To sweare much love, not to be chang'd before Honour alone will to your fortune fit; Nor shall I then honour your forture, more Then I have done your honour wanting it. But'tis an easier load (though both oppresse) 25 To want, then governe greatnesse, for wee are In that, our owne and onely business, In this, wee must for others vices care; 'Tis therefore well your spirits now are plac'd In their last Furnace, in activity; 30 Which fits them (Schooles and Courts and Warres o'rpast) To touch and test in any best degree. For mee, (if there be such a thing as I) Fortune (if there be such a thing as thee) Spies that I beare so well her tyranny, 35 That she thinks nothing else so fit for mee; But though she part us, to heare my oft prayers For your increase, God is as neere mee here; And to send you what I shall begge, his staires In length and ease are alike every where. 40 [To Sir H. W. at his _&c._ _1633-54:_ To Sir Henry Wotton, at his _&c._ _1669_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _printed in Walton's_ Life of Sir Henry Wotton, 1670, _as a_ 'letter, sent by him to Sir _Henry Wotton_, the morning before he left _England_', _i.e. July 13 (O.S.), 1604_] [10 pleasure _1635-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _Walton:_ pleasures _1633_] [13 where _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ which _1635-69_, _O'F_, _Walton_] [16 in troupes] on troops _Walton_] [19 must ... meanes] would ... sayes _Walton_] [20 hath] has _Walton_ taske: _Ed:_ taske. _1633-69_] [21 not] nor _Walton_] [24 honour wanting it _1633:_ noble-wanting-wit. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ honour-wanting-wit. _Walton:_ noble wanting it. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_] [31 Warres _Ed:_ warres _1633-69:_ tents _Burley MS._] [32 test] tast _1669 and Walton_] [35 Spies] Finds _Walton_] To M^rs _M. H._ Mad paper stay, and grudge not here to burne With all those sonnes whom my braine did create, At lest lye hid with mee, till thou returne To rags againe, which is thy native state. What though thou have enough unworthinesse 5 To come unto great place as others doe, That's much; emboldens, pulls, thrusts I confesse, But'tis not all; Thou should'st be wicked too. And, that thou canst not learne, or not of mee; Yet thou wilt goe? Goe, since thou goest to her 10 Who lacks but faults to be a Prince, for shee, Truth, whom they dare not pardon, dares preferre. But when thou com'st to that perplexing eye Which equally claimes _love_ and _reverence_, Thou wilt not long dispute it, thou wilt die; 15 And, having little now, have then no sense.