[28 Mine _MSS._: My _1635-39_]
[32 you at will] at your will _S96_]
_To Ben. Iohnson_, 6 _Ian._ 1603.
The State and mens affaires are the best playes
Next yours; 'Tis nor more nor lesse than due praise.
Write, but touch not the much descending race
Of Lords houses, so settled in worths place,
As but themselves none thinke them usurpers. 5
It is no fault in thee to suffer theirs.
If the Queene Masque, or King a hunting goe,
Though all the Court follow, Let them. We know
Like them in goodnesse that Court ne'r will be,
For that were vertue, and not flatterie. 10
Forget we were thrust out; It is but thus,
God threatens Kings, Kings Lords, as Lords doe us.
Iudge of strangers, Trust and believe your friend,
And so me; And when I true friendship end,
With guilty conscience let me be worse stonge, 15
Then with _Pophams_ sentence theeves, or _Cookes_ tongue
Traitors are. Friends are our selves. This I thee tell
As to my friend, and to my selfe as Counsell;
Let for a while the times unthrifty rout
Contemne learning, and all your studies flout. 20
Let them scorne Hell, they will a Sergeant feare,
More then wee _that_; ere long God may forbeare,
But Creditors will not. Let them increase
In riot and excesse as their meanes cease;
Let them scorne him that made them, and still shun 25
His Grace, but love the whore who hath undone
Them and their soules. But; that they that allow
But one God, should have religions enow
For the Queens Masque, and their husbands, far more
Then all the Gentiles knew, or _Atlas_ bore! 30
Well, let all passe, and trust him who nor cracks
The bruised Reed, nor quencheth smoaking flaxe.
[To Ben. Iohnson, 6 Ian. 1603. _1635-69_, _O'F_: To Ben
Johnson 6 Jan: 1603 T.R. _B_: An Epistle to Ben Johnson.
S^{r} J: R: _H40_: An Epistle to Beniamin Johnson. _RP31_: An
Epistle: To M^{r} Ben. Johnson. Ja: 6: 1603 _L74_: To M^{r}
Ben Johnson. _S_]
[2 yours; _Ed_: yours, _1635-69_
nor more] noe more _L74_]
[5 none thinke] none can thinke _1669_]
[11 out; _Ed_: out. _1635-69_]
[15 stonge, _L74_: _spelt_ stũg, _1635_]
[18 as Counsell;] is Counsell: _1635-54_]
[22 More then wee _that_; _Ed_: More then wee that _H40_,
_L74_: More then wee them; that, _1635-69_ (them _in ital._
_1635-54_)]
[24 cease; _Ed_: cease, _1635-69_]
[28 enow _H40_, _L74_: enough _1635-69_]
[29 far _L74_: for _1635-69_, _H40_]
[30 bore! _Ed_: bore? _H40_: bore. _1635-69_, _L74_]
_To Ben. Iohnson_, 9. _Novembris_, 1603.
If great men wrong me, I will spare my selfe;
If meane, I will spare them. I know that pelf
Which is ill got the Owner doth upbraid.
It may corrupt a Iudge, make me afraid
And a Iury; But 'twill revenge in this, 5
That, though himselfe be judge, hee guilty is.
What care I though of weaknesse men taxe me,
I had rather sufferer than doer be.
That I did trust, it was my Natures praise,
For breach of word I knew but as a phrase. 10
That judgement is, that surely can comprise
The world in precepts, most happy and most wise.
What though? Though lesse, yet some of both have we,
Who have learn'd it by use and misery.
Poore I, whom every pety crosse doth trouble, 15
Who apprehend each hurt thats done me, double,
Am of this (though it should sinke me) carelesse,
It would but force me to a stricter goodnesse.
They have great odds of me, who gaine doe winne,
(If such gaine be not losse) from every sinne. 20
The standing of great mens lives would afford
A pretty summe, if God would sell his Word.
He cannot; they can theirs, and breake them too.
How unlike they are that they are likened to?
Yet I conclude, they are amidst my evils, 25
If good, like Gods, the naught are so like devils.
[To Ben Johnson, 9 Novembris, 1603: _1635-69_, _B_
(_subscribed_ doubtfull author), _O'F_, _S_: Another Epistle
to M^{r} Ben: Johnson. No: 9. 1603. _L74_: Another to Ben
Johnson. _H40_]
[2 them.] them, _1635-69_ that _B_, _H40_, _L74_, _S_: the
_1635-69_]
[3 upbraide. _Ed_: upbraide; _1635-69_]
[5 Iury; _Ed_: Iury. _1635-69_]
[18 goodnesse.] goodnesse _1635-39_]
[19 odds _B_, _H40_, _L74_, _S_: gaine _1635-69_, _O'F_]
_To S^{r} Tho. Roe_ 1603.
_Deare Thom_:
Tell her if she to hired servants shew
Dislike, before they take their leave they goe;
When nobler spirits start at no disgrace,
For who hath but one minde, hath but one face:
If then why I tooke not my leave she aske, 5
Aske her againe why she did not unmaske?
Was she or proud or cruell, or knew shee
'Twould make my losse more felt, and pittyed me?
Or did she feare one kisse might stay for moe?
Or else was she unwilling I should goe? 10
I thinke the best, and love so faithfully
I cannot chuse but thinke that she loves mee.
If this prove not my faith, then let her trie
How in her service I would fructifie.
Ladies have boldly lov'd; bid her renew 15
That decay'd worth, and prove the times past true.
Then he whose wit and verse goes now so lame,
With songs to her will the wild Irish tame.
Howe'r, I'll weare the black and white ribband,
White for her fortunes, blacke for mine shall stand. 20
I doe esteeme her favours, not their stuffe;
If what I have was given, I have enough:
And all's well; for had she lov'd, I had had
All my friends hate; for now, departing sad
I feele not that; Yet as the Rack the Gout 25
Cures, so hath _this_ worse griefe _that_ quite put out:
My first disease nought but that worse cureth,
Which (which I dare foresee) nought cures but death.
Tell her all this before I am forgot,
That not too late shee grieve shee lov'd me not. 30
Burden'd with this, I was to depart lesse
Willing, then those which die, and not confesse.
[Footnote: To Sir Tho. Rowe, 1603. _1635-69_, _O'F_: An
Elegie. To S^{r} Tho. Roe. _B_ (_subscribed J. R._), _L74_:
An Elegie, complayning a want of complement in his mistrisse,
at his leave-taking. _A10_: Elegia Vicesima Septima. To S^{r}
Thomas Roe. 1603. _S_
_Thom_: _B_, _L74_, _O'F_,_S_: _Tom_: _1635-69_]
[5 tooke _A10_, _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_: take _1635-69_]
[14 I would _1635-69_: it will _A10_, _L74_, _S_]
[17 goes now so _Ed_: goe now so _B_: growes now so _1635-69_,
_O'F_: now goes thus _A10_, _L74_, _S_]
[21 favours, not their _B_, _L74_, _S_: favour, not the
_1635-69_]
[22 enough: _Ed_: enough, _1635-69_]
[23 had had] had not had _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[24 hate;] hate _1635_: hate, _1639-69_
now, _Ed_: now _1635-69_: not _A10_, _B_, _L74_, _S_]
[26 out:] out. _1635_]
[28 Which (which I dare foresee) nought _A10_, _B_, _L74_,
_S_: Which (I dare foresay) nothing _1635-69_]
[Willing, _Ed_: Willing _1635-69_: Willing; _A10_]