 | Satires and miscellaneous poetry and prose |  |
190
NATURE
Leake's like a Tub and not a Boat:
For th' one Runs in, and th' other out.
For th' one Runs in, and th' other out.
The Sphere of Vapours rule's the Aire,
And makes the weather foul, or fayre.
And makes the weather foul, or fayre.
The Moon do's never dare t' appeare
In Heaven while the Sun is Neare,
But still the further of[f] he goes
The more her borrowd Splendor shows,
And when shee's gotten opposite
Set's up with all her borrowd light.
In Heaven while the Sun is Neare,
But still the further of[f] he goes
The more her borrowd Splendor shows,
And when shee's gotten opposite
Set's up with all her borrowd light.
Fishes with Scales are tyl'd about
Like Houses to keep water out.
Like Houses to keep water out.
An Army and a Populous Town
Infected with the Plague's all one.
Infected with the Plague's all one.
Men's cornes are wont, before a Shour of Raine,
But never when th' are in't, to be in Paine.
But never when th' are in't, to be in Paine.
So woodcocks that are Cullord like Dead Leaves
The Crafty Fowler easily deceives.
The Crafty Fowler easily deceives.
So in the western Sea of Spain, The Sun
Is like a Taper, put out and go's down.
That in a moment shines, and then go's out,
As th' Antients in his Sea-Bed-Chamber thought.
Is like a Taper, put out and go's down.
That in a moment shines, and then go's out,
As th' Antients in his Sea-Bed-Chamber thought.
A single Feather breaks a Horses back
And Drops of water greatest vessels wrack.
And Drops of water greatest vessels wrack.
Sleep that wearyd Life Redeemes
Is fed with vaine and Idle Dreames.
Is fed with vaine and Idle Dreames.
The most Divine of all the works of Nature
Was not to make Model, but the Matter;
As men may Build without Designs and Rules
But [not] without Materials, and Tooles.
Was not to make Model, but the Matter;
As men may Build without Designs and Rules
But [not] without Materials, and Tooles.
A Salmon is both Bow and Arrows
That is both Shot himself and carrys.
That is both Shot himself and carrys.
191
The Lady (like a Fishes Row) had Roome
For such a Shole of Infants in her wombe.
For such a Shole of Infants in her wombe.
Nature Denys Brute Animals expression
Because they are Incapable of Reason.
Because they are Incapable of Reason.
Punaises have as great a Brood
I' th' Natives heads as in their wood,
And multiply no where in France
So numerous as the Peoples Braines.
I' th' Natives heads as in their wood,
And multiply no where in France
So numerous as the Peoples Braines.
Pretious Stones not only do Foretel
The Dire Effects of Poyson but Expel.
The Dire Effects of Poyson but Expel.
When no one Person's able t' understand
The vast stupendious uses of the Hand,
The only Engin helpes the wit of Man
To bring the world in Compass of a Span,
From Raysing mighty Fabriques on the Seas
To filing Chaines to fit the Necks of Fleas.
The vast stupendious uses of the Hand,
The only Engin helpes the wit of Man
To bring the world in Compass of a Span,
From Raysing mighty Fabriques on the Seas
To filing Chaines to fit the Necks of Fleas.
The Left Hand is but Deputy to th' Right
That For a Jorney man is wont t' imploy't.
That For a Jorney man is wont t' imploy't.
The moon herself do's never steal the Light
She Pilfers from the Sun, but in the Night.
She Pilfers from the Sun, but in the Night.
For tho the Moone's Commandres of the Seas
And all her various, Diffrent Nations sways,
She never yet, has, at the ful, been sayd
To make her Natral Subjects, Fishes mad,
Like those that, out of her Supreme Command,
Are Born, and Bred, and live upon the Land.
And all her various, Diffrent Nations sways,
She never yet, has, at the ful, been sayd
To make her Natral Subjects, Fishes mad,
Like those that, out of her Supreme Command,
Are Born, and Bred, and live upon the Land.
Weeds grow of themselvs as Natrally
As noble Plants degenerate and Dy.
As noble Plants degenerate and Dy.
All Beasts, and Foules forsake their yong,
They had been so tender of so long:
As soon, as once they have no Need
Of further Help, to shift, and Feed.
They had been so tender of so long:
As soon, as once they have no Need
Of further Help, to shift, and Feed.
In all the yeare, The Day and Night
Have less of Darknes, then of Light
In twilights, and the Dawnes of Suns
Besides six months of Shining Moons.
The light below, and upper-Darknes dy
The Naturall Blew Tincture of the Sky
For all the Heat, and light we finde appeare,
Extends no further then the Atmosphere:
The Rest all Darknes, only where the Moon,
And other Planets, entertaine the Sun;
That Hold no more Proportion to the whole,
Then Glo-worms Tayles, or Sparcles of a Cole.
Have less of Darknes, then of Light
192
Besides six months of Shining Moons.
The light below, and upper-Darknes dy
The Naturall Blew Tincture of the Sky
For all the Heat, and light we finde appeare,
Extends no further then the Atmosphere:
The Rest all Darknes, only where the Moon,
And other Planets, entertaine the Sun;
That Hold no more Proportion to the whole,
Then Glo-worms Tayles, or Sparcles of a Cole.
Some guess the Earth is but a shell
And all the Inner Concave Hell
Th' Infernall Dungeons, and Dark holes
Of Reprobate Departed Soules,
Which Poets call the Stygian Lake
From whence no Traveller Comes back.
And all the Inner Concave Hell
Th' Infernall Dungeons, and Dark holes
Of Reprobate Departed Soules,
Which Poets call the Stygian Lake
From whence no Traveller Comes back.
Water's the Clepsydra, to Cast
How many yeares the world wil last.
How many yeares the world wil last.
As an Arrow in the Sky
Do's, like the Bow that shot it, fly,
And make an Arch, so al things else
Conform, stil to their Principles.
Do's, like the Bow that shot it, fly,
And make an Arch, so al things else
Conform, stil to their Principles.
Al Phænomenas
May be expounded several ways.
May be expounded several ways.
Nature permit's the mungrel Breed
Of Mules, No further to proceed,
For there's but one in evry Race,
Begotten between Horse and Ass:
Which makes the sons of zealous Saints,
To prove the greatest Miscreants.
And great Philosophers to think
Al fooles begot in Love, or Drink.
Of Mules, No further to proceed,
For there's but one in evry Race,
Begotten between Horse and Ass:
Which makes the sons of zealous Saints,
To prove the greatest Miscreants.
And great Philosophers to think
Al fooles begot in Love, or Drink.
The Sunne-beames
When they are empty will descend
But when th' are Loaded upwards tend.
When they are empty will descend
But when th' are Loaded upwards tend.
193
Vermine were th' Originals of Cheats,
As Spiders first taught men the use of Nets,
And Lobsters first taught Armorers their Trade
And how the Joynts of Cuiraces are made.
As Spiders first taught men the use of Nets,
And Lobsters first taught Armorers their Trade
And how the Joynts of Cuiraces are made.
A Madman's stronger in his Fits,
But Drunkard less then in his wits,
So much do Natral Parts Disdaine
To vaile t' an Artificiall Braine.
But Drunkard less then in his wits,
So much do Natral Parts Disdaine
To vaile t' an Artificiall Braine.
'Tis sayd of vipers when they Breed
The Femal bite's of[f] the Males head,
Which th' yong-ones back in Kinde Repay
And through her Bowels eate their way.
The Femal bite's of[f] the Males head,
Which th' yong-ones back in Kinde Repay
And through her Bowels eate their way.
Prop that cannot stand alone
Grow's firm by being leand upon.
Grow's firm by being leand upon.
No Water of it self do's Run
Untill 'tis melted by the Sun.
Untill 'tis melted by the Sun.
The Moon, by striving to out run
And get the better of the Sun,
Is lost herself, and all her Light
Ecclips'd and vanish'd out of Sight.
And get the better of the Sun,
Is lost herself, and all her Light
Ecclips'd and vanish'd out of Sight.
That silly Meteor
Som call the Falling of a Star,
That, 'till it fals, is never seen,
Shines, and is out, as soon as in.
Som call the Falling of a Star,
That, 'till it fals, is never seen,
Shines, and is out, as soon as in.
Without the Tale of Numbers, Birds are wont
To keep of Time, an exquisite Account
Can cast up all their Recconings, How long
They are to sit, before they hatch their yong.
And all that while, can tell at what a Clock
The Hen's expected to Relieve the Cock.
To Recreate his wearynes, and when
He is to do the same thing for the Hen.
As Time is Accuratly told by Clocks
That know not how to Reckon their own Strokes.
To keep of Time, an exquisite Account
Can cast up all their Recconings, How long
They are to sit, before they hatch their yong.
And all that while, can tell at what a Clock
The Hen's expected to Relieve the Cock.
To Recreate his wearynes, and when
He is to do the same thing for the Hen.
As Time is Accuratly told by Clocks
That know not how to Reckon their own Strokes.
Female Asses are more tall
And sturdy then the silly Male.
And sturdy then the silly Male.
194
Nature
Do's all her work by Fire and water,
The two Divine Antagonists
By whose Contests the world subsists.
Do's all her work by Fire and water,
The two Divine Antagonists
By whose Contests the world subsists.
The Western Coasts of Wales, and Spaine
Exposd to th' Indian Ocean;
Have Mountaines, like Redouts, designd
To breake the Fury of the winde,
And turning of them, sevral ways,
Divert the Storms, those vast Seas Raise.
Exposd to th' Indian Ocean;
Have Mountaines, like Redouts, designd
To breake the Fury of the winde,
And turning of them, sevral ways,
Divert the Storms, those vast Seas Raise.
The Sun Appear's more glorious and Great
The nearer he Approaches to his Set.
The nearer he Approaches to his Set.
As vaine as Dead men, when they have been drownd,
Swim Nat'rally, when 'tis too late, on Grownd.
Swim Nat'rally, when 'tis too late, on Grownd.
The most Pacifique Seas with greatest Rage
Encounter when in Narrow streits, th' Engage.
Encounter when in Narrow streits, th' Engage.
Those Pigs the Devil did Posses
Mistook themselves, for Porc-pisces
And Ran into the Sea to finde,
And mix with others of their kinde.
Mistook themselves, for Porc-pisces
And Ran into the Sea to finde,
And mix with others of their kinde.
Navigation, that withstood
The Mortal Fury of the Floud
And Prov'd the only Meanes to save
All Earthly Creatures, from the wave,
Ha's for it Taught the sea, and winde,
To lay a Tribute on Mankind:
That, by Degrees, has Swallowd more
Then all it Drownd, at once before.
The Mortal Fury of the Floud
And Prov'd the only Meanes to save
All Earthly Creatures, from the wave,
Ha's for it Taught the sea, and winde,
To lay a Tribute on Mankind:
That, by Degrees, has Swallowd more
Then all it Drownd, at once before.
The wounded whale dos Run on Shore
The Salt sea vexes him so Sore,
And Rather Runs himself on Ground
Then to endure the Torment of his wound.
The Salt sea vexes him so Sore,
And Rather Runs himself on Ground
Then to endure the Torment of his wound.
No other members have those Graces
As Eies, and—to be kept in Cases;
And since, no others can import
Mankind so much are kept like Jewels for't.
As Eies, and—to be kept in Cases;
And since, no others can import
Mankind so much are kept like Jewels for't.
195
A Stone that is but cast into a Pond
Without a Compas, make's a Circle Round.
Without a Compas, make's a Circle Round.
Some Sorts of Fishes, only with the Tongue,
(As virtuoso's say) Beget their yongue.
(As virtuoso's say) Beget their yongue.
As if the Greatest Mastery of Art
Were only against Nature to take Part,
Believe all knowledg of the Growth of Nature
To be like the Rough unpolishd Matter
And Art the Form, that bring's into being
Though Spoild with Ignorance, and over-seing.
As that Great Critique of the Trade took motion
To be a Natural thing and not a Notion.
Were only against Nature to take Part,
Believe all knowledg of the Growth of Nature
To be like the Rough unpolishd Matter
And Art the Form, that bring's into being
Though Spoild with Ignorance, and over-seing.
As that Great Critique of the Trade took motion
To be a Natural thing and not a Notion.
A Horses Teeth are Ephemerides
And calculate their own Nativities.
And calculate their own Nativities.
An Ignis Fatuus against its Nature
Instead of Burning 's wont to Duck in water.
Instead of Burning 's wont to Duck in water.
One Fish is but another Fishes vittle
By Nature and the Sea, layd up in Pickle.
By Nature and the Sea, layd up in Pickle.
The Hebrews, Spanyards and the Antique Welch
Do not Pronounce their Languages, but Belch;
And from the very Bottoms of their Throats
Fetch up their Close and Intimatest Thoughts.
Do not Pronounce their Languages, but Belch;
And from the very Bottoms of their Throats
Fetch up their Close and Intimatest Thoughts.
All Arts and Arms of Excellence and worth
Are now the Native Products of the North,
Though their Originals were of the Growth
And Manufacture only of the South,
Which made the Ægyptians beare away the Glory
Of all Inventions (Right or wrong) in Story,
And al the learnedst Antiquarys writ
The South's the worlds left Hand the North's the Right.
Are now the Native Products of the North,
Though their Originals were of the Growth
And Manufacture only of the South,
Which made the Ægyptians beare away the Glory
Of all Inventions (Right or wrong) in Story,
And al the learnedst Antiquarys writ
The South's the worlds left Hand the North's the Right.
Art is in vain unles it takes its Lesson
From Nature or her Secretary Reason.
From Nature or her Secretary Reason.
For Nature gave an Ass the longer Eare
The Charming Accents of his Brays to hear.
The Charming Accents of his Brays to hear.
Our Food is but a Medcin that Revive's
The Natural Consumption of our Lives.
The Natural Consumption of our Lives.
196
Nature has placd so glorious a Shew
Of other worlds and Suns within our view
That only tempt us with Desire to know
Without the Possibility of how;
And, since th' are Placd beyond our own concern,
Allows us no Capacity to Learn.
Of other worlds and Suns within our view
That only tempt us with Desire to know
Without the Possibility of how;
And, since th' are Placd beyond our own concern,
Allows us no Capacity to Learn.
For Stars of the first Ma[g]nitude appeare
The least of all to those that view 'em here.
The least of all to those that view 'em here.
The Sun and water at so vast
Immeasurable a distance plac't
Are both espous'd to one another,
He nature's father, she her mother;
And by the mixtures of their seeds
Fill sea and land with various breeds.
Immeasurable a distance plac't
Are both espous'd to one another,
He nature's father, she her mother;
And by the mixtures of their seeds
Fill sea and land with various breeds.
Guns do not Hurt, by making of a noyse;
It is the Silent Bullet that destr[o]y's.
It is the Silent Bullet that destr[o]y's.
As some Affirme A Bever, and his Taile,
Is each a Diffrent Sort of Animall;
And tho they seem by Nature of one Piece,
The one is Perfect flesh, the other Fish:
And therefore in his House, The Beast do's ly
Above the waters Top, one Story high,
Altho his Tayle would mortify, and Gangreen
Without a Constant watry Cell to hang in.
Is each a Diffrent Sort of Animall;
And tho they seem by Nature of one Piece,
The one is Perfect flesh, the other Fish:
And therefore in his House, The Beast do's ly
Above the waters Top, one Story high,
Altho his Tayle would mortify, and Gangreen
Without a Constant watry Cell to hang in.
Hair is the Native excrement of seed
That on the Cranion is observd to Breed,
And the[re]fore, when the Sperm do's first Decay,
The Hair fals of[f] or else turns grey:
Whence 'tis untimely Discontents and Cares
Bring men as Naturally to Grey haires.
That on the Cranion is observd to Breed,
And the[re]fore, when the Sperm do's first Decay,
The Hair fals of[f] or else turns grey:
Whence 'tis untimely Discontents and Cares
Bring men as Naturally to Grey haires.
The Motions of the Earth or Sun,
(The Lord know's which) that Turn, or Run,
Are both performd by fits, and Starts;
And so are those of Lovers Hearts:
Which though they keep no eaven Pace;
Move Tru, and Constant to one Place.
(The Lord know's which) that Turn, or Run,
Are both performd by fits, and Starts;
And so are those of Lovers Hearts:
Which though they keep no eaven Pace;
Move Tru, and Constant to one Place.
197
As both the Longitude, and Latitude,
Are only by each other, understood;
And nothing else, but either Parallel
What th' other mean's can Naturally tell.
The under-Earth Degrees of Heaven show,
And only Heavn, those of Earth below.
But which move's Round; or which stands always stil,
The Learned make a Doubt, and ever will;
As much as whether Zealots use to move,
From th' Earth with us below, or Heavn, above.
Are only by each other, understood;
And nothing else, but either Parallel
What th' other mean's can Naturally tell.
The under-Earth Degrees of Heaven show,
And only Heavn, those of Earth below.
But which move's Round; or which stands always stil,
The Learned make a Doubt, and ever will;
As much as whether Zealots use to move,
From th' Earth with us below, or Heavn, above.
So learned men, from Substance without Matter
Conclude the Greatest Myracles in Nature,
Demonstrate Artificially mere Fancies,
And Prove Eaternity b' as Hard Nunc-stances.
Conclude the Greatest Myracles in Nature,
Demonstrate Artificially mere Fancies,
And Prove Eaternity b' as Hard Nunc-stances.
For if the water constantly grow lesse
And th' Earth is found as Naturally t' Increase
As virtuosos Naturally believe,
By Lands the Sea has beene observd to leave.
Besides th' Abundant Quantity, she uses
In all mixt compositions, she Produces,
Which 'tis unreasonable, and in vaine,
T' expect should ever be Returnd againe,
With other Instances as Evident,
The stock of water, wil in th' end be spent,
The ocean-seas perpetually wast
Until they are utterly Dryd up at last;
And if the Sun do's but draw neare to us
As great Philosophers believe He do's,
The Date of this worlds Charter will Expire
And all its Moveables Consume in Fire.
And th' Earth is found as Naturally t' Increase
As virtuosos Naturally believe,
By Lands the Sea has beene observd to leave.
Besides th' Abundant Quantity, she uses
In all mixt compositions, she Produces,
Which 'tis unreasonable, and in vaine,
T' expect should ever be Returnd againe,
With other Instances as Evident,
The stock of water, wil in th' end be spent,
The ocean-seas perpetually wast
Until they are utterly Dryd up at last;
And if the Sun do's but draw neare to us
As great Philosophers believe He do's,
The Date of this worlds Charter will Expire
And all its Moveables Consume in Fire.
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