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Where he was double-honor'd in degree,

His observation and discreet discerning

Had taught him in both fortunes to be free;

305 Whence now retir'd home, to a home indeed

The home of his condition and estate,

He well provided 'gainst the hand of need,

Whence young men sometime grow unfortunate;

His disposition, by the bonds of unity,

310 So fast'ned to his reason that it strove

With understanding's grave immunity

To purchase from all hearts a steady love;

Wherein not any one thing comprehends

Proportionable note of what he was,

315 Than that he was so constant to his friends

As he would no occasion overpass

Which might make known his unaffected care,

In all respects of trial, to unlock

His bosom and his store, which did declare

320 That Christ was his, and he was Friendship's Rock:

A Rock of Friendship figured in his name,

Fore-shewing what he was, and what should be,

Most true presage; and he discharg'd the same

In every act of perfect amity-

325 Though in the complemental phrase of words

He never was addicted to the vain

Of boast, such as the common breath affords;

He was in use most fast, in tongue most plain,

Nor amongst all those virtues that forever

330 Adorn'd his reputation will be found

One greater than his Faith, which did persever,

Where once it was protested, alway sound.

Hence sprung the deadly fuel that reviv'd

The rage which wrought his end, for had he been

335 Slacker in love, he had been longer liv'd

And not oppress'd by wrath's unhappy sin-

By wrath's unhappy sin, which unadvis'd

Gave death for free good will, and wounds for love.

Pity it was that blood had not been priz'd

340 At higher rate, and reason set above

Most unjust choler, which untimely Drew

Destruction on itself; and most unjust,

Robb'd virtue of a follower so true

As time can boast of, both for love and trust:

345 So henceforth all (great glory to his blood)

Shall be but seconds to him, being good.

The wicked end their honor with their sin

In death, which only then the good begin.

Lo, here a lesson by experience taught

350 For men whose pure simplicity hath drawn

Their trust to be betray'd by being caught

Within the snares of making truth a pawn;

Whiles it, not doubting whereinto it enters,

Without true proof and knowledge of a friend,

355 Sincere in singleness of heart, adventers

To give fit cause, ere love begin to end:

His unfeign'd friendship where it least was sought,

Him to a fatal timeless ruin brought;

Whereby the life that purity adorn'd

360 With real merit, by this sudden end

Is in the mouth of some in manner scorn'd,

Made questionable, for they do intend,

According to the tenor of the saw

Mistook, if not observ'd (writ long ago

365 When men were only led by Reason's law),

That "Such as is the end, the life proves so."

Thus he, who to the universal lapse

Gave sweet redemption, off'ring up his blood

To conquer death by death, and loose the traps

370 Of hell, even in the triumph that it stood:

He thus, for that his guiltless life was spilt

By death, which was made subject to the curse,

Might in like manner be reprov'd of guilt

In his pure life, for that his end was worse.

375 But O far be it, our unholy lips

Should so profane the deity above

As thereby to ordain revenging whips

Against the day of Judgment and of Love.

The hand that lends us honor in our days

380 May shorten when it please, and justly take

Our honor from us many sundry ways,

As best becomes that wisdom did us make.

The second brother, who was next begot

Of all that ever were begotten yet,

385 Was by a hand in vengeance rude and hot

Sent innocent to be in heaven set-

Whose fame the angels in melodious choirs

Still witness to the world. Then why should he,

Well-profited in excellent desires,

390 Be more rebuk'd, who had like destiny?

Those saints before the everlasting throne

Who sit with crowns of glory on their heads,

Wash'd white in blood, from earth hence have not gone

All to their joys in quiet on their beds,

395 But tasted of the sour-bitter scourge

Of torture and affliction