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And read it oyer ....

So; the critic's gone,

Who at these numbers carp'd; and we alone :

Proceed we to the matter...

DLEIAN

Nec Habeo, Nec Careo, Nec Curo.

SOME having seen where I this Motto writ
Beneath my picture, ask'd what meaned it;
And many in my absence do assay

What by these words they best conjecture may :
Some have supposed that it doth express
An unadvised desperate carelessness.
Some others do imagine that I meant
In little to set forth a great content.

Some on each member of the sentence dwell:
And first will, what I have not, seem to tell :
What things I want not, they will next declare :
And then they guess for what I do not care.
But that they might not from my meaning err,
I'll now become my own interpreter.

Some things I have, which here I will not shew;
Some things I want, which you shall never know:
And sometime I, perchance, do careful grow;
But we with that will nothing have to do.
If good occasion be thereof to speak,

Another time we may the pleasure take.

That which to treat of I now purpose, therefore, Is what I neither have, nor want, nor care for.

Nec Habeo.

AND first; that no man else may censure me,
For vaunting what belongeth not to me:
Hear what I have not; for I'll not deny
To make confession of my poverty.

I have not of myself the power or grace
To be, or not to be, one minute's space.
I have not strength another word to write,
Or tell you what I purpose to indite,
Or think out half a thought before my death,
But by the leave of Him that gave me breath.
I have no native goodness in my soul,
But I was over all corrupt and foul;

And till another cleans'd me, I had nought That was not stain'd within me, not a thought. I have no proper merit, neither will

Or to resolve, or act, but what is ill.

I have no means of safety or content,

In ought which mine own wisdom can invent. Nor have I reason to be desperate, tho', Because for this a remedy I know.

I have no portion in the world like this, That I may breathe that air which common is

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Nor have I seen within this spacious round,
What I have worth my joy or sorrow found,
Except it hath for these that follow been;
The love of my Redeemer, and my sin.

I none of those great privileges have,

Which make the minions of the time so brave.
I have no sumptuous palaces or bowers
That over-top my neighbours with their towers.
I have no large demesnes or princely rents,
Like those heroes, nor their discontents.
I have no glories from mine ancestors,
For want of real worth to brag of theirs.
Nor have I baseness in my pedigree;
For it is noble, though obscure it be.

I have no gold those honours to obtain,
Which men might heretofore by virtue gain;
Nor have I wit, if wealth were given me,
To think bought place or title honour'd me.
I yet have no belief that they are wise,
Who for base ends can basely temporize,
Or that it will at length be ill for me,
That I liv'd poor to keep my spirit free.

I have no causes in our pleading courts;
Nor start I at our chancery-reports.
No fearful bill hath yet affrighted me;
No motion, order, judgment, or decree.

Nor have I forced been to tedious journies,
Betwixt my counsellors and my attornies.
I have no need of those long-gowned warriors,
Who play at Westminster unarmed barriers :
Nor gamester for those common-pleas am I,
Whose sport is marred by the chancery.

I have no juggling hand, no double tongue;
Nor mind to take or do a wrong.
any

I have no shifts or cunning sleights, on which
I feed myself, with hope of being rich.

Nor have I one of these to make me poor;
Hounds, humours, running-horses, hawks, or whore.
I have no pleasure in acquaintance, where
The rules of state and ceremony are
Observ❜d so seriously, that I must dance,
And act o'er all the compliments of France
And Spain and Italy, before I can
Be taken for a well-bred Englishman;
And every time we meet, be forc'd again
To put in action that most idle scene.
'Mong these, much precious time, unto my cost,
And much true hearty meaning, have I lost;
Which having found, I do resolve therefore
To lose my time and friendship so no more.
I have no compliments, but what may shew
That I do manners and good breeding know;

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