TO THE READER.

EAR eye, that dost peruse my muses still,
With easy censure deem of my delight;
Give sob'rest count'nance leave some-
time to smile,

And gravest wits to take a breathing flight:
Of mirth to make a trade may be a crime,
But tired sprites for mirth must have a time.

The lofty eagle soars not still above,

High flights will force her from the wing to stoop;
And studious thoughts at times men must remove,
Lest by excess before the time they droop:
In coarser studies 'tis a sweet repose,
With poets pleasing vein to temper prose.

Prophane conceits and feignèd fits I fly;
Such lawless stuff doth lawless speeches fit.
With David, verse to virtue I apply,

Whose measure best with measured words doth fit:

It is the sweetest note that man can sing

When grace in virtue's key tunes nature's string.

EAR eye, that deignest to let fall a look

On these sad memories of Peter's

plaints,

[brook ;

Muse not to see some mud in clearest They once were brittle mould that now are saints. Their weakness is no warrant to offend; Learn by their faults what in thine own to mend.

If Justice' even hand the balance held,

Where Peter's sins and ours were made the weights,-
Ounce for his drachm, pound for his ounce we yield,―
His ship would groan to feel some sinners' freights.
So ripe is vice, so green is virtue's bud,
The world doth wax in ill, but wane in good.

This makes my mourning muse dissolve in tears, This themes my heavy pen,-too plain in prose; Christ's thorn is sharp, no head his garland wears; Still finest wits are 'stilling Venus' rose:

In paynim toys the sweetest veins are spent ; To Christian works few have their talents lent.

Licence my single pen to seek a phere;
You heavenly sparks of wit shew native light,
Cloud not with misty loves your orient clear,
Sweet flights you shoot, learn once to level right.
Favour my wish, well-wishing works no ill;
I move the suit, the grant rests in your will.

SAINT PETER'S COMPLAINT,

MARY MAGDALEN'S TEARS,

WITH OTHER WORKS OF

THE AUTHOR

R. S.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY J. HAVILAND, AND

SOLD BY ROBERT ALLOTT.

1634.