Withers Motto, Section 4

Withers Motto · Section 4

Nec Careo.

ANd yet, what Want I? or who knoweth how,

I may be richer made then I am now?

Or what great Peere, or wealthy Alderman,

Bequeath, his sonne, so great a Fortune can?

I nothing want that needfull is to hauehave;

Sought I no more, then Nature bids me craue.

For; as we see, the smallest …, may

As full as greatest Glasses be; though they

Much l…sse containe: So, my small portion giues

Th… full content to me; in which he liues,

Who most possesseth: and with larger store,

I might fill others, but my selfe, no more.

I want not Temperance to rest content

With what the prouidence of God, hath lent;

Nor want I a sufficiencie, to know;

Which way to vse it, if he more bestow.

For, as when me, one horse would easier beare▪

To ride on two at once, it madnes were:

And, as when one small Bowle might quench my thirst

To lift a Vessell, that my backe might burst

Were wondrous …olly: So absurd a thing,

It were in me; should I neglect a Spring,

(Whose plenty may a Countries want supply)

To dwell by some small Poole that would be dry?

If therefore ought doe happen in the way;

Which on a iust occasion seeke I may:

I want not resolution, to make tryall;

Nor want I patience, if I hauehave deniall.

Men aske me what Preserment I hauehave gain'd?

VVhat riches, by my Studies are attain'd?

And those that fed, and fatned are with draffe

For their destruction; please themselues to laugh

At my low Fate; As if I nought had got

(For my enriching) cause they saw it not.

Alas! that Mole-ey'd issue, cannot see,

VVhat Patrimonies, are bestow'd on mee.

There is a brauer wealthinesse, then what;

They, (by aboundance) hauehave arriued at.

Had I their wealth I should not sleepe the more

Securely for it; and, were I as poore

In outward fortunes, as men Shipwrackt are;

I should (of pouerty) hauehave no more feare,

Then if I had the Riches and the powers;

Of all the Easterne Kings, and Emperors.

For, Grasse though trod into the earth may grow;

And highest Cedars, hauehave an ouerthrow.

Yea. I hauehave seene, as many begger'd by

Their fathers wealth; and much prospe i y;

As hauehave by want mis-done. And for each one,

VVhom by his riches, I aduanc't hauehave knowne;

I three could reckon, who through being poore,

HaueHave raisd their Fortunes, and their friends the more.

To what contents doe men most wealthy mount,

VVhichWhich I inioy not; if their Cares we count:

My cloathing keepes me full as warme as their,

My Meates vntounto my taste, as pleasing are.

I feed enough my hunger to suffice:

I sleep, till I my selfe, am pleasd to rise.

My Dreames as sweet, and full of quiet be:

My waking cares, as seldome trouble me.

I hauehave as oftentimes, a Sunny day:

And sport, and laugh, and sing, as well as they.

I breath as wholsome, and as sweet an Ayre;

As louing as my Mistresse, and as faire.

My body is as healthy; and I finde,

As little cause of sicknesse, in my minde.

I am as wise, I thinke, as some of those;

And oft my selfe as foolishly dispose:

For, of the wisest, I am none (as yet)

And I hauehave nigh, as little haire, as wit:

Of neither, hauehave I ought to let to farme,

Nor so much want I, as may keepe me warme.

I finde my Liuer sound, my Ioynts well knit:

Youth, and good Diet, are my Doctors yet.

Nor on Potatoes, or Eringoes feed I;

No Meates restoratiue, to raise me, need I:

N…r Amber-greece, with other things confected,

To take away the stinke, of Lungs infected,

I neu'r in need of Pothicary stood.

Or any Surgeons hand to let me blood:

For since the Rod, my Tutor hurled by,

I hauehave not medled with Phlebotomy.

As good as other mens, my senses be;

Each limbe I hauehave, as able is in me.

And whether I, as louely be, or no:

Tis ten to one, but some doe thinke me so.

The wealthiest men, no benefits possesse,

But I hauehave such; or better, in their place.

As they my low condition, can contemne;

So, I know how to fling a scorne at them.

My Fame, is yet as faire, and flies as farre,

As some mens, that with Titles laden are.

Yea, by my selfe much more I hauehave attain'd,

Then many, hauehave with helpe of others gain'd.

And my esteeme, I will not change for their,

Whose For unes are ten thousand more a yeare.

Nor want I so much grace, as to confesse;

That God is Author of this happinesse.

I want not so much iudgement, as to see

There must twixt men and men, a difference be,

And I, of those in place, account doe make,

(Though they be wicked) for good orders sake.

But I could stoope to serue them at their feet,

Where old Nobility, and Vertue meet.

To finde mine owne defects, I want not sense:

Nor want I will to grieue, for my offence.

To see my Friend misdoe, I want not eyes;

Nor LoueLove, to couer his infirmities.

I want not Spirit, if I once but know

The way be iust, and noble that I goe.

My mind's as great as theirs that greatest are;

Yet, I can make it fit the clothes I weare.

And whether I ascend, or lower fall:

I want not hope, but I preserue it shall.

I want no slanders; neither want I braine,

To scorne the Rascall humors, of the vaine

And giddy multitude, And (trust me) they

So farre vnable are to talke away

My resolution; that no more it feares

The worst their ignorance, or malice dares:

Then doth the Moone, when doggs and birds of night,

Doe barking stand, or whooting at her light.

And if this mischiefe, no way shun I could,

But that they praise me, or dispraise me would:

I rather wish, their tongues should blast my name;

Then be beholding to them for my fame.

I want nor wit, nor honesty enough

To keepe my hand, from such base Rascall stuffe,

As if a Libell: For, although I shall

Sometime let flye, at Vice in generall,

I spare particulers; No… shall a Knaue

In my Lines liue, so much as shame to hauehave.

But in his owne corruption, dye, and ro…t;

That all his memory may be forgot.

I want not so much Knowledge, as to know,

True Wisedome, lies not in a glorious …

Of humane Learning; or in being able

To …e Authority innumerable.

Nor in a new inuention. But that man,

Who make good vse of eu'ry creature can:

And from all things, that happen well, or ill,

Contentment drawes; (and keepes a Conscience still,

To witnesse his endeauors to be good)

That man is wisest; though he vnderstood

The language of no countrey but his owne,

Nor euer had he vse of Lette…s knowne.

To make faire shewes, of Honesty and Arts;

Of Knowledge and Religion, are the parts

This Age doth striue to play: but few there are,

Who truly are the same they doe appeare.

And this is that, which daily makes vsus see

So many, whom we honest thought to be,

And Wise, and learned, (while some Sceanes doe last)

Proue Fooles, and Knaucs, before their Act be past.

I want not sense, of those Mens miseries;

Who lul'd asleepe in their prosperities

Must shortly fall; and with a heauy eye

Behold their pompe, and pleasures vanish by:

And how that Mistresse they so doted on

(Their proud Vaine-glory) will with scorne be gon.

I feele me thinkes with what a drooping heart,

They, and their idle hopes, begin to part:

And with what mighty burth…ns of vnrest

Their poore distemperd soules, will be opprest.

How much they will repent I doe foresee;

How much confused, and asham'd they'l be,

And as I praise their doome; eu'n so I pray,

Their shame, and sorrow, worke their comfort may.

I want not much experiment, to show

That all is good God pleaseth to bestow;

(What shape soeuer he doth maske it in)

For all my former cares, my ioyes hauehave bin:

And I hauehave trust, that all my woes to come,

Will bring my Soule, eternall comforts home.

I doe not finde, within me, other feares;

Then what to men, of all degrres appeares.

I hauehave a conscience that is cleane within;

For, (though I guilty am of many a sinne)

A kinde redeemer, I hauehave found, and he

His Righteousnes imputeth vntounto me.

The Greatest, hauehave no Greatnes, more then I,

In bearing out a Want, or Misery.

I can aswell, to passion set a bound:

I brooke aswell the smarting of a wound.

Aswell endure I, to be hunger-bit;

Aswell can wrestle, with an ague-fit.

My eyes can wake as long as their I'me sure;

And as much cold, or heat I can endure.

Yea, let my dearest friends excused be,

From heaping scorne, or iniuries on me;

(Come all the world) and I my heart can make,

To brooke as much, before it shrinke, or breake

As theirs, that doe the noblest Titles were;

And slight as much their frown that might'st are.

For, if in me at any time appeare,

A bashfulnes (which some mistitle, feare)

It is in doubt, least I through folly may

Some things vnfitting me; or doe, or say:

But not that I am fearefull to be shent;

For dread of Men, or feare of punishment.

And yet, no faults I want; nor want in me,

Affections which in other men there be.

Asmuch I hate an inciuility;

Asmuch am taken with a Courtesie;

Asmuch abhorr I, brutish Vanities;

Asmuch allow I, Christian Liberties;

Assoone an iniury, I can perceiue;

And with as free a heart, I can forgiue.

My hand in Anger, I as well can stay;

And I dare strike as stout a man as they;

And when I know, that I amisse hauehave done;

I am as much asham'd as any one.

If my afflictions, more then others be:

I hauehave more comforts, to keepe heart in me.

I hauehave a Faith will carry me on high:

Vntill it lift me to Eternity.

I hauehave a Hope, that neither want, nor spight,

Nor grim Aduersity, shall stop this flight:

But that vndaunted, I my course shall hold,

Though twenty thousand Deuils crosse me should.

Yet (I confesse) in this my Pilgrimage,

I like some Infant am, of tender age;

For, as the Childe, who from his Father hath

Strai'd in some Groue, through many a crooked path:

Is sometime hopefull, that he findes the way;

And sometime doubtfull, he runs more astray.

Sometime, with faire, and easie paths, doth meet;

Sometime with rougher tracts, that stay his feet.

Here runnes, there goes, and you amazed stayes:

Now cryes, and straight for gets his care, and playes.

Then hearing where his louing Father calls.

Makes haste; but through a zeale il-guided, fall…;

Or runnes some other way: Vntill that He,

(Whos louelove is more, then his endeauours be)

To seeke this Wanderer foorth himselfe doth come,

And take him, in his armes, and beare him home.

So, in this Life, this Groue of ignorance;

As to my homeward, I my selfe aduance;

Sometime aright, and sometime wrong I goe;

Sometime, my pace is speedy, sometime slow;

Sometime I stagger, and sometime I fall:

Sometime I sing, sometime for helpe I call.

One while, my wayes are pleasant vntounto me;

Another while, as full of Cares they be:

Now, I hauehave Courage, and doe nothing feare,

Anon, my Spirits halfe deiected are.

I doubt, and hope, and doubt, and hope againe;

And many a change of Passions I sustaine,

In this my Iourney: So that now and then,

I lost may seeme (perhaps) to other men.

Yea, to my selfe a while, when sinnes impure,

Doe my Redeemers louelove, from me obscure.

But (whatsoe're betide) I know full well,

My Father (who aboue the Cloudes doe dwell)

An eye vponupon his wandring Childe doth cast:

And He, will fetch me, to my home at last.

For, of Gods louelove, a Witnesse want not I;

And whom He loues, He loues eternally.

I hauehave within my breast a little Heart,

Which seemes to be composed, of a part,

Of all my Friends: For, (truly) whensoe're

They suffer any thing, I feele it there.

And they no sooner a Complaint doe make,

But presently, it falls to pant, and ake.

I hauehave a LoueLove, that is as strong as Fate,

And such, as cannot be impair'd by Hate.

And (whatsoeuer the successe may proue)

I want not yet, the comforts of my LoueLove.

These, are the Iewels that doe make me rich;

These, while I doe possesse, I want not much;

And I so happy am, that still I beare,

These Riches with me: and so safe they are,

Th…t Pyrats, Robbers, no deuice of man,

Or Tyrants powre, depriue me of them can.

And were I naked, forced to exile;

More Treasure, I should carry from this Ile;

Then should be sold; though for it I might gaine,

The wealth of all America and Spaine.

For, this makes sweet my life; and when I dye,

Will bring the sleepe of Dea…h on quietly.

Yea, such as greatest pompe, in life time hauehave;

Shall finde no warmer lodging, in their Graue.

Besides; I want not many things they need,

Who Me in outward Fortunes doe exceed.

I want no Guard, or Coate of Musket proofe;

My Innocence, is guardian strong enough.

I want no Title; for, to be the Sonne,

Of the Almighty; is a glorious one:

I want no Followers: for, through Faith I see

A troup of Angels, still attending me.

Through want of Friendship, need I not repine,

For God and Goodmen, are still friends of mine.

And when I iourney to the North, the East,

The pleasant South, or to the fertile West;

I cannot want for profferd Courtesies,

As farre as our Great-Britaines Empire lies.

In eueryevery Shire, and Corner of the Land,

To welcome me, doe Houses open stand,

Of best esteeme: And Strangers to my face,

HaueHave thought me worth the Feasting, & more grac…

Then I will boast of: lest you may suspect,

That I those glories (which I scorne) affect.

Of my acquaintance were a thousand glad,

And sought it, though not wealth, nor Place I had,

For their aduantage, And, if some more high,

(Who on the multitudes of friends relye)

Had but a Fortune equall vntounto me,

Their troupe of Followers would as slender be:

And those mong whom, they now esteeme hauehave wo…,

Would scarsely thinke them, worth the looking on.

I want no Office; for (though none be voyde)

A Christian findes, he may be still employd.

I want no Pleasures, for I pleasures make,

What euer God is pleasd, I vndertake.

Companions want I not, For know, that I,

Am one, of that renown'd Societie:

Which by the Name we carry, first was knowne,

At Antioch, so many yeares agone.

And greatest Kings, themselues hauehave happy thought

Tho… …o this noble Order, they were brought.

I want not Armes, to sit me for the Field;

My Prayers, are my Sword; my Faith, my Shield:

By which, (how ere you prize them) I hauehave got,

Vnwounded, …horow twenty thousand Shot.

And with these Armes, I Heauen thinke to skale,

Though Hell the Ditch were, & more high the Wall.

A thousand other Priuiledges more,

I doe possesse; in which the world is poore.

Yea, I so long could reckon, you would grant,

That though I nothing hauehave; I nothing want.

And did the King, but know how rich I were;

I durst to pawne my Fortunes, he would sweare,

That were he not the King; I had beene Hee,

Whom he (of all men) would hauehave wisht to be.