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
Davies, John, 1565?-1618.
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
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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
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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▪
