"Then Moses, that had all Ægyptians skill,

Whose deepest learning flourisht in his daies, And many priests of Juda sinned still,

That not by justice onely purchast praise,
But practiz'd use of martiall assaies :

Some pleas are hard, and many things befall,
Which priviledge or conscience must recall.

"Divine proceedings faile, not being backt With lawfull maintenance of civill sword; Endevours polliticke take small effect,

That wants assistance from the heav'nly word : Beside, some help must wealth and state afford; For judgement uttred by the mouth of want, Is either partiall, or admitted scant.

"Thus though my crosses, pillars, and my mace, Honoured my person to the common view,

Of such as measure men by outward grace;
Yet to my severall charges being due,

I might not to succession be untrue :

Our state is not the moone's, that from her waine

Growes crescent presently, and new againe.

"If once we fall, we fall colossus-like,

We fall at once, like pillars of the sunne:

They that betweene our stride their sailes did strike, Making us sea-markes where their shippe did runne,

Even they that had by us their treasure wonne, Rise as we may by moderate degrees,

If once we stoope, thei'le bring us on our knees.

"I made my chappel pure Devotion's seate, Meete for the service of the heav'nly King! The tongues of the most learned did intreat

Of His decrees, and skillful priests did sing,

And singing-boyes use their hearts' trebling string. Such ornaments are most beseeming us ;

In GOD's behalfe, let noble peeres do thus.

My household was not like the tent of Love, Full of faire damsels, like Venetian bowers; Nor of such virgins whom the spirite doth move; No place for sister-hood within my towers;

Yet ev'ry day as many meales as howres, Servants and officers in ev'ry roome,

And royall fare for strangers, when they come.

"Where is that open cawsey, wont to leade

The hungry beggar to a sheafe of corne?

Who lets them gleane with Ruth, or gives them bread; Who rather feeds not fooles, or men forsworne;

Or els, for briefnesse-sake, leaves all forlorne?

See now the parlours of our highest states
Are like to painted doores, or posterne gates.

66

Proportion was surveyor of my charge,
Adding to lofty buildings gardens faire,
Just with my gaines my houses to enlarge,
Mine usuall walkes to pleasantnesse of ayre,
Of every thing making an equall payre;
Planting faire arbors in my forrests wide,
And feasting-chambers by the rivers side.

"This loving streame that doth salute the shore,

In true affection to a schollers eie,

Even from these banckes encreaseth more and more,

Wave tossing over wave most enviously,

Till flowing tide forbid her passing by,

And make them stay; while passengers may see

What was begun, and what was done by me.

"Fair Danubie is prais'd for being wide;

Nilus commended, for the sev'n-fold head; Euphrates, for the swiftnesse of the tide,

And for the garden whence his course is led; The banckes of Rhine with vines are overspred : Take Loyre and Po, yet all may not compare

With English Thamesis for buildings rare.

"My dreames were nothing but of Memphis still, Of pyramids, of statues carv'd in gold, Hercules-pillars, and Olympus-hill ;

My waking fancies too were ever sold,

Such toyes in gazing blindnesse to behold:

No strokes of musicke's sound could strike away High thoughts by night, nor deepe conceits by day.

"A prowd man may his owne musitian be,

His head's devise makes pavines to his heart, His heart with pleasure leapes and daunces free, All but the measures, framing every part

Like organs, worthy of so sweete an art:

His thoughts plaies marches to his vaulting mind, And memorie's recorder sounds behinde.

"Pride makes her rounds, for she hath never end,
And sonnets, for shee never leaves her noise;
She makes her dumpes, if any thing offend;
And to her idole-selfe, with warbling voice,
Sings hymnes and anthems of especiall choice:
And yet Pride's quier is put to silence cleane,
Wanting a base, a tenor, and a meane.

"Farre from the church be these immusicall,
Untoward songs, that want so many parts;
And since, that pure religion doth install
Learned professors, prelates of desarts;
Let them aspire, and reare instructed hearts
Against the base bestowers of church-livings,
That use their graunts in sellings and not givings.

"For such men are like curtaines, at their best, To make us sleepe, or hinder us from light; Troublers of nature, children of the west,

Haters of sence, adopted sonnes of night, In whom the wise both sorrow and delight: Yet were there not such vegetalls the while, What had the wiser sort whereat to smile?