Prison-pietie, or, Meditations divine and moral digested into poetical heads, on mixt and various subjects : whereunto is added a panegyrick to the right reverend, and most nobly descended, Henry Lord Bishop of London / by Samuel Speed ...

¶ On Pusillanimity.

REligion made the Martyrs dare, and die; Honour abhors to dread an Enemie. Our Actions try our Courage; and our hearts As Icie weather with its chilly smarts, Do try our health: and this we yearly find, Withered leaves fall with the breath of wind. As rotten Bows no longers hold debate With strength, but break when they're opprest with weight, So Earthen Vessels may be said t'expire, Expos'd when empty to the heat of fire. This trivial passion of Faintheartedness, Dispirits man, and makes a dull impress Upon his body, as if there were writ, Hire stands a house, but no one dwells in it. Cowardise doth express a man to be An easie prey unto his Enemie:

Whose cruel mercy suddenly is spent, Whilst for the Victim no man doth lament. He grew in misery, became forlorn, Was both to friend and to his foe a scorn. The righteous man is bold, bids fear adieu; The wicked flee, when no man doth pursue.