Concerning the people. Their children, at first sight, seem men, and their men, children; but whoso, in negotiating, presumes upon appearances shall be deceived! compassionate towards their own nation and country; loving to the Prince, and so they may have liberty in ceremony and free access to him, they will be better content that he shall be absolute in matter of substance: impatient of peace any longer than while they are in recovering the ruins of war: the presentness [presence] of danger inflames their courage, but any expectation makes it languish. For the most part, they are all Imagination and no Judgement; but those that prove solid, excel!
Their Gentlemen are all good outward men, good Courtiers, good soldiers, and knowing enough in men and business; but merely [simply] ignorant in matters of Letters, because at fifteen they quit books and begin to live in the world: when indeed a mediocrity [medium] betwixt their form of education and ours, would do better than either. No men stand more punctually [punctiliously] upon their honour in matter of valour; and, which is strange, in nothing else: for otherwise, in their conversation, the custom, and shifting, and over-speaking, hath quite overcome the shame of it.
FINIS.
Abraham Cowley.
The Chronicle.
A Ballad.
[Miscellanies. Works. 1668.]
I.