VIRTUE. What one art thou thus in torn weeds yclad? Virtue, in price, whom ancient sages had-- Why poorly clad? for fading goods past care-- Why double fac'd? I mark each fortunes rare; This bridle, what? mind's rages to restrain-- Why bear you tools? I love to take great pain-- Why wings? I teach above the stars to fly-- Why tread your death? I only cannot die. WYAT. * * * * * TEMPERANCE. Of all God's works which doth this world adorn, There is none more fair and excellent Than is man's body, both for power and form, Whilst it is kept in sober government, But none than it more foul and indecent, Distempered through misrules and passions base, It grows a monster and incontinent, Doth lose his dignity and native grace. SPENSER. * * * * * PLEASURE. Never have unjust pleasures been complete In joys entire: but still fear kept the door. And held back something from that hell of sweet, To intersour unsure delights the more For never did all circumstances meet With those desires that were conceiv'd before, Something must still be left to cheer our sin, And give a touch of what should not have been. DANIELL. * * * * * MAN. He that compar'd man's body to a host Said that the hands were scouts discovering harms, The feet were horsemen thundering on the coast, The breast and stomach foemen, huge in swarms, But for the head in sovereignty did boast, It captain was, director of alarms, Whose rashness if it hazarded any ill, Not he alone, but all the host did spill. MARKHAM. * * * * * SOLITARINESS. Sweet solitary life thou true repose, Wherein the wise contemplate heaven aright, In thee no dread of war or worldly foes, In thee no pomp seduceth mortal sight. In thee no wanton cares to win with words, Nor lurking toys which silly life affords. D. LODGE. * * * * * REST. What so strong But wanting rest, will also want of might? The sun that measures heaven all day long, At night doth bathe his steeds th' ocean waves among. SPENSER. * * * * * WILL. A stronger hand restrains our wilful powers. A will must rule above the will of ours, Not following what our vain desires do woo, For virtue's sake, but what we only do. DRAYTON. * * * * * CONTENT. He only lives most happily That's free and far from majesty-- Can live content although unknown-- He fearing none, none fearing him-- Meddling with nothing but his own-- While gazing eyes at crowns grow dim. KYD. * * * * * Content feeds not on glory nor on pelf, Content can be contented with herself. BASTARD. * * * * * NOTES OF A READER.