Then all the pride of warre, and wealth of peace For which we toild, from us abstracted be And onely serve to swell the history. These are sad thoughts (my Lord) and such as fright The easie soule made tender with delight, Who thinkes that he hath forfetted that houre Which addes not to his pleasure or his powre. But by the friendship which your Lordship daignes Your Servant, I have found your judgement raignes Above all passion in you: and that sence Could never yet demolish that strong fence Which Vertue guards you with: By which you are Triumphant in the best, the inward warre. _Nox nocti indicat Scientiam._ DAVID. When I survay the bright Cœlestiall spheare: So rich with jewels hung, that night Doth like an Æthiop bride appeare. My soule her wings doth spread And heaven-ward flies, Th' Almighty's Mysteries to read In the large volumes of the skies. For the bright firmament Shootes forth no flame So silent, but is eloquent In speaking the Creators name. No unregarded star Contracts its light Into so small a Charactar, Remov'd far from our humane sight: But if we stedfast looke, We shall discerne In it as in some holy booke, How man may heavenly knowledge learne. It tells the Conqueror, That farre-stretcht powre Which his proud dangers traffique for, Is but the triumph of an houre. That from the farthest North; Some Nation may Yet undiscovered issue forth, And ore his new got conquest sway. Some Nation yet shut in With hils of ice May be let out to scourge his sinne 'Till they shall equall him in vice. And then they likewise shall Their ruine have, For as your selves your Empires fall, And every Kingdome hath a grave. Thus those Cœlestiall fires, Though seeming mute The fallacie of our desires And all the pride of life confute. For they have watcht since first The World had birth: And found sinne in it selfe accurst, And nothing permanent on earth. _Et alta a longè cognoscit._ DAVID.