Passion and Discretion in Youth and Age, Dedication 1 – To the reader 2

Passion and Discretion in Youth and Age · Dedication 1 – To the reader 2

PASSION AND DISCRETION, IN YOVTH, AND AGE.

Here in… plaine, and moſt familiar kind:

You may behold a Combat in the Minde:

Mans differing motions are the jar in queſtion.

The Combatants are Paſſion; and Diſcretion

Each ſtriving to be chiefe in the deſire.

Or, if you pleaſe …ſtraine it any higher,

Then here you, partly, may behold the ſtrife

Be… the Fleſh, and Spirit in this Life,

LONDON, Printed by T. & R. Cotes, for Francis Grove, dwelling on Snow-hill, neere the Sanazens head, without New-gate. 1641.

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE, AND TRVLY VERTVOVS LADY TEMPERANCE

MOſt vertuous Lady, yea, Vertue it ſelfe, under whoſe protection to endeavour is moſt ſafe: and therefore that is here my moſt humble ſuite. I have, as inſues, taken in hand to inſiſt upon, or rather to deale with moſt peremptory, ſtout, and turbulent Paſſions. My incounter with ſuch, being countenanced by your ſelfe, ſhall minde the more happy ſucceſſe. Which favour, deare Lady, ſhall for ever prove my incouragement, and approve your courteſie, under the ſhadow of whoſe wing I ſhall be ſheltred as I walke, from all the ſearching heat, of accuſing hatred; iſſuing forth the infernall furnace of detraction.

Thus farre preſuming, it is, doubtleſſe, my duty, to vow you my ſervice: in the performance of which, where I ſhall faile in act, I truſt to fulfill it in deſire, and for ever reſt.

Your Honours to Command, So long as mine owne to obey: Edward Calver.

IF men here muſe, or faine would know my minde,

Why thus I ſeeme to invocate the winde:

To anſwer ſuch, tis not becauſe I ſee

Men, like the winde, or more inconſtant be:

But rather that, what errours here are ſhowne,

The blame of them may thus be all mine owne.

For tis unfit that Infants, miſ-begot,

Should Father'd be by ſuch as faulted not.

But if my gentle Patron can inſpire,

Then here imagine my intent is higher,

For then ſhe may ſuch heavenly favours ſhow

As earthly Patrons have not to beſtow.

But if theſe fully anſwer not the queſtion,

Then this I did to imitate the faſhion.

To the Courteous Reader.

REad friends and welcome, you I doe requeſt:

Here's nothing ill, to ſuch as ill deteſt.

Your ſtomackes doe not ſurfet with your meate,

And therefore will not caſt up what you eate.

Here you may take a taſte, though not be fil'd,

Of ſuch plaine dyet as my ſtore doth yeeld:

Meere ſimples, or meere ſimple, if you will:

But you, I know, will cenſure not ſo ill:

And therefore to your taſte, and ſtomacke both,

I doe preſent theſe diſhes comming forth.

To the Captious Reader.

VVHat, ſhall I bid thee read, and welcome? no,

It never was intended ſo by me:

I have no reaſon to invite my foe:

I made this for my Friend, and not for thee.

But, if, grim Momus, it comes ſo to paſſe

That thou ſhalt read this, and deride it then,

Or flout, or ſcoffe, what need I care? alas,

Tis but the uſe thou giv'ſt to other men:

Nay, tis thy Language, and for it, I hark;

Curres can afford no fairer ſpeech than barke.