No More Learning

JR monogram), _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]

[1 Love,] Love _1635-69_]

[13 witt] will, _1635-54_]

[14 They, _1635-69_: Those _L74_]

[18 I sport] I sports _1635-54_]

[19 that may _A10_, _HN_, _L74_: that doth _1635-69_: let that
_B_]

[26 Satietie] Sacietie _1635-39_, _L74_

Love _A10_, _B_, _HN_, _L74_, _S96_: selves _1635-69_]

[28 Mine _MSS. _: My _1635-39_]

[32 you at will] at your will _S96_]




_To Ben. Iohnson_, 6 _Ian. _ 1603.

The State and mens affaires are the best playes
Next yours; 'Tis nor more nor lesse than due praise.
Write, but touch not the much descending race
Of Lords houses, so settled in worths place,
As but themselves none thinke them usurpers. 5
It is no fault in thee to suffer theirs.
If the Queene Masque, or King a hunting goe,
Though all the Court follow, Let them. We know
Like them in goodnesse that Court ne'r will be,
For that were vertue, and not flatterie. 10
Forget we were thrust out; It is but thus,
God threatens Kings, Kings Lords, as Lords doe us.
Iudge of strangers, Trust and believe your friend,
And so me; And when I true friendship end,
With guilty conscience let me be worse stonge, 15
Then with _Pophams_ sentence theeves, or _Cookes_ tongue
Traitors are. Friends are our selves. This I thee tell
As to my friend, and to my selfe as Counsell;
Let for a while the times unthrifty rout
Contemne learning, and all your studies flout. 20
Let them scorne Hell, they will a Sergeant feare,
More then wee _that_; ere long God may forbeare,
But Creditors will not. Let them increase
In riot and excesse as their meanes cease;
Let them scorne him that made them, and still shun 25
His Grace, but love the whore who hath undone
Them and their soules.
But; that they that allow
But one God, should have religions enow
For the Queens Masque, and their husbands, far more
Then all the Gentiles knew, or _Atlas_ bore! 30
Well, let all passe, and trust him who nor cracks
The bruised Reed, nor quencheth smoaking flaxe.


[To Ben. Iohnson, 6 Ian. 1603. _1635-69_, _O'F_: To Ben
Johnson 6 Jan: 1603 T. R. _B_: An Epistle to Ben Johnson.
S^{r} J: R: _H40_: An Epistle to Beniamin Johnson. _RP31_: An
Epistle: To M^{r} Ben. Johnson. Ja: 6: 1603 _L74_: To M^{r}
Ben Johnson. _S_]

[2 yours; _Ed_: yours, _1635-69_

nor more] noe more _L74_]

[5 none thinke] none can thinke _1669_]

[11 out; _Ed_: out. _1635-69_]

[15 stonge, _L74_: _spelt_ st? g, _1635_]

[18 as Counsell;] is Counsell: _1635-54_]

[22 More then wee _that_; _Ed_: More then wee that _H40_,
_L74_: More then wee them; that, _1635-69_ (them _in ital. _
_1635-54_)]

[24 cease; _Ed_: cease, _1635-69_]

[28 enow _H40_, _L74_: enough _1635-69_]

[29 far _L74_: for _1635-69_, _H40_]

[30 bore!