Henrico Wottoni in Hibernia Belligeranti

Went you to conquer? and have so much lost Yourself, that what in you was best and most, Respective friendship, should so quickly die? In public gain my share is not such that I Would lose your love for Ireland: better cheap I pardon death (who though he do not reap Yet gleans he many of our friends away) Then that your waking mind should be a prey To lethargies. Let shot, and bogs, and skeins With bodies deal, as fate bids and restrains; Ere sicknesses attack, young death is best, Who pays before his death doth ’scape arrest. Let not your soul (at first with graces fill’d, And since, and thorough crooked limbecs, still’d In many schools and courts, which quicken it,) It self unto the Irish negligence submit. I ask not laboured letters which should wear Long papers out: nor letters which should fear Dishonest carriage: or a seers art: Nor such as from the brain come, but the heart.