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The RENT.
Advice against envious Reports.
1675.
To the honourable Lady, Mrs. Chaworth.
My
Rent-day's come, and I must pay.
Nor must your plenty make me stay,
Lest I grow poorer by delay.
Nor must your plenty make me stay,
Lest I grow poorer by delay.
157
Forbearance but unkind appears;
And the poor Tenant's justest fears
May be deduc'd from long Arrears.
And the poor Tenant's justest fears
May be deduc'd from long Arrears.
Whilst either Wit or Fancy grows,
They're yours; but when depriv'd of those,
I must be forc'd to pay in Prose.
They're yours; but when depriv'd of those,
I must be forc'd to pay in Prose.
Decaying Farmers thus lament;
When their best Stock, and Mony's spent,
Their very Raggs are seiz'd for Rent.
When their best Stock, and Mony's spent,
Their very Raggs are seiz'd for Rent.
This is a Quit-rent yearly paid;
By which my Title's surer made;
Th' Estate else may be forfeited.
By which my Title's surer made;
Th' Estate else may be forfeited.
Tho such mean Homages you scorn;
Yet some, to noble Fortunes born,
Take nothing but a Pepper-Corn.
Yet some, to noble Fortunes born,
Take nothing but a Pepper-Corn.
For these poor Rhymes, a pretty Cloak!
Words vanish with the breath th' are spoke:
Yet Sacrifices went in Smoak.
Words vanish with the breath th' are spoke:
Yet Sacrifices went in Smoak.
Truth's a great Empress, and will reign:
This New-years-Gifts pretence is vain;
It is not so much Gift as gain.
This New-years-Gifts pretence is vain;
It is not so much Gift as gain.
Thus our Devotions, when most hot,
Pay dues to Heav'n that needs 'em not;
We profit by the pious Plot.
Pay dues to Heav'n that needs 'em not;
We profit by the pious Plot.
156
Heaven at the Heart did ever aim,
Far more than at the costly flame
Which from the Sacred Altar came.
Far more than at the costly flame
Which from the Sacred Altar came.
Who would not such a Goodness trust,
That grateful is to worthless Dust;
And makes them happy that are just.
That grateful is to worthless Dust;
And makes them happy that are just.
My Duty such procedures know;
Since I in paying what I ow,
Purchase that fame I would bestow.
Since I in paying what I ow,
Purchase that fame I would bestow.
But whence can I that Patent claim,
Either to give, or purchase fame?
Who nothing knows of it but name?
Either to give, or purchase fame?
Who nothing knows of it but name?
Nor is it more than fleeting Air;
Untill condens'd (by Poet's care)
To Jewels for each Ladies Ear.
Untill condens'd (by Poet's care)
To Jewels for each Ladies Ear.
Your worth such rich Materials brings,
Wherewith to make those precious things,
Fit both for Ears, and Crowns of Kings.
Wherewith to make those precious things,
Fit both for Ears, and Crowns of Kings.
Disturb not then your self, but shun
Th' effects of Envy, for 'tis known
Obnoxious Vapours cloud the Sun.
Th' effects of Envy, for 'tis known
Obnoxious Vapours cloud the Sun.
Vertue's a Piramid of Light,
Attracting dazling Gazer's sight,
And envious shades attend its height.
Attracting dazling Gazer's sight,
And envious shades attend its height.
With native Balsam ease your pain:
Tho Skies o'recast, and turn to Rain;
Those drops inrich the Earth with Grain.
Tho Skies o'recast, and turn to Rain;
Those drops inrich the Earth with Grain.
157
Time calms rough tempests, raging Seas?
No Storms can wreck an inward Peace;
Wrong'd Worth, like bruis'd Perfumes, increase.
No Storms can wreck an inward Peace;
Wrong'd Worth, like bruis'd Perfumes, increase.
Reports, like Darts of Reed, when shot
At a right Breast-plate, hurt it not;
You, Madam, have such Armour got.
At a right Breast-plate, hurt it not;
You, Madam, have such Armour got.
There cannot be a surer fence
Than yours; whose Guard is Innocence,
And whose Desires are free'd from sense.
Than yours; whose Guard is Innocence,
And whose Desires are free'd from sense.
To raise the meanest doubt's a Sin:
She must the noblest Trophies win,
Whose Fort's impregnable within.
She must the noblest Trophies win,
Whose Fort's impregnable within.
In her a pow'r resistless lies,
Who bears Artillery in her Eyes;
And conquers Death's self when she dies.
Who bears Artillery in her Eyes;
And conquers Death's self when she dies.
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