Classic Poem

I .

Loe here (brave youth) as zeale and duty move,
I labour (though in vaine) to finde some gift,
Both worthy of thy place, and of my loue;
But whilst my selfe above my selfe I lift,
And would the best of my inventions prove,
I stand to study what should be my drift;
Yet this the greatest approbation brings,
Still to a Prince to speake of princely things.

II .

When those of the first age that earst did live
In shadowie woods, or in a humid cave,
And taking that which th' earth not forc'd did give,
Would onely pay what Natures need did crave;
Then beasts of breath such numbers did deprive,
That (following Amphion ) they did desarts leave:
Who with sweet sounds did lead them by the eares,
Where mutuall force might banish common feares.

III .

Then building walles, they barbarous rites disdain'd,
The sweetnesse of society to finde;
And to attayne what unity maintain'd,
As peace, religion, and a vertuous minde;
That so they might have restlesse humours rayn'd,
They straight with lawes their liberty confin'd:
And of the better sort the best preferr'd,
To chastise them against the lawes that err'd.

IV .

I wot not if proud mindes who first aspir'd
O're many realmes to make themselves a right;
Or if the worlds disorders so requir'd,
That then had put Astraea to the flight;
Or else if some whose vertues were admir'd,
And eminent in all the peoples sight,
Did move peace-lovers first to reare a throne,
And give the keys of life and death to one.

V .

That dignity when first it did begin,
Did grace each province and each little towne;
Forth when she first doth from Benlowmond rinne,
Is poore of waters, naked of renowne,
But Carron, Allon, Teath , and Doven in,
Doth grow the greater still, the further downe:
Till that abounding both in power and fame,
She long doth strive to give the sea her name.

VI .

Even so those soveraignties which once-were small,
Still swallowing up the nearest neighbouring state,
With a deluge of men did realmes appall,
And thus th' Egyptian Pharoes first grew great;
Thus did th' Assyrians make so many thrall,
Thus rear'd the Romans their imperiall seat:
And thus all those great states to worke have gone,
Whose limits and the worlds were all but one.

VII .

But I'le not plunge in such a stormy deepe,
Which hath no bottome, nor can have no shore,
But in the dust will let those ashes sleepe,
Which (cloath'd with purple) once th' earth did adore;
Of them scarce now a monument wee keepe,
Who (thund'ring terrour) curb'd the world before;
Their States which by a numbers ruine stood,
Were founded, and confounded, both with bloud.

VIII .

If I would call antiquity to minde,
I, for an endlesse taske might then prepare,
But what? ambition that was ever blinde,
Did get with toyle that which was kept with care,
And those great States 'gainst which the world repin'd,
Had falls, as famous, as their risings rare:
And in all ages it was ever seene,
What vertue rais'd, by vice hath ruin'd been.

IX .

Yet registers of memorable things
Would helpe (great Prince) to make thy judgement sound,
Which to the eye a perfect mirrour brings,
Where all should glasse themselves who would be crown'd,
Reade these rare parts that acted were by Kings,
The straines heroicke, and the end renown'd:
Which (whilst thou in thy Cabinet do'st sit)
Are worthy to bewitch thy growing wit.

X .

And doe not, doe not (thou) the meanes omit,
Times match'd with times, what they beget to spy,
Since history may leade thee unto it,
A pillar whereupon good sprites rely,
Of time the table, and the nurse of wit,
The square of reason, and the mindes cleare eye:
Which leads the curious reader through huge harms,
Who stands secure whilst looking on alarmes.

XI .

Nor is it good o're brave mens lives to wander,
As one who at each corner stands amaz'd,
No, study like some one thy selfe to render,
Who to the height of glory hath been rais'd;
So Scipio, Cyrus, Caesar, Alexander ,
And that great Prince chos'd him whom Homer prais'd,
Or make (as which is recent, and best knowne)
Thy fathers life a patterne for thine owne.

XII .

Yet marking great mens lives, this much impaires
The profit which that benefit imparts,
While as transported with preposterous cares,
To imitate but superficiall parts,
Some for themselves frame of their fancies snares,
And shew what folly doth o're-sway their hearts:
" For counterfeited things doe staines embrace,
" And all that is affected, hath no grace. "

XIII .

Of outward things who (shallow wits) take hold,
Doe shew by that they can no higher winne,
So, to resemble Hercules of old,
Mark Antony would beare the Lyons skinne;
A brave Athenians sonne (as some have told)
Would such a course (though to his scorne) begin:
And bent to seem look like his father dead,
Would make himselfe to lispe, and bow his head.

XIV .

They who would rightly follow such as those,
Must of the better parts apply the pow'rs,
As the industrious bee advis'dly goes,
To seize upon the best, shunne baser flowres;
So, where thou do'st the greatest worth disclose,
To compass that, be prodigall of houres:
Seeke not to seeme, but be; who be, seeme too,
Do carelesly, and yet have care to doe.

XV .

Thou to resemble thy renowned syre,
Must not (though some there were) mark triviall things,
But matchlesse vertues which all mindes admire,
Whose treasure to his realmes great comfort brings;
That to attaine (thou race of kings) aspire,
Which for thy fame may furnish ayery wings:
And like to eaglets thus thou prov'st thy kinde,
When both like him, in body, and in minde.

XVI .

Ah, be not those most miserable soules,
Their judgements to refine who never strive!
Nor will not looke upon the learned scroules,
Which without practice doe experience give;
But (whilst base sloth each better care controules)
Are dead in ignorance, entomb'd alive:
'Twixt beasts and such the difference is but small,
They use not reason, beasts have none at all.

XVII .

O! heavenly treasure which the best sort loves,
Life of the soule, reformer of the will,
Cleare light, which from the mind each cloud removes,
Pure spring of vertue, physicke for each ill,
Which in prosperity a bridle proves,
And in adversity a pillar still;
Of thee the more men get, the more they crave,
And thinke, the more they get, the lesse they have.

XVIII .

But if that knowledge be requir'd of all,
What should they doe this treasure to obtaine,
Whom in a throne, time travels to enstall,
Where they by it of all things must ordaine:
If it make them who by their birth were thrall,
As little kings, whilst o're themselves they raigne,
Then it must make, when it hath throughly grac'd them,
Kings more then kings, and like to him who plac'd them.

XIX .

This is a griefe which all the world bemones,
When those lack judgement who are borne to judge,
And like to painted tombes, or guilded stones,
To troubled soules cannot afford refuge;
Kings are their kingdomes hearts, which tainted once,
The bodies straight corrupt in which they lodge:
And those, by whose example many fall,
Are guilty of the murther of them all.

XX .

The meanes which best make majestie to stand,
Are laws observ'd, whil'st practise doth direct:
The crowne, the head, the scepter decks the hand,
But onely knowledge doth the thoughts erect;
Kings should excell all them whom they command,
In all the parts which do procure respect:
And this, a way to what they would, prepares,
Not onely as thought good, but as known theirs.