The Infancy of the World, Poem 5 – To the reader
The four Ages of the World.
1 The Golden Age.
TIme was (and pitty that it flew away)
When peacefull Saturn did the Septer sway
Of heaven and earth, there was no need of Laws,
Nor jangling Lawyers. to pro…ogue a cause;
The riggid Plough, earths bowels need not tear,
The earth untill'd spontaneously did bear
Fecundious witnesses: no Lab'rours toil
Need dress the Vineyards, or manure the soile,
Plump Baccus to full bowls of sparkling Nectar
Invites each p…ssenger; fair Flora deck'd her
With her embroidred Robes, sets open wide
Her flower-furnishd shop; with painted pride
Makes every month to swell, her golden trammels
Hold each beholding eye, she richly enamels
The smiling meads, Zephyrus ever calm
Bathes her in kisses of Arabian balm.
On lovely-check'd Pomana's curled Tresses,
Hang lovely ornaments; Bright Ceres dresses
The naked a'er with her locks, which sborn
Like Hidra sprout againe; the ripned corn
Prick up their golden ears, listning unto
Soft wisp'ring Zephyrus his language, who
Tenders his humble service, and do…h stand
Ambitious to defend them, and command
Blastings to come not neer; their thanks to shew
Their humble heads, the gratefull corn-feilds bow.
All things were plenty: Terminus no bound
As yet assign'd, unto the common ground:
The world was but one field; each man content
Enjoy'd those lauish gifts dame Nature sent.
The yoke was stranger to the idle Bull:
The sheep went cloathed in her naturall wooll,
The Taratant'ra Trump, nor rumbling Drum.
Nor Sword nor Helmite in the world was come.
Mars had no Sons, tway-faced Jannus kept
His temple barr'd while ev'ry motion sl…pt
On slumb'ring feather beds of peace and quiet:
Green hearbs, and accorns was their cheifest dy…t
Rivers of Nector flow'd in liquid gold,
Hyblcan Honey-merchants were enroul'd.
'Twas alwaies spring, O what hirmonious notes
The Birds did warble from their mus'call throates:
Rocking the windes asl…ep, their charming Song
Entic'd the silver streams to da…ce along.
Men rude and voyd of Arts no Citye… build,
Contented with such houses woods did yeild.
The hollow of the hands were cups at first,
Water was Nectar, to allay their thirst. &c.
2 The Silver Age.
Saturn b'ing banish'd his supposed throne,
(Seldom comes better when the old one's gone)
Dayes Halcionian ceas'd, the Silver Age
With beardless Jove, came mounting on th… stage.
Jove did contract the pleasures of the Spring,
And the year into four Quarters bring.
Gray Winter sbiv'ring comes, and sheets of Snow
Upon this universal Bed doth strow.
The waies are chain'd, Glaz'd are the silver floods;
White Periwigs adorn the bald-pate woods.
Extreamity of weather now compells
Men to build houses, and procure them cells:
Thick shrubs and barks of Trees they joyn together
And make some briero's against wind weather.
The earth displeas'd at this mutation, breeds
The downie Thistle, and such usless weeds.
No Wheat is reaped, nor no Barley mown,
But what by the industrious hand is sown.
The yoaked Oxen groane, the lab'our… brows
Rain sweaty showers down: the boyst'rous ploughs
Because until'd, earth would no longer bear
For very madness do her bowels tear.
3 The Brazen Age.
THe golden and the silver age is gone,
Next by succession, comes a brazen one.
Man's nature now is grown more fierce, and cruel,
The fire of warr, is nourish'd by the fuell
Of quarelsome debate, and such like crimes
As Titan ne're beheld. Reciduous times!
4 The Iron Age.
The last, and worst of all, the Iron Age,
Acts its last part; who with unbridled rage▪
Sly fraud, hid witchery, hostile deceit,
Hearr-gnawing envy, and pestif'…ous hate;
Claw-back de…raction, clu…ch-fist Avarice,
Loathed Oppression, and what ever vice
Can well be thought on; gather to a head,
And through the hospitable world doe spread.
Monumentum Exequiale OR Lasting sorrow for the death of the Reverend, Pious, and Eminently-learned, Mr Tho Horn, late School-master of Eaton Colledg.
Oh I am drown'd in grief, a Borean blast
Hath torn my tackling, tumbled down my mast
My Anchor's lost, my Cable is undone,
And I, poore I, upon the quick-sands run:
Could I command the gold in India shines,
Arabian Mountaines, and American Mines,
What e're beaths from Pancha…a's spicy woods,
What costly Gems enrich Idaspes floods:
All would I give to him that could impart
The least of ease to my corroded heart.
Stormes have their calmes, flowings their ebs, but I
Am the Charybdi… of perpiexity
Ah me! ah me! Melpomene lament▪
This common loss, till all thy tears be spent.
Lock not thy thoughts in silence: cloath thy mind
In aiery garments: while the blust'ring wind
Of greif, doth agitate thy yeilding breast,
Oh how canst thou expect a minuts rest!
Groan thunder then: salute the deaf…ed skies
With integrated sobs: let thy swoln eyes
Be Islands, circled with a Sea of tears:
And in thy Readers hospitable ears
Lodge thy lamenting sounds: that they may flow
As well as thee: and empty out their woe.
What strange confused fragor's this proclaimes
That Helicon's disturb'd? the Thespian dames
Send to the groaning air, their hideous shreiks,
Contunde their brests, and lacerate their cheeks
With Adamantine palms, like Beldams tear
Their Amber-locks, the Musick that I heare
Are Bag-pipe sighs and loud O ganick moanes
Mov'd by the weights of grief, see, see the stones
Ev'n m…lt away in tears: the Chappel's hung
In mourning vestments: ev'ry eye and tongue
Rings, rings, elegious Sonnets out, the Pewes
Are drench'd in briny puddles. ah! what dewes
Fall from the glazed pictures. how the Leed
Doth seem to run abroad now he is dead!
Greif, Aqua-fortis lik…, corrodes the barrs,
And in his ashes rakes up glitt'ring stars:
The earth is proud (O honorable thing!)
To wear so rich a jewel in her Ring,
And we, sad we, his Pupils, run about
His Tombe, and weep untill our eyes be out:
Why weep we so? alas! our pearly tears
Can only deck his Herse, not in his ears
Drop an enliv'ning power; let's then condole
Our folly in lamenting him, whose soul
Calcined soul, quitting this earth is flown
Into the bosom of the Trine in One:
Where we will leave him, still to be possess'st
Of heav'nly glory, and eternal rest.
Vivit post funera virtus.
His Epitaph:
Tender hearts bedew your eyes,
Here, beneath this Marble lies
One was spir'tually discerned,
Meek, wise, pious, vertuous, learned;
And whose understanding parts
Stor'd up all the lib'rall Arts.
He distilled wholsome truths,
On your hearts, Etonian youths;
Rouze your Muses to his praise,
Never dying pillars raise.
Terra Pilae fimilis.
MEmphis conticeat Pyramidum decus;
Chaldoei, sileant et Babiloniae;
Ʋrbem coctilbus maenibus inclytam;
Nec fanum Trivia tollat honoribus
Vulgus mirificis: non variabile
Mansoli tumulum Cares in aëre
Pe…dentem vacuo, nive superbiant:
Sublimem statuam mitis Apollinis
Laudabunt alii: jactitat et labor
Thebas centifores: et Pharos insula
Miratur: merito dignus honoribus
Rerum nonne opifex tergeminus Deus?
Cujus mirabili terra potentia
Perpinguis vaeno pendet in a…re
Libra…am remanens ponderibus suis?
Tellurem in speciem conglomerat pilae
Ne non sideribus circuit aureis.
Vita Principis censura.
Principe plebs minor est, minor est ut numine princeps
Principis illa subest legibus, ille Dei.
Saxa gravem Chalybem post se Borealia ducunt,
Regis amat nutus aemula turba sequi.
Non magis agnus ovem sequitur, levis arbutus Austrum
Nec magis à vitreis os simulatur aquis.
Reg… hilari gaudet, flet si rorantur Ocelli,
Quod tulit, illa tulit, quod facit, illudagit.
Ejus deliciae plebis sunt sola voluptas,
Arbitrio vulgus statque caditque suo.
Tertullus Apolos.
Gratiae dulces, lepidaeque voces,
Sermo facundus, locuplesque vena,
Et lepos blandus domini beata
Munera celfi.
Suada, non castis animis inhaerens
Clara, persuasit mala perpetrare,
Profit ast vera pietate Suada
Concatinata.
In Equum quendam atate consumptum hand veloci pede promoventem Hexasticon
Non ego sum Trojanus equus, nec inutile lignum,
Sed postis gradiens cum gravitate tamen:
Qui velit insideat, liceat recreare; quid obstat?
Nam bis millenis ictibus ire queam
Ipse mihi dominoque salus, en! astra relucent
Sublatus: in gremio Marspiter ipse meo.
Englished thus:
I am no Trojan Horse, nor fruitless stock,
To tell the truth I'me a grave-walking block.
Any, that will, may …ide me for their pleasure,
Two thousand stripes may make me go by leasure:
I mind mine own, and Masters health, lo: Stars
My sides reflect: I brood the God of warrs.
Or thus
I am no Art-made Horse, nor wood th…t's waste,
But a staid foot-pace, making no great hast.
For recreation sake thou mayest (why not?)
Com ride me: blowes enough may make me tro….
Well fare my self, and rider, in these sides
Starrs shine: Oh! in my lap Gradivus hides.
Inanis jactatio per hypotypofin.
Bacchus ad arma vocat socios; sic unus et alter
Obstrepit illius (reboant cellaria) potu:
Nos erimus bello fortes, pia turba sororum
Tartareis oritur a locis, crinita Megara
Invida Tisyphone, nec non insignis Alecto
(Crinibus in nodum contortis more Sycambri)
Ignibus accensis adsunt sonuere flagello.
Ibimus illaesi, metuenda per agmina fortes
Contra pugnaces animos conjungere dextras,
Num metuent? manibus pedibus{que} conabimur omnes
Debellare hostes, nostris adversa potestas
Viribus inferior, quàm despicabilis illa est!
Flenda cruorifluis lace…ari terga flagellis
Vidimus, en! humerósque premi sub pondere lass…s
Tamburlanus ego video mihi, …ùque tricorpor
Geryon, simulachra Jovis, Solisque colossus
Postica Equus Cacipars antica virfuit ecce
Est lupus in fabula, tuque es Antaeus arena,
Tu lapides Turnus jacias, tu Monychus Ornos
Hic Brontes Steropésque simul nudusque Pyrachmon
Fulmina discutiant contortuplicantia bombis
Telum, clava tridens insignia framea thyrsis
Sint Jovis Alcidis, Neptuni, Martis, Iacchi.
Talia praeteria et dimittit fulgura pelvis,
Adjuvet ignovomis flamis nos Ae…na chimera;
Ʋesbius et Lipare strigens, Peta Crinon & Alpes
Supp…ditant niveas pilas sic Sisyphus ingens
Increpat, et Stentor furibundo litigat ore,
N…c mora pugnator Corribantes araque pulsant
Dumque tube resonant victoria nulla potita est.
Querimonia de Solario.
Absconde Titan purpureae facis
Flaminas et obfusca nitidum jubar,
Solarium hand luce fruatur,
Abbrevians celerisque lusus.
Non pullulabant tot nova guttura
Lerne Chelidro, quot mala protulit
S…larū hujus manch nator
Fallere tempor a non sinentis
Non visceribus Colchis inhospita
Tum triste tulit virus in abditis:
Horae advocant duri… fugaces
Innocuos pueros libellis.
Eheu! rapaces (phro lachrimabile!)
Labuntur horae, Bosphoreos sinus.
Mercat…r horrescit Charibdim
Cyaneas trabe Scyllam…t atram.
Vuip…m dolosam mittis ovis fugi…
Caute eolumbe morsibus anguium
Servantur, inprovisa at hora
Japeti genus omne fallit.
Humilitas Triumphans, Seu de Regina Suecorum, coronam sibi abrogante.
VIrtus munditiis culta suis nitit
Excellens, Pario est marmore purior:
Haec est ad superos strata rosis via:
Felix qui po…uit dulcia temnere
Contentus minimis lucra divitiis.
Thebanum Historiae laudibus evehunt
Cratem, qui liquidum proijcit in mare
Numorum cumulum non minimum se qui
Anfractus Sophiae, c…straque Palladis.
Quis non Phocionem tollat honoribus
Claris …ximium, munera Persica
Peleo à juvene allataque spreverat?
Agros Democritus deseruit suos
Dives, fecit eos publica pascua:
Expers muneribus Scipio publicis
Pr…vatim usque diem vixit ad ultimum.
Horum perspicua est …n pietas virum!
At multo his superat faemina nobilis,
Regina indomita, et Gloria, Laus, Honor
Suecorum; capi…i deposuit suo
Iunctos Laureoles▪ & Diademata
Dat consanguineo: non juvat aureis
Ostantaré suum stemma palatiis,
Gaudet nec animos stringere in hosticas
Junctis in cuneos Quadrupedantibus
Turmas et valido milite consequi
Victorum innumeris nomina mortibus:
Nec calcat variis classibus aequora.
Non vestis Tyrio mur…ce tingitur
Auri nec poculis, vinaque Lesbia
Scintillant: cumulos despicit aureos.
Contenta haec proprijs usibus aggerat
Quantum sufficiat copiarumque opum.
In Hortos.
Laudabunt alij Lucani, et Adonidis hortos,
Alcinoi, fulvos Hesperidumque trium.
Sunt quibus, unum opus est patulis radiantia ramis
Aurea carminibus pomasonare suis.
Oxoniae, omnigenis herbis at nobilis hortus
Nos juvat, Hippocriti Pharmaca cuncta f…rus
Aspice plantam humil…m pudibunda dat oscula terra
Coutrahit et ramos tactilis herbae suos.
Hic viridi recubare queas sub tegmine buxi,
Fessaque floriferis sternere membera toris.
Clara viri ingenui Waddhamia maenia et hortis
Archimedeum cui c…dit ingenium.
Parte tripartitus pelvis m…dia effluit amnis
Virginis en niveae pro…uit unda genas.
Pictaque festivos tellus expirat odores,
Et florum partu visicolore tumet.
Aeolus insequitur ventos, hic orbe resedent
Vertibili, glauco veste recinctus …rat.
Eucharasticon, in pluviam post solennes preces feliciter donatam.
Anno 1653.
IAm scelus Angliacum pulsaverat ostia coeli
Horrentes strepitus imbibit aure Deus:
Nec mora, non parvas dignas Jove concipit iras
Dent ait hi poenas quas meruere pati.
Sol calet et subito viridantia pascua flavos
Induerant vultus, et decus omne fugit.
Moesta Cor…s imbres sitibundo gutture flagra
Nullaque cael…sti rore madescit humus
Angiica gens, liquido lachrimarum fonte resedit
Abluat ut sordes voce rogatque Deum.
Tum D…us a…nuerat, reserat cava viscera nubis
Telluris siccas proluit unda g…n…s.
Quae nova jam rerum facies? laetantur agclli,
Gau…et et effuso Nectare terra madens.
Laetantur pccudes, et onusti floribus horti
Purpureis rident; ridet et alma Ceres.
Largius en! niveae tondent nova gramina vaccae
Et referunt mulctris ubera tenta suis.
Lucifer Eoâ sulget laetissimus arce,
Et Veneris sparso purpurat igne genas.
Dulcis odoratae Zephyrus dat basia Florae,
Et tr…mulos ramulos mitior aura quatit.
Nocte sub humenti Nymp…ae, Satirique bicornes
Exercent agiles laeta per arva choros:
T…mpora su…ilibus gaudent redimire corollis,
Lampsa…io carpunt Lilia grata Deo.
Aspice laeti…ijs laetentur ut omnia miris
Festivos ducat laeta Thalia sonos.
Noster Io Paean, sint carmina sancta canamus
Gloria in excelsis pax sit, et alma solo.
Imbremque pluviamque polo deducis ab alto,
Nostraque muneribus vota minora tuis.
De Arietis ante Electionem Etonensem (pro more) venatione.
ARgolici juvenes Colchi frigentis ab oris
Auratum vellus surr…spuisse ferunt.
Ecce schole teneri nos Etonensts alumni,
Corniger herbiferis vir gregis adstat agris;
Currite vos juvenes, madefactos sanguine fustes
Portate invicti, vellieris usus eat.
Casta Diana'juvet, si non superare potestis
Vos nemorum Dive, vos Driadumque chori.
Quid fugis? ah demens frustra vitare laboras
Lethiferum vulnas, mors properata venit.
Turba juvenilis coeunt, mortemque minantur,
Captus non bumili vindice caesus cris.
Succumbens ari…s non uno est verbere victus
Herculeis ictus fustibus ecce cadit.
Corpus panicea sandapila jam coquus abdat
Convivi vivis condite Sarcophagis.
Quaerimonia Etonensium de spe fere frustraneâ.
Suggere moerorem ludi Etonensis Alumnis
Melpomine tristes tristia verba decent.
Quisque suos casus lachrymarum gurgite plangat.
Induat atratam nostra Thalia togam
Solvimur in rivulos, moesti rorantur Oeelli
Flumine suspirij pectora nostra tument?
Cura facit canos nos (heu!) juvenilibus annis,
Collapsts macies errat ubique genis.
Navita contrarijs ventis et fluctibus actus,
Tandem exoptatam puppe retinget humum,
Cogimur (heu!) longum duros sufferre labores,
Atque evadendi copia nulla datur.
Si causam rogites, Regina pecunia desit
Nobis, O solum pondera pondus habent!
Olim si terras moerens Astraea reliquit
Certus sum n…stro non reditura solo.
Nummatis juvenes Academica dona beatunt
Cum nihil atulerit nudus am…cus eat
Aurum si saliat laeva de parte mamiliae
Nil saliat, satis est, crimina pauper habet.
Saxa trahunt post terga sequens Magnetica ferum
Capreoli sanguis durum Adamanta domat.
O utinam traberent regalia tecta pot…nti
Nos dextra, et socii mollia corda ferant!
An Acrostick Elegy upon the death of the late Reverend, and Famons Divine,
Mr.
Is he then dead? hoVv soon pays he his dEbt?
Oh were it not (If God saw good) As yet;
Surely this sa—Cred man, is gone to Take
Eternity by th' hand; hE means t—O make
Perp…tual hap—Piness his Couch, oN which
He may secu-Rely lye, in glory riCh.
Sound were his wOrds, his life & conversatiOn
Yeilded a fragrant fVme; his contemp Lation
Most heav'nly was; On earth (unparaLel'd
Others in gift—Sand graces he excEll'd:
Now grieving for This loss, poor Eton Dyes,
Discharging volleys Of sad Ele—Gies;
Saies she, alas! For me he spent his brEath,
He dies, yet lives; Virtue surviveth death,
In obitum Dom. THO: WEAVER: M. A. Etonensis Coll. Socij: Acrostico-Epicedium.
Tertres Pierides TexToris funera flerunT
Hoc facimus pueri, CHorusōis clamitat, ah, aH
Omnes deflemus n—Ostro Textore peremptO
Me miserū miserum{que} ChoruM! dum flemus ademptuM
Actionae socium▪ p—Atrem{que} gemente querelA
Singult{us} potius, quā verSus edimus apto—S
Victa jacet gravitas Vveaveri condita vultV
Vincitur a fatis virt VsUs (miserabile dictV
Ecce jacet, simul ecc Ejacet gens musica MusaE
Alliciunt cantus, cal Amos{que} dolente MinervA
Vixit ut Hippolit—Vscaelebs, sine conjugis usV
Extinctos cineres▪—En! Divae templa MinervaE
Respiciunt, animus peRcaeli sidera ferta—R
On Ambition.
AMbition is a Gyant, which aspires
No higher then the heavens; it desires
Reach at priority, she scorns to be
O'retop'd, nay more, she will not, no not she:
Honor 's her aime, 'tis honor is the thing
That mounts her thoughts imp'd to an Eagles wing
She climbs on Pelion, if that will not doe,
On Pelion's back, she'll through mount Ossa too:
Why not? sayes she, why may not I inherit
What others have, since my transcending merrit
Eclipses thei…s? what e're it cost me, I
By right, or wrong, will get priority.
I am no mungrel brat, but freely born
To no mean fortunes, slavery I scorn:
Be he a King, or whatsoe're he be
I have as much right to be rich as he.
I'le rout out all the black-coats, if I can,
The greatest Clerk is not the wisest man:
Of such new light my spirit hath discerning,
As they cannot attaine for all their learning.
My fingers itch to pull the Clergy down,
And strike the Sarrs with my advanced crown.
A wise forecast! but what if men doe wonder
At yong designes? know there's a God of thunder,
Can crush your Giant-like assaults; his power
Weakens the proud; remember Babels Tower.
Ambious Phaeton his fond desire
Ruin'd himselfe, and set the world on fire.
Icarus flyes, but Icarus his wings
Are cing'd, and cold, and head-long ruin brings.
Aspiring Pharo perished through pride.
And Bellisarius beg'd before he dy'd.
Nebucadnezar striving to be full
Of honor is become a belowing Bull.
VVhile the Philosopher his eyes did pitch
Vp to the Starrs, he fell into a dich.
Claudius would be a God, yet doth he dread
The voyce of thunder underneath his bed,
Strange kind of Diety! his head he hides,
Vanting Sosostrates in's Chariot rides,
Drawn by those Kings he to subjection brought.
So highly of himself King Hero thought,
He would be brother to the Sun and King
Of Kings: proud Soppho learn'd the Birds to sing,
The great god Sappho for to rule alone
Constantine drave his mother from her throne.
Brave blades! but what, save Monuments of shame,
Left they behind? our Levellers which claim
An interest in other mens estates.
Shall, notwithstanding their projecting pates,
Be c…ushed in the shell; and their intrusion
Upon themselves, not others bring confusion:
And though a… goverment they lowdly baul,
Both civil, and Eclesiasticall;
Blow Pauls down at a breath they may as soon
As work their overthrough: Dogs at the Moon
May bark, but canno… bite; The curstest Cow
Hath shortest horns; Their stouter hearts shall bow
Our upstart Zealots, and aspiring Elves,
Striking at learning, shall strike down themselves.
EVCharIstICon, In PsaLMos IessaeI natI sVaVIsonos, FranCIsCo RoVs Generoso (Etonae PraesVLe) Paraphraste nVper eXCVsos. Ao MCCCCCLLXVVVVVVVIIIIIIII.
Enl nova prela ferunt cultu limata Britanna
Carmina fatidici nobile Regis opus.
Dulcis Apollineas Spiras Francisee Camenas
Suecing at nive as Laurea serta comas.
*" Sacro foreign finis cursu, Philomela Poema;
Finibus Angliacis sit sine fine sonus.
* Ana Franciscus Rousius, gramma.
* Ana Sacro foreign finis cursu. gramma.
foreign
foreign.
foreign
foreign:
foreign.
foreign.
Anna FRANCIS ROVSE, gramma.
Anna RISE CAR OF SVN. gramma.
RISE CAR OF SVN, convey thy purer light
Into our souls, so shall they know no Night.
IS Nestor then reviv'd? was ever Realm
So blest as this, had ever any Helme
So wise a Steersman? dost thou ask what Bee
Drew Honey from the Fathers? this is he.
Here's Davia's spirit iust, each Psalme, each line
Seemes no Translation, but genuine.
My soul take this Sybilla's golden branch
To clear thy way so shalt thou safely lanch
Through troublous Seas. Grave Sir (in whose rare mind
The Sept'agint resides) when you refin'd
The drossie English Psalms, upon your tongue
The Angels sacred Lutes and Vials hung.
I see a Phenix; whensoe're I look
VponUpon your …are inesteemeable book;
If mercy by a golden chaine e're drew
His hearers by the ears, w'are drawn by you.
Your Colledg-crowning gifts, content us more
Then richest Jewels on the Indian shore.
Will the Majestick Eagle stoop so low
As look upon poor sily fly…s? although
The Eagle will not, yet you shine upon us.
Bestowing Hony-dropin… favou… on us.
Your flouds, we see doe ove…flow the banks
Of our deserts, and can we ebb in thanks?
Scarce Atlas back is b…g enough to bear
Your goodness fi…am …t: supose there were
No Sun to gild ou… Hem…phe…, wee quite
Should not be blind, t…y psalm▪book is our light.
Why gild I gold? The m…r… I doe endeavour
T'aproach your worth, I'm… further of then ever.
Go on blest Sir, your Honorable …ame
Shall alwaies stretch, the vocal cheeks of fame.
FINIS.
A CENTURIE OF HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS, With a Taste of Poetical Fictions: Being the fruits of some spare Hours.
BY N.B. E.C.A.
LONDON.
Printed for Robert Crofts, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Crown in Chancery Lane, under Sergeants Inne, 1658.
To his Honored Ʋncle, Mr Iohn Wooton one of the Commissioners for the County of Hereford.
SIR,
Benefits bestowed oblige the receiver, thanks returned engage the giver: by the first I am made hopeless of requital: by the second you will be the more encouraged to continue your benevolence. To suppress the rememberance of favours is impious, Ingratum dixeris, omnia dixeris; & to express them as I should is more then I can doe, and I know is more then you expect. Indeede though words (as it is in the Proverbe) will butter no Parsnips, yet I confess a verbal acknowledgment is somthing, and a partiall satisfaction better then none at all. This hath encouraged me to send you (as a test of my real thank fulness) these unfledgd birds; hatched (to say the truth) in the dark, and brought to light when I could see none (scalding Rheums and Distilations for a great while togeather overclouding mine eye-sight) which may render their blemishes, wants, and imperfections, a little the more pardonable and excusable, with the judicious; such a one I assure my self you are, and therefore my humble Muse falling flat at the feet of your clemency, craves so much favour at your hands, that you would please to honor this tender Fry of hers, so far as to brood them under the wings of your protection; she bringing you them as a smal present-from, Sir,
Aug. 12. 1657. Your dutiful and most obliged kinsman NIC. BILLINGSLY.
To the Reader.
Reader,
VVhoever thou art, I here present thee with a Gallimawfery, a Moretum, a Hodge-podge, a Compound of many Simples; how well it will relish with thy pallate I cannot tell: if thou likest it well and good, if not, there is I hope no harme done: I have no more to say to thee, only this; I bid thee farewel, resolving to remaine
Thine, as thou deservest. N. B.