The temple of vvisdom for the little world in two parts. The first philosophically divine, treating of the being of all beeings, and whence everything hath its origins as heaven, hell, angels, men and devils, earth, stars and elements. And particularly of all mysteries concerning the soul, and of Adam before and after the fall. Also, a treatise of the four complexions, and the causes of spiritual sadness, &c. To which is added, a postscript to all students in arts and sciences. Second part, morally divine, containing abuses stript and whipt, by Geo. Wither, with his description of fair virtue. Secondly. A collection of divine poems from ... Essayes and religious meditations of Sir Francis Bacon, Knight. Collected, published and intended for a general good. By D.L.

Fair Virtue the Shepherd's MISTRISS.

The Shepherd to his Mistress.

HAle thou fairest of all Creatures, Upon whom the Sun doth shine, Model of all rairest Features, And Perfections most Divine; Thrice all-hale and bl•…•…d be Those that love and honour thee.

By thy Beauty I have gained To behold the best Perfections, By thy Love I have obtained To enjoy the best aff•…•…ions, And my Tongue to sing thy prai•…•…, Love and Beauty thus doth raise.

VVhat, although in Rustick Shadows I a Shepherds breeding had, And confined to these Meadows, So in home-spun Russet clad, Such as I have now and then, Da•…•…d as much as greater men,

On this Glass of thy Perfection, If that any VVomen pry, Let them thereby take direction To 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themselves thereby. And if ought amiss they view, Let them dress themselves a new.

Young men may by this acquainted, VVith the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Beauties grow, So the counterfeit and paint•…•… They may shun, when them they know. But the way all will not find, •…•…or some Eyes have, yet are blind

Those that Mistresses are named, And for that suspected be, Shall not need to be ashamed, If they patern take by thee; Neither shall their Servant fear Favours openly to wear.

Thou to no man favour dainest, But what's fitting to bestow, Neither Servants entertainest, That can ever wanton grow; For the more they look on thee, Their desires still bettered be.

I am no Italian lover, That will mew thee in a Goal, But thy Beauty I discover, English-like, without a vail: If thou may'st be won away, Win and wear thee he that may.

Yet in this thou may'st believe me, So indifferent though I seem, Death with tortures would not grieve 〈◊〉〈◊〉 More, then loss of thy esteem. For if Virtue me forsake, All a scorn of me will make.

The MISTRISS of the SHEPHERD.

NOw while other men complaining, Tell their Mistresses disdaining, Free from care I write a Story, Only of her worth and glory. And wh•…•…le most are most untoward, Peevish, vain, unconstant, froward,

While their best Contentments bring Nought, but after sorrowing: She those childish humours slighting, Hath conditions so delighting, And doth so my bliss indeavour. As my joy increaseth ever.

Love she can, and doth, but so As she will not overthrow Love's content by any Folly, Or by Deeds that are unholy.

Dotingly, she ne'er affects, Neither willingly neglects Honest love, but means doth find, With discretion, to be kind.

Goodness more delights her, than All the mask of •…•…olly can. Fond she hateth to appear, Though she hold her Friend as dear, As her part of Life unspent, Or the best of her content. If the heat of youthful Fires Warm her Blood with those desires, Which are by the course of Nature Stir'd in every perfect Creature: As those Passions kindle so, Doth heavens Grace and Reason grow, Abler to suppress in her Those rebellions, and they stir Never more affection, then One good Thought allays agen.

I could say, so chaste is she, As the new blown Roses be, Or the drifts of Snow, that non Ever touch't or look't upon.

Malice never lets she in, Neither hates she ought but Sin.

Envy, if she could admit, There's no means to nourish it; •…•…or her gentle heart is pleased, When she knows another's eased. And there's none who ever got That pe•…•…ction she hath not; So that no cause is there, why She should any one envy.

Mildly angry she'll appear, That the baser Rout may fear Through presumption to misdo, Yet she often feigns that too: But le•…•… wrong be whatsoever, She gives way to Choler never.

If she ever 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of •…•…ate, To obtain a higher state, [Or ambitiously were given] Sure 'twas but to climb to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Pride is from her Heart, as far As the Poles in distance are, For her worth; nor all this praise Can her humble Spirit raise, Less to prise me than before, Or her self to value more.

VVere she vain, she might alledge 'Twere her Sexes Priviledge. But she's such, as [doubtless] no man Knows less Folly in a VVoman. To prevent a being Idle, Sometimes with her curious Needle, [Though it be her meanest glory] She then lines some antique story.

Other while again, she rather Labours with delight to gather Knowledge from such learned VVrits, As are left by famous VVits,

VVhere she chiefly seeks to know God, her self, and what we owe To our Neighbour, since with these Come all needful knowledges.

She with Adam, never will Long to learn both good and ill: But her state well understood, Rests her self content with good.

Avarice so hateth she, As the loathsom'st that be; Since she knows it is an ill, That doth ripest Virtue kill; And where e'er it comes to rest, Though in some strict Matrons breast, Such are hired to any thing, If that you but Gold can bring.

If you think she Jealouse be, You are wide, for credit me, Her strongest Jealousies nought are, Other then an honest care Of her Friends; and most can tell, VVho so wants that, loves not well.

Cruelty her Soul detests, For within her Bosom rests Noble pity, usher'd by An unequal Courtesie, And is griev'd at good men's moan, As the grief were all her own. Just she is, so just, that I Know she will not wrong a Fly, Or oppress the meanest thing, To be Mistress to a King.

If our Painter could include Temperance and Fortitude In one Picture she would fit For the nonce to pattern it.

Patient as the Lamb is she, Harmless as the Turtles be; Yea, so largely stor'd with all VVhich we Mortals, goodness call: That if ever Virtue were, Or may be incarnate here. This is she, whose praises I Offer to •…•…ternity.

Though discreetly speak she can, She'll be silent, rather than Talk, while others may be heard, As if she did hate, or fear'd Their condition, who will force All to wait on their discourse.

If she smile, or merry be, All about her are as she: For each looker on, takes part Of the joy that's in her Heart.

If she grieve, or you but spie Sadness weeping thorow her Eye, Such a Grace it seems to borrow, That you'l fall in love with Sorrow.

And if you should mark agen, Her discr•…•…et behaviour, when She finds Reason to repent Some wrong, pleaded argument, She so temperately lets all Her mis-held Opinions fall, And can with such mildness bow, As 'twill more enamour you, Then her knowledge: for there are Pleasing Sweets, without compare, In such yieldings, which do prove VVit, Humility and Love; Yea, by tho•…•…e mistakings, you Her conditions so shall know,

As `twill make her mo•…•…e endeared, Then if she had never erred.

These are Beauties that shall last, VVhen the crimson Blood shall waste, •…•…r the shining Hair wax gray, Or with Age be worn away.

If you truly note her •…•…ace, You shall find it hath a grace, Neither wanton, nor o'er serious, Nor too yielding, nor imperious; But with such a •…•…eature blest, It is that which pleaseth best.

Her perfection in each part, •…•…alone except her Heart; For among all Women kind, Such as her's is hard to find.

'•…•…is not, 'tis not those rare Graces That do lurk in VVomens Faces: 'Tis not a display'd perfection, Youthful Eyes, nor clear Complexion, Nor a Skin smooth, Satten- like, Nor a dainty rosie Cheeke That to wantonness can move Such as victoriously do love: Beauty rather gently draws VVild Desires to Reasons Laws.

Beauty never tempteth men To Lasciviousness, but when Careless Idleness hath •…•…rought VVicked longings into thought.

Nor doth Youth, or heat of Blood, Make men prove what is not good, Nor the strength, of which they vaunt, 'Tis the strength and power they want: And the baseness of the mind Makes their brint Desires inclin'd,

To persue those vain delights, Which affect their Appetites.

I have Beaut•…•…es to unfold, That deserve a Pen of Gold, Sweets that never dream'd of were, Things unknown, and such as •…•…ar Never heard a Measure sound, Since the Sun first run his round.

Speak I can, yet think I more, Words compar'd with thoughts are poore; And I find, had I b•…•…gun Such a strein, it would be done VVhen we number all the Sands VVash't o e perjur'd Goodwins Lands, •…•…or of things I should indi•…•…e, Which I know are infinite.

And besides, it seems to me That your Fars nigh tire•…•… be: I perceive, the •…•…ire that charmet•…•… And inspireth me, scarce warmeth Your chil Hearts: Nay, sure were I Melted into Posie, I should not a measure hit, [Though Apollo prompted it] VVhich should able be to leave That in you, which I conceive.

Now my VVords I therefore cease, Go my mounting Thoughts in peace.

The SHEPHERD.

TO woe my noble Mis•…•…ress, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neither Rings, Bracelets, Jewels, nor a Scarfe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Feather. No place of Office o•…•… Command I keep, But this my little •…•…lock of homely Sheep: And in word, the sum of all my Pel•…•…, Is this, I am the M•…•…ster of my self.

When 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Birds, with Musick strains The Spring bad w•…•…ll-com'd in, And Flowers in the Woods and Plains To deck them, did begin My Love and I, on whom suspi•…•…ious Eyes Had set a m•…•…ny Spies. To 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all, we strove, And seen of none, we got alone Into a shady Grove.

With Hand in Hand, alone, we walk't, And of each other eyed; Of Love and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, past, we talk't, Which our poor Hearts had tryed. Our Souls infus'd into each other were, And what may be her care, Did my more sorrow breed: One mind we •…•…ad: One Faith we said, And both in one agreed.

•…•…er dainty Palm I gently prest, And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her Lips I plaid, My Cheek upon her panting Breast, And on her Neck I laid; And yet we had no sence of wanton Lust, Nor did we then mistrust The poyson in the sweet. Our Bodies wrought: So close we thought, B•…•…use our Souls should meet.

But Kissing and imbracing, we So long together staid, Her touches all enflamed me, That I had almost straid. My hands presum'd so far, they were too bold, My Tongue, unwisely told,

How much my Heart was chang'd, And Virtue quite: was put to flight, Or for the time estrang'd.

Oh what are 〈◊〉〈◊〉! if in our strength, We over boldly trust; The strongest sorts will yield at length, And so our Vir•…•…s must. In me no force of Reason had prevail'd, If she had also sail'd: But ere I further stray'd, She sighing, kist: my naked Wrist, And thus in Tears she said.

Sweet heart [quoth she] if in thy Breast Those Virtues real be, Which hitherto thou hast profest, And I believ'd in thee. Thy self and me, oh, seek not to abuse, Whilst thee I thus refuse, In •…•…tter Flames I frye; Yet let us not: our true love spot, Oh rather let me dye.

•…•…or if thy Heart should fall from good, What would become of mine? As strong a Passion stirs my Blood, As can distemper thine. Yet in my Breast this rage I smother would, Though it consume me should, And my desires •…•…tain. For where we see: Such breaches be, They sedom stop again.

Are we two, that have so long Each others Love imbrac't, And never did Affection wrong, Nor think a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉?

And shall, oh shall we now our matchless joy, For one poor touch, destroy, And all content forego; Oh no, my dear: Sweet-heart forbear, I will not lose thee so.

For should we do a deed so base, [As it can n•…•…ver be] I could no more have seen thy Face, Nor wouldst thou look on me. I should of all our Passions grow ashamed, And blush when thou art named; Yea, [though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 constant wert] I being 〈◊〉〈◊〉: A jealous thought Would still torment my Heart.

What goodly thing do we obtain, If I consent to thee; Bare Joys we lose, and what we gain, But common Pleasures be; Yea, those [some say] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lust inclin'd Drive Love 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the mind, And so much Reason miss, That they admire: what kind of Fire A chaste Affection is.

No vulgar bliss I aimed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 When first I heard thee woe; I'll never prise a ma•…•… for that, Which every Groom can doe. If that be Love, the basest men that be Do love as well as we, Who if we bear us well Do pass them: as Angels men In glory do excell.

Whil•…•… thus she spoke, a cruel band Of Passions ceas'd my Soul, And what one seemed to command, Another did controul. Twixt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and ill, I did divided lie, But as I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mine Eye, In her me thought I saw Those Virtues 〈◊〉〈◊〉: whose rays div•…•… First gave 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Law.

With that I felt the blush of shame Into my cheek return. And love did with a chaster flame Within my Bosom burn; My Soul her light of Reason had renew'd, And by those beams I view'd, How slily Lust ensnares, And all the Fires: of ill desires I quenched with my Tears.

Go wantons now, and flout at this My coldness, if you list; Vain Fools, you never knew the bliss That doth in love consist: You sigh, and weep, and labour to enjoy A shade, a dream, a toy. Poor folly you persue, And are unblest: Since every 〈◊〉〈◊〉 In pleasure equals you.

You never took so rich conte•…•… In all your wanton play As this to me hath Pleasure lent, That •…•…haste she went away. For as some Sins, which we committed 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Sharp stings behind them leave, Whereby we vexed are, So ill supprest: begetteth rest, And Peace without compare.