A Satire, Text

A Satire · Text

TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY.

A Satyre.

Quid tu, sipe…eo?

VVHat once the POET said, I may avow,

Tis a hard thing not to write Satyres now,

Since what we speake, abuse raignes so in all,

Spight of our hearts will be Satyricall.

Let it not therefore now be deem…d strange,

My vnsmooth'd lines their rudenesse do not change,

Nor be distastfull to my graciou… King,

Though in the Cage, my olde harsh notes I sing,

And rudely make a Satyre here vnfold

What others would in neater tearmes hauehave told.

And why? my friends and meanes in Court are scant,

Knowledge of curious Phrase, and forme, I want.

I cannot bear't to runne my selfe in debt,

To hire the Groome, to bid the Page intreat

Some fauour'd follower; to vouchsafe his word,

To get me a colde comfort from his Lord:

I cannot sooth, though it my life might saue,

Each fauourite, nor crouch to eueryevery Knaue:

I cannot brooke delayes as some men do,

With scoffes, and scornes, and tak't in kindnesse to.

For er'e I'de binde my selfe for some slight grace

To one that hath no more worth then his place;

Orb… …base meane free my selfe from trouble,

I rather would e…ure my penance double:

Cause to be forc'd to what my minde disdaines

Is worse to me then tortures, rackes, and chaines:

And therefore vntounto thee I onelyonly flye,

To whom there needes no meane but Honesty:

To thee that lou'st not Parasite nor Minio…

Should e're I speake, possesse thee with opinion.

To thee that do'st what thou wilt vndertake▪

For louelove of Iustice, not the persons sake.

To thee that kno'wst how vaine all faire shewes be,

That flow not from the hearts sincerity.

And canst▪ though shadowed in the simplest vaile,

Discerne both LoueLove and Truth, and where they faile:

To thee doe I appeale, in whom heau'n knowes,

I next to God my confidence repose.

For can it be, thy grace should euer shine,

And not enlighten such a cause as mine?

Can my hopes (fixt in thee great KING) be dead?

Or thou those Satyres hate thy Forrests bred?

Where shall my second hopes he founded then,

If euer I hauehave heart to hope agen?

Can I suppose a fauour may be got

In any place when thy Co…rt yeel… it not?

Or that I may obtaine it in the land,

When I shall be deni'd it at thy hand?

A…d if I might, should I so fond on't be,

To tak't of other… when I miss't of thee?

Or if I did, can I hauehave comfort by it,

When I shall t…inke my So…raig…e did denie it?

No, were I sure, I to thy hate were borne,

The louelove of halfe the world beside I'de scorne.

But why should I thy fauour here distrust,

That hauehave a cause so knowne, and knowne so iust?

Which not alone my inward comfort doubles,

But all suppos'd me wrong'd that heare my troubles.

Nay, though my fault were Reall, I beleeue,

Thou art so Royall that thou wouldst forgiue.

For well I know thy sacred M…iestie,

Hath euer beene admir'd for Clemencie.

And at thy gentlene… the world hath wondred,

For making Sunshine, where thou mightst hauehave thundred.

Yea, thou in mercy life to them didst giuegive

That could not be content to see thee liue.

And can I thinke that thou wilt make me, then,

The most vnhappy of all other men?

Or le… thy loyall subiect, against reason,

Be punisht more for LoueLove, then some for Treason?

No, thou didst neuer yet thy glory staine,

With an iniustice to the meanest Swaine.

'Tis not thy will I'me wrong'd, nor dost thou know

If I hauehave suffred iniuries or no.

For if I hauehave not heard false Rumours flye,

Th'a…t grac'd me with the stile of Honesty.

And if it were so (as the world thinkes 'twas)

I cannot see how it should come to passe

That thou, from whose free tongue proceedeth nought

Which is not correspondent with thy thought.

Those thoughts to, being fram'd in Reasons mould,

Should speake that once, which should not euer hold.

But passing it as an vncertaintie,

I humbly begge thee, by that Maiestie,

Whose sacred Glory strikes a louing-feare

Into the hearts of all, to whom 'tis deare:

To deigne me so much fauour, without merit,

As reade this plaint, of a distempred spirit:

And thinke, vnlesse I saw some hideous storme

Too great to be indu…'d by such a worme,

I had not thus presum'd vntounto a King,

W…th Aesops Flye ▪ to seeke an Eagles wing.

But know I'me he that entred once the list,

Gainst all the world to play the Satyrist:

Twas I, that made my measures rough, and rude,

Daunce arm'd with whips, amid'st the multitude,

And vnappalled with my charmed Scrowles,

Teaz'… angry Monsters in their lurking holes:

I'ue plaid with Wasps, and Hornets without feares,

Till they grew mad, and swarmd about my eares.

Iu'e done it, and me thinkes 'tis such braue sport,

I may be stung, but n…re be sorry for't.

For all my griefe is, that I was so sparing▪

And had no more in't worth the name of daring.

He that will taxe these Times, must be more bitter,

Tart lines of Vinegar, and Gall are fitter▪

My fingers, and my spirits are benum'd,

My Inke runs forth too smooth, tis too much gum'd

Id'e hauehave my Pen so paint it, where it traces,

Each accent should draw bloud into their faces.

And make them, when their villanies …re blaz…d.

Shudder, and startle, as men halfe amaz…d,

For feare my verse should make so loud a din,

Heauen hearing, might raine vengeance on their sin.

Oh no… for s…ch a straine… would Art could teach it,

Though life my spirits I consum'd to reach it.

Id'e learne my Muse so braue a course to flye,

Men should admire the power of Poesie.

And those that dar'd her greatnesse to resist,

Quake, euen at naming of a Satyrist.

But when hi… sco…rging numbers flow'd with wonder,

Should cry God blesse vsus, as they did at thunder.

Alas! my lines came from me too too dully,

They did not fill a Satyres mouth vp fully.

Hot bloud, and youth, enrag'd with passion… store,

Taught me to reach a straine nere touch'd before.

But it was coldly done, I throughly chid not:

And somewhat there is yet to doe, I did not.

More soundly could my scourge hauehave yerked many,

Which I omit not, cause I feared any.

For want of action, discontentments rage,

Base dis-respect of Vertue (in this age)

With other things, vntounto my selfe a wrong,

Made me so fearelesse, in my carelesse long:

That had not reason within compasse wonne me,

I had told Truth enough to hauehave vndo…e me:

(Nay, hauehave already, if that her Diuine

And vn…eene power, can doe no more then mine.)

For though fore-seeing warinesse was good,

I fram'd my stile, vntounto a milder mood,

And clogging her thigh-towring wing… with mire,

Made her halfe earth, that was before all fire.

Then being (as you saw) disguis'd in shew,

Clad like a Satyre, brought her forth to view:

Hoping, (her out-side being mis-esteem'd)

She might hauehave passed, but for what she seem'd:

Yet some, whose Comments iumpe not with my minde

In that low phrase, a higher reach woul… finde.

And out of their deepe iudgement seeme to know,

What 'tis vncertaine if I meant or no:

Ayming thereby, out of some priuate hate,

To worke my shame, or ouerthrow my state.

For amongst many wrongs my foe doth doe me,

And diuers imputations, laid vntounto me,

Deceiued in his ayme, he doth mis-conster

That which I hauehave enstil'd a Man-like Monster,

To meane some priuate person in the state,

Whose worth, I thinke to wrong out of my hate;

Vpbraiding me I from my word doe start,

Either for want of a good Ground, or Heart,

Cause from his expectation I doe vary

In the denying of his Commentary,

Whereas 'tis knowne I meant Abuse the while,

Not thinking any one could be so vile,

To merit all those Epithites of shame.

How euer many doe deserue much blame.

But say I grant that I had an intent

To hauehave it so (as he interprets) meant,

And let my gracious Liege, suppose there were

One whom the State may hauehave some cause to feare,

Or thinke there were a man (and great in Court)

That had more faults then I could well report,

Suppose I knew him, and had gone about

By some particular markes to paint him out,

That he best knowing his owne faults might see,

He was the Man I would should noted be:

Imagine now such doings in this Age,

And that this man so pointed at should rage,

Call me in question, and by his much threatning,

By long imprisonment, and ill intreating,

Vrge a Confession: wer't not a mad part

For me to tell him what lay in my heart?

Doe not I know a great mans Power and Might,

I… spight of Innocence, can smother Right.

Colour his Villanies, to get esteeme,

And make the Honest man the Villaine seeme?

And that the truth I told should in conclusion▪

For want of Power, and Friends, be my confusion?

I know it, and the world doth know 'tis true;

Yet…I protest, if such a man I knew,

That might my Countrey preiudice, or Thee,

Were he the greatest, or the proudest Hoe

That breathes this day: if so it might be found,

That any good to either might redound,

So farre I'le be (though Fate against me run)

From starting off, from that I hauehave begun,

I vn-appalled dare in such a case

Rip vp his foulest Crimes before his face,

Though for my Labour I were sure to drop

Into the mouth of Ruine without hope.

But such strange farre-fetcht meanings they hauehave sought,

As I was neuer priuy to in thought:

And that vntounto particulars would tye

Which I intended vniuersally.

Whereat some, with displeasure ouer-gone,

Those I scarce dream'd of, saw, or thought vponupon▪

Maugre those caueats, on my Satyres brow,

Their honest, and iust passage disallow.

And on their heads so many censures rake,

That spight of me, themselues they'le guilty make.

Nor is't enough to swage their discontent,

To say I am (or to be) Innocent.

For as, when once the Lyon made decree▪

No horned beast should nigh his presence be,

That, on whose fore-head onelyonly did appeare,

A bunch of flesh, or but some tuft of haire,

Was euen as farre in danger as the rest,

If he but said, it was a horned beast:

So, there be now, who thinke in that their power,

Is of much force, or greater farre then our;

It is enough to proue a guilt in me▪

Because (mistaking) they so think't to be.

Yet'tis my comfort, they are not so high▪

But they must stoope to thee and equity.

And this I know, though prick't, they storme agen

The world doth deeme them ne're the better men.

To stirre in filth, makes not the stench the lesse,

Nor doth Truth feare the frowne of Mightinesse.

Because those numbers she doth deigne to grace,

Men may suppresse a while, but ne're to deface.

I wonder, and 'tis wondred at by many,

My harmelesse lines should br…ed distaste in any:

So much, that whereas most good men approue,

My labour to be wo…thy thankes, and louelove;

I as a …illaine, and my Countries foe,

Should be imprison'd, and so strictly to,

That not alone my liberty is bar'd,

But the resort of friends (which is more hard▪).

And whil'st each wanton, or loose Rimers pen,

With oily words, sleekes o're the sinnes of men,

V…iling his wits to eueryevery Puppets becke,

Which e're I'le doe, I'le ioy to breake my necke.

(I say) while such as they in eueryevery place

Can finde protection, patronage and grace;

If any looke on me, 'tis bu… a skaunce,

Or if I get a fauour, 'tis by chaunce.

I must protect my selfe: poore Truth and I,

Can hauehave scarce one speake for our Honesty.

Then whereas they, can gold, and gifts attaine,

Malitious Hate, and Enuie is my gaine.

And not alone hauehave here my freedome lost,

Whereby my best hope's likely to be crost:

But hauehave beene put to more charge in one day

Then all my Patrons bounties yet will pay.

What I hauehave done was not for thirst of gaine,

Or out of hope preferments to attaine.

Since to contemne them, would more profit me,

Then all the glories in the world that be:

Yet they are helps to Vertue, vs'd aright,

And when they wanting be, she wants her might.

For Eagles mindes ne're f…t a Rauens fea…her,

To dare, and to be able, sute together.

But what is't I hauehave done so worthy bla…e,

That some so eagerly pursue my fame?

Vouchsafe to view't with thine owne eyes, and try

(Saue want of Art) what fault thou canst espy.

I hauehave not sought to scandalize the State,

Nor sowne sedition, nor made publicke bate.

I hauehave not aym'd at any good mans fame,

Nor taxt (directly) any one by name.

I am not he that am growne discontent

With the Religion, or the Gouernment.

I meant no Ceremonies to protect,

Nor do… I fa…our any new-sprung sect;

But to my Satyres gaue this onelyonly warrant,

To apprehend and punish Vice apparant.

Who ayming in particular at none,

In generall vpbraided eueryevery one:

That each (vnshamed of himselfe) might view

That in himselfe, which no man dares to shew.

And hath this Age bred vp neat Vice so tenderly

She cannot brooke it to be touch'd so sl…nderly?

Will she not bide my gentle Satyres bites?

Harme take her then, what makes she in their sights?

If with impatience she my Whip-cord feele,

How had she raged at my lash of Steele?

But am I call'd in question for her c…use,

Is't Vice that these afflictions on me drawes?

And neede I now thus to Apologize▪

OnelyOnly because I scourged villanies?

Must I be faine to giuegive a reason why,

And how I dare, allow of Honesty?

Whilst that each fl…ering Parasite is bold

Thy Royall brow vndaunted to behold:

And eueryevery Temporizer strike… a string,

That's musicke for the hearing of a King.

Shall not he reach out, to obtaine as much,

Who dares more for thee then a hundred such?

Heauen grant her patience, my Muse takes't so badly,

I feare sheel'… loose her wits, for she raues madly.

Yet let not my dread Soueraigne too much blame h…r

Whose awfull presenc…, now hath made her tam…r.

For if there be no Fly but hath her spleene,

Nor a poore Pismire, but will wreake her teene;

How shall I then, that hauehave both spleene, and gall,

Being vniustly d…alt with, beare with all?

I yet with patience take what I hauehave borne,

And all the worlds ensuing hate can scorne:

But 'twere in me as much stupidity,

Not to hauehave feeling of an iniury,

As it were weaknesse not to brooke it well.

What others therefore thinke I cannot tell;

But he that's lesse then madde, is more then Man,

Who sees when he hath done the best he can

To keepe within the bounds of Innocence:

Sought to discharge his due to God and Prince:

That he, whil'st villanies vnreproued goe,

Scoffing, to see him ouer-taken so,

Should hauehave his good intendments misconce…'d,

Be of his dearest liberty bereau'd;

And which is worse; without reason why,

Be frown'd on by Authorities grim eye.

By that great power my soule so much doth feare,

She scornes the stearn'st frownes of a mortall Peere.

But that I Vertue louelove, for her owne sake,

It were enough to make me vndertake

To speake as much in praise of Vice agen,

And practise some to plague these shames of me…,

I meane those my Ac…us…rs, who mistaking

My true conceit…, frame some of their owne making▪

But if I list, I neede not buy so dee…e,

The iust reuenge I could bring on them here.

I could frame measures in this my iust fury,

Should sooner finde them guilty then a Iury:

Whose …ords, like swords (tempred with Art) should pierce

And hang, and draw, & quarter them in verse.

Or I could racke them on the wings of Fame,

(And he's halfe hang'd (they say) hath an ill name,)

Yea Id'e goe neere to make these spightfull Elues,

Lyca…bes-like, be glad to hang themselues.

And though this Age will not abide to heare

Those faults reprou'd, vvhom custome hath made deare.

Y…t if I pleased, I could write their crimes,

And stone them vp in walles for after-times:

For theyl'e be glad (perhaps) that shall ensue,

To see some story of their Fathers true.

Or should I smother'd be in darknesse still,

I might not vse the freedome of a quill:

'T would raise vp brauer spirits then my owne,

To make my cause, and this their guilt more knowne.

Who by that subiect should get LoueLove, and Fame,

VntoUnto my foes disgrace, and endlesse shame:

Those I do mean, whose Comments hauehave mis-vs'd me,

And to those Peeres I honour, hauehave accus'd me:

Making against my Innocence their batteries,

And wronging them by their base fl…tteries:

But of reuenge I am not yet so faine,

To put my selfe vntounto that needlesse paine:

Because I know a greater power there is,

That noteth smaller iniuries then this;

And being still as iust as it is strong,

Apportions due reuenge for eueryevery wrong.

But why (say some) should his too saucy Rimes,

Thus t…xe the wise and great ones of our times?

It su…es not with his yeares to be so bould,

Nor fits it vsus, by him to be contrould.

I must confesse ('…is very true indeede)

Such should not of controuling stand in neede▪

But blame not me, I saw good Ver…ue poore,

Desert, amongst the most, thrust out of doore,

Honestie hated, Curtesie banished,

Rich men excessiue, Poore men famished:

Coldnesse in Zeale, in Lawes much partiality;

Friendship, but Complement, and vaine Formality.

Art I perceiue contemn'd, while most aduance

(To Offices of worth) Rich Ig…orance.

And those that should our Lights and Teachers be,

Liue (if not worse) as wantonly as we.

Yea I saw Natur…, from her course runne backe,

Disorders grow, Good orders goe to wracke.

So to encrease what all the rest began,

I to this current of confu…io… ran.

And seeing Age left off the place of guiding,

Thus plaid the sawcy wagge, and fell to chiding.

Wherein, how euer some (perhaps) may deeme,

I am not so much faulty as I seeme:

For when the Elders wrong'd Susannaes honor,

And none withstood the shame they laid vponupon her;

A Childe rose vp to stand in her defence,

And spight of wrong, confirm'd her innocence:

To shew those must not, that good vndertake,

Straine curtsey, who shall doe't, for manners sake.

Nor doe I know, whether to me God gaue,

A boldnesse more then many other hauehave,

That I might shew the world what shamefull blot

Vertue by her lasciuious Elders got.

Nor is't a wonder, as some doe suppose,

My Youth so much corruption can disclose;

Since eueryevery day the Sunne doth light mine eyes,

I hauehave experience of new villanies:

But it is rath…r to be wondred how,

I either can, or dare, be honest now.

And though againe there be some others rage▪

That I should dare (so much aboue mine age)

Thus censure each degree, both yong and old,

I see not wherein I am ouer-bold.

For if I hauehave beene plaine with Vice I care not,

There'… nought that I know good, & can, & dare not▪

OnelyOnly this one thing doth my minde deterre,

Euen a feare (through ignorance) to erre.

But oh knew I, what thou would'st well approue,

Or might the small'st respect within thee moue;

So in the sight of God it might be good,

And with the quiet of my conscience stood,

(As well I know thy true integrity,

Would command nothing against Piety,)

There's nought so dangerous, or full of feare,

That for my Soueraignes sake I would not dare.

Which good beliefe would it did not possesse thee;

Prouided some iust tri…ll might re-blesse me:

Yea, though a while I did endure the gall

Of thy displeasure, in this loathsome thrall.

For notwithstanding in this place I lye

…y the command of that Authority,

Of which I hauehave so much respectiue care,

That in my owne (and iust) defence I feare

To vse the free speech that I doe intend,

Least Ignorance, or Rashnesse should offend.

Yet is my meaning and my thought a…free,

From wilfull wronging of thy Lawes or thee ▪

A… he to whom thy Place or Person's dearest,

Or to himselfe that findes his conscience clearest.

If there be wrong, 'tis not my making it,

All the offence i… some's mistaking it.

And is there any Iustice borne of late,

Makes those faults mine, which others perpetrate?

What man could euer any Age yet finde

That spent his Spirits in this thanklesse kinde

Shewing his meaning, to such words could tye it▪

That none should either wrong▪ or mis-apply it?

Nay, your owne Lawes, which (as you doe intend)

In plain'st and most effectuall words are pend,

Cannot be fram'd so well to your intent,

But some there be will erre from what you meant.

And yet (alas) must I be ty'd vntounto

What neuer any man before could doe?

Must all I speake, or write, so well be done,

That none may picke more meanings thence then one?

Then all the world (I hope) will leaue dis-vnion.

And eueryevery man become of one opinion.

But if some may, what care so ere we tak…

Diuers constructions of our writings make

The charitable Reader should conceaue

The best intentions mine, and others leaue:

Chiefly in that, where I fore-hand protest,

My meaning euer was the honestest.

And if I say so, what is he may know

So much as to affirme it was not so?

Sit other men so neere my thought to show it?

Or is my heart so open that all know it?

Sure if it were, they would no such things see,

As those whereof some hauehave accused me.

But I am carelesse how't be vnderstood,

Because the Heauens know my intent was good.

And if it be so, that my too free Rimes

Doe much displease the world, and these bad times;

Tis not my fault, for had I beene imploy'd

In something else, all this had now beene voyd.

Or if the world would but hauehave granted me

Wealth, or Affaires, whereon to busie me,

I now vnheard of, peraduenture than,

Had beene as mute as some rich Cleargie-man.

But they are much deceiu'd that thinke my minde

Will e're be still, while it can doing finde,

Or that vntounto the world so much it leanes,

As to be curtold for default of meanes.

No, though most be, all Spirits are not earth,

Nor suiting with the fortunes of their birth,

My body's subiect vntounto many powers,

But my soule'… free, as is the Emperours:

And though to curbe her in, I oft assay,

She'le breake in't action spight of durt and cl…y.

And is't not better then, to take this course,

Then f…ll to study mischiefes, and doe worse?

I say she must hauehave action, and she shall:

For if she will, how can I doe withall?

And let those that or'e-busie thinke me▪ know,

He made me, that knew why he made me so.

And though there's some that say, my thoughts doe flye

A pitch beyond my states sufficiency;

My humble minde, I giuegive my Sauiour thanke,

Aspires nought yet, aboue my fortunes ranke.

But say it did, wil't not befit a man,

To raise his thoughts as neere Heau'n as he can?

Mu…t the free Spirit ty'de and curbed be,

A…o…ding to the bodies pouerty?

Or can it euer be so subiect to

Base Change, to rise and fall, as fortunes doe?

Men borne to Noble meanes and vulgar minde…

Enioy their wealth, and there's no Law that bindes

Such to abate their substance, though their Pa…es

Want Braine, and they Worth, to possesse their states▪

So God to some, doth onelyonly great mindes giuegive,

And little other meanes whereon to liue.

What law, or conscience, then shal make thē smother

Their Spirit, which is their life, more then other

T'abate their substance? since if 'twere confest,

That a braue minde could euer be supprest,

Were't reason any should himselfe depriue

Of what the whole world hath not power to giuegive?

Since wealth is common, and fooles get it to,

When to giuegive spirit's more then Kings can doe?

I speake not this, because I thinke there be,

More then the ordinariest gifts in me;

But against those who thinke I doe presume

On more then doth befit me to assume,

Or would hauehave all, whom Fortune barres from store,

Make themselues wretched, as she makes them poore.

And cause in outward things she is vnkinde,

Smother the matchlesse blessings of their minde:

Whereas (although her fauours doe forsake them)

Their mindes are richer then the world can make thē.

Why should a good attempt disgraced seeme,

Because the person is of meane esteeme?

Vertue's a chaste Queene, and yet doth not scor…e

To be embrac'd by him that's meanest borne.

She is the prop, that Maiesties support,

Yet one whom Slaues as well as Kings may Court.

She loueth all that beare affection to her,

And yeelds to any that hath heart to wooe her.

So Vice, how high so e're she be in place,

Is that which Groomes may spit at, in d…sgrace.

She is a strumpet, and may be abhorr'd,

Yea spu…n'd at, in the bosome of a Lord.

Yet had I spoke her faire, I had b…ene free,

As many others of her Louers be.

If her escapes I had not chanc'd to tell,

I might hauehave be…ne a villaine, and done well.

Gotten some speciall fauour, and not sate

As now I doe, shut vp within a grate.

Or if I could hauehave hap't on some loose straine▪

That might hauehave pleas'd the wanton readers vaine:

Or but claw'd Pride, I now had beene vnblam'd:

(Or else at least there's some would not hauehave sham'd

To plead my cause:) but see my fatall curse,

Sure I was either madde, or somewhat worse:

For I saw Vices followers brauely kept,

In Silkes they walk'…, on beds of Downe they slept

Richly they fed, on d…inties euermore,

They had their pleasure, they had all things store,

(Whil'st Vertue …egg'd) yea fauours had so many,

I knew they brook't not to be touch'd of any:

Yet could not I, like othe… men, be wise,

Nor learne for all this, how to temporize;

But must (with too much honesty made blinde)

Vpbraid this loued darling of mankinde;

Whereas I might hauehave better thriu'd by fayning,

Or if I could not choose but be complayning,

More safe I might hauehave rail'd on Vertue sure,

Because her louers, and her friends are fewer,

I might hauehave brought some other thing to passe,

Made Fidlers Song…, or Ba…lets, like an Asse.

Or any thing almost indeed but this,

Yet since 'tis thus, Im'e glad 'tis …o amisse;

Because If I am guilty of a crime,

'Tis that, wherein the best of eueryevery time,

Hath beene found faulty (if they faulty be)

That doe reproue Abuse and Villanie.

For what I'me tax't, I can examples show,

In such old Authors as this s…ate alow.

And I would faine once learne a reason why

They can hauehave kinder vsage here then I.

I muse men doe not now in question call,

Seneca, Horace, Perseus, Iuvenall.

And such as they; Or why did not that Age

In which they liued, put them in a Cage?

If I should say that men were iuster then,

I should neere hand, be made vnsay't agen.

And therefore sure I thinke I were as good

Leaue it to others to be vnderstood;

Yet I as well may speake as deeme amisse,

F…r such this Ages curious cunning is

I scarcely dare to let my heart thinke ought,

For there be those will seeme to know my thought,

Who may out-face me that I thinke awry,

When there's no witnesse but my Conscience by.

And then I likely am as ill to speede,

As if I spake or did amisse indeede,

Yet l…ast those who (perhaps) may malice this

Interpret also these few lines amisse,

Let them that after thee shall read or heare,

From a rash censure of my thoughts forbeare.

Let them not mold the sense that this containes

According to the forming of their braines,

Or thinke I dare, or can, here taxe those Peeres,

Whose Worths their Honours to my soule endeares,

(Those by whose loued-fear'd Authority)

I am restrained of my liberty:

For least there yet may be a man so ill,

To haunt my lines with his blacke Comment still,

(In hope my lucke againe may be so good,

To hauehave my words once rightly vnderstood)

This I protest, that I doe not condemne

Ought as v…iust that hath beene done by them;

For though my honest h…rt not guilty be,

Of the lea…t thought, that may disparage me,

Yet …hen such men as I, shall hauehave such foes,

Accuse me of such crimes, to such as those,

Till I had meanes my Innocence to show,

Their Iustice could hauehave done no lesse then so.

Nor hauehave I such a proud-conceited wit,

Or selfe-opinion of my knowledge yet,

To thinke it …ay not be that I hauehave run

VponUpon some Errors in what I hauehave done,

Worthy this punishment which I endure,

(I say I cannot so my selfe assure)

For 'tis no wonder if their Wisedomes can,

Discouer Impe…fections in a man

So weake a… I▪ (more then himselfe doth see,

Since my sight, dull with insufficiencie,

In men more graue and wiser fa…re then I,

Innumerable Errors doth espy,

Which they with all their knowledge I'le be bold.

Can…ot, or will not, in themselues behold)

But ere I will my selfe accuse my Song,

O… keepe a Tongue shall doe my Heart that wrong

To say I willingly in what I pe…d

Did ought which might a Goods mans …ight offend,

Or with my knowledge did insert one word,

That might disparage a true Honour'd Lord ▪

Let it be in my mouth a helplesse sore,

And neuer speake to be beleeued more.

But man irresolute is, vnconstant, weake,

And doth his purpose oft through frailty breake▪

Least therefore I by force hereafter m…y

Be brought from this minde, and these words vnsay▪

Here to the world I doe proclaime before,

…ere my resolution be so poore,

'Tis no… the Right, but Might that makes me doe it,

Yea nought but fearefull basenesse brings me to it,

Which i… I still hate, as I now detest,

Neuer can come to ha…bour in my brest.

Thus my fault then (if they a fault imply)

Is not alone an ill vnwillingly,

But also, might I know it, I intend,

Not onelyonly to acknowledge, but amend:

Hoping that thou wilt not be so seuere,

To punish me aboue all other here.

But for m'intents sake, and my louelove to Truth,

Impute my Errors to the heate of Youth ▪

Or rather Ignorance, then to my W…ll,

Which sure I am was good, what e're be …ll,

And like to him now, in whose place thou art,

What e're the resdue be, accept the Heart.

But I grow tedious, and my louelove abus'd

Disturbs my thoughts, and makes my lines confus'd:

Yet pardon me, and daigne a gracious ey…

On this my rude vnfill'd Apologie.

Let not the bluntnesse of my phrase offend,

Weigh but the matter ▪ and not how 'tis pend.

By these abrupt lines in my iust defence,

Iudge what I might say, for my innocence.

And thinke I more could speake, that here I spare,

Becau…e my power …uites not to what I dare.

My vnaff…ct…d stile re…aynes (you see)

Her old Frize Cloake of yo…ng Rusticitie ▪

If others will vsus… nea…er tea…m…, they may,

Ruder I am yet louelove as well as they.

And (though if I would smooth't I cannot doo't)

My humble heart I bend beneath thy foot:

While here my Muse her discontent do…h sing

To thee her great Apollo, and my King:

Emploring thee by that high sacred Name,

By Iustice, by those powers that I could name:

By whatsoe're may moue, entreate I thee,

To be what thou art vntounto all, to m….

I feare it not, yet giuegive me leaue to pray,

I may hauehave foes whose power doth beare such sway,

If they but say I'me guilty of offence,

'Twere vaine for me to pleade my innocence.

But as the name of God thou bear'st, I trust

Thou imitat'st him to, in being iust:

That when the right of truth thou com'st to scan,

Thoul't not respect the person of the man:

For if thou doe, then is my hope vndone,

The headlong way to ruine I must runne.

For whil…t that they hauehave all the helpes which may

Procure their pleasure with my soone decay▪

How is it like that I my peace can win me,

When all the ayde I hauehave, comes from with… me?

Therefore (good King) that mak'st thy bounty shine

Sometime on those whose worths are small as mine;

Oh saue me now from Enui… dangerous s…elfe,

Or make me able, and I'le saue my selfe.

Let not the want of that make me a scorne,

To which there are more Fool… then Wise-men borne.

Let me not for my Meannesse be despi…'d,

Nor others greatnesse make th…ir words more priz'd.

For whatsoe're my outward Fate appeares,

My Soule's as g…od, my Heart as great as their….

My louelove vntounto my Country an… to thee,

As much as his that more would seeme to be.

And would this Age allow but meanes to show it,

Those that misdoubt…, …hould …re long time know it.

Pitty my youth then, and let me not lye

Wasting my time in fruitlesse misery.

Though I am meane, I may be borne vntounto

That seruice which another cannot doe.

In vaine the little Mouse the Lyon spar'd not,

She did him pleasure when a greater dar'd not.

If ought that I hauehave done, doe thee displease,

Thy misconceiued wrath I will appease:

Or sacrifice my heart; but why should I

Suffer for God knowes whom, I know not why?

If that my words through somes mist…ke offends,

Let them conceiue them right, and make amends.

Or were I guilty of offence indeede,

One fault (they say) doth but one pardon neede.

Yet one I had, and now I want one more:

For once I stood accus'd for this before.

As I …emember I so long agon,

S…ng Thame, and Rhy…es Epithalamion.

When SHE that from thy Royall selfe deriue…,

Those gracious vertues that best Title giues.

She that makes Rhyne proud of her excellence,

And me oft minde her here with reuerence;

Daign'd in her great-good nature to encline

Her gentle eare to such a cause a… mine;

And which is more, vouchsaf't her word to cleare

Me from all dangers (if there any were)

So that I doe not now intreat, or sue

For any great boone, or request that's new▪

But onelyonly this, (though absent from the Land)

Her former fauour still in force might stand:

And that her word (who present was so deere)

Might be as powerfull, as when she was heere.

Which if I finde, and with thy fauour may

HaueHave leaue to shake my loathed bands away,

(As I doe hope I shall) and be set free

From all the troubles this hath brought on me,

I'le make her Name giuegive life vntounto a Song,

Whose neuer-dying note shall last as long

As there is either Riuer, Groue, or Spring,

Or Downe, for Sheepe, or Shepheards Lad to sing.

Yea, I will teach my Muse to touch a straine,

That was nere reach't to yet by any Swaine.

For though that many deeme my yeares vnri…e,

Yet I …aue learn'd to tune an Oaten pipe,

Whereon I'le try what musicke I can make me,

(Vntill Bellona …with her Trumpe awake me.)

And since the world will not hauehave Vice thus shown…,

By blazing Vertue I will make it knowne.

Th…n if the Court will not my lines approue,

I'le goe vntounto some Mountaine, or thicke Groue:

There to my fellow Shepheards will I sing,

Tuni…g my Reed, vntounto some dancing Spring,

In such a note, that none should dare to trouble it,

Till th… Hil…es ans…ere, and th… Woods redouble it.

And peraduenture I may then goe nere

To speake of something thoul't be pleasd'd to heare:

And that which those who now my tunes abhorre,

Shall reade, and like, and daigne to louelove me for.

But the meane while, oh passe not thi… suite by,

Let thy free hand signe me my liberty:

And if my louelove may moue thee more to do,

Good King consider this my trouble to.

Others hauehave found thy fauour in distre…se,

Whose louelove to thee and thine I thinke was lesse

And I might fitter for thy ser…ice liue,

On what would not be much for thee to giuegive.

And yet I aske it not for that I feare

The outward meanes of life should fa…e me here▪

For though I want to compa…se those good …n…s

I ayme at for my Countrey and my Friends.

In this poore state I can as well content me,

As if that I had Wealth and Honours lent me;

Nor for my owne sake doe I seeke to shunne

This thraldome, wherein now I seeme vndone:

For though I prize my Freedome more then Gold,

And vse the meanes to free my selfe from hold,

Yet with a minde (I hope) vnchang…d and free,

Here can I liue and play with misery:

Yea in despight of want and slauery,

Laugh at the world in all her brauery,

Here hauehave I learn'd to make my greatest Wrong…

Matter of Mirth, and subiects but for Songs.

Here can I smile to see my selfe neglected,

And how the meane mans sute is disrespected,

Whil'st those that are more rich, and better friended,

Can hauehave twice greater faults thrice sooner ended.

All this, yea more, I see and suffer to,

Yet liue content, midst discontents I do,

Which whil'st I can, it is all one to me,

Whether in Prison or abroad it be:

For should I still lye here distrest and poore,

It shall not make me breath a sigh the mor…;

Since to my selfe it is indifferent

Where the small remnant of my dayes be spent,

But for Thy sake, my Countries, and my Friends,

For whom more then my selfe God this life lends,

I would not, could I helpe it, be a scorne,

But l…ue (if I might) free, as I was borne:

Or rather for good Bell-arete's sake,

Fa…e Ver… of …hom most account I make,

If I can chuse, I will not be deba…'d,

In this last action, least She be disgrac'd.

For 'twas the louelove of her that brought me to

What Spleene nor Enuie could not make me do,

And if her seruants be no more regarded,

If enemies of Vice be thus rewarded,

And I should also Vertues wrongs conceale,

As if none liu'd to whom she dar'd appeale:

Will they that doe not yet her worth approue,

Be euer drawne to entertaine her louelove,

When they …all see hi… plagu'd as an Offender,

Who for the louelove he beares her, doth commend her?

This may to others more offensi…e be,

Then preiudiciall any way to me:

For who will his endeuours euer bend

To follow her, whom there is …one will friend?

Some I doe hope there be that nothing may

From louelove of Truth and Honesty dismay.

But who will euer seeing my hard Fortune,

The remedy of Times Abuse importune?

Who will againe when they hauehave smother'd me,

Dart to oppose the face of Villany?

Whereas he shall not onelyonly vndertake

A Combate with a second Lernean Snake,

Whose euer-growing heads when as he crops,

Not onelyonly two Springs, for each one he lops,

But also he shall see in midst of danger…,

Those he thought friends turn foes, or at lea… stranger….

More I could speake, but sure if this doe …aile me,

I neuer shall doe ought that will a…a…e me,

Nor c…re to speake againe, vnlesse it be

To him that knowes how Heart and Words agre…,

No, nor to liue when none dares vndertake

To speake one word for honest Vertues sake.

But let his will be done, that best knowes what

Will be my future good, and what will not.

Hap well or ill, my spotlesse meaning's faire,

And for thee, this shall euer be my prayer,

That thou may'st here enioy a long-blest Raig…e,

And dying, be in Heauen Re-crown'd againe.

SO now if thou hast daign'd my Lines to heare,

There's nothing can befall me that I feare:

For if thou hast compassion on my trouble,

The Ioy I shall receiue will be made double;

And if I fall, it may some Glory be,

That none but IOVE himselfe did ruine me.

Your MAIESTIES most loyall Subiect, and yet Prisoner in the Marshals…y. GEO. WYTHER.

End of the text · George Wither, A Satire (1614)