He that of liis own stores no part can give; 25
May with his counsel or his hands relieve.
If Fortune make thee pow'rful, give defence,
'Gainst fraud and force, to naked innocence :
And when our Justice doth our tributes pay,
Method and order must direct the way.

30
First to our God we must with rev’rence bow;
The second honour to our prince we owe;
Next to wives, parents, children, fit respect,
And to our friends and kindred we direct :
Then we must those who groan beneath the weight
Of age, disease, or want, commiserate. 36
'Mongst those whom honest lives can recommend,
Our Justice more compassion should extend :
To such who thee in some distress did aid,
Thy debt of thanks with int’rest should be paid.
As Hesiod sings, spread waters o'er thy field, 41
And a most just and glad increase t'will yield.
But yet take heed, lest doing good to one
Mischief and wrong be to another done:
Such moderation with thy bounty join,

45 mhat thou may’st nothing give that is not thine: That liberality's but cast away Which makes us borrow what we cannot pay. And no access to wealth let rapine bring ; Jo nothing that's unjust to be a king.

50 Justice must be from violence exempt, But fraud's her only object of contempt.

65

Fraud in the fox, force in the lion, dwells, But Justice both from human hearts expels ; But he's the greatest monster (without doubt) 55 Who is a wolf within, a sheep without. Nor only ill injurious actions are, But evil words and slanders bear their share. Truth justice loves, and truth injustice fears; Truth above all things a just man leveres. 60 Tho' not by oaths we God to witness call, He sees and hears, and still remembers all; And yet our attestations we may wrest Sometimes, to make the truth more manifest.. If by a lie a man preserve his faith, He pardon, leave, and absolution hath ; Or if I break my promise, which to thee Would bring no good, but prejudice to re. All things committed to thy trust, conceal, Nor what's forbid by any nieans reveal.

70 Express thyself in plain not doubtful words, That ground for quarrels or dispute affords. Unless thou find occasion hold thy tongue; Thyself or others careless talk may wrong. When thou art called into public pow'r, 75 And when a crowd of suitors throng thy door, Be sure no great offenders 'scape their dooms; Small praise from len’ty and remissness comes : Crimes pardon’d others to those crimes invite, Whilst lookers-on severe examples fright.

80

85

When by a pardon'd murd’rer blood is spilt,
The judge that pardon’d hath the greatest guilt.
Who accuse rigour make a gross mistake;
One criminal pardon’d may an hundred make.
When Justice on offenders is not done,
Law, government, and commerce, are o'erthrown'
As besieg'd traitors with the foe conspire
T' unlock the gates and set the town on fire
Yet let the punishment th' offence exceed,
Justice with weight and measure must proceed :
Yet when pronouncing sentence seem not glad,
Such spectacles, tho' they are just, are sad;
Tho' what thou dost thou ought'st not to repent,
Yet human bowels cannot but relent.
Rather than all must suffer some must die; 26
Yet Nature must.condole their misery :
And yet, if many equal guilt involve,
Thou may'st not these condemn and those absolve.
Justice when equal scales she holds is blind;
Nor cruelty nor mercy change her mind.
When some escape for that which others die,
Mercy to those to these is cruelty.
A fine and slender net the spider weaves,
Which little and light animals receives ;
And if she catch a common bee or fly,

105
They with a piteous groan and murmer die :
But if a wasp or hornet she entrap,
They tear her cords, like Sampson, and escape ;

100 IIO

So like a fly the poor offender dies,
But like the wasp the rich escapes and flies.
Do not, if one but lightly thee offend,
The punishment beyond the crime extend,
Or after warning the offence forget ;
So God himself our failings doth remit.
Expect not more from servants than is just; I15
Reward them well if they observe their trust:
Nor them with cruelty or pride invade,
Since God and Nature them our brothers made :
If his offence be great let that suffice;
If light forgive; for no man's always wise.

120

UPON THE GAME OF CHESS. A TABLET stood of that abstersive tree When Æthiop's swarthy bird did build her nest, Inlaid it was with Libyan ivory, Drawn from the jaws of Afric's prudent beast. Two kings like Saul, much taller than the rest, 5 Their equal armies draw into the field; Till one taks th' other pris’ner they contest Courage and fortune must to conduct yield. This game the Persian Magi did invent, 'The force of Eastern wisdom to express; From thence to busy Europeans sent, And styl'd by modern Lombards Pensive Chess. Yet some that fled from Troy to Rome report, Penthesilia Priam did oblige; Her Amazons his Trojans taught this sport, 15 To pass the tedious hours of ten years' siege. There she presents herself, whilst kings and peers Look gravely on whilst fierce Bellona fights ; Yet maiden modesty her motions steers, Nor rudely skips o'er bishops' heads like knights, 20

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