering to themselues and to none ells,
For These make auncient houses ruinous,
And Charitie from out the Realme expells;
Reducing th'Orphanes teare and Widdows curse,
To th'damn'd Elixir of their well-cramm'd purse.
Notes hee as Politician Machauells,
Who 'count that gaine which is commodious,
Adhering to themselues and to none ells,
For These make auncient houses ruinous,
And Charitie from out the Realme expells;
Reducing th'Orphanes teare and Widdows curse,
To th'damn'd Elixir of their well-cramm'd purse.
Others hee notes and they would noted be,
For painting, purfling, smoothing, cerusing,
Show they would be obseru'd for vanitie,
Starving their Soules by Bodies cherishing;
And these he laughs at for their foolerie,
For while They put the Case to garnishing,
That Shell of frailtie, They'r indifferent
What shall become of th'Soule the Instrument.
For painting, purfling, smoothing, cerusing,
Show they would be obseru'd for vanitie,
Starving their Soules by Bodies cherishing;
And these he laughs at for their foolerie,
For while They put the Case to garnishing,
That Shell of frailtie, They'r indifferent
What shall become of th'Soule the Instrument.
Others there be which seeme least what they are,
Pretending truth in falshood, and doe gull
The world with shadows; yet doth He compare
The passage of Events and finds at full
Their end's attended with an endlesse care,
And pregnant wit which seem'd so smooth proues dull,
When thousand Testates shall produced be,
For to disclose his close hypocrisie.
Pretending truth in falshood, and doe gull
The passage of Events and finds at full
Their end's attended with an endlesse care,
And pregnant wit which seem'd so smooth proues dull,
When thousand Testates shall produced be,
For to disclose his close hypocrisie.
Others hee sees and taxeth, for they hold
Proportion with the world, and being made
After a better Image, yet are sold
To all Collusion, making in their trade
This vile Position; Who'l be rich when old
Must cheat being young: but see how they'r displaid,
So oft haue they deceiu'd, as now they must
Perforce deceiue themselues by mens distrust.
Proportion with the world, and being made
After a better Image, yet are sold
To all Collusion, making in their trade
This vile Position; Who'l be rich when old
Must cheat being young: but see how they'r displaid,
So oft haue they deceiu'd, as now they must
Perforce deceiue themselues by mens distrust.
Others as Prollers of the time hee sees,
But scorns to take acquaintance, for their Fate
Presageth worst of ills, whose best increase
Proceeds from good mens fall; yet marke their state
As indirectly got, so little peace
Accrewes in state to any, for the hate
Of God and Man attends them; and how then
Should there be peace, wher's war with God & men?
But scorns to take acquaintance, for their Fate
Presageth worst of ills, whose best increase
Proceeds from good mens fall; yet marke their state
As indirectly got, so little peace
Accrewes in state to any, for the hate
Of God and Man attends them; and how then
Should there be peace, wher's war with God & men?
More hee beholds, and he obserues them too,
And numbers their dimensions as they passe
The compasse of his Prospect to and fro,
For this same Grate he makes his Looking glasse,
In which he sees more then the world can show,
Conferring what is present with what was;
Extracting this from times experienc'd Schoole,
“The Captiue's freer then the Worlds foole.
And numbers their dimensions as they passe
The compasse of his Prospect to and fro,
For this same Grate he makes his Looking glasse,
In which he sees more then the world can show,
Conferring what is present with what was;
“The Captiue's freer then the Worlds foole.
For by the first, wee show but what we are,
And moralize our selues, in being pent
Close from the worlds eye, which we compare
Vnto a Prison; since th'Infranchisement
We haue's in heauen: then howsoere we fare,
Though bound, yet free in mind, th'Imprisonment lesse.
We suffer cannot so our spirits depresse,
That th'freedome of our Minds should seeme ought
And moralize our selues, in being pent
Close from the worlds eye, which we compare
Vnto a Prison; since th'Infranchisement
We haue's in heauen: then howsoere we fare,
Though bound, yet free in mind, th'Imprisonment lesse.
We suffer cannot so our spirits depresse,
That th'freedome of our Minds should seeme ought
Ought lesse; nay more: for we approue as true,
What the divine Morall taught, That one may haue
A fuller and more perfect enteruiew
Of the Starres beautie in a hollow Caue
Then on the Superficies: for the shew
Of pompe distracts our passions, and doth slaue
Our reason to our sence; whence we may know
“The dangers of high States are seene below.
What the divine Morall taught, That one may haue
A fuller and more perfect enteruiew
Of the Starres beautie in a hollow Caue
Then on the Superficies: for the shew
Of pompe distracts our passions, and doth slaue
Our reason to our sence; whence we may know
“The dangers of high States are seene below.
Below; and what more low then to be shut
From open aire, strang'd from the sight of men,
Clos'd in Obliuion, linked hand and foote
Least their escape gaine libertie? What then,
Shall this enthrall my soule! it cannot doe't;
It does aspire aboue the thoughts of them
Who shed their childish teares when they are sent
By higher powers to take them to restraint.
From open aire, strang'd from the sight of men,
Clos'd in Obliuion, linked hand and foote
Least their escape gaine libertie? What then,
Shall this enthrall my soule! it cannot doe't;
It does aspire aboue the thoughts of them
Who shed their childish teares when they are sent
By higher powers to take them to restraint.
The truth of things, sayth sage Democritus,
Lies hid in certaine Caues; that is, the cell
Of Thraldome, which restraines and limit vs,
And makes vs happie if we vse it well;
For we'r sequestred from th'pernicious
Obiects of Earth, and may in priuate tell
What we in publique were, where we doe finde,
“The freest man may haue the slauish't minde.
Lies hid in certaine Caues; that is, the cell
Of Thraldome, which restraines and limit vs,
And makes vs happie if we vse it well;
For we'r sequestred from th'pernicious
Obiects of Earth, and may in priuate tell
What we in publique were, where we doe finde,
“The freest man may haue the slauish't minde.
For my experience tells me, th'act of sinne
Proceeds from sinnes occasion, which restrain'd,
To meditate soules freedome we begin,
And flie from Earth when Bodie is enchain'd,
Making our thoughts Contemplators of him
Whom if we get we haue sufficient gain'd;
So as the grate of our Captiuitie
Is th'gate that opens to soules libertie.
Proceeds from sinnes occasion, which restrain'd,
To meditate soules freedome we begin,
And flie from Earth when Bodie is enchain'd,
Making our thoughts Contemplators of him
Whom if we get we haue sufficient gain'd;
So as the grate of our Captiuitie
Is th'gate that opens to soules libertie.
Whence is't we see so many taste the ayre
Of freedome with neglect of what they are,
Making their will their Law, but when they share
Their Portion in affliction, then their care
Is in the honour of that inward faire,
And they lament the state wherein they were:
“For Man in State forgetts himselfe and his,
“Till his affliction tell him what hee is.
Of freedome with neglect of what they are,
Making their will their Law, but when they share
Their Portion in affliction, then their care
Is in the honour of that inward faire,
And they lament the state wherein they were:
“For Man in State forgetts himselfe and his,
“Till his affliction tell him what hee is.
And I could yet produce more reasons hence,
Which would make cleare and evident as light,
That mans restraint ha's a pre-eminence
Of libertie; 'mongst which alledge I might
(Which many one knowes by experience)
That there's no Sergeants shadow can affright
These Birds which are in Mew; for without feare,
They rest secure from quest of daunger there.
Which would make cleare and evident as light,
That mans restraint ha's a pre-eminence
Of libertie; 'mongst which alledge I might
(Which many one knowes by experience)
That there's no Sergeants shadow can affright
They rest secure from quest of daunger there.
Besides in warres (as God knows what may be)
They are exempt from suffering that distresse
Encamped Souldiers feele; and are made free
From a commanding or imperious Presse,
And through their Grate may others ruines see,
As fruitfull fields expos'd to barrainnesse:
Which though they view not, as the Standers by,
They can survey it with an inward eye.
They are exempt from suffering that distresse
Encamped Souldiers feele; and are made free
From a commanding or imperious Presse,
And through their Grate may others ruines see,
As fruitfull fields expos'd to barrainnesse:
Which though they view not, as the Standers by,
They can survey it with an inward eye.
To descend further; there's dri'd vp the
veine
Of sensuall delights; there's no desire
Of Courting, Coaching, or lasciuious straine;
No itching fancie after quaint attire;
No vnconfined or vsurping claime
Which 'boue their clime, may labour to aspire:
No Shop-bought Beautie, or adulterate art,
No inbred hate, or smooth-deluding hart.
Of sensuall delights; there's no desire
Of Courting, Coaching, or lasciuious straine;
No itching fancie after quaint attire;
No vnconfined or vsurping claime
Which 'boue their clime, may labour to aspire:
No Shop-bought Beautie, or adulterate art,
No inbred hate, or smooth-deluding hart.
There you shall see Humilitie possesse
Each bound, each border; for there's none at all
(So choice and so entire's their Happinesse)
That (Rorer-like) will squabble for the wall:
Nor can afflictions frowne so much depresse
Their setled minds, as to lament their fall;
For they doe know (what may not Captiues know)
Restraint did that, which freedome could not doe.
Each bound, each border; for there's none at all
(So choice and so entire's their Happinesse)
That (Rorer-like) will squabble for the wall:
Nor can afflictions frowne so much depresse
Their setled minds, as to lament their fall;
For they doe know (what may not Captiues know)
Restraint did that, which freedome could not doe.
And which may well expresse a glorious sphere,
Because on constancie it grounded is;
There is no giddie-headed Want-wit there,
Who makes profuser meetings all his blisse;
For such (forsooth) must change their Country ayre
Because they are sicke, yet know not whence it is:
Here are no mincing Dames who long to goe
To Rumford, Hoggsdon, or to Pimlico.
Because on constancie it grounded is;
Who makes profuser meetings all his blisse;
For such (forsooth) must change their Country ayre
Because they are sicke, yet know not whence it is:
Here are no mincing Dames who long to goe
To Rumford, Hoggsdon, or to Pimlico.
Lastly, 'mongst many thousands which my Pen
Might here produce, should't be a Poets fate
(As no one fate more ominous 'mongst men)
To be accus'd for glancing at the State,
Here they'r exempt from such as censure them,
For worst of Fortune hath exprest her hate
To their obscured glory; so as they
May chant high straines, yet none notes what they say.
Might here produce, should't be a Poets fate
(As no one fate more ominous 'mongst men)
To be accus'd for glancing at the State,
Here they'r exempt from such as censure them,
For worst of Fortune hath exprest her hate
To their obscured glory; so as they
May chant high straines, yet none notes what they say.
Their tunes are tones and accents of delight,
Which pearce the ayre, when most bereft of ayre,
And with soule-cheering beames disperse the Night
Of their consuming cares: for all their care
Is to erect their thoughts vnto that Light
Which cannot be eclyps'd but still shines faire:
Where glory's endlesse, boundlesse in content,
Prison a Pallace, freed from restraint.
Which pearce the ayre, when most bereft of ayre,
And with soule-cheering beames disperse the Night
Of their consuming cares: for all their care
Is to erect their thoughts vnto that Light
Which cannot be eclyps'd but still shines faire:
Where glory's endlesse, boundlesse in content,
Prison a Pallace, freed from restraint.
If
life indeed were such a Iubile,
That euery houre, day, yeere did promise vs
Continuate health, and wealth, and libertie,
Then had we better reason to excuse
The loue we haue to our Mortalitie;
But since we see, we cannot will nor chuse
But must be reft of these, why should we grieue
To leaue as Men, what Men are forc'd to leaue?
That euery houre, day, yeere did promise vs
Then had we better reason to excuse
The loue we haue to our Mortalitie;
But since we see, we cannot will nor chuse
But must be reft of these, why should we grieue
To leaue as Men, what Men are forc'd to leaue?
Nor skills it much where we be reft of these,
Whether in Thrall or Freedome; but of th'two
I'de rather loose my Fortune where I cease
To make resort to any, and must know
No more of World or the Worlds prease,
But am retired from the Publique show
Of this frayle Theatre, and am confin'd
In flesh, to taste true libertie of mind.
Whether in Thrall or Freedome; but of th'two
I'de rather loose my Fortune where I cease
To make resort to any, and must know
No more of World or the Worlds prease,
But am retired from the Publique show
Of this frayle Theatre, and am confin'd
In flesh, to taste true libertie of mind.
A mind as free as is the Bodie thrall,
Transcendent in her being, taking Wings
Of Morning to ascend, and make that all
Of hers immortall; sphering it with Kings
Whose glory is so firme it cannot fall;
Where euery Saint in their reposure sings
Triumphant Peans of eternitie
To him whose sight giues perfect libertie.
Transcendent in her being, taking Wings
Of Morning to ascend, and make that all
Of hers immortall; sphering it with Kings
Whose glory is so firme it cannot fall;
Where euery Saint in their reposure sings
Triumphant Peans of eternitie
To him whose sight giues perfect libertie.
Then whether my restraint enforce or no,
I'le be my-selfe, but more in my restraint;
Because through it I see the end of woe,
Tasting in griefe the essence of content:
That when from this same dooble ward I goe,
This same entangled Prison, th'Continent
Of heauenly Freedome may receiue my soule
Which Flesh imprison might but not controwle.
I'le be my-selfe, but more in my restraint;
Because through it I see the end of woe,
Tasting in griefe the essence of content:
That when from this same dooble ward I goe,
This same entangled Prison, th'Continent
Which Flesh imprison might but not controwle.
Rest then (retired Muse) and be thy
owne,
Though all thy owne forsake thee; that when friends,
Fortune, and freedome are but small or none,
Thy hopes may ayme at more transcendent ends;
So by thy Bodie in straite Durance throwne,
Thy vnconfined Soule may make amends;
For that which shee had in her freedome lost,
In that most blest wherein shee seem'd most crost.
Though all thy owne forsake thee; that when friends,
Fortune, and freedome are but small or none,
Thy hopes may ayme at more transcendent ends;
So by thy Bodie in straite Durance throwne,
Thy vnconfined Soule may make amends;
For that which shee had in her freedome lost,
In that most blest wherein shee seem'd most crost.
FINIS.
| Times Cvrtaine Drawne | |