A Poetic Frenzy, to Hamon
To the laſt mentioned Epiſtolary Diſcourſe, written to Mr R. Hamon, Merchant, I will here add this Poſtſcript, upon the occaſion therein expreſſed.
A Poſtſcript to Mr R. Hamon, Merchant.
SIR,
THat Letter, which to you I lately ſent,
On ſecond Rupture of this Parliament,
I am inform'd, by ſome, this cenſure had,
That, doubtleſs, when I wrote it, I was mad:
(As I, perhaps, might have been long ago,
Had, I their wit, whom troubles maketh ſo.)
They know not what it aimes at, I hear ſay;
But, were they not more mad than I, they may:
For, from the whole Contents, they may collect
What, of their hopes, will be the ſad effect;
And, draw forth alſo from it, this Concluſion,
That, they, and I, and all are in confuſion;
That, neither Army, Parliament, or King,
Nor any other ſub-celeſtial thing,
Can have a ſelf-ſufficiency to cure
Our preſent Ruptures, and diſtemperature,
As we are now diſtemper'd; till a Pow'r
Therewith concur, tranſcending their, and our:
Till Righteouſneſs with Mercy is inthron'd;
Till ſelfneſs, and ſelf-ends are more diſown'd:
Till ev'ry ſingle perſon ſhall apart
Reform his Will, his Actions, Words, and Heart;
Or, ſo endeavours it, that one by one,
We, may do that, which yet by none is done,
Untill to Numbers, Ʋnites do encreaſe,
And make at laſt, thoſe Numbers numberleſs.
Such Ends, as theſe, I aim'd at; and perchance,
If they, had more Wit, and leſs Ignorance,
Who cenſur'd me, their prudence had diſcern'd
My purpoſe, or more ſoberneſs had learn'd.
Or, peradventure, they had underſtood,
That, ſhould I then have written in a mood
More abſolute, of things concerning thoſe
Who were of diff'ring Judgements, friends, and, foes,
It might have added fewel, to encreaſe
Thoſe flamings, which did then infringe our peace;
And wholly have made void that honeſt end
Which, I did in ſimplicity intend.
For, had I magiſterially expreſt
What I diſlik'd, or own'd, or judged beſt
To be reſolv'd on; I ſhould have appear'd
A Party, and by neither ſide been heard
Without ſuſpect, that I would have acquir'd,
Not what was beſt, but, what I moſt deſir'd.
Much, therefore, poſitively to declare
I purpos'd not; but, ſomewhat to prepare
All Parties, without frowardneſs of heart
To weigh thoſe things, which joyntly, or apart,
Would moſt concern them; and, then, make that uſe,
Which an Atonement ſooneſt might produce.
I, ſomewhat further, might Apologize;
But, this, on my behalf, may well ſuffice,
Who, more for others ſakes, than for mine own,
Theſe words and Lines, have thus together thrown.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Wither, A Poetic Frenzy (1660)