TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY.
A Satyre.
Quid tu, sipe
[...]eo?
VVHat once the POET said, I may avow,
Tis a hard thing not to write Satyres
now,
Since what we speake, abuse raignes so in all,
Spight of our hearts will be
Satyricall.
[Page]Let it not therefore now be deem
[...]d strange,
My vnsmooth'd lines their rudenesse do not change,
Nor be distastfull to my graciou
[...]
King,
Though in the
Cage, my olde harsh notes I sing,
And rudely make a
Satyre here vnfold
What others would in neater tearmes haue told.
And why? my friends and meanes in
Court are scant,
Knowledge of curious Phrase, and forme, I want.
I cannot bear't to runne my selfe in debt,
To hire the
Groome, to bid the
Page intreat
Some
fauour'd follower; to vouchsafe his word,
To get me a colde comfort from his
Lord:
[Page]I cannot sooth, though it my life might saue,
Each
fauourite, nor crouch to euery
Knaue:
I cannot brooke delayes as some men do,
With scoffes, and scornes, and tak't in kindnesse to.
For er'e I'de binde my selfe for some slight grace
To one that hath no more worth then his
place;
Orb
[...]
[...]base meane free my selfe from trouble,
I rather would e
[...]ure my penance double:
Cause to be forc'd to what my minde disdaines
Is worse to me then
tortures, rackes, and
chaines:
And therefore vnto
thee I onely flye,
To whom there needes no meane but
Honesty:
Should e're I speake, possesse thee with opinion.
To
thee that do'st what thou wilt vndertake▪
For loue of
Iustice, not the
persons sake.
To
thee that kno'wst how vaine all faire shewes be,
That flow not from the hearts sincerity.
And canst▪ though shadowed in the simplest vaile,
Discerne both
Loue and
Truth, and where they faile:
To
thee doe I appeale, in whom heau'n knowes,
I next to God my confidence repose.
For can it be, thy grace should euer shine,
And not enlighten such a cause as mine?
[Page]Can my hopes (fixt in thee great KING) be dead?
Or thou those
Satyres hate thy
Forrests bred?
Where shall my second hopes he founded then,
If euer I haue heart to hope agen?
Can I suppose a fauour may be got
In any place when thy
Co
[...]rt yeel
[...] it not?
Or that I may obtaine it in the land,
When I shall be deni'd it at thy hand?
A
[...]d if I might, should I so fond on't be,
To tak't of other
[...] when I miss't of thee?
Or if I did, can I haue comfort by it,
When I shall t
[...]inke my
So
[...]raig
[...]e did denie it?
[Page]No, were I sure, I to thy hate were borne,
The loue of halfe the world beside I'de scorne.
But why should I thy fauour here distrust,
That haue a
cause so knowne, and knowne so iust?
Which not alone my inward comfort doubles,
But all suppos'd me wrong'd that heare my troubles.
Nay, though my fault were Reall, I beleeue,
Thou art so Royall that thou wouldst forgiue.
For well I know thy sacred
M
[...]iestie,
Hath euer beene admir'd for Clemencie.
And at thy gentlene
[...] the world hath wondred,
For making Sunshine, where thou mightst haue thundred.
[Page]Yea, thou in mercy life to them didst giue
That could not be content to see
thee liue.
And can I thinke that
thou wilt make me, then,
The most vnhappy of all other men?
Or le
[...] thy loyall subiect, against reason,
Be punisht more for
Loue, then some for
Treason?
No, thou didst neuer yet thy glory staine,
With an iniustice to the meanest
Swaine.
'Tis not thy will I'me wrong'd, nor dost thou know
If I haue suffred iniuries or no.
For if I haue not heard false
Rumours flye,
Th'a
[...]t grac'd me with the stile of
Honesty.
[Page]And if it were so (as the world thinkes 'twas)
I cannot see how it should come to passe
That
thou, from whose free
tongue proceedeth nought
Which is not correspondent with thy thought.
Those thoughts to, being fram'd in
Reasons mould,
Should speake that once, which should not euer hold.
But passing it as an vncertaintie,
I humbly begge thee, by that
Maiestie,
Whose sacred
Glory strikes a louing-feare
Into the hearts of all, to whom 'tis deare:
To deigne me so much fauour, without merit,
As reade this plaint, of a distempred spirit:
[Page]And thinke, vnlesse I saw some hideous storme
Too great to be indu
[...]'d by such a
worme,
I had not thus presum'd vnto a
King,
W
[...]th
Aesops Flye ▪ to seeke an
Eagles wing.
But know I'me he that entred once the list,
Gainst all the world to play the
Satyrist:
Twas I, that made my measures rough, and rude,
Daunce arm'd with whips, amid'st the multitude,
And vnappalled with my charmed
Scrowles,
Teaz'
[...] angry
Monsters in their lurking holes:
I'ue plaid with
Wasps, and
Hornets without feares,
Till they grew mad, and swarmd about my eares.
[Page]Iu'e done it, and me thinkes 'tis such braue sport,
I may be stung, but n
[...]re be sorry for't.
For all my griefe is, that I was so sparing▪
And had no more in't worth the name of daring.
He that will taxe these
Times, must be more bitter,
Tart lines of
Vinegar, and
Gall are fitter▪
My fingers, and my spirits are benum'd,
My Inke runs forth too smooth, tis too much gum'd
Id'e haue my
Pen so paint it, where it traces,
Each accent should draw bloud into their faces.
And make them, when their
villanies
[...]re blaz
[...]d.
Shudder, and
startle, as men halfe amaz
[...]d,
[Page]For feare my
verse should make so loud a din,
Heauen hearing, might raine vengeance on their sin.
Oh no
[...] for s
[...]ch a straine
[...] would
Art could teach it,
Though life my spirits I consum'd to reach it.
Id'e learne my
Muse so braue a course to flye,
Men should admire the power of
Poesie.
And those that dar'd her greatnesse to resist,
Quake, euen at naming of a
Satyrist.
But when hi
[...] sco
[...]rging numbers flow'd with wonder,
Should cry
God blesse vs, as they did at thunder.
Alas! my lines came from me too too dully,
They did not fill a
Satyres mouth vp fully.
[Page]Hot bloud, and youth, enrag'd with passion
[...] store,
Taught me to reach a
straine nere touch'd before.
But it was coldly done, I throughly chid not:
And somewhat there is yet to doe, I did not.
More soundly could my
scourge haue yerked many,
Which I omit not, cause I feared any.
For
want of action, discontentments rage,
Base
dis-respect of Vertue (in this age)
With other things, vnto my selfe a wrong,
Made me so fearelesse, in my carelesse long:
That had not reason within compasse wonne me,
I had told
Truth enough to haue vndo
[...]e me:
[Page](Nay, haue already, if that her Diuine
And vn
[...]eene power, can doe no more then mine.)
For though fore-seeing warinesse was good,
I fram'd my stile, vnto a milder mood,
And clogging her thigh-towring wing
[...] with mire,
Made her halfe earth, that was before all fire.
Then being (as you saw) disguis'd in shew,
Clad like a
Satyre, brought her forth to view:
Hoping, (her out-side being mis-esteem'd)
She might haue passed, but for what she seem'd:
Yet
some, whose
Comments iumpe not with my minde
In that low phrase, a higher reach woul
[...] finde.
[Page]And out of their deepe iudgement seeme to know,
What 'tis vncertaine if I meant or no:
Ayming thereby, out of some priuate hate,
To worke my shame, or ouerthrow my state.
For amongst many wrongs my
foe doth doe me,
And diuers imputations, laid vnto me,
Deceiued in his ayme, he doth mis-conster
That which I haue enstil'd a
Man-like Monster,
To meane some priuate person in the state,
Whose worth, I thinke to wrong out of my hate;
Vpbraiding
me I from my word doe start,
Either for want of a
good Ground, or
Heart,
[Page]Cause from his expectation I doe vary
In the denying of his
Commentary,
Whereas 'tis knowne I meant
Abuse the while,
Not thinking any
one could be so vile,
To merit all those
Epithites of shame.
How euer many doe deserue much blame.
But say I grant that I had an intent
To haue it so (as he interprets) meant,
And let my gracious
Liege, suppose there were
One whom the
State may haue some cause to feare,
Or thinke there were a man (and great in
Court)
That had more faults then I could well report,
[Page]Suppose I knew him, and had gone about
By some particular markes to paint him out,
That
he best knowing his owne faults might see,
He was the
Man I would should noted be:
Imagine now such doings in this
Age,
And that
this man so pointed at should rage,
Call me in question, and by his much threatning,
By long imprisonment, and ill intreating,
Vrge a
Confession: wer't not a mad part
For me to tell
him what lay in my heart?
Doe not I know a great mans
Power and
Might,
I
[...] spight of
Innocence, can smother
Right.
[Page]Colour his
Villanies, to get esteeme,
And make the
Honest man the
Villaine seeme?
And that the truth I told should in conclusion▪
For want of
Power, and
Friends, be my confusion?
I know it, and the world doth know 'tis true;
Yet
[...]I protest, if such a man I knew,
That might my
Countrey preiudice, or
Thee,
Were he the greatest, or the proudest
Hoe
That breathes this day: if so it might be found,
That any good to
either might redound,
So farre I'le be (though
Fate against me run)
From starting off, from that I haue begun,
[Page]I vn-appalled dare in such a case
Rip vp his foulest
Crimes before his face,
Though for my
Labour I were sure to drop
Into the mouth of
Ruine without hope.
But such strange farre-fetcht meanings they haue sought,
As I was neuer priuy to in thought:
And that vnto particulars would tye
Which I intended vniuersally.
Whereat
some, with displeasure ouer-gone,
Those I scarce dream'd of, saw, or thought vpon▪
Maugre those caueats, on my
Satyres brow,
Their honest, and iust passage disallow.
[Page]And on their heads so many censures rake,
That spight of
me, themselues they'le guilty make.
Nor is't enough to swage their discontent,
To say
I am (or to be)
Innocent.
For as, when once the
Lyon made decree▪
No
horned beast should nigh his presence be,
That, on whose fore-head onely did appeare,
A
bunch of flesh, or but some
tuft of haire,
Was euen as farre in danger as the rest,
If he but said, it was a
horned beast:
So, there be now, who thinke in that their power,
Is of much force, or greater farre then our;
[Page]It is enough to proue a guilt in me▪
Because (mistaking)
they so think't to be.
Yet'tis my comfort, they are not so high▪
But they must stoope to
thee and
equity.
And this I know, though prick't, they storme agen
The world doth deeme them ne're the better men.
To stirre in filth, makes not the stench the lesse,
Nor doth
Truth feare the frowne of
Mightinesse.
Because those numbers she doth deigne to grace,
Men may suppresse a while, but ne're to deface.
I wonder, and 'tis wondred at by many,
My harmelesse lines should br
[...]ed distaste in any:
[Page]So much, that whereas most
good men approue,
My labour to be wo
[...]thy thankes, and loue;
I as a
[...]illaine, and my
Countries foe,
Should be imprison'd, and so strictly to,
That not alone my liberty is bar'd,
But the resort of friends (which is more hard▪).
And whil'st each wanton, or loose
Rimers pen,
With oily words, sleekes o're the sinnes of men,
V
[...]iling his wits to euery
Puppets becke,
Which e're I'le doe, I'le ioy to breake my necke.
(I say) while such as they in euery place
Can finde protection, patronage and grace;
[Page]If any looke on me, 'tis bu
[...] a skaunce,
Or if I get a fauour, 'tis by chaunce.
I must protect my selfe: poore
Truth and
I,
Can haue scarce one speake for our
Honesty.
Then whereas they, can gold, and gifts attaine,
Malitious
Hate, and
Enuie is my gaine.
And not alone haue here my
freedome lost,
Whereby my
best hope's likely to be crost:
But haue beene put to more charge in one day
Then all my
Patrons bounties yet will pay.
[Page]What I haue done was not for thirst of
gaine,
Or out of hope
preferments to attaine.
Since to contemne them, would more profit me,
Then all the
glories in the world that be:
Yet they are helps to
Vertue, vs'd aright,
And when they wanting be, she wants her might.
For Eagles mindes ne're f
[...]t a Rauens fea
[...]her,
To dare, and to be able, sute together.
But what is't I haue done so worthy bla
[...]e,
That some so eagerly pursue my fame?
[Page]Vouchsafe to view't with thine owne eyes, and try
(Saue want of
Art) what fault thou canst espy.
I haue not sought to scandalize the State,
Nor sowne sedition, nor made publicke bate.
I haue not aym'd at any good mans fame,
Nor taxt (directly) any one by name.
I am not he that am growne discontent
With the Religion, or the Gouernment.
I meant no Ceremonies to protect,
Nor do
[...] I fa
[...]our any new-sprung sect;
[Page]But to my
Satyres gaue this onely warrant,
To apprehend and punish
Vice apparant.
Who ayming in particular at none,
In generall vpbraided euery one:
That each (vnshamed of himselfe) might view
That in himselfe, which no man dares to shew.
And hath this
Age bred vp neat
Vice so tenderly
She cannot brooke it to be touch'd so sl
[...]nderly?
Will she not bide my gentle
Satyres bites?
Harme take her then, what makes she in their sights?
[Page]If with impatience she my
Whip-cord feele,
How had she raged at my lash of
Steele?
But am I call'd in question for her c
[...]use,
Is't
Vice that these afflictions on me drawes?
And neede I now thus to Apologize▪
Onely because I scourged
villanies?
Must I be faine to giue a reason why,
And how I dare, allow of
Honesty?
Whilst that each fl
[...]ering
Parasite is bold
Thy Royall brow vndaunted to behold:
That's musicke for the hearing of a King.
Shall not
he reach out, to obtaine as much,
Who dares more for thee then a hundred such?
Heauen grant her
patience, my
Muse takes't so badly,
I feare sheel'
[...] loose her wits, for she raues madly.
Yet let not my
dread Soueraigne too much blame h
[...]r
Whose awfull presenc
[...], now hath made her tam
[...]r.
For if there be no
Fly but hath her spleene,
Nor a poore
Pismire, but will wreake her teene;
[Page]How shall I then, that haue both spleene, and gall,
Being vniustly d
[...]alt with, beare with all?
I yet with
patience take what I haue borne,
And all the worlds ensuing hate can
scorne:
But 'twere in
me as much stupidity,
Not to haue feeling of an iniury,
As it were weaknesse not to brooke it well.
What others therefore thinke I cannot tell;
But he that's lesse then
madde, is more then
Man,
Who sees when he hath done the best he can
[Page]To keepe within the bounds of
Innocence:
Sought to discharge his due to
God and
Prince:
That he, whil'st
villanies vnreproued goe,
Scoffing, to see him ouer-taken so,
Should haue his
good intendments misconce
[...]'d,
Be of his
dearest liberty bereau'd;
And which is worse; without reason why,
Be frown'd on by
Authorities grim eye.
By that great
power my soule so much doth feare,
She scornes the stearn'st frownes of a mortall
Peere.
[Page]But that I
Vertue loue, for her owne sake,
It were enough to make me vndertake
To speake as much in praise of
Vice agen,
And practise some to plague these
shames of me
[...],
I meane those my
Ac
[...]us
[...]rs, who mistaking
My true conceit
[...], frame some of their owne making▪
But if I list, I neede not buy so dee
[...]e,
The iust
reuenge I could bring on them here.
I could frame
measures in this my iust fury,
Should sooner finde them guilty then a
Iury:
And hang, and draw, & quarter them in verse.
Or I could racke them on the wings of
Fame,
(And he's halfe hang'd
(they say) hath an ill name,)
Yea Id'e goe neere to make these spightfull Elues,
Lyca
[...]bes-like, be glad to hang themselues.
And though this
Age will not abide to heare
Those faults reprou'd, vvhom
custome hath made deare.
Y
[...]t if I pleased, I could write their
crimes,
And stone them vp in walles for after-times:
[Page]For theyl'e be glad (perhaps) that shall ensue,
To see some story of their Fathers true.
Or should I smother'd be in darknesse still,
I might not vse the freedome of a quill:
'T would raise vp
brauer spirits then my owne,
To make my cause, and this their guilt more knowne.
Who by that subiect should get Loue, and Fame,
Vnto my foes disgrace, and endlesse shame:
Those I do mean, whose
Comments haue mis-vs'd me,
And to those Peeres I honour, haue accus'd me:
[Page]Making against
my Innocence their batteries,
And wronging
them by their base fl
[...]tteries:
But of reuenge I am not yet so faine,
To put my selfe vnto that needlesse paine:
Because I know a greater
power there is,
That noteth smaller iniuries then this;
And being still as iust as it is strong,
Apportions due reuenge for euery wrong.
But why (say some) should his too saucy Rimes,
Thus t
[...]xe the wise and great ones of our times?
[Page]It su
[...]es not with his yeares to be so bould,
Nor fits it vs, by him to be contrould.
I must confesse ('
[...]is very true indeede)
Such should not of controuling stand in neede▪
But blame not me, I saw good
Ver
[...]ue poore,
Desert, amongst the most, thrust out of doore,
Honestie hated,
Curtesie banished,
Rich men excessiue,
Poore men famished:
Coldnesse in
Zeale, in
Lawes much partiality;
Friendship, but
Complement, and vaine
Formality.
[Page]
Art I perceiue contemn'd, while most aduance
(To Offices of worth)
Rich Ig
[...]orance.
And those that should our
Lights and
Teachers be,
Liue (if not worse) as wantonly as we.
Yea I saw
Natur
[...], from her course runne backe,
Disorders grow,
Good orders goe to wracke.
So to encrease what all the rest began,
I to this current of confu
[...]io
[...] ran.
And seeing Age left off the place of guiding,
Thus plaid the sawcy wagge, and fell to chiding.
[Page]Wherein, how euer some (perhaps) may deeme,
I am not so much faulty as I seeme:
For when the
Elders wrong'd
Susannaes honor,
And none withstood the shame they laid vpon her;
A
Childe rose vp to stand in her defence,
And spight of wrong, confirm'd her innocence:
To shew those must not, that good vndertake,
Straine curtsey, who shall doe't, for manners sake.
Nor doe I know, whether to me God gaue,
A boldnesse more then many other haue,
[Page]That I might shew the world what shamefull blot
Vertue by her lasciuious
Elders got.
Nor is't a wonder, as some doe suppose,
My
Youth so much corruption can disclose;
Since euery day the Sunne doth light mine eyes,
I haue experience of new villanies:
But it is rath
[...]r to be wondred how,
I either can, or dare, be honest now.
And though againe there be some others rage▪
That I should dare (so much aboue mine age)
[Page]Thus censure each degree, both yong and old,
I see not wherein I am ouer-bold.
For if I haue beene plaine with
Vice I care not,
There'
[...] nought that I know good, & can, & dare not▪
Onely this one thing doth my minde deterre,
Euen a feare (through ignorance) to erre.
But oh knew I, what thou would'st well approue,
Or might the small'st respect within thee moue;
So in the sight of God it might be good,
And with the quiet of my conscience stood,
[Page](As well I know thy true integrity,
Would command nothing against Piety,)
There's nought so dangerous, or full of feare,
That for my
Soueraignes sake I would not dare.
Which good beliefe would it did not possesse thee;
Prouided some iust tri
[...]ll might re-blesse me:
Yea, though a while I did endure the gall
Of thy displeasure, in this loathsome thrall.
For notwithstanding in this
place I lye
[...]y the command of that
Authority,
[Page]Of which I haue so much respectiue care,
That in my
owne (and iust) defence I feare
To vse the free speech that I doe intend,
Least
Ignorance, or
Rashnesse should offend.
Yet is my meaning and my thought a
[...]free,
From wilfull wronging of thy
Lawes or
thee ▪
A
[...] he to whom thy
Place or
Person's dearest,
Or to himselfe that findes his conscience clearest.
If there be
wrong, 'tis not my making it,
All the offence i
[...] some's mistaking it.
[Page]And is there any Iustice borne of late,
Makes those faults mine, which others perpetrate?
What man could euer any Age yet finde
That spent his Spirits in this thanklesse kinde
Shewing his meaning, to such words could tye it▪
That none should either wrong▪ or mis-apply it?
Nay, your owne
Lawes, which (as you doe intend)
In plain'st and most effectuall words are pend,
Cannot be fram'd so well to your intent,
But some there be will erre from what you meant.
[Page]And yet (alas) must I be ty'd vnto
What neuer any man before could doe?
Must all I speake, or write, so well be done,
That none may picke more meanings thence then one?
Then all the world (I hope) will leaue dis-vnion.
And euery man become of one opinion.
But if some may, what care so ere we tak
[...]
Diuers constructions of our writings make
The charitable
Reader should conceaue
The best intentions mine, and others leaue:
[Page]Chiefly in
that, where I fore-hand protest,
My meaning euer was the honestest.
And if I say so, what is he may know
So much as to affirme it was not so?
Sit other men so neere my thought to show it?
Or is my
heart so open that all know it?
Sure if it were, they would no such things see,
As those whereof some haue accused me.
But I am carelesse how't be vnderstood,
Because the Heauens know my intent was good.
[Page]And if it be so, that my too free
Rimes
Doe much displease the world, and these bad times;
Tis not my fault, for had I beene imploy'd
In something else, all this had now beene voyd.
Or if the world would but haue granted me
Wealth, or Affaires, whereon to busie me,
I now vnheard of, peraduenture than,
Had beene as mute as some rich
Cleargie-man.
But they are much deceiu'd that thinke my minde
Will e're be still, while it can doing finde,
[Page]Or that vnto the world so much it leanes,
As to be curtold for default of meanes.
No, though most be, all
Spirits are not earth,
Nor suiting with the fortunes of their birth,
My
body's subiect vnto many powers,
But my
soule'
[...] free, as is the
Emperours:
And though to curbe her in, I oft assay,
She'le breake in't action spight of durt and cl
[...]y.
And is't not better then, to take this course,
Then f
[...]ll to study mischiefes, and doe worse?
[Page]I say she must haue action, and she shall:
For if she will, how can I doe withall?
And let those that or'e-busie thinke me▪ know,
He made me, that knew why he made me so.
And though there's some that say, my thoughts doe flye
A pitch beyond my states sufficiency;
My humble minde, I giue my
Sauiour thanke,
Aspires nought yet, aboue my fortunes ranke.
But say it did, wil't not befit a man,
To raise his thoughts as neere
Heau'n as he can?
A
[...]o
[...]ding to the bodies pouerty?
Or can it euer be so subiect to
Base
Change, to rise and fall, as fortunes doe?
Men borne to Noble meanes and vulgar minde
[...]
Enioy their wealth, and there's no Law that bindes
Such to abate their substance, though their Pa
[...]es
Want
Braine, and they
Worth, to possesse their states▪
So God to some, doth onely
great mindes giue,
And little other meanes whereon to liue.
[Page]What law, or conscience, then shal make thē smother
Their
Spirit, which is their life, more then other
T'abate their
substance? since if 'twere confest,
That a braue minde could euer be supprest,
Were't reason any should himselfe depriue
Of what the whole world hath not power to giue?
Since wealth is common, and fooles get it to,
When to giue spirit's more then
Kings can doe?
I speake not this, because I thinke there be,
More then the ordinariest gifts in me;
[Page]But against those who thinke I doe presume
On more then doth befit me to assume,
Or would haue all, whom
Fortune barres from store,
Make themselues wretched, as she makes them poore.
And cause in outward things she is vnkinde,
Smother the matchlesse blessings of their minde:
Whereas (although her fauours doe forsake them)
Their
mindes are richer then the world can make thē.
Why should a good attempt disgraced seeme,
Because the person is of meane esteeme?
To be embrac'd by him that's meanest borne.
She is the prop, that
Maiesties support,
Yet one whom
Slaues as well as
Kings may Court.
She loueth all that beare affection to her,
And yeelds to any that hath heart to wooe her.
So
Vice, how high so e're she be in place,
Is that which
Groomes may spit at, in d
[...]sgrace.
She is a strumpet, and may be abhorr'd,
Yea spu
[...]n'd at, in the bosome of a
Lord.
[Page]Yet had I spoke her faire, I had b
[...]ene free,
As many others of her Louers be.
If her escapes I had not chanc'd to tell,
I might haue be
[...]ne a
villaine, and done well.
Gotten some speciall fauour, and not sate
As now I doe, shut vp within a
grate.
Or if I could haue hap't on some loose straine▪
That might haue pleas'd the wanton readers vaine:
Or but claw'd
Pride, I now had beene vnblam'd:
(Or else at least there's some would not haue sham'd
[Page]To plead my cause:) but see my fatall curse,
Sure I was either madde, or somewhat worse:
For I saw
Vices followers brauely kept,
In
Silkes they walk'
[...], on beds of
Downe they slept
Richly they fed, on d
[...]inties euermore,
They had their pleasure, they had all things store,
(Whil'st
Vertue
[...]egg'd) yea fauours had so many,
I knew they brook't not to be touch'd of any:
Yet could not I, like othe
[...] men, be wise,
Nor learne for all this, how to temporize;
[Page]But must (with too much honesty made blinde)
Vpbraid this loued darling of mankinde;
Whereas I might haue better thriu'd by fayning,
Or if I could not choose but be complayning,
More safe I might haue rail'd on
Vertue sure,
Because her louers, and her friends are fewer,
I might haue brought some other thing to passe,
Made
Fidlers Song
[...], or
Ba
[...]lets, like an Asse.
Or any thing almost indeed but this,
Yet since 'tis thus, Im'e glad 'tis
[...]o amisse;
[Page]Because If I am guilty of a crime,
'Tis that, wherein the best of euery time,
Hath beene found faulty (if they faulty be)
That doe reproue
Abuse and
Villanie.
For what I'me tax't, I can examples show,
In such old
Authors as this s
[...]ate alow.
And I would faine once learne a reason why
They can haue kinder vsage here then I.
I muse men doe not now in question call,
Seneca, Horace, Perseus, Iuvenall.
[Page]And such as they; Or why did not that Age
In which they liued, put them in a
Cage?
If I should say that men were iuster then,
I should neere hand, be made vnsay't agen.
And therefore sure I thinke I were as good
Leaue it to others to be vnderstood;
Yet I as well may speake as deeme amisse,
F
[...]r such this
Ages curious cunning is
I scarcely dare to let my heart thinke ought,
For there be those will seeme to know my thought,
[Page]Who may out-face me that I thinke awry,
When there's no witnesse but my
Conscience by.
And then I likely am as ill to speede,
As if I spake or did amisse indeede,
Yet l
[...]ast those who (perhaps) may malice this
Interpret also these few lines amisse,
Let them that after
thee shall read or heare,
From a rash censure of my thoughts forbeare.
Let them not mold the sense that this containes
According to the forming of their braines,
[Page]Or thinke I dare, or can, here taxe those
Peeres,
Whose
Worths their
Honours to my soule endeares,
(Those by whose loued-fear'd
Authority)
I am restrained of my liberty:
For least there yet may be a man so ill,
To haunt my lines with his blacke
Comment still,
(In hope my lucke againe may be so good,
To haue my words once rightly vnderstood)
This I protest, that
I doe not condemne
Ought as v
[...]iust that hath beene done by them;
[Page]For though my honest h
[...]rt not guilty be,
Of the lea
[...]t thought, that may disparage me,
Yet
[...]hen
such men as I, shall haue
such foes,
Accuse me of
such crimes, to
such as those,
Till I had meanes my
Innocence to show,
Their
Iustice could haue done no lesse then so.
Nor haue I such a proud-conceited wit,
Or selfe-opinion of my knowledge yet,
To thinke it
[...]ay not be that I haue run
Vpon some
Errors in what I haue done,
[Page]Worthy this punishment which I endure,
(I say I cannot so my selfe assure)
For 'tis no wonder if their
Wisedomes can,
Discouer
Impe
[...]fections in a man
So weake a
[...] I▪ (more then himselfe doth see,
Since my
sight, dull with
insufficiencie,
In men more graue and wiser fa
[...]re then I,
Innumerable
Errors doth espy,
Which they with all their knowledge I'le be bold.
Can
[...]ot, or will not, in themselues behold)
O
[...] keepe a
Tongue shall doe my
Heart that wrong
To say I willingly in what I pe
[...]d
Did ought which might a
Goods mans
[...]ight offend,
Or with my knowledge did insert one word,
That might disparage a true
Honour'd Lord ▪
Let it be in my mouth a helplesse sore,
And neuer speake to be beleeued more.
But
man irresolute is, vnconstant, weake,
And doth his purpose oft through frailty breake▪
[Page]Least therefore I by force hereafter m
[...]y
Be brought from this minde, and these words vnsay▪
Here to the
world I doe proclaime before,
[...]ere my resolution be so poore,
'Tis no
[...] the
Right, but
Might that makes me doe it,
Yea nought but
fearefull basenesse brings me to it,
Which i
[...] I still hate, as I now detest,
Neuer can come to ha
[...]bour in my brest.
Thus my fault then (if they a fault imply)
Is not alone an ill vnwillingly,
[Page]But also, might I know it, I intend,
Not onely to acknowledge, but amend:
Hoping that
thou wilt not be so seuere,
To punish me aboue all other here.
But for m'intents sake, and my loue to
Truth,
Impute my
Errors to the heate of
Youth ▪
Or rather
Ignorance, then to my
W
[...]ll,
Which sure I am was
good, what e're be
[...]ll,
And like to him now, in whose place thou art,
What e're the resdue be, accept the
Heart.
[Page]But I grow tedious, and my loue abus'd
Disturbs my thoughts, and makes my lines confus'd:
Yet pardon me, and daigne a gracious ey
[...]
On this my rude vnfill'd
Apologie.
Let not the bluntnesse of my phrase offend,
Weigh but the
matter ▪ and not how 'tis
pend.
By these abrupt lines in my iust defence,
Iudge what I might say, for my innocence.
And thinke I more could speake, that here I spare,
Becau
[...]e my power
[...]uites not to what I dare.
Her old
Frize Cloake of yo
[...]ng
Rusticitie ▪
If others will vs
[...] nea
[...]er tea
[...]m
[...], they may,
Ruder I am yet loue as well as they.
And (though if I would smooth't I cannot doo't)
My humble heart I bend beneath thy foot:
While here my Muse her discontent do
[...]h sing
To thee her great
Apollo, and my
King:
Emploring thee by that high sacred
Name,
By
Iustice, by those
powers that I could name:
[Page]By whatsoe're may moue, entreate
I thee,
To be what thou art vnto all, to m
[...].
I feare it not, yet giue me leaue to pray,
I may haue foes whose power doth beare such sway,
If they but say I'me guilty of offence,
'Twere vaine for me to pleade my innocence.
But as the name of God thou bear'st, I trust
Thou imitat'st him to, in being iust:
That when the right of
truth thou com'st to scan,
Thoul't not respect the person of the man:
[Page]For if thou doe, then is my
hope vndone,
The headlong way to ruine I must runne.
For whil
[...]t that they haue all the helpes which may
Procure their pleasure with my soone decay▪
How is it like that I my peace can win me,
When all the ayde I haue, comes from with
[...] me?
Therefore
(good King) that mak'st thy bounty shine
Sometime on those whose worths are small as mine;
Oh saue me now from
Enui
[...] dangerous s
[...]elfe,
Or make me able, and I'le saue my selfe.
[Page]Let not the want of that make me a scorne,
To which there are more
Fool
[...] then
Wise-men borne.
Let me not for my
Meannesse be despi
[...]'d,
Nor others
greatnesse make th
[...]ir words more priz'd.
For whatsoe're my outward
Fate appeares,
My
Soule's as g
[...]od, my
Heart as great as their
[...].
My loue vnto my
Country an
[...] to
thee,
As much as his that more would seeme to be.
And would this Age allow but meanes to show it,
Those that misdoubt
[...],
[...]hould
[...]re long time know it.
[Page]Pitty my youth then, and let me not lye
Wasting my time in fruitlesse misery.
Though I am meane, I may be borne vnto
That seruice which another cannot doe.
In vaine the little Mouse the Lyon spar'd not,
She did him pleasure when a greater dar'd not.
If ought that I haue done, doe
thee displease,
Thy misconceiued wrath I will appease:
Or sacrifice my heart; but why should I
Suffer for God knowes whom, I know not why?
Let them conceiue them right, and make amends.
Or were I guilty of offence indeede,
One fault
(they say) doth but one pardon neede.
Yet one I had, and now I want one more:
For once I stood accus'd for this before.
As I
[...]emember I so long agon,
S
[...]ng
Thame, and
Rhy
[...]es Epithalamion.
When SHE that from thy Royall selfe deriue
[...],
Those gracious vertues that best
Title giues.
And me oft minde her here with reuerence;
Daign'd in her
great-good nature to encline
Her gentle eare to such a cause a
[...] mine;
And which is more, vouchsaf't her word to cleare
Me from all dangers (if there any were)
So that I doe not now intreat, or sue
For any great boone, or request that's new▪
But onely this, (though absent from the Land)
Her former fauour still in force might stand:
[Page]And that her word (who present was so deere)
Might be as powerfull, as when she was heere.
Which if I finde, and with thy fauour may
Haue leaue to shake my loathed
bands away,
(As I doe hope I shall) and be set free
From all the troubles this hath brought on me,
I'le make her
Name giue life vnto a
Song,
Whose neuer-dying note shall last as long
As there is either
Riuer, Groue, or
Spring,
Or
Downe, for
Sheepe, or
Shepheards Lad to sing.
[Page]Yea, I will teach my
Muse to touch a straine,
That was nere reach't to yet by any
Swaine.
For though that many deeme my yeares vnri
[...]e,
Yet I
[...]aue learn'd to tune an Oaten pipe,
Whereon I'le try what musicke I can make me,
(Vntill
Bellona
[...]with her Trumpe awake me.)
And since the world will not haue
Vice thus shown
[...],
By blazing
Vertue I will make it knowne.
Th
[...]n if the
Court will not my lines approue,
I'le goe vnto some
Mountaine, or thicke
Groue:
[Page]There to my fellow
Shepheards will I sing,
Tuni
[...]g my
Reed, vnto some dancing
Spring,
In such a note, that none should dare to trouble it,
Till th
[...]
Hil
[...]es ans
[...]ere, and th
[...]
Woods redouble it.
And peraduenture I may then goe nere
To speake of something thoul't be pleasd'd to heare:
And that which
those who now my tunes abhorre,
Shall reade, and like, and daigne to loue me for.
But the meane while, oh passe not thi
[...] suite by,
Let thy
free hand signe me my
liberty:
[Page]And if my loue may moue thee more to do,
Good King consider this my trouble to.
Others haue found thy fauour in distre
[...]se,
Whose loue to thee and thine I thinke was lesse
And I might fitter for thy
ser
[...]ice liue,
On what would not be much for
thee to giue.
And yet I aske it not for that I feare
The outward meanes of life should fa
[...]e me here▪
For though I want to compa
[...]se those
good
[...]n
[...]s
I ayme at for my
Countrey and my
Friends.
[Page]In this
poore state I can as well content me,
As if that I had
Wealth and
Honours lent me;
Nor for my
owne sake doe I seeke to shunne
This
thraldome, wherein now I seeme vndone:
For though I prize my
Freedome more then
Gold,
And vse the meanes to free my selfe from hold,
Yet with a minde (I hope) vnchang
[...]d and free,
Here can I liue and play with misery:
Yea in despight of want and slauery,
Laugh at the world in all her brauery,
[Page]Here haue I learn'd to make my greatest
Wrong
[...]
Matter of
Mirth, and subiects but for
Songs.
Here can I smile to see my selfe neglected,
And how the meane mans sute is disrespected,
Whil'st those that are more rich, and better friended,
Can haue twice greater
faults thrice sooner ended.
All this, yea more, I see and suffer to,
Yet liue content, midst discontents I do,
Which whil'st I can, it is all one to me,
Whether in
Prison or
abroad it be:
It shall not make me breath a sigh the mor
[...];
Since to my selfe it is indifferent
Where the small remnant of my dayes be spent,
But for
Thy sake, my
Countries, and my
Friends,
For whom more then my selfe
God this life lends,
I would not, could I helpe it, be a scorne,
But l
[...]ue (if I might) free, as I was borne:
Or rather for good
Bell-arete's sake,
Fa
[...]e Ver
[...] of
[...]hom most account I make,
[Page]If I can chuse, I will not be deba
[...]'d,
In this last action, least
She be disgrac'd.
For 'twas the loue of her that brought me to
What
Spleene nor
Enuie could not make me do,
And if her seruants be no more regarded,
If enemies of
Vice be thus rewarded,
And I should also
Vertues wrongs conceale,
As if none liu'd to whom she dar'd appeale:
Will they that doe not yet her
worth approue,
Be euer drawne to entertaine her
loue,
Who for the loue he beares her, doth commend her?
This may to others more offensi
[...]e be,
Then preiudiciall any way to me:
For who will his endeuours euer bend
To follow her, whom there is
[...]one will friend?
Some I doe hope there be that nothing may
From loue of
Truth and
Honesty dismay.
But who will euer seeing my hard
Fortune,
The
remedy of
Times Abuse importune?
[Page]Who will againe when they haue smother'd me,
Dart to oppose the face of
Villany?
Whereas he shall not onely vndertake
A
Combate with a second
Lernean Snake,
Whose euer-growing heads when as he crops,
Not onely two Springs, for each one he lops,
But also he shall see in midst of danger
[...],
Those he thought
friends turn
foes, or at lea
[...]
stranger
[...].
More I could speake, but sure if this doe
[...]aile me,
I neuer shall doe ought that will a
[...]a
[...]e me,
[Page]Nor c
[...]re to speake againe, vnlesse it be
To him that knowes how
Heart and
Words agre
[...],
No, nor to liue when none dares vndertake
To speake one word for honest
Vertues sake.
But let
his will be done, that best knowes what
Will be my
future good, and what will not.
Hap
well or
ill, my spotlesse
meaning's faire,
And for
thee, this shall euer be my prayer,
That thou may'st here enioy a long-blest Raig
[...]e,
And dying, be in Heauen Re-crown'd againe.
[Page]SO now if thou hast daign'd my
Lines to heare,
There's nothing can befall
me that I feare:
For if
thou hast compassion on my trouble,
The
Ioy I shall receiue will be made double;
And if I fall, it may some
Glory be,
That none but
IOVE himselfe did ruine me.
Your MAIESTIES
most loyall Subiect, and yet Prisoner in the Marshals
[...]y. GEO. WYTHER.