After those reverend papers, whose soule is
Our good and great Kings lov'd hand and fear'd name,
By which to you he derives much of his,
And (how he may) makes you almost the same,
A Taper of his Torch, a copie writ
From his Originall, and a faire beame
Of the same warme, and dazeling Sun, though it
Must in another Sphere his vertue streame:
After those learned papers which your hand
Hath stor'd with notes of use and pleasure too,
From which rich treasury you may command
Fit matter whether you will write or doe:
After those loving papers, where friends tend
With glad griefe, to your Sea-ward steps, farewel,
Which thicken on you now, as prayers ascend
To heaven in troupes at'a good mans passing bell:
Admit this honest paper, and allow
It such an audience as your selfe would aske;
What you must say at Venice this meanes now,
And hath for nature, what you have for taske:
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)
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;
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,
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.
[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]