Wittes pilgrimage, (by poeticall essaies) through a vvorld of amorous sonnets, soule-passions, and other passages, diuine, philosophicall, morall, poeticall, and politicall. By Iohn Dauies

Fortuna vitrea est, quae cum splendet, frangitur. Publi.

•• GREATNESSE what great Good dost thou containe, ••allure the VVill to bee in loue with thee? ••st souraigne-Good to bee a Soueraigne VVhen high'st degree of Ills threats that Degree? VVho buyes a Crowne with neuer-ending Care

Buyes Gold too deere by al that Life is worth: For, Care doth nought but Life to Death prepare, Yet, vnprepard to meet Death flieth foorth: For, Kingdoms Cares so many are, and great, That they constraine the Thought but them to mind; That though vntimely Death they do beget, Yet Thought [though free] from thought thereof they bind! Then, ô my Soule, poore Soule! ritch in Conceit, (Which dost conceiue Kings glittering misery To be (as tis) false pomp, true perils Baite) Suffice thee still with meere Sufficiency. Make me aswell content to be the least. As others are well pleasd the Greatst to be; Sith Man in honor liues, and dies a Beast: For, Men proue oft base Beasts in high degree. Let mine ambition reach but to Content, And that Content reach but the Mean to touch: Thats All; sith its omni-sufficient More meet for richest Mynds then more then Much There may I fi••t by Vertues surest side, (For in the Meane sheedoth hir selfe install) Secure from wrack, while those that Scepters guide Do find no meane betweene their Rise, and Fall▪ VVhere I may, all vnseene, see all the rest Of this Worlds Reuolutions; and make vse Of Best, and VVorst discreetly for my best And store my Mind with Matter for my Muse: Like a Spectator that doth fitt at ease Secure vpon the Shore, and thence doth see, How others are neere sincking on the Seas In ceaslesse Stormes that full of danger bee: Or like a looker on a Tragedie VVithin the Middle Roome, among the Meane, I see the fall of State and Maiesty VVhile mongst the Presse••a Piller sure I leane: So see I others sorrowes with delight Though others sorrowes do but make me sadd: But plagues to see, which on our selues might light, Free from their fall, makes Nature, grieuing, gladd. Where while I see some Phaeton striue to guide The Sunne of Souraigntie, I see him set

All, in Combustion; so dissolues, through pride, All Mouers causing his Ambitions heate. Where I may see but late-Court-Minions Liue like to Spunge [hard squizd] aliue, and dead Through change of Kings, or Kings opinions: For, when their Heads fail off! off falls their Head. Or if they find more grace in Fortunes Frownes To liue (as in an Hell) a Liuing Death They well may Chronicle what holds in Crownes Which turne about (like Fanes) eun with a Breath. There may I Nobles see vnnobly striue Who shall be greatst in grace, for want of grace, Who by the damage of each other thriue And grace themselues b'each others great disgrace. While (vnperceaud) I laugh to see how thay (Like Fiends) each other restlestly torment, And, blesse my state that on their Plagues may play In my Minds mirry Kingdome of CONTENT. In few, there may I see how all Estates That lifted are aboue the myrry Meane Do, falling stand twixt Dangers and Debates, Whiles of their Falls I make a swelling Sceane. So that this World, the Sea of misery, Becomes my Helicon, and Streames affords, To make my Muse to flow, stil swellinghie, In matter far aboue the reache of Words. Then, you that, shouldring, buckle for the best Holding the Meane [the best of all] the worst] Rest you, or else my Muse shall neuer rest To make your States, and Strifs lothd as accurst. And you, ô you vnpassiond peacefull Harts That with me liue secure in meane estate, Be ioyfull though you play but simple Parts Ye simply play the best, bl••••hst, freest from hate. And though these great Ones scorne our Case, and Core, Let vs laugh at them sith we know they dote▪