Verses to the Kings Majesty, Text
VERSES Intended to the King's Majeſty, BY Major GEORGE WITHER, Whilſt he was Priſoner in NEVVGATE: Which being found Written with his own Hand, among his looſe Papers, ſince his Commitment cloſe Priſoner to the TOVVER, Are now Publiſhed, as pertinent both to his MAJESTY, and to Him.
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1662.
VERSES intended to the KINGS MAJESTY, by Maj. Geo. Wither, when he was Priſoner in Newgate; and found among other looſe Papers, written with his own hand.
SIR, though I neither of your Grace deſpair,
Nor lack ſufficient Faith, to make a Prayr
In Court: yet, wanting means to proſecute,
I'le trouble you at this time, with no Suit;
But, treat of ſomewhat, that no more will coſt,
Save Labour, which I many times have loſt,
And, thereby, not been made a jot the worſe,
Either in mind, in body, or in purſe.
When Rebels did King Davids flight conſtrain,
And, GOD was pleaſ'd to bring him home again,
They, who to drive him out, had forwardſt been,
Made haſt to joyn with thoſe who brought him in.
And, he, with GOD, in Mercy ſo comply'd,
That, not one man for that Rebellion dy'd,
In following Abſalom, who had contriv'd
The Treaſon, and well-meaning men deceiv'd.
A traitrous Child's life, that Rebellion coſt;
But, by our War, a Fathers life was loſt:
And therfore, though ſome bloodſhed that produc'd,
In humane Reaſon you may be excuſ'd,
VVhom natural Affection mov'd to ſhed
The blood of ſome, by whom your Father bled;
Since you more Mercy freely have beſtown
Than Davids, or your Foll'wers would have ſhown.
Which much augments your Honour: For, no Jem
So beautifies a Royal Diadem,
As Mercy, when it is enameled
VVith Juſtice, and with Prudence riveted.
I had preſum'd a perſonal Addreſs
Long ſince; but, difficult is an *(Non cuivis homini conting it adire Corinthum.)Acceſs
For ſuch as I appear, who hazard blame,
And diſreſpect enough, where I now am;
Becauſe, what Conſcience chargeth me withal,
Is by ſome judged to be criminal.
In that regard, this Paper muſt make way
For gaining an admittance, as it may;
And will, I hope, preſented be, by ſome
VVho ſhall have entrance, where I cannot come.
I am deſpoiled ſo of ev'ry thing,
That nothing for a Preſent I can bring
Except (of Grace) your Majesty ſhall pleaſe
To daign acceptance to ſuch Gifts as theſe;
Which (though but mean, and in an homly dreſs)
VVill then illuſtrate your true Worthineſs,
As amply, as the can did Acceptation,
Of what may ſeem of greater valuation.
I cannot write ſtrong Lines, with ſwelling words,
VVhoſe Elegancy ſcarcely room affords
For ſober ſenſe; nor muſter up their Names,
Whom History, and whom Tradition fames
For brav'ſt Atchievements, ſince time firſt begun,
And then ſay, you have all of them outgone;
As if my fooliſh words, might add unto
Your Honour, more than your own Deeds can do.
Or, as if any Wiſe-man would give creed
To what they in a flatring Poem reade.
It is not in the pow'r of any other
By Pen or Tongue to clear up, or to ſmother
Your true Deſerts; For, in your ſelf that lies,
VVhichWhich either them beclouds, or dignifies.
No other Thoughts I entertain of You,
But ſuch as I may think, and you allow:
Yet, to extol your Worth I ſhall not dare,
Till I know truly what your Vertues are.
For, though to Flatrers all Kings ſeem to be
Of like deſert, they ſeem not ſo to me.
I'le ſerve you faithfully in what I may,
And, as my King, love, honour and obey.
I would conceal, not publiſh your defects,
If I know any; and give due reſpects
To all your Merits; but, I will not own
One Line that praiſes them, till they are known:
For, till I know, I give but what is due,
I am a Lyar, though my words be true;
Since equally, both good and evil things,
Are famed of the beſt of men, and Kings.
A Stranger likewiſe, you have been long time
To moſt of your own Subjects in this Clime,
And, I was never where I did behold
Your face, ſince you were two or three years old:
VVhat Good ſoever therefore I aver
Of you, I ſhall but ſeem a Flatterer;
Yea, you your ſelf would think ſo, ſhould I add
Thoſe Virtues, which you know you never had;
And, Praiſe, which is aſcrib'd to any one
In that mode, is a little leſs than none.
But, little Credit alſo hath a Poet,
To celebrate your Worth, when he ſhall know it,
Or counterpoize, or ſilence Contradictions,
Since moſt eſteem his Writings to be Fictions;
And you will be more honor'd, than in them,
By theſe blunt Lines, if they have your eſteem.
I therefore, ſo ſhall ſtudy to increaſe
Your Honour, that I may not make it leſs;
And whatſoever I can ſay or do,
(Although you give a Countermand thereto)
I'le ſay, and do it; when I ſhall be ſure
Your Life, or Peace, or Honour 'twill ſecure:
And, if this be a fault, I do intend
To be thus faulty, till my life ſhall end.
I know, moſt Royal Sir, who 'tis that ſaies,
Princibus placuiſſe Viris, non ultima laus eſt. Hor. Epiſtol. 17.To pleaſe great men, deſerves not meaneſt praiſe:
I ſee how 'tis approv'd, and what they gain
Who can that thriving Faculty attain.
Yet, I ſhall wave their Art, and will aſſay
To do you honour in another way,
By giving you occaſion to expreſs
Your Juſtice, Mercy, and your Prudentneſs;
So that your ſelf may make the world to ſee
Your Virtues more, than words can ſay they be.
To that end, much might in my caſe be ſhown;
But, rather for your ſake, than for mine own
Is this Addreſs; Yea, rather to prevent
What may be your harm, than my detriment.Coram Rege ſuo, de paupertate placentes, Plus, poſcente ferènt. Hor: ibidem.
To tell our Wants, or Grievances, to Kings,
Sometime, leſſe remedy, than Silence brings.
Ile therefore wave that too; that no ſelf-end
May fruſtrate what I chiefly do intend.
Some, queſtionleſs, before your Reſtoration
Contributed for your Accommodation
In true ſincerity; and ſome, no doubt,
Thereby to work their own Salvation out;
And many a one, perhaps, like Ziba ſped,
VVho merited no better than he did.
Some other would have done as much as they,
But, neither had the means, nor knew the way;
And many, who againſt You then combin'd,
Are now, ſo truly of another mind,
That, you in them are ſafe: for, Love in ſuch
Will much abound, who were forgiven much.
I, who obeyed late preceding Pow'rs
Compulſively; now, willingly to yours
Profeſs Allegiance; and, as true as thoſe
Will be, who of their Truth make faireſt ſhows.
For, when I ſaw GOD on your ſide appear,
I was reclaim'd by Conſcience, not by Fear;
Yea, I foreſaw, and likewiſe did foretel
(To them who were in pow'r) what ſince befell;
Attending paſſively, what I expected,
By Providence divine would be effected:
And my profeſſed Loyalty to you
Is not alone unqueſtionably true,
But alſo, may appear to be more free
From ſelf-ends, than their Loyalty can be
In whom you moſt confide: For, they from Bands
Exempted are; have Honours, Goods and Lands,
Penſions or Offices, wherein you do
Protect them; and, they have your Favour too.
But, all theſe wholly are to me deſtroy'd,
And I by your Protection have enjoy'd
Nought, ſave a dying-life, a living-grave,
Or that, whereof ſo ſmall eſteem I have,
That, if my Work were done, and GOD would ſay
Amen, I would reſign my Life this day.
Yet, ſo far am I from repining at
My Portion, or my ſeeming ſad eſtate,
That, in this Poſture I will ſerve as long,
As to endure it GOD ſhall make me ſtrong;
Not doubting, but when all things come to proof,
My Suffrings will be much to my behoof:
Mean time, leſt otherwiſe, my good intent
To you, ſome cauſualty may prevent,
I will, ſo far forth as my Chain will ſtretch,
(And mine now ſhortned arm and hand will reach)
Exhibit ſuch Expedients, as from Time,
And other Herbs, I've ſuckt within your Clime;
And, wanting better Gifts, will offer you
This little Cluſter of thoſe Grapes, which grew
Upon my wither'd Vine: For, though they are
But ſowre, your Kingdom yeelds none wholſomer,
If you ſhall ſeaſonably preſs out the Juice,
And then aſſume it without prejudice.
This Time is critical; The wayes be ruff,
And many of thoſe Chariot-wheels fly off,
By which your Marches expedited ſeem'd,
And loſt Advantages muſt be redeem'd,
Leſt when you think that they are come to hand,
Your main Expectances be at a ſtand,
Or, put ſo far back, that you may ſurvive
Your hopes, and your own happineſs outlive.
I wiſh it otherwiſe; and know it may
Be as I wiſh, if you the means aſſay,
Not giving ear to thoſe, who will withſtand
Your Good, & that which GOD hath now in hand.
I have diſcharg'd my Conſcience; and ſo ſhall,
VVhatever for ſo doing doth befall,
In hope that will not wholly be diſpiſ'd,
Which now ſhall be in faithfulneſs adviſ'd.
To thoſe men do not over-much adhere,
Who think all Wiſdom lies within their ſphear;
For, Honours, Riches, and ſelf-Intereſt
Have made wiſe-men as brutiſh as a Beaſt.
Heed otherwhile, what Common Fame doth ſay,
Aſwel as what your Courtiers whiſper may;
Leſt you be ignorant of many things,
Whoſe cognizance is pertinent to Kings.
Make no man your chief Confident, but he
That's both diſcreet, and honest known to be;
Leſt he deceives your truſt, and in the cloſe
Deſtroyes your old Friends, or begets new Foes.
Let Juſtice be your Scepter, let your Crown
Be Mercy; and, if you would keep your own,
Give that to others, which to them belongs,
And free the Poor and Fatherleſs from wrongs:
Eſpecially, your main Endeavours bend
To make and keep your Sov'reign Lord your friend.
And if you would be ſetled on your Throne,
Take care that His uſurped be by none.
Enjoy your Conſcience, whatſoere it be;
So other men may have their Conſcience free;
And, hang me for a Traitor, if thereby
You then enjoy not more Security,
Than what your Strength by Sea and Land now gives,
And all that humane Policy contrives.
Let Truth and Error fight it out together,
Whilſt Civil Peace diſturbed is by neither;
Which may be ſo provided for, that none
Shall juſtly be diſpleaſ'd with what is done;
Nor you hereafter be (for evermore)
Diſturbed, as you have been heretofore.
If You neglect this, and I diſobey,
Twill be with much grief, and no other way,
But only paſſively, and whatſoever
I ſuffer, will your Welfare ſtill endeavour.
To be of this mind, thouſands are believ'd,
VVho are not into favour yet receiv'd:
And whilſt they are excluded (though in peace
They live) ſuspitions daily will encreaſe;
And from their Malice, who nor GOD, nor King,
Much care for, ſome ill conſequence may ſpring,
By which You may have trouble, and they blame,
VVho ſhall be no way guilty of the ſame.
Your taking timely Opportunities
Now offred (and, of what before You lies)
May render You a bleſſed Inſtrument,
In making paſſage to that Government
VVhichWhich Tyrants fear; more glorious make Your Throne
Than ever any King yet ſate upon:
And make Your Name a terror to all thoſe
VVho to that Kingdom ſhall continue Foes.
Herein I've ſpoke according to my creed,
Wiſhing my juſt hopes may thereon ſucceed;
And that upon Your heart it may work more,
Than what I've ſpoke to others heretofore.
But GOD's time is at hand; within his pow'r
Are all mens ways; yea, both your hearts & our;
And I will patiently ſubmit unto
VVhat either He or You ſhall pleaſe to do,
Not asking (whatſoere I ſeem to want)
Ought more, than you ſpontaneouſly ſhall grant:
For, what I may expect, if you denie,
So far as need ſhall be, GOD will ſupply.
Theſe words, when I was young, my Motto were,[Nec habeo, nec careo, nec curo.]
(Thus Engliſh'd) I nor have, nor want, nor care:
So are they now I'm old; yea, ſomewhat more
Eſſentially than ever heretofore;
And thereof I will not abate one Letter,
Till GOD and You dirrect me to a better.
The Liberty I covet to enjoy,
Is that which no man living can deſtroy.
The Wealth I aim at, is nor leſs, nor more,
But to be well contented, Rich or poor:
And, if I had a mind my Wits to ſtrain,
That I to earthly Honours might attain,
I ſhould to no ſuch common heights aſpire,
As now are objects of moſt mens deſire;
Or, to a ſtile of ſo mean conſequence,
As is an Earl, a Marqueſs, Duke or Prince;
Or, to be call'd your Couſin: For, no leſs
VVould ſatisfie my large Ambitiouſneſs,
But ſo much worth, at leaſt, as did commend
His Loyalty, whom David call'd his Friend,
And wit enough to make a parallel
Of ev'ry Traytor, with Achithophel:
Or, ſhow to you, the diffrence 'twixt the Faiths
Of all your Ziba's, and Mephiboſheths.
For, then you ſhould in very ſhort time ſee,
That no man more deſerves eſteem'd to be
Your Majeſties loyal Subject Than, Geo. Wither. Newgate, Mar. 22. 1662.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Wither, Verses to the Kings Majesty (1662)