Bel-vedére, or, The Garden of the muses

Of Humilitie, &c.

Humilitie, is lowlinesse of mind, The onely way, the seat of blisse to find.

HVmilitie lookes lowly on the ground. Humilitie, her friends with kindnesse feeds. The lowly dales enuie not highest hills. Humilitie, to heauen, the steppe, the staire, Is by deuotion, heartie griefe, and prayer. The lowly mind doth highest gifts adorne. Meeknesse of heart is glorie to man-kind. Humilitie admires his paine with ioy. The kindly dew drops from the higher tree, And wets the little plants that lowly dwell. The Cedar yeeldeth to the Axes edge. Better sit still, than rise, and after fall. The shrub is safe, when the tall Cedar shakes,

H•• that high growth on Cedars did bestow, Gaue likewise lowly Mushromes leaue to grow. Humble and meeke, becomes both young and old. Gray hath lesse griefe, than costly silken ••utes. Humilitie walkes lowly on the earth, Assur'd of certaine dignitie in heauen. The lowest shrubs doe feele the fewest stormes▪ The minds submission pulls downe loftie lookes. When as the Eagle meanes his highest flight, He makes his mounting in the lowest dale. Great floods doe often rise from humble streames▪ Content below, ne're climbes to seeke aloft. The cottage seated in the lowly dale, Is more secure than highest soueraigntie. Humilitie, the ••oules chiefe beautie is. Humilitie doth anger soone asswage. A lowly life that feares no suddaine losse, Is still content, how-euer things goes crosse. An humble mind sauours of pietie. True humblenes doth all mens vertues praise. A mind that feares no fall, nor craues no crowne, Is in the rightest way to true renowme. Religions chiefe precept, is humblenes. Happie that man, who is in honour humble. Where humble thoughts doe to the heauens aspire, There is no place for any proud desire. The minds best armour, is humilitie. Lowlinesse is the perfect path to honour. Humilitie hath brought those things to passe, Which reason, nor no vertue else could doe. Pride wageth warre against humilitie. By lowlinesse, is true discretion wonne. Proud minds can hardly learne humilitie. Humilitie augments beneuolence,

Supporteth truth, and keepes a kingdome safe. Humilitie reuiues dead charitie. The face doth soone expresse an humble mind. Truth soone appeares to humble minded men. The noble Lyon neuer slayes the least, But alwayes preyes vpon the proudest beast. Humilitie rules all the minds affects. No way to heauen, but by humilitie. Humilitie winnes immortalitie. Humilitie with perfect grace stands fast, When all things else are vanished and past. Breake not a bending reed, spare the submisse. Earth vessels, with the brazen may not striue.

Similies on the same subiect.

AS lowlinesse of heart brings downe heauens grace, So humble words can proudest tearmes deface. As salt doth season euery kind of meat, So lowlinesse doth shew all vertues best. As vallies sertilnesse the hills exceeds, So humble lowlinesse shewes fairest deeds. As wine in lowest vaults is best preseru'd, So grace in humble minds is best discern'd. As proud presumption seekes his owne decay, So lowlinesse to blisse directs the way. As ignorance most scorneth to be taught, So humblenesse desireth still to learne.

Examples likewise on the same.

PHilip for humblenes of mind was praisd, Beyond all princes of the Macedons. Antigon••••s with great humilitie, Bare off the ••launders of his enemies.

Scipio, in all his fottunes neuer sweru'd, From patient sufferance, and humilitie. Pericles most of all defam'd him-selfe, By making scorne of true humilitie. Tullie affirmes, all vertues what-soe're, Are soonest learned by humilitie. Plato calls lowlinesse, the soules defence, And onely shield against extremities.