When I behold the Havocke and the Spoyle, Which (ev’n within the compasse of my Dayes) Is made through every quarter of this _Ile_, In _Woods_ and _Groves_ (which were this Kingdomes praise) And, when I minde with how much greedinesse, We seeke the present Gaine, in every thing; Not caring (so our _Lust_ we may possesse) What Dammage to _Posterity_ we bring: They doe, me-thinkes, as if they did foresee, That, some of those, whom they have cause to hate, Should come in _Future-times_, their Heires to be: Or else, why should they such things perpetrate? For, if they thinke their _Children_ shall succeed; Or, can believe, that they begot their _Heires_; They could not, surely, doe so foule a Deed, As to deface the _Land_, that should be theirs. What our _Forefathers_ planted, we destroy: Nay, all Mens labours, living heretofore, And all our owne, we lavishly imploy To serve our present _Lusts_; and, for no more. But, let these carelesse _Wasters_ learne to know, That, as _Vaine-Spoyle_ is open _Injury_; So, _Planting_ is a _Debt_, they truely owe, And ought to pay to their _Posterity_. _Selfe-love_, for none, but for it selfe, doth care; And, onely, for the present, taketh paine: But, _Charity_ for others doth prepare; And, joyes in that, which _Future-Time_ shall gaine. If, _After-Ages_ may my _Labours_ blesse; I care not, _much_, how _Litle_ I possesse. _To =Have=, and not to =Vse= the same; Is not our =Glory=, but our =Shame=._ [Illustration: NIL PENNA, SED VSVS ILLVSTR. XXXVI. _Book. 1._]