Table of Contents
[Frontispiece?]
TO MY MUCH HONOURED, AND NO lesse truly beloved Friend[ii]
TO THE READER.
By Fathers, backt; by Holy Writ, led on,
Tot Flores, Quarles, quot Paradisus, habet. Lectori bene-male-volo.
The Invocation.[ii]
Every man is tempted, when he is drawne away by his own lust, and enticed.
EPIGRAM 1. Unluckie Parliament! wherein, at last.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
EPIGRAM 2. See how these fruitfull kernels, being cast
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull, and the end of that mirth is heavinesse.
EPIGRAM 3. What, Cupid, Are thy shafts already made?
To be laid in the ballance, it is altogether lighter than vanitie.
EPIGRAM 4. My soule; What's lighter than a feather? Wind
The fashion of this world passeth away.
EPIGRAM 5. What? Cupid, must the world be lasht so soone?
All is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
EPIGRAM 6. Worldling, whose whimpring folly holds the losses
Be sober; Be vigilant, because your adversary the Divell, as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.
EPIGRAM 7. Get up, my soule; Redeeme thy slavish eyes
Woe be to you the laugh now, for ye shall mourne and weepe.
EPIGRAM 8. What ayles the foole to laugh? Does something please
The world passeth away, and all the lusts thereof.
EPIGRAM 9. If Fortune hale, or envious Time but spurne
Yee are of your father the Devill, and the lusts of your father yee will doe.
EPIGRAM 10. Mammon, well follow'd: Cupid bravely ledde
Yee walked according to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the Aire.
EPIGRAM 11. Nay soft and faire, good world; Post not too fast
Yee may suck, but not be satisfied with the brest of her Consolation.
EPIGRAM 12. What makes thee foole so fat? Foole, thee so Bare?
Men love darkness rather then light, because their deeds are evil.
EPIGRAM 13. Lord scourge my Asse if shee should make no hast
Lighten mine eyes, O Lord, lest I sleepe the sleepe of death.
EPIGRAM 14. My Soule, if Ignorance puffe out this light
The Devill is come unto you, having great wrath, because hee knoweth that hee hath but a short time.
EPIGRAM 15. My Soule, sit thou a patient looker on
You that walke in the light of your owne fire, and in the sparkes that yee have kindled, yee shall lie downe in sorrow.
EPIGRAM 1. Thou blowst heav'ns fire, the whilst thou goest about
The Second Booke.
There is no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches.
EPIGRAM 2. Gripe, Cupid, and gripe still until that wind
He is cast into a net by his owne feet, and walketh upon a snare.
EPIGRAM 3. Nay, Cupid, pitch thy Trammill where thou please
They shall be as the chaffe that is driven with a whirlewind out of the floore, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
EPIGRAM 4. Cupid; thy diet's strange; It dulls; It rowzes
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches make themselves wings, they flie away as an Eagle.
EPIGRAM 5. World; th'art a Traitor; Thou hast stampt thy base
Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity, for vanity shall be his recompence.
EPIGRAM 6. Be not deceiv'd, great Foole; There is no losse
I have set before thee life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that thou and thy seed may live.
EPIGRAM 7. Art thou a Child? Thou wilt not then be fed
They minde earthly things, but our conversation is in heaven.
EPIGRAM 8. Peace, childish Cupid, peace: Thy finger'd eye
What will ye do in the day of your visitation? to whom will ye flie for help, and where will ye leave your glory?
EPIGRAM 9. What? sweet-fac'd Cupid, has thy bastard-treasure
Shee is emptie, and void, and waste.
EPIGRAM 10. This House is to be let; for life or yeares
Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
EPIGRAM 11. O Cupid, if thy smoother way were right
God forbid that I should glory, save in the Crosse.
EPIGRAM 12. I follow'd Rest, Rest fled, and soone forsooke me
As a Dog returneth to his vomit, so a foole returneth to his follie.
EPIGRAM 13. Braine-wounded Cupid, had this hasty dart
A just man falleth seven times and riseth up againe; but the wicked shall fall into mischiefe.
EPIGRAM 14 Triumph not, Cupid, His mischance does show
I will put my feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
EPIGRAM 15. My heart, but wherefore do I call thee so?
The Third Booke. The Entertainement.
The Entertainment.[ii]
My soule hath desired thee in the night.
EPIGRAM 1. My soule, cheare up: What if the night be long?
O Lord, thou knowest my foolishnesse, and my sinnes are not hid from thee.
EPIGRAM 2. Rebellious foole, what has thy Folly done?
Looke upon my affliction and my paine, and forgive all my sinnes.
EPIGRAM 6. Taxe not thy God: Thine owne defaults did urge
Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and wilt thou bring me to dust againe?
EPIGRAM 5. Why swell'st thou, Man, puft up with Fame, and Purse?
Lord I have sinned: What shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men; why hast thou set me as a marke against thee?
EPIGRAM 6. But form'd, and fight? But borne, and then rebell?
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy enemie?
EPIGRAM 7. If heav'ns all-quickning Eyes vouchsafe to shine
O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountaine of teares, that I might weepe day and night.
EPIGRAM 8. Earth is an Island ported round with Feares
The sorrowes of hell compassed me about, and the snares of death prevented me.
EPIGRAM 9. Be sad, my Heart, Deep dangers wait thy mirth
Enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living bee justified.
EPIGRAM 10. Mercy of mercies! He that was my drudge
Let not the water-flood over-flow me, neither let the deepes swallow me up.
EPIGRAM 11. My soule; the seas are rough; and thou a stranger
O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, and thou wouldst keepe me secret untill thy wrath be past.
EPIGRAM 12. Hath vengeance found thee? Can thy feares command
Are not my dayes few? Cease then, and let me alone, that I may bewaile my selfe a little.
EPIGRAM 13. Fear'st thou to go, when such an Arme invites thee?
O that men were wise, and that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.
EPIGRAM 14. What soule, no father yet? what nev'r commence
My life is spent with griefe, and my yeares with sighing.
EPIGRAM 15. My heart, Thy life's a debt by Bond, which beares
The Fourth Booke.
I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivitie to the Law of sin.
EPIGRAM 1. My soule, how are thy thoughts disturb'd! confin'd
O that my wayes were directed to keepe thy statutes.
EPIGRAM 2. Pilgrim trudge on: What makes thy soule complaine
Stay my steps in thy paths, that my feet do not slide.
EPIGRAM 3. Feare not, my soule, to lose for want of cunning
My flesh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements.
EPIGRAM 4. Lord shall we grumble, when thy flames do scourge us?
Turne away mine eyes from regarding vanitie.
EPIGRAM 5. 'Tis vaine, great God, to close mine eyes from ill
If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it please the King, let my life be given me at my petition.
EPIGRAM 6. Of Merc' and Justice is thy Kingdome built
Come my beloved, let us goe forth into the fields, and let us remaine in the villages.
EPIGRAM 7. Mechanick soule; thou must not only doe
Draw me; we will follow after thee by the savour of thy Oyntment.
EPIGRAM 8. Looke not, my Watch, being once repair'd, to stand
O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the brest of my mother, I would find thee without, and I would kisse thee.
EPIGRAM 9. My burthen's greatest: Let not Atlas bost
In my bed, by night, I sought him, that my soule loved: I sought him, but I found him not.
EPIGRAM 10. Where shouldst thou seek for rest, but in thy Bed?
I will rise, and go about the City, and will seeke him that my soule loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
EPIGRAM 11. What lost thy Love? Will neither Bed nor Board
Have you seene him whom my soule loveth? When I had past a little from them, then I found him, I took hold on him, and left him not.
EPIGRAM 12. What? found him out? Let strong embraces bind him
It is good for me to draw neare to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God.
EPIGRAM 13. Let Boreas blasts, and Neptunes waves be joyn'd
I sate under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
EPIGRAM 14. Ah, treach'rous soule, would not thy Pleasures give
How shall we sing a song of the Lord in a strange land?
EPIGRAM 15. Did I refuse to sing? Said I these times
The Fift Booke.
I charge you, O daughter of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick of love.
EPIGRAM 1. Grieve not (my soule) nor let thy love waxe faint
Stay me with Flowers, and comfort me with Apples, for I am sicke with love.
EPIGRAM 2. Why Apples, O my soule? Can they remove
My beloved is mine, and I am his; He feedeth among the Lillies.
EPIGRAM 3. Sing Hymen to my soule: What? lost and found
I am my Beloveds, and his desire is towards me.
EPIGRAM 4. My soule; thy love is deare; 'Twas thought a good
My Soule melted whilst my Beloved spake.
EPIGRAM 5. My soule; Thy gold is true; but full of drosse
Whom have I in heav'n but Thee? and what desire I on earth in respect of Thee?
EPIGRAM 6. Who would not throw his better thoughts about him
Woe is to me! that I remaine in Meshech and dwell in Tents of Kedar.
EPIGRAM 7.Art thou so weake? O canst thou not digest
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
EPIGRAM 8. What need that House be daub'd with flesh and blood?
I am in a streight betweene two, having a desire to be dissolv'd, and to be with Christ.
EPIGRAM 9. What? will thy shackles neither loose, nor breake?
Bring my soule out of prison, that I may praise thy Name.
EPIGRAM 10. Pauls Midnight voice prevail'd; his musicks thunder
As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soule after thee O God.
EPIGRAM 11. The Arrow-smitten Hart, deep wounded, flies
When shall I come and appeare before God?
EPIGRAM 12. How art thou shaded in this vale of night
O that I had the wings of a Dove, for then I would flee away and be at rest.
EPIGRAM 13. Tell me, my wishing soule, didst ever trie
How amiable are thy Tabernacles O god of Hosts.
EPIGRAM 14. My soule, pry not too nearely; The Complexion
Make haste my Beloved, and be like the Roe or the young Hart upon the Mountaines of Spices.
EPIGRAM 15. My soule, sinnes monster, whom, with greater ease
THE FAREWELL. Be thou faith full unto death, and I will give thee the crowne of life..[ii]