WITHER'S Motto.
Nec habeo, nec Careo, nec Curo. Nor Haue I, nor Want I, nor Care I.
HAh! will they storme? why let thē; who needs care?
Or who dares frown on what the
Muses dare,
Who when they list, can for a tempest call,
Which thunder louder then their fury shall?
And if men causelesly their power contemne,
Will more then mortall vengeance fling on them?
With thine owne trembling spirit, thou didst view
These free-borne lines; that doubtst what may ensue:
For if thou feltst the temper of my soule
And knewst my heart, thou wouldst not feare controul.
Doe not I know, my honest thoughts are cleare
From any priuate spleene, or malice here?
Doe not I know that none will frowne at this,
But such as haue apparant guiltinesse;
Or such as must to shame and ruine runne,
As some, once ayming at my fall haue done?
[Page] And can I feare those Idle scar-crowes then?
Those bugg-beare perils, those meere shades of men?
At whose displeasure they for terror sweat,
Whose heart vpon the worlds vaine loue is set?
No; when this
Motto first, I mine did make,
To me I tooke it, not for fashions sake:
But that it might expresse me as I am;
And keepe me mindefull to be still the same.
Which I resolue to be: For, could the eye
Of other men, within my breast espie
My Resolution, and the Cause thereof;
They durst not at this boldnesse make a skoffe.
Shall I be fearefull of my selfe to speake;
For doubt some other may exceptions take?
If this Age hold; ere long we shall goe neere
Of eu'ry word of our, to stand in feare.
And (fiue to one) if any should confesse
Those sinnes in publike, which his soule oppresse:
Some guilty fellow (moou'd thereat) would take it
Vnto himselfe; and so, a Libell make it.
Nay; We shall hardly be allowd to pray
Against a crying-sinne; lest great men may
Suspect, that by a figure we intend
To point out them: and how they doe offend.
As I haue hope to prosper; e're I'le fall
To such a bondage, I'le aduenture all:
And make the whole world madd, to heare how I
Will fearelesse write and raile at Villany.
But oh! beware (gray-hayrd discretion sayes)
The Dogge fights well that out of danger playes.
[Page] For now, these guilty Times so captious be
That such, as loue in speaking to be free;
May for their freedome, to their cost be shent;
How harmelesse er'e they be, in their intent:
And such as of their future peace haue care,
Vnto the
Times a little seruile are.
Pish; tell not me of
Times, or danger thus:
To doe a villany is dangerous;
But in an honest action, my heart knowes
No more of feares, then dead-men doe of blowes.
And to be slaue to Times, is worse to me
Then to be that, which most men feare to be.
I tell thee
Critike; whatsoeuer Thou,
Or any man, of me shall censure now:
They, who for ought here written doe accuse,
Or with a mind malicious, taxe my
Muse;
Shall nor by day awake, nor sleepe by night,
With more contentment, in their glories height;
Then I will doe, though they should lay me where
I must in darkenesse, bolts of Iron weare.
For, I am not so ignorant, but that
I partly know what things I may relate:
And what an honest man should still conceale,
I know as well, as what he may reueale.
If they be poore and base, that feare my straine:
These poore base fellowes are afraid in vaine.
I scorne to spurne a dogge, or strike a flye,
Or with such Groomes to soile my Poesie.
If great they were, and fallen; let them know,
I doe abhor to touch a wounded foe.
[Page] If on the top of honour, yet they be:
Tis poore weake honour, if ought done by me
May blot, or shake the same: yea, whatsoere
Their Titles cost, or they would faine appear
[...],
They are ignoble, and beneath me farre;
If with these measures they distempered are.
For, if they had true Greatnesse, they would know,
The spight of all the World, were farre below
The seate of Noblest Honor; and that He,
In whom true worth, and reall Vertues be,
So well is arm'd: as that he feares no wrong
From any Tyrants hand; or Villaines tongue.
Much lesse be startled at those
Numbers would;
Where
Uertue's praised and proud
Uice contrould.
Is any man the worse if I expresse
My
Wants, my
Riches, or my
Carelesnesse?
Or can my honest thoughts, or my content,
Be turn'd to any mans disparagement,
If he be honest? Nay, those men will finde,
A pleasure in this D
[...]re of my Minde,
Who honour Vertue, and instead of blame,
Will (as they haue done) loue me for the same.
You are decein'd, if the
Bohemian State
You thinke I touch; or the
Palatinate:
Or that this ought of
Eighty-eight containes;
The
Powder-plot, or any thing of
Spaines:
That their
Ambassador neede question me,
Or bring me iustly for it on my knee.
The state of those Occurrences I know
Too well; my Raptures that way to bestow.
Nor neede you doubt, but any friend you haue,
May play the foole, and if he list the knaue,
For ought here written: For it is not such
As you suppose; nor what you feare so much.
If I had beene dispos'd to Satyrize,
Would I haue tam'd my
Numbers in this wise?
No: I haue
Furies that lye ty'de in chaines.
Bold (English-mastiue-like) aduentrons Straines:
Who fearelesse dare on any
Monster flye,
That weares a body of Mortality.
And I had let them loose, if I had list,
To play againe the sharpe-fangd
Satyrist.
That therefore you no more mis-title
This,
I say, it is my
Motto; and it is.
I'le haue it so: For, if it please not me;
It shall not be a
Satyr, though it be.
What is't to you (or any man) if I,
This little
Poem terme as foolishly,
As some doe their children? Is it not,
Mine owne
Minerua, of my braines begot?
For ought I know, I neuer did intrude,
To name your
Whelps; and if you be so rude,
To meddle with my
Kitling (though in sport)
'Tis odds, but shee'l goe neere to scratch you for't.
Play with your
Monkey then, and let it lye:
Or (if you be not angry) take it pray,
And read it ouer.—
—So; the
Critick's gone,
Who at these
Numbers carpt; and We alone:
Proceede we to the matter.—
Nec Habeo, nec Careo, nec Curo.
SOme hauing seene, where I this
Motto w
[...]it
Beneath my Picture; askt, what meaned it.
And many in my absence, doe assay,
What by these words, they best coniecture may:
Some haue supposed, that it doth expresse,
An vnaduised, desperate
Carelesnesse.
Some others doe imagine, that I meant
In little, to set forth a great Content.
Some, on each member of the
Sentence dwell:
And (first) will, what
I haue not, seeme to tell:
What things
I want not, they will next declare:
And then they gesse, for what
I doe not care.
But that they might not from my meaning err,
I'le now become my owne
Interpreter.
Some things
I haue, which here I will not show;
Some things
I want, which you shall neuer know:
And sometime I (perchance) doe
Carefull grow;
But we, with that, will nothing haue to doe.
If good occasion be thereof to speake;
Another time, we may the pleasure take.
That, which to treat of, I now purpose (therefor,)
Is what I neither
haue, nor
want, nor
care for.
Nec Habeo.
ANd first; that no man else may censure me,
For Vaunting what belongeth not to me:
Heare what
I haue not; for, I'le not deny
To make confession of my pouerty.
I haue not of my selfe the powre, or grace,
To be, or not to be; one minute space.
I haue not strength another word to write;
Or tell you what I purpose to indite:
Or thinke out halfe a thought, before my death,
But by the leaue of him that gaue me breath.
I haue no natiue goodnesse in my soul;
But I was ouer all corrupt and foul:
And till another cleans'd me,
I had nought
That was not stain'd within me: not a thought.
I haue no propper merrit; neither will,
Or to resolue, or act but what is ill.
I haue no meanes of safety, or content,
In ought which mine owne wisedome can inuent.
Nor haue I reason to be desperate tho:
Because for this a remedy I know.
I haue no portion in the world like this,
That I may breath that ayre, which common is:
Nor haue I seene within this spacious
Round;
What I haue worth my
Ioy or
sorrow found.
Except it hath for these that follow binn;
The Loue of my
Redeemer, and my sinn.
I none of those great Priuiledges
haue,
Which make the
Minions of the Time, so braue.
I haue no sumpteous Pallaces, or Bowers
That ouertop my neighbours with their Towrs.
I haue no large Demeanes or Princely Rents,
Like those
Heroes; nor their discontents.
I haue no glories from mine Auncesters;
For want of reall worth to bragg of theirs,
Nor haue I basenes in my pedigree;
For it is noble, though obscure it be.
I haue no gold those honours to obtaine,
Which men might heretofore, by
Vertue gaine,
Nor haue I witt, if wealth were giuen me;
To thinke, bought
Place or
Title, honour'd me.
I (yet)
haue no beliefe that they are wise,
Who for base ends, can basely temporise:
Or that it will at length be ill for me,
That I liu'd poore, to keepe my Spirit free.
I haue no Causes in our Pleading
Courts.
Nor start I at our Chancery
Reports.
No fearefull
Bill hath yet affrighted me,
No
Motion, Order, Iudgement, or
Decree.
Nor haue I forced beene to tedious Iourneys,
Betwixt my
Counsellors and my
Attorneys.
[...]e no neede of those long-gowned warriers,
Who play at
Westminster, vnarm'd at
Barriers:
Nor gamster for those
Common-pleas am I,
Whose sport is marred, by the
Chancery.
I haue no iuggling hand, no double tongue;
Nor any minde to take, or doe a wrong.
[Page]
I haue no shifts or cunning fleights, on which
I feed my selfe, with hope of being rich.
Nor haue I one of these, to make me poore;
Hounds, Humors, running horses, Haukes or VVhore,
I haue no pleasure in acquaintance, where
The Rules of State, and Ceremony, are
Obseru'd so seriously; that I must dance,
And act o're all the Complements of
France,
And
Spaine, and
Italy; before I can
Be taken, for a well bred
Englishman:
And euery time we meet, be forc't agen,
To put in action that most idle Sceane.
Mong these, much precious time (vnto my cost)
And much true-hearty meaning haue I lost.
VVhich hauing found: I doe resolue therefore,
To lose my Time, and Friendship, so no more.
I haue no Complements; but what may show,
That I doe manners, and good breeding know.
For much I hate, the forced, Apish tricks,
Of those our home-disdaining Politicks:
VVho to the Forraine guise are so affected,
That
English Honesty is quite reiected:
And in the stead thereof; they fu
[...]isht home,
VVith shaddowes of
Humanity doe come.
Oh! how iudicious in their owne esteeme,
And how compleatly, Trauelled they seeme;
If in the place of reall kindnesses,
(VVhich Nature could, haue taught them to expresse)
They can with gestures, lookes, and
[...]guage sweet,
Fawne like a Curtezan, on all they meet:
[Page] And vie, in humble and kind speaches; when,
They doe most proudly, and most falsely meane.
On this: too many falsely set their face,
Of Courtship and of wisedome: but tis base.
For, seruile (vnto me) it doth appeare,
When we descend, to sooth and flatter, where
We want affection: yea, I hate it more,
Then to be borne a slaue; or to be poore.
I haue no pleasure, or delight in ought,
That by dissembling must to passe be brought.
If I dislike, I'ld sooner tell them so,
Then hide my face, beneath a friendly show.
For he, (who to be iust, hath an intent,
Needs nor dissemble, nor a lye inuent.
I rather wish to faile with honesty,
Then to p
[...]euaile in ought by treachery.
And with this minde I'le safer sleepe, then all
Our
Machauillian Pollititians shall.
I haue no Minde to fl
[...]tter; though I might,
Be made some Lords companion; or a Knight.
Not shall my Verse for me on begging goe,
Though I might starue, vnlesse it did doe so.
I haue no Muses that will serue the turne,
At euery Triumph; and reioyce or mourne,
Vpon a minutes warning for their hire;
If with old
Sherry they themselues inspire.
I am not of a temper, like to those,
That can prouide an houres sad talke in
Prose,
For any Funerall; and then goe Dine,
And choke my griefe, with Sugar-plums and Wine.
[Page] I cannot at the
Claret sic and laugh,
And then halfe tipsie, write an
Epitaph;
Or howle an
Epicoedium for each Groome,
That is, by Fraud, or Nigardize, become
A wealthy Alderman: Nor, for each Gull,
That hath acquir'd the stile of Worshipfull.
I cannot for reward adorne the Hearse,
Of some old rotten
Miser, with my Verse:
Nor like the
Poetasters of the Time;
Goe howle a dolefull
Elegie in Ryme,
For euery Lord or Ladiship that dyes:
And then perplex their Heires, to Patronize
That muddy
Poesie. Oh! how I scorne,
Those Raptures, which are free, and nobly borne,
Should Fidler-like, for entertainment scrape
At strangers windowes: and goe play the Ape,
In counterfeiting Passion, when there's none,
Or in good earnest, foolishly bem
[...]ane
(In hope of cursed bounty) their iust death;
Who, (liuing) merrit not, a minutes breath
To keepe their
Fame aliue, vnles to blow,
Some Trumpet which their blacke disgrace may show.
I cannot (for my life) my
Pen compell,
Vpon the praise of any man to dwell:
Vnlesse I know, (or thinke at least) his worth,
To be the same, which I haue blazed forth.
Had I some honest Suite; the gaine of which,
Would make me noble, eminent, and rich:
And that to compasse it, no meanes there were
Vnlesse I basely flatter'd some great Peere;
[Page] Would with that Suite, my ruine I might get:
If on those termes I would endeauour it.
I haue not bin to their condition borne,
Who are inclined to respect, and scorne;
As men in their estates, doe rise or fall:
Or rich, or poore, I
Uertue loue in all.
And where I finde it not, I doe despise
To fawne on them; how high so e're they rise,
For, where proud
Greatnesse without worth I see:
Old
Mordecay had not a stiffer knee.
I cannot giue a
Plaudit (I protest)
When as his Lordship thinkes, he breakes aieast,
Vnles it moue me; neither can I grin,
When he a causeles laughter doth begin.
I cannot sweare him, truely honourable;
Because he once receiu'd me to his table;
And talk't as if the
Mases glad might be,
That he vouchsased such a grace to me.
His slender worth, I could not blaze on so,
By strange
Hyporboles, as some would do.
Or wonder at it, as if none had bin
His equall, since King
William first came in.
Nor can I thinke true
Vertue euer car'd
To giue or take, (for praise) what I haue heard.
For if we peyze them well; what goodly grace,
Haue outward Beauties, Riches, Titles, Place,
Or such; that we, the owners should commend,
When no true vertues, doe on these attend?
If beautifull he be, what honour's that?
As faire as he is many a Beggers brar.
[Page] If we, his noble Titles would extoll;
Those Titles. he may haue and be a foole.
If Seats of Iustice he hath climb'd (we say)
So Tyrants, and corrupt oppressors may.
If for a large estate his praise we tell:
A thousand Villanies, may be prais'd as well.
If he, his Princes good esteeme be in;
Why, so hath many a bloody Traytor bin.
And if in these things he alone excell,
Let those that list, vpon his prayses dwell.
Some other worth I finde, e're I haue sense
Of any praise-deseruing excellence.
I haue no friends, that once affected were,
But to my heart, they sit this day as neare,
As when I most endear'd them (though they seeme,
To fall from my opinion or esteeme:)
For precious Time, in idle would be spent;
If I with All, should alwayes complement.
And till, my loue I may to purpose show;
I care not wher'they thinke I loue or no.
For sure I am, if any finde me chang'd;
Their greatnes, nor their meannesse me estrang'd.
I haue not priz'd mens loues, the lesse or more,
Because I saw them, either rich, or poore;
But as their loue, and Vertues did appeare,
I such esteem'd them, whosoe're they were.
I haue no trust, or confidence in friends,
That seeke to know me, meerly for their ends,
Nor haue I euer said,
I loued yet;
Where I expected more then
Loue for it,
[Page] And let me faile of that where most I lou'd,
If that with greater ioy I be not mou'd
By twenty-fold, when I my kindnes show,
Then when their fauours they on me bestow.
I haue not that vile minde; nor shall my brest
For euer, with such basenes be possest;
As in my anger (be it ne're so iust)
To vtter ought committed to my trust
In time of frien
[...]ship: though constrained so,
That want of telling it, should me vndo.
For, whosoe're hath trust repos'd in me;
Shall euer find me true, though false he be.
I haue no lo
[...]o
Countrey, Prince or Friend;
That can be more, or lesse, or haue an end.
For whatsoeuer state they rais'd me to;
I would not loue them; better then I do.
Nor can I hate them; though on me they should
Heape all the scorne, and iniury they could.
I haue no do
[...]ing humor, to affect
Where loue I finde rewarded with neglect.
I neuer was wit
[...] melancholy fit
Oppressed in such stupid manner, yet,
A▪ that vngently to my friends I sp
[...]ke;
O
[...] beed to their contentment, did not take:
Nor haue I felt my Anger so inflam'd
But that with gentle speach it might be tam'd.
I haue no priuate cause of discontent;
Nor grudge against the publike gouernment.
I haue no spight, or enu
[...]e in my brest,
Nor doth anothers peace disturbe my rest.
[Page]
I haue not (yet) that dunghill humour, which
Some Great-men haue; who, so they may be rich,
Thinke all gaine sweet, and nought ashamed are,
In vile, and rascall Suites to haue a share.
For I their basenes scorne: and euer loth'd
By wronging others, to be fed or cloth'd,
Much more, to haue my pride, or lust maintain'd,
VVith what, by foule oppression hath bene gain'd.
I haue not bene enamor'd on the
Fate
Of men, to great aduancements fortunate.
I neuer yet a Fauorite did see
So happy, that I wished to be hee:
Nor would I, whatsoe're of me became;
Be any other man, but who I am.
For, though I am assur'd the destiny
Of millions tendeth to felicity:
Yet, those deare secret comforts, which I finde,
Vnseene, within the closet of my minde:
Giue more assurance of true happines,
Then any outward glories can expresse.
And 'tis so hard, (what shewes soe're there be)
The inward plight of other men to see:
That my estate, with none exchange I dare,
Although my Fortunes more dispised were.
I haue not hitherto divulged ought,
VVherein my words dissented from my thought.
Nor would I faile; if I might able be,
To make my manners, and my words agree.
I haue not bene ashamed to confesse
My lowest Fortunes, or the kindnesses,
[Page] Of poorest men: Nor haue I proud beene made,
By any fauor from a great Man, had
I haue not plac't so much of my Content,
Vpon the goods of
Fortune, to lament
The losse of them; more then may seemely be,
To grieue for things, which are no part of me.
For, I haue knowne the worst of being poore;
Yea lost, when I to lose haue had no more,
And though, the Coward
World more quakes for feare
Of Pouerty, then any plagues that are:
Yet, He that mindes his End, obserues his Ward,
The Meanes persues, and keepes a heart prepar'd:
Da
[...]es, Scorne and Pouerty as boldly meete;
As others gladly. Fame, and Riches greet.
For those, who on the stage of this proud World,
Into the pawes of
Want and
Scorne are hurld:
Are in the
Master-prize, that trieth men;
And
Vertue fighteth her brau'st Combat, then,
I no Antipathy (as yet)
haue had,
Twixt me, and any Creature, God hath made:
For if they doe not scratch, nor bite, nor sting,
Snakes, Serpents, Todes, or Catts, or any thing
I can endure to touch, or looke vpon:
(So cannot eu'ry one whom I haue knowne.)
I haue no Nation on the earth abhord,
But with a
Iewe, or
Spaniard can accord,
As well, as with my Brother; if I finde
He beare a Vertuous, and Heroick minde.
Yet (I confesse) of all men, I most hate
Such, as their manners doe adulterate.
[Page] Those Lins
[...]-woolsie people, who are neither
French, English, Scotsh, nor
Dutch: but altogether
Those, I affect not; rather wish I could,
That they were fish, or flesh, or hott, or cold:
But none among all them, worse brooke I, then
Our meere Hispaniolized
English men.
And if we scape their Trecheries at home,
I'le feare no mischies, where so'ere I come.
I haue not fear'd who my Religion knowes:
Nor euer for preferment, made I showes
Of what I was not. For, although I may
Through want, be forc't, to put on worse ar
[...]y,
Vpon my Body; I will euer finde,
Meanes so maintaine, a habit for my Minde,
Of Truth in graine: and weare it, in the sight
Of all the world: in all the worlds despight.
I, their presumption,
haue not, who dare blame,
A fault in others; and correct the same
With grieuous punishments: yet guilty be,
Of those offences in more high degree.
For, oh! how bold, and impudent a face,
(And what vnmoued hearts of Flint and Brasse)
Haue those corrupted
Magistrates, who dare,
Vpon the seat of Iudgement sit; and there
Without an inward horror preach abroad,
The guilt of Sinne, and heauy wrath of God;
(Against offenders pleading at their
Barr)
Yet know, what plots, within their bosomes are?
Who; when (enthron'd for Iustice) they behold,
A reuerend
Magistrate, both graue, and old;
[Page] And heare how sternly, he doth aggrauate
Each little crime, offenders perpetrate:
How much the fact he seemeth to abhor;
How he, a iust correction labours for;
How he admires, and wonders that among
A people, where the Faith hath florisht long
Such wickednes should raigne which (he hath heard)
The Heathen to commit, haue bin affeard.
Who, that obserues all this; would thinke that He
Did but an houre before, receiue a fee,
Some Innocent (by law) to murther there?
Or else, from Children fatherles to teare
Their iust Inheritance? and that when this
Were done (as if that nought had beene amisse)
He could goe sleepe vpon a deed so foule;
And neither thinke on mans, or Gods controule?
I haue not a stupidity so madd,
And this presumption, I would no man hadd.
I haue no question made, but some there are,
Who, when of this my
Motto they shall heare;
Will haue a better stomacke, to pro
[...]ure
That I may check, or punishment endure,
Then their owne euill manners to amend:
For that's a worke, they cannot yet intend.
And though, they many view (before their face)
Fal'ne, and each minute falling to disgrace;
(For lesse offences farre then they commit)
Without remorse, and penitence they sit.
As if that They, (and they all one) had binne,
Without the compasse of reproofe of sinne.
I haue no great opinion of their wit,
Nor euer saw their actions prosper, yet,
Who wedded to their owne deuises be;
And will nor counsell heare, nor danger see,
That is foretold them by their truest friends:
But rather, list to them, who for their ends
Doe sooth their fancies. And the best excuse;
That such men can, to hide their folly vse;
(When all their idle proiects come to nought)
Are these words of the foole.
I had not thought.
I haue not their delight, who pleasure take
At Natures imperfections scoffes to make.
Nor haue I bitternes against that sinne,
Which thorow weakenes hath committed bin.
(For I my selfe, am to offences prone;
And euery day commit I many a one)
But at their hatefull crimes I onely glance
That sinne of pleasure, pride, and arrogance.
I haue not so much knowledge as to call
The
Arts in question; neither wi
[...] so small,
To wast my spirits, those things to attaine;
Which all the world hath labour'd for in vaine.
I haue not so much beauty, to attract
The eyes of Ladies: neither haue I lackt
Of that proportion which doth well suffice
To make me gracious, in good peoples eyes.
I haue not done, so many a holy deed;
As that of
IESVS CHRIST, I haue no need.
And my
good-workes I hope are not so few;
But that in me a liuing
Faith they shew.
[Page]
I haue not found ability so much.
To carry Milstones; yea, and were it such,
I should not greatly vaunt it: for, in this,
A scuruie pack-horse farr my better is.
I loue his manly strength, that can resist
His owne desi
[...]es: force passage when he list
Through all his strong affections, and subdue,
The stout attempts of that rebellious cr
[...]we.
This, were a brauer strength then
Sampson got:
And this, I couet, but
I haue it not.
I haue not so much heedlesnes of things,
Which appertaine vnto the Courts of Kings;
But that from my low station, I can see
A Princes loue may oft abused be.
For many men their Country iniure dare
At home; where, all our eyes vpon them are,
And (of the worlds Protector) I implore,
The trust abroad, be not abused more.
I haue no Brother, but of younger age,
Nor haue I Birth-right without heritage:
And with that land, let me inherit shame;
Vnlesse I grieue when I possesse the same.
The value of a penny
haue I not,
That was by bribry, or extortion got.
I haue no Lands that from the Church were pild,
To bring (hereafter) ruine to my Child.
And hitherto, I thinke, I haue beene free
From Widdowes, or from Orphants cursing me.
The
Spleene, the
Collicke, or the
Lythargy,
Gouts, Palsies, Dropsies, or a
Lunacy.
Nor raigning sinne; nor any foule disease.
I haue no debts, but such as (when I can)
I meane to pay; nor is there any man
(To whom I standingag'd by ought I borrow)
Shall losse sustaine, though I should dye to morro
[...]
And if they should (so much my friends they be)
Their greatest losse the'le thinke the losse of me.
And well they know, I tooke not whatthey lent,
To wrong their loues, or to be idly spent.
Except the
Deuill, and that cursed brood,
VVhich haue dependance on his Deuil-hood,
I know
no foes
I haue; for, if there be,
In none, more malice, then I finde in me:
The earth, that man (at this time) doth not beare
VVho would not, if some iust occasions were;
(Eu'n in his height of spleene) my life to saue,
Aduenture with one foot, into his graue.
To make me carefull; Children
I haue none;
Nor haue I, any VVife to get them on;
Nor haue I, (yet to keepe her) had I one;
Nor can this spoyle my Marriage being knowne.
Since I am sure, I was not borne for her,
That shall before my worth, her wealth prefer:
For, I doe set my Vertues, at a rate,
As high as any prise their Riches at.
And if All count, the venture too much cost,
In keeping it my selfe there's nothing lost.
For, she I wed, shall some what thinke in me
More worthy Loue, then great reuenues be.
[Page] And if I finde not one, of such a minde,
(As such indeed, are Iewels rare to finde)
Ile clasped in mine owne embraces lye:
And neuer touch a woman till I dye.
For, shall a Fellow, whom (the Vsurer)
His father, by extortion did prefer
Vnto an heritage in value cleare,
Aboue foure times a thousand pounds a yeare,
So worthily or so confident become?
(By meanes of that his goodly annuall somme,
Which may be lost to morrow) as to dare
Attempt a
Nymph of Honour for his pheare?
Shall he, that hath with those foure thousand pounds
A gaming vaine; a deepe mouth'd cry of Hounds,
Three cast of Hawkes, of Whores as many brace,
Sixe hunting Naggs, and fiue more for the race:
(Perhaps a numerous brood of fighting-Cocks)
Physitians, Barbers, Surgeons for the Pox;
And twenty other humors to maintaine;
(Beside the yearely charges of his traine)
With this reuenue? Most of which, or all
To morgage must be set? perhaps to sale
To pay his creditors, and yet all faile
To keepe his crasie body from the Iayle?
Shall this dull Foole, with his vncertaine store
(And in all honesty and Vertues poore)
Hope for a
Mistresse, noble, rich, and faire?
And is it likely, that I can dispaire
To be as happy, if I seeke it would?
Who such a matchlesse fortune haue in hold;
[Page] That though the
World my ruine plot and threat,
I can in spight of it be rich, and great?
A silly Girle, no sooner vnderstands,
That shee is left in Portion, or in Lands;
So large a fortune, that it doth excell
The greatest part, who neare about her dwell:
But straight begins to rate, and prize her selfe
According to the value of her pelfe.
And though to Gentry, nor good breeding born;
Can all, that haue estates beneath her, scorn.
This wit a
Woman hath: and shall not I,
Who know I haue a
Wealth, which none can buy
For all the world; expect a nobler phere
Then sutes vnto a hundred pounds a yeere?
Shall loue of Truth, and Vertue make of me
A match no better worthy, then is He
Who knowes not what they meane? and doth possesse
In outward fortunes neither more nor lesse?
Haue I oft heard so many faire ones plaine
How fruitles Titles are? how poore and vaine
They found rich greatnes, where they did not find,
True Loue, and the endowments of the mind?
Haue fayrest Ladies often sworne to me
That if they might, but onely
Mistresse be
Of true affection; they would prize it more
Then all those glories, which the most adore:
Haue I obseru'd how hard it is to find
A constant heart? a iust and honest mind?
How few good natures in the world there are,
How scanty true affection is? how rare?
[Page] And shall I passe as true a Heart away,
As hath conceiu'd an honest thought to day:
As if in value to no more it came,
Then would endeare me to a vulgar Dame
On equall termes? or else vndoe me with
Some old rich Croan, that hath out-liu'd her teeth?
I'le rather breake it with proud scorne; that dead;
The wormes may rifle for my
Mayden-head.
I haue no loue to beauties, which are gone
Much like a Rose in Iune, assoone as blowne.
Those painted
Cabinets and nought within,
Haue little power my respect to win.
Nor haue I, yet, that stupid loue to pelfe.
As for the hope thereof, to yoke my selfe
With any female; betwixt whom, and me,
There could not in the soule, a marriage be.
For whosoeuer ioyne without that care;
Fooles, and accursed in their matches are;
And so are you, that either heare or view
What I auerr; vnlesse you thinke it true.
I haue no meaning, whensoere I wed,
That my companion, shall become my head.
Nor would I (if I meant to keepe my right)
So much as say so, though that win her might.
Not though a Dutchesse: for, the meanes Ile vse
To keepe my worth, though my reward I loose,
Yea, from a prison had she raised me,
Lord of her fortunes, and her Selfe to be:
I that respect, would still expect to haue,
Which might become her Husband: not her slaue.
[Page] And should I spouse a Begger; I would shew,
What loue, and honor, to a wife were due.
I haue not, yet, of any skorned binn;
Who
[...]e good opinion, I haue sought to winn.
Nor haue I (when I meane to woe) a feare,
That any man, shall make me, willow weare.
I haue not, eyes so excellent, to see
Things (as some men can do) before they be.
Nor purblinde sight; which crimes farre off can mark
[...]
Yet seeme, no faults, which are more neare me, dark.
I haue not cares for euery
[...]ale that's told:
Nor memory, things friuelous to hold.
I haue not their credulity that dare,
Giue credit vnto all reports they heare.
Nor haue I subiect to their dulnes beene,
Who can bele
[...]ue no more then they haue seene.
I haue no feeling of those wrongs that be
By base vnworthy fellowes, offerd me:
For, my contentment; and my glory lyes
Aboue the pitch, their spight, or malice flyes.
I haue not neede enough, as yet, to serue:
Nor impudence to craue, till I deserue.
I haue no hope, the worlds esteeme to get:
Nor could a foole, or knaue, e're brooke me yet.
I haue not villany enough, to prey
Vpon the weake: or friendship to betray.
Nor haue I so much loue to life, that I
Would seeke to saue it by dishonesty:
I haue not Cowardise enough to feare,
In honest actions; though my death be there:
[Page] Nor heart, to perpetrate a wilfull sinne:
Though I with safety, large renowne might winne;
And for omitting it, were sure to dye,
Ne'r to be thought on, but with infamy.
I haue not their base cruelty, who can
Insult, vpon an ouer-grieued man:
Or tread on him, that at my feet doth bow.
For, I protest, no villany I know
That could be done me; but if I perceiu'd
(Or thought) the doer, without faigning grieu'd:
I truely could forgiue him; as if hee
Had neuer in a thought abused mee.
And if my loue to mercy, I belye
Let God deny me mercy when I dye.
I haue not that vnhappinesse, to be
A Rich mans Sonne; For he had trained me,
In some vaine path; and I had neuer sought,
That knowledge which my pouerty hath taught.
I haue no inclination to respect
Each vulgar complement, nor neglect
An honest shew of friendship: For, I sweare,
I rather wish, that I deceiued were;
Then of so base a disposition be,
As to distrust, till cause were giuen me.
I haue no Constitution, to accord
To ought dishonest, sooner for a Lord,
Then for his meanest Groome; and hopes there be
It neuer will be otherwise with me.
I haue no pollicies to make me seeme
A man well worthy of the worlds esteeme.
[Page]
Nor haue I hope, I shall hereafter grow,
To any more regard, for saying so;
I haue no doubt, though here a slighted thing;
But I am fauorite, to Heau'ns great King.
Nor haue I feare but all thats good in me;
Shall in my Life, or Death, rewarded be.
But yet,
I haue not that attain'd, for which
Those who account this nothing, thinke me rich:
No
[...] that, which they doe reckon worth esteeme;
To whom the riches of the min
[...]e, doe seeme
A scornefull pouerty. But let that go,
Men cannot prize the Pearles they doe not know.
Nor haue I power to teach them: for if I,
Should here consume my gift of Poesie▪
(And wholy wast my spirits, to expresse
What rich contents, a poore estate may blesse)
It were impossible, to moue the sense
Of those braue things, in their intelligence.
I haue not found, on what I may relie;
Vnlesse it carry some Diuinitie
To make me confident: for, all the glory,
And all hopes faile; in things meere transitory.
What man is there among vs, doth not knowe,
A thousand men, this night to bed will goe,
Of many a hundred goodly things possest;
That shall haue nought to morrow but a Chest,
And one poore Sheet to lie in? What I may,
Next morning haue, I know not; But to day,
A
Friend, Meat, Drinke, and fitting
Clothes to weare;
Some
Bookes and
Papers, which my Iewels are;
And when I dye, one promist me
[...]
Graue.
A
Graue; that quiet close
[...] of Content:
And I haue built my selfe a
Monument.
But (as I liue) excepting onely this;
(Which of my wealth the
Inuentory, is)
I haue so little; I my oath might saue:
If I should take it, that
I, nothing haue.
Nec Careo.
ANd yet, what
Want I? or who knoweth how,
I may be richer made then I am now?
Or what great
Peere, or wealthy
Alderman,
Bequeath, his sonne, so great a Fortune can?
I nothing want that needfull is to haue;
Sought I no more, then Nature bids me craue.
For; as we see, the smallest
[...], may
As full as greatest
Glasses be; though they
Much l
[...]sse containe: So, my small portion giues
Th
[...] full content to me; in which he liues,
Who most possesseth: and with larger store,
I might fill others, but my selfe, no more.
I want not Temperance to rest content
With what the prouidence of God, hath lent;
Nor want I a sufficiencie, to know;
Which way to vse it, if he more bestow.
For, as when me, one horse would easier beare▪
To ride on two at once, it madnes were:
[Page] And, as when one small Bowle might quench my thirst
To lift a Vessell, that my backe might burst
Were wondrous
[...]olly: So absurd a thing,
It were in me; should I neglect a Spring,
(Whose plenty may a Countries want supply)
To dwell by some small
Poole that would be dry?
If therefore ought doe happen in the way;
Which on a iust occasion seeke I may:
I want not resolution, to make tryall;
Nor want I patience, if I haue deniall.
Men aske me what Preserment I haue gain'd?
VVhat riches, by my Studies are attain'd?
And those that fed, and fatned are with draffe
For their destruction; please themselues to laugh
At my low Fate; As if I nought had got
(For my enriching) cause they saw it not.
Alas! that Mole-ey'd issue, cannot see,
VVhat Patrimonies, are bestow'd on mee.
There is a brauer wealthinesse, then what;
They, (by aboundance) haue arriued at.
Had I their wealth I should not sleepe the more
Securely for it; and, were I as poore
In outward fortunes, as men Shipwrackt are;
I should (of pouerty) haue no more feare,
Then if I had the Riches and the powers;
Of all the Easterne Kings, and Emperors.
For, Grasse though trod into the earth may grow;
And highest Cedars, haue an ouerthrow.
Yea. I haue seene, as many begger'd by
Their fathers wealth; and much prospe i y;
[Page] As haue by want mis-done. And for each one,
VVhom by his riches, I aduanc't haue knowne;
I three could reckon, who through being poore,
Haue raisd their Fortunes, and their friends the more.
To what contents doe men most wealthy mount,
VVhich I inioy not; if their Cares we count:
My cloathing keepes me full as warme as their,
My Meates vnto my taste, as pleasing are.
I feed enough my hunger to suffice:
I sleep, till I my selfe, am pleasd to rise.
My Dreames as sweet, and full of quiet be:
My waking cares, as seldome trouble me.
I haue as oftentimes, a Sunny day:
And sport, and laugh, and sing, as well as they.
I breath as wholsome, and as sweet an Ayre;
As louing as my
Mistresse, and as faire.
My body is as healthy; and I finde,
As little cause of sicknesse, in my minde.
I am as wise, I thinke, as some of those;
And oft my selfe as foolishly dispose:
For, of the wisest, I am none (as yet)
And I haue nigh, as little haire, as wit:
Of neither, haue I ought to let to farme,
Nor so much
want I, as may keepe me warme.
I finde my Liuer sound, my Ioynts well knit:
Youth, and good
Diet, are my Doctors yet.
Nor on
Potatoes, or
Eringoes feed I;
No Meates restoratiue, to raise me, need I:
N
[...]r
Amber-greece, with other things confected,
To take away the stinke, of Lungs infected,
[Page] I neu'r in need of
Pothicary stood.
Or any Surgeons hand to let me blood:
For since the Rod, my Tutor hurled by,
I haue not medled with
Phlebotomy.
As good as other mens, my senses be;
Each limbe I haue, as able is in me.
And whether I, as louely be, or no:
Tis ten to one, but some doe thinke me so.
The wealthiest men, no benefits possesse,
But I haue such; or better, in their place.
As they my low condition, can contemne;
So, I know how to fling a scorne at them.
My Fame, is yet as faire, and flies as farre,
As some mens, that with Titles laden are.
Yea, by my selfe much more I haue attain'd,
Then many, haue with helpe of others gain'd.
And my esteeme, I will not change for their,
Whose For unes are ten thousand more a yeare.
Nor want I so much grace, as to confesse;
That God is Author of this happinesse.
I want not so much iudgement, as to see
There must twixt men and men, a difference be,
And I, of those in place, account doe make,
(Though they be wicked) for good orders sake.
But I could stoope to serue them at their feet,
Where old
Nobility, and
Vertue meet.
To finde mine owne defects,
I want not sense:
Nor want I will to grieue, for my offence.
To see my Friend misdoe,
I want not eyes;
Nor Loue, to couer his infirmities.
[Page]
I want not Spirit, if I once but know
The way be iust, and noble that I goe.
My mind's as great as theirs that greatest are;
Yet, I can make it fit the clothes I weare.
And whether I ascend, or lower fall:
I want not hope, but I preserue it shall.
I want no slanders; neither want I braine,
To scorne the Rascall humors, of the vaine
And giddy multitude, And (trust me) they
So farre vnable are to talke away
My resolution; that no more it feares
The worst their ignorance, or malice dares:
Then doth the
Moone, when doggs and birds of night,
Doe barking stand, or whooting at her light.
And if this mischiefe, no way shun I could,
But that they praise me, or dispraise me would:
I rather wish, their tongues should blast my name;
Then be beholding to them for my fame.
I want nor wit, nor honesty enough
To keepe my hand, from such base Rascall stuffe,
As if a
Libell: For, although I shall
Sometime let flye, at
Vice in generall,
I spare particulers; No
[...] shall a Knaue
In my
Lines liue, so much as shame to haue.
But in his owne corruption, dye, and ro
[...]t;
That all his memory may be forgot.
I want not so much Knowledge, as to know,
True
Wisedome, lies not in a glorious
[...]
Of humane Learning; or in being able
To
[...]e Authority innumerable.
[Page] Nor in a new inuention. But that man,
Who make good vse of eu'ry creature can:
And from all things, that happen well, or ill,
Contentment drawes; (and keepes a Conscience still,
To witnesse his endeauors to be good)
That man is wisest; though he vnderstood
The language of no countrey but his owne,
Nor euer had he vse of Lette
[...]s knowne.
To make faire shewes, of
Honesty and
Arts;
Of Knowledge and
Religion, are the parts
This Age doth striue to play: but few there are,
Who truly are the same they doe appeare.
And this is that, which daily makes vs see
So many, whom we honest thought to be,
And Wise, and learned, (while some
Sceanes doe last)
Proue Fooles, and Knaucs, before their
Act be past.
I want not sense, of those Mens miseries;
Who lul'd asleepe in their prosperities
Must shortly fall; and with a heauy eye
Behold their pompe, and pleasures vanish by:
And how that
Mistresse they so doted on
(Their proud
Vaine-glory) will with scorne be gon.
I feele me thinkes with what a drooping heart,
They, and their idle hopes, begin to part:
And with what mighty burth
[...]ns of vnrest
Their poore distemperd soules, will be opprest.
How much they will repent I doe foresee;
How much confused, and asham'd they'l be,
And as I praise their doome; eu'n so I pray,
Their shame, and sorrow, worke their comfort may.
[Page]
I want not much experiment, to show
That all is good God pleaseth to bestow;
(What shape soeuer he doth maske it in)
For all my former cares, my ioyes haue bin:
And I haue trust, that all my woes to come,
Will bring my Soule, eternall comforts home.
I doe not finde, within me, other feares;
Then what to men, of all degrres appeares.
I haue a conscience that is cleane within;
For, (though I guilty am of many a sinne)
A kinde redeemer, I haue found, and he
His Righteousnes imputeth vnto me.
The Greatest, haue no Greatnes, more then I,
In bearing out a Want, or Misery.
I can aswell, to passion set a bound:
I brooke aswell the smarting of a wound.
Aswell endure I, to be hunger-bit;
Aswell can wrestle, with an ague-fit.
My eyes can wake as long as their I'me sure;
And as much cold, or heat I can endure.
Yea, let my dearest friends excused be,
From heaping scorne, or iniuries on me;
(Come all the world) and I my heart can make,
To brooke as much, before it shrinke, or breake
As theirs, that doe the noblest Titles were;
And slight as much their frown that might'st are.
For, if in me at any time appeare,
A bashfulnes (which some mistitle, feare)
It is in doubt, least I through folly may
Some things vnfitting me; or doe, or say:
[Page] But not that I am fearefull to be shent;
For dread of Men, or feare of punishment.
And yet,
no faults
I want; nor want in me,
Affections which in other men there be.
Asmuch I hate an inciuility;
Asmuch am taken with a Courtesie;
Asmuch abhorr I, brutish Vanities;
Asmuch allow I, Christian Liberties;
Assoone an iniury, I can perceiue;
And with as free a heart, I can forgiue.
My hand in Anger, I as well can stay;
And I dare strike as stout a man as they;
And when I know, that I amisse haue done;
I am as much asham'd as any one.
If my afflictions, more then others be:
I haue more comforts, to keepe heart in me.
I haue a
Faith will carry me on high:
Vntill it lift me to
Eternity.
I haue a
Hope, that neither want, nor spight,
Nor grim Aduersity, shall stop this flight:
But that vndaunted, I my course shall hold,
Though twenty thousand Deuils crosse me should.
Yet (I confesse) in this my Pilgrimage,
I like some Infant am, of tender age;
For, as the Childe, who from his Father hath
Strai'd in some Groue, through many a crooked path:
Is sometime hopefull, that he findes the way;
And sometime doubtfull, he runs more astray.
Sometime, with faire, and easie paths, doth meet;
Sometime with rougher tracts, that stay his feet.
[Page] Here runnes, there goes, and you amazed stayes:
Now cryes, and straight for gets his care, and playes.
Then hearing where his louing Father calls.
Makes haste; but through a zeale il-guided, fall
[...];
Or runnes some other way: Vntill that
He,
(Whos loue is more, then his endeauours be)
To seeke this
Wanderer foorth himselfe doth come,
And take him, in his armes, and beare him home.
So, in this Life, this Groue of ignorance;
As to my homeward, I my selfe aduance;
Sometime aright, and sometime wrong I goe;
Sometime, my pace is speedy, sometime slow;
Sometime I stagger, and sometime I fall:
Sometime I sing, sometime for helpe I call.
One while, my wayes are pleasant vnto me;
Another while, as full of Cares they be:
Now, I haue Courage, and doe nothing feare,
Anon, my Spirits halfe deiected are.
I doubt, and hope, and doubt, and hope againe;
And many a change of Passions I sustaine,
In this my Iourney: So that now and then,
I lost may seeme (perhaps) to other men.
Yea, to my selfe a while, when sinnes impure,
Doe my
Redeemers loue, from me obscure.
But (whatsoe're betide) I know full well,
My Father (who aboue the Cloudes doe dwell)
An eye vpon his wandring Childe doth cast:
And He, will fetch me, to my home at last.
For, of Gods loue, a Witnesse want not I;
And whom He loues, He loues eternally.
I haue within my breast a little Heart,
Which seemes to be composed, of a part,
Of all my Friends: For, (truly) whensoe're
They suffer any thing, I feele it there.
And they no sooner a Complaint doe make,
But presently, it falls to pant, and ake.
I haue a Loue, that is as strong as
Fate,
And such, as cannot be impair'd by Hate.
And (whatsoeuer the successe may proue)
I want not yet, the comforts of my Loue.
These, are the
Iewels that doe make me rich;
These, while I doe possesse,
I want not much;
And I so happy am, that still I beare,
These Riches with me: and so safe they are,
Th
[...]t Pyrats, Robbers, no deuice of man,
Or Tyrants powre, depriue me of them can.
And were I naked, forced to exile;
More Treasure, I should carry from this
Ile;
Then should be sold; though for it I might gaine,
The wealth of all
America and
Spaine.
For, this makes sweet my life; and when I dye,
Will bring the sleepe of Dea
[...]h on quietly.
Yea, such as greatest pompe, in life time haue;
Shall finde no warmer lodging, in their Graue.
Besides;
I want not many things they need,
Who Me in outward Fortunes doe exceed.
I want no Guard, or Coate of Musket proofe;
My Innocence, is guardian strong enough.
I want no Title; for, to be the Sonne,
Of the
Almighty; is a glorious one:
[Page]
I want no Followers: for, through Faith I see
A troup of Angels, still attending me.
Through want of Friendship,
need I not repine,
For God and Goodmen, are still friends of mine.
And when I iourney to the
North, the
East,
The pleasant
South, or to the fertile
West;
I cannot want for profferd Courtesies,
As farre as our
Great-Britaines Empire lies.
In euery
Shire, and Corner of the Land,
To welcome me, doe Houses open stand,
Of best esteeme: And Strangers to my face,
Haue thought me worth the Feasting, & more grac
[...]
Then I will boast of: lest you may suspect,
That I those glories (which I scorne) affect.
Of my acquaintance were a thousand glad,
And sought it, though not wealth, nor Place I had,
For their aduantage, And, if some more high,
(Who on the multitudes of friends relye)
Had but a Fortune equall vnto me,
Their troupe of Followers would as slender be:
And those mong whom, they now esteeme haue wo
[...],
Would scarsely thinke them, worth the looking on.
I want no Office; for (though none be voyde)
A Christian findes, he may be still employd.
I want no Pleasures, for I pleasures make,
What euer God is pleasd, I vndertake.
Companions
want I not, For know, that I,
Am one, of that renown'd
Societie:
Which by the
Name we carry, first was knowne,
At
Antioch, so many yeares agone.
[Page] And greatest Kings, themselues haue happy thought
Tho
[...]
[...]o this noble
Order, they were brought.
I want not Armes, to sit me for the Field;
My
Prayers, are my Sword; my
Faith, my Shield:
By which, (how ere you prize them) I haue got,
Vnwounded,
[...]horow twenty thousand Shot.
And with these Armes, I Heauen thinke to skale,
Though Hell the Ditch were, & more high the Wall.
A thousand other Priuiledges more,
I doe possesse; in which the world is poore.
Yea, I so long could reckon, you would grant,
That though I nothing haue;
I nothing want.
And did the
King, but know how rich I were;
I durst to pawne my Fortunes, he would sweare,
That were he not the
King; I had beene
Hee,
Whom he (of all men) would haue wisht to be.
Nec Curo.
THen, to vouchsafe me yet more fauour here;
He that supplies my
Want, hath tooke my
Care.
And when to barre me ought, he sees it fit,
He doth infuse a Minde to sleight at it.
Why, if He all thinges needfull doth bestow,
Should I for what I haue not, carefull grow?
Low place I keepe; yet to a
Greatnesse borne,
Which doth the Worlds affected Greatnesse scorne:
I doe disdaine her glories and contemne,
Those muddy spirits that delig
[...]t in them.
Vnlesse he be as good, as great in place.
For no mans spight, or enuie doe
I care:
For none haue spight at me, that honest are.
I care not for that baser wealth in which
Vice may become, as well as Vertue rich.
I care not for their friendship, who haue spent,
Loues best expressions, in meere Complement:
Nor for those Fauors (though a Queenes they were)
In which I thought another had a share.
I care not for their Prayse, who doe not show,
That in their liues, which they in words allow.
A rush
I care not who condemneth me;
That sees not what, my Soules intentions bee.
I care not though to all men knowne it were,
Both whom I loue, or hate; For none I feare.
I care not though some Cou
[...]tiers still preferre,
The Parasite, and smooth-tongu'd Flatterer,
Before my bold truth speaking
Lines, And here,
If these should anger them,
I doe not care.
I care not for that goodly
Precious Stone;
Which
Chymists haue so fondly dored on.
Nor would I giue a rot
[...]en Chip, that I
Were of the
Rosie-Crosse, Fraternity:
For, I the world too well haue vnderstood,
As to be gall'd with such a
Brother-hood.
I care for no more knowledge, then to know:
What I to God, and to my Neighbour owe.
For outward Beauties
I doe nothing care,
So I within, my faire to God appeare:
[Page] No other liberty
I care to winne,
But to be wholy free-ed from my sinne.
Nor more Abilitie (whilst I haue breath)
Then strength to beare my Crosses to my death.
Nor can the Earth affoord a happinesse
That shall be greater then this
Carelesnesse.
For such a
Life I soone should
Careles grow,
In which I had not leasure more to know.
Nor care I, in a knowledge paines to take,
Which doth not those, who get it, wiser make:
Nor for that
Wisdome, doe I greatly
care;
Which would not make me somewhat honester.
Nor for that morall
Honestie, that shall
Refuse to ioyne Religion, therewithall.
Nor for that zealous seeming
Piety.
Which wanteth loue and morrall Honesty.
Nor for their
Loues, whose base affections be,
More for their lust, then for ought good in me:
Nor, for ought
good within me should I care,
But that, they sprincklings of Gods goodnesse are.
For many Bookes
I care not; and my store
Might now suffice me, though I had no more,
Then Gods two
Testaments, and therewithall
That mighty
Uolume, which the
World we call.
For, these well lookt on, well in mind preseru'd;
The present Ages passages obseru'd:
My priuate Actions, seriously oreview'd.
My thoughts recald, and what of them ensu'd:
Are Bookes, which better farre, instruct me can,
Then all the other Paper-workes of Man?
[Page] And some of These, I may be reading to,
Where e're I come, or whatsoe're I do.
I care not though a sight of Idle
Guls,
(With lauish tongues and euer-empty skulls)
Doe let my better temperd Labours lye;
And since, I Termely make not
Pamphlets flie,
Say I am Idle, and doe nothing now.
As if that I were bound, to let Them know,
What I were doing; Or to cast away
My breath, and Studies, on such fooles as They.
I much disdaine it: For, these Blockes be Those,
That vse to read my
Verse like ragged
Prose;
And such as (so their Bookes be new), ne're care
Of what esteeme, nor of what vse they are.
I care not, though a vaine and spungy crew,
Of shallow
Critickes, in each
Tauerne spew
Their drunken censures on my Poesie,
Vntill among their Cupps, they sprawling lye.
These poore, betattered
Rimers (now and then)
With
Wine and
Impudence inspired can
Some fustian language vtter, which doth seeme
(Among their base admirers) worth esteeme.
But those base Iuie-Poets neuer knew,
Which way, a sprightly, honest Rapture flew:
Nor can they relish, any straine of wit,
But, what was in some drunken fury, writ.
Those needy
Poetasters; to preferr
Their nasty stuffe to some dull
Stationer;
With Impudence extoll it: and will tell him,
The very Title of their booke shall sell him,
[Page] As many thousands of them (wholly told)
As euer of my
Satyrs, haue been sold,
Yet, e're a tweluemoneth by the walls it lies,
Or to the Kitchin or the Pastry hies.
Sometime, that these mens Rymes may heeded be,
They giue (forsooth) a secret Ierke at me.
But so obscurely, that no man may know,
Who there was meant, vntill they tell them so.
For fearing me, They dare not to be plaine,
And yet my vengeance they suspect in vaine.
For I can keepe my way, and carelesse be,
Though twenty snarling
Curres doe barke at me.
And while my Fame, those fooles doe murmur at,
(And vex themselues) with laughing, I am fat.
I am not much inquisitiue to know,
For what braue Action our last Fleet did go:
What men abroad performe, or what at home,
Who shall be
Emperour, or
Pope of
Rome;
What newes from
France, or
Spaine, or
Turkey are;
Whether of Merchandize, of Peace or Warre;
Whether
Mogul, the
Sophy Prester-Iohn,
The Duke of
China or the Ile
Iaphan,
The mightier be: for, things impertinent
To my particular, or my Content
I little heede (though much thereof I know)
Nor care I whether it be true or no.
Not for because I carelesse am become,
Of the neglected State of Christendome.
But, cause (I am assur'd) what euer shall
Vnto the
Church or
Common-wealth befall;
[Page] (Through
Sathans spight, or humane Trechery,
Or our relying on weake
Policy)
Gods promise to his glory shall preuaile:
Yea, when the fond attempts of men doe fayle,
And they lye smoaking, in th
[...]infernall Pit;
Then
Truth and
Vertue, shall in Glory sit.
Those, who in loue to things that wicked are;
And those, who through Cowardize and feare,
Became the damned Instruments, whereby
To set vp
Vice and
falsehoods Tyranny;
Eu'n those shall perish by their owne offence:
And they who loued
Truth and
Innocence,
Out of oppression shall aduance their head:
And on the ruin
[...]s of those
Tyrants tread.
Oh! let that
Truth and
Innocence, in me
For euer vndefil
[...]d preserued be:
And let me liue no more: if then
I care,
How many miseries I liue to beare.
For, well I know, I should not weigh how great,
The perils are, that my destruction threat.
Nor chaynes, nor dungeons should my soule affright,
Nor grimmest Apparitions of the Night:
Though men from Hell could of the Deuill borrow,
Those vgly prospects, to augment my sorrow.
But proue me guilty; and my Conscience than
Inflicts more smart, then bloody Tortures can.
And none (I thinke) of me could viler deeme;
Then I my selfe, vnto my selfe should seeme.
If good, and honest my endeauors be,
What day they were begun ne're troubles me.
[Page]
I care not whether it be calme, or blow.
Or raine, or shine, or freeze, or haile or snow:
Nor whether it be
Antumne, or the
Spring;
Or whether, first I heare the
[...]uckow sing,
Or first the Nightingale:
nor doe I care
Wh
[...]ther my dreames of
Flowers, or
Weddings are.
What B
[...]ast doth crosse me,
care I not at all;
Nor how the Goblet, or the Salt doth fall;
Nor what aspect the
Planets please to show;
Nor how the Diall, or the Clocke doth goe.
I doe not care to be inquisitiue,
How many weekes, or months, I haue to liue.
For, how is't like, that I should better grow,
When I my Time shall tweluemonth longer know;
If I dare act, a Villany and yet,
Know I may die, whilst I am doing it?
Let them, whose braines are sicke of that disease;
Be sl
[...]ues vnto an
Ephem
[...]rides.
Search
Constellations, and themselues apply;
To find the
Fate of their
Natiuity.
I'le seeke within me; and if there I find,
Those
Stars, that should giue light vnto my mind,
Rise faire and timely in me and affect,
Each other with a naturall aspect.
If in coniunction, there perceiue I may
True
Uertue and
R
[...]ligion euery day:
And walke according to that influence,
Which is deriued vnto me from thence:
I feare no Fortunes, whatsoe're they be,
Nor care I, what my
Stars doe threaten me▪
[Page] For He, who to that State can once attaine,
Aboue the power of all the Starres doth raigne.
And he that gaines a knowledge wherewithall,
He is prepard for whatsoe're may fall:
In my Conceit is farre a happier man,
Then such, as but foretell mis-fortunes can.
I start not at a
Friers prophecy,
Or those with which we
Merlin doe bely.
Nor am I frighted with the sad relation,
Of any neare-approaching Alteration.
For things haue euer changd, and euer shall,
Vntill there be a change run ouer All.
And he that beares an honest heart about him,
Needes neuer feare, what changes be without him.
The
Easterne Kingdomes, had their times to flor
[...]sh
The
Grecian Empire rising, saw them perish;
That fell and then the
Roman Pride began;
Now scourged by the race of
Ottoman.
And if the course of things around must run,
Till they haue ending, where they first begun,
What is't to me? who peraduenture must,
Ere that befall, lie moulther'd into dust.
What if
America's large Tract of ground,
And all those Iles adioyning, lately found?
(Which we more truely may a
Desert call,
Then any of the worlds more ciuill Pale.)
What then? if there the Wildernesse doe lye,
To which the
Woman, and her
S
[...]xe must flie,
To scape the
Dragons furie; and there bide,
Till
Europes thankelesse
Nations (full of pride,
[Page] And all abomination) scourged are,
With Barbarisme as their neighbours were?
If thus God please to doe; and make our sin
The cause of bringing o her
Peoples in,
His
Church to be (as once he pleased was,
The
Gentiles calling should be brought to passe,
The better, by the
Iewish vnbeliefe,)
Why, should his pleasure be my care, or griefe?
Oh! let his
Name and
Church more glorious grow;
Although my ruine helpe to make it so.
So I, my duty in my place haue done,
I
care not greatly, what succeed theron:
For sure I am, if I can pleased be,
With what God wills; all shall be well for me.
I hate, to haue a thought o're▪ serious spent,
In things meere triuiall, or indifferent.
When I am hungry, so I get a dish,
I
care not, whether it be flesh or fish;
Or any thing, so wholsome foode it be:
Nor care I, whether you doe carue to me,
The head, the tayle, the wing, the legge, or none;
For, all I like, and all can let alone.
I
care not, at your Table where I sit;
Nor should I thinke I were disgrac
[...]t in it,
(So much as you) if I should thence in skoffe,
To feed among your Groomes be turned off.
For I am sure that no affront can blot,
His Reputation, that deserues it not.
To be o're curious, I doe not professe;
Nor euer car'd I, for vncleanlinesse.
[Page] For I ne're loued that Phylosophy,
Which taught men to be rude and slouenly.
I care not what you weares, or You, or He,
Nor of what fashion my next clothes shall be,
Yet to be singular in Antique fashions,
I hold as vaine, as Apish imitations,
Of each phantastique garb our Gallants weare:
For some, as fondly proud conceited are,
To know, that the beholder, taketh note,
How they still keepe their Grandsires iusset Coate:
As is the proudest Lady, when that she
Hath all the fashions, that last extant be.
I care for no more Credit, then will serue,
The honour of the
Vertuous to preserue:
For, if the showes of honesty in me,
To others Vertues, would no blemish be;
(Nor make them deemed Hypocrites) if I
Should falsly be accus'd of Villany:
Sure, whether I were innocent, or no;
I should not thinke the World, worth telling so,
Because to most men, nothing bad doth seeme,
Nor nothing vertuous; but as vnto them,
Occasion makes it good, or ill appeare.
Yea, foulest Crimes, while they vnpunisht are:
Or bring in profit, no disgrace are thought;
And truest Vertues, poore, are set at naught.
I care for no more Pleasures then will make,
The Way which I intend to vndertake,
So passible; that my vnwealdy loade
Of fraileti
[...]s, incident to flesh and blood
[Page] Discourage not my willing soule from that,
Which she on good aduice, hath aymed at.
I care for no more Time then will amount,
To doe my worke, and make vp my account.
I care for no more Money, then will pay
The reckoning, and the charges of the day.
And if I neede not now, I will not borrow,
For feare of wants, that I may haue to morrow.
What Kings, and States-men meane;
I doe not care;
Nor will I iudge, what their intentions are:
For priuate censures, helpe not any way,
But iniure them in their proceedings may.
Yet, Princes (by experience) we haue seene,
By those they loue, haue greatly wronged been.
Their too much trust, doth often danger breed.
And Serpents in their Royall bosoms feed.
For, all the fauours, gifts and places, which
Should honour them; doe but these men enrich.
With those, they further their owne priuate ends:
Their faction strengthen, gratifie their friends:
Gaine new Associates, daily to their parts,
And from their Soueraigne, steale away the hearts,
Of such as are about them; For those be
Their Creatures; and but rarely, thankes hath He,
Because the Grants of
Pension, and of
Place;
Are taken as Their fauors, not
His grace.
And (which is yet a greater wickednesse)
When these the loyall Subiects doe oppresse,
And grind the faces of the poore, aliue;
They'le doe it, by the Kings Prerogatiue.
[Page] They make
Him Patron of their Villany;
And when
He thinkes they serue him Faithfully,
Secure him in their Loues, and all things do,
According both to
Law and Conscience to;
By Vertue of his
Name, they perpetrate
A world of Mischiefes: They abuse the State;
His truer-hearted Seruants, they displace;
Bring their debauched Followers into grace;
His Coffers rob; yea (worser farre they vse
Him)
The true affections of his people loose Him:
And make those hearts (which did in him belieeue,
All matchlesse Vertues) to suspect, and grieue.
Now, (by that Loyaltie I owe my Prince)
This of all Treason, is the Quintessence.
A Treason so abhorred, that to Me,
No Treachery could halfe so odious be.
Not though my death they plotted; for more deare,
My honor, and my Friends affections are
Then twenty Kingdomes, and ten thousand liues.
And, whosoeuer, Me of that depriues:
I find it would, a great deale harder be,
To moue my heart to pardon; then if he
Conspired had, (when I least thought the same)
To root out my posterity and
Name.
Who next in
Court shall fall,
I doe not care:
For, my delights, in no mans ruines are.
Nor meane I, to depend on any, so,
That his disgrace shall be my ouerthrow.
I care as little, who shall next arise;
For none of my Ambition that way lyes.
[Page] Those rising
Starres, would neuer deigne to shine,
On any good endeauour, yet, of mine.
Nor can I thinke there shall hereafter be,
A man amongst them, that will fauour Me.
For, I a
Scourge doe carry, which doth feare them,
And loue too much
Plaine-dealing, to be neare them.
If my experience teach me any thing,
I care not old
Antiquities to bring;
But can as well belieue it to be so,
As if twere writ, three thousand yeeres ago.
And where I find good ground for my assent,
I'le not be halter'd to a
President.
If men speake reason, tis all one to me,
Whether their
Tenent, Aristotles be;
Or some
Barbarian
[...], who scarce heard of yet;
So much as with what
Names the
Arts we fit.
Or whether, for an
Author you infer,
Some
Foole, or some renown'd
Philosopher.
In my
Religion, I dare entertaine,
No fancies hatched in mine owne weake braine;
Nor priuate
Spirits: But, am ruled by
The
Scriptures; and that
Church Authoritie,
Which with the ancient
Faith doth best agree,
But new opinions will not downe with me.
When I would learne, I neuer greatly care,
So
Truth they teach me, who my teachers were.
In points of
Faith I looke not on the
Man;
Nor
Beza, Caluin. neither
Luther can
More things, without iust proofe perswade me to,
Then any honest Parish-Clarke can do.
[Page] The ancient
Fathers (where consent I find)
Doe make me, without doubting of their mind.
But, where in his opinion any
One
Of these great
Pillers, I shall find alone,
(Except in questions which indifferent are,
And such as till his Time, vnmooued were)
I shun his Doctrine; For, this swayeth me,
No man alone in points of Faith can be.
Old
Ambrose, Austine, Ierome, Chrysostome,
Or any
Father; if his Reuerence come,
To moue my free assent to any thing,
Which
Reason warrants not (vnlesse he bring,
The sacred word of God to giue me for it)
I prize not this opinion; but abhorre it.
Nay, I no faction gainst the
Truth would follow,
Although Diuinest
Paul, and Great
Apollo,
Did leade me; if that possible it were,
That they should haue permitted bin to erre.
And whilst that I am in the right
How wise, or learned. Them, you thinke, that are not, I care not
I care not, who did heare me, if I said,
That he who for a place of Iustice paid
A golden Inn-come, was no honest Man,
Nor he that sold it: for I proue it can,
And will maintaine it, that so long as Those,
And
Church-preferments, we to sale expose;
Nor
Common-wealth, nor
Church shall euer be,
From hatefull Brib'ry, or damn'd Schisme, free,
I may be blam
[...]d, perhaps, for speaking t
[...]ing this;
But much I
care not: for the
truth it is.
[Page] And were I certaine, that to blaze the same,
Would set those things (that are amisse) in frame.
Shame be my end but I would vndertake it,
Though I were sure to perish when I spake it.
I care not for
Preferments which are sold,
And bought (by men of common worth) for gold,
For, he is nobler who can those contemne.
Then most of such, as seeke esteeme in them.
I doe not for those ayrie Titles
care,
Which fooles, and knaues, as well as I may weare.
Or that my
Name (when e're it shall be writ)
Should be obscur'd with twenty after it.
For could I set my mind on vulgar
Fame,
I would not thinke it hard to make my
Name,
Mine owne
Name, purchase me as true renowne,
As to be cald, by some old ruin'd Towne.
I loue my
Country, yet
I doe not care,
In what Dominions my abidings are:
For, any Region on the Earth shall be,
(On good occasion) natiue Soile to me.
I care not though there be a muddy crew,
Whose blockishnes (because it neuer knew
The ground of this my
Carelesnesse) will smile,
As if they thought I raued, all this while.
For, those the Prouerb
saith, That liue in Hell
Can ne'r conceiue what 'tis in Heauen to dwell.
I care not for those Places, whereunto
Bad men doe sooner climbe then
Good men do:
And from whose euer-gogling station, all
May at the pleasure of another, fall.
[Page] But oh! How carelesse euery way am I,
Of their base minds, who liuing decently
Vpon their owne Demeanes; there feareles might
Enioy the day from morning vntill night,
In sweet contentments: rendring prayse to
Him,
Who gaue this blessings, and this rest to them;
That free from Cares and Enuies of the Court,
They honor'd in their Neighbours good report;
Might twenty pleasures, that Kings know not, trie,
And keepe a quiet
Conscience, till they die?
Oh God! how mad are they, who thus may do;
Yet, that poore happinesse to reach vnto,
Which is but painted; will those Blessings shun,
And bribe and woo, and sweate to be vndone?
How dull are they? Who, when they home may keep
And there, vpon their owne soft pillow sleepe,
In deare security; would roame about,
Vncertaine hopes, or pleasures to find out?
Yea, straine themselues a slippery place to buy,
With hazarding their states to beggery?
With giuing vp, their Liberties, their Fame?
With their aduenturing on perpetuall shame:
With prostituting
Neeces, Daughters, Wiues,
By putting into Ieopardy their liues?
By selling of their
Country, and the sale
Of
Iustice, of
Religion, Soule and All?
Still dreaming on Content; although they may
Behold, by new examples, eu'ry day
That those hopes faile; and faile them not alone,
In such vaine things as they presumed on:
[Page] But bring them also (many-times) those cares,
Those sad distractions, those dispaires, and feares▪
That all their glorious guilding, cannot hide
Those wofull ruines on their inner-side.
But, ten to one, at length they doe depart,
With losse, with shame, and with a broken heart.
I care not for this Humor, but I had,
Far rather lye in
Bedlem chain'd and mad,
Then be, with these mens frantique mood possest:
For there they doe lesse harme, and haue more rest.
I care not when there comes a
Parliament:
For I am no proiector, who inuent
New
Monopolies, or such
Suites, as Those,
Who, wickedly pretending goodly showes,
Abuses to reforme, engender more;
And farre lesse tollerable, then before.
Abusing
Prince, and
State, and
Common-weale;
Their (iust deserued) beggeries to heale:
Or, that their ill-got profit, may aduance,
To some Great Place, their Pride, and Ignorance.
Nor by Extortion, nor through Bribery,
To any Seat of Iustice, climb'd am I;
Nor liue I so, as that I need
to care,
Though my proceedings, should be question'd there.
And some there be, would giue their Coat away,
That they could this as confidently say.
I care for no such thriuing Pollicy,
As makes a foole, of Morrall Honesty.
For, such occasions happen now and than:
That He prooues Wise, that proues an Honest man.
[Page] And howsoere our
Pr
[...]iect-mongers deeme,
Of such mens Fortunes, and of them esteeme;
(How big soe're they looke; how braue soe're,
Among their base Admirers they appeare:
Though ne're so trimme, in others feathers dight;
Though clad with Title of a Lord, or Knight;
And by a hundred thousand croucht vnto)
Those gaudv Vpstarts, no more prize, I doe,
Then poorest
Kennell-rakers; yea, they are
Things, which I count, so little worth my care;
That (as I loue faire
Vertue) I protest,
Among all honest men the beggerl'est,
And most betatter'd Pesant, in mine eye,
Is Nobler, and more full of Maiestie;
Then all that braue bespangl'd Rabblement,
Composd of Pride, of Shifts, and Complement.
Let great and Courtly Pers'nages delight,
In some dull
Gest
[...]r, or a
Parasite;
Or in their dry
Buffoone, that gracefully,
Can sing them baudy songs, and sweare, and lye;
And let their
Mastership (if so they please)
Still fauour more, the slauerings of These,
Then my free
Numbers. For, I care no more,
To be approued, or esteemed, for
A witty
Make-sport; then an
Ape to be.
And whosoeuer takes delight in me,
For any quality that doth affect
His
Senses better, then his
Intellect;
I care not for his loue. My dogge doth so;
He loues, as farre as sensuall loue can go,
[Page] And if how well he lou'd me, I did weigh,
Deserues (perhaps) as much respect, as they.
I haue a
Soule, and must beloued be
For that which makes a louely
Soule in me;
Or else, their Loues, so little
care I for,
That them, and their affections I abhor.
I care not, though some Fellowes, whose desert
Might raise them, to the Pillory, or Cart,
The Stocks, the Branding-yron, or the Whip.
(With such like due Preferment) those doe skip;
And by their blacke endeauours purchase can,
The Priuiledges of a Noble man.
And be as confident, in what they doe:
As if by vertue they were rais'd thereto.
For, as true Vertue hath a confidence,
So, Vice, and Villaines haue their impudence.
And manly Resolution, both are thought,
Till both are to an equall Tryall brought;
But vicious Impudence, then prooues a mocke:
And Vertuous Constancy, endures the Shocke.
Though such vnworthy
Groomes, who t'other day,
Were but their Masters
Panders to puruey
The fuell of their Lust; and had no more,
But the Reuertion of their meat, their Whore,
And their old cloathes to brag of. Though that these;
(The foes to Vertue, and the Times disease)
Haue now, to couer o're their knauery,
Got on the Robes, of Wealth, and Brauery;
And dare behaue their Rogueships sawcily,
In preseuce of our old Nobilitie:
[Page] As if they had been borne to act a part,
In the contempt of Honour, and Desart.
Though all this be; and though it often hath
Discourag'd many a one, in
Vertues Path,
I am the same, and
Care not: For, I know,
Those
Butter-flies, haue but a Time to show
Their painted wings; that when a storme is neare,
Our habits, which for any weather are,
May shew more glorious, whilst they shrinking lye,
In some old creuise, and there starue and dye.
Those Dues, which vnto
Vertue doe belong,
He that despiseth, offers
Vertue wrong.
So, he that followes
Vertue for rewards;
And more the Credit, then the Act regards;
(Or such esteeme as others seeke, doth misse)
Himselfe imagines worthier then He is.
If therefore, I can tread the way I ought,
I care not how ignoble I be thought:
Nor for those Honours doe I care a fly,
Which any man can giue me, or deny:
For what I reckon worth aspiring to,
Is got and kept, whe
[...] others will or no.
And all the world can neuer raise a man
To such braue heights, as his owne Vertues can.
I care not for that Gentry, which doth lye
In nothing but a Coat of Heraldry.
One Vertue more I rather wish I had,
Then all the Heralds to mine
Armes could add:
Yea, I had rather, by my industry
I could acquire some one good quality,
[Page] Then through the
Families, that noblest be
From fiftie Kings to draw my Pedigree.
Of
Nations, or of
Countries, I nought care,
To be Commaunder; my Ambitions are,
To haue the Rule, and Soueraignty of things,
Which doe commaund, great Emperours, and Kings.
Those strong, and mighty Passions, wherewithall
Great Monarchs haue bin foyld, & brought in th
[...]all;
I hope to trample on. And whilst that they
Force but my body (if I disobey)
I rule that Spirit; which would they constraine
Beyond my will; They should attempt in vaine.
Yea, whilst they bounded within Limits here,
On some few Mortals, onely domineer,
Those Titles, and that Crowne, I doe pursue,
Which shall the Deuils to my powre subdue.
I care not for that
Ualour, which is got
By furious Choller, or the
Sherry-pot.
Nor (if my Cause be ill) to heare men say,
I fought it out, euen when my bowels lay
Beneath my feete. A desperatenesse it is,
And there is nothing worthy praise in this;
For I haue seene (and you may see it to)
That any Mastiue dogge as much will doe.
He valiant is, who knowes the dis-esteeme,
The vulgar haue, or such as Cowards seeme.
And yet dares seeme one, rather then bestow
Against an honest cause, or word, or blow:
Though, else he fear'd no more, to fight, or die,
Then you to strike a dogg, or kill a flie.
[Page] Yea, him I honour, who new wakt from sleeping,
Finds all his Spirits so their temper keeping;
As that he would not start, though by him there,
Grim Death, and Hell, and all the Deuils were.
I care not for a Coward, for to me,
No Beasts on Earth, more truely hatefull be;
Since all the villanies that can be thought
Throughout the world, and altogether brought,
To make one Villaine; can make nothing more,
Then he that is a Coward, was before.
And he that is so, can be nothing lesse,
Then the perfection of all wickednesse.
In him no manly Vertues dwelling are,
Nor any shewes thereof, except for feare.
In no braue resolution is he strong,
Nor dares he bide in any goodnesse long.
For, if one threatning from his foe there come,
His vowed Resolution starts he from.
And cares not what destruction others haue,
So he may gaine but hope himselfe to saue.
The man that hath a fearefull heart, is sure
Of that disease that neuer finds a cure.
For take and arme him through in euery place,
Build round about him twenty walls of Brasse.
Girt him with Trenches, whose deepe bottoms lye
Thrice lower, then three times the
Alpes are hye.
Prouide (those Trenches, and those walles toward)
A Million of old Souldiers for his guard,
All honest men and sworne: His Feauer will
Breake in (despight of all) and shake him still.
[Page] To scape this feare, his Guard he would betray,
Make cruelly his dearest friend away;
Act any base, or any wicked thing,
Be Traytour to his Countrey, or his King,
For-sweare his God, and in some fright goe nigh
To hang himselfe, to scape the feare to dye.
And for these reasons,
I shall neuer care,
To reckon them for friends, that Cowards are.
I care not for large Fortunes: For I find,
Great wants, best trie the Greatnesse of the minde.
And though I must confesse, such Times there be,
In which the common wish, hath place in me.
Yet, when I search my heart, and what content
My God vouchsafe me hath; I count my Rent
To be aboue, a thousand pound a yeare,
More then it can vnto the World appeare.
And with more wealth, I lesse content might find,
If I with riches, had some rich-mans mind.
A daintie Pallate would consume in cheere,
(More then I doe) an hundred pounds a yeere,
And leaue me worse sufficed then I am.
Had I an inclination, much to game;
A thousand Markes, would aunually away,
And yet I want my full content at Play.
If I in Hawkes or Doggs had much delight,
Twelue hundred Crownes it yearely waste me might;
And yet, not halfe that pleasure bring me to,
Which from one
Line of This, receiue I do.
If I to braue Apparell were inclind;
Fiue
Students Pensions, I should ye
[...]rely spend,
[Page] Yet not be pleas'd so well, with what I weare,
As now I am; Nor take so little Care
I much for Physicke might be forc't to giue,
And yet a thousand fold, lesse healthy liue.
To keepe my Right, the Law my goods might wast,
And with vexation tyre me out at last.
These, and (no doubt) with these full many a thing
To make me lesse Content, more wealth might bring,
Yet more employ me to; for few I see
Who owners of the greatest Fortunes be:
But they haue still, as they more riches gaine,
More State, more lusts, more troubles to maintaine
With their Reuennues. That the whole account,
Of their great seeming Blisse, doth scarse amount
To halfe of my content. And can I lesse
Esteeme this rare acquired Happinesse,
Then I, a thousand pounds in Rent would prize?
Since with lesse trouble, it doth more suffice?
No; for as when the March is swift and long,
And men haue foes to meet, both fierce and strong;
That Souldier in the Conflict best doth fare,
Who getteth Armes of proofe, that lightest are:
So I, who with a little, doe enioy
As much my Pleasure and Content, as they.
Whom farre more wealth and businesse doth molest;
Account my Fortune, and Estate the best.
Gods fauour in it, I extoll the more:
And great possessions, much lesse
care I for.
I care not so I still my selfe may bee,
What others are, or who takes place of me.
[Page]
I care not for the times vniust neglect;
Nor feare their frownes, nor praise their vaine respect.
For, to my selfe my worth doth neuer seeme;
Or more, or lesse, for other mens esteeme.
The
Turke, the
Deuill, Antichrist, and all
The Rabble of that Body-mysticall,
I care not for; and I should sorry be,
If I should giue them cause to care for me.
What Christians ought not to b
[...] carefull for▪
What the
Eternall Essence doth abhor,
I hate as I am able; and for ought
Which God approues not, when I spend a thought.
I truly wish that from my eyes might raine,
A shower of Teares, to buy it backe againe.
I care not for their Kin, who blush to see,
Those of their blood, who are in meane degree.
For, that bewrayes vnworthines; and showes,
How they by Chance, and not by Vertue rose.
To say,
My Lord, my Cousen, can to me
(In my opinion) no such honour be;
(If he from vertues precepts goe astray)
As when
my honest Kinsman) I can say.
And they are fooles, who, when they raised are;
Faine their beginnings, nobler then they were.
Yea, they doe rob themselues of truest Fame,
With some false honor to belye their Name.
For, such as to the highest Titles rise,
From poore beginnings, nobler then they were.
To honour and obserue them (farre) then all
That doe succeed them, euer boast of, shall,
[Page] For, being nothing more then they were borne,
Men heede them not (vnlesse they merit scorne)
For some vnworthinesse. And then, perchance,
As their forefathers meannesse, did aduance
His praise the higher; so their Greatnesse shall,
Make greater both their Infamy, and Fall.
It is mens glory therefore, not a blot,
When they the start, of all their Names haue got;
And it was worthlesse Enuy, first begun,
That false opinion, which so farre hath run.
Which well they know, whose Vertues honor win,
And shame not to confesse their poorest Kin.
For, whensoeuer they doe looke on those,
To God they praises giue and thus suppose:
Loe; when the hand of heauen, aduanced vs,
Aboue our brethren, to be lifted thus;
He let them stay behind, for markes to show,
From whence we came, and whither we may goe.
To haue the mind of those,
I doe not care,
VVho both so shamelesse, and so foolish are,
That to acquire some poore esteeme, where they
VVere neuer heard of, vntill yesterday,
(And neuer shall perhaps, be thought on more)
Can Prodigally there, consume their store:
And stand vpon their points of honour so,
As if their credit had an ouerthrow,
VVithout redemption: If in ought they misse,
VVherein th'accomplish
Gallant punctuall is.
Yet basely, eu'ry qualitie despise,
In which true VVisdome, and true honour lies.
If you, and one of those, should dine to day,
Twere three to one, but he for all would pay:
If but your seruant light him to the doore,
He will reward him: If but he, and's whore,
Carocht a Furlong are; the Coachman may,
For sennight after, let his Horses play,
And yet, this fellow, whom abroad you shall
Perceiue so noble, and so liberall,
(To gaine a dayes, perhaps, but one houres Fame)
Mong those that hardly, will inquire his name.
At home (where euery good, and euery ill,
Remaines to honour, or to shame him still)
Neglects Humanitie. Yea, where he liues,
And needs most loue; all cause of hatred giues,
To poole, to racke, to ruine, and oppresse,
The poore, the widow and the fatherlesse.
To shift, to lie, to cousen, and delay,
The Lab'rer and the Creditor of pay,
Are there his practises. And yet this Asse,
Would for a man of worth, and honour passe,
The Deuill he shall assoone: and I will write,
The Storie of his being Conuertite.
I care not for the worlds vaine blast of
Fame,
Nor doe I greatly feare the Trumpe of shame:
For whatsoeuer good, or ill is done,
The rumor of it in a weeke is gone.
One thing put out another; and men sorrow,
To day, yerhaps, for what they ioy to morrow.
And it is likely, that ere night they may,
Condemne the man, they pleased yesterday?
[Page] Hand him next morning, and be sorry then,
Because he cannot be aliue agen.
But, grant the fame of things had larger date:
Alas! what glory is it if men prate
In some three Parishes of that we doe,
When three great Kingdoms are but Mole-hils to,
The earths Circumference? and scarce one man
Of twenty Millions, know our actions can?
Belieue me, it is worth so little thought,
(If the offence to others were not ought)
What mens opinions, or their speeches be;
That were there not a better cause in me,
Which moou'd to
Vertue) I would neuer care,
Whether my actions good or euill were.
Though still vnheeded of the World, I spend
My Time and Studies, to the noblest end;
One hayre,
I care not. For, I find reward,
Beyond the Worlds requitall, or regard.
And since all men, some things erronious doe,
And must in Iustice, somewhat suffer to,
In part of my correction. This I take;
And that I fauourd am, account doe make.
I care not, though, there eu'ry houre, should be
Some outward discontent to busie me.
And, as I would not too much triall haue;
So, too much carnall peace I doe not craue.
The one, might giue my Faith a dangerous blow;
The other would peruert my life, I know.
For, few loue
Uertue in aduersitie;
But fewer hold it in Prosperitie.
[Page] Vaine
Hopes (when I had nought. but hopes alone)
Haue made me erre: Then whither had I gone,
(If I, the full possession had attaind)
When, but meere Hopes, my heart to folly traind?
Smoth
Waies would make me wantō: and my course
Must lye, where Labour, Industry, and Force,
Must worke me Passage: or, I shall not keepe
My Soule from dull Securities, dead-sleepe:
But, outward discontentments make me flie
Farre higher, then the worlds
Contents doe lie.
I neither for their pompe, or glory
care;
Who by the loue of vice aduanced are.
Faire
Vertue is the louely Nimph I serue;
Her will I follow, her
Commands obserue;
Yea, though the purblindworld perceiue not where,
The best of all her
Fauours I doe weare.
And, when great
Ui
[...]es, with faire bayted hookes,
Large promises of fauour tempting lookes,
And twenty wiles, hath woo'd me to betray,
That noble
Mistresse; I haue turnd away:
And flung defiance both at Them and Theirs,
Inspight of all their gaudy
Seruitors.
In which braue daring, I opposde haue bin
By mighty Tirants; and was plunged in
More wants, then thrice my fortunes would haue
When our
Heroes did, or feare, or scorne,
To lend me succour (yea, in that weake age, borne,
When I but newly entred on the Stage
Of this proud world) So that, vnlesse the King
Had nobly pleasde, to heare the
Muses sing,
[Page] My bold
Appologie; Till now, might I
Haue struggling bin, beneath their Tyranny.
But all those threatning
Comets, I haue seene
Blaze, till their glories quite extinct haue beene.
And I, that crusht and lost was thought to be;
Liue yet, to pitty those, that spighted me;
Enioying Hopes which so well grounded are,
That, what may follow, I nor feare,
nor care.
Yet those I know there be, who doe expect,
What length my Hopes shall haue, and what effect.
VVith enuious eyes awayting eu'ry day,
VVhen all my confidence shall slip away.
And make me glad, through those base paths to fly,
VVhich they haue trod, to raise their Fortunes by.
They flout to heare, that I doe Conscience make,
What Place I sue for, or what Course I take.
They laugh to see me spend my youthfull time,
In serious
Studies; and to teach my
Rime
The
Straines of
Vertue; whilst I might perchance,
By Lines of Ribaldry, my selfe aduance
To place of fauour. They make skoffes, to heare
The praise of Honesty; as if it were,
For'none but vulgar mindes. And since they liue
In braue prosperitie, they doe belieue
It shall continue: and account of Me,
As one scarce worthy of their scorne to be.
All this is
Truth; yea, trust me,
care I not;
Nor loue I
Vertue, ought the worse a iot.
For, I oft said, that I should liue, to see
My
Way, farre safer then their Courses be,
[Page] And I haue seene, nor one, nor two, nor ten,
But (in few yeares) great numbers of those men,
From goodly brauery, to raggs decline,
And waite vpon as poore a
Fate as mine.
Yea those, whom but a day or two before,
Were (in their owne vaine hopes) a great deale more
Then any of our Auncient
Baronage:
(And such as many Wisemen of this age,
Haue wisht to be the men) eu'n those, haue I
Seene hurled downe to shame, and beggery,
In one twelue houres: and grow so miserable,
That they became the scornefull, hatefull fablo
Of all the Kingdome. And there's none so base,
But thought himselfe, a man in better case.
This, makes me pleased with mine owne estate,
And fearefull to desire anothers Fate.
This makes me
Carelesse of the worlds proud scorne,
And of those glories, whereto such are borne.
And, if to haue me, still kept meane and poore,
To Gods great Glory, shall ought adde the more:
Or if to haue disgraces heapt on me;
(For others, in their way to Blisse) may be
Of more Aduantage, then to see mee thriue
In outward Fortunes, or more prized liue:
I care not though I neuer see that day,
Which with one pinns-worth more enrich me may.
Yea, by the eternall
Dietie I vow;
Who knowes I lie not, who doth heare me, now.
Whose dreadfull Maiestie is all I feare,
Of whose great
Spirit, These the sparklings are,
[Page] And who will make me, such proud daring, rue;
If this my protestation be vntrue.
So I may still retaine that in Peace,
That loue and taste, of the eternall Blisse;
Those matchlesse comforts, and those braue desires,
Those sweet Contentments, and immortall Fires,
Which at this instant doe inflame my brest;
(And are to excellent to be exprest.)
I doe not care a Rush, though I were borne,
Vnto the greatest Pouerty; and scorne:
That (since God first infusde it; with his breath)
Poore flesh and bloud, did euer groane beneath.
Excepting onely, such a load it were,
As no
Humanitie was made to beare.
Yea, let me keepe these Thoughts; and let bee hurld,
Vpon my backe, the spight of all the world,
Let me haue neither drinke, nor bread to eate,
Nor Cloathes to weare, but those for which I sweat.
Let me become vnto my foes a slaue;
Or, causelesse here the markes of iustice, haue;
For some great villany, that I nere thought,
Let my best actions, be against me brought.
That small repute, and that poore little Fame,
Which haue got; let men vnto my shame
Hereafter turne. Let me become the fable,
A talke of fooles Let me be miserable,
In all mens eyes, and yet let no man spare,
(Though that would make me happy) halfe a teare.
Nay (which is more vnsufferable farre,
Then all the miseries yet spoken are)
[Page] Let that deare
Friend, whose loue is more to me,
Then all those drops of Crymson liquor be,
That warme my heart (and for whose onely good:
I could the brunt, of all this Care haue stood)
Let him forsake me. Let that prized Friend,
Be cruell to; and when distrest, I send
To seeke his Comfort, let him looke on me,
With bitter scorne, and so hard-hearted be;
As that (although he know me innocent,
And how those miseries I vnderwent,
In loue to him) He, yet deny me should,
One gentle looke, though that suffice me could.
And (truly grieu'd, to make me) bring in place,
My well knowne Foe, to scorne me to my face.
Let this befall me; and with this, beside,
Let me, be for the faulty friend belide.
Let my Religion, and my honestie;
Be counted till my death Hypocrisie.
And, when I die, let till the generall
Doome,
My
Name, each houre into question come,
For
Sinnes I neuer did. And if to this,
You ought can adde, which yet more grieuous is,
Let that befall me to; So that, in Me,
Those comforts may encrease, that springing be,
To helpe me beare it. Let that Grace descend,
Of which I now, some portion apprehend:
And then, as I already (heretofore)
(Vpon my
Makers strength, relying) swore,
So, now I sweare againe; If ought it could,
Gods glory further, that I suffer should:
[Page] Those Miseries recited:
I nor care,
How soone they ceazd me, nor how long they were:
For, He can make them Pleasures, and I know;
As long as he inflicts them, will doe so.
Nor vnto this Assurance am I come,
By any
Apothegmes, gathered from
Our old, and much admir'd
Phylosophers.
My Sayings are mine owne, as well as theirs;
For, whatsoe're account of them is made,
I haue as good experience of them had:
Yea, when I die (though now they sleighted be)
The
Times to come, for Them, shall honour me,
And praise that
Minde of mine, which now perchance,
Shall be reputed foolish Arrogance.
Oh! that my
Lines were able to expresse,
The Cause, and Ground, of this my
Carelesnesse.
That I might shew you, what braue things they be,
Which at this instant are a fire in me.
Fooles may deride me, and suppose, that This
(No more) but some vaine-glorious
Humour is;
Or such like idle
Motion, as may rise,
From furious, and distempered
Phantasies.
But, let their thoughts be free; I know the Flame
That is within me, and from whence it came;
Such things haue fill'd me, that I feele my braine,
Wax giddy, those high Raptures to containe.
They raise my Spirits, which now whi
[...]ling be,
As if they meant to take their leaue of me.
And could these
Straines of
Contemplation, slay
To lift me higher still, but halfe a day:
[Page] By that Time, they would mount to such a height,
That all my
Cares would haue an end to Night.
But oh! I feele the fumes of flesh and bloud,
To clog those Spirits in me, and like mudd,
They sincke againe. More dimly burne my fires;
To Her low pitch, my
Muse againe retires:
And as her Heauenly flames extinguishtbe,
The more I find my Cares to burthen mee.
Yet, I beleeue, I was enlightned so,
That neuer shall my Spirit stoope so low,
To let the seruile thoughts, and dunghill cares,
Of common Minds, entrap me in their snares.
For, still I value not, those things of nought,
For which the greatest part, take greatest thought.
Much for the world
I care not; and (confesse)
Desire I doe, my care for it, were lesse.
I doe not care, (for ought they me could harme)
If with more mischiefes, this last Age did swa
[...]e;
Yea such poore
Ioy I haue or
Care to see
The best Contents these Times can promise Me:
And that small
feare of any Plague at all,
(Or Miseries) which on this Age may fall.
That, but for Charitie,
I did not care
If all those comming stormes, which some doe feare,
Were now descending downe: For Hell can make,
No vpro
[...]re, which my peacefull thoughts may shake.
I founded haue my Hopes on him that hath
A shelter for me, in the day of w
[...]ath.
And I haue trust, I shall (without a maze,)
Looke vp, when all burnes round me in a blaze.
[Page] And if to haue these Thoughts, & this Mind known
Shal spread Gods praise no further then mine owne:
Or, if
This shall no more instructiue be,
To others; th
[...] it glory is to Me:
Here le
[...] i
[...] perish, and he
[...]led by,
Into Obliuion euerlastingly.
For, with this
Mind, I can be pleas'd; (as much)
Though none but I my selfe did know it such.
And, he that hath contentment,
needs not care;
What other me
[...] opinions of it, are.
I care not; though for many griefes to come,
To liue an hundred yeare
[...], it were my
Doome.
Nor care I though I summon'd be, away,
At
Nigh
[...] to Morrow-m
[...]ning, or to
Day.
I care not whether
This, you read or no;
Nor whether you beleeue it, if you doe.
I care no
[...] whether any Man suppose
All
This from Iudgement, or from Rash
[...]es flowes.
Nor meane I, to take
Care what any Man,
Will thinke thereof: Or Comment on it can.
I care not who shall fondly censure it;
Because it was not with more
M
[...]thod writ:
Or fram d in imitation, of the
Straine.
In some deepe
Grecian or old
Romane vaine.
Yea, though that all men liuing should despise,
These Thoughts in Me, to heed, or Patronize:
I vow,
I care not▪ And I vow, no lesse,
I care not who dislikes this
Carelesnesse.
My
Minde's my Kingdome; and I will permit,
No other
[...]
Will, to haue the rule of it.
[Page] For, I am free; and no mans power (I know)
Did make me thus, nor shall vnmake me now.
But, through a Spirit none can quench in me:
This
Mind I got, and this, my
Mind shall be.
To Enuy.
NOw looke vpon Me,
Enuy, if thou dare,
Dart all thy Malice, shoot me eu'ry where:
Try all the wayes thou canst, to wake me feele,
The cruell sharpenes of thy poys'ned steele.
For, I am
Enuy-proofe, and scorne I do;
The worst, thy cancred spight, can vrge thee to.
This Word,
I care not, is so strong a
Charme,
That He, who speakes it truely, feares no harme,
Which thy accursed Rancor, harbor may;
Or, his peruersest Fortunes, on him lay.
Goe, hatefull
Fury; Hagge, goe, hide thou then,
Thy snakie head, in thy abhorred Deu.
And since thou canst not haue thy will of Me:
There;
Damned Fiend, thine owne Tormentresse
[...]e,
Thy forked stings, vpon thy body turne;
With Hellish flames, thy scorched entrailes burne;
From thy leaue Carkasse, thy blacke sinn
[...]wes teare,
With thine owne
Venome burst, and perish there.
‘Nec Habeo, nec Careo, nec Curo.’
A Postscript.
QVite through this
Iland hath my
Motto rung,
And twenty dayes are past, since vp I hung
My bold
Impreza: which defiance throwes,
At all the malice of faire
Vertues foes.
The
Good approue it; and so crowne the Cause
Of this my Resolution, with applause:
That such as spight it, dare not to appeare,
In opposition to the
Challenger.
Their
Malice would enforce them; but, it lyes
Oppressed yet, with fearefull
Cowardize;
For, they so arm'd haue found me, that they feare,
I may (in spight of all their
Enuy) beare
The Conquest from them: and vpon the Face,
Of their be-spotted
Fame, stick more disgrace.
This, makes them
Storme in priuate,
Slander, Raile,
Threat, Libell, Ryme, Detract; and to preuaile
Vpon my
Patience, try their vtmost Art,
But, I still mind my
Motto's latter-part,
And
Care not for it: which more makes them cha
[...]e;
And still the more they fret, the more I laugh.
But, now their
Enuies haue so well conspir'd,
That they haue
[...] the
Proiect they desir'd;
And tooke such course, that (if their word you take)
Shall mooue my
Choller, and my
Patience shake.
Forsooth, some
Rimers they haue hyr'd, to chew
Their
Rankor into Balladry, and spew
[Page] Their blacke Despight, which to a drunken note,
They, in a hundred
Tauerns, haue by roate
Already belcht vnto that
Auditory,
Who are the fittest
Trumpets of their Story.
When their
Inuentions (by the powre Diuine
Of much-inspiring
Sacke and
Claret-wine)
Are ripened to the highest; then, they say
The
Stationer expects it eu'ry day:
And that he may a sauing bargaine make,
(A forehand) doth his
Customers bespeake.
But when these
Braine-wormes crawling forth you
(As pity twere, such wit should smotherd lie)
They will bewray the
Sires; and mak't appeare, spie
That
Ignorance, and
Enuy Parents were
To that despightfull Issue: So, that he
Who shall a Rush the lesse, esteeme of
Me,
For ought there Writ: eu'n (He) is one of
Them,
Whose
Hate, and whose
Affection I contemne.
The
Instruments they get to serue the turne,
Are those, that are vnworthy of my Scorne:
And if contend, or answere them I should;
It more might wrong me, then their Riming could.
As therefore, when an armed Souldier feeles
A testy
Curre, in vaine to gnaw his Heeles;
He mindes not Him: but spends his blowes vpon
Those churlish Peasants, that did set him on.
So; I, that know these
Dogges doe but their kind;
Well, let them barke, & f
[...]arle, & spend their wind,
Till they grow weary. But, let them sit strong.
That vrge them to it; or I lay along
[Page] Their high
Top-gallant; where each Groome shall see
How worthy Scorne, and infamy they be.
For, they who are their
Patrons are such Foes,
As I may somewhat worthyly oppose:
And Ile vnmaske them so, that you shall spie
In them,
Detractions true
Anatomy.
Yea, whereas they haue by their malice, thought
To haue on me their spightfull pleasures wrought;
Ile from their
Censures, an occasion take
To shew how other men a sport shall make
At all
Detractions; So, those slaues vndoe,
Who that base practise are enclin'd vnto.
Raile they that list: for, those men know not yet,
What mind I haue; who thinke the man that writ
This
Motto, can be euer brought to feare
Such poore fond things, as idle
Carpers are;
Nay rather, from those Slanders they shall raise,
I will aduantage gather for my praise:
While they that in my shame would take delight,
Shal gnaw their flesh through vengance, & despight
To see how I, vnmou'd their enuy mocke,
And make of them this Ages laughing-stocke.
For, lest to haue preuailed they should seeme;
And so grow wise men in their owne esteeme:
(Or, by their foolish brags, dishearten such,
Whose resolutions are not growne so much)
When I at leasure am; for Recreation,
[...]e merry make my selfe, to their vexation;
Yet shall my Mirth from Malice be so free,
That though I bitter to the guiltie be.
[Page] It shall appeare that I in loue doe scourge them;
That of their foule Corruptions I may purge them.
And that it may be knowne how Vertue hath
A sting to punish, though not moou'd to wrath.
But goe; and for the
Pamphlet seeke about,
For, yet ere night (tis thought) it will come out.
Yet, when you finde it; Doe not looke for there
His wit alone, whose Name you see it beare:
(For though you nothing can collect from thence,
But foul-mouthd
Language, Rime and
Impudence)
Yet there expect, (since tis the common cause
Of all
Crowe-Poets, and
Poeticke-Dawes,
Which I haue toucht) that all the
Brotherhood,
Will lend their wits to make the Quarrell good.
For, to that purpose they are all combind;
Yea, to their strong
Confed'racy are ioynd,
That
Corporation, by whose Patronage,
Such
Poetry hath flourisht in this Age:
And some beside, that dare not yet be knowne,
Haue fauour, to this goodly Proiect showne.
But, let them ioyne their force; For I had rather
Ten Millions should themselues against Me gather
[...]
(And blot and practise for my ouerthrow)
Then be the
Conqueror of one base Foe.
For, as mine enemies encreasing be;
So, Resolution doth encrease in mee:
And if I must haue foes, my
Fates shall friend me;
If great and noble enemies they send me.
But, whether on meane Foes, or great I light,
My
Spirit will be greater then their spight.