MEDIOCRITY

I am that even course that must be kept To shun two dangerous gulfs; the middle tract betwixt Scylla and Charibdis; the small Isthmus That suffers not the Aegean tide to meet The violent rage of the Ionian wave. I am a bridge o'rean Impetuous sea; Free, and safe passage to the wary step! But he whose wantonness, or folly dares Decline to either side falls desperate Into a cetaine ruin.—Dwell with me, Whose mansion is not placed so near the Sun, As to complain of's neighbourhood, and be scorched With his directer beams: nor so remote From his bright rays as to be situate Under the Icy Pole of the cold Bear; But in a temperate zone: it's I am she, I am the golden Mediocrity: The labour of whose womb are all the virtues, And every passion too commendable: Sisters so Like themselves, as if they were All but one birth; no difference to distinguish them But a respect they bear to several objects: Else had their names been one as are their features. So when eleven fair Virgins of a blood All Sisters, and alike grown ripe of years, Match into several houses, from each family, Each takes a name distinct, and all are different! They are not of complexion read or pale, But a sweet mixture of the flesh and blood, As if both roses were confounded there. Their stature neither Dwarf nor yantish, But in a comely well disposed proportion! And all so Like their mother, that indeed They are all mine, and I am each of them. When in the amid of dangers I stand up A wary confidence betwixt fear and daring, Not so ungodly bold as not to be Fearful of heavens' just anger when she speaks In prodigies, and tremble at the hazard Of my Religion, shake to see my Country Threatened with fire and sword, be a stark coward To any thing may blast my reputation: But I can scorn the worst of poverty, Sickness, Captivity, Banishment, Grim death, If she dare meet me in the bed of honour; Where, with my Countries cause upon my sword Not edged with hope or anger, nor made bold With civil blood, or customary danger; Nor the fools whetstone, Inexperience; I can throw valour as a lightning from me, And then I am the Amazon fortitude! Give me the moderate cup of lawful pleasures, And I am Temperance. Take me wealths just steward, And call me Liberality; with one hand I'll gather riches home, and with the other Rightly distribute they, and there observe The persons, quantity, quality, time and place: And if in great expenses I be set Chief Arbitress, I can in glorious works, As raising Temples, Statues, Altars, shrines Vestures, and ornaments to Religion, be Neither too thrifty nor too prodigal. And to my country the Like mean observe, In building Ships, and Bulwarks, Castles, walls Conducts, Theaters, and what else may serve her For use or ornament: And at home be royal In Buildings, Gardens, costly furniture, In entertainments free and hospitable, With a respect to my estate, and means, And then I may be named Magnificence; As Magnanimity, when I wisely aim At greatest honours, if I may deserve'm, Not for ambition, but for my Countries good, And in that virtue all the rest do dwell. In lesser dignities I want a name; And when I am not over patient, To put up such gross wrongs as call me coward, But can be angry, yet in that observe What cause hath moved my anger, and with whom, Look that it be not sudden, nor too thirsty Of a revenge, nor violent, nor greater Then the offence, know my time when, where I must be angry, and how long remain so; Then then you may surname me Men ude. When in my carriage and discourse I keep The mean that neither flatters nor offends, I am that virtue the well nurtured Court Gives name, and should do being— Courtesy. Betwixt fly dissembling and proud arrogance I am the virtue time calls daughter, Truth. Give me my sword and balance rightly swayed, And Justice is the Title I deserve. When on this stage I come with innocent wit, And jests that have more of the sait then gall, That move the laughter and delight of all, Without the grief of one, free, chased conceits, Not scurrile, base, obscene, ill berall Or contumelious slanders, I am then The virtue they have termed, Urbanity: To whom if your least countenance may appear. She vows to make her constant dwelling here. My daughters now are come— You have seen all my daughters, Gentlemen, Choose you wives hence; you that are Bachelors Can find no better; And the married too May wed they, yet not wrong their former wives. Two may have the same wife, and the same man May wed two Virtues, yet no Bigamy: He that weds most is chastest; These are all The daughters of my womb; I have five more, The happy Issue of my Intellect, And thence surnamed the intellectual Virtues. They now attend not on their Mother's train, We hope they Act in each spectators brain! I have a Necce beside, a beauteous one My daughters deer companion—lovely Friendship A royal Nymph; her we present not to, It is a virtue we expect from you.