Bel-vedére, or, The Garden of the muses

Of Vertue.

Vertue, is Queene of labour, Nource of loue: The minds true grace, and blessing from aboue.

ALl things decay, but vertue cannot die. Vertue makes beautie more angelicall. Vertue is free from time, and fortunes power.

Men cannot leaue their vertues to their heires. Faire vertues seat is deepe within the mind, And not by shewes, but inward thoughts defin'd. Vices are noted, vertues soone forgot. Vertues best store, by giuing doth augment. There is no vertue that is borne with vs. No vertue springs, where wanteth due regard. Vertues obscurde, yeeld small and sorie gaines: But actiuely employd, true worth-retaines. Winne fame by vertue, let opinion goe. Vertue is in the mind, not the attire. Vertue and fortune neuer could agree. Vertue is loath'd of fooles, lou'd of the wise. Vertue is much more amiable and sweet, When therewithall true maiestie doth meet. Vice careth not if vertue sinke or swimme. Wit shines in vertue, vertue shines in wit. Sweetest temptations most make vertue knowne. Vertue it selfe turnes vice, being misapplyed: And vice sometimes by action dignified. The field of honour, vertue neuer looseth. Vertue will beare what can on vertue fall. True happinesse, on vertue taketh ground. The more vice reignes, the lesse doth vertue thriue. To vertues goods we onely ought to cleane, The rest are good in semblanc••, but deceaue. Vertue will liue when villanie shall die. Vertue may be disturb'd, but ne're disgrac'd. No beautie like the vertue of the mind. Vertue through darkest shades doth light her selfe. Vertue in greatest daungers being best showne, May be opprest, but neuer ouerthrowne. Vertue oft lyes where life is in disgrace. If sinne were dead, vertue could not be knowne.

Sweet is the gaine which vertuous trauaile brings▪ All vertuous minds doe vertuous deeds declare. Our vices nor our vertues neuer die, Though vnder ground a thousand yeares we lye. Vertue doth mortall things immortall make. The bond of vertue alwaies surest binds. Than vertue, there can be no greater dower. 'Tis vertues selfe, that her rewards doth pay. Enuies black cloud would dim bright vertues rayes. All sorrowes in the world are farre more lesse, Than vertues might and valours confidence. Sinne counted solace, vertue is despisde. Vaine praise is shame, but honour vertues due. Without defence of vertue, nothing lasts. Onely faire vertue scales eternitie, Aboue earths all-abating tyrannie. All Orators are dumbe when vertue pleads. Vertue but stampt in Lead, is rich enough. That growes apace which vertue helpes to raise. Vertue curbes in the most vnbridled will. With goodnesse men doe s••one grow discontent, Where states are ripe to fall, and vertue spent. True vertue is rich dower for chastitie. In vertuous deeds all stratagems are good. Vertue is beautie of the inward man. Exclude discretion, vertue turnes to vice. Like to the Sunne, so vertue lights the world. Such as leaue off faire vertue•• to esteeme, Doe greatly erre, that take things as they seeme. Vertue will shine though ne're so much obscur'd. Vertue depressed, is expressed more. Vertue makes women seeme to be diuine. With honours eyes let vertues plaints be scand. Vertue doth raise by very small degrees,

Where in a moment Fortune casteth downe. While vertue suffers, still it vanquisheth. Need clad with vertue, is aboundant rich. Vertue is better and more sure than Artes. Vertue is not to get things, but to keepe them. Vertue on earth doth soonest bring vs fame, Makes our graues glorious, writes our names in heauen. Vertue most grieueth at her owne disgrace. A vertuous act seemes straunge in some mens sight. A vertuous mind cannot be miserable. Death is true life to euery vertuous man. Though vertue many times wants due reward, Yet seldome vice escapes deserued blame. Vertue doth neuer enuie good desert. Loue maketh vertue liue, and vice to die. Reports can neuer harme the vertuous. He is not vertuous that's too timerous. Ech cunning sinne being clad in vertues shape, Flyes much reproofe, and many stormes doth scape. Vertues are many times by faults disgrac'd. Honours defects, by vertues are supplyed. Vertue still doteth on perfection. Vertue, in beauteous bodies shineth best. All the gay pleasures that the world can prooue, Are but sicke sorrowes to pure vertues loue. Vertue is most renowm'd in honors eyes. Vertue still smiles, when vaine conceit doth crie. Immortall vertue liues an endlesse dat••. Wisdome on Vertue as her handmaid waits. The world•• opinion so doth vertue smoother, A•• one beares that belongs vnto another. Vertue makes euery where a straungers home. Vertue doth conquer dissolute desires. Vertue in Princes is most glorious.

Vertue deserueth more than wealth can doe. The blasts of Fortune neuer can preuaile, In the maîne sea where vertue ••oiset•• saile. All pompe is vile, where vertue hath no place. Vertue doth vanquish Fortune, Time, and Death.

Similies on the same subiect.

AS feare of torment holds the wicked in, So vertues loue m••ke good men loath their sin. Looke how one vice begets another sinne, Euen so one vertue drawes another in. As Musicke pro••its nothing but by sound, So vertue helpes not if it saile in life. Like as the Sunne obscures all lesser lights, So vertues lustre damps all enuies sleights. As spices in their b••uising sauor most, So vertue in affliction best is seene. As wine refresheth sad dismayed minds, So vertue comforts poore distressed soules.

Examples likewise on the same.

KIng Alexander got the name of Great, By vertuous cariage of himselfe in warre. Spurina chose to mangl•• his faire face, Rather than be seduc'de from vertuous thoughts▪ Hercules, bad vaine pleasure get her gone: And made faire vertue his companion. Xerxes for beastlines was not so blam'd, As Galba for his vertue was renowmd. Thales affirmes, that nothing in the world, For man was meet, but vertuous actions. Cicero saith: That vertue of it selfe Is the sol•• cause of happie life and death.

Vertue was neuer ••ireling of the mind, But still will liue though fame had ne're a tongue. What sute of grace hath vertue to put on, If vice shall weare as good, and doe as well.