Can purchase starres, and buy a tenement Deare, idle prodigall! is it not just We beare our stars? What though I had not dust But grant some richer planet at my birth My high borne soule flagge with their drosse, and lye A pris'ner to base mud, and alchymie; I should perhaps cate orphans, and sucke up A dozen distrest widowes in one cup; Nay further, I should by that lawfull stealth, -Damn'd usurie! undoe the Common-wealth; The incens'd subject rebell to his king; Sinke lower than my gold and lye in hell. Thanks then for this deliv'rance! blessed pow'rs, You that dispense man's fortune and his houres, How am I to you all engag'd! that thus By such strange meanes, almost miraculous, You should preserve me; you have gone the way To make me rich by taking all away. For I had I been rich-as sure as fate, Would have bin medling with the king, or State, Or something to undoe me; and 'tis fit -We know that who hath wealth, should have no wit. 6 1 In John Tustin's Observations or Conscience Embleme the Watch of God similized by the wakefull dog' (1646) we have this odd note illustrative of the text: "By me JOHN TUSTIN, who hath beene plundered and spoyled by the patentees for white and grey soape, eighteene severall times, to his utter undoing." (See copy in British Museum: single sheets, 669. Apr. 8. 1644 - March 15. 1646). G. 2 Query- taxed? Anglo-Saxon 'geld' = a tax. G. But above all, thanks to that Providence, That arm'd me with a gallant soule, and sence 'Gainst all misfortunes, that hath breath'd so much Of Heav'n into me, that I scorne the touch Of those low things; and can with courage dare I envy no man's purse or mines: I know, We have a blessing which no gold can buye. UPON THE PRIORIE GROVE, HIS USUALL E RETYREMENT.1 AILE sacred shades! coole leavie house! And wealth! on whose soft bosome layd My loves faire steps I first betrayd: Henceforth no melancholy flight. The Priory' Cardigan, was the seat of James Philips, Esq., whose wife ' matchless Orinda'. Katharine' is known to fame as the See Essay in the present Volume for notice of the friendship between her and our Vaughan. G. No sad wing, or hoarse bird of Night, Or feed the eye: be on this grove. And when at last the winds, and teares Of Heaven, with the consuming yeares, Shall these greene curles bring to decay, And cloathe thee in an aged gray : -If ought a lover can foresee : Or if we poets, prophets be From hence transplanted, thou shalt stand A fresh grove in th' Elysian land; |