John Owen's Latine epigrams Englished by Tho. Harvey, Gent. ; dedicated by the author Mr. John Owen unto the Lady Mary Nevil, daughter of the Earl of Dorset.

EPIGRAMS OF John Owen A CAMBRO-BRITAN To Charles Duke of York, Brother to the Prince the Kings Son. The Third Book. (Book 3)

1. A Jove Principium, Begin in God.

GOd's the beginning, i' th' beginning's God, Before and after, without Period, Without beginning the beginning: From This sole beginning all beginnings come.

2. To the Reader.

I publish'd former Books with Verses clad, I, to the former this, not naked add.

If more remain, they better will appear, Kind Reader thou dost hope, but I do fear.

3. To Charles, Duke of York.

The Kings, the Kingdoms next Hope-Happiness, Great Charles, yet then the Prince of Camb'ra less: Thy Tutors Counsel use, thee which instruct: Sage-sane advice, a Duke will safe conduct. Be like thy Father, Second to thy Brother; Thy Second, or thy like will be none other.

4. The Art of Memory.

Simonides invented Mem'ries Art, But th' Art of Wit none yet, in whole or part.

5. Things, Names and Words.

God all things did Create, Man gave them Names, Woman gave words: But word for word inflames.

6. Redemption and Regeneration.

Satan from Eve bought Man, Christ man re-bought: Adam did death procure, the cure Christ wrought.

7. The Praise of Liberality.

A Gift's eternal, follows him that gives; The Giver and Receiver It relieves.

8. Oxford's new Library. To the Readers, 1610.

Authors seek ye? Ready, before your Eyes, Each Classick Author in his Classis crys: Of this great Work, scarce parallell'd on Earth, Seek ye the Founder? Bodley gave It birth.

9. To the University of Oxford.

No Library there is with thine that dare Compare, nor with thy Wits that can compare.

10. To Queen Anne.

Sister, Wife, Mother, Daughter of a King, Queen Anne: What greater Titles can we bring? Four Vertues thou with these four Titles hast; What canst thou to thy Vertues add at last?

11. To Elizabeth the Kings Daughter.

Born of a Kingly,-long continu'd Line, A King, a Caesar meriting for thine: Shouldst for an Husband stay, who could out-vie Thy worth, thou mightst a Virgin live and die.

12. Speech and Writing.

Mute Hand's the speaking Tongues Interpreter, As speaking Tongue's the mute Hearts messenger.

13. A new Man.

Depel, Dispel that old-grown Man of Sin, And, with the new Man, a new life begin.

14. An healthful Anagram, Opto, I wish, Poto, I drink.

I wish much Health, but drink no Health to thee: Better's a dry, than drunken Health for me.

15. The forbidden Fruit.

It was not sole an Apple, It was worse, Adam brought Sins Original, the Curse.

16. Cal. January.

Greeks and Gift-givers, Tros thus saith, I fear: Who's Greek? The Poor: Who Tros? The Usurer.

17. Of Alcon.

Alcon wants credit, he will credit none; All credit him; His credit then's not gone.

18. To Robert Carey, Knight, Governour of Charles Duke of York.

Great Queen Elisa, in Alliance nigh Unto thy Parent, grac'd thy family: The King of Britains Son thy Pupil is; That's th' Honour of thy Kind, of thy Mind, this,

19. Example.

Vertue by good Example's taught and learn'd: In teaching me, my Teacher is concern'd.

20. A double Medium.

Th' Earth in the middle stands, yet low doth lie: And Vertue's in the midst, yet soareth high.

21. N. O.

N leads, O follows: Nothing's more Old than All: For God of Nothing made what th' Orb we call.

22. To James Fullerton, Knight, Governour of Charles Duke of York.

Learn'd Fullerton, the credit of thy Nation, Thou the Kings Son hast in thine Education:

And that the Son may like his Father move, Thy Labour that, thine Honour this will prove.

23. Holiness, Healthfulness.

All wish long Life, few to live well endeavour: Wouldst thou live long? live well, and live for ever.

24. Sheep and Goats.

The Goats climb Rocks, and Promontories steep, The lower Ground depasture flocks of Sheep: 'Tis so now, but it will not still be so, The Sheep on high, the Goats below shall go.

25. A Ship.

The Stern's the Train, Bulk, Belly, Bill the Prore; The Sayls are Wings; Ships sayl, as Birds do soar.

26. To Thomas Murrey, Tutor to Charles Duke of York.

If Jacobines be the Kings Friends, I will My self a Jacobine acknowledge still: If Scotists be the Regal favourites, I will a Scotist be by days, by nights: Learn'd Thomas, thou me Thomist mak'st to be; And Scotist, thou Scotch-Britain makest me.

27. Blood not Vertue.

Vertue, than Blood, 'twas said, is more preclare: But Blood is better than all Vertues are: Blood better is than Vertue: Not by Merits, But by thy Blood, O Christ, man Heaven inherits.

28. The Sun, and time.

The Sun is swift, but th' Hour's more swift: (a) 1.1 The Sun Sometime stood still, but th' Hour that time did run.

29. The Blood.

I'm Crude, call'd Blood: A circled course I keep, And Snake-like through the bodies Veins I creep.

30. Of Pannicus, a rich Fool.

Forture doth favour Fools: Or credit me, Or else believe thy Self, thou then shalt see.

31. Brevity.

Perspicuous Brevity doth please in chief: In words, which things concern'd contain, be brief.

32. The Tomb of John Puckeringe, Keeper of the Great Seal.

This Tomb presents three Brothers, Sisters five, One Sister's dead, one Brother's yet alive.

33. Homer.

No wonder, Homer, former was of Lyes; His Ears were his Informers, not his Eyes.

34. Erasmus.

'Tis ask'd, why men Erasmus thee do call?

Answer.

If Mouse, I was the best, or none at all.

35. A little, nothing; too much, enough.

The Poor have little, Beggars that are common, Have nothing, rich too much, enough hath no man.

36. To Henry Wotton, Knight, the Kings Embassadour, &c. 1612.

In dubious things thou didst remember me, In serious, though late, I think on thee: At Venice, at (a) 1.2 Sabbaudies for our King Thou Legate wert, fair Winds thee back did bring. The King must pay thee what he thee doth owe, 'Tis secret when: But that he will I know.

37. Foresee thine End.

Mans death, not birth declares his bane, or bliss: None bless'd before his death, nor wretched is.

38. The Polar Sabbath.

To the Polars.

One day, one Night, doth your whole year display: So that your Seventh year, 's your seven••h day.

39. To the Desirers of the Salick Law.

In France the Virile Law sets men at th' Helm, The female Distaff must not rule the Realm. Would ye the Salick Law should here come in, O Britains? Be robust: At home begin.

46. To G. Gwyn.

That I no Disticks in thy praise design, It is because thine better are than mine.

41. Irus and Croesus Epitaph.

Croesus and Irus thus are different, Both dead, that hath, this hath no Monument.

42. The Inter-Calar Month, 1612.

Why February sole each fourth year grows? 'Cause 'tis the least month from the Moon that flows.

43. Of Faelix.

Rich, while alive, thou wert, now dead, poor art: Wishing with Lazarus a place, a part.

44. Ten Principles.

One Substance doth nine (a) 1.3 Categors confine, As one Apollo doth the Muses nine.

45. Logick.

A Creature horn i' th' dark, Rude, Infant, Child; Unt' Oxford sent, will soon a man be stil'd.

46. To Samuel Daniel, Poet.

A. Pen thy right Hand, Sword thy left doth follow: Mars is Sinister, Dexter's thine Apollo.

47. Lover of Truth. To Paulus.

Fond Novelties, sottish Antiquities Me please not, truth is all I praise-I prize: I follow neither new, nor old: 'Tis true: But Truth I love, whether 'tis old, or new.

48. Humility.

Long Grass in valleys, short on Mountains grows: Low minds more Wisdome have, than lofty Brows: A Mind's a Mount, whose Top's a Type of Wit, Each Top is bare, and Type is like unt' it.

49. Three Self-Lovers.

I next my self, and thou, thy self art next; What hinders, but that he should be context?

50. Saint Marks Festival.

To Marianus, a Shepheard.

Why marks Saint Mark's day Sheep, not Goats? Tell why? Sheep Shall hereafter live, when Goats shall die.

51. To Dindimus.

Devouring time devoureth all that's our: But thou mispending time, dost time devour.

52. Of Heaven and Earth, a double Paradox.

Heav'ns Motion errs not, erring is th' Earth's Station, Fast, stedfast though, yet full of Variation. Trod under foot, Plough'd, Harrow'd ev'ry Morn, Poor Earth, while I am Earth, I shall be torn.

53. The Year.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, make the year: Autumn doth Summer, Spring doth Winter chear.

54. A Client.

Hast care to cure, and to secure thy Cause? Incline then, Client, to thy Lawyers Laws.

55. Of the Covetous.

Shooes wider than thy Feet thou wilt not have; Why then more Wealth than's fit, or needs, dost crave?

56. Patience.

I will, or must be patient, hoping still: All things by this I suffer can, or will.

57. The Serpent, Eve, Adam.

The Serpent, not deceiv'd, deceiv'd poor Eve; Adam deceiv'd not, but he did believe His Wise, and was deceiv'd: The Womans fault Was Active, Passive: Catch'd her self, she caught.

58. The Swan.

When Fates me call, the Rivers Bank close by, I sweetly sing my Requiem, and die.

59. To Polydore.

The Dative case than Ablative is better; The Taker to the Giver is a Debtor.

Ah, th' Ablative doth here too long remain, When will the Dative case return again?

60. To N. N.

Unhappy Servant of two Masters thou, This Nothing doth, that Nothing hath t' allow.

61. A Three-fold Continency of the Eyes, Ears, and Tongue.

Lest ill thou seest, or hear'st, thy Windows close: Lest ill thou speak'st Locks on thy Lips impose.

62. Saturns three Sons.

Nummipotent is one, Hells President: Next Amnipotent, third Omnipotent.

63. The old man speaks to the young Man.

My Life is short, nor can long time import; Thy Life seems long; but shortly will be short.

64. Of my Book.

Salted at Oxon (youth then) 'tis the Mode; Pepper'd at Winton (then Child) I abode: If this my Book of Salt, or Pepper tast, First, Winton Pepper gave, Salt Oxon last.

65. To Theo-dore, Gods Gift, A Physician.

In Greek and Latine Theodore's thy Name; Thy skill in (a) 1.4 Physick makes it thrice the same.

66. Of Quintus.

At School, a Boy, thou learn'dst four Swearing Ad∣verbs, Now grown a Man, thou swear'st four thousand Mad Verbs.

67. To an Angry man.

Let Anger set; but not rise with the Sun; Still let it with the Sun t' Antipo••es run.

68. Of a Cloak and Coal.

Blew Coats, with Sleeves and Badges, yearly new Here Serving Men did wear, a lazy crew: Now Cloaks they wear: Why Cloaks? Because they may Flagens or Capons, under Cloaks convey.

69. Death.

Nothing's here humane, but inhum'd must be; Earth swallows Earth, but Souls from Earth flee free.

70. Of Pontius, A Poet.

Pont'us on one Foot halts, with th' other stumbles; Hexameters, Pentameters he rumbles.

71. Of Fabian.

Do what thou say'st, or say what thou do'st do, But Fabian doth neither of the two.

72. Edition of Books.

It happens, that when Verses I have penn'd, Fasting or full, Edition is their end.

73. God loves a chearful Giver.

Regard not what Reward thou giv'st the poor: God will Regard, and it Reward with more.

74. Of Quintus Ramista his Fathers third Son.

As if one Tree bare two ••oughs, none beside; So thou dost all things in two Parts divide. If all thing else should bipartited be, What of thy Fathers Goods would come to thee?

75. Cupid's Arms, Bow and Arrows.

Offensive not Defensive weapons, why Doth Cupid use? He conquers all thereby.

76. Of Prose and Verse.

A Probleme.

Why runs a Speech in Verse than Prose more fleet? Because that wanteth not, this wanteth Feet.

77. Heaven.

Heaven's the specious-spatious House of God; All-potent Lord, House patent all abroad.

78. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Water's made holy for Regeneration: But 'tis but simply water in Creation.

79. A Nest of Boxes

• Suscipio Pyxidum Trias.
• Scipio Pyxidum Trias.
• Pio Pyxidum Trias.

The English cannot reach the conceit.

I for my Countrey, Fathers, People, I Adventure dare, said Scipio, to die.

80. Of Pontilian.

The fawning Dog with wagging Tail doth flatter: Pontill for want of Tail with's Tongue doth chatter.

81. We are Dust and Ashes. Horace.

Let none, though clad with Earth, of Heaven de∣spair; Nor any, though a Shadow, thin as Air: Dust is our Flesh, Christs Body's of like clod: Our Soul's a shadow, shadow yet of God.

82. An Aenigma.

Tell what (a) 1.5 whole world in Heaven doth abound, (b) 1.6 First Syllable of which on Earth's sole found.

83. A Rich Man.

While I wish Wealth, I worse am, and in fine Greatness to gain, I Goodness do decline.

84. Conversion of Paul.

Thou, lately Saul, art now Saint Paul; Thou late Didst persecute, but now dost predicate.

85. Right Reason.

That in our times Reason's o're-rul'd 'tis grief. 'Twere Joy, if Reason might command in chief.

86. To Thomas Morrey, Tutor unto Charles Duke of York.

I thee, thy Genius, ingenious head; Know, read thy Writings worthy to be read: Thou Doctor-ductor to the Duke, than thee None fitter, by thy Rules while rul'd is he, Not forc'd, but by Propensity; What Praise Hast gain'd, to lead thy Leader in his ways?

87. To the Hebrews.

Your Law is your Religion, Faith is ours, Our want's to do well, to believe well's yours.

88. Irus, a Beggar.

By this word Hospes Host, and Guest's exprest: I am to many, none to me's a Guest.

89. God.

Though God's Infinitie's dispers'd most clear'•• Through the whole World, God yet is sought for there.

90. An Eagle.

In Temples th' Eagle sacred Scripture bears, Now great Jehovah's Bird, once Jupiter's.

91. Toby Mathew.

Thy first Name from th' old Testament, thy Next Is from the new: Both Names from sacred Text. Strange, that a Gentiles name Canonical Should he, which in the Fount's Apocryphal.

92. On a Paraphrase.

This Paraphrase is circle-like wrought round, From Center to circumference 'tis found; It toucheth the Diameter's both ends, But to the Center in no part extends.

93. Of Corbulo.

Thou ruinest, and raisest, Corbulo; Thy Wealth thou ruin'st, raisest nothing: No.

94. Of Gellia, a Grammaticastrix.

Grammer was th' Art of speaking call'd of old; Thou needst not learn it, thou canst speak, and scold.

95. On a certain Grammaticaster.

A Shred, an Hair, a Nut-shell, half a Groat, Thou me dost prize at: What I thee? for nought.

96. Warr.

War, sole to Souldiers seems pleasant: Why? Because sole Souldiers gain,••live thereby.

97. Riches.

Sole Gold's a God: Goods, Gods: Coyn, Queen •••• some Pluto speaks with applause, but Plato's dumb.

98. Three Genders.

Wives (though most chast) o' th' Doubtful are, o' t•••• commo•• Are Whores, o' th' feminine is ev'ry Woman.

99. S T. a note of Silence.

What mean this Roman S T? What? Express: S, stands for Silence, T, for Taciteness.

100. Patria est ubicun{que} est bene.

Where I do well, there I dwell.

I count my Countrey, not where born, or bred; But that, where known, where with mine own I'•• fe•••• My Countrey, that I count, where I do well; Where I have my subsistence, there I dwell.

101. 〈…〉〈…〉

That Wife is for a Duke, and King unfit, Which will not be led, ruled, nor submit.

102. Rhetorick and Dialect.

Rhet'rick to speak, Logick to teach is th' Art: This Wisdome, that to th' Wise doth strength im∣part That neater, this compleater couch'd than it; That seasoned, this seasoneth the Wit. Rhet'rick doth veil, Logick doth Truth reveal; This warns, that moves, that woundeth, this doth heal.

103. Actaeon.

Actaeons Doggs devour'd his Flesh, Bones, Skin; But yet his Horns some Cities are within.

104. Arithmetical Multiplication and Division.

Division Right, left Hand Multiplication Respects, why? Vertue's that, this a Privation:

Why upward that, why downward this aspects? This unto man, that unto God directs.

105. A Tree.

Spring makes me green, me Summers heat doth scald; Autumn hoar-headed, Winter makes me bald.

106. To Theodore Prise, an Oxonian Divine.

One Verse my love to thee cannot declare; ••f two will serve, lo, here two Verses are.

107. One God.

(a) 1.7 Coelum's an Hetroclite, as Lily notes; And Deus with the Plural Number quotes: O, what Blasphemers our Grammarians are, Who, that we (d) 1.8 Deus may decline, declare.

108. Dei genus.

(a) 1.9 Numen to th' Neuter gender doth incline; ••Tis neither Masculine, nor Feminine.

109. Government of the body.

••ools strain, but prudent men restrain their voice: Which hath least labour, silence, or a noyse?

110. (a) 1.10 Malorum, the least and greatest, To Maximus.

••t Table sitting chuse of ills the least, ••he great'st of Apples, if the great'st be best.

111. Unda.

••bate a Letter (a) 1.11 Unda's (b) 1.12 Uda, add ••Tis (c) 1.13 Munda, (d) 1.14 Nuda, 'tis transpos'd, unclad.

112. Of Dreams. A Paradox.

••••d Dreams are good, good, bad: Why? when I wake ••f bad, I'm glad, if good, mine heart doth ake.

113. Waters Original.

(••) Unda, the Latine word hath Declination: ••sk'st, whence deriv'd? It hath no derivation:

The year and River circulating run, Ending, without an End, where each begun.* 1.15

114. Covetousness.

To th' Ocean, Rivers run all places from: It saith not whence d' ye come, but hither come.

115. The Adamant.

To Lovers Adamants ought to be sent: Cupid can make an Adamant relent.

116. Dog and Hare.

Though light-foot Hare more swift than Grey-hou•••• They run in hope, she (light) doth hopeless flee.

117. Speech and Writing.

The nimble Tongue th' Hearts secrets doth expound, But writing hath a voice without a sound.

118. The Lawrel.

I, Phoebus Tree, still frondent, flourishing, Nor bald, nor grisled, verdant as the Spring.

119. Dicacity and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Wit without Wisdome's as without Meat, Salt: Inurbane wit's what? Salt-less Meat, like fault.

120. Something of nothing.

An Arithmetical Riddle.

(a) 1.16 Add one to nothing, nothing's left, but then (b) 1.17 Add to one nothing, thence ariseth ten.

121. To William Sutton, an Oxonian Divine.

I owe thee more than can my Verse express; Me thy perpet'al debtor I confess.

122. Three Sons of Saturn and Ops, Co-heirs.

Saturns three Sons, all rich, Dis, Neptune, Jove; Whose Mother Ops, Beneath, About, Above Them plac'd; I should be richer than those three, Would Mother (a) 1.18 Opes lend her help to me.

123. Of a certain superfluous Orator.

When all th' hast said, Thou want'st to say, I've done; ••ut word would please me more than those fore-gone.

124. To the Readers.

•• Readers, Hearers all I will not please, ••r am I pleas'd with all of those, or these.

The End of the Third Book.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Josh. 10.12
• (a) 1.2

  A Town between France and Germany.
• (a) 1.3

  Predicaments in Logick.
• (a) 1.4

  The most high created the Physician, The most High created Physick out of the Earth, Ecclesi∣asticus 38.1.4.
• (a) 1.5

  Felicitas.
• (b) 1.6

  Gall.
• (a) 1.7

  Heaven.
• (d) 1.8

  Go••••
• (a) 1.9

  The God-head.
• (a) 1.10

  Malorum signifies Apples or Evils.
• (a) 1.11

  Water.
• (b) 1.12

  Moist.
• (c) 1.13

  Clean.
• (d) 1.14

  Naked.
• * 1.15

  (a) w••••••
• (a) 1.16

  01.
• (b) 1.17

  1••.
• (a) 1.18

  Rich•••• 123. O••••