THE MUSES CABINET, Stored with variety of POEMS, Both pleasant and profitable. By W. W.

LONDON, Printed for F. Coles in the Old-Baily. 1655.

To the truely and excellent well accomplished Gen­tleman, Mr. William Holgate.

BE pleased Sir these lines for to peruse,
The weak inventions of a Rustick Muse.
Which although small and worthless, yet doth show
The love and service I unto you owe.
Augustus Caesar was to Poets kinde,
Nor was Mecenas any thing behinde:
Doe thou like them, but patronage my pen,
Renowned shall thy name continue, when
Each griple wordlings fame shall rot and dy,
Wanting true worth to raise their memory,
Such mighty power in a Muse doth ly.
If the three Sisters lengthen out my daies,
The thrice three Sisters shall chant forth thy praise.
Yours in all service, William Winstanley.

To the Reader.

IN this scribling age, wherein to doe as the most doe, is to doe as the worst doe, I have adventured my boat in the Sea of the world, not fearing the censure of malitious Criticks: I make no doubt but this poore worke of mine will have many detra­ctors, who (like Aesobs dog) will do nothing themselves, yet carp at the endeavours of other men, such if I have, it shall be my glory, that I have written something worthy their envy, nor must I expect to be free from their censures, since both Homer and Virgil, the flower of Greeke and Latine Poets, had their detractors, Homer his Zoilus and Virgil his Bavinus, few that ere could say like Ovid,

No foul-mouthed detractor ere hath bit
With fangs of envy any work I writ,

Many ignorant Readers I expect to have, who to be esteemed wise will carp at what they cannot mend.

To these low witted ones, that would seeme high, Ne sutor ultra crepidam, say I.

Others (like Scaliger) seek fame to themselves, by detracting from others, and like flesh-flies delight [Page]altogether in sore places, these will do what they can to disparage my Poems.

But as for these my resolutions be,
A rush for them that care a straw for me.

To the Judicious Readers I shall willingly submit, desiring them to bear with my imperfections, and where they find any faults, to remember what Ovid said unto his friend, who having found fault with the meanness of some of his Verses, replyed, that face seemes fairest that hath some moles: but least (like the Citizens of Mindum) I should make my porch too big for my house. I will con­clude my Epistle as learned Mr. Owen beginneth his pigams.

Thou that read'st these, if thou commend'st them al,
Thou'st too much milk, if none, thou'st too much gall.
Thine as I finde thee, Will. Winstanley

To the Autthr.

SIr, though I am not an Astrologer,
Yet I without the stars may thus infer,
Thy work will passe, though in these worst of times,
When arts contemned are, and scurrile lines
Passe and applauded be; thou need'st not feare,
Thy lines shall serve to wrap up Grocers ware:
Nor yet to light Tobacco with; no, this
Hath scarce a line, but there a sentence is;
Proceed thou on then, as thou hast begun,
And add to what already thou hast done:
For this thy worke posterity will thank thee.
And with our famous English Bards will rank thee.
Jo. Vaughan.

THE Muses Cabinet, STORED VVith variety of POEMS, both pleasant and profitable.

The Authors Preface to the fol­lowing Poems.

REader! What thou maist think of this, or me,
I know not, nor yet care; though Poesie
Be grown into contempt, and ignorance
Their tongues against the Muses do advance:
Though some (to bring the Art into disgrace)
Say, none do it profess, but only base
And sordid fellowes; yet I'd have them know it,
David the Lords Annointed was a Poet,
And Solomon his Sonne, the wisest man
That ever lived since the world began,
Was likewise one of that Society,
As his excellent Song of Songs doth verifie.
Augustus Caesar, Emperor of Rome,
A Poet was, as Histories have shown,
And royall Iames, of blessed memory,
Professor was of sacred Poesie.
Though some do say, we do not reprehend
The peoples vice, but teach them to offend,
In laying open to the common view
The acting of such sins they never knew:
Yet sure I think they rather may reap profit,
Shewing the sin, we shew the danger of it.
For, though somtimes we filthy sins do name,
We nere excite men to commit the same,
But every one of us, with one assent,
Unto the sin have joyn'd the punishment.
If we of Helens rape do speak, we show,
How it at length caus'd Iliums overthrow;
That none may such a life as Paris lead,
For fear that they like unto Paris speed.
Though some with open mouths do make loud cries,
That all our Works are nothing els then lies;
Yet did not passion sure their reason blind,
They would an error in their judgment find,
Since we affirm nothing for to be true,
We write not what's done, but what men should do
Affirming nothing, how can we deceive?
We bind no man our reports to believe,
But for a good invention do desire,
The sacred Muses would in us inspire,
That under feign'd relations men may see
Both what they are, and what they ought to be:
More truths are thus presented to mens eyes,
Then in many seeming true Histories.
These frivolous aspersions some do cast
On sacred Poesie, with envious blast:
But Reader, I from thee expect far better,
Which if I find, I shall remain thy Debter.
W. W.

On Misery after Ioy.

FOrepast delights no present comfort gives;
He who was one time happy, and now lives
In penury, no woes are like to his:
It adds to griefs the thoughts of passed bliss:
No object of more greater woe can be,
Then to behold a King in misery:
For as joy after sorrow sweetest is,
So sorrow is most bitter after bliss:
This made the wise Themistocles deny,
Being poor, to learn the Art of Memory,
Knowing remembrance of his former state
His present miseries would aggravate.
To have been happy, it is such a curse,
I think the world cannot afford a worse:
When Fortune brings a man to th'top of all,
Then throwes him downe, the greater is his fall.
Deposed Dionysius did say,
They onely happy were, and none but they,
That nere were blest, it is no happy state
That hath unto it an appointed date.
O let me rather never happy be,
Then in my old age taste of miserie.

Ovidii Nasonis Amorumliber primus, Aelegia 15.

ENvie why saist thou I spend ill my time,
And sai'st my Verses are an idle rime?
And that, unlike the line from whence I came,
Wats I pursue not for to purchase fame:
And that I study not the tedious lawes,
Nor prostitute my voice in each man's cause:
Thy scope is; mortall, but eternall mine,
Which through the world shall ever chant my rime.
Homer will live while Ide and Tenedos
Doth stand, and whilest to th'Sea doth flow Simois:
So will Ascreus whil'st grapes by vines are borne,
Or men with crooked sickles reape downe Corne.
Callimathus, though but low in invention,
Yet after-ages shall his Verses mention.
High Sophocles proud veine shall last for ever,
With Sun and Moon Aratus shall endure.
Whil'st slaves do cheat, fathers hoard, bauds be whorish,
And wantons flatter, shall Menander flourish:
Rude Ennius, and Ploutus, both shall live,
Each age of them a fresh applause shall give.
Of Ʋarroes name what age shall not be told?
Of Jasons Argos, and the fleece of gold?
Then shall Lueretius lofty lines expire,
When earth and Seas shall burne in flames of fire.
Titirus and Aeneas shall be read,
Whilest Rome of all the conquered world is head.
Whilest Cupids fires be out, and his bow broke,
Thy Verses, deare Tibullus, shall be spoke.
Our Gallus shall be knowne from East to West,
So shall Licoris whom he loved best.
The flint and iron both may weate away,
Verse is immortall and shall nere decay.
Let Kings give place to it, and Kingly showes,
The banks ore which gold-bearing Tagus flowes,
Then let base wits vile things admire, and dread,
Bright Phoebus to the Muses springs mee lead:
The quivering Mirtle winde about my head,
And of sad lovers i'le be often read.
Envie bites not the dead, but those that live;
For after death all men their right receive:
Then though in funerall fire death take away
My bones, my better part shall nere decay.

An Elegie and Epitaph by way of Acrostick upon that religious and vertuous Gentlewoman, Mrs. Anne Gibs, late wife to Mr. Samuel Gibs of Newman Hall in Effex.

AWake Melpomene, thou mournfull Muse,
Such cause of sorrow never hadst thou yet,
Here is a task, which if men should refuse,
The senslesse creatures would it not forget.
Who loveth vertue, now his pen will use.
Know 'tis to vertues memory a debt.
Her vertues live, though she in grave doth lie,
Your dolefull tunes sweet Muses now apply.
Never hereafter look for such a one,
For peerless beauty, and rare gifts of mind:
Nature despaireth now, her pattern's gone;
Weeds grow in each place, flowers are hard to find.
She was a Phenix, and therfore but one,
True to her Mate, and to her Neighbours kind:
Esther for beauty, for devoutness Hannah,
For vertue Ruth, for chastity Susanna.
Goodness within her brest inhabited,
Her prayers were alwayes at Gods throne atten­ders,
Eschewing what he in his Word forbid,
And what he bids, that she as well remembers.
No unclean thought within her brest lay hid,
Mary to God, and Martha to his Members.
Contemplative Divine, in words discreet,
Secret in almes, in conversttion sweet.
Injurious Death, how dar'st thou be so bold,
To kill that life that did so many cherish?
How shall dross do, if thus thou usest gold?
How shall weeds do, if thus the flowers perish?
Should such rare beauty lie in dirty mould?
Cruell hatd-hearted Death, thou art too currish:
Impartiall Atropos to none favour gives,
Amiable Anne deceases, Audrey lives.
Boast not faire Ladies then, although you do
In Natures choicest ornaments excell:
All's one to Death, the wench of blackest hue,
As she whose beauty few can parallell.
Here was a Flower who far excelled you,
Yet by Deaths sithe this fragrant Flower fell:
Death is a Pursuivant with Eagles wings,
That knocks at poor mens doors, & gates of Kings.
Sleep blessed soul within thy sacred urn,
Whil'st we with tears thy absence do deplore
Thou singest Hallelujahs whil'st we mourn,
Praising the Name of God for evermore:
No man doth know how soon may be his turn,
To tread the steps which thou hast trod before,
Death is alwayes attendant upon men,
Gertain he will come, but uncertaine when.

Epitaph.

Askest thou Reader who it is lies here?
No common corps, then list and thou shalt heare.
Goodness, rare meekness, Zeale, pure chastity,
Inter'd together in this ground doe lie:
Behold her acts whilest here shee made abode,
Shee liv'd belov'd of men, di'd lov'd of God.

A Prisoners complaint.

I Late us'd to resort unto the Brooke,
To ceach the fish with either net or hooke,
Whereas these Creatures did learne unto me,
From danger neither land nor water's free:
For whilest on fowles, fishes, and beasts we feed,
Earth, aire, and water shall be ransacked,
The gluttonous belly for to satisfie.
Thus to preserve one creatures life, how many Creatures die.
I late used to walke abroad i'th fields,
To take the pleasure Spring and Summer yields.
Whereas the flowers did denote to mee
Of our short life the mutabilitie.
One day in pomp, next day i'th durt they lie.
This day we live, to morow we may die,
For this our life's so short, and full of sorrow,
None can assure himselfe to day, he shall live till to morrow.
I once us'd to rise early in the morne
To hunt the Fox, that enemy to Corne.
And chase the timerous Hare, and by that way
I had both pleasure, and somtimes a prey.
But of those joyes I now am quite bereft.
And unto mee (alas) is nothing lest
But the remembrance onely; poore reliefe.
To thinke of joyes that now are past, to ease my present griefe.

Walden Bacchanalls.

PLatoes great yeare returned is (we see,
Things done long since againe now acted be:
The Bacchanalian Feasts once celebrated
In famous Greece, to Walden are translated;
And Ʋenus Feasts here likewise hallowed are.
Mars being dead, that bloudy God of war,
Ʋenus he unto Bacchus doth assigne,
So these two do in mutuall friendship joyne.
Walden they chose to be their randevou
Or meeting place, Ʋulcan chanc'd to heare how.
Venus with Bacchus was to meet, so hee
To Walden comes amaine, but Venus shee,
And Bacchus with some others so agreed,
They Vulcan foxt, and sent him home with speed.
Venus being rid of Vulcan, doth invite
The Gods unto a dancing fit that night,
Silenus house they chose, their repaires
The joviall Crew, with mirth to banish cares.
Phoehus himselfe left guiding of the Sun,
And came at night to see what sports were done:
But least the world should be without a day,
He in the morning did depart away;
Diana (thaugh intreated) would not come,
Whereat Venus inrag'd, commands her sonne
The little Cupid for to bend his bow,
And make her and her followers to know
His skill in archery, Venus request
Cupid fulfills, Dian comes with the rest;
O Love thou hast a powerfull deitie,
To make a Lais of Penelope!
Being thus assembled, Bacchus with bowls of Molly
Fild them so long untill their wits were jolly;
That some to dance and leap about began,
Whilst Pluto sat smoaking Necotian,
Momus carpt at their doings, whil'st the croud
Of drunken Fidlers sung and scrap'd alowd:
Some thought themselves to be a hawking sure,
For they their buzards did begin to lure;
Others to show themselves more active fooles,
Would undertake to leap over three stooles,
But in performance when as one begins,
He stumbles at the first, and breakes his shins.
A second tryes his skill, and does no lesse.
A third, a fourth, a fifth had like successe.
For Bacchus whimses did posesse their heads,
And they had got the cramp on either legs;
Well, having leap'd as much as they would do,
To drawing Dun out of the mire they go,
But presently they left that sport againe,
And then they fell into a drinking vaine:
A health sayes one unto my loves bright eye,
Which staright was pledg'd by all the Company.
He that drunk last another health prefers,
A rule observ'd by Bacchus followers.
Whilest thus full bowles to one another passe,
Bacchus and Venus in a Corner was;
Billing each other like two Turtle Doves.
For now they first enjoyed each others loves:
Yet though they got into a secret place,
Janus soone spi'd them with his double face:
He tells Mercury, Mercury straight goes
To Aetnaes forge, and doth the same disclose
To limping Vulcan, Vulcan thereat storms,
And swears hee'l pay the whoremaster for's horns:
He snatcheth up his hammer, presently
To Walden comes, and Bacchus soone doth spy,
He flings it at him, hits him on the crowne,
Who like unto a log straight tumbles downe.
Hercules was thereat exceeding wroth,
And tooke a Jug fil'd full of barley broath,
Flung it at Ʋulcans head, but mist the same,
And hit his foot, which ever since is lame:
Jove fearing mischiefe might thereby arise,
Commanded Morpheus to close up their eyes,
Which he performes, and left them snorting there
Til Sol inlightned had our hemisphere.

To Almanacke-mongers.

YOu that to knowledge such pretenders be,
As to unfold each secret mysterie
In natures workes, that by your art do know
How many miles Sol in a day doth goe,
The rising, and the setting of the Stars,
What causeth peace, debate or civill wars,
Whence roaring thunders, and whence lightnings grow,
The cause of whirle windes, earth quakes, raine, haile, snow:
Eclipses, Comets, and prodigious-things,
The cause you say o'th rise or fall of Kings.
You that these things do know, resolve good bro­thers,
Who lay last with your wives, your selves or others?
When will our English people grow more wise,
Then to believe your loud inchanting lyes?
As that of your black Munday, so t'was stil'd,
Which many of your Credits hath nigh spoyl'd,
That now because you would in credit grow,
You use ambiguous sentences, as though
The Delphian Oracle were us'd againe,
As thus, t'will be faire weather, if not raine.
The states of Ʋenice shall not suffer much
This yeare, unlesse the Turk his confines touch.
And if they hit one truth mongst many a lie,
It shall be term'd such a ones prophecie.
And in the next yeares booke these words he brings,
Last yeare I did foretell such and such things.
And yet the blockhead people would not be
So mad to beleeve such an asse as he.
Then next foretell by your mysterious art,
Will men this year prove true, or false in heart?
Will women leave to scold? will knaves leave whoring?
Will schoolboyes on their books be alwayes poring?
Will old men leave their prating? Children crying?
Or men of your profession leave your lying?
If this you cannot tell, I must divine
Your credit now beginneth to decline,

A farewell to Tobaccs.

FArewell thou Indian smoake, Barbarian vapour,
Enemy unto life, foe to waste paper.
Thou dost diseases in the body breed,
And like a Vultur on the purse doth feed.
Changing sweet breath's into a stinking loathing,
And with 3. pipes turnes two pence into nothing;
Grim Pluto first invented it, I think,
To poyson all the world with hellish stink:
And though by many it hath been defended,
It makes men rotten ere their lifes half ended.
Base heathenish weed! how common is it growne,
That but a few yeares past was scarcely knowne!
When for to see one take it was a riddle,
As strange as a Baboone to tune a fiddle.
Were it confin'd only to gentlemen,
It credit were to take Tobacco then.
But Bedlams, Tinkers, Coblers, Water-bearers,
Your common drunkards, & most common swear­ers.
Are them that use it most, which makes me muse
That men of quality the same should use.
Things common commonly are most neglected,
Saving Tobacco, which is most respected.
If mans flesh be like hogs, as it is said,
Then sure by smoaking thus it's Bacon made.
Then farewell smoake, good for such things as these,
'Gainst lice, sore, heads, scabs, mange, or French disease.

The description of a Mistris,

WHat thought can think, what heart indite,
What tongue can tell, what pen can write.
What verse containe, what words declare,
What numbers measure out the rare
And superexcllent parts of she,
That doth command the heart of mee?
Her haire like thrids of gold doth show,
Her forehead whiter then the snow,
Which on the Scithian mountaines lies.
Like to two stars appear her eyes,
Her cheeks for pleasure and delight
Seem as the red Rose, and the white
Together met, there to confer
Which should most homage do to her.
Her ears like Labyrinths seem to me,
Her lips as red as Rubies be,
Her teeth like Pearl, her breath like spice
Which cometh from the Suns uprise,
Sweeter then Aromatick gum,
Or Drugs that from Arabia come.
Her heavenly voice when I do heare,
It makes me wish each sense an eare:
Her words so full of harmony,
What she affirms, none can deny.
Her neck more white then Swans that swim
Upon Menanders Christall brim.
Armes long and slender, singers small,
Fit for the Lute or Virginall.
Soft paps, smooth belly, Ivory thighes,
Betwixt which lies Loves Paradise:
The Muses theme, a place more fam'd
Then that which is the Milkey nam'd:
O blessed he may have the hap
To search what treasures are in that:
Briefly each part is so transcending,
Nature needs no art in mending.
But that which spoyles and marres all this,
Her heart more hard then marble is.

To one who enquired the Name of her whom I loved.

VVOuld you desire to know the name of her
My heart doth fancie? veiw her Char­ecter:
Shee is a Virgin of unspotted fame,
Art never did faine, nor yet did Nature frame
A fairer then shee is; her life a line,
Which who so reads will make him a Divine:
Chaster then Dian, fairer then Cupids mother,
It were impiety to think her other
Then what shee is; for tell me, can there be
An adding to perfection? furely he
Who doth but veiw her, lawfully may swear,
No beauty living may with her compare.
Then to her heavenly outward forme is joyn'd
Wit, judgment, learning, and a vertuous minde,
For can we think Nature would be so base
To make the jewel worser then the case?
As if Protogenes should so much dote
To paint faire Venus in old Bancis Coat;
No Nature, we do by experience see,
Gives inward gifts like as the outward be.
Then false is their position who do write
Where beauty raigns vertue is banisht quite,
For certainly those Nymphs whose beauties blaze,
Do deck the world like Sols resplendent rayes;
With constant flower of divine chastity,
Their beauties garland do so dignifie:
That Cupid he though deem'd a god of power,
With all his flames can never scorch their flower.
And though Lucretia's fate bids us take heed
To wish her face, least like to her we speed,
Yet sure I think, and think I think aright,
Beauty was not alone given to delight.
The wanton eye, but as a note or sign,
Fair outsides inwardly are most divine,
Men do not Marble put to uses foul,
Nor God give beauty with an impure soul;
It seldome is we see together joyn'd,
A fair complexion, and a vicious minde.
Briefly her beauty doth as far surpasse
Our common beauties, as the flowers do grasse,
As gold doth steel, or polished Ivory,
Rough bones or pearls, the stones that o'th ground lye,
When these perfections you in one do see,
Then know assuredly the same is shee.

A Sonnet.

A Pelles like, when Nature did thee make,
Shee view'd the beauties of the Earth each one,
And from them all the best of all did take,
That thou should'st not excelled be by none;
And for to make thee super-excellent,
Shee joyn'd in one what many beauties lent.
And thus with Venus beauty she endow'd thee,
And Pallas-like she wisdome to thee gave,
The learning of Cornelia she allow'd thee;
That thou no lack of any thing should'st have:
Then since with such great gifts shee did thee bless,
O do not staine them with hard-heartednesse.
Some (though but few) as beautiful there be,
Others (and those not many) are as wise;
Others may be as learned, but in thee,
All Natures jewels in one Casket lies:
That who so viewes thy looks a Lover makes him,
Either thy vertues or thy beauty takes him.

Another:

SInce that you will not change your cruell heart,
O that time would your heavenly beauty staine,
Then from my soule this love of mine would part,
And then I my lost freedome should regaine.
For when the object of my soule is gone,
'Twill vanish, having nought to worke upon
Then should my Muse rehearse no more thy praise,
In which shee onely now doth take delight,
Striving thy name unto the heavens to raise,
Extolling thee to be a Goddess bright:
But what shee formerly hath said, unsay,
Whith coy disdaine thy cruelty repay.
But since thou do'st thy beauty still retain,
Which a servant in Cupids Court doth prove me
I may weep, wail, sit, sigh, grieve and complain,
Yet notwithstanding cannot cease to love thee
Then either change thy unrelenting heart,
Or cease to be so fair as thou art.

On her absence.

IS not this grove the place which us'd to be
Made happy by my Mistris companie?
Yes certainly, this was her residence,
But now she hath left it, and is gone from hence.
Here is the shrine, the Saint away is gone,
Here is the place, but Goddess there is none.
Then farewell grove, henceforth I will not yeeld
More reverence to thee then another field.
Delphos, thou shalt no longer honour'd be,
Then god Apollo doth remain in thee.

To his much respected Gosin Mr. T.N.

SIr, If you would renowned live for ever,
And be inroll'd i'th books of fame, indeavour
To have no Poet to your enemy,
But let desert find liberality.
It's in a Poets power to make your name
For ever live within the books of Fame.
No Mausolean monument can give
Such lasting fame, nor make your name to live,
As can sweet Poesie, whose art divine
Will make your name like stars in splendor shine.
Who ever was more fam'd for chastity,
Then was Ʋlysses wife Penelope?
Yet had not Homer in his verses shown her,
These days of ours had not so much as known her.
Virgil Aeneas lasting fame did give,
And made Mecoenas name for ever live.
Such mighty power in a Muse doth lye,
It makes men live to all posterity,
And if that Poets true presages give,
You by my book eternally shall live.

On Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia.

VVHen I that learned work of his peruse,
And read the lines indited by his Muse,
It makes me think, so sweet of love he sings,
His pens were quills pluckt off from Cupids wings.

Epitaph on Mr. John Taylor the Water Poet.

HEre lies the Water Poet, honest John,
Who rowed on the streames of Helteon,
Where having many Rocks and dangers past,
He at the Haven of Heaven arriv'd at last.

To Mr. Sheppard on his most excellent Epigrams.

SHeppard thou hast
Martial orepast,
Ausonius conquered:
Thou Harrington
Hast overcome,
And Owen stricken dead.
These in their time
For wits the prime
Of Poets counted were:
But if to thee
Compar'd they be,
We see they nothing are.
Then fit thee down,
Whilest we do crown
Thy head with wreaths of Bayes:
The Muses nine
Do all combine
To warble forth thy praise.

For my Picture,

THis Effigies to your view represents
My bodies outward form and lineaments,
But should you view the same hereafter, 'twill
Quite changed be, though this remain so still:
How vain is wretched man then, since we see.
Our shadowes are more permanent then we.

On Mony.

MAn maketh mony, mony makes a man,
This is the worlds use e're since it began:
Had man not been, mony it had not been,
And without mony none will thee esteem.

The younger Brother.

VVWho with a serious eye doth overlook
The sacred records in Gods holy Book,
Shall finde (comparing one place with another)
The blessings most times on the youngest brother;
Cain the first man that e're was born rejected,
And righteous Abel in Gods eyes accepted.
Shem, Noahs youngest son, from whom did spring
So many a godly Patriark and good King,
Was blessed both by God, and Noah, when as
Canaan curst in himself and off-spring was,
Isaac, in whom all Nations of the Earth
Was blessed in our Saviour Christ his birth;
Though Ismael were the elder, as we read,
Isaac was blessed in the promis'd seed.
Esau was hated, Jacob blessed was
E're they out of their mothers womb did passe;
On Josephs head old Jacobs blessing passes,
And Ephraim was preferr'd before Manasses.
Although King David were the younger brother,
Yet he preferred was before the other.
And wisdomes favourite, wise Solomon,
Preferred was before Prince Absalon:
But what the reasons are why these were so,
No man can tell, it's only God doth know.

Necessary Precepts.

1. FIrst worship God, let prayer be the key
That shutteth in the night, and opes the day,
Think not an hour or two too much to spend
In holy duties, expect not a good end
Of any thing thou undertakest to do.
Unlesse by prayer thou hast Gods blessing too.
2. Be not thou puffed up with pride, for know
Thou art but dust, and unto dust must go,
Then let not riches, honour, and high birth
Swell thy vaine thoughts, they are sprung from the earth.
The Peacock vaunts when he displayes his tayle,
But looking on his feet his pride doth quaile:
If we our feet of earth considered,
Tayle vanities would soon be banished.
3. Know'st thou a man who sin doth entertain?
Hate not his person, but his sins refrain;
Reprove him mildely, mildenesse doth recure
Him oft whom sharpnesse doth the more obdure,
Let him perceive thy reprehension tends
Unto his good, and not for thy own ends,
If after many admonitions he
Continue wilful, shun his company,
For feare least seeking of his soul to win,
Unto licentiousnesse he draw thee in.
4. The loathsome sin of drunkennesse detest,
Which doth transforme a man into a beast,
Empties the purse of Coine, the soul of grace,
Deformes (with vitious Heraldry) the face,
Breedeth diseases, and abbreviates life,
Causeth contention, author of all strife.
Lord give me grace for to eschew this sin,
Wherein so many now do wallow in.
5. Honour thy Parents, reverence to them do,
Nature commands thee, and Religion too.
6. Do not thou pine, because ungodly men
Thrive in the world, grow rich and wealthy, when
Many a righteous man can hardly get
Cloathes for to hide his shame, or bread to eat:
But thinks upon their ends, the one sinkes down
To hell, the other doth obtain a Crown.
7. Hath God with earthly goods inriched thee?
Bestow them on the poor as liberally,
Relieve the fatherlesse, the hungry fill,
And cloath the naked, know he doth as ill,
Who spares when Christ doth in his members want it,
As he who spends to sweare, and drink, & flaunt it.
8. Art thou grown poor & know'st not how to live?
Despaire not, God will meanes unto thee give;
Behold the Lillies of the valley, they
Spin not, nor toil, with gentle windes do play.
Yet Solomon in all his royalties
Was not arrayed like to one of these:
If God the fading Lillies doth respect,
Thinke not that he his creatures will neglect.
9. Amongst dishonest men honest to be,
Deserveth praise in the highest degree;
But yet I do advise thee come not where
Dishonest men or women living are:
To get such praise by living honestly,
Thou hast no foe like to bad company.
10. Hath God with sorrowes thee encompassed?
Do cares and feares mightly possesse thy head?
Hath he by sicknesse ta'ne away thy health?
Do outward losses much impaire thy wealth?
Consider crosses unto thee are given,
To make thee loath the world, and wish for heaven
Should God here give unto his servants blisse,
They would desire no other heaven but this:
But finding here no rest, they wish with Paul
To be with Christ, which is the best of all
11. Unto each idle tell-tale give no eare,
Nor yet report again all thou do'st heare,
Let the least part of what thou hearest be
The most thou do'st believe, those that to thee
Of other mens affairs so much do prate,
Behinde thy back will lies of thee relate;
Setting those men at strife that liv'd in peace,
For where tale-bearers want, there mischiefs cease.
12. Swear not, save call'd by a lawful commission,
But swear not falsly upon no condition;
Who falsly sweares by Gods most holy name,
Deserves a double punishment for th' same:
'Tis a deep sin, yea damn'd impiety,
To call God to be witnesse to a lye.
13. See from no man thou any thing purloyn,
'Tis death by humane lawes, and eke divine.
14. The company of wicked men forsake;
Least for a wicked person men thee take;
For 'tis a saying birds that are of a Feather,
Will the most part accompany together.
15. Lye not on no condition, for the same
Worse then a slanderous tongue will spoyle thy fame,
He who no conscience of a lye doth make,
None will believe him when he truth doth speak:
And the old proverb is as true as briefe,
A Lyer is far worser then a Thiefe.
16. Be not too credulous what others say,
Least thou for thy credulity do pay;
Yet for to give them no cause of distrust,
Seem not to doubt although perhaps thou do'st.
17. Avoid those brutish sins, those damned crimes,
Those wicked acts (too frequent in these times)
Of lust and whoredome, God himself will be
The judge of those that act Adultery:
Besides it shortens life, making thy name
To foes a laughter, to thy friends a shame;
Then let these reasons move thee to desist,
And take advice from th'Epigrammatist,
Fast much, pray oft, fly women as the fire,
Think not on earthly things, but think on higher:
If these work not, this medicine doth excel,
The fire of marriage will lusts fire expel.
18.
Set thy last end alwayes before thy eye,
Thou knowest not how, where, nor when thou shalt die;
Then let not the thoughts of thy last end be
The last end of thy thoughts, least suddenlie
Death cut thee off; that man cannot live ill,
That is for his last end prepared still.
Then in thy life provide so for thy end,
That when death comes, to bid him wellcome friend.
19. Give not thy minde unto excess of meat,
Eat onely for to live, not live to eat,
If here on earth thou Dives life do lead,
To Dives thou must go when thou art dead.
20. Accustome not thy selfe in sinne, for know
Custome in time will unto Nature grow,
Sinnes that at first distastfull be to thee,
By frequent acting will delightfull be:
And 'tis as hard to leave what we delight,
As for to wash an Ethiopian white.
21. Do not thou with an over-curious eye
Into the secrets of th' Almighty pry:
But let thy greatest knowledge, and thy pride
Be for to know Christ Jesus crucifi'd.
22. Avoid all sinnes, but those especially,
Which to thy fancie most delightfull be.
Who will not wanton with a beautifull
Faire Virgin, will contemne a homely trull:
So he that leaves the sinnes which most he lov'd
Will not with slight temptations (sure) be mov'd
23. Hath God by sickness thee afflicted sore?
Think 'tis to draw thee unto him the more,
Said David Gods anointed, had I not
Been chastened. I thy precepts had forgot.
Afflictions are (though in their Nature evill)
Rods to restraine's from running to the Divell.
24. Disclose not that which doth concerne thee nearly
Though to a friend that thou affectest dearly,
Hee's wise that in his breast close secrets smothers,
Whil'st there they are thy own, if told anothers:
Besides it bringeth thee in slaverie,
Not daring to make him thine enemie,
For feare his malice cause him to reveale
What former friendship bound him to conceale.
25. If Satan tempts thee to commit a sin,
Think with thy selfe whose presence thou art in;
It was the counsell of a heathen man,
Unto his friend, ere that he ought began,
To think, grave Cato, or such one one as he
Did ready stand, his actions to otesee,
And not to act any thing that he would
Ashamed be they should the same behold.
If heathen men conceited were the sight
Of such grave men as Cato would affright
A man from acting sin, how then dare we,
Who know that God doth all our actions see?
Nothing is hid from him as Scripture mentions,
He knowes our secretest thoughts and hearts inten­tions.
26 Frequent the Church, misse not a Sunday there,
Attentive be Gods sacred word to heare,
Six dayes thou hast to labour in, but thou
The seventh unto his service must allow:
And pitty 'tis that man should ever live,
That one in seven unto him will not give.
27. Let not a secret place, nor the night be
To sin any incouragement to thee.
For be assured though from mans sight
Sin acted be, 'twill come at last to light.
Love not for lucre, marry not for mony,
Wed not for wealth, he who doth love the honey,
Must fear the sting, parents they are most free
To those children who least deserving be:
Where best parts are no need wealth to bestow,
When fat sows must be greas'd to make them go,
29. Write no such lines that others they may be
The worse by reading them, it is for thee
Enough thine own iniquity to beare,
Too much in others sins to have a share;
Then neither write nor yet read none of them:
A lame hand better is then a lewd pen.
30. Do no such actions as thou shouldest feare
That any one should see it, neither dare
To speak that word thou blushest to have shown,
Nor think that thought thou wouldest not have known,
But let thy deeds, words, thoughts be good, & then
Thou need'st not feare to have them known to men.
31. Rather let thy memory die, and thy name
Then by ill acts to eternize the same.
Though some with Herostratus temples burne
To purchase fame, rather within thy urne
Unmention'd by then for to eternize
Thy name lie, committing of villanies:
What profit hast thou though thy name aspire,
If thou thy selfe lie'st frying in hel fire?
32. Despair not, though thy sins be great, for greater
Is God in mercy, therefore grant Creator,
That wee of mercy presume not too far,
So in like manner wee may not dispaire:
The Saint thief saved was even at deaths gate,
To learne's repentance never is too late,
But least that we should too presumptuous be,
Wee never read of none so sav'd but he.
Lord if through frailty I great sins commit,
Let me hope for mercy, not dispaire of it.
Yet let me not presume to act a sin,
Because th' art mercifull in pardoning.
33. Deferre not thy repentance untill thy
Old age, least death seize on the suddenly:
Parents their Children follow to the grave
As oftentimes as Children followed have
Their Parents: as many lambs skins are sold
In the market as of Sheepe that are old.
And who the skulls in Charnell houses see,
Shall find as many small as great ones be.
Deferre not then, but suddenly repent,
Least death thy purpose thereunto prevent.

An Elegie on my deare Wife, who deceased in January 1652.

MUses that on Pernassus Hill do make
Abode, assist this work I undertake,
Rightly do unto her, whose vertues shone
Transcendent bright in this our Horizon:
How glorious is she then of life bereaven?
A Star on earth, but now a Saint in Heaven.
Why strive I then for to describe her worth?
In vain is art to set perfection forth:
No I may sooner tell the drops o'th Ocean;
Surcease the Tides, or stop the Planets motion,
Then to pourtray her vertues to the life,
As here she liv'd on Earth, a maid and wife;
N'ere did the worlds bright eye (Hyperion) see
Lesse faults in any then he did in shee:
E're since Christs time, so cleer her vertues shone:
Youths beauty, ages wisdome joyn'd in one.
Mirrour of women in these worst of time,
As full of goodness as the world of crimes,
Religious, zealous, vertuous, wise, discreet,
Too good to live on earth, for Heaven more meet,
Her foule is now at rest, whilst shee doth sing
An Halelujah unto Heavens great King.
What vertues ere were faign'd or knowne to be
In any one, comprized were in shee,
No idle tell-tale for to cause debate,
Such kinde of Creatures shee did alwayes hate.
Truth was her aime, lying shee did abhor it,
And truths great God rewarded hath her for it.
Nor were these vertues lockt up in her brest,
Like to rich jewells in an iron chest,
Enclosed fast, but evermore in action:
Your standing water turnes to putrefaction.
More might be said, but when that all is done,
All words are like a Candle to the Sun;
Respecting her rare exceellent parts, who in
The morning of her age did thus begin,
How glorious had her life been then, had shee
Attain'd those yeares that ancient men do seel
Why weep we then, why do our eyes run over,
In vaine to mourne for what we can't recover?
Nor think her time on earth to be but small,
Seeing shee liv'd and di'd belov'd of all.
Those that unto this age do once attaine,
An honour 'bove Methusalls age do gaine,
Not length of dayes, but dayes well spent are best,
Live so thy life that death may give thee rest.
Expect not the more honor for gray haires,
Yeares crown our head, but goodness crownes our yeares.

Epitaph.

REader! within this ground enterr'd doth lie
Ʋenus beautie, Dianas chastity.
Cornelias learning, and Philoeleas swettness,
Pondoras wisdome, and faire Grissels meeknes.
Briefly whatever other items were,
Sum'd up in one lie in this Sepulcher.

True love.

GReat was the love and friendship that be­tween
Damon and Pithias passed, scarce ere seen
Or ever knowne before, or since, that as
One to die for another, but more was
The love that God to us Sinners did beare,
For when (by sin) his enemies we were,
Yet he so loved us, as that he gave,
His Son a ransome our poore Soules to save.
That whosoever do in him believe,
Sha'nt perish, but eternal life receive;
O love unspeakable! O bounty endlesse!
Love unexpressible, and matchlesse kindnesse!
It's seldome seen one to dye for another,
But for one's enemy transcends all other.

To my Wife.

NOw twice hath Phoebus run his annual race
& twice 12 times fair Cynthia chang'd her face,
Twice Hiems Frosts hath nipt both flowers & trees,
Cloathing old Tellus in a gowne of Freeze;
Twice hath the husbandman received his gain
From grassy Medowes, and from Ceres grain:
Twice hath the Earth been dew'd with Apr. showrs,
Twice Lady Flora deckt the Fields with flowers,
Since we in Hymens rites together joyn'd,
During which time though fortune proves unkind,
And God hath laid his hand of visitation
Heavy upon us, and that much vexation
We have endured, yet let's not repine,
Content (although with little) is a Mine
More worth then gold, a quiet peaceful life
Is better far then much with care and strife:
Thus let us rest secure, since we do lie
Too low for envy, and for scorne too high.

On Friends.

FRiends, like to leaves that on the trees do
In Summers prosperous state much love will grow,
But art thou in adversity? then they
Like leaves from trees in Autumn fall away: show;
He happy is that hath a friend indeed,
But he more happy that no friend doth need.

On Eternity.

THe greatest happinesse of heavenly blisse
Is that, because the same Eternal is:
So to the damned 'tis the greatest woe,
Because their miseries no end shall know:

The Conclusion.

LIber are our Liberi, we do give
Life unto them, and they make us to live.

Epigrams.

To the Reader.

REader, if thou applaud'st all is here writ,
Thou show'st store of good will, but not of wit,
But if thou doest dislike all here is pen'd,
Yet cease to carp, unless thou canst it mend.

An old Lecher.

MEmbrino stradling goes in great distress,
As if he had the Fr— yet confess
He will it not, not can I think the same,
Sith he in France at any time nere came.
Then since he never came whereas they grew,
Let all men be appeas'd, the tale's untrue.
For how should he be troubled with French sores,
Who never us'd any but English whores?

Epigram.

ONe Hogg, for goods feloniously taken,
Was tride before a Judge, Sir Francis Bacon.
And doubting much it would go hard with him,
He told the Judge they two were neare a akin,
For Hogg and Bacon are all one, therefore
For kindred sake to pitty him the more:
Nay stay repli'd the Judge, you are mistaken,
Hogg must be hang'd before it can be Bacon.

Natures impartiality.

NAtures impartiality hath dealt her store,
Riches shee gives to fools, makes wise men poore;
The lack of beauty is with strength supplied,
And beauty given is where strength's denied.
Learning shee doth bestow where honor's scant,
And honor gives to those who learning want.
Impartially shee dealeth thus with all,
Some hope to rise, and others fear to fall.

The change of the World.

I'Th' golden age, as ancient histories speak,
Men desir'd rather to be good then great;
But ever since this iron age hath stood,
Men desire rather to be great then good.

On Rembombo.

REmbombo having spent all his estate,
Went to the wars to prove more fortunate.
Being return'd he speakes such warlike words,
No Dictionary halfe the like affords:
He talks of flankers, gabions, and scalados,
Of curtneys, parapets and palizados,
Retreats and triumphs and of camisadoes,
Of sallies, halfe moones, and of ambuscadoes,
I to requite the fustian termes he uses,
Reply with words belonging to the Muses.
As Spondes, Dactiles and Hexameters,
Stops, comma's, accents, types, tropes, and Pen­tameters,
Madrigalls, Epicediums, elegies,
Satyres, Iambicks, and Apostrophes,
Acrosticks, Palinodies, Anagrams:
Eglogues, Aquiuoques, and Epigrams,
Thus talking and being understood by neither,
We part as wise as when we came together,

On Achilles.

SOme say Achilles was impenetrable,
All but the heele, yet Cupid wounded him:
Can Cupids darts wound where no others can,
Or was he wounded by him in the heele?

On the Pope.

WHy doth the Pope brag, boast, and make great vaunts
Of the divisions amongst Protestants?
It's true they too too much divided be,
Yet all of them to hate him do agree.

Times worse and worse.

TO think on these times how they are growne bad,
Would if one did consider it, make one mad,
But to think how every day they do grow badder,
'Twould make a tame man mad, a mad man madder.

A learned wife.

ONe said he had a wife which (although young)
Yet had the English, French, and Latine tongue,
But said another they are happier men
Who have wives that cannot speake none of them,
For my wife hath none but the English tongue,
Yet oft with that she makes me wish her dumbe.

In Cineas.

I Wonder what makes Cireas to be proud,
Seeing he is with no good gifts indow'd?
He is not faire, nor rich, nor learn'd, nor witty,
And yet hee's proud, alas the more's the pitty.

In Pontum.

Pontus complaineth greviously, that he
Going so brave cannot esteemed be,
Pontus thou shalt not unregarded pass,
I do esteeme thee a vain-glorious asse.

On a Pratler.

IT is no wonder Rubius tongue to heare,
But if he wisely talk't, a wonder 'twere.

The wooden Age.

OF all the Worlds four ages there was none
So bad as this, the first a golden one;
The next of silver, and the third of brass,
The fourth more baser, of hard iron was,
But these our times, if rightly understood,
May very well be term'd an age of wood.
Wherein some sticks, kindled with damned ire,
Makes such a blaze as sets the world on fire.

In Cornutum

TOms wife is sick, and therefore he doth run
In hast to fetch the Midwife, which being Aone,
He runs to call the women in with speed
To help his wife in this her extream need;
The child being born, then Tom about doth trot,
And never leaves till he hath Gossips got:
Ah Tom I must needs say thou hast hard measure,
To take such paines when others had the pleasure.

On Ned.

NEd swears a man can have no greater curse,
Then a light houswife, and an empty purse:
And what i'st think you makes Ned of this minde,
It's true, he doth it by experience finde.

On Rufus.

RƲfus the Tapster doth as bravely go,
As he were worth five hundred pounds a year,
And what is it that doth maintain him so;
But nicking Cans and frothing Jugs of Beer?
For he to these contents hath ta'ne an Oath,
Ne're to fill Jug nor Can but half with froth.

On Brute.

BRute certainly foresaw the time would come,
Some would deny there e're was such a one,
And there fore he for to confirme the same,
Called this Country after his own name.

On Frances.

FRanks flesh is free, and yet it is not free,
Strange this may seem to some how it should be;
Franks flesh is free to any who so pleases;
Franks flesh is not free from French mens diseases.

On a Tapster that got a Wench with childe.

BLame not the Tapster, why he did no more
Then broach a Hogshead n'ere was tapt before.

Contempt.

DRink quarts of Nectar, take Necotian,
Pregust, Regust, use all the Art you can,
Implore the Muses, mendicant Apollo,
Turn ore the leaves of famous Poets, swallow
Whole streames of Aganippe, study what
The highest ingenue e're aymed at;
Yet when you have done all, you must conclude
To be condemned by the multitude.

On Physitians and Lawyers.

SOme Physitians kill more then they do mend,
Some Lawyers make more quarrells then they, end
That he shall find who seeks for help to these
The remedy far worse then the disease.

Ill manners breed good Lawes.

TArt Epigrams, sharp Satyrs, and good Laws,
Do all three of them proceed from one cause,
Bad manners to amend that is the cause,
Of making Satyrs, Epigrams and Laws.

To unmercifull Creditors.

VNmercifull, and yet expect you Heaven?
Forgive, or never looke to be forgiven,
Nor do not think these words to be but winde,
Who show's no mercy, mercy shall not finde.

To A. P. Singing.

WHen I that heavenly voice of thine did heare,
Sounding harmonious as a hevenly sphere,
To love I yeelded straight, by which 't appeares
Thou stolest away my heart thorough my eares.

Cato lib. 1.27.

HE that Speakes faire, and yet is false in heart,
Do thou the like, so art is met by art.

It is well spoken is will taken.

BEeing in London nigh to Gracious Street,
A country-Gentleman I chanc'st to meet,
Who ask'd the next way to go to the Tower,
Treason said I will do it in an houre.

The Conclusion.

CEase Muse, here comes a Criticke, close thy page,
These lines are not strong enough for this age,
The nice new fangled Readers of these times
Will scarcely relish thy plain Country rimes.
They with no other pictures will be taken,
But onely those are of Apelles making,
But yet if at thy plaine ones they do bark,
Bid them write better, or else cease to carp.
FINIS.

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