Epigrams, Title page – Translator to the reader
EPIGRAMS OF That most wittie and worthie Epigrammatist Mr. IOHN OWEN, Gentleman. Translated by IOHN VICARS.
Epig. 233. Lib. Singu.
Authours hauehave Auctours of Good-Name or Shame, As Readers Lookes to Writers Bookes doe frame.
LONDON, Printed by W. S. for Iohn Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his Shop in S. Dunstanes Church-yard vnderunder the Dyall▪ 1619.
TO THE MOST HIGH, HOPEFVLL and Happy CHARLES, Prince of Wales.
Epig. 7. Lib. Ter. Priorum Sex.
GReat Britaines great Hope, Parents sprouting Vin
Fathers and Mothers Halfe, by Princely Line,
Wel-nigh vn-pattern'd Patterne of rare Parts,
Whō, though Few equall, All LoueLove in their harts:
These Princely Parts, whence had they this great growth
From Fathers Loines or Mothers Paps? From Both.
Be still, (as th' art) Parents Idea right;
Let none thee equall in such Princely Light:
That being Vertues Prince and Principall,
Heauen may Thee Blesse with Blisse Angelicall,
Most heartily desireth your Graces most humbly Deuoted, IOHN VICARS.
THE TRANSLATOR to the most Worthy and weldeseruing Author.
TRue Imitation of mens worthy Deedes
From LoueLove of them (as I suppose) proceedes:
Yet many-times Ambitious Emulation
May in such Actions staine True Imitation.
But vntounto me, LoueLove was the Golden-Spurre,
If otherwise, I might iust shame incurre:
For what I should I could not; what I could
I heere hauehave done, though farre from what I would.
Thy wit therefore braue Epigramatist,
To prayse condignely, in me can't consist.
Yet that I *Epig. 2. Lib. Pri.may not Enuious bee deem'd,
Not caring though I be a Foole esteem'd.
Some thus I Prayse, and thus their praise doe write,
I'le none Disprayse, most vndone passe my might.
Excuse heerein (kind Sir) what's Mis-committed,
And pardon mee, if ought be Ill-omitted.
Thine in the vnlimited limits of LoueLove, IO. VICARS.
To the Courteous Readers.
ANtèus-like I long hauehave fought a fight:
But, find in conflict a Superiour might.
Oft hauehave I wrastled, but still foild and fell'd
By▪ my Competitor am farre excell'd.
Witnesse my weaknesse in this last assault,
Forc'd heere and there to tyre, retyre and hault.
And marueile not, (kind Readers) though I sweat,
Hauing to doe with this Alcides great.
Whose Policie and Power I hauehave found such,
As ere to equallize is too-too-much:
But heer's my comfort, though those Champions fought
With Ire most dire to th'Death to fight it out,
Yet our Contention is with sweet desire,
My Authors LoueLove and Thine how to acquire:
Which if I gaine, as tis my Hope I shall,
I'le not thus flie, but trie another fall.
Thine I. V.
EPIGRAMS. To the Prince.
I, Not for Fashion, but for Fauours sake,
From Thee Prime Prince my Proeme here do take.