Humours heau'n on earth with the ciuile warres of death and fortune. As also the triumph of death: or, the picture of the plague, according to the life; as it was in anno Domini. 1603. / By Iohn Dauies of Hereford. Davies, John, 1565?-1618. 1609 Approx. 268 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 79 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-02 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A69177 STC 6332 ESTC S109342 99844992 99844992 9861 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69177) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 9861) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 985:10, 1376:4) Humours heau'n on earth with the ciuile warres of death and fortune. As also the triumph of death: or, the picture of the plague, according to the life; as it was in anno Domini. 1603. / By Iohn Dauies of Hereford. Davies, John, 1565?-1618. [8], 41, 142-248, [4] p. By A[dam] I[slip], Printed at London : 1609. In verse. Printer's name from STC. With two final leaves of dedicatory verses. British Library copy identified as STC 6331 at reel 985:10. Reproductions of the originals in the British Library (reel 985:10) and Cambridge University Library (reel 1376:4). Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Plague -- Poetry -- Early works to 1800. 2005-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-09 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-12 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2005-12 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-01 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Humours Heau'n on Earth ; With The Ciuile Warres of Death and Fortune . As also The Triumph of Death : Or , The Picture of the Plague , according to the Life ; as it was in Anno Domini . 1603. By Iohn Dauies of Hereford . O! t' is a sacred kinde of Excellence , That hides a rich truth in a Tales pretence ! Printed at London by A. I. 1609. ¶ To the right Noble , Algernon , Lord Percy , sonne and heire apparant to the right Honorable Henry Earle of Northumberland . THrice Noble , and more hopefull Pupill I ( Who learnes thy Hand to shew thy Hearts conceits Would make thy heart , before it Vice doth trie , To know her Lures , to shunne her slie deceits . But , in the Prime but of thy Pupillage Before the ioynts of Iudgement can be knit , ( Although for Wit thou mai'st be Wisedomes Page ) Vice throwes her Lures aboue thy reach of Wit. But yet when Time shall throwly close thy Mould , Wherein all rare Conceits still cast shall bee , Then shalt thou ( with cleere eies ) darke lines behold , That leade thee to all knowledge fit for thee . And , sith that Childhood more in Tales delights Then saddest Truths ; I le tell thee merry Tales , Of Lords and Ladies , with their merry Knights , Their merry Blisses , and their sory Bales . The outside of these Tales are painted o're With colours rich , to please thine eagre sence ; But , lin'd with naked Truth ( yet richly poore ) More fit for thy more rich Intelligence . When thou canst cracke this Nut , within the Shell Thou shalt a Kernell finde will please thy Taste ; The Pallate of thy Wit will like it well , When thou shalt swallow it , for ioy , in haste . Then make this Nut a whirligigge the while , To make thee merry ( if thou canst be so ) To see the turning of our Sports to toile , Wherein obserue how pleasures come and go : For , as a whirligigge doth turne so fast , That sharpest sights the fruit do scarse perceiue : So can no Pallate fruits of Pleasure taste When they are come , so soone they take their leaue ! Read● little Lord , this Riddle learne to reede ; So , first appose ; then , tell it to thy Pecres : So shall they hold thee ( both in Name and Deed ) A perfect Pierc-ey that in darkenesse cleeres . A Pierc-ey , or a pi●rcing Eie doth sh●w Both Wit and Courage ; and , if thou wilt learne By morall Tales sinnes mortall to eschew , Thou shalt be wise , and endlesse glorie earne : That so thou mai'st , the meanest Tutors praise ; So , Percies fame shall pierce the Eie of Daies : Then , by those Raies my Pen ( inflam'd ) shall runn● Beyond the Moone , to make thy Moone a Sunne ! Meane while , and euer , I rest prest to honour thee with my poore vttermost , Iohn Dauies . To the good Knight , and my much honored Scholler , Sir Philip Carey . SIth Death ( deere Sir ) hath lately beene so fell , To reaue that life , than deere life deerer farre ; This record of his greater rage may quell The lesse ( perhaps ) in your particular . Faine would I ( if I could ) beguile your griefe , With telling you of others heauie harmes : But ( ah ) such guile giues Griefe too true reliefe , In your true humane heart , that Pitty warmes . Life is a Plague : for , who doth liue , must die ; Yet some that haue the Plague , doe scape aliue , So life's more mortall than Mortalitie : Then sith that life ( like death ) doth life depriue , You may reioyce , sith your Adolphus liu'd , True Vertues life , which cannot be depriu'd . Viuat post funera virtus . As much grieu'd for your losse , as glad any way to shew his loue . Iohn Dauies . To the right worshipfull my deere Scholler Sir Humfrey Baskeruile of Earsley , Knight : And the no lesse louely than vertuous Lady his Wife . SIth I am Lecturing my noblest Schollers , ( You being two ) this Lecture deigne to reade ; For thogh it treats of nought but death & dollers , Yet it with pleasure may your passion feede : For , plagues to see ( vnplagu'd ) doth Nature please , Although good nature ( gladly ) grieues thereat ; As we are well-ill pleas'd to see at Seas The wofull'st wracke , while we are safe from that . In health to tell what sickenesse we haue past , Makes vs more soūd ; for , Gladnes health defends : O then your eies on this Plagues-Picture cast To glad and grieue you for glad-grieuous ends . But my sole End by this poore Meane to yee , Is but to tie your Eares , and Hearts to mee , Iohn Dauies . To my deere , meeke , modest , and intirely beloued Mistris Elizabeth Dutton , Mistris Mary , and Mistris Vere Egerton , three Sisters of hopefull destenies , be all Grace and good Fortune . SIth on my worthiest Schollers I doe muse , How should my Muse to minde you once neglect , Sith you are such ? Thē , such she shuld abuse , Should she not vse you with all deere respect . Thou virgin Widow ( eldest of the Three ) ( That hold'st thy widows state , of Death in chief ) Death in thy youth ( being fast ) hath made thee free ; Free from thy Ioy , & fastned thee to Griefe . But he that is the Lord of lordly Death , Reserues thine honor'd Sires most honor'd Sire From Deaths dispite ; & while he draweth breath , Thou ( lowly Soule ) art likely to aspire . Thy Sisters ( like in Nature , as in Name , And both in Name and Nature nought but good ) ( Beloued Pupills ) well may hope the same , Sith of like grace there is like likelihoode . Yet in the height of Earths felicitie , A meeke regard vnto this Picture giue , To minde you so of lifes mortalitie , So shall you liue to die , and die to liue . Meane while I hope , through your cleere Stars to spie A Trinitie of Ladies ere I die . He which ( for the exercise of your hie humilitie ) you please to call Master Iohn Dauies . To my worthy , and worthily beloued Scholer , Thomas Bodenham Esquier , sonne and heire apparant of Sir Roger Bodenham of Rotherwas , Knight of the Bathe . ANd , if among them that are deere to mee , ( Remembred by my Pen , my Muses Tongue , ) I should forget to shew my loue to thee , My selfe , but much more thee , I so should wrong . Nay , wrong the right which I to thee doe owe : But neuer shall my loue so guilefull proue , As not to pay thee so deseru'd a due ; For , I confesse thou well deseru'st my loue . Thou wert my Scholer ; and if I should teach So good a Pupill such a Lesson ill ( By mine example ) I might so impeach Mine honest fame , and quite disgrace my skill : But when I learne thee such detested Lore , Then loathe my loue , and learne of me no more . Yours , as what 's most yours , Iohn Dauies . The last Booke ( being a Picture according to the Life ) dedicated To the no lesse high in Birth , then honorable in Disposition ( right noble in either ) the Ladie Dorothie , and Ladie Lucy Percies . GReat-little Ladies , greatly might you blame My little care of doing as I ought , Should I neglect to set your noble Name , First of those Principalls whose hands I taught . Yet , the more high your Birth and Places are , The more ye ought to mind the blast of Breath : As Philips Page did shew his Masters care , When most he flourisht , most to thinke on death ! Then , with most blisse , when you transported be , Looke on this Picture ; so , perceiue ye shall , We fall , like Leaues , in Autumne from the Tree , When Heau'n puffes at Excesse in generall : But from all woes excesse I wish ye may ( Throgh Heau'n on Earth ) to heau'n the easiest way ! Your Ladiships vnworthie Tutor , Iohn Dauies . To my beloued Master , Iohn Dauies . When I thy Reasons weigh , & meat thy Rimes , I find they haue such happy weight and measure , As makes thy Lines extend to After-times , To leade them to a Masse of Wisedomes Treasure . With weighty Matter so thou load'st thy Lines , As to dimme sights they oft seeme darke as Hell ; But those cleere eies that see their deepe designes , Do ioy to see much Matter coucht so well ! But these thy Numbers most familiar bee ; Because strange Matter plainely they recount : For which Men shall familiar be with thee That know thee not ; and , make thy fame to mount . I know no Tongues-man more doth grace his Tong With more materiall Lines , as streight as strong ! Ed : Sharphell . To mine entirely beloued , Master Iohn Dauies of Hereford . IN all thy Writings thou hast such a Vaine , As but thy selfe thy selfe canst counterfet ; Which , lying farre beyond the vulgar straine , Is harder well to open , then to get . Few idle words thou hast to answer for In all thy workes ; but , thou dost merite much ( Nay supererogate ) who dost abhorre Superfluous words , though thine be over-rich ! Both Words and Matter do so well agree , To glorifie themselves in either kinde , That we must needs renowne both them , and thee , Who neerely sought ( for vs ) the same to finde : Thy Numbers flow from such a Minds excesse As all seeme Raptures , in all happinesse ! Ro : Cox. To the Reader in praise of the Author . IN every Tale which scarffed Truth containes , We must that Truth vnmaske to see her face : Else see we but the halfe the Tale retaines ; Then such ( how e're well told ) lose halfe their grace . But these are Tales , which ( though their truth be maskt ) Tickle the itching'st Eares with wit●hing Touches ; And so such Eares to listen still are taskt , By subtill clawing , that such Eares bewitches . Canst thou but Riddles reade , and not areede ? These Riddles high ( well read ) stoope to thy reason : That though they fat not Wit , yet Will they feede With Wittes pure Salt , that Wits fresh-Sweetes doth season : The Fiction is for gladdest Will as fit , As is the Morall for the saddest Wit. Anth : Greys . Humours Heauen on Earth . 1 VPon a time ( thus olde wiues Tales begin , Then listen Lordings to an old wises Tale ) There were three men , that were , & were not kin , * ( Reede me this Riddle ) at the Wine or Ale , Did striue who most should grace the deerest Sin , For which the daintiest Soules are set to sale : For Soules that are most delicate for Sense , Gainst stings of honied sinnes haue least defence . 2 The first ( for first I le tell you eithers name To shew their natures ) hight * Poliphagus : A greasie guttes , of most vnweldie frame ; The second named was * Epithymus : Light as a feather , apt to lightest game : The third and last , hight * Hyselophronus ; That still lookt on himselfe , as if he saw That which the Gods did loue , and Men did awe . 3 Nor is it vtterly impertinent Vnto the matter subiect , to describe The Weedes they ware , which were as different , As was their Names , their Natures , & their Tribe ; The Habit sheweth how the heart is bent : For , still the Heart the Habit doth prescribe : And no externall signes can more bewray The inwardest Affects then garments may . 4 Poliphagus a Sute of Satten ware , Made wide and side ; and yet his sides did swell , So that his Trusse did couerscarse the bare , And so his Panch ( an homely Tale to tell ) Was fill'd with filth , that eu'ry stich did stare Of that which casd it ; and of grease did smell : Which so re-glosst the Sattens glosse , that it Was varnisht like their vailes that turne the Spit . 5 His Buttons and the Holes , that held them fast , His brestmade stil to striue which best could hold But yet that breast made one another brast , And so it selfe did swell as burst it would ; Who was some two elles compasse in the waste , And had not seene his knees since two daies old : No Points he vs'd ; whose bumme and Belly burst , Held vp his Sloppes , as strait as they were trusst . 6 A paire of button'd Buskins casd his Legges , Which were all Calfe from Hams vnto the Heele ; And after him ( like clogges ) the same he dregges : His Shooes were lin'd , that he no cold might feele● The Soales whereof thicke Corke asunder gegs , Made broad ( without Indents ) lest he might reele : And ouer all , he ware a slabberd Gowne , Which cloakt his Buttockes hugely ouergrowne ! 7 Thus haue we casd the Slouen , saue the Head ; And wittingly we doe the same forbeare ; Because his Shoulders stoode in his Heads stead , Which hardly did aboue their pitch appeare : The lumpe of flesh was all so ouer-fed , As he no man , but some Behemoth were : For they whose ioy is all in drinke and meate , Thogh mean they be , they needs must be too great 8 Epithymus ( the wanton ) on his Crowne , A Crowne of Roses ware lasciuiously ; A falling Band of Cut-worke ( richly sowne ) Did his broad Shoulders quite ore-canopy : A waste-coate wrought with floures ( as they had growne ) In colour'd silke , lay open to the eie : And , as his Bosome was vnbutton'd quite , So were his Points , vntrusst for ends too light ! 9 His Doublet was Carnation , cut with greene Rich Taffataes , quite through in ample Cuttes ; That so his Wast-coate might , ech where be seene , When lusty Dames should eie this lusty Guttes : And many Fauours hung the Cuttes betweene , And many more , more light , in them he shuttes ! So that a vacant place was hardly found About this Fancy , so well-fauour'd round . 10 His Hose was French , and did his doublet sute , For Stuffe and Colour ; to which sow'd there were Silke-stockings , which sate strait his thighs about , To make his leg and thigh more quaint appeere : Their colour was , as was the vpper Sute , Saue that the quirkes with gold and gawdie geere Were so embosst , that as the Gallant goes , The glosse did light his feete to saue his toes . 11 His Shooes were like to Sandalls , for they were So caru'd aboue with many a curious Cut , That through the same the stocking did appeere , And in the Lachets were such Ribbands put , As shadow'd all the foote from Sunne well neere , Though , in Rose-forme , the ribband vp was shut : And to make vp aright this Woman-Man , He at his face still fenced with a fan . 12 But Hyselophronus vnlike to him , Was richly clad , but much more graue it was ; For , he could not endure such colours trim , Yet vs'd trimme colours to bring drifts to passe : A Backe too bright , doth argue Braines too dim : For , no such Asse as is the golden Asse : But he that State to catch , doth know the knacke , Hides all his haughtie thoughts in humble blacke . 13 His Hat was Beauer of a middle sise , The Band , silke-Sipers foure-fold wreath'd about : A shallow Cambricke Ruffe , with Sets precise , Clos'd with a button'd string , that still hung out ; Wherewith he plai'd , while he did Plottes deuise ; To gull the Multitude , and rule the Rout : His Sute was Satten , pinckt , and laced thicke , As fit , as faire , without each peeuish tricke . 14 His Cloke cloth-rash with veluet throughly lin'd , ( As plaine as Plainenesse ) without welt , or garde , To seeme , thereby , to be as plaine in Mind ; For , he to seeme good , still had good regarde : His rapier hilts wer blackt , which brightly shin'd , A veluet Scobbard did that weapon warde : The Hangers and the Girdle richly wrought , With Silke of * poorest colour , deerely bought . 15 His Stockings ( sutable vnto the same ) Were of blacke silke , and crosse-wise gartered : The Knot whereof a Roses forme did frame , Which neare the ham the sable leaues did spred : His Shooes were veluet , which his foote became , Thus was he clad , from foote vnto the Head : Who still was still , as one of iudgement staid , Before he heard , and poiz'd , what others saide . 16 While first ( puft-panch ) Poliphagus bespake , ( But panted as he spake for want of winde ; And at each word his fat for feare did quake , Lest that winds want that fat should melt , or bind , O that ( quoth he ) then reached to perbrake ) Mans Necke were like a * Cranes , then should we find More pleasure in our meat & drink , because T' would longer passe , with pleasure to our mawes . 17 Eating and Drinking sweetly eates vp Time That eates vp all ; then , feeding most of all We ought to loue ; for , we are made of * Slime ; Then should we feed ( lest we to slime should fall ) That so our flesh , by fat , to fat should climbe ; Fat Capons , Turkies , Fezants we may call The * Ladders to Perfection , and t' ascend By such Degrees , is mans perfections end . 18 Deere * Taste ( quoth he ) the life of all my ioy ) , Can they be blest that say thou bredst our curse , When thou dost sweeten all our liues annoy , That else were Hell it selfe , or rather worse ? For my part , I esteeme that * Tale a Toy ; And thinke that Taste alone doth Nature nurse : If thou be Natures Nurse , then say I dare , Thou nursest That that makes vs what we are . 19 Who are by nature Demi-gods at least ; Gramercies Taste , that mak'st vs so to be : Man , but for thee , were farre worse then a beast ; And , beasts were worse then nothing , but for thee : For , man , and beasts do toile but for the taste ; Then if our taste should faile vs , curst were we : Sith both are borne to labor but for * foode ; That rather would offend ; then doe vs good . 20 The mouth , & Maw are Pleasures blisfull Bowres , Where she lies dallying with her loue Delight : The Maw ( Charibdis which Delight deuoures ) Takes frō the mouth what giu's the mēbers might ; Is That an Idol which such good procures ? Or should it not be * seru'd by Natures right , That keepes fraile Nature in her vitall heate , That else would pine for want of tasting meate ? 21 * O! taste , and see how sweete the Lord ; but whie Do I enforce what * forcelesse I esteeme ? Yet , sith it 's held for written-Veritie , I le sucke sweete from that weede , and holy seeme : The sou'raign'st sense , enthron'd is in the Eie ; Yet Taste , this Truth ( if truth ) doth better deeme : For , taste , and see , first taste , and after see , Implies that Taste , of Sight hath sou'raigntie . 22 O t is the Well from whence the Senses drawe Their summum bonum ; sweet'st , thogh short , delite : The right hie-way to Mirth , lies to the Mawe ; The way to mirth that cheares the flesh , & * sprite ; That warms the blood , & frozen harts doth thaw , In spight of Nature , foiling Natures spight : Then , who distasts these sweet Lauds of the Taste , His Taste is senslesse , and his Wittes are waste . 23 Aske Proofe , how all the Veines do flow with ioy When as the Mouth takes in confected Sweetes ; Or when the Pallate doth her Powres imploy To meet sweet Wines , which she with * smacks regreets : What hart so faint , that thē can feare anoy , Though Hell itselfe with all the Senses meets ? Giue strong drink to the damn'd , & they 'l sustaine , In Paines despight , with ease , the spight of Paine . 24 What Care can once but touch a merry hart , That 's merry made with precious blood of grapes ? And , who can choose but play a frolicke part , That by strong Sacke , frō Sorrows sacke escapes : Smart , them annoyes that feele , or thinke on smart , But not those that with Wine are Pleasures rapes : For , while they gape to let in , * out to run , They feele , & think on nought but Healths begun . 25 Thus did this gormandizing Epicure * Insist in praise of That which Taste commends ; And , ( for winde lab'ring ) labour'd past his powre To make Mans gorge his god , for godlesse ends : When loe , Epithymus ( to make it sure ) In part approu'd his reasons ; yet he bends His pow'r to proue the wenching practicke part , To yeeld the ioy which most affects the hart . 26 These Girles ( quoth he ) so they be faire , and yong , Are they alone that most do rauish Sense ; For which , no lesse then for our foode we long ; The Touch , being furthest from th' Intelligence , With much more * libertie , and ioy among , Doth play her part to proue her excellence : It tickles all our veins with lustful pleasure , Which the mean while , hath neither mean nor mesure . 27 What Heart 's so cold that is not set on fire , With a trans-lucent beaming sunne-brightface ? But , of that face to haue the hearts desire , The Heart cannot desire a greater grace : Who couets not bright Beauties golden wire , His * Sprite is abiect , and his thoughts are base : Sith those wires winde about the turning thought , And tie it to rich pleasures dearely bought . 28 Who meets with flesh that melts with tendernesse , And melts not in Desires ay-burning flames ? Whose kisses , steept in Sucket , Heau'n do presse From lips * diuine , too worthy for such names ; Can any Eies looke into Beauties Presse , And with her trimmest trinckets make no games ? No humane Eies ( I weene ) if christaline , But ioy to see themselues in Eies diuine . 29 To see a Body more then Lilly-white , With azur'd veines imbrodred here and there , To see this blisfull Body * naked quite , And to behold Loues Hold some other where , What Thing , with ioy , can more intrāce the sight , Sith to the sight Loues Heauen doth appeare ? Then adde to this , a * Looke that saith approch , It wil the Vessell of all Sweetnesse broch . 30 O! to embrace her that embraceth all That Beauty can embrace , is to infold In mortall Armes , Armes supernaturall , Of pow'r both * Gods and Men ( insnar'd ) to hold ; And make them , as they please , to rise , or fall , Seruing Loues Soueraigne as Vassals should : For , Gods , and men do most obsequiously , By nature , serue diuine Formositie . 31 He that orethrew what ere his strength withstood , * And vnderpropt the weight of Heauens frame , Loue , made to spinne in weake vnmanly moode : And He , for wisedome , that had greatest fame , , * Loue so , with Lust , inflam'd his coldest blood : That He a * thousand had to quench the same For , no Age , Wisedome , Pow'r , or Policie , Haue pow'r t' impugne diuine Formositie ! 32 Aske Mars the sterne and stubberne god of warre , How much frail Beuty made him ( crouchīg ) bow : Nay aske ( if men may aske ) the Thunderer The high'st of gods , by lordly Loue brought low ) Why he did make his mansion in a Starre , Yet fell from heau'n an earthly * Dame to know , But that both Gods and Men , most lowlily , By nature , serue diuine Formositie ! 33 Giue me a Wench that hath the skill , and wit , To let me ( loue-sicke ) bloud in Lustes right vaine ; And can , with pleasure , ease me in the fit , Yet ease me so , that Loue may still complaine Of * heate , that is for Lusts life onely fit , Which to the life of Loue yeelds pleasant paine ; That can so humour me , and what I feele , That she may hurt me still , my hurt to heale . 34 Such a Crafts-mistris , in the Arte of Loue , Doth crowne the Touch with an imperiall * kisse ; For , she makes Touching tast ioy farre aboue The reach of Arte to tell men what it is : For feelinglie , she can both staie , and moue About the Center of Loues boundlesse blisse Then boundlesse is the Touches excellence That , by a Lasse , can so beheau'n the sense . 35 Thus did this Orator of Lechery Dilate the shortsweete of his liues delight ; Which , Hyselophronus did not * deny , ( As though quite opposit ) but bent his might , To proue high'st blisse was borne of Maiesty ; Begot by Potency , right or vnright : The greatest ioy to Greatnesse appertaines For ioy doth raign ( quoth he ) in that which raigns . 36 A roiall Robe , a Scepter , Mound , and Crowne Are the true Signals of the truest ioy : They neede not feare the threat of Sorrows frown That * can confound , all causers of anoy : The hand of Maiesty puts vp , and downe The meanes of mirth , and those that mirth destroy : Hee 's a rare Clarke that R●gnum can declyne And Meus , Mea , Meum ad in fine . 37 What Hart is not enlarg'd , with ioy , as much As it can hold , when pow'r is more enlarg'd Then Earth can hold ; or , on the same none such , When all by him , and he by none , is charg'd ? No not so much as with the smallest * touch , Touching his life , lest such be life-discharg'd : It is the greatest glorie of Mans state , * When man , like God , doth raigne in spite of Hate . 38 To eate and drinke , and do the acts of lust , Is common vnto Beasts , as well as Men ; What praise get they that do what * needs they must ; But such as shames the praised now and then ? For , so may men be praisd for deedes vniust , Sith Men , by nature , wrong their Bretheren : But , to correct * Men , with directing Rods , Is proper vnto none but Demi-gods . 39 The Spheare of Greatnes ( like the highest sphere , That turnes the neather with resistlessesway ) Is the high'st step to his Throne without Peere ; And , to the Sunne that makes eternall day ; Where Blisse abounds an euerlasting yeare , For which the most deuout doe inly * pray : Then , Greatnes is the great'st good vnder heau'n , Which vnto none but Gods on Earth is giu'n . 40 O! how it rapts the Eie of Maiestie , To see all downe-cast vnderneath her feete ; That may , if please her , march vpon the Hie , Till she with none , but with the Lowly meete : Then , * Wisedomes reach doth tend to Emperie ; And none but fooles neglect it as vnmeete : It is the highest Note that Arte can reach , To rule the voice when Sou'raigntie doth preach . 41 And what a glorie is 't to mortall Man , That when he bends his high-erected front , Death in the * foldes doth play the Artezan , And kill , but with alooke , the highest Count : Yet , with a word ( like Him that all things can ) To create others , making them to mount ; Then , who hath pow'r all men to marre or make , Must be a God , that life doth giue , and take . 42 A Seepter's Circes Rod ; which Men and Beasts Doth easlie tame , how wilde so ere they bee : For , Birds that in the Stars doe build their neasts , Farre , farre aboue all Birds , of prey doe flee : To which pitch if they mount , they scorch their crests ; For , heat so high is in * extreame degree : Highnesse is sacred , and the sacred Hie , With their pow'rs wing aboue all perills flie ! 43 O! t is a blisfull glitt'ring glorious state , Able to make Mortalitie diuine ; Which , with * inspection , binds the hands of Fate , And , like the Sunne , among the Stars doth shine , Till Nature doth the Flesh inanimate ; And in the mouthes of Men mens fames enshrine : Then , if in Earth be any diuine thing , It 's more then God , if it be not a King. 44 Poliphagus , though he his Intralls seru'd , As if they were his Fancies Soueraignes , Or rather Gods , by which he was preseru'd , Yet hee allowance to their fancie faines ; That so * fraternitie might be conseru'd , Which concord , in conceit , together chaines ; And , thus immod'rately doth moderate The diffrence of the doubtfull Questions state . 57 But now , as wak'ned from a tedious sleepe , * Logus , chiefe guide of * Psyche , their chiefe guide ( While they were plunged in all pleasures deepe ) Thus gan their sensuall-senslesse Soules to chide : Whither , O whither runne ye , ye lost sheepe , Not weying in what danger ye abide ? The Blinde eates many a flie ; and so doe you , That chew sweet poyson , which ye should eschue . 58 But ere wee further prosecute her speach , We will describe their Garments ( as we may ) For as we said the Coate and Cut do teach . Sight to discerne what mood the mind doth sway : Logus was clad , as could no State impeach , Sith she was cloth'd with mean , thogh cleane aray : For , she with Garments farre more fit , then faire , But sauegard sought from Passions of the Aire . 59 But , Psyche ( whom she guided ) like a Qu●●ne Was richly deckt , with ornaments diuine : Who liu'd so closely that she scarce was seene , Yet through her Pallace did her glory shine , As if at least she had a Goddesse beene ; Whose virtues were apparant to the Eine : Her Ornaments were Wit , Will , Memory , Which richly roab'd her with Regality . 60 Vpon her sacred Head she ware a Crowne ( Like that of Ariadnes ) all of Starres , To light her feete in darke waies , and vnknowne , And keepe the safest way in Passions warres ; Those Starres were royall vertues of her owne ( Which some call Cardinall ) her gard in Iarres : Who was deckt inly with Pow'r , Grace , and Arte , Being wholy in the whole , and in each Part. 61 Her Vnderstandings Pow'r that Pow'r did line , Which Heau'n and Earth religiously adore ; And in her Will she ware Grace most diuine , But in her Memory she Artes did store ; That made the Whole most gloriously to shine , But most diuinely did those three decore ! Affects and Fantasies her Seruants were , Which were all cloakt with Good , how ill so ere . 62 Hir prīcely train , which was of works wel wroght , Was borne by Iudgement her chiefe Officer : Then , Contemplation held her , as she ought , By the right Arme , so that she could not steere Frō those right waies , whereon before she thoght : And double-Diligence before did cleere : The outward Senses her Purueiours were , To whom the Common-sense was Treasorer . 63 Thus were these two attended and araid , Which I haue thus described by the way ; And now to prosecute what Logus said From thence where I before did make him stay ; Quoth hee , what meane ye thus to be betraid By sinfull Sense , which seekes but your decay ? You are to seeke to know her Fallacies , But know them not by seeking in this wise . 64 How neere to temporall and eternall death You are ( God wot ) ye wot not , ne yet care ; Not weying how worlds * weale wastes with your breath , And that your breaths within your nostrills are ; Which to the Aire you must of force bequeath , Perhaps forthwith , at least ere ye beware : If temp'rall death attach ye in this plight , Your temp'rall daies will turne t'eternall night . 65 To yong and old Death is indifferent ; The Court and Cottage he frequents alike : Yet , of the twaine , he Courts doth more frequent ; And loues those , that do * mind him least , to strike : He wounds the lustfull , vaine , and insolent With their owne weapons , quickly to the quicke : For , euer he doth enuy lifes delight , And makes the same most subiect to his might . 66 How can vaine pleasures please men , hauing sense To feele the sweete and sowre of sinne , and grace ? For , if they feele the * sting of Conscience , All pleasures of the flesh will giue it place : That grieues the Will , that grieues th' Intelligence , Which take no pleasure in their owne disgrace : But still the lusts offraile flesh to fulfill , Is to disgrace Intelligence , and Will. 67 The obiect of the Will is perfect Good ; Which , the Intelligence to her presents ; That neuer yet was found in roiall food , In dainty Dames , or regall gouernments ; By * Vnderstanding these are vnderstood To yeeld but short , and counterfet Contents : If so they do , how madde are they the while , That giue their pretious Soules for things so vile ? 68 The * wisest yet that euer breath'd this Aire ( Of sinfull race ) who in his wisedomes might Made proofe of all that was sweet , great , or faire , Yea of all pleasures which the sense delight , ) Said of them all ( like Wisedoms truest Heire ) They were than skumme of * Vanitie more light : If such great Wisedome found them to be such , They are much more thē fools that loue thē much . 69 Aske eu'ry sense what pleasure they doe proue In all their obiects : they must needes replie , ( Sith consciēce knows it ) nought to gaine our loue ; For , we loue nought but what we * good do trie : But , Proofe these pleasures doe , in fine , reproue ; Sith they no sooner liue , but sooner die : For , Triall knowing them to be but vaine , Kills their delight ere we it entertaine . 70 And , Crownes are Hiues , where stinging cares do swarme ; Pomp's but the White whereat fell Enuy shoots : which are as trees , whēce groes their owners harm ; Harms are the fruit ; crowns , flours ; & kīgdōs , roots : The Arme of flesh , is but a feeble Arme ; And , in such strong Extreames it little bootes : He knowes not yet the nature of a Crowne , That knows not none may call the same his * owne . 71 What bootes a purple Robe , when purple blood Doth issue from the wofull wearers hart ? And , of such issue there 's more likelihood Then issue of his loines to take his part ; For , oft such issue doth him little good , Who conquer * Nature , by the aide of Arte : They learne by Arte weake Nature to command , When Crowns betwixt the Sire & Son doe stand . 72 Sou'raignes , are subiect to extreame * despight , For lo , a Dog , sometimes , supplide their place : A King of Norway , conquering in fight The King of Swethland , for the more disgrace , Did make a Dog their King , to shew his spight , And made thē neere * him , that were neere as bace : Then are they worse then dogges that damne their soules To catch a kingdom , that a dog cōtroules . 73 What ioy can be accompanied with feare , Sith that companion doth all ioy * confound ? But terrene ioyes about with them do beare An hell of * feare , wherein true Hell is found : For , where 's vnsuretie , feare must needs be there ; And all 's vnsure that surgeth from the ground Of this vast Sea of extreame miserie , True Antitype of true felicitie . 74 Besides , no pompe ( how euer glorious ) No ioy or pleasure , if sublunarie , But brings sacietie soone with their vse , As they best know that haue best meanes to trie ; And none haue right ioy but the * righteous ; For , ne'r doth saciate their felicitie , Which doth content Desire , and Feare exclude , Which is the summe of true Beatitude . 75 Then , if my power ore your Soueraigne , If my words ( rules of Reason ) can perswade , Vaine pleasures fly ; throgh which ye fly to paine ; Which still haue marr'd , but neuer any made : Containe your selues , and you shall ioy containe ; If you be good , then * glorious is your trade : For , nought is great on Earth , but that great hart , That scornes all ioyes by Nature bred , or Art. 76 Rouze vp your selues , shake off this sloth of sprite ; Put on the mind that men of mind becomes : Away with all * effeminate delight , That none but worse then women ouercomes : Shew your selues men of strength in Frailties spite ; For , graceles ioyes possesse but graceles groomes : O , t is * Dominion in the high'st degree , When men to Reasons rules obedient bee . 77 Hereat their Conscience touched to the quicke , Beganne , halfe fainting , inwardly to bleede : No pricke more mortal then the consciēce pricke ; It makes our faith to faint , and kills our Creede : Yet , frozen in their dregges , therein they sticke , Without all feeling that which must succeede : And , with hard harts ( thogh said for their behoofs ) They Logus thus reprooue , for his reproofes . 78 What wight art thou ( presumptuous that thou art ) That com'st to Councell , yer thou called bee ? By what pow'r dost thou this ? by what desart Think'st thou we all should be controld by thee ? We know no pow'r thou hast , nor wit , * nor Art To take the guidance of our actions free ; Being a meere stranger to vs and our state , Yet dost from either more then derogate . 79 Thou would'st bee taught ( that thus presum'st to teach ) To know good maners , persons , time and place ; These circūstances they should know that preach , Or else they may disgrace their Sermons grace ; And those that liue by preaching do * beseech , Not sharply checke , which tendeth to disgrace : Then think we o're our passions haue great powre , That giue thee sweet aduice for cheeke so sowre . 80 You may be gon , we need no councellors , That breathe out worse thē wormwood with their words ; We are twice seau'n , and our owne gouernors , Your proffred seruice no good * sent affords : We are the highest Powres Compettitors , And fight for pleasure with our sense , and swords : We are resolu'd to satisfie desire With all the comforts that it can require . 81 Doth Loue ( quoth Logus ) with our selues begin ? It seemes not so , for with your selues it ends : Foes to your selues , sith you are folde to sinne ; Yet will not * see whereto that purchase tends : To lose your Soules , and all the world to win , Is the worst fortune , that fell Fortune sends : O be indulgent to your Soules , for whie , * Life died it selfe , that so they might not die . 82 I am that Logus , which your Soueraigne ( Great sou'raigne Psyche ) gaue you for your * guide : Which you would ne'r vouchsafe to entertaine , Though , * vnimploied , I still with you abide : I pray you then ( for your eternall gaine ) That now at last I may with you reside , To doe you seruice , which if you will vse , I le make your life and death most glorious . 83 Let not my plainenesse with you , make yee plaine Of my sterne Course ; for , sith I am the Sterne That rules the Mind , I must her so restraine ( When Passions rise ) that she , by me , may learne The way to weale , which she seekes to attaine , Which she , by my * direction shall discerne : Now , if the Sterne resist repugnant windes , The Bark , to which she 's bound , to her she bindes . 84 Yee oft haue heard , that Sores quite mortified , ( If euer they be cured as they ought ) Must haue sharpe Corrasiues thereto appli'd , Else one sore part may bring the whole to nought : Then leaue your Gluttony , your Lust , and * Pride ; Be sober , chaste , and meeke , in deed , and thought : This must you doe ; and I must needes say this , Except I should both say and doe amisse . 85 Should I , your Guide , winke when ye go astray ? Or see you runne in by-paths of offence ? Else drawe ye further on , out of the way , And by all waies soothe vp your erring sense ? So should I , like a traitor , you betray ; Which would , in time , your Souls to * hate incense : O then let me haue leaue your Soules to loue , Which least I do , when least I you reproue . 86 Repentance oft ( too oft ) comes too too late , ( Though , better late then neuer to repent ) But ne'r too soone can Grace it animate ; For , Men , * beyond their birth , are euill bent : So , yer they sinne , they are in sinfull state ; For , sinne in their conception's resident : Then sith yer men Be ( whole ) it Is ( in part ) Repentance should take Being yer the Hart. 87 Time past , is gone , in it none can repent , If in that Time they did the same neglect : The Time to come ( although incontinent ) Is as vnsure , as is that rare * effect : Therefore the * present Time for it is lent , Which strait is gone , then doe it not reiect : Sith so small time may all your time ingrosse , The losse of it may be your vtter losse . 88 But , what auailes an Angells tongue to moue A fiend to goodnesse , that by kind is ill ? From which he is resolu'd ne'r to remoue ; No more can * Reason their desires fulfill , ( Though with all reason he doth seeke their loue ) For , they desire to liue corruptly still ; And thus , with bitter taunts they do requite His loue , that euer loues to guide them right . 89 What ere thou art ( quoth they ) we know thee not ; Nor will we know thee , sith we know thou art Repugnant to vs ; and , thou seem'st a Sot , To seeke to gaine loue by contentions Art : Thou neuer knew'st , or else thou hast forgot , That manners * like , do still like loue impart : Therefore farewell , except thou worse wilt fare , We are resolu'd , in what resolu'd we are . 90 So they to excesse fell excessiuely ; Sinning , with * griefe , that they could sin no more : Now , they inlarge their Bounds of libertie , Although it were but too too loose before : Like Water they * lappe vp iniquitie , Which , through thē , ouerflows both Sea & Shore : A cauterized Conscience being checkt , Becomes farre worse , in Cause , and in Effect . 91 Logus thus cast from their societie , Waxt passing pensiue ( as one desolate ) Because his Councell was no more set by , And , with their mother * Phusis fell at bate ; As being assur'd in her the fault did ly , That they from him so much did derogate : Yet , knew one * Praxis , Phusis follower , Had made them worse , then she them made , by far . 92 But by the way we should not do amisse , To shew how Ladie Phusis was araid , ( Sith shee the mother of each matter is ) Yer we do prosecute what Logus said : For , so her nature may be knowne by this , As outward , inward Things haue oft bewraid : For , though it seeme the Tale , by force , to part , It s recompenced with Descriptions Art. 93 Vpon her Head she ware a Crowne of Corne , Like that of Ceres ; sauing that the same Was mixt ( like Achelous his plenteous Horne ) With fruits of eu'ry kinde , which her became ; Her Haire by her was still disheuled worne , Who naked was , yet her hand hid her shame : Or if a Vaile she ware , it was but when She was to come among licentious men . 94 About her Necke she ware a Carcanet Of eu'ry Iemme as it created was : About her Wrists , in Bracelet-wise , were set The ores of Gold and Siluer , Lead , and Brasse : Thus haue we made this Ladies Counterfet , Who being bare , as barely must it passe : And now returne we eft to Logus speach , Who thus to Phusis chidingly did preach . 95 Phusis ( quoth he ) I speake with griefe of hart , I needs must chide , sith your fault it procures ; Because you haue not plaid a mothers part Touching the breeding of these Sonnes of yours : I know you haue , by nature , so much Art , As might make them obey their Gouernours : And , that you doe not , it is your disgrace , That kill your Children with a kinde * embrace . 96 You may , perhaps , suppose your selfe you cleere By saying , * Praxis hath abus'd you much ; In alt'ring of their natures , which were deere , For that from you they all receiued such ; Which could not be , if you not faultie were , For , you might haue restrain'd them with a touch : If then you had corrected * Praxis lore , They would haue bin farre better then before . 97 Little do Mothers know what hurt they do , By their indulgence , to their saucie Sonnes ; They make them wanton and rebellious too ; For , let loose Nature , it to * loosenesse runnes ; Till Soule and Body it doth quite vndoe ; For , Custome ill good nature ouer-runnes : But , if the Mother be as Mothers ought , She wil by Vse amend what Vse hath wrought . 98 Phusis , not being vs'd such checkes to take , Beganne to kindle with disdainefull ire ; And , like a * doating mother , she doth make A stiffe defence , for her sonnes lewd desire : * Alas ( quoth she ) should they all ioyes forsake , Which both their yeares , and natures do require ? Or should they wear their days in wastful thought To bring themselues , and me with them , to nought ? 99 You are no friend of theirs , if so you would ; And , if not theirs , then mine you cannot be : For , me and them in one Loues Band doth hold ; Whom factiously you seeke to disagree : I take their part but as a Mother should , That her deere Childrens * good desires to see : For , it a tender Mother doth become , As life to loue the Children of her wombe . 100 And , are they not of flesh and blood compos'd ? Then can such mixture be aught else but fraile ? Or would you haue them otherwise dispos'd Then Adams heires , that hold but by the Taile ? And flesh and * blood to strength are still oppos'd ; Yet * strength , in weaknes , gainst it doth preuaile : Sith so it is , my Sonnes may be excus'd , That haue in weakenes powrefull pleasures vs'd . 101 Now well I see ( quoth Logus ) thy fond loue Makes thee * vnapt to iudge what 's requisite ; But , how if their loose liues the monster moue ( Monstrous Gehenna ) to deuoure them quite ? For , he loues such to eate , as such do proue ; May you not thanke your selfe for such despite ? If Babes do burne them in a Candles flame , Are they , or those that giue it them , too blame ? 102 These heauy words suncke deepe in Phusis minde , Who ( as astonied ) at the same did muse ; Breath'd short , in * passion , as if wanting winde , Yet at the last , hi● Spirite she vp did rowze , And askt of Logus , in the kindest kinde , What practise she to saue her Sonnes might vse : I hate , as Hell , that Monster , and I would My Sons ( quoth she ) frō him , by force , with-hold . 103 Now Logus , glad her nature had such grace , Said , for mine owne part , I will but aduise , Not deale with them ; sith they did me * disgrace ; Therefore I councell , that in any wise You hie you to the Lady * Aletheias Place , And there inuoke her aide , with carefull Cries ; Who is indu'd with power , will , and skill , To tell them of their misse , and mend their ill . 104 Entreate her , who will soone intreated bee , ( For , she doth loue to satisfie Good-will ) To go vnto thy Sonnes of each degree , And tell them of this Monster , made to * spill All those that liue secure in Pleasures glee , And greedily their hungry lusts fulfill ; I will ( said Phusis ; ) but where doth she dwell ? Thou know'st ( deare Logus ) but I cannot tell . 105 She wonted was ( said he ) to neighbour mee ; But since that * Fraus and Dolus ( wicked Twinnes ) The World produc'd , I do her seldome see ; For , she from my sights reach so slily rinnes , As though to her I were an enemy , Or made prodigious through my subiects sinnes : Who prosecute her with extreame despight , That now she euen loathes to see the light . 106 Shall I ( quoth Phusis ) on the Earth her finde ? Hardly ( quoth Logus ) being chas'd from thence . In th' Aire , or Water then , or in the Winde ; Or else within the Fires Circumference Is she ( quoth she ? ) said Logus , these by kinde Are mutable , and full of difference ; Which she cannot abide , for she is * one , And rather will , then with such , liue alone . 107 Is she to Heau'n return'd ( quoth she ) againe ? That 's like ( said Logus ) but th' art ne'r the neere : For , without * her , thou canst not Heau'n attaine ; For , all by her must come , that must come there . Alas ( said she ) how shall I her obtaine , Sith I must haue herselfe her selfe to cleere ? For , as without the Sunne , none sees the Sunne , So , without her , none wots where she doth wonne . 108 This once ( quoth Logus ) I will thee direct The best I can , but cannot as I could ; I oft haue heard , and finde true , by effect , That she is seene about the Mansion old Of father * Chronus , which he did erect For him , and her , ( his daughter deere ) to hold ; Or , * Thanatus , his Man , who riddes away That which his Master bringeth to decay . 109 Which Man , and Masters habites we might paint , Though we but Chalke , & Coles , and Ashes had : For , Chronus clad is like a mortall Saint In skinnes of Beasts , to shew how life doth fade ; ( Which of their age did seem to make complaint ) Girt with an Halter , or with Girth as bad : Vpon whose Head , in stead of Hat , there stoode An Houre-glasse , as an Embleme of his moode . 110 His Haire was white as was the driuen Snow , And from his Head it seem'd to hang , by drifts Turn'd vp againe ; eu'n as the same doth show When it doth hang , so driuen vpon Clifts : His Beard , beneath his girdle-stead did grow , Which , platted , in his bosome oft he shifts : Whose right hand did a Sithe , still mouing weld , And in his left , an Horologe he held . 111 His Man hight Thanatus , bare to the bones , Was more then naked from the toppe to toe : All hairelesse , toothlesse , eielesse , stocks , or stones , Are all as quicke , though he much more can doe : And all he said , I was as you are , once ; Which was in sullen silence spoken to : Vpon a Spade he leanes , as if he did By his day-labour liue , call'd Wincke , all hid . 112 To these did Logus Phusis wish to wend Which were to her the * loathsom'st wights aliue ; And hardly thought that Logus was her frend , ( Although she could not otherwise beleeue Sith her and hers she sought still to defend ) That would to her such wofull councell giue : And , with the water swelling in her eies , She thus to Logus mournefully replies . 113 Alas ( quoth she ) and to them must I goe ? To their most hatefull houses must I hie , That are the greatest workers of my woe , And faine would haue me vtterly to die ? What * words can please a prowd insulting foe , That holds in scorne his foes humilitie ? Then , what hope haue I with them ro preuaile , Who , though I kneele to them , will me assaile ? 114 What shall I say ? alas , what shall I do ? To winne their fauour , that will not be wonne ? To go to them , I shall my selfe vndo ; For , though I kisse their feete , they 'l me ore-runne : If not , they 'l paine me , and compell me to ; * Both which , if I do go , I cannot shunne : I am amaz'd , I know not what to say , If go , I die ; if no , my Sonnes decay . 115 What shall I do ? deere Logus , tell me * what ? O happy were I , if this feare were past : There is no cause ( quoth Logus ) to feare that That no wight liuing can auoide at last ; The Stag , the Rauen , and the nine-liu'd Cat Must know those houses , then be not agast , But go on boldly with erected Front , Where you shall see her liue in high account . 116 If at the first you cannot see her face , Their Porter * Nosus will you soone direct Vnto her priuy chamber , where her grace Will talke with you , in secret , in effect : But , see you bribe the Porter of the place With * Calor naturalis , most select : So may you passe securely through each Gate , That leades to this obscured Ladies State. 117 This Nosus was a true Anatomie ( Though Thanatus be truely call'd the same ) Of mortall griefe , or curelesse maladie , Whose Head was hāp'red ( which him ill became ) With homely clowts ( tide as vnhansomly ) And with a staffe he went as he were lame : A Gowne ( with Potions stain'd ) he , girded , ware , Who panted as he went , and went with care . 118 Foure paire of Stockings did his Legs comprize , And yet his Shancks ( God wot ) but little were , Although the vpper Stockings were of Frize , Thicke Frize , or Rugge , or else of warmer geare : Whose Slippers were with Cotton lin'd likewise ; And yet of taking cold he still did feare : Who lookt as he had not an houre to liue , And eu'ry steppe he trode , his Soule did grieue . 119 His Face was of the colour of that clowt That did his head inuolue , saue that his Face Did looke more white : his Eies both seemed out , For , they were sunck , & shrunke out of their place : His Nose was sharper then an Adders snowt ; His Tong , & Teeth were furr'd , in lothsome case ; His Lips were chapp'd , his Beard was driueld ore , And euer breath'd as he should breathe no more . 120 And therewithall he was so waiward still , That none might please him , but he fault wold find With the best words & deeds of meere good-will ; His bodies paines so peruerse made his mind : His wozen whez'd when his breath it did fill , As , through the straitest passage doth the wind : And when he spake , his tong was furr'd so thicke , That oft his words within the same did sticke . 121 Yet ne'rthelesse , to these must Phusis hie , For , Logus held her to 't by strong perswasion , Which thus she prest ; Go , or thy Sonnes must die : Thou needes must do it , there is no euasion : Herein their life , or death alone doth lie ; Then , of their perill if thou haue compassion ▪ Thou must to These , that they may be secure , Then liuely go ; for , Loue can Hell endure . 122 Phusis , though while-ere somewhat weakned , ( By reason of these vncouth Accidents ) Yet thus , by Logus , being * comforted , To his direction and aduice assents : And now ( all heart ) she holdeth high the Head , Scorning her wonted dread , and dririments ; And , in her loue to her Sonnes , thither goes , Their case to Aletheia to disclose . 123 A wearie iorney had she , and a foule , But , what paine is 't a mothers * loue will shunne ? Who almost will forsake her deerest Soule , Yer once forsake her deere-bought deerer Sonne : By Logus helpe , she doth her feares controule ; And to these houses goes not , but doth runne : And as she hies , she more and more doth learne , This Ladies Lodging rightly to discerne . 124 When to the House of Chronus neere she drew , ( Which was a Caue in Rocke of Flint cut out ) It , to the sense more horride was in shew ; For , it with Mosse was inlaid all about , And ore the Gate , Harts-tongue , & Brābles grew ; As on the top , did Okes , old , stiffe , and stout : Which rocks rogh sides huge mossie Beeches bare , As if the Flint the weathers threats did feare . 125 This antique Top , where these trees did not shade A kind of Mosse ore-sprad , as hard , as hore ; * Which ne'rthelesse , did softly seeme to vade , And grew farre shorter then it was before ; Ore which strange vermin prety Paths had made , Which there did still increase in needlesse store : For , in those Places where men least frequent , There vilest vermine are most resident . 126 About the groundsills of this hideous house ( Without ) grew Nettles , * Hemlocks , and the like ; Mongst whō were Snakes and vermin venomous ; Which vnawares th'vnwarie foote do strike : Within the Caue was nought for Natures vse , Saue water , which ther leakt throgh many a creek : Where nought was seene but Darknes , nought was heard , But holow Ecchoes , making Noise afeard . 127 Neere to this vncouth Caue is scituate ( As t' were a vault digg'd vnderneath the same ) The House of * Thanatus , which all do hate ; For , none came euer thence that thither came : Then Chronus house it s much more desolate ; More deadly too , in nature , and in name : For , flesh doth faint , when but b'imagination She * sees this fearefull vgly Habitation . 128 The Roofe whereof , with Sculles is seeled quite ; Whereon ( in frets ) hang shin-bones here & there : The walls are hung with Mantles of the night ; Which , all with vermine vile , imbrod'red were : If it , through any Chinke , receiued light , T was * soone stopt vp with feet which it did beare : It paued was with Ioynts and Knuckle-bones , Set in no order , but like scatt'red stones . 129 The Gate whereof is made of mans iust size , Which yet receiues all * men that euer were ; Vpon whose Pauement all flesh rotting lies ; And , to the sense most * odious doth appeare : For , here lie Armes , and there lie Legs , and Thies ; Hete rotten Teeth , and ragged Iaw-bones there ; Within whose pores , the worms do keep their hold Vntill they all conuert to perfect mould . 130 No one here keepes this grim Lord company , But sullen Silence , dust , and nastie mud ; And , yet he seekes all mens societie , For , still he feedeth on their flesh and bloud : * Hard at the Gate do mournefull mourners crie , And teare their haire , too like the Fury-brood : Which yet is neuer heard that house within , For , Thanatus is * deafe , and heares no din. 131 Rotten Corruption here doth reuell keepe ; Where Worms ( her Minions ) out of mesure dance : For , all about they trace , they turne , and creepe , And merry make with Fleshes fowle mischance ; Who all the while lies drown'd in puddle deepe , As full of Soile , as full of Sufferance : Where Irksomnesse sits on a dustie Throne , As if he were Lord of that * Earth alone . 132 For , Beauty comes no sooner to the Gate Of this true earthly Hell , but she doth looke As if she were in worse then damned state ; And all her Graces had her quite forsooke : The Lures of Loue , here turne to Hoods of Hate ; Hate that no Loue ( thogh Loue it selfe ) can brook : For , * Loue itselfe , which once three days lay there , Fled from the same as if it hatefull were . 133 Here * Zijm and Iim do loue alone to be , ( Grimme Desola●ions sterne Consociates ) The vale of Visions this doth seeme to me , Where Sense may see what Sense quite ruinates : Whose Organs here , lie in varietie Of transformation ; which Sense deadly hates : Where lie all Obiects which the sight annoy , Yet t is the * entrance to all griefe , or ioy . 134 Here Sense ( saith Sense ) lies in a Lethargie ; Whose powres are quite supprest with Earth and Stones : Here * Rest of Labour hath the victorie : And , Sorrows here surcease their sighs and grones ; Where lasting sleepe beguiles Calamitie : For , Flesh feeles not , if rotten to the bones ; This is the Lake , which Men most loathe , and yet , It is the Lethe where they griefe forget . 136 Downe a darke staire ( the passage to this house ) On eu'ry step sits all the impes of Feare ; Confronted with Chymaeraes hideous , Which maks all men to hate their comming there ; Saue such as daily do that * passage vse , And with feete-mortifide those steps do weare : To them it seemes not strange , how euer strange , Those Monsters do their vgly fashions change . 137 The Elements , whereof all Flesh is made , Do , with their * Children , the foure Humors , lie Confused there , in Deaths confused Shade , That no Eie can the one from the other spie ; But His that saw them ere they Being had , On whom alone , they all do still rely : This is the Picture of Not-beings Pit , Where it doth seeme ( but doth but seeme ) to sit . 138 Sometimes , for pride , or praise , or both , some do Bestow a stately * Couer on this house ; For , worldly pompe doth presse them thereunto , To make the glorified more glorious ; But Chronus spite that Couer doth * vndoe , Which cannot brooke the pompe of Thanatus : It is but vaine the dead to honour then , With other honour then with Tongue , or Pen. 139 Hard at the doore of this confused den Sit rau'nous Rauens , watching for their pray ; Which doore if Chronus opes , they enter then , And with the Relickes , there , they prey , or play : This Roomes description , no Pen well can pen But such as markes the measure of * Decay : O! t is a Heau'n to heare Hell well set forth , And Heau'n , if ill describ'd , seemes nothing worth . 140 The Rowme is little , this description great ; And yet too little , for so great a Rowme , Where all mankinde haue , and doe finde a Seate , Vntill they haue receiu'd their later doome : Let * Aletheia then make it compleate ; Sith all descriptions true , come from her wombe : Suffizeth me to shew but eu'n a glaunce Of Thanatus his Houses countenaunce . 141 The Porter of this Place ( as erst was sed ) Is * hundred-headed Nosus ; much more sterne Then Hells grim Porter , with his threefold head ; The sight of whom made Phusis hart to yerne ; But , Logus said , she , by him , should be * led The Lady Aletheia to discerne : In hope whereof she did the better brooke The horror of his most detested looke . 142 Now , by this time , she was within his touch , Who , to him trembling came submissiuely ; And * gaue him of her Calor ( though not much ) That she might be the better vs'd thereby : Nosus , whom though diseases made to grutch , Yet , through that Calor lookt more cheerefully : And gently , with familiar aspect , He opes the Gate , and strait did her direct . 143 For , he denieth passage vnto none That makes * much of him , or doth loue him well ; But , had he well the Ladie Phusis knowne , Perhaps he would haue bin to her more fell : For , when she gaue him Calor , she did grone , To thinke how soone he would the same * expell : And , Phusis by no meanes can well endure , That Nosus should her any * good procure . 144 But he to her is most officious , He tenders her his guidance , and what not ? But yet the * oddes twixt her and Thanatus , ( Although by Him t' was more then quite forgot ) Made Her entreate this Porter curteous , To call that Ladie forth , whom Chronus , got : And gaue him some more Calor in a Box , Which gaue him strēgth to ope the Ladies Locks . 145 Herewith he went to Aletheias Bed , Who ouer head and eares lay couer'd quite ; And being naked , yet thus * couered , He could not haue , of her , an open sight : But , he aloofe his errand vttered ; Wherewith she rose , yet came within the night : For , she being naked Darkenes seeks to hide her ; For , men without a Mist haue seld espide her . 146 But , out she * ( masked ) comes to Phusis late , Who knew her not , because she came conceal'd : But , asked who she was , who did relate , Both who , and what , and strait her selfe reueal'd : It me behoues ( quoth she ) to hide my State , For , most men haue with me like Monsters deal'd : Who , like to deuills , authors of vntruth , Would force erroneous sense into my mouth . 147 I goe thus mask'd ( quoth she ) sith men like fiends , Of my destruction make no conscience : Statesmen seeke for me , but for subtill ends ; Some Churchmen would haue me Non residence , But where their pleasure , or their * profit tends ; And , fond Philosophers peruert my sense : Strong thieues , & Lawyers , wound my tender hart , The one by force , the other by their art . 148 The Merchant and the slie Artificer Will , for a penny profit stifle me With Falshoods cloake . The biting Vsurer Doth vse me better , though but cruelly ; And , hath a will to vse mee worse by farre , So he a farthing might the better bee : But , of all men , that seeme me most to paine , Vpon poore * Poets I can least complaine . 149 For , though they hide me from the vulgar view , With robes ( as they suppose ) that sumptuous be , Yet giue they me my right , with more then due ; As they best know , that haue best eies to see : They are my friendly foes , false-louers true ; Which hate , in shew , but do , indeed , loue me : Whom I wil one day feed with more then praise , Which Manna makes thē look * leane now adays . 150 All those that Offices , by coine , come by , ( To come by coine , by buying Offices ) In Church or Common-weale , do me defie , For interrupting their by-passages : No , not so much as Somners but can spie The way to wound me on aduantages ; In summe , all sorts are resolute herein , To loose me quite , so they thereby may winne . 151 Haue I not reason then , conceal'd to go , To shunne these Helhounds , hauing me in chase ; Who study , by all meanes , to worke my woe , And with their craft transforme my constant face ? I were vnlike my selfe , and mine owne foe , If I went like my selfe in such a case : By nature , I the Ignorant do hate ; Then should I loathe , if I knew not my State. 152 But , wherefore Phusis art thou come to me ? Who told thee where I lay ? who found'st me out ? Thine eies are dimme , too * dimme me well to see ; Then thogh thou see me , thou therof maist * doubt . Quoth Phusis , that full well I did foresee , By Logus , therefore brought I this about ; Who told me truly who , and where thou wart , Whose sayings , touching thee , I kon'd by hart . 153 And I am come to thee for thine aduice , Touching my children ; who ( as I am told By my friend Logus ) are in loue with Vice ; Or rather to that strumpet they are sold : Who , with faire * words doth sweetly them intice To thinke , and say , and do , but as she would : Who , as it s knowne to all that knoweth ought , ( In fine ) doth bring her Louers all to nought . 154 They being bound to Thanatus his house , Are bound likewise ( ah woe is me ) from thence On the left hand , to the land tenebrous , Whereas Gehenna holdes his residence , Which Monster , being more then rauenous , Will quite deuoure their Bodies , Soules , & Sense ; The manner of whose house , no tongue can tell , But such as can describe the lowest Hell. 155 Heere , by the way , we will awhile digresse , And prosecute the rest of Phusis plaint , When as wee haue describ'd this little lesse Then more then hell , which colours cannot paint : For what so blacke as depth of all distresse , Where vtter darkenesse raignes without restraint ? Then sith we colours want , as all do see , Our too light shadowes must excused bee . 156 There lie two waies from Thanatus his house , ( That still are two , sith they still disagree ) One on the right hand lies , scarse now in vse , The other on the left , vs'd commonly : That , on the left , is full of all abuse , And leades vnto a world of misery ; Wherein Gehennaes Hold is scituate , Which , without * Patterne , thus wee figurate . 157 A ruinous Rowme , whose bottom's most profoūd ; A Pit infernall full of endlesse dole ; A lothsome Lake where choaking damps abound ; * A dungeon deepe , a dreadfull darkesome hole , Wher noght but howlīgs , shriks , & grons do soūd , And humane flesh still makes a quenchlesse Cole : The common Burse , where none but Bugs repaire , An Harbor full of horror and despaire . 158 Whos 's light is darke , which darke is * palpable ; Whose pleasur 's * paine , which pain no pen cā tell : Whose life is * death , which death is damnable : Whose peace is * strife , which strife is discords well : Whose ease is * toile , which toile's vnthinkable : Where most obedience , learnes most to * rebell : Where all * confusion raignes in endlesse date , In a tumultuous State-disord'ring State. 159 Where * toads , and vipers , snakes , and vermine vile , ( Whose hissings make an hellish harmony ) With slimie gleere , the place do cleane defile , Swimming in Suddes of all sordiditie , While one on others backe themselues they pile To touch the top of toplesse misery : Where heate , and coldnes , are in their extreames , And frozen harts do floate in sulphred streames . 160 The wals are hung with Cobwebs , which cōtaine Soule-catching hellhounds , clad in Spiders shape ; The Roofe , of burning Brasse , which droppes like raine ; Frō which no one below could ere escape : The pauement's ful of groundlesse gulfes of paine , Which thogh they stil deuoure , they stil do * gape ; Whose glowing Mawes cannot * cōcoct the meate Which there lies boiling in an hell of heate . 161 Here , weeping warbleth notes that anguish show ; And , * gnashing Teeth tunes Iigges vntuning ioy : Here , Seas of * boiling Lead their Bounds oreflow , To make a boundlesse deluge of annoy : The Sands whereof are Soules orewhelm'd with woe ; Which though destroi'd , yet death canot destroy : For , endlesse * lords of death still life do giue To those that in that death there still do liue . 162 From whose wide open Throats great flames they cast , Which thūder forth with sense-cōfounding noise ; The din whereof makes Horrors heart agast , Which in that den no other blisse enioyes : Such Gall of Gall affords no better tast , Which stil doth feed , with that which stil annoyes : Such boistrous Bugs can yeeld no other glee , But mirth is mone whereas such Monsters be . 163 Whos 's foule blasphemos mouths are fraught with spite , That boils with heat of baneful poisō there ; Which spite they * spit against the Cause of Light , Such is the enuy which to It they beare : Yet , from their glowing eies flie sparkles bright , As they no eies but Vulcans Forges were : The sight whereof the sight doth so annoy , As thogh that sight that sense wold quite destroy . 164 Imagine now you see , ( as there is seene ) Millions of Legions of this foule mouth'd crue , With fangs more huge then Elephāts , more keene Then Crocadiles chiefe grinders , to pursue Soules diuing in those * deepes to be vnseene ; Which , ouergorg'd , them vp againe do spue : While these dogs watch to take them in the rise , With teeth to teare , & feare them with their cries . 165 Here may you see a Goblin , grisly grim , ( With hooke and line ) stand fishing for a Soule ; Which , in those boiling * Seas , do sinking swim ; Baiting their hooks with Salamanders foule : Which , being hang'd he hales it to the brim , And , all the while , as hunger-band , doth howle : Which fingred , forthwith , in the diuells name , In go the fangs , that inch-meale teare the same . 166 Then others watch ( as Spiders for a Flie ) In obscure Nookes , to catch a flying Ghost ; That to those Nooks to hide it selfe , doth flie ; Which caught , they binde it , lest it should be lost , And , to their webs of woe , with ioy they hie ; Where the poore Soule is still in torment tost : In whom they all their deadly poison * poure , Which more then kills them , sith they it endure . 167 Now , sullen Silence raignes as all were dead , Then , sodainely a world of Clamor rings ; Whereby the much more horror still is bred ; For , sodaine feare with it most horror brings . No heart so heauie as the hart of Lead ; Yet sodaine feare doth start it when it stings . The Lightnings flash doth * feare more than the flame That stil is seene , and stil is seene the same . 168 Heere , in a Chimney , all of burning Brickes , Sits Grimnesse , and a red-hote Spit doth turne ; Whereon a humane Creature , * melting , stickes ; Whose grease doth make the fire the more to burn ; Which Turne-spit , oft , his filthy fingers lickes , And , with this liquor , doth his lippes adorne : Basting the roast with what most torment giues , Whiles the poore Creature dies , because he liues . 169 But , that which is most horrid to bee heard , But much more hatefull to be felt , or seene ; These Cookes oft gash their * flesh , to interlard The same with sulphure , with woe waxen leane : Lest the soft marrow the hard bone should guard , From feeling woes incomparable keene : So bone , and marrow , sinew , nerue , and vaine Do there endure paines , farre exceeding paine ! 170 In other Coasts of this infernall Realme ; ( Confusions Land , Gehennaes lording place , True Antitype of new Ierusalem ) It freezeth flesh , which pines in staruing case ; Where , some do , naked , sticke amidst a streame To yce congeal'd ; whom cold winds freeze apace : Yet draw they breath , more cold thē coldest frost , To freeze their intralls , and congeale their ghost . 171 If any spit ( for rheums cold places breede ) It s blowne , in Ice-cicles , into their face : For , those keene winds do forthwith do the deede , And * haile , of drops , make in a moments space : On ycie morsells there the mouth must feede , Sith mouthes to ycie morsells turne apace : Here is cold comfort where is nought but cold , That all congeales , on which it taketh hold . 172 Here some ( but new arriu'd ) while blood is warme , Attempt , by motion , so to keepe the same ; But strait they cannot stirre , nor Leg , nor Arme ; For , in the offer , they freeze stiffe , and lame : Yet hold they vitall heate ( the more their harme ) For Ice , like Oile , doth feede their vitall flame : If such a foe to life , as such a cold Keepes life in being , life hath hatefull hold . 173 Who are so madde with paine that they do crie , O what is this we feele ! we feele , O what ! Is 't limbes of Flesh that brooke this agony ? All they haue rag'd with paine ; but this , to that Is like the Ocean to a fountaine drie : This flesh , nerues , ioynts , once Racks did lacerate , Yet that with this compar'd , was Heau'n to Hell , O what is this we feele ? Sense die , or tell . 174 It 's but a moment since we hither came , Yet feele what paine Eternity inflicts ; And though eternally we feele the same , Yet vs with what we ne'r felt , it afflicts : Proteus like still paines new fashons frame ; And one another euer interdicts : Is this the Soule we thought with flesh should die , Which feeles these mortall plagues immortally ? 175 Here , some with hands fast frozen to their mouth , Do seeke to thaw them with their warmest breath ; But lo , the * frost that breath so fast pursuth , That it doth freeze in comming from beneath : So , hand and mouth thereby the faster growth ; Yet liue they still , though frozen quite to death : For , like to Alabaster Tombs they stand , Frozen to death , yet liue at Deaths command . 176 Here , boistrous Bugbeares do at foot-ball play With a still-tost and tumbled groning Ghost , To catch thē heat ; which done , they dāce the Hay About it ( breathlesse ) being ouer-tost ; So , with transmuted formes , it to dismay With feare that may afflict the seeing most : While that poore Soule lies panting like an Hare , Among foule hounds that seeke the same to share . 177 Now Matacheyns they daunce , with visage grim , And at ech chāge they chāge their horrid shapes : And at ech turne , they torture life and limb Of this tormented Soule , that , gasping gapes , As if the Ghost were yeelding at the brim Of deepe Not-beings Pit ; which yet it scapes : At point of death to liue immortally , Is still to liue , and liuing , still to die ! 178 Now comes a chased Ghost that flies , for life , Before a foule-mouth'd crie of hellish hounds ; And being caught , twixt them is deadly strife , Which of them all shall giue it deadliest wounds : Each of whose teeth is like an Hangmans knife , Which torments , if not utterly confounds : O! thinke then what an hell of feare that hart Must hold , that such infernall Hounds do start . 179 Here winds , that whistle while they freezing are , ( As if they merry were for freezing so ) Bring , with their working , pitchy clouds of Care , Wherewith they are involu'd that thither go ; Those biting frosts do , there , make all things bare , Which make the same a naked world of woe : Where nought but nipping frosts are felt , & seene , Ne'r-vading griefes do flourish euer greene . 180 Here stands a Fowler , fowle , with Nets of Wire , To take a flight of Soules that staruing flee ; Late fled from whence they neuer can retire ; So , when in that fast-holding Net they bee , He dragges them to the frost , or to the fire , Where either are in the extream'st degree : This is the welcome which they first receaue , That of their life mis-spent haue tane their leaue . 181 This flight thus caught , the Legions of the North , Fill all those Regions with their hellish houles ; And , with their vgliest formes , come roaring forth To share among them those feare-shaken Soules : The * worthiest takes the Soule of smallest worth To execute thereon the greatest doles . Quake flesh to heare what fraile flesh heere doth feele , For endlesse plagues turne here still like a * wheele . 182 Here may you see , for anguish , some to tear Their * flesh from bones , yea bones and flesh to * gnaw ; That so they may no more those torments beare , Which make thē burst , with choler , in their Maw : Some grate their * teeth , as teeth they grīding were , To cut the flesh which they before did saw : And all , and some , are so with tortures tir'd , That they seeme quietst , when they most are fir'd . 183 Here Bugs bestirre them , with a bellowing rore , ( As at a Scamble we see Boyes to sturre ) Who for Soules scamble on a glowing flore ; Biting and scratching , like the Cat and Curre ; Whiles with their Talons they their prey do gore , And thogh they striue , they do , * therein concurre : Within whose gripes the Soule , in silence grones , For feare of feeling thousand hells at once . 184 Here , in a corner sits an vgly forme , That on the matter of a liuing Corse Finds matter of much mirth ; which is , t' informe Himselfe of all the sinews , and their force ; Who , with a knife , the flesh doth all deforme , To pull out nerues and sinews in their course : Which like strings , broken , hanging at a Lute ; So hang these nerues the Body all about . 185 Here may you see some others driuing nailes , Vnder the nailes of endlesse sorrowes slaues ; Some others , threshing them ( like flax ) with flailes ; Thē moow thē vp , in groūdlesse * gulfs by thraues : Some , playing on their hart-strīgs with their nails ; Some others , broaching them on ragged staues : And all and some more busie farre then Bees , To gather hony from the gall of these . 186 If Paine her vtmost pow'r awhile for beare , ( As seld she doth ; for , there she 's still in force ) It is suppli'd with feare , surmounting feare , For loe , in Azur'd flames , with voices horse , Farre off approaching grisly Formes appeare Which feare far off , & neare at hand , much worse : For , Fantasie with paine is more orecome , When it is comming , then when it is come . 187 And , all about in darknesse , * thicke as darke ; Are seene to shine ( like Gloworms ) vgly eies ; Which ( like a Partrige sprong ) ech soule do mark ; So , that to scape no Soules pow'r can deuise : For , should they mount ( as doth the nimble Lark ) A gastly Griphon doth them strait surprise : Or should they sincke into Pits bottomlesse , There shuld they meet the like , with like distresse . 188 In mortall life ( though mortall be mens woes ) Three things their vtmost rage do qualifie ; That 's Comfort , Hope , and Rest ; but , none of those Come neare this place of paines * extremity : Mens Rackers , here , being tir'd , do let them loose ; But , they are Sprites that men , there , crucifie ; Who can endure all labour , without paine , While they do Sprites ( that is for ere ) remaines . 189 But , if mens plaguers here immortall were , And were of pow'r , vntir'd , to plague them still , Yet would they them , yer long , to nothing * weare ; Or them with lacerating torments kill ; But all , so plagu'd , are made immortall there , Who thogh they stil are spoil'd , yet noght cā spill : Thē , thogh Time wears that on Time doth depēd Yet they weare not , for Time doth them attend . 190 Yea , thogh their Plaguers & themselues were * such Yet , in this life , the Instruments of paine To nought would waste , with vsing long , & much ; But , that same firie * Lake doth still remaine , Which though it quite cōfounds , but with a tuch , Yet , it confounds but to torment againe : And , lest the fire should out , prepar'd there is , A Sea of * Sulphure , which still feedeth this . 191 These present paines the Wit do ( pining ) waste ; But those to come the Will do martire most : The Memory is plagu'd with pleasures * past , And Vnderstanding with the pleasures * lost : Which on the Soule the Soule of * Sorrowes cast ; For , endles Ioyes to lose , crosse-woūds our Ghost : To haue bin well , doth but encrease our curse , But , to lose endlesse being well , is worse . 192 Then , what remaines to ease the wounded * spright , When Hope , that keeps it * whole , becoms Dispaire : For , in that dungeon of eternall night That most doth ruine , that should most repaire : For , Immortalitie right good , by right , The Soule and Bodies powres doth most impaire : Then , hauing but one * good thing naturall , Yet that made worse then Ill , how ill is All ? 193 There , raignes what not ? ( that is not to be told With tong , nor * pen ) that sense afflicts with griefe ; There is Perditions home , Damnations Hold ; Which giues death life , & death , giues life reliefe : It is the vtmost reach of Hot and Cold , And of Dispaire the habitation chiefe : In summe , it is the summe of all distresse , Which subdiuided makes it nothing lesse . 194 These are Gehennaes Consorts ; these are they That still associate those that thither go : This is the Place of that fell Monsters stay ; The Place where paine is infinite in woe : The way thereto is * plaine , broad , greene , and gay , All strew'd with floures , to tice men thither so : All which to Phusis , erst by Logus , told , On Aletheia made her fasten hold . 195 Now , to returne to Phusis , and her plaint , Quoth she , ( and her embraced all the while ) Deere Aletheia , help me , for I faint ; To thinke my Sonnes are neere this monster vile ; Who , with his Tuske , will teare , and all to taint Their tender flesh , which filthy Lusts defile : Which to preuent , I faine would learne of thee , For , thou best know'st , what 's best for them , & mee . 196 And , for I know thou canst aright perswade , ( For all thy words are held in * reuerence ) I thee beseech from Vice them to disswade , And from this Land ; sith none * returns frō thence : O bid them leaue their idle wandring Trade , And tell them of this inconuenience : Go , Lady go ; the way thou canst not misse , To all their homes , and tel them home of this . 197 I would ( quoth Aletheia ) gladly goe , But that , I feare , they will entreate me ill For Logus sake ( neare * kin to me , they know ) But thy desire I will herein fulfill : For , I will go , though I my selfe forgoe , To bar their course , and breake them of their will ; For , life is wonne , though lost , in those Assaies , Wherein the loser gaines immortall praise . 198 Go , gracious Ladie , * glory be thy guide ( Quoth Lady Phusis , to this hardy Dame ) And I , meane while , will at this Gate abide , With my friend * Nosus , Porter to the same . So , on this iourney Aletheia hi'd , For , she , though wounded oft , was neuer lame , In all her Actions shee 's most vpright still ; For , she will neuer halt , how euer ill . 199 This while sate Phusis at this narrow dore , Talking with Logus , who came to * her there ; Because she did as he her will'd before ; Who told him all her hope , and all her feare ; How Aletheia did her case deplore , And went to schoole her Children eu'ry where : For , Hearts are eas'd when Tongs vnfold at large , The griefes , or ioyes , which do them ouercharge . 200 Logus her course , herein , did much commend ; And cheer'd her , as she could , with heu'nly words : Praid her , with * patience , to expect the end ; And comfort eu'ry way to her affords : Strengthning her hope that now her sons would mend ; Sith Aletheias sayings would ( like swords ) Subdue all rancke rebellion of the sense , For , powrefull words winne more then violence . 201 They had not thus sate reas'ning there awhile , But Aletheia they farre off might see Flying to them-wards ouer stoppe and Stile , Oft looking backe , as those that chased bee ; Thē wel they knew hope did their hopes beguile , Which they , till they had tri'd , could not * foresee : For , that which is contingent who doth kno , Are onely wise , and none but * ONE is so . 202 But comming neere thē ( almost breathlesse quite ) She , panting , told them ( windlesse as she could ) How she had bin ( by vertue of her might ) About the whole world , and , with courage bold , ( For which , she said , she was in painefull plight ) All Phusis children of their * errors told : To whom ( quoth she ) in diuerse formes I came , Yet kept my * nature , though I chang'd my name . 203 Some tooke me for grosse Error , some for mad ; Some , superstitious ; some , hereticall : Some , for Deceipt ; and some , for Vice , as bad : Presumptuous some ; some , hipocriticall : But , the * most part , most malice to me had ; For they , at first sight , draue me to the wall : Some seem'd to take my part with Tooth & Naile , That did ( indeed ) me most of all assaile . 204 The Curious rent my Maske to see my face ; The Prowd , ore lookt , nay , troade me vnderfeete , The Learned , grac'd themselues with my disgrace ; Th'vnlerned ( graueld ) filld my mouth with * Greet ; Which made me faine , and speake as one in chase , So , all I met withall , with me did meete : Truth gets but hate , but Adulation loue : That this is truth , vnto my paine I proue . 205 So , when I saw the perill I was in , Away I fled , thus * wounded as you see ; I held it base to keepe vnscar'd my skin , Sith mine aduenture might bring ease to thee : But Phusis , this I did thy loue to win , Whom I do loue , how ere thou louest me : No dearer loue can Loue bewray then this , To venture that , for Loue , that dearest is . 206 Ah , woe is me ( quoth Phusis ) that thou shouldst For my poore Loue ( which thou dost well deserue ) Venture that Iewell , which thou dearest holdst , Yet that rare * hazard , not my turne to serue : Thy will I see , in that I see thou wouldst Venture thy life my sonnes liues to preserue : And that thou shouldst for that be wounded so , And they the worse for that , the worse my woe . 207 Can neither Caueats of Mortalitie , ( Which flow frō thy mouth with almighty force ) Nor my perswasions , more then motherly , Giue them some feeling of their senslesse course ? Are their * Soules seared with impiety , That they for it , therein , feele no remorce ? Then what shall I a woefull mother do , But wish I Were not , and my children too ? 208 But what , I pray , did Princes say to thee , When thou did'st mind them that they once must die ? They said , & therewith stabb'd at me ( quoth she ) I , like a deuill , in my Throate did lie : These , of all others , most I sought to * flee ; And yet I * honor roiall Maiestie : Without my hand sustaine , Thrones reeling stand ; For , all staid Thrones are staied by my hand . 209 And how ( quoth Phusis ) doe the Iudges liue ? Many of them ( replied she ) doom'd me death , Because I would not ( as did others ) giue Them goldē * Scabberds , Iustice Sword to sheath . How Lawyers ? They by others losses thriue , And oft ( quoth she ) on all sides sell their breath . Physitions how ? They reason doubtfully Till Fees they finger past recouery . 210 Poore Poets how ? while they ( quoth she ) do fill The world with Fables , feed thēselues with hopes More fabulous ; so hold they but at will Their tearme of life , of some great * Lord that opes His Mouth , more then his Purse , their Eares to fill More then their Mawes ; which greedie Famine grops : Whose biting stomacks stil do stomack it , The while they starue for want of wealth and wit. 211 Ah these deere Harts I pitty in my hart , Who liue by sweet * Lines , which do end their life ; For , to liue long , they hang themselues by Arte ; Or kill themselues with sharpe Inuentions knife : Sith they , to liue , thus die , without desart , Long may they liue where glorie is more rife : For , greater glory no flesh can attaine , Then die for glorie , so to liue againe . 212 And doe my sonnes ( quoth Phusis ) fare but thus ? O then aduise me ( Lady ) what to doe : Who said , sith they no better are for vs , Thou must * Astrea ( my deere Sister ) wooe To rule them with the Rod of Summum ius , Before themselues they vtterly vndoe : And wooe thy selfe to take it patiently , For , better thou shuldst beare , then they shuld die . 213 For , if she rule them not when wilde they bee , She will ore rule them being truely tam'd , If , in their life , she doe them not oresee , She , in their death , will see they shal be damn'd : Thogh she be blind , she with mine * Eies doth see , And I doe see how life and death are fram'd : And thus , the best aduice that I can giue , Is them to mortifie , that they may liue . 214 Which hauing said , she Logus with her tooke ( To dresse her wounds ) and hi'd her to her Bed ; So Phusis , being of them both forsooke , Sate at the doore of Thanatus , neere dead , And fell asleepe till Logus her awooke , Who came againe to her as if he fled : Whom when she saw , her hart receiued cheare , And in her face the same did soone * appeare . 215 Logus aduis'd her strait to take aduice Of Thanatus , and Chronus , what to do : Which to performe , she seemed somewhat nice , Because she thought they sought her to * vndoo : Yet , her loue to her sonnes did her entice , Her enemies , in this behalfe , to woo : And , thus resolu'd , she boldly rushed in Those Gates , which erst to her had fearefull bin . 216 Whos 's slipp'ry thresholds had neere made her fall Into the Lake of Lethe , hard at hand ; But , Logus held her vp ; yet , therewithall She grew so fearefull , that she scarse could stand ; But held by Logus , and a * lomy Wall : Then Logus her besought ( that might command ) That she no more that passage would attempt , For , t is not good the Fates too much to tempt . 217 But I ( quoth she ) will Chronus call outright ; Who forthwith came , on her sweet sounding call ; Holpe by two wings , one * blacke , the other white ; And in his hand a Sithe , to cut downe All : Who seem'd behind but low , and * poore in plight ; But yet before , most pretious , trimme , and tall : Thus came he forth , and to these Ladies said , Who calls ? and spake with motion most * vnstaid . 218 T' was I ( quoth Logus ) know'st thou not my voice ? Or wilt not , sith thou wilt become vnkinde ? The time hath * bin when It did thee reioyce ; Though now ( it seemes ) to thee it seemes but wind : Wilt be vnconstant , so to change thy Choice ? And shall I * making thee , thee fickle find ? But , if I shall , of this thou shalt be sure Thou shalt the lesser while , for that * endure . 219 Thus Logus Chronus did reproue , because He wold not know that voice which wel he knew ; But , Chronus he himselfe , from them , withdrawes ; As one that fear'd worse chiding to ensue : But , Logus bade him stay , or shew a cause , Which * shews to Logus are all onely due ; Without whose help , old Chronus doth but dote , And cannot sing or say , right Word , or Note . 220 On this Iniunction , Chronus mute did stand ; Yet stood as one that still on * Thornes had stood ; While Logus seem'd his seruice to command , And gaue his Tongue * powre to be vnderstood : Quoth he , let Phusis haue thy helping hand , To make , if so thou canst , her children good : For , they that hurt must heale , or make amends , Then ( hurting them ) on thee their help depends . 221 Here Phusis , hearing how he thus was chid , Was at the point , at him , likewise to * ra●●e , But Logus bade her ( in her Eare ) take heede ; For , faire words wold with Chronus most preuaile : Wherewith her headstrong Will she bridle did , For Logus loue , and for her sonnes auaile : But yet she said , he did great hauocke make Of her deere children in that Lethe Lake . 222 In which respect she meekely him besought ( By way of satisfaction ) that he would Preuent her Childrens going all to nought ; And , with * Examples , them from that withhold : For I their Mother , ( quoth she ) still haue sought To make them liue as toward children should : And if they perish , it shall be their blame , For , I le leaue nought vnsought , to let the same . 223 I will , quoth Chronus ; and away he flew ; And , in one instant , made ( the world throughout ) Babes , youths : youths , Men : Men , Old : Old , Babes anew ! Ph●sis , mean while , with Logus talkt , about The hope she had that Chronus would subdue Her sonnes to Logus rule ; which He did doubt : For , no man of a rationall discourse Can thinke thei 'l mend that still waxe worse and worse . 224 While thus they talkt , they on the sodaine saw Chronus , vpon his wings , returning fast ; Which in her smoothest hope did make a flaw ; For , so he fled as he had beene agast : What news ( quoth she ) as he neere them did draw , Fearing , ere she had spoke , he would be past : What do my Children ? Chronus say , O what ? Speake , speake , O speake , I * long to heare of that . 225 They are ( quoth he ) I know not what to say , Following their pleasures ; and , do thinke of noght But how they may shift me with ease away ; Yet I thereby the sooner them haue caught : O what a world it is to see them play ( Like Apes ) with each vaine * toy too * deerely bought , He is no man that cannot do what not ? That wise men neuer knew , or haue forgot . 225 Ayme therefore ( quoth she ) but didst not thou With thy Sithe menace them , to manage them ? Didst thou not tell them thou their Backs wouldst bow , And that this mortal life was but a * dreame ? O! couldst thou not , with all this , cast them low To mount them more to high Ierusalem ? What , haue they sense , and cannot vse the same , That haue no kinde of sense of sinne , and shame ? 226 When night was come ( quoth he ) I told ech one The day was past : and when the Sabboth came , I said a weeke was fully past , and gone : A month expir'd , I * told them of the same : And when the Sun his compleate course had run , I said a yeare was past , and spent , with shame : But ▪ they that take delight to runne awrie , Learne so to runne by Sols * course in the Skie . 227 In Childhood , I did teach ; in Youth , did threat : In Manhood , I reprooued : and in Age , With their own bones , their bones I sore did beat : And in Decrepitenesse , I worse did rage ; For , I did euen quench their vitall heat : And to the gripes of death did them ingage . Yet for all this , they worse and worse became , Still spoiling me , till them I * ouercame . 228 What life then do my Yonglings liue ( quoth she ? ) The life ( said he ) of wanton skipping Roes : What the Yongmen ? Of Goates , in Lecherie : And what mē grown ? Of Cocks , prowd , prone to bloes : What aged men ? Of wolues that greedy be And what old Age ? Of crafty Foxes those : But , most of all , do most of all transgresse , And * all , and some offend , some more , some lesse . 229 Ah out alas ( cride she ) what then remaines To me , or them , but miserable woe ? But , I will trie if yet my care and paines , Can moue them their wrong courses to forgoe : Logus and * Chronus to you it pertaines To take my part herein , as friends should doe : Not I ( quoth Logus ) for , against their will , I can saue none , that long themselues to spill . 230 So , Logus left them , and away he hide To seeke Astrea ; ( who , the earth had * left ) That she of Phusis sonnes might take the guide ; While Phusis ranne about ( of Logus rest ) And on her sonnes , with tragicke voice , she cri'd Pitty , O pitty , me , she cried est : Griefe , wāting vent , the Heart ( tormented ) breaks , And Paine 's not sad , while she at pleasure speakes . 231 Whereat Poliphagus ( whose hearing was All for the Belly ) said , me thinke I heare ( Yet Eares the Belly * wants , but let that passe ) The * voice of Phusis , our kind mother deare : The other two said , How comes this to passe That she is come ? wherewith she did appeare , And to them said , Deere Sonnes , how do ye fare ? Exceeding well ( quoth they ) and frolicke are . 232 But , do ye not consider ( Sonnes ) quoth she ) How neere ye are to be deuoured quite By that Gehenna , which I loathe to see , ( Damn'd hellish monster headsman of Delight ) Except you change your course , and warie bee To shunne him and his hardly * shunned spight ? For , that spit's hardly shun'd that hath both force And will , to make her Obiect worse and worse . 233 Alas ( quoth they ) we liue , as liue we should , Prolonging * Life with lifes immunities ; Except the ouerthrow thereof you would , Do not * perswade vs to liue otherwise : What thogh our Soules to pleasure quite are sold , Are they not sold thereby to * Paradise ? The Sale is good , as Reasons law maintaines , When both the Buyer and the Seller gaines . 234 Phusis ( too fond , as too kinde Mothers are ) Seeing them well ( for well they seeme to be That liue , how euer ill , without all care ) Was * pleas'd with what she did both heare & see ; Who said , that Logus sed , they ill did fare , And were in more then mortall ieoperdy : But sith she saw they were in perfect plight , She would ( she said ) partake of their delight . 235 Indeed ( quoth they ) that solemne * Sage we saw ; Who ( algates ) wold haue drawne vs frō our sports : But , whilst he drew vs , we made him withdraw Himselfe from vs , with many mortall * hurts : He would ( forsooth ) haue had vs keepe his Law ; And done our Suite and Seruice to his Courts : Then , sith he would needs Lord it ouer vs , We as free men haue seru'd his Lordship thus . 236 Would that ( quoth she ) ye had forborne , because Many obey him that do rule aright ; For , Equitie doth limit all his Lawes ; And they are held for mad , that with him fight : Hereat , as loath t' offend , she made a pawse , For , in their Fronts she saw the face of * night : When men looke blacke , then if you peace desire , Looke white , for Blackenesse is the child of fire . 237 Here , with a smiling , and indulgent looke , ( sweet ) ( To change their sowre look with looks more thē She told them Aletheia vndertooke To shew them what was for their safetie meet : For , her ( quoth they ) we neuer yet forsooke , Because we neuer yet with her did * meet : Yet haue we heard that she is too precise , To liue with vs in Pleasures Paradise . 238 But doubtlesse ( quoth she ) Chronus was with you ; What said he to you ? what was his aduice ? He to and fro ( quoth they ) about vs flew , Yet to stay with vs seemed more then nice : He * coldly sought our lusts heate to subdue , But yer we wist , we lost him a trice : Yet , yer he went , with him wee merry made , And made him most familiar with our Trade . 239 Wherefore , we pray you , when you goe away , Leaue him with vs ; For , we do well * agree : I will ( quoth she ) so left them at their play , And Chronus sent to beare them company : With whom they reuelld out the night , and day ; Though He from them still sought away to flee : For Chronus weareth not his Wings for nought , Sith he doth farre out flie the swiftest Thought . 240 While they thus gamesomely with Chronus toy'd , ( Deceiuing him with Fancies fallacies ) They heard a voice ( which sorely them annoy'd ) That sommon'd them to leaue their luxuries ; Herewith by Thanatus , they were * destroy'd ; To satisfie Gehennaes gurmandize : At whose approach , old Chronus fled away , For he could neuer yet , with neither stay . 241 Chronus thus leauing them to be deuour'd By fell Gehenna ( their foe capitall ) ( Of whom , by * Thanatus , he was assur'd ) He fled to Phusis , and so , told her all : Who was within the Earths womb then immur'd , Prouiding foode for hir Broode great und small ; Assuring her He school'd them as they ought , Till Thanatus had them past schooling brought . 242 Phusis herewith tormented in the Soule , Ranne ( as distracted ) where sicke Fancie pleas'd ; Till , at the last , she heard her Sonnes to howle , As those that were most damnably diseas'd : Exclaiming on their liues , and * follies fowle , That pleas'd the Sēse with all that now displeas'd : But such compunction neuer comes but where The penitent doth desperate appeare . 243 So , when she had well wai'd their agonies Which they endured in that Monsters Iawes , And , hauing view'd the like extremities , Proceeding from the like , or worser cause , Of cruell * Kings , that of Blood make but Size To glew together their most bloudy Lawes : Of corrupt Iudges ; and Priests negligent , The three that * raise , or ruine Gouernment . 244 The working woes of th'idle-curious ; Of the Rich-couetous ; and the Poore-prowde ; Rebellious Subiects ; Courtiers vicious : Lasciuious Dames ; damn'd Bawdes ; the cursed Crowde : Erroneous Teachers ; Poets * Libellous : Cau'ling Philosophers , ( by fooles allow'd ) Of craftie Merchants ; lying Aduocates : And swearing Sea-men ; roving Runnagates . 245 In few , when she had seene the many woes Of all that in Gehennaes Hold abide , She was , by * Phobus , ( who attended those ) Brought to the place where she did erst reside ; Where she did many Praiers sweete compose Vnto Astrea , ( whom the Heau'ns did hide ) That she would digne to teach , and to correct The rest of her wilde Children of each Sect. 246 So , at these holy Praiers her I leaue , ( Sith they are neuer * left that so do pray ; ) Now , Poets say ( that all in all perceiue ) Is this a Fiction ? or a true Essay ? If both , then both are ready to deceaue Those that wold picke this Locke without a * kay : But , be it what it will , it is the same That is in earnest true , how ere in game . Bene cogitata , si excidunt , non occidunt . Mimi . Publiani . THE SECOND TALE : Containing , The Ciuile Warres of Death and Fortune . 1 THere was a Time ( as I haue heard it sed , By those that did , at least , in Print it finde ) A certaine Marriage was solemnized Betweene a mortall Paire of noble kinde ; And , for the loue of those whom Loue doth wed , Immortall Gods the * company refin'd ●ith their pure presence ; who , the Feast to grace ●id reuell ( as did all the rest ) a space . 2 Among the rest of that immortall Crue , Danc'd Death and Fortune , whose Masks were so like , That none , that danc'd , the one from other knew ; So , in their choice of them they were to seeke : For , some that soght for Fortune , * Deth out-drew ; And some that soght for Deth , did Fortune strike● T●me was their Minstrell , who did euer play , Aswell when they did dance , as they did stay . 3 Fortune delighted most to dance with those That best could flatter , and the time obserue ; But Death still lou'd to foote it with his foes ; Or else with such as he saw best * deserue : When Fortune danc'd , she turnes , she comes , and goes , And kept no time , thogh Time hir turns did serue : But , whē death danc'd , he did those Mesures tread , Whose times were lōg , & short , & tunes were dead 4 So , Fortune vs'd Lauoltaes still to dance That rise , and * fall , as Time doth either play : And Death the Measure of least dalliance , That 's Passing-measure , and so strait away : Or else the shaking of the Sheets ( per chance ) Which he would dance , vntired , night and day : Wherein he put them downe , so that he did Driue them from dancing vnto * Winck-all-hid . 5 The dācing done , while yet their bloods were hot , Fortune and Death began on tearmes to stand ; Which , for their dancing , had most glorie got ; And , who their actions did best command : From which dispute ( with choller ouershot ) They fel to * vrge their powres by Sea and Land ; The while the Gods stoode most attentiuely , To heare their more contentious Colloqui . 6 When loe Deth ( Lord of all that breathe this aire ) Thus gan t' inforce his powre , beyond compare ; I know ( saith he ) their honors they impaire That striue with those that their * inferiors are : Yet Foulnesse is not made a whit more faire By being compar'd with Beauty , much more rare ; But , Foulenesse takes the greater foile thereby , And Moles are foiles to set forth Beauties die . 7 Wert thou not blind ( bold baiard ) thou woldst see , A mighty diffrence twixt thy might and mine ; Sith among those that most almighty bee , I do admit no power more diuine : For Empire large , who can compare with mee , Sith Earth and Aire the same cannot confine : Nay , in Earth , Water , yea , in Aire , and * Fire ( That 's all in all ) I rule as I desire . 8 What breathes , or hath a vegetatiue Soule , But paies me tribute , as vnto their King ? Nay , doe I not the hoast of * starres controule ? Then Heau'n and Earth I to obedience bring : And Kings , as Beggars , are in my Checke-role ; Nay , Kings more oft then Beggars do I sting : As farre as any thing hath * motion , I Play Rex , for , all that liue , do liue to die . 9 And therefore testifie thie modestie ( For error to defend is impudence ) In graunting that which thou canst not deny , And to be true , thou know'st in conscience : Thou sure woldst blush , if thou hadst but one * eie , To stand on tearmes with mine omnipotence : But sith thine Eies are blind , and Iudgement too , Thou canst not blush at that thou can'st not doo . 10 Thy reasons seeme ( quoth Fortune ) strong to such , As do but sleightly weigh them ; but to mee , ( That seeth more then thou , at least as much , For , thou wanst * Eyes , as well as I , to see ) They are too base , to brooke my Trialls Touch , For , Tyrranny is no true Sou'raigntie : And , Empire large , consistes not of large Partes , But in the free subiection of whole Harts . 11 Can any King be happy or secure That drawing bodies , cleane with-draw the harts ? Or is it like that Kingdome should endure , That is , by Hate , diuided into Parts * And Hate a cruell Prince must needes procure , That seekes his weale by all his Subiects smarts : The Will is free , and will not be constrain'd , How ere , for it , the body may be pain'd . 12 As vniuersall as the Vniuerse Extends ( I graunt ) thy grand authoritie : And that thy Takers ( more then most peruerse ) Sicknesse , Mischance , Disgrace , and Destinie , Thy tribute take from Man , Beast ( tame or fierce ) To fill thy still-consuming Treasurie : But , their * vntimely taking , with high hand , Makes thy rule odious on Sea and Land. 13 Such Officers , in each craz'd common-weale ; ( That vnder colour of their Offices , Do , with the Sou'raignes fauour badly deale ) Great Mischiefs * cause , & Inconueniences ; Which though they touch the Subiects , kings do feele Who often smart for suffring that disease : When Princes tend their priuate , and neglect The common good , they cause this sore effect . 14 But ballance , on the other side , my might In th' vpright Scholes of true Indiffrencie , And , thou shalt find I haue their heart and spright Freely obaying mine authoritie : For , thou compellest , but I do inuite : I Fauors * giue , whose vse thou dost deny : I do promote all those that rise to mee , But thou subuertest those that fall to thee . 15 Then , though that vniuersall be thy powre , Thinke not , therefore , Loue must to thee be such : For Wit and Courage may high place procure , But * Loue and Bountie ampler powre by much ; Then of my currant Cause I am so sure , That I dare rubbe it hard on Trialls Touch : And , for my part , to end this Ciuile Warre , I le put it to iudicious Iupiter . 16 Although I iustly may ( quoth Death ) deny To put a question , without question , Vnto the Iudgement of selfe-Equity , ( For so I hold iust * Iupiter alone ) Yet ( not affecting Singularitie ) I le make him Iudge in this Contention : Now Fortune , proue thy powre , as I will mine , And then let Iupiter iudge both in fine . 17 So , when they were ( to play this masters Prize ) Entred this round worlds spatious Theater , Fortune adorn'd her selfe with Dignities , With Gold , & * Iems which made All follow her : These did she fall , to make her followers rise , To gather which , they did themselues bestirre : Keisars and Kings , that vsherd her the way , Oft caught much more then they could * beare away . 18 Here might you see ( like Beggars at a dole ) Some throng'd to death , in scābling for her almes ; He oft sped best , that was the veriest * foole ; Some tooke vp Come , some Crownes , and others Palms For which they pull'd each other by the Pole , While * othersome , for thē , found precious Balms : Some found odde ends to make their States intire , And all found some thing that they did desire . 19 But , that which was most notable to see , Was the poore Priest , who still came lagging last , As if ( God wot ) he car'd not rich to bee , To whom kinde Fortune Liuings large did cast ( As t' were to guerdon his humilitie ) Which , in the name of God , he still held fast : And still look'd * downe to find more , if he might , For , well he found , he found well by that sleight . 20 Philosophers ( that gold did still neglect ) Lookt only but ( wise-fooles ) to find their * Stone ; Which toy , in truth , was nothing , in effect , But to get all the world to them alone : For , with that Stone they would pure gold proiect Worth all the * world by computation : But , whiles they sought a Stone so rich and faire , They perfect gold but turn'd t'imperfect aire . 21 Thus , at the heeles of Fortune all attend , Whom well shee feëd for attending so : On th' other side , Death to and fro did wend To seeke one that with him would gladly go : But , none he * found ; which made him those to end He ouertooke , in going to and fro : For , those which are vnwilling Death to meete , He is most willing soonest them to greete . 22 Nor could those Officers that him foreranne ( Sickenesse , Mischance , Disgrace , and Destinie ) Affect , with his affection , any Man ; For , none they found that willingly would die , Sith all , before , with * fauours , Fortune wan , And , such desir'd to liue eternally : For , it is death to thinke on Death with such , That Fortune makes too merry with too much . 23 Throgh Campes , & Hosts he trauel'd with a trice , ( For , soldiers needs must meet deth by their trade ) At last he came where some were throwing dice , Who first a Breach should enter newly made ; Lord how some chaf'd ( through Glories auarice ) For missing that which they wold not haue * had : And , he that wan , to lose his life did striue , Yet so , as faine he would haue scapt aliue . 24 Among the rouing Crew , at Sea , he sought For one that willing was to go with him , Who , thogh they valu'd all their liues at nought , And oft for trifles ventred life & limme , Yet when their woorthlesse bloods were to bee bought They sold them deerely , and in blood did swim From bloody death , as long as they could moue , For thogh they fear'd not death , they life did loue 25 Through the Turkes Gallies , 'mong the Slaues he went To seek some desp'rat slaue that lōg'd to die ; But loe , not one to die would yeeld consent , For , all , through * hope , still lookt for libertie : Hope doth the hart enlarge that Griefe forespent ; And Faith keepes Hope and Life , in charitie . Dispaire can neuer seize that hopefull hart , That can , through * Faith endure an hell of smart . 26 At last he to a Monasterie came , ( Where mortified life is most profess'd ) And sought for one to meete him in the same ; But , all therein from sodaine * death them blest : And pra●'d to Iesus so their liues to frame That sodainely Death might not them arrest : A Pater noster , Aue , and a Creede , They thought right wel bestow'd , so wel to speed . 27 Thence went he to an holie Ancrets Cell , Who seem'd to be quite buried there aliue ; He Death embrac'd , but yet the feare of Hell Made him with Death , for life ( in loue ) to * striue : He knew himselfe ( old Fox ) perhappes , too well Strait to presume that God would him forgiue : So , was most willing , and vnwilling too , To do as present Death would haue him doo . 28 In fine , Death doubting in his Cause to faile , Intreated Sickenesse such an one to finde , That wold not flinch , thogh Deth did him assaile , And scorn'd the fauors of that Godddesse * blinde : So , Sickenes went , throgh many a lothsome Iaile ▪ And found , at last , one mortified in minde : Who though he were but poore , yet held it vaine , To follow Fortune that did him disdaine . 29 On whom seiz'd Sickenesse , with resistlesse force , And , pull'd him downe so low , he could not stand ; To whom Death came , to make his corps a Corse , Yet , as his friend , first shak'd him by the hand ; And by * perswasions , would him faine enforce With willing minde , to be at his command : Which if he would , Death promis'd faithfully , He should die sleeping , or most easily . 30 This forlorne wrech thākt death for his good wil , But yet desird one happy howre to liue , Which ended , he would Deaths desire fulfill , Who from him with a Purge , did Sicknesse driue , * Which shortly did one of his Kinred kill , From whome , as heire he did some wealth receiue : And being well in state of health , and wealth , He followed Fortune more thē Death , by stealth . 31 Now , hee betooke him to a Furriers Trade , And hauing Stock , hee multiplide his Store ; Then Death did mind him of the match he made , But , him hee answer'd as hee did before : Quoth he , O marre me not ere I am made , But let me get ( kind Death ) a * little more : Contēte ( quoth Death ) thou shalt haue thy desire , So I may haue thereby what I require . 32 Sables and Ermines Death for him did kill , And made his wealth thereby , by heapes , increase ; Who hauing now ( death thoght ) the world at will , He asked him if now he would decease : Who yet desired life , of Dearh , to fill His coffers to the top , thē would he * cease : Death yet seem'd pleas'd , and brought all those to nought Th'reuersions of whose States he erst had bought . 33 Then , when he had a world of wealth obtain'd , Death came againe for his consent to die ; But now he told Death , his mind more was pain'd With thought , and * care , then erst in pouertie : Therefore he prai'd his death might be refrain'd Till he had gotten some Nobilitie : And then he would go willingly with Death , And ( nobly ) yeelde to him his deerest breath . 34 Death yet agreed ( sith his good will he sought ) And gaue him leaue to compasse his intent ; Who , of a noble-man , decayed , bought Both Land & * Lordship , Honor , House , & Rent ; Then Hee turn'd Courtier , and with Courtiers wroght ( By Deaths assistance , & with mony lent ) That he , in time , became a mightie King ; And al his Proiects to effect did bring . 35 Then , Death ( not doubting of his will to die ) Vnto him came , to know his will therein ; But , he did Death intreate ( most earnestly ) That sith to him he had so gracious bin , He yet might gaine imperiall * Dignitie Before his Death , which soone he hop'd to win : And then he would most willingly resigne His life to Death , although a life diuine . 36 Death , hoping , that the greater he was made , The greater glorie he , by him , should gaine , ( Which might the vmpire Iupiter perswade That Death in powre , was Fortunes Soueraigne ) Made neighbour Kings each other to inuade , To whom this King a Neuter did remaine ; Who whē they had by wars themselues consum'd , He all their States , as Emperour , assum'd . 37 Now being Caesar , Death came strait to him , As most assured of his company , But to the Emperour he seem'd more grim Then erst he did , which made him loath to die ; Come on ( quoth Deth , & therwith held a limme ) No oddes there must be now , twixt you and I : To * Ioue I le bring you , then with goodwill go To him , with me , and see you tell him so . 38 Alas ( said hee ) I am but newly come To honors height , and wilt thou throw me downe Ere I be warme , or settled in my Roome , And so my Brows scarse * feele th'●mperiall crown ▪ O suffer me to liue , to tell the summe Of the Contentments , from my Grandure grown ; For , better had it bin still Low to lie Then , being at the Highest , straite to die . 39 Either ( quoth Death ) come willingly with me Or thou shalt die a death thou most dost * feare : Hee hearing this , from Death did seeke to flee , And cried on Fortune to assist him there , Peace villaine then ( quoth Death ) I coniure thee , Or lower speake , that Fortune may not heare : Yet Fortune ( which he follow'd ) was at hand , And laught for ioy to heare him Death withstand . 40 But by this Time , the Time prefixt by Ioue Expired was : and Fortune with her brought A world of people , following Her in loue , Who , willingly , for Fortune long had sought : These , as she moved , with hir still did moue , Because she rais'd them higher then she ought : In which respect she had more * followars Then Sol ( that lights Heau'ns lamps ) had waiting Stars . 41 Lord● how some ( sweating ) dropt in foll'wing hir , To whō shee dropt that which be dropt thē more ; For , they were laden so , they scarse could stirre , Who vnder-went the same with labour * sore : And othersome , themselues did so bestirre , That they in each mans Boat would haue an Ore ; But , seeking to gripe more then well they could , Were forc'd to * lose that which they had in hold . 42 Among the rest , there was an Vsurer , ( Whose Backe his Belly did , for debt , arrest ) Who being fearefull of iust * Iupiter , Made nice to goe with Fortune , and the rest ; Sith well he knew , He was a Thunderer , In , and from whom , he had no interest : For he did neuer deale with such , perhaps , That gaue for intrest nought but Thunderclaps . 43 The Souldier came , and gaue them much offence , That stood betweene his Breast , & Fortunes Back : So , Souldiers haue backe-fortune euer since , For they , for others good , go still to * wracke ; And for their wracks haue wrackful recompence ; For , they are sackt , if they chance not to sacke : And if they doe , the Publique Purse must haue , That which must keepe them as a publique Slaue . 44 They , with right Swords , do ballance kingdomes rights ; ( A glorious office they perform the while ) The woorths of * Kings appeares by those their weights ; Which proue thē to be valorous , or vile : Yet they gaine nought but blows , in blody fights , So , * store they get without , or fraude , or guile ; The while the gown-mā keeps vnscarr'd his skin , And with his Pen ( in peace ) the world doth win . 45 O thou true Ioue , bow downe thine vpright Eare , To heare thy lowest Seruants Orisons , Which , in the loue which he to them doth beare , He makes for them ( that wracke still ouer-runnes ) Incline the hearts of Princes farre and neare , As Marses Minions to loue Marses * sonnes : And , make this little Land yeeld great increase , To stay their stomackes great , in warre and peace . 46 A Soldiers sword , from sheath , here Fortune took , To knight all those that her had followd well , Now eu'ry man did for a Knighthood looke , That scarse had found an house wherein to dwell : Yet some did much their betters ouer-looke , And thrust in for it , while their lookes did swell : So , Fortune seeing them to looke so big , Possest them * knights , without or Turffe or Twig 47 Sois Cheualier ; Arise sir Knight , ( quoth she ) Then vp he springs , for feare lest Fortune would Recall hir word for his debilitie ; Now Knight he is , for nought but being bold ; For Fortune fauours Squires of lowe * degree , If they be more audacious then they should : Now Honor hath He , get Grace where He can , Yet Fortune gaue him grace to keepe a man. 48 Some layd on all which they , by Fortune , got Vpon their backes , that brauely sought to beare The Sword vpon their shoulders , yet could not ; For , it fell in the sheathe ere it fell there : Fell lucke it was that so they were forgot ; Yet they * forgat themselues , as did appeare ; But when they saw they mist of what they sought , Thei bar'd their backs , to line their guts , for noght . 49 Which Iupiter himselfe did laugh to see ; For , these so much were mou'd with this disgrace , That they were at the point to Death to flee , And Fortune leaue , for such their fortune bace : Yet followed her ( most malecontentedly ) Beceuse they followed her vnto that place : To cast away long seruice on a spleene , Is not to foresee , but to be oreseene . 50 O! t was a world to see what shift was made To hold vp Greatnes with a little stay ; T' were sinne to say some vs'd the Cheaters trade , To borrow with a purpose * ne'r to pay ; And get all , howsoe'r , that might be had , No , no , they did not so , I dare well say : But this I say , perhaps , they liu'd by wit , And so to liue , some great Ones thinke it fit . 51 Now , in these knightly times ye might haue seene ( If you , for pleasure , had but tane the paine ) Each one ye met withall , a Knight in greene ; And so the world , b'ing old , grew greene againe ; As if the same but in the Blade had beene ; For , each one did his * Hanger on , sustaine : Now , Time stood still , to sport himselfe in Maie ; For , all was Greene , and at that state did stay . 52 Some shuffled for some Office : some to gaine Some Monopole , which then could not be got : For , Fortune did those Monopoles restraine , Because she thought t' was to hir Rule a Blot To pleasure One by all her Subiects paine , Thogh oft they made thē seem , as they were * not : Some cried for warre , and othersome for peace , But Fortune , thogh they cried , still held hir peace . 53 Now , some , for Coine their Offices did sell , As if they had bin cloid with Fortunes grace ; And those that bought them , others did compell To * pay for them , when they were in their Place : And some , in seeking somewhat , did rebell ; But Fortune broght them soone to wretched case : Some strong , sent long men to Ierusalem , Out of the way , to make a way for them . 54 Now , for Truths Matters , there was much adoe ; Some this , some that , som none of both wold haue : And yet all three did ( restlesse ) Fortune woe , To yeeld to neither , that did either craue In worlds behalfe , or fleshes fixt thereto ; But all , in * shew , did seeke but Trueth to saue : For , all seem'd to sollicite Sions cause , Which they would haue confirmed by the Lawes . 55 Some sed they lied that only Truth did teach ; Some enuied them that liu'd by teaching so : And at their liues , and liuings sought to reach , * Which they forgaue , but would not so forgo : Somes Tongues defended Truth , which they did preach , Whose actiōs gaue hir many a bitter * blo : Some liu'd , as dying , while they sought to liue ; And some died liuing ; yet did most reliue . 56 Some , Liers called Carnall-libertie The glorious Libertie of Truths deere Sonnes ; And * her they vrg'd to prooue that veritie ; But , Truth 's betraid by such vntrustie Ones , That Sacrilege doe gild with Sanctitie ; Yet , for that , looke for high promotions : O t is a world of mischiefe when Pretence Doth shrowd a world of Inconuenience ! 57 When Truths sonnes play the Polititians , Heau'n help thee Truth , in Earth thy case is hard : Truth 's hardly matcht with Machiauelians , That her wil woūd so they themselues may ward : For , pious Polititians are blacke * Swans ; And , blest are Realmes that they do ( ruling ) gard : But whereas Statesmen meere Earth meditate , There Heau'nly matters squar'd are by the State. 58 Some others followed her , by following others ; Vpon great men these greatly did * depend , All those , for likenes , might haue bin my brothers , Who then began to liue , when life did end : Or if before , they were blest in their mothers ; For , those they tended that themselues did tend : It is absurd that Lords should tend their men , Yet some Lords ( Gods fooles ) do it now and then . 59 Some of these Seruants were so fortunate , That they came forwards , * while their Lords went backe : For , Loue beginning with ourselues , we hate Ourselues ; if we by Seruice goe to wracke : Their Lords they loued for their owne estate ; And lou'd to haue that which their lords did lack : O they are carefull Seruants that will keepe Their lords estate , while they , with Pleasure sleep . 60 And some of this sort thriu'd , not by their Lords ; Yet by their Lords ; for , by their leaue , they sell Their fauours , nay their honors , deeds , and words , And care not who do ill , so they do well : Whose Clarkeship so much Art to them affords , That for an Inch , alow'd , they tooke an * Ell : So meere Cliffs made they of their Lords to clime To some high note , by keeping Tune , and Time. 61 These Climers in each Clime are high'st of all In their * conceit ; for , they conceiue they can The round world bandy like a Racket-Ball ; And make a meere foole of the wisest Man : They ween the world without them were so small , As Ladies well might weld it with their Fan : O there 's no measure in the pride of such . That from too little , rise to reach to too much ! 62 Some others thoght they Fortune gratious found , Genus and * Species throwing in their way ; Which they tooke vp , and them together bound , To stay with them to be to them a stay : But in the binding did them so confound , That they proou'd fooles in * specie to betray Genus and Species to such bitter Bands , For which they lost both honor , goods , and lands . 63 Lord , how some cloisterd vp thēselues like Friers , To find out * These , whom thus they did betray ; And lay in ambush for them many yeares , Watching , by Candle-light , oft night and day ; Spending much money of their friends , or theirs , And all ( God wot ) but to abuse their * pray : O Genus , Genus , Species , Species , yee Be most accurst , that thus still coursed be ; 64 Some * others lookt for Euclids Elements , Wherof , they thought , the whole world did cōsist ; Which found , they found therin such sweet cōtēts , That Euclide carried them which way he * list ; They lookt for nothing lesse then Regiments , But held themselues in Euclide onely blist : Who blest them so , that if for lands they sought , They got no land , but measur'd land for * nought . 65 Others there were , that sought to find a * Spell , And needs would rise to Fortune by a Fiend ; Whom they would raise , for that intent from hell ; These tēded fiends too much , * good Fate to tend : Who whiles they soght the gods thēselues t' excel , They died , like damned Beggars , in the end : So , they that needs would rise through diuels aide , Downe to the diuell were , at last , conuai'd . 66 Some others lookt for Spirits , not Sprites of hell , But spirits of * sack , and liquors of that kinde ; Wherwith they thoght ( if once they could excell ) They could the hands of Fortune loose or binde : This made them ( like poore Crickets ) stil to dwel , In , or about the fire till they were blinde : And then , like Bats , that still doe loathe the light , They keep the darke conuersing with that * sprite . 67 Others there were that sought to finde the way T'annatomize the Corps of Reasoning , With Logicall Conclusions ; these would play As Iugglers play with Boxes , or a Ring ; Make men beleeue what ere they please to * say ; And to a Non-plus Reas'n herselfe to bring : On these , indeed , too oft would Fortune smile , To see how they the fond world did beguile . 68 Some wordy-men , by words , sought worthinesse , These raught at Rethorikes Rules to rule thereby ; And they that found the same , found little lesse Then greatest * Rule , for they rul'd wordily : These mē , for need , could make some mē confesse , They Treachers were , and yet themselues belie : These still were Fortunes Minions ; for they could With wind of words orethrow wits strōgest hold . 69 Others there were that still gaz'd on the Starres , As if by Starres , they should the Sunne transcend : These told of future weathers , woes , and warres , Of the beginnings of them , and their end : Of Prophets that should rise ( to kindle Iarres ) And of I wot not what , which they defend : But while they blabb'd out Fortunes Secrets , she Made them but poore , and liars held to be . 70 Some sought for Notes , so to be notable , Not Notes to rule themselues , but Notes in Rule ; To rule the voice by those Notes tunable , Yet many did themselues the while mis-rule : Who while their Heads held points cōmendable , In many points they err'd from Reasons Rule : So , this gift Fortune gaue their Heads : they should Still hold more Crochets , then their Purses Gold. 71 Some others sought for Tongues as if they would Haue stopt their flight , as they from Babel fled , By catching them in nettes ; so them to hold , For themselues onely , till themselues were dead : These rich in Tongues , were not still so in gold ; For , their Tongues tasted oft too much of * Lead : So , these wel-tong'd men tied were by the Tongs , Oft to be authors of their proper wrongs . 72 As some sought Tongs , so others * Hands did seek ; Italian , Romane , Spanish , French , and Duch , With Letter Freeze among , and Letter Creeke ; Those with their ha●ds , did Fortune seldom touch ; For , they wold needs teach those hands in a week , So , sold for little , that they sold for much : For it is much to giue a Crowne for nought ) But onely to marre hands , too euill taught . 73 These pasted vp , in ech place where they came , ( And no place was ther where they did not come ) Bills ( & those Hands they held were oft but lame ) That they would giue their Hands , for some small sum ; To those that wold but trust thē for the same So , in a weeke , they coson'd all and * some : For , in a weeke , and some odde houres beside , They promis'd that which they could not abide . 74 Their occupation brought thus to disgrace , They , though they would with all * aforehand be , Yet ran behind hand still , from place to place : So , with their Hands they caught but A , B , C : Which by interpretation of the place , Is , a all b base c Cheaters are , that so doe flee : I wish those Hand-men their hands well had vs'd , For , I know Pen-men that are so abus'd . 75 But some of Fortunes followers were her foes , And Deaths true * friends ( who for him swords vnsheath But shewd it not , lest she shuld thē dispose Wher , if thei wold , thei could not meet with * deth : These followed her for nothing but for blowes , For they , with fencing , kept themselues in breath : And , for they could but breath by that their trade , They still were willing Fortune to inuade . 76 Some followed her by * acting all mens parts , These on a Stage she rais'd ( in scorne ) to fall : And made them Mirrors , by their acting Arts , Wherin men saw their * faults , thogh ne'r so small : Yet some she guerdond not , to their * desarts ; But , othersome , were but ill-Action all : Who while they acted ill , ill staid behinde , ( By custome of their maners ) in their minde . 78 If maners make mens fortunes good , or bad , According to those maners , bad , or good , Then men , ill-manner'd , still are ill bestad ; Because , by Fortune , they are still withstood : Ah , were it so , I muse how those men had Among them some that swamme in Foizons flood ; Whose maners were but apish at the best ; But Fortune made their fortunes but a Iest . 79 There were knights-arrant , that in Fortunes spite , ( Because they could not king it as they would ) Did play the Kings , at least prowd kings in sight , And oft were prowder then a Caesar should : Yet Nature made them men by Fortunes * might , And Fortune made them Natures Zanees bold : So those , in nature , Fortune flowted so , That though she made them Kings , she kept them low . 80 But some there were ( too many such , there are ) That follow'd Fortune in more abiect kinde ; These matches made between the Hoūd & Hare , I would say whoore ; for , men hunt such to finde : These faithlesse beastly Brokers of crackt ware Had too too often Fortune in the winde ; Who followed so the sent , * that oft they did Find her where she , frō those they spoil'd , lay hid . 81 Some others followed her by badging Land , Or beastly grazing ( yet made men thereby ) For , they that did those myst'ries vnderstand Caught hold of Fortune in obscuritie ; To whom she ( strumpet-like ) lay at command , Who , lusting for her , gript her greedily : Till they grew great by her : O monstrous birth , Where Shee the He makes great with Grasse and Earth ! 82 The Lawyers went with these , with hands as full Of Deedes , and Manuscripts as they could hold ▪ But , Fortune from the same those Scripts did pull , And in exchange fill'd either fist with Gold : For , whiles they had but Papers their were dull ; But be'ng wel-mettl'd they were blithe and bold : For , Gold 's a soueraigne Restoratiue , And makes men more then dead , much more then liue . 83 Aurum potabile is of that powre ( If store thereof be powrde in out of hand Like Iupiters preuailing * Golden Showre ) That it will make Death lie at Lifes command : It is the Aqua-vitae which doth cure All sore Consumptions that our weale withstand : Nay t is the Aqua fortis which will eate Throgh leaden Brests , Cares , fretting , thēce to fret . 84 O giue me Gold , and I will doe , what not ? And let but store of Angells waite on me , I le make my selfe a God , with * Thunder-shot ; Nay , I will make the Earthly Gods to flee To Hean'n , or Hell , where they shall be forgot , Sith there no God but I will minded be : But God , thou knowst , the Age is yron the while That hammer can a God of thing so vile ! 85 O! gold , the god which now the world doth serue , ( This Midas-world that would touch nought but gold Gilding hir body while hir soul doth sterue ) How glorious art thou ( held fast ) to * behold ? Thou mak'st a Beast a Man , and Man to swerue More then a Beast ; yet thou dost all vphold : For , whom thou tak'st into thy Patronage , It matters not what is his Title-Page . 86 Men value men according to thy weight ; For , be their value ne'r so valorous It s held but base and made , by nature , sleight ; Nor can it be nor good , nor glorious , Without thy vertue doe it ouer-freight ; And so remaine they without Grace , or Vse : But , if thou list to lade a leaden Asse , ( While thou rid'st on him ) he ore gods doth passe . 87 Come Gold : thē come ( deere Gold ) & ride on me , I le be thine * Asse , or Pack-horse , which thou wilt ; Although thou heauy art , I le carry thee ; Albe't thou art much heauier through thy guilt : Lade me ( good Gold ) till my backe broken bee : Sith , thou againe canst make me , being spilt : For all men now may vse me like a Sot , ( That beares abuse ) because I beare thee not . 88 Then foote it not whiles Copper rides on mee , Base Copper dogs , be'ng made thēselues to beare But logs and faggots ( for a staruing fee ) And in a Chimneis end away to weare : Then vp ( faire Gold ) Ile so mount vnder thee , As if no ground should hold me , when I reare : For , by how much the more thou mak'st me bend , So much the more thou mak'st me to ascend . 89 Ride on me Gold , and I will ride on those ( If so I lust ) of men , or women-kinde , That shall be great , or faire , or friends , or foes , Vntill I ridden haue them out of winde : But Heau'n my Heart still otherwise dispose , For , riding so , I blister should my minde : Which still would runne with matter of annoy , And Soule , and Body so , perhaps , destroy . 90 Then , gold , sith thou woldst * tēpt me to this spoile Farewell ( deere Gold ) I le not buy thee so deere ; I am content , without thy help , to toile For so much Siluer as will arme me heere ' Gainst wounding Wants , which there do keepe a coile , Where nothing is but care , and griefe , and feare ; My Backe and Belly kept , in rest I le sleep , ( Throgh coniuring Bookes ) from gold , that diuels keepe . 91 The Fox will eate no Grapes : well , be it so ; I le eate no Grapes that set my teeth on edge , To eate such bittes as bane where oft they go , And Heart and Minde do all alike besiege : Who gathers golden fruits in Hell that gro , Do for the same oft put their Soules to pledge : But in that state that stands with little cost , Is found the golden life that Adam lost . 92 Touching this World ( to my blame be it sed ) I thinke of nothing , but what nothing brings ; And yet no thing more musing then my head ; And yet my Muse my head with nothing mings : * Both feed on * Aire , wherewith is nothing fed But dead , or dull , or else meere witlesse things : For sure that wit ne'r came neere wisdoms schools That weenes meere Aire fats any thing but fooles . 93 I would , and would not , haue , what I haue not : I would not haue , that had , the Hart inflates : Yet would I haue my Lucke light on that Lot That * mends the drouping Mind , & Bodies states : In too much , Nature oft is ouershot ; And oft too little , Art disanimates : Then , in this life , that seeke I , for my part , That Nature keepes in life , and quickens Art. 94 To bury Liuing thoughts among the dead , ( Dead earthly things ) is , ere Death comes , to die : For , dead they are that lie in * Gold , or Lead ; As they are buried that in Earth still lie : The thoughts are most relieu'd when they are fed With Angells * foode , or sweete Philosophie : But , some seeme on this Manna still to liue , Whom Quailes and Woodcoks most of al relieue . 95 Well , let these some out-liue as many yeares , As they haue haires , they do but liuing die : If so ; their Soules must needs be full of feares , Whose Hopes in this dead life alone do lie : For , they weare euer double as Time weares ; In Soule and Body weare they double - * die : O then , how painefull is that pleasant life , Wherein all ioy , with such annoy , is rife . 96 Beare with me Readers ( that 's the recompence I aske for telling you this merry Tale ) For running out of my Circumference , I le come in strait , before a merry Gale : But , yet a word or two , ere I goe hence , And then haue with you ouer Hill and Dale : Nothing shall let me to relate the rest , For , commonly behind remaines the best . 97 This world ( me seemes ) is like , I wot not what : That 's hard ; for , that is no comparison : Why that 's the cause I it compare to that ; For , who 's he like to , that is like to none ? T is not like God ; for , t is too full of hate : Nor like the Diu'l , for he feares God alone : It is not like to Heau'n , Earth , nor Hell , Nor aught therein , for , they in compasse dwell ! 98 Then what is 't like ? if like to any thing , It s like itselfe ; and so it is indeede : Or , if you will , like to the oldest Ling , That limes their fingers that on it doe feede : So that , all things they touch , to them do * cling , And let them so , from doing purest deede : If so it be , how mad are men the while To cleaue to that which do them so defile ? 99 Now , this most noghtie thing , or thing of noght , I cannot skill of ; though but bad I am ; Therefore by me it least of all is sought , Though oft I seeke for pleasure in the same ; Which yet ( I hope ) shall not be ouer-bought , For , I will giue but good-will for my * game : And if good-will will me no pleasure bring I le buy therewith ( I hope ) a better thing . 100 Now from my selfe , I eft to Fortune flie , ( And yet I flie from Her , and She from me ) Who came thus followd with this Company , That Iupiter did enuie it to see : There did she muster them , in policie , That Ioue of all might well informed be : For , when an heape confus'd are call'd by Poll , The many parts do make the number * whole . 101 Mongst whom Philosophers and Poets came , ( Last of the Crowde ) and could not well appeare ; To whō blind Fortune gaue noght else but fame , Wherof they fed ; but lookt lean with their cheere : So , they in Heau'n deifi'd this Dame , Sith they ( poore souls ) could not come at her here : And euer since a Goddesse call'd she is , Poets thanke her for That , Shee you for This. 102 Who , though they be ( perhaps ) but passing poore , Yet can they de●fie whom ere they will ; Then Demy-gods should cherish them therefore , That they may make thē whol * gods by their skil : Twixt whom there shuld be interchange of store , And make of Wit and Wealth a mixture still , That may each others woefull wants supply ; For , men by one another liue , or die . 103 Vaine fooles , what do ye meane to giue hir heau'n , That giues you nothing but an earthly hell ? That 's only * aire , which she to you hath giu'n , To make ye pine , whilst ye on earth do dwell : Ne'r speake of Wit , for ye are Wit-bereau'n To lie for nought , and make * Nought so excell : For , now , who for him * self 's not wise alone , Is vainely wise , though wise as Salomon . 104 By this time Death came with his Emperor , Who followed Death , far off , which Ioue did see ; To whom Death said , Loe vpright Iupiter , This Kesar ( though a Caesar ) followes mee : He doth indeed ( said Ioue ) though somewhat farre ( But kept in off , to shew indiffrencie ) For , though the Iudge do iudge aright ( sometime ) Before both Tales be heard ) it is a crime . 105 How saist ( quoth he ) Lieutenant ▪ didst thou come With Death to vs of thy meere owne accord ? Whereat the Emprour was stroken dumbe , For , he fear'd * death , as slaues do feare their Lord : Yet , with desire of glorie ouercome , At last he spake , yet spake he but a word , Which was , saue I the shortest word of words , For , No a letter more then I affords . 106 Which he with submisse voice ( scarse audible ) Vtterd , as one that would not well be heard ; But Iupiter ( although most sensible ) Tooke on him not to heare , and prest him hard To speake ( through feare ) not so insensible ; For , my vice * Ioues ( quoth he ) are ne'r afeard : Therefore , on thy allegeance vnto mee , I charge thee speake , as thou from death wert free . 107 Then , with a princely death-out-daring * looke He said , Dread Ioue , I had bin worse then mad , Sith your Lieutenancie to me you tooke , If I so great a grace neglected had ; Which so I had , if so I had forsooke Without your notice , that which made me glad : Nor would I haue with Death come now to you , But that he threatned me to bring me low . 108 Wherewith the Iudge ( iust Ioue ) did sentence giue On Fortunes side ; which made Death rage so sore , That at the Emprour he amaine did driue , Whilst Ioue lookt on , and Fortune fled therefore : Short tale to make , he did him life depriue , And euer since Death rageth more and more : That now all men false Fortune doe preferre , Before iust Death ; nay iuster Iupiter . 109 And , thus with Death ( that All in fine doth end ) We end our Tale , and , if a lie it be , Yet naked Truth dares such a lie * defend ; Because such lies doe lie in veritie : But though loude lies do lie , they will not bend So lowe as most profound Moralitie : Then , be it lie , or be it what it will , It lies too high , and lowe for Death to kill . Bene cogitata , si excidunt , non occidunt . Mimi Publiani . Finis . The Triumph of DEATH : OR , The Picture of the Plague : According to the Life , as it was in Anno Domini . 1603. SO , so , iust Heau'ns , so , and none otherwise , Deale you with those that your forbearaunce wrōg Dumb Sin ( not to be nam'd ) against vs cries Yea , cries against vs with a tempting tong . And , it is heard ; for , Patience oft prouokt Conuerts to Furies all-consuming flame ; And , fowlest sinne ( thogh ne'r so cleanly cloakt ) Breaks out to publike plagues , and open shame ! Ne'r did the Heau'ns bright Eie such sins behold As our long Peace and Plenty haue begot ; Nor ere did Earths declining proppes vphold An heauier plague , then this outragious Rot ! Witnesse our Citties , Townes , and Villages , Which * Desolation , day and night , inuades With Coffins ( Cannon-like ) on Carriages , With trenches ram'd with Carkases , with Spades ! A shiu'ring cold ( I sensibly do feele ) Glides through my veines , and shakes my hart and hand , When they doe proue their vertue , to reueale This plague of plagues , that ouerlades this Land ! Horror stands gaping to deuoure my Sense When it but offers but to * mention it ; And Will abandon'd by Intelligence Is drown'd in Doubt , without her Pilot Wit ! But , thou , O thou great giuer of all grace , Inspire my Wit , so to direct my Will , That notwithstanding eithers wretched case , They may paint out thy Plagues with grace , with skil , That so these Lines may reach to future * times , To strike a terror through the heart of Flesh ; And keep It vnder that by Nature climbes , For , Plagues do Sin suppresse when they are fresh . And fresh they be , when they are so exprest , As though they were in being seene of Sense ; Which diuine Poësie performeth best , For , all our speaking Pictures come from thence ! The obiect of * mine outward Sense affords But too much Matter for my Muse to forme ; Her want ( though she had words at will ) is words , T' expresse this Plagues vnvtterable * Storme ! Fancie , thou needst not forge false Images To furnish Wit t' expresse a truth so true ; Pictures of Death stoppe vp all Passages , That Sēse must needs those obuious obiects view . If Wit had powre t' expresse what Sense doth see , It would astonish Sense that * heares the same ; For , neuer came there like Mortalitie , Since Death from Adam to his Children came ! Scarse three times had the Moone replenished Her empty Horns with light ; but th' empty Graue ( Most rauenous ) deuoured so the Dead , As scarse the dead might Christian buriall haue ! Th' Almighties hand that long had , to his paine , Offer'd to let his Plagues fall , by degrees , And with the offer pull'd it backe againe , Now breakes his Viall , and a Plague out-flees , That glutts the Aire with Vapors venemous , That puttrifie , infect , and flesh confound , And makes the Earthes breath most contagious , That in the Earth and Aire but Death is found ! A deadlie Murraine , with resist lesse force , Runnes through the Land and leuells All with it ! The Coast it scoured , in vncleanlie Course , And thousands fled before it to the * Pitte ! For , ere the breath of this Contagion , Could fully touch the flesh of Man , or Beast , They on the sodaine sinke , and strait are gone , So , instantlie , by thousands , are decreast ! No Phisicke could be found , to be a meane , But to al●aie their Paine , delaie their Death ; In this Phisitions Haruest , * They could gleane But corrupt Aire and Danger by that Breath . All Artes and Sciences were at a stand , And All that liu'd by them , by them did die ; For death did hold their heads , & staid their hād , Sith they no where could vse their Facultie . The nursing * Mothers of the Sciences Withdrew their Foster-milke while witt did fast ; For , both our forlorne Vniuersities Forsaken were and Colledges made fast ▪ The Magistrates did slie , or if they staid , They staid to pray , for if they did command , Hardly , or neuer should they be obaid ; For , Death dares all Authority withstand . And , where 's no Magistrate , no Order is ; Where Order wants , by order doth ensue Confusion strait , and in the necke of this Must silent Desolation all subdue ! For feare wherof , both king , & kingdome shakes , Sith Desolation threatens them so sore ; All hope of earthly helpe the Land forsakes , And Heau'n powres * plags vpō it more & more ! Now , Death refreshed with a little rest ( As if inspired with the Spirit of Life ) With furie flies ( like Aire ) throgh man and beast , And makes eftsoons the murraine much more rife ! London now * smokes with vapors that arise From his foule Sweat , himselfe he so bestirres ; Cast out your Dead , the Carcasse-carrier cries , Which he , by heaps , in groūdlesse graues interres ! Now scowres he Streets , on either side , as cleane As smoking showrs of raine the Streets do scowre ; Now , in his Murdring , he obserues no meane , But tagge and ragge he strikes , and striketh sure . He laies it on the skinnes of Yong and Old , The mortall markes whereof therein appeare : Here , swells a Botch , as hie as hide can hold , And , Spots ( his surer Signes ) do muster there ! The South wind blowing frō his swelling cheeks , Soultry hot Gales , did make Death rage the more , That on all Flesh to wreake his Wrath he seekes , Which flies , like * chaffe in wind , his breath before ! He raiseth Mountaines of dead carkases , As if on them he would to Heau'n ascend , T' asswage his rage on diuine Essences , When he of Men , on Earth , had made an end . Nothing but Death alone , could Death suffize , Who made each * Mouse to carry in her Coate His heauy vengeance to whole Families , Whilst with blunt Botches he cuts others throate ! And , if such Vermine were thus all imploide , He would constraine domestike * foules to bring Destruction to their haunts ; So , men destroid As swiftly as they could bestirre their wing ! So , Death might well be said to flie the field , And in the House foile with resistlesse force , When he abroad all kinde of Creatures kill'd That he found liuing in his lifelesse Course ! Now like to Bees , in Summers heate , from Hiues , Out * flie the Citizens , some here , some there ; Some all alone , and others with their wiues : With wiues and children some flie , All for feare ! Here stands a Watch with guard of Partezans To stoppe their Passages , or too , or fro ; As if they were nor Men , nor Christians , But Fiends , or Monsters , murdring as they go ! Like as an Hart , death-wounded , held at Bay Doth flie , if so be can , from Hunters chase , That so he may recouer ( if he may ) Or else to die in some more easie place . So , might ye see ( deere Heart ) some lustie Lad Strooke with the Plague , to hie him to the field , Where in some Brake , or * Ditch ( of either glad ) With plesure , in great pain● , the ghost doth yield ! Each Village , free , now stands vpon her guard ; None must haue harbour in them but their owne : And as for life and death all watch , and ward , And flie for life ( as Death ) the man vnknowne ! For , now men are become so monsterous And mighty in their powre , that with their breath They leaue no ils , saue goods , from house to house , But blow away each other from the Earth ! The sickest Sucklings * breath was of that force That it the strongest Giant ouerthrew ; And made his healthie corpse a carrion Corse , If it ( perhaps ) but came within his view ! Alarme , alarme , cries Death , downe , downe with All ; I haue , and giue Commission All to kill : Let not one stand to pisse against a wall , Sith they are all so good , in works so ill . Vnioynt the body of their Common-weale , Hew it in peeces , bring it all to nought ; With Rigors boistrous hand all Bands canceale , Wherin the heau'ns stād bound to Earth in aught . Wound me the scalpe of humane Policie , Sith it would stand without the help of heau'n On rotten proppes of all impietie ; Away with it , let it be life-bereau'n . With plagues , strike through Extortions loathed loines , And riuet in them glowing pestilence : Giue , giue Iniustice many mortall foynes , And with a plague , send , send the same frō hence . Wind me a Botch ( huge Botch ) about the Necke Of damn'd disguis'd , man-pleasing Sanctitie : And Simony with selfe same Choller decke , Plague these two Plagues with all extremitie . For , these are Pearles that quite put out the eies Of Piety in Christian Common-wealths ; These , these are they , from whō all plagues do rise , Thē plagues on plagues , by right , must reaue their healths . Dash Veng'āce viall on the cursed brow Of * Zodomy , that euer-crying sinne ; And that it be no more whole * Pelions throw Of plagues vpon it both without , and in ! Throgh black * Auernus ( hels mouth ) send the same Into the deepest pit of lowest hell ; Let neuer more the nature , nor the name Be known within the Zones , where mē may dwel , Oppresse Oppression , this Lands burning-feauer , With burning sores of feauers-pestilent ; And now or neuer , quell it now and euer , For , it doth quell the Poore and Innocent Bring downe damn'd Pride with a pure pestilēce Deriued from all plagues that are vnpure , Extracted to th' extreamest quintessence , For Pride all Sinnes , * & plagues for sin , procures . In Atheismes breast ( instead of her curst hart ) Set an huge Botch , or worse plague , m●re cōpact ; That it may neuer conuert , or peruert , Nor haue powre to perswade , much lesse coact . Beblaine the bosome of each Misteris , That bares her * Brests ( lusts signes ) ghests to allure ; With a plague kisse her , ( that plagues with a kisse ) And make her ( with a murraine ) more demure . Our puling puppets , coy , and hard to please , My too strait-laced all-begarded Girles ( The skumme of Nicenesse ) London Mistresses ) Their skins imbroder with plagues orient Pearls . For these , for * First-fruits , haue * Fifteenes to spare But to a Beggar say , We haue not for yee : Then do away this too-fine wastefull Ware To second death ; for they do most abhorre mee . Then scowre the Brothel-houses , make them pure , That flow with filth that wholsomst flesh infects ; * Fire out the Pox from thēce with plages vnpure ; For they do cause but most vnpure effects . Plague carnall Colleges , wherein are taught Lusts beastly lessons , which no beast will brooke , Where Aratine is read , and nearely sought ; And so Lusts Precepts practiz'd by the Booke . Who knowes not Aratine , let him not aske What thing it is ; let it suffice hee was : But what ? no Mouth can tell without a Maske ; For Shame it selfe , will say , O let that passe ! He was a Monster , Tush , O nothing lesse : For , Nature monsters makes ( how ere vnright ) But Nature ne'r made such a Fiend as this , Who , like a Fiend , was made in Natures spight ! Therefore , away with all that like his Rules , Which Nature doth dislike as she doth Hell : Break vp those free ( yet deere & damned ) Schools , That teach but gainst kinde Nature to rebell . Rogh-cast the skin of smooth-fac'd glozing Guile With burning blisters to consume the same , That swears to sell crackt wares , yet lies the while , And of gaine , by * deceiuing , makes her game . Who , but to vtter , but a thing of nought , Vtters all othes , more precious then her Soule : And thinks them well bestowd , so it be bought So , vtters wares with othes , by falshood foule . This foule offence to Church & Commonwealth , Sweep cleane away with Wormewood of annoy : For , it consisteth but by lawfull * stealth ; Then , let the truest Plagues it quite destroy . Of Tauerns , reaking still with * vomitings , Draw , with the Owners , all the Drawers out ; Let none draw Aire , that draw on Surffettings , But Excesse , and her Slaues , botch all about . Sith such by drawing out , and drawing on Do liue ; let such be drawne out on a Beare : For , they with wine haue many men vndone , And famisht them , in fine , through belly-cheare . Browne-paper Merchants ( that do ven● such trash To heedlesse heirs , to more wealth borne then wit , That gainst such Paper-rocks their houses dash , While such slie Merchants make much vse of it ) Vse them as they do vse such heires to vse , That is , to plague them without all remorce : These with their Brokers , plague ; for they abuse God , King , and Law , by Lawes abused force . Then , petti-botching-Brokers , all bebotch That in a month catch eighteene pence in pound ; Six with a * Bill , and twelue for vse they catch , So , vse they all they catch , to make vnsound . That they may catch them , and still patches make , Which in the pound do yeeld thē eighteen pence ; Forc'd , like sheep trespassing , the Pownd to take , Leauing their * Fleece , at last , for recompence . Hang in their hang-mans wardrop plagues to aire That all may flie , or die that with it mell ; And so , when none will to their ragges repaire , They must forsake their liues , or labour well . Briefly , kill cursed Sinne in generall , And let Flesh Bee no more to harbour it ; Away with filthie Flesh , away with all Wherein still-breeding Sinne on broode doth sit . This was Deaths charge , & this charge did he giue , Which was perform'd ( forthwith ) accordingly ; For now the dead had wasted so the liue , ( Or wearied so ) that some vnburied lie : For , All obseru'd the Pestilence was such As laught to scorne the help of Phisickes art ; So that to death All yeelded with a touch , And sought no help , but help with ease to * part . An hell of heate doth scorch their seething vaines , The blood doth boile , and all the Body burnes , Which raging Heate ascending to the Braines The powres of Reason there quite ouerturnes ! Then , t is no sinne to say a Plague it is From whence immortall miseries do flow ; That makes men reason with their rest to misse , And Soules and Bodies do endanger so . Here crie the parents fot their Childrens death ; There howle the children for their parents losse ; And often die as they are drawing breath To crie for their but now inflicted crosse . Here goes an husband heauily to seeke A Graue for his dead wife ( now hard to haue ) A wife there meets him that had done the like , All which ( perhaps ) are buried in one Graue . The last suruiuor of a Familie , Which yesterday ( perhaps ) were all in health , Now dies to beare his fellowes company , And for a Graue for all , giues all their wealth . There wends the * fainting Son with his dead Sire On his sole shoulders borne , him to interre ; Here goes a father with the like desire , And to the Graue alone , his Sonne doth beare . The needie , greedie of a wealthie Pray , Runne into houses cleans'd of Families , From whence they bring , with goodes , their bane away , So end in wealth their liues and miseries . No Cat , Dog , Rat , Hog , Mouse , or Vermine vile , But vsher'd Death , where ere themselues did go ; For , they the purest Aire did so defile , That whoso breath'd it , did his breath forgo . At London ( sincke of Sinne ) as at the Fount , This all-confounding Pestilence began . According to that Plagues most wofull wont , From whence it ( flowing ) all the realme o'reranne . Which to preuent , at first , they pestered Pest-houses with their murraine-tainted Sicke : But , though from them , & thence the healthie fled , They , ere suspected , mortified the Quicke . Those so infected , being ignorant That so they are , conuerse with whom soere , Whose open Shops and Houses all doe haunt , And finde most danger , where they least do feare . And so not knowing sicke-folke from the sound ( For , such ill Aire 's not subiect to the sense ) They One with * Other do themselues confound ; And so confound all with a pestilence . Out flies one from the Plague , and beares with him An heauy Purse , and Plague more ponderous ; Which in the hie-way parteth life from limbe , So plagues the next of his coine couetous . In this ditch lies one breathing out his last , Making the same his Graue before his death ! On that Bancke lies another , breathing fast , And passers by he baneth with his breath . Now runnes the * Rot along each bancke & ditch , And , with a murraine strikes Swine , Sheep , and all ( Or man , or beast ) that chance the same to touch , So , all in fields , as in the Cities fall . The London Lanes ( themseluet thereby to saue ) Did vomit out their vndigested dead , Who by cart loads , are carried to the Graue , For , all those Lanes with folke were ouerfed . There might ye see Death ( as with toile opprest Panting for breath , all in a mortall sweat ) Vpon each bulke or bench , himselfe to rest , ( At point to faint ) his Haruest was so great ! The Bells had talkt so much , as now they had Tir'd all their tongs , and could not speake a word ; And Griefe so toild herselfe with being sad , That now at Deaths faint threats , shee would but bourd . Yea , Death was so familiar ( ah ) become With now resolued London Families , That wheresoere he came , he was welcome , And entertain'd with ioyes and iolities . Goods were neglected , as things good for nought ; If good for aught , good but to breed more ill : The Sicke despis'd them : if the Sound thē sought , They sought their death which cleaued to thē stil ! So Sicke , and Sound , at last * neglected them , As if the Sound and Sicke were neere their last ; And all , almost , so fared through the Realme As if their Soules the Iudgement day were past . This World was quite forgot ; the World to come Was still in minde ; which for it was * forgot , Brought on our World this little day of Dome , That choakt the Graue with this contageous Rot ! No place was free for Free-men ; ne for those That were in Prisons , wanting Libertie ; Yet Prisoners frëest were from Plagues and Woes That visite Free-men , but too lib'rally . For , al their food came frō the helthy house , Which then wold giue Gods plags from thence to keep ; The rest , shut vp , could not like bountie vse , So , woefull Pris'ners had least cause to weepe . The king himselfe ( O wretched Times the while ! ) From place to place , to saue himselfe did flie , Which from himselfe himselfe did seeke t'exile , Who ( as amaz'd ) not safe , knew where to lie . It s hard with Subiects when the Soueraigne Hath no place free from plagues his head to hide ; And hardly can we say the King doth raigne , That no where , for iust feare , can well abide . For , no where comes He but Death follows him Hard at the Heeles , and reacheth at his head ; So sincks al * Sports that wold like triumphs swim , For , what life haue we , when we all are dead ; Dead in our Spirits , to see our Neighbours die ; To see our King so shift his life to saue ; And with his Councell all Conclusions trie To keepe themselues from th' insatiate Graue . For , hardly could one man another meete , That in his bosome brought not odious Death ; It was confusion but a friend to greet , For , like a Fiend , he baned with his breath . The wildest wastes , and places most remote From Mans repaire , are now the most secure ; Happy is he that there doth finde a Cote To shrowd his Head from this Plagues smoaking showre A Beggars home ( though dwelling in a Ditch If farre from London it were scituate ) He might rent out , if pleas'd him , to the Rich , That now as Hell their London homes doe hate . Now , had the Sunne the * Ballance entered , To giue his heate by weight , or in a meane , When yet this Plague more heate recouered , And scowr'd the towns , that erst were clēsed clean . Now , sad Dispaire ( clad in a sable weede ) Did All attend , and All resolu'd to die ; For , Heat & cold , they thought , the Plague would feede Which , like a * Ierffe , still sinn ; d in gluttony . The heau'nly Coape was now ore-canopide , ( Neere each ones Zenith ( as his sense suppos'd ) With ominous impressions , strangely died , And like a Canopie at toppe it clos'd . As if it had presag'd the Iudge was nie , To sit in Iudgement his last doome to giue , And caus'd his cloth of State t' adorne the Skie That All his neare approach might so perceiue Now fall the people vnto publike Fast , And all assemble in the Church to pray ; Earely , and late , their soules , there take repast , As if preparing for the later day ! Where ( fasting ) meeting with the sound and sicke , The sicke the sound do plage , while they do pray ; To haste before the Iudge the dead and quicke , And pull each other so , in post , away . Now Angells laugh to see how contrite hearts Incounter Death , and scorne his Tiranny ; Their Iudge doth ioy to see them play their parts , That erst so liu'd as if they ne'r should die . Vp go their harts & hands , and downe their knees , While Death wēt vp & down , to bring thē down ; That vp they might at once ( not by degrees ) Vnto the High'st , that doth the humble * crown● ! O how the thresholds of each double dore Of Heau'n , and Hell , were worne with throngs of ghosts Ne'r since the Deluge , did they so before , Nor euer since so pollisht the side-posts . The Angells , good and bad , are now all toil'd With intertaining of these ceaselesse throngs ; With howling some ( in heat and horror broild ) And othersome in blisse , with ioyfull Songs . Th' infernall Legions , in Battallions , Seeke to inlarge their kingdome , lest it should Be cloid with Collonies of wicked ones ; For now it held , more then it well could hold ! The Angells , on the Cristall walls of Heau'n , Holpe thousands ore the Gates so glutted were ; To whom authoritie by Grace was giu'n ( The prease was such ) to helpe them ouer there . The Cherubin eie-blinding Maiestie Vpon his Throne ( that euer blest hath bin ) Is compast with * vnwonted Company , And smiles to see how Angells helpe them in . The heau'nly streets do glitter ( like the Sunne ) With throngs of Sonnes but newly glorifide ; Who still to praise their Glorifier runne Along those streets , full fraught on either side . Now was the earthly Mammon , which had held Their Harts to Earth , held most contagious ; A Beggar scornd to touch it ( so defilde ) So , none but castawaies were couetous . Now Auarice was turned Cherubin , Who nought desir'd but the extreamest Good ; For , now she saw she could no longer sinne , So , to the Time she sought to suite her moode , The loathsome Leacher loath'd his wonted sport ; For , now he thought all flesh was most corrupt : The brainsicke brawler waxed all-amort ; For , such blood-suckers Bane did interrupt . The Pastors now , steep all their words in Brine , With woe , woe , woe , and nought is heard but woe ; Woe and alas , they say , the powres diuine Are bent Mankind , for sinne to ouerthrow . Repent , repent , ( like Ionas ) now they crie , Ye men of England , O repent , repent ; To see if so yee maie moue Pitties Eye , To looke vpon you , ere you quite be * spent . And oft whilst he breathes out thess bitter Words , He , drawing breath , drawes in more bitter Bane : For , now the Aire , no Aire but death affords ; And lights of Art ( for helpe ) were in the wane . Nor people praying , nor the Pastor preaching , Death spared ought ; but murd'red one and other ; He was a walme , he could not stay impeaching , * Who smoakt with heat , & chokt , all with the smother . The babe new born hempt strait in the head With aire that through his yet vnclosed Mould Did pierce his brains , & throgh thē poison spread , So left his life , that scarse had life in hold . The Mother after hies , the Father posts After the Mother ; Thus , at Base they runne Vnto the Gole of that great Lord of Hoasts That for those keepes it , that runnes for his Sonne . The rest Death trippes , and takes them prisoners ; Such lose the Gole without gainesaying-strife ; But , all , and some , are as Deaths Messengers To fetch both one and other out of life . The Sire doth fetch the Sonne , the Sonne the Sire , Death , being impartiall , makes his Subiects so : The Priuate's not respected , but intire ( Death pointing out the way ) away they go . The ceremonie at their Burialls Is Ashes but to Ashes , Dust , to Dust ; Nay not so much ; for , strait the Pit-man falles ( If he can stand ) to hide them as he must . A Mount thus made , vpon his Spade he leanes ( Tired with toile ) yet ( tired ) prest to toile ) Till Death an heape , in his inu'd Haruest , gleanes , That so he may by heapes , ●ft seed the Soile . Not long he staies , but ( ah ) a mightier heape Then erst he hid , is made strait to be hild ; The Land is scarse , but yet the Seed is cheape , For , all is full , or rather ouerfill'd . The Beere is laid away , and Cribbes they get To fetch more dung for Fields and Garden-plots ; * Worke-men are scarse , the labour is so great , That ( ah ) the Seede , * vnburied , often rottes . It rottes , and makes the Land thereby the worse , For , being rotten , it ill vapors breedes , Which many mortall miseries doe nurse , And the Plague ( ouerfed ) so , ouerfeedes . Here lies an humane Carcasse halfe consum'd ; And there some fow or beast , in selfe same plight ; Dead with the Pestilence , for so it fum'd , That all it touched , it consumed quite . Quite through the hoast of Natures Animalls Death like a Conquerer in Triumph rides ; And ere he came too neare , each Creature falls , His dreadfull presence then no flesh abides . Now man to man ( if euer ) fiends became , Feare of infection choakt Humanitie ; The emptie Maw ( abandon'd ) got but blame If it had once but sought for Charitie . The Poore must not about , to seeke for foode , And no man sought them , that they might be fed ; Two Plagues , in one , inuaded so their blood , Both Famine , and Infection strikes them dead . Some staid , in hope that Death would be appeas'd , And kept the towns , which thē & theirs had kept ; Till their next neighbors were ( perhaps ) diseas'd ; Or with Deaths fatall Fanne away were swept . Thē , fain wold fly but could not ( thogh thei wold ) For , wil they , nill they , they must keep their house , Till throgh some chink , on thē Death taketh hold , And vs'd them , as he did their neighbours vse . If any at some Posterne could get out , As good they staid , sith sure they staid should be ; * For , all the Countries watcht were round about , That from the towne , none might a furlong flee . Then , who from Death did flie , the feare of Death Made Free-men keep the fliers in his Iawes ; Where ( poison'd with his fowle infectious breath ) Their flesh and bones he ( ne'r suffized ) gnawes . Now might ye see the Plague deuoure with speed As it neare famisht were , lest in a while It might be so , and want whereon to feede ; So fed , the future hunger to beguile . Now doth it swell ( hold hide ) nay , * breake , or die ) Till skin doth crack , to make more * room for meat Yet meat , more meate it ( neuer cloid ) doth crie , And all about doth runne the same to get . The Graues do often vomit out their dead , They are so ouer-gorg'd , with great , and small ; Who hardly , with the earth are couered ; So , oft discouer'd when the Earth did fall . Those which in hie - * waies died ( as many did ) Some worthlesse wretch , hir'd for no worthles fee , Makes a rude hole , some distance him beside , And rakes him in farre off ; so , there lies hee . But , if the Pit-man haue not so much sense To see , nor feele which way the winde doth sit To take the same , he hardly comes from thence , But , for himselfe ( perhaps ) he makes the pit : For , the contagion was so violent , ( The wil of Heau'n ordaining so the same ) As often strooke stone-dead incontinent , And Natures strongest forces strait orecame . Here lieth one vpon his burning brest , Vpon the Earths cold breast , and dies outright ; Who wanting buriall , doth the Aire infest , That like a Basaliske he banes with sight ! There reeles another like one deadly druncke , But newly strooke ( perhaps ) then downe he falls , Who , in the * Streets , or waies , no sooner suncke , But forthwith dies , and so lies by the walles , The Hay-cockes in the Meades were oft opprest With plaguy Bodies , both aliue , and dead ; Which being vs'd , confounded Man and Beast , And vs'd they might be ere discouered . For , some ( like Ghosts ) wold walk out in the night , The Citie glowing ( furnace-like ) with heate Of this contagion , to seeke if they might , Fresh aire , where oft they died for want of meate . The Traueler that spied ( perhaps his Sire ) Another farre off , comming towards him Would flie , as from a flying flame of fire That would , if it he met , waste life and limbe . So , towns fear'd townes , and men ech other fear'd ; All were ( at least ) attainted with suspect , And , sooth to say , so was their enuy stirr'd , * That one would seeke another to infect : For , whether the disease to enuy mou'd , Or humane natures malice was the cause , Th' infected often all Conclusions prou'd To plague him that frō thē himselfe withdrawes ! Here do they Gloues , and there they Garters fall ; Ruffs , Cuffs , & handkerchers , and such like things They strow about , so to endanger all : For , Enuy now , most pestilently stings ! So , heau'n and earth , against Man did conspire , And Man against Man , to exrirpe his Race ; Who Bellowes were t' augment Infections fire , And blow abroad the same from place to place . Sedition thus marcht ( with a pestilence ) From towne to towne , to make them desolate ; * The Browne-Bill was too short to keep it thence , For , further off it raught the Bill-mans pate . Nor walls could keepe it out ; for , it is said ( And truely too ) that Hunger breakes stone-walls : The plague of Hunger with the Plague arrai'd It selfe , to make way , where ere Succour calls . For , hungrie Armies fight as Fiends they were : No humane powre can well their force withstand : They laugh to * scorne the shaking of the Speare : And gainst the gods thēselues , thēselues dare band Some ranne as mad ( or with wine ouer-shot ) From house to house , when botches on them ranne ; Who , though they menac'd were with Sword , and Shot , Yet forward ran , & feare nor God nor man ! As when a Ship , at Sea , is set on fire , And ( all on flame 's ) winde-driuen on a Fleete , The Fleete doth flie , sith that Ship doth desire ( Maugre all force oppos'd ) with it to meete : So flies the Bill-man , and the Muskettire From the approaching desperate plaguy wight , * As from a flying flame of quenchlesse fire ; For , who hath any life , with Death to fight ? At all , cries Death , then downe by heaps they fall : He drawes in By , and Maine , amaine he drawes Huge heapes together , and still cries , At all : His hand is in , and none his hand withdrawes . For , looke how Leaues in Autumne from the tree With wind do fall , whose heaps fil holes in groūd ; So might ye ( with the Plagues breath ) people see , Fall by great heapes , and fill vp holes profound . No holy Turffe was left to hide the head Of holiest men ; but , most vnhall'wed grounds ( Ditches and Hie-waies ) must receiue the dead , The dead ( ah woe the while ) so * oreabounds ! Here might ye see as t' were a Mountainet Founded on Bodies , grounded very deepe , Which like a Trophee of Deaths Triumphs set The world on wonder , that did wondring weepe : For , to the middle Region of the Aire , Our earthly Region was infected so , That Foules therein had cause of iust dispaire , As those which ouer Zodome dying go ! Some common Carriers , ( for their owne behoofe , And for their good , whose Soules for gaines doe Fetching frō Lōdo packs of Plags , & stuffe ( grone ) Are forc'd to inne it , in some Barne alone . Where , lest it should the Country sacrifise , Barne , Corne , and Stuffe a Sacrifice is sent ( In Aire-refining Flames ) to th' angrie Skies , While th'owners do their Faults & Losse lament . The Carriers , to some Pest-house , or their owne , Carried , clapt vp , and watcht for comming out , Must there with Time or Death conuerse alone , Till Time or Death doth free the world of doubt : Who thogh they Cariers were , yet being too weak Such heauy double Plagues as these to beare , Out of their houses som by force do break , And * drowne themselues , themselues from plags to cleare . These are reuenges fit for such a God , Fit for his Iustice , Powre , and Maiestie ; These are right ierkes of diuine Furies Rod , That draw from Flesh the life-blood mortally . If these are but his temp'rall Punishments , Then what are they surmounting Time and Fate ? Melt Flesh to thinke but on such Languishments , That Soule and Bodie burne in endlesse date . His vtmost Plagues extend beyond the reach Of comprehension of the deepest Thought ; For , he his wisedome infinite doth stretch To make them absolutely good for nought . Then , O what heart of sensible Discourse , Quakes not , as if it would in sunder fall , But once to thinke vpon such Furies force , As doth so farre surmount the thoughts of all ? If humane Wisedome in the highest straine , Should yet stretch further Torments to deuise , They would be such that none could them sustain , Through weight of woes , and raging agonies : Then ( O ) what be they that deuised are By * Wisedome that of Nought made all this All , That stretch as farre past speach , as past compare , Surmounting Wonder ; supernaturall ! They be the Iudgements of that Trinitie , Which ( like themselues ) are most inscrutable ; Then can mans heart , but either swoone or die , To thinke on anguish , so vnthinkeable . And can our Sense , our Sense so much besot , To thinke such worlds of woe no where exist , Sith in this sensuall World it feeles them not , And so in sinne ( till they be felt ) insist ? Then happy That , that is insensible , Since wee imploy our happinesse of Sense To feele and taste but pleasures sensible ; And see no Paine that at their end commence . To breake the Belly of our damn'd Desires With honied Sweets that soone to poison turne ; And in our Soules enkindle quenchlesse fires , Which all the frame thereof quite ouerturne . * To please it selfe a Moment , and displease It selfe for euer , with ne'r-ending paines ; To ease the Bodie with the Soules disease , To glad the Guttes , to grieue the Heart & Braines . To make the Throat a Through-fare for Excesse , The Belly a Charibdis for the same ; To vse Wit still but onely to transgresse , And make our Sense the Spunge of Sin & Shame : * Then happy are sweet Floures that liue and die ( Without offence ) most pleasing vnto all : And haplesse Man that liues vnpleas●ngly To Heau'n and Earth ; so , liues and dies to fall . The Rose doth liue a sweete life , but to please , And when it dies , it leaues sweet fruit behinde ; But Man in Life and Death doth none of these , If Grace by * Miracle ne'r mend his mind . Blush Man , that Floures should so thy selfe excell That wast created to excell what not ? That on the Earth created was to dwell ; Then blush for shame to grace thy Beauties blot . Art thou Horizon made ( vnholy one ) Betwixt immortall Angells , and bruit beasts ? Yet wilt twixt beasts and fiends be Horizon By that which Angells grieues , and God detests ? Then Plagues must follow thy misguided Will , So to correct thine ill-directing Wit ; Such as these are , or others much more ill , The worst of which Sinne ( ill of Ills ) befit . And loe , for Sinne ; how yet the Plague doth rage ( With vnappeased furie ) more and more , Making our Troy-nouant a tragicke Stage Whereon to shew Deaths powre , with slaughters sore . Great Monarch of Earths ample world he is ; And of our little * Worlds ( that worlds content ) He giues ill Subiects Bale , good Subiects Blisse ; So , though he raignes , iust is his Regiment . Our sins ( foule blots ) corrupt the Earth and Aire ; Our sins ( soules botches ) all this All defile ; And make our Soules most foule , that were most faire ; For , nought but sin we all , all nought the while ! When sharpest wits are whetted to the point , To pierce into all secrets , but to sinne ! And all the corps of Luxury vnioint , To see what sensuall ioy might be therein : Whenas such trickes as no Sunne euer saw Deuis'd are daily by the Serpent-wise , To cramme all Flesh into the Deuills maw By drifts , as scarse the Deuill can deuise ! Can God ( most iust ) be good to men so ill ? And can the Earth , and Aire , wherein such liue , Keepe such aliue ? O no , all Plagues must fill That Aire , and Earth , that do such plagues reliue . What are those men but plagues , that plague but men ? All men are such , that teach sin in effect ; And all do so , that sinne but now and then , If now and then they sinne , in ouert act . What can containe vs , if these plagues cannot ? If neither these we feele , nor those we shall , Be not of force to keepe our liues from blot , What then remaines but plagues to scowre vs all ? Till we wax lesse , and they so multiplide , That we be nothing lesse , than what we are ; Conuerted , or confounded we abide In , or without God , with , or without care ! If when his yron Rod drawes blood from vs , And is vpon our backes , yea breakes our bones , We cease not yet to be rebellious , What can conuert vs but plagues for the nones ! For Natures heart doth yrne with extreame griefe , When wel she weighs her childrens strange est●● , Subiect to sinne , and so to sorrowes chiefe , For both in counterchange renew their date : For now we sinne ( yea with a witnesse sinne , Witnesse our conscience ) then we plagued are , Plagu'd with a witnes , ( witnesse plagues that With fury on vs ) then , when so we fare Fall we to pray and creepe to Grace for grace , Which being got , and ease , and weale at will , We fall to sinne , and so our soules disgrace : Thus sinne and plagues runne round about vs still This euer-circling Plague of plagues and sinne , Surroundeth Mankinde in an hell of woe , Man is the Axis standing still therein , And goes with it where euer it doth goe : For since he fell , who at this Center staies By Nature ( most vnnaturall the while ) Here moues man mouelesse as the Axis plaies , And Times turns ( turning with him ) doth beguile . And yet this Plague ( if Griefs tears quench it not ) Is like a sparke of fire in flax too drie , And may , if our Lusts coole not , burne more hot Than erst it did ; so waste vs vtterly . We see it will not out , but still it lies In our best Cities Bowells like a Cole That threats to flame , and stil doth fall and * rise , Wasting a part , thereby to warne the whole . None otherwise than when ( with griefe ) we see Some house on fire , we strait , to saue the towne , Watch , fast , and pray , and most industrious bee , With hooke and line to pull the Building downe : So doth this fire of heau'ns still kindling ire Blister our Cities publike Body so , As we are blister'd , but with so much fire , As we may quench with teares if they do flo . 〈◊〉 if it should breake forth in flames afresh , ( As ( ah ) what staies it but vnstinted Grace ? ) What thing shuld quench it but a world of Flesh ? Or desolation it away to chace ? Time neuer knew since he beganne his houres , ( For aught we reade ) a Plague so long remaine In any Citie , as this Plague of ours : For now six yeares in London it hath laine . Where none goes out , but at his comming in , If he but feeles the tendrest touch of smart , He feares he is Plague-smitten for his sinne ; So , ere hee 's plagu'd , he takes It to the heart : For , Feare doth ( Loadstone-like ) it oft attract , That else would not come neere ; or steale away ; And yet this plaguy-feare will scarse coact Our Soules to sinne no more , this Plague to slay . But thou , in whose high hand all hearts are held , Conuert vs , and from vs this Plague auert : So sin shall yeeld to Grace , and Grace shall yeeld The Giuer glory for so deere desert . Too deere for such too worthles wicked Things , At best but clods of base Infirmitie ; Too deere for sinne that all this murraine brings ; Too deere for those that liue but twice to die . In few , what should I say ? the best are nought That breathe , since man first breathing did rebell : The best that breath are worse thā may be thoght , If Thought can thinke the best can do but well : For , none doth well on Earth , but such as will Confesse ( with griefe ) they do exceeding ill ! The best is but a * Briere , and * none doth good , But He that makes Vs blamelesse in his * Blood. FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A69177-e2380 * Kinne , as they were of the seue● deadly sinnes , no kinne as they were different sinnes . * The Glutton . * The Leacher . * ●he prowd , vaine , and ambitious man. A description of the Gluttons habite . A description of the Wantons Apparrell . The Prowd-ambitious mans apparrel described . * Blacke . * The wish of Philoxenus a philosopher . * Genes . 3.15 . * The Scale of Gluttony , for the p●nch to climbe by . * Taste , the sense wherein Men-beasts do most delight . * Gene. 3.6 . * All the labour of man is for the mouth , &c. Eclesiast . 6.7 . * Adored . * Psal . 34.8 . * Epicures beleeue not the Soules immortalitie , and so no scripture . * Good foode comforts the hart , cheeres the sprite . * Which the tong makes against the Pallate . * They that drinke much , must euery way euacuate much . * What we most loue of that we gladly heare and speake . Epithymus . The praise of Touching . * Touching being furthest remoued from the Vnderstanding of all the senses , makes it the more brutish . * Heroike spirites soonest enthralled with loue . * Wanton Louers most prophane . * This Obiect makes the Soule most abiect . * A glauncing aluring looke . * No passion more violent in the Soule of Man or Beast . * Hercules . * Salomon . * 700 wiues , and 300. concubines . * Danaae . * With Loue-tricks to make Lustinsatiable . * A lasciuious kisse bewitching wantons , knowne best to such . * The wicked conspire in euill , though they vary in circumstances . * Soueraigne aucthority can silence all , vnder heauen , that inueighs against her inordinate pleasures . * What man shal say to the Soueraigne , What doost thou ? without incurring his ire , which is the precursor of Death . Prou. 16.14 . * Where the word of the King is , there is power , and who shall saie ta him , What doost thou ? Eccles . 8.4 . * That which men & Beasts by the prouocation of Nature onely . * To rule men well is proper to God and men onely . * Few or none so mortified , but can be cōtented to liue , rather ruling then ruled . * Humane wisedome . * The lookes of soueraigne maiestie doth either kill , or quicken . * The indignatiō of a prince is most mortall . * Ars d●minabitur Astris : Wise kings much more . * The concord of the Euill condemns the discord of the Good. * Worldes weale vncertaine in our life , but determines vtterly in our death . * Death is most familiar with those that are most strāge to him . * The sting of Consciēce kil● our liueliest pleasures of the flesh . * Daily proofe telles our vnderstandings , ●hat all worldly pleasures are as ●hort , as vaine , and vnsure . * Salomon . * Eccles . 1.2 . * Good is the obiect of loue * Our Crowne saith the Soueraigne . * The loue of a Crowne oft makes the son to hate the father . * Robert Cou●tesse , Edward the second , Richard the second , Edward the fift , Rich. the third , Hēry the sixt . * His Councellours . * Feare betraieth the comforts and succours which Reason offereth . * True ioy cōtents the desire and excludes feare , which worldly ioy doth not . * The ioy of the Soule is incident to good and ghostly liuers onely . * Glory attēds vpon God & his onely . * Vaine pleasures doe effeminate the minde . * To obey reason is to rule kingly . * Reason is thought to be most vnreasonable by the sensuall . * Philem. 9. * Mer● v●t●●nea putet . * Not to see our sinne , is to liue and die in sinne . * Christ Lord of life . * Reason , the eie of the soule . * Humane creatures are reasonable , thogh many liue brutishly . * Humane reason assisted by diuine grace , true guide to perfect felicity * 3. sins most familiar with mens nature . * We hate our euill Councellors , when we are plagued for following them . * All men are conceiued in sinne . * Repentance . * The present time is sure to repent in , which is no sooner thoght on , but gone for euer . * They are enemies to reason that desire to liue sensually . * The Iay sits with ●he lay . Eccles . 17.9 . * A true mark of reprobatiō . * Iob 15.16 . * Nature . * Custome . Phusis her habit described . * As it is saide of the Ape . * Custome is another nature . * Custome is ouercome by Custome ▪ if Nature be willing . * Natures loosenes must be restrained by Reasons stedfastnes . * Ouer-kinde mothers make vnkind Children . * Though fire be good , yet fire in flaxe is not good : so , though pleasure be good , yet in you● hi● is not good . * A good pretēce for a fault maks the fault the fouler . * Founts of Frailtie . * Strength of pleasures . * Affection transports iudgement into partialitie . * Reason is very preualent with the attentiue . * When Reason is reiected , men are lest to all brutishnesse . * Truth . * Hell made for torment . Esa . 30 33. * Deceit and Guile excluded Truth frō the Earth , * Truth is one , but Errour is manifold . * As without the Sun none can see the Sun , so without Trueth none cā come at the Author of Truth . * Time. * Death . The description of Chronus and Th●natus . * Nature cānot abide ▪ Death , nor Time running thereto . * A well tunde tongue cannot please an eare vtterly out of tune . * The choice is miserable where the best is misery . * In case of distresse we willingly imbrace the aduice of Reason . * Sicknesse . * Naturall heate sustaines the vital powers in sickenesse . Sickenesse described . * Reason begets in vs resolution to die coragiously . * True loue deemes no paine intollerable endured for the beloued . The descriptiō of the house of Time. * The vpper Crust of a Rocke vnfrequented . * Noisome Plants produced from Mans more noisome offence . * Deaths house described . * The Graue is irkesome to flesh & blood * If Graues open by reason of the earths hollownesse , they soone are closed againe with feete that treade on thē . * The Graue and Destruction can neuer be full : Prou. 27.20 . * Nothing more noisome to the Nose and Eie then a rotten Carcasse . * Friends of those that are in burying . * No sense enioyed in the Graue . * The earthly ▪ Carcasse . * Christ the Lord of Loue. * Isa . 34.14 . * Death is the beginning of ●oy , or misery . * The Graue is the re●t of the restle●●● . * The mortified in conuersation most familiar with Death . * The Humors are the Children of● be Elements . * Tombe or Pyramed . * Time ruines al monuments how euer substantiall . * In a Graue lies the Anatotomy of Ruine . * Trueth . True descriptions are able to quicken things dead . * Sicknesse is manifold : for , we are borne one way , and die an hundred waies . * Nature is ●ed by reason to the knowlege of Truth . * Gifts get fauour , but not with Death , or Sickenesse : sauing that Sicknes is the better borne by the gift of naturall heate . * Who tenders sicknesse shall haue his company . * Sicknesse extinguisheth our vitall flame . * Nature can not endure to be bettered by Sicknesse . * An inbred hate twixt Nature and Death . * Truth is hid with cloudes of mysteries that shee is hard to bee found . * Truth being masked we must vse the more diligen●● to discouer her . * Many of thē measure truth by their present worldly profite . * Poets which all men taxe for lying , doe least lie of any , the morall of their fictions considered . * Their soules abhorre that light foode , for feeding , it doth but famish . * Natures eies are dimd by Adams transgression . * Whether I be my selfe , or no , because euery like is not the same . * Vices perswasions are most forcible with the Sons of Nature . * Hell is much more horrible then can enter into the thoght or vnderstanding . An ample description of Hell. * Reuel . 20.3 . * Ma●th . 8.12 . & 25.30 . Iob. 10.21 , 22. * Isai 30.33 . * Reue. 20.14 * Reue. 16.11 . * Marke 9.44.48 . Isa . 66.24 * Reue. 16.11 . * Reuel . 6.8 . * Reue. 16.13 . * Hell , and the Graue are insatiable . * The damned still are dying , and neuer dead . * Math. 24.51 * And men boiled in great heate , & blasphemed the name of God which bath power ouer these plagues , ond they repented not to giue him glory . Reue 16.9 * Deuills . * Reuel . 16.9 * Reuel . 20 ▪ 3. * Reuel . 20.10 * So fares the Flie with the Spider . * The light of Lightning is much more horrible then comfortable . * Reuel . 17.16 * Flesh of the tormented . A prudent man seeth the plague , and hideth himselfe : but a foole goeth on still , and is punished . Prou. 22.3 . Frigida Gehenna . * Reuel . 16.21 * Reuel . 16 . 2● Rewarde her as she hath rewarded you , and giue her double , according to her workes : and in the Cuppe which shee ha●h filled to you , fill her the double , Reuel . 17.6 . Deliuer thy selfe as a Doe from the hād of the hunter , and as a Bird from the hād of the Fowler . Prou 6.5 . They shall passe from the waters of the snow to ouer much heate . Iob. * The greate● the diuell the worse . * Psal . 83.13 . * And they gnawed their tongues for sorrow . Reu. 16.10 . * And they gnawed their tongues for sorrow . Reu. 16.10 . * Math. 24 . 5● * In tormenting . * Reuel . 20.3 . * Matth. 8.12 . * The paines of the damned are without end , meane , or measure . * Nothing in this world that is violent , is permanent . * Immortall . * Reuel . 19.20 * Isay 30.33 * In this world * In heauen . * The more our losse , the more is our griefe . * The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmity , but a wounded spirit , who can beare it ? Pro. 18.14 . * Wert not for Hope , Heart would breake * Immortalitie naturally is good . * The paine of the damned are as great as the wisedome of the Creator could deuise , which is infinite , and vnvtterable . * The way to Hell is heauenly in shew . * All the earth calleth for Truth , and the Heauen blesseth it : and al things are shaken , & trēb●e , neither is there any vniust thing in it . 1. E●dr . 4.36 . * In He●l is no redemption . * Truth , and Reason neare of kinne . * Truth is the strength , and kingdome & the power , and maiesty of all ages , 1. Esdr . 4 40. * Nature is greatly grieued till her sonnes be reformed . * Reason doth cheere the heuinesse of our nature in case of distresse . * Patience a daughter of the Heauens , the best companiō of a forlorne fortune , * Contingent Accidents are hid from the eie of Reason . * God. * Reprehensiō vnwelcome to all resolute in euill . * Truth is like herselfe in vnlike subiects . * This guileful world is mortall enemy to Trueth . * Made Truth to speak most for the maintenaunce of earthly matters , &c. * The wine is wicked , the King is wicked , women are wicked , & all the childrē of men are wicked , and al their wicked workes are such , & there is no truth in them , but they perish in their iniquitie , But Truth doth abide , and is strōg foreuer , & liueth and raigneth for euer and euer . 1. Esdr . 4.37.38 * Truth is in extreame perill of deprauation among the vncleane . * The Soule that hath no feeling of sin , is dead in sin . * They that lacke least worldly things most lacke friends that will tell them the trueth . * Veritie and Iustice supports the Thrones of Princes . * Euer since Astrea forsooke th' earth whosoeuer offers Iustice a golden Scabberd she will sheathe her sword therein , * That life is worse then death that depēds on a mī●ers pleasure . * Immortall lines in Poesie , are worse then mortall lines that end our misery ▪ for the first make vs labour for our trauell , the last make vs labor for heauen , if wee die well . * Iustice . * Iustice sees with Truth● eies . * The countenance bewrais how the heart is affected . * Time and Death enimies to Nature . * Body of clay * Day & night are the wings of Time. * When men die , their yere● seeme but so many daies , & before they dy all their dayes so many yeres : The time future seems lōg but that past , extream short * Time's euer in motion . * Before mans fall . * Time , made by God , the fountaine of Reason . * Iniquitie shal shorten Times continuance . * Reasons are yeelded by Reason . * Still moouing . * The office of Reason . * Our Nature is apt to insult vpon the least incoragement * A forcible meane to reduce the euill to good . * Euery moment seemes an Age to ●ne that longs to heare that which his soule desires to know . * Foolishnesse is ioy to him which is destitute of vnderstanding , &c. Prou. 15.21 . * Vanitie holdeth nothing too deere , for things nere so worthlesse , that may any way tend to her pleasure . * Iob 7.6 . * No warning will preuaile with the wilfull . * The Sunne runnes an oblique course in the heauens which measures time , and in time men learne to doe amisse . * Men lewdly liuing make a spo●le of time , till 〈◊〉 spoile them . The vices familiar with our natures in the seuerall ages of our life . * Ther is none that doth good , no not one . Psal . 17. * In time , by reason , & experience wee reforme our maners , if we be not vtterly void of grace . * Leauing her last ●oo●esteps among the men which n●w are least acquainted w●th her or her steps , Husbandmen * Venter auribus caret . * No gracelesse wretch so vnnaturall but knowes the voice , and law of nature , because it is written in all mēs hearts . * Sathan winnoweth vs like wheate . Luke 21.31 . * They liue ill that thinke to liue euer . * It is an abhomin●tion to fooles to depart from euil . Pro● . 13.19 . * To haue heauen in this life , is to holde hell in the other . * We measure our frinds well-doing altogether by the line of worldly prosperitie . * A scorner loues not him that rebukes him , neither will he goe to the wise . Pro. 15.12 . * Reason is euer impugned and impeached by carnall Libertines . * This makes so many miseries by reason of flatterers in the world , for euery one couets to please for feare of frownes . * Vicious liuers are strangers ▪ or rather enemies to Trueth ●nd her doctrine . * These are the last , and there fore the worst times , which rather seeke to reforme by windy , then explanary doctrine , which perswades coldly . * All times apter to Vice then Vertue . * They that liue without thinking of their end , doe commonly die ere they think of Death . * The first death , to the wicked , is the entrance into the second . * Repentance may be too late , but neuer too soone . * Tyrants . * If good , ●hey raise ▪ if bad , they ruine it . * A great torment , in the life to come , is due to those that can , and will take such an immortall reuenge for any mortall in●urie . * Feare . * None are forsaken of God that cleaue to him by humble & hearty praiee . * The Kay of Intelligence . Notes for div A69177-e30820 * The Sonne of Gods first miracle hee wroght at the marriage , Ioh. 2. honouring the feast with his personall presence . * The wisest men are oft thus mist●ken for not being able ●o foresee perfectly future euents . * The best mē Death soonest ●akes away , because this wicked world is vnworthie of them . * Fortune is euer in that m●●ion like a waue mo●ued with the wind . * A sport so called . * The contentious take small occasion to contend . * Yet mightie men of our present times thinke otherwise , as appeareth by their actions . Oppression . * All elementall Bodies subiect 〈◊〉 death . * Which shall haue an end . * Al that hath motion is subiect to dissolution . * The Eie is saide to cause our blushing , &c. * Iustice , Fortune , & Death are eielesse sith they haue no respect of persons . * A kingdom● diuided , is at point to be dissolued . * Vntimely , as well as vnreasonable taxings withdraw the loues of the Subiects . * Princes often become odious to their subiects thorow the fault of those whō they put in trust to gouerne vnder them . * The readiest way to winne hearts . * Loue and Bounty the best Baites to catch men . * Captare beneuolentiam . * Men are honored and folowed in this world , onely for their fortunes . * They got Territories which they could not holde . * Fortune fauors fooles , * Chirurgions . * The way to thriue in that function . * Elixir . * A little therof multiplies infinitely , as Alchymists affirme . * Life is sweet . * O Death , how bitter is thy remembrance to a mā that hath pleasure in his riches ? Ecclus. 41.1 . * Fron●●●ullae ●ides . * Hope of future good , in this life , maks men feare death as an intollerable e●ill . * 1. Iohn 5.4 . * None so mortified but feares death in point of dying . * The fe●re of finall or particular iudgement makes Death vnwelcome . * Fortune . * Deaths eloquēce is harsh to the eare of flesh & blood * That which cures one may kill another . * ●ouetousnes is l●ke the Dropsie the more it drinks the more 〈◊〉 may . * The more interest wee haue in this world , the more loath we are to leaue it . * ●hen life is at the best , th●n Death i● better . * A custome among the Germane● . * Which had , makes death the more irksome . * Men in fortunate estate had rather go with life to the Diue● then by death to God. * It s a double death to die when we haue attained the highest happinesse of life . * Death yeeldeth double terrour . * Where the Carcases are the Eagles resort . Matth. 28. * Gaine take away the thought of paine . * All coue● all lose ▪ * Lest hee would plague him , for plaging others with racking . * Wrackt for those that will rather racke then any waie relieue them . * The soldiers sword cuts out the Portions of Kings * Of blowes . * Audac●s fortuna iuuat . * A Squire of low Degree is a Squire of no degree . * Not remembring who , or what they were . * A venial sin at most as these ●imes esteeme it . * A Hangerblade in a green scabbard * Changed their Countenance with artificiall complexions . * That which is deerely bought , must be deerely sold . * All is not golde that glisters . * The iniurious offer . * They had Iacobs voice and Esaus hands . * Truth . * For their raritie . * Such dependencie is as ful of difficulty as vncertaintie : Enuyings among the seruants cause of the first , mutabilitie of those great mens mindes occasioneth the last . * In their own not in their Lords right : for many get mony in their Lords seruice , to buy their Lords lands to do them seruice . * London measure . * Who are wise in their owne eies , there is more hope of a fool then of such . Prou. 26.125 * Meere Scholers . * Men lerned , without iugement , whome the Prouerbe , The greatest Clarkes are not the wisest men , concerneth . * Genus and Species . * Misuse that little learning they catch . * Mathematitians . * The Mathematiques are most pleasing and alluring knowledges i●l rewarded , yet , they steale the studier● thereof from themselues . * ●or little . * Magi●ians . * Coniurers and Witches are alwaies Beggars . * Distillators & Extracters of Quintessences . * Of liquo●s . * Subtil Sophister● . Orators . * Fortune doth wel most commonly by men that do speake well Astronomers , Prognosticators . Musitions . Linguists . * Many golden Lingu●sts haue leaden inuention . * Penne-men , or faire writers . It is a badde bargaine to giue aught for nought . * They shame the 〈…〉 vtterly . * For their recompence . * Fencers . * In straite prison . * Stage plaiers . * Shewing the vices of the time . * W.S.R.B. Sui cuique m●r●s fingunt fortunam . * When men haue gotten wealth they are said to be made . Panders . * They liue like flesh flies vpon the sorts of men . Land-badgers Drouers . Lawyers . Gold sets an edge on an Orators tongue , and makes it cut like a razor . * Gold is the God of this world th●t ●uines and windes the same as it listeth . * Hire Mercenary Swizers and Souldiers to maintaine all vniust quarels euen with Monarches . * So saith the rich miser . Riches gather many friends , but the poore is seperate frō his neighbor . Prou. 19.4 . The worlde in his vniust Ballance weighs men accordidg to their Wealth & not by any other worthinesse . * No wisemā comparable to the golden Asse . But it is meere madnesse not to b●●re with insensible creatures : & blessed are those that in this in●●●ious world , possesse their Soule● in patience . Better is a litle with the feare of God , then great treasure , 〈◊〉 trouble 〈…〉 15 16. * The touchstone trieth gold and gold trieth men . Be●rer is a dry morsell with peace then an house full of sacrifices with strife . Prou. 17.1 . That that is to be desired of a man , is his goodnesse , P● . 19 22. which seldom is foūd among much goodes . * Head , and Muse ▪ * Praise . * As farre frō want as from too much . * Mindes alwaies conuersant with these me●talls are dull , & make the bodies dead to all goodnesse wherein they are . * Diuinity . * Die eternally in both The world is like nothing : sith by sin●● 〈◊〉 was m●rre● after it 〈◊〉 made : & 〈◊〉 is nothing , because● he 〈◊〉 that made a●l things made it not . Simile . * Euery ●●nger as good as ● lime twi●ge . Prouerb * Harmelesse recreation . * It makes the number appea●e as it is . Philosophers and Poets furthest off Fortune . * They affect misery much more then Diuinitie . * Flesh-pineing Praise * Men , like the deuill great and nought . * If thou be wise , thou shalt be wi●e for thy selfe . Prou. 9.12 . * The more we loue the world the more wee feare death . * ●●are is a stranger to great hearts . * No courage 〈◊〉 the d●sperate Cowards . Iupiters Sentence . * Scripture Parables containe trueth in their moralitie , though not in the Letter . Notes for div A69177-e43660 * Therefore ha●h the curse deuoured the Land , and the inhab●tantes therof are desolate . Isai . 24 6. * Who among you shall harken to this , and take heed and hea●e for afterwards . Isai . 42.23 . * Now goe & write it before them in a Table , and note it in a booke , that it may be for the last day for euer and euer . Isai . 30.8 . * I am the man that hath seene afflictiō in the rod of his ind●gnatiō . Lament 3.1 . * Heare , yee deafe , and yee blinde ▪ regard that ye may see . Isa . 42 ▪ 18 Thou hast for sakē mee , saith the Lord , and gone backeward : therfore will I stretch out mine hand against thee , and destroy thee : for I am weary with repenting . Ierem. 15.6 . * Feare , & the pit , & the snare are vpon thee , O inhabitant of the earth . Isai . 24.17 . * Phisitions . * Vniuersities . * Then said I , Lord , howe long ? and he answered , vntill the Cities bee wasted without inhabitant , and the houses without man , and the Land be vtterly desolate . Isai . 6 11 * And the Cities that are inhabited shal be left void , the land shall be desolate , & ye shall know that I am the Lord Ezech. 12.20 . * Zephon . 2.2 * Euen the mouse shal be consumed together , saith the Lord , Isa . 66.17 . * Tame Pigeons , Cockes , Hennes , Capons , &c. * Arise and depart , for this is not your rest , because it is polluted , it shall destroy you euen with a sore destruction . Michah 2.10 . * And he that flieth from the noise of the feare shall fall into the pit , &c. Isa . 24.18 * Yee shall cōceiue chaffe , & bring forth stubble , the fire of your breath shall deuoure you . Isai . 33.11 . * Aske now among the Heathen , who hath heard such things ? the virgine of Israel hath done very filthily Ierem. 18 13. * A mountain in Thes●al●e . * Auernus a lake in Italie , where they say this sinne is frequent . * Pride , the cause of Adams fall , and so of all sinne * They are waxen fat , and shining , they doe ouerpasse the deedes of the wicked , &c. Iere 5 . 2● * Strawberies , Cherries , &c. when they first come in . * Shillings , Crownes , or Pounds . * Then will I turne mine hād vpō thee , and burne out thy drosse , till it be pure , and take away thy Tinne . Isai 1.25 . * And euery one will deceiue his fri●d and wil not speake the truth : for they haue taught their tongues to speake lies , and take great paines to doe wickedly . Ierem . 9 5. * ●s a Cage is full of Birds , so are their houses full of deceit , thereby they are become great & waxen ●ich . Ierem. 5.27 . * For all their Tables are full of filthy vomitings : no place is cleane . Isai . 28.8 . * Their Bill of Sale. * And they lie downe vpon cloths laide to pledge by euery Altar , and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their God. Amos 2.8 . * And death shall be desired rather thē life of all the residue that r●ma●n of this wicked family . Iere 8 3. * Thy Sonnes haue fainted , & ●e at head of al the streets , as a wild Bull in a net , and are full of the wrath of the Lord , and rebuke of thy God. Isa , 51.20 . * I will d●sh them one against another euen the ●athers and the sons together , saith the lord , I wil not spare I will not pitty , not haue compassion vpon them , but destroy them . ●erem . 13.14 . * ●herefore will I be vnto Ephraim as a moa●h , and to the house of Iuda as a rottennes , Hosea 5.12 . * Neither their siluer nor their golde shall be able to deliuer them in the day of the lords wrath , &c Zepha . 1.18 . * Her filthinesse is in her ski●●s : she remembred not her last end , therefore shee came downe wonder●ully : she had no cōforter . &c. Lament . 1.9 . * The mir●h of tab●ets ceaseth : the noi●e of them that rei●●ceendeth : the ioy of the harpe ceaseth . Isa● 24.8 . * Libra September . * A Beast neuer but feeding , and when he hath eaten as much as his 〈…〉 hold , goe , to a for●ed t●ee , and there straines out his fonde vndigested betweane the twist of the ●●ee , and so ag●ine presently falles to se●ue , and being full , againe to the tree , and so eftsoones to feede . * Isai . 57.15 . * The world is diuided into twelue partes , and ten partes of it are gone already , and halfe of the tenth part : & there remaineth that which is after the halfe of the tenth part . 2. Esd . 14.10 , 11 * Neuertheles saith the lord , at those d●ys I will not make a full end of you . Ier 4.18 . * For it is the day of the Lords vengeance , and the ve●e●● re●●rence for the i●dgement of 〈◊〉 Isai . 34.8 * Dung-cribs . * They shall die of deaths and diseases , they shall not be lamented , neither shall they be buried , but they shall be as dung vpon the earth , &c. Ier. 16.4 . * They haue compassed her about , as the witchmen of the field , because she hath prouoked me to wrath , saith the Lord Iere. 4.17 . * If the botch breake not , the Patient liueth not . * It killes others with breaking . * They that feed delicately perish in the streetes , they that were brought vp in scarlet , embrace the d●●g Lament . 4.5 . * And their corpes shall lie in the streetes of the great citie , &c. Reuel . 11.8 . * Because of their pride the Cities shall be troubled the houses shall be afraid , men shall feare . 2. Esd . 15.18 . * Destruction vpon destruction is cried , for the whole Land is wasted &c. Iere. 4.20 . * Iob 41.20 . Simil. * Plagues are sent vnto you● and who can driue them away . 2. Esd . 16.4 . Simil. * Many dead Bodies shal be in euery place , they shall cast them foorth with silence . Amos 8.3 . * This no fiction , nor inserted by poeticall licence : But this verily was performed in the borough of Leominster in the county of Hereford : the one at the commandement of sir Herbert Crost knight , one of the Councell of the Marches of Wales : the other by the instigation of Sathan , and prococation of the disease . * Torments , deuised by infinite wisedome , are infiite in paine . * Mortall life is no more ( at the most ) compared to Eternitie . * So fares it with sensuall Epicures and Libertines . * The conuersion of a sinner is most miraculous . * Man is Microcosmos . * As appeareth by the Plague bills euerie weeke . Simil. * Micah 7.4 . * Psal . 14 2.4 * Ephes . 5.12 .