The Dark Lantern, Title page – Author to Parliament and the people of England
The dark Lantern, Containing A dim Diſcoverie, in Riddles, Parables, and Semi-Riddles, intermixt with Cautions, Remembrances and Predictions, as they were promiſcuouſly and immethodically repreſented to their Author, in his Solitary Muſings, the third of November 1652. about Midnight.
Whereunto is annexed, A POEM, Concerning A Perpetuall Parliament.
By Geo. Wither Eſquire.
LONDON, Printed by R. Auſtin, and are to be ſold by Richard Lowndes at the white Lion in PAUL'S Churchyard, neer the little North Door. 1653.
To the Reader.
THeſe Poems were delivered forth to be publiſhed about three moneths paſt, with an expectation that they ſhould have been imprinted forthwith, and had either an accidentall or a negligent delay preventing their publication the laſt Term; and perhaps (I being abſent) they were afterward purpoſely delayed, that they might come forth at the beginning of this Eaſter Term, by their deſign, who more conſidered the Bookſellers advantage, then how much the haſtning of them might concern the publike; by which means it was not finiſhed, untill that very day whereupon the Parliament had an unlooked for period: and yet peradventure, in regard of the many timely Cautions and Remembrances, which have been heretofore deſpiſed, or neglected, Providence hath permitted theſe to be delayed, untill their publication came too late, for effecting that which was intended.
Howſoever it will be uſefull to ſome other ends; at leaſt to teſtifie to the world, that what is now come to paſſe, was foreſeen, and endeavours uſed for prevention thereof, which might probably have had good ſucceſſe, if contempt of many forewarnings had not hindred the ſame, it may be, to make way for the accompliſhment of ſomewhat, fore-declared in my Britains Genius; in which Poem, I laboured as much in vain to reduce the late King, to make uſe of that means which would have effected his reſtoration, as I have hereby done to preſerve the Parliament: and I heartily beſeech Almighty God, that I may not have occaſion to be as fatall a Remembrancer to them who are now in Throne; leſt worſe things happen to them, then to their Predeceſſors, which I am aſſured will follow, if their proceedings (which I yet ſuſpect not) be not really deſign'd, and made anſwerable to their fair pretendings. There are many faults eſcaped in the printing, by reaſon of my abſence, and a Copy haſtily, and not very plainly written, ſome of which are here corrected, the reſt I leave to be amended, as you find them.
PAge 5. line 25. for corall read carnall. p. 32. l. 9 r. Then ſuch as Innocencies cauſe, &c. p. 49. l. 29. r. Aegypts thrall. p. 72. l. 13. for foot r. fork.
TO THE PARLIAMENT, AND PEOPLE OF THE Commonwealth of England.
SO let me ſpeed, in all that I purſue,
As, in what followes, I mean well to you:
And, as I bear a loving faithfull heart,
To all of you, united and apart;
Although, I peradventure, may appear
On ſome occaſions, bitterly ſevere,
To thoſe, in whom, I private-failings ſee,
Which, to the Publike may obnoxious be;
To make them judge themſelves, and ſcape the doom,
Which, from another judgement, els may come:
For, at no ſingle perſon, have I ſtrook,
By any line, or paſſage, in this book.
If here, I further ſeem to have preſum'd,
Or, more upon my ſelf to have aſſum'd,
Then may be warrantable thought, at firſt,
Examine it, before you judge the worſt;
And, try by circumſtances (as ye may)
What Spirit, hath directed me this way;
Or, for what likely ends, or for whoſe ſake,
I could, or dared, this attempt to make;
Except it were for GODS, for your, and mine,
As they with one another, do intwine.
Yea, ſearch, if my Religion, ſtudies, wayes,
Or, manners (which have beene throughout my dayes,
Before your eyes) may any ſign afford,
That, I have, hitherto, in deed, or word,
Been an Impoſtor; or, preſented you
With ought, that hath been uſeleſſe, or untrue;
And as that juſtly may incline your mind,
Let theſe expreſſions acceptation find.
If madneſſe, they appear; conſider well,
That, ſuch miſcenſurings have often fell
On ſober men, when thoſe deluding crimes,
Were prevalent, which raign in theſe our times.
If fooliſh, they be thought; remember this,
That, trueſt wiſdome, ſeemeth fooliſhneſſe
To worldly prudent men, when, God, forth brings
To fool their wiſdome, deſpicable things.
Men, hear fools gladly, when themſelves are wiſe,
And, meekly pity rather then deſpiſe
Their folly, learning, thereby, ſometimes too,
More, then by their own wiſdome, they could do:
But, wiſe, mad fooliſh, or, what ev'r I am,
To do this work, into the world I came;
To theſe times, was reſerv'd; to this end, taught;
And, to the ſight of many things, am brought,
Which, els I had not known, nor would have ſeen,
But, that, I ty'd, (as by the leg) have been,
(Ten years together, ten dayes work to do)
To know them, whether I ſo would or no.
And, when I knew them, I would fain have done
My own work firſt, or els, like Jonas run
To Tarſis, or Lundee, or any whither
(Adventuring through Seas, and Tempests thither)
Much rather, then to have proceeded on,
In doing that, which I, at laſt, have done.
For, I am like the world, in many things,
And, oft ſo tempted by her promiſings
Of eaſe and ſafety, in another courſe,
That, I, with much ſtrife, did my heart inforce,
To proſecute her duty; as ye may,
Perceive, if, you the following tract ſurvay.
But, my own thoughts, would neither let me ſleep,
Nor ſuffer me a waking-peace to keep,
Or, follow my affairs (though they were brought
Neer to a point, of coming quite to nought)
Till, I, my muſings, had in words array'd
To be, by you, and other men, ſurvay'd.
All thoſe affairs, aſide, I, therefore threw,
To cloth my meditations, for your view;
Which, being finiſh'd, I can now lye down
And ſleep, as well as any man in Town.
The times are dangerous; and, I am told,
By that which is my Guide, I ſhould not bold
Beyond diſcretion be; which makes me talk
In riddles, and with this Dark Lantern walk:
That, I may ſee my way, and not be ſeen
By ev'ry one, whom I may meet, between
My goings out, and in: and that it may
Give light to ſome, who are beſide their way,
As I occaſion find; and, where I ſee
The light that's offer'd, may accepted be.
But, what my viſions are, as in relation,
Unto this Parliaments perpetuation
I plainly ſhall unfold; becauſe, it may
Concern you all, with good adviſe to weigh.
Yea, fearleſly, my free thoughts, I will ſhew,
What liking, or diſlike, ſoe're enſue.
For, though to all intents by me deſign'd,
They may not reach; it much contents my mind,
That I have freed my ſoul. by thus imploying
My Talent, to an inward reſts injoying;
And, rais'd a Witneſſe up, that may declare
To future times; what GOD'S proceedings are.
If this find acceptation, it will be
A ſign of future peace, to you, and me.
If, you reject it; I will fit my mind
To bear the troubles, which are yet behind:
Bewail, our manifold procraſtinations,
Of GOD'S intended bleſſings, to theſe Nations.
Poſſeſſe the little portion, I have got
As lost, or, els, as if I had it not;
And, ſtrive to wean my heart, from things abroad,
To ſeek my reſt; and peace, alone in GOD:
A refuge, ſo ſecur'd to me, that, neither
My frailties, faults, or foes; or theſe together:
Or friends, or Truſtees failings, either may
Hazard, or forfeit; tear, or fool away.
Your moſt humble, and moſt faithfull Remembrancer, Geo. Wither.