Abuses Stripped and Whipped, Book · Satire 15
OF IOY.
SATYR. 15.
OF all the Passions handled hitherto,
VVith this that followes I had least to doe:
And yet by some small trials I hauehave had,
'Tis better I perceiue then being sad:
Yea 'twere the greatest blessing that might be,
Were't of it selfe, and from all combrance free:
But seldome 'tis or neuer; cause that such,
Is our estate; As if that Fa…e did grutch
The vse of simples; we almost can finde,
Nothing to pleasure vsus in it owne kind:
Neuer could any man as yet obtaine
Ioy, but there follow'd either shame or pain:
And he no question that's allowed most,
Doth deerely pay for what is quickly lost:
But now the reason why mens Ioy so soone
Is chang'd to sorrow; Is because there's none,
Or very few that doe their gladnesse found
VponUpon a sollid, firme, substantiall ground:
But on such subiects as no maruaile tho,
It doth receiue so quick an ouerthrow
And hath so sharpe a farwel: For one, Ioyes
In Dogs, Apes, Monkeis, or some such like toyes,
And when they faile, as how can they last long?
Their mirth is finish't; they must change their song.
Some in their honor all their Ioy dooe place,
But let them take good heed: for if disgrace,
Adde the least motion vntounto Fortunes wheele,
Sorrow takes place, and little Ioy they feele:
Take but away his Substance you destroy
The miserable rich mens onelyonly Ioy,
And soone by sicknesse that delight's defac't,
Which man in beauty, or in strength hath plac't:
Yea all our Ioy in transitory things
They being lost, at last a sorrow brings:
And therefore I wish men to make their choice,
Of that wherein 'twere fit for to reioyce,
And not in thinges so friuolous and vaine,
They must repent them for their Ioy againe.
Some do so firmely settle their delight
On things vnworthy that they are e'n quite
Bereft of vnderstanding when they see,
They must of them againe depriued be:
But oh you men (that hauehave your better parts,
Of an immortall frame) awake your hearts,
And from…delight in drosse, and clay, remooue
Your Ioyes; and place them vponupon thinges aboue:
So shall you still hauehave cause for to reioyce,
And not with sorrow thus repent your choyce.
Another fault I in mans Ioy espy,
Which I'le illustrate by this Simily,
Looke how those men that being calm'd at Sea,
And forc't the leasure of the winds to stay,
Halfe starud for food, once cast vponupon some shore,
Where, of prouision they are seru'd with store:
I say looke how those men by taking in,
To their weake stomacks that hauehave fasting bin
A little food; do then begin to faint;
And cause their pallates they do not acquaint,
With a spare dier, (although it wholsome be)
Through former want and their infirmity
It workes their bane; Right so it fares in this,
For he that alway in some sorrow is,
And tost vponupon the boistrous seas of care
If for his comfort he be landed there
Where Ioy abounds; His heart, where (none hath bin
Full many a day before) receiues it in,
So out of measure; that it euen makes
The Soule vnquiet, and thereby he takes
A Surfet; whose strong violence is such,
The body faints or is endanger'd much.
I need not stand on proofes for this, I trow,
Since there be many by experience know,
At sodaine telling of some newes that's good,
Diuers hauehave sencelesse and amazed stood.
Yea bin so rauisht with the Ioy they tooke,
That they hauehave e'ne their liues and all forsooke,
Though flesh be fraile, me thinkes if eu'ry man,
Would striue to curbe his nature what he can;
Armes of resistance they might better weild,
And not so basely to their Passions yeeld:
Yea it befits not him that ought to be,
At all poynts fenc't with Magnanimity,
To suffer any mischeefe to anoy
His mind, through either too much care or Ioy;
But let these passions of each other borrow,
He may be sad with Mirth and glad with Sorrow,
Much I might speake more (some perhaps wil say)
But here my Muse is now resolu'd to stay:
Yet if heereafter I hauehave Ioy in store,
If it be needfull, I wil tel you more.