Bel-vedére, or, The Garden of the muses

Of Fate, &c.

Destinie, or the firme decree of Fate, Is sure to happen, be it soone or late.

NO priuiledge can from the fates protect. The fates farre off sore-seene, come gently neere. Men are but men in ignorance of fate, To alter chaunce exceedeth humane state. Mens haps by heauen are fram'd preposterous. That yeelds to fate, which will not stoope ••o force. We often find the course of fatall things, Is best discern'd in states of ••ealmes and kings. No one can turne the streame of destinie. No man can shun what destinie ordaines. I•• lye•• not in our p••wer to loue or hate, For will in vs is ouer-rul'd by ••ate. There's none by warning can auoid his fate. Ou•• haps doe chaunge, as chaunces on the dyce. In vain•• we ••ize that at so high a rate, Whose best assurance but depends on fate. What ••••te imposeth, we perforce must beare. All mens estates alike vnsteadfast are▪

Things which presage both good and bad there be, Which fate fore-shewes, but will not let vs see. Our frailties doome is written in the flowers. Fate cannot be preuented, though fore-knowne. VValles may a while hold out an enemie, But neuer castle kept out destinie. Errours are neuer errours but by fate. No prouidence preuenteth destinie. Those fates that one while plague poore men with crosses, Another time prouide to mend their losses. The fairest things are subiect still to fate. No man is sure what finall fruits to reape. Men attribute their follies vnto fate, And lay on heauen the guilt of their owne crimes. What happens me this day, may you the next. He thriueth best that hath a blessed fate. Fatall is that ascent vnto a crowne, From whence men come not, but are hurled downe. What fate intends, follie cannot fore-stall. Whome fate casts downe, hardly againe recouers. The breach once made vpon a battered state, Downe goes distresse, no shelter shrouds their fate. Force cannot winne, what fate doth contradict. Men are but men, and may not know their lot. VVhen ••••en doe wish for death, fates haue no force, But they (when men would liue) haue no remorse. It fatall is to be seduc'd with shewes. To alter course, may bring men more astray.

Similies on the same subiect.

LIke as the day cannot preuent the night, So vaine it is against the fates to fight. As with the worst, fate spareth not the best, So faults are easier lookt in, than redrest.

Euen as the starres and sands haue wondrous date, So are our liues subiect to nought but fate. As cities are o're-come by batterie, So all on earth must yeeld to destinie. As lookes of loue oft shadow inward hate, So times faire hope is shortned soone by fate. As flowers in morning fresh, oft fade ere night, So fate cuts off what goodliest seemes in sight.

Examples likewise on the same.

AS Bibulus in triumph rode through Rome, His fate was with a tyle-stone to be slaine. Aurelius sister, Lucia, by her needle But prickt her breast, and dyde immediatly. Cneius Rufferius, combing of his head, One of the teeth bereft him of his life. Methridates, suppos'd mens destinies Consisted in the power of hearbs and stones. Chilo of Lacedaemon did maintaine, That men might comprehend what was to come. Plato affirmed, That a good mans fate Neuer to euill could be destinate.