Who by Good Meanes, Good Things Would Gaine, Shall Never Seeke, nor Aske in Vaine
IN vaine faire Cynthia never taketh paines,
Nor faints in foll’wing her desired Game;
And, when at any Marke her Bowe she straines,
The winged Arrow surely hits the same.
Her Picture, therefore, in this place doth shew
The Nature of their Mindes who Cynthia-like,
With Constancie their Purposes pursue,
And faint not till they compasse what they seeke.
For, nought more God-like in this World is found,
Then so Resolv’d a man, that nothing may
His Resolution alter or confound,
When any taske of Worth, he doth assay.
Nor, is there greater Basenesse, then those Mindes
That from an Honest-purpose, can be wrought
By Threatnings, Bribes, Smooth-Gales or Boyst’rous-Windes,
What ever colour or excuse be brought.
You then, that would, with Pleasure, Glory gaine,
Diana like, those modest things require,
Which truely may beseeme you to attaine;
And stoutly follow that which you desire:
For, changing though the Moone to us appeare,
She holds a firme Dependence on the Sunne;
And, by a Constant-Motion, in her Sphære
With him, doth in Conjunction often runne:
So, Constant-men, still move their hopes to winne;
But, never by a Motion-indirect;
Nor, will they stop the Course that they are in,
Vntill they bring their purpose to effect.
For, whosoever Honest-things requires,
A Promise hath of all that he desires.