Classic Poem

Priuy Councell.

Praise, if it be not choice, and layd aright,
Can yeeld no lustre where it is bestow'd,
Nor any way can grace the giuers Art,
(Tho'it be a pleasing colour to delight)
For that no ground whereon it can be shew'd
Will beare it well, but Vertue and Desart.
And though I might commend your learning, wit,
And happy vttrance; and commend them right,
As that which decks you much, and giues you grace,
Yet your cleere iudgement best deserueth it;
Which in your course hath carried you vpright,
And made you to discerne the truest face,
And best complexion of the things that breed
The reputation and the loue of men;
And held you in the tract of honesty,
Which euer in the end we see succeed;
Though oft it may haue interrupted beene
Both by the times and mens iniquity.
For sure those actions which do fairely runne
In the right line of honour, still are those
That get most cleane and safest to their end,
And passe the best without confusion,
Either in those that act or els dispose,
Hauing the scope made cleere, whereto they tend.
When this by-path of cunning doth s'imbroile
And intricate the passage of affaires,
As that they seldome fairely can get out;
But cost, with lesse successe, more care and toyle,
Whil'st doubt and the distrusted cause impaires
Their courage, who would els appeare more stout.
For though some hearts are blinded so, that they
Haue diuers doores whereby they may let out
Their wills abroad without disturbancy,
Int'any course, and into eu'ry way
Of humor that affection turnes about;
Yet haue the best but one t'haue passage by,
And that so surely warded with the gard
Of conscience and respect, as nothing must
Haue course that way, but with the certaine passe
Of a perswasiue right; which being compar'd
With their conceit, must thereto answere iust,
And so with due examination passe.
Which kind of men, rais'd of a better frame,
Are meere religious, constant and vpright,
And bring the ablest hands for any effect,
And best beare vp the reputation, fame,
And good opinion, that the action's right
When th'vndertakers are without suspect:
But when the body of an enterprize
Shall go one way, the face another way,
As if it did but mocke a weaker trust,
The motion being monstrous, can not rise
To any good, but falls downe to bewray,
That all pretences serue for things vniust;
Especially where th'action will allow
Apparency, or that it hath a course
Concentrike with the vniuersall frame
Of men combin'd; whom it concerneth how
These motions runne, and entertaine their force;
Hauing their being resting on the same.
And be it, that the vulgar are but grosse,
Yet are they capable of truth, and see,
And sometimes gesse the right, and do conceiue
The nature of that text that needs a glosse,
And wholy neuer can deluded be:
All may a few, few cannot all deceiue.
And these strange disproportions in the traine
And course of things doe euermore proceed
From th'ill-set disposition of their mindes,
Who in their actions cannot but retaine
Th'incumbred formes which doe within them breed,
And which they cannot shew but in their kindes.
Whereas the wayes and counsels of the light
So sort with valour and with manlinesse,
As that they carry things assuredlie
Vndazling of their owne or others sight:
There being a blessing that doth giue successe
To worthinesse and vnto constancie.
And though sometimes th'euent may fall amisse,
Yet shall it still haue honour for th'attempt,
When craft begins with feare and ends with shame,
And in the whole designe perplexed is;
Vertue, though lucklesse, yet shall scape contempt,
And though it hath not hap, it shall haue same