14.01.2015 Views

The hymns and songs of the Church. With an introd. by Edward Farr

The hymns and songs of the Church. With an introd. by Edward Farr

The hymns and songs of the Church. With an introd. by Edward Farr

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

INTRODUCTION.<br />

xi<br />

I had been d<strong>an</strong>gerously <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> lastingly overcome.<br />

But <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se usages I complain not ;<br />

he that<br />

made me, made me strong enough to despise<br />

<strong>the</strong>m."<br />

But Wi<strong>the</strong>r did not so quietly endure his<br />

incarceration as <strong>the</strong>se last sentences would lead<br />

us to suppose. His "Shepherds Hunting "was<br />

written in <strong>the</strong> Marshalsea, which, although<br />

it is<br />

a pastoral poem <strong>of</strong> great beauty, yet contains<br />

some passages burning with indignation against<br />

his persecutors. But his indignation is more<br />

clearly seen in a satire which he addressed to<br />

King James. In this satire he writes :<br />

Did I not know a great m<strong>an</strong>'s power <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> might<br />

In spite <strong>of</strong> innocence c<strong>an</strong> smo<strong>the</strong>r right,<br />

Colour his vill<strong>an</strong>ies to get esteem,<br />

And make <strong>the</strong> honest m<strong>an</strong> <strong>the</strong> villain seem.<br />

I know it, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>the</strong> world doth know 'tis true,<br />

Yet I protest if such a m<strong>an</strong> I knew,<br />

That might my country prejudice or <strong>the</strong>e<br />

Were he <strong>the</strong> greatest or <strong>the</strong> proudest he,<br />

That brea<strong>the</strong>s this day<br />

if so it might be found<br />

;<br />

That <strong>an</strong>y good to ei<strong>the</strong>r might redound,<br />

I unappalled, dare in such a case<br />

Rip up his foulest crimes before his face,<br />

Thou for my labour I was sure to drop<br />

Into <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> ruin without hope.<br />

This Satire was addressed to <strong>the</strong> King in 1614<br />

<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> it has been asserted that his liberation from<br />

prison was attributable to its influence. It<br />

would ra<strong>the</strong>r appear from some lines in one <strong>of</strong><br />

his Emblems, that his release was owing to <strong>the</strong><br />

friendly interposition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Earl <strong>of</strong> Pembroke.<br />

He writes that this friend<br />

found such me<strong>an</strong>s <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> place<br />

To bring <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> reconcile me to his grace.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!