I'm one whose whip of steel can with a lafh,
Imprint the characters of shame so deep,
Ev'n in the brazen forehead of proud fin,
That not eternity fhall wear it out.
When I but frown'd in my Lucilius' brow,
Each confcious cheek grew red; and a cold trembling
Freez'd the chill'd foul; while ev'ry guilty breast
Stood fearful of diffection, as afraid
To be anat'miz'd by that skillful hand,'
And have each artery, nerve, and vein of fin
By it laid open to the publick fcorn.
I have untrufs'd the proudeft; greatest tyrants
Have quak'd below my pow'rful whip, half dead
With expectation of the fmarting jerk ;
Whofe wound no falve can cure. Each blow doth leave
A lafting fear, that with a poifon eats
Into the marrow of their fame, and lives;
Th' eternal ulcer to their memories.
Randolph's Mufes Looking-Glass.
So doft thou aim thy darts, which ev'n when
They kill the poifons, do but wake the men.
Thy thunders thus but purge; and we endure
Thy lancings better than another's cure:
And justly too; for th' age grows more unfound
From the fools balfam, than the wifeman's wound.
Cartwright.
Thy ftar was judgment only and right fenfe ;
Thyfelf being to thyfelf an influence:
Stout beauty is thy grace; ftern pleasures do
Prefent delights, but mingle horrors too :
Thy mufe doth thus, like Jove's fierce girl appear,
With a fair hand, but grafping of a spear.
SECRECY, SECRETS. 278.
My anticipation fall prevent your
Difcovery; and your fecrecy to
The king and queen moult no feather.
Why have I blabb'd? Who fhall be true to us,
When we are so unfecret to ourselves?
Shakespear's Troilus and Creffida.
'Tis no fin love's fruits to steal ; But the sweet thefts to reveal: To be taken, to be seen ;
Thefe have crimes accounted been.
A fecret in his mouth,
Is like a wild bird put into a cage;
Whole door no fooner opens, but 'tis cat.
Johnson's Cafe is alter'd.
Moves like a fprightly river; and yet can
Keep fecret in his channels what he breeds,
'Bove all your fanding waters choak'd with weeds.
They look at beft like cream-bowls, and you foon
Shall find their depth; they're founded with a spoon.
They may fay grace, and for love's chaplains pafs;
Bat the grave lover ever was an afs;
Is fix'd upon one leg, and dares not come
Out with the other, for he's still at home :
Like the dull weary'd crane, that, come on land,
Doth while he keeps his watch, betray his fland a
Where he that knows, will, like a lap-wing fly,
Far from the nest, and so himself belie
To others; as he will deferve the trust
Due to that one that doth believe him jast.
Well knows that great affairs will not be forg'd
But upon anvils that are lin'd with wool.
We must afcend to our intention's top,
Like clouds, that be not feen, till they be up
Chapman's Second Part of Byron's Confpiracy
Intents ill carry'd are, that men may know ;
When things are done, let rumour freely go.
One fhould look well to whom his mind he leaves ;
In dang'rous times, when tales by walls are told,
Men make themselves unneceffar'ly flaves
Of those, to whom their fecrets they unfold.
E. of Sterline's Julius Cæfar.
1. Canft thou conceal a fecret?
2. Yes, as long as it is a secret; but
When two know it, how can it be a fecret?
And indeed with what justice can you
Expect fecrecy in me, that cannot
Be private to yourself?
It is an equal fault,
To tell one's fecrets unto all, or none.
Webster's Dutchess of Malfy.
I'll conceal this fecret from the world,
As warily as thofe that deal in poison,
Keep poifon from their children.
Be well advis'd; and think what danger 'tis
To receive a prince's fecrets: They that do,
Had need have their breafts hoop'd with adamant,
To contain them: I pray thee yet be fatisfy'd,
Examine thine own frailty, 'tis more easy
To tie knots than to unloose them: 'Tis a fecret,
That, like a ling'ring poison, may chance lie
Spread in thy veins, and kill thee feven years hence.
Deep policy in us, makes fools of fuch:
Then must a flave die, when he knows too much.
Tourneur's Revenger's Tragedy. For he that prates his fecrets, his heart Stands on the outside.
Secret! I ne'er had that difeafe o' th 'mother,
I praise my father: Why are men made close,
But to keep thoughts in beft? I grant you this;
Tell but fome women a fecret over-night,
Your doctor may find it in the urinal
Tourneur's Revenger's Tragedy.
'He that knows great men's fecrets, and proves flight; That man ne'er lives to fee his beard turn white.
But if all court fecrets come to light, what
Will become of the Farthingales think you
That cover them? No, fince ladies wear whale-bones,
Many have been fwallow'd, and fo may this.
W. Smith's Hector of Germany.
He deferves fmall truft,
Who is not privy counsellor to himself.
John Ford's Broken Heart.
Henry fo cover'd this advertisement,
That none perceiv'd he faw, what he did fee:
Like to the optick virtue in the eyes,
Unfeen itfelf, yet all things else defcries.
Remember that a prince's fecrets
Are balm, conceal'd: But poison, if discover'd.
Mafinger's Duke of Milan.
2/ For 'prentices though they are bound to keep
Their mafters fecrets, are not all privy
To their mistreffes; that's a meer journeyman's
Office.
Richard Brome's Mad Couple well match'd.
Know, a broken oath is no fuch burthen
As a great fecret is; befides the tickling
A woman has to in and out with it. Oh,
The tongue's itch is intolerable!
Richard Brome's Love-fick Court.
Who truft thofe fecrets, whereon honour rests,
To cuftody in mercenary breafts,
Do flave nobility: And though they pay
A daily ranfom, ne'er redeem't away.
3,Safe
Safe in thy breaft clofe lock up thy intents;
For he that knows thy purpose, beft prevents.
I am ruin'd in her confeffion;
The man that trufts woman with a privacy,
And hopes for filence, he may as well expect it
At the fall of a bridge: A fecret with them,
Is like a viper; it will make way though
It eat through the bowels of them. 'Tis fo, that all
Women thirst man's overthrow; that is a
Principle, as demonftrative as truth;
'Tis the only end they were made for And
When they have infinuated themselves
Into our councils, and gain'd the pow'r
Of our life, the fire is more merciful;
It burns within them, till it gets forth.
Guilty of folly I am, to truft a woman,
To keep for me, what for herself she cannot ;
A fecret That open fex! whofe fouls are
So loofe they cannot keep them in their breasts,
But they will fwim upon their lips.
So juft upon my thoughts, thy tongne is tipt
Like nature's miracle, that draws the fteel
With unrefifted violence: I cannot keep
A fecret to myself, but thy prevailing
Rhetorick ravishes and leaves my breast
Like to an empty casket, that once was bleft
With keeping of a jewel, I durft not trust
The air with, 'twas fo precious.
Harken ye men that e'er fhall love like me;
I'll give you council gratis: If you be
Poffets'd of what you like, let your fair friend
Lodge in your bofom: But no fecrets fend
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