This soul doth span the world, and hang content Where in each room of the well-furnisht tent Onely thy chronicle is lost and yet Better by worms be all once spent Then to have hellish moths still gnaw and fret Thy name in books which may not rent. 20 vapours When all thy deeds, whose brunt thou feel'st alone, 25 Are chaw'd by others' pens and tongue, And as their wit is, their digestion, Thy nourisht fame is weak or strong, Then cease discoursing, soul; till thine own ground; He that by seeking hath himself once found, 42. THE QUIDDITIE. My God, a verse is not a crown, 30 35 It cannot vault, or dance, or play, It is no office, art, or news, Nor the Exchange, or busie hall : But it is that which, while I use, I am with Thee: and MOST TAKE ALL.' 43. HUMILITIE. I saw the Vertues sitting hand in hand In sev'rall ranks upon an azure throne, 5 domain 10 Where all the beasts and fowls, by their command, Humilitie, who sat the lowest there, To execute their call, When by the beasts the presents tendred were, Gave them about to all. The angrie Lion did present his paw, Which by consent was giv'n to Mansuetude; The fearful Hare her eares, which by their law 5 gentleness II The jealous Turkie brought his corall-chain, That went to Temperance; On Justice was bestow'd the Foxe's brain, 15 Kill'd in the way by chance. At length the Crow, bringing the Peacock's plume For he would not-as they beheld the grace Of that brave gift, each one began to fume, And challenge it, as proper to his place, Till they fell out; which when the beasts espied, And if the Fox had liv'd to rule their side, They had depos'd each one. 20 Humilitie, who held the plume, at this 25 Did weep so fast, that the tears trickling down. Spoil'd all the train: then saying, 'Here it is contending 30 fined They drive them soon away; And then amerc'd them, double gifts to bring At the next session-day. 44. FRAILTIE. Lord, in my silence how do I despise What upon trust Is styled honour, riches, or fair eyes, But is fair dust! I surname them guilded clay, In all, I think my foot doth ever tread But when I view abroad both regiments, The world's and Thine, 5 governments ΙΟ Thine clad with simplenesse and sad events; The other fine, Full of glorie and gay weeds, Brave language, braver deeds,— That which was dust before doth quickly rise, O, brook not this, lest if what even now My foot did tread Affront those joyes wherewith Thou didst endow And long since wed My poore soul, ev'n sick of love, It may a Babel prove, Commodious to conquer heav'n and Thee, serious clothes 15 20 45. CONSTANCIE. Who is the honest man? He that doth still and strongly good pursue; Whose honestie is not So loose or easie, that a ruffling winde Can blow away, or glitt'ring look it blinde; Who rides his sure and even trot, While the world now rides by, now lags behinde. 5 ΙΟ Who, when great trials come, Nor seeks nor shunnes them, but doth calmly stay, All being brought into a summe, What place or person calls for he doth pay. 15 Whom none can work or wooe To use in any thing a trick or sleight, His words and works and fashion too Who never melts or thaws 20 At close tentations: when the day is done, trials His goodnesse sets not, but in dark can runne : And is their vertue, Vertue is his sunne. 25 Who, when he is to treat With sick folks, women, those whom passions sway, Allows for that, and keeps his constant way; Whom others' faults do not defeat, But though men fail him, yet his part doth play. Whom nothing can procure, When the wide world runnes bias from his will, VOL. I. 30 35 L |