THE SCHOOL OF COMPLEMENTS
PEARLS OF ELOQUENCE, OR, THE SCHOOL OF COMPLEMENTS: WHEREIN Ladies, Gentlewomen, and Schollars, may accommodate their Courtly Practice with Gentile Ceremonies, Complemental, amorous, and high expressions of speaking, or writing of Letters.
By W. Elder, Gent.
London, Printed for T. Lock, and are to be sold by Henry Eversden, at the Grey-Hound in St. Pauls Church-yard, MDCLVI.
PEARLS OF ELOQUENCE: OR, THE SCHOOL OF COMPLEMENTS: WHEREIN Ladies, Gentlewomen, and [...]chollars, may accommodate their Courtly practise with Gentile Ceremonies, Complemental, amorous, and high expressions of speaking or writing of Letters.
BY VV. Elder, Gent.
[...]ondon; Printed for T. L. and are to be sold at any Booksellers shop. MDCLV.
The Author to the Ladies and Gentlewomen OF England.
IF Custome did not force a Complement of Dedication; yet this Book would desire to insinuate into the affection of Ladies, and Gentlewomen; since it can arrive at no greater perfection of happiness than your favour, which is most earnestly desired. And in requitall of this your favour, it shall be alwaies ready to furnish you with the best expressions of choice and [...]omplementall language; for though by nature and custome [...]ou ca [...] deliver your mindes in a smooth and gracefull man [...]er; yet from hence, without study, or premeditation, you may command necessary ceremonies. Let therefore this one [...]nstance, in stead of more which might be inserted, perswade [...]our intelligible generous dispositions, to receive this Book [...]ow exactly perfected, as your devoted Servant, and to ho [...]our it with your favour, which I shall esteem as an ex [...]l [...]ation to the supremest sublunary felicite, and the [...]ightes [...] [...]errestiall happiness.
The EPISTLE To the READER.
HAving penn'd this small Treatise; called, The School of Complements; it cannot seem st ange to thee, for to view this small Epistle before such a labyrinth of new matter, wherein at the first sight (without such a Clue of thred to direct thee by) I might very wel suppose that thou shouldest not only be amaz [...]d but transported, (if not lost with wonder) so unexpect dly in these angry times to meet with such Novellaes from the school or the Ceurt, but recollect thy mind, and then smile upon my charity, which hath endeavoured the more to enlighten thy Genius, and shew my selfe to thee in conside [...]ation of our late losses, which these sullen dislaureating t m [...]s have occasioned, by bereaving us of so many excellent Poets, as namely our Sands, Davener, Quarles, &c. And lest the Garland of the Muses should altogether wither, I could not but presen [...] thee again with this sp [...]ig, or rather more aptly composed Iliad of choicest Recreations to imploy thy wit and behaviou [...] entreating thee with w [...]shed hands, and without a prejudicate opinion to receive it; so farwel.
Pearls of ELOQUENCE, OR, The School of Complements.
SIR, Your conceptions are so strong that [...]hey climb over my thoughts.
Sir, You honor me so far that I imagine my self to be some other than I am or have been, which can be nothing else but your obliged servant.
Sir, I do repute my selfe happy to be valued by a person who is able to give a true of imate of me.
Sir, your infallible judgment doth amaze vulge [...] wits, since in you alone are found all those felicities and perfections that can be sought or upon earth▪
Sir, Your deserts draw admiration from your very enemies.
Madam, the force of your beauty hath over-powr'd the weakness of my fancie, since thee exquesite perfections of your vertues are charactered in my heart.
Sir, If you proceed to be so profuse of your treas [...]re [...] Mines of Gold will not maintain your prodigall e [...] pences.
Good sir, give me leave to fear least some sinister storms of Fortune, stiflle the early bloomings of my felicities.
Sir, The toyish conceits of your youth, are unfit for the testy cogitations of my age.
Sir, There is a confused Chaos of contrary conceits that whirls in my brains; and I am lost in such an endless Labyrinth, that neither choice, nor chance can draw me out or.
Give me leave, sir, to gain that from your experience, that otherwise, all the treasures of the earth can not purchase.
Sir, Should you continue to be thus excessive in your actions, the whole world would take notice of you as the mirrour of an immoderate life.
Be not so inconstant in your affections, lest in the conclusion you prove like the Marigold, to open at the sunshine of prosperity, and to shut at the least appearance of the clouds of adversity.
Leave me sir, whilest I learn to despise such Gnathoes, and beat of such flattering Curs with the whip of my defiance.
Theseus, fair one, did never more triumph at his deliverance from the perillous Labyrinth, then I from the pernitious bondage of such cruel beauty.
Fortune and Fate, place thee in the places of their earthly felicities.
So rarely accumplisht, that it was hard to know, whether vertue or beauty held supremacy in so rare a structure.
Sir, Being incensed by your singular commendations, I am perswaded to her only to commit the chiefest treasures of my life and fortunes.
Pardon my rudeness, fair creature, since neither fate nor fortune delighteth, nor careth for them that are dastards.
Sir, I wil rather put my reputation to the adventure then refuse to act any thing you shall command me.
Sir, I have ever reflected on you, as an extraordinary person, and have ever passionately remain'd yours.
Sir, I am so taken with you, that I am even sick at the relation of your indisposition.
Sir, I shall not be backward in the expression of your merits, since they do so exact an acknowledgment of all.
Sir, You shall never be able to accuse this Tenent as erroneous, since I have never falsified my selfe to you; but have ever thought my selfe perfectly happy to be reputed yours.
Be careful, fair one, lest (being led Captive by security) your mind float in the surging Seas of idle conceits, whilest the G [...]les of voluptuous pleasures, or the stifling storms of unbridled fancy, with raging blasts ma [...]e a shipwrack of your beauty.
Sir, I wil endeavour hereafter to encounter your graces and courtesies with an unwearied constancie in the wayes of vertue.
Sir, I will endeavour to contervail much pain [...] [...] princely liberty.
Sir, The Trumpet of your royall fame hath moved us (who are but subjects of your generous liberality) with all humility to entertain such noble and heroick favour cast upon us poor creatures, most un [...]orty of the least of such benefits.
Madam, There i [...] no object can allure my wavering eys as Your Venus like beauty.
Madam, The force of your beauty hath overpowred the weakness of my fancie, since the exquisite perfections of your vertues are charactered in my breast.
Madam, Were you as wise as M [...]nerva, or as gorgeous as Iuno; yet the accounts of your beauty being cast [Page 6] up, the gains of his affection might be put in the eye of your lover.
Coy one, what happiness insued the chastity of Penelope, nay rather what miseries pursued not the vertues of a Lucretia? How wretched are they then that deale with Venus or Diana, that can so easily transform men into beasts?
Blame me nol, fair one, though my fixed fancies once abused turn into a fury.
By those smiles of your beauty, your creature that before was plunged into a perplexity, is now placed in the height of earthly felicities.
Mistris, Pardon my rudeness for troubling thus rashly your musing meditations.
Certainly, Madam, if the gods (as Poets say) made beauty, they skipt beyond their skill, since they framed it of greater force than they themselves were able to resist.
Fair one, let the showers of your mercy mitigate the fires of my fancie.
Cruel one, if love be only remedied by love, if fancy by mutuall affection, give me leave at least to appeal to your grace and favour, and at the bar of your beauty, suffer your servant to lift up his hands in an expectation of mercy, though his life, by your rigour, be sentenced to death.
Fairest, It is impossible to perswade me to break the league I made with my fancies.
Sir, I am a mortall foe to affection, and now to vow my service to Venus, is impossible, since I have already addicted my selfe to Diana.
Sir, Whosoever readeth the records of the faithless protestations of men, their perjured Promises, and feigned loves, cannot but view a poor Ariadne abused, a Media mockt, and a Dido deceived.
F [...]ir one, Your vertue and beauty by a stronger [Page] power than that of fate or fortune is deeply inshrine [...] in my heart.
Be pleased at last (fait beauty) to accept me for your slave and servant, and to admit me into your favour, and that I may freely injoy the sight of your sweete face, and feed my fancie in the contemplation of your Perfections.
Fairest, If my deed desire merit no more from you then I have no other choice but to desperately, or live miserably.
Madam, There is a civil assault within me, by which I feel a certain restraint of my own liberty and affections.
It is impossible, fairest of women, for any one to view your features, and not be fettered with the power of your vertuous qualities.
Mistris, I feel such an alienation of my senses, such a metamorphosis of my minde, that it is impossible for me to become any other than a servile slave to fancy.
How can I fear to enter into a parley with Cupid? fairest Creature, since there is such hopes left of victory by the happy presage of your auspitious smiles at the beginning of our loves conflict.
Si, If I may continue to share in your favours there shall not any under the Canopy of Heaven be more proud of their fortunes than my selfe, who really am your affectionate servant.
Sir, It is for the good of the world that you enjoy your igorous health, since you are ordained for the service of Kings, and conduct of people.
Sir, I will reserve to speak of vertue; till your great works come to light.
Sir, That which others call vertue in the naturall habitude of your worthy person.
Suppose not I use the Court language, when I assure you I am more then any man living, sir, your mos [...] humble servant.
Sir, When I forgot to to confess my selfe yours, you may justly suppose I suffer a perpetuall silence, sinc [...] whil'st I have tongue, I protest my selfe to be your af [...]ectionate s [...]rvant.
Sir, I wil make use of all occasions, to testifie how passionately I am yours.
Sir, There is no other thing remaining for me, but only the glory of humil [...]tie and obedience.
I should shew my selfe ins [...]nsible of rarities, were I not amazed with the curio [...]ity of your beauty.
Sir, Your Hero [...]call qualities shine forth in you, as bright as day.
Madam, They that do undervalue the comeliness of your person, dare rob Nature, and bereave Lillies of their beautie, as the christall of his clearness.
Sir, The vertues of our fore-fathers are to be esteemed as vices in comparison of yours.
Extremities are in other things reproveable, in this laudable, since they force me to confess my selfe yours.
Sir, you are never so excellent a Poet as when you speak of me, since you have art to invent new fables.
Sir, Those fine words and quaint discourses, with which your Ladies are delighted, issue from their mouthes, as a pure and innocent breath perfum'd with kisses.
Sir, You go through all Employments with as good fortune, as noble resolutions; neither can there be any thing above your spirit: since all things stoop to do you honour.
Who can distil sleep into the eyes of Lovers, whose ears break forth with the morning l [...]ght?
Love, art thou but a vain name, and no essential thing, that hast thus left thy professed servant, when he [Page 9] hath most need of thy reviving presence; what is Musick to me, but a doleful voice, accompanied with the various discord of my sighes?
O Love! Wilt thou now at last offer me Physick, which art my only poyson? wilt thou do me service which long since hast brought me into eternall slaverie?
How long shall my languishing sickness wait upon the triumphs of my passions?
At last, O fair one, cast the eyes of thy resplendent presence on thy abject creature, that by the brightness of those raies, his baseness may be turned into a most high, and (through any perfections) a most happy preferment; for being thus disconsolate, by the frowns of thy rigour, how soon maist thou raze down that Temple, which at first was built by the refulgent smiles of thy beauty?
From whence can these necessities proceed, that love hath laid upon me, most incomparable Lady? are they by your commandment? or is it by a power from your excellencie, that Cupid hath such a command over mortall? of a certain it is from you, whose fair aspect, accompanied with so imperious a Majesty, vanquished me by him, so far to resign the happiness of my former liberty, as that I must now confess my self to be your slave, if you think me unworthy of the name of your prisoner.
Cruel one, how long can I make an ostentation of my felicity, when the conclusion, even the last Scene of my Tragedy, with horror presents it self to thin [...] eyes? Can death and dissimulation meete at th [...] instant when I leave the world, and my dying protestations with thee: that for thee alone I forsook th [...] earth, to be more kindly used there, where I shal [...] certainli [...] be eased of these sorrows? if there be: Leander, a Piramus, or a society of abused Lovers.
If thou art fair, is it to present thee too cruell? If thou canst command affections, wilt thou therefore captivate them? To be beautiful and yet terrible, are things incompetible, things that imply contradiction; yet even against the Laws of Nature thou destroyest Nature, and where thou maist raise the structures to thy perpetual honors, thou ruin'st them.
Most certain [...]t is, fair Creature, thy love may make me sacrifice my life at thy Feete, and I may punish that body which hath so unjustly wounded my once free and serene mind: But alas, wherein canst thou glory? Not in thy beauty, for that will vaile it selfe at so black an act: Not in my ruines, for they will pursue thee with some direfull revenge. Blush then thou faire one, since to be coy is to be cruell; to be cruell is to alter the property of what thou art, beautifull.
Fairest, be no longer so great an enemy to my desires, as to imprison them in silence.
I cannot express the least disobedience to your commands, but rather hope my past displeasures may deserve pity, if not my future services a reward.
Ponder my merits in the balance of your mercy, that the unworthiness of my deserts, by the fair sufferance of your goodness, may procure your gracious re [...]pects in my behalf.
It is a sin to suspect such vertue which glories to arm [...]t self against all deceits.
Fair one, you have a wit which delights not to judg it self, and a beauty that glories to condemn others; reconcile your beauty to your wit, that the use of the one may restrain the abuse of the other, whilest we your servants live to admire your perfections, and you your self survive to perfect your vertues.
Faire one, what unremovable suitor eclipses your affection from shining on your devoted, and most constant servant.
Perfections of my desires, with one determinate answer, bless me with happiness, or silence my long continued suit.
That my desires to enjoy you are more than to live, proceeds from the effects of my affection, the efficient cause being your excessive beauty.
Madam, The eyes of a ravished Lover, cannot but have vertues aid so ready in himself, as alwaies to bewaile the loss of a vertuous constancie in other, since such a loss, by his own affections, is ever placed in the very face of his memory.
By the memory of our fore-past affections, by the oathes of our yet continued love; by whatsoever is vertuous, credit me.
Can you (Sir) weare a Mars's heart in a Cupids body since the eyes of all spectators, judge you fi [...]ter for the pleasures of the Court, than the Tents of War?
In him (it seems) Nature was not mistaken, since whatsoever was in mankind, was in him to the uttermost.
Sir, It is a degree above humanity, and therefore requires the admiration of your friends, that your wit should so far out-go your age.
It is not strange (O thou cruellest of women) th [...]t those eyes of thine should strike him with terrour, who stands unmoved with the sight of the most horrible countenance of death?
Sir, I am most infinitely bound to you, for this so rare and noble a courtesie.
It is you (and none but you) which I am bound to love: and therefore, though I am presented with [...] likeness of your beauty, yet likeness of another cannot make the same essence of your person, much less ca [...] dissolve your commandments of my seevice.
The very Image of your countenance, and outward expressions of your behaviour, are sutable to the vertuous [Page 12] resolutions of your minde.
Fairest, Grant me this happiness, to have my poor affections raised to the honour of waiting upon your commands.
Violence of love leads me into this discourse, in which I am not so unfortunate, as ful of desires to be more happy.
Armies of objections rise up against my accepted opinion.
Sir, Though I were to pass through all the splendors of the World, and frame them all to blazon forth your worth, my pen could never teach you.
Sir, Nature in you hath laid deep foundations, in respect of your qualities, both of minde and body, in both which she hath made no promise of any mediocrity, by the distribution of which rare perfections she hath rendred you lovely to the world, and fit f r the service of the greatest monarchs.
Sir, Your imagination (which you speak in such high terms) cannot but move me to believe great improbilities.
Sir, How happy should I think my self, were the Characters of your vertues imprinted in my Brest, by a more continued acquaintance?
Sir, No imaginary jealousies shall deliver me from mine inclination to that goodness, to which I have alwaies had an extraordinary propension, by your royall example.
Sir, I have an interest in your prosperity, so far that I wil complain of fortune, so you have an occasion to commend her.
Worthy Sir, You know your self too wel, to suspect me of flattery.
Vertue and Eloquence are bestowed upon you, to make you be amongst men as immortall.
Sir, I could not have the ambition to suppose that [Page 13] there could be any room left for you to entertain a woman of so many imperfections as my self.
The contemplation of your vertues amazeth m [...].
Sir, I finde in you whatsoever may give a reputation to the Courts of Princes.
Sir, I am reserved for your sake, that nothing might be wanting to your glorie.
Sir, You are the man, whom the necessities of the State require.
Opportunities would wax old, should I neglect this present to serve you.
All spirits would prove favourable unto you, since you have convinced them by your merits.
Your generous disposition hath permitted me a longer audience than your affairs could wel permit.
Worthie Sir, reflect upon your creature with the bright beams of your generous disposition.
I cannot allot more moderate limits to my ambition, or wish my selfe a greater happiness than to do your service.
Your Heroickacts succeeding Historians shal crown with Lawrels.
Sir, for your sake I wil undergo the infelicities of cruel fortune.
Sir, there is no happiness on earth, but is included in your self, or in what concerns you.
Sir, your goodness doth be [...]eave me of a voice to express your vertues.
You cannot blame me though I hate ingratitude since even beasts are capable of acknowledgement.
Sir, If you withdraw from me your presence, you overthrow all the honor you have hitherto acquired for me.
Sir, I shall fall sick for want of a capacity to digest your favours.
Sir, whatsoever you undertake, permit noth [...]ng to [Page 14] your spirit which may wound your reputation.
Sir, Of all men I dare free you from this crime of violating the chastity of Language.
Sir, I owe too much honor to the memory of our fore-past acquaintance, to displease you.
Sir, for your sake, at the same time, I both enjoy pleasure, and endure pain.
Sir, I must beg of you hereafter, to have a greater care of my modesty, since you enforce, either to lose it, or not believe you.
Sir, The whole Court is sensible of suffering your name to fall to the ground.
Sir, I am so far from hiding my own defects, that I acknowledge there is none so imperfect as my selfe, neither can any man arrive to perfection, except hee be adorned with those abilities whereof I am utterly ignorant.
Sir, I have neither power nor ability left me, but only to express I am yours.
Sir, You have anticipated me of all Rhetorick, either of being complementall, or returning you commendations for your worthy favours.
Sir, instead of requitall of those vows you offer me, I am put to a stand what to answer.
Mistris, I desire to pass my life in the pleasing dreams of your perfections.
Your Courtly voice is like an Oracle, either to approve or condemn me.
Sir, I am none of those who slight the benefits are showred upon them.
Sir, I cannot light upon that accent, wherewith I might authorize my own follies.
All my thoughts are your reall inspirations.
I have no servile dependencie, but upon your conceptions, I move by your directions.
In matters of Eloquence you seek out singularities, hitherto unknown.
From the first minute of my acquaintance, I made hast, as I shall ever, to acknowledge my self your most humble servant.
Sir, I entertain these passions, to the end that you may appease them.
Madam, If you still persevere to dote thus on your beauty, the time wil come when your face will scare you more than a Judge doth a felon.
Sir, I have quitted all complacency, and there is no means shall make me silent.
Fairest, There is no part of the World so remote, whither my curiosity in your search shall not carry me.
Lady, The morall of my affection is to instruct you to make use of your youth, and to gather Nose-gayes before the Roses wither: For be confident, when you have no further attractions than an eloquent tongue, no man wil seek for them in the furrows of your face; and you shall only be left to bewaile the ruines of your beauty.
Sir, suffer your self to be convinced by reason, since you cannot resist the same, but to your disadvantage.
Sir, you must excuse me, since I know not in what manner to suffer so wounding a displeasure.
Sir, All the water in the sea can never purifie me from this offence.
Lady, You have no more beauty than wil serve to excuse you from being extreamly ugly.
Sir, If you grant me this favour, you shall elevate me to a more Soveraigne Fortune than the state of Kings.
Sir, It were as great a crime to be ignorant of the diversions that attend you, as not to be acquainted with the great affluence of noble company, daily repairing to visit you.
Mistris, In my most solitary walkes it shall be my [Page 16] ambition to presume only to revolve you in my most secret cogitations.
Sir, In you alone I must commend the commencements of all vertue.
In all shapes, and under the most dreadful aspects that can appear, I am yours.
To return you complements for such excellent favours, were to undervalue their worth, since my language is too poor, and unable to lend me wherewith to pay you.
I fear I shal be indebted to you all my life, for the favours I have received of you.
It is the height of my desires to be passionately, as I am, your most faithful servant.
My passions cannot so far transport me, but that I shall remain as I have ever been, yours.
Sir, I intend not to commence any real war against you, for I acknowledge my colour to be artificial, which I am ready to lay down at your pleasure.
Fair Creature; Painters and stage-players are not guilty of those Murthers which the dart of your eyes do most cruelly commit.
I am not so curious as to condemn the whole multitude, which have lost themselves in the admiration of your vertues.
I wil dilate my self no further in my Expressions, lest I dishonour your goodness with my undervaluing praises.
Sir, Mine eloquence wil come too late, since there is no precept in all humane wisdome, which hath not presented it self to your view.
Sir, The consolation I have next to the assurance I have of my innocencie, is the liberty I enjoy to profess my self yours.
The principall object of my intentions, hath ever been the glory of your name.
Sir, I do profess my self yours, with all those protestations, which are able to make truth appear in violable.
Sir, I prostrate all my presumption at your feet, and shall dispaire of being happy, if not reputed yours.
Sir, I can no longer conceale my thoughts, since you have an interest both in me and them.
I never gave you visit, which culed me not of some passion.
How often with your Golden Eloquence, have you taken me out of my self?
You alone can conduct me to the highest pitch of accidentall perfection.
The beams of your eminent vertues have discovered to me mine own perfections.
In stead of all those high expressions you have bestowed upon me, I must onlie answer you, That I am your humble servant.
Sir, There can be no acknowledgement that I can make, can be answerable to the obligations I owe to your honour.
Sir, You mistake my disposition, if you suppose I affect praises with the like intemperance, as I do perfumes.
Sir, Should I forfeite such occasions, my friendship would never appeare but remain as a Recluse.
Sir, The world would end, and Nature prove imperfect, if there were no such men to maintain her honors.
Continue to express your self what you are, that your vertue may be its own recorder.
Fairest, My thoughts are not so often here, as where you are.
Time which prescribes limits to all things, preserve [Page 18] your beauty to the worlds end.
The Physicians have not so far exhausted me, but that there are some drops of blood left, to bestow in part of your honors service.
Madam, Put on those rayes of your beauty, that it may bud again with the next Roses.
I confess I was more astonished, then to finde such an equipage of sorrow about you.
Sir, You are adorned with all excellent qualities that Art and Nature can bestow, for the commanding of men.
Sir, There is not one part of your body, whereof another is not master.
Sir, It is not in my power to dispose of one single hair since I am all yours.
Madam, you draw the eyes of all to admire you, since you are as a faire prospect, adorned with all pleasures to allure the beholders.
You are the Cabinet, in which nature hath lock't all her miracles.
Though I receive injuries from you, it shal be my humility not to take notice of them.
Sir, I would visit those parts of the world which avarice it self hath not yet found out, rather than lose your society.
Sir, It is impossible for me to conceale my sensibilities.
Sir, What violence soever I offer to my anger, I can no longer contain it.
Sir, You do so heap your favours on me, that you wil not so much as suffer me to seem miserable.
Sir, Your innocent actions carry their warrant with them.
Sir, You do not so much express your wit, as your Tyranny, in inflicting such torments on me.
Sir, be not confident, lest he whom you have so often [Page 19] injured, do at last grow weary of his sufferings.
You are the man with whom alone I desire to pass the most pleasant hours of my life.
Sir, If you pretend excuses for so poore a trifle, know I am no longer your affectionate servant
Sir, I, shall hold my eloquence as pernicious as the perfections of a Courtezan, should it prove any cause of your quarrels.
You usurp a more absolute authority over wits than is lawful or reasonable.
You smell too much of your Musk, and Amber, to express your self serious in the weight of affairs.
Sir, My conceptions are popular, and to be intelligible among women.
Your conceits are too far fetched, and they transcend the subject on which you bestow them.
Fairest, let me ravish a kiss from your hand.
Sir, My affections spring not from the diseases and distempers of my soul, since my inclinations to serve you, have their originall from immortall reason.
Mistris, You have a power to infuse love and fidelity into the hearts of Barbarians.
You cannot bestow favours amiss on him who harh searcht the secrets of nature, and the depth of Philosophy, that he might not appear to be grateful.
Sir, you must give me leave to admire your judgement, which appears to be far more excellent than your Fortunes.
Sir, Let me not seem to incurre a crime, since I am forced to extol your generous liberality.
Sir, You vary your shape, and change your perfumes, according to the diversity of the seasons.
Let it please you out of your nobleness, to [...] me to be your graces most obedient and faithfull [...]e [...] vant.
Sir, You have all those excellent qualities that are necessarie in a Prince.
Sir, I measure the necessities and fatalities of this world by your contentments or discomforts.
Sir, In this exigence of my fortune, I am forc'd to admire your vertues, since you stil set so high a value on your creature, who is lost to all men but to your self.
Sir, Your goodness is as unlimitable, as the desire I have to serve you.
Sir, in you are comprehended all the riches that Nature bestows on her most glorious creatures.
Sir, I speak this seriously with my best sence; you may reduce me to any form.
All, who have either eies or spirits, must place them on so deserving an object.
Fairest, Cast one glance of pittie on me, lest you deprive me of all conceits of mercy, with the terrible aspect of your eyes, which are to me the Ambassadors of life and death.
Sir, You are the embleme of terrour, and your furious looks are able to consume a woman.
Lift not me so high with your favours, lest you do but fit me for a precipice, and I behold my descent with a greater terrour.
Fairest, Let not your heavenly beautie, seated in its royal Majesty, draw forth the sword of disdain, to the ruine of your creature.
Fairest Creature, Since I am the pattern of all ill fortunes, by the force of your affection free me from all the miseries that oppress me.
You hit my inclinations, since to recompence such vertues, were a work most worthie of all generous spirits.
Sir, Your refusall to the title of eloquent, proves your modesty to be most unjust, since your tongue [Page 21] long since did beareave you of all excuses.
Sir, I dare not enter the lists with you, in respect of your elegancies of speech, for when I would become most perswasive in my language, I appear most barbarous in my expressions.
All your Rhetoricall arguments are but like blue flowers amongst the corn; which though they may seem pleasant to the eye, prove most unwholsome to the bodie.
Sir, I shal alwaies acknowledge the artificiall language to be like Gentlewomen adorned with Rubies and Diamonds, which glister upon her garments whilest she her selfe want, the eyes of her bodie and of her minde.
Fair one, Can I prevent the powers of the plannets or resist the force of the stars? you may then conclude I can then repell these affections.
I am yours, sir, and wil be yours in despight of fates and fortunes.
Madam, Your excellent qualities, and exquisite vertues have so assaulted the Fort of my Fancie, that I must of necessitie resign my self up to you, as a trophie of your victories.
Mistris, since Cupid doth so fitlie favour the causes of his Clients, let us not slip so happy an opportunitie.
Madam, If the wishes of a poor mortall may be, heard above, I question not but heaven with felicities wil crown your royall deserts.
Madam, Though I have not hitherto by dutifull services made manifest the loyaltie of my heart, yet since I first framed in my fancie, as in a mirrour the shape of your surpassing beauty, with all humility I have cast my self and fortunes at your Royall feet.
Fairest, There is none upon earth doth with a more loving duty reverence your person and vertues, than I do:
Madam, in consideration of my poore fortunes, let my affection appear so much the more excusable, since I so far esteem of your divine beauty and exquisite vertue, as I would think my selfe most unworthy, though I were Prince of the World, to possess your heavenly perfection, in respect of any of my own native honours.
Sir, I have learnt to know, that it is the Religion of lovers to sweare and forswear.
Madam, The parching heat of summer makes the cool shapes more pleasant; and the frowns of Lovers make their smiles more delightful and cheerful.
Mistris, I must never hope so entirely to love, as with my affections to require your loyalty.
Sir, She which builds her fancie upon fading subjects, ties her honour to the unconstant wheel of fortune.
Fairest, As a pledge of my protestation, you shall have both my heart and hand to be yours in dust and ashes.
Sir, You have a heart as large as the sea, which contains in it a capacity of all ornaments that use to dignifie Princes.
Strive not (sir) to bereave me of the reputation of my honor, lest those that shall succeed me hereafter, read my insamy upon my Tomb.
Madam, The beams of your Sun-like beauty, with their lively lustre, and sparkling flames, dazle the eys of your amazed lovers.
Madam, In the shady darkness of this Arbour, you seem like a heaven enameled with an infinite number of stars.
Having disposed so many affections to do your service, [Page 23] fear not, fairest, your servant must of necessity visit you.
Faire one, Whilest mortalls enjoy your heavenly beauty, the lustre of your resplendent eyes, shall as the day light serve them for the dispatch of their affairs.
Sir, I cannot be insensible of your miseries, since the web of our destinies hath passed us both through the like misfortunes.
Sir, I am reall, and use not to entertain any friends with dreams and illusions.
Sir, This your inhumane usage of your creature, shal never seem strange to me, since the most fervent affections of the world, often times degenerate into the vehementest enmities.
Sir, We equally share of one anothers discontents, and dissolve our hearts together, as one would melt one peece of Wax into another.
Fairest, Those eminent qualities, which nature, as a Dowry, hath bestowed upon you, like flowers spread themselves forth by the rayes of your bright beauty, causing those courtships, services, and admirations which so sweetly adorn you.
Mistris, Ladies of honour to express the sincerity of their affections, have breathed forth their lives on the Tombs of their deceased Lovers.
Madam, If I am consumed by the fires of Cupid, blame me not, since your eyes kindled the flames of my affections.
Madam, exercise not the extremity of your rigour upon him that suffers such miseries, under the false title and quality of an offender.
Know, faire Creature, that such a bright day may at last enlighten my innocencie, when revengeful lovers shall search into my ashes, to find out truth there buried.
Sir, These glorious progressions of your vertue will at last mount you to the highest pith of admiration.
Madam, shut not up these eyes from the light of your beautie, lest they be perpetuallie opened to tears.
Madam, It is impossible you should ever draw to you a reputation of honour, signed with the effusion of my blood.
Madam, There are those will deplore my ashes, and strew some silly flowers on the place impressed with the prints of your punishments.
Fair one, When my soul shall be seperated from my body, it shall every where wait on your purified spirit, as the shadow of it.
Madam, If you should please to condemn me to darkness, by the eclipsing of the divine light of your beautie, yet I despair not, but that at last from the sphere of your splendors, due to my merits, you will vouchsafe the rayes of your clemencie, to enlighten the duskie nights of my miseries and misfortunes.
Fair one, Though death may seperate our lives, yet love shall un [...]te our ashes, and we shall preserve the immortalitie of our affections, by the immortality of our souls.
Madam, Seated thus on your faire pavilion, you appear like resplendent day, in the attires of a Majesty, absolutely royall.
Madam, Your goodly nature, well proportioned body, the bright colour of your face, the lively port and grave carriage of your person, all these speak you to be a real branch, sprung from some royall stem.
Fair one, Your haire negligently disshevel'd. and careless attire, grace forth your beautie, which shines in the midst of so many obstacles, as the Sun in a winter day.
Faire Creature, Cast not those eyes down, neither [Page 25] colour your face with those modest blushes, since it would appear most admirable, that your Vertues should finde Fetters in a place where they expect Crowns.
Sir, I desire to end my daies on the Theater of Kings in their glorious services.
Madam, Heaven hath created me such a one, as you see ful of good wil, though of slender fortunes and means.
Sir, We have continuallie lived together as one soul divided into two bodies, and since our amities have taken root in a mutuall temperance, and correspondencie of humours, we have maintained in us a continuall familaritie, which neither death nor hell can ever have power to separate.
Fairest, Our breasts shall be ever interchangeablie transparent.
Fair one, Dissimulation or contradiction cannot approach the sincerity of our loves.
Fairest, let me embrace you with the oppenness of my heart, and the profusion of my love, that our souls may evaporate themselves into one another.
Sir, Your favours create me againe, and give me a new being.
Sir, I shal never pretend any right to any honour in the world, but only to obey your commands.
Mistris, The grace of speech dwells on your fair lips.
Sir, Hereafter ages shall take Palms and Lawrels to crown the reliques of your honoured ashes.
Fairest, these eies of mine, are but emblems of tears mixt with love.
Madam, spread not that Cipress Vail over your face, lest you benight your beauty, and darken the bright raies of that which makes our day.
Madam, Your beauty is a divinitie left on earth to be known and beloved of mortalls.
A description of Beauty.
BEauty is Natures Ivy-Bush.
It is her beauty only creates her queene; 'tis that which adds a commanding power to every syllable.
Glory not too much in the prerogative of Nature, seeing she hath made thee man, make not thy selfe a woman.
Your beauty is a Tyrant of a short reign, you cannot call it your own, for you can neither give it, nor preserve it long.
Beauty is the conqueress of man, never to be satisfyed with the raies of her chrystal painted eyes.
A feature that excels all mortall sense.
Such a one, that when she lay naked, his eyes did carve him out a Feast of love.
Her body doth present those fields of peace that Poets sing of in Elizium.
She lay like eclipsed Cynthia, sweetly canopied with darkness, til he drew the curtains of love.
Had Paris seen her naked, he had slighted his Nell of Greece for her.
Trimming her beauty forth with blushing bravery, with the wonders of her beauty, mortall eyes are never to be satisfyed, as if she were made only for admiration, to be adored of men, or win grace from Heaven.
A Complexion as clear as the Sky.
Beauty is the image of the Creator, and the Rhetorick of Heaven.
THE School of Complements. Choice and fair Flowers, selected out of the Garden of Eloquence, to adorn our Language with variety of Expressions upon severall occasions
Upon his absence.
I Shall no longer esteem my selfe absent from you whil'st I hold any room in your heart and memory.
Let those dul clods of earth, not yet informed with true promethean fire, measure affections by their Miles of Acres; we, whose souls are cast in a more pure mould, by a most subtile penetration and transfusion of hearts, enjoy a secure freedome in one anothers wishes, and in the greatest distance, are cherished with a virtuall contiguity.
It is a brutish love, and wants the quickning fire of reason, that can by circumstances be intermitted; the more extracted flames of our affections, shal like more glorious Pyramides burn bright and cleare, and light our souls, though thus seemingly disjoyned, to our daily mutual imbracements.
Let not my remoteness change your purposes, more than it shakes the resolution I have made, to live, yours.
Protestations of love.
IT is as impossible for me not to love you, as it is for the Sun to forget his ordinary course.
So am I ravished with your beauty, that it will prove harder for mee to forget you, than it would [Page 28] prove difficult to resolve for death: and know for a certain, that I shall stil be rather content, and disposed to consent to the hatred of my selfe, than to the love of any other object, but you.
Your sight may be forbidden me, and you may hinder me from speaking to you, but not to have the effiges of your divine beauty imprinted in my heart: and not to love and serve you, it is a thing not onely out of your power, but mine also; for I am to you as an accident, so inseparable, that you cannot be without me.
Vpon her beauty.
I Should have thought I had too much failed in so much duty, had I not directed it to so faire a mark; but the favour of your affections is that to which I sacrifice my best endeavours.
Vanquished by your beauty, I have yeelded up the arms of my libertie and freedome, under your obedience.
Nothing shall take from your heart, but death it self, the fair image of your divine beauty.
Death it self, shall here stand vassal, and homage pay to your more powerful darts, when every quickning glance from you shall ad new life, as he destroys the old.
In admiration of her goodnes.
IT is your goodness that hath supplyed my small merit; which could noo have dared to promise me the favours you can afford me.
The goodness of your soul is so cleare and bright, that sin dares not approach too neer, for fear of discovering its own deformity.
You need not seek for your inheritance, when the rich evidence of your vertue entitles you to heaven.
I wonder not to see so many bankrupts in goodness, when I finde the Stock of Vertue rests alone in you.
These noble favours may quicken my endeavours, but never create a desert in me, they are so much beyond my all.
On her leaving him.
LOvers in despite of absence, lose not the remembrance of their lovers; they are as the Flowers; which (though trod on) do resume their lustre at the Suns approach.
Although thou goest away yet we cannot part.
Here in my heart thou still remainest, yet I must shed some tears, which like the morning dew, or as Aprill showers, shall make the spring-tide of our love (though by this winter covered) grow fresh and green again.
To forsake me, when your company is dearest to me, is no sign of true friendship, which parts not at death it self, since love remains for ever.
Take pitty on all those bloody sorrows, which the apprehension of your absence makes me already so miserably to feel.
To accuse in a Letter.
IT is better to love with severity, than to deceive with sweetness,
I expected a Cordial, but I received a Corrasive, your bitter-sweet was unequally tempered, and in your Pills, though sugar'd over, I found an unwelcome operation. I received thy Letter, but—I must chide thee (sweet) another c [...]ose from thy faire hand, wil make me surseit, you frowned when last we parted, and by that cloud you bid me expect a storm; it is a double bliss, thus sweetly to be deceiv [...]ed; you frown indeed, but a thousand Cupids lodg themse ves in every wrinckle of your brow.
I would forbear to write to you in this manner, were it not that the affection I bear to you, doth force, and by its authority, draw all these words from my heart and mouth.
Mistris, The Bees are not hated for their stings, no more should you hate me for the sharpness of my circumstances.
We must not praise our selves for being better than the worst, but rather blame our selves for being worse than the best; since then I faile in my merits, give me leave to mourn for my imperfections.
Farwell.
I Must depart from you, yet shall not your service be deprived of my obedience.
Adieu, fair Sun of my life, I leave you for this present, but be alwaies assured, that my minde, and my desires, shall never depart from you.
Dear Love, I know not which way to begin to bid you farwel, nor how to finish this discourse, which once ended, our disconsolate departure follows.
Wo is me, must I needs wander away from all my felicities at once, losing with the happiness of your sight, the most perfect object of beatitude?
Farwel (Madam) be alwaies fortunate, whilst I shal languish unhappy, though most constant.
Expressions of affection.
YOU can never do so much for me, but that the affection wherewith I adore you, and the faith I have imposed in you, wil prove far greater.
Mistris, You are the first, to whom my affect [...]onate heart hath been offered, and shall (if you please) be the last that shal have the last possession of it.
Do but let me once discover my aff [...]ct [...]ons to you, & then command me to perpetual silence if you please.
You are the eye of mine eyes, and thought of my thoughts, the perfecter of my defaults, the life of my love, the scope and end of all my desires and hopes.
Beare wel in minde mine affection; that though I be removed from your fair eyes, I may not be so fa [...] from your favours.
The Lovers impression of Costancie.
I Shal in loving you, manifest such an affectionate stability and stedfastness, that my loyalty and my love shall inseparably wait upon you.
My constancie may easily shew you, that I have as good an heart to die for you, as I have a mind and desire to live and love you.
I shall make it appear to after-times, that I am the man, who for your sake, have made my selfe an invincible rock of stedfastness: for I shall stil hug my constancie, and never let it stir from me til my last gasp.
Vpon her Affability and Courtesie
IT is your courtesie that lends me the favour which Heaven and Nature hath denyed me.
Your courtesie wil force the most rigid Cato to turn your Proselyte, and make the Cynick leave his Tub, enamoured with your banity.
Each part above you shines with a peculiar grace, but in your mild behaviour they all concentrate.
Upon your Brow, Beauty, and honour sit enthron'd whence in your stately carriage they dispence their powerful Lawes.
It is out of your generous disposition you w [...]sh me wel, as it is of duty that I honour you.
Vpon a LOVERS fear.
LOvers live alwaies in more fear than hope, and wil sooner conceive of their sorrows, then hear of their joyes.
Ladie, I have just cause to fear, lest by plac [...]ng my love upon an object either too violent or too much di [...]ant, my sense may be deceived: you far transcend my deserts, but my desires lie captive at your feet, one [...]eam from your bright eie wil kindle them a new, and [...]dd a new vigour to me your languishing prostrate.
The fear I have left my slender merit should take [Page 32] awaie our good mind to wish me well, doth in a sort make all those joyes imperfect, which my sweetest thoughts made me judge so fuil and entire.
On her desires.
FAirest, Be but as desirous of my content, as I am of your service.
My desires make me as careful to please you, as I am bound by duty, and compelled by inclination to serve, you.
I wish, Heaven that gave me the boldness of desire had likewise graced me with desert.
To give or present.
THis I dedicate, consecrate, and offer up unto you with the samt heart, wherewith I vowed you my service.
Your bounty hath furnished me with power, and your example with will; accept therefore this small present, gleaned from your plentious Harvest, which shall ever testifie to the ungratefull world, how much I glory to proclaim aloud my wealths chiefe founders.
I should be ignorant and ungrateful too, should I presume to think it worthy your acceptance, when every jewel receives its Character of value from your esteem.
The mass of all my wealth made up together, discla [...]ms the name of merit, and therefore here I freely give it all, and in the strong indentures of loyalty, I bind my self your, Prentice.
I had rather present you with some small thing, and so be reputed ignorant, than ungrateful.
Regard more the affection, than the merit of the gift, and so accept it, not as a thing of desert, but as a testimony of good wil.
A description of a Married woman, VVidow, and Maid.
The Maids Complement upon his Eloquence.
YOur eloquent deserts speak love, and I should wrong to lock it in the wards of covert bosome, when it deserves with characters of brass, asorted residence against the tooth of time, and a razor of oblivion; therefore my soul cannot but yeild you forth to publike thanks, forerunning more requiralls, Oh! how you are winding up the watch of your wit!
Sir, I cannot but admire the delight and life of your wit, the light of your wisdome, and the Mercury of your Eloquence.
His Answer in praise of her Elegancie.
Sweet Mistris, I could not (without making my self guilty of irreverance) speak otherwise to you, than in a way of praise.
I value love in all, but (faire Lady) most in you, where I find it richly sitting on the neck of honour.
Fair one, such is the galled condition of the age that should my feeble Encomiums presume to touch a l [...]ttle at what your beauty in the largest manner merits, the fairest title I should gain for my true meaning, would be parasite.
Madam, Let others daub and flatter, I'le not give over to draw true lines, but maugre all their painting, [...]il proclaim you aloud, vertuous and faire.
In a Word (Madam) to live with you is to live with all the graces; for Nature hath made you the example of all her liberalities.
Madam, I wil put it upon the file of thankful remembrance, and register it for a singular act of your benificence.
A Lady and a Knight.
His answer.
A lovers sad passion for loss of his Mistris.
A Schollar in praise, or rather dispraise of his Mistris.
On a dishonest woman.
On a Maids inconstancy.
On a Maids lying sick.
On a beautifull and fair Lady, called, my Lady May: And her Deare loue, Mr. Field.
On a Lovers departing.
On a VVelsh man.
On Virginity.
On the dispraise of women.
An answer to the former.
Of VVoman of VVomen.
A Hushand on his wife a shrow.
A Lover to his Mistris with a pair of Gloves.
Her answer with a Handkerchief.
An old VVid [...]we [...] to a young VVench.
An Epithalamium for a VVedding Night.
Protestations of Charity.
A Description of love.
A Lover is like the Hearb Helit [...]opia, which alwaies inclineth to that place where the sun shineth, & being deprived of the Sun, dieth, so as lunaries herb, as long as the Moon waxeth, bringeth forth leaves, and the waning shaketh them off: So a lover, whilst he is in the company of his l [...]dy, where all joyes increase, uttereth many pleasant conceits, but ban [...]shed from the sight of his mistris, whereall mirth decreaseth either liveth in melancholly, or died with desparation.
Of constancie in Lov [...],
COnstancie is like unto the Stork who, wheresoeever she fly, commeth into no nest but her own: or the Lapwing, whom nothing can drive her from her young ones, but death.
The Tongue of a Lover should be like the Poin [...] in a Diall, which though it go none can see it [...]oi [...]g: or a young Tree, which though it grow, no [...]e can perceive it growing
The Tryangles in love
THere must be in every Tryangle three Lines, the first beginneth, the second augmenteth, the third concludeth it a figure: So in Love three Vertues: affection which draweth the heart: the second, Secrecie, which increaseth the hope: third, Constancie, which finisheth the VVork; without any of these three Rules, [...]o Tryangle, without these three Vertues, no Love.
Another.
LOve is not unlike the fig-tree, whose fruit is sweet, but the root is more bitter than the claw of Byte [...] or li [...] the Apple in Persia, whose blossome savoureth lik [...] honey, whose bud is more sowre than gall: as the adament draweth the heavie Iron, and the Harp the fleet Dolphin▪ so beauty allureth the chast mind to love, and the wisest wi [...] to lust: and who more trayterous to Phillis than Demophoon? yet he a traveller: who more perjured to Dido [...]ha [...] Aeneas? and he a stranger: who more false to Ari [...]d [...]e tha [...] Theseus? yet he a Saylor: who more fickle to Medea tha [...] Jason? yet he a Sta [...]. Again, love is like musk, though it be sweet in smel, it is sower in the smack: the leaf of t [...] Cedar tree, though it be fair to be seen, yet the sirrop dep [...] v th sight; even so love, though it be p [...]g [...]ned by saluting each other with a kiss, [...]t it [...]s sha [...]n off by fraud of the heart. A perfect Lover should be like the glass-worm, which shineth most bright in the dark: or like the pure frankinsenc [...], which smelleth most sweet when it is in the fire; or to the Damask Rose, which is swee [...]er in the stil, than on the stalk.
In praise of a loving friend.
A Complementall Letter for receiving divers favours.
SIR, I am so tyed unto you, by your many favours, as I profess, I know not how to carry my selfe in thankfulness unto you.
Sir, This I earnestly desire you, that you wil instead of a recompence, for all your favours, accept thanks, and of your poor creature, who is able to give nothing take prayer for payment; what my good mind [...] is to you, my tongue cannot express what my true meaning is, your heart cannot conceive.
Sir, I hope it shall be read with the same mind it was written, & taken on the right hand; it shal (I trust) not want its due effect and good acceptance; I know it is not excellent, but the worst; your worthiness indeed (whom I have oft admired) deserves far better [...] yet I pray you accept of it, and God, I trust, in time wil inable me to give a further testimonial of my poor service to you.
Another Letter for one absent.
KInd Sir, The scarcity of Letters make them prove dainties, being the only way to enjoy presence in affection, though not in realty: I confess, the be [...]t way to judge of a things excellencie, is sometimes to want it, for we esteem not of the excellency of breath, til we want ayre to breathe in; and the goodness of your conversation, is seen sometimes in absence from you, seeing it is absence that kindles a desire to enjoy your presence.
Sir, I suppose you are not ignorant of that common rule, that Letters are alwayes for to to bee indited in a kind of careless strain, which rule Tully that Prince of Orators, observeth in his Epistles; the Bonclace of [Page 48] Rhetorich is better to adorn and imbrace the neck of some love-sick Gentlewomen, which is as a token sent from her lover to please her, and keep her from crying: I doubt not but you easily perceive what natural love ought to be united betwixt us, raked up in the ashes of forgetfulness, and almost quite extinguished for want of blowing; and in whose power is it to revive this languishing, but in you sir, who are the life of Rhetorick? Sir, the great esteem I have ever had of your friendship, suffers me not to endure your absence any longer: This tyrannie of your humor or inclination, is too severe a punishment for me to groan under: For the eclipse of your better self, seems to me to be a retirement of your affection: Let me therefore intreat you to return speedily; I conjute you by all those charms of passion I have ever been at your service, to make a speedy redress to him, who is
The Answer.
SIr, I make less account of my absence from the Court, and from my affairs then from you; your friendship is the only business of my speedy return I have already chid my self, and now have no more to do, but to precipitate my hast, and in person to make my excuse, with the tenders of all manner of service, in the quality of
A Letter for clearing ones self of false accusation.
SIr, I hope, that all the passions of my service have given you sufficient proofs, as never to doubt my loyalty, in which my innocency hath ever shined clearer than the best language of my pen can express, so that the malice of that person was but ill contrived, whose knavery I wil make your sport; and if you please but to reveal his name, I wil engage mine honour to make him sign me an acquittance with his blood. I express my self thus far, that at any rate I may purchase your higher esteem of me, or be for ever fargotten.
A Congratulatory Letter for the good fortune of a friend.
THe excess of my gladness, like the merits of yout affection, is not in any respect vulgar; for all my passions do but wait upon your good fortunes. Pardon therefore the defect of my Eloquence, since it is supplyed with the joy reigns in me, which had made me so sensible of that extraordinary contentment that in honoring you the world is possessed of, which long before this, foresaw that the felicity of this event belonged to your merits: perhaps most of your friends have prevented me in this congratulation: but this zeal and affection, cannot come too late from him, that is more than he is able to express,
His Answer.
YOu have so sensibly touched me with your Letter, (your joy as it were to the life) mingling my interest with yours, that, should I not render thanks to you, I should dye of a deepe impatience: I acknowledg I never mer [...]ted the effects of such nobleness, as that you should account of me, as an object for your virtuous inclinations: the pleasure I entertain to consider your goodness, is more satisfaction to me than my advancement; as I prefer before other interests, the happiness of your affection, and the new-assurance of your friendship: which that I may the more seriously contemplate, I shall for ever reserve my admiration, and remain in the number of your best friends.
On the effects of their love
YOu shall know one day in effect, what you now have put in imagination.
The constancie of my affection hath been such that it hath overcome the worst of difficulties, and the expectation of the harbour hath made the danger easie.
When admidst the waves of your disdain my halfeship-wrack'd vessel began to sink; each sigh I fetched (I see at length) found a courteous gale, to bring me home to you my blessed Harbour.
One day you wil come to know the conclusion of the irreprochable testimonies of my true and faithfull promises.
Vpon her Eloquence▪
YOUR Eloquence is able to steale the Soul out of ones heart, and carry it whether it would not go.
O speak again, 'twill make the Sphears lay by their warbling Lutes, and listen to your tongue.
Each articulated syllable doth lay a powerfull cha [...]m upon my soul, and captivates my senses.
One day is no more able to overcome you with good words, than with good actions.
The eloquence of your most sweet words, closes my lips, and binds them to a perpetuall silence.
Excuses
IN excusing your unjust fear you seem to accuse my boldness.
It is a mercy that you yet afford me, to let me plead m ne own excuse.
I presume upon your pardon for my former suspitious fears; and the rather; because the goodness of your nature stiles them, the individuall concomitants of love.
I pray you hear my reasons patiently, and judge without passion of my justification.
It is for great minds to excuse great faults; upon the acknowledgment therefore of my late transgression, you cannot finde a fitter subject for your mercy.
Experience of a Lover and of a Friend.
I Have so much experience of your good will, that it only remains that you make tryall of my desire of acknowledgment.
I have had such tryall of your friendship and fidelity, that I hope you wil not faile me in time of need.
Each messenger affords fresh Characters of your friendship, and every day I see the spring of your love breaking through new channels.
Vpon his Face.
THe wonders of your face made me their Captive as soon as I saw them, and that rare grace of yours, which makes you excel all others, retained me your Prisoner and Servant.
As she appears, so Day breaks, and with her Beams disperses all my Clouds and mysts of discontent.
The Epitome of Nature is comprised in her Face, where she hath freely given a tast of all her pride and glory.
Vpon his Favours.
IF you judge or deem me worthy to favour you, hold that your merits are much more than my desert I am ignorant what service might satisfie for the [Page 52] favours I have received of you, if you please to increase my knowledge, in telling me how I may serve you again, I shall be doubly obliged.
I want opportunity, dutifully to acknowledge this favourable proof of your condition, and honesty.
Vpon his fortunes.
FOrtune strives, now to make me pay the interest of those pleasures, she formerly lent me.
Dame Fortune is too covetous, and usurious, in taking from me the interests of my prosperity.
I appeare to you just like an empty vessel that wants his lading, with full blown sailes of love; indeed tis true, and I am bound for the Indies, and if my compass fail me not, my Genius tells me I shall soon arive.
O withdraw not those two stars, by their blest light I steer my crasy Bark, and hope to enjoy the wished for shore of happiness.
Vpon her hatred.
I Do not think (though I should give you occasion to hate me) that your good nature can wish me an injury, since you are not composed of any thing but love.
Courtesie dwelt on your fore-head, but malice resided in your soul, and lay concealed in your minde.
On her constancie.
YOu use your friends as one doth flowers, which please onely when they are fresh and new.
I perceive that ardent affection which was wont to keep me so alive in your thoughts, doth now no more reign in you.
In praise of her face.
HER face is loves Coppy to read wonders on:
She cannot put her face in such a form, but I must like it.
Her lively face disdains all adulterous arts.
A perpetuall spring of beauty dwells in that face of hers.
Fairer than Chloris in all her pride.
Her face vailed with a robe of darkness, shines clearer through it, than the eye of the day.
The fairest ever nature made for wonder.
But to look upon her face is to live.
Whose looks would force the Warring Elements into order.
For her retention of him in her memory.
DO not that wrong to your true love, to let him slide out of your memory, the onely monument where his felicity desires to be inshrined.
Keep me alive in your thoughts, as I hold you in the most sensible parts of my soul.
Of his merits.
I Could never do so great a thing but would be too small for your merits and my desires.
Your merits drive me to love you, my humor permits it, and my content wil needs have me imploy my endeavours to serve you.
The praises you attribute unto me, proceed from your wil, and not from any merit of mine.
The necessity of his affections.
The necessity of love is most mighty in the world, for it overcomes all.
O how happy a thing is that necessity, that inforceth us to imbrace such a desired blessing as your self.
I was all frozen, untill the sunshine of your favour thawed my benummed spirits; but when you darted your quickned beams, the spring of my affections budded forth in the most pleasant bloomes of Love.
The Magnetick Stone starts not with such naturall activity to the North-stars summons, as I when you command.
Protestations of obedience.
I Shall not, all the dayes of my life, have a wil which shall not obey yours.
You know the power you have over me, and that I am so much yours, as you can wish me.
To offer and present service.
ALL the honour and ambition I aspire at, is to see my self imployed in your service.
Let all men judge whether your beauty alone is not sufficient to command the affections I bear you.
All that is mine is no less yours, than are your thoughts and words.
The most favourable gift you can offer me, is your friendship, a jewel I prefer before all other treasures.
VVishes.
HEaven, which heares the vows of the faithfull, bless and content your desires.
I need not wish you more, but a continuance of those graces you most eminently possess already.
May you meet with such a Paramour, as my equal (for sure out-go he cannot,) your holyer flames; may [Page 32] the same shaft, with an undivided hast, pierce both your hearts together; may both your loves bear the same date, and when we have made our selves unworthy of enjoying any longer such a worthy patern, and rich example of pure affection, after you have seen a second Generation, may death gently transport you to that place of bliss, where he himselfe can never come.
God make you the happyes [...] Woman that lives; even as he hath made you the fairest, and most accomplished.
Heaven grant that you may be as faithfull, as you are dear to me.
Bewailing of a Lover.
I, do so bewalle our separation, that nothing can ever touch my soul, like the griefe I endure by it.
The greatest griefe I carry along with me when part from this place, is, to see how I am for ever deprived of your fair presence.
To give thanks.
If I have done you any acceptable service, think it was but the shadow of what I desire to shew you, by reall effects.
To tickle your eares with breath of Complement, or the ayre of some presently contradicted Newes, would be to imitate the What lack you? To give you good words, and make your better deeds pay too deer for them.
I take this benefit from you, but as borrowed; I will pay you rent for it.
Though the service I have done you, be but small, yet the desire I had to acknwledg the honours I have received from you, are exceeding great.
On the deceits of Love.
Your faire eyes have too much majesty to serve for baits, or allurements of a dissembling love.
Dot deceive him that wil out-braue death it selfe [...]o insure your life, and withstand the frowns of fortune, to protect your honors.
On his life.
MY Life is a Comedy, and therefore no matter how long it be, so that it wil be wel acted sweetest, if the last Scene be Tragick, your cruelty must be the Nemesis.
Our life, without some pleasantness, is like a long Journey without an I [...]ne: or like a bed of Roses where flowers are mixed with prickles, Lady, if you please, from your hospitable bounty, to refresh my over-weatied and solitary progress, I shall conclude my time richly spent, having attained the end at which alwaies I aim'd, but you have hitherto clos'd up your fragrant sweet, and amidst the stearnest bryars of discontent, have left me miserably intangled.
On the lustre of her eyes.
Your eyes flash so much lightning, that like Suns, they dazell the sight of all such as dare behold them.
Your souls bright lustre sparkles in your eye, and like the Persian, that only sun I adore.
You have so established your soveraignty over my soul [...], that the least twinckle of your eyes, dispossess me of the state of my life.
Amorous Expressions.
This kiss and thy white hand.
Her spring of beauty raised in him noble desires, which soone broke forth in liberall streams.
Let me rule, lady, like a Planet, in the Orb of your favours.
Though she were divided from me by armies I would make way through death to gain her.
Let me dwel an age upon those lips.
She is a sparkling delightful piece of Nature.
She is the queen and goddess of beauty.
She is a Mine of pleasing joyes and sweetness.
The great commandress of all hearts.
I cannot spe [...] to thee, go thy wayes.
We'le stri [...] make the example of Love an easie Law.
As white as Truth; as innocent as Vertue.
Take all your vows again, you are as free as the aire.
The Cyprian queen compared to thee was but a Negro.
Whose love is the Exchequer of wealth.
A spring of Love issues from her Soul.
I must walk in the dark, and be benighted to all the World but thee.
Madam, I am a poor Flye, burnt in the Candle of your beauty.
A Woman worthy of so composed a man.
Crown your servant, Mistris, with this favour.
A Magnificent present of similitudes, Comparisons, and Examples, Collected for the Readers Application.
AS the glistring beams of the Sun, when it riseth decketh the heavens, so the beuty of a good wife adorneth the house: As golden Pillars do shine upon the sockets of Silver, so doth a faire face in a vertuous mind.
Her tresses are like the coloured Hyacinth of Aarabia.
Her love is such a fire, as either will burst forth, or burn the house, it is such a stream, as wil e [...]ther have his course, or break through the banks, and make a deluge, or else force their heartstrings to rack with secrecy
He that is stung of a Scorpion, must be healed by affection.
To stop the stream, to make the ford flow more fierc [...] ly, to repress the fire, to make it flame the more furiously.
Like a Demophoo [...] that deceived Phillis.
Like an Aeneus, that falsifyed his faith to Dido.
Like Apolloes passion.
Like Theseus, that forsook his Ariadne.
Conclude not all things by generall axiomes.
Measure not all mens minds by a few particular instances.
Though some have been fleeting, think not all to be false.
Try me, I refer my passions to my proof, and as you find me loyal, so reward me with love.
Had not Iuno been jealous of Iupiter, Io had not been turned into a Heifer.
If suspition had not prickt Menelans, Helena had no [...] stoln away with Paris.
Procris had been alive, had she not suspected Cephalu [...] Love shortneth not only the life, disquieteth the mind [Page 59] but sometimes is the cause of most strange and bloody massacres.
Her eye is like the Diamond, and so pointeth, that it pierceth to the quick.
Her motion is so chast, as she is seen there in as in a mirrour.
Courtly temper'd with a virtuous disdain.
Her countenance is the very man of modesty.
Her beauty is like the gorgeous Cedar, that is only for shew, nothing for profit.
Like the apple of Tantulus, that is precious in the ey [...] and dust in the hand.
Like to the Star, Artophilax, that is most bright, but fitteth not for any compass.
Like young men that standeth upon their outward portrature,
Like Aeneas, a brave man, but a [...]oul dissembler.
Like a fond girl all, but little worth if they be not wealthy.
To tye a head-strong girl from Love, is to call a Siciphus stone, or breath words into the wind.
Who must doth love, must seem most to neglect it.
A denyal at the first, is counted a grant; a gentle answer a mockery.
Ladies use their lovers, as the Stork doth her young ones, who pricketh them til they bleed with her Bill, and then healeth them with her tongue.
A bul being tyed to the figtree loseth his strength.
A whole heard of deer stand a gaze if they smell a sweet apple.
A Dolphin, by the sound of Musick, is brought to shore.
As the kind spanel, though he hunt after Birds, yet forsaketh them to retrive the Partridg.
As we commonly feed on beef hungarly at the first yet seeing the quail more dainty, change our dyet.
The admonition of a true friend should be like the practise of a wise Physician, who wrapt his sharp Pills in Sugar.
Or like a Chyrurgion, who launcing the wound with an Iron, immediately applyeth to it soft lint.
As Mothers deal with their Children for worms, who puts their bitter seeds into sweet Rasins.
Vertue flourisheth when beauty fadeth, it waxeth young when age approacheth, and resembleth the Ivy leafe, who, although it be dead, continueth green.
Let there be such a faithfull and inviolable league of love betwixt us begun, as neither length of time, nor the distance of place, nor threatning of friends, nor the spight of Fortune, nor the fear of death can alter or diminish.
Let us be like Hypocrates twins, who were born together, and dyed together.
If death should seperate you from me, I would imitate the Eagle, which Sesta the Virgin brought up.
As the precious Stone Sandestra, hath nothing in outward appearance but that which seemeth black, and being broken, powreth forth beams like the Sun.
Like Appelles, who when Beucephulus was painted, craved the judgement of none but Zeuxes.
Like Prisius, who when Iupiter was carved, asked the censure of none but Lysippus.
Plants are nourisht with little rain, yet drowned with much.
How valiantly Ajax boasted in the seat of arms, yet Phillis bare away the armour.
Eloquent words may please the eare, but sufficient matter perswades the heart.
As the herb Moly hath a flower as white as snow, and a root as black as Ink.
As amongst the Aegyptians there was no man esteemed happy that had not a beast full of spots.
As the Indian Ura noscope doth ever view the azure Skies, and the bright burning rayes of the firmament, and never fixeth her eyes on the earth, deeming things sublunary, too base an object for the sensorum of her light.
As a fained friend is much like a Serpent bred in Aegypt, called a Crocodile, who when she singeth poysoneth, and when she weepeth, devoureth.
The Lyon so loveth her whelps, that she never tasteth of the prey, til they are fully satisfied.
Like the apples of Arabia, which begin to rot before they are halfe ripe.
As the wounds of the body, by often rubbing, are sometimes made incurable.
As the savour of the Panther seemeth sweet to none but to bruit beasts.
As continued rain moystneth the earth, so that it cannot be tilled to bring forth fruit.
As a ship in the Sea, without a guide, leanning now on one side, then on another, is often in great danger.
As Bees when they strive together, or stirred up by some violent motion, with strowing of dust are brought into order and appeased.
As apothecaries do cover their pills with some sweet substance, to make them go down the pleasanter.
As the sucking of a Child, brings Milk into the Mothers Brests.
As there is no shelter where there is no Sun.
As a Gardiner mingleth divers seeds together and casts them into the ground, yet wil they not be confounded together one with another, but every seed wil have its proper herb.
As Swallows and Flyes are dead in the Winter, but by vertue of the Sun, revive again in Summer.
As the Goldsmith by his art can sever divers Metals one from another, and some men out of one Metalcan draw another.
As the Sun and the Moon, being of one substance, differ in dignity and excellency.
As Prometheus did make miraculous Images, such as none ever could make but himself.
As continuall drops of Water hollow the hard stone.
As those men that live by the River Nylus are made deal by the continuall noyse of the waters.
As the disease of a Canker, alwaies infects the next part that is nigh it.
As the Sea, when it rageth, the waters thereof cast up dirt and mire.
As in fining, the dross is separate from the Metalls.
As there is a certain weakness in the sight, which causeth a party to think he sees straws, whereas he sees men.
As a Thunder-bolt cast out of the clouds, spareth the matter that submitteth it self to the force thereof, but breaketh to powder whatsoever resisteth.
As the morn [...]ng dew soon after the rising of the Sun languisheth away.
As the Medecinall plaster cannot heal a wound, if there be any Iron stricken in it:
As the Rose, the most pleasant of all flowers, is gathered upon rough bryers.
Like the Ape, which with embracings doth wel-nigh kil-her young one.
As the Moon hath so much the less light, by how much the nearer it is to the Sun.
As the first step to health, is to know the disease.
As by great showers and storms of rain, the ayre is clensed.
As in Garlands the beauty of the flowers, except they be orderly composed, are not half so glorious.
As the moon is not Eclipsed, nor loseth her light till she is at the full.
As they that dwell in low valleys are seldome hurt with lightning.
As the pure Corall wil not alter the Colour.
Like as the Silk-worm keepeth her body spare and empty, using to fast two or three dayes together, that she might stretch out her self, and sp [...]n her. Thred the finer.
As a little spark many times setteth a whole house on fire.
As Owles and night Crows see better in the night than in the day.
Like as out of a River or Fountaine troubled, there can be no water drawn but what is muddy.
As a strong Corrasive laid to a sore, eats out all the dead flesh.
Like as when the body is distempered, and some members putr [...]fied, it is then best for the Patient to have his blood taken away from him.
As Fire is never sufficed with wood, and Earth with water.
As they that are sick of the dropsie increase their thirs [...] by drinking.
As children are like to their naturall Parents, in honour, speech, and laughter.
As the Libard, with a strange k [...]nd of policy, to kil the apes, lyes down as if hee were stark dead; which the apes seeing, come all together, and in delight skips upon him: That the Libard heare [...] patiently, untill he thinks they have all wearied themselves with sporting, then suddenly he leapeth up, and catcheth one of them in his mouth.
As the Lamb is the more nimble and lively for shearing.
Like as the Pelican, which having brought forth her young ones dead, being stung or killed by [Page 64] Serpents, she picketh out her heart blood to revive them.
Like the undistinct sound of Musick, which delighteth not.
As the rain maketh the new-moon grass freshly to spring again, and comforts the earth, that it yeilds forth fruit.
As the Estridge hath wings, yet flyeth not:
As sweet scents and perfumes comfort the brain and heart.
As the Sun in winter, when it is farthest off from the Pole, is nearest the earth.
As Lightning blasts all it meets with, but the Lawrel Tree.
As the Chyrurgion cuts, and searches before he heal the wound.
As in Musick, if the harmony of strings be not consonant, the sound is not sweet, nor acceptable to the tunable Ears.
As no man can behold the Sun, unless it be a little covered with a little cloud.
As the head gives sense and motion to the members.
As from the stock sap is derived to the graft, that it may live and grow.
As a glass filled with an extreme strong liquor, cannot burst in sunder, not because of any antipathy that is between them, but because the Glass is not of sufficient strength to contain the liquor.
As a Whore hath no more to do with her Husband, nor any thing of his, because of her breach of Wedlock.
As they that come out of the clear Sun into the shadow, have their sight darkned.
Like as when one looks on any thing in the ayre, they appear in their proper forms and colours, [Page 65] as they are, but if they be lookt upon through a greeen glas, they all appear green.
As the soul doth so quicken the body, that notwithstanding the Members of the same in themselves are but weak, yet they fall not quite to decay, as long as they have any participation with the soul.
As the light of the Sun yeilds him no pleasure that is in a dark dungeon.
As a Woman brings forth Children in sorrow.
As the Ocean which is but one, is divided into parts, according to Regions and Countries against which it lyeth.
As the superfluous humours in the veins, are no parts of the body.
As the Moon is not alwayes visible being in her change.
As the Hand cut from the Body dyeth, and wanteth life.
As the Vine, or Garden, decayeth with overmuch heat or Drought, except after the planting thereof it be w [...]tred with showers.
As men discern the weather by the wind.
As Appelles the Painter much lamented if he mist one day without some line or picture.
As Vines without lopping grow wild and fruitless.
As a Tree bringeth forth, first leaves, then blossom [...], then fruit.
As water moderateth wine.
As fire is an instrument of medecinall arts.
As the body withour the soul enjoyeth no life.
As Roses and Lillies graw among thorns.
As a Physician cureth a man by taking away his blood and ill humours, by cutting and searching the fl [...]sh.
As the Hiena hearing the voice of a man speaking like a friend, and the mind of a Wolfe devouring like a f [...]end.
As the Panther, who with the sweetness of his breath and beauty of his Coat, allureth such beasts, within his compass, as he intendeth to uncase, and prey upon their Karkase.
As the flattering Syrens, that sweetly sing the saylors wrack; and the fowlers Pipe, that pleasantly playeth the Birds death.
Like as the Grammer is the key of Knowledge, Logick the rule of reason; Rhetorick, the Mother of Eloquence; Musick, the sweet recreations of wearied minds, astronomy, the secret knowledg of the nature and course of the Heavens: arithmetick, the art of numbring, and Geomitry, the art to work by rule, compass, weight, and measure.
As very a coward as China [...].
As love is the bewitcher of the wit, the rebel to reason, the betrayer of resolution, and the defiler of the thoughts.
Friendship is praise worthy of all men.
Bought friends are seldome sure.
Like unto arabian Ravens, who so long as they are full, do make a pleasant noyse, but being empty, they yeild a hideous cry,
As anger is accompanied with ambition, and causeth a man for to slay himself.
As Ajax, seeing that the Greecians had preferr'd Alises before him, and had bestowed upon him the armour of Achilles as a recompence of his wisdom, fel mad.
Like Swallows that think every sunshine a Summers day.
Her mind is like the Tapers in Ianus Temple, which once set on fire, burn till they consume themselves.
To tender any thing to a Prince.
MOst high and illustrous Prince, it may appear great boldness in me, to hope that the least beam of your love, should reflect on my unworthiness to cherish this imperfect & unworthy work of you [...] loyal & obedient subject; yet nevertheless, I humbly recommend it to your gracious protection; under which I enjoy all the felicities that moy be; & in which I can take joy of them al. If your highness wil vouchsafe to accept it, who dares reject it? if allow it, who can reprove it? if protect it? what Momus barking, or Zoylus biting can any way hurt it, or annoy it? and thus most humbly craving pardon for this boldness, I cease to write, though I wil not to wish, that your highness's felicities may never cease.
Another.
THat which hath been imagined of a golden age, as an India of all perfect happiness, was but as a prophesie of your gracious reign, showring, down felicity in such a plentious manner, that all your subjects are thereby invited, to offer up unto you sacrifices of thanks and obedience, while I shall accompt it the chiefest honour, that my birth and stars could bequeath me, If I may approve my loyalty, in exposing my life to any danger in your service.
Another.
Sir, though I cannot worthily desire nor deserve your gracious favour, yet it wil shew you nearest heaven, and that you resemble the King of kings in accepting my weak and humble devotions, with the tenders of my loyal service: Let not the poorness of my merit, or the obligation, make them contemptible in your fight, for I have long had an earnest zeal to express with what integrity I adore the vertues wherewith you are replenished, far above all flattery, so that your gracious reign is but the Galaxia, or milk-white path, through which you travel in your happy Government, and by Example lead your subjects to heaven.
Another.
MAdam, there are no words significant enought to express how I honour your royall perfections, which render you beloved and respected of all the world; while I make it the chiefe imployment of life, to attend upon your commands, which to obey, is perfect happiness.
An humble address to a great Lord
MY Lord, in regard of those many favours which your honour hath heaped on me, I am bound, not only to acknowledge my happiness therein, but also to desire that you would alwaies reckon me in the number of your most obliged Servants.
Other wise.
My Lord, as it is a great happiness for me to come into your presence, and to offer my devotions to your excellency from the altar of an humble heart; so it will be an addition unto my felicity, if I may improve this present opportunity, to make tender of my service.
Otherwaies,
My Lord, it will become me, amongst others to acknowledge your many excellent vertues, amongst which your noble Clemency and humility are the chiefest, whereof, as others have had experience, so I doubt not but you wil favourably accept the obligation and presentment of my humble service.
Another to some great Lord.
MOst noble Lord, as I hold it for a principall favour, in admitting me to kiss your honours hand, so shall I esteem my self most happy for ever, in that your honour wil be pleased to accept me henceforth, as ranked in that number and Catalogue of your most humble and obsequious servants.
Another.
My Lord, the rank you hold with the great and singular Ornaments of Vertues in you, do oblige me to offer unto your Lordship all that little is in me, and to tender unto you upon all occasions, my service in obsequious humility.
Another.
Most honoured Lord, May your excellencies will be pleased to permit me to exercise any small endeavours of rendring my dutie to your Honour, in expectation that Heaven wil favour me so far, as to grant me opportunities, whereby I may make appear in effect, the desires I have to present you with my best service and endeavours.
A Letter of thankfulness for entertaining a friend.
SIr, mine humble thankfulness knows nor how to express it self otherwise, than in the sending of you inclosed in a Letter, my hearty prayers for the increase of your health and prosperity: Sir, no absence nor imployment, can make me forget my humble s [...]rvice [Page 70] and due respects unto you, to whom I never can be sufficiently grateful, such noble respects and favours I have received from you, as the least of them deserves my small praises and best services, which assuredly shal never be wanting to you from,
Another Letter: How to send a a token to a friend.
IN token of a thankfull heart, for your courtesies shewed towards me, behold, I do here send this poor token, most humbly beseeching you to take it in good part, not weighing the value of the thing, which is of no value, but the simple and good mind and meaning of
To intreat a courtesie of a friend.
A. SIR, as necessity hath no Law, so it hath no shame for contrary to my disposition, I must become an importunate suitor unto you.
A. Sir, name it, it must be something more than I know of, which I can deny you, who are alwaies modest in your requests.
A. Sir, I fear I shall give you occasion to report the contrary; I wil desire you to lend me your horse, to caraway a little treasure by moonshine.
A. I do not wel understand you, pray interpret your selfe, and disguise not your meaning.
A. Sir, I would desi [...]e you to dispence with me in a matter that concerns me near; I am to bear away the Usurers daughter, and carry her where she shal remain private, til storms be blown over: Pardon me, that I have no sooner made you acquainted with my purpose.
A. I wil be ready to assist you; and since your fortune may receive addition from any service of mine, my horse, were he the Muses Pegasus, he should be your servant, it is but to carry away a piece of live Venis [...]n, that's a mean trespass, Cupid hath enough in his park.
A. I am glad you are so pleasant, and do so well apprehend my intents, I was afraid, lest my purpose being known (which was manifest in me to deliver) I should have suffered repulse, and have been blamed by you for my bold attempt.
A. No sir, I do account it in you a bravery of mind that you dare aspire to reach a fortune, and pluck the Golden apples of Hesperides, watcht by the old Dragon the Usurer: But I would not have you lose time in talk [...] I wil bid the Groom prepare my horse ready for your employment.
A. Sir, The whole service of my life cannot require your kindness; for since you have granted this request so willingly, I shall own my good fortune to your favourable assistance.
A. Sir, I wil pray that your attempt may be prosperous, for I shall rejoyce in your happiness, as much as in mine own: Therefore my best wishes shall be your good Genius, to wait on you, while my prayers sollicit heaven for your happy success.
A. Sir, you have exprest your self a noble friend, and when this business is past, all the study of my life shall be, to shew my thanfulness to you.
A. Sir, I wish nothing, but that you may obtain your desires.
To present a Ring to a Gentlewoman.
Pardon me, if I (moved thereto by the z [...]alous affection which I bear you) do h [...]re express it in the dumb language of a small present, unworthy your acceptance, yet I pray you wear it for my sake, it may draw down your eye to think on me, who am now wounded by the powerful beams of your beanty.
Sir, Though it would shew a scornfull mind in me, not to accept your love, tendred unto me in such a visible manner▪ yet I am sorry you should be at so great and needless charges; for wherein can I serve you to make requitall?
It is you that make this unworthy present precious; for if you please to let it incircle your white finger, it being a Diamond Ring, will sparkle most in the dark; shewing that love, like a clouded Star, shines lightest in the night of misfortune.
VVell sir, I am obliged to your courtesie, to receive it, and since you please to conser so rich a gift on my unworthiness, I wil weare it for your sake.
Then you honour me above my desert, for your acceptance of this sacrifice of my love, is to me above all rewards. The Ring is inscribed with amor circulus, love is a Circle without end.
I must acknowledge your beauty, and my self your servant, for bestowing on me so rich a gift.
The sparkling lustre thereof, cannot compare with the light beams of your eyes, but honour me so much to weare it on your finger.
I promise that, and more acknowledge my selfe infinitely beholding to you.
You have said too much concerning so poor a present; yet in your acceptance of this trifle, I shall ever bless my own happiness.
To wooe a coy, scornfull Maid.
LEt not my love be misconstrued for presumption, if I once again strive to warm your affection, by declaring unto you, how much I honour your perfection; pray at last be mercifull, and do not stil reward my love with cold disdain.
Sir, I know that men have powerfull Language, but I am none of those young ones; you are deceived, if you think that fine Musk words can sweeten me up to betray my self, and for my beauty I would not have you dote on that; it suffices me without commendation.
Should I not commend what all admire, I were much too blame.
Sir, Wise men admire nothing, for if I were beautiful, what is beauty but a fading flower, blasted often with too much breathing on, and cannot grow safely upon the stalk of Virginity, because every one will be reaching forth to gather it? Pray excuse me if I prevent such a danger, for love and I are quite faln out.
Let me reconcile you to a good opinion of a chast love: there is no greater happiness than the sacred Vnion of Hearts, especially, when long and humble suits conquer disdain; and so I hope, perseverance will at last Crown me with your love, and bring you to entertain my desire with a mutuall affection.
Sir, If you would be more thrifty of your breath, you may spend it to better purpose; for you may intimate your desires, and make tedious discourses. But in a word, I shall never love you.
O say not so, you know not how much misery those few words would bring upon me; for hope, grounded on your gentle disposition, hath hitherto kept me alive, and made me walk like a faint shadow, whilest in my chamber I am like a mourner with a Taper by me, watching my own funerall, and I will dwell there in a mist of sighes, and all this for your sake.
Sir, I hope you will not accuse me of your death; pray shake of this love, and I will then acknowledg your kindness, in ceasing to trouble me with complaints; Learn wisdome, that will cure all distempers.
Yet while I live I wil attend upon you, and when I am dead, I wil visit yo [...] [...]n a dream, and tel you you were a ciuell Maid. [...] [...]clude, let one parting kiss, seal my transport to Eli [...], and I am gone.
Sir, since you are so resolu [...]e, I will strive to give you a better answer at your next return.
In confidence of that happiness, I wil presume to visit you again, and live to be your servant.
A jesting discourse with a maid.
COme, why wil you be an enemie to your self, and let modestie keep you stil in the state of virginity I came to offer my service, to help you out of this trouble.
You are very kind, but I like my present estate: Maids are happie.
Alas! poor ignorance, dost thou talk of happiness? I tel thee, until thou art married, thou art but a Cypher, and of no account.
O sir, You are deceived; our hearts, are free from the passion of love, retain a world of happiness, being exempted from any wanto Knowledge, for maids dying in their present condition, do all go to heaven.
You are deceived, their punishment: is to lead apes in hel, and therefore to avoid this; be kind while you may, and accept of a friendly offer.
What offer?
Lest it should raise a blush upon your cheek, I wil whisper it into your ear—you understand.
Take heed sir, lest while you counterfeit a flame you kindle a real fire, I bear too much, thy infectious words have betrayed a base ignoble mind.
Why? I did but tel you a truth: I had thought you had been more intelligent, and would not have [Page 75] scarred at a bold word.
Nay farwel.
Pardon me, all I have spoken was to try your temper, and having found you both wise and witty, I wil desire you in a fair manner to grant me your love, which I only desire; and though I did appear rash and wanton, you shal find me worthy of your affections.
To contract privately ones self, & to tythe knot of marriage.
NOw our love hath arrived to a happy conclusion, the storms raised by our disdain being blown over, the union of our affections making a soft and gentle harmony, which the soul can only discern, therefore that our new begun love may never expire; I do here in the sight of heaven and all good angels, marry and contract my soul to yours, and give away my selfe wholly to be at your disposing, till the Ceremonies of the Church confirm my promise.
With as true an affection, I do give my self over into your possession, and freely bestow on you my love, which shall never know alteration, but remain ever firm and constant to you; it is therefore expedient that you obtain my friends good wil, according to your promise, and til then we must remain only contracted in our affections.
Heaven I beseech thee bear witness to our private agreement, and may I never know one day of comfort when I break my promised Vow, let me now embrace you with the arms of affection, and thus with a soft kiss, seal the obligation of our loves
To salute a friend newly arriv'd from a journey.
SIir, When first the news of your return had arrived to my knowledg, I was heigtn'd with an [Page 76] earnest desire to behold you, and prevent other of your friends, by the first tender of my service, that as my love towards you, doth exceed theirs in true perfect sincerity, so it might in place obtain priority, and shew how ambitious I am of your favour.
Sir, You still continue your former nobleness, making it your chiefe ayme to exceed others in perfection of mind; otherwise I had an intention to visit you; but it is your desire and happiness. to overcome others in kindness, for which, I can but return you thanks, and acknowledge you a worthy friend.
Sir, you make too good an interpretation of my rash presumption, but it is held, that friends have but one soul in two bodies, therefore when I behold you, I enjoy the other halfe of my selfe, besides, after long absence, your company must needs be more precious, so that I had both love and reason on my side, to perswade me to come and visit you.
Sir, I want words to express my mind, or to argue a case in love, but in my opinion, I ought to have visited you first, in regard I am very much obliged unto you: But to proceed no farther in ceremony let us discourse of some other affairs; I will be bold to enquire how all our friends do?
Sir, some of them hath undergone change of fortunes, and therein declared an invincible strength of mind [...] but heaven be thanked, all that honour and respect you, are living and in health.
Sir, I am wonderfull glad to hear of it, and I shall rejoyce exceedingly, when I meet any of my old acquaintance; I hope I am not altogether lost unto their remembrance, they will know me certainly.
Sir, travel hath not wrought much change in you [...] but I detain you too long I fear, from your rest.
Sir, were I tyred with travel, as I am not; ye [...] your company would very much refresh me.
Sir, I wil crave your pardon at this time, I know o tarry longer would be troublesome unto you, but to morow I wil wait on you again.
To entertain a friend who is come to vis [...] one.
SIR, I am most glad to see you, though I have no other entertainment for you, but a kinde welcome.
Sir, I expect no more; I come to give you a visit, and to be happy in your society; for in the generall, I do find none that can suit my disposition so wel as your self
Sir, say what you please of me, I am vowed to your service; and your loving visitation is an addition to your many other kindnesses.
Sir, all that I acknowledg, is a wil to do you service; but I have been slow in producing the effects, hereafter I wil study to deserve.
Sir it is your ingenius goodness to decline the acknowledgement of your own vertue and deserts, far surpassing my merits, for 'tis I am bound to be your servant.
Sir, it is I that am obliged to you by many strong tyes of affection, from which the service of my life cannot dis-ingage me; but I have trespass'd against manners, pray take the chair.
Sir, wil you please to sit first, for it is an honour for me to wait your pleasure.
Sir, I am provided, but if it may not appear too much boldness, what was the adamant that drew you, or occasion that made you so kind to visit my lodging?
Sir, I shall tel you, I came not to borrow money, or to force your good nature to any thing beyond civility, but onely to keep our love and amity fresh and in perfect strength, by a visit and some conference.
Sir, you have chosen a bad opportunity, my affairs carry me away from my friends, besides the obligation of my word to a Lady, to attend upon he [...] thi [...] day.
Sir, I wil chuse some other time to wait upon you.
Sir, I wil attend upon you, if I might know the place, and hour, where to meet you.
Sir, I will not put you to that trouble, it will become me rather to wait on you.
Pardon me Sir, I am much obliged to you.
Sir, I am your servant.
Sir, I am the servant of your servants, pray remember my respects to all my friends.
Sir, I wil be yours, in that, and all other services
To woce a fair young Gentlewoman.
PArdon me, Lady, if I presume to speak what [...] have hitherto with much affection conceale [...] from you knowledg.
There is a Gentleman that hath beheld your heavenly beauty; and with his judgment clearly discern'd you [...] virtues, the ornaments of your mind, these have produced in him strange effects, so that in spite of his own reason, or disswasion of friends, he is violently compelled to speak truth.
Sir, call you this an affliction? 'tis a happines [...] to speak and hear truth.
Do you hold that opinion? then I will convince yo [...] by your own Expressions: For if it be a happiness to hear tr [...]t [...] then I hope you wil pardon me, if being compelled by th [...] strength of my passion, I do truly tell you that I have place [...] my affection wholly upon you; or as they commonly say, I [...] love you.
Sir, I am sorry that you have made me th [...] object of your love; I know your Birth and Person ma [...] deserve one of greater account, and therefore I a [...] [Page 79] amazed at the unexpected novelty of your mot [...] [...] imagining, but your bosome had been free from any flame, let your wisdom then suppress it, lest your love become fruitless in the event.
I wil not be discouraged by your first answer▪ for neither are you beneath me in quality, who am your servant; neither can it appear to you so strange a matter, that I should be taken with your beauty, which others admire, though it be my fortune only to be bolder than the rest, and I hope not unwelcome.
Sir, I would not have you cherish any uncertain hope; nor build any assurance, where you have but a sandie foundation; Love cannot be compelled▪ but must [...]low from the spring of naturall desire; b [...] I find in my self no inclination to entertain your a [...] ction; therefore you must pardon me if I deny you [...] suit, which is not in my power to grant.
Nothing is impossible to love; for if you wo [...] believe that I bear a noble and constant affection [...] wards you, you would soon overcome this difficulty, [...] incline your mind to reward my affection with your [...]avour.
Sir, I am confident that your affection is ri [...] and perfect, nor seeking under a fair and coloura [...] pr [...]tence to betray me; I cannot force my self to comen [...] to your motion, being utterly ignorant in love matter [...] therefore excuse me til time and consideration shal [...] enforce me to answer your desire.
I am comforted, that you have not utterly denyed my suit, I hope at my next visit, to receive more incouragement, til then I take my leave, and presume only to breath my heart upon your hand, or if you please, your lip, desiring you to remember me in your absence,
VVhen one meeteth a friend in the Street.
GOd save you, sir, you are most happily met. How fare you?
Sir I am the better to see you wel and lusty, why wil not you do me the honor to visit me at my chamber?
Sir I must confess I have often broke promise therein, but my business would not permit me; other wise I had long since waited on you.
I should rather account my self obliged to wait on you; for I am bound unto you for many favours, especially for the last courtesie you did me, in matter which concerned me much. Wil you now do me [...]he kindness to present my respects to a Gentlewoman.
Sir, if she be honest, I am ready to go on your errand; I hope you wil not put me upon a disgracefull piece of service.
I hope you have no such bad suspition of me; for she is both fair and a virtuous Gentlewoman, and hath a nimble wit; but I know you can deliver your mind in an excellent way.
Sir, it is you whom Mercury the God of wit hath adorned with a gentle amarous speech; but I wil speak in your behalf, in as good moving effectual terms as I can remember.
Sir, shal you do me a most perfect favor? Tel her, I am her ready and willing servant, and that the powers of love hath given her my heart, which I wil come to fetch, in hope she shall give it me back, and til then keep it warm in her own bosome; But what need I instruct you, who are all love and courtship.
Sir, I will perform your command, though not in such words as you would desire, yet so as my sudden Genius shall prompt me; but I have heard it said,
Sir, Pardon me; I know whom I do intrust with [Page 81] this business, I am assured of your fidely, and that you can deliver your mind in a powerfull manner, especially to Gentlewomen.
Sir, it must be my love to you that will inspire me; for I promise you, I will strive to speake my best.
Sir, I am confident in you, and at your return from my Mistris, I will prepare thanks for this great piece of service, and rest, yours obliged.
Sir, It is but my duty; and I am happy to be imployed in any service that concerns you, Suppose this done.
To court a Gentlewoman in the way of Marriage.
MIstris, I doubt not but that you will judge me as rash as bold; but I beseech you by your Divine beauty, which glistereth in your fair eyes, to excuse my audacitie, and to pardon my temeritie, which have emboldned me to come and present unto you, my most humble and most affectionate service.
Sir, I am sorry that I have not the honour to know you, and I marvel that you wil offer service to me that of all am most unworthy.
Mistris, it is the sweetness of your naturall goodness, that causeth you to speak so humbly of your self.
Pardon me sir, I speak nothing but what I know to be most clear truth.
Lady, The singular modesty which I have heard you express in your language, gives me a hope that you wil entertain my intentions, not as harsh and disconsonant, but agreeable and consonant, and that in time I shall obtain your grace and favour.
Sir, If there were any graces in me, they proceed from you, and with such expressions you honour your self.
Mistris, you are pleased thus to oblige me to a greater estimation of you, which makes you more amiable, and me more affectionate towards you: I therefore beseech you to believe, that my intentions were never otherwise than chast and vertuous, and that I never had any other end than honesty. Did you think [...]rue to have framed some design prejudiciall to your honour? I had rather lose my being, than entertain any such thought; so firm is my resolution, for ever to continue your faithfull and most obedient servant, as the effects shall make evident, whensoever your commands shall call upon me.
I humbly thank you sir, with my best affection, as also for the pains you have taken for one that no way merits such favours, I being your very humble servant.
Lady, It is I that am so deeply engaged to you, that I am dis-inabled to quit my selfe of the obligation; and therefore (most faire Mistris) I beseech and conjure you, to make use of my service and me, in whatsoever you shall judge me acceptable to serve you; and in the mean time, after a million of recommendations, I wil be bold to take my leave of you and will leave my heart with you, as an hostage and pledge of fidelity and constancie.
Farwel sir, and I give you humble thanks for this your loving visit.
I hope to see you again, and very speedily, where for the ptesent I must leave you.
Sir, so far as your intentions shal continue good and your suits lawfull, you shall alwaies find the doors open; and also to gentlemen like your self, who shal not want the best entertainment, according to my ability, & n that regard you shall not oftner come, than be wel [...]ome.
Lady I do assure you, that I now go to elongate my self from the bright day, and confine my selfe into an abyss of melanchollick darkness: for I dare be bold to protest unto you, that without you, I enjoy not the light: and therefore all the time of this sad ab [...]ence wil be so tedious to me, that moments will be hours; the hours dayes; and the dayes will be ages, unless it be so, that the experience of being in your favour, be my sole consolation, which will arm me with a resolute patience.
You speak strong lines, sir; but it may be you are not so passionate as your words pretend; Farewell sir, til our next meeting.
Mistris, You do wrong to your beauty, and to my love, which is faithfull and loyall; but I hope that time wil make me appear to be more largely what I am; and seeing necessity constrains me to retire from you, I wil never retreat from that affection which your fair eyes have darted in my soul: and so Lady adieu til my next review, which I assure you shall be assoon as possible I can.
Vpon her absence.
I protest to you, my fairest, that I could never have believed that the torments of true affection could have been so miserable; for I dare swear to thee, by those fair eys, the stars of my fortunes, that I dwelt with impatiencie and sorrows til I saw you.
It is impossible sir, surely I can hardly believe it.
Mistris I beseech you to believe it, if you please, for I assure you that I could no longer endure, nor support the violent and troublesome tediousness, which I endured in the time of your long absence, the object of my good, and sole content being removed.
Sir, it may very wel be, for you seem very passionate in your expressions.
I protest that it is impossible for me to take any complacencie in the world, but in that only that flatters my affection, and in the aspect of your ra [...]e form and most excellent beauty.
It pleaseth you to term it so; you are delighted in laughing at me, as you may at one that enjoyeth not the least glimps of beauty in her self.
Wherein, my dearest, should you conceive so of me; I do assure you, with the better part of my soul, that I should be miserable, did I not really speak what my affections suggest as truth: Know, Lady, that you see a man that is wholly yours, and deserves not to live, but for you and to do you service: But that which troubleth me most, is, That of necessity I must absent my self from you upon a very urgent occasion, but I beseech you to believe a [...]d conceive so of me, that whithersoever I go, I shall carry with me the lively delineaments of your perfections, and that I shall not live but by the idea of your beauty, with perfect resolution of obeying you; and therefore (my sweetest) adieu for a while, and for the present have me excused, that I cannot enjoy the felicitie of your most desired company, but must take my leave abruptlie.
I infinitely thank you, and bid you also farwel, wishing you also a safe return.
An enterchange of Ceremonies at parting with a friend, taking a long Journey.
SIR, I am very sorry that my affairs do compell me to take my leave of you, from whom I have rece [...]ved so many benefits, which have bound me in [Page] many tyes ever to [...]erve you, neither have I any way left to satisfie my self in requiting your former kindnesses, but to acknowledg them far above my requital, and to desire you that you would both receive the tender of my humble service, and command me in somthing, whereby I might express how much I honour your desert.
Sir, J cannot chuse but grieve that you must now be divided from us by a tedious journey; yet since he loves himself better than his friend, that wil not yeild to any thing for his good; J am content in that respect to lose your company a while, wishing you a prosperous journey, and that in your absence you would remember me, who will alwayes in my dayly prayers, solicite heaven for your safe return, desiring to be excused for your poor entertainment, which, perhaps, makes you des [...] rous to be gone.
Sir, Pardon me, the entertainment J have found, was far above my desert; for which J render you a million of thanks. There remains nothing now, but tha you honour me with your commands.
Sir, J intreat you make not so great hast to be gone
Sir, J could willingly defer my journey, to enjo your company, but the wind stands faire for France therefore let us conclude all Ceremonies.
Sir, Since you must dispence with your departure, do us the courtesie to revive our drooping minds w [...]th the good Tydings of your safe arrivall in France.
Sir, Be assured J cannot be unmindfull of you, nor of my other Friends, to whom J intreat you to commend me, since J cannot take my leove of them in particular.
Sir, I am glad you wil do me that favour, to give me any imployment in your absence, I will perform your desires.
Sir, I can but thank you for your love, in bringing me to my ship, which is a trouble that you would take upon you, though on my part undeserved.
S [...]r, I am happy to serve you in any thing; God send you a prosperous voyage.
Sir, I doubt not but I shall arrive in safety, trouble your self no far [...]her, since I cannot remain with you to requite your kindness.
Sir, Since you wil needs have it so, I wil bid you farwel, with all the affection of constant mind.
To invite one to dinner.
PRay let me prevail so far with you to intreat your company to dinner.
Sir, I humbly thank you for your courtesie; but my business wil not permit me, therefore I desire to be excused.
Nay good Sir, let me not be denyed, I must confess indeed your cheer wil not be worthy of your stay, but you shall be heartily welcome.
Sir, I should will [...]ngly obey your desire, but I fear to be too bold.
Sir, You shall be most welcome, you shal command in my house as in your own.
Your offer is so large and courteous, that I must yeild to wait on you, for you have overcome me in ceremonie, but you wil draw upon your self many inconveniences.
Sir, You wil find but course fare, but such as it is, pray esteem your self most heartily welcome to, in a real manner without complement.
Sir, Here is much plenty, and you wrong your selfe to excuse your chear, whereof there is so great abundance, that unl [...]ss you would have provided, all the Variety that was in Noahs Arke, I know not how it could be exceeded.
It is your favour to commend and accept of any thing, but pray excuse me, once more I desire it; if I had bin certain of your honouring my house with your presence, would have made better preparation for your [...]n [...]ertainment.
Sir, I desire you rather to excuse my boldness, in putting you to so much trouble; you may perceive that I think my selfe welcome by my liberall feeding; I am no mincing Bride, whose thoughts of eating are took away with the conceit of the night following.
I beseech you spare not, I am glad to see you so pleasant, and to increase your mirth, I wil drink to you a health in wine, in hope you wil pledge me.
Sir, they say there is truth in wine, and if there be truth in wine, I wil finde it out, let the health be never so deep.
I thank you for doing me this piece of justice, I pray see if you can make up a dinner, otherwise I know not how to be excused for inviting you.
Sir, to decline ceremony, you have most worthily feasted me, and honoured me so much, that I must ever acknowledge your exceeding boun [...]y and courtesie.
Ceremonies at sitting down at the Table.
Gentlemen; Pray ye take your places, I know not how to direct you. But first let us wash.
Gent. Be pleased to begin, for it is fit that we should follow you.
In this matter Ceremonies are needless, but [Page 88] you wil do nothing without an example, and therefore I wil begin.
Then in obedience to your desire, we wil wash with you.
I beseech you Gentlemen, to save me a labour and take your places.
Sir, we expect your sitting down, and afterwards we wil not contend much for priority of place.
Come Master Getting, you are my old acquaintance, you shall favour me to sit here by me.
By no means, that is not my place, here's a Gentleman that deserves to be seated there.
Sir, I have designed you this place, prai [...] let me rule you so far.
Sir I should be loth to be too troublesome, and yet I would not presume before my betters.
Sir, You are too full of excuse, you may yeild to take your due place, otherwise I should wrong you.
Sir, I beseech you then to excuse me, and account it your fault if I transgress the bounds of manners, in assuming a place far above my desert, and which is of right belonging to these other Gentlemen.
We might have spar'd this Ceremonie, for the appetite loves good dainties, better than Complements. Now pray carve for your selves, you are kindly welcome.
Sir; We wil not put you to any trouble in helping us, we know that manners wil allow us to make a dinner, we come to trespass on you.
The Feasters excuse to his friend after Dinner.
Sir, I desire you to excuse your mean fare and slender entertainment, whereunto I have presumed much to invite you; but I hope our ancient [Page] acquaintance, and your own good nature will procure me Pardon, in that I have done this only to enjoy your company and society; for your good discourse is to me a Feast, far exceeding any dainties that I could provide for you.
Your reall kindness hath been such, and so unexpected, that I cannot give you sufficient thanks for your courtesie and kinde entertainment: all that I can retribute, is t- promise, that I wil snatch an opportunity to express my gratitude.
You have honoured me enough, in your acceptance of my good will. But it is not wholsome to stir suddenly after dinner: Let's discourse; you are conversant abroad, what News do you hear?
Pardon me, sir, the world runs round about me, whilest I stand unmoved, never marki [...]g the motions thereof, and therefore I am altogether ignorant in novelties; it may be you hear more.
Indeed sir, J have so many affairs, that J can enquire after none, J thought you could have given us some good intelligence.
Sir, J desire you to excuse me, for J hold it fruitless imployment; but to satisfie your request, if J knew any fresh News that were not yet in print, J should be bold to acquaint you with it, since you desire me.
J wil not importune any further, but desire your pardon that J should impose on you the office of an intelligencer; excuse my intent therein, since what J desired was to pass away the time while we sit, but now if you please we will rise.
Sir, then J most really thank you, you have made me bold with you, J wil accompany you a while to the fire, and then take my leave.
To offer service to a young Maid.
Seeing you are alone, I would willingly atten [...] on you, if you please to accept of my service.
It is more than I desite or deserve, and it would appear boldness in me to accept of a strangers companie; For it is not for me to entertain all shews and offers of kindness, I can but thank you for your good wil, I am not far distant from mine own home.
I pray let me bear you company, and by the way make me happy in some discourse, resolve me one question, w [...]re you ever in love?
Though it be no manners to answer one question with demanding another, yet wil I presume to ask you if you were never in love.
Fair one, from thence springs my unhapp [...] ness, I am too forward in these desires, I have beheld many beauties, but you have prevailed more than the rest, to conquer my affection, and I must acknowledge that in meeting you, I have met death or life.
Pray speak in plain terms; I am ignorant of your meanings
I desire you then, know and believe, that I am already far in love with you; and I hope you will not scorn my sudden motion, if I should desire you to reward my love with your favour, and by the way let me entreat you, to th [...]nk that heaven have pointed our s [...]range accidental meeting, and gave me boldness to p [...]tition your favour and affection, which I hope you wil grant.
Sir, I know not [...]n this case how to give an answer that may procure your content, but I desire you to impo [...]tune me no farther, but grant me time to consider your motion, and this is my fathers house, wh [...]ther if you pease to come herea [...]ter, I wil str [...]ve to resolve [...]ou, howsoe [...]er you shall be welcome.
But before I lose your presence, which is my chiefest happiness, let me tel you, that when you go, you bear away my heart with you, and I shall only languish in sorrow til I visit you again.
Pray sir do not hold me any longer in d [...]scourse, there are many jealous eyes that do watch an occasion to expose me to censures, for maintaining with you such an usuall familiarity; let me intreat you, as you tender my credit, to leave me.
I must obey you, honour me with an ordinary salutation, and I wil vanish like a shadow, and return again to wait on you, who are the substance of my life.
To confer with a widow in an amorous wooing manner.
I would entreat you, fair widow, not to discourage me in my first suit, since your modesty and virtuous carriage, in your husbands life time, hath made me bold to plead for affection, and to cherish a certain hope, that I should obtain your good liking.
Sir, I would not have you imagine that my love to my former husband was Written in a Table-Boo [...], the Letters whereof may be soon wiped out, again; no, it wa engraven upon my heart, and there doth remain, to inform me that I ought not to wrong him with a second marriage.
Nay, widow, I must acknowledge you have a fair pr [...]tence to put me off, with the remembrance of your said husband, but will you alwayes punish your self, and fast from the joyes of marriage.
It is my ful resolved purpose, and therefore let not any wanton opinion, concerning me, give you hope of obtaining my love: alas! since his departure, I am dead unto the world, and do but only lye, to sigh, when I remember that I had so good an husband.
His goodness is gone with him, but for my part, I will be your loving active servant; come, come, put off grief and false imaginations of honouring of the dead: for if his soul were capable of any knowledg concerning earthly matters, he would rejoyce to see you happ [...]ly married, and as he gave you all contentment in his life so he would desire that you might be supplyed in the same kind after his death.
You speake unhappily, but pray be satisfied, that I intend not to marry, yet I respect, your good will, and in other matters, will remaine readie to requite your love.
For other matters I am satisfied; but your love is the Mark whereat I aim; why would you thus strive to become a Virgin again, and forget the conceit of former pleasures, which are yet fresh in your remembrance; fie, fie, you do not wel to make your self so dul of apprehension; I am come to offer service in the right kind, and therefore you are very much to blame, to refuse the tender of my respects.
You speak mysteries: but I desire if you love me, shew it in ceasing to prosecute your suit; for I must tell you plainly it will prove fruitless and of none effect.
I cannot believe but that I shall be more fortunately happy to obtain your favour; words are not alwayes the interpreters of the heart, and I am confident for all this that you love me.
Perswade your self to it, but I shall never give you cause to think so, yet I will ever respect you, and be ready to do you any lawfull courtesie.
Well I thank you that I have so far thrived in my suit, I hope hereafter to get deeper into your favour.
Your hope is built upon a false. Foundation; and had I known your intent, I would not have held discourse so long with you; I must leave your company.
Let me rather take my leave, and seal a Kiss [Page] upon your lips, until I visit you again; for no mortall widow shall discourage me, but I will come again with the more resolute affections.
To excuse some offence done to a Gentlewoman.
I Must acknowledge I was somwhat too bold to enforce a kiss from you, in the presence of other friends, but I pray excuse my passion, and let your mercie be shewed in pardoning, as my folly was in offending.
Sir, it was so great a trespass, and so directly aymed against my white same and reputation, that no repentance can satisfie for a fault of that nature.
It cannot exceed the limits of forgiveness; or if your wrath must not be otherwise satisfied, enjoyn me some penance, as great as your anger, whereby [...] may recover your lost favour, and make it appear, ho [...] sorry I am for committing so rash an offence.
Nay, you may enjoy that Kisse violentl [...] took from me before so many witnesses, but never any more.
I must confess it was my rashness, but if you wil [...] that I repay it back again, I wil give you interest fo [...] that one, and vow unto you never to offend you [...] patience in the like kind.
VVell, since you are so willing to repent, and to shew unfeigned sorrow, I must needs accept them for present satisfaction, desiring you hereafter to be mor [...] careful of my credit, and never again to make so bold an [...] offer.
You have charmed me to obedience, since you [...] words are a Law, which I dare not transgress; for I am in all things your obsequious Servant.
The Lovers farwell.
ALas! Sir, is this the hour that the sever [...] rigor of your absence must eclips my day [...] of their bright Beams? O how this sa [...] [Page] [...]ews doth fire my spirits! and not without reason, since [...]ou (to whom I had wholly consecrated my selfe) wil not [...]ouchsafe a mercifull eie on my sufferings for your ab [...]ence.
Mistris, fear not, but rest assured, that so long [...]is Life will give leave to enjoy the Suns b [...]ightn [...]ss, never [...]hall any other have power over me; do me only this favour, [...]hat having given you these new assurances of my fidelity, [...]ou would be pleased to render me some reall promises of [...]ours. Besides I protest to you, Lady, I will never acknow [...]edge other light tha [...] yours, no more than the earth doth, any more than the Sun and Moon.
Sir, they are no false Promises that I have made you, but true Assurances, drawn from my heart by the force of my passion. And know, that all things [...]eie beneath, shall sooner change their naturall inclinations, than in me shall be seen any alteration from the resolution I have made, to love you, heaven it self be my witness.
If, M [...]stris, you love me thus; let your minde be confident of an equall truth from me; and should you doubt of my aff [...]ctions, I will give you my soul for a pledg, and my heart for a sacr [...]fice, to shew you that my wo [...]ds ar [...] u [...]feigned; be pleas [...]d the [...]fore, to accept of this small gift, not as a thing wort [...]y [...]f merit, but onely as a sufficient testimony of my good will, fidelity, and faithfull love towards you; it being a thing so small and unwo [...]thy of you, it will therefo [...]e be the more commendable in you to acc [...]p. of it.
Sir, I give you infinite thanks, and withall, do beseech you al [...]o [...]o receive this in requitall, for a remembrance of me, which is of a smaller value; be but pleased to take it in good part from her, who from henceforth shall not live, but through your sole remembrance.
Tha ks to you, sweetest, the gift truly is pleasing [Page 95] to me, but the giver much more.
But Sir, is there no means to stay you for a little time, that I might enjoy your presence, which stands me instead of light and life, therefore your [...]b ence will invelope me with darkness, and bring upon me (poor soul that I am) a thousand grievous deaths.
M [...]stris, I hope not so, for I am constrained through [...]ecessity of my business, to depart hence.
O, I see now too wel, that that Constancie of you s, which I trusted to for remedie of my troubled thoughts, is vanished, to give present vent to my plaints, which you shall receive with my sighs and tears, for true and burning testimonies of the sorrow I have, to see my selfe about to be forsaken by him, by whom only I breath
Mistris, I swear to you, my heart is alike touched with such strokes, for this our parting, that I can hardly breath for griefe of it, and do already see I have lost my self, in the loss of the sight of your star-like Beauty. For I▪ am sure, [...]hat once absent from your luminous aspect, each pleasure wil be tome a subject of grief and sorrow. However, since it will not be otherwise, I shall so part with you, as that my life shall ever be at your service, and so farwell, dear Mistris, live still happy and content, whilest I languish unfortunate, though most constant; let not then my remo [...]en [...]ss alter your mind, more than it shall shake the resolution I have long since made, to live and dye yours; as for mine own part, I shall not think my self absent from you, so long as I am longed in you [...] heart and memory.
Farwell, Sir, you possess my Soul; and I do even leave it in your power, conserve it for a more happ e sea [...]on than th [...] of parting; and in the mean space, have p tty of all the bloudy griefes, which the meer apprehension of your absence, makes me alreadi [...] [Page 96] feel so vehemently, for J think it very strange to leave you, whose company is dearer to me than my life. But to make an end of this discourse, J do beseech, you Sir, and let me conjure you by the sweetness of that love J have horn you, and will all my life long devote to you, in respect of my cruel fears, to write often to me, during the unhappy time of your absence, for in reading of your Letters, J shall perswade my selfe that J am not wholly deprived of you, or lost to your memory.
J vow to you Mistris, J will give to you so many Letters for confirmation of my loyalty, and the love J bear you, th [...]t you shall have no cause to mistrust. And as the Divine Creator, hath made you the fairest and most accomplished, that he also make you the most pitifull to retain me in your most desired favour, that J may be able continually to witness how violent my affections are toward you.
Heaven grant you may be as faithfull to me, as J am to you; and give you as much quiet and contentment as you take from me. But what should J say more? J must cease to remember you of the force and heat of my affections, but not to intreat you to pity my martyrdome; and that wheresoever you are, to be mindfull of me. And so once more J intreat the Deity to grant you such prosperity, that your fortunes may parallel your perfection.
Rest assured (sweet Mistris) to be beloved of me, [...]hough not equall to your merit, to which height it is imposble my affections should raise it self.
COMPLEMENTALL POEMS.
A Knot of most Excellent Letters Wherein is laid open all the Perfections, or art of Complementing, or inditing any Epistle or Love-Letters.
A letter of a loving father to his sonne before his death.
MY Son, thou art now coming into the world that I am going out of, and yet before my departure, I thought fit to write a few lines unto thee, what are (I hope) needful for thee to have a care of, whil'st thou livest in it; I know thou wilt not break thy bread all in one house, feed alwayes of one dish, nor live alwayes in one place; & therefore let me give thee a little kind admonition in this short Letter, for thy carriage in all courses; the Court is a place of more charge than ease; the City-Gawds of more pleasure than worth, and the Countrey sports of more pleasure than profit, yet is there no service to the King, no dwelling to the City, nor pleasure to the Countrey, but all the weight of the worth of them is in the hand of wisdom, who in the knowledge of the use of them, makes the best esteem of them: but lest I am too tedious, and long lessons may overcharge the memory, take this one rule for thy learning, in all, and thou shalt finde it good in [...]ore than a few; Whersoever thou goest, note the best: choose the best, and keep the best: be nor buryed in earth before thou commest to the grave, no [...] [Page 109] build Castles in the Ayre, lest they fall down upon thy head; let not thy eye abuse thy heart, nor thy tongue thy will; and let reason govern thy will in all the passages of thy Nature, be neither needy nor ungratefull, uncourteous, or unkind, and examine thy conscience in the care of thy content; ground thy love upon Vertue, thy hope upon Reason, and thy Happiness upon Grace; Live as a Stranger in the World, and make what hast thou canst to Heaven: Be loyall to thy Prince, naturall to thy Countr [...]y; Faithfull to thy Friend; Kind to thy Neighbour; and honest to the whole World; so shall God bless thee, the best love thee, and the worst not hurt thee. And thus so weak in body, that the Spirit fainteth, enforced me to express these few lines of fatherly love unto thee, with my Prayers to the Lord of Heaven for thy preservation in this World, and Eternall Happiness in the World to come, with my Love, Blessing, and therewith what I am able to leave thee, to the Merciful Guard of Heaven I commit thee, and rest,
His Answer.
MY most loving father, this legacy of your love for the direction of my life, how much I prize it in my hearts thankfulness, the eye of your judgment shal behold in my observation, & give me leave to tel you, that in this little time that I have spent idly in this world I have had some tast of the meat that you have given me, where I find, that the best meat may be spoyled [Page 110] spoyled in the dressing, whilest a cunning Cook will make a rich service of small cost; and though giddy heads are in love with gaudy toyes, yet the better sor [...] of opinions, esteem a small Diamond before a great Saphire; I care not if I rather adventure far for the honour of vertue, than lessen my Estate by breach of arms; and seeing there are so many counterfeits, that the best jewel may be mistaken; I will meddle with no such wares as may call repentance to an after-reckoning: while mine heart looketh toward heaven, I hope the Earth shall not blinde my eyes, nor the vain [...]lights of Nature prevail against the vertues of reason, but all is in the power of powers, by whose grace, being guided, I shall be ever so preserved, that howsoever my heart may be wounded, yet I hope I shal never be confounded; in hope whereof, and unto the which beseeching the almighty, either in health to prolong your dayes, or in the election of his love, to call you to a better life, more esteeming these precepts of your love, than all the portion you can leave me, saving your blessing, and so I humbly take my leave, and rest,
A Letter to a friend to borrow money.
SIR, If borrowing of money be not a breach of friendship, let me intreat your patience to open your purse I am loath to be too troublesome in making many words, where such affable gentleness out-passeth all merit, a present occasion puts me to the adventure of your kindness, the matter is not much; yet it will at this time pleasure me, as much as so much may do; the sum five pounds, the time three months, my credit the assurance, and hearty thanks the interest; thus [Page 111] without troubling the Scrivener I hope my letter will be of sufficient power to prevail with your love, intreating your present answer; in the affection of an honest heart I commit you to the Almighty.
His Answer.
SIR, if your friendship were a follower of fortune, Love would have but a little life in this World; the contents of your Letter hath put me to a strict account of my Estate, how I may help you and not hurt my self; I could make many excuses, but that they tast of small comfort, and therefore knowing time to be precious, and to avoid delayes, let this suffice, your request is granted, and the money I have sent you, and not doubting your credit, wil take your word for a bond, and for the use (without abuse) I wish but requitall upon the like occasion; Sir I am so glad that in this, or any thing in my power, I may make proof of my love: I rest in the same,
A love-letter to a worthy Gentlewoman.
FAire Mistris, if I had no eyes, I should not like you, and if not wit, I should not love you; for the brightness of your beauty is for no blind sight to gaze upon, nor the worthiness of your vertue, for no weak brains to beat upon; if you say I flatter you, look into your self, and do me no wrong, and if I do you right, chide nor affection for a discovery, where truth is honourable; pardon my presumption if it exceed your pleasure, and commend his service, who will [Page 112] make an honour of your favours; so intreating your patience for answer to my poor Letter, until I hear from you; and alwayes I rest,
A Love-Letter to a Lady.
SVch, and so extreme, are the passions of love, that the more they are quenched by disdain, greater flames are [...]ncreased by desire, and the more they galled with hate are, the more they gape after love; like to the Stone T [...]p [...]zon which being once kindled, burneth most vehemently in the water: so I having my heart scorched with the beams of your beauty, and my mind flamed with your singular vertue, neither can any bitter looks ab [...]t my love, nor extreme discourtesie diminish my affection, I am not be that wil leave the rose because it hath pricked my finger, or refuse the gold in the fire because it burnt my hand, for the mind of a faithful lover, is neither to be daunted with despight, nor affrighted with danger.
Her Answer.
SIR, if your wits go with your eyes, your brains may be on the outside of your head, and then if you deceive your self [...] I hope you will not blame me: colours are but shadows and may be ful of illusions, and the worthiness of vertue may be a reach above the worlds reason, yet the discovery of affection may be more in words than in matter, especially where discretion sounds the depth of desert, though the honour of truth be worth regard, where there is no fault, there need no pardon, and therefore without trouble of patience, finding [Page 113] no cause of displeasure, I thus conclude, love hath a priviedge to be at the command of kindness, in which I res [...] to wish you much happiness,
Another Love-Letter
FAire Creature; To tel you I love you, were a phrase of too plain a fashion, and yet when truth is indeed the best Eloquence, affection needs no invention to express the care of her content, which being in thre [...] Letters, makes a word soon to be read, which being Y: O: V: nothing doubting your spelling, I hope you will so kindly put together, that a conjunction of love shall have no seperation during life: And thus bese [...] ching you to learn this Lesson by heart, without a cross in conceit, to hinder the course of loves comfort, till I hear from you in that nature that may make me a happy creature I rest;
Her Answer.
KInd Sir, to tel you I love you, were too crosse an Answer with a comfortable request; and yet wh [...]n dissimulation is the worst fruit of invention, d scretion may be pardoned in concealing of Love; Touching your. Letters, they are sooner read than understood; while imaginative hopes may be deceived in their happiness, and yet to avoid all touch of ingratitude, in that nature of kindness that may give honour to content, as a simple Schollar in the art of love, loath to have that by heart that may trouble more than my head, when seperations of conjunctions may indanger the death of comfort, wishing nothing amiss to them that mean all well I rest,
A Letter from a Lady to a Gentleman, whom she called her servant, for the preferring of a Gentlewoman to her.
SErvant, I have often spoken unto you for that you must needs do me: I am going to the Court, and shall have great use of a Gentlewoman to attend me. I know you have many Kinsmen and acquaintance among whom you may find one to fit me, I will take her at your hand, and regard her for your sake; and if her deserts answers my desires, she shall lose no love in my favour, and therefore leaving this trusty charge to the care of your discreet kindness, as you wil expect a greater courtesie at my hands, I rest,
His Answer.
GOod Madam, you speak unto me to help you to a Gentlewoman, which with my Letter I have here sent you a woman, and Gentle, who, I hope, will not be altogether unworthy of your entertainment: for her person, she is not deformed, nor her face of the worst feature; she is [...]eith [...]r blear-eyed, nor tongue-tyed: And for her qualities, I hope she can do more than make curtesie and blush; her Pa [...]entage is not bare, nor her breeding idle, and for her disposition, I hope will be nothing displeasing: to praise her in any perfection I dare not, but in all, will leave her to the tryall of your patience. So wishing my dutiful service in this, or [...]hat else mayly in my power, so fortunate as to deserve your favour, and this Gentlewoman so gracious as to gain the continuance of your good opinion, in prayer for your health and hearts most wished happiness, I take my leave [Page 115] at this time, but rest at all times,
A Letter of zealous love, written from a Gentleman to his Brother.
BRother, since I last heard from you, I am sorry to hear that I do of you, that you are wound so far into the world, as if that you never meant to out of it: you know I have travelled far, seen much, and I have some understanding, by all the observation of time, in the courses of nature: I find Solomons truth in the tryal of the world, that there is a little of it, but is little worth in it, when all being but vanity, there is little vertue to be found in it: Believe me, brother, we are neer in one nature, but differ in another, in the flesh, but not in the spirit; for whil'st I contemplate the substance of the souls comfort, thou art puzzelled in the world among the puddles of the earth: yea I fear the nature of thy affect to be as far from the rule of religion, as the most senceless creature is from the use of reason.
Brother, I know that thou hast wronged many, & thy self most, I would thou wert a Zacheus to right all; but better betimes than too late: look home to the main chance, have a care of thy soul, and thy body wil be the better: believe it, there is no rust eateth so fast into any m [...]rtal, as the venome of avarice into the heart of a wicked man: Prodigality is the way to penury, but covetousness is the root of all evil, betwixt both there is a mean, that to hit on is a kind of happiness, and if thou hast no ears but of Mydas, thou canst hear of nothing but gold, take a heart of Simeon, to joy in nothing but Christ Iesus: turn a new leaf, serve God, for whom thou wert created, & let nor the earth triumph over thee, for whom it was made to tread upon, lift up thine eyes towards heaven, where one joy of the elect, is worth all the [Page 116] Kingdoms of the World: Leave the world ere it leave thee, and love him ever that will never leave thee: Let they life be a Pilgrimage, and the earth but a passage, and the Heaven only the home of thy souls eternal happiness: Once a day read these few lines for my sake, which if they do that good to thee, which I heartily pray for in thee, till when, and ever my hearts love.
His Answer.
MY good Brother, I thank you for your carefull and kind Letter, yet let me [...]l you, that zeale without discretion, proves not the best part of Religion: Reports may be idle, and then belief may be erronious, when mistakings may breed abuse of good uses: I know that riches are witches, to them that make heaven of this world; but he that hath a leaden wit, wil never worship a Golden Calf; but since I know Abraham and Lazarus were alike in election, give me leave, while I am in this world, by Christ, rather than avarice, rather to be a husbandman, than to be a labourer for hire: If I have wronged any, it is unwittingly [...] whom if I know, I wil satisfie most willingly: and for the wound of conscience, I will hope to be so far from hypocrisie, that I shal be free from that fear: and therefore, though travel hath taught you much experience in the world, and having sufficient maintenance to pass through the world, you make the less account of the world, yet when carefull thrist breedeth no covetous thraldome, be not jealous of my love; with all the pleasures of the world, to make comparison with the least of heavens comfort. I know the highest Mountain is but earth, and the lowest valley is no other, and therefore when I carry my foot-stool on my head, let me walk like [Page] a fool, or monster. In brief, I know the world, and [...] to use it, and keep account with my care, how I m [...] most contentedly leave it, but for my love to him th [...] made it, let me live no longer in it then I love and h [...] nour him above it, and so intreating you to blow o [...] ill breaths that may abuse my disposition, and to b [...] perswaded so far of my souls health, that my joy is ever and only, in Christ Jesus, to his preservation, leaving the happy issue of your hopes in the nature of the best love til I see you, and alwaies I rest,
A Letter of love to an honourable Lady.
HOnourable Madam, if love were not above reason, it would not be so high in regard, who dwelling only in the spirits of the best understanding feeds the heart only with the fruits of an infallible resolution: What it is in its own nature, hath been diversly described, but I think, never known but unto them that inwardly know it, Some hold it a Riddle tha [...] none can interpret but he that made it: But if it be a [...] I have read of it, a child, and beauty begot it; I hop [...] Nature wil be her self, & not unkind to her own bre [...] how to prove truth, the honour in your eyes, th [...] [...] wrought my heart to your service, shal make [...]n o [...] to your favour in the happiness of your employme [...] So craving pardon for my presumption, in my dev [...] duty, to the honour of your command, I humbly ta [...] my leave,
Her answer.
WOrthy knight, if love be above reason, it mus [...] be either divine or devillish, and so regarded accordingly: what it is, I think is best known by [Page 118] the effect of it; howsoever idle brains have beaten about the description of it: Riddles are but jests of wit, and miracles are ceased from being seen in our age. But [...] be a child, though of a strange Parentage, surely nature wil not suffer the Mother to be cruel to her own breed; but if it fall out to be an ungracious father, what then wil be thought of the children: Yet, lest in misconstruing a conceit, I may mistake a content, since in the secret of nature may be a sense of strange under standing, I wil suspend my judgement, til I have made proof of my opinion: when eyes and hearts meet together in discourse, I hope the business wil be soon ended that is referred to indifferent judgment. So til occasion be offered of the performance of imployment, hoping that vertue and honour will soon agree upon sure grounds; til I see you I rest,
A Letter from a Knight to a Nobleman, for the entertaining of a Secretary.
NOble LORD, I hear that your Secretary hath lately taken his leave of th [...]s world, in whose place (if you be not provided) let my love prevail with your honour, for the enterta [...]nment of th [...]s bearer, a Gentleman, and a kinsman of mine, in whose commendations, I dare thus far use my cred [...], h s heart shall be as fair as his hand, upon any occasion of your imployment: and for his w [...]t, it [...]s both in caput and copy-hold, for he hath read much, and observed mor [...] than a little, his discent hath been from the loyns of an honourable Line: and for his disposition every way, I hope you shall finde it no way displeasing: Not to trouble you with long circumstance, leaving happiness to your acceptance, with my service to your command, in [Page 119] all humble love, I take my leave at this time, but rest during life,
The Lords Answer.
MY kind Knight, I have received your Letter, fulfilled your request, and entertained your Kinsman, of whom I am already so wel perswaded, besides the assurance of your knowledg, that I think a little matter shal not make square in our loves. I find what you write of him, and shal have much imployment for him: I thank you for him, and if he continue his carriage, which I doubt not, he will be of better fortune than my favour, and yet somwhat the more for your sake, I wil take such a care of him, that ere many months pass, you shall find my love in him: so til I see you at my house, where you shall make your own welcome, I rest,
A Letter to a friend on the other side of the Sea.
SIR, Distance of place must make no difference of minds, love and life amongst hearts make an en [...] together; I have long longed to hear from you, an [...] if I had known whither, I had ere this written unto you but now having met with him that meaneth shortly to see you, I have thought good to let you know, that [...] yet live to love you, and so [...]ger not to pray for you that all happ [...]ness may befall you: glad I would be [...] see you, & in the mean t [...]me to [...]ear from you, how th [...] world goeth there about you, whether all birds be [...] [Page 120] one feather, and how they flie together: What blazing Stars have been lately seen, and what your Astronomers think wil follow of their appearance: whether your wine be watred before it come over; and how Youth and Age agree upon the Conjunction Copulative: How the great fith and little agree together in your seas; and how your Rabbets escape the Kite abroad, and the Pole-cat in their Borrows: how the Foxes and wolves prey upon your Geese and lambs; and what sport your Swallows make with the Flyes in the aire. I wish you not to write of any wonders, because they are incredulous; nor of matters of state, for they may be, perhaps, ill taken: but only how honest men may thrive, and knaves have their reward; how wise men are honoured, and fools laught at; and how the weaker sort hold their strength with the stronger; when wenches eyes pul out mens hearts out of their bellies, their wits out of their brains, and the money out of their purses, and such matters of no moment; then must needs, if you wil take a little pains to set down in a little Paper; I shall be glad to look upon them, and in my love to requite them, for our world to hear it, were a world to think of it: but the messengers hast not, giving me time to write of it til the next Post; I wil say this of it, God bless the best, and mend or end the worst, grant all honest hearts good lives in it, and a joyfull departure when they are to leave it; to which prayer, hoping you will say Amen: til we meet, and alwayes I rest.
His Answer.
My long acquaintance, and worthy beloved friend, I have lately received your Lette, wherein I find your [Page] desire to hear of the passages in the world, on this side the salt water, now to satisfie in as much as I can, let me tel you, that I find some difference in the natures of nations, but touching their divisions, I think they are much alike through the whole world; for the one side I finde the powerful imperious, the ambitious, envious, the covetous, never satisfied; the liscencious, idle, and the foolish unprofitable: On the other side, majesty, gracious, honour, vertuous, wealth, charitable, thrift, wealthy, wit, painful, and religion, loyall, and labour commodious. Now looking into the danger of greatness, the charge of honour, the care of wealth, the misery of want, the folly of wantonness, and the beggary of idleness: I have chosen the mean for my part of Musick, where I shall neither strain my voyce, nor stretch my strings, but with little charge keep my instrument in tune: The passages are here as in other places, where Ianuary and May meet in conjunction there are strange kinds of countenances that shew not the best content.
And when winds are highest in summer the fruit shal fall ere they be ripe: many idle exercises are more costly than comfortable; much talk, and little truth, and ga [...] outsides, have poor insides, oathes and lyes are as common as highwayes, and painted images make fools idolls, honest men thought more silly than the wise men among the wizards of the world, and the devills among the brokers daily hunted with beggars, murmuring of war among the unquiet spirits, and peace guarded for fear of a close stratagem. In sum, such variety of business, that every mans brain is ful of humors; and for women, they are of such force, that they put men to great patience: for my self, I see the world at that pass, that I think him happy that is wel out of it. In sum, God bless the best, while the worst mend, and send us his grace & health, with a happy meeting: so till hear from you, which I wish often with my hearts love, that shal never end but with life, & my [Page 122] hearty commendations, I commit you to the almighty.
A Letter from an apprentice to his father, to send him some Money to succour himself withall, he being hardly used by a cruel Master and mistris.
KInd and loving Father, my humble duty premised, with hope of your good health, with my Mother, and the rest of our good friends &c. The extremity which I have long endured at the hands of my unconscionable Master and Mistris, constraineth me (seeing no likelyhood of redress) to reveal, and manifest that unto you, which long I have concealed; which as it is uncouth unto me, in regard of your paternall care of me, whilst I lived with you; so I doubt not (your fatherly love continued unto me) but it wil be displeasing unto you. I am placed by your good friend, A. W. in a service, where (til I was bound Apprentice) I had good usage, but since I was bound, I have seldom had good day; nay, after that you sent them the mony which Master A. W. did promise with me, they began to exasterate hard usage unto me, to debar from me, not only liberty, but victuals, finding many times faults without occasion, wrongfully beating and buffeting me without offence, which I neither can, nor do I think you wil wish me to endure. I am almost pin'd with want which how to redress, I know not, unless you vouchsafe to supply my present wants: to leave my trade I am loath, to call my master in question I am more loath, where to have redress I know not, in this my extremity, unless you take some course for me, and send me wherewith to succour my selfe between time, untill it shal please God to turn their hard hearts. Thus having briefly acquainted you with my present estate, hoping [Page 123] of your fatherly love unto me, humbly craving your and my Mothers dayly blessing, leaving you to the tuition of the Almighty, expecting speedily to hear from you, I rest,
His Answer.
SON, I have received your Letter, wherein I am given to understand that my Friend, A. VV. hath not so friendly discharged that friendly trust, which I reposed in him, as I expected. Notwithstanding I will in what I may, seek redress for thy wrongs: In the mean time deliver this twenty shillings to your Master, as a token from me, happly his hard usage of you is to draw somthing from me, which if I see I cannot by my gift [...] which I have sent to him have mended, I wil come up my self, and take some course to remove you from him: In the mean time I send you ten shillings to supply your necessary wants, which I wish you sparingly (as you have occasion) to bestow, and not idely or wastfully, and let me hear from you alwayes by this Carryer. Serve God, endeavour to please your Master and Mistris, and whil'st I live, Boy, they shall know thou hast a Father; So in hast I rest,
A Letter of a Patient to his Physici [...]n.
MAster Doctor, your Patient commends him to your patience, to bear a little kind chiding for your too long absence, my disease holds his own and my pain nothing diminished, and if you come not the sooner, your Physick wil be past working, for my Stomack is weak, and my heart groweth faint, and yet [Page 124] I feed, though my digestion be not he best; loath I am to languish, if I may have hope o [...] comfort, but your absence makes me doubt of my recovery, I pray you therefore hast you unto me, an [...] let me be assured of your comming, lest you com [...] too late; you know my disease, and are acquainted with my body; for my cure I leave it to God and your conscience, and so intreating your present answer o [...] your speedy presence, I commend you to the Almigh [...]y.
His Answer.
MY good Patient, I fear your impatience hath by som [...] passion encreased your pain; I know the force of your disease cannot but be weakned, if you be not more afraid than burt, you will not dye of this malady: if my business were not grea [...], I would see you, or if your need were great I would not be from you; but knowing every cramp is not a Convulsion, nor every stitch at the heart, I will only wish you to put off melancholly, to take heed of cold, to have mind rather of Heaven than earth; eat good meat, but not too much, drink good wine, but measurably, be in charity with all the world, but not too far with any, especially with the feminine gender; use motion for naturall Physick, and let a merry heart be your best Physician, for conceit is hurtfull, if it be not contentive, and it is past the reach of my Reason to cure a corrupted mind: Shortly, and God willing, I will see you, in the mean time imagine I am with you, for indeed I wil not be long from you: and this let me tell you, that to put you out of fear, I have no fear of you, but that you will be past physick, ere my hope fail of your cure, and that wil not be in hast, and so hoping that you are not so weak in spirit, but that you can endure a little pain with patience in hope of assured health, til J see you, and alwayes I rest,
A letter from a Son in prison to his mother, his estate being wasted,
DEar and loving Mother; as ever your Maternall love hath heretofore been manifested unto me, so now J beseech you in this great extremity to extend it towards me; my means are consumed, my self captivated, ready to perish with want, and which way to turn me in this height of misery I know not, but unto you, whose ever careful respect of me hath bin such that nought could (or as yet J hope can) remove your love from me: wherefore in pity of my present misery, J desire you, good mother, to make some means for my Enlargment, my debts are not much, notwithstanding of my self, J am utterly unable to give satisfaction, insomuch, that unless you be pleased to commiserate my distress, J am utterly devoid of all hope of comfort, or Enlargement: if therefore you wil vouchsafe to set me at liberty, my future duty, and diligence shall obsequiously in such sort be manifested,, that whatsoever hath heretofore bin amiss, shal be amended, to my good, & your comfort, whereof wishing you to be most assured and expecting your comfortable answer, J rest,
Her Answer.
Son, J am sorry your folly hath brought you to such extremity: had you been heedfull in your courses, you might have prevented these disasters: notwithstanding, since misery ought rather to be pittied than blamed (especially by a Mother) J will in this your extremity, in hope of your reformity, manifest a Mothers Love unto you: Your Debts shall be paid, you set at liberty, and some speedy course [Page] be taken for your future maintenance, if you wil con [...]m what you have written, I wil be wi [...]h you to mo [...] row, til then comfort your self, and fear God, and pray for your poor Mother.
A letter to a Kinsman that came from the university to the Court, and was given much to the Study.
MY good Cousin, I hear, since you came from the University to the Court, you are inclined much to Melancholly, your mind only delighteth in reading and study, and among many variety of matters of import, that you take much delight in searching out of Petigrees, and Herauldry, the knowledg whereof, I hold both honourable and profitable, but the use thereof requires a heedfull care; for in the discoursing of matters unfit, you may be brought within the compass of folly: But as a friend to give you a Caveat in all your course of that study, take my advice for the bettering of your understanding in the best of your Coats: Be not too busie with the Crown, and of all Beasts beware of the Lyon; if he sleep, wake him no [...] lest you trouble his patience, and in his walk, cross no [...] his way, lest his frown grows wrathfull: For othe [...] beasts, think of them as your reason wil give you leave▪ where you find honours, note (if you can) the desert o [...] them, and for bought Coats, consider of them in thei [...] kinds; times alter, and natures in them, and therefor [...] in the setting down of Antiquities, there may be muc [...] deceit, through the corruption of the writers, or directors for strange Coats; and to see an Eagle have a Fl [...] in her mouth, and a Mouse bite a Cat by the Tail, or [...] Goose keep a Fox in a Den, wonder at it, but make n [...] words of it: and if you see a black swan in a blue Field [Page] an Eele in her belly, running out at her tail, or a [...] cock pulled out of his feathers, and making h [...]s [...] upon a Cross-bar, smile at the conceit; but keep [...] censure of it your self. To conclude, read much but believe little; think much, but speak little, and [...] much, but meddle little; but in medling with [...]the [...] mens coats, look that you lose not more than your [...] jerkin: and so wishing your studies as profitable as ple [...] sing to you; til I see you, I commit you to the almighty▪
His answer,
SIR, I have read your Letter, and considered of the contents: To the Answer whereof, give me leave to tel you, that I am not determined to hurt mine eyesight with too deep looking into a Milstone, nor to believe Antiquity, further than reason may carry my understanding, and whatsoever I find of Coats, I will so carry my due and true allegeance to the Crown, tha [...] I wil avoid all touch of disloyalty: For the Lyon w [...]l neither trouble him, waking nor sleeping: and fo [...] his walk, wish no beast to be so foolish, as to cross his pleasure in his passage: For your merry conceits o [...] strange Coats, I will only smile at my conjecture of them, and so long as I know a Falcon from a buzzard, an Eagle from an Owl, and a Nightingale from [...] Cuckow, let me alone to judg of the nature of Birds, and how they are born, and when I look into the nature of honour, whether by purchase, favour, or desert I note the time, with the persons, and so go on with m [...] opinions to the judgement, I keep to my self: now fo [...] what else may grow out of this study, either pr [...]f [...] pleasure, loss of time, or repentance, I thank you fo [...] your item, to keep my conceit from discourse, for all [Page 128] things are to be taken in their right kind, and when [...]arning grows hurtful, it proves wit not wel tempered [...]nd therefore hoping so to make use of my brains, that [...] [...]ead shal do my body no hurt, with many thanks [...] your kind instructions, I commend you to the Al [...]ty.