The wisdome of Solomon paraphrased. Written by Thomas Middleton

The Wisedome of Solomon paraphrased .

CHAP. 1. verse 1 WIsedome Elixer of the purest life , Hath taught hir lesson to iudicial views , To those that iudge a cause & end a strife , Which sits in Iudgements seat & Iustice vse : A lesson worthy of diuinest eare , Quintessence of a true diuinest scare . Vnwilling that exordium should retaine , Her life-infusing speech , doth thus begin , You ( quoth shee ) that giue remedy or paine : Loue Iustice , for iniustice is a sin . Giue vnto God his due , his reuerent stile ; And rather vse simplicity then guile . For him , that guides the radiant eie of day , verse 2 Sitting in his star-chamber of the Skie , The Horizons and hemespheres obay , And windes the fillers of vacultie : Much lesse shuld man tempt God , when all obay , But rather be a guide , and leade the way . For temting argues but a sins attempt , Temptation is to sin associate ; So doing , thou from God art cleane exempt , Whose loue is neuer placde , in his loues hate , He will be found , not of a tempting minde , But found of those which he doth faithfull finde . verse 3 Temptation rather seperates from God , Conuerting goodnes from the thing it was , Heaping the indignation of his rod , To bruse our bodies like a brittle glasse : For wicked thoughts haue still a wicked end , In making God our foe , which was our frend . They muster vpreuenge , encamp our hate , Vndoing what before they meant to do , Stirring vp anger , and vnluckie fate , Making the earth their friend , the heauen their foe : But when heauens guide makes manifest his power , The earth , their frinds , doth them like foes deuoure . verse 4 O foolish men to warre against your blisse , O hatefull harts where wisedome neuer raignd , O wicked thoughts which euer thought amisse , What haue you reapt ? what pleasure haue you gaind ? A fruite in shew , a pleasure to decay , This haue you got by keeping follies way . For wisedomes haruest is with follie nipt , And with the winter of your vices frost , Her fruite all scattered her implanting ript , Her name decayed , her fruition lost : Nor can she prosper in a plot of vice , Gaining no summers warmth , but winters ice . verse 5 Thou barren earth , where vertues neuer bud , Thou fruitles wombe , where neuer fruits abide , And thou drie-withered sap which bears no good , But the dishonor of thy prowd hearts pride : A seate of al deceit , deceit , deceaude , Thy blisse , a woe , thy woe of blisse bereaude . This place of night hath left no place for day , Here neuer shines the sunne of discipline , But mischiefe clad in sable nights array , Thoughts apparition , euill Angel●s signe , These raigne enhoused with their mother Night , To cloude the day of clearest wisedomes light . Oh you that practise to be chiefe in sinne , verse 6 Loues hate , hates friend , friends foe , foes follower , What doe you gaine ? what merit do you winne , To be blaspheming vices practiser ? Your gaine is wisedomes euerlasting hate , Your merit , griefe , your griefe , your liues debate . Thou canst not hide thy thoght , god made thy thoght , Let this thy caucat be for thinking ill , Thou knowst that Christ thy liuing freedome boght , To liue on earth according to his will : God being thy creator , Christ thy blisse , Why dost thou erre ? why dost thou do amisse ? verse 7 Hee is both Iudge and witnesse of thy deeds , Hee knowes the volume which thy hart containes , Christ skips thy faults , only thy virtue reades , Redeeming thee from all thy vices paines : O happy crowne of mortall mans content , Sent for our ioye , our ioye in being sent . Then sham'st thou not to erre , to sin , to stray , To come to composition with thy vice , With new-purg'd feete to treade the ouldest way , Lending new sence vnto thy ould deuice ? Thy shame might flowe in thy sin-flowing face , Rather then ebbe to make an ebbe of grace . verse 8 For hee which rules the Orbe of heauen and earth , And the ineqall course of euery starre , Did knowe mans thoughts and secreats at his birth , Whither enclinde to peace or discords iarre : He knowes what man will be ere he be man , And all his deeds in his lifes liuing span . Then t is vnpossible that earth can hide , Vnrighteous actions from a righteous God , For he can see their feete in sin that slide , And those that lodge in righteousnesse abode : Hee will extend his mercy on the good , His wrath on those in whom no vertues bud . verse 9 Many there bee , that after trespasse done , Will seeke a couert for to hide their shame , And range about the earth , thinking to shunne , Gods heauie wrath , and meritorious blame : They thinking to flye sin , run into sin , And thinke to end , when they do new begin . God made the earth , the earth denies their sute , Nor can they harbor in the centres womb , God knowes their thoughts , although their tongs be mute , And heares the sounds from forth their bodies tomb : Sounds ? ah no sounds , but man himselfe hee heares , Too true a voice of mans most falsest feares . verse 10 Oh see destruction houering ore thy head , Mantling her selfe in wickednes array , Hoping to make thy body as her bed , Thy vice her nutriment , thy soule her pray : Thou hast forsaken him that was thy guide , And see what followes to asswage thy pride . Thy roaring vices noyse , hath cloyd his eares , Like foaming waues they haue orewhelmde thy ioy , Thy murmurings which thy whole body beares Hath bred thy waile , thy waile , thy lifes annoy , Vnhappy thoughts to make a soules decay , Vnhappie soule in suffering thoughts to sway . verse 11 Then sith the height of mans felicitie , Is plung'd within the pudle of misdeedes : And wades amongst discredits infamie , Blasting the merit of his vertues seedes , Beware of murmuring , the chiefest ill , From whence all sin , all vice , all paines distill . O heauie doome proceeding from a tong , Heauie light tong ; tong to thy owne decay , In vertue weake , in wickednesse too strong , To mischiefe prone , from goodnesse gone astray ; Hammer to forge misdeedes , to temper lies , Selling thy life to death , thy soule to cries . verse 12 Must death needs pay the ransome of thy sin , With the dead carcasse of descending spirit ? Wilt thou of force be snared in his gin , And place thy errour in destructions merit : Life seeke not for thy death , death comes vnsought , Buying the life which not long since was bought . Death and destruction neuer needs a call , They are attendants on liues pilgrimage , And life to them is as their playing ball . Grounded vppon destructions anchorage , Seeke not for that which vnsought will betide , Nere wants destruction a prouoking guide . verse 13 Will you needs act your owne destruction ? Will you needs harbour your owne ouerthrowe ? Or will you cause your owne euersion ? Beginning with dispaire , ending with woe : Then die your hartes in tyrannies arraie , To make acquittance of destructions pay . What do you meditate but on your death ? What doe you practise but your liuing fall ? Who of you all haue any vertues breath , But ready armed at a mischiefes call ? God is not pleased at your vices sauour , But you best pleased when you lose his fauour . verse 14 He made not death to be your conqueror , But you to conquer ouer death and hell . Nor you to bee destructions seruitor , Enhoused there where Maiestie should dwell : God made man to obay at his beheast , And man to be obayde of euery beast , He made not death to be our labours hire , But we our selues made death through our desart , Here neuer was the kingdome of hell fire , Before the brand was kindled in mans hart : Now man defieth God , all creatures , man , Vice flourisheth , and vertue lieth wan . verse 15 O fruitefull tree , whose roote is alwaies greene , Whose blossomes euer bud , whose fruites encrease , Whose toppe celestiall vertues seat hath been , Defended by the soueraintie of peace : This tree is righteousnes , ô happy tree , Immortalized by thine owne decree . O hatefull plant whose roote is alwaies drie , Whose blossomes neuer bud , whose fruites decrease : On whom sits the infernall deitie , To take possession of so foule a lease ; This plant is vice , O too vnhappy plant , Euer to die , and neuer fill deaths want . verse 16 Accursed in thy growth , dead in thy roote , Cancred with sin , shaken with euery winde , Whose top dooth nothing differ from the foote , Mischiefe the sappe , and wickednesse the rhinde : So the vngodly like this withered tree , Is slacke in doing good , in ill too free . Like this their wicked growth , too fast , too slowe , Too fast in slouth , too slow in vertues hast , They thinke their vice a friend , when t is a foe , In good , in wickednes , too slow , too fast : And as this tree decayes , so do they all , Each one copartner of the others fall .

Chapter II. verse 1 INdeede they doe presage what wil betide , With the misgiuing verdict of misdeeds , They knowe a fall will follow after pride , And in so foule a hart growes manie weeds : Our life is short , quoth they , no t is too long , Lengthned with euill thoughts , and euill tong . A life must needs be short to them that dies , For life once dead in sin , doth weakely liue : These die in sin , and maske in deaths disguise , And neuer thinke , that death new life can giue ; They say , life dead , can neuer liue againe , O thoughts , ô wordes , ô deeds , fond , foolish , vaine . verse 2 Vilde life , to harbor where such death abodes , Abodes worse then are thoughts , thoughts worse then words , Wordes halfe as ill as deeds , deeds sorrowes odes , Odes ill inchaunters of too ill records ; Thoghts , words , and deeds conoyined in one song , May cause an Eccho from destructions tong . Quoth they , t is chaunce whether we liue or die , Borne , or abortiue , be , or neuer bee , Wee worship fortune , shee 's our deitie , If she denies , no vitall breath haue wee . Here are wee placed in this orbe of death , This breath once gone , we neuer looke for breath . verse 3 Betweene both life and death , both hope and feare , Betweene our ioy and griefe , blisse and dispaire , We here possesse the fruite of what is here , Borne euer for to die , and die deaths heire : Our heritage is death annexde to life , Our portion death , our death an endlesse strife , What is our life but our liues tragedy , Extinguishde in a momentary time ? And life to murder life , is cruelty Vnripely withering in a flowrie prime ; And vrne of ashes pleasing but the showes , Once dry , the toiling spirit wandring goes . verse 4 Like as the traces of appearing clouds , Giues way when Tytan resalutes the sea , With new-changd flames guilding the Oceans flouds , Kissing the cabinet where I hetis lay : So fares our life , when death doth giue the wound , Our life is led by death , a captiue bound . When Sol bestrides his golden mountaines toppe , Lightning heauens tapors with his liuing fire , All gloomye powers haue their diurnall stoppe , And neuer gaines the darknes they desire ; So perisheth our name when wee are dead , Our selues nere cald to mind , our deeds nere read . verse 5 What is the time wee haue ? what be our daies ? No time , but shadowe of what time should be , Daies in the place of houres which neuer staies , Beguiling sight of that which sight should see ; As soone as the begin they haue their fine , Nere waxe , still waine , nere stay , but still decline , Life may be cald the shadowe of effect , Because the cloude of death doth shadow it , Nor can our life approaching death reiect , They both in one for our election sit ; Death followes life in euery degree , But life to followe death you neuer see . verse 6 Come we , whose olde decrepit age doth hault , Like limping winter , in our winter , sin , Faultie wee know we are , tush , what s a fault ? A shadowed vision of destructions gin ; Our life begun with vice , so let it ende , It is a seruile labour to amend . Wee ioyde in sin , and let our ioyes renewe , We ioyed in vice , and let our ioyes remaine , To present pleasures future hopes ensue , And ioy once lost , let vs fetch backe againe ; Although our age can lend no youthfull pace , Yet let our mindes follow our youthfull race . verse 7 What though olde age lies heauie on our backe , Anotomie of an age crooked clime , Let minde performe that which our bodies lacke , And change olde age into a youthfull time ; Two heauie things are more then one can beare , Blacke may the garments be , the body cleare . Decaying thinges be needfull of repaire , Trees eaten out with years must needs decline , Nature in time with foule doth cloude her faire , Begitting youthfull daies with ages twine ; We liue , and while we liue , come let vs ioy , To thinke of after life , t is but a toy . verse 8 Wee know God made vs in a liuing forme , But wee le vnmake , and make our selues againe ; Vnmake that which is made , like winters storme ▪ Make vnmade things to aggrauate our paine , God was our maker , and he made vs good , But our descent springs from another blood . He made vs for to liue , ●ee meane to die , He made the heauen our seate , we make the earth , Each fashion makes a contrarietie , God truest God , man falsest from his birth ; Quoth they , this earth shal be our chiefest heauen , Our sin the anchor , and our vice the hauen . verse 9 Let heauen in earth , and earth in heauen consist , This earth is heauen , this heauen is earthly heauen : Repugnant earth , repugnant heauen resist , We ioy in earth , of other ioyes bereauen ; This is the Paradice of our delight ; Here let vs liue , and die in heauens spght . Here let the monuments of wanton sports Be seated in a wantonnes disguise ; Closde in the circuit of veneriall forts , To feed the long staru'd sight of Amours eyes ; Bee this the Chronicle of our content , How wee did sport on earth , till sport was spen●… ▪ verse 10 But in the glory of the brightest day , Heauens smoothest browe sometime is furrowed , And cloudes vsurp the clime in dim array , Darkning the light which heauen had borrowed , So in this earthly heauen wee dayly see , That greife is placed where delight should bee . Here liues the righteous , bane vnto their liues , O sound from forth the hollow caue of woe , Here liues age-crooked fathers , widowed wiues ; Poore , and yet rich in fortunes ouerthrowe ; Let them not liue , let vs increase their want , Make barren their desire , augment their scant ▪ verse 11 Our lawe is correspondent to our doome , Our lawe to doome , is dooming lawes offence , Each one agreeth in the others roome , To punish that which striues and wants defence ; This Cedar-like doth make the shrub to bend , When shrubs doth wast their force but to contend . The weakest power is subiect to obay , The mushroms humbly kisse the cedars foote , The cedar florishes when they decay , Because her strength is grounded on a roote Wee are the cedars , they the mushromes bee , Vnabled shrubs , vnto an abled tree . verse 12 Then sith the weaker giues the stronger place , The yong the elder , and the foote the top , The low , the high , the hidden powers , the face , All beastes , the Lion , euery spring , his stop ; Let those which practise contrariety , Be ioynd to vs with inequallity : They say that we offend , we say they doe , Their blame is laid on vs , our blame on them : They stricke , and we retort the strucken blowe , So in each garment there 's a differing hem ; Wee end with contraries as they begun , Vnequall sharing of what either wun . verse 13 14 In this long conflict betweene tongue and tong , Tongue new begining what one tonque did end , Made this cold battell hot in eithers wrong , And kept no pawsing limites to contend ; One tongue was eccho to the others sound , Which breathed accents between mouth & ground Hee which hath vertues armes vppon his shield , Drawes his descent from an eternall King : Hee knowes discretion can make follie yeild , Life conquere death , and vice a captiue bring : The other tutred by his mother sin , Respects nor deedes , nor words , but hopes to win . verse 15 The first , first essence of immortall life , Reprooues the hart of thought , the eie of sight , The eare of hearing ill , the minde of strife , The mouth of speach , the body of despight ; ●…art thinks , eies sees , eares heares , mindes meditate , Mouth vtters both the soule and bodies hate . But Nature differing in each natures kinde , Makes differing hartes , each hart , a differing thought , Some hath shee made to see , some follie blinde , Some famous , some obscure ▪ some good , some nought . So these which differeth in each natures reason , Had natures time , when t●me was out of season . verse 16 ( Quoth they ) he doth reprooue our hart of thinking , Our eies of sight , our eares of hearing ill , Our minds , our hearts in meditation linking , Our mouthes in speaking of our bodies will ; Because hart , sight , and minde do disagree . Hee 'ld make heart , sight , and mind of their decree . Hee saies , our hart is blinded with our eies , Our eies are blinded with our blinded hart , Our bodies on both parts defiled lies , Our mouthes the trumpets of our vices smart ; Quoth hee , God is my Father , I his sonne , His waies I take , your wicked waies I shun . verse 17 As meditated wrongs are deeper plaste , Within the deepe crue of a wronged minde , So meditated wordes is neuer past , Before their sounds a setled harbour finde ; The wicked answering to the latter words , Begins to speake as much as speach affords . One tong must answer other tongues replie , Beginning boasts , requires an ending fall ; Wordes liuely spoke , do somtimes wordles dye , If not , liue Ecchoes vnto speeches call ; Let not the shadow smother vp the deed , The outward leafe differs from in ward seed . verse 18 The shape and shewe of substance and effect , Doth shape the substance in the shadowes hue , And shadowe put in substance , will neglect The wonted shadowe of not being true : Let substance followe substance , showe a showe , And let not substance for the shadowe goe . Hee that could giue such admonition , Such vaunting wordes , such words confirming vaunts , As if his tongue had mounted to ambition , Or clim'd the turrets which vaine-glory haunts : Now let his father , if he be his sonne , Vndoe the knot which his prowd boasts haue spun . Wee are his enimies , his chaine our hands , verse 19 Our wordes his fetters , and our hart his caue , Our sterne embracements are his seruile bands , Where is the helper nowe which he should haue ? In prison like himselfe , not to be found , Hee wanteth helpe himselfe to be vnbound . Then sith thy father beares it patiently , To suffer torments , griefe , rebuke , and blame , T is needfull thou shouldst beare equallity , To see if meekenesse harbour in thy name , Help father , for thy sonne in prison lies , Helpe , sonne , or else thy helples father dies . verse 20 Thus is the righteous God and righteous man , Drownde in obliuion with this vices raigne , God wanteth power ( say they ) of what we can , The other would performe that which is vaine ; Both faultie in one fault , and both alike , Must haue the stroke which our lawes iudgements strike He calls himselfe a sonne , from heauens descent , What can earths force aualie gainst heauens defence ? His life by immortalitie is lent : Then how can punishment his wrath incense ? Though death her selfe in his arraignment decke , He hath his lifes preseruer at a becke . verse 21 As doth the Basiliske with poysoned sight , Blinde euery function of a mortall eye , Disarme the bodies powers of vitall might , Rob heart of thought , make liuing life to die : So doth the wicked with their vices looke , Infect the spring of clearest vertues brooke . This Basiliske mortalities chiefe foe , And to the hearts long-knitted arterie ; Doth sometime perish at her shadowes showe , Poysning her selfe with her owne poysoned eie : Needs must the sting fall out with ouer-harming , Needs must the tong burne out in ouer-warming . verse 22 So fares it with the practisers of vice , Laden with many venomous adders stings , Sometimes are blinded with their owne deuice , And tunes that song which their destruction sings ; Their mischeife blindeth their mischeiuous eies , Like Basiliskes which in their shadow dies . They goe and yet they cannot see their feete , Like blinded pilgrimes in an vnknowen way , Blind in perceiuing things which be most meete , But neede nor sight nor guide to goe astray ; Tel them of good , they cannot vnderstand , But tell them of a mischeife , that 's at hand . The Basiliske , was made to blind the sight , verse 23 24 The adder for to sting , the worme to creepe , The viper to deuoure , the dog to bite , The nightingale to wake when others sleepe ; Onely man differs from his makers will , Vndoing what is good , and doing ill . A god-like face he had , a heauenly hue , Without corruption , image without spottes . But now is metamorphosed anewe , Full of corruption , image full of blottes ; Blotted by him that is the plot of euill , Vndone , corrupted , vanquisht by the deuill .

Chapter III. verse 1 BVt euery cloude can not hide Phoebus face , Nor shut the casement of his liuing flame , Nor is there euery soule which wanteth grace , Nor euery hart seducde with mischiefs name ; Life cannot liue without corruption , World cannot be without destruction . Nor is the body all corrupt , or world Bent wholie vnto wickednes assault , The adder is not alwaies seene vncurlde , Nor euery soule found guiltie in one fault ; Some good , some bad , but those whom vertues guard , Heauen is their hauen , comfort their reward . verse 2 3 Thrice happy habitation of delight , Thrice happy step of immortalitie , Thrice happy soules to gaine such heauenly sight , Springing from heauens perpetuitie ; Oh peacefull place , but oh thrice peacefull soules , Whom neither threats , nor strife , nor wars control ▪ They are not like the wicked , for they liue , Nor they , like to the righteous , for they die ; Each of their liues a differing nature giue , One thinkes that life endes with mortalitie , And that the righteous neuer liue againe , But die as subiects to a grieuous paine . verse 4 What labouring soule refuseth for to sweat , Knowing his hire , his paiment , his reward ? To suffer winters colde , and summers heate , Assured of his labours due regard ? The Bee with summers toile will lade her hiue , In winters frost to keepe herselfe aliue . And what diuinest spirit would not toile , And suffer many torments , many paines , This worlds destruction , heauie laboures foile , When heauen is their hire , heauens ioy their gaines ? Who would not suffer torments for to die , When deaths reward is immortalitie ? verse 5 Paine is the entrance to eternall ioy , Death endeth life , and death beginneth life , Beginneth happy , endeth in annoy , Begins immortall peace , ends mortall strife ; Then seeing death and paines bring ioy and heauen , What need we feare deaths pain when life is giuen ? Say sicknes or infairmities disease , ( As many harmes hang ouer mortall heades ) Should be his worlds reward , yet heauen hath ease , A salue to cure , and quiet resting beds ; God maketh in earths world , lament our pleasure . That in heauens world , delight might be our treasure verse 6 Faire may the shadow bee ; the substance foule , After the ●●…all followeth the trust , The clearest skinne may haue the foulest soule , The purest golde will looner take the ruste : The brooke though nere so cleare may take some foile , The hart thogh nere so strong may take some foile . Wouldst thou be counted iust ? make thy selfe iust , Oh purifie thy mire be spotted heart , For god doth trie thy actions ere he trust , Thy faith , thy deeds , thy wordes , and what thou art , He will receiue no mud , for clearest springs , Nor thy vnrighteous wordes for righteous things . verse 7 As God is perfit God ; and perfit good , So hee accepteth none but perfit mindes , They euer prosper , flourish , liue , and bud , Like blessed plants , far from destructions winds : Still bud , nere fade , still flourish , nere decay , Stil rise , nere fall , still spring , nere fade away . Who would not couet to be such a plant ? Who would not wish to stand in such a ground ? Sith it doth neither fruit nor blessing want , Nor ought which in this plant might not be found ; They are the righteous which enioye this earth , The figure of an euer-bearing birth . verse 8 The small is alwayes subiect to the great , The yong to him which is of elder time , The lowest place vnto the highest seate , And pale-facde Phoebe to bright Phoebus clime , Vice is not gouerner of vertues place , But blushes for to see see so bright a face . Vertue is chiefe , and vertue will be chiefe , Chiefe good , and chiefe Astraea , Iustice mate , Both for to punish and to yeeld reliefe , And haue dominion ouer euery state : To rghit the wrongs which wickednes hath done , Deliuering Nations from life-lasting mone . verse 9 Oh you whose causes plungeth in despaire , Sad facde petitioners with griefes request : What seeke you ? heere s nor Iustice , nor her heire , But woe and sorrow with deaths dumbe arrest : Turne vp your woe blinde eyes vnto the skie , There sits the Iudge can yeeld you remedie . Trust in his power , he is the truest God , True God , true Iudge , true Iustice , and true guide ; All trueth is placed in his trueths abode , All vertues seated at his verouous side : He will regarde your sure , and ease your plaint , And mollifie your miseries constraint . verse 10 Then shall you see the Iudges of the earth , Summoned with the trumpet of his ire , To giue account and reckning from their birth , Where worthy or vnworthy of their hire : The godly shall receiue their labours triall , The wicked shall receiue their ioyes deniall . They which did sleepe in sinne , and not regarded The poore mans fortune , prostrate at their feete , Euen as they dealt , so shall they be rewarded , When they their toyled soules destruction meet , From Iudges they petitioners shall be , Yet want the sight which they do sue to see . verse 11 That labour which is grounded on delight , That hope which reason doth enrich with hap , That merite which is placde in wisedomes might , Secure from mischiefes baite , or follies clap : Wits labour , reasons hope , and wisedomess merit , All three in one , make one thrice happy spirit . Why set I happinesse fore mortall eyes , Which couets to be drencht in misery ? Mantling their foolish mindes in follies guise , Despising wisedomes perpetuitie : Sins labour , follies hope , and vices merit , These three in one , make a thrice cursed spirit . verse 5 Vaine hope must needs consist in what is vaine ; All foolish laboures flowes from follies teares , Vnprofitable workes proceed from paine , And paine ill labours duest guerdon beares : Their vanities in one , and one in three , Make three paines one , and one vncertaintie , A wicked King , makes a more wicked land , Heads once infected , soone corrupts the feete , If the tree falls , the branches cannot stand , Nor children , bee their parents indiscreet ; The man infects the wife , the wife the childe , Like birdes , which in one nest bee all defilde . verse 6 The field which neuer was ordainde to beare , Is happier farre , then a still tilled ground , This sleepes with quietnes in euery yeare , The other curst if any tares bee found , The barren happier then shee that beares , This brings foorth ioye , the other tares and teares . The Eunuch neuer lay in vices bed , The barren woman , neuer brought foorth sin , These two in heauens happines are led , Shee fruite in soule , hee fruite in faith doth win : O rare and happy man , for euer blest , O rare and happy woman , heauens guest . verse 1 Who seekes to reape , before the corne be ripe ? Who lookes for haruest among winters frost ? Or who in greife , will followe pleasures pipe ? What mariner can saile vppon the coast ? That which is done in time , is done in season , And things done out of time , is out of reason . The glorious labour is in doing good , In times obseruance , and in natures will , Whose fruite is also glorious for our foode , If glory may consist in labours skill : Whose roote is wisdome , which shal neuer wither , But spring , and sprout , and loue , and liue together . verse 2 But euery ground doth not beare blessed plants , Nor euery plant brings foorth expected frute , What this same ground may haue , another wants , Nor are all causes answered with one sute : That tree whose roote is sound , whose grounding strong , May firmely stand when others lie along . View natures beautie , marke her chaunging hue , Shee is not alwaies foule , nor alwaies faire , Chaste and vnchaste she is , true and vntrue , And some springs from her in a lustfull aire , And these adulterers be , whose seede shall perish , Neuer shall lust and wickednes long florish . verse 5 Although the flint be hard , the water soft , Yet is it molifide with lightest drops , Hard is the water , when the wind 's aloft , Small things in time may vanquish greatest stops : The longer growes the tree , the greater mosse , The longer soile remaines , the more the drosse . The longer that the wicked liues on earth , The greater is their paine , their sin , their shame ; The greater vices raigne , and vertues dearth , The greater goodnes lacke , and mischiefes name ; When in their youth no honour they could get , Olde age could neuer pay so yong a debt . verse 6 To place an honour in dishonours place , Were but to make disparagement of both , Both enimies they could not brooke the case , For honor to subuert dishonors growth : Dishonor will not chaunge for honours roome , Shee hopes to stay after their bodies doome . Or liue they long , or die they sodainly , They haue nor hope , nor comfort of rewarde , Their hope of comfort is iniquitie , The barre by which they from their ioyes are bard : O olde newe end , made to begin newe griefe , O new beginning , end of old reliefe .

Chapter IIII. verse 1 IF happines may harbour in content , If life in loue , if loue in better life ; Then vnto many happines is lent , And long departed ioy might then be rife : Some happy if they liue , some if they dye , Happy in life , happy in tragedy . Content is happines , because content , Barenes and barrennes is vertues grace , Bare , because wealth to pouertie is bent , Barren , in that it scornes ill fortunes place : The barren earth is barren of her tares , The barren woman barren of her cares . verse 2 The soule of vertue is eternitie , All-filling essence of diuinest rage , And vertues true eternall memory , Is barrennes , her soules eternall gage : O happy soule that is engaged there , And pawnes his life that barren badge to weare . See how the multitude with humble harts , Lies prostrate for to welcome her returne ; See how they mourne and waile when she departs See how they make their teares her trophees vrne : Being present they desire her , being gone , Their hot desire is turnde to hoter moane . verse 3 As euery one hath not one natures mould , So euery one hath not one natures minde ; Some think that drosse which others take for golde , Each difference commeth from a differing kinde : Some do despise what others do imbrace , Some praise the thing which others do disgrace . The barren doth embrace their barrennesse , And holde it as a vertue worthy meede : The other calles conception happinesse , And holde it as a vertue worthy deede : The one is firmely grounded on a rocke , The other billows game and tempests mocke . verse 4 Sometime the nettle groweth with the rose , The nettle hath a sting , the rose a thorne , This stings the hand , the other prickes the nose , Harming that scent which her sweete birth had borne ; Weeds among herbs , herbs among weeds are found Tares in the mantle of a corny ground . The nettles growth is fast , the roses slow , The weeds outgrow the herbs , the tares the corne , These may be well compared to vices show , Which couets for to grow ere it be borne : As greatest danger doth pursue fast going , So greatest danger doth ensue fast growing . verse 5 The tallest Cedar hath the greatest winde , The highest tree is subiect vnto falles , High soaring Eagles soone are strucken blinde , The tong must needes be hoarse with many calles : The wicked thinking for to touch the skie , Are blasted with the fier of heauens eie . So like ascending and descending aire , Both duskie vapours from two humerous cloudes , Lies withered the glory of their faire , Vnpleasant branches wrencht in follies floudes : Vnprofitable fruites like to a weede , Made onely to infect , and not to feede . verse 6 Made for to make a fast , and not a feast , Made rather for infection than for meate , Not worthy to be eaten of a beast , Thy taste so sower , thy poyson is so great : Thou mayst be well compared to a tree , Because thy branches are as ill as thee ▪ Thou hast begot thine owne confusion , The witnesses of what thou dost beginne , Thy doomers in thy lifes conclusion , Which will vnaskt and askt reueale thy sinne : Needs must the new hatched birds bewray the nest , When they are nursed in a step-dames breast . verse 7 But righteousnes is of another sex , Her roote is from an euerlasting seede , No weake-vnable grounding doth connex , Her neuer-limited memorialles deed : She hath no branches for a tempests pray , No deedes , but scornes to yeeld vnto decay . She hath no withered fruit , no shew of store , But perfect essence of a compleate power , Say that she dies to world , she liues the more , As who so righteous but doth waite deaths hower ? Who knowes not death to be the way to rest ? And he that neuer dies is neuer blest , verse 8 Happy is he that liues , twice he that dies , Thrice happy he which neither liu'd , nor died , Which neuer saw the earth with mortall eies , Which neuer knew what miseries are tried : Happy is life , twice happy is our death , But three times thrise he , which had neuer breath . Some thinkes that pleasure is atchieude by yeares , Or by maintaining of a wretched life , When , out alas , it heapeth teares on teares , Griefe vpon griefe , strife on beginning strife : Pleasure is weake , if measured by length , The oldest ages hath the weaker strength . verse 9 Three turnings are containde in mortal course , Old , meane , and yong ; meane , and old brings age , The youth hath strength , the meane decaying force , The old are weake , yet strong in angers rage : Three turnings in one age , strong , weak , & weaker , Yet age , nor youth , is youths or ages breaker . Some sayes that youth is quicke in iudging causes , Some sayes that age is witty , graue , and wise : I holde of ages side with their applauses , Which iudges with their hearts , not with their eyes : I say graue wisedome lies in grayest heads , And vndefiled liues in ages beds . verse 10 God is both graue and old , yet yong and new , Graue because aged , aged because yong ; Long youth may wel be called ages hew , And hath no differing sound vpon the tongue : God old , because eternities are old , Yong , for eternities one motion hold . Some in their birth , some dies when they are borne , Some borne , and some abortiue , yet all die , Some in their youth , some in old age forlorne , Some , neyther yong nor old , but equally : The righteous , when he liueth with the sinner , Doth hope for death , his better lifes beginner . verse 11 The swine delights to wallow in the mire , The giddy drunkard in excesse of wine , He may corrupt the purest reasons gire , And shee turne vertue into vices signe : Mischiefe is mire , and may infect that spring , Which euery flowe and ebbe of vice doth bring . Fishes are oft deceiued by the baite , The baite-deceiuing fish doth fish deceiue ; So righteous are allurde by sins deceit , And oft inticed into sinners weaue : The righteous be as fishes to their gin , Beguilde , deceiude , allured into sin . The fisher hath a baite deceiuing fish , verse 12 The fowler hath a net deceiuing fowles , Both wisheth to obtaine their snaring wish , Obseruing time like night-obseruing owles : The fisher layes his baite , fowler his net , He hopes for fish , the other birds to get . This fisher is the wicked , vice his baite , This fowler is the sinner , sinne his net , The simple-righteous-falles in their deceit , And like a prey , a fish , a fowle beset : A baite , a net , obscuring what is good , Like fish and fowle tooke vp for vices food . verse 13 14 But baites , nor nets , gins , nor beguiling snares , Vice , nor the vicious sinner , not the sin Can shut the righteous into prisons cares , Or set deceiuing baites to mew them in : They know their liues deliuerer , heauens God , Can breake their baites and snares with iustice rod . When vice abounds on earth , and earth in vice , Then vertue keepes her chamber in the skie , To shun the mischiefe which her baites intice , Her snares , her nets , her guiles , her companie : Assoone as mischeife raignes vpon the earth , Heauen calls the righteous to a better birth . verse 15 The blinded eies can neuer see the way , The blinded heart can neuer see to see , The blinded soule doth alwayes go astray , All three want sight , in being blinde all three : Blinde and yet see , they see and yet are blinde , The face hath eies , but eyelesse is the minde . They see with outward sight Gods heauenly grace , His grace , his loue , his mercy on his Saints , With outward faced eie , and eied face , Their outward body inwarde soule depaintes : Of hearts chiefe eye they chiefely are berest , And yet the shadowe of two eyes are left . verse 16 Some blinded be in face , and some in soule , The faces eyes are not incurable , The other wanteth healing to be whole , Or seemes to some to be indurable : Looke in a blinded eie , bright is the glasse , Though brightnes banished from what it was . So ( quoth the righteous ) are these blinded hearts , The outward glasse is cleare , the substance darke , Both seeme as if one tooke the others parts , Yet both in one haue not one brightnes sparke : The outwarde eye , is but destructions reader , Wanting the inwarde eye to be the leader . Our body may be calde a common-weale , verse 17 Our head the chiefe , for reason harbours there , From thence comes hearts and soules vnited zeale , All else inferiours be , which stande in feare , This common-weale rul'd by discretions eye , Liues likewise if shee liue , dies if shee die . Then how can weale , or wealth common , or proper , Long stand , long flowe , long flourish , long remaine , When wail is weales , & stelth is welths chiefe stopper ▪ When sight is gone which neuer comes againe : The wicked sees the righteous loose their breath , But knowe not what rewarde they gaine by death . verse 18 19 Though blinde in sight , yet can they see to harme , See to despise , see to deride and mocke , But their reuenge lies in Gods mighty arme , Scorning to chuse them for his chosen flocke : He is the shepheard , godly are his sheepe , They wake in ioy , these in destruction sleepe . The godly sleepe in eies , but wake in hearts , The wicked sleepe in hearts , but wake in eies ; These euer-wake eyes are no sleepie partes , These euer sleepe , for sleepe is hearts disguise : Their waking eies do see their hearts lament , While heart securely sleepes in eyes content . verse 20 If they awake , sleepes image doth molest them , And beates into their waking memories , If they doe sleepe , ioy-waking doth detest them , Yet beates into their sleeping arteries : Sleeping or waking they haue feare on feare , Waking or sleeping they are ne're the neare . If waking they remember what they are , What sins they haue commmitted in their waking , If sleeping they forget tormentings fare , How ready they haue beene in mischiefes making : When they awake , their wickednes betrayes them , When they do sleepe , destruction dismayes them .

Chapter V. verse 1 AS these two slumbers haue two contraries , One slumber in the face , one in the minde , So their two casements two varieties , One vnto heauen , and one to hell combinde : The face is flattery , and her mansion hell , The minde is iust , this doth in heauen dwell . The face heauing her heauie eie-lids vp , From foorth the chamber of eternall night , Sees vertue holde plenties replenisht cup , And boldly stands in Gods and heauens sight : Shee opening the windowes of her brest , Sees how the wicked rest in their vnrest . verse 2 3 Quoth shee , those whom the curtaine of decay , Hath tragically summoned to paine , Were once the cloudes , and clouders of my day , Deprauers and depriuers of my gaine ; The wicked hearing this descending sound , Feare strucke their lims to the pale-clothed ground . Amazed at the freedome of her words , Their tongue-tide accents droue them to dispaire , And made them change their mindes to woes records , And say within themselues , lo what wee are : We haue had vertue in derisions place , And made a parable of her disgrace . verse 4 See where she sits enthronizde in the skie , See , see , her labours crowne vpon her head , See how the righteous liue which erst did die , From death to life with vertues loadsta●re led , See those whome we derided , they are blest , They heauens , not hels , we hells , not heauens guest . We thought the righteous had beene furies sonne , With inconsiderate speech , vnstayed way , We thought that death had his dishonour wonne , And would haue made his life destructions pray : But we were mad , they iust , we fooles , they wise , We shame , they praise , we losse , they haue the prise . verse 5 We thoght them fools , when we our selues were fooles We thoght them mad , when we our selues were mad , The heate which sprang from them , our follie cooles , We find in vs , which we but thought they had : We thought their end had beene dishonors pledge , They but surueyd the place , we made the hedge . We see how they are blest , how we are curst , How they accepted are , and we refusde , And how our bands are tied , their bands are burst , Our faults are hourely blamde , their faults excusde : See how heauens gratulate their welcomd sight , Which comes to take possession of their right . verse 6 But oh , too late we see our wickednesse , Too late we lie in a repentant tombe , Too late we smoothe olde haires with happinesse , Too late we seeke to ease our bodies doome : Now falshoode hath aduauncde her forged banner , Too late wee seeme to verefie truths manner . The sunne of righteousnes which should haue shinde , And made our hearts the cabines of his East , Is now made cloudy night through vices winde , And lodgeth with his downefall in the west : That summers day which shuld haue bin nights bar Is now made winter in her icie carre ▪ verse 7 Too much our feet haue gone , but neuer right ▪ Much labour we haue tooke , but none in good , We wearied our selues with our delight , Endangering our selues to please our moode : Our feete did labour much , t was for our pleasure , We wearied our selues , t was for our leasure . In sinnes perfection was our labour spent , In wickednes preferment we did haste , To suffer perills wee were al content , For the aduancement of our vices past : Throgh many dangerous waies our feet haue gone , But yet the way of God we haue not knowne . verse 8 9 Wee which haue made our harts a sea of pride , With huge risse billowes of a swelling minde , With tossing tumults of a flowing tide , Leauing our laden bodyes plungde behinde ; What trafficke haue we got ? our selues are drownd , Our soules in hell , our bodies in the ground . Where are our riches now ? like vs consumde , Where is our pompe ? decaide , wher 's glory ? dead ; Where is the wealth of which wee all presumde ▪ where is our profit ? gone , our selues ? misled : All these are like to shadowes what they were , There is nor wealth , nor pompe , nor glory here . verse 10 The diall giues a caueat of the houre , Thou canst not see it go , yet it is gone , Like this the diall of thy fortunes power , Which fades by stealth till thou art left alone . Thy eies may well perceiue thy goods are spent , Yet can they not perceiue which way they went . Lo , eu'ne as ships sailing on Tethis lap , Plowes vp the furrowes of hard grounded waues , Enforced for to go by Eoles clap , Making with sharpest teeme the water graues : The ship once past , the trace cannot be found , Although shee digged in the waters ground . verse 11 Or as an Eagle with her soaring wings ▪ Scorning the dusty carpet of the earth , Exempt from all her clogging gesses , flings Vp to the ayre , to shew her mounting birth : And euery flight doth take a higher pitch , To haue the golden sunne her wings enrich . Yet none can see the passage of her flight , But onely heare her houering in the skie , Beating the light winde with her being light , Or parting through the ayre where she might flie : The eare may heare , the eye can neuer see , What course she takes , or where she meanes to bee . verse 12 Or as an arrowe which is made to goe , Through the transparent and coole-blowing ayre , Feeding vpon the forces of the bowe , Else forcelesse lies in wanting her repaire : Like as the branches when the tree is lopt , Wanteth the forces which they forcelesse cropt . The arrow being fed with strongest shot , Doth part the lowest elementall breath , Yet neuer separates the soft ayres knot , Nor neuer woundes the still-foote windes to death ▪ It doth seioyne and ioyne the ayre together , Yet none there is can tell , or where , or whither . verse 13 So are our liues , now they beginne , now end , Now liue , now die , now borne , now fit for graue , As soone as we haue breath , so soone we spend , Not hauing that which our content would haue : As ships , as birds , as arrowes , all as one , Euen so the traces of our liues are gone . A thing not seene to go , yet going seene , And yet not shewing any signe to go ; Euen thus the shadowes of our liues haue beene , Which shewes to fade , and yet no vertues shew : How can a thing consumde with vice be good ? Or how can falshoode beare true vertues foode ? verse 14 Vaine hope to thinke that wickednes hath bearing ▪ When she is drowned in Obliuions sea , Yet can she not forget presumptions wearing , Nor yet the badge of vanities decay : Her fruites are cares , her cares are vanities , Two , both in one destructions liueries . Vaine hope is like a vane turnde with each winde , T is like a smoake scattred with euery storme , Like dust , sometime before , sometime behinde , Like a thin some made in the vainest forme : This hope is like to them which neuer stay , But comes , and goes againe , all in one day . verse 15 View Natures gifts , some gifts are rich ▪ some poore , Some barren grounds there are , som clothd with fruit , Nor hath all nothing , nor hath all her store , Nor can all creatures speake , nor are all mute : All die by nature , being borne by nature , So all change feature , being borne with feature . This life is hers , this dead , dead is her power , Her bounds begins , and ends in mortall state , Whom she on earth accounteth as her flower , May be in heauen condemnde of mortall hate : But he whom vertue iudges for to liue , The Lord his life and due reward will giue . verse 16 The seruant of a king , may be a king , And he that was a king , a seruile slaue ; Swans before death a funerall dirge do sing , And waues their wings agen ill fortunes waue . He that is lowest in this lowly earth , May be the highest in celestiall birth . The rich may be vniust , in being rich , For riches do corrupt and not correct , The poore may come to highest honours pitch , And haue heauens crowne for mortall lifes respect : Gods hands shall couer them from al their foes , Gods arme defend them from misfortunes blowes . verse 17 18 19 20 His hand eterniti 〈◊〉 his arme , his force , His armour zelousie , his breast-plate heauen , His helmet iudgement , iustice , and remorce , His shield is victories immortall steauen : The world his challenge , and his wrath his sword , Mischiefe his foe , his ayde his gospels word . His arme doth ouerthrowe his enimie , His breast-plate , sinne , his helmet death and hell , His shield preparde against mortallitie , His sword gainst them which in the world do dwell : So shall vice , sinne , and death , world and the deuill , Be slaine by him which slayeth euery euill . verse 21 All heauen shall be in armes against earths world , The sunne shall dart foorth fire commixt with bloud , The blazing starres from heauen shall be hurlde , The pale-facde moone against the Ocean floud : Then shall the thundring chambers of the skie , Be lightned with the blaze of Titans eie . The cloudes shall then be bent like bended bowes , To shoote the thundring arrowes of the ayre , Thicke haile and stones shall fall on heauens foes , And Tethis ouerflowe in her despayre : The moone shall ouer-fill her horny hood , With Neptunes Oceans ouer-flowing flood . verse 22 The winde shall be no longer kept in caues , But burst the iron cages of the clouds ? And Aeole shall resigne his office staues , Suffering the windes to combate with the flouds : So shall the earth with seas be paled in , As erst it hath beene ouerflowde with sin . Thus shall the earth weepe for her wicked sonnes , And curse the concaue of her tyred wombe , Into whose hollowe mouth the water runnes , Making wet wildernes her driest tombe ; Thus , thus , iniquitie hath raignd so long , That earth on earth is punisht for her wrong .

Chapter VI. verse 1 2 AFter this conflict betweene God and man , Remorce tooke harbour in Gods angry breast , Astraea to be pitifull began , All heauenly powers to lie in mercies rest : Forthwith the voice of God did redescend , And his Astraea warnde all to amend . To you I speake , ( quoth shee ) heare , learne , and marke , You that be Kings , Iudges , and Potentates , Giue ere , ( I say , ) wisedome your strongest arke , Sends me as messenger , to end debates : Giue care , ( I say ) you Iudges of the earth , Wisedome is borne , seeke out for wisedomes birth . verse 3 This heauenly ambassage from wisedomes tong , Worthy the volume of all heauens skie , I bring as messenger to right your wrong , If so her sacred name might neuer die : I bring you happy tidings , she is borne , Like golden sunne-beames from a siluer morne . The Lord hath seated you in iudgements seat , Let wisedome place you in discretions places , Two vertues , one , will make one vertue great , And drawe more vertues with attractiue faces : Be iust and wise , for God is iust and wise , He thoughts , he words , he words , and actions tries . verse 4 5 If you neglect your offices decrees , Heape new lament on long-tosst miseries , Doe and vndoe by reason of degrees , And drowne your sentences in briberies : Fauour and punish , spare and keepe in awe , Set and vnset , plant and supplant the lawe . Oh bee assur'd there is a Iudge aboue , Which will not let iniustice flourish long , If tempt him , you , your owne temptation moue , Proceeding from the iudgement of hid tong : Hard iudgement shal he haue which iudgeth hard , And he that barreth others shall be bar'd . verse 6 For God hath no respect of rich from poore , For he hath made the poore , and made the rich , Their bodies be alike , though their mindes soare , Their difference nought , but in presumptions pitch : The carcasse of a King is kept from soule , The Begger yet may haue the cleaner soule . The highest men do beare the highest mindes , The cedars skorne to bowe , the mushromes bend , The hiest often superstition blindes , But yet their fall is greatest in the end : The windes haue not such power of the grasse , Because it lowly stoopeth when as they passe . verse 7 8 The olde should teach the yong obseruance way , But now the yong doth teach the elder grace ; The shrubs doe teach the Cedars to obay , These yeelde to winds , but these the winds out-face : Yet he that made the windes to cease and blowe , Can make the highest fall , the lowest growe . He made the great to stoop as well as small , The lions to obay as other beasts , He cares for all alike , yet cares for all , And lookes that all should answere his beheasts : But yet the greater hath the sorer triall , If once he findes them with his lawes deniall . verse 9 Be warnde you tyrants at the fall of pride , You see how surges chaunge to quiet calme ; You see both flowe and ebbe in follies tide , How fingers are infected by their palme : This may your caueat be , you being kinges , Infect your subiects , which are lesser things . Ill sents of vice once crept into the head , Doth pearce into the chamber of the braine , Making the outward skin diseases bed , The inward powers as nourishers of paine : So if that mischeife raignes in wisedomes place , The inward thought lies figured in the face . verse 10 Wisdome should clothe her selfe in Kings attire , Being the portrature of heauens Queene , But tyrantes are no Kings , but mischiefes mire , Not sage , but shewes of what they should haue beene : They seeke for vice , and how to go amis , But doe not once regard what wisdome is . They which are Kings , by name are Kings by deed , Both rulers of them selues and of their land , They know that heau'n is vertues duest meed , And holines is knit in holy band : These may be rightly called by their name , whose words and works are blaz'd in wisedomes flame . To nurse vp crueltie with milde aspect , verse 11 Were to begin , but neuer for to end , Kindenes with tygers neuer takes effect , Nor proffered frendship with a foe-like friend : Tyrants and tygers haue all natural mothers , Tyrants her sonnes , tygers the tyrants brothers . No words delight can moue delight in them , But rather plow the traces of their ire , Like swine that take the durt defore the gem , And skorns that pearle which they should most desire : But Kings whose names proceed from kindnes sound , Do plant their harts & thoghts on wisdōs ground . verse 12 13 A grounding euer moist , and neuer dry , An euer fruitfull earth , not fruitlesse way , In whose deare wombe the tender springs do lye , which euer flowes , and neuer ebbes away ; The sunne but shines by day , she day and night , Doth keepe one stayed essence of her light . Her beams are conducts to her substance view , Here eye is adamants attractiue force , A shadowe hath shee none , but substance true , Substance out liuing life of mortall corse : Her sight is easie vnto them which loue her , Her finding easie vnto them which proue her . verse 14 The far fet chastitie of female sex , Is nothing but allurement into lust , Which will forsweare and take , scorne and annex , Denie and practise it , mistrust , and trust : Wisedome is chast and of another kinde , She loues , she likes , and yet not lustfull blinde . She is true loue , the other loue a toy , Her loue hath eyes , the other loue is blinde , This doth proceed from God , this from a boy , This constant is , the other vaine combinde : If longing passions follow her desire , She offereth her selfe , as labours hire verse 15 She is not coyish shee , won by delay , With sighs and passions , which all louers vse , With hot affection , death , or lifes decay , With louers toyes , which might their loues excuse : Wisedome is poore , her dowrie is content , Shee nothing hath because shee nothing spent . She is not woo'd to loue , nor won by wooing , Nor got by labour , nor possest by paine , The gaine of her consists in honest doing , Her gaine is great , in that she hath no gaine : He that betimes followes repentance way , Sall meet with her his vertues worthy pay . To think vpon her , is to think of blisse , verse 16 The very thought of her is mischiefes barre , Depeller of misdeeds which do amisse , The blot of vanitie , misfortunes scarre : Who wold not think ; to reap such gain by thought ? Who would not loue , when such a life is bought ? If thought be vnderstanding , what is shee ? The full perfection of a perfect power , A heauenly branch from Gods immortall tree , Which death , nor hell , nor mischiefe can deuoure : Her selfe is wisedome , and her thought is so , Thrice happie he which doth desire to know . verse 17 Shee manlike woes , men womenlike refuses , She offers loue , they offered loue denie , And hould her promises as loues abuses , Because she pleads with an indifferent eye : They thinke that she is light , vaine and vniust , When she doth plead for loue , and not for lust . Hard hearted men ( quoth shee ) can you not loue , Behold my substance , cannot substance please , Behold my feature ; cannot feature moue ? Can substance , nor my feature , helpe or ease ? See heauens ioy , defigured in my face , Can neither heauen , nor ioy , turne you to grace ? verse 18 19 Oh how desire swayes her pleading tong , Her tongue , her heart , her heart , her soules affection ? Faine would she make mortalitie be strong , But mortall weaknes yeelds reiection : Her care is care of them , they carelesse are , Her loue loues them : they neither loue nor care . Faine would shee make them clients in her lawe , Whose laws assurance is immortall honour , But them , nor words , nor loue , nor care can awe , But still will fight vnder destructions bonner . Though immortalitie be their reward , Yet neither words , nor deeds will they regard . verse 20 Her tongue is hoarse with pleading , yet doth plead , Pleading for that which they should all desire , Their appetite is heauie made of lead , And lead can neuer melt without a fire : Her words are milde and cannot raise a heat , Whilst they with hard repulse her speeches beat . Requested they ; for what they should request , Intreated they ; for what they should intreat , Requested to enioye their quiet rest , Intreated like a sullen bird to eate : Their eies behold ioyes maker which doth make it , Yet must they be intreated for to take it . verse 21 You whose delight is plac'd in honours game , Whose game , in maiesties imperiall throne , Maiesticke portratures of earthly fame , Releeuers of the poore in ages mone : If your content be seated on a crowne , Loue wisedome , and your state shall neuer downe . Her crownes are not as earthly diadems , But diapasans of eternall rest , Her essence comes not from terrestriall stems , But planted on the heauens immortall brest : If you delight in scepters and in raigning , Delight in her your crownes immortall gaining . verse 22 Although the shadowes of her glorious view , Hath beene as accessary to your eies , Now will I shew you the true substance hiew , And what she is , which without knowledge lies : From whence she is deriude , whence her discent , And whence the linage of her birth is lent . Now will I shew the skie , and not the cloude , The sunne , and not the shade , day , not the night , Tethis her selfe , not Tethis in her floud , Light , and not shadow of suppressing light : Wisedome her selfe true tipe of wisedomes grace , Shall be apparant before heart and face . verse 23 Had I still fed you with the shade of life , And hid the sunne it selfe in enuies aire , My selfe might well be called natures strife , Striuing to cloude that which all cloudes impaire : But Enuy , haste thee hence , I loathe thy eie , Thy loue , thy life , thy selfe , thy company . Here is the banner of discretions name , Aduaunst on wisedomes euer-standing tower , Here is no place for enuie or her shame , For Nemesis , or blacke Mageraes power : He that is enuious , is not wisedomes frend , She euer liues , he dies when enuies end . verse 24 25 Happy , thrice happy land , where wisedome raignes , Happy , thrice happy king , whom wisedome swayes , Where neuer poore laments , or soules complaines , Where follie neuer keepes discretions wayes : That land , that king doth flourish , liue and ioy , Farre from ill fortunes reach , or sins annoy . That land is happy , that king fortunate , She in her dayes , he in his wisedomes force , For fortitude is wisedomes sociate : And wisedome truest fortitudes remorce : Be therefore rulde by wisedome , she is chiefe , That you may rule in ioy , and not in griefe .

Chapter VII . verse 1 WHat am I ? man , oh what is man ? oh nought , What am I ? nought , yes , what ? sin & debate , Three vices all in one , of one life bought , Man am I not , what then ? I am mans hate : Yes man I am , man , because mortall , dead , Mortalitie my guide , by mischiefe led . Man , because like to man , man , because borne , In birth no man , a child , child , because weake , Weake , because weakned by ill fortunes scorne , Scorn'd , because mortall , mortall , in wrongs reake : My father like my selfe did liue on earth , I like my selfe , and him , folow his birth . verse 2 My mothers matrice was my bodies maker , There had I this same shape of infamies , Shape , ah no shape , but substance mischiefes taker , In ten months fashion ; months , ah miseries , The shame of shape , the very shape of shame , Calamitie my selfe lament my name . I was conceiude with seede , deceiude with sin , Deceiude , because my seede was sins deceit , My seede deceit , because it closde me in , Hemd me about , for sins and mischiefes baite : The seede of man did bring me into blood , And now I bring my selfe , in what ? no good . verse 3 When I was borne , when I was , then I was , Borne ? when ? yet borne I was , but now I beare , Beare mine owne vices , which my ioyes surpasse , Beare mine owne burden full of mischiefes feare : When I was borne , I did not beare lament , But now vnborne , I beare what birth hath spent . When I was borne , my breath was borne to mee , The common aire which aires my bodies forme , Then fell I on the earth with feeble knee , Lamenting for my lifes ill fortunes storme : Making my selfe the index of my woe , Commencing what I could , ere I could goe . verse 4 5 Fed was I with lament as well as meat , My milke was sweet , but teares did make it sower , Meat and lament , milke and my teares I eat , As bitter herbs commixt with sweetest flower : Care was my swadling clothes as well as cloth , For I was swadled , and clothed in both . Why do I make my selfe more then I am ? Why say I , I am nourished with cares , When euery one is clothed with the same , Sith as I fare my selfe , another fares ? No King had any other birth then I , But waild his fortune with a watry eye . verse 6 Say what is mirth , an entrance vnto woe , Say what is woe , an entrance vnto mirth , That which begins with ioy doth not end so , These go by chaunge , because a changing birth : Our birth is as our death , both barren , bare , Our entrance waile , our going out with care . Naked we came , into the world as naked , Wee had nor wealth nor riches to possesse , Now differ we , which difference riches maked , Yet in the end we naked nerethelesse : As our beginning is , so is our end , Naked and poore , which needs no wealth to spend . verse 7 Thus weighing in the ballance of my minde , My state , all states , my birth , all births alike , My meditated passions could not finde , One freed thought which sorrow did not strike : But knowing euery ill is curde by praier , My minde besought the Lord my griefes allaier . Wherefore I prayde , my praier tooke effect , And my effect was good , my good was gaine , My gaine was sacred wisedomes bright aspect , And her aspect in my respect did raigne : Wisedome that heau'nly spirit of content , Was vnto me from heau'n by praier sent . verse 8 A present far more worthy then a crowne , Because the crowne of an eternall rest , A present far more worthie then a throne , Because the throne of heau'n , which makes vs blest : The crowne of blisse , the throne of God is shee , Compared vnto heau'n , not earth to thee . Her foot-stoole is thy face , her face thy shame , Thy shame her liuing praise , her praise thy scorne , Thy scorne her loue , her loue thy merits blame , Thy blame her worth , her worth thy being borne : Thy selfe art drosse to her comparison , Thy valour weake vnto her garison . verse 9 To liken gold vnto her radiant face , Were likening day to night , and night to day , The Kings high seat , to the low subiects place , And heau'ns translucent breast , to earthly way : For what is golde ? her scorne , her scorne ? her ire , Melting that drosse , with nought but angers fire . In her respect t is dust , in her aspects Earth , in respect of her t is little grauell , As dust , as earth , as grauell she reiects , The hope , the gaine , the sight , the price , the trauell : Siluer , because inferiour to the other Is clay , which two she in one looke doth smother . verse 10 Her sight I called health , her selfe my beautie , Health as my life , and beautie as my light , Each in performance of the others dutie , This curing griefe , this leading me aright : Two soueraigne eies , belonging to two places , This guides the soule , and this the body graces . The heart sicke soule , is cur'd by heart-strong health , The heart-strong health , is the soules brightest eye , The heart-sick body heal'd by beauties wealth , Two sunnie windolets of eithers skie , Whose beames cannot be clouded by reproach , Nor yet dismounted from so bright a coach . verse 11 What dowrie could I wish more then I haue ? What wealth , what honour , more then I possesse ? My soules request is mine , which I did craue , For sole redresse in soule , I haue redresse : The bodyly expences which I spend , Is lent by her , which my delight doth lend . Then I may call her author of my good , Sith good and goods are portions for my loue , I loue her well , who would not loue his food , His ioyes maintatiner , which all woes remoue ? I richest am , because I doe possesse her , I strongest am , in that none can oppresse her . verse 12 It made me glad to thinke that I was rich , More gladder for to thinke that I was strong , For lowest mindes do couet highest pitch , As highest braues proceed from lowest tongue : Her first arriuall first did make me glad , Yet ignorant at first , first made me sad . Ioyfull I was , because I sawe her power , Wofull I was , because I knew her not , Glad that her face was in mine eies lockt bower , Sad that my senses neuer drew her plot I knew not that she was discretions mother , Though I profest my selfe to be her brother . verse 13 Like a rash wooer feeding on the lookes , Disgesting beauty apparitions show , Viewing the painted out-side of the bookes , And inward workes little regardes to know : So I , feeding my fancies with her sight , Forgot to make inquirie of her might . Externall powers I knew , riches I had , Internall powers I scarcely had discerne , Vntamedly I learned to be glad , Faining I hated , veritie I learnd : I was not enuious , learned to forsake her . But I was louing , learned for to take her . verse 14 And had I not , my treasure had bin lost , My losse , my perills hazard had proclaimde , My perill had my lifes destruction tost , My lifes destruction at my soule had aimde : Great perills hazarded from one poore losse , As greatest filth doth come with smallest drosse . This righteous treasure whoso rightly vseth , Shall be an heire in heau'ns eternitie , All earthly fruites her heretage excuseth , All happinesse in her felicitie : The loue of God consists in her embracing , The gifts of knowledge in her wisedomes placing . verse 15 I speake as I am prompted by my mind , My soules chiefe agent , pleader of my cause , I speake these things , and what I speake I finde , By heau'ns iudgement , not mine owne applause : God he is iudge , I next , because I haue her , God he doth know , I next , because I craue her . Should I direct , and God subuert my tongue , I worthy were of an vnworthy name , Vnworthy of my right , not of my wrong . Vnworthy of my praise , not of my shame : But seeing God directs my tongue from missing , I rather looke for clapping than for hissing . verse 16 He is the prompter of my tongue and me , My tongue doth vtter what his tongue applies , He sets before my sight what I should see , He breathes into my heart his verities : He telles me what I thinke , or see , or heare , His tongue a part , my tongue a part doth beare . Our wordes he knowes , in telling of our hearts , Our hearts he knowes in telling of our words , All in his hands , words , wisedome , workes , and arts , And euery power which influence affords : He knowes what we will speake , what we will doe , And how our mindes and actions will goe . verse 17 18 The wisedome which I haue , is heauens gift , The knowledge which I haue , is Gods reward , Both presents my fore-warned sences lift , And of my preseruation had regard : This teaches me to know , this to be wise , Knowledge is wits , and wit is knowledge guise . Now know I , how the world was first created , How euery motion of the aire was framed , How man was made , the diuells pride abated , How times beginning , midst , and end was named : now know I time , times change , times date , times sho And when the seasons come , and when they goe . verse 19 20 I know the chaunging courses of the yeares , And the diuision of all differing climes , The situation of the stars and spheres , The flowing tides , and the flow-ebbing times : I know that euery yeare hath his foure courses , I know that euery course hath seuerall forces . I know that nature is in euery thing , Beasts furious , winds rough , men wicked are , whose thoghts their scurge , whose deeds their iugments sling , Whose words and works their perill , and their care , I know that euery plant hath difference , I know that euery roote hath influence . verse 21 True knowledge have I got in knowing truth , True wisedome purchased in wisest wit , A knowledge fitting age , wit fitting youth , Which makes me yong , though olde with gaine of it ; True knowledge haue I , and true wisedomes store , True hap , true hope , what wish , what wold I more ? Known things I needs must know , sith not vnknown , My care is knowledge , she doth heare for me , All secrets know I more because not showne , My wisedome secret is , and her I see ; Knowledge hath taught me how to heare knowne causes Wisedome hath taught me secrecies applauses . verse 22 23 Knowledge and wisedome knowne in wisest things , Is reasons mate , discretions centinell , More then a trine of ioyes , from vertues springs , More then one vnion , yet in vnion dwell , One for to guide the spring , sommer the other , One haruests nurse , the other winters mother . Foure mounts , and foure high mounters , all foure one , One holy vnion , one begotten life , One manifolde affection , yet alone , All one in peaces rest , all none in strife : Sure , stable , without care , hauing all power , Not hurtfull , doing good , ( as one all foure . ) This peacefull army of foure knitted soules , verse 24 Is marching vnto peaces endles warre , Their weapons are discretions written roules , Their quarrell , loue , and amitie their iarre : Wisedome director is , captaine , and guide , All other take their places , side by side . Wisedome deuides the conflict of her peace , Into foure squadrons , of foure mutuall loues , Each bent to war , and neuer meanes to cease , Her wings of shot her disputation moues : Shee warres vnseene , and pacifies vnseene , Shee is wars victory , yet peaces Queene . verse 25 Shee is the martiall trumpet of alarmes , And yet the quiet rest in peaces night , Shee guideth martiall troupes , she honours armes , Yet ioyns she fight with peace , and peace with fight : Shee is the breath of Gods and heauens power , Yet peaces nurse , in being peaces flower . A flowing in of that which ebbeth out , An ebbing out of that which floweth in , Presumption she doth hate , in being stout , Humilitie though poore her fauours win : Shee is the influence of heauens flow , No filth doth follow her , where ere shee goe . verse 26 Shee is that spring , which neuer hath an ebbe , That siluer-coloured brooke , which hath no mud , That loome , which weaues , and neuer cuts the webbe , That tree which growes , and neuer leaues to bud : Shee constant is , vnconstancie her foe , Shee doth not flow and ebbe , nor come and goe . Phoebus doth weepe , when watrie cloudes approach , Shee keeps her brightnes euerlastingly , Phoebe , when Phoebus shines forsakes nights coach , Hir day is night and day immortally : The vndefiled mirrour of renowne , The image of Gods power , her vertues crowne . verse 27 28 Discretion , knowledge , wit , and reasons skill , All foure are places in one only grace , They wisedome are , obedient to her will , All foure are one , one in all foures place : And wisedome being one , she can do all , Sith one hath foure , all subiect to one call . Her selfe remaining selfe , the world renewes , Renewing ages with perpetuall youth , Entring into the soules , which death pursues , Making them Gods friends , which were frends to truth . If wisedome doth not harbour in thy minde , God loues thee not , and that thy soule shall finde . For how canst thou be lead without thy light , verse 29 30 How can thy eyles soule direct her way , If wanting her , which guides thy steps aright , Thy steps from night into a path of day ? More beautifull then is the eye of heau'n , Guilding her selfe with her selfe-changing steau'n . The stars are twinckling handmaides to the moone , Both moone and stars , handmaids to wisdomes sunne , These shine at middest night , this at mid-noone , Each new begins their light , when each hath done : Pale-mantled night , followes red mantled day , Vice followes both , but to her owne decay .

Chapter VIII . verse 1 WHo is the Empresse of the worlds confine , The Monarchesle of the foure cornerd earth , The Princesse of the seas , life without fine , Commixer of delight with sorowes mirth : What soueraigne is shee which euer raignes , Which Queene-like gouerns al , yet none constrains ? Wisedome , ó flie my spirit with that word , Wisedome , ó lodge my spirit in that name , Fly soule vnto the mansion of her lord , Although thy wings be findged in her flame : Tell her my blacknes doth admire her beautie , I le marie her in loue , serue her in dutie . verse 2 If marry her ; God is my father God , Christ is my brother , Angells are my kin , The earth my dowrie , heauen my aboade , My rule the world , my life without my sin : Shee is the daughter of immortall Ioue , My wife in heart , in thought , in soule , in loue . Happy for euer hee that thought in hart , Happy for euer he that heart in thought , Happy the soule of both which beares both part , Happy that loue which thoght har● , soule , hath sought ; The name of loue is happiest , for I loue her , Soule , heart , and thoughts , loues agents are to proue her . verse 3 Ye parents that would haue your children rulde , Here may they be instructed , rulde and taught : Ye children that would haue your parents schoolde , Feeding their wanton thirst with follies draught ; See here the schoole of discipline erected , See here how yong and old are both corrected . Children , this is the Mistris of your blisse , Your schoolemistris reformer of your liues , Parents , you that do speake , thinke , do amisse , Here s she , which loues , and lifes direction giues : She teacheth that which God knowes to be true , She chuseth that , which God would chuse for you . verse 4 What is our birth ? poore , naked , needy , cold , What is our life ? poore as our birth hath beene : What is our age ? forlorne in being old : What is our end ? as our beginnings scene : Our birth , our life , our age , our end is poore , what birth , what life , what age , what end hath more Made rich it is with vanities vaine show , If wanting wisedome it is follies game , Or like a bended , or vnbended bow , Ill fortunes scoffe it is , good fortunes shame : If wisedome be the riches of thy minde , Then can thy fortune see , not seeing blinde . verse 5 6 Then if good fortune doth begin thy state , Ill fortune cannot end what she begins , Thy fate at first will still remaine thy fate , Thy conduct vnto ioyes , not vnto sins : If thou the bridegroome art , wisedome the bride , Ill fortune cannot swimme against thy tide . Thou marrying her , dost marry more than she , Thy portion is not faculties , but blisse , Thou needst not teaching , for she teacheth thee , Nor no reformer she thy mistris is , The lesson which she giues thee for thy learning , Is euery vertues loue , and sins deseruing . verse 7 Dost thou desire experience for to know ? Why how can she be lesse than what she is ? The growth of knowlege doth from wisdome grow ▪ The growth of wisedome is in knowing this : Wisedome can tell all things , what things are past , What done , what vndone , what are doing last . Nay more , what things are come , what are to come , Or words , or works , or shews , or actions , In her braines table-booke she hath the summe , And knowes darke sentences solutions : She knowes what signes and wonders will ensue , And when successe of seasons will be new . verse 8 Who would not be a bridegroome ? who not wed ? Who would not haue a bride so wise , so faire ? Who would not lie in such a peacefull bed ? Whose canopy is heau'n , whose shade the aire : How can it be that any of the skies Can there be missing , where heau'ns kingdom lies ? If care-sicke , I am comforted with ioy , If surfeting on ioy , she bids me care , Shee sayes that ouermuch will soone annoy , Too much of ioy , too much of sorrowes fare : She alwayes counsels me to keepe a meane , And not with ioy too fat , with griefe too leane . verse 9 Faine would the shrub growe by the highest tree , Faine would the mushrome kisse the cedars barke : Faine would the seely worme a sporting be , Faine would the sparrow imitate the larke : Though I a tender shrub , a mushrome be , Yet couet I the honour of a tree . And may I not ? may not the blossoms bud ? Doth not the little seed make eares of corne ? Doth not a sprig ( in time ) beare greatest wood ? Doth not yong eu'nings make an elder morne ? For wisedomes sake , I know , though be yong I shall haue praises from my elders tongue . verse 10 And as my growth doth rise , so shall my wit , And as my wit doth rise , so shall my growth , In wit I growe , both growths grow to be fit , Both fitting in one growth , be fittest both : Experience followes age , and nature youth , Some aged be in wit , though yong in ruth . The wisedome which I haue , springs from aboue , The wisedome from aboue , is that I haue , Her I adore , I reuerence , I loue , Shee 's my pure soule , lockt in my bodies graue : The iudgement which I vse , from her proceedes , Which makes me maruelld at in all my deedes . verse 11 Although mute silence tie my iudgements tongue , Sad secretarie of dumbe action , Yet shall they giue me place though I be yong , And stay my leisures satisfaction : Euen as a iudge which keeps his iudgements mute , When clients haue no answer of their sute . But if the closure of my mouth vnmeetes , And diues within the freedome of my words , They like petitioners tongues welcome greetes , And with attentiue eare heares my accords : But if my words into no limites goe , Their speech shall ebbe , mine in their ebbing flow . verse 12 And what of this vaine world , vaine hope vaine show Vaine glory seated in a shade of praise , Mortalities descent , and follies flow , The badge of vanity , the houre of daies , What glory is it for to be a King , When care is crowne , and crown is fortunes sling ? Wisedome is immortalities alline , And immortalitie is wisedomes gaine , By her the heauens lineage is mine , By her I immortalitie obtaine , The earth is made immortall in my name , The heau'ns are made immortall in my fame . verse 13 14 Two spatious orbes of two as spatious climes , Shall be the heritage which I possesse , My rule in heau'n , directing earthly times , My raigne in earth , commencing earths redresse , One king made two , one crowne a double crowne , One rule two rules , one fame a twice renowne . What heauen is this , which euery thought containes , Wisedome my heau'n , my heau'n is wisedoms heau'n , What earth is this , wherein my bodie raines ? Wisedome my earth , all rule from wisedome giu'n : Through her I rule , through her I do subdue , Through hir I raigne , through hir my empire grew . verse 15 A rule , not tyrannie , a raigne , not blood , An empire , not a slaughter house of liues , A crowne , not crueltie in furies moode , A Scepter which restores , and not depriues : All made to make a peace and not a warre , By wisedome concords Queene , and discords barre . The coldest worde oft cooles the hottest threat , The tyrants menaces , the calmes of peace , Two coldes augmenteth one , two heates one heat , And makes both too extreame , when both encrease : My peacefull raigne shall conquer tyrants force , Not armes , but wordes , not battaile , but remorce , verse 16 Yet mightie shall I be though warre in peace , Strong though abilitie hath left his clime , And good , because my warres and battails cease , Or at the least lie smothered in their prime : The sence once digged vp with feares amaze , Doth rage vntam'd with follies senceles gaze . If wisedome doth not harbour in delight , It breakes the outward passage of the minde , Therfore I place my war in wisedomes might , Whose heauie labours easie harbours finde : Her company is pleasure , mirth , and ioy , Not bitternes , not mourning , not annoy , When euery thought was ballanced by weight verse 17 18 Within the concaue of my bodies scale , My heart and soule did holde the ballance streight , To see what thoght was ioy , what thoght was waile : But when I saw that griefe did weigh down plesure , I put in wisedome to augment her treasure . Wisedome the weight of immortallitie , Wisedome the ballance of all happinesse , Wisedome the weigher of felicitie , Wisedome the Paragon of blessednesse : When in her hands there lies such plenties store , Needs must her heart haue twice asmuch and more . Her hart haue I conioyned with hir hand , verse 19 20 Her hand hath she conioyned with my hart , Two soules , one soule , two hearts , one bodyes band , And two hands made of foure , by amours art : Was I not wise in chusing earthly life ? Nay wise , thrice wise , in chusing such a wife ? Was I not good ? good ; then the sooner bad , Bad , because earth is full of wickednes , Because my body is with vices clad , Anotomy of my sins heauines : As doth vnseemely clothes make the skin foule , So the sin-inked body blots the soule . verse 21 Thus lay my hart plung'd in destructions mire , Thus lay my soule bespotted with my sin , Thus lay my selfe consum'd in my desire , Thus lay all parts ensnared in one gin : At last my hart mounting aboue the mud , Lay betweene hope and death , mischiefe , and good . Thus panting ignorant to liue or die , To rise or fall , to stand or else to sinke , I cast a fainting looke vnto the skie , And s●we the thought , which my poore hart did think Wisdome my thought at whose seene sight I prai'd , And with my hart , my minde , my soule , I said .

Chapter IX . verse 1 2 3 O God of Fathers , Lord of heau'n and earth , Mercies true soueraigne , pitties portraiture , King of all kings , a birth surpassing birth , A life immortall , essence euer pure : Which with a breath ascending from thy thought , Hast made the heau'ns of earth , the earth of nought . Thou which hast made mortalitie for man , Beginning life to make an end of woe , Ending in him , what in himselfe began , His earths dominion , through thy wisedomes flow : Made for to rule according to desart , And execute reuenge with vpright heart . verse 4 Behold a crowne , but yet a crowne of care , Behold a scepter , yet a sorrowes guise , More than the ballance of my head can beare , More than my hands can hold wherein it lies : My crowne doth want supportance for to beare , My scepter wanteth empire for to weare . A leglesse body is my kingdomes mappe , Limping in follie , halting in distresse , Giue me thy wisedome ( Lord ) my better happe , Which may my follie cure , my griefe redresse : O let me not fall in Obliuions caue , Let wisedome be my baile , for her I craue . verse 5 Behold thy seruant pleading for his hire , As an apprentice to thy gospels word , Behold his poore estate , his hot-cold fire , His weake-strong limmes , his mery woes record : Borne of a woman , woman-like in woe , They weake , they feeble are , and I am so . My time of life is as an houre of day , T is as a day of months , a month of yeeres , It neuer comes againe , but fades away , As one mornes sunne about the hemispheres : Little my memory , lesser my time , But least of all my vnderstandings prime . verse 6 Say that my memory should neuer die , Say that my time should neuer loose a glide , Say that my selfe had earthly Maiestie , Seated in all the glory of my pride : Yet if discretion did not rule my minde , My raigne would be like fortunes , follie-blinde . My memory , a pathway to my shame , My time , the looking-glasse of my disgrace , My selfe , resemblance of my scorned name , My pride , the puffed shadow of my face : Thus should I be remembred , not regarded , Thus should my labours end , but not rewarded . verse 7 What were it to be shadow of a king ? A vanitie : to weare a shadow'd crowne ? A vanitie : to loue an outward thing ? A vanitie : vaine shadowes of renowne : This King is king of shades , because a shade , A king in shew , though not in action made . His shape haue I , his cognisance I weare , A smoaky vapour hemd with vanitie , Himselfe I am , his kingdomes crowne I beare , Vnlesse that wisedome change my liuerie : A king I am , God hath inflamed me , And lesser than I am I can not be . verse 8 When I commaund , the people do obay , Submissiue subiects to my votiue wil , A prince I am , and do what princes may , Decre● , commaund , rule , iudge , performe , fulfill ; Yet I my selfe am subiect vnto God , As are all others to my iudgements rod . As doe my subiect honour my command , So I at his commaund a subiect am , I build a temple on mount Sions sand , Erect an altar in thy citties name : Resemblances these are , where thou doost dwell , Made when thou framedst heau'n , earth and hell . verse 9 Al these three casements were containd in wit , T was wisedome for to frame the heauens skie , T was wisedome for to make the earth so fit , And hell within the lowest orbe to lie : To make a heau'nly clime , an earthly course , And hell , although the name of it be worse . Before the world was made wisedome was borne , Borne of heau'ns God , conceiued in his breast , Which knew what works would be , what ages worn , What labours life should haue , what quiet rest : What shuld displease and please , in vice , in good , What should be clearest spring , what fowlest mud . verse 10 Oh make my sinfull bodies world anew , Erect new elements , new aires , new skies , The time I haue is fraile , the course vntrue , The globe vnconstant , like ill fortunes eies : First make the world , which doth my soule contain , And next my wisdome , in whose power I raigne . Illumine earth , with wisedomes heau'nly sight , Make her embassador to grace the earth , Oh let her rest by day , and lodge by night , Within the closure of my bodies hearth : That in her sacred selfe I may perceiue , What things are good to take , what ill to leaue . verse 11 The bodies heate will flow into the face , The outward index of an outward deede , The inward sins do keepe an inward place , Eies , face , mouth , tongue & euery function feede : She is my face , if I do any ill , I see my shame in her repugnant will . She is my glasse , my tipe , my forme , my mappe , The figure of my deede , shape of my thought , My lifes character , fortune to my happe , Which vnderstandeth all that heart hath wrought : What workes I take in hand , she finisheth , And all my vitious thoughts diminisheth . My facts are written in her foreheads booke , verse 12 The volume of my thoughts , lines of my words , The sins I haue she murders with a looke , And what one cheeke denies , th' other affords : As white and red like battels , and retreates , One doth defend the blowes , the other beates . So is her furious moode commixt with smile , Her rod is profit , her correction mirth : She makes me keepe an acceptable stile , And gouerne euery limit of the earth : Through her the state of monarchie is knowne , Through her I rule , and guide my fathers throne . verse 13 Mortalitie it selfe without repaire , Is euer falling feebly on the ground , Submissiue body , hart aboue the aire , Which faine would knowe , when knowledge is not found : Faine would it soare aboue the Eagles eie , Though it be made of lead , and cannot flie . The soule and body are the wings of man , The soule should mount , but that lies drownd in sin , With leaden spirit , but doth what it can , Yet scarcely can it rise when it is in : Then how can man so weake , know God so strong ? What hart from thought , what thought from heart hath sprung ? verse 14 15 We thinke that euery iudgement is alike , That euery purpose hath one finall end , Our thoughts ( alas ) are feares , feares horrors strike , Horrors our lifes vncertaine course do spend : Feare followes negligence , both death , and hel , Vnconstant are the paths wherein we dwell . The hollow concaue of our bodies vaultes , Once laden vp with sins eternal graues , Strait bursts into the soule the slime of faults , And ouerfloweth like a sea of waues : The earth as neighbour to our priuy thought , keeps fast the mansion which our cares haue bought verse 16 Say , can wee see our selues ? are we so wise ? Or , can we iudge our owne with our owne hearts ? Alas we cannot ; folly blindes our eies , Mischiefe our mindes , with her mischieuous arts : Folly raigns there , where wisdom shuld beare sway . And follies mischiefe barres discretions way . O weake capacitie of strongest wit , O strong capacitie of weaker sence , To guide , to meditate , vnapt , vnfit , Blinde in perceiuing earths circumfluence : If labour doth consist in mortall skill , T is g●eater labour to know heauens will . verse 17 The toyling spirit of a labouring man , Is tosst in casualties of fortunes seas , He thinkes it greater labour than he can , To runne his mortall course without an ease : Then who can gaine or finde celestiall things , Vnlesse their hopes a greater labour brings ? What volume of thy mind can then containe , thoghts , words , & works , which god thinks , speaks , & makes , When heau'n it selfe cannot such honour gaine , Nor Angells know the counsell which God takes : Yet if thy heart be wisedomes mansion , Thy soule shall gaine thy hearts made mention . verse 18 Who can in one dayes space make two dayes toile ? Or who in two dayes space will spend but one ? The one doth keepe his meane in ouerbroyle , The other vnder meane , because alone : Say , what is man without his spirit swayes him ? Say , what 's the spirit if the man decayes him ? An ill reformed breath , a life , a hell , A going out worse than a comming in , For wisedome is the bodies centinell , Set to guard life which else would-fall in sin : Shee doth correct and loue , swayes , and preserues , Teaches , and fauours , rules , and yet obserues .

Chapter X. verse 1 COrrection followes loue , loue followes hate , For loue in hate , is hate in too much loue , So chastisment is preseruations mate , Instructing and preseruing those we prooue : So wisedome first corrects , then fauoureth , But fortune fauours first , then wauereth . First , the first father of this earthly world , First man , first father cal'd for after time , Vnfashioned and like a heape was hurl'd ; Form'd and reform'd , by wisedome out of slime , By nature ill reform'd , by wisedome purer , Shee mortall life , she better lifes procurer . verse 2 3 Alas what was he ? but a clod of clay , What euer was he ? but an ash●e caske , By wisedome clothed in his best array , If better may bee best , to choose a taske : One gaue him time to liue , she power to raigne , Making two powers one , one power twaine . But ó maligne ill boading wickednes , Like bursting gulfes orewhelming ve●tues seed , Too furious wrath forsaking happines , Loosing ten thousand ioyes , with one dire deede : Cain could see , but follie strucke him blinde , To kill his brother in a raging minde . verse 4 Oh too vnhappy stroke to end two liues , Vnhappy actor in deaths tragedy , Murdring a brother , whose name murder giues , Whose staying action , slaughters butcherie : A weeping part had earth in that same play , For she did weepe herselfe to death that day . Water distill'd from millions of her eyes , Vpon the long dride carcasse of her time , Her watrie conduites were the weeping skies , Which made her wombe an ouerflowing clime : Wisedome preseru'd it , which preserues all good , And taught it how to make an arke of wood . verse 5 Oh that one borde should saue so many liues , Vpon the worlds huge billow-tossing sea , T was not the borde , t was wisedome which suruiues , Wisedome that arke , that boord , that fence , that bay : The world was made a water-rowling waue , But wisedome better hopes assurance gaue . And when pale malice did aduance her flagge , Vpon the raging standard of despight , Fiends soueraigne , sins mistr●s , and hells hagge , Dunne Plutoes Lady , empresse of the night : Wisedome from whom immortall ioy begun , Preseru'd the righteous , as her faultlesse sonne . verse 6 The wicked perished , but they suruiu'd , The wicked were ensnar'd , they were preseru'd , One kept in ioy , the one of ioy depriu'd , One feeding , fed , the other feeding , steru'd , The foode which wisedome giues , is nourishment , The foode which malice giues , is languishment . One feeds ; the other feeds , but choking feedes , Two contraries in meat , two differing meats , This brings forth hate , and this repentance seeds : This war , this peace , this battails , this retreats : And that example may be truely tride , These liu'd in Sodomes fire , the other dide . verse 7 The land will beare me witnes they are dead , Which for their sakes beare nothing else but death , The witnes of it selfe with vices fed , A smoaky testimony of sins breath : This is my witnes , my certificate , And this is my sinne weeping sociate . My pen will scarce holde inke to write these woes , These woes , the blotted inkie lines of sin , My paper wrincles at my sorrowes showes , And like that land will bring no haruest in : Had Lots vnfaithfull wife beene without fault , My fresh-inkt pen had neuer calld her salt . verse 8 But now my quill the tel-tale of all moanes , Is sauory bent to aggrauate salt teares , And wets my paper with salt-water groanes , Making me stick in agonising feares : My paper now is growne to billowes might , Sometimes I stay my pen , sometimes I write . O foolish pilate I , blind-harted guide , Can I not see the clifts , but rent my barke , Must I needs hoist vp sailes gainst winde and tide , And leaue my soule behinde my wisedomes arke , Well may I be the glasse of my disgrace , And set my sin in other sinners place . verse 9 10 But why despaire I ? heere comes wisedomes grace , Whose hope doth lead me vnto better hap , Whose presence doth direct my fore-run race , Because I serue her as my beauties map : L●ke Cain I shall be restored to heau'n , From shipwracks perill to a quiet hau'n . When that by Cains hand Abel was slaine , His brother Abel , brother to his ire , Then Cain fled , to fly destructions paine , Gods heauie wrath , against his blouds desire : But being fetcht againe by wisedomes power , Had pardon for his deed , loue for his lower . verse 11 By his repentance he remission had , And relaxation from the clogge of sin , His painefull labour , labours riches made , His labouring paine , did plesures profit win : T was wisedome , wisedome made him to repent , And newly plac'd him in his olde content . His body which was once destructions caue , Blacke murders teritorie , mischiefes house , By her , these wicked fins were made his slaue , And she become his bride , his wife , his spouse : Enriching him which was too rich before , Too rich in vice , in happynes too poore . Maegera which did rule within his breast , verse 12 And kept foule Lernas fen within his minde , Both now displease him , which once pleasde him best , Now murdring murder with his being kinde : These which were once his frends are now his foes , Whose practise he retorts with wisedomes blowes . Yee still lie they in ambush for his soule , But he more wiser keepes a wiser way , They see him ; and they barke , snarle , grin , and houle , But wisedome guides his steps he cannot stray : By whom he conquers , and throgh whom he knows The feare of God is stronger then his foes . verse 13 14 When man was clad in vices liuery , And solde as bondman vnto sins commaund , Shee shee , forsooke him not for infamie , But free'd him from his harts imprisoned band : And when he lay in dungeon of despight , Shee interlinde his griefe with her delight . Though seruile shee with him ; shee was content , The prison was her lodge , as wel as his , Till she the scepter of the world had lent , To glad his fortune , to augment his blisse , To punish false accusers of true deeds , And raise in him immortall glories seeds . verse 15 Say , shall wee call her wisedome by her name , Or new inuent a nominating stile , Reciting ancient worth to make new fame , Or new-old hierarchie from honours file : Say , shall file out fame for vertues store , And giue a name not thought , nor heard before ▪ Then should wee make her two , where now but one , Then should we make her common to each tongue , Wisedome shall be her name , she wise alone , If alter olde for new , we do olde wrong , Call her still wisedome , mistris of our soules , Our liues deliuerer from our foes controules . verse 16 To make that better which is best of all , Were to disarme the title of the power , And thinke to make a raise , and make a fall , Turne best to worst , a day vnto an houre , To giue two sundry names vnto one thing , Makes it more commoner in Ecchoes sling . She guides mans soule , let her be calld a Queene , Shee enters into man , call hir a sprite , Shee makes them godly , which haue neuer beene Call her her selfe , the image of her might : Those which for vertue plead , she prompts their tong , Whose sute no tyrant , nor no King can wrong . verse 17 Shee stands as barre betweene their mouth and them , She prompts their thoghts , their thoghts prompts speeches sound Their tongues reward is honours diadem , Their labours hire with duest merit crown'd : Shee is as iudge and witnes of each heart , Condemning falshood , taking vertues part . A shadow in the day , star in the night , A shadow for to shade them from the sunne , A star in darkenes for to giue them light , A shade in day , a star when day is done : Keeping both courses true , in being true , A shade , a starre , to shade and lighten you . verse 18 19 And had she not , the sunnes hot burning fire , Had scorcht the inward pallace of your powers , Your hot affection coolde your hot desire , Two heats once met make coole distilling , showers , So likewise had not wisedome beene your star , You had beene prisoner vnto Phoebes car . Shee made the red-sea subiect to your craues , The surges , calmes , the billowes , smoothest wayes , Shee made rough winds sleepe silent in their caues , And Aeole watch , whom all the winds obayes : Their foes pursuing them , with death and doome , Did make the sea their church , the waues their tome verse 20 21 They furrowed vp a graue to lie therin , Burying themselues with their owne handie deed , Sin dig'd a pit it selfe to bury sin , Seed plowed vp the ground , to scatter seed : The righteous , seeing this same sodaine fall , Did praise the Lord , and ceas'd vpon them all . A glorious prise , though from inglorious hands , A worthy spoile , though from vnworthy hearts , Tosst with the Oceans rage vppon the sands , Victorious gaine , gained by wisedomes arts : Which makes the dumbe to speak , the blind to see , The deafe to heare , the babes haue grauitie .

Chapter XI . verse 1 2 3 WHat he could haue a hart , what hart a thought what thoght a tong , what tong a shew of fear Hauing his ship balanste with such a fraught Which calms the euer-weeping oceans tears : Which prospers euery enterprise of warre , And leades their fortune by good fortunes starre . A Pilate on the seas , guide on the land , Through vncouth desolate vntroden way , Through wildernes of woe , which in woes stand , Pitching their tents where desolation lay : In iust reuenge incountring with their foes , Annexing wrath to wrath , and blowes to blowes . verse 4 But when the heate of ouermuch alarmes , Had made their bodies subiect vnto thurst , And broyld their hearts , in wraths-allaying harmes , With fiery surges which from body burst : That time had made the totall summe of life , Had not affection stroue to end the strife . Wisedome affectionating power of zeale , Did coole the passion of tormenting heate , With water from a rocke which did reueale , Her deare deare loue , placde in affections seate : She was their mother twice , she nurst them twice , Mingling their heat with cold , their fire with ice : verse 5 From whence receiude they life , from a dead stone ? From whence receiude they speach , from a mute rock ? As if all pleasure did proceed from mone , Or all discretion from a senslesse blocke : For what was each but silent , dead , and mute ? As if a thorny thistle should beare fruit . T is strange how that should cure , which erst did kill , Giue life , in whome destruction is enshrinde , Alas the stone is dead , and hath no skil , Wisedome gaue life and loue , t was wisedomes minde : Shee made the store , which poysoned her foes , Giue life , giue cure , giue remedy to those . verse 6 7 Blood-quaffing Mars , which washt himselfe in gore , Raignde in her foes thirst-slaughter-drinking hearts , Their heads the bloody store-house of bloods store , Their minds made bloody streames disburst in parts : What was it else but butchery and hate ? To przie yong infants bloud at murders rate : But let them surffet on their bloody cup , Carowsing to their owne destructions health , We drinke the siluer-streamed water vp , Which vnexpected flow'd from wisedomes wealth : Declaring by the thirst of our dry soules , How all our foes did swimme in murders boules . verse 8 What greater ill than famine ? or what ill Can be compared to the fire of thirst ? One be as both , for both the body kill , And first brings torments in tormenting first : Famine is death it selfe , and thirst no lesse , If bread and water doe not yeelde redresse . Yet this affliction is but vertues triall , Proceeding from the mercy of Gods ire , To see if it can finde his truths deniall , His iudgements breach , attempts contempts desire : But oh , the wicked sleeping in misdeede , Had death on whom they fed , on whom they feede . verse 9 Adiudgde , condemnd , and punisht in one breath , Arraignde , tormented , torturde in one lawe , Adiudgde like captiues with destructions wreathe , Arraignde like theeues before the barre of awe : Condemnd , tormented , torturde , punished , Like captiues bold , theeues vnastonished . Say God did suffer famine for to raigne , And thirst to rule amongst the choisest hart , Yet father-like he easde them of their paine , And proou'd them , how they could endure a smart : But as a righteous King condemnd the others , As wicked sonnes vnto as wicked mothers . verse 10 For where the diuel raignes , there sure is hell , Because the tabernacle of his name , His mansion-house , the place where he doth dwell , The cole-blacke visage of his nigrum fame : So if the wicked liue vpon the earth , Earth is their hell , from good to worser birth . If present , they are present to their teares , If absent , they are present to their woes , Like as the snaile which shewes all that she beares , Making her backe the mountaine of her shoes : Present to their death , not absent to their care , Their punishment alike where ere they are . verse 11 Why say they mournd , lamented , greeude , and wailde , And fed lament with care , care with lament ? Say , how can sorrow be with sorrow bailde , When teares consumeth that which smiles hath lent ? This makes a double prison , double chaine , A double mourning , and a double paine . Captiuitie hoping for freedomes hap , At length doth pay the ransome of her hope , Yet frees her thought from any clogging clap , Though backe be almost burst with yrons cope : So they indurde the more , because they knew , That neuer till the spring the flowers grew . verse 12 And that by patience commeth hearts delight , Long-sought for blisse , Long far fet happines , Content they were to die for vertues right , Sith ioy should be the pledge of heauines : When vnexpected things were brought to passe , They were amazde and wondred where God was . Hee whom they did denie now they extoll , Hee Whom they do extoll , they did denie , Hee whom they did deride , they doe enroll , In register of heau'nly maiestie : Their thirst was euer thirst , repentance stopt it , Their life was euer dead , repentance propt it . And had it not their thirst had burnd their harts , verse 13 Their harts had cri'd out for their tongues replie , Their tongues had raised all their bodies parts , Their bodyes once in armes had made all die : Their foolish practises had made them wise , Wise in their hearts , though foolish in their eyes . But they ( alas ) were dead to worshippe death , Sencelesse in worshiping all shadowed showes , Breathlesse wasting of so vaine a breath , Dumbe in performance of their tongues suppose : They in adoring death , in deaths behest , Were punished with life , and liuing beastes . verse 14 15 Thus for a shew of beasts , they substance haue , The thing it selfe against the shadowes will , Which makes the shadowes , sad woes in lifes graue , As nought impossible in heauens skill ; God sent sad-ohes , for shadowes of lament , Lions , and beares , in multitudes he sent . Newly created beasts ; which sight ne'er sawe , Vnknowne , which neither eye nor eare did know , To breathe out blasts of fire against their law , And cast out smoake with a tempestuous blow : Making their eyes the chambers of their feares , Darting forth fire as lightning from the spheares . verse 16 Thus marching one by one , and side by side , By the prophane ill-limnd , pale spectacles , Making both fire and feare to be their guide , Pulld downe their vaine-adoring chronicles : Then staring in their faces spit forth fire , Which heats , and cools , their frosty-hot desire . Frosty in feare , vnfrosty in their shame , Coole in lament , hot in their powers disgraces , Like luke-warme coales , halfe kindled with the flame , Sate white and red mustring within their faces : The beasts them selues did not so much dismay them , As did their vgly eyes aspects decay them . verse 17 Yet what are beasts , but subiects vnto man , By the decree of heau'n , degree of earth ? They haue more strength then he , yet more he can , Hee hauing reasons store , they reasons dearth , But these were made to breake subiections rod : And show the stubernnesse of man to God . Had they not beene ordain'd to such intent , Gods word was able to supplant their powers , And root out them which were to mischiefe bent , With wrath & vengeance , minutes in deaths houres : But God doth keepe a full-direct-true course , And measures pitties loue , with mercies force . verse 18 19 The wicked thinkes , God hath no might at all , Because he makes no shew of what he is , When God is loth to giue their pride a fall , Or cloud the day wherein they do amisse ; But should his strength be showne his anger rise , Who could withstand the sunne-caues of his eyes . Alas , what is the world against his ire ? As snowie mountaines gainst the golden sunne , For'st for to melt , and thawe with frosty fire , Fire hid in frost , though frost of colde begunne : As dew-distilling drops fall from the morne , So nw-destructions claps fall from his scorne . verse 20 But his reuenge lies smother'd in his smiles , His wrath lies sleeping in his mercies ioy , Which very seldome rise at mischiefes coyles , And will not wake for euery sinners toy : Boundlesse his mercies are , like heauens grounds , They haue no limittes they , nor heau'n no bounds . The promontary top of his true loue , Is like the end of neuer-ending streames , Like Nilus water-springs which inward moue , And haue no outward shew of shadowes beames : God sees , and will not see , the sinnes of men , Because they should amend , amend ? oh when ? verse 21 The mother loues the issues of her wombe , As doth the father his begotten sonne , Shee makes her lap their quiet sleeping tombe , Hee seekes to care for life which new begun : What care hath he ( think then ) that cares for all , For aged , and for yong , for great and small ? Is not that father carefull , filld with care , Louing , long suffering , mercifull , and kinde ; Which made with loue all things that in loue are , Vnmercifull to none , to none vnkinde , Had man beene hatefull , man had neuer beene , But perisht in the spring-time of his greene . verse 22 23 But how can hate abide where loue remaines ? Or how can anger follow mercies path ? How can vnkindenesse hinder kindnesse gaines ? Or how can murder bathe in pitties bath ? Loue , mercy , kindenesse , pitty , eithers mate , Doth scorne vnkindenesse , anger , murder , hate . Had it not beene thy will to make the earth , It still had beene a Chaos vnto time , But t was thy will that man should haue a birth , And be preserude by good , condemnd by crime : Yet pitty raignes within thy mercies store , Thou spar'st & lou'st vs all , what would we more ?

Chapter XII . verse 1 2 WHen all the elements of mortall life , Were placed in the mansion of their skin , Each hauing dayly motion to be rife , Closde in that body which doth close them in , God sent his holy spirit vnto man , Which did begun when first the world began . So that the body which was king of al , Is subiect vnto that which now is king , Which chastneth those whom mischiefe doth exhale , Vnto misdeeds from whence destructions spring : Yet mercifull it is though it be chiefe , Conuerting vice to good , sin to beliefe . verse 3 Old time is often lost in being balld , Balld because old , old because liuing long , It is reiected oft when it is calld , And weares out age with age , still being yong : Twice children we , twice feeble , and once strong , But being old , we sin , and do youth wrong . The more we grow in age , the more in vice , A house-roome long vnswept wil gather dust , Our long vnthawed soules wil freeze to ice , And weare the badge of long imprisoned rust : So those inhabitants in youth twice borne , Were old in sin , more olde in heauens scorne . verse 4 5 Committing workes as inckie spots of fame , Commencing wordes like foaming vices waues , Committing and commencing mischiefes name , With workes and words sworne to be vices slaues : As sorcery , witchcraft , mischieuous deeds , And sacrifice which wicked fancies feeds . Well may I call that wicked which is more , I rather would be lowe than be too hie , Oh wondrous practisers clothde all in gore , To end that life , which their owne liues did buy : More than swine-like eating mans bowelles vp , Their banquets dish , their blood their banquets cup. verse 6 7 Butchers vnnaturall , worse by their trade , Whose house the bloody shambles of decay , More than a slaughter-house which butchers made , More than an Eschip seely bodies pray : Thorow whose hearts a bloody shambles runnes , They do not butcher beasts , but their owne sonnes . Chief murdrers of their soules , which their souls boght Extinguishers of light which their liues gaue , More than kniue-butchers they , butchers in thought , Sextons to digge their owne begotten graue : Making their habitations old in sinne , Which God doth reconcile and new beginne . verse 8 9 That murdring place was turnd into delight , That bloody slaughter-house to peaces breast , That lawlesse pallace , to a place of right , That slaughtring shambles to a liuing rest : Made meete for iustice , fit for happinesse , Vnmeete for sin , vnfit for wickednesse . Yet the inhabitants , though mischiefes slaues , Were not dead-drencht in their destructions flood , God hop'd to raise repentance from sins graues , And hop'd that paines delay would make them good : Not that he was vnable to subdue them , But that their sins repentance should renue them . verse 10 Delay is tooke for vertue and for vice , Delay is good , and yet delay is bad , T is vertue when it thawes repentance ice , T is vice to put off things we haue or had : But here it followeth repentance way , Therefore it is not sins nor mischiefes pray . Delay in punishment is double paine , And euery paine makes a twice double thought , Doubling the way to our liues better gaine , Doubling repentance which is single bought : For fruitles grafts when they are too much lopt , More fruitlesse are , for why their fruits are stopt . verse 11 So fares it with the wicked plants of sin , The rootes of mischiefe , toppes of villany , They worser are with too much punishing , Because by nature prone to iniury : For t is but folly to supplant his thought , Whose heart is wholy giuen to be nought . These seeded were in seede ; oh cursed plant , Seeded with other seede , Oh cursed roote , Too much of good doth turne vnto goods want , As too much seede doth turne to too much soote : Bitter in taste , presuming of their height , Like misty vapours in blacke-coloured night . But god whose powerful arms one strength doth hold verse 12 Scorning to staine his force vpon their faces , Will send his messengers both hote and colde , To make them shadowes of their owne disgraces : His hot Ambassador is fire , his cold Is winde , which two scorne for to be controld . For who dares say vnto the King of kings , What hast thou done , which ought to be vndone ? Or who dares stand against thy iudgements stings ? Or dare accuse thee for the nations mone ? Or who dare say , reuenge this ill for me ? Or stand against the Lord with villanie ? verse 13 What he hath done he knowes , what he will doe , He weigheth with the ballance of his eies , What iudgement he pronounceth must be so , And those he oppresseth cannot rise : Reuenge lies in his hands , when he doth please , He can reuenge , and loue , punish , and ease . The carued spectacle which workemen make , Is subiect vnto them , not they to it , They which from God a liuely forme do take , Should much more yeeld vnto their makers wit : Sith there is none but he which hath his thought , Caring for that which he hath made of nought . verse 14 The clay is subiect to the potters hands , Which with a new deuice makes a new moule , And what are we I pray but clayie bands , With ashie body , ioynde to cleaner soule ? Yet we once made , scorne to be made againe , But liue in sin like clayie lumps of paine . Yet if hot anger smother coole delight , Hee 'le mould our bodies in destructions forme , And make our selues as subiects to his might , In the least fewell of his angers storme : Nor king , nor tyrant , dare aske or demaund , What punishment is this thou hast in hand ? verse 15 We all are captiues to thy regall throne , Out prison is the earth , our bands our sins , And our accuser our owne bodies grone , Prest downe with vices weights , and mischiefs gins : Before the barre of heau'n we pleade for fauour , To cleanse our sin-bespotted bodies sauour . Thou righteous art , our pleading then is right , Thou mercifull , we hope for mercies grace , Thou ordrest euery thing with looke-on sight ; Behold vs prisoners in earths wandring race : We know thy pitty is without a bound , And sparest them which in some faults be found . verse 16 Thy power is as thy selfe , without an end , Beginning all to end , yet ending none , Sonne vnto vertues sonne , and wisedomes frend , Originall of blisse to vertue showne : Beginning good which neuer ends in vice , Beginning flames which neuer ende in ice . For righteousnes is good in such a name , It righteous is , t is good in such a deed , A lamp it is , fed with discretions flame , Begins in seede , but neuer ends in seed : By this we know the Lord is iust and wise , Which causeth him to spare vs when he tries . verse 17 Iust , because iustice weighs what wisedome thinkes , Wise , because wisedome thinkes what iustice weighs , One vertue maketh two , and two more linckes , Wisedome is iust , and iustice neuer straies : The help of one doth make the other better , As is the want of one the others letter . But wisedome hath two properties in wit , As iustice hath two contraries in force , Heate added vnto heate augmenteth it , As too much water bursts a water-course : Gods wisdome too much proou'd doth breed gods hate , Gods iustice too much mou'de breeds Gods debate . verse 18 Although the ashy prison of fire-durst , Doth keepe the flaming heate imprisoned in , Yet sometime wil it burne , when flame it must , And burst the ashie caue where it hath bin : So if Gods mercy passe the bounds of mirth , It is not mercy then , but mercies dearth . Yet how can loue breed hate , without hates loue ? God doth not hate to loue , nor loue to hate , His equitie doth euery action proue , Smothring with loue that spitefull enuies fate : For should the teene of anger trace his brow , The very puffes of rage would driue the plow . verse 19 But God did end his toile when world begun , Now like a louer studies how to please , And win their harts againe , whom mischiefe won , Lodg'd in the mansion of their sins disease : Hee made each mortall man two eares , two eyes , To heare and see ; yet he must make them wise . If imitation should direct mans life , T is life to imitate a liuing corse , The things example makes the thing more rife , God louing is , why do wee want remorce ? Hee put repentance into sinfull hearts , And sed their fruitlesse soules , with fruitfull arts . verse 20 21 If such a boundlesse Ocean of good deeds , Should haue such influence from mercies streame , Kissing both good , and ill , flowers , and weedes , As doth the sunnie flame of Tytans beame , A greater Tethis then should mercy bee , In flowing vnto them which loueth thee . The sunne which shines in heau'n doth light the earth The earth which shines in sin doth spight the haau'n , Sinne is earths sunne , the sunne of heau'n sins dearth , Both odde in light , being of height note eu'n : Gods mercy then which spares both good and ill , Doth care for both , though not alike in will . verse 22 Can vice be vertues mate , or vertues meate ? Her company is bad , her foode more worse , Shee shames to sit vpon her betters seat , As subiect beasts wanting the Lions force , Mercy is vertues badge , foe to disdaine , Vertue is vices stop , and mercies gaine . Yet God is mercifull , to mischiefe flowes , More mercifull in sins and sinners want , God chast'neth vs , and punisheth our foes , Like sluggish drones , amongst a laboring ant: Wee hope for mercy at our bodies doome , Wee hope for heau'n , the baile of earthly tombe . verse 23 What hope they for , what hope haue they of heau'n ? They hope for vice , and they haue hope of hell , From whence their soules eternity is giu'n , But such eternity which paines can tell : They liue ; but better were it for to die , Immortall in their paine and misery . Hath hell such freedome to deuoure soules ? Are soules so bolde to rush in such a place ? God giues hell power of vice , which hell controules : Vice makes her followers bolde with armed face , God tortures both , the mistris and the man , And ends in paine , that which in vice began . verse 24 A bad beginning makes a worser end , Without repentance meet the middle way , Making a mediocrity their friend , Which else would be their foe , because they stray : But if repentance misse the middle line , The sunne of vertue endes in wests decline . So did it fare with these , which strai'd too far , Beyond the measure of the middayes eye , In errors waies , lead without vertues star , Esteeming beast-like powers for deitie : Whose heart no thought of vnderstanding ment , Whose tongue no word of vnderstanding sent . verse 25 Like infant babes bearing their natures shell , Vpon the tender heads of tendrer wit , which tongue-tide are , hauing no tale to tell , To driue away the childhood of their fit : Vnfit to tune their tongue with wisedomes string , Too fit to quench their thirst in follies spring . But they were trees to babes , babes sprigs to them , They not so good as these , in being nought , In being nought , the more from vices stem , Whose essence cannot come without a thought ; To punish them , is punishment in season ; They children like , without or wit , or reason . verse 26 To bee derided , is to be halfe dead , Derision beares a part tweene life and death , Shame followes her with misery halfe fed , Halfe-breathing life , to make halfe life and breath : Yet here was mercy showne , their deeds were more , Then could bee wipte off by derisions score . This mercy is the warning of misdeedes , A trumpet summoning to vertues walls , To notifie their hearts which mischiefe feeds , Whom vice instructs , whom wickednes exhal's : But if derision can not murder sin , Then shame shall end , and punishment begin . verse 27 For many shamelesse are , bolde , stout in ill , Then how can shame take roote in shamlesse plants , When they their browes with shamelesse furrows fill , And plows ech place , which one plow-furrow wants : Then being arm'd gainst shame with shamlesse face , How can derision take a shameful place ? But punishment may smoth their wrinckled brow , And set shame on the forehead of their rage , Guiding the forefront of that shamelesse row , Making it smooth in shame , though not in age : Then will they say , that God is iust and true , But t is too late , damnation will ensue .

Chapter XIII . verse 1 THe branch must needs be weake , if roote be so , The roote must needs be weake , it branches fall , Nature is vaine , man cannot be her foe , Because from nature , and at natures call : Nature is vaine , and wee proceede from nature , Vaine therefore is our birth , and vaine our feature . One body may haue two diseases sore , Not being two , it may be ioynde to two , Nature is one it selfe , yet two and more , Vaine , ignorant of God , of good , of show , Which not regards the things which god hath don , And what things are to doe , what new begun . verse 2 Why doe I blame the tree ? when t is the leaues , Why blame I nature ? for her mortall men , Why blame I men ? t is she , t is she that weaues , That weaues , that wafts vnto destructions pen : Then being blamefull both , because both vaine , I leaue to both , their vanities due paine . To prize the shadow at the substance rate , Is a vaine substance of a shadowes hue , To thinke the sonne to be the fathers mate , Earth to rule earth , because of earthly view : To thinke fire winde , ayre stars , water , and heau'n , To be as Gods , from whom their selues are giu'n . verse 3 Fire as a God ? oh irreligious sound , Winde as a God ? oh vaine , oh vainest voice , Aire as a God ? when t is but duskie ground , Star as a God ? when t is but Phoebes choice : Water a God ? which first by God was made , Heauen a God ? which first by God was laide . Say all hath beautie , excellence , array , Yet beautifide they are , they were , they bee , By Gods bright excellence of brightest day , Which first implanted our first beuties tree : If then the painted outside of the show , Bee radiant , what is the inward row . verse 4 If that the shadowe of the bodies skin , Bee so illumin'd with the sun-shin'd soule , What is the thing it selfe which is within , More wrencht , more cleansde , more purifi'd from foul : If elementall powers haue Gods thought , Say what is God , which made them all of nought . It is a wonder for to see the skie , And operation of each ayrye power , A meruaile , that the heau'n should be so hie , And let fall such a low distilling shower : Then needs must hee bee high , higher then all , Which made both hie and lowe with one tongues call . verse 5 The workeman mightier is then his hand-worke , In making that which else would be vnmade , The nere-thought thing , doth alwaies hidden lurke , Without the maker in a making trade : For had not God made man , man had not beene , But nature had decayde , and nere beene seene . The workman neuer shewing of his skill , Doth liue vnknowne to man , though knowne to wit , Had mortall birth beene neuer in Gods will , God had beene God , but yet vnknowne in it : Then hauing made the glory of earths beautie , T is reason earth should reuerence him in dutie . verse 6 The sauadge people haue a supreame head , A king , though sauadge as his subiects are , Yet they with his obseruances are lead , Obaying his beheasts what ere they were : The Turkes , the infidels , all haue a Lord , Whom they obserue in thought , in deed , in word . And shall we ; differing from their sauage kinde , Hauing a soule to liue and to beleeue , Be rude in thought , in deed , in word , in minde , Not seeking him which should our woes releeue : Oh no deere brethren , seeke our God , our fame , Then if wee erre we shall haue lesser blame . verse 7 How can wee erre , wee seeke for ready way , Oh that my tongue could fetch that word againe , Whose very accent makes me go astray , Breathing that erring wind into my braine ▪ My word is past and cannot be recalde , It is like aged time , now waxen balde . For they which goe astray in seeking God , Doe misse the ioyefull narrow-footed path , ( Ioyfull , thrice ioyfull way to his abode , ) Nought seeing but their shadowes in a bath : Narcissus-like pining to see a show , Hindring the passage , which their feete should goe . verse 8 9 Narcissus fantasie did die to kisse , O sugred kisse dide with a poisoned lip , The fantasies of these do die to misse , Oh tossed fantasies , in follies ship : He dide to kisse the shadow of his face , These liue and die to lifes and deaths disgrace . A fault without amends , crime without ease , A sin without excuse , death without aide , To loue the world , and what the world did please , To know the earth , wherein their sinnes are laide : They knew the world , but not the L. that framde it They knew the earth , but not the L. that namde i● verse 10 Narcissus drownde himselfe , for his selfes shew , Striuing to heale himselfe , did himselfe harme , These drownde them selues on earth , with their selues woe , Hee in a water-brooke by furies charme ; They made dry earth wet with their follys weeping , Hee made wet earth dry , with his furies sleeping . Then leaue him to his sleepe : returne to those , Which euer wake in miseries constraints , Whose eyes are hollow caues , and made sleeps foes , Two dungeons darke with sin , blind with complaints : They called images which man first found , Immortall Gods : for which , their tongs are bound . verse 11 12 Golde was a God with them , a golden God , Like children in a pageant of gay toyes , Adoring images for saints abode , Oh vaine vaine spectacles of vainer ioyes : Putting their hope in blocks , their trust in stones , Hoping to trust , trusting to hope in mones . As when a carpenter cuts downe a tree , Meet for to make a vessell for mans vse , He pareth all the barke most cunningly , With the sharp shauer of his kniues abuse , Ripping the seely wombe with no entreate , Making her woundy chips to dresse his meat . verse 13 14 Her bodies bones are often rough and hard , Crooked with ages growth , growing with crookes , And full of wether-chinkes , which seasons marrde , Knobbie and rugged , bending in like hookes : Yet knowing age can neuer want a fault , Encounters it with a sharpe knifes assault . And carues it well though it be selfe-like ill , Obseruing leasure , keeping time and place , According to the cunning of his skill , Making the figure of a mortall face : Or like some vgly beast in ruddy mould , Hiding each crannie with a painters fould . verse 15 16 It is a world to see , to marke , to view , How age can botch vp age , with crooked thread , How his olde hands , can make an olde tree new , And dead-like hee , can make another dead : Yet makes a substantiue , able to beare it , And she an adiectiue , nor see , nor heare it . A wall it is it selfe , yet wall with wall , Hath great supportance bearing either part , The image like an adiectiue would fall , Were it not closed with an yron hart : The workman being olde himselfe , doth know , What great infirmities olde age can show . verse 17 Therefore to stop the riuer of extreames , Hee burst into the flowing of his wit , Tossing his braines with more then thousand theams , To haue a wooden stratagem so fit : Woodden , because it doth belong to wood , His purpose may be wise , his reason good . His purpose wise ? no , foolish , fond , and vaine , His reason good ? no , wicked , vild , and ill ; To be the authour of his owne liues paine , To be the tragick actor of his will : Praying to that which he before had fram'd , For welcome faculties , ( and not asham'd . ) verse 18 19 Calling to follie , for discretions sence , Calling to sicknes , for sick bodies health , Calling to weakenes , for a stronger fence , Calling to pouertie , for better wealth : Praying to death , for life , for this hee praide , Requiring helpe of that , which wanteth aide . Desiring that of it , which he not had , And for his iourney , that which cannot goe , And for his gaine , her furdrance , to make glad , The worke which he doth take in hand to doe : These windie words do rush against the wall Shee cannot speake , t will sooner make her f●●● .

Chapter XIIII . verse 1 AS doth one little sparke make a great flame , Kindled from forth the bosome of the flint , As doth one plague infect with it selfe name , With watrie humours making bodies dint : So , euen so , this idoll worshipper , Doth make another idoll practiser . The shipman cannot teeme dame Tethis waues , Within a winde-taught-capring anchorage , Before hee prostrate lies , and suffrage craues , And haue a block to be his fortunes gage : More crooked then his sterne , yet he implores her , More rotten then his ship , yet he adores her . verse 2 3 4 Who made this forme ? he that was form'd and made , T was auarice , t was shee that found it out , Shee made her crafts-man crafty in his trade , Hee cunning was in bringing it about : Oh had he made the painted shew to speake , It would haue calde him vaine , herselfe to wreake . It would haue made him blush aliue , though hee , Did die her colour with a deadly blush , Thy pouidence ( ó father ) doth decree , A sure sure way , amongst the waues to rush : Thereby declaring that thy power is such , That thogh a man were weake , thou canst do much . verse 5 What is one single barre to double death ? One death in death , the other death in feare , This single barre , a borde , a poore bords breath , Yet stops the passage of each Neptunes teare : To see how many liues one borde can haue , To see how many liues one borde can saue . How was this borde first made ? by wisedomes art , Which is not vaine , but firme , not weake , but sure , Therfore do men commit their liuing hart , To plancks which either life or death procure : Cutting the stormes in two , parting the winde , Plowing the sea till they their harbour finde . verse 6 The sea whose mountaine billowes , passing bounds Rusheth vpon the hollow-sided barke , With rough-sent kisses from the water grounds , Raising a foaming heat with rages sparke , Yet sea , nor waues , can make the shipman feare , Hee knowes that die he must , hee cares not where . For had his timorous heart beene dide in white , And sent an eccho of resembling woe , Wisedome had beene vnknowne in follies night , The sea had beene a desolations showe : But one world hope lay houering on the sea , When one worlds hap did end with one decay . verse 7 8 Yet Phoebus drowned in the oceans world , Phoebe disgrast with Tethis billow-roules , And Phoebus firie-golden-wreath vncurl'd , was seated at the length in brightnes soules : Man tosst in wettest wildernes of seas , Had seed on seed , encrease vpon encrease . Their mansion-house a tree vpon a waue , O happy tree , vppon vnhappy ground , But euery tree is not ordain'd to haue Such blessednes , such vertue , such abound : Some trees are carued images of nought , Yet God-like reuerenc'd , ador'd , besought . verse 9 Are the trees nought , alas , they sencelesse are , The hands which fashion them , condemne their groth , Cuts downe their branches , vailes their forehead bare , Both made in sin , though not sins equall both : First God made man , and vice did make him new , And man made vice from vice ; and so it grew . Now is her haruest greater then her good , Her wonted winter , turn'd to summers ayre , Her ice to heat , her sprig to cedars wood , Her hate to loue , her lothsome filth to faire : Man loues her well by mischiefe new created , God hates her ill , because of vertue hated . verse 10 O foolish man mounted vppon decay , More vgly then Alastors pitchie backe , Nights dismall summoner , and end of day , Carrying all duskie vapours hemde in blacke : Behold thy downfall ready at thy hand , Behold thy hopes wherein thy hazards stand . Oh spurne away that blocke out of thy way , With vertues appetite , and wisedomes force , That stumbling blocke of follie and decay , That snare which doth ensnare thy treading corse : Beholde thy body falls , let vertue beare it , Beholde thy soule doth fall , let wisedome reare it . verse 11 Say art thou yong , or olde , tree , or a bud , Thy face is so disfigured with sin , Yong I doe thinke thou art , in what ? in good , But olde I am assur'd by wrinckled skin : Thy lips , thy tongue , thy heart , is yong in praying , But lips , and tongue , and heart is olde in straying . Olde in adoring idolls , but too yong , In the obseruance of diuinest lawe , Yong in adoring God , though olde in tong , Olde and too olde , yong , and too yong in awe : Beginning that , which doth begin misdeeds , Inuenting vice , which all thy body feeds . verse 12 13 But this corrupting and infecting foode , This caterpiller of eternitie , The foe to blisse , the canker vnto good , The new accustom'd way of vanitie : It hath not euer beene , nor shall it be , But perish in the branch of follies tree . As her descent was vanities aline , So her descending like to her descent , Here shall shee haue an end , in hell no fine , Vaine glory brought her , vainely to be spent : You know all vanity drawes to an end , Then needs must shee decay because her frend . verse 14 Is there more follie then to weepe at ioy , To make eyes watrie , when they should be drie , To greeue at that , which murders griefes annoy , To keepe a shower where the sunne should lie ? But yet this folly-cloude doth oft appeare , When face should smile and watry eie bee cleere . The father mournes to see his sonne life-dead , But seldome mournes to see his sonne dead-liu'd , Hee cares for earthly lodge , not heau'ns bed , For death in life , not life in death suruiu'd : Keeping the outward shadow of his face , To worke the inward substance of disgrace . verse 15 Keeping a shew to counterpoize the deed , Keeping a shadow to be substance heire , To raise the thing it selfe from shadowes seed , And make an element of liuelesse aire : Adoring that which his owne hands did frame , Whose hart inuention gaue , whose tong the name . But could infection keepe one setled place , The poyson would not lodge in euery brest , Nor feede the hart , the minde , the soule , the face , Lodging but in the carcasse of her rest : But this Idolatry once in mans vse , Was made a custome then without excuse . verse 16 Nay more : it was at tyrannies commaund , And tyrants cannot speake without a doome , Whose iudgement doth proceed from heart and hand , From heart in rage , from hand in bloudy tombe : That if through absence any did neglect it , Presence should pay the ransome which reiect it . Then to auoide the doome of present hate , Their absence did performe their presence want , Making the image of a kingly state , As if they had new seed from sins olde plant : Flattring the absence of olde mischiefes mother , With the like forme and presence of another . verse 17 Making an absence with a present sight , Or rather presence with an absent view , Deceiuing vulgars with a day of night , Which know not good from bad , nor false from true : A crafts-man cunning in his crafty trade , Beguiling them with that which he had made . Like as a vane is turn'd with euery blast , Vntill it point vnto the windie clime , So stand the people at his worde agast , Hee making olde , new forme in new-olde time , Defies , and deifies all with one breath , Making them liue and die , and all in death , verse 18 They like to Tantalus are fed with shoes , Shewes which exasperat : and cannot cure , They see the painted shadow of suppose , They see her sight , yet what doth sight procure ? Like Tantalus they feed , and yet they starue , Their foode is caru'd to them , yet hard to carue . The crafts-man feeds them with a staruing meat , Which doth not fill but empty hungers gape , Hee makes the idoll comely , faire , and great , With well limnd visage , and best fashioned shape : Meaning to giue it to some noble view , And faine his beautie with that flattring hue , verse 19 Enamour'd with the sight , the people grew , To diuers apparitions of delight , Some did admire the portraiture so new , Hew'd from the standard of an olde trees hight , Some were allur'd through beutie of the face , With outward eye to worke the soules disgrace . Adored like a God though made by man , To make a God of man , a man of God , T is more then humaine life or could , or can , Though multitudes applause in error trode , I neuer knew since mortall lifes abod , That man could make a man much lesse a God . verse 20 Yes man can make his shame , without a maker , Borrowing the essence from restored sin , Man can be vertues foe , and vices taker , Welcome himselfe without a welcome in : Can he doe this ? yea more , oh shamlesse ill , Shamefull in shame , shamelesse in wisedomes will . The riuer of his vice can haue no bound , But breakes into the ocean of deceit , Deceiuing life with measures of dead ground , With carued idols , disputations baite : Making captiuitie cloth'd all in mone , Bee subiect to a God made of a stone . verse 21 Too stony hearts had they which made this lawe , Oh had they beene as stony as the name , They neuer had brought vulgars in such awe , To be destructions pray , and mischiefes game : Had they beene stone-dead both in looke & fauour They neuer had made life of such a sauour . Yet was not this a too sufficient doome , Sent from the roote of their sin-oregrowne tong , To cloud gods knowledge with hel mischiefs gloome To ouerthrowe truths right with falshoods wrong : But dayly practised a perfect way , Still to begin and neuer end to stray . verse 22 23 For either murders pawe did gripe their harts , With whispring horrors drumming in each eare , Or other villanies did play their parts , Augmenting horror to newe strucken feare : Making their hands more then a shambles stall , To slay their children ceremoniall . No place was free from staine of blood or vice , Their life was markt for death , their soule for sin , Marriage , for fornications thawed ice , Thought for despaire , body for eithers gin : Slaughter did either end what life begunne , Or lust did end what both had left vndone . verse 24 25 The one was sure , although the other faile , For vice hath more competitors then one , A greater troupe doth euermore auaile , And villanie is neuer found alone , The bloud-hound folows that which slaughter kild And theft doth folow what deceit hath spild . Corruption mate to infidelitie , For that which is vnfaithfull is corrupt , Tumults are schoole fellowes to periury , For both are full when either one hath supt : Vnthankfullnes , defiling , and disorders , Are fornications and vncleannes borders . See what a sort of rebells are in armes , verse 26 To root out vertue , to supplant her raigne , Opposing of them selues against all harmes , To the deposing of her empires gaine : O double knot of treble miseries , Oh treble knot , twice , thrice , in villanies . O idoll-worshipping , thou mother art , Shee procreatresse of a he offence , I know thee now , thou bearst a womans part , Thou nature hast of her , shee of thee sence : These are thy daughters , too too like the mother , Black sins I dim you all with inckie smother verse 27 My pen shall be officious in this scene , To let your harts blood in a wicked veine , To make your bodies cleare , your soules as cleane , To cleanse the sinkes of sin , with vertues reine : Behold your cole-blacke blood my writing inke , My papers poysoned meate , my pens fowle drinke . New christned are you , with your owne new blood , But madde before ; sauage , and desperate , Prophecying lies , not knowing what was good , Liuing vngodly euermore in hate : Thundring out oathes , pale Sergeants of despaire , Swore , and forswore , not knowing what you were . verse 28 Now looke vpon the spectacle of shame , The well-limnd image of an ill-limnd thought , Say , are you worthy now of praise or blame , That such selfe-scandall in your owne selues wrought ? You were heart-sicke before I let you blood , But now heart-well since I haue done you good . Now wipe blinde folly from your seeing eies , And driue destruction from your happy mind , Your follie now is wit , not foolish-wise , Destruction , happinesse , not mischiefe blinde : You put your trust in idoles , they deceiude you , You put your trust in God , and he receiude you . verse 29 Had not repentance grounded on your soules , The climes of good or ill , vertue or vice , Had it not flowde into the tongues enrowles , Ascribing mischiefes hate , with good aduice : Your tong had spild your soul , your soul your tong Wronging each function with a double wrong . Your first attempt was placed in a show , Imaginary show without a deed , The next attempt was periury , the foe To iust demeanors , and to vertues seede : Two sins , two punishments , and one in two , Makes two in one , and more than one can do . verse 30 Foure scourges from one paine , al comes from sin , Single , yet double , double , yet in foure , It slayes the soule , it hems the body in , It spills the minde , it doth the heart deuoure : Gnawing vpon the thoughts , feeding on blood , For why , she liues in sin , but dies in good . She taught their soules to stray , their tongs to sweare , Their thought to thinke amisse , their life to die , Their heart to erre , their mischiefe to appeare , Their head to sin , their feete to treade awry : This sceane might well haue bin destructions tent , To pay with paine , what sin with ioy hath spent .

Chapter XV. verse 1 But God will neuer die his hands with bloud , His heart with hate , his throne with crueltie , His face with furies map , his browe with cloud , His raigne with rage , his crowne with tyrannie : Gratious is he , long-suffering , and true , Which ruleth all things with his mercies view . Gratious , for where is grace but where he is ? The fountaine-head the euer-boundlesse streame , Patient , for where is patience in amisse , If not conducted by pure graces beame : Truth is the moderator of them both , For grace and patience are of truest groth . verse 2 For grace-beginning truth , doth end in grace , As truth-beginning grace , doth end in truth , Now patience takes the moderators place , Yong-olde in suffering , olde-yong in ruth : Patience is olde in being alwaies yong , Not hauing right , nor euer offering wrong , So this is moderator of Gods rage , Pardoning those deeds , which wee in sin commit , That if wee sin , shee is our freedomes gage , And wee still thine , though to be thine vnfit : In being thine ( ô Lord ) wee will not sin , That we thy patience , grace , and truth may win . verse 3 O grant vs patience in whose grant we rest , To right our wrong , and not to wrong the right , Giue vs thy grace ( ô Lord ) to make vs blest , That grace might blesse , & blisse might grace our sight : Make our beginning and our sequell truth , To make vs yong in age , and graue in youth , Wee know that our demaunds rest in thy will , Our will rests in thy word , our worde in thee , Thou in our orisons , which dost fullfill , That wished action , which wee wish to bee : T is perfect righteousnes to know thee right ▪ T is immortalitie to know thy might . verse 4 5 In knowing thee , we know both good and ill , Good , to know good and ill , ill to know none , In knowing all , wee know thy sacred will , And what to do , and what to leaue vndone : We are deceiu'd , not knowing to deceiue , In knowing good and ill , wee take and leaue . The glasse of vanitie , deceit , and showes , The painters labour , the beguiling face , The diuers-coloured image of suppose , Cannot deceiue the substance of thy grace : Only a snare , to those of common wit , Which couets to be like , in hauing it . verse 6 The greedy lucre of a witlesse braine , This feeding auarice on sencelesse minde , Is rather hurt , then good , a losse , then gaine , Which couets for to loose and not to finde : So they were coloured with such a face , They would not care to take the idols place . Then be your thoughts coherent to your words , Your words as correspondent to your thought , T is reason you should haue what loue affords : And trust in that which loue so dearely bought : The maker must needs loue what he hath made , And the desirers free of either trade . verse 7 Man , thou wast made , art thou a maker now ? Yes , t is thy trade , for thou a potter art , Tempring softe earth , making the clay to bow , But clayie thou , dost beare too stout a hart : The clay is humble to thy rigorous hands , Thou clay , too tough against thy Gods commaunds . If thou want'st slime , beholde thy slimie faults , If thou want'st clay , beholde thy clayie breast , Make them to be the deepest centres vaults , And let all clayie mountaines sleepe in rest : Thou bear'st an earthly mountaine on thy back , Thy harts chiefe prison-house thy souls chief wrack . verse 8 Art thou a mortall man , and mak'st a God , A God of clay , thou but a man of clay , O suds of mischiefe , in destruction sod , O vainest labour in a vainer playe : Man is the greatest worke which God did take : And yet a God with man is nought to make . Hee that was made of earth , would make a heau'n , If heauen may be made vpon the earth , Sins heires , the ayres , sins plants , the planets seau'n , Their God a clod , his birth , true vertues dearth : Remember whence you came wither you goe , Of earth , in earth , from earth to earth in woe . verse 9 No , quoth the potter , as I haue beene clay , So will I end with what I did begin , I am of earth , and I doe what earth may , I am of dust , and therefore will I sin : My life is short , what then ? I 'le make it longer , My life is weake , what then ? I 'le make it stronger . Long shall it liue in vice , though short in length , And fetch immortall steps , from mortall stops , Strong shall it be in sin , though weake in strength , Like mounting Eagles , on high mountaines tops : My honour shall bee placed in deceit , And counterfait new shewes of little weight . verse 10 My pen doth almost blush at this replie , And faine would call him wicked to his face , But then his breath would answe●… with a lie , And staine my inck with an vntruths disgrace : Thy maister bids thee write , the pen sayes no , But when thy maister bids , it must be so . Call his hart ashes : oh too mild a name , Call his hope vile , more viler then the earth , Call his life weaker then a clayeie frame , Call his bespotted heart , an ashye hearth : Ashes , earth , clay , conioyn'd to heart , hope , life , Are features loue , in being natures strife . verse 11 Thou mightst haue chose more stinging wordes then these For this he knowes he is , and more , then lesse , In saying what he is , thou dost appease , The foming anger which his thoughts suppresse : Who knowes not , if the best be made of clay , The worst must needs be clad in foule array . Thou in performing of thy maisters will , Dost teach him to obay his lords commaunds , But he repugnant is , and cannot skill Of true adoring , with heart-heau'd vp hand : Hee hath a soule , a life , a breath , a name , Yet is he ignorant from whence they came . verse 12 My soule , saith he , is but a mappe of shoes , No substance , but a shadow for to please , My life doth passe , euen as a pastime goes , A momentary time to liue at ease : My breath a vapour , and my name of earth , Each one decaying of the others birth . Our conuersation best , for there is gaines , And gaine is best in conuersations prime , A mart of lucre in our conscience raignes , Our thoughts as busie agents for the time : So we get gaine ensnaring simple men , It is no matter how , nor where , nor when . verse 13 We care not how , for all misdeedes are ours , We care not where , if before God or man , We care not when , but when our crafts haue powres , In measuring deceit with mischiefes fanne : For wherefore haue we life , forme , and ordaining , But that we should deceiue , and still be gaining ? I made of earth , haue made al earthen shops , And what I sell is al of earthy sale , My pots haue earthen feete , and earthen tops , In like resemblance of my bodies vale : But knowing to offend the heauens more , I made fraile images of earthy store . verse 14 O bold accuser of his owne misdeedes , O heauy clod more than the earth can beare , Was neuer creature clothde in sauage weedes , Which would not blush when they this mischief hear : Thou toldst a tale which might haue bin vntolde . Making the hearers blush , the readers olde . Let them blush still that heares , be olde that reades , Then boldnes shal not raigne , nor youth in vice , Thrice miserable they which rashly speeds , With expedition to this bold deuice : More foolish than are fooles , whose misery Cannot be changde with new felicitie . verse 15 Are not they fooles which liue without a sence , Haue not they misery which neuer ioy ? Which takes an idoll for a Gods defence , And with their self-willd thoghts themselues destroy ? What folly is more greater than is here ? Or what more miserie can wel appeere ? Call you them gods which haue no seeing eyes ? No noses for to smell , no eares to heare , No life but that which in deaths shadow lies , Which haue no hands to feele , no feete to beare : If gods can neither heare , liue , feele , nor see , A foole may make such gods of euery tree . verse 16 And what was he that made them but a foole ? Conceiuing follie in a foolish braine , Taught and instructed in a wodden schoole , Which made his head run of a wodden vaine : T was man which made them , he his making had , Man full of wood , was wood , and so ran mad . He borrowed his life , and would restore His borrowed essence to another death , He faine would be a maker , though before Was made himselfe , and God did lend him breath : No man can make a god like to a man , He sayes he scornes that worke , he furder can . verse 17 He is deceiude , and in his great deceit , He doth deceiue the folly-guided harts , Sin lies in ambush , he for sin doth waite , Here is deceit deceiude , in either parts : His sin deceiueth him , and he his sin , So craft with craft is mewed in either gin . The crafts-man mortall is , craft mortall is , Each function nursing vp the others want , His hands are mortall , deadly what is his , Onely his sins buds in destructions plant : Yet better he , than what he doth deuise , For he himselfe doth liue that euer dies . verse 18 Say , call you this a God ? where is his head ? Yet headlesse is he not , yet hath he none : Where is his godhead ? fled ; his power ? dead ▪ His raigne ? decayed ; and his essence ? gone : Now tell me , is this God the God of good ? Or else Siluanus monarch of the wood . There haue I pierst his barke , for he is so , A wooden god , fainde as Siluanus was : But leauing him , to others let vs go , To senslesse beasts their new adoring glasse : Beasts which did liue in life , yet died in reason , Beasts which did seasons eate , yet knew no season . verse 19 Can mortall bodies , and immortall soules Keepe one knit vnion of a liuing loue ? Can sea with land ? can fish agree with foules ? Tygers with lambes , a serpent with a doue ? Oh no , they cannot ; then say , why doe wee , Adore a beast which is our enimy . What greater foe than folly vnto wit ? What more deformitie than vgly face ? This disagrees , for follie is vnfit , The other contrary to beauties place : Then how can senslesse heads , deformed shoes , Agree with you when they are both your foes .

Chapter XVI . verse 1 OH call that word againe , they are your friends Your liues associats , and your loues content , That which begins in them , your follie ends , Then how can vice with vice be discontent : Beholde deformitie sits on your heads , Not hornes but scornes , not visage but whole beds . Beholde a heap of sins your bodies pale , A mountaine-ouerwhelming villany , Then tell me , are you clad in beauties vale ? Or in destructions pale-dead liuerie : Their life demonstrates ; now aliue now dead , Tormented with the beasts which they haue fed . verse 2 3 You like to Pelicans haue fed your death , With follies-vaine let bloud , from follies veyne , And almost sterude your selues , stopt vp your breath , Had not Gods mercie helpt , and easde your paine , Beholde a new-found meat , the Lord did send , Which taught you to be new , and to amend . A strange disgested nutriment , euen quailes , Which taught them to be strange vnto misdeeds , When you implore his aide , he neuer failes , To fill their hunger , whom repentance feeds : You see when life was halfe at deaths arrest , Hee new created life at hungers feast . verse 4 Say , is your God like this , whom you ador'd , Or is this God like to your handie frame , If so , his power could not then afford , Such influence which floweth from his name : Hee is not painted , made of wood and stone , But he substantiall is , and rules alone . He can oppresse , and helpe , helpe , and oppresse , The sinfull incolants of his made earth , He can redresse , and paine , paine , and redresse , The mountaine-miseries of mortall birth : Now tyrants you are next , this but a show , And merry index of your after woe . verse 5 6 Your hot-colde misery is now at hand , Hot because furies heat , and mercies colde , Cold because limping , knit in frosty band , And cold and hot in being shamefast-bolde : They cruell were , take crueltie their part , For misery is but too meane a smart . But when the Tygers iawes , the Serpents stings , Did summon them vnto this lifes decay , A pardon for their faults thy mercy brings , Cooling thy wrath with pitties sunnie day : O tyrants tere your sin-bemired weeds , Beholde your pardon sealde by mercies deeds . verse 7 8 That sting which pained could not ease the paine , Those iaws that wounded , could not cure the wounds To turne to stings for helpe , it were but vaine , To iawes for mercie , which wants mercies bounds : The stings , ô Sauiour , were puld out by thee , Their iawes claspt vp , in midst of crueltie . O soueraigne salue , stop to a bloody streame , O heauenly care and cure , for dust and earth , Celestiall watch to wake terrestriall dreame , Dreaming in punishment , mourning in mirth , Now knowes our enimies , that it is thee , Which helpes and cures , our griefe and misery . verse 9 Our punishment doth end , theirs new begins , Our day appeares , their night is not oreblowne , Wee pardon haue , they punishment for sins , Now we are raisde , now they are ouerthrowne : Wee with huge beasts opprest , they with a flie , Wee liue in God , and they against God die . A flie , poore flie , to follow such a flight , Yet art thou fed , as thou wast fed before , With dust and earth , feeding thy wonted bite , With selfe-like food , from mortall earthly store : A mischiefe-stinging food , and sting with sting , Do ready passage to destruction bring . verse 10 Man beeing grasse is hopt and graz'd vpon , With sucking grasse-hoppers of weeping dew , Man being earth is wormes vermilion , Which eats the dust , and yet of bloudy hue : In being grasse he is her grazing food , In being dust he doth the wormes some good . These smallest actors were of greatest paine , Of follies ouerthrow , of mischiefes fall , But yet the furious dragons coulde not gaine , The life of those whom verities exhale : These follie ouercame , they foolish were , These mercie cur'd , and cures , these godly are . verse 11 When poysoned iawes and veninated stings , Were both as opposite against content , ( Because content with that which fortune brings , ) They eased were , when thou thy mercies sent : The iawes of dragons had not hungers fill ▪ Nor stings of serpents a desire to kill . Appal'd they were , and struck with timerous feares , For where is feare , but where destruction raignes , Agast they were , with wet eye-standing teares , Outward commencers of their inward paines : They soone were hurt , but sooner healde and cured , Lest black obliuion had their minds inured . verse 12 The lion wounded with a fatall blow , Is as impatient as a king in rage , Seeing himselfe in his owne bloody show , Doth rent the harbour of his bodies cage : Scorning the base-housde earth , mounts to the skie , To see if heauen can yeeld him remedy . Oh sinfull man , let him example be , A patterne to thine eye , glasse to thy face , That Gods diuinest word is cure to thee , Not earth , but heauen , not man , but heauenly grace : Nor hearb , nor plaister , could help teeth or sting , But t was thy word which healeth euery thing . verse 13 We fooles lay salues vpon our bodies skin , But neuer drawe corruption from our minde , We lay a plaister for to keepe in sin , We drawe foorth filth , but leaue the cause behinde : With hearbs and plaisters we do guard misdeedes , And pare away the tops , but leaue the seedes . Away with salues , and take our Sauiours word , In this word Sauiour lies immortall ease , What can thy cures , plaisters , and hearbs afford ? When God hath power to please and to displease : God hath the power of life , death , help , and paine , He leadeth downe , and bringeth vp againe . verse 14 15 Trust to thy downefall , not vnto thy raise , So shalt thou liue in death , not die in life , Thou dost presume , if giue thy selfe the praise , For vertues time is scarce , but mischiefes rife : Thou mayst offend , mans nature is so vaine , Thou now in ioy , beware of after paine . First commeth fury , after fury thirst , After thirst , blood , and after blood , a death , Thou mayst in fury kill , whome thou louedst first , And so in quassing blood , stop thine owne breath : And murther done , can neuer be vndone , Nor can that soule once liue , whose life is gone . verse 16 What is the body but an earthen case , That subiect is to death , because earth dies ? But when the liuing soule doth want Gods grace , It dies in ioy , and liues in miseries : This soule is led by God , as others were , But not brought vp againe as others are . This stirs no prouocation to amend , For earth hath many partners in one fall , Although the Lord doth many tokens send , As warnings for to heare when he doth call : The earth was burnt & drownd with fire & raine , And one could neuer quench the others paine . verse 17 Althogh both foes , God made them then both frends , And onely foes to them which were their foes , That hate begun in earth what in them ends , Sins enimies they which made friends of those : Both bent both forces vnto single earth , From whose descent they had their double birth . T is strange that water should not quench a fire , For they were heating-cold , and cooling hot , T is strange that wailes could not allay desire , Wailes waters kinde , and fire desires knot : In such a cause , though enimies before , They would ioyne friendship to destroy the more . The often weeping eies of drie lament , verse 18 Doth powre forth burning water of despaire , Which warms the caues from whence the tears are sent , And like hot fumes , do foule their natures faire : This contrary to icie-waters vale , Doth scorch the cheekes , & makes them red & pale . Here fire and water are conioynde in one , Within a red-white glasse of hote and cold , Their fire like this , double and yet alone , Raging , and tame , and tame , and yet was bold : Tame when the beasts did kill , and felt no fire , Raging vpon the causers of their ire . verse 19 Two things may well put on two seuerall natures , Because they differ in each natures kind , They differing colours haue , and differing features , If so , how comes it that they haue one minde ? God made them friends , let this the answer be , They get no other argument of me . What is impossible to Gods command ? Nay , what is possible to mans vaine eare ? T is much he thinkes that fire should burne a land , When mischiefe is the brand which fiers beare : He thinkes it more , that water should beare fire , Then know it was Gods will , now leaue t' enquire . verse 20 Yet mightst thou aske , because importunate , How God preserude the good ; why ? because good , Ill fortune made not them infortunate , They Angells were , and fed with Angells food : Yet maist thou say ( for trueth is alwayes had ) That raine falles on the good aswell as bad . And say it doth ; farre be the letter P. From R. because of a more reuerent stile , It cannot doe without suppression be , These are two barres against destructions wile : Paine without changing P cannot be raine , Raine without changing R can not be paine . verse 21 Both sunne and raine are portions to the ground , And ground is dust , and what is dust but nought ? And what is nought is naught , with Alphaes sound , Yet euery earth the sunne and raine hath bought : The sunne doth shine on weeds , as well as flowers , The raine on both distills her weeping showers . Yet far be death from breath , annoy from ioy , Destruction from all happines allines , God will not suffer famine to destroy , The hungry appetite of vertues signes : These were in mid'st of fire , yet not harmed , In mid'st of water , yet but coolde , and warmed . verse 22 And water-wet they were , not water-drowned , And fire-hot they were , not fire-burned , Their foes were both , whose hopes destruction crowned : But yet with such a crowne which ne'er returned , Heere fire and water brought both ioy and paine , To one disprofit , to the other gaine . The sunne doth thaw what colde hath freezde before , Vndoing what congealed ice had done , Yet heete the haile and snow did freeze the more , In hauing heat more piercing then the sunne A mournfull spectacle vnto their eyes , That as they die so their fruition dyes . verse 23 24 Fury once kindled with the coles of rage , Doth houer vnrecall'd , slaughters vntam'd ; This wrath on fire no pitty coulde asswage , Because they pittilesse which should be blam'd : As one in rage , which cares not who he haue , Forgetting who to kil and who to saue . One deadly foe is fierce against the other , As vice with vertue , vertue against vice , Vice hartned by death his hartlesse mother , Vertue by God , the life of her deuice : T is hard to hurt or harme a villany , T is easy to do good to verity . verse 25 26 Is grasse mans meat , no it is cattells food , But man doth eat the cattell which eats grasse , And feeds his carcasse , with their nurst vp blood , Lengthning the liues which in a moment passe : Grasse is good food if it be ioynde with grace , Else sweeter foode may take a sowrer place , Is there such life in water and in bread ? In fish , in flesh , in hearbs , in growing flowers , Wee eat them not aliue , wee eat them dead , What fruit then hath the word of liuing powers ? How can wee liue with that which is still dead ? Thy grace it is , by which we all are fed . verse 27 28 This is a liuing food , a blessed meat , Made to digest the burthen at our harts , That leaden-weighted food , which we first eat , To fill the functions of our bodies parts : An indigested heape , without a meane , Wanting thy grace , o Lord , to make it cleane . That ice which sulphure vapours could not thaw , That haile which piercing fier could not bore , The coole-hot sunne did melt their frosty iaw , Which neither heat nor fire , could pierce before : Then let vs take the spring-time of the day , Before the haruest of our ioyes decay . verse 29 A day may be deuided as a yeare , Into foure climes , though of it selfe but one , The morne , the spring , the noone , the summers sphere , The haruest next , euening the winters moone : Then sowe new seeds in euery new dayes spring , And reape new fruite , in dayes olds euening . Else if too late : they will bee blasted seeds , If planted at the noonetide of their growing , Commencers of vnthankfull too late deeds , Set in the haruest of the reapers going : Melting like winter-ice against the sunne , Flowing like follies tide , and neuer done .

Chapter XVII . verse 1 Oflie the bed of vice the lodge of sin , Sleep not too long in your destructions plesures Amend your wicked liues , and new begin , A more new perfect way to heauens tresures : Oh rather wake and weep , then sleep and ioy , Waking is truth , sleep is a flattring toy . O take the morning of your instant good , Be not benighted with obliuious eye , Behold the sunne which kisseth Neptunes floud , And resalutes the world with open skie : Else sleep , and euer sleep : Gods wrath is great , And will not alter with too late intreat . verse 2 Why wake I them which haue a sleeping minde , Oh words , sad sargiants to arrest my thoughts , If wakt , they cannot see , their eyes are blinde , Shut vp like windolets which sleep hath bought : Their face is broad awake , but not their hart , They dreame of rising , yet are loth to start . These were the practisers how to betray , The simple-righteous with beguiling words , And bring them in subiection to obay Their irreligious lawes and sins accords : But nights black coloured vale did cloud their will , And made their wish rest in performance skill . verse 3 The darkesome clouds , are summoners of raine , In being somthing blacke , and somthing darke , But cole-blacke clouds makes it poure downe amaine , Darting forth thunderbolts and lightnings sparke : Sin of it selfe is black , but black with black , Augments the heauie burthen of the back . They thought that sins could hide their sinfull shames , In being demi-clouds , and semi-nights , But they had clouds enough to make their games , Lodg'd in black couerings of obliuious nights : Then was their vice afraid to lie so darke , Troubled with visions from Alastors parke . verse 4 The greater poyson , beares the greater sway , The greatest force , hath still the greatest face , Should night misse course , it would infect the day , With foule risle vapours from a humorous place , Vice hath some clouds , but yet the night hath more , Because the night was fram'd and made before . That sin which makes afraid , was then afraid , Although enchambred in a dens content , That would not driue back feare , which comes repai'd , Nor yet the ecchoes which the visions sent : Both sounds and showes , both words and action , Made apparitions satisfaction . verse 5 A night in pitchie mantle of distresse , Made thick with mists and oppsite to light , As if Cocytus mansion did possesse , The gloomy vapours of suppressing sight , A night more vgly then Alastors pack , Mounting all nights vpon his night-made back . The moone did mourne in sable-suted vale , The stars her hand maids were in black attire , All nightly visions tolde a hideous tale , The scrich-owles made the earth their dismall quire : The moone and stars diuide their twinckling eies , To lighten vice , which in obliuion lyes . verse 6 Onely appear'd a fire in dolefull blaze , Kindled by furies , raisde by enuious winds , Dreadfull in sight , which put them to amaze , Hauing before , furie-despairing minds : What haire in reading , would not stand vpright , What pen in writing , would not ceasse to write Fire is Gods Angell , because bright and cleare , But this an euill Angell , because dread , Euill to them , which did already feare , A second death to them which were once dead : Annexing horror to dead strucken life , Connexing dolor to liue natures strife . verse 7 Deceit was then deceau'd , treason betrayed , Mischiefe beguilde , a night surpassing night , Vice fought with vice , and feare was then dismayde , Horror it selfe appal'd at such a sight : Sin●s snare was then ensnarde , the fisher cought , Sinnes net was then entrapt , the fouler fought . Yet all this conflict , was but in a dreame , A show of substance , and a shade of truth , Illusions for to mocke in flattring theame , Beguiling mischiefe with a glasse of ruth : For boasts require a fall , and vaunts a shame , Which two vice had , in thinking but to game . verse 8 Sinne tolde her creditours , she was a Queene , And now become reuenge , to right their wrong , With hony-mermaids speech alluring seene , Making new-pleasing words , with her olde tongue : If you be sick , quoth she , I 'le make you whole , Shee cures the body , but makes sicke the soule . Safe is the body , when the soule is wounded , The soule is ioyfull in the bodies griefe , Ones ioy vpon the others sorrow grounded , Ones sorrow placed in the ones releefe : Quoth si● , feare nothing , know that I am heere , When shee alas , her selfe was sick for feare . verse 9 A promise worthy of derisions place , That feare shoulde helpe a feare , when both are one , Shee was as sick in hart , though not in face , With inward griefe , though not with outward mone : But shee claspt vp the closure of the tongue , For feate that words should do her body wrong . Cannot the body weepe without the eies ? Yes and frame deepest canzons of lament , Cannot the body feare , without it lies Vpon the outward shew of discontent : Yes , yes , the deeper feare sits in the heart , And keeps the parliament of inward smart , verse 10 So sin did snare in minde , and not in face , The dragons iaw , the hissing serpents sting , Some liu'd , some dide , some ran a fearefull race , Some did preuent that which ill fortunes bring : All were officious seruitours to feare , And her pale connizance in heart did weare . Malice condemnd her selfe guiltie of hate , With a malicious mouth of enuious spight , For Nemesis is her owne cruell fate , Turning her wrath vpon her owne delight : Wee need no witnes for a guiltie thought , Which to condemne it selfe a thousand brought . verse 11 12 For feare deceiues it selfe in being feare , It feares it selfe in being still afraid , It feares to weepe , and yet it sheds a teare , It feares it selfe , and yet it is obaid : The vsher vnto death , a death to doome , A doome to die in horrors fearefull toome . His owne betrayer , yet feares to betray , He feares his life , by reason of his name , He feares lament , because it brings decay , And blames himselfe in that he merites blame : He is tormented , yet denies the paine , He is the king of feare , yet loath to raigne . verse 13 His sons were they which slept and dreamt of feare , A waking sleepe , and yet a sleepy waking , Which passt that night more longer than a yeare , Being griefes prisners , and of sorrowes taking : Slept in nights dungeon insupportable , Lodgde in nights-horror too indurable . Oh sleepe , the image of long-lasting woe , Oh waking image of long-lasting sleepe , The hollow caue where visions come and goe , Where serpents hisse , where mandrakes grone & creep Oh fearefull shew , betrayer of a soule , Dieng each heart in white , each white in foule . verse 14 15 A guilefull hole , a prison of deceit , Yet nor deceit , nor guile , in being dead , Snare without snarer , net without a bait , A common lodge , and yet without a bed : A holow-sounding vault , knowne and vnknowne , Yet not for mirth , but too too well for mone . T is a free prison a chainde libertie , A freedomes caue , a sergeant and a baile , It keepes close prisoners , yet doth set them free , Their clogges not yron , but a clog of waile : It stayes them not , and yet they cannot goe , Their chaine is discontent , their prison woe . verse 16 Still it did gape for more , and still more had , Like greedy auarice without content , Like to Auernus which is neuer glad , Before the dead-liude wicked soules be sent : Pull in thy head thou sorrowes tragedy , And leaue to practise thy olde cruelty . The merry shepheard can not walke alone , Tuning sweete Madrigals of haruests ioy , Caruing loues Roundelayes on euery stone , Hanging on euery tree some amorous toy : But thou with sorrow enterlines his song , Opening thy iawes of death to do him wrong . verse 17 18 Oh now I know thy chaine , thy clog , thy fetter , Thy freechainde prison , and thy clogged walke , T is gloomy darknesse , sins eternall detter , T is poysoned buds , from Acharonticke stalke : Sometime t is hissing winds which are their bands , Somtime inchanting birds which binds their hands Sometime the foaming rage of waters streame , Or clattring downe of stones vpon a stone , Or skipping beasts at Titans gladsome beame , Or roaring lions noyse at one alone : Or babbling Eccho tell-tale of each sound , From mouth to skie , from skie vnto the ground . verse 19 20 Can such like feares folow mans mortall pace , Within drie wildernes of wettest woe , It was Gods prouidence , his will , his grace , To make midnoone midnight in being so : Midnight with sin , midnoone where vertue lay , That place was night , all other places day . The sun not past the middle line of course , Did cleerely shine vpon each labours gaine , Not hindring daily toyle of mortall force , Nor clouding earth with any gloomy staine : Onely nights image was apparant there , With heauy-leaden appetite of feare .

Chapter XVIII . verse 1 YOu know the Eagle by her soaring wings , And how the Swallow takes a lower pich : Ye kno the day is clear , & clearenes brings , And how the night is pore , thogh gloomy rich : This Eagle vertue is which mounts on hie , The other sin which hates the heauens eie . This day is wisedome , being bright and cleare , This night is mischiefe , being blacke and fowle , The brightest day doth wisedomes glory weare , The pitchie night puts on a blacker rowle : Thy saints ( O Lord ) were at their labors hire , At whose heard voyce the wicked did admire . verse 2 They thought that vertue had beene clothde in night , Captiue to darknesse , prisoner vnto hell , But it was sin it selfe , vice , and despight , ( Whose wished harbours do in darknesse dwell , Vertues immortall soule had middaies light ▪ Mischiefes eternall foule had middayes night . For vertue is not subiect vnto vice , But vice is subiect vnto vertues seate , One mischiefe is not thawed with others ice , But more adioynde to one , makes one more great : Sin vertues captiue is , and kneeles for grace , Requesting pardon for her rude-run race . The tongue of vertues life cannot pronounce verse 3 The doome of death , or death of dying doome , T is mercifull , and will not once renounce Repentant teares to wash a sinfull roome : Your sin-shine was not sun-shine of delight , But shining sin in mischiefes sunny night . Now by repentance you are bathde in blisse , Blest in your bath , eternall by your deedes , Behold you haue true light , and can not misse , The heau'nly foode which your saluation feedes : True loue , true life , true light , your portions true , What hate , what strife , what night can danger you ? verse 4 Oh happy , when you parde your oregrowne faults , Your sin-like Eagles clawes past growth of time , All vndermined with destructions vaults , Full of olde filth , proceeding from new slime : Else had you beene deformed like to those , Which were your frinds , but now becom your foes Those which are worthy of eternall paine , Foes which are worthy of immortall hate , Dimming the glory of thy childrens gaine , With cloudy vapours set at darknesse rate : Making new lawes which are too olde in crime : Making old-wicked lawes , serue a new time . verse 5 Wicked ? no : bloudy lawes , bloudy ? yea worse , If any worse may haue a worser name , Men : oh no , murdrers , not of mens remorce , For they are shamefull , these exempt from shame : What ? shall I call them slaughter-drinking hearts ▪ To good a word for their too ill desarts ? Murder was in their thoughts , they thought to slay , And who ? poore infants ; harmelesse innocents , But murder cannot sleepe , it will betray Her murdrous selfe , with selfe disparagements : One child poore remnant did reprooue their deeds , And God destroyd the bloudy murdrers seedes . verse 6 Was God destroyer then ? no he was iust , A iudge seuere , yet of a kinde remorce , Seuere to those in whome there was no trust , Kind to the babes which were of little force : Poor babes half murdred in whole murders thoght , Had not one infant their escaping wrought . T was God which breathde his spirit in the childe , The liuely image of his selfe-like face , T was God which drownd their children , which defilde Their thoughts with bloud , their hearts with murders place : For that nights tidings our old fathers ioyd , Because their foes by water were destroyd . verse 7 Was God a murdrer in this tragedy ? No , but a iudge how bloud should be repaid : Wast he which gaue them vnto misery ? No , t was themselues which miseries obaid : Their thoughts did kill and slay within their hearts , Murdring themselues , wounding their inward parts . When shines the sun , but when the moone doth rest ? When rests the sun , but when the moone doth shine ? When ioyes the righteous ? when their foes are least , And when doth vertue liue ? when vice doth pine : Vertue doth liue when villany doth die , Wisedome doth smile when misery doth crie . verse 8 The summer dayes are longer than the nights , The winter nights are longer than the dayes , They shew both vertues loues and vices spites , Sins lowest fall , and wisedomes highest raise : The night is foe to day , as naught to good , The day is foe to night , as feare to food . A king may weare a crowne , but full of strife , The outward shew of a small-lasting space , Mischiefe may liue , but yet a deadly life , Sorrow may greeue in heart , and ioy in face : Vertue may liue disturbd with vices paine , God sends this vertue a more better raigne . verse 9 She doth possesse a crowne , and not a care , Yet cares , in hauing none , but selfe-like awe , She hath a scepter without care or feare , Yet feares the Lord , and careth for the lawe : Asmuch as she doth rise , so much sin falles , Subiect vnto her law , slaue to her calles . Now righteousnesse beares sway , and vice put downe , Vertue is Queene , treading on miscchiefes head , The lawe of God sancited with renowne , Religion placde in wisedomes quiet bed : Now ioyfull hymnes are tuned by delight , And now we liue in loue , and not in spite . verse 10 Strong-hearted vices sobs haue pierst the ground , In the deepe cesterne of the centers breast , Wayling their liuing fortunes with dead sound , Accents of griefe , and actions of vnrest : It is not sin her selfe , it is her seede , Which drownd in sea , lies there for seas foule weed . It is the fruit of murders bloudy wombe , The lost fruition of a murdrous race , A little stone which would haue made a tombe , To bury vertue with a sin-bolde face : Methinkes I heare the ecchoes of the vaults , Sound and resound their old-new-weeping faults . verse 11 View the dead carcasses of humaine state , The outsides of the soule , case of the harts , Beholde the king , beholde the subiects fate , Beholde each lim and bone of earthen arts : Tell me the difference then of euery thing , And who a subiect was , and who a king . The selfe same knowledge lies in this dead scene , Valde to the tragike cipresse of lament , Beholde that man , which hath a maister beene , That king , which would haue climde aboue content , Beholde their slaues , by them vpon the earth , Haue now as high a seat as great a birth . verse 12 The ground hath made all euen which were odde , Those equall , which had inequalitie , Yet all alike were fashioned by God In bodies forme , but not in harts degree : One difference had , in scepter , crowne , and throne , Yet crown'd , rul'd , plac'd , in care in griefe in mone . For it was care to weare a crowne of griefe , And it was griefe to weare a crowne of care , The king deaths subiect , death his empires theefe , Which makes vnequall state , and equall fare , More dead then were aliue , and more to die , Then would be buried with a mortall eie . verse 13 O well-fed earth with ill digesting food , O well-ill food , because both flesh and sin , Sin made it sick , which neuer did it good , Sin made it well , her well , doth worse begin : The earth more hungry then was Tantall's iawes , Had flesh and blood held in her earthen pawes . Now could beleefe some quiet harbour finde , When all her foes were mantled in the ground , Before their sin-enchauntments made it blind , Their magick arts , their negromantick sound : Now truth hath got some place to speake and heare ▪ And what so ere shee speaks , she doth not feare , verse 14 15 16 When Phoebes axletree , was limnd with pale , Pale , which becommeth night , night which is blacke , Hem'd round about with gloomy shining vale , Borne vp by cloudes , mounted on silence backe ? And when nights horses , in the running waine , Oretook the middest of their iournies paine . Thy worde ô Lord descended from thy throne , The royall mansion of thy powers command , As a fierce man of war in time of mone , Standing in midst of the destroyed land : And brought thy precept ? as a burning steauen , Reaching from heauen to earth , from earth to heauen verse 17 Now was the night far spent , and mornings wings , Flew through sleepie thoughts and made them dream , Hying apace to welcome sunny springs , And giue her time of day to Phoebus beame : No sooner had she flowne vnto the east , But dreamy passage did disturb their rest . And then like sleepie-waking harts and eyes , Turn'd vp the fainting closures of their faces , Which betweene day and night in slumber lies , Keeping their wakie , and their sleepie places : And loe , a fearing dreame , and dreaming feare ▪ Made euery eye let fall a sleepie teare . verse 18 19 A teare halfe wet from they themselues halfe liude , Poore drie-wet teare , too moyst a wet-drie face , A white-red face , whose red-white colour striude , To make anotamy of either place : Two champions both resolu'd in faces field , And both had halfe yet either scornde to yeeld . They which were wont to mount aboue the ground , Hath leaden-quick-glude sinewes forst to lie , One here one there in prison , yet vnbound , Heart-striuing life and death to liue and die : Nor were they ignorant of fates decree , In being tolde before what they should bee . verse 20 There falsest visions shewde the truest cause , False because fantasies , true because haps , For dreames though kindled by sleep-idle pause , Sometime true indices of dangers claps : As well doth proue in these sin-sleeping lines , That dreames are falsest shewes , and truest signes . By this time death had longer pilgrimage , And was encaged in more liuing breasts , Now euery ship had fleeting anchorage , Both good and bad were punisht with vnrests : But yet Gods heauie plague indur'd not long , For anger quencht her selfe with her selfe wrong . verse 21 Not so , for heat can neuer coole with heat , Nor colde can warme a colde , nor ice thaw ice , Anger is fire , and fire is angers meat , Then how can anger coole her hot deuice ? The sunne , doth thaw the ice , with melting harme , Ice cannot coole the sunne , which makes it warme . It was celestiall fire , terrestriall cold , It was celestiall colde , terrestriall fire , A true and holy praier which is bolde , To coole the heat of angers hot desire : Pronounced by a seruant of thy word , To ease the miseries which wraths afford . verse 22 Weapons and wit are double linkes of force , If one vnknit they both haue weaker strength , The longer be the chaine , the longer corse , If measurde by duplicitie of length : If weapons faile wit is the better part , Wit failing : weapons haue the weaker hart . Praier is weake in strength , yet strong in wit , And can do more then strength , in being wise , Thy word , ô Lord , is wisdome , and in it , Doth lie more force , then forces can surprize : Man did not ouercome his foes with armes . But with thy word , which conquers greater harms verse 23 That word it was , with which the world was framde , The heauens made , mortalitie ordain'd , That word it was , with which all men were namde , In which one word , there are all words containde : The breath of God , the life of mortall state , The enimie to vice , the foe to hate . When death prest downe the sin-dead-liuing soules , And draw'd the curtaine of their seeing day , This word was vertues shield , and deaths controules , Which shielded those which neuer went astray : For when the dead did die , and end in sin , The liuing had assurance to begin . verse 24 Are all these deeds accomplisht in one word , O soueraigne word , cheefe of all words and deeds , O salue of safrie , wisdomes strongest sword , Both food , and hunger , which both starues , and feeds : Food vnto life , because of liuing power , Hunger to those , whome death and sins deuoure . For they which liu'd , were those which vertue lou'd , And those which vertue lou'd , did loue to liue , Thrice happy these , whom no destruction mou'd , Shee present there , which loue and life did giue : They bore the mottoes of eternall fame , On diapasans of their fathers name . verse 25 Here death did change his pale to purple hue , Blushing against the nature of his face , To see such bright aspects , such splendent view , Such heau'nly paradice of earthly grace : And hid with lifes quick force , his ebon dart , Within the crannies of his meagre hart , Descending to the place from whence he came , With rich-stor'd chariot of fresh bleeding wounds , Sore-greeued bodies , from a soules-sick name , Sore-greeued soules , in bodies-sin-sick sounds : Death was afraide to stay where life should be , For they are foes and cannot well agree .

Chapter XIX . verse 1 2 AVant destroier with thy hungry iawes , Thy thirsty heart , thy longing ashie bones , The righteous liue , they be not in thy lawes , Nor subiects to thy deepe oppressing mones . Let it suffice that we haue seene thy show , And tasted but the shadow of thy woe . Yet stay and bring thy empty car againe , More ashie vessells do attend thy pace , More passengers expect thy comming waine , More groaning pilgrimes long to see thy face : Wrath now attends the passage of misdeeds , And thou shalt still be stor'd with soules that bleeds , verse 3 Some lie halfe dead , while others dig their graues , With weake-forst teares , to moyst a long-drie ground But teares on teares , in time will make whole waues , To bury sin with ouerwhelming sound : Their eies for mattocks serue , their teares for spades , And they them selues , are sextons by their trades . What is their fee ? lament , their paiment ? woe , Their labour ? waile , their practise ? miserie , And can their conscience serue to labour so , Yes , yes , because it helpeth villanie : Though eies did stand in teares , and teares in eyes , They did another folishnes deuise . verse 4 5 So that what praier did , sin did vndoe , And what the eies did win the heart did loose , Whom vertue reconcilde , vice did forgoe , Whom vertue did forgoe , that vice did choose : Oh had their hearts beene iust , eyes had bin winners Their eyes were iust , but hearts new sins beginners . They digd true graues with eyes , but not with hearts , Repentance in their face , vice in their thought , Their deluing eies did take the Sextons partes , The heart vndid the labour which eies wrought : A new strange death was portion for their toyle , While vertue sate as iudge to end the broyle . verse 6 Had tongue bin ioynde with eies , tong had not strai'd , Had eyes bin ioyn'd to heart , heart then had seene , But oh , in wanting eye-sight it betrai'd , The dungeon of misdeeds where it had beene : So , many liuing in this orbe of woe , Haue heau'd-vp eyes , but yet their hearts are low . This chaunge of sin , did make a chaunge of feature , A new strange death , a misery vntoulde , A new reforme of every olde-new creature , New seruing offices , which time made olde : New liuing vertue , from an olde dead sin , Which ends in ill what doth in good begin . verse 7 When death did reape the haruest of despight , The wicked eares of sin , and mischiefes seed , Filling the mansion of eternall night , With heauy-leaden clods of sinfull breed : Life sowde the plants of immortalitie , To welcome olde-made new felicity . The clouds , the gloomy curtaines of the aire , Drawne and redrawne with the foure-winged winds , Made all of borrowed vapours , darkesome faire ; Did ouershade their tents , which vertue findes , The red seas deepe , was made a drie trod way , Without impediment , or stop , or stay . verse 8 9 The thirsty windes with ouertoyling puffes , Did drinke the ruddy-oceans water drie , Tearing the Zones hot-cold , whole-ragged ruffes , With ruffling conflicts in the field of skie : So , that drie earth did take wet waters place , With sandy mantle , and hard grounded face . That way which neuer was a way before , Is now a troden path , which was vntrod , Through which the people went , as on a shoare , Defended by the stretcht-out arme of God : Praising his wondrous workes , his mighty hand , Making the land of sea , the sea of land . verse 10 That breast where anger slept , is mercies bed , That breast where mercy wakes is angers caue ; When mercie liues , then Nemesis is dead , And one for eithers coarse makes others graue : Hate furrowes vp a graue , to bury loue , And loue doth presse downe hate , it cannot moue . This breast is God , which euer wakes in both , Anger is his reuenge , mercy his loue , He sent them flies in steade of cattels growth , And multitudes of frogges for fishes stroue : Here was his anger shewne , and his remorse , When hee did make dry land of water course . verse 11 The sequele prooues what actor is the chiefe , All things beginning knowes , but none their end , The sequele vnto mirth , is weeping griefe , As doth mishaps with happinesse contend : For both are agents in this orbe of weeping , And one doth wake , when other falles a sleeping . Yet , should mans eies pay tribute euery hower , With tributarie teares to sorrowes shrine , He would all drowne himselfe with his owne shower And neuer finde the leafe of mercies line : They in Gods anger wailde , in his loue ioyd , Their loue brought lust , ere loue had lust destroyd . verse 12 The sun of ioy dride vp their teare-wet eies , And sate as Lord vpon their sobbing hart , For when one comfort liues , one sorrow dies , Or ends in mirth what it begunne in smart : What greater griefe than hunger-starued moode ? What greater mirth than satisfying foode ? Quailes from the fishy bosome of the sea , Came to their comforts which were liuing starude , But punishments fell in the sinners way , Sent downe by thunderbolts which they deserude : Sin-fed these sinners were , hate cherished , According vnto both they perished . verse 13 Sin-fed , because their food was seed of sins , And bred new sin with olde-digested meate , Hate cherished , in being hatreds twins , And sucking cruelty from tygers teate : Was it not sin to erre and goe astray ? Was it not hate to stop a strangers way ? Was it not sin to see , and not to know ? Was it not sin to knowe , and not receiue ? Was it not hate to be a strangers foe , And make them captiues which did them releeue ? Yes , it was greatest sin first for to leaue them , And it was greatest hate last to deceiue them . verse 14 Oh hungry Canniballes which know no fill , But still do staruing feed , and feeding starue , How could you so deceiue ? how could you spill Their louing selues , which did your selues preserue ? Why did you sucke your pellican to death , Which fed you too too wel with his owne breath ? Oh say that cruelty can haue no lawe , And then you speake with a milde-cruel tongue , Or say that auarice lodgde in your iawe , And then you do your selues but little wrong : Say what you will , for what you say is spight , Gainst ill-come strangers which did merite right . verse 15 You lay in ambush , oh deceitfull snares , Inticing baites , beguiling centinells , You added griefe to griefe , and cares to cares , Teares vnto weeping eies where teares did dwell : O multitudes of sin , legions of vice , Which thawes with sorrow sorrowes frozen ice . A banquet was preparde , the fare , deceit , The dishes , poyson , and the cup despight , The table , mischiefe , and the cloth a bait , Like spinners web t' entrap the strange flies flight : Pleasure was strewd vpon the top of paine , Which once digested , spread through euery vaine . verse 16 Oh ill conductors of misguided feete , Into a way of death , a path of guile , Poore pilgrimes which their owne destruction meete , In habitations of an vnknowne I le : Oh had they left that broad deceiuing way , They had been right and neuer gone astray . But marke the punishment which did ensue , Vpon those ill-misleading villanies , They blinded were themselues with their selfe view , And fell into their owne made miseries : Seeking the entrance of their dwelling places , With blinded eies , and darke misguided faces . verse 17 Lo , here was snares ensnar'd , and guiles beguilde , Deceit , deceiu'd , and mischiefe was mislead , Eies blinded sight , and thoughts the hearts defilde , Life liuing in aspects , was dying dead : Eyes thought for to misleade , and were mislead : Feete went to make mis-treads , and did mis-treade . At this proud fall the elements were glad , And did embrace each other with a kisse , All things were ioyfull which before were sad , The pilgrimes in their way , and could not misse : As when the sound of musick , doth resound With changing tune ; so did the changed ground . verse 18 The birds forsooke the ayre , the sheepe the fould , The Eagle p●tched low , the Swallow hie , The Nightingale did sleepe and vncontrould Forsoke the prickle of her natures eie : The seely worme was friends with all her foes , And suckt the dew-teares from the weeping rose . The sparrow tunde the larkes sweet melody , The larke in silence sung a dirge of dole , The linnet helpt the larke in malady The swans forsooke the quire of billow-roule : The drie-land foule , did make the sea their nest , The wet-sea fish did make the land their rest . verse 19 The swans the queristers which did complaine , In inward feeling of an outward losse , And filde the quire of waues with lauing paine , ( Yet dauncing in their waile , with surges tosse : ) Forsooke her cradle-billow-mountaine bed , And hies her vnto land there to be fed . Her sea-fare now is land-fare of content , Olde change , is changed new yet all is change , The fishes are her food , and they are sent , Vnto drie land , to creep , to feed , to range : Now coolest water cannot quench the fire , But makes it proud in hottest hot desire . verse 20 The eu'ning of a day , is morne to night , The eu'ning of a night is morne to day , The one is Phoebes clime , which is pale-bright , The other Phoebus , in more light array : Shee maks the mountaines limp in chil-cold snowe Hee melts their eies and makes them weep for woe . His beames ambassadors of his hot will , Through te transparent element of aire , Doth only his warme ambassage fulfill , And melts the icie iaw of Phoebes heyre : Yet those , though firie flames could not thaw cold , Nor breake the frosty glew of winters mould . Here nature slue herselfe , or at the least verse 21 Did tame the passage of her hot aspects , All things haue nature to be worst or best , And must encline to that , which she affects : But nature mist herselfe , in this same part , For shee was weake , and had not natures hart . T was God which made her weake , and makes her strong , Resisting vice , assisting righteousnes , Assisting , and resisting , right , and wrong , Making this Epilogue in equallnes : T was God his peoples aide , their wisedomes frend , In whom I did begin , with whom I end . A Ioue surgit opus : de Ioue finit opus .