Poems, Frontispiece – Part
ANNO DNI. 1591
AETATIS SVAE 18
ANTES MVI…TO QVE MVDADO
This was for youth, Strength, Mirth, and wit that Time
Most count their golden Age; but t'was not thine.
Thine was thy later yeares, so much refind
From youths Droſse, Mirth, & wit; as thy pure mind
Thought (like the Angels) nothing but the Praiſe
Of thy Creator, in thoſe last, best Dayes.
Wimes this Booke, (thy Embleme) which begins
With Love; but endes, with Sighes, & Teares for ſins.
Will: Marshall. ſculpsit.
IZ: WA:
POEMS, By J. D. WITH ELEGIES ON THE AUTHORS DEATH.
LONDON. Printed by M. F. for IOHN MARRIOT, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in St Dunſtans Church-yard in Fleet-ſtreet. 1633.
INFINITATI SACRUM, 16. Auguſti 1601. METEMPSYCOSIS. Poêma Satyricon.
EPISTLE.
OThers at the Porches and entries of their Buildings ſet their Armes; I, my picture; if any colours can deliver a minde ſo plaine, and flat, and through light as mine. Naturally at a new Author, I doubt, and ſticke, and doe not ſay quickly, good. I cenſure much and taxe; And this liberty coſts mee more then others, by how much my owne things are worſe then others. Yet I would not be ſo rebellious againſt my ſelfe, as not to doe it, ſince I love it; nor ſo unjuſt to others, to do it ſine talione. As long as I give them as good hold upon mee, they muſt pardon mee my bitings. I forbid no reprehender, but him that like the Trent Councell forbids not bookes, but Authors, damning what ever ſuch a name hath or ſhall write. None writes ſo ill, that he gives not ſome thing exemplary, to follow, or flie. Now when I beginne this booke, I have no purpoſe to come into any mans debt, how my ſtocke will hold out I know not; perchance waſte, perchance increaſe in uſe; if I doe borrow any thing of Antiquitie, beſides that I make account that I pay it to poſterity, with as much and as good: You ſhall ſtill finde mee to acknowledge it, and to thanke not him onelyonly that hath digg'd out treaſure for mee, but that hath lighted mee a candle to the place. All which I will bid you remember, (for I will have no ſuch Readers as I can teach) is, that the Pithagorian doctrine doth not onelyonly carry one ſoule from man to man, nor man to beaſt, but indifferently to plants alſo: and therefore you muſt not grudge to finde the ſame ſoule in an Emperour, in a Poſt-horſe, and in a Mucheron, ſince no unreadineſſe in the ſoule, but an indiſpoſition in the organs workes this. And therefore though this ſoule could not move when it was a Melon, yet it may remember, and now tell mee, at what laſcivious banquet it was ſerv'd. And though it could not ſpeake, when it was a ſpider, yet it can remember, and now tell me, who uſed it for poyſon to attaine dignitie. How ever the bodies have dull'd her other faculties, her memory hath ever been her owne, which makes me ſo ſeriouſly deliver you by her relation all her paſſages from her firſt making when ſhee was that aple which Eve eate, to this time when ſhee is hee, whoſe life you ſhall finde in the end of this booke.