Peace with her foure garders Viz. fiue morall meditations: of concord, chastitie, constancie. Courtesie. Grauitie. Eschew euill, and doe good, seeke peace and ensue it.

MEDITATION 5. Of Grauitie.

MY Muse now fares like some Geometrician, That hauing view'd on Globe terrestriall The Earth, and like a good Mathematician, Cast vp the Measure of her craggy ball, Now thinkes that all doth in his Compasse fall, But sayling forth by Compasse, Card, and Sterne, With his owne eyes it to discouer all, He many Iles and Regions doth discerne, Which neuer by the Map he able was to learne.

So when I first in Vertues Maps had read, Of all the Graces link'd in golden Chaine, I thought I had them all discouered, And able was their Natures to explaine, But more that I doe labour and take paine, To tell their Numbers, Nature, Qualities, More numberlesse I find their glorious traine, And more admire their Grace and Dignities, And more of them I write, the more my Muse descry's.

But none more faire I can amongst them find, Than next I write of comely Grauity, Which as I said, goes linked and combin'd With gentle, noble, sweet Humanitie, Whom follow Constancy and Chastity Attending alwayes on this stately Peere, Who for her venerable Maiesty, Is to the Queene of Loue her selfe most deare, And alwayes tires her face, which court'sie washeth cleare.

Now helpe, O heau'nly Queene! and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 faire! Her to adorne that beautify's you 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 And lift my Muse to fly aboue the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Oh neuer let my fit and fury fall, Whil'st I describe this Grace Maiesticall; Which with her comely presence doth adorne The Temple, Iudgement Seat, and Princes Hall, With Academies, where the Muse was borne, And ay defends the ancient from the yongers scorne.

She is an inward splendour of the mind, Which makes the whole man gracious, commendable, The outward manners which in her we finde, Her lookes and gestures, faire and delectable, Are but as Beames of that bright admirable Transcendent Grace, which in her heart doth shine, To make words, lookes, and actions venerable, And Dignity and Comelinesse to ioyne, With manners Sanctitie, which make a man Diuine.

For sure all reuerend shewes of Grauity, Are but externall good expos'd to sight, Except they haue fast rooting inwardly, And from the heart receiue their Splendour bright, As Maiesty, is without Goodnesse light, So's Grauity without true holinesse, 'Tis that which makes vs graue, and to delight In sober honesty, and comelinesse, And to be patternes of all Grace and godlinesse.

She is that holy Law and Rule of Life, Of constancie and gracious manners borne, Free from lasciuious Loue, or causelesse strife, And euer doth most gloriously adorne Him, before whom her glorious ensigne's borne, She is not lowring hard, to equals proud, To betters base, nor doth inferiours scorne, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wanton, loose, exulting, lowd, Her habit, looke, attire, all modesty doth shroud.

Her Ornaments are not Wealth, Strength, or Power, Sumptuous apparell, decking Limbs, or face, Sweet Chastitie of Manners is her Dower, Her outward parts, adorn'd with inward Grace: These be the ornaments that most her grace, Not made by any skilfull hand, or Art; Vertue the Queene of all things did enchace These workes of wondrous Glory in her heart, Wherewith she now adornes and graceth euery part.

By these she casting out all perturbation, Perpetuall tranquillity attaines, And shines in Grace, which at her first Creation, She from the Fountaine of all Grace obtaines, And thus she true immortall honour games, Not that which leanes on popular vaine blast; But that whereby the Queene of Vertue raignes, And stands vpon her vertuous thoughts so fast, She from the pitch of honour cannot be displas't.

Hence 'tis, that who can to this pitch attaine, Admits of nought vnseemely to be done, His mind no euill cogitations staine, His actions chast as mind from whence they come, Many indiffirent things are fit for some, Which some more graue and noble ill beseeme; It doth no Iudge or Magistrate become, In seruants habit publique to be seene, What Country Maid commends, may ill beseeme a Queene.

Iustly did Philip reprehend his Sonne, When, to the Harpe, he heard him sweetly sing, This well, saith he, soft Ladies doth become, But Drums and Trumpets best beseeme a King; It is for Clarkes no commendable thing, To Hunt, Hawke, and great Horse for seruice traine, Which highest Grace to Gentlemen doth bring, Poets may witty pleasant fictions faine, Which in a graue Diuine would be accounted vaine.

Man in Gods Image to be like a Beast, Neigh like a Horse, grunt, swill, like to a Swine, Such things doth Grauity as base detest, Equality and Comelinesse doe shine, In her voice, speeches, countenance diuine; In going, sitting, gestures, and deuotions; She words perplext, contentions, doth decline, Plaine, constant, resolute, are all her motions, Proceeding from her hearts, pure, wise, & heau'nly notions.

Her words fly not at randome, all do flow From Fountaine of pure vnderstanding heart: Her gestures are not quick, nor yet too slow, Sweetly seuere, consid'rates in each part: Her looke's not Cruell, nor compos'd by Art, Graue and seuere, yet gentle, liberall, Sweet Mistris of the Graces! where thou art They are most gracious and comely all, Wherefore I them thy Schollers all aright may call,

Nay rather thy companions: Poets feigne Astréa call'd from heau'n, with thee to dwell, And to put all her Nymphs to thee; to traine Them vp in Vertue as beseemeth well: To men all gracefull manners thou dost tell, Thou teachest Kings to rule their Subiects right, Fathers their Duties to their sonnes to spell, Seruants to Masters, Lady to her Knight, No Policy or force without thee rules aright.

Happy are they! thou teachest to eschew All Leuity, vaine feare, and ostentation, Morose, rough manners, taunts, reproach vndue, Which shewes a mind subiect to perturbation, Delighting in anothers molestation: These are like Scorpions, whose malignity, To all, comes from their natures inclination, And from their Malice comes Morositie, Auerse to all, but most to Truth and honesty.

As Vrchin, which hath pricks vpon his skin, 'Mongst Thorns, and Bryers alwayes takes delight, So in all businesse these enter in, They vse morose, vnciuill, barb'rous might; They bring within them Malice, Gall & Spight. How-euer be the thing wherein they deale, Oh God forbid! such base malicious Sprite Be euer Iudge in Iudahs common-weale: Such take large Toule, but neuer care to grind the meale.

Some dayes Euripus seu'n times ebbs and flowes, Some other dayes, nor flowes nor ebbs at all, The mouing of this Riuer's like to those, That haue not Grauity habituall: Vnlike themselues, loose, sparing, prodigall, Idle precipite, vaine, for either part Most earnest, vehement, patheticall, These their owne businesse and friends peruert, For want of Grauity, and Constance in their heart.

But Grauitie is like the Ocean maine, Into whose Treasure all the Flouds doe flow, Which he as constantly sends out againe, Yet hereby doth, nor lesse, nor greater grow, He neither swels, nor banks doth ouerflow, When greater summes his tributaries pay, Nor is base sparing, when their pay is slow, The windes may tosse his waues but not dismay, He smiles so soone to see his troubles blowne away.

As Censor in the Senate-house of Rome, So is this Grace amongst the Graces all; And as none might into the Senate come, But those whom he did in his Conscript call: So none may come into the Graces Hall, But they must be conscrib'd by Grauity, And those she will not haue come there at all, She passeth by them for their Leuity, Such confidence haue all in her integritie.

But she most like is to the glorious Sunne, Whose chearefull countenance is still the same; And like him constantly one course doth runne, Of which, she neuer weary is or lame: From him's all elementall heate and flame, With her all liuely spirituall doth dwell: He lightens all with his enlightning beame, Sinnes, Clouds, and Ignorance she doth expell: Sol prince of Lights, she of all Graces beares the bell.

She's like that Breath, which God is said to breathe Into mans face for immortality, His owne sweet Image, which he did bequeath To Adam, Righteousnesse, and Sanctitie: For where is inward holy Grauity, All Graces spirituall are likewise found, Where graue and modest outward Courtesie, There outward comely Graces all are found, Without the one we neuer find the other sound.

No firmer, or more ready muniment, 'Gainst Enuie, Malice, and each enemy, That here mankind assaile, and circumuent, Than high, sublime, graue Manners maiestie; Who outward hath and inward Grauitie, Concords with all without, hath Peace within, Of Vertues all consent, and Vnity, Gods image thus renew'd, doth heere begin, In humane flesh to vanquish Lust, and mortall Sinne.

Old Ages honour, garland of gray-haires, Most ample orders Grace, and dignity, The highest seates of Iustice, richest chaires Of State, from her haue all their maiestie: She swayes the Scepter of high Sou'raignty, The fairest Cope which Arons sonnes do weare, Sweet, reu'rend, amiable Grauitie! To thee I nothing find fit to compare, All Simile's but shadowes to thy substance are.

For in the graue and reu'rend do shine All Goodnesse, Constancie, and Sapience, The Manners which were in the golden time, The Age when raigned Right and Innocence, Before Debate, Strife, and Maleuolence Were hatcht, since fledge, now taught aloft to sore; Inueterate in reprobated Sense, Habituated so in Vices lore, They scoffe at graue examples, all that went before.

At first, I say, when in the golden Age, Graue Saturne did Olympus Scepter sway, Of high esteeme were then the ancient Sage, And mortals all did their behests obay; But since Ioue did by violence betray His father, and aspired to his Crowne, Seuerer Grauity is driu'n away: The Iouiall men are onely of renowne, Graue Saturne on their Lusts too rigidly doth frowne.

As long as Eue maintaines her Grauitie, So long in her Integrity she stood: But when neglecting Grace and Maiestie, She of her vassall learnes the ill from good, The Serpent, with his base malicious brood, Soone brings her to an euerlasting blame; She euill did, and euill vnderstood, And seekes to hide her naked parts from shame, Which perfect Natures Grauitie did neuer blame.

Oh wondrous Grace of heau'nly Grauitie, If in her likenesse she should here appeare! But Adam lost her with Integrity, Since, she could neuer be discerned cleare: But when our Head with vs conuersed here, Onely some Beames he pleaseth to bestow Vpon his members to himselfe most deare, Whereby they shine like little lamps below, And, as he lends them light, they great or lesser show.

If you examples of this Grace desire, You must the Fathers liues, and Stories reade, She a continued habit doth require, Nor is expressed in a single deed, I easier to you could their slips areed, As Noah graue yet ouertane with wine, And Lot thus punish't with incestuous deed. I read, that once eu'n Abram did decline, And fainting, fell from this high Grauitie diuine.

Could I now Iob here picture in a Verse, I might her comeliest feature to you show, Reade his whole life: I onely will rehearse What he would haue his vniust friends to know: Did he vnto the Seat of Iudgement goe; The youngmen saw him, and themselues did hide, The aged rise; the Princes tongues that flow In Eloquence, their talking lay aside. Speakes he? all mouths are shut, all eares are open wide.

I do not reade, that graue Iudge Samuel Did euer from this heau'nly Grace decline, For all the time he iudged Israel: But sure his a 1.1 Tutor did so much incline To gentlenesse, he swerued from her line. Oh Dauid! where was then thy Grauity, When thou didst make Vriah drunke with wine, That so he might go with thy Lemman lie, To couer thy base Sinne of foule Adultery?

That innocent pure golden Grauitie, With which thou in a linnen Ephod dight, Laidst by thy sou'raigne kingly Maiestie, To dance before the Lord with all thy might: Oh thus to be vncouerd in the sight Of maides, and seruants, well becomes a King, Though prophane wicked Michols vs despight, Yet when to God we our Deuotions bring, To be most vile and meeke is no dishonouring.

Should I now passe by Iudges, Prophets, Kings, And from th'Apostles times this Vertue trace, To shew how silly fisher-men did things More graue and venerable in their place, Than all the Prelates that haue highest grace, My selfe and Reader I too much should spend: Let's labour in our hearts her to embrace, For that indeed is Meditations end, In vaine hee sees the right, that doth the wrong way wend.

By two or three examples, Ile commend This Grace, as she did with the Heathen won: Cato, one from the Senate did suspend, Because he kist his wife before his sonne: A Poet crauing of a Iudge alone, To do him fauour against Law, replide, As Poet is not good, whose Vertues run Not by the rules of Art: so Iudge is wide, That layes, for feare or fauour, Lawes and right aside.

A Spartane lewd, in serious consultation, Giuing his good aduice, was followed Of all the Senate in their Conuocation; And the Decree in his name entered: A graue old man them better counselled, That they their honour would not so defame, To haue Decrees in such names registred: The Sentence might continue still the same, Chang'd onely from a lewd, vnto a graue mans name

Themistocles is said, once with his friend, After the Persians fatall ouerthrow, To see that mighty slaughter, to descend Vnto the Sea, which wont to ebbe and flow; Which many Chains and Bracelets vp did throw: These when he saw thus lying on the shore, He them, thus saying, to his friend doth show, Thou art no Captaine, gather them therefore: Shewing, he Grauity, than Gold esteemed more.

Oh! shall a Captaine of the heathen host, For Grauity despise all gold and gaine? And Christians, thou whose Soule alone hath cost More than all wealth that doth on earth remaine, Neglect this Grace a little pelfe to gaine? Oh! what do such, but Esaus Birth-right sell, Or like the Prodigall, eate swill and graine: If they at home with Grauity would dwell, Manna should be their food, their drinke sweet liuing-Well.

Alas! how many be that do professe Themselues great friends to gracious Grauitie, And do in outward shewes expresse no lesse? But they at home are full of Luxurie, Base Wantonnesse, and all Immodesty; Especially obscene in filthy Lust: Thus Cupid binds Ioues awfull Maiestie; Uenus haue her petitions granted must, When Iuno's and Minerua's throwne are in the dust.

Ah! I could wish, but neuer hope to see The golden-Age, when eu'ry one was plaine, And hearts and faces did in one agree; Dissembling was not knowne all Saturnes raigne. The Matrons modest Virgins sought to gaine By patternes gra••••, in Vertue to begin Their youth, the ancient vp in labour traine; To moderate their Lust, and keepe from sinne: That as they seem'd without, so they might be within.

Three things the Persians did teach their youth, To ride a horse, the Bow aright to draw, The last thing was, in all to tell the Truth; This made them of ill doing stand in aw, They being bound to Truth, as to a law. This last, true inward Grauitie would frame, Considering God secret sinnes will draw To light on earth, to our disgrace and blame, Or else hereafter to our greater paine and shame.

But I confesse, we are so farre from feare Of wanton loosenesse in our priuacie, That openly we without blushing beare The ensignes of our Impudicitie. So farre from antique grauer Modestie, In gestures, goings, lookes, vailes, and attire: They now are baits of Lust and Luxurie, And fewell to increase our shamelesse fire, Which should be limited in Wedlocks chast desire.

And not shewes onely, but our sweetest songs, Are now the Baits of Lust and Wantonnesse; In Ribaldry we exercise our toungs, With vnchast tales we intertaine our guesse; Without these now no mirth or cheerefulnesse. Alas! poore Grauity is quite vndone, Her honours blended by Lasciuiousnesse; The Signes will tell you, where good-Ale doth won, 'Tis filthinesse to speake, what's filthy to be done.

Diuinest Spirits! Muses Darlings deare! That in sublimest Numbers take delight, Oh! let your Fountaines streame as pure and cleare, As runs the Helicon whereof you write: Dim not your pure, sublime, most glorious light, With lustfull thought, or wanton cogitation, But spend the honour of your Furies might, In holy, sweete, transcendent Contemplation, And as your matter's graue, so be your conuersation.

You by the Muses are inaugurate Censors of Manners, inward Sanctitie, As of the outward is the Magistrate; Oh both be patternes of true Grauitie! And you shall both shine like a Deitie, Amongst the mortals which are here below: Your priuate honour, publike maiestie, By Grauitie more glorious shall show, So as your outward truly doth from inward flow.

Wiues, Matrons, Widowes, Virgins faire be graue, Dame Chastitie defend your Bodies may From lawlesse Lust: This Vertue will you saue From lustfull proffer without saying nay; The boldest dares not Grauitie assay; She better than a thousand Argo's eyes, All lustfull lookes and glances keepes away, And silenceth inchanting Mercuries: That Matron's truly chast, whom no man euer tryes.

God of all Grace, I humbly beg this Grace Of inward, and of outward Grauitie, Graue in my Muses, graue in publique place, Graue with my friends, graue in my Family, Graue in Aduersitie, Prosperitie, In all religious Duties truely graue: Be I in Bondage, or at Libertie, In health, or sicknesse, Grauitie I craue. In all from crying Sinnes, this Grace my Soule shall saue.

And though to sing of Grauitie I cease, Yet neuer will I cease her Contemplation. As yeeres, so must my Grauity increase. The Author of all heau'nly Cogitation, Me teach her practice in my Conuersation. This Booke began with Peace, I now will end With Grauity both Booke and Meditation: God grant it Readers hearts may all amend, As it hath done the Authors, when the same he pen'd.

Notes

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