Our storme is past, and that storms tyrannous rage,
A stupid calme, but nothing it, doth swage.
The fable is inverted, and farre more
A blocke afflicts, now, then a storke before.
Stormes chafe, and soone weare out themselves, or us; 5
In calmes, Heaven laughs to see us languish thus.
As steady'as I can wish, that my thoughts were,
Smooth as thy mistresse glasse, or what shines there,
The sea is now. And, as the Iles which wee
Seeke, when wee can move, our ships rooted bee. 10
As water did in stormes, now pitch runs out:
As lead, when a fir'd Church becomes one spout.
And all our beauty, and our trimme, decayes,
Like courts removing, or like ended playes.
The fighting place now seamens ragges supply; 15
And all the tackling is a frippery.
No use of lanthornes; and in one place lay
Feathers and dust, to day and yesterday.
Earths hollownesses, which the worlds lungs are,
Have no more winde then the upper valt of aire. 20
We can nor lost friends, nor sought foes recover,
But meteorlike, save that wee move not, hover.
Onely the Calenture together drawes
Deare friends, which meet dead in great fishes jawes:
And on the hatches as on Altars lyes 25
Each one, his owne Priest, and owne Sacrifice.
Who live, that miracle do multiply
Where walkers in hot Ovens, doe not dye.
If in despite of these, wee swimme, that hath
No more refreshing, then our brimstone Bath, 30
But from the sea, into the ship we turne,
Like parboyl'd wretches, on the coales to burne.
Like _Bajazet_ encag'd, the shepheards scoffe,
Or like slacke sinew'd _Sampson_, his haire off,
Languish our ships. Now, as a Miriade 35
Of Ants, durst th'Emperours lov'd snake invade,
The crawling Gallies, Sea-goales, finny chips,
Might brave our Pinnaces, now bed-ridde ships.
Whether a rotten state, and hope of gaine,
Or to disuse mee from the queasie paine 40
Of being belov'd, and loving, or the thirst
Of honour, or faire death, out pusht mee first,
I lose my end: for here as well as I
A desperate may live, and a coward die.
Stagge, dogge, and all which from, or towards flies, 45
Is paid with life, or pray, or doing dyes.
Fate grudges us all, and doth subtly lay
A scourge,'gainst which wee all forget to pray,
He that at sea prayes for more winde, as well
Under the poles may begge cold, heat in hell. 50
What are wee then? How little more alas
Is man now, then before he was? he was
Nothing; for us, wee are for nothing fit;
Chance, or our selves still disproportion it.
Wee have no power, no will, no sense; I lye, 55
I should not then thus feele this miserie.
[The Calme. _1633-69:_ _similarly_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_,
_TCD_]
[4 storke] stroke _1639_]
[7 can wish, that my _1633_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ could wish that my _Q:_
could wish my _1635-69_, _Chambers, who makes no note of 1633
reading_]
[9 the Iles _1633-69:_ these isles _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_Chambers (no note):_ those Iles _B_, _Cy_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_,
_N_, _P_, _Q_, _TCD_]
[11 out: _1635-69:_ out _1633_]
[14 ended] ending _1669_]
[15 ragges] rage _1669_]
[17 No] Now _1669_]
[21 lost] lefte _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_,
_TCD_]
[24 jawes: _1633_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _Q_, _S_, _TCD:_ mawes, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_,
_Chambers_]
[29 these,] this, _L74_, _Q_, _TCD_]
[30 our _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _TCD:_ a _1635-69_, _A25_, _P_]
[33 shepheards _1650-69:_ sheepheards _1633-39_]
[37 Sea-goales, (_or_ gayles _&c._) _1633_, _1669_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _HN_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ Sea-gulls,
_1635-54_, _O'F_, _Chambers:_ Sea-snayles, _B_, _JC_]
[38 our Pinnaces, now _1635-54_, _B_, _O'F:_ our venices, now
_1633_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_,
_Q_, _S_, _TCD:_ with _Vinice's_, our _1669_]
[40 Or] Or, _1633-69_]
[44 and a coward _1633_, _MSS.:_ and coward _1635-69:_ a
coward _P_, _S_]
[45 and all] and each _B_, _Q_, _S_]
[48 forget _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _P_, _S:_ forgot
_1669_, _A25_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _Q_, _TCD_]
[50 poles] pole _JC_, _Q_]
[52-3 he was? he was Nothing; for us, wee are for nothing fit;
_1633_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD_ (_but MSS. have no stop after_
Nothing): he was, he was? Nothing; for us, wee are for nothing
fit; _1635-54:_ he was, he was? Nothing for us, we are for
nothing fit; _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _Q:_ _but the MSS. have not all got a
mark of interrogation or other stop after second_ he was. _See
note_]
To S^r _Henry Wotton_.
Sir, more then kisses, letters mingle Soules;
For, thus friends absent speake. This ease controules
The tediousnesse of my life: But for these
I could ideate nothing, which could please,
But I should wither in one day, and passe 5
To'a bottle'of Hay, that am a locke of Grasse.
Life is a voyage, and in our lifes wayes
Countries, Courts, Towns are Rockes, or Remoraes;
They breake or stop all ships, yet our state's such,
That though then pitch they staine worse, wee must touch. 10
If in the furnace of the even line,
Or under th'adverse icy poles thou pine,
Thou know'st two temperate Regions girded in,
Dwell there: But Oh, what refuge canst thou winne
Parch'd in the Court, and in the country frozen? 15
Shall cities, built of both extremes, be chosen?
Can dung and garlike be'a perfume? or can
A Scorpion and Torpedo cure a man?
Cities are worst of all three; of all three
(O knottie riddle) each is worst equally. 20
Cities are Sepulchers; they who dwell there
Are carcases, as if no such there were.
And Courts are Theaters, where some men play
Princes, some slaves, all to one end, and of one clay.
The Country is a desert, where no good, 25
Gain'd (as habits, not borne,) is understood.
There men become beasts, and prone to more evils;
In cities blockes, and in a lewd court, devills.
As in the first Chaos confusedly
Each elements qualities were in the'other three; 30
So pride, lust, covetize, being feverall
To these three places, yet all are in all,
And mingled thus, their issue incestuous.
Falshood is denizon'd. Virtue is barbarous.
Let no man say there, Virtues flintie wall 35
Shall locke vice in mee, I'll do none, but know all.
Men are spunges, which to poure out, receive,
Who know false play, rather then lose, deceive.
For in best understandings, sinne beganne,
Angels sinn'd first, then Devills, and then man. 40
Onely perchance beast sinne not; wretched wee
Are beasts in all, but white integritie.
I thinke if men, which in these places live
Durst looke for themselves, and themselves retrive,
They would like strangers greet themselves, seeing than 45
Utopian youth, growne old Italian.
Be thou thine owne home, and in thy selfe dwell;
Inne any where, continuance maketh hell.
And seeing the snaile, which every where doth rome,
Carrying his owne house still, still is at home, 50
Follow (for he is easie pac'd) this snaile,
Bee thine owne Palace, or the world's thy gaile.
And in the worlds sea, do not like corke sleepe
Upon the waters face; nor in the deepe
Sinke like a lead without a line: but as 55
Fishes glide, leaving no print where they passe,
Nor making sound; so closely thy course goe,
let men dispute, whether thou breathe, or no.
Onely'in this one thing, be no Galenist: To make
Courts hot ambitions wholesome, do not take 60
A dramme of Countries dulnesse; do not adde
Correctives, but as chymiques, purge the bad.
But, Sir, I advise not you, I rather doe
Say o'er those lessons, which I learn'd of you:
Whom, free from German schismes, and lightness 65
Of France, and faire Italies faithlesnesse,
Having from these suck'd all they had of worth,
And brought home that faith, which you carried forth,
I throughly love. But if my selfe, I'have wonne
To know my rules, I have, and you have 70
DONNE:
[To S^r Henry Wotton. _1633-69_ (Sir _1669_): _same or no
title_, _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ To M^r H. W. _B_, _W_
(_B adds_ J. D.). _See note_]
[4 I could invent nothing at all to please, _1669_]
[6 bottle] botle _1633_ To a lock of hay, that am a Bottle of
grass. _1669_]
[7 lifes _1633:_ lives _1635-69_]
[10 though ... worse, _in brackets 1650-69_]
[11 even _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ raging _1633-54:_
other _P:_ over _S_]
[12 poles _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_,
_O'F_, _S_, _W:_ pole _1633-69_, _A18_, _HN_, _N_, _TC_]
[16 cities, ... extremes, _Ed:_ cities ... extremes _1633-69_]
[17 dung and garlike _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_, _W_ (dung, _1633_): dung, or garlike
_1635-69_, _A25_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_ a perfume] a _om.
1635-54_, _Chambers_]
[18 Scorpion _Ed:_ Scorpion, _1633-69_
and Torpedo _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ or Torpedo
_1633-69_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_.
_See note_]
[19 of all three _1633:_ of all three? _1635-69_]
[22 no such _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_,
_S_, _TC_, _W:_ none such _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_
there were. _1635-69_, _A36_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S_, _W:_ they were. _1633_, _Lec:_ then were _A18_, _N_,
_TC_]
[24 and of one clay. _1633 and MSS. generally:_ of one clay.
_1635-39:_ of one day. _1650-54:_ and at one daye. _A25:_
Princes, some slaves, and all end in one day. _1669_]
[25-6
The Country is a desert, where no good,
Gain'd, as habits, not borne, is understood.
_1633_, _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_
The Country is a desert, where the good,
Gain'd inhabits not, borne, is not understood.
_1635-54_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_
The Country is a desert, where noe good
Gain'd doth inhabit, nor born's understood.
_A25_]
[27 more _1633_, _A25_, _W:_ meere _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _S96:_ men (_a slip for_ mere) _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ all
_1635-69_. _See note_]
[33 issue incestuous, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _TC_, _W:_ issue is incestuous. _1635-69_, _P_, _S:_
issues monsterous. _A25_]
[35 there] then _Lec_]
[44 for themselves, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ in themselves, _1633-69:_
into themselves, themselves retrive, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_]
[45 than] then _1663_]
[45-6 than ... Italian.] that ... Italianate. _Cy_, _P_]
[47 Be thou _1633_, _Lec:_ Be then _1635-69 and MSS._]
[50 home, _Ed:_ home. _1633:_ home: _1635-69_]
[52 gaile. _1635-69:_ goale; _1633_]
[57 so _D, W:_ so _1633-69_]
[58-9 breathe,] breath, _1633_
or no. Onely'in this one thing, be no Galenist: _Ed:_ or no:
Onley ... Galenist. _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ or no: Onely in this be no Galenist.
_1635-69_, _Cy_, O_'F_, _S_]
[64 you:] you. _1633_]
[65 German _1633 and all MSS.:_ Germanies _1635-69_, _Grosart
and Chambers (without note)_]
To S^r _Henry Goodyere_.
Who makes the Past, a patterne for next yeare,
Turnes no new leafe, but still the same things reads,
Seene things, he sees againe, heard things doth heare,
And makes his life, but like a paire of beads.
A Palace, when'tis that, which it should be, 5
Leaves growing, and stands such, or else decayes:
But hee which dwels there, is not so; for hee
Strives to urge upward, and his fortune raise;
So had your body'her morning, hath her noone,
And shall not better; her next change is night: 10
But her faire larger guest, to'whom Sun and Moone
Are sparkes, and short liv'd, claimes another right.
The noble Soule by age growes lustier,
Her appetite, and her digestion mend,
Wee must not sterve, nor hope to pamper her 15
With womens milke, and pappe unto the end.
Provide you manlyer dyet; you have seene
All libraries, which are Schools, Camps, and Courts;
But aske your Garners if you have not beene
In harvests, too indulgent to your sports. 20
Would you redeeme it? then your selfe transplant
A while from hence. Perchance outlandish ground
Beares no more wit, then ours, but yet more scant
Are those diversions there, which here abound.
To be a stranger hath that benefit, 25
Wee can beginnings, but not habits choke.
Goe; whither? Hence; you get, if you forget;
New faults, till they prescribe in us, are smoake.
Our soule, whose country'is heaven, and God her father,
Into this world, corruptions sinke, is sent, 30
Yet, so much in her travaile she doth gather,
That she returnes home, wiser then she went;
It payes you well, if it teach you to spare,
And make you,'ashm'd, to make your hawks praise, yours,
Which when herselfe she lessens in the aire, 35
You then first say, that high enough she toures.
However, keepe the lively tast you hold
Of God, love him as now, but feare him more,
And in your afternoones thinke what you told
And promis'd him, at morning prayer before. 40
Let falshood like a discord anger you,
Else be not froward. But why doe I touch
Things, of which none is in your practise new,
And Tables, or fruit-trenchers teach as much;
But thus I make you keepe your promise Sir, 45
Riding I had you, though you still staid there,
And in these thoughts, although you never stirre,
You came with mee to Micham, and are here.
[To Sir Henry Goodyere. _1633-69:_ _so with_ Goodyere
_variously spelt_ _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_
To S^r Henry Goodyere (H: G: _A18_, _N_, _TC_) moveing him to
travell. _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[1 Past, _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC:_ Last _1669_, _Chambers_]
[2 reads,] read, _1650-54_]
[6 decayes:] decayes, _1633_]
[16 womens] womans _1669_]
[17 dyet; _Ed:_ dyet, _1633_ (_with a larger interval than is
usually given to a comma_), _1669:_ dyet. _1635-54_]
[20 harvests, _1633-54_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _TC:_
harvest, _1669_, _A25_, _C_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]
[27 Goe; _A18_, _B_, _TC:_ Goe, _1633-69_
Hence; _A18_, _TC:_ hence; _1633:_ hence _1635-54:_ Hence.
_1669_]
[28 in us, _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _TC:_ to us, _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_]
[34 you,'asham'd, _Ed:_ you'asham'd, _1633-69:_ you asham'd
_Chambers and Grolier_. _See note_]
[37 However, _1633-39:_ However _1650-69:_ Howsoever _A18_,
_B_, _D_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[38 as] _om. 1639-69_]
[42 froward.] froward; _1633_]
[44 Tables _1633-54_, _Lec:_ Fables _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[45 make] made _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[48 with mee to] to mee at _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
To M^r _Rowland Woodward_.
Like one who'in her third widdowhood doth professe
Her selfe a Nunne, tyed to retirednesse,
So'affects my muse now, a chast fallownesse;
Since shee to few, yet to too many'hath showne
How love-song weeds, and Satyrique thornes are growne 5
Where seeds of better Arts, were early sown.
Though to use, and love Poëtrie, to mee,
Betroth'd to no'one Art, be no'adulterie;
Omissions of good, ill, as ill deeds bee.
For though to us it seeme,'and be light and thinne, 10
Yet in those faithfull scales, where God throwes in
Mens workes, vanity weighs as much as sinne.
If our Soules have stain'd their first white, yet wee
May cloth them with faith, and deare honestie,
Which God imputes, as native puritie. 15
There is no Vertue, but Religion:
Wise, valiant, sober, just, are names, which none
Want, which want not Vice-covering discretion.
Seeke wee then our selves in our selves; for as
Men force the Sunne with much more force to passe, 20
By gathering his beames with a christall glasse;
So wee, If wee into our selves will turne,
Blowing our sparkes of vertue, may outburne
The straw, which doth about our hearts sojourne.
You know, Physitians, when they would infuse 25
Into any'oyle, the Soules of Simples, use
Places, where they may lie still warme, to chuse.
So workes retirednesse in us; To rome
Giddily, and be every where, but at home,
Such freedome doth a banishment become. 30
Wee are but farmers of our selves, yet may,
If we can stocke our selves, and thrive, uplay
Much, much deare treasure for the great rent day.
Manure thy selfe then, to thy selfe be'approv'd,
And with vaine outward things be no more mov'd, 35
But to know, that I love thee'and would be lov'd.
[To M^r Rowland Woodward. _1633-69:_ _similarly or without
heading_, _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A Letter of Doctor
Dunne to one that desired some of his papers. _B:_ To M^r R.
W. _W_]
[1 professe] professe, _1633_]
[2 retirednesse, _1633-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ a retirednesse, _A18_, _L74_, _N_,
_TC_, _W_]
[3 fallownesse; _Ed:_ fallownesse. _1633-54:_ fallowness,
_1669:_ holinesse _Cy_, _P_, _S96_]
[4 too] so _W_ showne _1633_, _1669:_ flowne, _1635-54_]
[5 How love-song weeds, _1633:_ How long loves weeds,
_1635-54_, _O'F:_ How Love-song weeds, _1669_]
[6 sown. _1633_, _1669:_ sown? _1635-54:_ sown; _Chambers, who
retains the full-stop after_ fallownesse]
[10 to us it] to use it, _Cy_, _P_, _S96_
seeme,'and be light _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ seem but light _1635-69_,
_Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _and Chambers, who attributes to 1633 the
reading_ seem and be but light]
[13 white] whites _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_]
[14 honestie] integritie _Cy_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[15 puritie.] puritie, _1633_]
[16 Religion: _1669:_ Religion, _1633:_ Religion. _1635-54_]
[23 our] the _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_
sparkes _1633-54_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ spark _1669_, _A18_, _H40_,
_S_, _Chambers_]
[25 infuse] infuse _1633_]
[26 Soules _1633-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ soule _B_, _D_, _H40_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_]
[28 To _1635-69:_ to _1633_]
[29 Giddily, _1669:_ Giddily _1633-54_]
[31 farmers _1635-69_, _and all MSS., where it is generally
spelt_ fermers: termers _1633_]
[33 deare _1633_, _and most MSS.:_ good _1635-69_, _Cy_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
[34 approv'd _1633-54_, _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ improv'd
_1669_, _B_, _Chambers_]
[36 lov'd. _1633-69:_ belov'd. _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_]
To S^r _Henry Wootton_.
Here's no more newes, then vertue,'I may as well
Tell you _Cales_, or S^t _Michaels_ tale for newes, as tell
That vice doth here habitually dwell.
Yet, as to'get stomachs, we walke up and downe,
And toyle to sweeten rest, so, may God frowne, 5
If, but to loth both, I haunt Court, or Towne.
For here no one is from the'extremitie
Of vice, by any other reason free,
But that the next to'him, still, is worse then hee.
In this worlds warfare, they whom rugged Fate, 10
(Gods Commissary,) doth so throughly hate,
As in'the Courts Squadron to marshall their state:
If they stand arm'd with seely honesty,
With wishing prayers, and neat integritie,
Like Indians'gainst Spanish hosts they bee. 15
Suspitious boldnesse to this place belongs,
And to'have as many eares as all have tongues;
Tender to know, tough to acknowledge wrongs.
Beleeve mee Sir, in my youths giddiest dayes,
When to be like the Court, was a playes praise, 20
Playes were not so like Courts, as Courts'are like playes.
Then let us at these mimicke antiques jeast,
Whose deepest projects, and egregious gests
Are but dull Moralls of a game at Chests.
But now'tis incongruity to smile, 25
Therefore I end; and bid farewell a while,
_At Court_; though _From Court_, were the better stile.
[To S^r Henry Wootton. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ A Letter to _&c._
_B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_ (_of these Cy
and S add_ From Court _and_ From y^e Court): From Court. _P:_
To M^r H. W. 20 Jul. 1598 at Court. _HN:_ To M^r H. W. 20 July
15098 (_sic_) At Court. _W:_ Jo: D: to M^r H: W: _A18_, _N_,
_TC:_ Another Letter. _JC_]
[1 newes] new _1669_]
[2 Tell you _Cales_, (_Calis_, _1633_) or _S^t Michaels_ tale
for newes, as tell _1633_, _A18_, _B_ (tales), _Cy_ (and S^t
Michaels tales), _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_
(tales), _P_, _S_, _S96_ (tales), _TC_, _W_ (_MSS. waver in
spelling--but_ Cales _Cy_, _HN_, _P:_) Tell you _Calis_,
or _Saint Michaels_ tales, as tell _1635-54_, _Chambers_
(Calais): Tell _Calis_, or Saint _Michaels_ Mount, as tell
_1669:_ Tell you Calais, or Saint Michaels Mount as tell
_1719:_ _All modern editions read_ Calais]
[6 or] and _1669_]
[9 to'him, still, _1633:_ to him, still, _1635-69:_ to him is
still _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[12 state: _1635-69:_ state _1633_]
[14 wishing prayers, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ wishing, prayers, _1669_,
_HN:_ wishes, prayers, _1635-54_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_Chambers_]
[20 playes] players _1639-69_]
[21 are like _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S_, _S96_ (are now like), _TC_, _W:_ are _om. (metri causa)
1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_]
[23-4
are egregeous guests,
And but dull Morals at a game of Chests.
_1669_]
[25 now'tis] 'tis an _1669_]
[27 _At Court;_ though, _From Court, &c._ _W:_ _At Court_,
though from Court, _&c._ _1633-69_]
_H: W: in Hiber: belligeranti._
Went you to conquer? and have so much lost
Yourself, that what in you was best and most,
Respective friendship, should so quickly dye?
In publique gaine my share'is not such that I
Would lose your love for Ireland: better cheap 5
I pardon death (who though he do not reap
Yet gleanes hee many of our frends away)
Then that your waking mind should bee a prey
To lethargies. Lett shott, and boggs, and skeines
With bodies deale, as fate bids and restreynes; 10
Ere sicknesses attack, yong death is best,
Who payes before his death doth scape arrest.
Lett not your soule (at first with graces fill'd,
And since, and thorough crooked lymbecks, still'd
In many schools and courts, which quicken it,) 15
It self unto the Irish negligence submit.
I aske not labored letters which should weare
Long papers out: nor letters which should feare
Dishonest carriage: or a seers art:
Nor such as from the brayne come, but the hart. 20
[H: W: _&c._ _Burley MS._ (JD _in margin_) _i.e._ Henrico
Wottoni in Hibernia belligeranti]
[2 that] y^t _Bur, and similarly_ y^e (the), y^r (your),
w^{ch} (which), w^{th} (with) _throughout_]
[2-3 most, Respective friendship,] _no commas_, _Bur_]
[4 share'is] share is _Bur_]
[9 lethargies.] letargies. _Bur_]
[10 restreynes;] restreynes _Bur_]
[11 attack,] attack _Bur_
best,] best _Bur_]
[13 (at first] _Bur closes bracket after_ first _and again
after_ 15 quicken it,]
[14 since,] since _Bur_]
[19 art:] art _Bur_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford._